Page:The wonders of optics (1869).djvu/129

 the images of objects to a distance of fifteen feet or more, so that a man looking at himself in this mirror with a stick or sword in his hand, saw the image of them suspended in the air, apparently ready to strike the observer. On seeing such an effect for the first time, the observer could hardly fail to experience the greatest surprise, and even fear; and it is stated that the king having placed himself, sword in hand, before one of these mirrors, in order to observe the effect, was surprised to find himself face to face with an armed hand apparently directed against him. When he advanced, the hand seemed to spring forward to meet him. The king could not conceal his surprise and fright, and afterwards felt so ashamed at being terrified with a mere shadow that he ordered the mirror to be taken away, and could never be prevailed upon to look into it again." The Journal des Savants then goes on quaintly to remark on the various startling effects produced by these mirrors, winding up by stating that its powers of reflection were so great, that at night the light of a torch or flambeau was reflected so perfectly that an observer placed at four hundred feet distant could read the smallest print.

It also mentions a curious piece of superstition on the authority of a scientific writer of the name of Robertson, who states that it happened at Liége. In reading the accounts of these experiments we can see how easily the minds of individuals were affected in those days by the wonderful. It happened while one of Villette's mirrors was at Liége, that the latter end of the summer was somewhat rainy, and great fears were entertained that a bad harvest and dear bread would be the result. Certain evil-minded people, who had taken a fancy to the mirror and wished to possess it by unfair means, spread the report that the continual rain was entirely caused by its action on the clouds and sun, and