davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
FAMOUS ILLUSIONS.
SOME SECRETS OF PROFESSIONAL
coNJuRERS REVEALED.

How the Mysteries Are DESTROYED
and the Tricks shorn OF Their
Charm by . Peep at tho Mechanism
Behind the Scenes,
a behind the scenes view of the ia.
nous illusions with which conturers
have mystified and delighted genera.
tion after generation has peculiar fasci-
nations. There are few Of us who
value our own childish illusions 80
highly that we will not part with them
Tor the fun of seeing how we have been
fooled.
Here are examples of some of the
best known tricks:
The box trick Is rs clever as well
known and as old as any. A heavy,
brass bound chest Is exhibited. An as
sistant Is placed in large canvas bag,
the mouth Of which is securely fas-
tened, and the bag is placed in the
chest, which Is locked and roped.
The box Is concealed for q few Sec
onds, and when 1t is revealed the occu-
pant Is sitting upon it, the closed and
sealed bag beside him. The cords and
seals on the box are intact.
This astonishing feat is accomplished
thus: The occupant of the bag has in
, serted a wooden plug in the mouth
while the tying is being done. When
the chest is locked, he pulls it out, slips
out his hand, pulls OF the cords, gets
out and replaces the cords over the top
of the sack.
BY the time the chest is roped he is
free. The chest has a secret opening,
usually Mt the end, and while 1t Is hid
den he crawls out. A slim man ia
usually employed to do the trick.
The vanity fair trick is one Of the
most battling in the repertory Of the
black art. A woman stands before n
large mirror about ten feet high and
placed I'm heavy frame. About three
feet from the floor is q small shelf
placed against the mirror. the bottom
Of which is about eighteen inches from
the floor. The glass having been duly
, inspected. tho young woman mounts &
the shelf. She then turns to arrange
her hair by the mirror. She is asked ia
face the audience. but again and again
turns her buck, hence the name OF the
trick.
Finally. losing patience. the perform
! er thrusts q small screen In front OF
her. fires pistol at the spot where
she was standing. snntches away the
screen. and she has vanished
The top. bottom and siIes OF the mir
ror have been in view all the time and
only the center has been hidden for q
few seconds.
The secret lies I'm the fact th:.t the
lower part OF the mirror is made
double. the bottom Of the uppe par
being concealed by a second sb ct oi
stavsrsd glass placed In front OF It.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19

Inc Shelf hts against the limo Of
junction, and enables the mirror to b
examined by the audience. As so>n A
the screen is placed the mirror slides
up about foot into the ton of the
frame. The bottom Of this mirror IN
cut away In the middle, leaving a hole
about eighteen inches square. which
| was previously concealed from view
by the double glass Mt the Ease.
through this hole the lady insta ptlv
| shps. ana escapes by "a board which
mas Deeh pushed forward from behind
'ne scenes while the vanity fair By
play was going on. The glass then
srdes down again. the screen Ia re-
moved. and the mirror appears Just
as solid as 1t was before.
Another OF the most astounding fsats
| Oh modern magic is that of making q
person or object apparently doat IN tsn
air. A couple Of ordinary chairs ars
paced on the stage-well toward TIA
oack, which is draped with black cloth
-and upon these is laid q broad. tbick
plank young lady is then intro.
ouced and Is assisted to place heraeis
In recumbent position on the planh.
he then draws aside the chairs. ana
the plank, with the lady on it, remains
apparently suspended in tho air. IN
prove tnat the plank is not supported
tue exhlD1tor takes large hoop ana
passes 1t backward and forward over
and around the plank.
aet there Is IN attachment. AS eoon
as the lady Is placed in position ON
.ne ooard carriage. placed behind tho
oiack curtain and supporting a strong
IRON bar twice bent upon itself. n
pushed forward by an assistant 40 that
the iron bar, which Is covered with
black cloth, comes out throush slit
In the curtain while the exhibitor In
pretending to nesmerize the lady. The
par has ut its end very strong elip.
ana the performer, while making his
hypnotic passes, guides this on to the
ooard. The chairs are then removed.
ana the board remains suspended By
the invisible iron bar.
Ihe hoop Is passed along from ono
END until 1t reaches the bend where
the bar passes through the curtain.
The performer passes it round the end
or the board and himself walks b>.
hind. passing the ring along in the %.
posite direction. Next 1t is brought
Dack again, and the effect is such that
the average spectator is convinced that
the hoop has really been passed over
the lady and the board from end to
end
Another very effective illusion, a.
ranged upon the same principle, shows
the head and bust of II lady supported
OH three legged stool resting on 4
small table. One can apparently see
not only between the legs Of the table
to the back OF the stage. but through
tho space between the stool and the to-
bic
III this c"se the three legged stool ia
ARRANGED with mirrors precisely as in
the tripod Illusion. but the table, which
has four legs. Is managed differently.
A large mirror is placed dia gonally m
Ger the table. Joining to opposite lerA
Thus the spectators really only seea
three of the legs, the fourth being sim.
ply the reflection Of the first.-Nev
York World.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
Storfea of Children.

