Repository: UIHistories Project: Sophograph - 1891 [PAGE 31]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

<lfi

I 111

•HOQRAPH.

shape resembling nothing 1 had ever seen before. It was longer in proportion than a cigar, was pointed al both ends, had a row of windows on the sill.- and (he height was rather greater than the width. II was propelled hy large screw-propellers whose rapid revolutions grave the eve only a hint- of their position al the stern of the vessel.'

"Nearer she c a m e until a l m o s t oyer us,

metal as t h e )•<• | of tin- :

-I.

huh. I

when, gracefully as a bird, she descended to 1 (In very platform upon which we were standing. Immediately a crowd of people came streaming out of one door while of hers crowded

in at a second."

told, was aluminum. There i little 'mi'- l < for observalion. A bell ounded and imm ately the platform seemed to drop I m und«*r us and soon became confu ed with the buildings around it. Now the eity i d to drop and began to sweep to the i r pr< enting th appearance of a stream of buildings, parks and lakes. But all the while I •• ttirely unconscious of motion in the ship I

t h e r e was not t h e s l i g h t e jar."

"This vessel slops again in the north end of the city where I live. and. as 1 lie trip over the city will give you a good view, perhaps you would not ooject to the ride," remarked my companion. "His words brought me hack from my wandering astonishment to a sense of the great reality before me, for I saw that, instead of an experiment, the air-ship1 was a practicable conveyance for passengers. "I ventured to remind him of the .accident to the 'Meda' only a few davs before and expressed some timidity in regard to the proposed ride, but he only smiled, saying that there was nomoredangei in riding in an air-ship than there was in the possibility of1 being struck by lightning. 'In either case, he continued, laughing, 'if there is any danger, the result is

I

"As the wind changed and t he v swung toward the direction whence it blew, I noticed that, instead of the current of buildings rushing to the rear, it med to chang its direction and drift to the right. I just make out what I supposed to I be limit of the city away in the distance on either

of t h e r i v e r o\' hoi|v ( .< w h i c h had I n rusliih.

so rapidly beneath us so sluggishly in th distance." "I was interestedly observing the grand seemed to rise to meei us and tin-re was a scarcely perceptible tremor of the ship; then a bell gave two sharp strokes and we roam! lefl the wonderful ship. f found myself upon a similar platform to that from which we started, hut this time surrounded by One residences instead of imposing store I ildings and factories." "After a short walk we arrived at m\ friend's home, a beautiful place. Having become, hy this time, somewhat accustomed the new ways. I was able to conduct myself s as not to show my astonishment i much a- I 11 had before.

" T h e s u p p e r was all it promised to he. ami a l t e r it was over, we walked to t h e c l u b - r

i:eneath

a n o r a m a , w h e n , s u d d e n l y , t h e part of tl

v

similar.

He led t h e way and I f o l l o w e d , t r e m -

blingly to be sure, for I did very much desire

to try if and find Out what it was like."

"\\ < entered a long hall with seats arrang• e noi unlike those of a railway coach and with d large square plate-glass windows through which could see the city to good advantage. I looked forile- machinery which gave motion to the immense propellers at the stern, hut I w only two round cases made of the same

together as they were no! faraway. Wefou I

t h e o t h e r y o u n g m e n w h o m I had' a it d i n ner t i m e and m a n y m o r e seated in g r o u p s t a l k -