Babylon Electrified. The history of an expedition undertaken to restore ancient Babylon by the power of electricity, and how it resulted ... Translated ... by Frank Linstow White. Illustrated by Montader

Front matter

M ]3abylon (Electrified Babylon Electrified THE HISTORY OF AN EXPEDITION UNDERTAKEN TO RESTORE ANCIENT BABYLON BY THE POWER OF ELECTRICITY AND HOW IT RESULTED BY A. BLEUNARD DOCTOR OF SCIENCES TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY FRANK LINSTOW WHITE ILLUSTRATED BY MONTADER LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, Limited Printed in Philadelphia by Gebbie & Co. Copyrighted, 1889. CONTENTS. FIRST PART. MESOPOTAMIA. PAOE Chapter I. Captain Laycock's Project . . .1 II. A Dream ...... 9 " III. A Calculation with a Negative Result . 14 " IV. A Great Discovery . . . . .22 V. At Sea . . . . . .30 " VI. On the Banks of the Orontes . .39 VII. Fatma ....... 57 VIII. The Euphrates . . . . .68 " IX. Babylon . . . . . .76 X. The Discovery' of Grimmitschoffer . . 85 " XI. From Bagdad to Mosul . . . .94 XII. The Grotto of Bavian . . . .109 " XIII.

The Hydraulic Works . . . .120 " XIV. Across the high Mountains . . .130 XV. A Sad Event 143 " XVI. The Valley of the Dyalah . . . 154 SECOND PART. THE ELECTRIC WORKS. Chapter I. Liberty . . . . . . .161 " II. The Kasr and Babel . . . .169 III. The Sam 182 CONTENTS. PAGE Chapter IV. From Babylon to the Persian Gulp . . 191 " V. The Electric Lighthouse .... 206 " VI. The Lighting of Liberty .... 217 VII. The Great Works 226 VIII. Tillage and Cooking by Electricity . . 235 " IX. The End of an Archæologist . . . 242 X. A Revolt . . . . . .249 " XL The Thermo-Solar Pile . . . .254 XII. The Calm before the Storm . . . 262 " XIII. New Causes for Anxiety .... 270 " XIV. Jack Adams ...... 276 " XV. Destruction of the Hydraulic Works . . 281 XVI. The Revenge . . . . . .285 " XVII. Ruin and Desolation .... 295 " XVIII.

A Year After . . . . . ,301 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Chapter I. Captain Laycock's Project

A LARGE gathering Avas assembled that evening at the London house of Sir James Badger, baronet. The principal members of Parliament, of the bar, of the financial Avorld, Avere there. The arts, literature, and the sciences had also furnished their most illustrious representatiA'es. Lord Badger Avas a man of about fifty years of age, robust and tall. He had been early bereft of a Avife Avhom he had loved tenderly; but there AA-as left to him a young daughter, betAA'een tAventy and tAArenty-tAvo years of age, Miss Nelly, on Avhom all his strength of affection Avas concentrated. One of the richest pro prietors in England — his fortune Avas estimated at OA'er twenty millions of pounds, sterling — Lord Badger took pleasure in promoting daring enterprises, if they seemed to him in the least to haA'e a useful aim.

Proud of the ad\renturous spirit of his countrymen, he could be extremely liberal with his money when some distant voyage or important discovery was in question. "Gladstone," an influential member of Parliament AA'as saying at this moment, " Gladstone makes too many concessions AA'ith regard to Egypt. We must remain the masters of that country, if Ave do not wish to be driA'en from the Indies by the Russians." " The English," replied a little old man Avith a clean-shaven face, "are most assuredly making all efforts to guard the roads AA'hich lead to the Indies. Cyprus belongs to us, and Ave have the protectorate of Asia Minor. As to Egypt, it is to be hoped that aa'c shall soon emerge victorious from the present difficulties. England, Avhen her interests are at stake, never flinches." Applause greeted these patriotic words, which gained in importance from the fact that they were uttered by one avIio AA'as a public favorite and avIio held a high position in the Ministry.