Teacher-Wbat Is velocity. Johnny :?
Johnny-Velocity Is what feller let's
go of bumbiebee with.
The Parson-My hoy. I'm sorry to
see you flying your kite on the Sab.
bath Small Boy-Dat's oil right, mis-.
ter. Dis kites made Nv 'ligious pa.
per. Seer 5000.
Small Ned, hearing number Of
frogs IN pond making q hideous
noise. exclaimed, ''My goodness, but
the froggies must sleep awful soundp'
"Why do you think soT asked his
mother. "Cause they snore 80 loud"
replied Ned.-St. Louis Post Dispatch.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19

"Dan," said a contractor to one Of
his trusted employees. "when you are
seeing about that lime this morning, l
wish you to mention to Dempsey that l
would like to have that bill paid. You
needn't press 1t, you know. but just
mention it to him in an offhand man
ner."
eyes. sorr,"
II got the money from Dempsey"
said Dan on his return.
"I'm very glad. You merely alluded
to it in an offhand way, supposeY'
Eyes, sorr. I handed him the bill and
told him II he didn't pay 1t would let
or my hand and give him a black eye
that he wouldn't forget for a month,
and he paid 1t at wanst."-London An
swers. ~''
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
APPRENTICE QUARRELS.
Young French workmen Travel Al
ways Ready For q Fight.

Young French Workmen Travel Al
ways Ready For n Fight.
Jealousies between the workmen's
corporations In France result in "Ho-
meric" combats,. bloody battles. 1t is
the one bad side of an institution that
Is otherwise SO truly fraternal.
They start out in companies, rarely
alone, to make their "tour of France"
Before coming back to continue their
work in their own villages the young
apprentices go together from town to
town to study on the ground the mas
terpieces Of their trade and to see the
best that the genius Of their ancestors
has produced. 1t is the knight erran-
try Of the workman.
He earns his living en- route, perfects
himself in his profession, learns from
one master and another, sees, COM
pares, studies, admires. He gathers his
humble harvest Of souvenirs and i'm
pressions, enjoys the full vigor of his
early years and passes his youth along
the sunny highways.
Unfortunately there is disagreement
among the societies" In everything
there Is found q pretext for quarreis.
1hC opcicty VI the 'f'ere SOuDlSe 1S
Jealous Of that Of Maitre Jacques, and
the Enfants du Solomon take part in
the quarrel whenever possible.
Two companies meet on the road.
The two leaders, the master compan-
ions." stop at twenty PAGES from each
other.
"Haltw says one.
"Haltw says the other,
"What trader
Carpenter. And your
"Stonecutter. CompanionT
"Companionw
"Your society-countryT
And according to the reply they drink
from the same gourd or fight. The
melee becomes general. They fight,
|, fist and stick, until the road is Uttered
with those who are wounded, some
times even to the death.-Harper's o
Magazine.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
AERIAL pole.
X Queer Kind OF Amusement ON q
Pacific Ocean Island.

