SCIENTIFIC BALLOONING. 319 



defined while many hundreds of square miles lie displayed on a map in 

 which every detail is delineated, and often thrown into strong- relief of 

 light and shadow. Hurrying over town and village, over patchwork 

 helds and wood and river, the shadow of the balloon itself may com- 

 monly be traced, and ever and anon stray messages from earth Avill 

 reach the car. The shriek of a distant train, the hour tolled out from 

 some church tower, even the musical murmur of the woods far down; 

 and though the air around is bereft of bird or insect life, a wandering 

 ball of thistledown may come floating upward borne on some unseen 

 current. 



Enough has been said to show the many capabilities of a balloon, 

 while, on the other hand, its disadvantages are far more apparent than 

 real. Its danger is greatly exaggerated. With due care and caution a 

 voyage through the air carries no greater risk than a voyage by sea. 

 Many times from waut of care, or else through emergency, a balloon 

 has been brought precipitately to earth, but under these circumstances 

 in far the majority of cases, the collapsing silk has formed a natural 

 parachute and saved the voyagers from harm. 



There are other chances, too, in cases of mishap, still in favor of the 

 aeronaut. On one occasion Mr. Coxwell, falling half a mile with a 

 broken valve, landed scathless in an apple tree. 