The conversation then took another turn. The latest novel, the exhibition of paintings, the play in A-ogue at the moment, became the subjects of discussion. " Gentlemen," suddenly said a person avIio had not taken part in the conversation before, "permit me to recur for an instant to the Egyptian question." The speaker Avas a tall man, with a red and sun-burnt face, and flowing whiskers. His energetic physiognomy proclaimed him to be a man accustomed to brave clanger. It was Captain Laycock, of the Royal Navy, Avho had made the tour of the world five times and had been in many a scrimmage. " England," he continued, " seeks to get possession of the tAA-o routes Avhich lead to the Indies. The first and most important at the present time is Egypt : it may be said to belong to us. As to the second, that begins opposite to Cyprus, passes round Arabia, and ends at the Persian Gulf.

This route, in the near future, may become the rival of the first. I ask you, gentlemen, if it is not time for England to begin to think of preparing the roads of the future by improving a route which Avill be among the most effectiA'e for the exchange of our products. Some persons haA'e already thought of constructing a railway to connect the Mediterranean Avith the Indies. Several plans have already been proposed, but all met Avith grave obstacles." " Did you not make one of an expedition to Asia Minor and Mesopotamia?" interrupted Badger, addressing the captain. " Yes, my lord." " "Will you, then, please to give us some information about this curious country, so that our ideas on the subject may be more clearly defined?" " AVith pleasure," said the captain. " AVe see that Mesopotamia, from the earliest times, was the riA'al of Egypt, to which country, moreoA'er, its physical form giA'es it more than one point of resem blance.

By turns these tAA'o faA'ored countries disputed the monopoly of the exchange betAveen Europe and Asia. History tells us that under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Babylon became the great mart of the world. Teredon, on the Persian Gulf, and Tyre, on the Mediter ranean, were the tAvo extreme points at which the thoroughfare betAveen Asia and Europe began and ended." At this point the captain was interrupted by Miss Nelly, Avho in vited Lord Badger's guests to draw nearer to the tea-table AA'hich tAA'o servants had just brought in. Nothing could be more charming than the modest grace with Avhich this young girl, a perfect type of English beauty, did the honors of her father's salon. While rising and com ing forward in answer to her call, the men continued their com-er sation. " Permit me to call your attention to the fact, my dear captain," a celebrated geologist interposed at this point, " that the superiority of the road from Teredon to Tyre is due to the natural configuration of that part of Asia.

Mesopotamia is a vast plain Avhich abuts at the nortliAvest on the Mediterranean. It is true that a mountain chain skirts the borders of that sea. But, opposite to the island of Cyprus, this chain diminishes in height to admit of easy communication be tAA-een the A^alley of the Euphrates and that of the Orontes. Thus you see that the route of Nebuchadnezzar Avas Avholly laid out by nature." " Your remark proves but one thing, my dear Mr. Monaghan," resumed the captain, "and that is that Mesopotamia is ineA'itably destined to regain one day the station from which it has fallen. Com mercial routes cannot depart from natural lines. The course of his tory proA'es the truth of what I haA'e just asserted. At the time of the conquest of Mesopotamia by the Persians the neAv occupants, it is true, obstructed the river Euphrates for purposes of defence ; but as soon as Alexander had driA'en out the Persians he made haste to re-establish the commercial routes.

He caused an immense basin to be dug at Babylon, and that city became an important port, AA'here thousands of ships unloaded their merchandise. SeA' eral centuries afterward the Arabs droA-e out the Greeks ; neA'ertheless, the pros perity of Babylon continued during the early years of the Mussulman occupation, and it remained for the Turkish con quest to reduce this country to the miserable state in Avhich AA'e see it to-daA-. Thus, gentlemen, you see that Babylonia for many centuries remained the principal route of commerce be tween Asia and Europe. It is true that this splendor has wholly dis appeared in our day : where once there stood numerous rich and populous cities nothing is noAV to be seen but heaps of rubbish scattered about in the sands of the desert. But that AA'hich has been maA' be again.

Why could not our daring countryman, Lord Badger, aa'Iio is stopped by no obstacles, why could he not undertake the resurrection of this A'ast country?" Captain Laycock's proposition Avas certainly calculated to please the adventurous spirit of his lordship ; yet Badger was not the man to become enthusiastic and to take up the matter in this way Avithout con sidering all the difficulties of the undertaking. He desired, therefore to have an exact account of the state of the country in question. ■5 " Captain," he replied immediately to him Avho had called upon him to take the initiative in the matter, " can you tell me why Mesopo tamia has become a desert after so long a period of prosperity? You understand the importance of my question. It is to be feared, in fact, that the causes of its decadence are irremediable.

