Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-05


The jungles of India! Attention
Members of the Boys Red Blood club
We are going into the wilds with twt
members of our own club, in quest O
wild animals, not to kill but to cap
ture, returning with those animals o
foreign Chimes, that they may be add
ed to our geological gardens. Their
to be seen and studied.
The importation Of wild animals fol
exhibition purposes, prior to the com
mencement of the war, was almost al
exclusive German proposition anc
they controlled the trade; Hagen
becks we're the head of the industry.
| Two members of our B. r. B. club
Billy Nicola of Monmouth, ILL.,, and
Charley Hugo of Toledo, O., as boys
were very much interested in the ar,
Of conjuring or magic, proving that
/ the hand was quicker than the eye;
as they grew to manhood with con
tinuous practice they became wonder
fully expert and their friends and the
public marvelled at their illusions
and magical surprises.
Try Their Luck in China.
AS they progressed in the art, the
land beyond the sea, where the hin
doc marvels, mystified beyond belief
was cited to them. 1mpelled by de.
sire to acquire perfection, they sailed
from Vancouver aboard the 8. s.
Emperor of Asia" arriving in Hong
Kong: thence to Pekin. China. where
they found it impossible to secure a
booking in a Chinese opera house,
which at the best was not suited to
their purposes; with American pep
and enterprise, they leased tract of
land facing on the main street, en-
ployed three shifts Of coolies, which
they paid a nominal salary; in five
days, working day and night. they had
constructed an opera house Of bamboo
and mats, for their own use, sixty by
ninety feet in size; the stage boxes
were most elaborate and attracted at.
tention: they were dedicated to the
nobility, the Emperor and Princess
Regent, being specialized. The en-
terprise displayed, and rapidity with
which the play house was constructed
by the Americans, received much pub
licity and the elaborate boxes were
featured. On the opening night the
Imperial band furnished the music
and the boxes were filled with the
emperor, princess regent and their
attendants. Then came Job lot OF
nobility The main body of the house
was packed to the limit.
Too Fast for Emperor.
Nicola was working fast and pro-
ducing illusions which interested the
emperor to the extent that he sent one
of his body guards (who was all tied
up in gold braid which added impor-
tance), to the footlights, requesting
Nicola to work slower that the emDer-
or might better enjoy the exhibition.
The success of their entertainment in
Pekin was so pronounced that they at
once arranged. for the construction Of
an opera house in Calcutta, India.
which was built upon the same lines
and with the same rush to compile
ton. When the curtain went up for
the first time, the boys realized they
were then "bearding the lion in his
den." India is the home OF HindOO
jugglers and mystifiers it was after
wards learned they were all present
the opening night. At the conclusion
Of the performance many focked to
the stage, expressing wonder salaam-
ing and bowling very low, at the same
time placing the right palm on the
forehead. They were mystified with
the magic and illusions. In no coun-
try is there such appreciation OF oc'
cult art as is found where there is
prevailing superstition and ignorance.
fostered by religion which is based
upon fallacies. 1t was the general be-
lief that Nicola was possessed with
powers which placed him
beyond the ordinary mortal: they
were anxious to do homage and there
after followed Billy around the
streets Of Calcutta, with continuous
salaams.
Get New Inspiration.
It was during their sojourn in Cal
cutta. with numerous trips into the
interior, that the boys noted the rid
culously low prices at which the wild,
captured animals were sold by the ma
Ives.
Returning to the United States via
South America, they gave numerous
exhibitions. The thought was sug-
yested that it might be possible to
lsurp the German rights and import
animals to America for exhibition
purposes. Upon inquiry the prices in
he United States were satisfactory;
he margins being sufficient to cover |
Ill overhead expenses, including loss
n transit, with a fine margin in addi- |
ion, there was their "show OF illu- |
,ions and magic" which would always |
lelp the exchequer.
Return to Calcutta.
An immediate trip was made to Cal-
,utta, where a party of natives was !
organized for an expedition into the
ungies in search of wild animals.
There were about thirty-five in the |
party; many Of the aggregation were
loted for their knowledge Of the wilds
md ability to successfully match wits,
With the denizens of the jungle; they
new their habits and had been
aught the necessity Of safety first.
When it was known that Nicola,
he conjurer and magician, was to
lead the party there was no trouble
o secure the best talent, the natives
linking he was possessed with pow
RS which no other man controlled.
.eaving Calcutta. they ran down the
Iugli river, thence passing the many
mouths Of the Ganges, via the Bay