Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-27
RsHrpttatit titNprtt@sst
Our Century Of Prorress.


paper? / mean the item about the ex-
periments that are being made 70 pro-
duce artificial rAinT' asked Mr.. E.
finishing his glass Of lager aud point
ing to an article In the morning paper
on the production of artificial rain.
IA correspondent Of the ST. Louis
Democrat claims that rain can be pro-
duced by artificial means. He refers
to the well known facts of heavy rains
and storms following all great battles
He says:
My method would be to manufac-
ture on large scale sky rockets, with
dynamite cartridges of such size as to
cause an explosion equal to the dis.
charge of twelve pound cannon
These rockets to be arranged on wires
erected in circles, the rockets to be
from two to FIVE feet apart, and ignited
by electricity. The explosion occurr.
ing high in the air would not be dan.
gerous to life. This exercise, continu.
ed throughout the day, every half hour,
we are sanguine would bring about the
desired results"
Great cloudsl Another incompatible
step in progress. 1t called to my mind
the vision of a humorous business di
rectory to be edited in the year of our
Lord 1901, which l read years ago
and on the funny pages Of which might
be found in the index of the letter R.
the following notice:
Grain Company, Grant now per,
fectly established and always able to
produce gentle spring shower, or a
heavy rain over an area with radius
of 10 miles within two hours notice"
So it read, printed in full faced type;
the prophecy already fulfilled or, at
least, the start toward fulfillment
plainly enough stated. Whittier are
we advancing2 What may we yet
accomplish? Arethere no brakes for the
wheels of progress? And yet what
have we reached in reality? Have we
in fact, in modern times, in this era of
progressive wonders, made any verit-
able progress in gaming that which
is worth most to mankind-Universal
Human Happiness? I thought and
pondered and said "No!" then more
decidedly "Nol!" Our attachments
have enlarged our visual angle un-
doubtedly, but our demands our wish
es, our necessities have more than kept
pace with them. A certain haste and
restlessness have taken possession of
us, which leaves no time, no place for
real happiness. And then in regard
to our improvements-are they really
so great after all?
"Well, good night Mr.. E." | said,
yet entirely lost in ponderlng over this
problem. a. must be home, for l
mean to take the morning train for
Cincinnati, good night, sir" And still
occupied by my meditatlons, L care
lessly rambled homeward.
But just Jehovahl How is this?
Has some one mixed opium with my
glass of beer? Did get lost? I was
obliged to stop in order to find out
where I was. Where did / get to?
Is this New York? Since when do
these miserable lanterns burn as
though they were fed by lard oil2
And these houses! In fact I'm no
more in New York.. than Caesar
ever was in America! But where
am l?
In one Of the funny wooden boxes
was still light, a DIM light. "King
George" was inscribed above the door
Il resolved to enter. 1t was a tavern
to be sure, but never before had | seen
the hike. On a aalarge, square, pine
table stood four lighted candles and
around the table sat strange foreign
dressed figures, evidently engaged in
the liveliest conversation. On the
table lay newspaper a remarkably
small and coarse piece of blotting pa
per. Strange jugs were filed and
emptied, and wondrous, uncouth pipes
kept up smoke, as though factory
chimney were fuming. ga glass Of
beer and cigar !" said 10 a dream
like, fantastical figure, that came to.
wards me-. But l believe I only said
the words to hear my own real voice.
"What do you want?" she asked in &C.
cents strange and unknown to me.
But when I repeated my demand she
called a man with long beard and l
readily understand her stage
whisper, "Either a stranger, or" and
she tapped her finger on her forehead.
"What do you want?" asked this wig
ged gentleman very politely AS I
had failed SO terribly with my first
order, I thought that this might be a
Temperance meeting and so only re-
luctantly asked: "Can you tell me
when the morning train arrives at Gin,
aCincinnati-Train2" he asked shak.
ing his head. The men at the table
had now turned their attention toward
me- ooh, that's Judge Symn's new
colony on the Ohio river" said one of
them, apparently learned man, as he
paraded an immense pair of spectacles.
HDid you want to 60 there? Well
then you have long troublesome jour-
ley before you. l don't know of any
rain bands (militla) going in that di-
'eetion now, he added with a shake of
lis wigged head. almighty Fatherl