The philosopher, notwithstanding various warnings, came boldly up, took hold of the chain with both hands, planted his feet firmly, shut his teeth, and evidently called forth all his resolution to resist the shock. It was given; and poor Red Stockings dropt on the floor as if he had been shot. There was a momentary alarm: but on his almost instant recovery, and the Elchee explaining that the effect had been increased by the determination to resist it, all gave way to one burst of laughter. The good-natured philosopher took no offence. He muttered something about the re-action of the feelings after being over-strained, but admitted there was more in the glass-bottle than he had anticipated. As the Persians had become acquainted with electrical machines, by their increased intercourse with Europeans, the Elchee, when on his second mission, did not choose again to trust to one of them for the entertainment of his friends. He purchased, therefore, for this purpose, a large and excellent phantasmagoria, which was furnished with numerous glasses; on these were painted spectres, with shapes monstrous beyond what the poet's fancy ever bodied forth. With our phantasmagoria, old and young, rich and poor, were in raptures. The prince at Shiraz was the first person of royal blood to whom it was exhibited, and he declared his wonder and delight at this extraordinary invention. Persons were instructed to exhibit it to his ladies, who, we learned, were enchanted with its effects; and his mother,[142] an able princess, who had long exercised supreme authority over him and the province of Fars, declaring herself gratified beyond measure at the wonders she had seen. What rendered the phantasmagoria more attractive, was the ingenuity and talent of a young man from India,[143] who had charge of it. Besides being an adept in exhibiting it, he made frames, and painted, as occasion required, the glass he placed in them, with all kinds of Persian figures; and part of the story told in the day was sometimes exhibited at the Elchee's evening entertainments, which were often attended by dignified persons, who had before withheld their presence from regard to punctilious ceremony, but could not resist their curiosity. Thus our phantasmagoria became an important implement of diplomacy. The Prince of Persia was anxious to possess this treasure, but as its fame had preceded the mission, it was not judged politic to disappoint the excited expectations of majesty; our magical box therefore accompanied us, and produced equal effects at the great court assembled at Sooltâneah, as it had at that of Shiraz.