Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-28
THE sPHYNx."
An Explanation of the Delusion,

A gentleman who is posted in all the
various ramifcations Of the show pro-
| fession has communicated to me the fol-
| lowing explanation of the manner in
which Heller produces the wonderful de-
lusion he has been exhibiting around the
country, called the "Sphynx" l give
it to You upon his recommendation. 1t
is probably near correct, The "Sphynx"
has recently been taken up by the Bowery
Theatre, and lately by P. I. Barnum, at
his museum. Heller called it the "Red
Ghome," the "Sphynx," and other sui
phurous names The performance has
thus far baffled the most expert magi-
clans, and has been the wonder and de-
| light ofthousands whenever brought upon
the boards The manner of producing
the phenomenon has until lately been
the exclusive property of Heller, but an
unlucky .taur pas of an assistant oper-
ator has made it no longer monopoly
The spectator, upon the rising OF the
curtain, saw before him a stage, the floor
of which was covered with green cloth /;
the wings and tear of the stage we're also
closed in with the same material. In
the centre of the platform stood simply
constructed table, not more mysterious
in shape and build than that usually
found in an editorial sanctum or lawyers
Office The lights burned with green.
ish flame, and in fact all that was appar-
ent bore the emerald hue. The exhibitor
soon appeared before the footlights, and
after some conversation, waved his magic
wand, and behold there suddenly emer-
ged from the centre of the table a human
head. The face was of hvid color, the
hair red, and all but the eyes Of the same
complexion The effect was startling
in the extreme. 1t was the more mys-
terious that there was no possible space
beneath the table for the concealment Of
the body Of man or the smallest child,
aud the eye Of the spectator, to all ap-
pearances, could behold the legs of the
table and even the scenery at the rear Of
the ghost and its moving, speaking ex-
hibitor. The illusion was perfect.
After few moments the magician
would open conversation with the
sphynx, the latter parsonage being fully
capable of sustaining his portion of it,
the lips moving, eyes opening and
closing, as natural as those of any really
mundane individual When all had gra-
tilted their curiosity, the curtain would
fall and shut the curious scene from
view. The solution Of the sphynx rests
in the curious disposition of large un-
framed mirror, placed at an air angle
and sloping backward from the table,
behind which the body Of the person re-
presenting the gnome is located. His
head protrudes through an opening in
the top of the table, which is at first con-
cealed by ingeniously pasting over it
fine tissue paper Of a color similar to
that of the table.
a The mirror is concealed by being made
70 reflect or receive the reflections, from
all directions, cf the color of the green
baize, which also forms the floor and
sides and background of the scene. 1t
is in fact, the ingenious disposition of
the large mirror, and the making in
visible to the eye of the beholder, which
gives the entire proceeding its appar-
emily supernatural origin. 1t requires
much care in the operators, and good
knowledge of the effects of light and
shade. The chance protrusion of one
foot of the confederate personating the
sphynx beyond the plate Of glass. was
the means of dispelling the illusion.
Still, Heller has been able to vary the
performance in giving it 10 the public,
but he no longer claims it as his especial
property.