The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-10-01


OF man whose cadaverous and care.
worn countenance peered through the
massive bars which his thin bloodless
hands tremuliously clutched."
That man was George Stephenson.
the discoverer of steam power. In
his earnestness he exclaimed: "I am
not mad, | am the discoverer of
power of incalculable moment to man.
kind" "What has this man discoy.
ered," inquired the nobleman. "a
mere trifie," answered the keeper
sneeringly. Poor Stephenson The
world was not ready for him. Every
thing seemed to wait the dawn of the
dawn OF the nineteenth century. He
died in miserable mad-house cell,
locked up with a power which has
done more to civilize the world than
any other agency apart from the Cos
pei Of the Son of God. Had Stephen
son had his day 800 years later there
would not have been room enough in
the world to sing his praises. After
him came, in the dawn of the nine
teenth century, sam1 Morse, the tele.
graph. Congress appropriated $50.
600 for an experimental line between
Washington and Baltimore. He was
rewarded by testimonials, honors, or.
ders OF nobility and wealth. Europe
Joined in and presented him purse
of 100000 francs, and banquets were
given him in London and Paris.
Poor despised Stephenson! Great,
wealthy, Morse.
Edison, the telephone man, is the
greatest living inventor, and has ia.
ken out more patents than any pre-.
vious or living inventor, numbering
in all 100, all of which are controlled
by the Western Uuion Telegraph Co.
heis most excentric, absent-mind-
ed man, and story is told Of him
that he forgot the time OF his marri-
age. While he was employed as op-
orator, in Western Union Office, he
was always tinkering with the ma
Chimes" and / am told that he WAS
discharged by the the head boss, who
said that he would have no such &C.
centric fool about him. The Western
Union Co. now pay him $4,000 per
year for the use of his patents, and
furnish him shops, tools, and hands
for carrying out his experiments, they
having the refusal Of any new patents
he may take out. Edison was the
largest stakeholder in the Louisville
Exposition, and when the question
|, OF removing the Exposition to New
Orleans WAS discussed, and our papers
were under full sail Of discussion, pro
ct con, some one quietly remarked (:
"you had better ask Edison, for you
can't turn wheel without him."
The most novel of recent inventions
is called the Thinking Machine" !"
says an exchange, "it excites the won
der and admiration Of all who behold
it, many declare it the equal, in gem
eral utility, Of the sewing machine or
telephone" It is perfectly wonder
: full in its operation, yet very simple.
: 1t consists of pair of scales which
announced with unerring accuracy
} any number Of tons, pounds or ounces
8 at any price, anything TO be weighed
is placed in the scales, and the beam
! balanced. In the notch where the
i weight stops will be found the price
/ ofthe article in dollars and cents.
9 This ingenious little machine was pat
) tented by an individual residing in
: Gallipolis, Ohio,
: In conclusion, the smallest engine in
' the gorld, is the invention OF D. A. A.
t Buck, OF Watersburg, Conn. AS de.
!, scribed, the engine is made of steel
s and gold, has 14S distinct peices ol
machinery, held together by fifty.twc
+ screws. The whole rests upon 25
cent gold peice and can be worked by
r steam or compressed air. Three drops
2 of water fills the boiler to overAowing
I The diameter Of the cylinder is one
sixteenth OF an inch, the length of the
stroke is three-thirtyseconds of ar
r inch, The balance wheel is "a incl
i in diameter, and can make one thous
! and revolutions a minute. The wrist
|, pin is a sapphire cut for the purpose
n The whole engine weighs three grains
9 Something more practical anon.
l. G. SHELBuRNE.
Milligan, Tenn. 5Na
NJ