Page:The mystic test book.djvu/36

32 But all in vain. Fortunes were squandered to no purpose. The people would not have them at any price. Soldiers would "hang on" to the old, well worn and greasy "test book," and when that could no longer be used, would pay a dollar for a new one, while the gaudy new style cards were cast contemptuously into the ditch by the road-side.

These changes have been attempted in other countries. In Italy and several other Catholic countries, interested parties have thought to do away with this little book, which they call the "devil's picture book," by introducing a highly colored lot of cards with cups and virgins and bells and other devices upon the faces. But you cannot get even an Irishman to use them, and in spite of extensive advertising they have fallen flat.

In the meantime, the manufacturers of the genuine old magic book, have grown wealthy and sell at present only in 100 gross lots, to dealers.

They change the backs over and over to every imaginable figure or design. But the faces must remain the same, or they are "no go," as one manufacturer quaintly remarks.

There is no question, whatever, in my mind, but that the magic and mystic symbolism attached to, and connected with the pages of this book, has been the means, the occult means of preserving it intact as shown.

Underneath the physical senses of mankind, there is a psychic recognition of the hidden things in nature. Those who think but very little of such matters, apparently, really recognize the principles of law and the manifestations of the "soul in things," Hard-headed business men, with no spiritual development, that can be discerned, recognize