THE MAGIC KETTLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 10 November 1905, Page 3

THE MAGIC KETTLE.

THE MARVEL OF THE AGE.

All arrangements have been completed for the appearanoo on Wednesday and Thursday next, at His Majesty’s Theatre,

j of one of the most interesting novelties ever placed beforo an audienoe. This is I the “ Magic Kettle," the invention of ProI fessor Andrews, and first exhibited by him I at the Palace Theatre, London. I The Professor has been able to turn the I disoovery to the purpose of public amuseI ment as well as instruction. From the I moment of his entry on the stage he pro- j I oeeds, with its assistance, to play praotioal I jokes with the audienoe. One obliging gentlemen lends his hat and another his handkerchief. The handkerchief is not I clean, and the Professor proceeds to wash it. The kettle is lifted steaming from the ' hob, the hat is filled with liquid air, the I handkerchief is dipped in it and oornes out clean and dry, and there is nothing the matter with the hat. An indiarubber ball is plaoed in a cubiole, the oontents of the I kettle are poured on it, and in a second or I two >t is taken out and smashed on the floor as brittle as glass. There is nothing I the matter with the oubiole. Fresh bloom-

I ing flowers are given a whiff of the air, and in an instant are transformed to a state of frozen beauty. It is wonderful. The Profossor proceeds to make ioe-oream. He has all the ingredients ready to hand, and the oream and the sugar are boiled on liquid air and in a moment dished up cold. The audienoe testified that, after it was down, tbero waa nothing the matter with the ioe-oream. They could also testify that a glass of whisky after being treated by the liquid air process, was harder than the glass that held it. Freezing under the liquid air system is a matter of lightning charges. A pieoe of raw, j juioy steak plaoed on the kettle for a moment or two beoomes as hard as a briok. The power of the air forces a wooden plug from an empty iron tube like a shot from a gun. Then the kettle changes its magio tactios. Placed on a blook of ice it begins to boil, and with the steam issuing from its spout does what it is quits qualified in doing blows its own trumpet. By way of a little by-play the Prfoessor lit a oigar at the escaping vapour and it broke into a flame, and then filling a glass of liquid air he wished the audieooo luck and swallowed it—and there was nothing the matter with the p-ofessor. Just how all this is done is a mystery. At the conclusion of the performance the kettle was handed round for inspection, aadwa3 found to be coated with a covering of snow. Professor Andrews explained that it contained about 740 feet of ordinary atmos phere, the liquid air being about 300 degrees below zero. It costs about £5 to fill the kettle for each performance, and a special plant with its engineer is now stationed in Wellington for the manufacture of liquid air."