Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-19
4 FAMOUS TRICK.


who died few years ago, used TO exhibit
with delight one trick of which he was
very proud. He would step to the front OF
the platform, holding out at arm s-length
small bird-cage in which hoped and
chirped live sparrow. Extending the
cage above lis head, and grasping it with
both hands, he would say:
Ladies and gentlemen, yoI see this cage.
1t is real cage, isn'tit? You see the bird.
1t IS real bird, isn't it? Now watch me
closely. The moment l snap my fingers,
the cage and bird will vanish into thin
air"
lie would then snap his fingers, and both
cage and bird would disappear leaving not
so much as a feather behind.
Calvert, a French wonder worker, having
heard OF the birdcage trick determined to
discover its secret. He came to the per-
formance one evening armed with q pow
eriul opera-glass. Just as Heller stepped
upon the platform, with the cage in his
hands, Calvert called out:
" Put the cage down on the table, or hold
it out by one hand"
Heller made reasonable excuse for not
doing anything of the kind, and imme-
diately caused the cage to disappear, as
usual. The next morning Calvert, who
was on good terms with Heller, called upon
him al the hotel.
All, monsieur % said the Frcnchman,
| have discovered your great bird-cage
trick at last ~
i" Have your replied Heller, smiling.
Pray describe it?'
No. Come to my performance to-mor-
row night and you shall see it."
" Very we'll, said Heller Il If you can
perform the trick, you are the only living
person, beside myself, who can do it."
Heller went to the evening performance,
and took front seat After the usual
tricks with cards and pistols had been per
formed, Calvert came forward with bird
cage, in which could be seen a small bird
fllttering about, Holding the cage out at
arms length, ne said
Ladies and gentlemen, you will see
here tonight, for the first time, the great
bird-cage trick of the American wizard,
Heller. have had the honor to discover
the secret of this trick, and ! now perform
it before you as my own. When l snap
my fingers, the cage and bird will disap-
pear"
Looking directly at Heller, with smile,
Calver snapped his fingers, and the bird
cage vanished.
At Helle. S death the method of making
the cage, and causing il 10 disappear, was
| disclosed.
The cage, made of the finest and most
delicate wires, was separated into compart-
| ments by a thin partition. These two COM
partments were held together by minute
but powerful springs, which were made to
open by pressing two wires, one on each
side of the cage.
The two wires were held by the performer
between his thumb and finger, US he ex-
tended the cage at arms length Each
compartment of the cage was so made that
when the springs when held them together
| were looSened the compartments would
| collapse, or fold up into u very small com.
pass.
Attached to each side of the cage, close
| by the wires held by the finger and thumb
| OF the performer, were stout elastic cords
running up the inside of Heller's sleeves
and fastened at some point above his ell
| bows.
The bird chosen for the cage was one Of
the smallest varieties of sparrow, and he
was placed in the compartment to which
the partition belonged
Suppose the performer now ready to ex
| hibit the cage. He steps out, holding it n
arms length. The elastic bands, being OF
the inner side of his hands and wrists, are
not perceived by the audience He snap:
his fingers; that is, he presses the wire:
which let the cage fall apart; each side col
lapses, and the force of the ightly-stretchet
rubber pulls each section of the cage up tn,
performers sleeves.
The bird is drawn up with the side il
which it was placed, and. strange to say, i
not often seriously injured by the opera
ton.
Every part of this trick requires the Ut
most skill and the most delicate handling
in every detail to make it successful. TIL,
| fact that Heller ne~forrnpd fhe trick hmm
| dreds of times before attentive audiences
without betraying the secret of it, show:
to what an extent attention 10 details may
enable a man TO triumph over the seem
ingly possible Youths Com
panion.