Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-06-13


animation, in which the projectile drops
into a secret chamber by the action OF
springs on the pulling of the trigger,
will he beneath the consideration of the
true artist, as well as being dangerous
in the highest degree. The mode of per-
forming this surprising trick at the pres
ent day is as follows: One member OF
the audience places in the pistol or rifle
an ordinary One-a charge of real
powder; a second is asked to choose and
privately mark a real bullet from box
of such, which he himself drops into the
barrel, and a third rams the whole tight
ly down with a ramrod, either retaining
possession of the weapon from that
moment, or passing it to some one else.
But in The act of moving from No. | to
No. 2-that is to say, betwee the intro.
duction of the powder and the ball-the
performer, while calling general atten-
ton to. and laying great stress upon the
circumstance that three or four people
take part in loading, and not one only.
who might be a confederate, slips into
the barrel little tube about an inch in
length, which slides down to the charge
andafterwardS receives the bullet. This
tube, closed at one end, is of just such a
size. shape. and color as to fit on the end
of the ramrod, and he brought away
with it without being noticeable. 1t is
disengaged by the wizard, and the ball
secured as he walks back to the stage.
and is put inside the lips in readiness in
the very act of showing that the mouth
is empty.
The great difficulty which occurs in
the execution of this feat is TO induce the
casual spectator to take deliberate aim
at ones face; so impressed is he, as a rule
that the weapon he holds is genuinely
loaded, that he hesitates to let fly at the
performer, and will rather let fly in the
air. This, of course, spoilS the effect
altogether, Ua,CsS the cOniurer has pres
ence of mind enough to pretend TO catch
the bullet as it falls.
Houdin, who was pre-eminent for
neatness and finish, used to conclude thi:
trick by making long palaver about
the mysterious properties of lead in ex
tracing vital essences from the body
then firing the bullet himself at white
washed wall, and producing thereon a
splash of red, the ball having been ex
changed this time for hollow shell OF
black wax filled with a blood-coloreC
liquid.
Only a short time ago a son of th(
| famous Houdin executed in Paris very
pretty little trick. Coming forward Oh
the stage as the curtain rose, he made
an amusing Introductory speech, with
much characteristic gesticulatiOn, hand
extended and shoulders shrugged up t
his ears; then he breathed on his gloves
and prestol they vanished. The glove:
IL got 1t from him afterwards-ha nC
backs to them, and were secured only
by the tips of the fingers, which barely
covered the nails; a piece of strong elastic
ran in hem round the margin of eacl
and kept them in position. the end pass
ing up the sleeve, to be attached to the
back of the vest. A slight fleXure oi
the fingers, therefore, freed them, anC
caused them to lily away with lightning
rapidity; but everything depended oI
the palms being alone exposed, French
manlike. all the time. Address Is more
than half the battle which the magician
has to fight single handed with the army
of watchful eyes which encompass him
A good story was going the rounds O
the papers some months ago to the effec
that Hermann, while on the River Plata
was giving a private representation
before the Patagonian ohisfs, and
though exerting his wonderful abilities
to the utmost, was somewhat annoyed
at the stoldity, and apparent lack o
surprise with which they received tn,
maryels displayed. Showers of gold anC
packs Of cards were made to fall from
their ears and noses, dozens of eggs from
their pockets, and live canaries from
their hair, and still they sat on undis
mayed. At last. after the entertainment
was over, it was discovered that one o
them had distracted a valuable gol,
watch from the Professors pocket Will
the latter was disengaging miraculou
fowl from the savage breast; and tha
the untutored mind of another had le
, him to improve the occasion by annex
ing handkerchief and pencil case.
Whatever makes men happier make