Grossi The Marvel

Southland Times, Issue 19552, 5 May 1905, Page 3

Grossi The Marvel

The celebrated and much-discussed Grossi attracted a large audience to the Zealandia Ha.ll last evening to witness his feats in thought-reading and conjuring. Every person in the audience must have been convinced, at' the conclusion of the performance, that the appellation I" The Marvel” is rightly applied to Grossi. As a conjurer ho is on terms with the best, and as a mind-reader he is simply wonderful. The first part of the programme was devoted to conjuring

with cards, coins, handkerchiefs, gloves,

etc., and every trick was so successfully '< presented as to completely mystify the spectators, who .were obviously pleased to be mystified. Cards and coins seemed to think nothing of changing their denominations when Grossi was in the vicinity and the conjurer, moving among the audience, appeared to produce whatever he wanted from the most unexpected places. It was a wonderful exhibition of sleight of hand. The first part concluded with what was facetiously termed "A trip to the I'ransvahl.’t A large trunk was placed on the stage (it wax of the ordinary variety excepting that it had three locks), and a canvas bag was held up tn view. Mr Wilson explained on behalf of Grossi, that a man would be placed in the bag, tied in it, and then placed In the box. In due course an individual clothed in red knickers and vest appeared. He was securely tied in a bag, a bunch of keys being knotted in the handkerchief which was used round the mouth of the canvas to subsequently show that the knot had not been tampered with. The bug was lifted into the box, which was locked and Grossi, in full view of everybody, himself bound the box with rope. A screen was brought from the rear of the stage and drawn round the box on three sides. Grossi grasped two rurtains in front (showing the box still exposed to view) and Mr Wilson explained that in four seconds from the time tne curtains were drawn and thrown Lack again the man would be out of the box. Grossi switched the curtains together, and quickly drawing them back again the individual in red silk hopped out, the box being in exactly the same place and still bound round with rope. Whilst those on the stage wore unlocking the box and untying the rope the professor disappeared. When the box was opened, the bug was obviously not empty, and was still tied with the handkerchief and keys. The knots were untied, and Grossi himself was revealed as the occupant. It is a mystifying

trick. In the second part Grossi gave a wonderful exhibition of mind-reading. Messrs Crosby Smith and Jas MacGregor blindfolded the Professor and when this was accomplished one conducted Grossi to the far end of the building, while the other, subject to the will of any person in the audience, drew a line on the stage down a flight of steps, in and out amongst the • rows of seats and over chairs. Grossi was then taken back to the starting point, placed on the line, the drawer of which stood one pace behind him, and without direction shuffled his feet along the chalk-mark: and over the obstacles without making a mistake. He also stopped at various points on the line where crosses had been made by Mr MacGregor. Loud applause greeted the successful termination of this feat. The other experiments Grossi, by suggestions in writing known only to the persons making the experiments, took articles from one person and conveyed them to another; found pins whi rh had been hidden by three persons in the audience'-; and discovered a hair which had been wrapped up in paper and placed high on the wall of the ' building, necessitating the use of a ladder to reach it. Grossi is followed closely by the person whose thought, being on the object sought, guides him by the proper route, and suggests what is desired. Every experiment was a distinct success, and the visit of Grossi should form the subject of conversation for some time among those who were so fortunate as to be in the audience. The Professor appears at the Bluff this evening.