THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



motion, actually leans inward as a bicycle rider leans 

 under the same circumstances, instead of being careened 

 outward as one might expect. 



A curious mechanism, surely, this new car, with its 

 four wheels set in line, bicycle fashion, running thus 

 steadily. But strangest of all it seemed when it poised 

 and stood perfectly still on its tight-rope, as no Blondin 

 could ever do. As stably poised it stood there as if it 

 had two rails beneath it instead of a single wire; and 

 there was nothing about it to suggest an explanation of 

 the miracle, except that there came from within the car 

 the murmur of whirling wheels. 



The mysterious wheels in question would be found, 

 if we could look within the structure of the car, to be 

 two in number, arranged quite close together on each 

 side of the centre of the car. They are two small fly- 

 wheels, in closed cases, revolving in opposite directions, 

 each propelled by an electric motor. These are the 

 wonder-workers. They constitute the two-lobed brain 

 or, if you prefer, the double-chambered heart of the 

 strange organism. All the world has learned to call 

 them gyroscopes. The vehicle that they balance may 

 conveniently be termed a gyrocar — a, name that has 

 the sanction of the inventor himself. 



Let it be understood once for all that a gyroscope is 

 merely a body whirling about an axis. A top such as 

 every child plays with is a gyroscope; a hoop such as 

 every child rolls is a gyroscope ; the wheels of bicycles, 

 carriages, or railway-cars are gyroscopes; and the earth 

 itself, whirling about its axis, is a gyroscope You can 

 make a gyroscope of your own body if you choose to 



[196] 



