The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-06
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL COL
LECTION IN PARIS.
Some Strange MOnsters--Le Volta.
Rare Prints and Plates - Mile.
Klumuk'x Fxueriau~a

can be seen-from mighty machines of
shining steel and brass to the most deli
cate fabrics fashioned by their almost
human intelligence one occasionally
comes upon surprising cases. suggestive
collections which open unexpected ave-
nues of thought rather alien to the super
ly material forcefu'aess of surrounding
exhibits. Such are the remarkable cases
OF old keys ancient locks, and ornamental
iron work with which several happy hours
unconsciously slipped away. One could
scarcely imagine that so many beautiful
forms of historic keys could exist, until
these noteworthy collections of NJ. lie Secq
des Hournelles had been studied. An
other Is fascinating room full of antique
CLOCKS and watches. hourgiesees and clen-
sydras-the history of time. as it were.
and still servicesble IN annihilatng our
common father. though perhaps I'm a diff
ferent way from that which their long
vanished makers intended OF scarcely
less interest is the corner in which are
brought together all ancient devices in
connection with artificial light-cande-
sticks of exquisite old shapes and many
materials, shutters and trays. numberless
shelves of extinguishers, Roman lamps
and candclabra, an epitome of historic
inumina ton
But discovered to-day veritabe we'll
spring OF pleasantness, after a somewhat
arid stroll past wheels and leather, car
rages and carpets My attention was at
tracted by large, bat-like object sus-
pended overhead. showing a multiplicity
or mysterious and rather chaotic wings;
a bird, a butterfly an August cicala, a
bat and a whirling maple seed combin-
ed, might perhaps describe the Alder type
OF flying machine "eclaireur ct torpn-
leur." II seemed to suggest the objects
below. Captive balloons of many mod
els, with various kinds of cars and bas-
kets, opportunities for choice In ropes and
pulleys, and even the pongee silks made
in China and Japan for gaseous imitation,
attracted few gazers; but the case con
tanning a picture of Andree and his as
soc!ates Fraenkel and Strindberg was
constantly surrounded. as the one farther
on. representing the frozen ford and gls
tening mountains above which their bal.
loon was poised on July H. 1897. Aeronau-
teal instruments for meteorologic obser-
walton are grouped together, and a neigh
boring map shows the tracks of various
high-sir VOYAGES from Paris to distance
of 200 lSilometers. All these. with fly
ing machines of different principles and
epochs, "grapplers" and anchors for land
ing Unexpectedly or otherwise upon
earth and sea. make very modern sec
zion, of which the interest is not diminish
ed by a glance AZ the fine photographs
taken from different attitudes. These APP
pear to be a series of particularly good
engagements St Genis-Laval (Rhonel
from hight of $50 meters Is clear and
perfect. while charming picture of Gu
muius cloud in process of formation, al
lowing between its masses distant but
distinct glimpses of fields and woods, was
taken from a hight OF $50 meters. The
Pont-des-V aux (Ain) from 1890 meters is
snail yet still clearly defined. and love
ly cloud photographs are shown, made at
1850 meters altitude.
1t will be remembered that scientific as
cents for the purpose of getting above the
accidents of meteorological circums lance
have not been unknown; and here may be
seen the actual substances of lie Volta, in
which the famous astronomer Jansen
made his upper-air pilgrimage on Dec. 2,
1870 This devoted observer thus leaving
5eseged Paris in ample time for the suns
eclipse of the 22d was not rewarded for
his energetic falthfunes; an overcast
sky being his portion upon the important
day The siege of Paris, indeed, is con-
slanty memorlalized In these aerial cases,
in ways other than scientific One of them
Contains fragment OF the material used
by Eugene GODDARD in constructing lie
Washington for use during that memora-
Bile winter: some of the dispatches thus
sent overhead: and pictures of the balloon
high above the city, casting its shadow
upon surrounding clouds. Here, too, one
sees the carefully stuffed body of the car
rier-pigeon celebrated at that troublous
time-another sort of aerial communication,
10 be sure, but perhaps appropriately com
memorated here The tragic death In the
sea of Prince on Nov. 30. 1870, and OF La
Gaze who assembled In the Richard Wal
lace on Jan. q, 1871, and also persisted in
the ocean. are represented several times in
narrowing pictures Other cases contain
volumes upon hgh-air navigation vol
umes of L'Aeronaute. and numbers of the
Journal des Voyages, illustrating this
phase Of human endeavor Also exhibited
are the kite explorations OF upper sir
brought to such successful issue by Mr..
A. Lawrence Rotch of Blue Hill. The
familiar face of Dr. Abel Hureau de VII
leneuve and those of NM. Henry Clifford
and Maurice Mallet look from one frame.
beside many old engravings OF ascension,
successful descents, and fatal endings.
But historical collections OF balloon mem
brabiia may be both poetic and aesthetic
This Is proved by the quaint and beauti-
full articles owned by NJ Louis Berean and
NJ. Albert Tissandier shown near by.
Curious old prints published more than
hundred years ago. some OF them color
ed, represent every sort OF attempt ut
aerial navigation. sometimes seriously
often in amusing caricature. with catas-
trophies, both humorous and CHASTITY,
which would appear to have been par
ticularly dear TO the hearts of artists
and engravers In 1888 and therea bouts.
Stone and marble tablets. one OF that year
in memory of De Rozier, oddly decorated
medals in silver and bronze. an ancient