It seems strange to me that a country inhabited during a long succession of centuries should by degrees have become a sterile desert. If the decadence of the country is due to +he faults of the inhabitants or to the migrations of civilization, it is possible to revive its ancient prosperity. But if nature has become modified, if the rivers are less full, if the sources have dried up, if the sands of Arabia have invaded the rich cultiA-ated lands of bygone times, I think these regions must be left in their con dition, for it is not within the poAver of man to restore the former order of nature." " My lord," replied the captain, " this is Avhat I noted during my voyage in Mesopotamia. To-day, as formerly, the soil is remarkably fertile Avherever there is Avater. I belieA-e, therefore, that it is simply necessary to repair the canals in order to cover Mesopotamia Avith a vegetation as luxurious as it AA-as in antiquity and to enable the country to maintain millions of inhabitants."

Monaghan then began to speak : " I cannot," said he, " alloAV Avhat Captain Laycock has said to pass by Avithout submitting a feAV observations Avhich may, perhaps, be of a nature to modify his opinion. In travelling through Asia Minor and along the coast of Palestine it soon becomes eA-ident that changes haA'e taken place in the nature of the climate since past ages. There Avhere, as history tells us, rich cultiA'ated lands formerly gaA'e support to numerous populations the dismal desert now extends far and Avide. It is the lack of Avater that causes this sterility. There is less rainfall in our day, and the old river-beds are either altogether dried up or contain but an insignificant stream of Avater. Hills AA'hich Avere formerly cultivated from base to summit are to-day scorched by the rays of an implacable sun."

" And is the cause of this scarcity of AA'ater knoAvn ? " asked some one. " Yes," replied Monaghan. " It is due to the disappearance of the ancient forests, and, Avhat is much more important, to the change in the direction of the atmospheric currents, which no longer bring the vapors Avith Avhich they become charged in passing over the seas." During the Avhole of this conversation between Captain Laycock and the geologist Monaghan, James Badger had remained silent ; one would haA'e said that he AA'as balancing in his mind the hope which the first had given him and the discouraging reasons Avhich the other seemed to suggest to him. " Captain," he said, suddenly, addressing honest Laycock, " I think that your proposition deserves to be studied very attentively, and, whatever objections it may call forth, I thank you for having communicated it and for having thought of me as the one to put it into execution.

And now, gentlemen, I invite you to take a cup of tea." The conversation once more became general, and covered the most varying subjects. But Lord BacVer and Captain Lavcock remained silent, each absorbed in his thoughts. Lord Badger reflected on the project of the captain; the more he thought of it the more the execution nf this project pleased him by its grandeur and by the advantages which his country would derive from it. Laycock, on the other hand could not call the assertions of the geologist, Monaghan, into question ' The climate of this western portion of Asia had evidently undergone great changes. In order to revive civilization in the midst of these des erts, it would be necessary to restore artificially what nature had herself destroyed, by making use of the poAver given to man by modern sci ence, and supplying the deficiency in the rainfall by raising the AA'aters of the Tigris and the Euphrates, so as to spread the fertilizing liquid throughout the country by means of more numerous canals.

While the coiiA'ersation around him became more animated, Cap tain Laycock AA'as lost more and more in contemplation of this work of the future. He saAv Mesopotamia becoming, in a short time, the public granary of all Europe. Besides grain, a large number of other useful plants might be cultivated. The North Avould furnish the finest fruit-trees : the cherry, apple, pear, plum, orange, lemon, pomegranate — all natiA'es of Asia Minor and of Mesopotamia. LoAver down, other plants, still more useful, would be added — the sugar cane and the cotton plant, both sources of industries of the greatest importance. Finally, in Lower Mesopotamia, around Babylon itself, forests of date-palms could be cultiA-ated. The Holy Scriptures located the terrestrial Paradise in Mesopotamia, and not Avithout reason.

Where could a land be found better adapted to the Avelfare of man ? Here, the sky is of a splendor unknown in the misty countries of Europe ; the soil, as fertile as that of Egypt, lends itself to the cultivation of the most A-arying products. Why delay longer a pacific conquest which would furnish an outlet for the croAvded populations of the old continent ? Unfortunately, to dig canals, to raise the Avaters, to construct and Avork manufactories, would require an enormous force, and Mesopo tamia itself offered no resources. Deprived of forests and of coal mines, it lacked fuel, the first requisite of all operations. Thus Captain Laycock was obliged to admit that, notAvithstanding the fascinating grandeur of the Avork, its execution AA'as AA'ell-nigh impossible. Lord Badger, AA'ho, by a natural coincidence, had him self arrived at a similar conclusion, approached the sailor and said abruptly : " Captain Laycock, I shall undertake the execution of your project if you find coal in Mesopotamia."

