Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
128
Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies
·
Fulgence Marion
46
“Finally,
we
stopped,
and
were
instantly
surrounded.
Nothing
could
equal
the
simple
and
tender
regard
of
the
country
people,
their
admiration,
and
their
lively
emotion.
“I
called
at
once
for
the
cures
and
the
magistrates.
They
came
round
me
on
all
sides:
there
was
quite
a
fete
on
the
spot.
I
prepared
a
short
report,
which
the
cures
and
the
syndics
signed.
Then
arrived
a
company
of
horsemen
at
a
gallop.
These
were
the
Duke
of
Chartres,
the
Duke
of
Fitzjames,
and
M.
Farrer.
By
a
very
singular
chance,
we
had
come
down
close
by
the
hunting-lodge
of
the
latter.
He
leaped
from
his
horse
and
threw
himself
into
my
arms,
crying,
‘Monsieur
Charles,
I
was
first!’
“Charles
adds
that
they
were
covered
with
the
caresses
of
the
prince,
who
embraced
both
of
them.
He
briefly
narrated
to
the
Duke
of
Chartres
some
incidents
of
the
voyage.
“‘But
this
is
not
all,
monseigneur.
I
am
going
away
again,’
added
Charles.
“‘What!
Going
away!’
exclaimed
the
duke.
“‘Monseigneur,
you
will
see.
When
do
you
wish
me
to
come
back
again?’
I
said.
“‘In
half
an
hour.’
“‘Very
well:
be
it
so.
In
half
an
hour
I
shall
be
with
you
again.’
“M.
Robert
descended
from
the
car,
and
I
was
alone
in
the
balloon.
“I
said
to
the
duke,
‘Monseigneur,
I
go.’
I
said
to
the
peasants
who
held
down
the
balloon,
‘My
friends,
go
away,
all
of
you,
from
the
car
at
the
moment
I
give
the
signal.’
I
then
rose
like
a
bird,
and
in
ten
minutes
I
was
more
than
3,000
feet
above
the
ground.
I
no
longer
perceived
terrestrial
objects;
I
only
saw
the
great
masses
of
nature.
“In
going
away,
Charles
had
taken
his
precautions
against
the
possible
explosion
of
the
balloon,
and
made
himself
ready
to
make
certain
observations.
In
order
to
observe
the
barometer
and
the
thermometer,
placed
at
different
extremities
of
the
car,
without
endangering
the
equilibrium,
he
sat
down
in
the
middle,
a
watch
and
paper
in
his
left
hand,
a
pen
and
the
cord
of
the
safety-valve
in
his
right.
“I
waited
for
what
should
happen,”
continues
he.
“The
balloon,
which
was
quite
flabby
and
soft
when
I
ascended,
was
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
