The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-05-05
FLOATING IN SPACE.



| believe that athletes such as those
who first obtained mastery over the
problem of the bicycle could very soon
learn to float, to ascend, to descend. to
ride upward, to soar and so forth, in
way which would very decisively ndi-
cate the possibility Of much fuller
mastery over the problem of fight
later on. Experiments which have
been already made prove decifVely
that mans weight can be suppbrted
BY planes or sails of very moderae ex-
tent-not much greater, proportiolally,
to his body than an eagles wiHs-if
only there is either rapid motion adj
vance or strong current of air akinst
their slightly slanted surface. But&~sf
experiments have not yet been socar-
ried on as to show fully what can be
done when practice in the art of balan-
cling in the air and in making the ad-
justments necessary for changing the
direction Of flight has been sufficiently
extended. Yet Mr.. Charles Spencer, a
teacher of gymnastics in England, was
able, after obtaining no greater velocity
than would be given by running down
a small incline, to sustain flight by the
supporting action of wicker wings for
u distance Of 120 feet. Besnier indeed,
toward the close Of the last century,
devised a method OF supporting the
body by pinions, which enabled him,
after a sharp run to fly across river
| of considerable width. 1t is certain
that very little is to be gained from the
attempts which have been made to
direct balloons. The velocity which
can be given to n balloon in still air i,
very small. A very moderate breeze
! would carry balloon one way despite
all the mechanical attempts to direct
it in another, let the balloon be shaped
as it may. Moreover, all such attempts
are dangerous, for the wind has {
great hold on the necessary large sur
face of a balloon, and going againsttht
wind would subject the balloon to de
structive influences. Whenever man at
tacks the problem of flight, seeking rea
advantage from its mastery, he will ain
ut much more than such mere floating
power as the balloon gives-at more
even. than the rapid floating motion
with power of guidance, which may b.
obtained by the experiments suggested
shove. There must also be powe
of energetic propulsion while still il
the air. This might be obtained ~
suitable adjustments of levers to d
worked by man in actual flight. Blu
while l believe flight to be possible foj
man in this way, l consider the onl,
kind of fight which is likely to b,
really useful to men to be that of fivin,
machines propelled. balanced and di
rected by some one or other of tn,
natural forces man has brought unde
his control. That man who has learne,
to traverse the land more swiftly h,
mechanical means than its most aetna
denizens, and to make the wide soo
his highways by similar devices, shonl,
be unable TO travel in the air, which l.,
natural selection alone has become tn
home of creatures descended from ron
lillian forms, is to me unthinkable r
Richard Il. Proctor, 5n Phiiddelphi,
Press.
He that conquereth himself ;
greater than one who taketh a cit1
But both have to give way TO the ma,
who can sit behind one of the aprin,
bonnets in theater without thinkin,
unutterable things. philadelphia Pres,
Yes. SIR said Popinjay, empLa,
ically, "Graball is q man of limite,
means, but unlimited meanness. -
! Darlington Free Press.