Although seldom presenting it in his recent performances, Ching Ling Foo is a fire-eater of the highest type, refining the effect with the same subtle artistry that marks all the work of this super-magician.
Always have a large blanket at hand to smother flames in burning clothing - also a bucket of water and a quantity of sand. A siphon of carbonic water is an excellent fire extinguisher.
Another method of eating burning coals employs small balls of burned cotton in a dish of burning alcohol.
But it must not be thought that I say this out of personal experience: for in the many years that I have been before the public my secret methods have been steadily shielded by the strict integrity of my assistants, most of whom have been with me for years.
But then, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secrecy, honor and allegiance under a notarial oath.
Chabert first attracted public notice in Paris, at which time his demonstrations of heat-resistance were sufficiently astonishing to merit the attention of no less a body than the National Institute.
Drinking boiling liquor is accomplished by using a cup with a false bottom, under which the liquor is retained.
Eating coals of fire has always been one of the sensational feats of the Fire Kings, as it is quite generally known that charcoal burns with an extremely intense heat.
Exposure of the secrets of the fire-eaters, for instance, dates back almost to the beginning of the art itself.
Fire has always been and, seemingly, will always remain, the most terrible of the elements.
Flames from the lips may be produced by holding in the mouth a sponge saturated with the purest gasoline.
How the early priests came into possession of these secrets does not appear, and if there were ever any records of this kind the Church would hardly allow them to become public.
I make the most money, I think, in Russia and Paris, for the people of those countries are so willing to be amused, so eager to see something new and out of the ordinary.
I think that in a year I may retire. I cannot take my money with me when I die and I wish to enjoy it, with my family, while I live. I should prefer living in Germany to any other country, though I am an American, and am loyal to my country.
In all feats of fire-eating it should be noted that the head is thrown well back, so that the flame may pass out of the open mouth instead of up into the roof, as it would if the head were held naturally.
In more recent times there have been a number of Negro fire-eaters, but none seems to have risen to noticeable prominence.
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.
It is still an open question, however, as to what extent exposure really injures a performer.
Much of the power to resist greater degrees of heat than can other men may be a natural gift, much the result of chemical applications, and much from having the parts indurated by long practice; probably all three are combined in this phenomenon, with some portion of artifice.
My business has given me an intimate knowledge of stage illusions, together with many years of experience among show people of all types.
My professional life has been a constant record of disillusion, and many things that seem wonderful to most men are the every-day commonplaces of my business.
No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.
Only one man ever betrayed my confidence, and that only in a minor matter.
Such disloyalty in trusted servants is one of the most disheartening things that can happen to a public performer.
That fire could be produced through friction finally came into the knowledge of man, but the early methods entailed much labor.
The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.
The great day of the Fire-eater - or, should I say, the day of the great Fire-eater - has passed.
The spheroidal condition of liquids was discovered by Leidenfrost, but M. Boutigny was the first to give this singular subject careful investigation.
To cause the face to appear in a mass of flame make use of the following: mix together thoroughly petroleum, lard, mutton tallow and quick lime. Distill this over a charcoal fire, and the liquid which results can be burned on the face without harm.
Whatever the reason, the eighteenth century fire-eaters, like too many magicians of the present day, kept to the stereotyped programmes of their predecessors.
Yet to-day, if a mystifier lack the ingenuity to invent a new and startling stunt, he can safely fall back upon a trick that has been the favorite of pressagents the world over in all ages.
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