The Master Key / An Electrical Fairy Tale by L. Frank Baum : (full image Illustrated)

WHO KNOWS?
These things are quite improbable, to be sure; but are they impossible?
Our big world rolls over as smoothly as it did centuries ago, without a squeak to show it needs oiling after all these years of revolution. But times change because men change, and because civilization, like John Brown's soul, goes ever marching on.
The impossibilities of yesterday become the accepted facts of to-day.
Here is a fairy tale founded upon the wonders of electricity and written for children of this generation. Yet when my readers shall have become men and women my story may not seem to their children like a fairy tale at all.
Perhaps one, perhaps two—perhaps several of the Demon's devices will be, by that time, in popular use.
Who knows?
"In wonder all philosophy began; in wonder it all ends; and admiration fills up the interspace.
But the first wonder is the offspring of ignorance: the last is the parent of adoration."
—Coleridge.
CONTENTS
Rob's Workshop
The Demon of Electricity
The Three Gifts
Testing the Instruments
The Cannibal Island
The Buccaneers
The Demon Becomes Angry
Rob Acquires New Powers
The Second Journey
How Rob Served a Mighty King
The Man of Science
How Rob Saved a Republic
Rob Loses His Treasures
Turk and Tatar
A Battle With Monsters
Shipwrecked Mariners
The Coast of Oregon
A Narrow Escape
Rob Makes a Resolution
The Unhappy Fate of the Demon
ILLUSTRATIONS
Rob was surrounded by a group of natives of hideous appearance
From his workshop ran a network of wires throughout the house
A quick flash of light almost blinded Rob
A curious being looked upon him from a magnificent radiance
Scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal us
I am here to do your bidding, said the Demon
Men have not yet discovered what the birds know
These three gifts may amuse you for the next week
Rob's action surprised them all
"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father
The red-whiskered policeman keeled over
Rob's captors caught up the end of the rope and led him away
"If it's just the same to you, old chap, I won't be eaten to-day"
Rob soared through the air with five Buccaneers dangling from his leg
It was a strange sight to see the pirates drop to the deck and lie motionless
When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy
When Rob had been kissed by his mother, he gave an account of his adventures
Rob sat staring eagerly at the Demon
The Being drew from an inner pocket something resembling a box
These spectacles will indicate the character of every one you meet
Rob is in truth a typical American boy
Rob placed the indicator to a point north of east and began his journey
A crowd assembled, all shouting and pointing toward him in wonder
A man rushed toward it, but the next moment he threw up his hands and fell unconscious
Rob reached the entrance of the palace, only to face another group of guardsmen
Rob only smiled in an amused way as he marched past them
A tremendous din and clatter nearly deafened him
The eyes of the Frenchman were actually protruding from their sockets
From an elevation of fifty feet or more Rob overlooked a pretty garden
Placing the record so that the President could see clearly, Rob watched the changing expressions upon the great man's face
Rob experienced a decided sense of relief as he mixed with the gay populace
Beneath him stretched a vast sandy plain, and speeding across this he came to a land abounding in vegetation
"Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble"
Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three Turks took to their heels
Rob was miserable and unhappy, and remained brooding over his cruel fate
The Tatars arrived swiftly and noiselessly
The Turk rose slowly into the air, with Rob clinging to him with desperate tenacity
Without more ado Rob mounted into the air, leaving the Turk staring after him
Coming toward him was an immense bird
With one last scream the creature tumbled downward to join its fellow