The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1921-01-06

Acts of the Apostles, from mental and
physical modification due to his failure to
fly in Rome. Pretending that he was the
Paraclete or Holy Ghost, he had intended
to win over popular credulity by flying
either with artificial wings, or sort of
planning parachute, which brought him to
the ground from the high building where
his start was to have been made, with
broken leg
To come to more modern days, British
history furnishes proof of the constant
hope of mankind to conquer the air.
Some one has just unearthed an old
book in which learned English bishop
and scientist, John Wilkins as early as
1913, set forth in detail what he thought
of the science of flying.
1t was the restored monarch, Charles II,
himself dabbler in scientific matters,
who made Wilkins Bishop of Chester, in
1869.
AS a scientist, Wilkins had some repu-
tation, and indeed when the Royal Society
was formed in 1860, he was made its first
secretary. No wiser than the science of
his day, he believed that if man. could
reach the other side of the world in half
a day, simply by staying still and letting
the earth revolve underneath him.
The four ways of flying recognized as
possible in the book by Wilkins were: /,
by spirits or angels; 2, by the help of
birds; 3, by wings fastened to the body;
and 4, by flying chariot.
The first method, he gravely tells u.s.
is that used by witches: "Thus witches
are commonly related to pass unto their
usual meetings in some remote place; and
as they do sometimes sell winds 20 mari
ners, so likewise are they sometimes hired
to carry men speedily through the open
air."
The idea of attaching wings to the
body, he thought might be carried out
with sufficient practice. Most of the
"artists" who had tried it, he says, "did
unfortunately miscarry by falling down
and breaking their arms and legs, yet that
may be imputed to their want of exper-
fence, and too much fear, which must
needs possess men in such dangerous and
strange attempts. Therefore he that
would effect anything in this kind, must
be brought up to the constant practice of
it from his youth"
The flying chariot, however, our author
thought "much more useful than any of
the rest" Indeed, he believed it could
be propelled at 1000 miles an hour, once
it got beyond the earth's "orb of magnetic
virtue" and he saw no reason why men
should not visit the moon in such con-
veyance.
The aerial chariot, he says "may be so
contrived as to carry man within it;
and though the strength of spring might
perhaps be serviceable for the motion of
this engine, yet it were better to have it
assisted by the labor of some intelligent
mover. And, therefore, if it were made
gether, then each of them in their several
turns might successfully labor in the
causing of this motion, which thereby
would be much more constant and last
ing than it could otherwise be if it did
wholly depend on the strength of the
same person
Gas for the manner how the force of
the spring or the strength of person may
be applied to the wings of the chariot it
may easily be apprehended. Concerning
the proportion of the wings and the special
contrivances whereby the strength of the
wings may be applied either to ascend,
descend, progressive or turning motion,
all these and divers the like inquiries can
only be resolved by particular expert
ments. We know the invention of sailing
in ships does continually receive some
new addition from the experience of every