WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:03.500 Two women patch up a 44-year-old quarrel. 00:03.600 --> 00:07.000 The mystery of the death of Chong Ling Su has never been solved. 00:07.100 --> 00:10.300 Looking glasses are placed on the back of the seats in Westminster Abbey. 00:10.400 --> 00:11.800 Can you imagine that? 00:11.900 --> 00:14.300 Once more, my friends, this is Lindsay McCarrie speaking to you 00:14.400 --> 00:17.300 out of the welter of amazing facts we're about to tell you. 00:17.400 --> 00:20.300 We're going to tell you about the death of a young woman 00:20.400 --> 00:22.700 who was a member of the West Virginia police. 00:22.800 --> 00:26.300 She was a young woman who was a member of the West Virginia police. 00:26.300 --> 00:31.100 My friends, this is Lindsay McCarrie speaking to you out of the welter of amazing facts we're about to present to you. 00:31.100 --> 00:56.600 We'll return with the first one in a moment or two and we hope you'll be with us. 02:02.100 --> 02:08.600 And now, yep, it's the first one of our presentations of Can You Imagine That Items for this session. 02:08.700 --> 02:12.600 It's the story of a quarrel, a quarrel which lasted for 44 years, 02:12.700 --> 02:18.100 a quarrel which separated two old friends, but it was a quarrel which neither changed the map of the world, 02:18.200 --> 02:22.100 nor lifted the crown from the head of a monarch, nor sent nations into armed conflict. 02:22.200 --> 02:25.100 It was, as quarrels go, of little consequence. 02:25.200 --> 02:27.600 But it is a good yarn and I think you'll enjoy it. 02:27.600 --> 02:33.500 In the year 1864, little Bertha Sen, age 13, came to work for the Klotz family of Brooklyn. 02:33.600 --> 02:38.500 About the same time, 20-year-old Christina Deal also came to work for the Klotz household. 02:38.600 --> 02:43.500 Six years later, they came to a difference of opinion and Christina quit her job. 02:43.600 --> 02:45.500 Well, not much of a story so far, is it? 02:45.600 --> 02:50.000 Well, time went on and Bertha Sen remained as maid to Mrs. Samuel Klotz. 02:50.100 --> 02:54.500 And right there, I might remark that the servant problem in the Klotz home ceased to exist 02:54.500 --> 02:59.400 for Bertha Sen remained as maid to Mrs. Klotz for 50 years. 02:59.500 --> 03:00.400 Yep, it's true. 03:00.500 --> 03:06.400 And on the 1st of May, 1914, the Klotz family gave a party to Bertha upon the occasion of her 63rd birthday, 03:06.500 --> 03:12.400 a party attended by eight grown sons and daughters of the Klotz family whom Bertha had tended as babies. 03:12.500 --> 03:16.400 As an added surprise, and what a surprise it must have been to Bertha, 03:16.500 --> 03:19.400 the Klotz's invited 70-year-old Christina Deal. 03:19.500 --> 03:21.400 Of course, you know the end of the story. 03:21.400 --> 03:26.300 Bertha and Christina patched up their 44-year-old quarrel and amused the Klotz household 03:26.400 --> 03:31.300 by dancing together a few steps of a dance then coming into popularity, the tango. 03:31.400 --> 03:33.300 Can you imagine that? 03:33.400 --> 03:38.300 Well, it is said that the world pities the man who wears his heart upon his sleeve. 03:38.400 --> 03:42.300 Here's a judge who pitied a man who wore his vocation up his sleeve. 03:42.400 --> 03:47.300 Away back in 1905, the day after New Year's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 03:47.300 --> 03:52.200 a passenger train pulls into the Northwestern Depot. 03:52.300 --> 03:54.200 Hey, hey, officer. 03:54.300 --> 03:56.200 What's the matter, conductor? 03:56.300 --> 03:58.200 This fellow's just rid in blind baggage. 03:58.300 --> 04:01.200 Oh, is that so now? You'd better come along with me, young fella. 04:01.300 --> 04:05.200 Wait a minute, though. I think I'd be searching you first. 04:05.300 --> 04:07.200 Hey, hey, what's this? Two nines. 04:07.300 --> 04:09.200 Well, but I can explain that, officer. 