The Washington critic., 1888-01-14

globe of crystal. II was evidently the |
source of the light, but IL did not
yield il the same way as an ordinary
lamp, for no glare prevented its being
seen in the universally
diffused light coming from nowhere
in particular.
circle about five feet in diameter, in
closed by triple circumference Of
red, white and black--the outer being
black and the inner red. The area of
this circle seemed like the ground
glass of q camera, and over its surface
formless shadows were moving in
some kind Of regular rhythm, but l
could not hold my attention TO this
alone long enough to formulate what
they were. On the opposite side of
the room, the whole length, ran
highly-polished mahogany table in
laid with silver. On this rested
most intricate arrangement Of wires,
wheels and electric multipliers; these
were all evidently connected with
glass case containing magnificent
galvanic battery. Over the centre
Of this curious mechanism was large
dial like clock face. A very gro
tesquely carved frame of ebony sur
rounded this dial, the whole repre-
senting the Egyptian symbol of eter-
nity-a serpent with its tail in its
mouth. There were five bands, each
ending in q serpents head, with bril-
liants for eyes. The usual circle for
hours and minutes was in the centre.
Outside of this were the months and
days, and on an outer circle still were
numbered years from one to twenty
five. | noted in glance that it was
nearly twelve o'clock of the twelfth
month of the twenty-lifth year.
Everything about this superb mech
anism was of the most perfect finish
and elegant polish.
"In the centre of the room sight
met my view that fairly made my
heart stop beating. On raised dais,
at an angle of forty-five degrees, so as
to be in full view from where stood,
lay large casket Of glass. Within
its crystal walls reclined a maiden of
wonderful beauty. Her hair, of that
rippling, lustrous gold of which poets
and artists tell us, flowed about her
neck and shoulders. A robe of foamy
tissue covered her save where the bare
arms and shoulders, rounded and
full, showed their exquisite proper
tions. She lay with closed eyes and
seemed to sleep.
Amazed beyond self-control my
first impulse was to try again FOR adj
mission at the outer doors. / half
turned away to descend from the loft,
when some heavy folds of tapestry on
the side of the room farthest from me
seemed of their own accord to move
aside, disclosing an arched passage,
through which, in single file, seven
men with slow and measured tread
entered the room.
"They were all dressed in long,
black gowns, belted at the waist with
broad, plain band of shining metal,
save one, whose belt was of crystal
From their necks golden chain held
q symbol resting upon their breasts.
| These insignia, as well as the girdle
of him who seemed TO be chief, shone
by some innate light like the crystal
globe in the centre of the room, eX-
cept, as they moved, coruscations of
color would flash out. There was no
sinister purpose in their high, pale
foreheads, and long, white hair and
boards. was perpleXed. A pecu-
liar sensation stole over me. could
not move, and felt stihed. could
do nothing but look.
"With noiseless step and speechless
gravity the seven arranged themselves
around the casket, each standing upon
one of the inlaid symbols of the floor
As if with q single Impulse they
Joined hands in mystic inter-clasp
Instantly u strain of weird music
slow in measure, but thrilling and
far-reaching, seemed to pervade the
space in the same manner as the light
If souls can be called from whence
they go this would do it. Every
spiritual perception of my soul grew
supernaturally acute. 1t seemed to
become dual. | was in the room with
them, and still / seemed to be con.
scious of my body looking in. / can
not in words explain my sensations,
but this may help to make plain what
followed.
GAS the music went on, increasing
in intensity of potency, the air began
to fill with an ovcrmastering presence
that was not of the earth. Indistinct
shapes crowded the room.
"At last he who looked the oldest
of the seven, and who wore the
crystal zone, spoke quietly and
gravely-his rich, full tones in har-
mony with the musical accompani.
ment that never for a second ceased
nor faltered, but grew ever more mas.
terful in its call to the inmost powers
of the soul. His words, as nearly as
! can repeat them, were these
Brothers of the eternal and
mystic number, we meet at last fol-
the final verification of the great cen
trail idea. We shall soon know if the
soul dominates the body through the
infinite ages The hand on the dia
approaches the full time when the
twenty-five years shall be completed
since in this room my beloved daugh
ter passed from anesthesia to sus
pended animation. During thi
quarter of century the body has
been preserved intact from the powe
of Zeb Chronas, the destroyer. 1t il
untouched by the mouldering decay
which happens to gross mortality
Our skill and her acquiescence pre-
serve this physical form to us .thi
day, beautiful and perfect rs at tn,
moment when she SO willingly Offered
herself rs q volunteer in this untriet
and unknown advance into the domaii
of the Unknown Science. Thus fa
our experiment is u success. We ar,
now to learn from the actual whethe
the spirit can ro-enter the body a
will. Are we ready?' The sage
bowed low as one man, and thei
voices, as one voice, replied: In til,
name of the Three, the Five and thu
Cavnn wn are rnadV The hands M
the great clock moved slightly. Th'
twenty-fifth year was finished an'
the lid of the casket flew open Tn