"Alas, my lord," exclaimed the captain, who was not surprised by Badger's words, so exactly did they correspond with his oavu thoughts, " that is impossible." BAKVLON ELECTRIFIED. " Then," replied Badger, "your project is likeAvise impossible of realization ? " " Pardon me," said one of those present, aa-Iio had been listening attentively to the Avords exchanged betAveen the captain and Badger ; " you lack coal, but you haA'e electricity." He avIio spoke Avas a tall young man, with a black beard, sharp eyes, and a physiognomy that AA'as southern rather than Anglo-Saxon in character. It AA-as an engineer ; one Jack Adams. " Explain yourself, Mr. Adams," said his lordship, aaIio did not fully understand the significance of the engineer's remark. "That is quite simple, my lord," replied the latter.

"Although coal is wanting, natural forces abound in the very heart of Mesopo tamia. Noav, at this day, science is sufficiently advanced to enable you to transform all the natural forces into electricity, and this again into neAv forces which Avill replace advantageously the coal which you lack." At this point Jack Adams Avas suddenly interrupted by the voice of a stout person, Avho called to his lordship : " We are waiting only for you to complete a party at Avhist. Come, iioav, make haste ; you can talk of serious things to-morrow." " That is true," said Badger, addressing the captain and Jack Adams ; " this evening I must deA'ote myself to my guests. But call on me to-morroAv morning, if you please, Mr. Adams. We can then talk of the means of reconstructing ancient Babylon."

Chapter II

A DREAM. Jack Adams' words had produced a deep impression on Lord Badger. But little versed in matters of electricity, that science which, though so modern, had already been so fruitful in results, he could have but an imperfect idea of the consequences of that which the engineer had revealed to him. Yet it Avas enough to enable him to perceive the possibility of bringing the project of Captain Laycock to a successful issue. When the last of his guests had taken leaA-e, and he had embraced his dear Nelly more tenderly than usual, his lordship Avent doAvn into his garden. He felt the need of being alone and breathing more freely. The OA-er-heated air in the rooms seemed to obscure the ideas that thronged his brain. As he Avalked sIoavIv doAvn the paths, he thought of the numerous incidents of the eA'ening.

The captain's proposition, the objections made by Monaghan, had left him wavering betAveen hope and fear, Avhen the magic word electricity, uttered by Jack Adams, had restored his confidence by offering new A'istas to his mind. It appeared to him then that the resurrection of Mesopotamia, the restoration of Babylon to its original poAver and splendor, were matters possible of realization, and he saw in himself the one marked out for that work. While he Avas abandoning himself to these thoughts, which the pro found silence that reigned about him seemed to favor, the coolness of the night and the perfume-laden air of the garden restored order and calm to his ideas, which had just been in such a state of ebullition. Badger retired to rest Avith his heart full of faith in the future. NeA'ertheless, the night had only momentarily quieted him ; he AA'as hardly in bed before this feverishness seized upon him.

He fancied himself transported suddenly into this Mesopotamia Avhich he Avished to restore. He avus not on the ground ; he hoA'ered in the air at a height of seA'eral thousand yards. The atmosphere Avas of an admirable purity ; in spite of the distance, he could clearly dis tinguish the smallest details. An immense desert lay stretched beloAv him. The sands undulated like the waves of a raging sea. Some islets of verdure stood out, at long interA-als, from the grayish ground of the soil ; and these islets AA'ere inhabited by families of nomadic shepherds, avIio Avere pasturing their flocks. He saAv some of these shepherds traA'elling through the desert, mounted on camels, and going from one oasis to another. Raising his eyes, he perceived nothing in the distance, at first, but a confused mass of mountain-chains.

