Evening star., 1922-04-21

lence
Still. the display that followed for
an enchanted hour or so was such
as ] find it hopeless to describe in
language which shall convey to 9TH
ers the beauty and splendor of what
l saw.
! picked up book lying on the
table before me. A pale blue-violet
shadow fioated across the page be-
fore me, leaving an after-mirage of
pure color that was indescribable. ]
laid down the book and closed my
eyes. A confused riot of images and
colors like a kaleidoscope crowded
before me, at first indistinct. but as I
gazed with closed eyes more and
more definite. Golden and red and
green jewels seemed to riot before
me. | bathed by hands in incon
ceivable riches of beauty such as no
art glass worker has ever produced.
All discomfort ceased. l had no de-
sire to sleep--in fact. was hyper
sensitive. But it was Il real effort
to open my eyes, to tear myself
away from the fascinating visions Of
shapes and colors.
AT last l did open my eyes to gaze
at the gas Jets of the chandelier as
they fiickered They seemed to
send out waves, expanding and con-
tracing, waves of color. The shad-
ows of the room were highly colored
ana constantly changing as the llSnl
changed.
Sonora Barrios began lightly to
play on the piano the transposed
kiowa song, emphasizing the notes
that represented the drum beats.
Strange as 1t may seem, the music
translated itself into pure color-and
the rhythmic beating of the time
seemed to aid the process. thought
of the untutored Indians as they sat
in groups about the fiickering camp
fire while others beat the tom toms
and droned the curious melody. What
were the visions of the red man I
wondered. as he chcwed his mescal
button and the medicine man prayed
to Hikori the cactus god. to grant
beautiful intoxication?'
Under the gas lights of the chan
delier hung a cluster of electric-light
bulbs which added to the flow of
golden effulgence that bathed the
next intently at the electric lights.
They became the sun itself in their
steadiness. until had to turn away
my head and close my eyes. Even
then the image persisted-I saw the
golden sands of Newport. only they
were veritable diamond dust. 1 saw
the waves, of Incompatible blue.
rolling up on the shore. A vague per-
fume was waited on the air. / was In
an orgy Of vision. Yet there was no
stage of maudlin emotion. 1t was at
least elevating.
Kennedy's experiences. as he re-
lated them to me afterward, were
similar. though sufficiently varied to
be interesting. His visions took the
forms of animals-a Cheshire cat, like
that in Alice in Wonderland" with
merely a grin that faded away.
changing into a lynx, which in turn
n ca hI- L. ,nfy-,,
creature with short nose and point
ed ears. then tortoises and guinea
pigs. a perfectly unrelated succession
of beasts. When the playing began
a beautiful panorama unfolded be-
fore hin-the regular notes in the
music enhancing the beauty and
changes in the scenes. which he de-
scribed as a most wonderful kineto-
scopic display.
In fact. only De Quincy or Bayard
Taylor or Poe could have done JUS
tice to the thrilling effects of the
drug. and not even they unless an
amanuensis had been seated by them
defy any one to remember anything
but fraction of the rapid march OF
changes under its influence. Indeed,
in observing its action, almost for
got for the time being the purpose Of
our visit, so fascinated was l. The
Sonora Mendez advanced toward
us. The spangles on her net dress
seemed to give her "a fairly-like ap-
pearance: she seemed to float over the
carpet like a glowing. fleecy white
cloud over a rainbow tinted sky.
Kennedy. however, had not for an
instant forgotten what We were there
for. and his attention recalled mine.
l was surprised to see that when
made the effort / could talk and think
quite as nationally as ever. though
the widest pranks were going on in
my mind and vision. Kennedy did
not beat about in putting his ques-
ton. evidently counting on the sur
prise to extract the truth.
What time did Senior Guerrero
leave last night?"
The question came so suddenly that
she had no time to think of reply
that would conceal anything she
might otherwise have wished to con-
ceal.
About 10 o'clock" she answered.
then instantly was on her guard. for
Torreon had caught her eye.
"And you have no idea where he
went?" asked Kennedy.
None. unless he went home" she
replied guardedly.
I did not at the time notice the
significance of her prompt response
to Torreons warning. I did not no.
tice. as did Kennedy. the smile that
spread over Torreon's features. The
music had started again, and I was
oblivious to all but the riot OF color.
Again the servant entered. She
seemed clothed in n halo of light and
color. every fold of her dress radiat-
ing the most delicate tones. Yet
there was nothing voluptuous or seps-
ual about it. ] was raised above
earthly things. Men and women We're
no longer men and women-they
were brilliant creatures of whom
was one. It was sensuous but not
sensual. I looked at my clothes. My
everyday suit was ideaiized. Ny
hands were surrounded by glow Of
red fire that made me feel that they
must be the hands Of a divinity. I
toward the tray of little cups.
There swan into my line Of vision
another such hand. It laid itself on
my arm. A voice sang in my ear
softly:
mo. Walter. We have had enough.
any other known drus-not even the
famous Cannabis Indica. hashheesh.
Let US go as soon as we DoliteIy can.
/! have found out what I wanted to
know. Guerrero is not here
We rose shortly, and excused our
serves. and: with general regrets. in
which all but Torreon Joined. were
bowed out with the same courtlv M
likeness with which we had been re-
ceived.
AS we left the house the return to
the world was quick. 1t was like
coming out from the matinee and see
ing the crowds on the street. They,
not the matinee. were unreal for the
moment. But. strange to say, found
one felt no depression as a result Of
the mescal intoxication.
What is 1t about mescal that pro-
duces such results?" I asked.
The a!kaioids." replied Kennedy,
as we walked slowly along. .Mescsi
was first brought to the attention OF
Scianfists by exnlorers ,,,aiauAl -.