04:09.200 --> 04:17.100 Come on, now. You can explain to the judge. Come on. 04:17.200 --> 04:19.100 Escorting a self-assured prisoner to the courthouse, 04:19.200 --> 04:22.100 Officer McGinnis enters the courtroom of Judge Neelan 04:22.200 --> 04:24.100 and planks down two wicked-looking daggers, 04:24.200 --> 04:28.100 one about 12 inches and the other about 20 inches long. 04:28.200 --> 04:32.100 There you are, your honor. I found these two knives on the person of the prisoner here. 04:32.200 --> 04:35.100 Hmm. You look like a dangerous person. What's your name? 04:35.200 --> 04:37.100 Fred Remke, your honor. 04:37.100 --> 04:39.000 Well, Remke, what's the idea of these knives? 04:39.100 --> 04:40.000 What do you think you're going to do with them? 04:40.100 --> 04:42.000 Swallow them. 04:42.100 --> 04:44.000 What? But don't... 04:44.100 --> 04:46.000 What? You were going to swallow them? 04:46.100 --> 04:50.000 Yes, your honor. As a matter of fact, I make my living eating knives. 04:50.100 --> 04:54.000 Oh. Well, I'm going to give you a chance to prove your statement. 04:54.100 --> 04:57.000 And if you can, I'll let you go. Go ahead. Swallow. 04:57.100 --> 05:00.000 Well, all right. Wait till I open my collar here. 05:00.100 --> 05:02.000 There. 05:02.100 --> 05:05.000 One, one. I'll be tied. 05:05.000 --> 05:06.900 Order, order. 05:07.000 --> 05:08.900 Ah, that was easy. I do it all the time. 05:09.000 --> 05:13.900 All right, young man. I'll sentence you to a fine of $10 for carrying concealed weapons. 05:14.000 --> 05:14.900 Well, but, your honor... 05:15.000 --> 05:17.900 I'm sentenced suspended. Next case. 05:18.000 --> 05:20.900 The hand is quicker than the eye. 05:21.000 --> 05:23.900 Thus goes the old saying about the dexterity of magicians. 05:24.000 --> 05:28.900 And here's another case where it took just that to get the two magicians out of the clutches of the law. 05:29.000 --> 05:30.900 It happened in Barrington, New Jersey. 05:30.900 --> 05:34.800 When Mr. Patman and Bob Hummer, two magicians, were on their way home when... 05:34.900 --> 05:35.800 Hey, you two. Wait a minute. 05:35.900 --> 05:37.800 Yes, sir, officer. What's the trouble? 05:37.900 --> 05:39.800 What are you carrying in that little trunk? 05:39.900 --> 05:40.800 Well, just some of our apparatus. 05:40.900 --> 05:42.800 Well, I'm going to take a look at it. 05:42.900 --> 05:44.800 You see, officer, just apparatus. 05:44.900 --> 05:48.800 Apparatus, huh? I guess this revolver is just apparatus, huh? 05:48.900 --> 05:49.800 You guys come along with me. 05:49.900 --> 05:50.800 Oh, now wait a minute, officer. 05:50.900 --> 05:52.800 You can't run us in like this. 05:52.900 --> 05:54.800 Oh, can't I? Well, that's just exactly what I'm going to do. 05:54.900 --> 05:56.800 Now wait. 05:56.800 --> 06:02.700 After protesting against the injustice, the two modern magis were led off before the local squire. 06:02.800 --> 06:03.700 Once there... 06:03.800 --> 06:06.700 You two fellas got a reason for carrying around dangerous weapons? 06:06.800 --> 06:08.700 Look, your honor, we use it in a trick. 06:08.800 --> 06:15.700 That's right, squire. I put a bullet in the gun, and Mr. Hummer here catches it in his teeth when I fire the gun. 06:15.800 --> 06:18.700 I'm not in the mood to be kidded, you fellas. 06:18.800 --> 06:20.700 Come on. Own up to what you're doing with that revolver. 06:20.800 --> 06:22.700 It's the truth. It's a trick we do. 06:22.800 --> 06:24.700 All right, you two. If it's a trick, show me. 06:24.700 --> 06:30.600 Well, the squire they did. Patman and Hummer gave an impromptu performance of the famous bullet catching trick for an interested audience of one. 06:30.700 --> 06:32.600 And when it was over, said the squire... 06:32.700 --> 06:34.600 By golly. Discharged. 06:34.700 --> 06:37.600 Yeah. And discharged they were. 06:37.700 --> 06:41.600 Now, that bullet catching trick has an amazing and notorious history. 