The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-25
The Duke Of welllngton,s Experiment.

In q ground. floor room in one ofthe
large public buildings of London a5mant
sat writing at table covered with papers.
he was a short, strongly built figure,
with prominent nose, and a face hayi
and massive as 8 granite statue, wearing
the set look peculiar to- men who have
surmounted great difficulties and con-
fronted great perils. Few. indeed, had
had more practice in both than this man,
for he was no; other than the Duke Of
Wellington, and This crowning victory at
Waterloo was still but few years old:
There was the tinkle of a bell outside.
and then q nurmur 'of! voices I'M the
anteroom but the Duke never raised his
head from his writing, even when his
secretary entered and said: ~ 8
"If it please your Grace, that man with
the bullet. proof breastplate has called
again, and wishes very much to see your
Grace for moment"
The Dukes face darkened, as well 1t
might for the man in question was the
most pertinacious bore whom he had
ever encountered. The bullet-proof
cuirass was his own invention, and he
never lost chance of declaring that the
safety of the whole British army depeD-
tded upon its instant adoption of this
"unparalled discovery" which he carried
about with him, and exhibited at all
times and in all places.
g Had this been all, he would soon have
been disposed Of; but, unluckily, he had
contrived to interest in his invention one
or two of the Dukes personal friends,
and to get from them letters of recon-.
mendatiou which even Wellington could
not easily disregard. Something must
clearlysbesdone, however ;~forSaHhough
the fellowshad hitherto been. keptlat nay,
he vas evidently determined to give the
Duke no peace till the matter had been
fully gone into.
For, a moment Wellington looked 80
grim that the secretary began to hope for
the order which he would gladly have
obeyed, viz, to kick the inventor into
the street forthwith. But the next In
slant the iron face cleared again, and
over it.played the verysghost of smile,
like CLEAN of winter sunshine upon
precipice.
''Show him in," said he, briefly.
The. observant. secretary noted both the
toneyapd the smile that accompanied it;
rands s.he in Wardly decided that trit-woald
have been better for. that inventor if he
had not insisted On seeing! the Duke.
rIuecame the great discoverer-a tall,
slouching, shabby, slightly red,nosed
man, with would-be jaunty air, which
gave way a little, however, before the
HIron Duke's,' penetrating glance.
II am glad,to thihkf that your Grace
appreciates the merits of my invention"
said he, in patronizing tone. They
are, indeed, too important TO be under.
valued by any great commander. Your
Grace can not fail toJemember the havoc
made by your gallant troops at Waterloo
amoug the French cuirassiers, whose!
breastplates were not bullet proof;
whereas, if"
'sHaye you got the thing with you Z"
interrupted Wellington. o.
The inventor unwrapped very snowy
looking cuirass of polished steel, and
was just beginning long lecture upon
its merits. when the Duke cut him short
by asking, i ii 4,
"Are you quite sure it is bullet;proof :"
"Quite sure. your Grace"
"Put it ON, then. and 60 and stand in
that corner" .ssisis.HsE aisl
The other wonderingly obeyed.;:
( "Mr. Temple" shouted Wellington to
his secretary, "tell the sentry outside to
load with bail cartridge, and come in' here
to test this cuirass. Quick, now!"
But quick though the secretary, was,
the inventor was, quicker still. The mo-
ment he realized that he had been set up
there o1 purpose to be fred at, aud to be
shot dead2on the spot if his curiass turn
ed out to be not bullet.proof after all, he
leaped headlong through the open win
dow with a yell worthy Of. Blackfoot
Indian, and .darting like rocket across
the courtyard, vanished through the out
er gateway /; nor did the Duke of Well
ington, from that day forth, ever see or
hear Of him again.-Dduid Ker, IN Edi.
tors Draseer, Hlaarpssy'sr ~ Magazine for Oct0
Der. .l.a7 m i s;I,a.f 3.. q. ~