The day AA'as beginning to break. The mountain-tops, which obstructed the horizon towards the east, AA'as tinged Avith the colors of the rainbow. The desert appeared to continue Avith the same uniformity to the very base of this long chain. He then perceiA'ed that a light breath of air Avas carrying him gradually towards the East. The mountains became more and more visible, their outlines more clearly defined. The desert AA'as transformed as he advanced. Immense plains of lemon-trees noAV succeeded the uncultivated sands. The tufts of trees became more and more rare. Taao broad rivers, silvery white, wound along parallel to the mountain-chain. Following their course toAA'ards the south, he saAv them lose themselves in the sea which sparkled on the far horizon. It suddenly appeared to him that he AA-as not alone in the air.

A whirr of wings struck his ears. He turned around and saAv nothing but the boundless desert through Avhieh he had passed. Nevertheless there soon arose a A'oice, which said to him : " Fear nothing, mortal ; I am the genius of the place which thou beholdest. It is I avIio have brought thee hither. Thou dost not see me, for the spirits do not take upon them a material form ; thou canst only hear me. The sun is rising in the midst of the brilliant dawn ; thou Avilt distinguish the smallest details. The desert over which thou wert hovering before is Arabia. The tAvo rivers are the Tigris and the Euphrates ; the mountains Avhich border the horizon separate Persia from Mesopotamia. Thou Avilt noAV easily understand Avhy this country has so long been a centre of civilization. Mesopotamia is narrowly confined betAA'een the desert of Arabia and the mountain chains.

Thanks to the tAA'o rivers which irrigate it, it is like a second Egypt, a belt of land of an incomparable fertility in the midst of barren sands. The populations of Arabia, of the high plateaus of Asia Minor, of Persia, have ahvays sought to descend toAA'ards these fertile plains. If I add further that the Tigris and the Euphrates place the Mediterranean in almost direct communication Avith the In dian Ocean, thou ha.st the secret of the prosperity of ancient Meso potamia. "The cities," continued the spirit, after a moment of silence, "haA'e here attained an incomparable splendor. The names of Babylon and Nineveh haA-e come doAvn through the centuries, giving to men the idea of strange and marvellous cities. Yet thou Avilt seek in vain for the ruins of these ancient capitals. Their palaces are reduced to dust.

Look at these small hillocks scattered throughout the plain : those are the last remains of the cities of Mesopotamia. " The spectacle before thine eyes is a sad one. Nowhere has man so turned up the soil and transformed nature ; but noAvhere else, on the other hand, has nature Avith such rapidity regained possession of her empire and destroyed the Avorks of man. The bricks of Avhich the houses Avere constructed have been reduces! to dust by the action of the elements. As to the canals dug so laboriously to distribute Avater everywhere and fertilize the soil, they have been filled up by the sands of the desert carried in by the Avinds. " So long as the populations of Mesopotamia were active and in dustrious man oA-ercame the barrenness of the soil ; this country Avas flourishing and prosperous.

But since a weakened people has gov erned the land the ancient splendor has disappeared to give place to ruin and desolation. " The time is close at hand, O mortal ! Civilization Avill recover the dominion lest for so many years. Look : thou shalt be permitted to behold the wonders of the future." The spirit ceased to speak and the most profound silence continued to reign for a brief time. Suddenly a fearful noise Avas heard in the sky, like a terrific peal of thunder. The air became suddenly dark. Light vapors arose slowly from the earth and rolled like the AvaA-es of the sea. But all at once a neAv phenomenon AA'as produced. The vapors os cillate and break up in all directions, and the Avind carries them off beyond the mountains. The sun is radiant in the sky ; its rays flood a magic spectacle.

All of Mesopotamia is transformed. The Tigris and the Euphrates iioav Aoav in the midst of an ocean of A-erdure ; Mesopotamia resembles a forest of palm-trees. Sump tuous cities rise on all sides, Avith magnificent palaces toAvering toAvards the sky. Numerous canals wind about among the trees ; innumerable ships sail in all directions. EveryAvhere the mixed croAA'd is acth-e and busy. Babylon is reconstructed. It has again become an immense port, Avhere all the ships of the Avorld come to load and unload their AA'ares. The Euphrates and the Tigris, connected by a thousand canals, bear fleets towards the tAvo seas. The Mediterranean communicates with the rivers which haA'e become the principal artery of the world. The A'oice of the genius Avas heard again : "See, O mortal, what the efforts of man can accomplish.

