The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-08

An Insight into Performances OF
NleSght-of-Hund Artists.
AN EXPLANATION or 4ERlAL SUSPENSION, DE-
CAPITATIoN, CAFE MoGuL, MAGIC
CAGE, AND OTHER TRICKS.
fsan Francisco chropic,,


Between the modern prestidigiiateur ant
the old-t,me conjurer there Is vide diner
ence not only IN hts appearance ana s'yie o.
living. but in the character OF bis PERFORM
srces ard the apparatus used. The STOCK
an trade Of him who lang syne amused .
few gaming rustics by making has'y-puo'
ding in n hat, or drawing rabbit from 2
frightened woman's gown. and that OF the
gentleman who. clad In fauliiess evening
attire. with diamond studs sparkling on Tue
bosom of an immaculate shirt, performs DIS
feats on n handsome stage before issniona-
HE audience. are no more alike than their
nossessofs. II would form an interesting
and odd study to. trace. step by step, the
changes that have led TO the present condi-
tjon Of things, but In this article u Is only
intended 10 show, by describing lew
hitherto unexplained tricks, how eiaoorate
and costly Is the paraphernaila OF mouern
maciclan. Hermann, now that ms Drolher
las retired. that poor Heller Is dead, ana
that Cazeneuye is still hampered by an in-
terpreter, may be regarded as occupying
renrcseuiatiye position among dealers In
the black fdress.suit) art, and as he Is
Tar away from San Francisco, the
soilow,ng cannot be looked upon either
"A an elaborate advertisement or an expose
that might iriure bis business. The IL
fusion given under the title OF Asleep 10
Midairv had been performed long before
Hermann bad any idea OF esiliDg IL DIS own.
The trick. we believe, Is OF French inven'
fiop. although 1t was years ago presented OF
fbe egyptian Hall, London. Ii Is only re-
csssary TO say, i'm explaining this 90 realiza-
fjon OF an Arabian Nights Dream" that
when the person who Is TO be suspended In
midair is dressing herself she buckles
around her a light but strong frame COM
posed OF leather and steel bands. THESE
hands are so arranged that the wearer
could be suspended from any OF them and
retain The free use OF her limbs. The only
Doint OF attachment made use OF in this
trick Il a snap-hook behind the rigb, shout
der. Mile. Adde; ID 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 preience Of arranging his wife's
drapery, Herman slips this catch into the
spaD-hook spoken OF, the attendant below
the stage grasps the rope, and by an easily
understood system OF leverage not only
keeps Mile. Adde erect when Hermann
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 accord
ing to her husbands disposition thereof.
One of Hermsnn's most remarkable tricks
was that of Decspiiatinn." Some years
ago magician who performed in this city
as a Turk, we believe, introduced more
CHASTITY version of the same feat. He gave
his entertain menis at PlatPs Hall. and made
this bebeading the sensation OF bis last
week. The ball was darkened, strain OF
weird music was wruDg out OF piano, TO
the rythm OF Which the magician marched
slowly on 10 the stage, accompanied by a
pale.faced youth. The attendant laid him.
sell upon table 10 the centre Of the stage,
and was pui 10 sleep by mesmeric passes;
the magician arranged a cloth about the
victims neck. drew q scimiter, sent it hiss
ing 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 cdpM mOrtaiS was
then taken hack and joined to the body,
little magic powder was sprinkled over the
points Of contact, end the subject, being
awakened, sat up, looked dreamily around,
and backed off the stage. The explanation
is simple enough. The Youths head lay on
a trap in the table large enough to adj
nit Of both head and shoulders. In the
cavity OF the table was a rubber head
admirably constructed to resemble that
OF the attendant, with little stage blood
in the hollow Of the neck. At the moment
N supposed decapitalion, the magician,
who stood with his back TO the audience,
pressed upon the attendants head, which at
once sank into the table, and stizing the
dummy head, held it bleeding aloft, the
cloth about the neck hiding the angle CT
the sunken head. TO "recspiiate" the
youth 1t was necessary TO drop the rubber
head back in its place, release the spring OF
the trap, which brought the attendants
head 10 Its proper level, and the trick was
done. With Hermann the more horrible
adiuncts were done away with, aud
AyEIy OF COMEDY WAS INTRODUCED
into the act. at the same time the SIM
pilcity OF the feat was destroyed by the use
OF expensive and cumbrous machinery.
The rustic. who complains Of a ''sor;er
buzzin'" IN his head, was, it will be re-
membered, seated In large armchair, the
back OF which was thickly padded, with
two gilt cords running crosswise-one from
the inner edge OF either arm up to the top
corner OF the opposite side-thus making
broad x When the elixir Is administered
to the patient he is told that he will have to
place his head in a "receiver." The mo-
ment this receiver (Which is shaped like q
divers belmet) is placed over his head the
trickery begins. The countryman's head is
surely In the receiver, because he speaks
through the open vizor IN full sight OF the
audience; but directly the yizor is closed,
and whilst Hermann il placing the cloth
about the neck after the fashion OF his pre-
decessor, the assistant
PRESSES AGAINST THE BACK OF THE CHAIR,
which gives under the pressure and opens
for n triangular space, the two sides OF
which are formed by the lower portion of
the X spoken OF, the base being on line
with the chair.arms, where this swinging
portion Of the back Is hinged. On this flap,
so to speak, the opening OF which is con-
eealed by the towel and the receiver. Mas
ter Rusticus rests his head behind the chair,
with his body recumbent aud the .'re-
ceiyer" left standing empty on his chest close
TO the neck. His right hand Is now adroiily
drawn up, whilst be struggles and kicks !
as Hermann plies bis murderous knife, |
aud false head, which Is hung behind |
the chair-back. is introduced into the re- |
ceiyer. The receiver, with its burden, is |
placed upon q cabinet which occupies the |
centre OF the stage, the yizor Is opened TO |
show that the head is still there, and then |
dropped again. This cabinet, shaped like
safe, apparently contains deep shelves filed |
with bottles, skulls, etc. In reality these
shelves are very shallow; mirror, which
IL n the same height aud bro.dfh of ha |