The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-12

what q man could do who possessed such
a power. He could pick no the Capitol
at Washington and carry II of.
swell; that's not my yarn, is 1t? l
went to the temple one afternoon and
found Ii to be one of the most mseniti-
cent buildings ] mad ever seen. The
room into which / was ushered, was gor-
geously and richly decorated, although
plainly-slmost humbiy furnished. The
old Mahatms was patriarch of his kind,
with flowing white beard and hair. He
was q picturesque figure, clad In his
priestly robes of white, and / could but
admire him when he came forward to
greet me.
"Sabib has come to see the Mahatma's
magic?" ne queried, a. made my salu-
tation.
eyes," replied.
"Sshib will take seat here In front Of
the door, AMI promise not to leave 1t un-
til the vision is past?"
"I gave the required PROMISE"
"And Sabib will agree not to touch
anything he sees, during the progress of
my worK?"
az agreed to this, also. and while he
went about his preparations, had time
to note my surroundings more carefully.
There was only one door to the room.
and my chair was almost in its opening.
There was skyiight in the ceiling or
dome OF the cham Der, but no windows.
The only entrance, therefore, was the
H.. oh \
and Aoor carefully for traps and panel,
but could detect none.
The old fellow then placed two bamboo
trestles in the middle of the room and
across them laid a piece OF board about
six feet long. Then he picked up a
shawl from the floor, and opened it be-
fore me, to allow me to see both oides
Of il. With o sudden toss or fiirt OF the
cloth, he deftly spread II before bin,
holding the upper corners in such q way
as to. screen his entire person for q cecond
or two. when he dropped 1t, a young
native girl stood by his side. Where she
came from or how she got into the room
is mystery but she was there, all right.
Then the priest made q few hypnotic
passes over her and she became ss rigid
as a bar OF iron. lie picked her up, with
a swift motion aud paced her upon the
board, in q horizontal position.
"with another motion, equally swift,
be Knocked the bamboo trestles from
under the plank and the board, with the
body of the girl upon it,resmined station
ary, In the air. The old magician then
passed his hands over the form OF the girl
sno IL began to move. IL followed bis
hands wherever they went, almost as IL he
had taken physical hold Of the board. l
watched It., with an interest that was
keen. you msy be sure. At the same time
was on the qui vive for any or all the
subterfuges resorted .o by the most ex-
pert pei formers.to bring about similar re-
suits but / satisfied myself that none OF
them were made use Of. Ii sppesred the
old priest actually did what was claimed
for bim-thst II, suspended the laws Of
grsvitation, through occult power he alone
possessed. Wires? q, that is the resort
OF an amateur. besides, such positive
proof OF the non-existence Of wires Is
given, as to make such q premise unten-
sole. I confess IL was too much for my
understanding and watched him IN open
mouthed sstonishment. Suddenly be
picked up the cloth from the floor where
he had thrown Il. lilo made q lightning
like PASS with the cloth before the float
ing body of the girl, aud SLOWED the
shawl to fell gracefully to the door. The