HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1962-01-11, Page 3Amateur Magicians
On The loose
For three clays and two nights
in Hartford, Conn., last month,
coins materialized out of ears,
dollar bills were ripped to shreds
and restored to negotiable shape,
lighted ctgaretes were picked
fz'om the air, The occasion was
the New England. Convention of
Magicians, a gathering of moon-
lighting Merlins who, in daytime
life, are accountants, bankers,
salesmen, and truck drivers.
They had come to Hartford to
swap secrets at lecture demon-
strations and to shop the dealer
displays for new tricks (there are
fourteen dealers in the nation
Whose sole business it is to sup-
ply 60,000 magicians).
"Take a card," said Dick Du-
Bois to a fellow befuddles, hold-
ing out an apparently guileless
pack of cards. The companion
agreeably chose one—the fifteen
of spades. DuBois took the card
back, shuffled the deck and
threw it into a Hindu snake
basket, whereupon a mechanical
cobra reared up, the fifteen of
spades in his fangs.
Magic, according to profession-
al performer Roy Benson, is the
second oldest profession, 'Poetry
is the oldest," Benson said, shat-
tering a cherished illusion, "And
magic, in the form of primitive
medicine and religion, is second.
The witch doctors thousands of
years ago, pre-empted some of
our best material,"
To some historians Of magic,
who recalled that the first re-
corded feat of legerdemain was
performed by Dedi in Egypt 5,000
years ago with a live goose, it
seemed that the art had gone full
circle. The stunts at Hartford
again featured fowl. Collectively,
the conjurers produced some
twenty doves, six chicks, and
three adult chickens. "Poultry in
motion!" one wag punned. Only
the Amazing Scalzo, resplendent
in white full dress, produced a
rabbit, and that was an imperfect
breech delivery, because the ani-
mal insisted on appearing tail
first, "Scalzo washed his hare
and couldn't do a thing with it;"
a friend quipped.
"The dollar doesn't go far these
days," complains a housewife.
No, but what it lacks in distance
it more than makes up In speed.
am
ON THE SIDELINES—Touted
cls the new "Stadium Look/'
Shia costume was introduced
1111 a fashion collection, It com-
bines sleek stretch pants and
bulky stadium coat. Furry hat
end mittens complete the out -
f It.
COMPACT (AIR)CAR—A flying machine for suburbanites
is a possibility for the Avian 2/180 above, Built by Avian
Aircraft of Canada, it combines features of both a gyro-
plane and a helicopter, With its rotor blades rotating freely
as in a gyroplane, it can take off like a conventional fixed-
wing aircraft. Forward motion is provided by a propeller
in the duct in the rear. Or power can be applied to the rotor,
spinning it so that the craft can be jumped into the air like
a helicopter from a 10 -foot -square plot,
Worries Only When
He Reads The Papers
Deep in Rhode Island's South
Country where 1 o n g, sandy
beaches meet the Atlantic, a
winding ,strip of water — called
Narrow River — makes inland,
crooks around tideswept mud
flats and sand bars, curls north-
ward through Narragansett and
South Kingston, terminating aft-
er six twisting miles in a wide
pool". inhabited chiefly by fiddler
crabs and minnows.
High above the pool Will
Tracy's weathered, gray -shingled
cottage overlooks a sagging pier
around which, scattered in des-
olate abandonment, lie sections
of rusty pipe and chain, broken
pulleys, bits.. of rotting rope and
a pile of ancient lobster pots,
their wooden ribs bleached white
by salt air and a merciless sum-
mer sun. In this nondescript set-
ting, Will Tracy somehow man-
ages to Wrest a diving from the
river.
For some time 1 had planned
to meet Will. If possible, 1 hoped
to write his story. South King-
stown natives had assured me
that "no man in his right mind
would live so, alone, exposed to
every storm 1)1 ow i n' off the
ocean. Why, he don't even have
electricity — still uses an oil
lamp!"
