The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-01


one side, then on the other, and pass
the ends of the cords through the
gimlet holes to the outside of the box,
where they are to be tied tightly, and
again sealed. A hand-bell, tambourine
and tin-horn are laid on the floor, and
screen placed between you and the
audience, and at a distance of two OF
three feet from the front of the box.
Almost Immediately the bell is rung
the tambourine ratified, and the horn
blown. and yet the next moment, when
you call ''Light," and the screen is re-
moved. you are found calmly seated in
the box with the cords still sealed on
the outside. The manifestations car
be repeated over and over with such
variations as your fancy may suggest,
and finally the cords are cut on the
outside, and you step out of the box
Your wrists are still tied, and the seal
on the knots is unbroken. All this
seems very mysterious to the uniniti-
ated. Yet how simple it all is.
The tying is all real, and the knots
are never tampared with. But when
the committeeman reaches behind your
back to get hold of the ends of the
Irvine, you put into his hand the ends
of second cord, which you take from
a back pocket Or from under the back
of your vest, and these are the ends
that are put through the gimlet holes
and sealed outside. Of course this
leaves you free to go in and out of the
box. and pick up the bell and other
musical CD instruments. Finally.
when the outer cord is cut, you gather
it in and pocket it, having in the mean
while cut off the ends of the Irvine
with which you are bound, otherwise
some sharp eyed spectator might no
tice that they are as long as at the be-
ginning of the trick.
In what is known as ''The Hold
Fast" a most ingenious device, neither
ropes nor cords are used, but one OF
the company, whom, for the sake OF
clearness and brevity, shall designate
as the investigator, actually holds the
performer during the entire perform
ance.
This Investigator, who is carefully
blindfOlded, sits with his right side to
the audience and facing the performer,
whose knees tightly clasp on either
side those of the other. To the right
of the performer is a table holding a
bell, tambourine and guitar.
Before going further, let me say a
word about blindfolding. Much as !
dislike to disturb the confidence which
is one of the charms of youth, must
warn you, my reader, against trusting
any one. There is only one way to do
the blindfolding so that there can be
no ''peeking," and that is with two
handkerchiefs. The first should be
folded shawl fashion; that is, in TRAN
gular shape, and fastened round the
Investigators head in such a way that
one point falls down over his nose.
The second handkerchief is folded in
band form, and placed outside
the first one over the eyes.
Blindfolded in this way, there
is little danger of the investi-
gator seeing, and that is what we want.
1t may not be pleasant to have ones
head bound up as l have described.
and the Investigator will always prom
Use to "keep his eyes shut, and not
look" but don't believe him. He is
sure to look if he can; he can't help it,
for he will be surprised, often startled,
and then naturally will open his eyes.
Being seated as described, the inves-
tigator is requested to place his hands
on the performers head, the left hand
overlapping and resting on the right.
Then the performer passes his left arm
around the others arms so as to en-
circle them, and rests his two hands on
the Investigators left arm, thus COM
pleting the circle.
In this position it is evident that the
performer can not remove his hands
without the other knowing it imme-
diately. A slate and pencil are now
placed on the investigators knees, and
a screen is placed around the two tC
shield them from the sight of the audi.
ence, and no sooner is it in position
than ''the trouble begins" The slate
is written on, the bell rung, and the
table upset, but on removing the
screen the two behind it are
found in the same position as when
last seen. Not only this, but the
investigator, if honest. will declare
that the performer did not remove
his hands or change his position for
an instant Under these conditions the
manifestations will seem more un-
accountable to most people than those
that take place when the performer is
tied up.
s.And yet, as a mathematical FRIEND
of mine would say, Its just as easy
as rolling off logarithm." When the
performer with his left hand grasp:
the Investigators left arm, he open.
his finger so that the thumb and fore
finger are together, and the second
third, and little finger. The latter
press but lightly on the arm, while thu
former two grip it lightly. When hi
right hand is brought up to complete
the circle, it is brought down with {
thump on the three connected fingers
which extend further up the inves-
tigatOr's arm, and ara at that moment
pressed into 1t, while the right hund
itself rests so lightly that it can be
scarcely felt.
In this position the performer can
remove his right hand at pleasure
without the Investigator discovering it..