Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-01-28

THEATRICAL. GHOSTS. &c. At the meeting
Of the Polytechnic branch Of the. American;
Institute last evening, the mystery OF theatrical
ghosts, floating heads, 'and} other seemingly
supernatural: phenomena was explained! The
ghost is only reflection made on partition Or
pIate- glass;, The. real ghost or image is be-
heath the stage-hoor, and a partially closed
aperture is made in the floor between the ghost.
and the glass; and while the man sees the glass,
the spectators see only the reflection from the
glass In producing the floating head large
mirror is placed at certain labgle on the stage.
This glass has "a hole i'm if through which a.
human head projects. The rufHe with which!
the neck is dressed covers the hole close around
the chin. The false ceiling overhead is paper.
ed, to; mach the sidewalks, therefore it is evil
dent that to the spectators the reflection Of the
wall above appears as though it was the back
ceiling in the distance Thus the glass is not
seen, and the human head appears toatoat in
AIM, z Tribune, ,Jqn.f On "a.
WEATHER PREDIcTIoNs:-A'w weather pro-
phet at Corunna, Mich.,, astouishcs the people
bysthe accuracy OF bis weather predictions. -
He is farmer named Alexander Thompson,
aud he claims to have a. theory by which he
Car iufaliby prognosticate the weather tor three
or SIX; months1in advance. He conducts all
his own farming operations in accordance with
these Indications, even to the shutting up of his
sheep and cutting his hay, and is eminenty
successful as farmer 1t is said that many OF
Interpretations .have~been fulfilled with sur
prising accuracy, and that numbers of his
neighbors are beginning to act upon them
His weather predictions tor the winter are as
follows: i st. About the middle of January
there will be thaw. I'd. February will, be
very moderate. Sd. About the Sth Of March
it tw;ll begin to be. cold very cold. 4th Ne
shall have an open winter and very late spring
DEATH IN CHILDHOOD. Few things ap-
pear so very beautiful as a young child in it's
shroad. The little innocent face Jocks sub
timely simple and confding amidst the terrors
Of death. Crimeless and, fearless the little
mortal has passed alone under the shadow, and
explored the mystery of dissolution. There is
death In its subimest, purest image. no ha-
tired, no care for the morrow, ever. darkened
that little face. Death has come lovingly upon
It: there IS nothing harsh or cruel In Its victory
Awe. TOO, will overcast US 10 his presence, tor
wa eare slooking1on death; 4but we do not fear
the lonely voyager, for the child is gone. sim.
plc and trusting, iuto the presence Of It's all
Wise Father 'sOt such, . . we know, lis the
Kingdom Of Heaven, i s.5.tac3is SIS: z.o79
The VALLEY OF DEAyH.-The following is
probable explanation of the upas tree story
"a real valley Of death, exists in java lit is
termed the sstsValley oflPoison, and itis filled
TO considerable height with car bonlc acid gas,
which is exhaled from crevices ln the ground
If a man or other animal enters it, be cannot
return :; !: and he is not sensible of his danger
until he finds himself sinking under the poison
GUS influence Of the atmosphere which sur
rounds him. The qcarbonic acid of which 1t
chiefly, consists, rises to the heighto eighteen
feet from the bottom Of the valley. Birds
which fy into this atmosphere drop down dead,
and living fowl thrown into it dies before it
reaches the bottom, which is strewed with car:
casses of various animals that have perished in
the deleterious gas. s9$ia.as 2-S<. = aa2T *.
The following little gem, from the pen 9!
i Alice Carey, can be read with profit, By every
one-saint a. we'll as by sinner: 81 g f:sess
q - ss'.Do not long fol-. wrong or evil, %,.y4
g gais ! You will find. them it you do aa.a
81 ,s5s As syousmeasurett0 your neighbor, :.
4 He will measure back to you. s. 3,
Look for goodness, look for gladness,
Il EsfS11Y You will meet them alf the while :
Il Ifyou bring smiling, ,yisage 1
II G8y1 To the glass, you meet Q smile. i .
q NOFFEEl GO RE Ell ac1za
xD.b.gs RIO, GOVERNMENT ,JAVA,zan'
aANILLA COFFEE, received, in store an