He has known hoAv to employ the forces of nature, and prosperity has promptly taken the place of desolation. I shall reveal to thee the secret of the power of this people. Science has made them free. They live conformably to the laAvs of reason. Impregnated with all noble ideas, they have become the most civilized people on earth. They have knoAvn Iioav to avail themselves of the greatest force of the universe — electricity. This has increased the forces of man a hun dredfold. This small corner of Asia sIioaa's thee Avhat later on the surface of the globe Avill become." " I must go nearer," exclaimed Badger, " and see this marvellous spectacle closer at hand. From the height at which I hover the de tails are effaced, and I can but see the general effect." " Impossible," replied the spirit ; " I cannot let thee view the future closer by.

It is thus that the genius of man divines future ao-es Avithout being conscious of the details." " I shall then approach in spite of you ! " cried Badger, suddenly seized Avith an insane desire to know all. " I need but let mvself fall to the ground ! " " Be it so," said the spirit, " it shall be done according to thy wish." Badger noAV felt himself falling gradually. The descent began slowly, but he soon saAv, to his dismay, that it accelerated rapidly. What a surprise ! The nearer he approached to the earth the more the panorama Avhich he had admired a moment before dimmed and vanished. What a deception ! The cities crumbled and sank, the forests disappeared and gaA'e place to the sands of the desert. The canals dried up and became filled with earth. The rapidity of his fall still increased.

Space Avhirled round madly ; a sharp, Avhistling noise filled his ears. His head SAvam round. He touched the ground at last with a frightful crash ! Lord Badger aAvoke with a start. He had sprung with one bound to the middle of his chamber. SomeAvhat stunned, his first care was to make sure that he Avas not hurt. The sun's bright rays penetrated into the apartment. His lordship then remembered the appointment Avhieh he had made Avith Jack Adams, and AA'ent at once to his dressing-room, so that he might be ready to receiA-e the engineer. While dressing Badger recalled to mind the various eA'ents of the dream Avhich had troubled him during the night, and he seemed to discover a prophetic meaning in it. "No matter," he said at length, as if replying to his OAvn thoughts, " even though my part should be but the daily struggle Avith nature and Avith men, Avithout ever being permitted to judge my Avork in its entirety ; even though I should have to leave the enjoyment and success to those avIio will come after me — I shall try."

Chapter III

A CALCULATION AVITH A NEGATIVE RESULT. We are iioav in the spacious library, which serves also as study Lord Badger, as Ave have already perceived, Avas not only a man of great and strong imagination ; he Avas also practical to a high degree. A combination less rare than is generally supposed, and which alone produces truly superior men. As soon as he had conceived some grand project, and had thoroughly considered it, he felt the need of causing it to pass from pure theory into the domain of fact, subjecting it to the test of practice. He had the good sense to understand that, as the education he had receiA'ed, though, it is true, very complete, Avas general in character, he AA-as not qualified to judge for himself to what extent his projects AA'ere capable of realization, no more than he Avould have been able to carry them out alone, AA'hen once the possibility of realizing them had been recognized.

He therefore took care to surround himself with specialists, and he Avas almost ahvays fortunate in his choice of men. This he had proven once again by applying to the electrician, Jack Adams, Avho had alloAved him to perceive the possibility of realizing his project. Jack Adams had already attained celebrity by several brilliant in ventions. Still young, hardly thirty-five years of age, he possessed the ardent confidence which sustains courage and enables one to per form wonders. He believed in the future of his favorite science, in the good Avhich electricity would bestoAV some day on civilization. Bound bv no ties, he Avould devote himself body and soul to a great enterprise such as the one which iioav occupied Badger's thoughts. It aa ill thus be understood Avith Avhat impatience the latter, iioav seated in his study, aAvaited the engineer.

Badger's dream Avas very vague ; it floated among clouds of purple, sparkling in the golden light of the sun ; but its indistinct forms Avere fleeting and seemed to vanish whenever he attempted to determine them. Was it not to be feared that a thorough discussion Avould set all these fine illusions at naught ? Would his conference Avith the engineer gh'e substance to the spirit, or was it going to destroy his chimera by prov ing to him that it AA'as not capable of realization? Was the science of electricity sufficiently advanced to authorize an experiment on so grand a scale? Fortunately, Jack Adams was himself a visionary — science claims such as Avell as faith. This dream of his lordship, he had often had it, but Avithout ever haA'ing fixed his thoughts upon it ; for he saAV no pos sibility of a realization.