"You have destroyed that beautiful glass rose, and because you doubted me." "Blame me not for doubting, kind sir, nor blame me for investigating. Without investigation we could never arrive at a certain knowledge of the truth or falsity of any proposition." "And you have investigated?" "Yes." "And proved--" "That glass is not the component part of that pillar," with confidence. "One word will dispel that illusion." Mr. Craft spoke very deliberately. "Speak it, then, I pray you," with greater astonishment than ever. "Malleability!" Like a flash of lightning, the conviction of the truth of the President's words fell upon the doubting man's mind. Malleable glass! that _ignis-fatuus_ which had caused men's minds to turn from reason to insanity; had caused chemists and philosophers throughout the known world to struggle for years and years, and finally go down to their graves with their hopes unfulfilled; that art which was said to have been known in the third century, during the reign of Tiburon--had been again discovered and made known to mankind. "And is all of this of malleable glass?" still with wonder. "All. The art has been known for over fifty years. It is common glass, composed of silica, lime, barytes, etc., to which is added nitrate of zesüd and coloring matter. It is cheaper than wood or any of the metals, is about the weight of copper, and has its strength and malleability. It is made into every conceivable form and shape, and has almost entirely taken the place of the cheaper metals where temper and extreme rigor are not desired. It never tarnishes, decays, or breaks. When exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, it is as bright to-day as it was yesterday, or years ago." Wonderful, indeed, were the inventions of the twentieth century! At 16:5 dial the President's electric drag glided evenly and noiselessly out of Pennsylvania Avenue, rounded the corner, and stopped at the grand entrance to the Dom Lon, or Capitol, of the United States. An hour was passed in visiting the three houses of Congress, and Cobb carefully noted the working of the national legislature. On the way home, the President said: "There is a Senate of 136 members, or two from each State, presided over by the First Vice-President; two lower houses of 400 and 280 members, respectively, presided over by the Second and Third Vice-Presidents. The Smadom, or lower house, is that body in which are introduced all bills of a private nature whatsoever--such as claims or appeals for money, position, justice, rights and franchises. If approved in this house they go to the Senate, and are usually approved by that body. In the Gledom, or upper house, originate all bills for the good of the nation at large. The system of committees, as of old, is a component part of the machinery of this house. The functions of the Senate, with the restrictions imposed upon it by the creation of a third house, have undergone few changes since your time."