10 



THE PEESIDENT S INAUGUBAL ADDRESS. 



train enters the tunnel at a greater speed than that, it 

 gradually fa.lls back to that speed ; and if at a less, it gets 

 np to that, and at that speed remains. 



Brunei was full of ingenuity ; and in. reply to this, ho 

 pointed out that the Doctor had forgotten to take into full 

 account the items of air and frictional resistance : and in 

 addition to this, ho went that evening to a skilful carpenter, 

 and had a very cleverly-designed wooden model made of a 

 gradient of 1 in 120 on a railway six feet long, natural 

 scale, representing this gradient running down out of a deep 

 cutting at a tunnel nioutli. 



Kow, it must bo borne in mind that, on a length of six 

 feet, the gradient would be only six-hundrodths of a foot, or 

 three-quarters of an inch ; and I must mention liero tliat 

 Brunei had the art to make this model in such a way as to 

 completely deceive the eye, by placing the line of rails 

 between heavy cutting slopes falling steeply in tlio same 

 direction. The deception is caused by the great contrast. 



The model was made of white deal ; it was beautifully 

 finished, and quite true, as could bo measured by a rule at 

 the ends. It was delivered at the G.W.ll. Parliamentary 

 Consultation-room at half-past nine the next morning, and 

 placed upon the table under a green cloth. 



Presently Brunei came in with Harrison, tlio G.W.ll. 

 counsel, and others. The big thing on the table under the 

 green cloth immediately took every one's attention ; and 

 Harrison said : " Wliat in the world have you got there, 

 Brunei, under that green cloth ? " Brunei answered : "An 

 exact model of the dreadful gradient of 1 in 100 which is to 

 take us all to everlasting smash, according to Ur. Lardner. 

 I wanted you to behold this thing of awe ; bat before I 

 remove the cloth, I wish to make certain conditions : You 

 are not to touch the model, but to inspect it from all sides 