- queer KIND OF Amusement ON q
Pacific Ocean Island.
Writing on "Our Equatorial Islands
In the Century, James D. Hague says:
1t became on amusing diversion to
overturn the lnrge fiat stones beneath
which, the rats were hiding In solid
masses and watch them as they scam
pered, In all directions, pursued and
quickly snatched up by the man-o'-war
hawks. These crafty birds were apt to
learn that the appearance Of a man
walking on the island, especially with
q dog, meant rats for them, and any
one thus going forth was usually fol-
lowed by a lowering flock, ready and
impatient for the sport they had
learned to expect. A rat brought to
band by the dog was quickly tossed In
air. where the birds were ready to
snatch 1t, sometimes with a contest on
the wing for the disputed possession.
One form of this sport, sort Of aerial
polo, which seemed to be as good fun
for the birds as for the observers, con-
sisted In tossing two rats into the air
Mt the same moment, not singly and
apart, but tied together with about
six feet of strong twine.
Instantly the birds made dash for
the rats. and the successful winner Of
the arst prize went sailing of with
RRe rat In his bill and the other swing
Ing In the air beneath until snatched
by the second winner, when, after q
quick, sharp struggle and taut strain
on the cord, the bird with the weaker
hold was compelled to let 60. This
then went on rs continuous perform
ance, with somewhat Jonah-like but
rapidly repeated disappearances and
reappearances Of the little rats, swal-
lowed and reluctantly disgorged by
the birds in quick succession until the
dock. thoroughly exhausted by their
tmpetuous flight and extraordinary
exercise, alighted on the ground for a
short truce, when the two temporary
shareholders would be found sitting
face to face, keenly eying each other
from opposite ends Of the string still
connecting them, each anxiously on
the sharp lookout for sudden Jerks and
unpleasant surprises. while all the 9th.
er pursuers gathered around in a ring
waiting for the two prize birds to hy.
The general aspect Of all participants
seemed to verify the familiar adage
that the pleasure is not in the game
but In the chase.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
Tilial Sympathy.

V1hal SynDothys
when was your age" said Mr..
Goldbags sternly, 81 earned my own
living"
His son looked uneasy. but was si.
lent. ~ s's'
"Wens have you nothing to say for
yourself In that connectionY
"N-nothing, sir, except that SYM
pathize with you. and congratulate you
on the fact that It's all over."-London
Ht-Bits.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19

And Yet He Has Plenty Of Sand.
The average boy is like an hourglass.
He won't work for more than sixty
minutes unless somebody turns him up
side down. -Somerville Journal
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
He Had 1t.

He Had 1t.
eyes; it's Fullerton's hobby that ad-
vice Is cheap and within the reach Of
every person."
"What does he mean, anyhow
"What he says, I suppose. He's q
confidential divorce lawyer" - Balti.
more News.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19

Not an Censiderats a. He Might he.
Hes good friend Of yours, isn't
heY
"Oh, only medium"
What do you mean by medium
"Oh. he listens while I tell him all
Of my troubles, but he also wants me
to listen while he tells me all Of his."--
Chicago Post
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
Limited Choice.

Father-Johnny, see your little
brother has the smaller apple. Did
you give him his choice, as I sug-
gested.
Johnny-Yes. father; told him he
could have bis choice--the little one or
none-and he took the little one
Chums.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
Reduced
Prices
On Jewelry Silverware
and Millinery.
FOR The next TEN DAYS.,

We will sell Jewelry, Silver
ware, etc at a wonderful dis
count. IF you need a nice
watch now is the time to buy,
as. we are going to sell at al.
most any price.
Come in and get our prices,
and come early, as goods will
not stay long at prices we are
quoting.
The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
The Color Of IL.

"And you loaned him 81? Did you
ever see the color of his money!
"Well, yes. There was q good deal
Of dun 10 1t before got it."-New
York Herald.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26

world. Her directions are simple, but
interes ting. After you have found
your sylvan retreat and the pump, you
must make up your mind, so the doc
tor cautions, to get up early in the
seek the pump and pump vigorously
first with one arm and then with the
other. Each arm should be exercised
thus for fifteen minutes. At the eXpir-
alton of the half hour you retire to
the house, remove your stays and don
a Greek gown. If you haven't a Greek
gown Mother Hubbard wrapper will
do. For the style of the gown is really
tmmaterial The pump, of course, is
the thing. After you have donned the
Greek gown, you once more seek the
pump and push the handle steadily for
an hour. After this second bout you
take cold spray and a light lunch
and then lie down. In the afternoon
the pump Is again sought, and you
work at 1T steadily for half an hour.
Then you rest again for a short time,
after which you dine sparingly and in
dulge In light and cheerful conversa-
ton, until 9 o'clock, when you retire.
Earnestly pursued for a season, this
vigorous regime, so the beauty doctor
promises, will make thin people fat,
fat people slim, old people young and
all people beautiful. There is only
one thing the beauty doctor neglects
to state. She does not tell you what
should be done with all the water so
vigorously pumped. But, after all,
that is the villages concern.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26

