Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

30 The Headless Christmas Wizard Amazing Tricks With a Real Head That Is Taken Off at Will—The Simple Appliances with Which It Can Be Done. This is a startling illusion. The spectators sit before the closed door of a closet while the master of ceremonies explains that the magician in the closet, who is now engaged in establishing magnetic currents between himself and the party, is a past master in the occult arts, an adept of the for ty-second degree, and that he will perform miracles that will make an ordinary medium feel like thirty cents at Delmonico’s. The door is opened suddenly and dis closes an astounding figure sitting on a chair in the closet, dressed in a long, red robe, upon which are embroidered all sorts of cabalistic figures. He has a most extraordinary countenance, em bellished by a pair of huge green spec tacles. and he wears a high-pointed conical-shaped hat. His long, strag gling locks mingle with his equally long, straggling beard. It Is clear that he is alive, for he moves his head, and all can see him wink and smile and otherwise move his features. The master of ceremonies warns everybody to keep perfectly still and to think of nothing at all, which, un der the circumstances, the spectators find it difficult to do. They notice that The magician is disclosed wltli his head in his lap. the inside of the closet door is covered with black, lusterless cloth, and the closet behind the magician is perfectly black. The light in the room is Just sufficient to allow them to see all this. The door is closed again and re opened after another interval. Great heavens! The magician has taken his head from his shoulders. There can be no mistake about that, for he holds it in his lap. The door is shut and again opened. Now the magician is seen, still head less, but where is the head? It has disappeared altogether! A fourth shutting and opening of the door discloses the head apparently hanging without support midway be tween the top and the bottom of the closet. But what has become of the magi cian to which it belongs? Vanished, dissolved into thin air! Wonder of wonders, the head speaks! It begins by saying that although by itself it is a mere nobody, it belongs to the great Magician Gummygum. It apologizes for not speaking better English, saying that Gummygum had arrived only recently in America, hav ing been frightened away from his home at Lhasa, where he had been living for the last 3.000 years, by wicked, unbelieving British sold iers. In bidding the spectators farewell he begs to give them a bit of advice, Dillydoll and Japlittle THEIR MISDEEDS. VII. Tm. Dtllydnll and Japllttle saw poor Grandpa Jack Springbang shoved and shoved into the cell, and they did not feel sorry a little bit. No. They laughed. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! But even as they laughed, ret-ri-bu tion was on the way. It always finds out about things and gets on the wicked people's trail. You may de pend on this. Grandpa Jack Springbang simply could not bear to be Imprisoned. It CL-- Everything fell right nil Dillydoll anil .lupinlie. went against his grain, fur he was fnttk* from u p|#c•# of * which him a very fine grain Indeed. Ho. wh*n Cluhcllh and (’llbrlub dreked the prison door and stepped hek lo take iwo long breathe end M}o|| V**f ¥ pf'oo4l Mll'f tfjftirj flf rifl*ll blmseif a„4 knitted Ws spring she! wnwles together and I hen he went And don fed! tbs dear f thd ret) which is, never to lose their heads, for it is only given to the Emperor of Russia and to great Oriental adepts to do such a thing and escape the con sequences. The explanation of this trick is ex tremely simple. Its successful per formance depends on the fact of which all the great professional magi cal performers take advantage, that black will not show' upon black. This is the basis of some of the most surprising tricks performed in modern magic. As large a frame as the closet will allow, fitting closely against the back of the closet, is nailed together. It is covered with black, lusterless cloth. Cheap black muslin, washed to take off the gloss, or white muslin stretch ed upon it and painted black will do admirably. The covering of the frame is slit in the middle from top to bottom so that it forms two parts. The head of the magician consists of a false face, a wig of excelsior or some such matter, and a conical cap, which can be made of paper, fastened together and so fash ioned that it can be fitted over or take off of his real head. To make this head disappear, the top of the frame is tipped forward so that it rests against each side of the doorway inside, and his head comes through the slit, which Is then pinned together, below' and above his head, with Black pins. When his head thus disappears, everything about him being black, the cloth that screens his face cannot be seen by any person a little distance In front of the closet. As for the head in his lap. of course it is merely the mask and the hat and the wig all