The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-09
RIvALING THE DAyENPOKES.
TIE THORPE BROTHERS AND TIE
CABINET SCEANCEr--WAYs THAT ARE
DARK AND TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN.

IlM Thorpe BROTHERS are giving Ell
tcrtainnlents ut the st. james Thcater
They claim to possess the power Ol
healing to sucl, a degree that in the
language Of the bills, they make ''the
lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the
blind to See and the dumb to speak, v
without charge. They vie with the my
stical DayenIorts and the fictitious All
Sin in ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain; and, shut In a cabinet,
and with nlailacled lands and cord
bound feet, gather about them a
choice company of spirits, who play
upOll Instruments, brindish and fling
about c,ldgcls, and pound on panels in
d degree calculated to amaze the scep-
tic. The theatre was crowded on
Monday evening to its utmost capac-
ity. On the stage a jOinted cabinet
was placed OH trestles, so that one
could look under, around and above it.
A seat at either end, with a pair Of
wool and iron stocks in front of each,
a small barrel-Organ attached to the
back wall, snare drum, banjo, TAM
BOURNE and violin lying on the floor
were its visible contents and appur-
tellanccs. Then out stepped Thorpe,
q tall, black-bearled, llullOw-eyed,
gootl-loOking man, with q somewhat
saturlline c0untenance, who, pronounc-
ing a very brief discourse, invited
everybody to hold the forefinger of the
left hand with the thumb and finger of
the right for the space of five minutes,
with view of taking the biologistical
capacity of his audiancc. Jeers and
roars Of laughter greeted the proposal;
but the attempt was resolutely made
BY a number, and then as no ''ilnpres-
sibles'' were developed. Thorpe in
vited all who were afflicted with
physical ills to step up and be cured.
A half dozen men. women and chill
dren answered the call, one Of whom,
giving his name IA John Murphey.
hack driver, declared himself cured of
a stubborn rheumatism; another, a
woman, Of pains In her side one
John Layergaii, had deaf child ma
tcrially helped and man suffering
from sciatica, and a little girl deafened
by scarlet fever, being in turn mani
pulated for their various ailments, the
more serious business of the evening
commenced. A Committee being call
ed for, the majestic Major W. w. I.e-
land ard Captain +. J. Peck. Of the
steamer Elm CitE were elected and
stepped on the stage. Thorpe's BROTH
er falling to put III an appearance for
some unexplained reason, another
person had to be furnished by the ati-
Hence to take the vacant seat In the
:abinet and be locked In the stocks
md he tied with the ropes. A Mr..
Holt had the hardihool to volunteer,
md was duly imprisoned. The Com
nittee declared everything satisfactory,
,lle gus was turned low, and in a min
lte the tambourine ratified the drum
,eat, the banjo strummed, and loose
ticks were banged against all parts of
he box. The tumult subsiding for a
moment, the instruments fell to play
mg the accompaniment Of a waltz
which was being vigorously ground
,ut of the barrel organ. When the
loor was flung open, the two priso-
,ers were seen sitting as quiet as mice,
With their hands fast locked In the
tocks and their feet bound with the
ord as before. The audience became
lproarious; cheers, jeers, Kisses out
ala, resoinding on every side, and a
core of voices shouted criticisms, sllg-
,estions and jocillar remarks at the
Committee and their subjects. After
much debate it was determined to
Ilange the two persons to the seats OPP
'osite those they had occupied respec-
iyely, there. being q suspicion that
'hOrpe, bound hand and foot as he
Tas, might somehow reach up and
urn the organ crank with, bis teeth |
he change being made, the box was
lesed again, and tho same tlemonstra-
ons not only went Oh as before, but
pon opening the door 1t was found
iat ThOrpe's coat had been taken off
Is back, and was lying on the floor Of
Ne cabinet. His hands were fast In the
,0eks. Thereup0n there was another
Droar and more suggestions and pro- /
and Thorpe being cllalleng-
| to put on the coat again, q new
Ieptic was made Of his yoke fellow,
i'd the feat was accomplished. This
nded the slow, and the audience re-
Ictantly departed, no wiser than when
ley came. The performance differs
ON that Of the Davenport brothers
Iainly in the manner In which the
srsOils In the box are fastened. 1t
as easy to conceive how the Dayen-
orts slipped their hands out Of the
pes, but the stocks are something
Iorc Of q puzzle. IN. y. Sun.