Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-24
ILLUSIONISTS.

Wonderful Transformations and AS
tonfshing Changes Mystery Inex.
archaeological Illusions, by Two
Thorough Experts at the business.
Two illusionists, Msskelyne and Cooke,
are spoken of in the London papers as per-
sons who have been for some years aston
ishiDg provincial audiences by the clever
ness of their receptions, and who have late
ly created so much perplexity In the minds
of visitors to the Crystal Palace, have now
transferred their amusing entertainment to
the larger st. Jsmes's Hall, where their Gu
rious feats VIII be found well
worthy the attention of all en-
gagged 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
examined by any scrutineers who choose
to come forward upon the platform, and q
large box, being subjected to the same rigid
investigation, is carefully corded and sealed,
in the presence of the spectators, by any
person who volunteers to officiste on the
occasion, the ordinary means of battling the
vigilance of observers would appear to be
treated with supreme disdain. Yet, even
under these strict conditions, Messrs. Mask
elyne and Cooke contrive to effect the most
astonishing changes. When Mr.. G. a.
Cooke, as a sailor, is locked in the cabinet
he vsuishes, and when the doors are again
opened he appears as gorilla. When the
gorilla is put into the box, a d bis place of
confinement seems as secure as cords and a
lock and key can make it, few seconds
suffice to show the insecurity Of the fasten-
g h
is found but the sack in which he was tied.
In like manner, when Mr.. j. N. Mask
elyne, as Gloucestershire butcher, is en-
closed in the cabinet 10 encounter the
monster, an invesIig ation made almost
Immediately afterwards shows the interior
of the structure to be apparently empty,
two persons being thus disposed of by q
process which is certainly calculated to
pique the curiosity of those even most
familiar with optical illusions. The rapid
ity with which these changes and disap-
pearances are effected implies the attain
ment of singular dexterity On the part Of
the chief performers, who fairly enough
invite the closest attention, and even suffer
entire strangers 10 stand close to the cabi-
net in which the mystifying metamorphoses
are completed. a shrewd guess may be
made at the secret involved in the
construction of both the cabine and the
box, but the remarkable ingenuity with
which the plan of operation is concealed
shows q marked advance On those
mechanical coDtrivances hitherto employ
ed for similar purposes. In few observa-
TORS preliminary to portion Of the enter
tainment purporting to be an initiative dis
play Of the physical manifestations OF mod
ern spiritualism, Mr.. Maskelyne seDsibly
declines giving an opinion as to the reality
of phenomena ascribed to supra mundane
sources, but merely processes to show how
some of the effects said to be thus prOduc-
ed, can be simulated by simple tricEery.
The neatest,feat accomplished by Mr.. Mas
kelyne is one introduced into this country
forty years ago by prestidigitator named
Signor Blitz, and which is so difficult Of al
tainment that only two persons since that pc
Rod have ever performed ii in public. By the
swift movement of the fingers ha.f dozen
china desert plates are made to execute
qusdrille and go singly aud collectively
through variety of curious evolutions.
The dexterity of manipulations displayed in
this really elegant accomplishment shows
the unsupported extent to which the fin
gers can be educated, and those who like to
apply to practical purpose the lesson thus
gained may find that the patience and per-
severance enabling an entertainer to secure
at will the cspeiing of crockery, may posi-
bly, endow a business man with the more
valuable facility of writing separate letters
with both hands at the same time.