Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-01


reach one hand around you, first on /
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-beii, tsmbourine /
and tin-horn are laid on the noor. and |
q screen placed between you and the |
audience, and at a distance Of two or |
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 il 70
moved, you are found calmly seated in
the box with the cords still sealed on
the outside. The manifestations can
be repeated over and over with such
variations as your Laney 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 II unbrokeu- All this
seems very mysterious TO the uniniti-
ated Yet hos simple it all ii
The tying il all real. and the knots
are never tarnpared with But when
the committeeman reaches behind your
back to get hold OF the ends Of the
twine, you put into his hand he eais
Of q second cord. which you take from
q back pocket or from under the back
Of your vest, and these are the end
that are put through the gfmles 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 ~ instruments Finally,
when the outer cord IL cut. you gather
it in and pocket it. having in the mean
while cut Oh the ends OF the twine
with which you are bound otherwise
some sharp eyed spectator Nigh, mo-
tice that they are al loug 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 brevitv, shall designate
as the inresti gator. actually holds the
performer during the entire perform
ance-
This investigator. who is carefully
blindfolded- sits with his right side tc
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.
Ezs
word about bliudfolding- Much as |
dislike to disturb the confidence which
is one OF the charms of youth. / must
warn yon- my reader. against trusting
any one There is only one way to do
the bIindfolding so that there can be
no ..peeking." and thai is with two
handkerchief The first should be
folded shawl fashion: that is. in TRAN
g-nlar shape. and fastened round the
investigator head in such way thai
one point falls down over his nose
The second handkerchief is folded in
band form, and placed outside
the first one over the eyes
Biindfolded in this way. there
il little danger of the inyesti-
gator seeing. and that Is what we want
Ii may not be pleasant 70 have one
head bound up as / have described.
and the Investigator will always prom
ise to keep his eyes shut, and not
look" but don't believe him He i
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 performer head. the left hand
( overlapping and resting on the right.
/ Then the performer passes his left arm
/ around the others arms 50 as 10 en-
circle them, and rests his two hands or
/ the investigator left arm, thus com
4 plotting the circle
( In this position it is evident that tbs
performer can not remove his hand
without the other knowing it imme-
/ diately. A slate and pencil are nov
J placed on the Investigator knees. and
q screen is placed around the two Il
shield tn IN 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 tbs
table upset. but on removing tbs
screen the two behind il ar
found in the same position as Wheel
last seen. Not only this. but th'
/ investigator. if honest. will declar'
that the performer did not remove
his hands or change his position TO
an instant. Under these conditions tbs
manifestations" will seem more IN
accountable 10 most people than thos<
that take place when the performer i
tied up.
And yet a. mathematician frien'
Of mine would say, It's just as eas.
as rolling of logarithm. When III
performer with his left hand grasp
the INVESTIGATOR left arm. he open
his hnser 80 that the thumb and fors
finger are together. and the second
third. and little finger. The latte
press but lightly on the arm while III
former two grip it lightly. When hi
right hand is brought up TO eomplet
the circle, it is brought down with
thuinp on the three connected finger.
which extend further up the inves
sigator's arm. and ara ut that momen
pressed into il. while the right han
itself rests so lightly that it can D
scarcely felt