The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-05-10 00:00:00

CONJURING EXTRAORDINARY.
(From The Tim's.)

Whoever is familiar with the feats of legerdemain,
performs d by the old school of conjurers, beginning in
the last century with Jerome Sharp, Barrett, Bees.
law, D. an, De Grisy, the Chevalier Pinetti, and con-
tinuing with Comus, Katterfelto, Jona% Dentin,
Sibley, Lane, Insleby, Ramo Samee, Bosco, Phillip.
stahl, Doebler, Philippe, to the more modern Robert
Houdin, Jacobs, Gyngell, Anderson, Robin, Buck,
Frikell, Poletti, Hermann, Maki, Stedare, Haetz,
Rennin' nt, and the Fakir of Oolu, will admit that
real originality of invention in the tricks has been
comparatively rare. But among the eminent pro.
feseorsi of magic who have introduced meritorious
novelties awl struck out a distinct line of their own
most be classed the very clever gentlemen who are
now giving morning and evening performances at
the Agricultural Hall. Breaking away from the con-
ventional dress-coat bminess," they court the favonr
of a public which must be amused as well an mystified;
and the most astounding mechanical nuzzles are in
troxinced in connexion with dramatic sketches auffi-
cieetly funny and entertaining. The acting is quite a
snbordinate feature, but in distinguished by Mr.
Maskelyne's faithful imitation of the Glocestershire
dialect, and Mr. J. B. ilasearde'sperfect imperacnation
of a trite Tipperary Irishman. How the transforma-
tions are accomplished by aid of the cabinet which any
number of persons from the audience may examine,
how "spirit hands" can be exhibited when the only
human agent near is securely tied with his hands
behind his bide, and how another performer can escape
in a few seconds from a tightly corded box which is in.
apt eted by the audios,. appear; completely inexplic-
able. When Mr. and Mrs. Maskelyne touch a table,
that article of furniture steems to stick to their fingers.
and adheres while they lift it and sway it to and fro
with the utmost ease. Yet there is no mechanical con-
nection conceivable, for the table behaves in precieely
the came way win ther its cloth cover is upon it or re-
moved ; and there are certairdy no supports below or
nusper.ders above. The aerial suspension of mesmerised
ladies, a trick invented by Robert Houdin, is not
to be name i fur ingenuity with the wonderful "spirit
illustration" of Mrs. Maekelyneliterally floating in the
sir. Ihe lady simply rises directly off the floor, where
there is no trap, and remains suspended, full in the
light, with nothing under her feet, over her head, or
in any way visibly connected with her. The most
h ,filing feat of all, however, consists in Mr. Maekelyne
1. cell g himself up in a box, which he then covers
completely with a canvas wrapper, and finally binds
wish a cord in all directions over that. Thin feat is
performs d in the midst of the audience, and upon their
unfastening the cord, untying the wrapper, and un.
locking the box, the performer is found inside, where,
PO far from having any spice for manipulation, he ie
unable to turn and can scarcely move. One act f
-accomplished dexterity is the Chinese plate-spinning;
but the extra ,rdinary merits of the performance, as a
whole, rest upon the mechanical enigmas we have
described.

PRETTY BATSlV,MFS.—lTTepreellible Woman
again in the S-Id. "1.1 lies' Cricket" is advertised,
toh f .11,me 1, theie rev-on to apprehend, by
Lathe,' Fives, F..ptball, Lodi**. G if, Bz-.. in
ia all ov,r with Men. Ti es• had better mdce up their
minds t, rest contented with crqu.t, and afternoon
tea, and sewing-machine., and perhaps an occasional
game at drawing-room billhards.--Punch,