The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-08-19
ANecromanccr i'm Paris.

Among the stranTest of the many strange
people, wh1 successivcly turn up in this
city Is a certain NJ. De CASTOR, a man OF good
family anu great requirement, who came
hither from his provincial home about SIX
wears ago, aud has worked his way from Pov
erty AMI obSurity to a lucrative profession
and AN acqu iulance with everybody worth
knowing ia the capital, ny the aid OF talent
for wonder rworkimg that leaves all rivals IN
the shade His feats of prestidigitatioh are
equal to those OF The most renowned PROBES
sors OF the art. AMI il one department, III It
of tricks performed with pack of cards, he
far surpas>es anything accomplished By them.
B at the most astonishing Of his feats are OF a
to:alv different order. and such as no other
wizlri ever attempted. For instance, his
hea | tied up in couple of towels, and then
covered with paletot, he will requ ST one OF
the audience TO go tn the furthest corner of
tn. room, and there to write on sheet ot
paoer II mass of ciphers arranged III par'tiiel
col ms and go through the most mpiicated
o Grafton with them. sIbStractiug. multiply
ing. divid ng, stating the square OF auch
CIPHER, some minute fraction of another cl-
pher, and so ua-playing, as it were, with the
figures written in the paper, and apparently
realing them as spou ls written. At one oil
his seaaces lic. threw a folded paPer 10 a lady
friend OF mine, who haa never seen him, re-
questing her not to open il, but TO put 1t at
once into her pocket and keen it there until
he should ask for il. which the lady accord
ingly did. Absorbed in watchingthe marvel
Gus things done by the performer, the lady
had quite forgotten the paper in. her pocket,
when De CASTOR, turning TO her, requested
her to ,me one of the three kingdoms OF
nature. Thus in;errogated, and feeling rath-
er nervous ut seeing the eyes OF the assembly
fixed upon her. the lady hurredly named the
vegetable kingdom De CASTOR thereupon
singling out another lady with his eye, re-
nuested her to name some class Of objects
belor ging to the vegetable kingdom Flow
err" replied the lady thus addressed. Turn
ing to third lady. the wizard asked her to
name a flower. 1.-The rose" said tie third
lady Turning again to my friend, he re
ouested her 10 read the contents of the paper
in Ger pocket on dong which she found thai
it continued these words, The vegetable
kingdom. Flowers. The rose. A man Of
great literary requirements and reputation
here. being invited to private performance
of De Cast1ns, at which he answered every
! question written by the persons pres ,nt. per
formed the most astounding feats OF divina
ton Of numi ers. stated the events that occur
! red at an immense number OF dates writer
by them-each paper being folded and helc
b.. the wrter-went away very much disgust
eG, regarding the whole affair as a series o
tricks produced by the collusion of the parties
! present. ~, YFH
" How very impudent,"' said this gentle
/ mao to hi nSelf, "a company of thirteen re
spectacle looking. gentlemanly and iptrlli
gent men, all in leayne with a ch.rlatan J!
4 dav or two afterwards, he received a. not
j from DE Castor, saying that be should d
himself the honor of calling upon him IN tn
course O a dsy or two, III order to give h'n
sr.ecimen of his powers in his own house
NJ. L. c. acc ,rdingly being detel
mined to battle his visitor, got down som
rare old histories from one of the shelves @
his library, and picked out about twenty date
of little known historic facts, in the annals G
several countries, and in remote ages. ii
drew up his paper with great internal sati.
faction, feeling sure that he had provided
poser for De CASTOR, folded it, put it away i
t his waistcoat pocket, not showing it 70 an
f one and awaited the expected visitor. 5Th
latter rived the next day and was shown
8 once to the study where N. g. = was wri
ing an article for some newspaper.
Pray don't disturb YOURSELF said L
t CASTOR on entering keep your seat, and Il
, me place myself here, aud drawing eaa
: t, the opp ,site side of the table, he took
r folded paper from his pocket, and gave it
f NJ. c.. "Don't open ittill ask yol
e do So" said De CASTOR; and ~ G-place
> it unopened.in in his pocket. g -. -
e /" Have you a pack of cards and box
!, dominoes 2. demanded the visitor, --v
n sc Here are dominoes.." replied M c.
e taking a box out of one of the table drawe,
a and handing it to De CASTOR :" as for card
: don't think there are any in the house, b