Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-06-03
THE MAGIC PAINTING
When the Room Was Darkened
the Cow Went to Sleep.
IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE TRICK
How the Transformation Was Effected
and How Some Other Seemingly
Wonderful Effects May BE Produced
by the Aid Of Chemicals.

"0noer'ul GHeets May Be Produced
by the Aid OF Chemicals.
Tho Chinese Emperor Tai Tsunr pos
sessed among other treasures Il picture
known as a magic painting. 1t repre-
scented pastoral scene with a cow
standing in field and mountains be.
/ yond. When the picture was shown to
strangers or guests and they admired
II, the emperor would say:
Yes. this IS 4 remarkable painting
The COW, as you see. is standing. but
II the room was darkened the COW
would think It night and would lie
down"
Then the emperor would order the
room 10 be darkened. and the COW
would he seen to be lying down. an
parently asleep.
The picture was Il water color over
which was painted in coiorless phos-
phorescent paint "a similar picture rep
reSenting the COW lying down. In the
light the standing animal was seen.
but Mt night or in 4 darkened room
only the phosphOrescent picture was
visible. So the magic picture was, aft
er all, very simple trick.
Y Dresden chemist named Schade
discovered a method Of initiating II
which can be accomplished rs follows
First paint IN ordinary colors the
picture of the cow standing. Then
melt some Zanzibar copal over a char
coal fire and dissolve fifteen parts of it
IN sixty parts Of French oil Of turpen-
tine. Filter this and mix with twenty
Of
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 10 paint the COW lying
down.
Many seemingly wonderful trick $
can be performed with the use Of !
few simple chemicals. one of them Is
the ball Of fire. Take for this barium
sulphate (CP0 one part. magnesium
carbonate (CP) one part. gum traga-
canth q. 5. This should be mixed ana
rolled into marbles and kept At 4 red
heat for about an hour, then allowed
10 cool slowly and placed in n glass
stoppered bottle. y 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 ex-
hlbitor then takes a marble from. some
one IN the audience holds it between
his thumb and forednger. blows upon
II and asks 10 have the lights turned
down. As this is done he substitutes
the luminous marble. and the mvSreri-
Gus light is seen. This i handel
around and changes again as the light
Is turned on. when the magician pre-
sentS 10 the audience several of the
ordinary marbles Is souvenirs.
Another trick j. very effective Take
TWO similar punches Of artificial How
erS. Brush one over with glue or nu-
cilaSe and powder il with the dust
from one OF the marbles described
into darkened room, luminous dow
erS are seen The magician exhibits
the uoWerS that have not been prepar-
ed and shows that there is nothin. De
culiar about them. Then rs the light
Is turned down be substitutes the con
sealed bunch, blows upon the flow
erS and, presto. displays 10 the as
toniShed observers 4 luminous bunch.
each flower of which stands out rs If
at white heat.
Luminous letters can be written ana
exhibited In the dark 10 the wonder OF
the audience. Luminous ink is made
10y placing piece of phosphorus about
the size OF 4 pea in test tube with 4
little olive oil. Place the tube in
water bath until the oil becomes heat
cd and the phosphorus liquid shake
well and pour into bottle with
glass stopper. Admit air just previous
To using il. and the duid Will become
luminous tracery in the dark.
Water can be rendered luminous in
n very simple manner. Dissolve a
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
viii ut once become luminous.
Luminous paints can be made any
color-Sreeu, yellow. violet or blue
and If applied to various objects make
wonderful display at night