The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-25

wheeled these tables into a great SEMI
circle at the lower half of the hall, and
then the guests, reseating themselves,
were served with coffee. Few of them
noticed the entrance of small man,
with dark Indian complexion and curly
black beard, who took up position in
the center of the open space in the upper
end of the room. He wore white tur-
ban, close fitting jacket, with sleeves
to the elbows, showing lean, brown
forearm, loose white zouave trousers,
gathered at the knees, and a pair of
Turkish slippers, turned up at the toes
A sash of fine silk of peculiar red
color and many feet in length was
bound round his waist. A gold bracelet
in the shape of serpent was worn on
his left wrist. He looked like a Hindoo,
and it soon became evident that the
counts friends were to be treated to an
exhibition of oriental jugglery.
After making low salaam to the
company, the man, holding his bare arms
extended before him, began to rub the
palms of his hands slowly together, and
in few moments a fine gold cord ap-
peared dangling between them, and
gradually lengthening till it reached the
floor. 1t increased rapidly, coiling itself
as it did so, until as much of it as could
be contained in hat lay at the mans
feet. He now grasped the end of it in
his right hand and shook it out in the
air, until the whole length Of the cord
was undulating before him in q thou
sand flying curves. Suddenly the move
ment changed from vertical to horizon
tai, until it seemed as if the cord were
weaving itself into fabric before their
eyes; and, in fact, in wonderfully brief
time mat yard in diameter had been
thus manufactured which the man spread
out on the floor and seated himself upon.
He lifted his eyes and gazed upward,
and the audience, following his gaze,
perceived a scrap of white tissue paper
floating downward toward him. He
held out his finger and the paper rested
upon it; it futtered there for Il moment;
he breathed upon it and it grew rapidly
larger; it was now white hen, which
tapped its wings and clucked. The man
placed it on the floor; it ran about, but
finally settled down and Immediately
laid an egg. No sooner had it done this
than the man seized it by the neck,
whirled it around and it was once more
scrap of white tissue paper, which
foated up and disappeared in the vault
ed ceiling.
The man took the egg between his
forefnger and thumb, looked attentively
at it ard put it on the floor again, bal
ancing it on its end. Then, lifting his
hand little, he pointed downward at
the apex of the egg. Presently a steam
or smoke began to issue from the apex,
arising like a vapOrouS pillar and aug
inentinG il volume untll it was several
feet in height and girth. 1t now took
on Il revolving motion, which became
exceedingly rapid, and it was seen that
it was assuming shape and solidity; and
amid general murmur of amazement
from the audience it stood before them
as a human fgure-a beautiful girl, en-
veloped in white robe as soft as mist.
She remained erect and apparently I'M
conscious of her environment, her dark
eyes We're fixed in gaze of profound alb
straction, as if, just created, she were
marveling at the mystery Of being.
''Am l awake" exclaimed Mrs. Van
derdonde in cracked voice; because,
if l am, l want to get away. This is
wicked"
"You have hit upon the true explana-
ton, as | understand it, madam" said
the count, who sat beside her, smiling.
''This is all illusion. Il doesn't really
take place. These jugglers have the
faculty Of hypnotizing their audiences
just to the right point, so that one i'm
agines one sees all that the juggler wants
him to see, and yet remains, in the
ordinary sense, awake. But you are not
awake; you have been dreaming, and
so have We all. Let US see what the next
variation will bet
At the same table, on the other side,
Sallie was seated. 'Do you mean to
tell me that woman is a dream" she
asked in q low voice II know her"
'Probably each person present sees
her with Il different face, according to
their own nature or mental state" the
count returned. But she is nothing
but air, and will vanish again in mo-
ment."
''She may vanish, but she is flesh and
blood" said Sallie, in the same under
tone. "She is Olympia Raven, How
came she here? She was not among the
guests. Perhaps by way Of the magic
mirror!"
The count smiled. You must ask
her yourself, said he
'Do you give me leave"
"Undoubtally!"
Sallie rose at once. Tha count also
rose and said: My friends, Mrs Harry
Trent, whom you all know, declines to
believe that the apparition which our
juggler has produced yonder is not real
flesh and blood. She has kindly con-
sented to make trial of it. 1 maintain
that it is an illusion only"
Don't so near it, my dear" said Mrs.
Vanderdonde. You'll be turning into
an apparition yourself if you're not
careful!"
There was a rustic and murmur of ex
cited expectancy throughout the room.
,Jupglery to match this exhibition,