Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-06-06
CHAPTER XIV.
SsarreIsi sarreIsI Any Barrels to
GAlI7U


/ have said that the room in which
M. lie vicomte de Chagny and ! were
imprisoned was a regular hexagon,
lined entirely with mirrors. Plenty
Of these rooms have been seen since,
mainly at exhibitions; they are called
palaces OF illusion" or some such
name. But the invention belongs en-
tirely to Erik, who built the first room
of this kind under my eyes, at the
time of the rosy hours OF Mazenderan.
A decorative object, such as column,
for instance, was placed In one OF
the corners and Immediately produced
a hall Of a thousand columns; for'
thanks to the mirrors, the real room
was multiplied by six hexagonal
rooms. each Of which, in it's turn, was
multiplied indefinitely. But the little
suItana soon tired OF this infantile
illusion, whereupon Erik altered his
invention into q ''torture-chamber.
For the architectural motive placed
in one corner, he substituted an Iron
tree. This tree, with it's painted
leaves, was absolutely true to HE
and was made of iron 30 as to resist
all the attacks of the patient who
was locked into the torture-chamber.
We shall see how the scene thus OBJ
tained was twice altered instantane-
ously into two successive other
scenes, by means Of the automatic ro-
tation OF the drums or rollers In the
corners. These were divided into
three sections, fitting into the angles
Of the mirrors and each supporting q
decorative scheme that came Into
sight as the roller reVolved upon its
axis.
The walls Of this strange room gave
the patient nothing to lay hold OF, be-
cause, apart from the solid decorative
object, they were simply furnished
with mirrors, thick enough to with
stand any onslaught OF the victim,
who was flung into the chamber
empty-handed and barefoot.
There was no furniture. The cell
ing was capable of being lit up. An
ingenious system Of electric heating,
which has since been initiated, al
lowed the temperature Of the walls
and room to be increased at will.
/ am giving all these details OF q
perfectly natural invention, producing,
with few painted branches, the su-
pernatural illusion OF an equatorial
forest blazing under the tropical sun.
so that no one may doubt the present
balance OF my brain or feel entitled
to say that am mad or lying or that
I take him for fool
l now return to the facts where 1
left them. When the ceiling lit up
and the forest became visible around
us, the viscount's stupefaction was
immense. That impenetrable forest,
with its innumerable trunks and
branches. threw him into terrible
state OF CONSERVATION. He passed his
hands over his forehead, as though to
drive away q dream; bis eyes
blinked; and. for moment. he for
got to listen.
l have already said that the sight
Of the forest did not surprise me at
ali; and therefore I linteued for the
two o. US to what war happening
next door. Lastly, my attention vas
especially attracted, not 20 much to
the scene, ~ " tho mirrors that pro
ducsa. II These mirrors we're broken
M paFt6. Yes tRiey we're marked ahu
scratched: tkey had beenp ''staFfee, Z
ID sbats n itk6aF Solldlsy:: ahd thie
proysd to me- 4hsk thY k6rtrt
Der "a which We now we're had ~
ready served . pprposes
Yes, some wretch. whoae feet wers
not bare Iks those Of the victims Of
the rosy hours a. Maxenderan, had
ceFtafEiy faIIen fato thiS mortal Thu
SION aud, mad With rage. had Kicked
against those mirrors which, never
theIess, continued t. reflect his &C.
ony. And the branch Of the tree on
which he had put an end 20 hts own
suferings was arranged IN sueh .
way that, before dying. he had seen
for his last consolation, thousand
men writing IN his company.
Yes. Joseph BuQuet had undoubted
u been through all thisi Were w