The Land of the Geisha
CHINA was wondeful. Its vastness, the simplicity of its people and--their guile. They were intensely interested in our demonstrations of thought-reading, but all the time they were on the look-out for some code, and even when we submitted to tests imposed upon us by their own professional conjurors they were frankly doubtful, and we had dozens and dozens of offers to buy the secret of "how it was done."
This desire on the part of other people to fathom the means by which we accomplish our feats has led to several exciting incidents, for despite all the special tests to which we have been put, and the impossibility of trickery, folks will not accept our own explanation of the matter, and endeavour to obtain by any means in their power what they are pleased to term our "secret."
My first view of Japan was very different from this for when we got into dock I was amazed to see the women engaged in the arduous work of coaling the steamers.
Whilst I was in Tokio, the city was plunged into excitement by the disappearance of one beautiful geisha known an "Apple Blossom." it turned out to he a romantic disappearance after all, as she eloped with a young and penniless lover who had spent a small fortune in coming to free her at the house of her master.
My wife and I had given a thought-reading demonstration one evening, and had been invited afterwards to a private dinner at the house of a well-known member of the Japanese nobility. At this gathering there were a number of the finest conjurors and illusionists in Japan.
Now, I have frequently spoken of the sort of intuition which my wife and when we were called upon to undergo a few private tests she did a very unusual thing. She point-blank refused.
I was amazed, and could not understand her reason. I tried to persuade her to change her mind, and at length succeded, although she warned me that she did not feel at all comfortable about it, and was certain that something was going to happen.
I have no nerves and thinking that she was somewhat unstrung at the idea of performing before such a critical audience, I assured hed that it was quite alright.
It was, so far as the performance went, althought we were put through some very severe tests. The audience was very quick, and I had scarcely got hold of one object before another was handed to me. Now, this often has a disturbing influence on our work. Whilst I am engaged in conveying one object I am forced to see another, and my mind sometimes conveys that as well. Consequently things become a trifle mixed.
We got through all right, and then my wife declared that she must go home. I was persuaded to stay, and had a very interesting time, discussing magic and illusions.
At length I set out to reach my hotel, and thought as it was a nice night I would walk. This I did and had almost reached the turning when I felt somebody behind me. I turned quickly, and as I did so two men came towards me in a very threatening attitude. The face of one seemed familiar, although I could not quite place it.
At that moment, I remember, I clearly visualised the scene. The silent street with a store at the corner and the faces of the two men. I was undecided what to do, but my indecision rapidly evaporated when I saw the flying figure of my wife coming towards me accompanied by a Japanese constable.
The two men at once took to their heels and fled, whilst my wife said that she had sensed something wrong all the time, and a moment before she had actually received the impression of the place where the two men were about to attack me, and had fortunately found a police officer just outside the hotel and brought him along with her.
She recognised one of the men as the servant of one of the Japanese illusionists, who afterwards confessed that he had instructed his men to get hold of me somehow and extract the secret of my thought-reading feats in any manner they could.
Had it not been for the curious intuition of my wife there is no doubt that I should have suffered some sort of assault, probably by means of Ju-Jitsu, though I am afraid the results would have been very disappointing to the conjuror.