Telegram-herald., 1889-09-30

fSzrs-r zr1 hcScert zUl11G- Z -ss @s4
rss.e1 skd ~ re - D<1e. ~ as oppos-d
~ s1s 1rofesslon 11eir ldess Sow y
tsrxe-i sa<sa aatA to-s4y they zre
4IIoss 1niTers4Ly fo-4c~s1- Tie cd
svstsn died hkro- bile = = seldom
ssez 1o--a-dsys IA t1e lsrge 1ls2es. u :
t.,castonaliT encoCEteTed n small
tozus. D - n the 4pp4ratNs thea
used ! - gone into ths curiosity sa0e.
.1n-s tulo csllecrlons q brle-s- orse snd
s0us Las been g4t ~ pl4ln<r I'd more
PRACTICAL uses rhe rule a. present -
= ass ~ Little mash merry a. Uossl 1le,
sn1 - conceal II disguise th4t little ss
ulch - ean be 1one.
There are exceptions IL those cases
zners scientific IL 0sl9ns are prod Iced
TIE sphFax" or lie sdle-s W0mz..
e1eze head seeming , free u any body
= suspended y thread M2skelyRsr
Cabinet ~here a ul4l apparently dis
appears without leaving . race behind.
snd Peppers Gh0sts" where men walk
through each other as II each we're
spiritual being requiEe the largest and
nnest mirrors and other expensive 0ptl-
Ca apparatus
Some of the superb scientific tricks
have been borrowed from The con ufOr
repertoire All used In opera and drama
Ia some Of Wagner's compost lions. IN
the 'COrsican Brothers. and | am told
IL az lsAsttro Of Henry Iryins's wonder
tul prod tlons. mirrors, refectors and
elec rric al appliances have been en- ployed
with more than satisfactory results
The effect OF these scientific Toys Is
great enough upon educated people.
With persons of less intelligence it Is
far greater while with shose Of ID edu-
cation 1: - simply terrific. In some
parts of Europe and Asia, | have 81
times risked life and limb from the sa
perstitious and ilhterase, who were con-
vinced that Was In league with the
devil Every now and then YOU run
across individuals who stiA believe in
witches and wizards, In devils who go
around disguised n human shape and in
the ability Of any man 20 sell his soul
u the powers OF darkness for almost
any and every conceivable considera-
tion. To such as these all legerdemain
seems uncanny and every prestidigita-
teur very suspicious, II not q danger
Gus character. When beyond this, they
see something not only inexplicable but
also Incompetent that seems 20 in
vOlve power over spiritual beings good
and bad. their superstition overcomes
al curiosity and they become the slaves
OF tear IN regard 10 the spectacle they
witness and Of hatred and ferocity
toward the actor.
Only OF late years has the talent of
the prestidigitateur been recognized by
society and the public. A successful pro-
fessiOnal does an amount OF work and
undergoe. a train ng that Is marvel
To do trick. and do it well. demands
years Of the hardest practice. Dexter
ity is acquired only by continual and
ever repeated experiences. The must-
clan who plays and replays hts pieces
for hours every day. and the engraver
who spends a month upon picture
hardly an inoh square, are the only
ones who may be compared with the
magician as TO daily toll. For years
practiced ten hours day before mir
row and even at the present moment
devote some time every day 10 keeping
my hand in good shape
Nor is this all a man 20 suCreed IN
my vocation must study human nature
and the art OF conversation. The au-
dience must be- amused, startled and
interested In order TO be thoroughly
mystified. The joke or epigram of to-
day becomes stale tomorrow and must
be replaced by something new. Beyond
this be must keep up an intimate
knowledge OF chemistry. physics, cleo
tricity and mechanics. A great magi-
clan must Re q well-trained, well-edu-
Gated and well-reat gentleman. There
ia hardly one / ever knew but what was
such and was so treated the world over.
In nearly everv case he is feted at homo
and abroad and in those lands where
such customs >revail he is the recipiens
of honors, stars, crosses and even tltleA
There is humoTous side to the pro-
fession which is always pleasant. To
keep in practice as well as for other
reasons every professc- is forever play
ing harmless Jokes. The effect of these
at times Is indescribable. Once at the
dinner table of hotel there was a
pCmpous individual who bored every
one present by his loud voice and sub
lime egotisrn. stood il few minutes
and then fixing my eyes as raised my
coffee 70 my lips. pretended to swai-
lOw cup as well as contents. He gasped
IS il he had been struck and 50 called
the attention Of all there 70 himself and
myself then swallowed the saucer
and knife. II was zoo much for his
composure He broke down, the crowd
burst into q roar. and Ne were troubled
no more at that meal.
On another OccssiOn when man who
was too fond Of wbiskey 10 be OF use TO
anybody else. insisted upon joining tho
group 20 which I was talking, / sud
denly took my hatoff and let a large
rat fall on the table. The man yelled
and made bee line for the street
More curious was the conduct Of a
countryman in whose pocket l found =
large assort mont OF regulation articles.
Instead ot laughing he fell upon his
knees and prayed 70 be delivered from
the Evil one.