322 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



little question that this problem is one of great diffi- 

 culty. It has, indeed, been long regarded by nearly 

 all practical mechanicians as really insoluble. But of 

 late years careful researches have led competent men 

 to entertain doubts as to the validity of the objections 

 which have been urged against the theory that it is 

 possible for men to fly. Facts have come to light 

 which seem, to say the least, highly promising. In 

 fine, there are not a few who share the convictions of 

 the learned president of the Aeronautical Society, that 

 before many years have passed men will have learned 

 how to navigate the air. The time may not be at hand, 

 indeed, when Bishop Wilkins's prophecy will be ful- 

 filled, and men will call as commonly for their 'wings, 

 as they now do for their boots ; but it does not seem 

 improbable that before long the first aerial voyage (as 

 distinguished from aerial drifting in balloons) will be 

 successfully accomplished. 



It may be interesting to inquire, what are the 

 principal facts on which this hopeful view of the long- 

 vexed problem has been founded. In so doing, I shall 

 have occasion to touch incidentally on the history of 

 past attempts at flight ; and this history is, indeed, so 

 attractive, that the reader may be disposed .to wish that 

 it were entered upon more at length. But my subject 

 is such a wide one, that it will be necessary to avoid 

 discussing, at any length, those strange, and sometimes 

 apocryphal narratives, which are to be found in the 

 records of aeronautics. For this reason I propose to 

 consider only such accounts of past attempts, as appear 



