[Illustration: EFFECTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE.] [Illustration: A BELIEVER SEES HIS GRANDMOTHER.] At six P. M., I again visited the Old State House, and at dusk still again, to behold the crowd straining to get a last look at the rent before darkness shut out the view. On the following day, the scene was repeated, with no mitigation. The fact of the papers denying that there was any rent went for nothing. The crowd came and went, from morning till evening. THE GATES OF MOSCOW. Some readers may remember the story of the great Wizard of the North, who performed such marvellous feats before the czar, receiving from his highness a splendid present in money, and finally wound up by announcing that he would leave the city of Moscow on the following day, at twelve M., _by all the gates of the city at the same time_! The watchmen were doubled at all the gates, to whom a description of the man was sent, and a sharp lookout was commanded, when, lo! just at noon the wizard was seen leaving the city at each separate outlet at the same moment. Of course he could not have left by but one gate, but which of the twelve no one could tell, for he was seen at all, or the watchmen were made to believe that they saw him, as he passed out. To this the watchmen of the several gates testified, and that he uncovered his head to them, as he went past. At which gate did he really make his exit? The beautiful gate Spass Voratu, or Gate of the Redeemer, has over the archway a picture of the Saviour. All who pass out here are compelled to uncover. Hence it is my belief, as he was seen uncovered, that this was the gate at which he really went out, and at all the rest the watchmen imagined they saw the wizard make his marvellous exit from Moscow. THE DOCTOR OF ANTWERP. Townsend, on Mesmerism, tells an instructing and amusing anecdote of a test, by a learned doctor of Antwerp, upon a clairvoyant girl. The doctor was allowed, at a seance, to select his own test, when he said,-- "If the somnambulist"--that was what he termed her--"tells me what is in my pocket, I will believe." Then to her he put the question,-- "What is in my pocket?" "A case of lancets," was the reply. "True," said the doctor, somewhat startled. "But the young lady may know that I am a medical man; hence her guess that I carry a case of instruments in my pocket. But if she will tell me the number of lancets in the case, I will believe." "Ten," was the correct answer. Still the doctor was sceptical, and said,-- "I cannot yet believe but if the form of the case is described I must yield to conviction." And the form of the case was given. "This certainly is very singular," said the doctor, "but still I cannot believe. Now, if the young lady will give the color of the velvet lining of the case, I really _must_ believe." "The color is dark blue," was her prompt reply. "True, true!" said the puzzled doctor, and he went away, saying, "It is very curious, very, but still I cannot believe."