Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-03-06


eyes have deceived us"
Did not the messenger leave a
packageg" replied the youth.
True, be did," said the monarch,
who now unfolded the package, final
" holding up TO view small paint
1 ing representing pastoral scene.
| A range of snow-capped mountains
were seen in the distance, skirting
valley covered with green grass, and
/ in the foreground, in bold relief,
stood a pure white cow.
The picture is gift to your maj
esty." said the youth, and possesses
this peculiarity. that while the COW is
! but the expression OF the skill OF the
painter, il has certain OF the instincts
! of the living animal Your majesty
| observes that now, in the light OF
/ day, the COW is feeding; but take the
/ picture into the darkest room in the
/ palace. or examine il at night, and IL
\ will be found that the cow. thinking
\ il night, has passed into an enclosure
and is lying down"
Watch this man, said the emper-
/ or that he does not fly away with
! his messenger and, with his chief
! adviser. he took the picture and re-
/ tired To a darkened room.
At the entrance he halted again 10
( look at the painting and saw the COW
standing upon the green. Crossing
the threshold and drawing the cur.
/ tains, the emperor was amazed To see
| the picture stand ont IN startling
/ distinctness when all else was invisi-
BILE in the room, but the COW wasnow
seen TO be lying down behind n fence
/ Can YOU explain it2' asked the em
peror OF his attendant.
"It j. magic replied the latter.
/ Il see You cannot explain 1t, re
/ torted Tai Tsung, and until you can.
/ this prince shall have your place.
As they returned TO the garden tie
/ cow was seen standing as before. and.
/ turning to the strange youth, the EN-
peror said: "You are my adviser, FOR
/ | cannot explain your works, and
now. for my consideration eNhibit
the third test
As thy adviser ] would suggest
! that the third test be made To thee
alone. IL is called the talking string
aud by its use one OF thy subjects
can hear thy words from afar
! Leave Us alone.' said the emperor
TO his attendants, aud when they had
departed, the youth unwound from
an ivory stick IA cord having on each
end bamboo cup
Hold it TO the ear, sir" he said,
and for great distances II will carry
my words to thee
The emperor was incredulous, yet
he held the cup to his ear, and when
the prince had reached the end OF
| the court yard and the cord had be
come stiff with the tension, he listen
! ed and ont OF the bamboo cup came
a soft voice saying: 20 mighty EN-
perorl I have no wish TO be thy ad-
wiser but thy friend. II | have shown
| thee that there are things yet new to
thee In high life, and other things yet
| TO learn. my mission il ended. The
talking string Is thine
! Astonished, the emperor replied to
the talking string and summoned the
prince OF his side, now eager to have
SO wise n man as his counsellor. But
the latter would not accept his fayors,
and after a week Of feasting aud mer-
/ riment, he departed for his own
country in the unknown West.
To the emperor the act aud gifts
were nothing less than magical: but
IN reality they were simple affairs.
/ The appearance Of the young man
apparently descending from the
clouds j. bit Of jugglery familiar In
India even to day. The picture wa,
skillfully made hy using phosphores'
cent paint, prepared by the natives
OF certain portions Of the East nearly
a thousand years ago By using or
binary paint for the day picture and
luminous paint for the one Mt night
the illusion was created. La other
words. the COW pictured lying down
behind fence was put on in luni-
nous paste aud was seen only 1T night
"A simple arrangement, easily ac'
complished TO day. The talking
string" was the telephone, which like
many OF the supposed modern inyeii-
tions, was known centuries ago and
used a. n toy by the people, appear
ing TO many as having some myster-
ious Significance.
First Tramp-"Funny thing hap
pened today
Second Tramp-"What was itF'
First Tramp-"Lady gave me meat
told me to split wood-I told her j
wouldn't do it-rhe called out big
bail dog"
Second Tramp-"Call that funny
First Tramp-"Yes. | thought Id
split"
Mr. DE Smyth-"My darling. my
own. unless you consent TO wed me
shall end my Jnisersble existence by
blowing out my brains with revolt
ver." Miss DE Pyth---.'l didn't know
you had any" Mr. De Smytb--"Yes,
bought a new dx-shooter today.
Miss DE Pyth-'I didn't mean the re
volver"
Customer (reading newspaper)--
Here see | am referred to ia the
paper again"
Landlord-''IDdeed What do they