HEGARTY'S COMBINATION TROUPE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 179, 16 November 1876, Page 2

HEGARTY'S COMBINATION TROUPE.

This talented company made their appearance at the Masonic Hall last evening, but owing to the inclement state of the weather, the attendance was not so numerous as might have been expected or the entertainment deserved. Mr. Hart and Miss Kate Russell, in their character duet songs, are as amusing as ever, their appearance on the stage being greeted with a perfect furore; while Miss Harrison was uproariously applauded for her admirable rendering of " Steer my Barque." Mdlle. Stella Burdetta was then subjected to mesmeric influence, and while in that state, underwent the ceriel suspension, the plastic limbs being posed in several most graceful postures, and dressed by Professor Hennickc to represent "Liberty," "Britain," " Hibernia," and other pleasing pictures. The piece de resistance o: the tnt rtainment, however, was the "Arabian Box Mystery," the preparations for which were watched with general inby the audience. The trick is an exceedingly clever one, and far more difficult than that with the cabinet, which has created so much wonder, and made the davenports so famous. With them one of the brothers is roped up s.curely, placed in the cabinet, aud in a few minute 3 he emerges therefrom, his limbs perfectly free. Mdlle. Zelin.la, however, has a much harder task to perforin. A large chest is placed up<m the stage, the Professor turning it over to show t!ie audience there is nothing in it, and that it has no false bottom. It is then brought to

the footlights, and las!', evening two gentlemen were invited to w step forward and perform the roping, operation. A volunteer not being forthcoming, Professor Hennicke and an assistant placed a perfect network of ropes around the box, the ends of which were knotted. Over all this was placed a tightly-fitting canvas cover, having some dozens of buckles and strap fastenings. The whole was then again subjected to another process of roping, and after the ends were secured the lady was introduced to the audience, and with the box she is placed inside a square screen, only sufficiently large for herself and the chest. An appeal was again made that two gentlemen would step forward and keep guard around the screen, so t.iat there was no assistance given Mdlle. Zelinda. From the time she disappeared behind the screen until she tapped to bring forta the box, but two minutes six seconds elapsed, and although the services of one of the audience was secured — evidently a sailor used to the work—so intricate had the windings and fastenings been that it actually took two seconds longer to unrope the box than the lady occupied in entering it through ropes, canvas, box and all. Wnen it was free and the lid was raised, Mdlle. Zelinda stepped promptly out, to the wonder and surprise of the audience. How she became there was a mystery, for the canvas had never been removed, a portion of the c.ie3t being visible all the while tie screen had been dropped, through the folds being disarranged. It is certainly an astonishing trick, and well worthy of its name It is just one of those tricks that you won't believe can be done unless you witnessed the operation ; -which you cannot conceive how it is done until you see it performed ; and then, —well, you are just as wise as ever. It is one of tuose tilings " you would like to know, you know ; but wiiich no fellah can understand."