The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-01-19

rs they are heard to use on the hill
side. The sheet was now thrown, as
in tho other instance, over the par
trdges, and when Withdrawn, instead
of those beautiful birds, there appeared
two frightful black snakes, with flat
heads and crimson bellies, which, with
opcd mouth and head erect, and coilcd
together, attacked each other with the
greatest fury, and SO continued to do,
until, as it appeared, they became
quite exhausted, when they fell asun-
der.
''Thcy made an excavation in the
earth in the shape of Il tank or reser.
voir, considerable dimensions, which
they requested lis to fill with wa
ter. When this was done they spread
covering over the place, and after q
short interval, having removed the
cover the water appeared to lie
one sheet of ice, and they desired that
some Of the clephantk keepers might be
directed to lead the elephants across.
Accordingly one of the men set his
elephant upon the ice, and the ami
NAL walked over with us much ease
and safety rs if it were q platform of
solid rock, remaining for some time on
the surface of the frozen pond, with
out occasioning the slightest fracture
in the ice. As usual, the sheet was
drawn across the place, and being re
moved, every vcstiSc of ice, and even
moisture OF any sort, had complete
ly disappeared.
'They procured a blank volume of
purest white paper, which was placed
in my hands to show that it contained
no figures, or any coored pages what
ever, Of which satisfied myself and
all around. One OF the men took the
Volume&n hand, and the first opening
exhibited a page Of bright red, sprink.
led with gold, forming II blank tablet,
splcndid'y elaborate. The next turn ex.
hibited beautiful azure. spriplsled in
the same manner, and exhibiting on
the margin numbers of men and
women n various attitudes.
"The jugglcr then turned to anoth-
CT leaf, which appeared of Il Chinese
color and fabric, and sprinklcd in the
same manner with gold, but on it
deiincated herds, Of cattle and lions.
the latter seizing upon the kline in n
manner that | never observed IN anv
other paintings. The next leaf cxhibi.
ted was beautiful green, similarly
powdered with gold, on which was
represented in lively colrs garden
with numerous expresses, roses, and
other Towering shrubs in full bloom.
and in the midst of the garden an
elegant pavilion. The next change
exhibited a leaf of orange, in the same
manner powdered with gold, on which
the painter had dcincatcd the repre-
sentation Of a great battle, in which
two adverse kings were seen engaged
IN the struggle OF a mortal combat.
IN short, at every turn of the lear,a dit.
ierent color, scene, and action, was
exhibited, such as was, indeed, most
pleasing to behold; but of all the per
formances, this latter of a volume Of
paper afforded me the greatest de-
,So J P'SeuiSS aiu cSIIaOT-
dlnary changes having been brought
under my view, that | must confess
my utter inability to do justice to
the description"
In observing upon the extraordinary
nature of these performances, the EN-
pcror puts aside the supposilion that
thoy were to be ascribcd to mere Wis
ual deception.
"Ihey very evidently par,akc," he
says, "of something beyond the cx-
ertion of human energy. have heard
it stated that the art has been called
the Asmayan, celestial, and | am
informed that it is also known and
practised to n considerable extent a.
mong the nations Of Europe. 1t may
be said, indeed, that there exists in
some men peculiar and essential fac
ulty, which enables them to accom- :
plish things far beyond the scope of
human excrtion, such rs frequently to
battle the utmost subtlcty of the
understanding to penetrate. ."-NeO-
York Eeeaing Post.
A DEATH BED REVELATION. a