Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-11-06

white feather, the other pink satin,
with n wreath Of flowers on IL third
ly, he took out four live doves fourth
ly, three large brass sauce-pans, one
full Of water, the second of beans, the
third of fires and flames filthy, a
bird cage, In which canaries were
jumping about on pprches sixthly, q
boy about years old
Some Of the articles taken out Of the
portfolio are placed there beforehand,
and some get put there while the trick
IL going on. The things that IRE al
ready in the portfolio when the Jug
gler brings il on the stage are the pic
lures, the bonnets, the stuffed doye,
the cover or false bottom of the sauce
pan full OF beans, and the bird cage
What are put in are the living doves,
the three brass saucepans and the
child. The two leaves OF the portfolio
are made OF thin plates of sheet iron,
covered with paper, and with leather
edges to make them look like paste
board. There is about an inch Of
space to spare when the portfolio Is
tied together. Inside, but fastened at
one OF the outer edges, but loose in
side, is green cloth such as is often
used by artists in these portfolios to
protect engravings. On one side of
the portfolio is hinged shank, which
serves to keep the portfolio open Mt an
angle of furt-five degrees when desIr-
ed. The principal use Of the pictures
Is to conceal the motions of the Jug
gIer while he takes out articles from
beneath his clothing. They are
mounted on thin pastebOard, to give
them the requisite stiffness. The
frames OF the ladies' bonnets are con-
structed Of springs, and are split up
the entire back, so that they may be
laid fiat in the portfolio. They spring
in shape when lifted up by the jng-
gler. who while the portfolio is open,
but before the bonnets are shown, has
tily arranges the trimmings, and joins
the split back with a hook and eye
concealed by a fall of lace. The
saucepans seem to be all of the same
size when they are brought out OF the
portfolio, but they fit into each other,
the handles clasping together, and are
lighter than those used in the kitchen.
To explain how water, beans and
flames get into the saucepans, we will
call the largest No. /. the second size
No. ., the third No. 3. No. 3 ia the
one which contains water, and HOu-
din's plan was to cover it over when
full, with piece of waterproof cloth,
which was tied on as al old fashioned
housewife ties a sheet of paper or a
Piece of white muslin over her pre-
serve pots when full. Jugglers nova
days use India rubber covers for such
things as this, which are very easily
slipped off and on. Houdin VS.
obliged to have round little brass
wire sOldered around the saucepans to
keep the string on by, the wire stoI.
ping for about an inch on one side
near the handle, which Was the place
where he pulled of the cover WHEN
the moment came. Sau epAn No, 2
has a false top piece which fits in it
about All inch in depth. When this
shallow pan is full OF beans il seems
to the spectator as if the entire sauce
psu was full. Saucepan No. has no
particular arrangement. II is to hold
the fire and flame generated there by
All infammable powder such rs all
theatrical property men, know how
make. A match is also put in ii, aud
the jUggler strikes il aud lights the
fire between the covers of the portfo-
lilo at the proper moment. The four
living doves are placed in linen bag
with compartments like those bags
you sometimes see inside lady's cup
board, in which she places her slip
pers, etc. The heads of the doves are
uncovered, but their bodies are in the
bag, which has q great hook sewed on
the top of it. by which IL II hung up I'M
der the juggler's coat. The bird. cage is
little less than a collection OF sprlugs
and hinges, which are hastily shaken
out when IL is drawn from the portfo-
liza. The canaries are very small birds
and are forced into drawer Of the
cage until ii springs in place. when
naturally the birds fly about. Al IA
prearranged moment the boy gets into
the portfolio, or rather is tossed into
it, in the following manner; A small
trap-doOr on hinges is arranged 10
open in the floor of the stage, directly
under where the portfolio stands, and
up against this trap-dOOr there ID a box
with Il movable bottom in this box
the boy is crOuched. Here he remains
until the bird-cage full OF caDaTies is
brought out from the portfolio. ! hen
the juggler, walking out among the
audience, says, who'll have one OF
these canaries?" The audience, think
ing this is the end OF the trick, aud
anxious to get a gift OF a canary, keep
their eyes fixed on the cage and the
movements Of the juggler. At this
moment the green cloth falls out of the
portfolio, as if by accident, aud con-
ceals the legs OF the trestle work stand.
An assistant under the stage moves a
| lever, and the movable bottom of the
box shoots the boy up into the porto
! lilo. The whole operation only lasts
four seconds, and as soon az the child
il safely lodged in the Portfolio, the
iuggler's page life up the green cloth
and places it back, az if it's having
fallen was quite unexpected and acct
| dental.
Now when Robert Houdin cane on
the stage to perform his portfolio trick
| in such careless, easy manner, how
was he equipped Why, he had the
saucepanE hung on hook under his
coat tails in the hollow space Of the
saucepans the bag of turtle doves hung.
| Under his arm was the portfolio. In
! taking the pictures out Of the porto
! Ito, his body was hidden for AN in
slant, aud this time he pulled out from
behind his coat the doves and the
saucepans.
Houdin looked upon this performs
pnce as one of the most startling that
could possibly be presented TO an au-
dience, and during the day he practic-
ed il for hours at time, in order TO
perfect his rapidly Of action in 1t,
!