fastened together so as to make one structure. When the body disappears and only the head is seen apparently suspended in mid-air. the bottom of the frame is brought as far forward as possible and the top of it is tilted back, rest ing against the back of the closet. This makes u space behind which the performer can sit and thrust his head through the slit to be seen by the spectators, while his body is en tirely behind the screen. It is well to have a short curtain hanging from the top of the doorway. This will conceal the top of the frame when it is brought forward. This curtain need not be black. The floor of the closet should be dead black, so as to reflect no light upon the figure or upon its surroundings. The spectators should not be allow ed to approach too near the closet door, and the light should be just suf ficient to allow the performer to be plainly seen. and apart flew the walls of the cell and with a whole great big smash everything fell right on Dillydoll and Japlittle. They cried for help and wept and screamed that all their bones were broken. But nobody came to assist them. t’lubclib stared with all his eyes and only said: “Look at that, would you.” And dtbclub said nothing at all. Grandpa Jack Springbang said: "It serves them right!” Then he telephoned to the ark and Noah sent the ambulance hitched to the giraffe. |>r Monkey aut Inside, and he look Dillydoll and Japlittle straight in the animal hospital and gswed Them apart and put new glue on them, pibing hot, and rg never • Sled a bit how they yelled, hut Jual curved and drilled ands. taped and gouged snd glued away, Buying: “ft serves you right,” Then you muy he aura they did not any Hohuhahahahat The Kg. SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS; SUNDAY. DECEMBER 18. 1004. THE LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE BY ADELIA B. BEARD. Illustrated by the Author. No doubt you w’ill have many charming surprises prepared on Christmas Eve; but what would you say to see a Christmas tree come walking into the room? A green Christmas tree all covered with glit tering ornaments and bright colored toys, with little bells at the bottom that tinkle musically as It moves and on the topmost point a shining star that sends out tinsel rays from every point. Then, a little distance below the star, a face —a laughing face with shining eyes that reveal the guardian angel of the tree? This is how you can prepare such a liv'ing Christmas tree for the sur prise and delight of your family and friends: The angel of the tree should be The tree comes walking In. quite a tall girl. From dark green, undressed cambric cut a long, plain cloak that will reach from neck to feet. Make a peaked hat. like a large cornucopia, out of light-weight card board. Cover the hat with some of the green cambric, allowing a cape of the material to fall from hat to shoul ders at the back. Get three quires of moss-green tis sue paper. Cut it into strips six Inches wide and cut each strip into a rather coarse fringe, leaving a beading at the top two and a half inches wide. Beginning at the bottom sew the fringe around the cloak, allowing it to reach just to the edge of the cloth. Above the first row of fringe, and overlapping it. sew the second row, bringing its lower edge within two • inches of the bottom edge of the first row. SANTA CLAUS ISLAND How He Found the Shipwrecked Three and Made Christmas for Them. BY TEMPLE BAILEY. Nan and Jack and little black Topsy rubbed their eyes and stared about them. There had been a shipwreck, and a big wave had landed them high and dry on a sandy island. “Lawsee, ‘Miss Nannie,” said little black Topsy, “I’m skeered,” and she rolled her eyes and shivered. “So am I,” whispered Nan. "I’m hungry, and It’s horrid.” “All shipwrecks are horrid,” said Jack. "But I think I can find some thing to eat, and If you are cold, why you and Topsy can lie down, and let me cover you with warm sand, and then I’ll go and explore.” "I knew you wouldn't lef iis out." 8o the two little girl* stretched themnelvcK out and Jack covered them, all but their heud*. "Off, you look funny," he auld, a he finished and aurveyed the two tnounda, out of one of which atuck Nan'a golden head and out of the other Topay'a kinky black wool. "Now, good-bye," auld Jack; ’Tm going to look for food." And he man lied off like a man, with hi* hand* In hla pockets. ’’Topsy,” Bald Nall, after he had gone, "4n you know It la the day be fore Christmas, and wa won’t gel a single present to-morrow V * Hu' Topsy was not despondent “Whal e the mallah wld Msrae Manta ClausY” she demanded. “Ain’ tie com In this way put on row after row of fringe, always overlapping it, until the cloak is entirely covered, then cover the hat and its cape in the same manner. Take a light wooden hoop—one of those that is rolled on the pavements in "hoop time,” and, turning the edge of the cloak up once, fit the hoop in the fold and hem the edge over it. This will hold the cloak out firmly at the bottom and it should hang smooth and straight from