00:23Hello there, Peabody and Sherman here. Today, through the magic of my Wayback Machine, Sherman
00:28and I will become acquainted with that eminent Scandinavian inventor, Alfred Nobel. Isn't he the man who invented prizes, Mr.
00:35Peabody? No, Sherman. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. Set their way back for Italy. And the year? 1863. As usual, the
00:44Wayback took us way back instantly, and there we were, standing before a quaint little Italian villa. I believe this
00:51is the Nobel residence, Sherman. How can you tell, Mr. Peabody?
00:57Sherman's question needed no further answer. Inside the smoke-filled structure, we found Alfred Nobel in what was left of
01:03his laboratory.
01:04Are you all right, Mr. Nobel?
01:06Yes, sure. I'm fine.
01:08I assume, sir, you've been conducting an experiment on high explosives.
01:11Oh, yes, sure. It's a little thing I call nitroglycerin.
01:16I guess you'll have to give it up now that your laboratory's ruined.
01:19Oh, no, I'm the contrary.
01:22He let us into an adjoining room. This one, too, contained a laboratory. A new one.
01:27You wouldn't believe this, but at one time this place consisted of 87 laboratories.
01:33This little villa?
01:34This little villa was once a huge estate. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get on with my work. I'm
01:40expecting the mess here in exactly one hour.
01:43The mess?
01:44M-E-S-S. The mechanical engineers of Sardinia and Sicily. If I can prove that nitroglycerin is as powerful
01:52as I think it is, then by golly, I've got it made.
01:56Oops.
01:57Careful, Mr. Nobel. You almost had another explosion.
02:01Sorry, it must be the light in here.
02:04So saying, the great inventor struck a mat and lit what appeared to be a candle.
02:08There, that's better. More light on the subject. Now, where was I?
02:12You'll have to forgive this interruption, sir, but the candle...
02:15What about the candle?
02:17Well, if your candle maker's initials aren't TNT, then I suggest this candle isn't a candle at all.
02:24Oh, it's ridiculous. I know a candle when I see one. Come outside. I prove it to you.
02:30We adjourn to the front lawn.
02:31Now, the candle is still in my laboratory, correct?
02:34Correct.
02:34And if it were TNT, it would blow up, also correct?
02:38Also correct.
02:39Well, it hasn't blown up yet. Therefore, I think I can safely state without the least bit of hesitation that
02:45what you assume to be a stick of TNT is in reality...
02:51...a stick of TNT.
02:53Fortunately, Mr. Nobel had a few more laboratories left.
02:56And this time, German and I kept a constant vigil on the great man.
03:01Working feverishly, he concluded his experiment just as the MESS delegation arrived.
03:14The test was a simple one. 200 yards from Nobel's villa stood a dilapidated shack. The nitroglycerin sat on its
03:24dusty floor.
03:26Back at the laboratory, Sherman and I awaited the historic moment.
03:29The rest is child's play. I merely press this button, and the shack becomes non-existent. I'm sure those gentlemen
03:36will be highly impressed.
03:38By the way, where are they?
03:40At the best possible vantage point. In the shack.
03:43And with that, he calmly pressed the button.
03:45Did I say in the shack?
03:47Oh, my gosh! There's going to be a disaster!
03:49Good grave! It is going to ruin me.
03:52Calm yourselves, please. If you'll notice, the shack is still standing.
03:56How could it be? Something must have gone wrong. I mean, right.
04:00It's very simple. It takes electricity to set off the nitroglycerin, doesn't it?
04:04Of course it does. Why?
04:06Because I took the precaution of removing this fuse, thereby cutting off the electricity.
04:11And now, Sherman, if you'll ask those gentlemen to view the test from a safer distance, we'll get on with
04:17it.
04:18Well, as you can see, the test was immensely successful.
04:23Without your help, it would not have been possible.
04:26Goodbye, good luck, and please accept this as a token of my gratitude.
04:32And so we bid Alfred Nobel a fond and not-too-reluctant goodbye.
04:36Later at my penthouse apartment...
04:38What was it Mr. Nobel gave you, Mr. Peabody?
04:41The Nobel Prize, Sherman.
04:43But, of course, I gave him something, too.
04:46Really? What?
04:47What else?
04:48The Peabody Award.
04:50The Peabody Award.
04:58The Peabody Award.
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