06:41.700 --> 06:46.600 Most of us are apt to think of magician's tricks as being harmless, done by mechanical or manual dexterity. 06:46.700 --> 06:52.600 But that one trick has cost more than one magician his life. Can you imagine that? 06:52.600 --> 06:59.500 Probably the most famous wizard of the stage to lose his life doing a trick was Cheng Ling Su, born just plain William Robinson, 06:59.600 --> 07:04.500 a scout whose amazing ability to hide his real nationality under the guise of a Chinese wonder worker, 07:04.600 --> 07:08.500 fooled worldwide newspaper men, and even real Chinese. 07:08.600 --> 07:12.500 One of Cheng Ling Su's most thrilling tricks was the bullet catching feat. 07:12.600 --> 07:18.500 A real rifle was... But wait. Let's go back to the month of March, the year 1918. 07:18.600 --> 07:21.500 The place, the stage of the Wood Green Empire Theater in London. 07:21.500 --> 07:24.400 On the stage is a colorful, magnificently-gowned company. 07:24.500 --> 07:28.400 In the center, a dignified, striking Chinese, Cheng Ling Su. 07:28.500 --> 07:31.400 He strives to the footlights. His hand is raised. 07:31.500 --> 07:37.400 A sudden hush falls upon the house when the audience realizes Cheng Ling Su is about to perform the trick that took London by storm, 07:37.500 --> 07:39.400 that set tongues to his praise. 07:39.500 --> 07:42.400 Once he glances to the wings, is he nervous? 07:42.500 --> 07:48.400 Does this daringly dangerous stunt fray even his supposedly iron nerves or... But wait. Listen. 07:48.400 --> 07:55.300 Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to perform in my most humble and poor way 07:55.400 --> 07:59.300 a feat that has given me most undeserved fame. 07:59.400 --> 08:04.300 I shall endeavor to perform it tonight for your entertainment. 08:04.400 --> 08:06.300 The rifle. 08:06.400 --> 08:08.300 The rifle is passed for examination. 08:08.400 --> 08:13.300 Eager hands in the audience turn it over and over, hoping to catch the secret, but no secret is found. 08:13.400 --> 08:17.300 It's handed back. Once again, Cheng Ling Su speaks. 08:17.300 --> 08:24.200 And for bullets to be marked by any members of this august and honorable audience. 08:24.300 --> 08:26.200 The bullet. 08:26.300 --> 08:29.200 The bullets, shockingly real and cold, are passed out. 08:29.300 --> 08:33.200 Marked lethal pellets of lead, one of which may... But wait. 08:33.300 --> 08:35.200 Again, Cheng Ling Su speaks. 08:35.300 --> 08:41.200 So, the bullets, which you have so kindly marked, are loaded into the rifle. 08:41.300 --> 08:45.200 I take my stand at this side of the stage, 08:45.200 --> 08:49.100 while my assistant takes the loaded rifle to the opposite side. 08:49.200 --> 08:51.100 Now watch, ladies and gentlemen. 08:51.200 --> 08:54.100 I shall endeavor to catch the bullets as they are fired from the gun. 08:54.200 --> 08:59.100 Should I fail, then I shall be with my ancestors this night. Ready? 08:59.200 --> 09:02.100 Each member of the audience strains forward. A few ladies in the boxes turn away. 09:02.200 --> 09:05.100 Their faces pale. Men tighten their jaws, waiting for the roar of the rifle, 09:05.200 --> 09:07.100 which can send the magician into eternity. 09:07.200 --> 09:10.100 But look. Is Cheng Ling Su pale under his makeup? 09:10.200 --> 09:13.100 Does he have that terrible premonition that this is his last performance, 09:13.100 --> 09:15.000 or still more incredible? Does he know? 09:15.100 --> 09:19.000 Now the stage is set. Cheng Ling Su stands stiff and ready. 09:19.100 --> 09:22.000 He adjusts himself to face the uplifted muzzle of the rifle. 09:22.100 --> 09:24.000 Then he nods. 09:27.100 --> 09:29.000 Bring down the curtains. 09:30.100 --> 09:34.000 And Cheng Ling Su fell to the floor of the stage, mortally wounded. 09:34.100 --> 09:36.000 His last words, ring down the curtain. 