Colorful anecdotes concerning
the eccentric fisherman continu-
ed to reach me until one day in
mid-August, curiosity thoroughly
piqued, 1 found myselfgingerly
mounting shaky, wooden stairs
leading to a porch which listed
sharply, like the hull of a beach-
ed ship. My knock was answered
presently by a man of middle
years.
"Mr. Tracy?"
He nodded, eying me closely,
I introduced myself, explained
my mission and was waved in-
side where strong odors of mixed
smoke and boiled cabbage clung
tenaciously to the atmosphere.
The room was filled with Mar-
itime souvenirs. A highly polish-
ed ship's compass, evidently the
piece de resistance; was display-
ed on a table placed squarely in.
room center; yellowing, plaster-
ed walls were adorned with
faded photographs of sailing
vessels and seafaring men. A
huge lobster, its claws bigger
than a man's hands, was mount-
ed over the piano.
Will was eager to talk, speak-
ing in colloquialisms similar to
the vernacular of the northern
New England states.
Answering my question he was
saying: "I been alone in this
house Blue '49, Livia' heah has
its good pints - an' bad." He
sighed. "It's'nioe t'be free, but as
a mean gibs older, livin' alone gilts
harder. I ain't never married, an'
ROUND FIGURE—This ballute--balloon plus parachute—is
capable of inflating in ono tenth of a second to control the
highspeed deceleration of manned and unmanned re=entry
vehicles, The 9,foot diameter balloon eases the vehicle
through the critical heat barrier of the earth's atmosphere.
BREATHER — Grover Dole
perches 'amid the ropes that
raise and lower scenery at the
Broadhurst Theatre in New
York to take a breather after
o 12 -minute dance by means
of an oxygen tank,
•
1 like to go crazy sometimes if it.
warn't fer Smoky."
Hearing his name Smoky, s
large, charcoal -colored cat bear-
ing num a ro u s battle scars,
stetched' beside the wood stove,
blinked greenish eyes, yawned
widely and dropped back off to
sleep.
Will continued: "I been 'round
salt water all my life—in fact, I
was born heah in 1911." He did
some mental arithmetic. "That
makes me 50, don't it?" Without
waiting for agreement, he hur-
ried on. "I rent skiffs for oyster -
in' or yeller -tail fishin'; I go blue
crabbin' an' clammin' an' in win-
ter when thar's ice on the river
I cut a hale an' spear eels, Skin-
ned : eels sell fer 35 cents a
pound," he added with satisfac-
tion.
Then, suddenly, his tone be-
came somber.
"But things ain't the•same since
the river got built up," he de-
clared,"shaking his head. "in
July an' August whencity folks
are heah the river gits awful
muddy.. So dirty I kin hardly see
clown six inches. But by Novem-
ber I kin spot a dime in twelve
foot o'water."
Will explained that under nor-
mal conditions Narrow River
flows fast enough to clear itself.
During summer months, though,
when seepage and oil and all
manner of refuse fouls the water,
the shellfish are often spoiled.
He complained bitterly of speed
boats, saying, "They come tearin'
wp thru the Werra's, roil up the
bottom, an' then when the mess
settles back It spiles the oysters
an' clams."
He rose and moved to a win-
dow. "Look
in-dow."Look heah, See that sand
bar?" He pointed a thick finger
toward the far river bank.
I nodded.
"T'warn't titer last month.
Couple weeks ago they was flat-
fish swimmin' in that spot, Now
a gull's settin' on it. That's be-
cause the summer people lugged
in tons o'beach sand an' spread
it along the share. Then, first
good storm we got, all the sand
washed down an' made a bar.
Pretty soon the river'll be filled
with sand,"
Questioned about great storms
in recent years he said: "The '38
hurricane was worst of all• I set
right heah an' prayed all day,
• Houses on the lowlands was
swept away like match boxes,
but this old place rode 'er out
fine, Then in '54, when that
Carol storm come (Hurricane
Carol), the house snapped. I was
sure she'd split in two, but it was
just the parch that let go. guess
it's still a little rooky," he added
apologetically. "I ain't never
tried to fixit none."
