The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-03
pRRSTlDlGITAFOR
ANAZES CONGRESSMBN
Malini, the Austrian Wizard
at the Capitol.
An Impromptu Exhibition of His Skill
in Committee Room-Marvelou
Sleight Hand Tricks.

| nsUu
For the first time in its history the
Capitol was on Saturday the theatre for
the performance OF magician. who had
an audience composed exclusively OF Sen
ators and Representatives.
| Malini, an Austrian wizard whose mar
| yels have set Washington by the ears,
was the artist who gave his exhibition
under such distinguished surroundings. He
achieved a notable success.
Nobody appears to have heard of Ma
! iini until a month or so ago, when he
| dropped into the city and gave a number
| of performances at some of the small
! clubs that astounded those who witnessed
| them. He was taken up by society with
rush. Now he is the ''reigning sensa-
tion." as the press agent might say.
Committee Room Given Up.
Saturday he strolled into the Marble
| Room of the Senate and met Senator
Hanna. at whose house he had enter
! tanned. The Senator introduced him to
! several of his colleagues. and the result
was that Senator Gallinger turned over
! his committee room for the time to the
| wizard. In this room were quickly gath
cred score or more Senators and Rep
| resentatives.
Malini, attired in mis- ordinary street
dress, had just taken a seat when SEN
| ator Foster picked up an orange lying
on Senator Gallinger's desk and tossed It
to him. saying:
What can you change that into?"
The orange vanished the instant it
touched the magician's hands, and in its
place was a little lemon.
IF you can grow oranges as fast as
you can lemons 1 want you down on my
plantation" said Senator Taliaferro. who
halls from Florida.
Cards Produced.
A Western Senator took from his coat
tail pocket a pack of cards which be hap
pened to have there.
Can you do anything with them?'' he
asked
Il never played game of cards in my
life" replied Malini, but hand them to
me-"
Turning to Senator Kiuredge. he said:
Take out any card you want and look
at it, but don't let me see it,
The Senator obeyed.
Fold it up" said Malini.
Senator kittredge, who meanwhile mad
been talking with another Senator, mis-
understood the directions and began to
tear the card.
Il told you to fold. not tear the card"
explained the wizard. but as long as
you have begun you may keep on. Tear
it up into as small pieces as you wish
and hand me all but one of the pieces
Senator Kittredge kept only q very lit
tie bit of the cardboard in his hand
VIII you" asked Malini of Senator
Dubois. go into the next room and on
page $50 OF the big book bring back to
the gentleman the card he has just torn
up?''
The big book" was the dictionary,
and the room was one Malini. SO far as
those present knew. had never been in.
The Piece Missing.
Senator Dubois returned with card
with a piece missing. The card was
handed to Senator Kittredge. and the re-
mains of the other card which he held
fitted perfectly into the one found In the
big book
MaIini allowed five Senators. among
them Mr.. Hawley. to select each card.
but he himself did not see the face of
any of them thus taken. The Senators
then returned the cards to the pack.
Senator Hawley was asked to throw the
latter two or three feet into the air.
Malini made wild clutch at them and
secured several. He then handed to each
Senator the Identical card he had select
ed Senator Hawley, however, was over
looked.
Where is my card?" he asked.
You did not take any," said Malini.
But | did" cxpostulated Mr.. Hawley.
How could you have. when ! had only
four to give back" enquired the magi-
clan.
This logic did not appear to appeal to
the Connecticut statesman. who. some
what brusquely. said that whether Malini
believed 1t or not, he had taken one Of
the cards.
Well said the performer. taking the
Senator by the hand as If in apology. and
turning him so that his back came into
full view of the audience. Il suppose
it was my mistake"
On His Coat Collar.
peal of laughter burst from the gath
ering: Senator Hawley's card was stick
ing out OF his coat collar.
Malini then allowed himself to be
blindfolded with towel of several
thicknesses and asked five Senators as be-
fore, each TO take a card, and, after look
ing at it, to return 1t to the pack. Then
he requested that the cards be shufned
and three piles made of them on the
table. Finally he called for a penknife
and with its blade mixed the cards into
the utmost confusion. Then he stuck the
knife through the back of each card that
had been taken and presented 1t to the
Senator who had selected it.
Representative Sulzer appeared wearing
derby hat. Malini asked him for its
loan, and then borrowed half dollar
from Senator Dolliver. He tossed the
half-dollar carelessly into the hat and
drew out whole brick covered with
mortar. .,,..iI9iai
"Ah. Sulzer. Sulzer. you Irish can't get
along without your bricks. see," OBJ
served Representative Kahn.
This man should be employed by you
Democrats" said Senator Gallinger