Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-25
Wonderful Optical Illusions.

Professor Pepper, delivering lectures on op-
ties IN London, gives some new and astonlsh-
mo experiments IN illustration of optical illu
sions, the most remarkable of which are called
- the Modern Delphic Oracle and - the
Fairy Casket.' In Introducing the former.
the Professor calls upon the audience TO call to
mind ancient Greece The curtain rises and
the interior of a Grecian temple is disclosed.
Drapery in he background pushed one
side, and figure, claslcaly costumed and
reading intently scroll which he holds In
one hand advances The Protessor explains
that the figure must be supposed to represent
a noble Athenian, erudite and highly gifted
Through an acquaintanceshlp which he had
formed with one of the priests OF Isis the
learned individual gets possession OF a sacred
scroll, which informs him that, by means OF
certain charms and incantations, ne can hold
converse with tho dead. He proceeds to do
so at once anu after some iormslltles he calls
upon Socrates Slowly the curtain through
which the Athenian before appeared Is drawn
aside, and 4 bead, apparently floating IN e
air. Is disclosed. There seems 80 be no mis-
take about the head being human. 1t is, ap
parentlv, Socrates, and seemingly call alive
Gradually the eyes open and look about
most naturally, and in obedience to the de-
mand of the Athenlan the voice OF Socrates Is
heard pronouncing his own opinion OF the de-
cislon of his judges To render the Illusion
as real as possible an instrument Is placed In
front of the stage, which has the effect OF
throwing a strong reflection on any object
that comes between 1t and the papered wall at
the back OF the stage. The reflection of the
head. and the head alone, on the background,
adds much to the beWii6erment with which
every SPECTATOR, not in the secref witnesses It,
Besides as the head delivers itself OF the beau
tiful lines with which 1t is lntrusted, the bear
er is observed to move with each articulation
of the voice Yet the whole is, the Proies-
sor takes some trouble 10 remind his audience,
when any fresh cause for surprise is unfolded,
nothing more than simple illusion.
The :. Fairy Casket - Is equally surprising.
Ii consists of strong table some four feet
high, with four legs, which are open to the
inspection OF all. On this table is deposited
large glass box, of nearly the same size as
the table The whole is covered with drapery,
when it is brought IN front of the stage, close
to the foot-lieh hts. The closest inspection is
invited On the covering being removed the
table and glass box, above described, ap-
pear The glass box seems to contain black
velvet and charcoal. The Professor opens the
box and fills it still further with " hat appears
to be more charcoal. He then orders his as
sistant to shut down the glass lid and cover
the box. In few minutes the box is uncov.
cred. and 1t appears to be filled with white
| satin instead of black velvet and roses instead
of charcoal. A white satin cushion is taker
out of The box, and after 1t real live fairy Ii
handed up from its depths, nimoly extrieate'
herself, and bows her Acknowledgements OF the
greetings with which she is received. The boz
Is again covered and uncovered. The result
is that the black velvet and charcoal agail
appear III the interior. The contents of tn
box are again produced. They consist of
ia' ge black cushion and most interesting
looking little negro, who, after jumping on
of the box, throws himself in q kneeling atti
tude, and appealing to the audience, says
Am not a man and a brother?" Thes
are the two principal illusions which hav
been, we understand, drawing such vast mum
bers to the Polytechnic ever since their produt
riOn.