It was tittle to leave. Will took
lay arm, pointing to the river.
"Ain't she beautiful?" he said
almost reverently, "Makes a fella
think, don't it?" His blue eyes
regarded ane intensely. "The way
I count it, yer got t'eat, sleep an'
not worry. Now, I ain't got much
--.just this old place an' a few
skiffs an' a little credit at the
grocery. But 1 git by, an' the
only time I git real worried is
when I read the newspapers.
Don't forgit to write that down.
Tell 'em I said that"
A gray gull gliding over the
water gave a harsh cry; a school
of minnows flashed silver in the
pool, I had started toward the
car when Will called, "As long
as a man don't lose hope, an' as
long as he's got faith in God, It
don't matter how lonely he gats,
He'll make it. Tell 'em that too,
son;"
I waved and started the car
up the hill, I wondered what
kind of World this would be if
populated exclusively by Will
Tracye. Probably not much pro-
gress would be made, I thought,
But I was certain that there
would be little strife; much of
man's inhumanity to man would
doubtless cease,
At Tower Hill, where River
Road meets the main highway,
I looked back at Will Tracy's
place, In the distance it resem-
bled a child's play house, sprawl-
ing in awkward, tumbling disar-
ray. And beyond the house flow- '
ed the winding river with its
man-made sand barsand muddy
water.
I nosed the car ahead thinking
of the stories I had heard about
Will. The landmarks of civilize
'tion were going by: ugly gasoline
stations, garish billboards, ornate
restaurants and motels. A car
filled with speed -minded vaca-
tioners roared by, the resultant
air concussion causing my car to
veer sharply. It was then —
surprisingly — that. I heard my-
self muttering: "Will Tracy, I
really believe you've got some-
thing."—By _Dean P. Butman in
the Christian Science Monitor.
Winston Wasn't
A Model Scholar
As a student at Harrow from
1889 to 1892, young Winton
Churchill displayed no great
love for the school, and even
less respect for its authorities.
A story goesthat the head--
master
ead=master once summoned- him and
said: "Churchill, I have very
serious reasons for being dis-
pleased with you." "And I, sir,"
Winston replied, "have other
reasons, equally serious, to be
displeased with you." In later
life, Sir Winston stayed away .
from the old school for 40 years.
But his memories of Harrow ap-
parently mellowed with age, and
last week — nearing his 87th
birthday—Churchill made what
has become an annual pilgrim-
age to the school for its songs
ceremony. With a smiling Lady
Churchill at his side, and with
the cheers of some 600 students
ringing in his ears, the ex -Prime
Minister joined in a round of
sentimental songs, one of which
ran: "Nor less we praise in ster-
ner days the leader of our na-
tion, and Churchill's name shall
win acclaim from each new gen-
eration."
How Can 1?
By Roberta Lee
Q. How can I remove a piece
of, paper that has become stuck
to the polished surface of a
table .top?
A. Olive oil will usually do a
quick and easy job Of this.
Q. How can .I repair a shoe-
lace that has lost its metal tip?
A. Dip the end of the lace into
some colorless fingernail polish,
give .it a twist, and 'let it dry.
It'll end up stiff enough to poke
through the eyelets of your shoes,
Q. Row can I make a better
job of cleaning ashtrays?
A. With denatured alcohol, a
stiff brush, and lots of scrub-
bing. This procedure will clean
either brass or copper ashtrays
.that axe discolored by tobacco
sten lLine.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
BABY .CHICKS AND POULTRY
BRAY good 8•I5 Week old Amea and
fox early egg preductionnHIatchinl� day,
olds to order. Book your next Jot of
brellere now. See local agent, or write
Bray Hatchery, 120 John North, Ham*
Ilion, Ont.
