The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-28
COnjurars' Tricks.

Mechanical pistols, not permitting cx :
animation, in which the projectile drops
into a secret chamber by the action of
springs Oh the pulling of the trigger.
will be beneath the consideration Of the
true artist, as we'll 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 third rams the whole tight
ly down with 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, between the intro
| duction Of the powder and the ball-the
performer, Will calling general atten-
tion to, and laying great stress upon the
circumstance that three or four pcoplc
take part in loading, and not one only,
VINO might he confederate, slips into
thc barrel little tube about an inch in
length, which slides down to the charge.
andEtttcrwardS receives the bullet. This
tune, closed at one end, is Of just such a
SIZE, shape. and color as to fit on the end
OF the ramrod, and be brought away
with 1T without being noticeable. II is
dlsengaged by the wizard, and the balr
secured as lie walks back to the staro
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 inducc the
casual spectator to take deliberate aim
at one 8 face; 50 impressed is he. asa r1lr
that the weapon he holds is genuinely
loaded, that he hcsitates to let ily at the
performer, and will rather let ny in the
air. This, of course, spols the effect
altogether, unless the coniurcr has pres
once of mind enough to pretend to catch
the bullet as it falls.
1loudin, who was prc-emincnt for
ncatness and finish, used to conclude this
trick by making long palavcr about
tho mysterious properties of lead in ex
tiactlng vital essences from the BODY:
then firing the bullet himself at white
washed wall, and producing thereon q
splash OF red, the ball having been ex-
changed this time for hollow shell of
black wax filled with Il bloot-colorcd
liquid.
only short time ago n son of the
famous lloudin executed in Paris very
pretty little trick. Coming forward on
The stage as the curtain rose, he made
an amusing Introductory speech, with
much characteristic geSticulation, hand
extended and shoulders shrugged up to.
his ears; then he breathed on his gloves
ana presto! they vanished. The gloves
Il got it from him afterwartls-had no
backs to them, and were secured only
DY the tips or The fingers. which barely
covered he nails; a piece Of strong elastic
ran III hem round the margin of each
and kept them in position. the end pass
ing up the sleeve, to be attached to the
back OF the vest. a slight fIexurc of
the fingers, therefore, freed them, and
caused them to fly away with lightning
lHpidity; but everything depended on
the palms being alone exposed, French
manike, all the time. Address IS more
than half the battle which the magician
has to fight single handed with the army
or watchflll eyes which encompass him.
n good story was going the rounds of
the papers some months ago to the effect
that Hermann, while on the River Plata,
was giving u private representation
before the Patagonian chiefs, and,
though exerting his wonderful abilities
TO- the utmost, was somewhat annoyed
at the stoldity, and apparent lack of
surprise with which they received the
marvels displayed. Showers of gold and
packs of cards were made to fall from
their ears and noses, dozens Of eggs from
their pockets, and live canarics from
their hair, and still they sat on undis.
mayed. At last, after the entertainment
was over, it was discovered that one of
them had abstracted a valuable gold
watch from the Professors pocket while
The latter was discngaging miraculous
fowl from the savage breast; and that
the lntutorcd mind of another had led
nm to improve the occasion by annex
ing handkerchief and pencil case.