Wichita eagle., 1890-01-29
A MYSTIFIED EMPEROR
FOOLED By THE TRICKS EXECUTED
BY A CLEVER YOUTH.

Tho Three Great wonders Of the MsEi-
cian-How = Co.cei.ed Chinese Monarch
Was Hoodwinked by Three Simple Feats
Of Jusrlery-An Early rosePAsae.
Many hundred years ago China WIS ruled
by an emperor who was looked upon during
his reign as the most remarkable uan OF his
time But though Tai TsunS possessed a
moro than ordinary mind he had BEEN trained
in the s1perstitious school of those days, and
considered himself ito greatest OF all men,
and descended from line OF emperors OF
divine origin.
So oonceited did he finally become that he
caused it to be announced throughout the
empire that he would give an important
Office to the subject who could produce any
invention or object that ne could not OK
plain.
THE MAGIC ROPE.
One day youth, having the bearing OF a
person Of rank, and with two attendants,
presented hinsalf at the palace gates and de-
mancled An audience with the emperor. After
some little delay they were led before Tai
Tsung, who, clothed in a robe Of cloth OF
gold upon which was ring wrought in gems
upon throne in the court garden-
What lave we here?' ne asked, as the
youth approached.
1.-THE name and fame of Tai Tsung has
reached my fathers kingdom in the far west,
and he has seI5 me to show him things that
he knows not Of" was the reply.
"Many have told like tale and been dis
appointed retorted the emperor; 'but what
are theyg"
81 have three tests wish to submit" an
swered the youth. ''Two had their origin In
thy country, o, Tai Tslng, and the other
comes from my people" Taking package
from one of his attendants he placed it upon
the ground aud displayed the contents to the
emperor. These were simply coil Of rope
an umbrella 1T native make and small box.
Your imperinl majesty observes" said
the stranger, "1hat we are three, surrounded
by the officers aud unable to add to our mum,
bers on to deplete them without thy wish.
Yet look" and seizipS the rope the young
man, who had thro wn aside his outer gar.
ments and DOW appeared in suit Of CLEAN
ing silver, tossed it up into the air. Tho ef
fort was a slight one, yet the rope rose as Il
propelled by great force, and when above
the palace walls disappeared. A moment
later down it came, aud upon it the emperor
and bis officers saw sliding down a human
form, and before they could recover from
their astonishnleut young man had reached
the ground and, saluting his jssty, handed
him square package wrapped In rice paper.
"Casst thou tell ne from whencs came
this messenger asked the youth
Perhaps he came over the palace wal, VI
suggested one Of the snperor's advisers
Surround the wall with soldiers" said the
youth who overheard the remark, and these
precautions being taien he took his cast of
garment and threw it over the newcomer
who crouched upon the ground Over this
was placed the large umbrella Then utter
ing an invocation the young man tore aside
the robe-ths newcomer had disappeared.
did not the messenger leave paekageri
said the youth.
True, he did" said the monarch, who now
unfolded the package, which had remained
forgotten in his hands, finally holding up to
view a small painting representing pastoral
scene. A range Of snow capped mountains
were seen in the distance, sSirtinS fair val
ley covered with green grass, and in the fore
ground, in bold reaief, STOOD . pure white
COW.
The picture is a GIT to your majesty"
said the youth, ''snd possesses this peculiar
ity: That while the COW is but the express
sion Of tie skill of the painter, it has certain
Of the instincts of the living animal. Your
majesty observes that now, IN the light Of
the day, the COW is feeding; but take the
picture In to the darkest room IN the palace,
or examine it at night, and it will BE- found
that the COW, thinking 1t night, has passed
irtn ind - vip
The PAINTED COW.
The courtiers sIniied and the emperor
laughed aloud And dare you risk your
life upon this cowt hs asked
Make the test, and l VIII abide by the
result, ;" was the reply
Watch this man., said the emperor, eth at
be does not fy away like his messenger.
and, with mis- Chief adviser, he took toe pct
ure and retired to darkened room. AT the
entrance he halted to again look AT the paint
ing, and saw the COW standing upon the
greaD. Crossing the threshold and drawing
the curtains, the emperor was amazed to see
the picture STAND out in startling distancsness,
when all else WAS invis; NE In the room; but
the COW was now seen 10 be lying down behind
8 fence Can You explain ltf asked the
emperor of his Attendant
at Is magic rephed zoe latter.
ii see you cannot explain IL, retorted
Tai Tsung, and, until you can, this prince
shall have your place
As they returned TO the garden the COW
was seen standing as before and, turning &c
the strange youth. tee emperor SAID: " 90
are my adviser, for | cannot explain your
works, end now, for my consideration e1-
hibiS tae tord test"
AS thy adviser / would suggest that the
third test be made TO thee aioac. Il IL called
the taking string and, by its Use. one at thy
subjects can hear shv words from AkAr7
Leave Us alone,- said the emperor 70 his
asterdants, and when they had depayted tie
youth uawound from an ivory sS.ck . cord
having upon each end bamboo cup.
Hold II 70 thy ear, sire. be sad, ard
for great distances it VIII carry ny words 70
thee
The emperor was inc-e.iuIoos, yet ne bed
the cup 70 his ea-, and when ths princs aad
reached the end Of tne court yard and the
cord had become .5lf with tie tAnEo0, he
listened, and out az Lse bamboo CUP came a
soft voice saving: %, mighty emperor
have 20 ~xa TO be thy sdvsssE, tut thy
friend Il have shown soee kIa. there are
thinss yer Few to snse IN high Rfe and other
;ainss yet TO learn. nv ma.ssa Is ended Tas
taking string b tsine
To the aznperor the acu and gtfH vezs
noteirg less than magical; bot IN reality
they were s,mr2s Affairs. The Appearance
| Of the Young man sppArsnIy descending
from the Clouds y n; Of jvgglHy familiar
IN India evea sssxy-s Tee picture Vas sSll-
fully made b5 ssng psosphcr--zt pain.
prepared BY Ne natives Of oe<iszE psrascs
.: tss sase >Anr4y . s.so<Asa ysArs a<a- hJ