Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-01
THE AMT.scopE MAN.


ruptsd BY . Copper.
He was rather seedy-loodng. He
wore last years derby hat, . Baxter
street overcoat and spring bottom
trousers with baggy knees He stood
in Pine street toward Broadway. A
small open sachel was suspended in
front Of his body by . strap around his
neck. The sachel was filled with queer
little packages wrapped up I'm red tissue
paper. He was surrounded by an adj
miring group. In the crowd were many
messenger boys and . sprinkling Of
Wall street clerks He was glib. very
glib. In fact his tongue seemed to be
hung in the middle and to wag At both
ends He rivaled the late Swafne
Buckley in the rapidity OF his articula-
ton Closing one eye and applying TO
the other peep-hole in . little wooden
box containing bit Of looking-glass,h he
thus spoke:
ST have already demonstrated the
usefulness and scientific advisability
of this remarkable little perspective
optical instrument which hold in my
hand. This is the one hundred and
seventy-fourth time. gentlemen, since
1 have been here that 1 have demon
strated its marvellous divining powers,
but for the benefit of those who were 30
unfortunate as not to hear me Will
now repeat my interesting and
instructive explanation call
it the analytica antiscope, or detector
of what is going on behind you By its
use. gentlemen, the unseen world to
your back is made plain to your senses
1t also reveals the secret domestic econ
omy of the most exclusive household.
All that is necessary to see what is go
ing on in . second-story room Is to place
yourself at the hypotenuse Of . right
angle triangle equidistant from the base
of the building to the spot where you
stand and the height of the window
from the ground. Then hold the anti
scope at an angle of seventy-fve de-
grees to the left or right optic, as the
case may be, and the hidden mysteries
of the homes of McAllister's four hum
dred are revealed BY slight twist of
the wrist and simple change of the
angle of vision one can perceive the
heavenly consultations, the intricate
and involved evolutions of the planetary
system. the marvellous wonders Of astro-
nomical research. Descending from our
study of the armament by another
slight change of the angle at which the
antiscope is held Twill demonstrate how
one can see all that is passing behind
him. If you will break away there be-
hind me and make an opening I will
tell you all that is to be observed in a
direct line with the back of my head.
If you will look closely you will observe
coming down the street directly behind
and on the opposite side OF the way an
individual who to all outward appear
ance bears every indication of being a
chicken thief But on closer inspection
he proves to be an Italian rag-picker
with bag on his back Directly be-
hind me and only about four feet away,
is small messenger boy with a very
dirty face. His number is 8. $50. He is
| now putting his fingers to his nose and
wiggling them at me instead of going
on the important errand he was sent on
about three hours ago. He is now NOV
| ing away with that hare-like movement
so characteristic of the messenger boy
in a hurry. On this side of the street
there is tall man with silk hat and a
gray mustache. He has a severe express
sion in his eyes and is carrying a fifty.
cent umbrella under his arm. This will
| demonstrate to the most prejudiced o.
server that 1 am, indeed. able to look
behind my back as easily as before my
nose. and you may one and all do the
same If you viii now purchase one Of
the antiscopes which you may have to
| day for the small sum of ten cents, one
| dime. I wish to get them on the market
Step up gentlemen, and buy while you
have time. I've only . few of them
left"
At this juncture . policeman saunt-
cred careiessly around the corner and
the crowd melted away. The young
| man with the ''antiscopes" quickly
closed his sachel. and walked meekly
up toward Broadway. The tall man
with the gray mustache and the fifty
cont umbrella, by the way, happened to
be the dignified president of the Gala
tin National Bank.-N. Y. Sun.