South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-01

" ME Eueu4NdGh6 ph NA4N oNDJCNN
OF "super-cannon," capable Of
throwing projectiles three-quarters
OF a hundred miles, or more. have
remembered some boyhood expert
ments with projectiles Of the Old
Stone Age pattern, hurled by mus
culsr energy alone. There were no
theoretic calculations behind these
experiments: they were purely en-
pirical But 1 recollect that / derived
from them very clear impressions OF
the shapes OF stones. the angles of
elevation, and the styles Of throw
ing overland. underhand o. side
hand). best calculated for attaining
the mark under varying circum-
stances.
II was no instinct for scientific
knowledge that inspired me, but
simply the thrilling Joy of the boy
who sees the stone that has just
left his hand describe a beautiful
curve in the air, and at the end Of
il fight hit. possibly, a squirrel,
but more likely a COW, whose
broadness and placidity, combined
with the sudden f1irt OF heels and
tail with which she greetS a hit
makes her an irresistibly tempting
mark.
There was one form OF those
stone projectiles selected by youth
full experience for long ranges.
which offers suggestions in con-
~ p
shooting cannon. 1t was the
glider" fiat stone. with thin,
rounded edges. like those OF a
double-convex lens, which, when
projected by a peculiar underhand,
or underarn, sidethrow. the mas
terry OF which was only 10 be at
tanned by much experimentation,
either in a large meadow OF pas
ture. where birds sometimes fol-
lowed the flying stone for a mo-
ment. as II by mistake. or as &C
cepting its challenge 10 a trial Of
speed; or else on the margin OF a
broad river, where the feat OF drop
ping the stone on the pebbles OF the
opposite bank instead Of having ii
plunge with a dull chuck into the
water made the happy achiever as
proud as a strutting Achilles.
A great deal OF expert knowledge
appertained to the choosing Of these
stones A boy who had had the
requisite experience would inspect
their edges, squint along their sides
to observe the degree OF convexity,
run his thumb and fingers over
them with a judgmaticai air. 'heft'
them carefully in the hollow OF his
hand. and give them a few expert
mental undersrm swings before
planting his feet and bending his
spine for an actual throw.
II both stone and throw were per
feet the results were often really
surprising. and a famous throw over
a high barn. or across q wide stream
at noon recess. would keep the boys
side OF a country school breaking
silent-study rules for a whole after
noon.
A gliding stone behaves in the
air something like an aeroplane
It's tendency, while riding upor
the air. is 20 depart from a straight
course and 70 curve round. This
the boy throver can 10 a large
extent prevent. although he hardly
knows how he does tit depend:
upon the tip that he gives 20 the
stone. as well as upon the whir
that ne imparts 10 II, as IL leaves
his hand. The stone. when in the
air. has revolution around ar
axis perpendicular 20 its fat sides
and this revolution, by gyroscopiC
action. tends 20 prevent the stor,
/ from dipping down with its shaFT
edge toward the earth. II it doe:
get it's axis turned over into Z
horizontal plane 81 will dart earth
ward with a stroke like q knife
and one OF the widest recoiiec
tons OF the sounds familiar in Z
country boyhood is the startling
cut" OF such a stone cleaving th'
surface OF still deep water.
] u Is no neV idea. I suppose
that a Fat projectiie hurled from Z
cannon might successfully rid'
upon the air like a gliding stone
and 80 20 astonishing distances