MISTER MYSTERY RESPONDS

Here is an interesting question. Parapsychologists do not agree on this. At the last international congress, this was the star topic of the debate and all the divergent opinions came to light. According to Russian parapsychologists, a crystal ball must be permanently alert if we want her to get an update on what's shaking out over there. On the other hand, Italians hold the view that the more relaxed the ball is, the more effective at exercising her divining function. “But to relax a ball it is not necessary to cover her”, Spanish Sorcerer Felix points out, “It’s enough to turn off the lights.” French Witch Charlotte disagree: “You are so pathetic! Everyone knows that crystal balls are afraid of the dark!" To which the Spanish representative (who wears a black robe with embroidered stars) replies: “That will tell for French balls!” And here the argument quickly escalates, until Sorcerer Felix waves his magic wand and makes Witch Charlotte disappear.

When the wise men of Chelm learns from the Grand Rabbi Tzvi Krochmal Rapoport of Lizhensk that the key he so urgently needs is that of the attic of the old synagogue, they are perplexed. “But since when is there an attic in the old synagogue?”, they ask in surprise. Only Fishel, the oldest of them all, seemingly has the answer to that question: “That attic is there from time immemorial. Even from before the synagogue was built. Even from before the town was built. Even from before the world was built!...” And perhaps he would have continued going back even further in time if Evron had not categorically ordered him: “Shut up! You are saying nonsense!” "The question is where the key can be", Dudel says. Then Fishel goes back on: “That key is lost from time immemorial. Even from before the attic was built. Even from before the synagogue was built. Even from before the town was built. Even from before the world was built!...” Dovid, who is at his side, slaps him and Fishel...

Let's admit some criticism of Squattedman. That his flight is not a paragon of elegance like that of eagles or seagulls? That he goes naked and that circumstance is not very decorous? That his propulsion mode is unsatisfactory? That this kind of thing discourages New Yorkers from boasting of a superhero? That when he catches thieves he often keeps the loot to deliver it to the poor? That he is not the most graceful man in the world, nor is he the most cultured or the most intelligent? Why deny it? ... Any other objection? No? That is to say there are no criticisms as to its effectiveness in combating crime? Well ladies and gentlemen, what more do you want?! Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! And speaking of efficiency, I'm going to tell you one of Squattedman’s greatest feats. Nothing less than the salvage of the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1910, Vaudeville Houses abounded in New York City. For a reasonable price you could attend an entertaining and varied show consisting of twelve...

The amount of magic shows programmed by London theaters at the end of the 19th century is incredible. The West End was full of posters with flying hands, women split in half, heads floating apart from their bodies, legs that were ahead of their trunk. .. Walking through the Victorian West End was like being inside a dream of Jack the Ripper. Of course there were also musicals. But almost everyone swirled around magic, or a magical object, or the life and miracles of a magician, or a pig named Trudy that for a time was very popular for some reason that I do not know but that I would not be surprised if it was related to magic. People were tired of the everyday, of the natural and logical functioning of things, and longed for the implausible, the magical, the out of place. And of course, among the upper classes firstly, the mediums had a field day. There was a visceral hatred on the part of the illusionists towards the mediums. The magicians considered mediums as an unfair competition, a...