GET H, & N. "Nick Chicks" winner of
the most random sample testa for ppro-
fit per hen housed from Logsdon HJ40
Hatcheries Ltd., Steaforth, Ont. phone
558.
ma SHAVER STARCROSS 288 layer
is making a significant contribution to
Canada's export trade and Is now sold
in 20 countries abroad. Achievements
of Canadian agriculture pre Well known
abroad, and the profitable and reliable
performance of SHAVER STARCROSS
288 is further adding to this repute.
tion Perhaps you've not tried this out.,
standing layer yet; this is a good year
to do so. There's an authorized Shaver
distributor near you, or write for prices
and catalog to Shaver Poultry Breed-
ing Farms Ltd., Box 400G, Galt, Ontario.
BUSINESS PROPERTIES FOR SALE
MODERN self serve groeeteria and
general store in fast growing corn -
=natty on main highway near Lon-
don. Good turnover, Large modern
apartment. Store and apartment paint-
ed and renovated in past year. New
clean stock, oll heat, stock and fixturea
for sale. Building rented reasonably.
First time offered. Illness reason. In-
terested parties only, Box 246, 123 18th
Street, Toronto 14, Ont.
FARM HELP WANTED — MALE
MARRIED man, fully experienced, cap.
able of taking charge of herd for year,
round employment on dairy farm. Sep.
arate living quarters for small family.
Heat, electricity, milk supplied. •Ap ly
stating wages and size of family, Mel-
vin J Baird, R,R 3, Carp, Ontario.
WANTED—Experienced singleman for
mixed farm, Must be able to milk by
machine, Apply Craig McClure, RR No.
2. Norval, phone area code 416, 865.
8649,
FARMS FOR SALE
100 Acre good clay loam farm for sale.
Well drained, with drilled well• 6 Room
brick house, on heat 4 piece bath
down, toilet upstairs. 'Large barn with
straw shed, milk house and drive shed.
.Apply Edwin N. Drager, RR No. 2,
Listowel, Ontario. Thls advertisement
1s published free as one of the many
benefits of:—
THE-ALLIED' SERVICES (CANADA)
P.O. BOX 1029, LONDON Ontario
FLORIDA VACATION RESORTS
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
ATLANTIC SEASIDE COURT
FOR ideal vacation, swimming, fishing
and plenty of warm sunshine and fun.
Come to Florida. For information, write
to Pauline and Joe McKay, 3119 South
Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, Florida.
FOR SALE — .MISCELLANEOUS
PECANS, (NUTS) Postage paid to'you,
Write for prices. Blaine Mere. Co.,
Darling 1, Mississippi, U.S.A.
FALLOUT
SHELTERS
95% of the country will survive
— if they have a place to go.
CALL: KERNOHAN LUMBER
Days GE 23896
Ev'gs, GE 2.6197, GE 9.5522
620 Adelaide St., London
HELP WANTED FEMALE
DIETICIAN
REQUIRED immediately for 105 - bed
hospital. 40 -hour week. Salary coin.
mensurate with qualifications and ex-
dre'pptllntrnSt.
wo Hoia, Midland, An•
HEALTH
NUTRITION is important to safeguard
your family's health. Nutri -Bio vitamin
and mineral supplement la new and
revolutionary in its field. Write for
free details, Greenbrier Nutri -Bio, P.O.
Box 271, Downers Grove, Illinois.
HORSES FOR SALE
PONY or Horse for your child: Safe
equipment and reliable books on the
handling of animals: Ideal Xmas gifts
at 3 "C' Ranch, Flying Goose Farm,
Erindale. Phone 8263533.
INVESTMENTS
8%
GUARANTEED
And secured. With no collection !men.tory or management problems. Interest
and principal quarterly.Call or write.
Income Investments Lt.. 42 James N.,
Hamilton, JA. 7.4558.
