INSTANTANEOUS GROWTH OF WHISKERS, ETC. 1879

Do you remember copying your Dad shaving when you were a youngster...Now, with this great advice boys and girls can have their whiskers too!!

INSTANTANEOUS GROWTH OF WHISKERS, ETC.

Most boys have a passion for whiskers, and (if some of them have not been much maligned) the use of the razor has frequently been discovered before the necessity of its assistance has arisen.

Shaving to produce hair, however, is a slow process to that which our boys may adopt this merry holiday-tide by a system which is simplicity itself. As if by magic, beard, moustache, whiskers, “billy-goat” every style of hirsute adornment, spread over the downy lips, cheeks, chins, of unfledged striplings!

And this is HOW IT’S DONE! Apparatus required:- two screens, a table, two lamps and reflectors, a small piece of silvered glass, and several pieces of wood with cardboard tacked on to them, which we will describe.

The performer sits behind a table, with the screens on either hand, and the lamps are arranged behind these on each side, on a level with his face upon which, by the aid of the reflectors, a strong light is thrown. Between his face and the lamps he holds a stick in each hand, and on the tops of these (which should be long enough to rest on the table, to give them steadiness) are fixed pieces of cardboard of such shape that their shadows falling on the face give the effect of moustache, whiskers, etc. On the table the piece of silvered glass is fixed so that it will not interfere with the view of the audience, and yet the performer may see his face in it.

The lights being “down” in front greatly assists the illusion, and some extra fun may be made by swallowing the moustache. This is done by opening the mouth, and, at the same moment turning the sticks sharply, so as to remove the shadows from the lips.

We cannot give any precise instructions as to the shape of the cardboard pieces, as all, of course, depends upon the size of the face. A little practice will however, soon determine the shapes required for “beard of formal cut,” or moustachios of all kinds and sizes.

 
We will give the simplest form first, (fig.1); but you may go into very elaborate curled moustachios and deliver a lecture on the various forms of vanity in these matters, the military moustache, the fop’s etc., with illustrations.

Here is an elegant one for instance, (fig.2) a “curled darling.” The sticks, lamps, and all your other aids to illusion are out of the view of the audience, concealed by the screens, and your face appears thus:-

Here is the back view, with the lamps fixed to the screens, and throwing a fierce light on the artist’s face; and his whiskers, etc, which are not in use are ready on racks at each side, you will observe.

If the expression of the face be altered for the different styles of moustache, etc., it will add very much to the fun of the entertainment.

Death of the Abyssinian Prince 1879

that follows has a more serious tone than some of my recent offerings. It is none the less intriguing, the background to the life of the Ethiopian prince, Amarayu has aspects relevant today.

DEATH OF THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE

The story of King Theodore of Abyssinia, his violent passions, his barbarous cruelties, his endless wars, his defiance of British power, the attack on him by General Napier, his determined resistance, and his fall behind the gates of his own city, Magdala – the story of all this must familiar, in part at least, to most readers.

The history of the march of our brave troops to set free the captives whom Theodore had so wantonly imprisoned is one well worthy boys’ reading, and we may perhaps be tempted one day to retell it, with suitable illustrations, in these columns. At present, however, we have to do, not with the terrible king, but with his son.

When Magdala had fallen and Theodore was dead, the Queen of Abyssinia sought refuge in the English camp, but in a few days died of consumption, leaving an orphan son, named Dejaz Alamieo (or Alamayu), between seven and eight years old. What could be done with him? The country was in confusion, thechiefs were opposed to one another, and there was great danger that if the little orphan boy were left behind he would speedily be got rid of, possibly by a cruel death. It was accordingly determined to bring him to England, and he was committed to the kindly guardianship of Captain Speedy to whom he soon became attached.

The prince on reaching England was placed at school, and proving a sharp lad, quickly made progress in his studies, and continued to grow in the respect of all who knew him. He has just died, and as many references to the sad event have been made in the daily papers, we thought our readers might like to know what he was like when brought to this country. The portrait we give is from a photograph taken at the time, and admirably preserves the likeness.

 

The prince died on November 14^th, at the age of eighteen, of inflammation of the lungs, at the residence of Professor Ransome, at Headingley, where he was being educated at the expense of the Government. During his illness our beloved Queen, who took a warm interest in him, twice sent Sir John Cowell to see him, and was kept constantly informed by telegrams as to his condition. The remains of the young prince were brought to Windsor, and buried in the royal catacombs, St George’s Chapel.

We thought it might, perhaps, add to the interest of this brief sketch if we also gave a portrait of Lord Napier of Magdala, and we have selected for the one taken about the time that the prince was photographed; in other words, soon after the general’s successful campaign in Africa by which he won his present title.