The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-05-08
STRANGE ILLUSIONS.
The Two 1 'lusiOnists.WhoA Aston.
tshiDg LOndOn--The Davenport
Brothers Surpassed.

fishing LOndOn--The Davenport
Brothers SURPASSED.
Two illusionists Maskelyne aud
Cooke, are spoken OF in the London
papers as persons who have been for
some years astonishing provincial audi
euces by the clevern ess OF their decep-
tons, aud who have lately created 80
much perplexity in the minds Of visitors
to the Crystal Palace. have now trans
ferred their amusing entertainment to
the larger ST. James Hall, where their
curious feats will he found well worthy
the attention OF all engaged in testing
the extent 10 which the evidence OF tn e
senses may be trusted. When 8 cabi-
net, raised above the floor to exclude
the POI sibility Of traps, is carefully ex-
smiued by the scrutineers who choose
70 come forward upon the platform, and
a large box, being subjected TO the same
rigid invs stigatiop, is carefully corded
and sealed, in the presence OF the spec
tators, by any person who volunteers
, 10 officiate on the occasion, this ordi-
psry means OF battling the vigilance OF
observers would appear 10 be treated
with supreme disdsin. Yet, even under
these strict conditions, Messrs Mas
ke'yne and Cooke contrive to effect the
most astonishing changes. When Mr..
| G A Cooke, as sailor, is locked IN
the cabinet be vanishes, and when the
doors are sgslu opened be appears as q
Gorilla. When the gorilla is put into
the box and his place OF confinement
seems rs secure az cords and a lock and
kew can make it, a few seconds sutflce
to show the insecurity of the faster ings.
tor Oh the next examination nothing
is found bu, the sack in which he WAS
TIED 10 like manner, when MIR. j. y.
Msskelyne, as q Gloucestershire BUTCH
er. is iuclosed in the cabinet TO encoun-
ter the monster, an investigation made
almost Immediately atterward shows
the interior ofthe structure TO be APP
parenIlv empty, two persons being thus
disposed OF by process which Is cer-
taiuly calculated TO pique the curiosity
OF those even most familiar with optical
Illusions The rapidity with which
these changes and d appearances are
affected implies the attainment OF sim
gular dex,erity on the part of the chief
performers, who fairly enough invite
the closest attention, and even suffer
entire strangers to stand close to the
cabinet ia which the mysti'ying meta
morphoses are completed. A shrewd
guess NAV be made at the secret luvol-
we'd in the construction OF both the cab
met and the box, but the remarkable
Ingenuity with winch the plan OF oper-
alton Is conceded shows a marked ad-
vance on those mechanical contrlvances
hitherto employed 'or similar purposes.
In few observations preliminary TO
portion o; the entertainment purport-
| ipg TO he an initiative display OF the
physical manifestations OF modern spirit
uaism, Mr.. Maskelyne senslbly declines
giving au opinion as to the reality OF
ohenomena ascrihed TO suprs-mundsne
sources. but merely processes to show
how some of the scenes said 70 be thus
produced can be simulated by simple
trickery. The neatest teat accomplished
by Mr.. Maskelyne is one introduced
into this country forty years ago 6y q
prpst digitator named Siguor Blitz. and
which ts 20 difficult o attainment that
ONLY two persons. since that period have
ever performed il in public BY the
swift movement OF the fingers halt a
dozen cbina desert plates are made to
execute quadrille, and to 60 slngly
and collectively through variety Of
curious evolutious. The dexterity OF
msnipulations displayed in this really
elegan, accomplishment shows the I'm
suspected exteut TO which the fingers
can be educated. aud those who like to
apply to practical purpose the lesson
thus gained may find that the patience
and perseverance enabling sp enter
tanner TO secure at will the caperlng Of
crockery, may possibly eniow a busl-
ness man with the more valu able facil-
i,y o. writing separate letters with both
hands at the same time.