Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-26
.lILLUSIONISTS.

wonderful Transformations and
Astonfshtng Changes = Mystery
InexpIionbie = Optical Illusions,
by Two Thorough Experts at the
Business.
Two illusionists, Maskelyne and
Cooke, are spoken Of in the London pa
pers as persons who have been for some
years astonishing provincial audiences
M the cleverness of their deceptions,
and who have lately created so much
perplexity in the minds Of visitors to
the Crystal Palace, have now transferred
their amusing entertainment to the
larger st. James Hall, where their Gu
rious feats will be found well worthy the
attention of all engaged in testing the
extent to which the evidence OF the
senses may be trusted. When cabinet,
raised above the floor to exclude the
possibility of traps, is carefully exam
ined by any scrutineers who choose TO
come forward upon the platform, and a
large box, being subjected to the same
rigid investigation, is carefully corded
and sealed, in the presence OF the
spectators, by any persen who. volun-
teers to officiate on the occasion, the
ordinary means Of battling the vigl-
lance of observers would appear
to be treated with supreme disdain. Yet,
even under these strict conditions,
Messrs. Maskelyne and Cooke contrive
to effect the most astonishing changes.
When Mr.. G.. A. Cooke, as a sailor, is
locked in the cabinet he vanishes, and
when the doors are again opened he ap-
pears as gorilla. When the gorilla is
put into the box, and his place Of con-
inement seems as secure as cords and
a lock and key can make it few sec.
snds suffice to show the insecurity Of
the fastenings, for on the next exami-
nation nothing is found but the sack IN
which he was tied.
In like manner, VIXEN Mr.. j. N. Mask
elyne, rs o Worcestershire butcher, IS
inclosed In the cabinet TO encounter the
monster an investigation made almost
Immediately afterward shows the interior
of the structure to be apparently empty,
two persons being thus disposed Of by a
process which is certainly calculated to
ntoue the curiosity of those even most
! ',miliar with optical illusions. The rapid
70 10 With which these changes and disap-
,y Nces are effected implies the attain.
pea of singular dexterity on the part of
u :, erformers, who fairly enough
invite the CT, ,'sest attention, and even
suffsr entire stra ugers to stand close to
the cabinetin which the mystifylng met,
smornboses am are completed. A ahrewd
Guess @ NAV be made at The secret in
Solved IN the construction Z. potn tne
cabinet and the box, but the rem. 'A ASDle
ingenuity with which the plan OF opeis-
tion is concealed shows a marked ad-
vance on those mechanical contriyances
hitherto employed for similar purposes.
In few observations preliminary to a
norton of the entertainment purporting
to be an initiative display of the .physl-
cal manifestations of modern spiritual
;sm Mr.. Maskelyne sensibly declines
giving an opinion as to the reality OF
nbenomena ascribed to supra mundane
sources, but merely processes to show
how some Of the effects said to be
TINS produced can be simulated by
simple trickery. The neatest feat
accomplished by Mr.. Maskelyne is
one introduced into this country
forty years ago by a prestidigltator
named Signor Blitz, and whcih is so dit
.fcult of attainment that only two per
sons since that period have ever per-
formed it in public. By the swift move
ment of the fingers half a dozen china
desert plates are made to execute a
quadrilie and 60 singly and collectively
through variety of curious sVolntions.
\ 70 dexterity of manipulationS dis
L.. II d in this really elegant accomplish
St p'aS shows the uususpected extent to
ut;aL nens fingers can be educated and
N 49, III s ike to apply TO practical
muse ~ VIZ ~. lesson thus gained may find
RuIpIbs tSal ptbe pa pstiel ce and perseverance en-,
sb1ing MA '1e an eptert. dBer to secure at will
,bs susOs nssnsr;ng al Of or. Nekery, mag possibly
Ine cApeiius m ~ with the more
valuable facility Of wrl. NSs sePstSoe ,;seo '''
ters with both hands at tL e s~"e ''l"e'