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THE EXPOSITOR.
to erect one on the best principles for the Proprietor of the Washington Museum. The proposals to obtain so great an acquisition, you may readily conceive ought to be very advantageous to myself. The propositions of that gentleman are truly flattering ; and I have undertaken to complete one in the course of a fortnight. You need not write me in the interim, unless something particular should happen. As I have made no agreement with him relative to a concealment of the secret, my next will contain a general view of the plan ; and that it may prove beneficial to you, is the sincere wish of
Your friend, &c.
W. F. P.
LETTER XI.
From W. F. P. to A. B.
[Explaining the principles of the Acoustic Temple.]
Sir,
The Invisible Lady and Acoustic Temple is now added to the Washington Museum, and, as I understand, answers the most sanguine expectations of the proprietor ; as men
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THE EXPOSITOR.
of talents, who have visited the one lately arrived from France, give this decidedly the preference.
The effect of this Acoustic’s performance is much greater, and more pleasing than the common Speaking Figures, of which there are two. This Acoustic so much esteemed, and whose performances have astonished all Europe, responds by the assistance of tubes through which the sounds are conveyed. To simplify this : The form of the railing, you no doubt recollect, has been mentioned as being octagonal, containing eight posts, connected by bars from post to post (See Plate, Fig. I.) Four of these posts diametrically opposite each other are excavated, as also their four connecting bars : These excavated posts contain tin tubes, running to the middle of their respective connecting bars : The tubes in the bars communicate the sound, on that side of the bar next the Temple, by an incision made in the tube. Have special care that the ends of these tubes be closed, and the side of the bar at the incision in the tube cut wafer thin, about the bigness of the incision, and there perforated full of small holes made with a needle. At the bottom of
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THE EXPOSITOR.
the four excavated posts are four tin elbows, connected with the tubes in the posts ; to these add a length of pipes continued to a distance sufficient to prevent the Agent’s natural voice being heard by the company ; making directions of the four tubes, between the floor and ceiling, by the help of elbows to where the agent is concealed : Here is a concavity of tin into which the four pipes enter, made in the form of a common tin tunnel, its outward circumference about two feet : From this concave the Agent receives the question put to the Temple, and returns the answer by speaking in the same. This prepared, suspend the Temple to the four solid posts, with the four trumpets towards the four mouths of the tubes in the perforated bars. Then a question put to either of these trumpets will appear as proceeding from the chest of the Temple, and will be distinctly understood by the person secreted at the extremity of these tubes. He putting his ear at the orifice of the concave to which the four tubes join, and by speaking in the same, the answer will appear as proceeding from the chest.
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THE EXPOSITOR.
You may ask why we are not able to hear the words as they proceed from the tubes in the rails, as well as when they proceed from the trumpets ? I answer, —Air compressed will convey sounds to an unlimited distance ; and this is nothing more than a continued compression ; for the sound proceeding from the incision in the tube is immediately collected in the concavity of the trumpet, and being thus compressed cannot be heard, until by virtue of this concavity it is reflected to the open air.
The singing and breathing are heard and felt through the same medium.
My next will explain the optical deception relative to this Lady.
Your friend, &c.
W. F. P.
LETTER XII.
From A. B. to W. F. P.
Sir,
The information your’s contains respecting the Invisible is couched in terms so easy
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THE EXPOSITOR.
and distinct, that I am encouraged to undertake the construction of one myself.
To you, Sir, I candidly confess the many favours received, and acknowledge the great benefits resulting therefrom ; and my grateful heart will ever rejoice at the opportunity of proving to my friend, that a man has been found with a spark of gratitude.
Yours with sincerity,
A. B.
LETTER XIII.
W. F. P. to A. B.
Sir,
You inform me you intend erecting one of those Invisibles. I advise you to be very industrious, and aim at finishing it before the curiosity for viewing the Acoustic declines. Nothing shall be wanting on my part to forward the principles on which it is constructed ; and nothing but the distance which destiny has thrown between us prevents my actual assistance in erecting the same. However, your intrepid energy will no doubt render that assistance unnecessary.
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THE EXPOSITOR.
