MAGIC LIGHTNING.
Mix gunpowder with a small quantity of water and gum arabic, and with a brush place it on a screen in the background in an irregular manner, resembling flashes of lightning. The screen being previously painted to resemble thunder clouds, let there be a number of distinct flashes painted, the ends of which should be near the ante-room. At intervals of thirty seconds, touch a lighted fusee to one of these paintings, which will burn quickly, illuminate the clouds, and resemble lightning flashes.