Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-11-12
THE MAGIC MIRROR /; OR, INCIDENTS OF
DAGUERREOTYPING

Tradition tells us that there once lived, among
men, great magician, known as Cornelius
Agrippa. He invented many wonderful things,
but the most wonderful of all was his "Magac
Mirror" which could conjure up on its surface,
phantasms of the loved and lost even had they
been sepultured hundreds of years Full of life and
beauty, beside the classic streams of Greece, or
beneath the palms ofSyria, from the mysterious
regions OF Egypt, or the SHOW hills of northern
climates, they came forth at his bidding, those
deceptive phantoms, and gliding across the sur
face Of the mirror, with sad smile, and wave
OF the hand, were seen no more by those who
had mourned their loss. But Agrippa died. and
his secret persisted with him. But more
mighty enchanter than Agrippa has risen, who,
by the mysterious agency OF light, lmpreSseS IN
efaceably, on polished metal, the faces and forms
of those we love- and this wonderful high priest
of memory, is sWHrTEnuRsr," the Daguerrean
Artist. whose gallery, on Baltimore street, pre-
sents an array of beautiful faces, and fine manly
FORMS which are seldom met with elsewhere.
We called in, few days ago at an early hour
Two or three persons, even then, We're '!sittingH
and We're gazing with pleasure and delight, on
the new and beautiful additions he had made to
his gallery, when we observed lady, clad in
deep mourning, enter. She informed the artist,
in a low and broken tone, that "a year previous,
in southern city, her only daughter, young
and lovely creature of some seventeen summers
had sat TO him for her deguerreotype, which
was perfect and almost breathing likeness. The
relative for whom it was taken, gallant officer
OF the army, carried it with him to Mexico
where, ON the heights Of Cerro Gordo, he was
literally torn to peices, by cannon hall from the
enemy's battery. Not long after this affecting
news came my daughter siokened and died sud-
denly, and now, bereaped and almost heart
krnl-
for a likeness of my child. Idon't know why
but have come all the way from P--bure,
with presentiment that | should find a copy
of that likeness in your gallery. Have your
permission to examine your gallery?7 She
looked at each one but the image of her dead
daughter was not there. Hlt is vain, sir" she
observed to the kind hearted artist. Except in
a mothers heat, those dear features must be con-
signed to oblivion, fear-Oh would give half
that am worth to get even rude delineation Of
my child !';-"Madam, Just remember a box
of daguerreotypes which brought from the
south with me, and which have not yet OPEN
several copies from deguerreotypes of our beauti-
full southern ladies' and l may have copied
hers. ooh, sir" she replied, while her face
beamed with hope, ''can you look now : Oh,
how it would console my bruised heart to get
an impression of my lost Mary's face!" The
artist bowed his ready assent, left the gallery
and soon returned with some eight or ten hand
some cases. She opened one after another, but
she acas not there, until she came to the last
she held it a mement, fearing and hoping at
last she found courage 10 dare it--she opened the
case slowly; and, with scream Of agonized re-
cognition beheld the child,
She believed it with tears, and passed it to
her maternal heart-then eazed OH it, with looks
of uuutterable affection. The artist turned away
to hide his flushed face and fearful eye-we
gave, unasked our sympathy and tears to that
devoted mother, who, now, more calm, enquir-
ed ''the priceof the precious picture % 'The
pleasure Observing you, madam, under these
circumstances. is reward enough;I can take
nothing. Your are welcome, thrice welcome, to
it," She went home comforted--more so had
she gazed into the mirror of Cornelius Agrppa.
In Mr.. Whitehurst's luxuriously furnished gal
lery every thing will be found that can minister
TO a refined taste.
Pardon US, old friend, for writing so freely a
bout you and your affairs, but We have said no
harm OF you, and if we said all we wish, it
would carry us beyond our limits. D.
Baltimore american.