296 SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



the germ of the Montgolfier or heated air balloon. The experiment was 

 repeated in the open air with even greater success, and a trial upon a larger 

 scale was immediately determined upon. A story is related of Mongolfier 

 when prosecuting his researches, that a widow whose husband had belonged 

 to the printing firm with whom Montgolfier was then connected in business, 

 saw the smoke issuing from the room in which the little balloon was being 

 filled. She entered, and was astonished to see the difficulty experienced by 

 the experimenter in filling the balloon. It swerved aside, and increased the 

 trouble he had to keep it above the chafing dish. Montgolfier was greatly 

 troubled, and seeing his disappointment, the widow said, " Why don't you 

 fasten the balloon to the chafing dish ? " This had not occurred to the 

 experimenter, and the idea was a valuable one. That was the secret of 

 success. 



The Montgolfier Brothers determined to exhibit their successful experi- 

 ment, and accordingly on the 5th of June, 1783, a great concourse assembled 

 to see the wonderful sight. A large canvas or linen balloon was made and 

 suspended over a fire of chopped straw. The heated air quickly filled the 

 balloon, which rose high in the air, and descended more than a mile away. 

 This balloon contained 22,000 cubic feet of heated air, which is lighter than 

 cold air, and of course rising carried the globe with it. As soon as the air 

 began to cool the balloon ceased to rise, and as it got colder descended. 



Here was the actual discovery of the science of Aerostatics. The in- 

 telligence of the success achieved soon spread from France to other countries. 

 Paris, however, was in advance, and the Brothers Robert applied hydrogen 

 gas to a balloon which was sent up from the Champ de Mars in August 

 1783. There was some trouble experienced in filling k, but when the balloon 

 was at length released it realized all expectations by remaining in the air 

 nearly an hour. When at length it fell it met with a worse fate than it 

 deserved, for the ignorant and superstitious peasantry at once destroyed it. 

 After this Montgolfier exhibited his experiment next time at Versailles in the 

 presence of the Court. The first aerial travellers appeared on this occasion 

 viz., a sheep, a cock, and a duck, which were secured in the car. They all 

 descended in safety, and this success encouraged M. Pilatre de Rozier to 

 make an attempt in a " fire balloon." He went up first in a captive balloon, 

 and at length he and a friend, the Marquis d'Arlandes, ascended from the 

 Bois de Boulogue. The trip was a decided success, and the possibility of 

 navigating the air was fully demonstrated. 



Soon after this, viz., in December 1783, an Italian Count, named 

 Zambeccari, made an ascent in London, and came down safely at Petworth. 

 MM. Charles and Robert ascended from Paris in December, and in February 

 a balloon crossed the English Channel. We must pass over some time and 

 come to the ascents of Lunardi, which caused great excitement in London. 

 His balloon was a very large one, and was inflated, or rather partially so, at 

 the Artillery ground. Some delay occurred, and fearing a riot, M. Lunardi 

 proposed to go up alone with the partially-filled balloon. A Mr. Biggin who 