09:36.100 --> 09:41.000 Today, magicians still wonder whether Cheng Ling Su planned a ghastly and cold-blooded suicide 09:41.000 --> 09:43.900 before a crowded theater. To this day, no one knows, 09:44.000 --> 09:46.900 for although he pretended to be a Chinese and made up as such, 09:47.000 --> 09:50.900 he really had in his personality a strange mixture of Western civilization 09:51.000 --> 09:53.900 and the inscrutability of the ageless Orient. 09:54.000 --> 09:57.900 Today we may still ask, did Cheng Ling Su, born William Robinson, 09:58.000 --> 10:01.900 kill himself with a trick? Can you imagine that? 10:03.000 --> 10:06.900 You wouldn't think that the austere dignity of an English royal coronation 10:07.000 --> 10:09.900 would include the placing of looking glasses upon the backs of the seats 10:09.900 --> 10:12.800 in Westminster Abbey, would you? Well, it's true. 10:12.900 --> 10:15.800 It was during the coronation of George V and Queen Mary 10:15.900 --> 10:18.800 that those in charge of the ceremonies decided that too long 10:18.900 --> 10:22.800 had the coronets of the piraces been placed upon those noble heads awry. 10:22.900 --> 10:26.800 You'll probably remember that at the moment the Queen's crown is placed upon her head, 10:26.900 --> 10:29.800 the piraces of England place their coronets on their heads. 10:29.900 --> 10:34.800 And so to guarantee even more dignity, a mirror was placed in front of each seat 10:34.900 --> 10:37.800 to be occupied by a pirace, thus enabling each noblewoman 10:37.800 --> 10:41.700 to get her coronet on straight. Can you imagine that? 10:41.800 --> 10:45.700 Well, here's the story of another old-time musical favorite 10:45.800 --> 10:48.700 and how it came to be composed. 10:48.800 --> 10:52.700 It was a good many years ago that Charlie Daniels, a young composer and musician, 10:52.800 --> 10:56.700 was traveling by a railroad train to complete a most important mission. 10:56.800 --> 11:00.700 He was going to visit a young lady in a small town named Hiawatha. 11:00.800 --> 11:04.700 As the train sped on across the Midwest, the click of the wheels on the rails 11:04.700 --> 11:07.600 set up a sort of sympathetic rhythm in the brain of the young man. 11:07.700 --> 11:12.600 Clickety-click, clickety-click, clickety-click, Hiawatha, Hiawatha, Hiawatha. 11:12.700 --> 11:16.600 Gradually out of the even sharp rhythmic beats, a melody began forming itself, 11:16.700 --> 11:20.600 a melody Daniels knew he was destined to write in commemoration of this journey. 11:20.700 --> 11:24.600 At last, the entire song had written itself within Daniels' mind 11:24.600 --> 11:35.500 and a few months later the whole country was singing and dancing to it. 11:54.600 --> 11:58.500 I am your own, you're here, Hiawatha, brave, 11:58.600 --> 12:02.500 My heart is yours, you know, dear one, I love you so, 12:02.600 --> 12:06.500 Oh, mini ha-ha, gentle lady, sigh, 12:06.600 --> 12:10.500 Decide and say you'll be my Indian bride. 12:10.600 --> 12:14.500 I am your own, you're here, Hiawatha, brave, 12:14.600 --> 12:18.500 My heart is yours, you know, dear one, I love you so, 12:18.600 --> 12:22.500 Oh, mini ha-ha, gentle lady, sigh, 12:22.500 --> 12:27.400 Decide and say you'll be my Indian bride. 12:27.500 --> 12:30.400 Daniels, later known professionally as Neil Moray, 12:30.500 --> 12:34.400 discovered that people just weren't interested then in a song about a town of Hiawatha, 12:34.500 --> 12:36.400 so he changed the lyrics to those you've just heard. 12:36.500 --> 12:39.400 But it was from the click of the train wheels on the sections of track 12:39.500 --> 12:43.400 that Charlie Daniels procured his rhythm. Can you imagine that? 12:43.500 --> 12:46.400 And that, friends, brings us to the close of another session of this series, 12:46.500 --> 12:49.400 but we'll be back with you again soon on the same station. 12:49.400 --> 12:53.300 And until then, this is Lindsay McHarry saying, goodbye now. 13:49.400 --> 13:51.300 I'll be back. 13:51.300 --> 14:20.200 I'll be back. 14:21.300 --> 14:44.200 I'll be back.