THE EMl'lKE OF THE AIR : 



AN OKNITIIOLOGR'AL HSSAV <>N THE FLIGHT OF LUKDS. 



By L. V. MouiLLARi). 



INTRODUCTION. 



If there be :i domineering, tyrant thought, it is the conception that 

 the i)roblem of lUght may be solved by man. When once this idea 

 has invaded the Inain, it possesses it exclusively. It is then a haunt- 

 ing lliought, a walking nightmare, impossible to cast ott". 



If now we consider the pitying contempt with which such a- line of 

 researcli is appreciated, \\a may somewhat conceive the unhappy h>t 

 of the i»oor investigator whose soul is thus possessed. 



Many of these searchers, either thr«mgh pride or through timidity, 

 have witlnlrawn themselves from human intercourse, and have found 

 themselves paralyzed by attempting to carry on their ex})eriments in 

 secret. They (piickly found themselves so cavalierly classed as dream- 

 ers eras lunatics that they were compelled, under pains of complete 

 discredit, to conceal from others this so-considered Haw in their intellect. 



It must however Ik; acknowdedged that this persecution has mucli 

 diminislied (Uning the past decade. We are no longer classed with 

 the seekers for the «piadraturc of the circle, or for perpetual motion. 

 There has been progress since Charles, Janssen, (,)uatrefages, and 

 other recognized scientitic authorities, have been l)o]d enough to atiirm 

 that they believed that the problem can be solved. We no longer risk 

 the lunatic asylum, but tlie general public still considers us as mentally 

 unsound. 



The i)ublic understantling, mo\ ed by 1 lie asseitions ol' some scientists, 

 has made some progress. There were tw** roads to possible success, 

 tlie one broad, beautiful, smootli, and bordered witli flowers, but after 

 all lejiding to no result: it was that of ai'rostatioii. of Italloons lighter 

 tli;in the air. Tlie otlier way was contraryw ise. :i rough, narrow, 

 rugged ])ath, bristling with diltieulties, but still leading to something; 

 it was that of aviation, of ra]>id transit by machines hea\ ier than the 

 air. jVlosl of would-be iuNcntois have taken the easy road, ;ind from 

 the height they hav«' giiined. ])it\ iiigl\' look down upon the unfoituiiate 



Ivxtiactcd Mild transliitcil I'loin a work ciilillcd " l/Knipiii' (!< I'Air; Kssai d'Onii- 



tliologic appliqii^o a 1' Aviation.'' Octavo- pp. 284. Taris, 1S81. 



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