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Article THE VOLITATIONIST. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Volitationist.
the outline of some headland peak , and in a short time I behold boldly standing forth the majestic form of a mountain range . The shore draAvs close and closer , I am soon passing over a lowland of marsh , and field , and dyke . Thinking that I will touch the earth and walk , I will it so . In a moment I alight upon my feet , and am walking through green fields intersected by innummerable dykes , and in ( to me ) an unknown country . Without my power of volitation these dykes would have been obstacles to my progress ;
but I float over them feet foremost Avhenever they bar my path . After walking a considerable distance , I see straight before me a- quaint looking old town , where gableroofed , - stuccoed , white , ancl reel houses , aud church spires seem to be crowded together , intermixed with a plentiful supply of tall poplar trees freely growing round about . On nearing this town I observe coming towards me a posse of men : I halt by the side of a tolerably wide dyke and await their approach . I soon see that they are all dressed
alike in suits of dark blue cloth , jacket , waistcoat , and trousers , Avith muffin-shaped and peaked caps , made of the same material as their clothing ; getting face to face with me , they speak one to another , gesticulating with their hands , and are evidently speaking about my appearance . Three of them turn ancl address themselves to me in a language which seems to beat all the gibberish I have CA'er heard , it is a complete patter of grunting sounds . I reply to them by saying , —
" Good morning , gentlemen . " At the same time I raise my deer-stalker . They resume their jargon , and are apparently surprised and mystified . They repeatedly point at me in the most pointed ivay ; then they beckon , as if desirous that I should cross the dyke . I will to do so , stiffen my legs , and , as a little display of my
jiower , float upwards across the dyke and circle round over their heads ; my intention is to alight among them . But , to my surprise , when I again stand on the ground I find that they arc running aay as fast as their legs can carry them . I look after them : all at once they stop , stoop , and face about , then running towards me discharge a volley of good sized stones , which rattle close by my head . I will that I get out of their reach , and float upwards and away under a salute of stones and grunted groans . Circling , I float along , going inlandand soon approach a vast forest ; I skirt , and pass over itand
, , then come to a Avell cultivated plain , clotted Avith tastefully built mansions , set in the middle of carefully kept gardens . I sweep over tho tops of some trees of giant growth , and alight in a beautiful meadow , made brilliant by buttercups and sparkling Avith daisies . Neat hedges surround this meadow , and at the far end of the enclosure there is a long Avooden rustic building ; too large for a garden summer-house , cottage , or lodge ; not only is it of great length , but handsomely built and splendidly decorated , the portico
being adorned Ai'ith climbing and SAveet-seented floivers , of unusual growth , colour , and luxuriousness . As I approach this building , I hear a murmur that sounds like the voices of many people ; and no wonder , for the place is filled Avith gentlemen , Avho , as soon as my presence is known , look out at the open Avindows , and rush out of the doors . Several of them come to meet mo with hands extended , exclaiming , " Welcome ! Welcome ! " To my astonishment they escort me to the building ; Avhen inside , I see that it is a beautifully and luxuriously fitted and furnished saloon , capable of holding three thousand persons . As far as I can make out it is used as a place to lounge and smoke in .
The assembled company appear to be men of all nations , speaking every language . They surround , and tell me that each arrangement is complete for the evening ' s fete , and now that I have arrived they Avill , after I have refreshed myself , at once proceed AA'ith me to the place of rendezvous . We soon leave the building at the end exactly opposite to that by which I entered , aud in front , at a short distance , I behold a large piece of table-land , Avhich presents the appearance of a huge mountain with a flattened top and perpendicular sidesthickly covered by choice vegetationstanding bodily out
, , by itself , having a height of eight hundred feet and an area of a quarter of a mile . On Hearing this detached piece of earth , by a bend in the road , we arrive at the foot of a broad flight of stone steps which reach spirally to the top of it . I find myself ascending , and in advance of the increasing multitude . When half way up I can hear the shouting of people above me , and the music of a band , gaily plaving . I now notice that I am
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Volitationist.
