Sharp County record., 1880-05-13
MODERN MAGIC.
An Explanation of Aerial Suspen-
sion, DecapitatiOn, Care Mogui'
Magic Cage, and Other Tr1cks.


BETWEEN the modern prestidigitateur
and the old-time conjurerthere is wide
difference, not only in his appearance
and style of living, but in the character
of his performances and the apparatus
used. The stock in trade of him who
LANG syne amused a few gaping rustics
by making a hasty-pudding in hat or
drawing rabbit from a frightened
woman's gown, and that of the gentle
man who, clad in faultless evening at
tire with diamond studs sparkling on
the bosom of an immaculate shirt, per-
forms his feats on handsome stage be-
fore fashionable audience, are no more
alike than their possessors. 1t would
form an interesting and odd study to
trace, step by step, the changes that
have led to the present condition OF
things, but in this article it is only in
tended to show, by describing a few
hitherto unexplained tricks, how elabor-
ate and costly is the paraphernalia OF
modern magician. Hermann, now
mat his brother has retired, chat poor
i /Helleris dead, and that Cazenepve is still
hampered by an interpreter, may be re-
garded as occupying a representative
position among dealers in the black
(dress-suit) art The illusion given
under the title of " Asleep in Mid Air, "
had been performed long before Herr
mann had any idea of calling it his own.
The trick, we believe, is of French in
vention, although it was years ago pre-
sented at the Egyptian Hail. London.
1t is only necessary to say, in explain
inc this "realization of an Arabian
Nights Dream that when the person
who is to be suspended in mid air is
dressing herself, she buckles around her
light but strong frame composed OF
leather and steel bands. These bands
are so arranged that the wearer could
be suspended from any of them and re-
tain the free use of her limbs The
only point of attachment made use of
in this trick is a snap-hook behind the
richt shoulder. Mile. Addie, it will be
remembered, rested her feet on stool
set between'two upright rods about SIX
feet high, her elbows resting on top of
the rods. The rod under the girls
right shoulder is really a tube. down
which passes strong but small rope,
with catch at the upper end. Under
pretense of arranging his wife's drapery,
Hermann slips this catch into the snap
hook spoken of, the attendant below the
stage grasps the rope, and by an easily
understood system of leverage not only
keeps Mile. Addie erect when Herr
mann removes the stool and left-handed
rod, but also draws her into horizontal
position. Resting securely in her frame,
Mile. Addie moves arms and legs ac-
cording to her husbands disposition
thereof.
One of Hermann most remarkable
tricks was that of "Decapitation." "
Some years ago a magician who per-
formed in this city as Turk, we be-
lieve, introduced more CHASTITY ver-
sion of the same feat. He gave his en-
tertainments at Platt's Hall, and made
this beheading the sensation of his last
week. The hall was darkened, a strain
of weird music was rang out of pl-
ano, to the rythm of which the magi-
clan marched slowly on the stage, ac-
companied by pale-faced youth. The
attendant laid himself upon table in
the center of the stage and was put to
sleep by mesmeric passes; the magician
arranged cloth about the victims
neck, drew a scimter, sent it Kissing
through the air, and with one sweep
drew the blade through the youths
neck, separating the head from the
body. Women used to faint and men
shudder, as the head was lifted up with
the blood streaming from it and placed
upon Salver to be "handed around for
the company to examine" The cold
capm mortutS was then taken back and
Joined to the body, little magic pow
der was sprinkled over the points OF
contact, and the subject, being awak-
ened, sat up, looked dreamily around |
and backed of the stage. The explana-
tion is simple enough. The youths
head lay on a trap in the table large !