The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-08-04

CHoRus-I love You, Love; love you, Love
- But oh! you must have money.
r. Joaquin Miller
A DlVlN6.BELLE,
Or the Most Romantic Incident In Ny Lii;
By ". Payn, Eeq.
Seventeen was just the age at which
first met Charlotte Elizabeth-under water
What think you Of that? Are not such cir.
cumstances of first love new? Permit me
also to add. with my hand upon my heart
that they are moreover true.
It was on Saturday afternoon, which
was holiday at our Office in the city, and
was spen ding it in the improvement Of my
mind at the Polytechnic Institute, London. !
had sat in the stately hsll-which is some
thing between a theater and q dissectinP
room-to behold the wonders Of science;
had gazed upon that wondrous apparatus
for learning to swim upon dry land, until
my limbs were on the point Of ''striking
out" Tor an imaginary shore, and I had
gazed upon the electrical eel to repletion-
when great bell was rung, end sonorious
voice exclaimed: Experiments connected
with the diving bell" Upon this
q great rush was made from all parts of the
building to that circular pond of clear,
green water, the excessive depth Of which
has always been q marvel to me. Into
whose cellar does it descend? What sewer
does it forever threaten with untime]y
flushing? From what fountains do its
pellucld waves arise? Then the intrepid
diver made his toilet in the presence Of the
company, being loaded with heavy weights,
as though he were some desperate criminal,
and having oh his head q helmet fixed, to
be presently screwed round by the assist.
ants-.a proceeding which appeared to the
unscientiic eye like wringinc his neck.
Covered with polypi in the shape of india
rubber tubing, this monster tadpole clum-
silly descended by an iron ladder into the
pond, the bottom of which was already
strewed with half-pence. After these We
could plainly see him waddle and stoop,
made moro hideous than before by the
watery Observation-Disclosures, at right
angle. angles to chi, himself. exasgented; dispropor::
TONED, slow-the most horrible picture Of
of conce,ving. Above him arose
large and noisy bubbles. and now and
then he would emerge as to his head AMI
the half pence, to let us know-as though
we had not watched his horrid movements
all along-that he had picked them up. In
credible as it may appear, was attracted
toward this amphibious pursuit Of his: /
felt rs though too should like to explore
those airless depths, and make my business
in those mighty waters. When he came out
ut last, like two-trunked sea elephant,
md bowed III his repulsive manner to the
spectators, vas almost afraid that he was
gong to offer ''any lady or gent" the loan
OF his apparatus. I was infinitely relieved
when saw it put away in q cupboard, for
now no unnatural temptation-
ANY lady or gent for the diving bell?"
exclaimed the sonorous voice. 1.-The ma
chine is now about to descend"
My heart came into my mouth, and then
retired about half way down my throat as I
should judge. My extremites became cold as
ice as gas2ed out: "Stop minute; take me
In, please do. " The crowd that had already
surrounded the machine parted to left and
right to let me pass. There was not the
least hurry. of course; but it had not
spoken at once, should not have done 60
at Ill. was the first volunteer for this
tremendous enterprise, and an object oil
great puslic interest.
II wouldn't do it myself for a 'underd
pound, observed one gentleman, for tn.
purpose of reassuring me. conclude; and
friend of his replied: mo, nor vet TO,
two; it's what call fool'ardy."
passed the little barrier; gave the man!
ager the requisite shilling for the submar-
inc passage; and crept under the great
google eyed bell amid quite popular ovo-
ton A narrow seat ran around the interior OF
the machine; the atmosphere seemed close
even rs it wcs, and the light was dim, al
though we were as yet in the
land of the living. l perceived, how
ever, shining substance immedi-
ataly opposite to me, which turned out to
be boy covered with buttons-the saee of
the establishment, whose dreadful trade il
was to descend, don't know how many
times day, in company with subaaueous
amateurs. He had rope in his band. that
hung dow's from the top of the bell. and
which fondly imagined communicated
with the scientific authorities. so that we
could be hoisted up again at moments
notice by a signal; but this confidence
was entirely misplaced. A certain round
spot with number of little round holes
like the top Of sink-was the sole orna-
ment OF the apartment in which We were
and through this was to come the air We
brcathed. 10 say that I would gladly have
got out again and sacrificed my shilling, il
to give very feeble idea of my state OF
repentance. would have given forty
shlIi!ngs to be once more gazing-unde1
the light OF heaven-at the least remark.
able object of interest in the
institution. All the crimes I had
ever committed during checkered life
seemed to crowd in upon my recollection.
made the most ardent resolutions for con.
quoting myself for the future after 4 dif-
1erent tashion-if should only be per-
united to emerge alive out of that bell. Il
Is tlue that there was yet time for me to do
&c. Tor the director was still teutinQ fol
passengers, but hadn't the neral courage
Tor such step as this. could not have
oescenoed amid the same crowd which had
appIauded my intrepidity, to experience its
ecorn1ul ]eers. 1perceivcd the same feel
mgs were actuating two other individuals
VINO now Joined us; they, too, cast wistfu]
sA:9ces at the mouth of the bell, and were
evidently contemplating in their minds the
lives. f>'"' "''Aoo
You had better put your legr up, gen.
tiemen' sad the page, there will be less
Va A1A1eo OOt ~ tu0 OOGOm when
We get under water"
Less chance!" gasped I, AZ fastened
to obey his suggestion. do YOU mean to
say there is any chance?"
We'll, you must sit quite still. Of conrsa
OF there's no knowing what viii hannen
You will be safe enough, however, liz
this" "o'o1' "Ae
We had all got our feet in each otbers
,aps, forming quite a reticulation Of leo,
beneath US. so that. if we fell at ali. it mnsi
needs have been altogether, when the d. d.
rector suddenly exclaimed:
by your leave, gentlemen, there's 8
"A lady coming! Where ON earth ia ab<
10 come top inquired 1. There vas noi
room for pins head to make its wav va amo m~
us: and far less a lady's. ''''e
rs there no room?" inquired one If tht
sweetest vsices I ever heard in NV 1;fe
Plenty of room, Miss. Ieos downr
cried the conductor. e' uo"n'
Then bonnet appeared, with one of II.
most lovely faces in it you can imaoina an ~;
q look Of tender appeal upon it, and dnd Gnt
tne Den full OF legs-which it was impos
s'Ole 70 resist. l sided nearer towards III.
page, IN whom had some sort of conf
dence, and made room for this oharm;n'
creature on my left hand. Il WA hefor.