The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-01-24
A LITTLE SKULL OF GOLD.
A Marvellous Scarf-Pin in the Possession
of a New York Prestidigitator.

A Marvellous scarf-Pin in the Possession
of a New York Prestidigitator.
A harmless yet ghastly scarf-pin is a
mechanical skull of enameled gold, with
movable under jaw, and diamonds
set back in its hollow sockets for
eyes. A noted Straightforward man .wole
one on a recent visit to the City Hall.
The little ornament was q marvel of the
jeweler' S art. 1t was enameled in perfect
imitation of a bleached human skull,
and a bright-colored gold jockey cap
fixed to the top of it added to its ghast-
illness. A reporter had his eyes upon
the skull while the professor was talking
to an alderman, when suddenly the
under jaw of the skull began to rattle
and the diamonds in the eye sockets
rolled and flashed. The chattering of
the jaws could be plainly heard ten feet
away, and was calculated to draw at
tention. The alderman and the reporter
observed the chattering about the same
instant. 1t has fascinating and awe
inspiring effect upon the city father, who
stood spell-bound for an instant and
then acted as though he doubted his
vision. The chattering and eye rolling
would stop for moment, as though the
skull was tired by the exertion of rat
Ting its tiny teeth together, only to be
renewed the next moment with more
vigor. Finally the reporters profess
sional instinct got the better Of him,
and he besought the professor to tell
him all about the arrangement. The
latter complied, with hearty laugh
over the effect of his little joke.
SIN the first place. said he, 1.-THE
skull is worked by current of cleo
tricity generated by a little battery
which l carry in my pocket, and trans
mitted over wires no heavier than
strands of thread. "
He Illustrated the working of the
ornament by pressing upon button
which completed the electric circuit
and caused the teeth to rattle.
1T was made in Paris, " resumed Mr..
Schultz, land is worth 500; at least
that is what its duplicate will cost any
person who wants one. Yes; the price
is rather steep, but you must consider
that the ornament has to be very care
fully and nicely adjusted, and that it is
made of platinum and the best of gold;
besides, the diamonds alone are of some
value. No; no cheap counterfeits have
yet been made. The highest priced one
1 ever saw was marked at 500"
Laughing over recollections of some
of the sport he had had with the pin,
the prestidigitator resumed: 81 fright
ened darby almost to death with it
yesterday. The man was so much
frightened that his knees knocked to-
gether and his nostrils expanded, Just
as have seen those of horse in alarm.
| had to take the pin to pieces and ex-
plain all its details to completely over
come his fright. But this thing is
nothing to a trick skull have in my
professional collection. In exhibiting it
| call it the mesmerized skull. 1t is a
mystifying delusion, which always
causes a sensation and can not be de-
tected. The skull is a genuine one.
l first place it upon sheet of ordinary
window glass laid across the tops of the
backs of two ordinary chairs arranged a
few feet apart to show that no electrical
wires are attached to it. Then | pass
the skull around for inspection. When
replaced on the glass shelf the skull will
answer questions by mods or side move
ments, smoke cigar or whistle at the
word of command-N. Y. Mail and
Er3lrpSe