Dear old chap" exclaimed Frank
enthusiastically, as he pressed his
brothers hand, "and you'll go soon
at Once-and let me know the result? q"
When Frank was gone Hugh paced
his room thoughtfully. He had been
out of England for two years. When
he left Evelyn Drayton had just been
presented. Hugh had danced with her
half dozen times during the begin
ming Of the season before he left for
the front; had met her as often as it
was inevitable that he should, being
in the same set.
What could be more natural really
than that it should have been Frank
whom Evelyn had chosen?
1t was three months now since Hugh
had returned, three months in which
he had met Evelyn almost daily. He
had worked hard to convince himself
that he had been q conceited fool and
an AFFECT idiot, and now all at once
( there came this new development; and
1T was he who was to go to Evelyn and
beg her to resume the engagement
which Frank had so clearly demon
strated was to the advantage of all
parties
Hugh set out for Wilton Crescent,
where Miss Drayton lived with her
aunt, in no very cheerful state of
mind. Hugh had half hoped that Miss
Drayton would refuse to see himy but,
on the contrary, she had greeted him
cordially, and now they sat opposite
each other In Lady Tramlin's drawing
room In silence.
''You guess why have Gomez" ask
ed Capt Mostyn.
She did not answer, and little flush
rose to her face.
Frank has told me; but I cannot be-
lfeve 1t. You did not mean it, really,
Evelyn? 1t can be put straight2"
Miss Drayton gave a little rueful
laugh. There is nothing to be put
straight; that is the worst and the best
of 1t, Hugh. There is absolutely moth
ing to do but go on as If these last
three months had never been.'
But l do not understand. There
must be some reason. Will you not
tell me?"
Women are proverbially capricious.
are they not?"
"You are not. You are not like other
women"
The color on Evelyn's face deepened.
'rWhy do you say that2 You know so
little of me. II-don't think 1 have
even shown you my best side since
you've been home"
II remembered you before. You have
always seemed all that was lovely and
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26
The Globes Daily Short Story

act cruelty"
II don't think am cruel. Frank will
not die OF broken heart"
She stopped suddenly. Hughs eyes
were upon her; she averted her own
and turned away her face.
All that means" he said, slowly,
that Frank was right-that there is
someone else. oh, know have to in
trude upon your confidence. Only we
are going to be very close relatives. I
can't become suddenly Indifferent to
what concerns you. Will you tell me liz
-he-the other man. Will you ba
happier after a timer"
There came no answer. Evelyn had
risen and was looking out at the fast
darkening street. Hugh waited a mo-
ment, and then went toward her.
"Good-by, Evelyn. Try to believe
that l only wish for your happiness.
My sympathy for Frank does not bind
me TO the fact that you've acted as i
knew you would act. I suppose ia
isn't easy for a girl to do things like
that; and you've been plucky. Good
by, dear. Don't fret about 1t; 1t viii
all come right in the end-those things
always do, don't you know" He tried
to infuse little cheerfulness and con-
v1ction Into his voice, but 1t was nck
easy, In view of those shaking shoui-
ders. He stood still a moment, and
IASn IOuCuSQ neT arm gently. Don't
cry, Evelyn. I wish I could help Won
Ia do anything in this world to bring
you comfort; can't bear to leave
you like this. Won't you even shake
hands with me before I go?" AS he
spoke he drew one hand tenderly from
her hot, tear-stained face, and held ii
firmly in his own; his own eyes grew
dim at the sight of her quivering lips
and convulsively heaving breast.
"Good-by, Evelyn; Wen always be-
friends, we two, even If we never meet
again"
Her startled glance arrested his arr
tention. What? Oh. of course, I'm go-
ing back, and -Evelyni"
A sudden light had dawned upon him.
Her parted lips, and that look In her
eyes! He stood holding her at arms
length, bewildered, afraid almost. He
only dared believe when a voice whis-
pered close to his ear, q voice stir
shaking with sobs: What must YOU
think of me7 I never meant you to
guess-but, oh, Hugh, didn't you ever
dream how 1t was with me?"
And when the engagement was an
nounced Frank behaved admirably, and
people said that they had always known
that his attentions to Miss Drayton
were merely brotherly, and that 1T was
Hugh who was the lucky man-though,i
of course, any girl of sense would have
preferred Frank, who really had every-
thing in his favor.-Philadelphia Tele-
graph.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26