The faculty of the Lady’s apparently seeing is all that now remains unexplained. This it is that evades the researches of philosophy ; for whilst the sight is considered as the faculty of the same object from whence proceeds a voice so loud and distinct, it has and will elude all positive decision. For instance : suppose the person, who asks and resolves the questions, was disposed in such a manner as that the sight might be made practicable to him, his nearness to the Assembly would cause his natural voice to be heard. To perfect this deception, therefore, two persons are necessary ; the one to see whatever is presented to the globe on the top of the dome of the Temple, the other to inform. For this purpose, two Girandoles with lattice-work are placed in the Exhibition Room opposite each other ; or Transparent Paintings will answer the same purpose : These Girandoles or Paintings are considered by the Company merely as ornaments. Behind one of these there is a small aperture, through the partition to an adjoining room, where the person appointed to see whatever is presented to the ball takes his station. His business is to communicate, in a whisper, to the person who is to inform the Company of what is presented to the ball,
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THE EXPOSITOR.
or incomprehensible mirror, so termed, on the top of the dome. To effect this, there is a pipe for the purpose of conveying this information leading from the apartment of the spectator to the person closeted for speaking, singing, &c. who, when asked what is held to the ball, claps an ear to the communicating pipe. The one behind the Girandole whispers, a Gold Ring, or whatever happens to be held. Then the Invisible answers, a Gold Ring, to the astonishment of the Company.
Thus is the foregoing mystery unriddled ; and should it prove any benefit to you, Sir, I shall always bless nature for that gift, whose value is enhanced by putting it in my power to serve my friend.
Believe me to be
Yours, &c.
W. F. P.
LETTER XIV.
From A. B. to W. F. P.
Sir,
I received your friendly letter in due season : It happened at the moment when
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that part of the Temple which conveys the sounds was just completed. I was ruminating whether some alteration requisite to accomplish the sight would not be necessary, and expected that would be the result of your last Letter. On perusal I found to the contrary ; and by adding the sight in the manner you described, it is finished, and for elegance as well as mystery equals any thing of the kind ever exhibited.
Accept my acknowledgments for this favour, amongst numberless others equally interesting ; and be assured that though I have been several times taken for the inventor of this machine, it is a greature pleasure to me to point out the real Projector, than take the merit to myself.
More wonders ! Yea, more wonders ! ! !
A Gentleman has lately arrived here by the name of Ranie : His wonderful feats are performed by the Art of Legerdemain. The ease and dexterity with which he manages his business, and the pleasing manner he has of accomplishing his designs, is not less to be admired than the skilful performances of the inimitable Bristoe.
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1st. He will produce an artificial Swan, about the size of an humming-bird, which he places in a bason of water, on the brim of which bason is depicted a pack of cards : Any Lady or Gentleman may draw a card from a pack, and the little inanimate will make known the card drawn, by swimming to a similar card on the rim of the bason.
2d. He suffers a gun to be discharged at him, previously loaded with powder and ball, and catches the ball on the point of a dagger ; declaring that he does it by the power of magnetism.
3d. Any Gentleman may pin a card to a table with a fork, and Mr. R. will cause the card so fastened to change place with various cards of the pack, without releasing the same from its confinement.
4th. He swallows knives and forks.
5th. He breaks a Gentleman’s watch (previously put into a bag) or suffers it to be broken, and afterwards restores it to its former state.
6th. He breaks any number of eggs into a hat, and by stirring them with his metempsychostical stick,
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transforms them to pan-cakes, without the aid of fire, leaving the hat unsullied.
7th. He places a number of dollars on a plate, one on the other, which he covers with a card, the plate he places on a table, and putting his hand under the table, they fall into it, apparently sinking through the plate and table, and becoming a ball, and in this manner returning to the plate, and so alternately. He has also the gift of Ventriloquism which he performs with much judgment and great effect.
These, together with a number of deceptions of the like nature, render his exhibitions not only marvellous but amusing. If you should see Mr. R. perform, you would be as highly gratified as he who styles himself
Your friend, &c. A. B.
LETTER XV.
From W. F. P. to A. B.
Sir,
It gives me great pleasure to hear that your Acoustic is found equal to your expectations.
