Evening star., 1886-11-27
copyrighted. 1856 by Brander Matthews)

Monsieur Blitzini, from whom they had hardly
taken their eyes during the brief minute of the
huge serpent's existence. They saw him give
gasp before he recovered himself sufficiently
10 take The abundant applause which followed
an effect novel and as surprising and as in
eXpIicable as this. He snatched up the hat
from the floor and rushed upon the rundown.
Then he paused and drew a long breath. In
moment ne had turned out upon plate, with
which he had previously provided one of tn 6
spectators, the smoking OmeIette of which the
apPetizing odOrs had been perceived before the
appearing of the snake, and he had returned
the hat unimpaired to Wyoming.
'.He works neatly said Cameron
''But he is powerful scared" Wyoming an
swered. These new variations on the old
tricks surprise him much as they do US"
"Perhaps our joke is coming true-the spirits
have taken umbrage at his unauthorized use
oi their names and they are playing tricks on
him"
do you think that his familiar spook has
gone back on him?" asked Wyoming
What else can Think" returned Cameron.
The Huffy Spook theory is the only tenable
one"
1t will serve as working hypothesis at
least Wyoming assented. "But why is it that
all goes we'll while he Is down here among the
audience, and that everything goes wrong
when he is up there on the stage? Have you
noticed it?'
YES, Cameron answered, 81 see 1t, and ii is
queer"
Oi the next two items the program there
Is no need to speak in detail The tricks were
commonplace enough in themselves, but they
proved 10 DC quite uucJmmOn i'll their execu-
ton. There was nothing surprising
startling as the serpent which rose from the hat
aud disappeared by inches with sharp line
though 10 mad been cut off with knife, but
they were ststonished enough.
va Lpr, tel oft ans
face ami he noted all his movements; and he
that Monsieur Biitz.ni in far possi-
bic, Kept among the spectators and away from
the stage. lie was confirmed in his idea that it
oIIy The further side Of the fOOtlights
that the indignant spirits were able To take ad-
vantage OI tire COBiUrer'S weakness. Monsieur
BltZiHi nad iull control OF his resources so long
rs ~ Was III lAt midst Oh the audience land
both tricks went well enough until the exi-
Ecncies OF the performance forced the magician
10 return 90 the stage.
And 50 it was with the sixth trick on the pro-
gram which called lie Tireur des Cartes
but which Wyoming and Cameron soon recog-
nfZed rs the familiar illusion known as the Ris-
fng cards. and justly popular among all modern
maeIcians, as 1t Is almost the only card trick
which iS snowy enough ior IL large hall
Monsieur Biitzini took "a pack OF cards in his
hand and came down among the audience and
performed a series of most ingenious tricks. He
passed cards INTO a senticmans pocket and he
drew cards from a ladyS IAN. He gave one
spectator "a black card To hold and then touched
II with his wand, and. lOl il was red card. He
bade another spectator think OF card and he
then asked him if he would prefer To find it at
the top or the bottom OF the pack. and when the
spectator chose the top he turned over the up
perIlIOSt card and it the one thought of.
AT last he got six different persons i'm dItt.renr
parts OF The hall to draw cards and return
them to the pack, which was then thoro ughly
shuffied-
Monsieur Blitzini went back to the stage and
placed the pack In a glass goblet, and with
This in his hand he advanced towards the
fOOtlIghts- Turning to the gentlemen who
had drawn the first of the SIX cards, he said:
w III You. please ask your card to rise from
Before the gentleman could make this re-
quest a card jump from the pack and flew
To the side OF the stage and fixed itself to the
scene.
Monsieur BlitzinTs voice quavered as he
asked: lis that Your card. sir:''
NO, was the uncomprOInising answer.
a second card rose from the pack and
SKINNED through the air and fastened itself
on the scene on the other side of the stage.
lis tnat your card? asked Monsieur BlitZini
doubtfuliy.
NO" answered the gentleman again.