the shoulders with a generous lap where it closes in front. Sew the fronts together, leaving an opening only large enough to slip over the head. Non suspend the cloak on a waist hanger in such a way that you can it from all sides, and proceed to decorate. Around the bottom sew a row of small bells, and here and there all over the cloak, sew large dress hook3, on which hang the fragile glass orna ments and small presents. Pin on the tinsel decorations and strings of pop corn with safety pins and leave the finishing touches until the angel has entered her tree. The tall hat, tipped by its bright star, may be completely trimmed and put safely away until needed. All decorations and presents must be light in weight. On the eventful night let the Christ inas tree angel slip into the tree, and, after it is nicely adjusted, hang around her neck strings of colored glass balls, and suspend from the hooks the glass ornaments and presents. Put the peak ed hat on her head, and the living Christmas tree will be ready for her first appearance. in' to dis islan’, dat’s wbut I ask, ain’ he cornin' to dis islan’?” “Why. Topsy,” explained little Nan, patiently, “how could he? His rein deer couldn’t cross the water.” “Let him come in a boat, den. Dat’s whut I say. Let him come in a boat.” said Topsy, fiercely. “He ain’ got no call to lef’ us out.” "No.” said Nan, “but I am afraid ha will.” They lay very still after that in their sandy beds, watching the white gulls overhead and listening to t'he boom of the waves on the beach. Suddenly Topsy sat up and pointed a skinny, black finger towards the sea. “What's dat?” she cried excitedly. Nan raised herself on her elbow and looked. "It’s a bout," she said, “a little boat, anil It's coming here.” Nearer and nearer came the lltllo boat, and presently Topsy shrieked: "It’s Marse Santa Claus, and he’s coinin' straight to dis yer Islan', Didn’t 1 inis yer? Didn't 1 tole yer he’d coma?" The man in the boat hid a long while beard. I4e had on a red sweater and wore a furry cap pulled well down over hla eara. Aa he climbed out of the houl they saw tliai hr am very round and fal and had a jolly red When he had pulled Ibe boat up out of the water he leaned ovar and pick e4 up a great bag and slung It over his shoulder and came trotting up the beach. "It truly is Santa,” said Nan, breath lessly, “and he is coming straight to wards us.” "Miss Nan,” said Topsy, faintly, *Tm skeered. ’Deed I is, Miss Nan.” But Nan's face was aglow. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Topsy,” she cried, "to be afraid of dear, good Santa. I'm going to run right down and meet him.” Away she sped, her golden curls flying behind her, and when she reached the old man she slipped her hand into his confidingly. “I’m awfully glad you came, Santa,” she said. “We were so frightened and lonely, and maybe you can tell us what to do.” The old man stood still and stared at her. Then he chuckled. “Well, well,” he said, “where did you come from?” Nan explained. “And Topsy and I knew you the minute we saw you in the boat,” she said cheerfully. “’Deed we did, Marse Santa,” said Topsy, who had just come up. ’Deed we did. I knew you wouldn’t lef us out.” “Of course not," said the old man, and his eyes twinkled. “I’m a pretty good old Santa Claus, after all.’’ Just then Jack came running down the beach. “It’s Santa Claus,” called Nan, as soon as he was within hearing. But Jack was older than Topsy and Nan, and he had his doubts. “Are you really Santa Claus?” he asked gravely. The old man winked. "Don’t I look like him?” he said. “Yes,” said Jack, “you do.” oSstsmimo own rdlin aoin haoin aoinn “Ain’t I got a pack on my back?” he asked. “Yes,” said Jack, “but it looks like potatoes, and not toys.” Then the old man leaned down and whispered in his ear. “That’s jes’ what it is, but if them little dears wanted to take I’m Santa, why let ’em thhig it. It won't hurt anybody, will “No,” said Jack, “it won’t.” “Well, then,” said Santa, out loud, “that being decided, we will go and have dinner.” "Dinner?” said Jack, in surprise. “Why, where do you live?” “Follow me,” said Santti; and they trotted gaily after him. Away among the sand hills they c'ame suddenly upon a little house. With in was a glowing fire and a great pot was boiling on the stove, and soon each of the little wayfarers had a hot bowl of soup and a big piece of bread, and when they had finished their eyes drooped. “Now hang up your stockings,” said Sanfa, “and go to bed.” And in a little while the three long stockings hung over the fireplace, while the children slept peacefully in the next room. How the old sailor found things to fill those stockings was a wonder. But there was a quaint sandalwood fan for Nan, affair of Chinese shoes for Jack and a Japanese doll for Topsy. Then he filled up the corners with beautiful shells and with little boxes of dried fruit, and such things as sailors pick up in many voyages. Such a Jolly Christmas morning as it was! The children were delighted with their gifts, and afterwards