Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-03


natural result Of inducing purchases OF
the stock on the part of petty specula-
tors, who always buy on hearsay and
always lose money. The stock opened
on Monday at II and was down to ~
in about half an hour. Since then 1t
became steadier again upon tolerably
well authenticated reports that Jay
Gould was buy log the stock. lie seems
TO have sold a considerable amount OF
Missouri Pacific, and invested the
proceeds in telegraph stock. Some OF
the financial writer's OF the daily press
treated this report as absurd, saying
that Gould was not man to sell
per cent. dividend payer and to put tho
proceeds into stock which pays no.
thing. The report, nevertheless, seems
to be true. The MiSsOuri-Pacldc stock
which be sold was surplus scrip stock
which be had recently received, aud
which added nothing TO his power OF
absolute control. lilo sold at an ave-
rage of about ll2 the shares for which
he paid par but few weeks ago, aud
bought with this money Western Union
stock at about 20 and II, thus getting
nearly two shares of Western Union
for one of Missouri Pacific. II
he sees the chance Of advancing the
price of the stock and Of the company
resuming the payment OF dividends, he
has certainly done neat little trade.
That some deal is going on in telegraph
matters cannot be doubted. But what
it is nobody seems TO be able to tell yet.
Bob Garrett, tho president Of the Balti-
more and Ohio. who has Just returned
from Europe, as plump and risky as
young partridge, and who left all the
bilious tint Of his face at the German
waterirg-places, denies that there is any
thing going on between the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Western Union, OK
cept the old fight Of rates, which
will be continued and intensified
by the further extension Of the existing
lines. Another rumor was that the
Baltimore and Ohio was to be forced
into submission by the Western Union
buy irg the Msckey- Bennett cable. In
fact, some mysterious kilograms sp-
peaIed in the street stating that this
purchase had already been cOnsum-
mated. But this was officially denied,
and WAS probably originated from the
fact that the beaGlng5 and illusions to
the" Mactey- Bennett cable" G2ye been
dropped out Of the New York HerGld
FOR The last two or three days. All
credit for communication is nov given
by the HeYaid TO the Commercial cable,
thus suggesting the idea that Mickey
and Bennett have parted company in
the ownership Of the cable. This
would not be surprising, as it was re-
ported long before that there we're
some financial disputes between the CO.
p1oprietors. The BonaDzl King re.
fuses to talk on the subject, bat says
that nobody will ever obtain the con-
tIol Of the Commercial cable, and
shows his determination 70 go deeper
and deeper into the telegraph business
by q vigorous extension Of his Postal
Telegraph lines all over the Pa;ido
coast.
Whatever be the present condition Of
all these complications and cOmbina-
ticns. their ultimate issue is Of para
mount importance to the people of this
country, and deserves thorough study
and watching On the part Of the press.
The interests at stake are not only
those of rates, bat OF secrecy and
ownership Of matters sent over the
wires.
SPIRITUALISM AND SLEIGlIr OF
HAND.
| am always ready to 50 to a spirit
ualistic seQRcc or sleight-ofhand per-
Torrance, because | always manage to
discover thetrick which invariably puz
zles all the rests Of the victims. Iou
may be sure, therefore, that when Her
mann announced a performance last
Sunday evening at Wallack's Theatre
for the benefit of the Charleston suffer
ers, and the initial performance of bis
new trick "The Vanishing Lady
did not miss the opportunity, especially
as could humOr my inclinations as
well as my curiosity. From thu de-
sciiptions Of my friends from Paris
the trick Of the Vanishing Lady"
was done much better in Paris,
where Hermann announced he had
purchased the novelty and which has
been the sensation IN the Eden MuSee
for some months past. Nine. Heller
appeared in light drnpery; a rug vas
placed on the stage, large sheet OF
psper and chair thereon, the lady Sit
ting on the chair. Then Hermann en-
vtloped her 10 a thin but not gauzy
daik.green sheet that completely Gov
cred her, while revealing the contour Of
her figure. In Paris almost Instantly
the covering was removed and the ally
had vanished, but Hermann required
slow music and it was several moments
before the sheet was removed aud the
vacant chair discovered OF course he
directed attention by glAnces to every
part of the stage than that be sought
rot TO, the rear corner, where he touch
ed a spring that immediately detect
ed, letting his wife and chair drop to
the regions below, while the apparent
gauze sustained 10y its vertical folds)
its position. Theories that mirrors
we're used, producing an optical delu-
sion, were advanced by very careful
scrutiny-Slways watch the magician
and not the point at which he directs
Northumberland the spring, and,
sitting near, could hear the mechan-
ism.
HELLER's TRICK.
have never read an expose Of Hell.
ler's Psyche trick, which has mysti.
fed most beholders. The pigmy figure
Of half body, with head and arms
and sectional shelf of figures across
the front, is placed on hollow glass
cylinder. At Heller's command Psy-
che masters the most intricate cubes
and squares, the head and arms moving
from side to side, the latter selecting
figures and placing them to form a cor
l..