"A third card, fourth and "a fifth rose from
the pack in rapid succession, and danced about
the stage, and affixed themselves here and
lhere on the scenery. They We're followed by
dozen or more, which rose in a bunch and
scattered through the air, and attached them
seayes TO every salient object on the stage:
''Do you see your card, sire Monsieur BIitZini
inquired again with an obvious uneasineSS in
his tone.
Again the gentleman answered:
Monsieur Blitzini had come near the foot
lights TO ask this last question, and he now
stepped out upon the rundown with the glass
containing the remaining cards in his right
hand.
.'Wnat was your card?" he asked with dis
heaTtened smile.
The King OF diamonds the gentleman re-
pied, and a. he spoSed the king of diamonds
rose nom Inc pack ana bowed gracefully.
lhc spell oI III luck WAS broken and the five
other cards rose In turn from the top of the
pack Monsieur BlltZini was again.abe to bow
Acknowledgements 10 the round OF applause
which always greets this 1ayOrlte feat when it
l. properly performed. Wyoming who was "a
piaXeF-nUIiced that. although the magicians
ill5s smiled, his eyes did not
1ne final number OF the first part OF the pro-
gram puTPOrted 10 be La Piute de Danae
which y y0ining and Cameron mad Guessed 10
be = fantastic title for familiar and effective
trick generally known a. the shower OF Money
IL iLls s'irIIise they were right. With admira-
Die deXterIty Monsieur B.itZini seemed 10 catch
soNvEeigns out OF the CiTcumanbient air he
found tnen In the bOnnets OF the ladies and IN
iLe uesards oi The men; he discovered them
mere, tAeTe aAd every where; he borrowed IA hat
alle he threw into IL enough gold apparently To-
sUiIIce 10 MI Ii 10 tine brim. lie gave "a pretty
tOucn 10 the trick 10y maxim. an ever-increasiug
are 81 gold pieces stretch from one hand to
the other, and then from one hand into the
hat-''itke "A bartender mixing drinks and
pouring "a cocktail from "a glass in his right
hand I" "a glass III his left,' as Wyoming de-
W lille performing this ingenious variation ON
an oIA tflch. Monsieur BIitzIni backed slowly
uP tAe Tun-do"n, with the shower OF gold
apparently increasing in volume. From a
nasty glance cast behind him, Cameron and
wyoming guessed that he meant to carry the,
shdIIoW stage suddenly something happened
which delighted the rest OF the SPECTATORS
a4tAouSh IL caused the two friends a painful
surprise.
Monsieur BlItzini had scarcely more than set
Ms 4ool on the stage, with the shower of gold
stiii IdillhS, when the sOyereigns disappeared.
anu Ia t'eiF place appeared host OF short stout
SOu5els, which began 10 descend III a rain of
Peit4hs D!Ows on the cOnJurer's back and
sAOusuers anu arms. This spectacle OF "A man
taken at a physical disadvantage caused the
auuiehce lhe greatest possible delight. Even
the more knowing ones, who felt sure il was a
part Oi tne Trick, applaudcd the scared look and
panied expression which crossed Monsieur
biltLlnl> Race, and which they accepted as the
perfection OF acting
The spOOks are playiug pretty low down on
,ue "Ohutr worker, IL seems TO me-" said
wyoming eompassionately.
werei- ~
Monsieur Bltzinfs weird face had undergone
many changes OF expression since the sudden
irdnSinut&tlOn of the precious metal to- dull
wood AIIiaZeinent, pain. terror and despair
cnsst-u eslcn OtHer across his features. Unable
At Iiast to bear The unexpected visitation any
iohger, the magician Ned headlong the run
c9"n- AS ne crossed the line OF IoOtIights The
shower OF biudgeonS vanished utterly and an
are oi sONeFelgnS began again, falling from his
Aand To- the hat lie closed this into his nat
ana Then showed that the hat was absolutely
empty, ana ne returned II 10 Its owner swiftly
;.s he could.
lie stood before the spectators perturbed and
painting. and he bowed again and again before
the piaudIts OF the audicnce, getting his breath
b'sck la the brief respite 10 announce that this
al he apItfa raj ant