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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 172, 12 July 1876, Page 4

Some months since aa Englishman named Atkinson bought a country place near Pithiviers in France. For many weeks thereafter, car pen tars and masons were busily employed in repairing and altering the chateau, and after their work bad been completed, Mr Atkinson issued invitations for a large dinner party to all the most prominent families in the neighborhood. Tbe guests arrived at six o'clock and on taking their seats at the dinner table, noticed with surprise that there was hot one servant to be seen. Tho soup was consumed in silent astonishment. When all had partaken of it, the host sounded a whistle, and as if by magic the soup plates disappeared, and three magnificent silver platters, each containing a roast goos?, appeared. Little cries of terror were beard from the ladies. Mr Atkinson took no note of his guests' surprise, but remarking that it was a very, warm evening, whistled again, and the whole ceiling disappeared ; the host's black coat vanished at the same moment, leaving him clothed in a white' suit. The guests, alarmed, were about to rise from their chairs, wben they found themselves, their chairs, and the table suddenly raised five feet above the floor. Thej, however, were soon lowered again to the floor, and all took refuge in hasty flight from the demoniac abode. A judical investigation was instituted, and it was found tbat Mr Atkinson had been for ten years the chief machinist at the Covent Garden Theatre in London, where he had amassed a nice little fortune. The dinner was a little freak to indulge his fondness for his old pursuit.