The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-23
Wonderful Optical Delusions

Prot Peppers new optical lectures AZ the
London POLYTECHNIC Institution are Wei cal
culaiei tu puzzle the curious aud create a
large amount of wonicrment. The ieciur-
e- are enuticd. Half Hours with Sr David
Brewster.
Tie most surprising aud v0ndcr-creAt-
ing features of Professor Peppers new lee
lures are What hc las named tle " Modern
Deiphic Oracle. aud the "Fairy Caskei'
In Introducing the former. the Professor
calls upon Tie audience to call tO mind an-
c!ent Greece. The curtain rises and The iu-
terror 90 Grecian temple is d.sclo-ei.-
Drapery IN ihe hack ground is pushed one
side, and A figure. cassicaily co.tnmei.
aud reading iuleltly "A scroll watch be- holds
ln one hand, advances. Tie professor CA
plains that the figure must be- supposed 10
represent a noble Atheniau erulite and
highly gifted. Through an acquaintance
ship which he had formed with one of the
priests Of Isis, the learned individual gets
possession OF a sacred scroll. which informs
nim THAT by means of certain charms aud
ncantati0ns, he can hold converse with the
lead. lie proceeds % do 90 AZ once; aud,
aflei -rule lOIualtles. uc Calls upon cpcrl-
te-. Slowly The curtain, through which he
Atnenian before appeared, IS drawn ASIDE,
aud a head. apparently floating in the air.
Is disclosed. There seems 20 ue nO mist. .i,e
about the head being human II a.. appar-
entity, socrates, and seemingly "all alive.
Gradually tie eyes open and look about
most naturally, and in obedience % The de-
mand Of the Athenian the voice 0fSocrafes
: heard pron0uncing biz Own opinion Oi
me decision OF his judges.
The " Fairy Casket" Is equally surprising.
/ 10 consists of q strange table some iect
/ high, with four legs, which are open % the
/ inspection ~ all
On this table is deposited large giass
/ box. OF nearly The same size OF the table.
/ The whole is covered with drapery. when 10
il brought iu front Of the stage close 10 the
.OOthgnts The closest inspection b. iuvit-
-d. Ou the covering being removed. -he
! able ala glass box, as above described app
pear. The black box seems 10 contain
black velvet aud charcoal. TIE professor
opens the box and ills IL stili further with
what appears 10 be more charcoal iic
then orders his assistants 10 shut down ilr
glass I'D and cover the box. In a rev min-
utes the box D. uncovered ana DO appears
fO be ilied with white satin instead oi black
velvet, aud roses Instead " charcoal =
white satin cushion is taken out OF The box
and after DO a real live fairy j. handed ul
from is depth, nimbly e1tricates herself.
and bows her acknowledgements OF thi
greetings with which she IS rece ved
The JOX IL again covered and uncovered
The result be that the black velvet and char
coal again appear in The interior The con
tents Of the box are again produced They
consist Of large black cushion and mos
interesting looking htte negro, who. afiel
Jumping out " The box. throws himself in
| a kneeing attitude, and appeals o. ihe au
dience " An not man and brother
These are tue Two principal Illusions Nnici
have been We understand, drawing suci
vast numbers % the Poiytecnic ever slnc.
their production.