Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-09-11
A French Story.

Ul d eaii tAasN4NAs ''HO -
paid one thousand francs for the privi-
lege of place by the side of the cele-
brated aeronaut. The weather was splen- |
did and the balloon had reached con-
siderable height.
"what effect has it on you?" inquired
M. GODDARD of his companion.
"None whatever" was the curt reply.
81 must compliment you," said M.
GODDARD. "You are the first amateur !
have ever known TO reach this altitude
without experiencing some emotion"
'Go higher" said the amateur coolly.
NJ. GODDARD threw out some ballast,
and the balloon flew up some sixty
yards higher.
Now, how do You feel?"
"Just as usual" said the companion
in rather petulant tone.
"By Jover" exclaimed NJ. GODDARD,
''you are born aeronaut, sir"
The balloon kept on rising, and when
a few hundred yards higher NJ. GODDARD,
tor the third time, questioned his COM
panion as TO his emotions.
Emotions! Not trace of emotion"
replied he, with the tone of man who
feels that he has been taken in.
"Well, so much the worse, said the
aeronaut. ''l see | shall not be able TO
alarm you; we have risen high enough,
and we shall now descend"
descend? ?'
'Yes, certainly, it would be danger
Gus 10 go higher"
81 don't care about the danger, and /
don't choose 10 descend. I'm going
higher, am. paid thousand francs
TO experience some emotions, and emo
tions I'll have before going down
again"
NJ. GODDARD burst out laughing, He
thought the man was joking.
s'Are you going higher or not?" said
the companion, at the same time grasp
ing NJ. Godard by the throat and shaS-
ing him violently. al intend to have
my emotions"
NJ. GODDARD saw at a glance that he
had to do with a mailman. The dilated
eyes, the furious grasp, the very tone
of his voice left no doubt about that.
But what was to be done? They were
some 5000 feet among the clouds;
a struggle was out of the question, as
one violent motion of the madman
would be enough to upset the car. All
these thoughts passed NJ. Godard's
mind in less than second. His adyer-
sary was a powerful man, and without
loosening his grasp, he called out, "Ah,
my fine fellow, you have been playing
the fool with me. You have made me
pay one thousand francs and not given
Inc a single emotion"
"Well, but what would you have me
do?' asked NJ. GODDARD, calmly and
soOthingly.
''I'm going to throw you over" said
the maniac, with wild laugh; "but
first, an idea strikes mt; I'll go up to
the top of the balloon" and suiting the
action TO the word he jumped into the
rigging OF the car.
but my poor FRIEND" said the aero
naut, you'll kill yourself like that.
The mailman uttered threat. "At
least" said II. GODDARD, 'let me put
rope around your waist to prevent an
accident"
"Well, be il so," said the mailman,
who seemed TO see the necessity of some
precaution, and the rope having been
attached, he recommended climbing the
rigging OF the balloon with the agility
OF a squirrel, and in a few moments
was seated on the apex, clapping his
hands and shouting with joy. All at
once he takes out of his pocket a large
clasp-knife, and, brandishing it above
his head, yells out: Now, you rascal.
you wanted to descend, did you? So
you shall with a vengeance" And,
before VI. GODDARD can utter a word, four
of the six ropes attaching the car to the
balloon are cut, and the car itself
swinging helplessly outside. The mad
mans knife was now touching the other
two, when the aeronaut calls out TO
him: "StOp, one wordn'
'No, no; down you 60"
"But let me tell you something, my
friend; we are now three thousand feet
high, it is true, but that is not high
enough for a thoroughly good fall.''
"What do you mean ?'' asked the mad
man, eOnfusedly.
"I mean this, that fall of only three
thousand feet might not kill me, and
prefer being killed TO being only Grip
pied. Oblige me, therefore, by waiting
until We rise three or four thousand feet
higher"
"Agreed?' said the mailman, who
seemed to enjoy the idea of SO prodigious
a fall.
The aeronaut keeps TO his word; he
throws out nearly the whole of his bal
last, and the balloon shoots up rapidly.
But while the mailman is attentive
watching this operation NJ. GODDARD OBJ
serves that among the cordage as yet
uhOputhtN II ihS Pulitt VI toS Sa
escape. He gently draws the cord, and
the gas begins to escape Immediately
under the spot where the lunatic is
perched. In few moments the COM
bined effects of the gas and the now in
tensely rareified air are apparent, and
the madmaD sinks into a state of lethar-
gy. The aeronaut cautiously brings
down his balloon, and the terrible crisis
is ended.
Arrival of CIcopatra's Needle In London.
Hardly had a start been made up the