Santa rowed them over the mainland and put them on the train for home. Santa Claus Island is a lovely place,” said little Nan, when they had bidden the old man good-bye. affec tionately.. “’Deed it am,” said Topsy. “We’ll go there again next year.” said Jack. But though they hunted for and wide on the gray sea, and asked many people to take them there, they never again found the little sandy isl’and and the jolly old Sailor Santa Claus. NOSE, nose! who nose. This Is a good game to pass the time, while the impatient ones are Waiting for Christmas dinner. All the children present can play. They stand In a long row, one behind the other. The eyes of the one in front are covered by the one behind, by clasping both hands over them. Then one of the other players creeps softly out of place, tiptoes to the blinded leader, gently tweaks his nose, and sneaks back into place. The leader’s eyes are released then and he must walk up and down the row and try to find the one who pull ed his nose by studying the faces of all and picking out the one who looks suiltv. Wlien he has decided, he must say, “Nose, Nose, Who Nose,” and catch the suspected one by the nose. If he has found the right one, he takes his place in the row and the captured player must go in front and have his nose tweaked in turn. But if he has not picked the right one, the wrong fully suspected player takes him by the nose and leads him back to his original place. Just a Little Grindstone to Sharpen the Mind Stone. There Is a compound word which Is much used, especially by poets, to describe the present holiday season. What it is? Perhaps you can find by. studying the following list of words. Each of them is made out of the word that we are hunting for. There Is no letter in any one of these words that is not to be found In the compound word. Trv It. Here are the short words: Let, tied, til, It, yet, lieu, ye, duel, die, diet, edit. Solution of I.nst Sunday’s Illnck board l'uzr.le. This is how the children in Miss Sweetlything’s class solved the prob lem of dividing 45 Into four parts in such a way that each part would make the same number when they added 2 to the first part, subtracted 2 from the second part, multiplied the third part by 2 and divided the fourth part by 2. They divided 45 Into the following parts: 8, 12. 5 and 20. Adding 2 to 8 makes 10. Subtracting 2 from 12 leaves 10. Multiplying sby 2 makes 10. Dividing 20 by 2 makes 10. AFTER THE DESSERT. After the table has been cleared, pick out two walnuts and lay them Bide by side in the middle of the table. Then balance a third one on top. Now the children take turns at tossing a smaller nut (an almond is best) at the walnuts. The one who hits the top walnut and knocks it over without disturbing the two lower ones wins the three nuts. BROTHER, WIIO KNOCKST Two players are blindfolded and sit down buck to back. Another Player creeps to them and taps one of them gently on the head. The child that ’s so touched asks the other blindfolded one: “Brother, who knocks?” If It guesses who It was, the “knock er” must take his place. A RUCK GROWER. Careful measurements of a captive giraffe have shown that this animal grows sis Inches In hlght every year till It Is fully grown. At that rate, a ts>y would be about eight fool high by the lime he was 11. THE GOGH | \< |,K. There was once an uncle whee die j'i*iuori wtiai aoniHhliii ilk** this: Hr it buy lom In dogrtm K*i nptitwi mid i oyilnc And all i( bin mce# fet'd kiM. Brave Betty of Boston Town How Her Ready Wit and Courage Beat Off a Robber and Recovered a Lost Treasure. A CHRISTMAS STORY OF 1776. On a brisk, breezy day, the day be fore Christmas, 1776. Mistress Betty Reddywitte mounted her buckskin colored mare at the gate of the gar den in front of her mother’s house In Boston. Mistress Betty, although she was scarcely more than a child, was well grown for her age and good to look upon. She was as brave as any lion—or braver than some I have seen. Never was she known to take fright or de sert a companion. When Selectman Pettigrew’s terrier went mad and at tacked her companion, Peggy Brooks, in Marlborough street, Betty beat the dog off with her umbrella and kept the brute off until assistance arrived. Betty Reddywitte galloped merrily and soon was in the country road out side of town. Then, suddenly, she came upon a strange sight. A great yellow-bodied, post-chaise containing a lady and a little girl was drawn up at the side of the road. Confronting the inmates with a long barrelled pistol was a horesman in a red cloak with a black half-mask on his face. .s'' % Betty beat the dog off with her umbrella. Betty did not need to look twice to recognize all the objects that went to make up the tableau—the yellow post chaise, the lady and the child, its in mates. and the black driver. She knew them all. She had set out from Boston to meet her mother on the way from Milton, and this was the meeting. Nor did she fail to recognize the highwayman in spite of his black mask. But she would not for the world have