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Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies
·
Fulgence Marion
31
Versailles.
The
king
had
demanded
an
ascent
for
the
19th,
a
week
after
the
disaster
at
the
Faubourg
St.
Antoine.
Already
the
possibility
of
a
man
going
up
with
the
balloon
was
discussed,
and
people
indulged
in
visions
of
splendid
aerial
trips;
but
the
king
would
not
hear
of
the
proposal.
Balloons
were
novelties,
not
offering
sufficient
security,
and
he
was
unwilling
that
any
of
his
subjects
should
risk
their
lives
in
attempting
the
unknown.
He
consented,
however,
to
a
proposal
that
animals
might
be
sent
up
in
the
first
instance,
by
way
of
experiment,
suspended
in
an
osier
cage
attached
to
the
neck
of
the
balloon.
Montgolfier
at
once
began
a
new
balloon.
A
few
days
only
were
at
his
disposal;
but,
assisted
by
friends,
he
worked
with
such
ardour
and
success
that
he
was
able,
on
the
date
appointed,
to
produce
a
magnificent
spherical
balloon,
much
stronger
than
the
former,
constructed
of
good
strong
cotton
cloth,
and
painted
in
distemper.
It
is
proper
here
to
remark
that
the
first
balloons
were
much
more
elegant
in
appearance
than
those
afterwards
made.
The
coloured
prints
and
engravings
of
the
period
enable
us
to
form
an
opinion
of
the
splendour
of
their
ornamentation
and
the
beauty
of
their
design.
Sometimes
the
figures
painted
upon
them
represented
scenes
from
the
heathen
mythology,
and
sometimes
historical
scenes;
while
rich
embroideries,
royal
insignia,
and
gaily-coloured
draperies
added
much
to
the
general
effect.
The
Versailles
balloon
was
painted
blue,
with
ornaments
of
gold,
and
it
presented
the
form
of
a
richly
decorated
tent.
It
was
fifty-seven
feet
in
height,
and
sixty-seven
in
diameter.
It
was
first
tried
at
Paris,
and
succeeded
perfectly.
On
the
morning
of
the
19th
it
was
carried
to
Versailles,
where
due
preparation
had
been
made
for
its
reception
In
the
great
court
of
the
castle
a
sort
of
theatre
had
been
temporarily
erected
with
a
scaffolding,
covered
throughout
with
tapestry
In
the
middle
was
an
opening
more
than
fifteen
feet
in
diameter,
in
which
was
spread
a
banquet
for
those
who
had
constructed
the
balloon.
A
numerous
guard
formed
a
double
cordon
around
the
structure.
A
raised
platform
was
used
for
the
fire
by
means
of
which
the
balloon
was
to
be
inflated;
a
covered
funnel
or
chimney
of
strong
cloth,
painted,
was
suspended
over
the
fire-place,
and
received
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