登陆注册
26136800000026

第26章

SWORD-SWALLOWERS: CLIQUOT, DELNO

FRITZ, DEODATA, A RAZOR-SWALLOWER, AN UMBRELLA-SWALLOWER, WILLIAMDEMPSTER, JOHN CUMMING, EDITH

CLIFFORD, VICTORINA.

It has sometimes been noted in the foregoing pages, that fire-eaters, finding it difficult to invent new effects in their own sphere, have strayed into other fields of endeavor in order to amplify their programmes.Thus we find them resorting to the allied arts of poison-eating, sword-swallowing and the stunts of the so-called Human Ostrich.

In this connection I consider it not out of place for me to include a description of a number of those who have, either through unusual gifts of nature or through clever artifice, seemingly submitted to tests which we have been taught to believe were far and away beyond the outposts of human endurance.By the introduction of these thrills each notable newcomer has endeavored to go his predecessors one better, and the issue of challenges to all comers to match these startling effects has been by no means infrequent, but I fail to discover a single acceptance of such a challenge.

To accomplish the sword-swallowing feat, it is only necessary to overcome the nausea that results from the metal's touching the mucous membrane of the pharynx, for there is an unobstructed passage, large enough to accommodate several of the thin blades used, from the mouth to the bottom of the stomach.

This passage is not straight, but the passing of the sword straightens it.Some throats are more sensitive than others, but practice will soon accustom any throat to the passage of the blade.When a sword with a sharp point is used the performer secretly slips a rubber cap over the point to guard against accident.

It is said that the medical fraternity first learned of the possibility of overcoming the sensitiveness of the pharynx by investigating the methods of the sword-swallowers.

Cliquot, who was one of the most prominent sword-swallowers of his time, finally ``reformed''

and is now a music hall agent in England.

The Strand Magazine (1896) has this to say of Cliquot and his art:

The Chevalier Cliquot (these fellows MUST have titles) in the act of swallowing the major part of a cavalry sword 22inches long.

Cliquot, whose name suggests the swallowing of something much more grateful and comforting than steel swords, is a French Canadian by birth, and has been the admitted chief in his profession for more than 18 years.He ran away from his home in Quebec at an early age, and joined a travelling circus bound for South America.On seeing an arrant old humbug swallow a small machete, in Buenos Ayres, the boy took a fancy to the performance, and approached the old humbug aforesaid with the view of being taught the business.Not having any money, however, wherewith to pay the necessary premium, the overtures of the would-be apprentice were repulsed; whereupon he set about experimenting with his own aesophagus with a piece of silver wire.

To say the preliminary training for this sort of thing is painful, is to state the fact most moderately; and even when stern purpose has triumphed over the laws of anatomy, terrible danger still remains.

On one occasion having swallowed a sword, and then bent his body in different directions, as an adventurous sensation, Cliquot found that the weapon also had bent to a sharp angle; and quick as thought, realizing his own position as well as that of the sword, he whipped it out, tearing his throat in a dreadful manner.

Plainly, had the upper part of the weapon become detached, the sword swallower's career must infallibly have come to an untimely end.Again, in New York, when swallowing 14 nine-inch bayonet swords at once, Cliquot had the misfortune to have a too sceptical audience, one of whom, a medical man who ought to have known better, rushed forward and impulsively dragged out the whole bunch, inflicting such injuries upon this peculiar entertainer as to endanger his life, and incapacitate him for months.

In one of his acts Cliquot swallows a real bayonet sword, weighted with a cross-bar, and two 18-lb.dumb bells.In order to vary this performance, the sword-swallower allows only a part of the weapon to pass into his body, the remainder being ``kicked'' down by the recoil of a rifle, which is fixed to a spike in the centre of the bar, and fired by the performer's sister.

The last act in this extraordinary performance is the swallowing of a gold watch.As a rule, Cliquot borrows one, but as no timepiece was forthcoming at the private exhibition where I saw him, he proceeded to lower his own big chronometer into his aesophagus by a slender gold chain.Many of the most eminent physicians and surgeons in this country immediately rushed forward with various instruments, and the privileged few took turns in listening for the ticking of the watch inside the performer's body.

``Poor, outraged nature is biding her time,'' remarked one physician, ``but mark me, she will have a terrible revenge sooner or later!''

Eaters of glass, tacks, pebbles, and like objects, actually swallow these seemingly impossible things, and disgorge them after the performance is over.That the disgorging is not always successful is evidenced by the hospital records of many surgical operations on performers of this class, when quantities of solid matter are found lodged in the stomach.

Delno Fritz was not only an excellent sword-swallower, but a good showman as well.The last time I saw him he was working the ``halls''

in England.I hope he saved his money, for he was a clean man with a clean reputation, and, I can truly say, he was a master in his manner of indulging his appetite for the cold steel.

