Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-03-05
| MYSTERIOUS ENTERTAINMENT

~
Ing Performance.
On last Sunday evening Hartz, the
illusionist, gave an entertainment OF
psychological experiments, promising it
with an announcement that it was his
public attempt. In response to a
call for subjects thirteen persons came
and mounted the stage One
fellow-one OF those who know nothing
of obstacles, clambered over the backs
of the seats as though he were scaling
the walls which kept him from his
mistress, and mounted the stage
with an air which plainly said, "Look
al me; here you see the combined brains
Of q large.sized family" One of the
returned to the audience, but
he who broke his shins in getting there
remained, and, wrapping his gray coat
him, sat down in triumph. The
customary coins were produced and
in the outstretched hands, and
the gaze of the subjects were bent upon
them. Ono Of the number was afflicted
with ~cachinnatory symptoms and was
and sent back to admiring
While the subjects arc looking
at the coins we will look at them. There
were six of the company who seemed to
be men of position, for after n few tests
they left tho stand. We pass them by,
as they did the audience, with but n
slight notice. Only II prominent
character will be noticed, he Of the gray
coat. There was no installing him he
could take care Of himself, always had,
and probably thinks he could take care
of q large family also. One more, I"
curly, bu~llet-hcaded fellow, deserves n
passing glance. His countenance ex-
pressed q great natural nsquieseence
in everything, n disposition like that
of the old maid who married n
cripple; she said "it was rs well
as she could hope to do Mt h'r time
oflife." so with him, he could not ex-
pcct too much, but he would be content.
Among the first efforts, much laughter
was raised by the subjects opening their
eyes when told they could not do so.
One of those who left the stand early
felt tho power, tor his eyes remained
fast closed spite of his efforts to the
contrary. Fearing the sway Of the ma
gician, he left the stage in company
with his friend, leaving five to expert
ment with. The first trial was with
Gray-coat, who proved n capital sub
ject; being thirsty, he walked TO the
table and drank II glass of water. "Thnt
is Salts" said the Professor. Gray
coats face underwent n thousand con-
tortions, and his stomach henved like
the throat of q bullfrog, rs he vain!y
strove to eject the nauseous stuff from
the gaunt and ill-flled cNverns Of his
frame. A sickly smile stole over his
face as the spell was removed, remind
ing one of II struggling moonbeam rest
ing on the placid surface OF a mud
puddle. Curly-head was then placed
under subsection, and informed that he
was n snake. Down upon the stage he
fell, and in the t~ortuous fashion of the
serpent he dragged his slow length
around the platform. Although he exc
cuted the maneuvers well, and really
seemed to feel snaky, We question IL
any modern Eve would be beguilod into
eating an apple Of his plucking 4; no,
not 80 much as touch the stem. When
the spell was broken he FASTENED to oc.
cupy his chair, feeling and acting quite
scaly. Two more Of his subjects now
wished to leave the stage, saying they
had friends in the audience and did not
wish to appear ridiculous before them.
This request was granted-lenving only
three to act with. Before they left,
however, they were placed in their
chairs with their left hands extended
and told 10 strike it with their right.
There were FIVE engaged in this expert.
ment, and their blows came ia unison,
All hit the hand. "NOw you cant hi
it," said tho Professor. Blow RfteI
blow was struck, but all missed the
mark. Some in their earnestness went
sprawling on the stage, where the blows
were continued in the midst Of n perfect
pandemouium Of yells and laughter from
the audience. After this scene, the
young men left the stage. leaving Gray
coat, Bullet-head and q nondescript in
their glory. The Professor then told
Gray-coa. that he was John G. Hecnan
that he was there to fight Tom Sayers,
aud he Immediately placed himself in
posish-d la Hcenan. Bullet-head was
informed that he was Sayers, and after
placing them about six feet apart and
telling thonfthey could not cross the line,
the battle begun. Blows thick, fast and
furious were showcred OF each, MS they
were placed far enough apart to avoid
the possibility of hitting each other.
Directly Hecnan got Saycrs' head in
chancery, in imagination, and with set
teeth and contracted brows he showercd
his blows under the arm TO the immi-
len danger of hitting his W head, his
blows were so savGgcly in earnest. Amid
tho widest uproar the spell was broken,
and the c%ombatants, looking s~upremely
foolish, resumed their seats. The sub.
jects were impressed with the idea that
they were fremcn, and Gray-coat was
foreman of No. G. With his hand for n
spcaking-trumpet, he beloved forth his
orders, while his companions carried out
the furniture from the burning building
by throwing the chairs all over the stage
in the widest confusion. Bullet-hcad
became Richard the Third, and in wild
extravaganza struttcd the stage, shout
ing ga horse, n horse my kingdom for
q horse !' etc. In ono of his widest
flights the spell was broken, and he
stood before the audience and the foot
lights with one foot extended, both
hands appraised and mouth wide open,
amid the widest cheers from the gall
lery. Gray-coat, believing himself an
opera-singer, favored the audience with
n song. Then. being impressed with
the spirit Of Macbeth, he gave n choice
d~elinoation of that character. Bullet
head was then ordered TO 60 to the first
store he could find open and bring the
first article he could find. or Mt n
breakneck speed he went, through and
out of the theater, and soc returned
with q pitcher, closely followed by n
young clerk who was pursuing the sup
posed thief to recover his property.
Perhaps he looked more foolish than
did Bullet-head when tho spell was
broken, and be stood holding the stolen
pitcher. Take it MI in all, no burlesque
or farce ever filled Maguire's Opera
House with such free, hearty, nncon-
trollablc laughter as did Hartz's expert
ments in psychologists. Chronicle, Sd.
-D&%
HOME WITHOUT A MoTHER.-What is
home without a mothers presence !?
IT'S like a book TO read without the aid
- " Il Fz -nNrra with