Singed Synapses and Deranged Dendrites

The Fire Mill (#steam)

As a new member of the French Royal Academy of Sciences, Pierre and Antoine could scarcely believe they deserved the honor to spend time amongst such great men. All morning they had looked up at ceiling of the expansive hall that had been given to the group at the Louvre. They sat through lectures hearing about all of the newest theories and inventions. 

Proceedings now concluded, a procession had lead from the city to a country residence where further mingling and discussions would occur. 

The men disembarked from a line of carriages and joined their wives (those who had them), already enjoying refreshments on the terrace of the spectacular home. Pierre nudged Antoine who was stuffing a pastry into his mouth. 

"Look," he said, "down on the lawn."

"Ah," said Antoine, spraying crumbs at his friend, "the great Guillaume Amontons."

"I want to learn more about his new famed Fire Mill," said Pierre. 

Antoine looked longingly at the platters of pastries and other delicacies laid out before them but reluctantly agreed to follow Pierre.

They crossed the lawn and joined a group surrounding the middle-aged physicist. Pierre noticed that when someone spoke to him, Guillaume paused before replying and would glance down at a notebook in which an assistant who stood by his side furiously scribbled. Then the scientist would give his reply.

"Is he deaf?" asked Pierre under his breath to Antoine.

"He certainly is," replied a tall gray-bearded gentleman who had walked silently up behind them.

"Poor man," said Antoine.

"Oh, don't pity him," said the gentleman. "He became deaf due to illness as a child but he claims it made him stop playing with toys and start inventing. He claims it is the key to his success."

The three men watched Guillaume converse with several other men and women and even laugh at a joke. Pierre felt even more intimidated to meet Guillaume now knowing of his impairment, yet he was so curious about the Fire Mill.

"I've heard the Fire Mill is the most powerful steam engine that has ever been designed with an estimated 36 horsepower," said Pierre to Antoine and the older gentleman. 

"Oh," said the gentleman, "didn't you know? It isn't even powered by steam. That's what makes it so incredible."

"Then what moves it?" asked Antoine looking perplexed.

"Hot air!" replied the gentleman. "Can you believe it!" He shook his head. "He's a man ahead of his time I tell you."

Pierre and Antoine stood looking perplexed.

"Come," said their companion. "I will introduce you both to the wonderful Guillaume Amontons. There is much you can learn from him."

______________

Author's note: Guillaume Amontons (1663-1705) was an inventor and a physicist. He is credited for such ideas as the concept of absolute zero. He made improvements to the barometer and the thermometer. The concepts underlying the Fire Mill was built more than a century earlier than the more well-known Sterling engine. Sign language was not invented until the next century.