The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-04-03
Wonderful Oplica. Delaslon.

EIoieSSOi teppeT new OpJlcal lee.
tnres 1T the t.or,lon Polytechnic Tnsti.
tuition are we'll calculated to puzzle the
curious and create n large amount of
wonderment. The lectures are entitled
"Half Hours with Sir David Brewster"
At each lecture the Professor introduc,
some Of the discoveries of that dis,in.
gnishcd philosopher. including that
known rs tho "kaleidoseope." An in.
teresting history Of the latter invention
is given, and its really beautiful effects
shown.
But the most surprising and wonder
creating features OF Professor Peppers
new lectures are what he has named
The ."Modern, Delphle! Oracle, aud 1.-The
Fairy Casket." In Introducing the
former, the Professor calls npon the au
dience 10 call To mind ancient Greece.
The curtain rises, ard the interior of a
Grecian temple is disclosed. Drapery
in the background is pushed one side,
and II figure, classically eeStnmed, and
reading intently scroll which he holds
in one hand, advances. The professor
explains that the figure must be- suppcs-
ed to represent u noble Athenan, eru.
dite and highly gifted. Through an ae.
quain,anceshp which he had formed
with one Of the priests Of ISIS the learn
ed individual gets possession of a sacred
scroll, which informs him that, BY means
Of certain charms and incantations he
can hold converse with the dead. He
proceeds to do 80 at once and, after.
some formalities, he calls upon Socrates.
Slowly the curtain, through which the
Athenian before appeared, is drawn
aside, and head, apparently floating
in the air, is disclosed. There seems to
be no mistake about the head being hu.
man Its apparently, Socrates, and
seemingly "all alive"
Gradually the eyes open and look
about most naturally. and in obedience
to the demand Of the Athenan the voice
of Socrates is heard pronouncing his own
opinion of the decision of his judges. To
render The illusion as real as possible an
instrument is placed in front Of the stage,
which has the effect ofthrowing strong
reflection on any object that comes be
tween it and the prepared wall at the
back of the stage. The reflection of the
head. and the head alone, ON the back.
ground, adds much to the bewilderment
with which every spectator, not in the
secret, witnesses. Besides, rs the head
delivers itselfat the beautiful lines with
which It is intrusted, the beard is OBJ,
served to move with each articulation OF
the voice. Vet the who.e 4, as the
Professor takes some trouble to remind
his audience, when any fresh canselor
surprise is unfolded, nothing more than
asimple Illusion.
The Fairy Casket" is equally SUR
prising. 1t consists of strong table
some four feet high, with four legs
which are open to tho inspection of all
On tbis table is deposited a large glass
box, Of nearly the same size as tho Ia.
bic. The whole is covered with drape.
Fy, when ills brought in front Of the
stage, close to the footlights. The clos.
est inspection is invited. On the cover.
ing being removed the table and glass
box, as above described, appear. The
glass box seens to contain black velvet
and charcoal The professor opens the
box and fills It still further with what
appears TO be more CHARCOAL. He then