THE PRESIDENT S INAUGUEAL ADDBESS. 



11 



as carefully as you ])loaso ; and then to tell me, if you can, 

 wliich wn,j the gradient falls — from whore to -whore, point- 

 ino- it out with your finger." He then took off the cloth. 



Harrison walked round tlio model, carefully inspecting it, 

 according to orders ; but having formed a decided opinion at 

 the first glance — an opinion which was only confirmed by 

 further inspection — ho said: "It falls from there to there, 

 of course; anyone could see that." Brunei then gave him 

 a marble, saying: "That will tell no lies. Now put the 

 marble on the centre of tlie model, mind — not at eitlier end 

 — and see what the marble says." Harrison did so ; and, 

 to the great astonishment of himself and of all the others 

 (except Brunei), it ran the other way. After getting over 

 his surprise, Harrison exclaimed: "Why, I'd have bet a 

 thousand pounds to one it fell the other way ! " However, 

 he presently rubbed his hands, and said: "I'll take a nice 

 rise out of Joy (the opposition counsel) with this." 



The model was then taken to tlie committee-room, and 

 placed upon the table under its green cloth. 



Wlujn tho Committee had all assembled, and were eyeing 

 curiously the green cloth, Harrison stood up and said : 

 " Their lordships had all heard the alarming evidence given 

 yesterday by Dr. Lardner respecting the Box gradient of 

 1 in 100. His ingenious friend, Brunei, had in tho meantime 

 made an exact model of this gradient as it would appear on 

 emerging from tho lower end of the Box tunnel. The 

 gradient of tho model can be proved to be perfectly accu- 

 rate ; but instead of being such a dreadful affair as tho 

 learned Doctor had represented it, their lordships would 

 perceive that it was a very harmless affair indeed ; and he 

 would take the liberty to request his learned friend opposite 

 to put on his best spectacles, and ho would defy him to say 

 which way the gradient fell." The cloth was then removed ; 



