Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 4, Number 9, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 30 August 1873 — Page 1

Vol. 4.-—No. 9.

Husks and Nubbins.

OKIOIWAI.ITT.

It is astonishing how mucb*f«iTis written and printed. I have before me a certain periodical which makes some pretentions to literary excellence. There isln it a column which is filled each week by the same writer. The column is given a prominent place and headed in large type, as if indicative that something of a superior kind wore to be found there. \et there is nothing in itwbatevfr. Column after column is spun out of the commonest platitudes. The reader is never surprised by the sudden appearance of an original idea in the barren waste of words. There is not even the skeleton of anew thought to bo found. All is dry, dull and utterly commonplace. It must bo popular or the publishers would hardly continue it. And yet how can it be sot How can peoplo have patience to sit down week after week to literary busks that are dryer than those the Prodigal of old would fain have filled his belly with? It would seem that when anyone undertakes to write ho should have at least a vague shadow of some original idea in his kead. If he is only to drawl through a column of stale commonplaces that all liis readers have been familinrwith from childhood, why put bis pen to paper at all Would it not be better that the space be filled with selections from the choice writings of those who had thoughts of their own?

The secret is to have oriff'vial mattor. Every publisher lookB out for pens which are dedicated to his service alone. There is a powerful and altogether poculiar charm in this thing of originality. There aro whole libraries of tho wisest nnd most beautiful thoughts which the publisher could get for nothing. Hut somehow when copied into his paper they seem stale. They lack tt*o novelty of a first appearance. They have been road beforo. Many people, the readers cannot help thinking, have gone over this before mo.

ho turns to the loaded columns

that have the magic words, "written expressly for," printed above them, lie does not expect perhaps to find naythlng so wise or beautiful as the selection he ho* refused to road contains, but he will at least find something new, something which is spread before tho public eyo for the first time —which has como fresh from the author's manusoript. To so great an extent does this desire for novelty operuto that many persons who read over tho list of rejected articles feel a twinge of pain that the editor rejected them. Tbey have a curiosity to see just what the manuscripts contain,anyway. The "Lines to a Lover" and "Good-bye" may not be literary treasures to be sure, but they are something and maybe the editor didn't estimate them at their.true value.

Then again originality Itt^ilves the idea of work Somebody wrote this not very long ago. The reader fancies he can see tho palo-foced girl sitting in her small room upstairs, with a pencil poised in her dainty fingers and a perplexed frown on her brow, as she slowly worked out the stanzas before him. Porhaps there 1* no great amount of that transcendental ecstasy termed poetry In them, but then they cost pains snd thought and work and are interoMlng on that account, ——Hut it is tho orlgiuaUty that is truly original which pays best. Merely to revamp old thoughts is not originality. The original mind thinks for Itself. Its ideaa may not bo those of the *massets, it is true—they may be odd Mid peculiar. Still if they are new t&ey are valuable. It seems to me the publishers make a mistake oftentimes on this potttt. They aro too particular •bout getting Ideas which agree with their own, or which ihey believe will suit the views of a majority of their readers. When an article comes in of a sober snd subdued sort, fairly written and unexceptionably conservative,they aro Inclined to accept it. "Oh, well," they say, "It's not likely to set the world on fire, to be sure, but then it won't do any harm." Xo, It wont do any harm, that's a fact,because it won't doanythlng. The daU platitude will slip smoothly down the current of popular trash and secure a mechanical perusal merely because It Is in the paper. Hut when a package of quaint, snarly manuscript cornea skipping Into the office some day, fall of odd thoughts and fanciful Ideas, brimming over with verve and vivacity, the editor looks at it askance and Is Inclined to be afraid of it. lie don't know about that. It'a real aplcy and good, but then he can't agree with the Ideas of the author and he doesn't think they are correct. What If they are not Is nothing to be printed which is not altogether orthodox and according to received opinion? Cannot the reader be trusted to judge for himself what la false and what Is true? —E*wy thought that Is new hi good. Much has been said in commiseration and disparagement of poor wayward Poa yet Poe was original In his way and no cultured person would

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wact to see bis four volumes banished from his library. Wild and fantastic as they are their very wildness and incoherence aro the stamp of genius. Every new product of thought is valuable. We can easily spare those voluminous scribblers who do nothing but diluto the thought of others with their empty commonplaces, but for everyone who has some thought of his own to say, no matter in what direction it tend, there is always room and a welcome.

