Every one talked of the Projectile; nothing was heard at the corners but discussions regarding its probable fate.

All Baltimore was immediately rent into two parties, the _Belfasters_ and the _Barbicanites_.

The latter was the most enthusiastic and noisy, the former decidedly the most numerous and influential.
Science, or rather pseudo-science, always exerts a mysterious attraction of an exceedingly powerful nature over the generality--that is, the more ignorant portion of the human race.

Assert the most absurd nonsense, call it a scientific truth, and back it up with strange words which, like _potentiality_, etc., sound as if they had a meaning but in reality have none, and nine out of every ten men who read your book will believe you.

Acquire a remarkable name in one branch of human knowledge, and presto! you are infallible in all.