The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-26
zERA.
AnAddreus 10 the PnblIc.

An Address 10 tne FuDtlc.
A famous philosopher once said,
GThe amusements Of the people are Of
more importance than their laws" Be-
| ing true, 10 this scheme have devoted
the greater porlionof my life, and, after
an experience oil fifteen years among the
people Of two worlds, l am convinced that
there Is but one way to gain their esteem
and favor, viz: TO approach them with
The plain, unyarnished truth. The pro-
fession which ] follow | learned at the
hands Of the ablest magician the world
has ever beheld, my reyered friend, the
late Robert Houdin, OF Saint Gervais and
Paris. In his beautiful atelier, in the
Palace Royal, nearly ten years Of my
life-ten very happy years-were pass
ed, devoted 10 the study OF an art as
excellent as II Ia exquisite = the
rare and facinating art Of the
true conjurer. How many marvellous
beauties surround this avocation, what
delicate problems Of skill and address il
produces, what inventive and mastery
devices It Celebrates, and what rare &c.
MUS and tact it requires, none but those
who have witnessed the Soirees Of my
matchless instructor can understand. It
was given him to lead the world In this
mRtchless calling, and having been for so
many years his iayorite land only coad.
tutor, / am encouraged in the belief that
the mantle he wore, and TO which he
gave such graceful dignity, may have
fallen, however lightly, upon me. This
belief is greatly enhanced by the vast and
appreciatiye audiences that have nightly
assembled throughout the country to wit
ness my entertainments, and by the uni.
form words Of signal praise bestowed
upon me by the sterling press wherever
have appeared upon the stage.
The magic art Ia one OF the most ardu-
GUS and difficult q person can follow, and
requires years Of patient labor and re-
Election to comprehend; yet quite a mum:
Der OF people are perambulating the land
calling themselves magicians, with addi.
tional high-soundiug titles, and large
display OF colored pictures, who actually
possess less real talent than q veritable
backwoodsman. These people are mere
empires, charletans aud imposters, play
ing upon the credulity Of u few, and ut
tefly unworthy the attention of the pub
lie. Coming among you, a stranger TO
many, I shall endeavor to win patronage
and appreciation by merit alone, with
teats and illusions entirely neO, all Of my oVn
invention, and Of the most startling and inter
esliao character.
Having been endowed with great ven.
triloquial ability-one Of the rarest &C.
compliments which embellish the vo.
cal power Of mani am enabled to give
double interest to my exhibitions; and
I am pleased to add that my mimical
efforts have won applause from all classes
OF men, and praise from the foremost
critics Of the day, and produced in so
chaste and elegant a manner as TO crafty
the most refined and fastidious audience.
Feeling, also, thai the present age re.
quires progress in all things, am con-
WINGED tina. my entertainments are in
full keeping with the steady onward
| march oil modern times, and far In adj
vance OF any similar exhibition now te-
fore the public in either world. ZeRA.
Leading Magician and Hentrloquist Of The
| World.