Путешествие на Луну
The Hymn of the Cannon-Ball
Thecannon-ball,gentlemen,tomymind,isthemostmagnificentmanifestationofhumanpower.IfProvidencehascreatedthestarsandtheplanets,manhascalledthecannon-ballintoexistence.LetProvidenceclaimtheswiftnessofelectricityandoflight,ofthestars,thecomets,andtheplanets,ofwindandsound—weclaimtohaveinventedtheswiftnessofthecannon-ball,ahundredtimessuperiortothatoftheswiftesthorsesorrailwaytrain.Howgloriouswillbethemomentwhen,infinitelyexceedingallhithertoattainedvelocities,weshalllaunchournewprojectilewiththerapidityofsevenmilesasecond!Shallitnot,gentlemen—shallitnotbereceiveduptherewiththehonorsduetoaterrestrialambassador?"
Overcomewithemotiontheoratorsatdownandappliedhimselftoahugeplateofsandwichesbeforehim.
"Andnow,"saidBarbicane,"letusquitthedomainofpoetryandcomedirecttothequestion."
"Byallmeans,"repliedthemembers,eachwithhismouthfullofsandwich.
"Theproblembeforeus,"continuedthepresident,"ishowtocommunicatetoaprojectileavelocityof12,000yardspersecond.Letusatpresentexaminethevelocitieshithertoattained.GeneralMorganwillbeabletoenlightenusonthispoint."
"Andthemoreeasily,"repliedthegeneral,"thatduringthewarIwasamemberofthecommitteeofexperiments.Imaysay,then,thatthe100-pounderDahlgrens,whichcarriedadistanceof5,000yards,impressedupontheirprojectileaninitialvelocityof500yardsasecond.
