The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-25
How Two Boys Dabbled in Chemistr,


Something was wrong in the Bishop FAM
lily. Mrs. Bishop was away from home, al
the bedside of her father, whose illness had
continued for two months before hopeful
signs began to appear. Mr.. Bishop was a
driving business man, and it never occurred
to him that with FIVE boys in the house the
intellectual atmosphere could become fiat
and unhealthy. But into just such an un-
healthy condition had matters been brought
by Mr.. Arthur Blase. That young gentle
man was a nephew of Mr.. Bishop, and he
not only had completed Tor, as he said.
"periected") his education at Harvard Col
lege five years before, but he had "seen the
world" in Europe, Asia, Africa and Aus.
tralia, and was now without occupation
other than that of spending the money left
TO him by wealthy father. Frank, Ran
dolph, Tom, McClermont and Dick, the five
Bishop boys, had heard Mr.. Blase so often re.
peat his favorite reflection: "There's really
nothing worth living for, deah boys" that
they came to believe it. Books were neg
lected, bicycles rested riderless in the back
yard, and it was all that Frank, the liveliest
of the five brothers, could do to start game
of ball once a week. Frank didn't altogether
relish the unwonted tameness of the house
his educated cousins position. "Theres
Will Tucker" said Frank to himself; Twill
gets lots of fun out o. things; he nearly blew
himself up last Tuesday experimental in
chemistry; 1 guess Ill go over and see i'm,
its So awful stupid over here" In this way
Frank became intert sted in chemistry.
While his brothers smoked cigarettes and
had a miserable time with Mr.. Blase, Frank
ho frfo
and such things at Mr.. fuckers house across
the way.
A month later found the Tucker labora
tory removed to the Bishop house, Mrs.
Tucker having insisted that Will should
smash his retorts and destroy his acids and
bases. Mothers away, so let's take EN-
over to our house." Frank had said
"Phewl What in the worlds that7" ex-
claimed Mr. Bishop at breakfast one morn
ing.
"'Tis hs'-ha'd to tell, replied Mr.. Blase;
possible this small wretch Knows" and
Mr. Blase put up his Eyeglasses and looked
at Frank.
III two, SO four, S twoO," said Frank
attacking his omelet with unconcern.
"Whatp exclaimed Mr.. Bishop.
That evening. when Mr.. Blase returned
for dinner, he sank upon lounge, removed
his glasses and gloves and murmured: "Ahi
for something startling; the papers are stu
pid; the people are undressing; the girls
are unromantic."
Frank and Will, who were in the room,
nodded to each other, and with peculiar
shifting, Frank began to move slowly as if
in ala: m towards the hall door,.
'Cousinl cousinp exclaimed Frank, in
peculiar voice, "are you sure? Are you
quite sure7"
"Sure of what2" asked Mr.. Blase.
THAT you haven't any nitro-glycerine
about your"
''Nitro-gly C ,rinel smell it am quite
SURF,
Mr.. Blase began to get excitei. He
started to thrust his hand into his outer coat
pockets, and Will shouted:
''Don't do that don't touch it'll it'll go
off"
you've enough of the nitre about you to
make you fill 1000 times the space you now
occupy as q solid" added Frank.
"Heavensl the Cars fatei you-you-
deah boys hs-haven't filed my pockets
with nitro-glycerine, ha-have your"
groaned Mr.. Blase, who was shaking as il
with chill.
"Sizs, sisz-ze-za bang. bang, bsngl" d