The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-05-15
NUMBER II.
A rrich with AN Apple.

Not long since | was willing away
pleasant evening with a number of YOUNG
friends, and, a IS 50 often the case, our
conversation was gradually led into the sub
icct of lcdgcrdemain, or sleight-oELand, and
many very queer and pulling experiments
in that direction were displayed. 1t was a
subject on which no one Of our number
seemed wanting FOR an example, as each in
turn offered sonSe amusing feat of the ma
SIci2n : art, occasionally sandwitched by
some witty conundrum or pun, by way of
variety. Oar young people will easily uu-
derS;and why it was that no other subject
crept in upon uS during that whole evening,
and how, when the late hours came, we
were all 10th to break mp, 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 it is al
ways pleasant to have in ones mind store
of "reminiscences of such experiences. Many
are the long winter evenings that are rem
dered weary and tiresome only for the want,
perhaps, Of some such amusement.
On the evening referred to one thing and
another led to the subject of magic, etc,
and one individual, rather gifted in that di-
rection, commenced by placing penny in
the hollow Of my hand, and, although L
was positively certain that I constantly
felt 1t there, he seemingly withdrew it
without my knowledge, and | afterward
found it in my vest pocket, whereupon I
was branded as "felon and thief" and
my confusion created much merriment.
f,,li, al h., -
equally strange, until great part of the
evening had slipped by, when there came
| sudden lull in oar enthusiasm, as the do
mestic entered the dor hearing a silver dish
containing variety of delicious fruits and
nuts. We had scarcely commenced at them
before the subject was again revived.
''Do you see that apple?" said friend
sitting near me, as he took from the silver
dish a brightly-colored Baldwin" "Do
you see that appe?''
We all replied in the affirmative, gazing
at it attentively. expecting to see it turn into
a mouse, or some other ridiculous thing,
right before our eyes.
''Well,' he continued. q can cut that
apple in halves, and I defy You to find a
break in its skin after have done it
We were all on the watch, thinking that
/ there might be some so-c7Illed ''selI'' in his
manner of expressing himself; bat no. He
assured US that he was literally in earnest,
and we all gazcd with close attention to see
! how the feat was to be done Taking the
/ apple between the tips Of his fingers and
/ thumb, he thus he'll it for Il minute or so.
I 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.
at IS cut lie replied: "and a smart lot
Of fellows you have been not t. have seen
me do it
He now passed the apple around, and we
all devoured it with or eyes a. we searched
for the bnife-cut in the skin; but we were
none of Us successful Having satisfied our
selves that the outside was unbroken. the
apple was passed back to the original iudi-
vidual, who, after inspecting the stem Of it
4 moment, 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. \
slight di~coloration was also visible. show
ing that the division had existed some little
time. An examination Of the halves gave
Us a clue as to the manner in which it had
been done.
Another apple was taken from the dish,
and we all witnessed Il repetition of the
operation, which was conducted as follows:
1t had been done with a fine needle and
piece of silk thread Taking 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 under the
skin as before, and the same process con-
tinued until the needle was brought out
directly in the caiyx. The other side Of the
apple was now followed up in a similar
manner, and the needle at last brought out
ut 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. Our
friend now took the apple between his
knees, keeping it in such position that the
threads following their own direction,
would fall TO his right and left. Next, the
| thread emerging from the Iett side of the
| apple was taken in his right hand, and the
! other in his~left hand, letting them cross
deep in the hollow Of the stem. 4 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.
Ii was a very pretty trick, and had been
well carried out. The apple having been
previously prepared, was brought in with
the rest of the fruit. This, and the wonder
ful ease with which our friend seemed to
perform the feat, while covering the apple
with both hands, were all calculated to
mystiiy Us, as it certainly did. To avoid
suspicion the trick sholld always be per-