The Dawson journal., 1885-04-09

stllI, noInlng more. Lay your
right hand lightly, as it were, on
the centre Of the stick, just as Lu.
did, but be sure you lay your hand
on SO that the fiexor of the first
joint of the thumb can be put
where it will do the most good
when you begin to exert your
strength in the least expected di-
rection. Again, as with the chair,
don't attempt to pull, always push
sideways. Do you remember the
man who was nearly run over the
footlights, how he was pushed
sideways and backward? Then,
if your assistant won't push as
you want him to, why, break the
stick or let your hand slip up
among the ribs and break them
the odic force must escape some
where.
Now for the heavy act, lifting
man and chair clear of the floor
excepting his feet. Do you re-
member the kind of chair that act
was done with-a cane bottom
with straight legs and back per-
fectly plain? You must have that
special shaped chair or you will
fail in this; let your assistant seat
himself, and, as the stage mana
ger directed, "set we'll back and
brace yourself to keep from fall
ing On your face;' now place your
hands as Lu. did, but dent at
tempt to raise him bodily, but
push the chair from you as tho
you were trying to throw him on
his face; at the same time lift as
though you were going to throw
the chair over your head, but don't
grasp the chair, as the audience
would see that and there is no
need Of it; the fexor of the first
joint of the thumb is all you want
to use in pushing forward and
upward; your assistants feet act
as the fulcrum of a lever. Now
let another assistant sit across his
legs face to face, and, strange as
it may seem, the chair may be
lifted with less trouble than when
the one man is in it. Do you re-
member that on the Monday night
we are speaking of Lu. made a
complete failure in trying to lift
Mr.. Arthur Cation, because he in
sisted in keeping his feet off the
floor, and would not brace back in
the chair? Miss Hurst can't, as
strong as she is, and she is no kit
ten, lift a four year old child in a
chair the way she takes hold of it.
Should this article meet the eyes
of a skeptic in a city where Miss
Hurst is exhibiting, sit in the
chair and keep your feet off the
floor, no matter what the stage
manager says; if you are one of
the two whom she tries to lift at
once, be sure you are the bottom
man; keep your feet up and see
that the top man, if stranger,
does not raise himself off your lap,
and, our word for it, she will nev-
er lift you.
Now get your billiard cue again
for the pressing to the floor act. !"
Do you remember how she held
it2 Small end up under the arm
pit, with the palm Of the hand
turned out, and close down to the
butt end, so close that one gentle
man had to ask her to give him
room to take hold, which she did
very reluctantly. Now, having
the cue under your arm pit, make
your assistant spread his hands
as far apart as he can, giving him
barely room to lay hold of the
lower end; then tell him to push
it to the ground; the harder he
pushes the more cohesion there is
to your hand, and by pressing the
arm hard to the body it will be
found almost impossible to get it
to the floor; yet, on this night,
one gentleman did so twice, and
then Lu. just laughed, tel he!
Did you hear the whistle of the
cue as it slipped over her open
hand, showing the heavy lever
age and pressure she was exert
ing?
Now for forcing the chair to the
floor act, and that will close the
performance, but we must have
more than the one man or two