Deodota, an Italian Magician, was also a sword-swallower of more than average ability.

He succumbed to the lure of commercialism finally, and is now in the jewelry business in the ``down-town district'' of New York City.

Sword-swallowing may be harmlessly imitated by the use of a fake sword with a telescopic blade, which slides into the handle.

同类推荐
  • Hunted Down

    Hunted Down

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 缁门警训

    缁门警训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 回生集

    回生集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 黄石公素书二

    黄石公素书二

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Conquest of Canaan

    The Conquest of Canaan

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 囚道噬天

    囚道噬天

    易凡,九岁失忆,成为孤儿。六年后,他决定去找寻父母,却突然遭遇无妄之灾,身死之后,灵魂被带到宇宙虚空,重获新生。从此,他成为了一名修行者,踏入了修行界,修行界因他而精彩,因他而疯狂。他,手掌地狱,天堂与人间,一步一步踏上宇宙巅峰。
  • 花开半夏琉璃梦

    花开半夏琉璃梦

    “沈楠渊,这次我走,就是我们分开的第一百零一次了,你会记着我的对吧?”“嗯……”“不是说好的不离开我吗?”“对不起,我需要休息。”……“丫头,一百零一次分手,一百零一次告白,这次回来你不会再走了吧?”“……沈楠渊,我怕……”“别怕,我在!”这是个上错公交车遇流氓的故事,一百零一次分开,第一百零二次遇见,公交车上的流氓依然死死不放手,她这个大神的记忆里有着他的戾气冷漠,唯独没有他的温柔,有他的霸道混蛋,唯独没有他的紧张崩溃,这次的相遇是否会放手?再言!那个上错公交就遇流氓的故事。
  • 武炼永神

    武炼永神

    问下天下,谁人不死,亘古以来,万古君王,绝代圣皇,仙界仙帝,手段遮天依旧难夺造化,化为黄土。大道路,踏骨行,夺造化,握乾坤。叶辰因一次自爆激发体内未知因果穿越走向逆天道路,向着更强大的星球出发。寻求武炼永生大道。追求武炼巅峰之境。希望大家随手点击收藏,送月票。需要你们的支持!《武炼永神》交流群208121746欢迎加入一起讨论。
  • 伐天斩道

    伐天斩道

    孤儿李风是一个人见人欺,吃了上顿没有下顿的悲惨人儿。凭借一个破瓦盆,开启了修仙之路。从此为了不再让人欺负而努力修炼,为了有饭吃而坑人,为了多活几百年而抢夺机缘。一场波澜壮阔,艰辛戮血的修仙盛事于嬉笑怒骂中开始......
  • 智慧生存——人生方与圆

    智慧生存——人生方与圆

    21世纪是竞争激烈而充满机会的时代。青年人怎样才能更好地生存、发展?本书涉及的问题与个人前途息息相关,又是在学校里较少接触的,包括:如何创业赚钱;如何更快地升迁;如何开拓思路,增强创新能力;如何提高情感智商,反败为胜;如何与人相处;如何获得他人(尤其是异性)的喜爱;如何防止受骗等等。其中既有人生智慧、经验总结,又有对未来信息社会规律的揭示。本书深入浅出,有较强的实用价值,必将有助于全面提升个人素质,使您在人生之旅左右逢源、受益无穷!本书还可用于各单位员工培训。
  • 媒介教育论:起源、理论与应用

    媒介教育论:起源、理论与应用

    进入2008年以来,我国连续发生了一些大事,从年初的冰雪灾害,到拉萨“3·14”事件,奥运圣火传递,到“5·12”四川汶川大地震,世界各国甚为关注,也引起世界传媒广泛而强烈的复杂反应。从众多而繁杂的媒体声音中,我国民众识别了友好、善意的朋友,也看到了西方仇华、反华舆论的猖獗;识别了西方某些媒体虚假报道后面的反华心态,看到了我国面临的外部舆论形势的严峻,领悟到媒介教育的刻不容缓。
  • 九曲神墓

    九曲神墓

    百万中难得一见的古墓,万千中的人才,谁能脱颖而出,探索这道古墓,使其重现人间。谁又能阻挡这重重迷雾,阴狠毒辣,使其万人死亡。每一步都是重重杀机,谁能站在巅峰没人可知
  • Riders of the Purple Sage

    Riders of the Purple Sage

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 智于识人:王牌公关专家的识人秘诀

    智于识人:王牌公关专家的识人秘诀

    卓越的人,懂得如何赢得友谊与影响他人,人是世界的、社会的主宰者,研究人、了解人的想法,是取得成功的一个捷径。得人之道,在于识人。识人之前,重在观人。观人重在言与行,识人重在德与能。
  • 凝视之瞳

    凝视之瞳

    你见到过么,有那么一只眼睛,既是杀戮,也是人心。