22 
INTRODUCTION. 
made by Him, with yearnings for a loftier, nobler, and 
happier exiftence. 
When we conftder that daily, for a period of nigh fix 
thoufand years or more, God, the Creator, has been de- 
monftrating the poflibility of aerial navigation, by the fly¬ 
ing of creatures practically of the fame fpecific gravity as 
men, it feems amazing that the fecret of flying fhould 
have remained fo long a myftery: man’s ignorance of it, 
more myfterious ftill! A myftery admitting but of one 
explanation : the will and providence of God. 
No man can difcover until it is given to him , until 
then the eyes of men are blinded. The building cannot 
be made until the foundation is laid. God prepares 
mankind for the events of His providence. The hiftory 
of the world fhows that great events are preceded 
invariably by others of equal ftgnificance as forerunners. 
Difcoveries are like the links of a chain; like dependent 
parts of a machine. Invention is made up of difcoveries 
precedent and difcoveries confequent. 
Juft now, God has made it for the intereft of men 
to fofter electricity —-fortunes in eleSlric lights !—the Stock 
Exchange gone mad ! ftimulus to invention hand in hand 
with ftimulus to greed; but all in preparation for the 
greater thing to come, the aerial railway of the Ikies ! the 
great highway of nations! the univerfal belt and bond 
to bind together in one common tie, all tribes, all caftes, 
feCts, creeds, communities, nationalities, and governments 