I am reminded of a fine saying of Rlcbter's, that, "In Germany no great autborcan light a new torch, and hold it out into the world till bo is tired and throws away the fag-end of it, without the little ones immediately pouncing upon it, and running round and shining round for half years longer with the little end of a light." If the author of the "Dream upon the Universe" bad lived in our own Yankee land,'notorious as it is for its immense faculty of invention, he might have had tho same complaint to make. Here, as in Germany, there is a tribe of mechanical scribblers who make it their business to way-lay tho now thoughts of others ss they pass, and by cunning disguise of words, send them ou the way as their own. Piracy will sooner be banished from the high seas than from literature.

P. S.—Hasks and Nubbins certainly appreciates tho kind notice of the Ducannon Record and, if he has not deserved it, will try harder than ever to do hO.

Town-Talk.

The editor of The Mail tells T. T. that tho lirst page this week is "up in a balloon," and that with the amount of Husks and Nubbins taken in for ballast, little room is left for Town Talkso T. T. will use his limited space in talking of what,

T. T. I.IKES TO SEE.

T. T. likes to see a number of men stand on the sidewalk, obstructing all passers by, and making a business of staring at every lady that passes. He likes it better on the corner of the streets—say Main and Sixth, or near the postofflce, whore there is a hotter chanco for staring impudence and useless obstruction to pedestrians.

T. T. likes to see about three women, side by side, sweep the sidewalk, not only with their dresses, but of all pedestrians coming in an opposite direction, and compelling said pedestrians olthor to tdko to tho gutter or "hug,"— not the women, but the wall of the nearest building. v• Ai.i••**5?

T. T. likes to soe fast drivers drive fast horses through tho streets and over tho crossings without tho slightest check, especially when there is ft good supply of mud near the crossing. It is so amusing to see the mud fly over the clothes of the poor pedestrians.

T. T. likos to see a young women care more about her dress than her education—more about the color of a ribbon than the appearance of the rooms that come under her household cares— more about the fashion plates than clean plates on the table. These things show that she will make an excellent housewife.

T. T. likes to see a young man with nothing to do, twisting a light cane, surmounted by a feminlno ivery leg, with au elegant necktie, with a choice cigar underneath his slowly developing moustache, with bob-tailed coat, closely fitting pants and boots so tight that his step resembles tbat of along-legged .Shanghai rooster in bis attempts to straddle through a pile of brush. These things show taste and an aspiration for observation from others.

T. T. likes to see young ladles In the* parlor playing on the pisno "Who will care for mother now," while their mother is in the kitchen washing their dirty clothes. '.

T. T. llltes loaeeaman inippishlyiliswer his wife a question, look daggers at her for bothering him, and the next minute put on a bland smile to answer the servant girl the same question.

T. T. likaa to see a teamster or "the honest farmer," when he wishes to bold a little conversation with some comrade stop as near the centre of a creasing aa possible. This particularly pleasant in a muddy time.

T. T. llkee to see a man sit around store doors and loudly talk of everything and everybody in a manner that t»hows he knows it all—or, tbinka he does.

T. T. likes to see a rich man compel a poor man to work for the lowest possible sum per dayv particularly so, when the poor man has no alternative between that work and Buffering in his poor family. It abows a benevolent spirit.

T. T. likes to see a woman visiting her neighbors while her children run ragged and dirty in the streets. It shows that she is not selfish—earing more for her neighbors than her own

likes to see a childless father

telling how he Would bring up "yonng it abows that he talks of what one*. be knows.

T. T. llkee to see people who eav hard things about their neighbor! do tho *ame things themselves. It show* con

^Tbere are many other things T. T. llkee to eee, and of which be when he haa more space at his comm,Dd-

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The Balloon Voyage.

