Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/23

 Attracted by the sound, a pleasant, white-haired gentleman appeared in the door-way. Without a symptom of concern in regard to his costly window, he greeted my companion with a smile of recognition.

"I see, Utis,"—for so he addressed my friend,—"you, too, are interested by my window. The new system of packing works well. You notice there is scarcely any vibration."

After a few more words he retired; and my friend, seeing me still eying the window with astonishment, said, as be tapped the pane,—

"You might strike this with all the force you can put into a hammer. Dent it you possibly might, but shatter it you cannot."

"In the name of wonder!" exclaimed I, "what substance is this that appears to combine such incongruous properties? Is it glass, or iron?"

"This is malleable glass," was the reply, "perhaps the most useful invention of the last fifty centuries. Had a single man brought it to perfection, he would deservedly be reckoned among the chief benefactors of mankind. As it is, however, the name of the first inventor is unknown, or at least disputed; for this invaluable material is produced in its present perfection, only by the improvements slowly effected in the course of many ages.

"As now made, this material possesses most of the useful properties of a metal, combined with the important advantages of being transparent and practicably indestructible. We could spare almost any other of our inventions better than this. On the other side of the street is a range of buildings where nothing else is sold but ualin,