Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-01-24

during which period we observed tho cloth gradu-
any I.s'ng IN cOnlcal form the spot where il
covered the fower-pot, until it had risen about a
loot and half, when the cloth was again with
drawn ana to our increased Amusement we beLeld
the tender plant grown into a small shrub regular
" formed, clothed with verdure, and haviag its
branches covered with buds and leaves. The re-
pacing recovering. remuttering, were all severally
renewed. and after half hour, the cloth was once
more removed and the amazement of the spectators
was considerably augmented by discovering that
the shrub was now clothed in blossoms and flowers
| IN appearance resembling those Of the China aster! !
Again the casket of wonders, the teak wood box
was called into requsiiion and the lid having been
opened, OR wonder worker took therefrom COM
mon ou7dIeaIthen-ware white and blue plate, a
bout two feet ia diameter, aud placed thereon about
pound of unboiled rice this he handed round i'm
the manner previously described, and we took ,he
platter, examining it more narrowly than any of the
former articles, resolved that this time there should
be no mistake. All this time, it must be kept in
mind, that although the necromancer could see the
box. 1t was kept closed, at distance from him.
and he never approached it during his operations,
80 that 1t was perfectly impac,cable that he could
abstract anything from it during the time He now
put the plate OF rice in the centre of the room and
covered 1t with :he cloth, and squatting down, he
varied the performance this time, by putting his
hands under the cloth, scrupulousy keeping his
arms covered up to the elbows, and then cornmenc-
ed divers nipulations, vehementy and loudly NUT
terng his incantations this continued for the space
OF half an hour, our necromancer never budginp
from the spot, or changing the attitude which he
had first adopted.
We observed sundry movements under the cloth
at divers times, and in various places it appeared
10 be raised from the ground, until the whole pre-
scented an appearance not unlike The uneaven sur
face and undulations of the model of billy coun-
try; AT the expiration of the half hour, he arose
and removed the cloth, walking round and carefully
gathering II up by the four corners which being
thus raised discovered to our view, arranged in
symmetrical order, six dishes or plates similar to
That which had been handed round, but of various
sizes, and these were filled with sundry cooked ed
bles peculiar TO the country, and among them was
dish of boiled rice but where the dish of unboiled
rice had vanished whence came the six dishes,
or how they came there, amply provided as they
were with ready dressed food, il passed human ken
TO explain.
Neither is it conceivable how he could have ar
ranged these six dishes without moving from one
spot, as those which were farthest from him. when
the cloth was removed. were considerably beyond
the reach Of his arm. The conjuror recovered the
viands with his magic CLOTH
Alter some time, observed the cloth Gradual
~ rising again in the centre, until it assumed form
somewhat cOnical, the apex Of which was removed
about two feet or upward from the floor during the
whole Ut this rising or ascending progress, the ma
nipuiaor remained without removing from the spot
where he had originally squaited but he now as
sumed the erect posture, and again, for the last
time, he raised the cloth, when, wonder upon won
ders there were the six dishes, which we had
seen arranged flat and symmericaIly upon the floor
now piled one upon the other, in regular order,
commencing with the largest at the bottom, each
dish, in ascending order, being of diminished size,
until the smallest crowned the top, the food re
naming in the dishes, thus forming pyramid of
alternate layers Of earihenware and viands.
The emperor of the conjurors now took his leave
with a ''chin- chin" meaning, in good honest Eng
fish, farewell his coolee removing the teak wood
box, and some Of our domestics carrying out the
Towering shrub, in all its pristine beauty, and the
pyramid OF viands, OF the latter of which we have
no doubt they partook in company with our friend
the emperor, and washed them down with sundry
cups of their favorile sanl-ShOo.