MAGICIANS’ SECRETS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1934, Page 10

MAGICIANS’ SECRETS

SAW A HORSE IN HALF. The following is a recipe for sawing a. horse in half without harming th' animal: “Take one large hoisebox, especially prepared and raised on four short, legs front the floor. Lead the horse into the box and close the door, ihe animal’s head and tail remaining visible through the two large apertures at each end of the Dox. Then cut through the container with a large, double-handed saw and lead the horse out —unharmed. The working of this illusion, says the “Moi ning Post,” is simplicity itself, according to Mr Will Goldston. the founder of the Magicians Club and, under bis professional name ol Carl Devo. one of the most famous conjurers ol modern times. In his book, “A Magician’s Swan Song,” he explains how the trick is done. "Obviously, the first thing to be done is to get the horse out of the way of the saw, and this is managed by a horse container in the box. M hen entering the box. the horse steps at once into the container, which is then lowered into the false bottom of the box by means of two cables. A dummy head and a dummy tail are hinged to two rods concealed in the front of the box, and in order that they may have a live appearance two wires are connected with them and carried up to the flies.”

That is all. yet, according to Mr Goldston, the working “is far more simple than one would expect it to be.” 'I he secret, of Maskelyne’s famous “.magic kettle,” which was capable of pouring out practically any drink asked for, how to raise “ghosts,” and, last but not least, how to drain it two-gallon cask of water (or beer) at. one draught, are but a few of the many “simple” illusions explained. But even magicians have tbeii lighter moments. Theie was, for example, the case of the huge African, who culled on Mr Goldston and asked to have demonstrated to him the latest novellies in magic. The conjurer says; — “I showed him a trick in which the conjurer apparently swallowed one ol two wooden balls, lie was delighted with this and said he would buy the trick. Under my tuition he began to piactise it, but, although he started well, he actually swallowed, or nearly swallowed one of the hails during the second rehearsal. "I was genuinely alarmed and punched him on the back of the neck. We succeeded m dislodging th? bull, but the huge Airman was in no mood Li conii'iuc- lurtlmr experiments. In fact, he went —I as almost going Io say red in lite face—and hurried out.” And fin,-illy, a few words of advice Io would be prof.wsional conjui .’r;-: “The culliviiiion of a good mauner is almost as impuiiaut as the ability Io do tricks neatly and well. You may be Ihe cleverest magician that ever lived, iml it you have (lie unhappy knack of rnbbimr people the urona way you must md expect to earn a magnificent living from magic."