Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-30
A SAYANT ESTRAY.
The Doctor Of San BastianO Exhibits
His Wonderful Discoveries.
He Frightens the FnbertIeH and is
Bounced by the RPuIsers who
Are Hunting for Him.
St. Louis Iimes. 2sth.

St. Louis Times. 2Sth,l
He entered the room like an ap-
partition, reminding one of a
curious, Frenchy criticism of Ra-
chel in her palmy days: "You
could not say she came upon the
stage; she appeared there" The
doctor gave me premonition of his
coming; but, without sign or sound,
he stood before us with curious
box under his arm, and seemed to
look at every one of us at the same
time. His presence filled all unoc-
cupied space in the apartment. His
eyes glistened with a preternatural
brightness; it was as if a spell were
upon us, and the attention of every
one who looked up as he "appear-
ed" in our midst was chained. 1t
was a calm face. There was power
in every line and lineament. We
felt the power and submitted to it.
He slightly raised his right hand,
as if to command silence while he
spoke.
"Gentlemen," said the wonder
full stranger, 81 am the Doctor of
San Bastiano. In my own country
they call me seer, soothsayer and
whatever may be suggested as the
appellation Of a learned man among
the ignorant. My vocation is that
Of a chemist. BE calm while / tell
you that | am possessed of a secret
which shall yet reyolutionize the
world-morally, politically, me-
chanically and religiously. In this
little box and he set upon the
nearest desk the square black case,
that looked more like cornet-
holder than anything else-"i in
this little box is now confined a
principle that is all.powerful for
good to mankind"
Some one had the tementy to
inquire what was the character of
the power confined in the case.
"It'S a MOTOR" said the Doctor
Of San Bastiano. "You have heard
of Keely's motor, the development
Of which is SO long delayed. It's
all right, Keely will come out in
the end with good thing that will
tend to cheaper transportation and
the running Of machinery. But it
is only iorernnner of my inyen.
tion-or, rather, my discovery; for
in my experiments / happened by
mere accident to open the door to
one of natures secrets that is des-
tined to bless the human race be.
yond the comprehension of the
widest dream that ever disturbed
the sleep of an enthusiast"
The Doctors face began to glow
with excitement. His eyes flashed
a ierce splendor, and as he spoke
his thin lips played spasmodically
over his white toeth, and lent II
sort of rabid expression to his lea-
lures. lie was, apparently, q good
deal worked up.
"Do you see that " he half
shrieked, as he drew a bottle from
tn black box. "There is liquid
that will resolve water into a
bright-burning gas. If you are
curious about the chemical combi-
nations Of it, here is the formula" /"
and be exhibited a foolscap page Of
cabalistic characters, some of which
a few Of us remembered with pain
ful "reminiscences Of the laboratory
at college. Z" You all know that
water will burn when chemically
treated but the fact has never
been utilized for the good of the
world. Payne tried it about a
quarter of "A century ago, and many
capitalists lost money invested in
! his scheme to manufacture gas
Crnn, water When not treated i'm