Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-28
THE MAGIC PAINTING.
When the Room Was Darkened the
Cow Went to Sleep.

When the Room was Darkeneo the
Cow Went to Sleep.
The Chinese Emperor Tai Tsung
possessed among other treasures a
picture known as a magic painting. 1t
represented a pastoral scene with a
cow standing in a field and mountains
beyond. When the picture was shown
to strangers or guests and they ad-
mired it, the emperor would say:
Yes, this is a 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 rep
resenting the cow lying down. In the
light the standing animal was seen,
but at night or in darkened room
only the phosphorescent picture was
visible. So the magic picture was,
after all, very simple trick.
A Dresden chemist named Schade
discovered a method of initiating it
which can be accomplished as follows:
First paint in ordinary colors the
picture of the cow standing. Then
melt some Zanzibar copal over char
coal fire and dissolve fifteen parts of
it in sixty parts of French oil Of tur-
pentine. Filter this and mix with
twenty-five parts Of pure linseed oil
which has been previously heated and
cooled.
Now take forty parts of the varnish
so obtained and mix with six parts of
prepared calcium carbonate, twelve
parts Of prepared white zinc sulphide
and thirty-six parts of luminous cal
cium sulphide, all of which can be OBJ
tanned from any chemist
This emulsion should be ground
very fine in a color mill. The result
will be white luminous paint, which
should be used to paint the cow lying
down.
Many seemingly wonderful tricks
can be performed with the use Of a
few simple chemicals. One Of them is
the ball of fire. Take for this barium
sulphate (CP) one part, magnesium
carbonate (CP) one part, gum traga-
canth q. S. This should be mixed and
rolled into marbles and kept at a red
heat for about an hour, then allowed
to cool slowly and placed in glass
stoppered bottle A few hours before
bles 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 ex-
hibitor then takes marble from some
one in the audience, holds 1t between
his thumb and forefinger, blows upon
it and asks to have the lights turned
down. AS this is done he substitutes
the luminous marble, and the mys-
terious light is seen. This is handled
around and changes again as the light
is turned on, when the magician pre-
sents to the audience several OF the
ordinary marbles as souvenirs.
Another trick is very effective.
Take two similar punches Of artificial
flowers Brush one over with glue or
mucilage and powder 1t with the dust
from one of the marbles described.
Then place in the sun. When taken
into a darkened room, luminous flow
ers are seen. The magician exhibits
the flowers that have not been pre-
pared and shows that there Is moth
ing peculiar about them. Then as the
light is turned down he substitutes
the concealed bunch, blows upon the
flowers and, presto, displays to the
astonished observers luminous
DullCH, edCIl iO"Si VI "iiiN' SNe~>
out as if at white heat.
Luminous letters can be written and
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 test TUBE
with a little olive oil. Place the tube
in water bath until the oil becomes
heated and the phosphorus liquid.
Shake we'll and pour into bottle
with a glass stopper. Admit air just
previous to using it, and the fluid will
become luminous tracery In the dark.
Water can be rendered luminous in
a very simple manner. Dissolve
small piece of phosphorus in ether for
several days in glass stoppered bot
tie. In this place lump Of sugar
then drop the sugar in water, which
will at once become luminous.
Luminous paints can be made any
color-green, yellow, violet or blue
and if applied to various objects make
a wonderful display at night.