The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-28
Ns, Japanese Trick
Enchanted Fountain" IN Act Which No
One Can Explain.

- NE OF the most interesting tricks
that those wonderful people, the
Japanese, have contributed to the
amusement of the American public
~ is the enchanted fountain act.
The originator of this feat is Prof.
9hogiokusai Ten-Ichi of Tokyo 'juggler
patronized and given gold medal by his
imperial majesty, the mikado," to quote
his visiting card.
In his country Ten-Ichi is accounted a
great magician and wealthy man. 1t is
said that he has a fortune of 100000 yen.
which is equivalent to making him a
many-times millionaire in this country.
He lives in palace in the environs OF
the Japanese imperial city, and on his
extensive estates has erected a go-down.
or storehouse, in which he has curiosities
estimated to be worth 25O.OOO. Japs never
keep their valuables or relics in the house
in which they dwell.
Years ago Ten-Ichi was a Buddhist
priest. Early in life he manifested de-
sire to learn magic, and before he had
grown very old he found that the practice
of that art would be extremely profitable
to him. so he abandoned the priesthood
and gave all his time to the cultivation of
the art nlystifying.
He rose rapidly in a profession which
hourishes in the fowery kingdom. He
attracted the attention of the court and
the mobiles and the mikado appointed him
imperial magician. great honor Ten
Ten meaning heaven and Ichi "one."
This name be adopted after the mikado
had honored him.
Fortune began more than ever to favor
the imperial magician He organized a
company and travelled many times the
length and breadth of the Island of Jap
an. The enchanted fountain act gained
for him great fame.
For the enchanted fountain act the
stage is set with three chairs. behind
which q heavy dark plush curtain is
suspended. Ten-lchi comes on the stage
and draws a beautiful sword from its
scabbard. To show how sharp it is he
cuts paper with it and then suspends it
between two little posts some two feet
high, the sharp side up.
On his right there is a pyramid of three
ordinary glasses or tumblers. The ma
gician pours from a teapot into the top
one of these tumblers. then seats himself
leisurely on the middle chair At the same
time Two pretty Japanese girls come in.
one from either side of the stage, and
take the seats beside him.
Ten-lchi produces a fan from the inside
of his gown and makes several passes
over the pyramid of tumblers Instantly
a stream Of water, thin but strong, comes
out of the tumbler. 1t spouts to the height
of fiva or six feet. He waves his hand
the stream eases. He waves again and
for a second time the stream shoots up.
Then he touches the stream with his
fingers and 1t disappears. He shows that
he has absolute control over it
A young Jap comes in and is amused at
the trick. This Jap evidently is a come
diam but as he talks only japanese the
spectator has TO guess. He asks how the
trick is done and is told. He gets the
magic word, but when he says it moth
Ing happens. He yells and storms the
magic word but to no avail. The magi-
clan whispers it and the stream reappears.
Suddenly Ten-Ichi makes a pass with
his left hand and a second fountain
spurts from the very edge of the sus-
pended sword. The comedian goes over
| to investigate and is surprised to see a
! third stream come from the top OF his
head. He is amused. and more so when
a second Jap hoy. coming on the stage
suddenly develops spring of water in
| his head.
| This second boy brings a torchlike
| little stick. which is lighted and held by
| the two girls. Ten-Ichi produces a snort
| stick to the end of which a little teacup
! is attached. lie waves his mana ano
| little streams Of water shoot forth from
the teacups, from the torches from the
| reads of the assistants-in fact. the stage
| is a regular sea of fountains. Ihe scene
| winds up with all the streams playing
| Chicago Chronicle.