CHEMIST-MAGICIAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20929, 7 January 1938, Page 5

CHEMIST-MAGICIAN

MADE A KING LAUGH LONDCN, December 11. A London chemist, who is a professional conjurer in his spare time, was invited to Welbeck Abbey—home of the Duke of Portland—to entertain King L?opold of the Belgians and his mother, Queen Elizabeth. When I’r Percy Barrs return?' 1 to msenrnq counter of his shop in Kensington, London, after his “command” performance he found prescriptions piled up on hi- ' ,o sk. “It’s put it? n bit behind,” he '•''id. “But I don’t mind. I made a king laugh, and so mystified him that b- left his chair and helped me do one of my tricks with

v- ope, a wand and Union Jack handkerchief. I did that trick twice at his request. Doesn’t he speak lovely English?” “On November 25,” said Mr Barrs, “I was doing a show at a West End hotel, rhe Duke of Portland was there. Afterwards he sent for me, said he liked my trick., and honed to sec me again. His secretary telephoned me Ust week and asked if I could go to the Abbey. I didn’t know King Leopold was there vnt.il I arrived. I gave my show after dinner. It was in the library and lasted for three-quarters of an hour. I wore eigh* waistcoats, all coloured. The Queen and Duchess cov • ■>. lake it out at all. You see, e - J faced them to do another tri..k my waistcoat had changed colour. They could not believe heir eyes. It v.jl a little trick I invented myself.”