The magic lantern or phantasmagoria may be used in a number of marvelous ways, but in none more striking than in raising an apparent specter. Let an open box, about three feet long, a foot and a half broad, and two feet high, be prepared. At one end of this place a small swing dressing-glass, and at the other let a magic lantern be fixed, with the lenses in a direction towards the glass. A glass should now be made to slide up and down in the groove to which a cord and pulley should be attached, the end of the cord coming to the lower part of the left hand side. On this glass the most hideous specter that can be imagined may be painted, but in a squat or contracted position, and when all is done, the lid of the box must be prepared by raising a kind of gable at the end of the box, and in its lower part an oval hole should be cut sufficiently large to suffer the rays reflected from the glass to pass through them. On the top or the box place a chafing-dish, upon which put some burning charcoal. Now light the lamp in the lantern, sprinkle some powdered camphor or white incense on the charcoal, adjust the slide on which the specter is painted, and the image will be thrown upon the smoke. In performing the feat the room must be darkened, and the box should be placed on a high table, that the hole through which the light comes may not be noticed. To Imitate a Mirage. Provide a glass tumbler two-thirds full of water, and pour spirits of wine upon it; or pour into a tumbler some syrup, and fill it up with water; when mixed, the object seen through it will be inverted. Two-fold Reflections. Provide a circular piece of glass, and with a common awl, moistened with spirits of turpentine, pierce the center of the glass; hold it encircled with the fingers and thumb in the sunshine, or the strong light of a lamp, when these striking effects will be produced: If the glass be _red_, the hole pierced in the middle will be reflected _green_; if the glass be _green_, the spot will be _red_; if _blue_, _orange_; and if _yellow_, _indigo_. The Thaumatrope.