The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-05-26

Two ordinary wooden framed states
are presented to the spectators and
examined in succession by them.
small piece Of chalk is introduced be-
tween the two states, which are then
united by a rubber band and held alott
in the prestidigator' right hand, says
La Nature.
Then in the general silence is heard
the scratching of the chalk which Il
writing between the two states the an
swcr to question asked by one of the
spectators tho name of card thought
Of or the number of spots obtained by
throwing two dice The rubber band
having been removed and the states
separated, one of them is seen to be
covered with writing.
This prodigy, which at first sight
seems to be SO mysterious, Is very
easily realized.
The writing was done in advance,
bat up3n the written side of the slate
4 there has been placed thin sheet of
black cardboard. which hid the
characters written with chalk. The
two sides Of this slate appear absolute
ly clean.
The slate & is given out for exami-
nation, and, after it has been returned
to him, the operator says: "DO you
want to examine the other one also"
And then without any haste he makes
pass analogous To that employed in
shuflling cards. The slate A being
held by the thumb and forefinger of
the left hand and the slate b between
the fore and middle finger of the right
hand, the two hands are brought to-
gether. But at the moment at which
the states are supcrposcd the thumb
and forciingcr Of the right hand grasp
the slate \, while at the same time the
fore and middle finger of the left hand
take the slate b. Then the two hands
separate anew and the slate that has
already been examined, instead of the
second one, is put into the hands of
the spectator This shifting. done
with deliberation. is entirely invisible.
During the second examination the
slate A is laid flat upon the table, the
written face turned upward and cover
cred with a black cardboard. The
slate having been sufficiently examined
and been returned to the operator the
latter lays it upon the first, and both
are then surrounded by a rubber band.
1t is then that the operator holds up
the states with the left hand of which
one sees but the thumb, while upon the
poSterior face of the second slate the
nail of the middle finger makes a sound
resembling that produced by chalk
when written with When the operator
judges that this little comedy has last
ed quite long enough he lays the two
states horizontally upon his table. tax
inc care this time that the nOn-pre-
pared slate shall be beneath II is
upon it that then rests the black card
board and the other slate on being
raised shows the characters that il
bears and that are stated to have been
written by an invisible spirit that Slip
ped in between the two states.
Our readers will not ask us how we
manage to know in advance what
should be written upon the slate Ii
Is useless 10 ny that deceit is allow
able in prestidigitation. Loaded dice
always tGrn up the same number and
nothing Is easier than to know the
name OF the card that a spectator will
draw from pack composed of thirty
two similar cards. ifnot Skiliful enough
to cause him to take the forced card.
How many people coming to Flor
ida, asks the ImcS-l MON, know
anything about the great fresh water
spring in the Atlantic ocean? This
great natural wonder covers an area
Of about two acres, Is located in the
Atlantic ocean about two miles (eastO
from the shore, and about zen miles
from st. Augustine {south.N The
spring Is defined bl the silver rloam-
inc white caps trying to force them
selves over the powerful boiling
spring"
People commonly imagine that in
speaking of dogs they are rrferripu 10
single species which has many vari-
etles. But in reality the name is
merely conventional one. under
which are grouped Unpopular parlancc
all OF the domeSticated canidp. The
North American coyote is in fact mach
nearer to the grey hound. zoologically
speaking. than the pug is. 1t is SIM
FtF wild dog. So is the wolf like
- =. From just such wild types
man ; faithful four-footed friends are
descended.
y German lady living in Name hester
England. possesses Whist is supposed
to be the largest Bible. in one volume.
in the world. 1t is an heirloom. 2o1
years Oil. with pages two feet long.
and but little less in width, and at the
head OF each page is 4 line in red ink,
which translated reads, This is a
history Another resident of the
same city has compiled. so to speak,
Bible in ninety volumes. his additions
- The text consisting of pictures and
photographs. which he has collected to
the number Of nearly ten thousand.