Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-30
Magicians Tricks

This is the perennial question at
the tents of the World al Home
shows where a large crowd gathered
this morning to be entertained by
the unexplainable, realistic, yet
mysterious stunts of the performers.
How can man swallow swords"
or How can human being swallow
fifty large darning needles and get
away with and then reproduce them
all threaded on a string?
Whenever a performer offers All
act that battles the public curiosity
is Immediately aroused. and when
ever people see things that keep
them guessing they pronounce 1t
clever" but the moment thay find
out how the act is done-and most
tricks are simple if you know how
to do trem-they simply growl and
say. 20, anybody could do that"
In every trade there are tricks. but
it is certain that the stage magician.
the Alusionist and the card manipu-
latior must possess more sleight Of
hand ability and wider know
ledge Of camouflage and trickery
than in any other walk Of life. 1t
is natural therefore that the magi-
clan guards his secrets carefully and
jealousy for when the mcdus oper-
andi of a good trick becomes public
property thc'trick is useless for pres
entaticn. What could be more USE
less than sleight of hand trick after
the people know it?
But in an interview with Prof.
essor Sami, who presides over the
destinies OF a house Of thousand
wonders at the fair, some Of the
alphabet Of the magician's art at
least was made known to a Sentinel
reporter by the magician. Some in
teresting light was thrown on the
subject Of magic and the methods of
working this or that trick. The
famous needle trick. made famous
by the great Magician Houdini was
in part explained.
The operator of the needle trick
had already concealed in his mouth
a small bunch Of needles already
threaded. He feigns to swallow
fifty others. which. however are
hidden at the side of the jaw. He
then drinks a glass of water and
gives a swift examina ton Of the
interior of his mouth. The mouth is
opened wide but the needles con-
ccaled at the sides are invisible.
When ready the threaded needles
sent away mystified.
Many people are under the impress
sion that sword swallowing is trick
cry. but it isn't, for most sword
swallowers give perfectly legitimate
performance. actually swallowing the
swords. This art can be acquired by
constant practice and most sword
artists begin with a smoothly pol
ished sword of hardwood which they
force gently down their Threats
increasing the extent Of the insertion
at each rehearsal. While in the act
Of swallowing the swords the breath
must be held.
Most second sight or telepathic
stunts are done by means Of signs or
cues. teiephonic communications or
other mechanical signals. There arc
one or two telepathic acts that are
battling the profession and one of
these is the clever acts given by
Professor Sami, the famous Hindu
hypnotist.
Most people have heard of Mas
queline and Cook those famous pro-
ducers and inventors of bewildering
magic and builders of uncanny delu-
sions which kept the world guessing
a decade or SO ago. Human beings
wen caused to float in the air, ladies'
disappeared. All sorts Of strange and
seemingly impossible things were
produced from the most unusual
places. The magicians produced their
acts in Egyptian Hall in London
and the London newspapers carried
expressions of amazement. Some of
their illusions were so battling that
they seemed supernatural, but it was
nothing but adroit trickery. Cleverly
adjusted mirrors is one explanation
of such tricks. coupled with invisible
wires and stage settings.
Just general suggestions like these
is as far as Professor Sami would so.
He couldn't afford to divulge, the
whole business. 1t would bring
about an unpleasant establishment
and kick the stuffing out Of the whole
magical business. But Prof. Omar
Sami knows his business and he has
some fine and mysterious illusions.
Knoxville Sentinel.