Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-15
SCHOOLBOY FIREWORKS.

Somehow They wouldn't Work Properly
 and the Consequences Were Unpleasant.
 have in my mind display of fire works given by myself when 12 years of age or less. Dr. Adam Norris, my schoolmaster in those days, knowing that was past master in chemistry and an adept at the manufacture of col ored fire, directed me to organize an entertainment. The old gentleman is gone now where there may or may not be fireworks, but to his dying day he never appreciated my efforts on his be- half. It was proposed to illuminate the backgrounds with colored fires and lan- terms, to invite the parents of the 30 scholars and to regale them after the display with cake and wine-I mean, of course, the parents.
 was let off my evening lessons for week and allowed the run of the school laboratory. There 1 reveled in preparations. Not content with mere red, blue and yellow fires, I arranged Catherine wheels and Roman candles and rockets. l felt the instinct of Brock and Pain rising in me. even asked Dr. Norris for additional money, u1IAI lICtI A1CttI ANtCtb 1o1 o splendid novelty. He trusted me, talk ing the word of our chemistry master that I knew what I was doing. My novelty, which kept as grand sur prise, consisted of a set piece," with the words: God bless Dr. Adam Nor ris."
 This benign wish would come out in red fire and subsequently, change to green, if all went we'll. The night ar rived and the company. The prelimi- nary illumination was not entirely suc- cessful, as my assistants did not under stand their business, but the first Cath erine wheel went around several times and appeared to be we'll liked. Owing to some unfortunate miscalculation with the materials, my rockets would not soar. The spirit was willing; the chemical compound was weak. So they tore about the ground, like snakes, and hissed in among the company. and one let off purple stars under the petticoat of lady. A solitary rocket really went up a considerable distance, and the stick fell through the hothouse of man next door, who had always been unfriendly toward the school. I pass by the hot air balloon. It scared all right, but forgot to tic on the mag nesium light, so nobody realized what fine thing was being done. The Ro- man candles passed off without adverse comment, and then l lighted the set piece"
 You will not believe what happened. Nobody has ever credited the story, r E,1.1 r., thDnco,11S Tho facts, however, are these: Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the first two words of the dlsplay-those asking God to bless our good master-did not light at all; the next word, Doctor, fell off altogether; the "A" in Adam also fail ed, and the whole of our preceptor s surname, excepting the initial letter, blew up. What was the result? Why, against the black night, raised on SUD- ports some 20 feet above the heads of the bewildered assembly, there blazed forth solitary colossal Dam N.
 It burned red, and then in a silence that could be felt turned green. The Damn" and 1 turned green together. That ended the entertainment. People never believe this story. Indeed at so SrSdt a ulSGdlC0 OA l1IItO ! DO clined to doubt it myself, but cannot forget the subsequent interview with my dear old master in his study. We had a little private display of fireworks all to ourselves. Thus do most improbable effects result from remote causes. The Chinese by inyenting fireworks were do- ing thing which, after long genera tions of time, rendered it impossible for me to sit down with any comfort for week.-Idler.