OF the grouse and partridge family are
very pretty in their markings and com
mand good terms. They range all the
way from cents for the egg of a
common ruf1ed grouse up to that Of
the Canadian grouse at rs cents.
There are 100 huming birds whose
eggs are in the market, and although
the latter are scarcely larger than
beans, they, bring exceedingly good
prices, varying from 25 cents up to $40.
The eggs of the duck and goose fam
lily are not very high priced. The
cheapest is worth a single cent, while
one species Of the wild duck costs SIS.
There are said to be 10000 collectors
in the United States, and the collec-
tons run from 1000 to $4,000 eggs. If
collection has less than a thousand
eggs it is hardly worth the name. The
smallest egg is that of the Central
American huming bird, the size of a
pea, and the largest is that of an os-
trich. The center of the trade was for
merly in New York, but it Is no longer.
The merchants say that the business
has been broken up among fifty cities.
Boston Journal
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26
EGG COLLECTING is
,tsTLL A MODERN FAD
Product ofNorthern AUX Worth Near
" Two thousand Dollars.

Inc collection of eggs is fad as old
as the hills, and is as popular today as
ever. In fact. of late years the en-
croacnments of science upon daily life
nave given new Zest to the pursuit,
ana raised prices accordingly. At one
tllne a collection which included the
common birds of the state or a division
OF the country was considered among
the hrst rank. Today such a collection
would be laughed at as a boVish play
thing. The regular collectors desire
10 represent every leading member of
the bird kingdom, while several hun
dred purchase the eggs of extinct and
even prehistoric birds. The egg of the
great Northern aux, which died out
more than half century ago, is now
worth anywhere from $500 to $4,000.
The egg of the dodo, which lived for
merly in Madagascar, is worth several
hundred dollars. That of the dinoiris.
giant featherd creature of New Zea-
land, is worth even more.
From these large figures the prices
run down very rapidly. Those of the
eagle family are as a class the most
valuable. The golden eagles egg
brings $40, the bald eagles 81, the great
Swiss eagle So, the snow eagle So, the
Greenland falcon SIS, the Louisiana
kite, $40, the Filipino fish eagle $40, and
the fish hawk 81. In fact, it may be
said that eagles eggs average ST, fall
cons eggs 81, hawks eggs So, owls
eggs Sc. and kites eggs SO. The eggs
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26
The oEHte Blind GOD.

Hello, Frank. What's up? Anything
wrong? And Hugh Mostyn hurriAd to
meet his brother, who had just entered
his room.
Have you got half an hour to spare?
want your advice" and as he spoke,
he drew letter from his pocket and
tossed it on the table. Read that"
Hugh glanced from the paper to his
brother in. perplexity. "You mean me
to read this? Is 1t quite fair?"
Frank laughed savagely. ooh, don't
suppose she'd mind; everyone has to
know about 1t sooner or later. Read it."
Hugh took up the letter reluctantly
I'D rather you'd tell me yourself what
ever there Is to TELL" he said slowly.
cant you guess? She's Tilted me
thrown me over; that's the bare fact
unadorned."
Evelyn has broken off her engage
ment to you'll" exclaimed Frank incred-
ulousIy.
Even SO. You can guess how pleas
ed feel"
Hugh put down the letter deliberate
ly. TITS all nonsense, Frank. It's q
mere tiff, and you are taking 1t too
seriously. What possible reason could
she have?"
That's Just it. Oh, she puts 1t very
prettily. The only consolation is that
SO very few people really knew of the
engagement, although, of course, a
great many suspected it."
81 never could understand why you
did not publish 1t. Perhaps she Is hurt
at the delay"
Nonsense, and yet remember soon
after you came home she did suggest
1T; but it can't be that. No; there is
evidently someone else."
Hugh did not answer. Someone
else!" The idea came to him as a pain
full shock. Evelyn Drayton as his sis
ter-in-1aw had not been so utterly i'm
possible, but that she should marry
someone else
II don't believe It," he broke out
roughly.
Believe what?'
"That she really means it! She isn't
that sort of girl. Why don't you go to.
her and have 1t out?"
"She would not see me. Besides,
II came to ask you to do it, Hugh.
You two were always chums; you
can say things couldn't, don't you
seer"
Hugh turned away abruptly, while
his brother went on: Things about
the advantages of my position, and all
that, don't you known"
"You think that Is the line to take ~
exclaimed Hugh, wheeling round sud-
denly. 1T never struck me that Evelyn
was ambitious"
He hesitated moment. Eyes, I'll
go, IL you wish It," he said, rather
coidly at last; "and, of course. I'll do
my best"