long beard and flowing robe trimmed with hieroglyphics, and with the assistance of a ponderous volume full of cabalistic signs, a few skulls and cross bones, an hour-glass, a pair of drawn swords, a black cat, a charcoal fire, and sundry drugs to throw into it, a very tolerable collection of imps, familiars, and demons, might be expected to attend without the modern practice of spirit-rapping. As before stated, the delusion must be carefully conducted, and a confederate is necessary in order to use the phantasmagoria, or magic lantern. The slides of course were painted to suit the fortune to be unfolded--an easy road to riches for the gentlemen, a tale of love, ending in matrimony, for the ladies. The spectators being placed in the magic circle, are directed to look into the mirror; they may even be ordered singly to fetch a skull off the mantel-shelf beside the mirror, and whilst doing so to look full into the mirror, and then return to the circle. Absolute silence is enjoined, and soft music is now heard; the darkened room is lit up for the moment by a little yellow or green fire thrown on to the charcoal fire, and now looking into the mirror, it no longer reflects surrounding objects, but a picture, at first small and faint, and then gradually becoming large and clearer, is apparent. The picture is made visible by the confederate gently drawing the mirror from its position parallel with the frame to an angle of 45 degrees, and then throwing on from the side a picture from a magic-lantern. The picture is small and indistinct whilst the confederate holds it near the mirror and out of focus, but as he moves backwards and focuses the lenses, the picture gradually increases in size, and the reflecting angles having been well planned beforehand, only those in the circle will be able to see the picture, and great fun may be elicited from the magic mirror by pretending to tell the future fate of a very slim person, and introducing him by a succession of pictures which gradually assume a John Bull rotundity of figure, surrounded by dozens of children; whilst to young ladies who are engaged, a provoking picture of an old maid may be introduced; indeed, there is no end to the innocent fun that may be extracted from the magic mirror, and the whole plan of the delusion may be better understood by reference to the next picture. (Fig. 266.) Monsieur Salverte very properly remarks that "man is credulous from his cradle to his tomb; but the disposition springs from an honourable principle, the consequences of which precipitate him into many errors and misfortunes.... The novelty of objects, and the difficulty of referring them to known objects, will not shock the credulity of unsophisticated men. There are some additional sensations which he receives without discussion, and their singularity is perhaps a charm which causes him to receive them with greater pleasure. _Man almost always_ loves and seeks the marvellous. Is this taste natural? [Page 278]