THE "BLUFF" MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 August 1926, Page 8

THE "BLUFF" MAN.

FAKIR'S SEANCE IN LONDON. "IN THE INTERESTS OF SCIENCE." Authors, politicians, doctors and people of fashion were at the Scala Theatre at a private seance given by Fakir Dr. 'labia Bey, says the representative of a London paper, who was present. Tlie Fakir walked amongst them with great skewers sticking through his face. He had a long and ugly kitchen knife with which every now and again he gave horrid jabs through his neck. He lay on a lied of sharp nail points. Ho rested with his neck and his feet on scythe blades, had a genuine pay stone on his cheat, n genuine stagehand hitting the paving , stone -with genuine blows from a genuine sledgehammer. But somehow we remained unimpressed. Perhaps it was because of the patter. Dr. Tahra Bey somehow connected his skewered skin with the happy life and gave as much talk about "subconsciousness."' and "magnetism" and other mysterious things which have become the stock in trade of the psychological cheapjack.

We wore told that the Fakir would '"state what is contained in sealed letters handed in by the general public and Medical Jury."'

Tliis turned ouL to be the speaking of three names in three successive envelopes—"John." "William." "George." It seemed to shake the Fakir to the tfoundations of his soul to discover tthese three words, though have ."■•con it done better at a children's party by a Cockney conjurer at a guinea an evening. It is difficult to estimate the value of the seance, because in such an affair yon can trust no one except yourself. A bluff and honest fellow suddenly started up on the platform find said: "Sly wife is somewhere in the stalls. I do not know where she is. Can you take mc to her?" The Fakir did.

But who was the bluff and honest fellow? Even assuming lie was not an ordinary accomplice, was he capable of concealing from the Fakir, who had him by the hand, a sign of recognition when he passed his wife—a, tiny checking of the muscles of his face?

Then the Fakir was put in a coffin and covered with sand for 10 minutes. It was gruesome, but it was not more mysterious than many of the box tricks done with a laugh in St. George's Hall.

Last night's was a free demonstration "in the interests of science." A show of hands was taken for another public performance, perhaps in the Albert Hall, and it was carried unanimously.