Evening journal., 1916-03-01
.THURSTON PERFORMS
FOR insane Patients
Inmates Had Great Laugh
When Magician Took Goose
From Coat OF Attendant
VISIT WAS ARRANGED
BY EVENING JOURNAL

Never in all the years that he has
been appearing before the public, did
Thurston. the magician, have more
appreciative audience than the one
that he appeared before yesterday
al the Delaware State Hospital for
the Insane at Farnhurst IL con-
sisted Of several hundred inmates
and the attendants of the institution.
The visit to Farnhurst was ARRANGED
by THE EVENING JOURNAL, and a
representative Of this paper accom-
panied the magician.
Dr. William II. Hancker, superln
tendent of the state Hospital. well
coined the visitors and took them TO
the large music hall, where the en-
tertainment was given. The order at
all times was excellent, and the in
mates applauded time after time as
Thurston showed some Of his noted
tricks. One of his frst tricks was
3 when he took dozen or more decks
Of cards from the pockets and the
legs OF the trousers Of one OF the in
mates who had come ON the stage to
assist the magician at the latter's in
vitation. This caused a general laugh
among the inmates. and It at once got
the attention Of every one. which at
tention the performer held for about
one hour. during which time he did
many tricks
The egg trick amused the audience
more than any of the other tricks.
Two of the colored inmates known as
Uncle Tom and Eva" we're on the
platform assisting the performer. As
eggs appeared by magic, those in the
audience looked on i'm wOnderment.
Then Thurston started taking eggs
from hat that he held. These he
passed to Eva" who was to pass
them to "Uncle Tom" They were com
ing too fast for the old colored man
and when he had about a dozen in
his arms, they started to roll out and
a number fell to the floor and broke.
This wa sire climax for Uncle Tom, "
and he dropped what eggs remained
i'm his hands and ran from the stage.
while his fellow inmates applauded
and laughed
One of the most enjoyable tricks lor
the inmates was when lhrston left the
stage and running his hand down the
back of one of the attendants, pulled out
articles Of all description. When he
started pulling out goose. the attend
ant "bcat it, and ran to the stage Will
! head aud neck of the goose protrudnl
4 from The collar of his coat. The inmates
) considered this huge Joke ON the at
e tendant and showed their appreciation
with applause as the magician followe'
{. the man TO the stage and pulled th
S goose ont and held il in his hand TO
IS the audience TO view. A number O
10 other tricks followed.
is Following the performance. DR.
y. Hancker told Thurston that two o.
the subjects that he used to assis
: him on the stage. a colored man anc
a colored woman, were among the
most violent patients, as q general
! rule, in the institution. On this oc.
casion. however, they showed nc
signs OF being violent. and enjoyed
the performance as much as any OF
the others.
, The performance so awakened the
memory of one of the inmates that
he told Thurston that at one time he
was property man for the great
o magician, Herman, and related
some OF the wonderful magic that
was part Of Herman's program.
Afterwards DR.. Hancker stated tha
y there had never been an entertain
y ment at the institution that had sucl
!, good effect on the inmates. The,
q all greatly enjoyed It and are still
o talking about the wonderful tricks.
L. Thurston was equally pleased wit
u his visit. He stated that he neve
had more attentive and apprecii
a tive audience and that If his entei
a. tainment had resulted in bringing
IL bit of sunshine into the lives of th
m unfortunates he was amply repaid fc
I'D his visit.
ne I'm addition to a representative ,
us THE EVENING JOURNAL. the m
ng gician IVES accompanied by Mr.
re Thurston and Mr. ana Mrs Louis A
n lemann of The Playhouse, whel
le- Thurston is performing
M AT the matinee this afternoon
II The Playhouse. through the courtes
u.s. of the magician and Manager ALI
a man, about one hundred aged me
and women and fifty inmates Of Il
1s- Home for Friendless Children sa
ug the performance as guests of TIL
ate EVENING JOURNAL.
ter Nathan Miller. of Miller Brothe
he Company. the Foss-Hughes. Autom
os- bile Company, the Moore Automobi
nal Company and William II. Robins'
10 furnished automobiles for taking q
cid aged persons TO and from The Pla
lso house while President Thomas
M Wilson. of the Wilmington and Phi
me adelpha Traction Company, placed
em car at the disposal of THE EVENIN
in JOURNAL 10 convey the children
and from The Playhouse.