The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-08-27
SOME SELLS.

OF q little incident L witnessed In q
country town last winter. A conjurer
who was giving an entertainment for
charitable purpose, was much hampered
and annoyed during the course of his
performance by gentleman in the
stalls who continually raised frivolous
objections, or sought to impose vexa-
tious conditions, and who constantly
favored his neighbors with audible ex-
plantations of what was going forward,
such as: Sup his sleever' "lsaw thatr'
and remarks of similar nature--one
of those extraordinary individuals who
actually pay their money for admission
to az entertainment of this sort for the
sole purpose, as it seems, of stopping
it If possible! Any fool can prevent a
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 pi-
anist who has just executed brilliant
fantasia, to repeat the same standing on
his head, or with the cover of the piano
shut. The prestldigitator causes six
pence to vanish from his fingers; they
Immediately want the same thing done
with four-post bedstead, or some such
tritle; and should he confess his inabili-
ty to do so they exclaim: All, no" in
tone which not only might induce
people to think they have discovered
the secret, but which leads one to be-
lieve that some notion to that effect re-
ally exists in their own minds, or what
ever it is 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
ly. 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
possibility of detection. Meanwhile,
Hermann, turning his back to the au-
dience, would reveal to them the iden-
teal card in his hand. 1t had been
adroitly removed in the act of passing
the pack to be shuffied; and the idea of
the volunteer assistant assiduously mix
ing the remaining fifty-one cards for
nothing was irresistibly funny. But the
suspicious of the observation-disclosures
done amateur would now be aroused by
the general laughter, and Hermann,
making feint of throwing something
under handkerchief or behind chair
would induce him to dart round in pur-
suit of it. The moment his victim
turned the card was stuck on his back
xu.f1 70 v2nllof <>f hoo ftxll
view of every one. Nothing behind the
chair, nothing under the handkerchief,
nothing in the magician's hands, sleeves
or pockets. Pack carefully examined;
card disappeared! g. Go and ask that
lady for it" the Professor would say,
indicating some one at the very back of
the theater; and hesitatingly, obviously,
watchfully suspicious ever, the now
bitten bitter would proceed thither,
seeking in vain to account for the uni
versal amusement at his expense. mo.
not that lady--the one on the other
sider' And so, under these new sail
ing orders he would be sent threading
his way all over the theater, fresh shouts
of laughter arising behind him, which
ever way be turned. Finally. Hermann
would direct him to some very little
child, who would innocently find the
card at once, amidst great applause
and the sold one was silenced for the
remainder of the evening.
On another. occasion our coniurer
adopted a different method. Biding
his time and submitting with apparent
cheerfulness to much annoyance from
n knowing youth, he came at length to
the I" Mouchoir du diable'' and other
slight-of-hand feats connected with
handkerchiefs; and here he introduced
the old trick of tying the handkerchief
around the leg and removing it under
cover of another without christening
the sealed knot. 1t was interpolated
with purpose, no doubt, for every
schoolboy knows the secret of 1.-THE
handkerchief, though seemingly passed
twice round the leg, is in reality simply
hitched in couple of folds behind
and the victim swallowed the bait read
lily. Everybody knew how that was
DONE" he observed CONTEMPORARY.
81 beg your pardon, sir" said the
performer, who had not chosen to over
hear previous remarks. Did you say
you knew how it was done? This is the
trick for which the elder Dobler re-
ceived valuable diamond ring from
the Gar Of Russia, and unless you are
a connection of that potenate l think
You are hardly likely to be in possession
of the secret. But / will repeat it
for your especial benefit" proceed
ing TO do SOY.
VIII you let me put it round your
legP was the challenge.
q Certainly. Come up here. Now,
take the handkerchief yourself"
A little staggered by this unexpected
compliance, the doomed one began to
examine the handkerchief infinitely,
testing its elasticity and holding it up
to the light.
20, II you suspect the handkerchief,
use your own by all means. 1t is mat
ter of indifference to me-"
Poor young man! How eagerly he
caught at the offer, made the exchange
and knotted his own snowy cambria