The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-07-17

Vne law OF cohesion there. And, if SO
why may we not ultimately discover
it and apply it on a larger scaleG"
In the opening chapter of the book
DR.. Cortlandt is made to say that cleo
tricity is of two kinds, positive and
negative. Yet, although this principle
was known for hundreds of years, men
never thought of finding the negative
force that is the opposite of gravitation.
1t was true, he went on that a few
Hindo jugglers and European predes-
tidigitateurs gave exhibitions of people
suspended without visible means of
support, and although most of these
exhibitions were pure illusions, it was
fair to believe, in the light of the event
ual discovery of 'apergy, that some of
them really exercised that power with
out realizing it's great benefit to HUI
manity.
you have read Bellamy's Looking
Backwards"
Eyes"
But your book has very little to
say about social problems"
Il found there was scarcely room
for that"
"When did you conceive of the idea
of writing a book9"
"About two years ago 1 began" re-
piled Mr. Aston. cit was a gradual
growth. 1t is in three books, youknow,
and bound together they make over
400 pages.
"When 1 set about writing I made a
list of the books that had a bearing on
the subject. I was surprised to see
how many there were. Twas also sur
prised to find a considerable discrepancy
between different authors on simple
questions Of astronomical science. For
instance, when I tried to find the angle
of inclination of the axis of each planet
to the plane of it's orbit, I came upon
the widest differences of opinion. Again,
in estimating the relative power of
gravitation on Jupiter, as compared
with that of the earth, some authorities
did not agree. In cases where I found
two or more good Authorities in support
of my own views I went ahead with
the story on the lines supported by
those authorities.
81 vas very irregular in my literary
work. For two months last summer l
did not touch the book. l worked as 1
felt the inspiration, and have some
times worked nearly all night. 1t was
kept a profound secret, and when
finished was given to a typewriter to
copy, and after being corrected as to
it's theological leanings by DR.. Vibbert,
was submitted to Mr.. Hitchcock"
"In which of the characters did you
feel the greatest personal INTEREST,"
''There are three leading characters
in the book, and I tried to make them
all equally interesting. The character
of Col. Bearwarden was suggested to
me by a friend with whom l took a
shooting trip in Florida, also a Colonel.
He had developed the copper mines of
Lake Superior and reclaimed a great
deal of land in Florida from the Ever
glades. In the early part of the book
1 make n of the characters say that
the undertaking before them is greater
than either Of these enterprises. I
wrote that in the hope that any hunt
ing companion, the Colonel would see
it and recognize himself. DR.. Cort-
landt, a second character, is practical
man, and Ayrult, the youngest man,
l is somewhat sentinel, although he is
also intensely scientific.
Il wrote what 1 did about an inn
, proved payment in the streets of New
, York in the hope that some time my
suggestion would help bring about q
| better pavement, 1 firmly believe in
: the great future of electricity, and
, have for amusement and instruction an
( electric launch on tie Harlem. "-NeW
York San.