The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-09-07
The MAGIC PAINTING
WHEN THE ROOM WAS DARkENED
THE COW WENT TO SLEEP.


ed and How Some other Seemingly
Wonderful Effects May Be Produced
by the Aid of Chemicals.
The Chinese Emperor Tai Tsung pos
sessed among other treasures picture
known as a magic painting. It repre-
sented a pastoral scene with a COW
standing in field and mountains be-
yond. When the picture was shown to
strangers or guests and they admired
it, the emperor would say:
"Yes, this is remarkable painting.
The cow, as you see, is standing, but
if the room was darkened the cow
would think it night and would lie
down"
Then the emperor would order the
room to be darkened, and the COW
would be seen to be lying down, ap.
parently asleep.
The picture was a water color, over
which was painted in colorless phos'
phorescent paint similar picture repre-.
senting the COW lying down. In the
light the standing animal was seen. but
at night or in a darkened room only the
phosphorescent picture was visible. So
the magic picture was, after all, very
simple trick.
A Dresden chemist, named Schade.
has discovered method of initiating it
which can be accomplished as follows:
First paint in ordinary colors the pic
ture of the cow standing. Then melt
some Zanzibar copal over charcoal fire
and dissolve Is parts of it in so parts
of French oil of turpentine. Filter this
and mix with 25 parts of pure linseed
oil which has been previously heated
and cooled.
Now take 40 parts of the varnish so
obtained and mix with six parts of pre-
pared calcium carbonate, 10 parts of
prepared white zinc sulphide and 36
parts of luminous calcium sulphide, all
of which can be obtained from any
chemist.
This emulsion should be ground very
fine in color mill. The result will be
white luminous pain, which should be
used to paint the cow lying down.
Many seemingly wonderful tricks can
be performed with the use of few sim
of fire. Take for this bariu!n sulphate
(CP), 1 part; magnesium carbonate
(CP). 1 part; gum tragacanth q. g.
This should be mixed and rolled into
mar bles and kept at red heat for about
an hour, then allowed to cool slowly
and placed in a glass stoppered bottle.
A few hours before using place in the
sun, and the marbles at once become
luminous.
At the entertainment ordinary mar
bles are passed among the audience, one
or more of the luminous marbles being
concealed in the hand. The exhibitor
then takes marble from some one in
the audience. holds it between his
thumb and forefnger, blows upon it.
and asks to have the lights turned
down. AS this is done he substitutes the
luminous marble, and the mysterious
light is seen. This is handed around,
and changes again as the light Is turned
on, when the magician presents to the
audience several of the ordinary mar
bles as souvenirs.
Another trick Is very effective. Take
two similar punches of artificial flowers.
Brush one over with glue or mucilage
and powder it with the dust from one
of the marbles described. Then place in
the sun. When taken into darkened
room, luminous flowers are seen. The
magician exhibits the flowers that have
not been prepared and shows that there
is nothing peculiar about them. Then,
as the light is turned down, he substi
tutes the concealed bunch, blows upon
the flowers, and, presto! displays to the
astonisEed observers luminous bunch
each flower CT which stands out as if al
white heat.
Luminous letters can be written anG
exhibited in the dark to the wonder Of
the audience. Luminous ink is made by
placing a piece of phosphorus about
the size Of pea in a te,t tube with Z
little olive oil. Place the tube in wa
ter bath until the oil becomes heated
and the phosphorus liquid. Shake wei
and pour into bottle with glass stop
per. Admit air just previous to usi ne
it, and the fluid will become luminous
tracery in the dark.
Water can be rendered luminous in 6
very simple manner. Dissolve small
piece of phosphorus in ether for severa
days in glass stoppered bottle. In this
place lump of sugar. then drop the
sugar in water, which will at once be-
come luminous
Luminous paints can be made any
color green. yellow, violet or blue
and if applied to various objects make &
wonderful display at night. New Yorl
Sun.
A Peculiar Plant.
There is a strange wild plant il
Gnadolor7 no oo11od tho ss1ifo D1anf - II