Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1920-01-30
WE LIKE TO BE
"HUMBUGGED"

d Y BNItNt'N once said the Amrri-
'ran people like to he humbug ged "
Some other person at one time remark
ed that ~ sucker is horn every min
ute. and a prominent novelist of the
day makes one Of his characters say.
Gig the people. they like it" Not
elegant expressions. perhaps. but we
hunt in vain for phases more suitable
to- convey the ideas Of t'irir urieina-
tors. Most of us older on" r"moml'"r
th" "tHrdiff iiranum'S MASTER
pirr" thu ossifird body of II pr,his-
tnric human trourhlN hrWn ot stone in
IL very present Ht"J. "" may ais" hay"
some dim nnrnnrirS Of his famous
Nv hat -IS-II' III" negro imhcrIi" with
Il pcak'd head. and of "uukr"Wn "ri-
riu," Willingly the people paid t." soc
and w"nd"r at Ties" rar" curious dis
r"N"r"d' 10y man wh" knew our
weak kncssrs aud profitcd by them.
Ecforc l'arnum died II" confessed his
duplicitics. Laughed at recollection of
them, and made his famous remark.
Keller and Hermann. two of the
greatest maEicians and sleight of hand
artists the world has known, never
claimed supernatural powers They
were scientists in their spheres of lr-
sordcmain or juEGlery. Had they
claimed divine aid or spiritual powers.
doubtless they would have had many
followers and to this day many would
credit them with an the powers of
lnecromancy. Theirs We're master minds
in their business or profession; they
fooled or mNstified their audiences
| through their deXterity. their ability to
| confuse while seeming to explain. Ger
tainly no spiritualiSt or fortune teller.
no one protesting second sight pow
ers or divining abilities. has succeed
| I'D in performing one stunt" compar-
| magicians. who openly confessed their
| tricks "mcchanical". results of endless
| study and scientific research used
| intclliEently in connection with physi-
cal adeptncss and with actions quick
or than the eye" Such AS these, while
| in a sensc ''mcn of mystery, We're hon
| est scientists. reaping the financial re-
| wards for their studies and work.
Toward the end of life, Hermann
Ipublicly exposed not only many of his
famous mysterious feats, but also laid
| bare on the open stage in the full
glare of the calcium light. many of the
narrowing performances of mediums
who had been blackmailing and scanc-
ing" over the country. Though ht
never attempted to expose" conscien-
tious spiritualist workers or believers
he numerically opened to public gaz,
the machinations of the fakirs, then
aS now. all too numerous.
what magician of the present day
is able to stand closely surrounded h,
a committee" and draw from the ai
around him aquariums Of glass fille'
with fish and water. depositine then
ON the stage, and continuing the opera
ton until his as;ounded witnesses wer,
forced tn move back To make room fo
! the increasing collection? Who thrs
days could poke his arm hured to tn
elbow among II circle Of watchful eyes
l allowing the arm to he felt ana hi
rolled-up sleeve Scarchcd--then. pres
| to, appears IA bird pcrched ON the ma
= gician's indeN finger, florpinE il wing
! in the faces of the watchers? Thes
fcats We're mechanical. scientificall
! dcNtcrous, mystifyinE, but never as
; serted to hc Supernatural
The foregoing simply 20 TO shuN
to what extent Legitimate" Sleight u
I hand performers mystified their an
D dicnccs. and tn" degree To which thoi
" witnesses might have been duped ha
l | they POSED as spiritualists. or men wit
n superhuman and supernatural powers
Most OF the elders OF ,hc p,esen
! Generation Will remember the old circu
u sideshows, in which often were to b
-'t found "secOnd-sight" artists, men an
Il women who told YOU what you ha
% in your pockets. in your hands, III
4 date on coin in your possession, whe