Year: 1875

digious secret, of the magnitude of which
they could judge when it was presented
to them.


The whole affair at this point came
near being broken off in disgust by an
unexpected requirement which the un-
known stranger exacted. He declined
to proceed unless all present entered in
TO an agreement not to communicate
what they might witness to any living
person for a period of ten years, without
gaining his consent. The Right Honor
able G. was on his mettle at once. He
washed his hands of the whole matter,
and desired to retire Immediately. The
others were equally indignant, and ex-
pressions not considered elegant in high
society were heard. 1t required all Mr.
| Blong.r's sagacity to quell the storm
But the young man was immovable, and
at last, at the earnest solicitation of Mr..
Blonger, the guarantee was given. The
stranger then took the stage, and the an
ditors the seats Immediately in front of
/ it.


Gentlemen" he began, "from what
have noticed of your incredulity this
evening, am satisfied that if / should
inform you that if the attraction of grav-
itation could be SO suspended that OBJ
jects upon the earth's surface would
have absolutely no weight, and, further,
that was in possession of the simple
means whereby this end could be accom-
plished, you would only greet my asser-
tions with jeers and ridicule. l shall
therefore, show you what can do first
and talk afterward. You see in my
hand this coil of wire, blue, like temper
ed steel. This cannon weight nearly
three tons. I wrap the wire around it.
If you listen carefully you will hear
| burning sound, similar to that made by
an electrical machine. But that has
nothing to do with the matter. The
ends of the wire are joined. This can
| non now weighs no more than a soap
bubble. You see l move it about
through the air with my hand, with two
fingers, with one. Here is a strong oak
en- chair. l place the cannon upon it,
and when l withdraw the wire mark the
result. The chair goes crushing to
pieces on the floor, under the weight of
| three tons of iron"


The conclusive proof of the grandest
discovery ever yet made by man brought
every person present to his feet. Mr..
Blonger stood apart in triumph. The
young exhibitor alone remained un-
moved.


"How is it done?" cried they ALL
"How did you make this wonderful dis
covery"


They now looked upon him with the
awe one feels in the presence of a supe
rior being.


He raised his hand and requested 81
lence.


"The action of the simple wire" he
said dis not confined to metallic sub
stances. Its effects on all objects are
| the same. / put it around the wooden
bench, as you see. and the bench weighs
| nothing; around this chair, and the re-
suit is the same. Here is this large iron
shaft and these wheels. You perceive
that it affects all alike. Perhaps you
think it has no power over living sub
stances. You are mistaken. ! will
agree TO put this little wire around my
waist, and step from the dome of ST.
Paul's. will show you"
A ladder extended from the floor to
the lofty ceiling of the hall. The stran-
ger climbed to its very summit, adjusted
| his belt, and sprung off boldly He
slowly unclasped the ends of the wire,
so that they scarcely came in contact,
and descended gradually and safely to
the ground, to the infinite relief of the
spectators, who gazed horror struck at
| the scene.


"Thus you see, gentlemen" said he,
again ascending the stage, "what powers
lie hidden in nature, until they are ac-
cidentally stumbled upon. You all
think that there is some power contain
ed in this wire. l must tell you that
wire has but little to do with it. And
yet will agree Ito go down to any of
your seaports, and put this wire, or one
like it, around any of your senventy- four
gun ships we read of, and lift into 4 dry
dock, with a line no bigger than pack
thread, if the wind is not blowing at
the time. This wire, at which you all
gaze so curiously. has no power in itself
1t is only the means of communicating a
power; still no man shall examine it ex-
cept under certain conditions; and this
brings me to the point I intended to
make by calling gentlemen of your high
standing and intelligence here tonight.
wish to sell my knowledge to the Eng
lish government"


"And why to the government" cried
the Right Honorable B. I. and the Hon
Mr.. S., in a breath.


because no individual is rich enough


to buy it. / once thought to dispose OF


it to my own government-that of the
United States-but I shall not enter in
to the reasons why I abandoned that


idea and came here. Besides, it becomes
F public property after ten years. 1 would


not agree to sell the right under any


condition for longer ti'ae. The bene.
fits of the discovery are universal, and


in justice belong to mankind, and man.


kind shall have them"


Said a member of the cabinet:


"Your idea a. selling such discovery
TO the government of Great Britain


seems chimercial, and, may add, SAVIOR.
of selfishness to keep your knowledge
from the world. But may be permit
ted to ask how much you demand fol
, your knowledge?"


Here the young man rose to his feel
, in an excited manner.


"You talk OF selfishness," said he; "a
, know what it is to labor and to suffer
to be lost amid mountains, and tormen
ted with thirst upon deserts. 1 hav,
IL L r