The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-26
RIDE ON LILYLEAF.
Plant With Leaves 20 Feet in Cir
cum ference Serves as a Boat.

cum16rencS serves as Boat
St. Louis, Oct. ga green leaf. no
thicker than ordinary card board, float
ing on water five feet deep and bearing
the weight of a PIT pound woman.
This was witnessed at Tower Grove
park yesterday, when superintendent
James Gurney sought to determine the
carrying capacity of the leaves of the
Nymphaea Victoria Regia, more COM
monty known as the Royal Water
Lily.
The leaves of this remarkable plant
spring from &, mammoth parent stalk
growing in water. They are attached
to the stalk by a growth resembling an
ordinary rope. This cable is several
feet in length, allowing the leaf lati-
tude in which to float about. The rope
which holds it to the central stalk is
under water far enough to be invisible,
except on close inspection. The parent
growth is also submerged, except
small bit of it's top. An average leaf
OF this species Is Is or ~ 1eet IN cir
cumference and perfectly round. The
outer edges turn upward, forming
rim, which makes a basin-like interior
The rope or cable through which the
leaf draws it's sustenance from the par
ent growth which is stationary, at
taches itself to the leaf in the center on
the under side. There is no other sup
port and the leaf moves about on the
water. The cable is of no value as a
support to keep the leaf from sinking
under a load, because it is not more
than an inch in diameter and is so
slack that it bangles in the water.
Adventurous people who like to take
the risk of standing on the leaves of
the pretty lily walk out into the pond
on boards which are laid for that pur-
pose A circular frame is laid upon the
leaf, fitting snugly inside of the rim.
This frame is covered underneath
with soft cloth to prevent bruiSing the
tender leaf. Thus arranged, a man or
woman steps into the basin. The leaf
moves about, the motive power being
furnished by the swaying of the pas
senger's body.
4 want to find a heavy person to
make the test said superintendent
Gurney. 4 suppose 1 will get the park
policeman He weighs 1913 pounds"
The officer was called, but before he
reached the pond where the lilies grow
a fat man of middle age Strolled along.
A little persuasion and he agreed to
make the novel voyage.
Fix the ship for navigation" said
| Superintendent Gurney to Philip, the
gardener.
Philip hastened to supply the frame
work and the fat man walked the gang
plank and stepped upon one of the big
! leaves.
Il weigh 212 pounds he said, land
this is rather dangerous, 1 fear, yet
will try it."
once aboard the unique craft, the
man of ponderous weight felt as much
! at ease as if standing on the lower
| deck of the biggest boat that ever piled
| the Mississippi.
The fat man who refused to reveal
his identity, had hardly regained terra
| firma when along came a woman, even
more cOrpulent than he.
I saw that kind of lily in Rome this
| summer, when 1 was making a tour of
/ the old world" the woman said, and 1
| would like to stand on one of those
| leaves. over in Rome they were afraid
| to let me try it"
How much do you weigh?'' inquired
| Superintendent Gurney.
| Two hundred and seventeen
| pounds
We'll. I hardly know about that. You
| will not get nervous, will you?"
| What woman like me get nerV-
| Gus? Why, sir, I can swim as we'll
| any athlete in this city. If you are
| willing to take chances on your lily be-
I ing smashed, 1 will assume all risk so
| far as / am concerned"
| Enough said. The superintendent
! knew his lily well enough to have faith
| in it's ability to take care of itself The
| gang plank swayed and squeaked un-
! der the WOman'S weight, and it wasn't
| frail plank, either.
| She walked out on the plank to the
/ leaf that had been equipped with the
! frame work. Cautiously she placed one
! foot, then the other, on the leaf. Then
| with arms akimbO the woman of flesh
| sailed away as jolly as any tar. She
! went far as the cable would permit,
/ then when her body swayed by the
| sudden stop, she sailed back to the
| starting point. The crowd that wit
| messed the exhibition said it was Won
| derful. The fat woman was accompa
| MED by a boy well along in his teens.
/ he IOAOWeQ MS mother On the ledI-
! Several other spectators tried the ex-
| pertinent.
| I believe that leaf would bear up
| $50 pounds said the superintendent
| after he had seen the graceful voyage
| of the fat woman.
'How can it be possible for 200 pounds
| to be held up that way?" was fire.
| quent question.
1t is not because of thickness, for the
| leaves are not thick. 1t is not because
| of durability of texture, for the leaves
IL ~I,s1 IL ,-1~-
| it's finger through them.
! An examination of the under side re-
| veals the secret. Each leaf is a net
work of cells, somewhat like honey
! comb, only the compartments are larg-
| er. On a leaf Of average size these
! cells are about two inches square in d.
I mension. The air gathers in these re-
| ceptacles, giving floating buoyancy.