The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-04

examined with the greatest attention.
He was next sent to ask the gardener for
common bean, marking 1t with sign
known only to himself. In the mean time
| had procured piece OF fine white linen
from the housekeeper
When all was ready Covindasamy poured
little water on the earth In the dish, rub
bling 1t gently az he murmured q few words
in strange tongue, and then planted the
bean in 1t, putting In his bamboo stick
for support and covering the whole with
knelt down beside the DISH holding both
arms above his head, and entered into what
science has learned to call trance, for
lack of a better word. Sir Lionel warned
us to be silent.
remained motionless, while we smoked
patiently. Only DR.. jolly, who sat beside
me, whispered that what was most interest
ing to him for the moment was the position
OF the fakir's arms, as normal man was
not capable OF holding them in such a man
ner for more than seven or eight minutes
at time.
At length Covindasamy. appeared to
awaken, and Sir Lionel asked us to ap-
proach the dish and remove the cloth;
We did so, and underneath. twined about
the bamboo stick, was perfect little bean
plant several inches high.
The cotyledons had already become
leaves, and at the foot of the plant, lying
on the earth. were the two parts Of the bean
covering, one OF which was distinctly
marked with Beaufort's sign. The fakir
bowed politely and returned to the house.
journalist. examining the plant with his
fingers. almost too long to wait for a
prestidigtator. l should think"
I'm not 80 sure that it Is prestidigita-
ton remarked Pr, Jolly. There are
special kind of dirt and his own private
stick and covered it all up with a cloth,
but on the other hand, Beaufort, you chose
the bean yourself and marked it. We
would hardly accuse you OF being an accom-
plice. Nor do see how he could have
substituted in any way growing plant or
initiated your sign. Whatever It Is, it Is
much more remarkable than anything the
fakir showed us yesterday, and for my part
l have nothing to say"
1T ia all part Of what we have already
the horticuturists are able to cause germi-
nation and development to take place very
rapidly under certain conditions OF light and
temperature; that is, by submitting the seed
to a different degree Of the forces which
usually govern its growth. Surely it IL
fakir has learned strange secrets OF for
eign horticulture and is by nature endowed
with power to use them. The individual
who seems to possess the faculty of acting
without physical contact on material bodies
and to understand the thoughts Of others
without the medium Of words ought to be
able to force the growth OF q plant more
rapidly than the usual gardener"
As he spoke, we were summoned to
luncheon and the conversation drifted into
other channels.
After dinner that evening Won Hirseh an
nounced the last exhibition. Sir Lionel had
explained that the fakir requested that the
most distant and most quiet room be al
lowed him for this performance, and our
host led the way, not without certain hesi-
tation, to q room which was always kept
closed and into which he alone had access.
1t had belonged to q very dear sister who
had died, and We did not need to be asked
to be silent as we entered.
Covindasamy appeared before us for the
last time: an expression OF fatigue was
Visible on his bronzed face, but his eyes
burned with a brilliant light. The lamp
dimly lighted and the Brahman assumed his
strained, statuelike position.
We waited. looking earnestly through the
half darkness. Presently we recognized
that a strange luminous light was FORM
ing on the left side OF the fakir, at little
distance. At first q confused mass, II soon
took the form Of woman.
Beneath her floating draperies we could
distinguish the beautiful curved lines OF
her figure, modelled as II seemed by some
mysterious artist. Her head and features
were strangely lovely, although hidden as
Except myself no one looked a. any