The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-08
A VICTIM TO MODERN INVENTION.

Since quite child Harry Gradient had
been noted for his ingenuity in devising
various mechanical oddities. When not
engaged in graver pursuits hewas sure to
be ankle deep in some hydraulic scheme,
mechanical sciences. His knack of in.
vention was truly wonderful, though as
yet-at the time write Harry was
twenty-fve-my friend had had few op-
porfunities of turning it to practical
purpose. He and l were both engaged in
some engineering works On the continent,
undertaken by an English firm. After
we had been there some months, Harry
received the welcome news that rela.
tive had died, leaving him a nice little
property and comfortable house, some
miles out of London.
Prior to leaving me to return to Eng
land-for there was much 10 be done in
the way of setting the property and house
in order-my friend said. with his usual
enthusiasm: shark, my boy (my name
: is Mark Mildmay), shall expect you to
come and see me when you come back.
I suppose you are booked here for
another eighteen months or so, and that
WILL JUNt HASC AAC tII1V W SCV lily uOuSC III
order. Such house my boy! You've
never seen such a one as it shall be. l
mean to give up engineering for the pub
lie, and to exercise my talents in that
: way for my own benefit and comfort; my
house shall be full Of ingenious and curl
Gus contrivances. such as have never been
seen BEFORE
Time passed on, and the business
had been Engaged in was completed, and I
had returned home. had written to Har.
ry occasionally, and as soon as he heard
= l had arrived in England, ne sent me a
pressing invitation to come and visit
him.
gladly accepted the invitation. for I
wanted to see my old friend again, and
wrote to him saying, / would run down
the next day, and arrive at station
some two miles from his house, about
o'clock in the evening. I therefore
packed small portmanteau, and at the
appointed time got out at the little road.
side station. Harry was there waiting
for me with his dog-cart; and soon
we were bowling along pleasant country
road.
''Look,' he cried; s'this is my house
you see there among the trees; and this
= we are passing, and that one beyond, and
the other whose chimney you can just
see-are all occupied by friends of mine
as we'll as some others you cannot see
from here--and to each of them I have
laid telegraph wire; so, when I have
nothing particular to do of an evening,
telegraph, will you come and have q
game of whist !? or, saw Brown up town
to-day he's coming to shoot with you
tomorrow.
We now arrived at the entrance.gate
Harry pulled up. ''I'l get down and
open it, said I.
''Sit still!'' he cried. The gate opened
of its own accord.
::'Hallo! That's open sesame with {
: vengeance l exclaimed. "Ho1 is il
done p
'Why, don't you see; have place.
across . tho drive plate Of iron like
shallow gutter; when stop. the wheels
pressing on this, cause it to sink slightly
this, acting on levers and cranks under
ground, opens the gate; and catcl
HOLDS it so, until we pass over simila
lone on the other side, which releases it
land the gate falls to-"
| swell, that's very convenient"
'''ro be sure it is-saves me lodge ant
;gate-keeper.'
We now drove up to the house wher
the groom was waiting to take the horse
and the house-maid was opening the door
"Do you see, Mark; they had notice Q