pages: latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf, 225
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latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 225 | THE USE OF THE WAND 209 portions of one-while walking-sticks, promoted to a nobler use. Mr. J. N. Maskelyne's "wand" is an ordinary file, which, from the inventor point of view, he regards as the greatest of wonder-work- ing appliances. My own contribution may claim to be of excep- tional interest, not merely as being in itself a curio, but as a memento of a very remarkable man, SO remarkable, indeed, that a brief notice of his career may be interesting. It was presented to me by Professor Palmer, a gentleman who was not, like myself, a bogus professor, but the real thing, and withal an exceptionally eminent man. Skill in sleight-of-hand was the least of his accomplish- ments. He had a marvellous gift of tongue, there being scarcely a European or Oriental language with which he was not thoroughly familiar. He was born at. Cambridge in 1840, and from his earliest years showed indications of his peculiar gift for acquiring languages. As a school-boy he made friends among the gipsies, and learned to speak their queer language so perfectly as to deceive even those to whom it was their native tongue. In later life it was a favourite joke of his to saunter, in company with his equally accom- plished friend, Leland, into some gipsy encamp- ment where they were not known, and after pay- ing their footing by having their fortunes told, to ask some of the nomads gathered round the fire, to talk a little Rommany for their benefit. Gip- |