TO EUROPE IN SIXTY HOURS,

To-day the New York Dally Graphic Company expect to have completed the balloon with which Prof. John Wise and Washington H. Donaldson propose to attempt a trans-atlantic aerial voyage. Tho start will be made next week or the week following, on such a day as tho weather bureau at Washington may doom favorable. As the time approaches and their preparations become completed, it must be confessed that their enterprise promises far better than when the project was first announced. A sufficiency of funds, together with able direction and energetic management, have done all possible to overcome the known difficulties of the aerial journey, and to forestall all possible dangers. r'

Aerial navigation is no new thing, but for a long series of years it has been chiefly in the bands of charlatans —used to draw a crowd at fairs or oirctiftsea, mid too frequently ecu^loyed to ox tort money by acts of foolhardy daring and recklessness. Now we ilave promise of some practical and highly valuable results, and aerial navigation bids fair shortly to be elevated into a science, governed by fixed and wellknown laws. Professor John Wise and W. II. Donaldson, Esq., sre balloonists of Rroit experience ard intrepidity. Moreover, they have a firm, settled /ailh, snd sre so confident in it, tbat they are willing to risk ttfeir lives in a test. At an outfit of ten thoussnd dol1mm lie two propose to make a pioneer voyage across the Atlantic. Their enterprise Is deservedly attracting worldwide attention. We believe their expectations of success ore founded, on well established scientific laws, and we

TERRE-HAUTE, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1873. Price Five Cents.

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have great faith In the prosperity of their hardy venture. A shrewd old maxim says "Beware of the man of one idea." John Wise is that man, and believing tbat he will astonish the world, and uproot old notions, we present in this issue an illustration of his proposed balloon, and portraits of himself and bis fellow-voyager. "There Is no success like success." Should the two succeed In crossing the Atlantic in three or four days, as proposed, they will at once be elevated from the dubious position of reckless adventurers to that of heroes—daring pioneers of science, whom the world will delight to honor. The project is no new thing with either of them. For many years Professor Wise especially, has been battling for just such a chance. It is no visionary, hair-brained scheme with him. Ho has carefully—In the light of scientific laws and observationwrought out bis theory, and is buoyant and confident, now tbat he is on the very eve of fairly testing it.

Prof. Wise olaime that the route he ItitassU tepursue is Nature's highway laid out for man in the trade-wind currents running from west to east, and In our temperate zone from the northwest and the south-west. The Smithsonian Institute states tbat "the existence of these currents ia«n established fact of scienoe, confiCT&d by every day's experienMfef? Ialbe, however, a mistake has JH^btifcde, and the balloon fails to reafl^HpBeetination, the adventurous trawBw will be provided with a life-boat.

The balloon, Mr. Wise wrote recently to the Philadelphia To-Day, "will be of globular form, and of capacity sufficient to carry fifteen thousand pounds, and of disposable ballast of ten thousand pounds. It will be made upon the beat method, derived from an experi-

ence of thirty-five years of balloon construction, and as nearly as possible gastight. The details of supplemental balloons, of car and gallery, life-boat etc., are contrived and provided for in the very excellent arrangements of Mr. Donaldson. To his skill and judgment this whole matter is confided, and nature has nobly adapted him to the work. We shall have a large wickerwork car, with strong canvas sides, and roof to protect us from the weather. In these will be glass windows. This car will be of two stories in height. We shall live on the upper floor, and in the lower we shall store the provisions. Underneath tho car will be an open gallery for taking observations of the sun. It will bo put as far below as practicable, so as to avoid as much as possible the shadow from the balloon. Below the gallery the life-boat will be suspended. This will be of metal, and decked over. In the transatlantic trip wo shall take for food, cooked and canned meats and fruits. A large quantity of quicklime will be taken for' warming coffee and boiling eggs."

The project of having two supplemental balloons, as represented below, has very lately been abandoned by the projectors. There will now bo only one. The largest, or main balloon will be 318 feet around, 100 feet through, and 110 feet high. To form this immense structure requires 4,310 yards of unbleached sheeting, and eight miles of seaming with silk aud cotton threading. The valve will be three feet in diameter, made of Spanish cedar, and with the valve fixtures will be of three strand tarred "marlln" rope, with a breaking strength of 58,300 pounds. 53 inch manilla ropes, each 90 feet in length, will connect with the concentrating rings which will sustain the car, life-boat, trailing ropo, Ac.

