Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-09
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Prof. Geo. Sholbach was magician
He was not commonplace coniurer with
blocks and balls and canes and trick Ia
HES. He appeared before his audience
with no stage trappings of any kind. and.
borrowing rings and handkerchiefs. ne
amused the audience with really wonder
fnI feats. The second part OF his enter
ta;nment consisted of .'mind reading,
and II was with that he most astonished
and con.ounded the minds of the Western
and Southern people among whom he per-
formed, He had a circuit of towns. in
each Of which he appeared at regular IN
ltervaIs. He never went off his beaten
track. and vet he always had crowded
lbouses. for at each temperance he an
nonnced some startling new Illusion which
proved to be more astonishing than any
preceding one. Some of his tricks he
Imported from foreign countries; quite as
many were of his own invention. His
personal appearance was of some assls-
lance to him for he looked like magician
His hair was jet black. long and wavy.
His complexion was pale and bloodless.
His forehead was low, and under his
sharply marked black brows burned
pair of coal black eyes, brilliant as dla-
monds and restless as flame.
In Montrose he was great. favoTite.
He had given his entertainments there
number Of times, and was admired much
by the townspeople. He had never, how
ever made any friends among them. He
was courteous to those who addressed him
but he repealed all attempts at intimacy.
| Among those who constantly attended
his entertainments was Irene Washburne.
the daughter of the only editor in the
place. She was only nineteen years OF
age, and was remarkably handsome. Her
dark brown eyes and hair, coupled with
| complexion in which the blood came and
went like waves on summer sea, her
rosy lips and milk white teeth were the
loadstones that attracted many of the
village beaux to her fathers house. She
was very intelligent girl, but was given
to too much reading OF Poe and the weird
fancies of Shelley. Night after night she
giving his performances. chained by a
strange fascination which she could not
explain. She shuddered with horror when
the magician's keen restless eye lighted
upon her. and when she found him gazing
at her with a strangely steady, burning
look, as he often did. she wanted to cry
out with horror but could not. After each
entertainment she vowed that she would
never again visit the hall when the pro-
lessor was there, but when his bills APP.
peared in the town, she found herself ir-
resistibly moved to 60 and see him.
This had been the state of matters for
some time. when suddenly Sholbach threw
off his reserve and began to make friends
in Montrose. Twice. after performing in
the town, he invited several young men
to his rooms at the hotel and there opened
bottles of wine and served them with CT
CARS till they vowed that he was royalty
good fellow. At last he asked one of them
a great friend of editor Washburne's to
introduce him to the newspaper man. The
introduction was performed. and Sholbach
made such pleasant impression on the
editor, that the latter invited the magician
to visit his house when again in town.
When Sholbach next performed in Mont
rose. the editor gave a little reception to
him after the entertainment. Once
in the house of Washburne, Sholbach
appeared to have eyes only for Irene.
He devoted himself to her and at
tended to all her wants with grave
and tender courtesy that could not fail
to make an impression on her. But the
impression was not such as the magician
wanted While he fascinated her, he
filed her with horror. He reminded her
ola snake.
"Why do you shrink from me ?" he
asked her.
ado shrink from you ?" she asked,
timidly.
She was afraid to acknowledge it; she
hou IL,
anything that might offend him, tor her
mind was completely subservient to his.
He could have mesmerized her without a
percephble effort, had he desired to do
so.
"Yes, you do shrink from me-" he said
gravely.
They were alone on the piazza, where
the cold moonlight lent an additional
keenness to the glitter of Sholbach's eyes,
"l-I-am sorry" she said, trying to
drop her eyes, but finding them irresisti-
bly, fastened to his.
"Do you know" he continued, s'that I
perform in this town oftener than in any
otherp"
"ls that so ?"
Yes. And why do you suppose do
ftp"
81 do not know"
| She did know. She knew what he was
going to say, and she would have given
her life TO stop him; but she was power
less.
81 love you" he whispered, in hoarse
voice.
She shuddered and clasped her hands.
why do you not answer me-" he said,
bending closely to her. II tell you love
you"
81 know it," she said in faint MUIR
muir. She could not move hand or foot.
Then why do you not answer me ?" he
asked.
She was silent.
"You love me, then. This silence