MONEY WANTED
FULLY SECURED
P/a% or 10%
Depending on the Plan
Your capital Is securedby mortgages
on selected real estate. You hold all
legal document* In your name.
Phone or Write for Free Brochure
Eglinton Crecjit Corp. Ltd.
97 EGLINTON E. — HU. 1-3328
TORONTO 12, ONT.
MEDICAL
GOOD RESOLUTION -- EVERY
SUFFERER OF RHEUMATIC PAiNS
CR NEURITIS SHOULD TRY
DIXON'S REMEDY,,
MUNRO'S DRUG STORE
335 ELGIN OTTAWA
$1.25 Express Collect,
POST'S ECZEMA SALVE
BANISH the torment of dry eczema
rashes and weeping elan troubles:
Posta Eczema Salve will not disappoint
you Itching scalding And burning ecze.
ma, acne, ringworm, pimples and . foot
eczema will respond readily to thn
stainless, odorless ointment regardles8
of how stubborn or hopeless they seem.
Sent Post Free on Receipt of Price
PRICE $3.50. PER JAR.
POST'S REMEDIES
1665 st. clalr Avenue East I
TORONTO
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MEN AND WOMEN
BE A HAIRDRESSER
JOIN CANADA'S LEADING SCHOOL
Great Opportunity
Learn Hairdressing
Pleasant dignified profession, good
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358 Blear St. W., Toronto
Branches:
44 ling St. W„ Hamilton
72 Rideau Street, Ottawa
OP INTEREST TO WOMEN
10 INCH MERLITE Fry Pan! 'rhe non.
stick sklllet,•Dupont teflon coating lets
you cook without shortening, or fats.
Easy to clean, specially treated surface.
Postpaid $5.00, Amodio, 1848 East 14th
Street, Brooklyn 29, New York.
PERSONAL
LOVERS OF G0D1 Learn His declared
purposes - fear not but rejoice in
confident hope. Write Bible Truth Mie.
alon, Box 811 Brantford, Ont.
HYGENIC RUBBER GOODS
TESTED, guaranteed, mailedin plain
parcel Including catalogue and sex
book free with trial assortment, 18 for
$1.00 (Finest quality) Western DtstrIbu.
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PIGEONS FOR SALE
PEDIGREED Racing Homer Pigeons,,
Sion Strain, flown up to 200 miles.
Pries 95.25 either sex, papers included.,
Kasper Sperle, Heron Bay South, Ont..
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
OWNER offers Beautiful revenue pro.
ducing garden property on Paved road,
Rouse all conveniences. Age forces
rale. Particulars: Wm. Brethour, Sev-
ern Bridge, Ontario.
STAMPS
FREE mint Africa set and 5 U S. corn -
mem., with approvals Litho, Box 51.
Canoga Park, . Calif.
. TIMBER WANTED
HIGHEST prices paid for standing elm
timber. - Apply McAllister Mills, 298
Cardigan St., Geulph. Phone Guelph
TA. 2.9351,
TRADE SCHOOLS
ELECTRONICS
Evening classes In radio, television
color automation, Transistors and semi
conductors. Visit or write Radio Elea-
tronie Television School, 725 Dundas,
London, GE. 3-2001.
WELDING EQUIPMENT
WELDING Machines, Electric, Used,
Good Condition, Very Reasonable. May
be seen or picked up at Saltfleet
Equipment, Belgraden Avenue. Stoney
Creek. Norman 4-4461.
ISSUE 49 - 190
FRAME OF REFERENCE -.
This violin maker—with tl'3>':t!'
appropriate ..name .,of ..Joh-?
Note—fits neatly inside a viers
Iin.cutout in his shop.
ka
GRAVE SITUATION — Although it looks like the landmark of a former Republican leader,
this six -foot -high stone elephant is dedicated to the memory of William P. Duggan, a
former circus owner. The statue wos erected in a ce;ira,ery near Moultrie, Ga,