The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-15

actor. Of statements alleged rs scientific facts
but which have not previously -
"Then saw that 1t was the lean little gentle
man who was speaking. lie lad been standing
between Lord Tentcrdcn and the Count Scopis.
Ho now came out from hs shelter aud squarcly
confronted the gigantic Specify Burger. 1t
was tho little Monitor steaming forth to meet
the Mcrrmac.
"Spocky- Burger had meanwhile recovered.
in u degree. tho use of his faculties. lie looked
down contcmptuously upon his diminutiyc in
torrupter. and mado a gesture as If to wavo him
aside.
"' Pardon me. Monsieur said he dryly. |
was just explaining how tho heat Of my person.
acting on tho granular leo. enlarged the hole
thus
80 But l beg permission 10 take issue
screamed the lean little man. shaking his long
forennger directly under NJ. specky Burgers
noso--'I beg permission To take issue on the
question OF fact for ii is well established prin-
cipe OF physics. universally conceded by tho
highest scientific authority. and set down in
ertenso in the books. that cold contracts bodies
whereon base the PROPOSITION that tho natural
effoct of tho frRid temperature upon your body
temporarily packed in Ice and under conditions
extremely favorable to rapid contraction. would
be TO diminish your bulk to nm oxtent compati-
bic with speedy and safe extraction by the
united strength Of your seventeen guides. who.
exorting their energies in perpendicular
direction. under tho operation Of another well
known law OF physics. would undoubtedly
~ know no law, said Specify Burger. iron
ically. that -
- Ignordntid iegis neininen erciisdt.' reioined
the little man promptly. not for an instant
pausng to take breath. and | submit that your
A. IL
weight does not establish point in direct con-
trayention OF tho recorded observations Of
thousands Of naturalisis. better qualified to
Judge OF tho qualities Of the snow ice. or
nirose. which you have mentioned. and which
leads mo to remark. merely as current sug-
gestion. and not in any way as pertinent 10 tho
question at issue. that possibly that much
disputed passage in Livy. in which II is related
that hal. while crossing the Alps. made a
passage for his army by pouring vinegar upon
the rocks to soften thcm may be explained by
the supposition that tho great Garth aginian
employed salt to melt tho snow. ms is still dono
on the tracks Of many tramways in American
cities. the historian. by n natural association Of
ideas. confusing the two condiments. and thus
putting on record as an historical fact n state
ment which like your own regarding the
moulu1 is papaby absurd. inasmuch IA If
vinegar has any action upon granite. which
doubt. that action Is SO very slow TINT ongi-
neerng operations conducted on that basis
would have DELAYED the cis-Alpine progress OF
Hannibars army far moro cfrectually than the
Fabian policy adopted 10y his
Thus it wont on. said my Geneva friend.
rising from his scat. for we were now approach
ing tho quai. not for minutes but for hours.
We guests drew back and watched the trc-
mendous battle between the two. conversation
alists. physically 50 unequal. with the liycliest
interest
"Spcckly Burger had mot his conqucror He
made few Intellectual attempts 20 recover tho
ground he had lost. but the monologuo Of the
little man. flowing steadily on without break or
breathing place gave him no opportunity to
resume his narrative Of the ascension. AT ono
o'clock In the morning. dlsheartencd. humili-
atcd. crushed. he abandoned the field and fed
from the room. At that hour the small stranger
was still talking. without giving the least indi-
cation Of fatigue or Of m intention to stop.
What. are We already at the pior? Well
from that day TO this VI. speckly-Burgcr has
never told the story Of his ascent Of Mont Blanc.
Occasionally. UNDER some strong temptation. he
begins it, rs he did Just now to You. but before he
has said half dozen words the memory Of that
overwhelming disaster comes rushing back and
he Is as dumb rs m oyster. Gooi-by."
" But the little. thin man. asked.
You must have conicctured.' said he. that
tho little man. the Monitor Of that terrific en-
gaecment. was no other than distinguished
fellow couniryman' Of yours. n noted iurIs-
consult Of New York city. and lately not uncon-
nected. As the reporters say. with active dipio-
macy at Washington
looked again toward Mont Blanc. It was no
lonEcr visible. \ feecy cloud hid from view
the scene Of NJ. Specify BURGER extraordinary
| achievement