342 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



Now the following passages from the ' History of the 

 Char-volant,' or kite-carriage, bear significantly on the 

 subject we are now upon. The kite employed in the 

 first experiments (made early in the present century) 

 had a surface of fifty-five square feet. ' Nor was less 

 progress made in the experimental department when 

 large weights were required to be raised or transposed. 

 While on this subject, we must not omit to observe 

 that the first person who soared aloft in the air by this 

 invention was a lady, whose courage would not be 

 denied this test of its strength. An arm-chair was 

 brought on the ground, then, lowering the cordage of 

 the kite by slackening the lower brace, the chair was 

 firmly lashed to the main-line, and the lady took her 

 seat. The main-brace being hauled taught, the huge 

 buoyant sail rose aloft with its fair burden, continuing 

 to ascend to the height of a hundred yards. On 

 descending, she expressed herself much pleased with 

 the easy motion of the kite and the delightful prospect 

 she had enjoyed. Soon after this another experiment 

 of a similar nature took place, when the inventor's son 

 successfully carried out a design not less safe than 

 bold that of scaling by this powerful aerial machine 

 the brow of a cliff two hundred feet in perpendicular 

 height. Here, after safely landing, he again took his 

 seat in a chair expressly prepared for the purpose, and, 

 detaching the swivel-line which kept it at its elevation, 

 glided gently down the cordage to the hand of the 

 director. The buoyant sail employed on this occasion 

 was thirty feet in height, and had a proportionate 



