Telegram-herald., 1890-03-11

e<zSA
He BEGAN his CALCULATION WITH A
DIAGRAM
81 centinemes. This gives the globe
speed Of 50 400 miles travelled over by
the rotation CT tho earth upon its axis
For a point ol its surface situated az
the equator, 4o3 meters per second.
These were the principal measures
of space, time, bulk. etc, which Mr..
Maston used in his calculations
IL was the 5th of October, about five
o'clock IN the afternoon, it IS importan.
10 mention, when this remarkable work
was begun. when j. L. Matson began 70
work upon IL lie began his calculation
with diagram representing the circum-
ference OF the earth around one of is
grand circles, say the equator. The
blackboard was there, in corner Of his
study, upon a polished oak easel, with
good light shining on it, coming from
one of the windows near by. Small
pieces Of chalk were on the board at
tached to the stand. The sponge was
near tae hand of the calculator. His
right hand, or rather his right hook
was az e adv Icr tA9 rl~r'ar - fio--
which he was going to use. Standing
up Mr.. Maston made large round cir
Gle, which represented the world. The
equator he marked by straight line.
Then in the right corner of the black
board he began to put the figures which
represented the circumference of the
earth:
10000, 600.
This done, he began figuring on his
problem. He was so much occupied by
it that he had not observed the weather
without. For an hour a storm had
raved through the country which az
fected all living beings. 1t was
terrific storm, the rain was falling in
torrents, every thing seemed turned up
side down in nature. Two or three
times lightning had Illuminated the
scene around him. But the mathe-
matician, moro and more absorbed in
his work. sa W and heard nothing. Sud
denly an electric bolt, attracted by the
lightning outside, sparkled in his room,
and this disturbed the calculator.
Well" said Mr.. Maston, 'if unwel-
come visitors can not get in by the door
they come by telephone. A nice inven-
tion for people who wish to be left
alone. I will go TO work ar cut of
the electric wire so ! will not % dis
turbed again while my figuring lasts"
With this he went to the telephone and
said. sternly: "Who wants TO talk TO
ne? just make IL short" The reply
came back: Did you not recognize my
voice, nv dear Mr.. Maston? 1t is |,
Mrs. Scorbitt' > Mrs. Scorbitt! She
will never give me moments rest"
uttered Mr.. Maston to himself in low
voice that she could not hear. Then
he thought he should at least answer
her in polite manner, and said: "Oh,
is that you, Mrs. Scorbitt?'
''Yes. dear Mr.. Maston.'
"Ar1 what can do for Mrs. Scorbitt?'
asked .'iaston-
Il want TO tell YOU that terrible
storm and lightning is destroying
large part of our city We'll" he re-
piled. Il can not help it. But | want to
ask whether you have thought TO close
your windows?' Mrs. Scorbitt had
hardly finished her sentence when
terrible thunderbolt struck the town.
1t struck in the neighborhood Of the
Ballistic Cottage, and the electricity,
passing along the wire with which tho
telephone was provided. threw the cal
culator TO the floor with = terrible force
J. 7. Maston made the best summer
sault he ever did in his life. His metal
Il 10.
was thrown down like shuttlecock.
The blackboard. which he had struck in
his fall, was sent flying TO another part
Of the room. Then the electricity
passed into other objects and disap-
peared through the floor. The stupeied
Mr.. Maston got mp and touched the diff
fcrent parts of his body 10 assure HIM
sef that he was not hurt internally.
This done, he resumed his cold, calculat-
ing way. He picked every thing up
In his room, put il in the same place
where it had been before, and put his
blackboard on the easel. picked up
the small pieces OF chalk, and began
again his work which had been so sud
denly interrupted. lie noticed that on
account Of the fan the number which
he had made on the right side Of the
blackboard was partly erased and he
was lust about to replace II when bis
telephone again rang With loud noise
Again" said J. T. Maston. and going
20 the telephone he exclaimed: Who
is tbereg' Mistress Scorbitt" And
wbat does Mira Scorbitt want2' Did
not this terrible thunderbolt strike
Ballis.ic Cottage2 have good reasons
20 think SO. Al. great God. the thun-
derboltr'
"Don'the alarmed. Mrs. Scorbi't"
"You have not been injured. VI Mas
TOM
Not a. all. - be replied.
"You are sure you have Nc Injuries
whatever said the lady.
4 am only touche5 hy yOar kindness
toward ne. replied N-. Maston, think
inr IS the best way o answer
Good evening. dear Mr. Nsston.
Good evening dear Mrs Scorbittr
Returning % his york NJ. Msston
sad. sotto voos: To the devil with her.
r. So had nos handled tbe telephone a.
such tire would rot have ran tie
rlsk q belaz hnrt BIZ electricity
NJ Maston ssd not wisb o. - inter
rup-ed IN is worx scsin. and 20 took
G Vn his telephone sua cat the Tirs
Tben- taking again as bass t.e fz1rs
which ke b Al vritten- he sdde1 dl 6erent
formulas - f. sad frallT certain
formula vhich b ksd written O. h.s
lsft s3e. and tten be began ~ 6Tars In
a. he language q a lTehra- q week