The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-02-06
From the Knickerbockcr.
THE CHEMISTS DREAM,
ny sAMuELH. House, NJ. n.

hidden recesses of an extensive cave
whose winding passage had never
before echoed to the tread of human
foot. With ever-fresh admiration
and delight, | was gazing at the
thousand wonders which the flash
ing torch-lieht revealed on every
side at each step of my progress,
when strange sound as of the hum
q of many voices, fell upon my ear.
What such a sound could mean in
such place was more than | could
divine.
aa Curiosity led me on in the direc-
ton whence it came. The buzz of
conversation cheerful as it would
seem from the occasional bursts of
merriment that were heard, grew
more and more distinct, until the
dark and narrow passage | had been
following suddenly opened upon one
of those magnificent rock-pailors, OF
whose grandeur and beauty descrip-
ton can convey but faint idea.-A
flood of light Illuminated the arching
roof with the vast columns of stalac-
tite sparkling with crystles that sup
ported it, and was reflected with i'm
posing effect from the huge sheets
of the same material, of the purest
white, that hung from the ceiling in
graceful but substantial drapery. |
stood in one of natures noblest halls
but not alone.
A strange company had gathered
there. "Black spirits and white,
blue spirits and grey" were before
me. a festive occasion had assem-
bled in Joyous mood and in holiday
attire the first born of creation, the
Elements of things.
In dreams nothing ever surprises
us. 1t seemed perfectly natural to
see those fairy forms in that strange
grotto; 50, accoSting without hesl-
tation the one nearest to me, ! apo
logized for my intrusion, and was
about to withdraw. From my new
acquaintance, however, | received
so cordial welcome, and so ear
nest an invitation to become a par
taker in the festivities, that could
not deny myself the pleasure of ac-
: cepting the hospitality so kindly
profered.
was soon informed that some of
the leading characters among the
elements had resolved some weeks
before upon having general pic
mic dinner party. Filty-six family
invitations had accordingly been
sent out, one to each of the brother
hood and preparations for the feast
made upon the most extensive scale.
Sea and land had been ransacked
for delicacies, and every thing was
put in requisition that could minis
ter to the Splendor Of the entertain
ment or to the enjoyment of the oc-
casion.
At the hour | so unexpectedly
came upon them, nearly all the
guests with their families had assem-
bled in the strange drawing room |
have described, awaiting the sum
mons to the banquet. Spacious as
that drawing room was, it was near
ly filled with these interesting chill
dren Of Nature. And here they
were, seen, not as in the chemists
laboratory, writing in the heated
crucible, or pent up in CLASSY pris-
ons; or peeping out Of gas-holders
and Florence TASKS, but arrayed in
their native beauty; each free as
air, and acting as impulse prompted.
There were those present of
every hue, every style of dress, eve
ny variety Of appearance. The Me-
tails, the Gases, the Salts, the Acids,
the Oxides, the Alkalies-all were
there. From the mine, from the shop
of the artizan. from the mint, from
the depth of the ocean even, they
had come; and a gayer assembaGe,
more animated scene, my eyes had
never beheld.
Many of the ladies of the party
were most tastefully attired. Chic
rine wore beautiful greenish yell
low robe, that displayed her queen
like form to good advantage. The
fair daughters of Chromium particu-
larly attracted my attention, with
their gay dresses of the livelicst COL
den-yellow and orange-red. Iodine
had but just arrived, and was not
yet disencumbered Of an unpreten-
ding outer garment Of steel gray that
ye.enveloped her person; but the
warmth of the apartment soon COM
PEELED her to throw this aside; when
she appeared arraycd in a vesturc of
1o thin gauze, of the most splendid vi
olet color imaginable. Carbonic
Acid was there, but not clad in the
airy robes in which | expected to
find her. The pressure of the iron
.7ahand of adversely had been upon her,
and now her attire was plain, simply