the same sort; but which of course are far better, stronger, more perfectly magnetic, and have a great deal wider range. Formerly there were five sizes of this class; but it was found that but two could be depended on; as the rest were extremely liable to fracture by reason of the great climatic ranges of temperature in Western Europe and North America.
This class were also found better suited to beginners than to proficient seers; especially those who, not content with the limited ranges of the ordinary ones, were anxious for a perfected instrument of greater sensitiveness, magnetic calibre, focal range, Æthic basin, or magnetic reservoir, and of a capacity equal to the solution of almost any subject capable of demonstration by such means; wherefore that form was superseded, in 1874, by the ne plus ultra of all such things in that line;—fine oval magnetic polar ones, with deeper, broader, larger basins, or magnetic reservoirs, presenting a deep-sea surface, nearly absolutely perfect, and leaving almost nothing to wish for in any respect;—a beautiful, clear ovoid, and of size, focal length and calibre seldom equalled and never surpassed. They go in grades, sizes, ranges, and cost according to their illuminant power.
In January, 1874, I received a few from Paris, and hung them on my chamber-wall to charge and fit them for their owner,—a lady; and there they remained till the morning of Feb. 8th, when they became suddenly illuminant, and no grander sight ever was beheld by human eyes than was presented on that memorable morning; for the whole starry galaxies; rolling world-systems of nebulæ; vast congeries of stellar constellations; cities afar off on the earth; and scenes never before beheld by eyes of this world, were displayed to such a grand, sublime, and amazing extent that the soul panted with the weight of the transcendent Phantorama.[1] Such mirrors as these
- ↑ They are, every one of them—(from the plain surface mirror, to the magnificent, golden-edged, Beauties; or the enormous 40-inch ones—fit for a Lodge!—worth a king's ransom!)—capable of mirroring correctly—and beforehand too! the Markets of the world. Here is a strange test, whose truth I solemnly avouch:
A pregnant lady—and such are ever the most favored in all lines of celestial magic,—on the morning alluded to above—Feb. 8, 1874—gazed into one of
