The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-01
SOME SELLS.

SOME SELLS.
Talking Of legerdemain, reminds me
II 4 little incident l witnessed in q
country town last winter. A conjurer
who was giving an entertainment for a
charitable purpose, was much hampered
and annoyed during the course of his
performance by gentleman in the
tails who continually raised frivolous
objections, or sought to. impose vexa-
tious conditions, and who constantly
isYored his neighbors with audible ex-
plantations OF what was going forward,
such as: |" Up his sleeyer' Isaw thatr'
and remarks of similar nature-one
oi those extraordinary individuals who
actually pay their money for admission
10 an entertainment of this sort for the
sole purpose, as it seems, of stopping
i if possible! Any fool can prevent q
trick from being done, but that is not
quite the same thing as finding it out:
and the nature Of the objections raised
By such gentry is generally found to be
something similar to challenging a pi-
snist who has just executed brilliant
isntssia, to repeat the same standing on
bis head, or with the cover of the piano
shut. The prestldigitator causes a six
pence to vanish from his fingers; they
Immediately want the same thing done
with four-post bedstead, or some such
trife; and should he confess his inabili-
y to do so they exclaim: g All, non in
4 tone which not only might induce
people to think they have discovered
tie secret, but which leads one to be-
lieye that some notion to that effect re-
ally exists in their own minds, or what
ever it's that takes the place of mind
IN these unhappy persons.
have seen Hermann treat such a
person capitally by bringing him up ON
The stage to assist him, and taking the
rest OF the audience into confidence
while mystifying the person thorough
y. Thus, the confident amateur would
be requested to draw card from a
pack, put it back and shuttle. This he
would do vigorously, to prevent the
of detection. Meanwhile,
hermann, turning his back to the au-
Hence, would reveal to them the iden-
ncal card in his hand. It had been
adroitly removed in the act of passing
ne pack to be shuff1ed; and the idea Of
|he volunteer assistant assiduously mix
ng the remaining fifty-one cards for
lothlng was irresistibly funny. But the
uspicions of the determined-not-to-be-
lone amateur would now be aroused by
he general laughter, and Hermann,
making feint of throwing something
'nder handkerchief or behind chair
Fouid induce him to dart round in pur-
ult OF it. The moment his victim
arned the card was stuck on his back
elln minute pellet of beeswax in full
ieW OF every one. Nothing behind the
aalr nothing under the handkerchief,
othlng inthe magician's hands, sleeves
Z pockets. Pack carefully examined;
ara disappeared! !" Go and ask that
w Tor it, = the Professor would saw,
auicaslng some one at the very back Of
y y s1eater; and hesitatingly, obviously,
'satehfully suspicious ever, the now
a'ien bitter would proceed thither.
ecAing IN vain to account for the uni
slsai amusement at his expense. mo,
y !, r mar iady-the one on the other
acs And SO, under these new sail
x orders he would be sent threading
/. y way all over the theater, fresh shouts
. laugnter arising behind him, which
ssl '' way ne turned. Finally, Hermann
'ouid I3 direct him to some very little
NV VINO would innocently find the
y stu o. once, amidst great applause
y the sold one was silenced for the |
'malnder of the evening.
un another occasion our coniurer
a;opted a different method. Biding |
Ssa ! snle and submitting with apparent
Iseeliainess to much ANNOYANCE from |
,Aaowing youth, he came at length to |
= Mouchoir du diablen and other
sasoi-hand feats connected with
and here he introduced |
'e,sa : vI uick OF tying the handkerchief /
Juno ,v the leg and removing it under |
,scr : OF another without unfastenino
y y. sealed knot. It was interpolated /
ss ~ purpose, no doubt, for every |
,a,a aoOlDoy knows the secret of 1.-THE
T;,aAerchief. ,;;aa though seemingly passed |
,S1 az round the leg, is in reality simply
\ .asu - 10 2 couple of folds behind
: ! 'ns victim swallowed the bait read
4. J, everybody knew how that was
'as ne observed contemptuousIy.
,,,ag peg your pardon, sir,'' said the
s,o1.ner, g who had not chosen to over
m : previous remarks. :. Did You saw
: IS anew how it was done? This is the
~ ~ aor which the elder Dobler re-
: 10y y 9 valuable diamond ring from
eoe sar OF Russia, and unless You are
: snssnee1lon sss Of that potenate / think
~ ~ hardly likely to be in possession
, s.a sas secret. But will repeat Il
J ;our y especial benefits (Proceed- !
-, " " You let me put it round your
!. /. e,. was the challenge.
4 et.ssl1alnly. = Come up here. Now.
4 4 n,sslh ;as handkerchief YOURSELF,
mi; .,c staggered by this unexpected
Sk<tdICA. tho /