The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-21

center of ancient w H~SO (S\l
Rome. There was w
the capitol, with u ....
flock of geese sun HE Lloloh AnhE9io
ming themselves NLhNANDhH'
upon the rock There was the Coliseum;
There were Caesar and Mark Antony, walk
ing arm in arm. There were Horatius
Coolies, fresh from his gallant defense of tho
bridge, and Virgil standing at the corner
rcciting the "AIneid" to small crowd.
But he had no time for further reflec-
ton. A large crowd had gathered around
him, wondering whether he was barba-
rian or god A lictor came up to inquire,
and at once placed Smith under arrest as
n suspicious person. The cold sweat stood
on AleXander's brow. As the lictor spoke
there was heard the roar of the hungry
lion from within the Coliseum. AS he
marched along to the cells he instinctively
put his hand in his pocket. There was his
new revolver. His spirits rose, but only to
sink again when he found that all the
cartridges had been fired but one, and he
had no others with him.
He was taken before the manager and
allotted Il part in the grand finale, " when
20 wild beasts were toasted on 20 Chris
tians. Even at this terrible moment the
thought of one man one lion' brought a
smile to his pale lips. Let him tackle his
lion alone After considerable parley his
request was granted.
A E last his turn came
With Il loud roar u large but consump-
tive looking lion came trotting toward
him. Alexander grasped his pistol firmly.
A yell from the audience, n darkening of
the air and the lion was upon him. He
pulled his trigger and fell beneath the
beast. When Alexander came to himself
the whole assembly was ringing with ap-
plause. The lion, shot through the brain,
lay dead at his feet.
Alexander was taken before the emperor
and congratulated warmly on his victory.
On the following day he must have turn
with the gladiators. Having no more
cartridges, Alexander declined the honor.
But the emperor was obdurate. just then
the poet Horace came up and asked him
the secret of his wonderful smoke killer
Alexander only smiled and murmured
something about "integer VITAE sccler-
isquc purus, and so pleased was the poet
ut hearing himself quoted that he suggest
cd that the barbarian should be exempt
! from further performance if he would eX-
| plain how to make those wonderful smoke
| killers.
Alexander said not only would he dc
that, but that he would show them many
another triumph of scicnce-the electric
light, or how to make midnight suns with
in their houses, how to talk to men in dis.
tant lands across the seas in an instant,
and an engine which would draw chariots
60 miles an hour.
SO it was arranged that on the ides of
March the barbarian should explain his
wonderful discoveries Meantime he was
assigned as many workmen as he chose for
the manufacture of his implements. The
days flew madly by.
At the appointed hour Alexander faced
his audience and began in his best Latin:
Friends, Romans and Emperor-Lend
me your ears. l will lay before you the
triumphs of inventive genius. First, the
electric light, bright as the sun, and you
can have lamps of it in your houses or in
the street. A child can light "a whole city
in an instant. Electricity is of two kinds
and runs along the wires to the lamp.
Here, you observe, are two wires, and here
is lamp TO light the lamp l turn II tap
like this, which let's the electric current
run along the wires. Slight applause and
cries of Light the lampW Electricity is
made in Il battery or in dynamo. I'm
fortunately l forget how either of these
instruments is made. Loud murmurs.
Having shown to you the wonders OF
the electric light, we now pass on to the
telegraph. This also requires n battery
[Groans. BY simple means of electric
shocks passing along the wires II man here
in Rome may in one minute send mes
sage to II friend in Greece or even in Brit
ain. Incredulous murmurs. l cannon
illustrate this miraculous invention be
cause rs / have explained, have no bat
terry loud groansl but l assure you upor
my honor that every word that have sait
Is true.
1--WE now pass to the smoke killer will
which you saw me stay the lion. Lout
cheers. This will be of service to you il
your wars. These smoke killers are some
times made so big as to send balls Of iron
as large AS mans head for more than q
mile. Ironcal cheers.
1.-The secret of this marvellous force IL
gunpowder, which, when lighted, explode'
with roar as of thunder and drives on
the ball. Unfortunately have run out o
gunpowder lgroansl, and | have been un
able to find materials to manufactur,
some. / believe it's most important in
gredient is saltpeter, but have been un
able to find any. Loud hooting and erie
of ITO the lions!"l
Have patience, friends and Romans
Here is II steam engine which runs on iroI
rails. have attached chariot to it. In
side the engine is placed water, underneath
which burns fire. As l speak, the watel
must be nearly boiling. The steam thu
generated passes into u cylinder and forces
out IA large bar of iron attached to thu
spokes of one of the wheels, and thus thu
wheel will go round ana the engine will
move. See, ii moves. The engine starts
[Thunders of applause. Merciful heavens
l have forgotten the safety valve Romans
dispersed There is going to be an explo'-
Bang!
The thing had burst, shaking the Coli
scum to its mighty foundations, and Alex
ander fell 10 the ground among the debris
of the emperor and his assembled subjects
oliver 5. Jones in New York Journal
No Fable.