Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-13
WEST CHEsrERS WONDER.

A Mysterious Vibration of the Weight At
tschment to . Pair OF Scales.
West Chester Dispatch to the Times.
In tho absence of political exciteme Mt,
what really appears to be scientific phe-
nomena has presented itself in this bor-
ough aud the work of endeavoring to
satisfactorily solve the problem goes on
with unabated zeal and interest. What
seems to approach the successful accom-
plishment of perpetual motion is now to
be seen at the tobacco store of Mr. Thos.
T. Smith, on East Gay street, and the
medium is nothing more or less than the
weight attachment of small pair of
Fairbanks scales.
On last Monday evening, while Mr..
Smiths employees we're making changes in
the arrangement of goods in stock, it be-
came necessary to lift from the floor these
scales, which were given a temporary place
OH 4 pile of tobacco boxes. About an
hour afterwards clerk noticed that the
rod attached to the end of the beam :ur
hanging the weights on was oscillating with
regular momentum, and, after keeping his
eyes upon it for several moments, was not
4 little surprised at discovering that the
pendulum-like motion was kept up with
precision and that it manifested no dis
position to stop. Thus, during the entire
| evening this phenomenal action led hun
dreds OF people to witness the strange per-
fOrmance, and when the time for closing
arrived the doors were locked, leaving it
to itself, Mr.. Smith and others believing
that it would run down long before morn
ing.
Tuesday morning came, and upon OPEN
ing the store backward and forward swung
the rod and balance plate, with the same
motion as had characterized its move
ment on the preceding evening, and thus
it has kept swinging during sixty eight
hours, and to all appearances it is likely
to continue for an indefinite period, and
as it holds out i'll it's unaccountable per-
formancc the wonder and interests con
tinue to prcportiOnately increase.
The rod which serves as Il pendulum is
about one foot in length and its bearings
at the end of the beam arc very complete,
the adjustment being of the mCst delicate
character. The motion of the rod is
strictly due north and south and its Oscil-
lations are eighty four per minute, with no
deviation whatever, they having been
tested score of times by interested
loOkers-o The scales have been in use
in MIR. Smiths store for several years,
their former position being little north
west of their present ono and upon the
| floor.
During the first day OF their movements
the public mind rejecte': the statements
of Mr.. Smith and his clerks as to their
being no hidden power supplied in order
to effect tho motion, but since cOntin-
uous throng of people have carefully and
intelligently examined into the causes but
| no positive solution has been reached. 1t
is believed by some that the pendulum is
operated by some broken electrical current
ard this theory is strengthened by the
fact of the Western Union telegraph com.
pany having an Office in one of the upper
stories of the building, the wires to which
pass into the building over the door lead
ing to Mr.. Smiths store.
A large number of highly scientific gen
tlemen watched tho movements this
morning for hours, but after comparing
their respective notes of investigation weJ.
unable to reach any definite solution y
the perplexiDg problem. Professor Sha.l
less, state assayer of Massachusetts,, is II,
town. and will give the matter 4 thorou I
investigation.