The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-24
A Trick with mn Apple.

Not long since was Willing away a
pleasant evening with number OF
Young friends, and, as is so often the
case, our conversation was gradually
led into the subject of legerdemain, or
sleight- hand, and many very queer
and puzZling experiments III that dlrec-
ton were displayed. 1t was subject
on which no one of our number seemed
wanting for an example, as each III turn
offered some amusing feat OF the ma
gician's art, occasionally sandwiched by
some witty conundrum or pun, by way
of variety. Our young people Will cas-
ily understand why it was that no other
subject crept in upon as during that
whole evening, and how, when the late
hours came. we were all 10th to break
up and depart to our several homes.
There is scarcely any other way in which
young people seem to enjoy themselves
more than in this, and tits always pleas
ant to have in ones mind a store of rem
iniscences of such experiences. Many
are the long winter evenings that are
rendered weary and tiresome, only for
the want, perhaps, of some such amuse-
ment.
On the evening referred to, one thing
and another led to the subject of magic,
etc, and one individual rather gifted in
that direction commenced by placing
a penny in the hollow of my hand, and,
although / was positively certain"
that constantly felt it there, he SEEM
ingly withdrew it without my knowledge,
and l afterward found it in my vest
pocket, whereupon L was branded as
"felon and a thief" and my confusion
created much merriment. This was
followed by another and another equally
strange, until great part of the even
ing had slipped by, when there came a
sudden lul in our enthusiasm, as the
domestic entered the door bearing sill
yer dish containing a variety of delicious
fruits and nuts. We had scarcely COM
menced at them before the subject was
again revived.
"Do you see that apple ?" said n
friend sitting near me, as he'took from
the silver dish brightly colored "Bald-
win" "Do you see that apple ?"
We all replied in the affirmative, gaz-
ing at it attentively, expecting to see it
turn into mouse or some other ridicu-
lous thing right before our eyes.
"Well, he continued, 81 can cut
that apple in halves, and | defy you to
find break in its skin after have done
it"
We were all on the watch, thinking
that there might be some so-called
"sell' in his manner of expressing him
self but, no. He assured us that he
was literally in earnest, and we all gazed
with close attention to see how the feat
was to be done. Taking the apple be-
:. e g.. 4
he thus held it for minute or so. He
then placed it in the hollow of one
hand, covering it with the other, and
another minute elapsed.
why don't you cut it? we all
asked.
sit is cut" he replied "and a
smart lot of fellows you have been not
to have seen me do it..
He now passed the apple around, and
we all devoured it with our eyes as we
searched for the knife-cut in the skin
but we were none of us successful
Having satisfied ourselves that the out
side was unbroken, the apple was passed
back to the original individual, who,
after inspecting the stem of it mo-
ment, broke it open, disclosing to our
eyes two smoothly cut sections of equal
size. The pulp bore the appearance of
having been divided by sharp knife,
and it was evidently no accidental break
A slight discoloration was also visible,
showing that the division had existed
some little time. An examination of
the halves gave us n clue as to the man
ner in which it had been done.
Another apple was taken from the
dish, and we all witnessed repetition
of the operation, which was conducted
as fellows 1t had been done with fine
needle and piece of silk thread. TAX
ing the apple, with the stem uppermost,
the needle was inserted deep in the
hollow, passed through the pulp, and
brought out again at about half an inch
from the place where it entered. A few
inches OF the silk having been drawn
through, the needle was again inserted
in the same aperture from which it had
just emerged, passed along directly un-
der the skin as before, and the same
process continued until the needle was
brought out directly in the calyx. The
other side of the apple was now followed
up in q similar manner, and the needle
at last brought out Mt the stem end on
the opposite side from where it first
entered. The principal part of the
trick was now finished, but what fol
lowed required just as much care. Oul
friend now took the apple between his
knees, keeping it in such a position
that the threads, following their owl
direction, would fall to his right and
lett. Next the thread, emerging from
the teri side of the apple, was taken in
his right hand, and the other in his left
laN4 H..
hollow of the stem. A little gentle
saving with one hand and the Other
soon brought the thread through the
pulp, core and all, and out it came
leaving scarcely a mark behind.
1t was very pretty trick, and haC
been well carried out. The apple, hav
ing been previously prepared, was
brought in with the rest of the fruit
This, and the wonderful ease will
which our friend seemed to perform The