The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-19 00:00:00

2.HE NEW BOTTLE ,TRICK.

Clever as Frikel is acknowledged to be in his
art, it is to be doubted whether he has not
lately been surpassed, at least in one part of his per-
formance—the bottle trick. How this wonderful act;
has just been capped may be briefly told: Within
the last week or two the inhabitants of Denmark-
hill have been favoured with the visit of an indivi-
dual, who under the pretence of acting honestly, has
enriched himself at the expense of the householders.
The plan pursued by this person is to call early in
the morning, while the family are at their matuti-
nal meal, and to hand to the servant who opens the
door a letter, which upon being read turns out to ht
a circular, to the effect that C. Baker gives above
the average price for old bottles. The consequence
naturally follows that Paterfamilias advises Mater-
familias " to get rid of all their old bottles, especi-
ally as the price offered is so tempting." The fellow
is told ho can have what he desires. Upon this
he says he will call at 12 o'clock to give time to make
the necessary arrangements. Accordingly at the ap-
I pointed hour he arrives, and surveys the quantity
of glass bristling in the hall, and declares that by
will have a large amount to
pay, but stillsving
he
will
I cheerfully make the disbursement, h
require-
ment for an immense quantity of bottles. He then
goes on to state that his cart being in the neigh..
bourhood, taking away somebody else's store of old
bottles, he should like to purchase some old clothes,
boots, and indeed anything of madam. She at length
; the offer for
tchome
tphliiensg, ans
thdursape
rsoadekuscetdhebewinagrdrroidb
ieculously small,
it is refused, but on'the man of glass and brass deli-
cately observing that unless the trifling sum be ac-
cepted he gill not take the large quantity of bottles
the controller of the household gives way. •Mr. C.
Baker then stows away in capacious bags coats,
gowns, trowsers, bonnets, boots, jackets, frocks,
collars, waistcoats, shirts, and hot or articles of wear
enough to supply the wants of Australia, New Zea-
land, or Vancouver's Island in clothing
for a consi-
derable period. He at
agreed upon when the stun promised for the bottles
was taken into consideration, at the same time in a
tradesman-like manner insisting that he always
liked to settle upon
the completion of a transaction.
The next stage in the proceedings is to get rid of
any men or boys there may be by begging them to
procure him as much straw as possible for the pack-
ing of the bottles. During their absence the nvin
rashes to the door to call an imaginary Jack to
bring the cart, but; as the mphical gentleman does
not answer, Mr. C. Baker then tells Materfamilies
he will look after man and cart. It is perhaps un-
necessary to name that the researches of the adven-
turer become so extensive that lie is never seen
again, unlike other conjurors, in the same place. As
his visits, therefore, have recently been confined to
the sweet south, the inhabitants of north, east, and
west would do well to be fully alive, when the rival
of the evil magiciao, who cried
"New lamps fur
old" in the "Arabian Nights," is amongs them, to
" preparation" for—the bottle trick.