Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-04-09
VOL. G. NO. IS MEDICINE LODGE BARBER co. KAs FRIT

and FaIrmount avenue. His room Il n
curiosity shop, and is so filed with books.
pamphlets and curios that there is barely
space left for the bed, two chairs and a
table. He has been making this collec-
( ton for twenty years, and has spent
hundreds of dollars in the purchase
ofbooks and manuscripts. He has works
IN Greek, Hebrew, old German and Latin
and his manuscripts date back hundreds of
years. One of the most curious features of
mis- collection is case Of pamphlets on So
ciaiistic subjects in the Russian, Polish,
German and French languages, which were
issued by the Russian Nihilists, but only
given limited circulation before they were
suppressed by order of the Car. Hanging
against one of the walls of his room is a
rare and beautiful bit of tapestry, which
was taken from a Turkish harem in the
thirteenth century.
OF late years Mr.. Weiss has interested
himself very much in the subject of spirit
ualism, and claims to have experienced
many wonderful manifestations of the
truth of the doctrine. He is opposed to So
called spiritualistic mediums who practice
triekery, and a few months ago appeared
as witness against medium who was
false pretenses. He has a large collection
OF pictures on various subjects drawn by
spirit hands, and claims to be in constant
communication with friends in the spirit
world. Some years ago Mr.. Weiss began
the study of alchemy, and became so inter-
ested in the mystic science that he eagerly
bought and read every book and manu-
script he could find bearing upon the SUBJ
Ject. One day in junk store he picked up
manuscript written on parchment. The
Characters were old German black-letter.
he carried it home with him. When slow
ly and laboriously he managed to tran
scribe the ancient writing, he discovered,
to his great joy, that it contained the Sc
cret for which he had been seeking. The
manuscript was a record of series of ex-
periments made by German professor of
the black art.
Following out the directions contained
in the writing, Mr.. Weiss began expert
menting, and after several attempts he
succeeded in making from baser metals
something which he believes to be pure
gold. A single ingot was made, which
is about three inches long, one inch
wide, and an inch thick. The stuff re-
sembles gold, and is heavy and ductile.
In producing the little bar of precious
metal the alchemist spent all his spare
money, and when he came to figure up
the cost discovered that at the present
market price of bullion he had not much
more than made expenses. He is conf
dent that when he perfects his appa-
ratus and makes several more expert
ments he will be able to manufacture gold
out or base metal at very trihing cost.
"It is to continue my experiments in
alchemy" he said, 'that am offering my
priceless collection of books and manu-
scripts for sale. 1 must have money, for
the secret that possess will, with the help
of a little capital, enable me to become the
richest man in the world. l will be able to
control men and shape events to suit my
self. will be an autocrat greater than
the Gar of Russia, with power moro abb
solute and undisputed."
Although of medium height, his high
forehead and long, flowing brown beard
give him a commanding appearance and
he seems taller than he really is. He is of
slender build, but his frame is well-knit
and wiry and his limbs are muscular.