General Lee and Traveler Petersburg, Va.

Hand Not Quicker Than Eye, Cardini Reveals

by CPL. DAN TABLER Wednesday January 24, 1945

Cardini was flexing his valuable hands by clever manipulation of a handful of "Georia cartwheels," making each one roll over the back of his knuckles from the palm, when I was introduced to hum before the musical revue, "Showtime," in Theater 1 last week.

His hand shake was long and firm , giving evidence of years of exercise building up the muscles in his hands. With a ready smile he gestured for me to sit down. He was sitting, legs crossed, on his dressing table which was bare sve for a pack of the lesserknown cigarettes, bbook matches, and a TRAVELLER, whick was later used in his act.

"I always do this before my act to warm up." explained the world famed artist, when he noticed me watching his hands. His boice has a definite tinge of that English accent so peculiar to Welshmen who have lived long in America. Cardini has been in this county 20 years.

Friend of Lee GI Canp Lee's top magician, Cpl. Clarke Crandell, a personal friend of Cardini, was chatting with him when I walked . kCrandell, well known throughout camp from his performances in many variety show, is an instructor at the Dehydration School. "I hardly knew Clarke in his GI uniform," laughed Cardini.

I asked him first if he called himself a magician or a sleight-of-hand artist. "Well there is a difference," he explained, "but I am a little of both. A magician usually has a lot of props, whereas I only use a couple and build my act around a pack of cards ands the cigarettes."

Just then the door opened and a lady carrying a makeup kit walked in. Cardini introduced her as his wife. kA pretty, little redhead she has been with her husband, assisting him in the act for the past 17 years.

Son in Military School

Asked if they had any children, the Mrs. with a quick smile, said, "Two -both boys," with a parent's rightful pride in her vooice. "Yes, cut in Cardini, k" and one of them is getting ready to ender the service. He is attending ka military school in Pennsylvania.

"By the way " continued Cardini, "tell the boys that the cigarettes I use in my act are of a brand which can be secure in any retail store." He averages a pack or over during each performance.

Hanging on the wall were his black suit with tails, top hat and black cape known throughout the world. His white topped cane was lying on a chair. Mrs. Cardini wears a pagebow's uniform for the stage appearances.

Aready returned form on USO Camp Shows tour, Cardini said after this show they will return to New York to clear up a few dates and form there will go to California, where they expect to start out on another WUO tour.

It was getting near curtain time, so I blurted out quickly, k" Is it true that the hand is quicker than the eye?"

"That is a lot of hooey," was his startling answer. "It is impossible for the hand fo move faster than the eye. The reason a magician of sleight-of-hand expert can fool people is that they, the audience, are making themselves beleive we are doing something which we are not. Thus, when a card disappears form the hand, the eye tells the mind that it is gone, when actually it is still there , only in a different place. And when I do my act, it is always 'amayzing' to me when I do the tricks, so it looks just that much more amazing to my audience." To demonstrate, he brought out his silver dollars and went through several disappearing acts slowly. But although I was standing two feet away from him, I couldn't see how it was done. I still think they disappeared completey.