STAGE WIZARD DEAD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 108, 2 November 1929, Page 20

STAGE WIZARD DEAD

'ART OF JULIUS ZANCIG

HIS METHODS EXPLAINED

" Two minds with but a single ! thr.nght"..:Teiy aptly described the •massing _ stage, turn of Mr. and Mrs. Juiiua.Zancig,. who were, a little over 20; years ago, electrifying London with their wonderful music hall exhibition. Now news" has been received that Julius Zancig, who was corninonly accepted as the greatest "mystery man" and "thought reader 13 of all time, has died in a nursing-home in' California, ssiys a writer in an overseas journal. His first wife predeceased him. ' Zaneig, who must have been over 70, sxA. his wife defied the most severe tests of. .fellow-magicians, members of occult: societies;; elairvoyantes, and lay critics.-;.:iHo.was.a favourite of King E t dward,_and gave a command performance at Sandringham. - He was a Dane by; birth, and became, a naturalised American... i _ ... ■ . -" ■ The KZaneig performances in music halls consisted in the husband walking amongthe'audieiice and taking articles from its members.. Mrs. Zancig, blindfolded on the stage, would describe each one perfectly—even to telling the time indicated on a watch. Zancig "vvpnld hold the article in his hand and ask her whatitaras. Her reply would come instantly, and always correctly. The Zancigs.nq.ver made a mistake. ;It muk-not ;.be thought," however, that his'sb'ow"was genuine telepathy. It'ifs^.too--"much- to claim that thought reading"'could be "taught, for in 1923 when Zancig paid a return visit to Londou~,yiifc-Se'e6nd'wifo was associated ■with him on the boards and their turn was as finely polished as on the occasion of his earlier visit to the Alhambra. Zaneig . used an astonishinglyeasy systeju^.the secret of which was the employment- of single' arid simple everyday^ords. This system, together with^changing inflections in his voice and variety in stance, ' equipped hinv •with an-armoury which was impregnable. :. . .•'.-■ . To those'who thought then, and still think, that it was an exhibition of genuine, thought-transference it may be pointjjjdppufc that Zancig could not get througjfigthe. : _music-haH : act without' asking^ijjs wife the- various questions.. A cigarette-ease ,would be handed to him, and :he would say, "Now, what t have I Kefe?" Liice a flash the answer would 'be returned correctly. Then Zancig ivould say, "See how many cigarettes?" The reply would be, "Seven." Sometimes he, would then say, "Here, what. is. .the metal?" and the answer"would be returned, "Gold." The word-."now" was the cigarettecase, "see" meant the number seven, or, if the.name.of an article was intended to.. Tip conveyed, it might be stick or umbrella, and the word 'here" stood fur.".gQld.;i\lf the sentence.had been, "Please, tell me the metal?" it would have indicated silver, and so on. Commencing7 with the word "what," the.code would embrace for example the number "one," "artist," "architect, " or ' a playing card. If he said, "Here, what is. the gentleman's profession?", she: would reply, "Artist." By leaving., out the word "is" she would reply" "Architect."- If the question was, "What have I hero?" she would reply, "A playing card." If he said, "Now, see what it is," the .word "now" gives the fourth suit in the order,- "Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs." "Now" indicates clubs, and "soe' N J indicates the seven. AH vary wonderful;., und -extremely enter- ■ tahiing. In addition c to., this code Zancig's means of conveying a message to his wife was io -make sundry remarks to 1ii3.1 audience after having examined an "article. On one occasion at the Alhambra-Zancig either saw or was informed that a world-famous scientist had entered a. box.. Zancig in returning arfieles^toiiniembers 'ot the audience, made remarks such as, "You see madanp-fcnpws.'-'- -"Now, isn't that good?" "Sorry, I nearly dropped it," and,,then,.:,standing upright, called' out to> his\vifeV "Just tell me who has just entered the box behind you?" Mrs. Zancig replied immediately and correctly. ; . -:. .■ . a '. , At the time of his first visit to Ensland ..it suited, Zancig's publicity cainpaigir;;fo.:.let the world think that the turn - was ' genuine telepathy; but 25 years'; later he admitted that it was only a code.' When he was.at the Alhambra a number of scientists, illusionists, and journalists compiled a. list of the words 'which Zaneig continually, nsc-a throughout his performances. The ■writer collected up to between 40 and 50 ..Fjords, ia: constant use, but they wore all. simple, eyery-da'y words, and figuring ~ among" them were "try" '•mmv>> . "give," "see," "can/ please^'', "yes," and many others simple. Bepeated 7%ite:.t6 : the;;.Alhambra would, and did inr^iineienable-bno to hear the same wpr.da'sused levery ,Mmc a. particular ..numbexv-ssticle, or metal was meant. ;Qg.a more. example in conclusion will injajcat-e ■ the range of his remarkable co^-».; •'Ho would say7"Try this now." A'iswerj, fA pairof gloves." "And thjisf";' Answer, ■■« Money." "Seethe amount?" --The answer would come slowly "Three— shiU—ings " "Be^'quiek,,Eow ) " and the answer would finish", "and tenpence." The code words for articles and numbers used iris the above would be "Try" "now,'? "see," "amount"— or "value" if gold—"be quick now," the word, "now" meaning four copper coins. ■ ;';•.. ■ ■.'■■...■;-' ; ■■-. L