The car will be covered with duck, and attached to its side will be a light iron windlass, from which the boat and trail rope can be raised and lowered as may be desired. From a pulley at* tached to the concentrating rings a heavy Manilla rope will fall down through tho car, and thence to a sling, attached to-which will be the life-boat. This boat will bo of tne most approved and careful construction. It will have water tight compartments, slidiug keel* and will bo so made that it will be selfrighting. The boat will be provided with a com pie to outfit of oars and sails, and to it will be lashed instruments, guns, lines, «feo.f snd provisions for thirty days, all in water-tight cases. The trail rope, by which the aeronaut can maintain any desired altitude without resorting to ballast, will be of Manilla ropo, lj* inch thick, and 1,000 feet long.

Tho car will be fully provided with instruments, provisions, independently of the boat. It will be so constructed that it can be taken apart piecemeal aud disposed of as a ballast. It w.!l carry about six thousand lbs. of ballast, which will consist of bags of sand, each cirefully weighed and marked. Among the instruments to be carried in the car there will be a galvanio battery, with an alarm, two barometers, two chronometer watches, a compound thermometer, a wet and dry bulb thermometer, a hygrometer, compass, quadrant, chart, parachutes with fire-balls attached, and so arranged as to explode when striking the water, so as to indicate the direction traversed marine glasses, two vacuum tubes, a limestove, Ac. A number of carrier-pigeons will be taken along, and despatched at intervals on the route, with intelligence of the progress of the expedition.

When the trip is made, it will be a splendid newspaper sensation, will be an exhilarating and moat delightful experience to tbe voyagers, and will, let us hope, have added vastly to the sum or human knowledge and developed for the cause of progress resources now unknown.

In a recent lecture beforo the New York Liberal Club, Prof. Wise said: I can say for mvself and these associated with me that the object of this expedition is solely for the accomplish* ment of scientific aims and all Innuendoes that we are seeking mere notoriety—although I have yet to find the man who is not desirous of legitimate fau»%—without .foundation. The possible discoveries we shall make have enlisted tbe sympathies, in our behalf, of tbe most scientific men in tbe country. I know the difficulties that beset us, and I know, too, that

The beat laid schemes of mios and monftf Aft gang aglee." We may fail, but we do not think so. Wo are aware of the comparatively imperfect machinery and appliances which experience ha* as yet enabled us to bring into uso. But wo are only too thankful that, through the liberamyaf The Graphic Company, we have beetfl supplied with such excellent*appliances as we have in preparation fbr the attainment of one oqject. To the question, "Where will you land 7" I can only reply, using tbe liberty of the poets, somewhere Between St. Petersburg and Africa. Bv being in communication with the Waahington Weather Bureau, we may be able to start so as to be pushed across tho ocean by a cyclone.

tln

Prof. Wise writes the Philadelphia To-day: "Suonld wo not turn up after a few days, or a week, or peradventure a month, it snoutd not be taken as an omen of utter failure, since it might happen tbat we should be drifted into Africa in our untried adventure, and a hundred leagues inland a month's time might be required to foot it out. Such a mishap is barely possible in too much southing, and in reaching the African coast upon a clouded night."

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I should also stato that If no other means offered for ascertaining our direction, wo shall have along with ns percussion fire pots, wblch will ignite when

thrown on the sea, showing

tbetr smcrke in daylight an their tight by night. Tbei

They

will be," literally, our "pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night." we calculate that wo can cross from New York to tbe British islands, under fair conditions, In about seventy bonrs."

"We have played awav ninety jears upon the balloon, as tbe merest toy, and now the world demands for it a more respectable posiion. We desire, according rhe business vocabularig to make it pay—pay cod* mercially and scientifically. If we fall to do One or the other, or both, we shall retire with tho consolation tbat we havo tried to do botb, and in that event we sball still claim the same cAnsideratlon as do tbo mcs who have nought an open polar sea and tbo north pole. Creation in its infinite wisdom has imbued us with tbat noble attribute of progress tbat ImpclH us continually to seek new and unexplored poles of knowledge, and if we but Succeed

opening tho way to aerial travel, the world should not denounce us aa vain and viaionarv. We havo an honorable ambition in the matter, and In tbat we hope to accomplish tbe thing tbat nature* and art has taught us in tbe specialty of our profession.?'