Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3678, 8 October 1880, Page 2

The Japan Mail of a recent date girts an account of the following astounding trick:—lt is being exhibited at Josbids bashi. The performance takei place in • small room 26ft long by 12ft wide, ..half; 1 being allotted to the spaet»tors,rw*» *••£ admitted on the payment bMbe SBedaraU* ■ fee of two centi. The " propertug^ consist of a deal table and a sword, £••: After the usual soul stirring flourish sjiis'e?' dram and samisen, a man and wonts* ■->,_ appear, from behind a screen f the " man binds the woman's head in a etsw and she then kneels down dost to the table, and;sideways to the specta- . tors. The man then draws the sword, makes a violent blow at the woman's neok; she falls forward, inns extended and limbs twitching. He then, luring first wiped the sword on a gory looking piece of rag, takes up (apparently) the woman's head, wrapped in the cloth, and places it on the table. To all appearance it is a human head, the eyelids and features hare a conralsire motion; presently the eyes open in a dreamy sort of way, and, to the accompaniment of the everlasting samisen, the head v sings a mournful song. A curtain/ is then interposed between the Audi* ence and the performers, and when again drawn back the woman is disolosd quietly seated alongside the man.' When.'. it is recollected that all this takes place within about three feet from the spectator, and that the "properties" are of the simplest description, some idea may be formed of the wonderful excellence oft performance whioh has exoited attention. Two centuries ago not one in a hundred wore stockings. Fifty years ago not a boy in a thousand was allowed to ran at large at night. Fifty yean ago not a girl in a thousand made,a waiting.aeii . of her mother. Wonderful improrement* in this age.