the dominion of the air-第4节
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lt of this being at the time overlooked。
On August 25； 1783； the balloon was liberated on the Champ de Mars before an enormous concourse； and in less than two minutes had reached an elevation of half a mile； when it was temporarily lost in cloud； through which； however； it penetrated； climbing into yet higher cloud； when； disappearing from sight； it presently burst and descended to earth after remaining in the air some three…quarters of an hour。
The bursting of this little craft taught the future balloonist his first great lesson； namely； that on leaving earth he must open the neck of his balloon； and the reason of this is obvious。 While yet on earth the imprisoned gas of a properly filled balloon distends the silk by virtue of its expansive force； and in spite of the enormous outside pressure which the weight of air exerts upon it。 Then； as the balloon rises high in the air and the outside pressure grows less； the struggling gas within； if allowed no vent； stretches the balloon more and more until the slender fabric bursts under the strain。
At the risk of being tedious； we have dwelt at some length on the initial experiments which in less than a single year had led to the discovery and development of two distinct methodsstill employed and in competition with each otherof dismissing balloons into the heavens。 We are now prepared to enter fully into the romantic history of our subject which from this point rapidly unfolds itself。
Some eleven months only after the two Montgolfiers were discovered toying with their inflated paper bag； the younger of the two brothers was engaged to make an exhibition of his new art before the King at Versailles； and this was destined to be the first occasion when a balloon was to carry a living freight into the sky。 The stately structure； which was gorgeously decorated； towered some seventy feet into the air； and was furnished with a wicker car in which the passengers were duly installed。 These were three in number； a sheep； a cock； and a duck； and amid the acclamations of the multitude； rose a few hundred feet and descended half a mile away。 The cock was found to have sustained an unexplained mishap： its leg was broken； but the sheep was feeding complacently； and the duck was quacking with much apparent satisfaction。
Now； who among mortals will come forward and win the honour of being the first to sail the skies？ M。 Pilitre de Rozier at once volunteered； and by the month of November a new air ship was built； 74 feet high； 48 feet in largest diameter； and 15 feet across the neck； outside which a wicker gallery was constructed； while an iron brazier was slung below all。 But to trim the boat properly two passengers were needed； and de Rozier found a ready colleague in the Marquis d'Arlandes。 By way of precaution； de Rozier made a few preliminary ascents with the balloon held captive； and then the two intrepid Frenchmen took their stand on opposite sides of the gallery； each furnished with bundles of fuel to feed the furnace； each also carrying a large wet sponge with which to extinguish the flames whenever the machine might catch fire。 On casting off the balloon rose readily； and reaching 3；000 feet； drifted away on an upper current。
The rest of the narrative； much condensed from a letter of the Marquis； written a week later； runs somewhat thus： 〃Our departure was at fifty…four minutes past one； and occasioned little stir among the spectators。 Thinking they might be frightened and stand in need of encouragement； I waved my arm。 M。 de Rozier cried； 'You are doing nothing； and we are not rising！' I stirred the fire； and then began to scan the river； but Pilitre cried again； 'See the river； we are dropping into it！' We again urged the fire； but still clung to the river bed。 Presently I heard a noise in the upper part of the balloon； which gave a shock as though it had burst。 I called to my companion； 'Are you dancing？' The balloon by now had many holes burned in it； and using my sponge I cried that we must descend。 My companion； however； explained that we were over Paris； and must now cross it。 Therefore； raising the fire once more； we turned south till we passed the Luxemburg； when； extinguishing the flame； the balloon came down spent and empty。〃
Daring as was this ascent； it was in achievement eclipsed two months later at Lyons； when a mammoth balloon； 130 feet in height and lifting 18 tons； was inflated in seventeen minutes； and ascended with no less than seven passengers。 When more than half a mile aloft this machine； which was made of too slender material for its huge size； suddenly developed a rent of half its length； causing it to descend with immense velocity； but without the smallest injury to any of the passengers。 This was a memorable performance； and the account； sensational as it may read； is by no means unworthy of credit； for； as will be seen hereafter； a balloon even when burst or badly torn in midair may； on the principle of the parachute； effect its own salvation。
In the meanwhile； the rival balloon of hydrogen gasthe Charliere； as it has been calledhad had its first innings。 Before the close of the year MM。 Roberts and Charles constructed and inflated a hydrogen balloon； this time fitted with a practicable valve； and in partnership accomplished an ascent beating all previous records。 The day； December 17； was one of winter temperature； yet the aeronauts quickly reached 6；000 feet； and when； after remaining aloft for one and a half hours； they descended； Roberts got out； leaving Charles in sole possession。 Left to himself； this young recruit seems to have met with experiences which are certainly unusual； and which must be attributed largely to the novelty of his situation。 He declared that at 9；000 feet； or less than two miles； all objects on the earth had disappeared from view； a statement which can only be taken to mean that he had entered cloud。 Further； at this moderate elevation he not only became benumbed with cold； but felt severe pain in his right ear and jaw。 He held on； however； ascending till 10；500 feet were reached； when he descended； having made a journey of thirty miles from the start。
Ascents； all on the Continent； now followed one another in rapid succession； and shortly the MM。 Roberts essayed a venture on new lines。 They attempted the guidance of a balloon by means of oars； and though they failed in this they were fortunate in making a fresh record。 They also encountered a thunderstorm； and by adopting a perfectly scientific methodof which more hereaftersucceeded in eluding it。 The storm broke around them when they were 14；000 feet high； and at this altitude； noting that there were diverse currents aloft； they managed to manoeuvre their balloon higher or lower at will and to suit their purpose； and by this stratagem drew away from the storm centre。 After six and a half hours their voyage ended； but not until 150 miles had been covered。
It must be freely granted that prodigious progress had been made in an art that as yet was little more than a year old； but assuredly not enough to justify the absurdly inflated ideas that the Continental public now began to indulge in。 Men lost their mental balance； allowing their imagination to run riot； and speculation became extravagant in the extreme。 There was to be no limit henceforward to the attainment of fresh knowledge； nor any bounds placed to where man might roam。 The universe was open to him： he might voyage if he willed to the moon or elsewhere： Paris was to be the starting point for other worlds： Heaven itself had been taken by storm。
Moderation had to be learned ere long by the discipline of more than one stern lesson。 Hitherto a marvellouscall it a Providentialgood fortune had attended the first aerial travellers； and even when mishaps presently came to be reckoned with； it may fairly be questioned whether so many lives were sacrificed among those who sought to voyage through the sky as were lost among such as first attempted to navigate the sea。
It is in such ventures as we are now regarding that fortune seems readiest to favour the daring； and if I may digress briefly to adduce experiences coming within my own knowledge； I would say that it is to his very impulsiveness that the enthusiast often owes the safety of his neck。 It is the timid； not the bold rider； that comes to grief at the fence。 It is the man who draws back who is knocked over by a tramcar。 Sheer impetus； moral or physical； often carries you through； as in the case of a fall from horse…back。 To tumble off when your horse is standing still and receive a dead blow from the ground might easily break a limb。 But at full gallop immunity often lies in the fact that you strike the earth at an angle； and being carried forward； impact is less abrupt。 I can only say that I have on more than one occasion found the greatest safety in a balloon venture involving the element of risk to lie in complete abandonment to circumstances； and in the increased life and activity which the delirium of excitement calls forth。 In comparing； however； man's first ventures by sky with those by sea； we must remember what far greater demand the former must have made upon the spirit of enterprise and daring。
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