the outline of some headland peak , and in a short time I behold boldly standing forth the majestic form of a mountain range . The shore draAvs close and closer , I am soon passing over a lowland of marsh , and field , and dyke . Thinking that I will touch the earth and walk , I will it so . In a moment I alight upon my feet , and am walking through green fields intersected by innummerable dykes , and in ( to me ) an unknown country . Without my power of volitation these dykes would have been obstacles to my progress ;
but I float over them feet foremost Avhenever they bar my path . After walking a considerable distance , I see straight before me a- quaint looking old town , where gableroofed , - stuccoed , white , ancl reel houses , aud church spires seem to be crowded together , intermixed with a plentiful supply of tall poplar trees freely growing round about . On nearing this town I observe coming towards me a posse of men : I halt by the side of a tolerably wide dyke and await their approach . I soon see that they are all dressed
alike in suits of dark blue cloth , jacket , waistcoat , and trousers , Avith muffin-shaped and peaked caps , made of the same material as their clothing ; getting face to face with me , they speak one to another , gesticulating with their hands , and are evidently speaking about my appearance . Three of them turn ancl address themselves to me in a language which seems to beat all the gibberish I have CA'er heard , it is a complete patter of grunting sounds . I reply to them by saying , —
" Good morning , gentlemen . " At the same time I raise my deer-stalker . They resume their jargon , and are apparently surprised and mystified . They repeatedly point at me in the most pointed ivay ; then they beckon , as if desirous that I should cross the dyke . I will to do so , stiffen my legs , and , as a little display of my
jiower , float upwards across the dyke and circle round over their heads ; my intention is to alight among them . But , to my surprise , when I again stand on the ground I find that they arc running aay as fast as their legs can carry them . I look after them : all at once they stop , stoop , and face about , then running towards me discharge a volley of good sized stones , which rattle close by my head . I will that I get out of their reach , and float upwards and away under a salute of stones and grunted groans . Circling , I float along , going inlandand soon approach a vast forest ; I skirt , and pass over itand
, , then come to a Avell cultivated plain , clotted Avith tastefully built mansions , set in the middle of carefully kept gardens . I sweep over tho tops of some trees of giant growth , and alight in a beautiful meadow , made brilliant by buttercups and sparkling Avith daisies . Neat hedges surround this meadow , and at the far end of the enclosure there is a long Avooden rustic building ; too large for a garden summer-house , cottage , or lodge ; not only is it of great length , but handsomely built and splendidly decorated , the portico
being adorned Ai'ith climbing and SAveet-seented floivers , of unusual growth , colour , and luxuriousness . As I approach this building , I hear a murmur that sounds like the voices of many people ; and no wonder , for the place is filled Avith gentlemen , Avho , as soon as my presence is known , look out at the open Avindows , and rush out of the doors . Several of them come to meet mo with hands extended , exclaiming , " Welcome ! Welcome ! " To my astonishment they escort me to the building ; Avhen inside , I see that it is a beautifully and luxuriously fitted and furnished saloon , capable of holding three thousand persons . As far as I can make out it is used as a place to lounge and smoke in .
The assembled company appear to be men of all nations , speaking every language . They surround , and tell me that each arrangement is complete for the evening ' s fete , and now that I have arrived they Avill , after I have refreshed myself , at once proceed AA'ith me to the place of rendezvous . We soon leave the building at the end exactly opposite to that by which I entered , aud in front , at a short distance , I behold a large piece of table-land , Avhich presents the appearance of a huge mountain with a flattened top and perpendicular sidesthickly covered by choice vegetationstanding bodily out
, , by itself , having a height of eight hundred feet and an area of a quarter of a mile . On Hearing this detached piece of earth , by a bend in the road , we arrive at the foot of a broad flight of stone steps which reach spirally to the top of it . I find myself ascending , and in advance of the increasing multitude . When half way up I can hear the shouting of people above me , and the music of a band , gaily plaving . I now notice that I am