The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-03-26
THE LOADSTONE.

tegte6, II was the captain OF the boat
club. He had many faults: be was very
tall and powerful. and delighted in con-
-trasting the English physique with that
of inferior races. by which be meant.
among others. the rajah's race His
manner was abrupt and overbearing
his laugh loud and unmusicaI. In fact. he
grated horribly on the rajah. and It was
merely the final straw. when in the ex-
hilaration Of bump supper-full. as the
rajah remarked in disgust, Of COW and
strong drink = he called that gentleman
In playful chaff. niger" The rajah
swore nelodiously in Hindoostanee, and
saw that he meant to be revenged
In those days the entertainment Of the
Nebraska Loadstone created furore.
Everybody went to see her, and every
body came away convinced that she pos
sessed marvellous powers Her peculiar
gift-but everybody remembers the de-
tails of the performance. and how the
tricks were finally. one by one, exposed.
10 that ner adherents and believers were
driven from one position TO another.
until nj last they had to fall back on one
single performance ont OF all those that
the Loadstone gave. and maintain that.
on that occasion at least. something I'M
explained and inexplicable did really
happen. 1t Is with the events of that
particular evening that am concerned
think can throw some light on them.
At first. however, there were many
believers and few skeptics, The dean
carefully pointed out that Plato mo-
where denied the existence Of odic force:
and the bursar, who was generally sup
posed to be little better than an atheist
declared that Spencer. in one passage, inn
pliedly asserted it: even the warden. in
his sermon, told ms that 1t was better.
according to Bacon, to believe two err
rors than refuse one truth which was,
70 say the least OF it. sitting on the
fence. But none OF these authorities
shook the robust skepticism of the cap
tain Of the boat club. de knew con-
Jurer. and the conjurer had told him
how il was done. and he was going to
expose the Eoadstone
But why haven't your urged.
shes been here week.
He will not be too hard on her at
first, SAID the rajah. with little sheer
Ill bnst her up this very night"
said Waterer Il would have done it
before, only | was gated.
The excuse was good. and Waterer
departed. full OF boastings and self con-
6dence. to gather together large num-
Der Of the noisy men. and make pleas
Ant party 10 guy" the unhappy Load
stone, ! staid to smoke pipe with the
.rajah.
HOf course she's fraud said he:
..and | believe that animal really has |
got hold OF the right explanation. :
4 shall go and see it" announced.
After moments silent smoking the |
zajah looked IN with twinkle in his eye
$50 shall l--if niggers are admitted"
!; After hall, he and set out together |
for the town hall. We found the first /!
two rows OF stalls occupied by Waterer |
and his friends. They were all in even
ing dress and had obviously dined-not
m hall The rajah and | seated our
selves just behind them. The room was
full and the feats were most successful:
each was followed by general applause.
broken only by some gibes from our
friends in front. The latter grew so
pronounced that the Loadstone's mana
ger at last came forward and pointedly
invited one OF the scoffers to submit
himself to experiment
Now was Waterer's chance. He rose
b the majesty of his bulk, walked onto
the platform. and said. in loud voice,
as he settled himself on chair: IF the
lady can move me one foot from this
chair I'll give her twenty-five pounds.
The Loadstone advanced and began
10 paw him about in her usual fashion.
tWaterer, who was sober enough to have
lost nothing but his shyness, was appar-
ently too many for her. He was i'm
movable. and cries of Nov. then!
when are you going to Begin" and so
on, became audible. Two or three min
utes passed and the Loadstone turned
with gesture of despair toward her
manager.
Il CAN'T she began.
jumped to my feet. crying: wait a
mimutel Lookr'
For even as she spoke, there was what
is scientifically called q solution of con-
tinuity between Waterer and his chair.
Still in sitting posture, but sitting on
nothing, he was at least two inches from
the wickerwcrk Of the chair. Iglanced
from him to the rajah. That extraordi-
nary man was in deep. placid, profound
slumber logged his elbow and pinched
mis- arm; he showed no consciousness
whatever. looked at the Loadstone
She was standing mot:onless on the stage,
about b yard from Waterer, with one
hand outstretched toward him and her
eyes fixed on his ascending figure for
Waterer was gradually, slowly, steadily
mounting in his strange journey.
He was now foot from his chair, still
In sitting position-and up, up, up he
Was going. The wretch was white as
sheet and gasping with fright and be-
wilderment. Thunders of applause
burst from the audience. 1t was again
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