The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-03-18
From Southern Society. |
ASTARTE.
BY FANNY DOWNING.

the truth of my assertion, nor can 1
hope to obtain your belief without
such proof; still, as certainly as I am
aware of the existence of my soul,
just so surely do I know that we
possess capacities and are endow-
ed with capabilities which, if we
allow them to reach their full de-
velopment, will immeasurably in
crease our spiritual knowledge and
abilities. So much 80, that the dis
tance supposed to extend between
the material and spiritual is so much
diminished, that not only are we
enabled to look over the boundaries
of the spirit world, but actually to
cross them, and assimilating our
selves to its inhabitants, become DOS
sessed of its immunities!''
The speaker was woman of that
style Of beauty which is best express
ed by the word glorious. Past the
spring-time of life, the summer prime
of her beauty was in its highest
state of perfection. Dressed in a
somewhat fantastic style, the richness
of the antique robe of purple velvet,
heavily embroidered in gold and
brilliantly colored silks, which draped
her queenly form, more than atoned
+ or its strangeness of shape.
She lay on low couch, fashioned
SO as to represent leopard couchant,
and covered with the soft, silky skin
of that animal Her long, slender,
white hands were folded on her
bosom; her head, covered with q
turban of India cashmere, which,
resting on her high forehead, con-
cealed every vestige of her hair, re-
posed on pillow fringed with gold;
and looking at her, one was tempted
to think her one of those wonderful
beings who, in the early ages of the
world, were considered to be the
links between the visible and invisi-
BILE, and to hold intercourse with
familiar spirits, rather than q woman
of ordinary flesh and blood.
The apartment in which she lay
was eminently calculated to confirm
this impression. by its singularity
and arrangement, which were indi-
cative Of the strange, unearthly taste
of its owner.
Long, low, divided into panels
covered with dark green velvet, in
heavy guilt mouldings, and with a
floor composed of cubes of white and
black marble, covered here and there
with squares of soft carpeting, it was
furnished in the Oriental style, with
cushions and divans of rich silk.
In its centre was fountain filled
with crimson liquid, composed of
some powerful perfume mingled with
opium, which made the air almost
oppressive with its heavy sweetness,
and produced in all who inhaled it, a
feeling of strangely blended languor
and intoxication.
just within reach of its shower of
crimson spray stood an artificial palm
tree, on which birds, glowing with
the colors of the tropics, were 30
arranged as to seem as if they had
just aIighted, ond around whose
stately stem was coiled huge rattle
snake, with head protruded, mouth
open, and fangs which seemed still
to glisten with poisonous dew.
In one corner was table formed
of slab of black marble, which rest
ed on the shoulder of an impish and
uhcauiJ nBuIc, hlu uPou "hiCu "ero
:c2:tttc.cd. antique vs-5os and AMI orso,
long, fragile TASKS, filled with subtle
looking fluids of vivid colors and
closely corked, and singularly shaped
vessels of glass and bronze, mystic
riously suggestive of unpleasant uses.
One picture in frame work of
fretted gold was on the wall, but was
so closely covered by n curtain of
black velvet, which hung before it,
as to be effecthally. shronded from
sight.
The most singular object in the
room, and one which. despite its
almost regally valuable accessories,
produced feeling of unutterable re-
pulsiveness, was small tripod, which
was placed by the side of the lady and