The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-22
Prof. Ryder's ShOW.-The "gyeat Nor

I'VE h!"Ni . cHVNs-I Hc BttaJ MOT
al Show, as the Prof. designates his per.
Torrance, was we'll patronized at its exhi-
hition in the Hall on Tuesday night. A
good orchestra discourscd excellent music,
ard added much to the programme. The
performance consisted principally of songs,
solos, and duets, sang in character. The
"nobby songs were particularly well rem
dered by II. II. Beckwith, whose part fits
him remarkably. Leroy Moore executed
, what may very appropriately he termed
the ridiculous role. He succeeded beyond
doubt in the character for his performance
was sufficiently absurd anG amusing for
the most primitive taste. Judging from
the tremendous applause his grotesque act
ing and singing created, the audience
thought it just the thing. We never adj
mired that style much, and perhaps are not
proper critic. Master Hammond showed
more talent for musical tricks than music
He played on 4 number of Instruments,
and on the violin held in a variety of posi-
tions. The "trcks " were the feature of
his performance, the music being but sec.
ondary. Prof. Ryder's 81 ightnin g
changes y were executed with much sleight
of hand skill and were amusing.
The ''Mesmeric Act" which closed the
performance, was the great feature of the
occasion, in which "a lady floating in the
air without visible support" was repre-
sented. Not knowing how the trick was
performed, we will not attempt to explain.
bench or lounge was placed on the stage,
and a box twelve or fifteen inches square
placed upon the bench, which the lady
mounted. Two supports-poles about
five feet in length and two and half inches
in diameter We're placed vertically on the
stage, on which the girl rested her elbows
After adjusting these supports properly,
the "ProfeSsor" commenced his mesmeric
manipulations. Presently odor of ether Or
cloroform came out through the house from
the stage, and the girls head began to fall
back and her eyes to close. The support
was then taken from under her left elbow
and the box from beneath her feet, and she
stood suspended about foot above the
lounge, touching nothing but the staff with
her right elbow. Thus suspended, the
"Professor proceeded to place her in
position TO represent several tableaux. \
flower basket was placed in her hand, and
she was made to represent a flower girl; a.
helmet was placed on her head and a sword
and shield in her hands to represent a glad
iator. Some half dozen or more tahleax
were represented while she kept her place,
apparently in a mesmeric sleep. The "Pro-
fessor" concluded the performance by
raising her body in nearly horizontal
position with her hand resting under her
head which represented her reclining on
her elbow that still rested on the top of
the pole which was fastened securely in the
stage by a socket. A hoop was then pass
ed over her and down the pole to the stage
and back, to show that she was held up by
no invisible wires or cords attached above.
The theory is that the girl is mesmer-
lied and placed in this rigid condition by
the Professor" and held by the same,
or some other magic influence exerted by
the performer, suspended, as it were, in the
air, like the coffin of Mahomet. We have
no faith in the Professors mesmeric
influences and show of ether. All jug
glers make profuse display of exerting
some supernatural powers when about to
perform their tricks But admitting the
Professor's' mesmeric theory to be gen
uine, the law OF gravitation forbids the
suspension of body in mid air unless it
Is a little lighter than the air, which will
then support it; and unless the weight is
extracted from tho lady she will not float,
though she be mesmerized as stiff as a
poker. The girl is evidently held sus-
pended by some ingenious mechanism
which not knowing its construction We
will not attempt to describe. The "Pro-
fesspr" cannot control the laws of gravita-
ton by mesmerism or any other spiritual
influence that lie can command, and the
logical conclusion isinevitable that he must
depend upon mechanical means to perform
his trick and the mesmeric sleep is in that
case not necessary and is all feiga ed.