let him know it. For an instant the girl was seized with an uncontrollable trembling. She closed her eyes, feeling sick and faint. Then she had an inspiration. A plan whose very simplicity promised pos sible success, came to her. Hastily pulling her hood around her face, she began screaming. The highwayman, seeing what looked to him like a country girl who had lost her wits from fright, sternly bade her be silent. “Oh, sir.” she cried, “don't kill me! The cavalcade swept along the road to Boston. I ha’ but a fi’ pun note to buy a Christmas goose.” “Will you be silent ” asked the rob ber, cursing her, “or will I have to quiet you with a tap on the head with the butt of a pistol? Don't move till X tell you.” Betty ceased to scream, but began to weep. Extracting a paper from a bag fastened to her waist she held it out to the highwayman. With one eye on his helpless and unresisting victims in the chaise, he turned half around toward Betty who, whimpering, still held her hood tight ly gathered about her face. He made a rude snatch at the bit of paper she offered him. A brisk breeze, how ever. that was blowing, and of which Mistress Betty had already taken note, twitched the thing out before his Un gers could close upon It and sent it across the road Into a blackberry bush. On the spur of the moment the highwayman dismounted. He threat ened his captives with instant death it they moved, and crossed the road. Betty Instantly whispered to the negro outrider to lash h'ls horses. At the same time she caught the bridle of the highwayman's more and laid her whip without mercy both upon the startled creuture and upon her own faithful Buckskin. The next moment the ribber saw the whole cavalcade sweeping along the road toward Boston at breakneck speed. Scarcely had all returned safely to the Iteddywitte’s gambrel-roofed house on Haddock's Mall, when f'ousln Men*, diet arrived with a larnsnlable story of itow his horse had been taken front hljp by the American military authori ties because Its servhsa wsr* needed In the army. Mistress Betty addressed the young man. “Cousin Benedict, mother, as you know, buried 500 pounds in the hill side under the pear tree in the back garden, because the state of the coun try is so disturbed that she was afraid to put it into a bank.” “You’re going to tell me the money has disappeared,” said Cousin Bene dict. “Well, I know nothing about it.” “Why, how hasty you are. Cousin Benedict!” replied Betty. “I was going to tell you that mother is thinking of putting the other half of her money, 500 pounds more, in the same place. What think you. Cousin Benedict?” “So,” he said as a relieved evpres sion came into his face, and he smiled, for a happy idea occurred to him. “What do I think? Why. she couldn’t do better than bupy it all. Ecod, Cousin Betty, if the Yankees take my nag, what will prevent them from tak ing your bag? No, Coz, believe me. There is no bank so safe nowadays as a clay bank.” “Then we will do it,” said Betty de cidedly. “We will bury the second 500 pounds alongside of the first. But don’t speak of it to any one. Cousin. Benedict.” “Not I,” replied Cousin Benedict. “I’ll lay heavy odds you'll be talking of it before J do.” A few hours later Betty, who had .hidden herself near the clay bank, saw Cousin Benedict stealthily going Into the back garden and replace five hundred pounds in the * hole In the bank under the pear tree, from which he had taken it. This was just what Betty had expected he would do. She had discovered that the money had been stolen and she suspected Cousin Benedict. She immediately calculated that, if he saw a chance to steal an other five hundred pounds, he would replace the first sum. so that it might not be missed when the additional money was placed there. Then he could steal it all at the first conven ient opportunity. You may assure yourself It was not long after Cousin Benedict had re placed it before that 500 pounds was in the possession of shrewd Mistress Betty Reddywitte. And what a jolly Christmas the Red dywittes had the next day, to be sure! And was anything ever known like tha rejoicing when the man of the house (heaven help the poor child, there was none to take her place) presented her mother with the treasure that had been lost and found again! They were all happy togethei—all but one. Cousin Benedict, after a brief but pointed conversation with Mis tress Betty, had gone away never to return. THE MOCKIXIU tIIRD WOMAW. An old woman who owned a small mocking Bird, said "Goodness me, this is shock ing! Here it Is Christmas Eve, And I really believe The poor creature has not got a stock ing.” THE BADLY BCII.T BN All- Said the snail: “It has Just struck nte dimly That although it may be but a whim, wa Should reaUy receive Home gifts Christmas Eve; But alas! None of us has a chimney!” NOLI rZOMb OK I,ANT Nl BOAT'S I'tULgl. Behruiliur Mta. W—aver, K—way. W~hol, A—spire. A -bridge, B— tress. TraaapewA Word* (1) <'ork rock, i 'it Uma mail, (l) Ayr-rsy. ill Troy —lory, ill l-*on - tone. iti Xstko—kalo.