Evening star., 1886-07-03

The Startling Trick OF the Talking
Head Exposed.

The Startling Trick OF the Talking
Head Exposed.
AN INGENIOUS DEVICE WHICH pFcE1vrs THE
EYE-How cHERuBs WITHOUT BODIES ARE
CONSTRUCTED.
Alfred Thomson In the New York Journal
I remember the first time saw the curious
ocular illusion known as the Sphinx Table. AS
took an interest in all illusions which could
be adapted TO stage effects, and had heard from
adopts that the new illusion was not only q
marvel but absolutely undetectable, I attended
the disappearance Of the resuscitated Sphinx,
hrst performed at the Egyptian Hall, Picca-
dilly, London, by wizard calling himself Col.
StOdare. This clever trick was really invented
by young man named Thomas Tobin, who
assisted Professor Pepper at the Polytechnic
Institution in Regent street, to whose genius
the well-used ghost illusion also owed its inven.
ton.
the usual rabbits had disappeared out of hats
ana become watches aud the various pocket
11anakerehiefs 1a M had been turned into boeuets Of
and the Sightseeing public had q wonder to ex.
ercise Its mind on Tor months to come. On the
legged table on whose top was spread q small
velvet cover with border of gold fringe hang.
Ing over two inches. No room for . drawer be
.ASS~sA
tween the legs as far as the back of the stage
simply three attenuated legs and fat top GOV.
cred with velvet.
On a side table near the proscenium stood a
handsome plush-covered box about q foot
square, or fourteen inches every way. The lid
unlocked by stodare was opened on the side
head of the Sphinx. Aite-size head OF hand.
some Egyptian wearing the typical striped
head.pieee and the same cOilarette round the
severed neck; for there was nothing but head
on short neck in the box. The eyes were
closed and the long eyelashes fell on the cheek,
which glowed through its Pharaoh bronze with
vital blood. Closing the lid for a moment,
StOdare carried this box by q handle on either
slde from the side to the three-legged table be-
NOW understand, there was a simple unadul-
terated table without drawer or pieces OF con-
cealment. You could see beneath it and note
tne hang1ngs on the wall beyond. The thick
ness Of the table with the bottom OF the box
upon it could not have been two inches in all.
as S fell
the Sphinx, still there, slept the sleep Of thous-
ands of years-but only to wake at the voice OF
eyes opened at command and looked straight
before that marvellous lace out into the nine
teenth century: had no doubt, even before
ured rythmic tones, that the head was human
and not made OF wax; but the more looked
and the more l calculated the farther was /
from solution OF the first mystery had wit
messed since commenced the study OF modern
magic.
4uc WuOl0 apparatus was In 1uIl u20C, not
only OF gas, but OF a calcium directed ON to the
wondrous face while the box was open. Until
the close of the exhibition sat there dumb
Sphinx enigma before me. Just before the
conclusion 1 happened TO rise in my seat, SO
certain l felt that some unexpected detail
might disclose the secret to me; and in q mo-
ment the whole illusion was swept away. l saw
where the body was concealed. / knew the
| trick and went away perfectly happy at being
certainly the only one in London, besides the
inventors, who could have reproduced the mar
velous sorcery elsewhere. And the whole bag
OF tricks Was given away for lack of a silk
hovering between two table legs the marks OF
TWO fingers, such marks may be often seen
on mirror when the light 1alls at q certain
angle upon it.
those two fingermarks, though close 10 the
carpet gave me the key to the entire Sphinx
hierogiyphyics: me Typ lay In my mental photograph
table, with side view of the Sphinx, his head
passing through superposed apertures, one in
the taLtet, the other in the bottom OF the box.
The figure concealed from view by two mirrors
OF pure silvered plate glass set at such an angle
as to reflect either size OF the room ION the
stage} III such "a way that what TO the eye was
evidently the back of the same room seen be.
meath and beyond the table was really only a
reprodustion OF those sides visible in the mir
This Sphinx was the sensation OF London for
weeks following, and having occasion TO go to
Paris a few days after, l offered the secret to
Robert Houdin's successor, Hamilton, who,
however, refused terms until he knew the trick.
This delay of his was much regretted By him,
Ior some other speculator got on 10 the secret
some three months later and made q colossal
sensation in Paris with his "Decapite ParIant,' y
which b. ported to be the head of a criminal
who ilod been guiliotined, but still retained the
PoWe oI speak1ug and answering questions.
This was exhibited in a cellar Opposite the
Grand hotel, In room curtained to look like q
prison, with the realistic accessories of axes
blood round the neck and other Zulaesaue sur.
rOundings. =
In the same year introduced the illusion for
I've nlst time On the stage III the celebrated
spectacle OF "BaOil aud Bijou" at Covent Gar
den theater. In the ballet of "Ine Seasons
Mile. ,dehriette Dor, one of the most poetical
ana designed large rose bud ON it's stalk,
which, coming up through the bed OF summer
flowers, blossOmed wide until from its open
petals the beautiful Dor rose up, apparently
MATCHMAKING as sue issued from the caiX on
the stalk Tie ballet was SO arranged in groups
around three sides mot in fronU as to aid the de-
ceptlon by their adjusted reflections in the
mirrors.
Practically it was the same-two mirrors at a
right angle and trap-door. This curious trick
Was never improved on. 1t was added to aud
altered at the Pol olytechnic, where, among other
adaptations OF the same principle, was shown
an animated tableau Of Sir Joshua Reynolds
famous cherubs. Three cherubs heads and
wings appeared in u moonlit sky, floating, and
sang in sweet cnlld voices the verses of ain an
them. Really those three heads came through
three holes IN one sheet ot glass, which reflected
I'm AN alcove) the ceiling above on which was a
painted sky and Illuminated moon to the eye
of the spectator far behind the floating trio
Curfously enough met the original Sphinx
not three years ago In the person OF business
manager who had been Stodare's agent and
only three months back one of those very
cherubs In Mr.. Fred Solomon, the comedian,
who was then chorister al the Chapel Royai,
and who was threatened with all sorts OF tor
lures ii he let the cat or the cherub out of the
bag.