The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-03
THE ART OF MAGIC.
speculations as to why the Literature on
That subject Is SO Rare.

the continued popularity among all
classes il seems a matter of wonder that
the literature of magic art should be so
extremely scarce. Until the last few
years it would have been hard to find
single book worth reading upon this
subject, the whole literature of the art
consisting of single chapters in books
written for the amusement cf youths
and handboolzs sold at the entertain
nents of various public performers
The compilers OF these handbooks
always have care not TO reveal there
in any trick which they deemoworthy
OF performance by themselves. The
more important treatises of the art have
been known to but few, and those few
have jealously guarded them, know
ing that the more closely they con-
cealed the clew to their mysteries the
more would those mysteries be valued.
Indeed, the more noted conjurors of
hfty years ago strove TO keep the secret
not only from the outside world but
even from their confederates. At the
present day the secrets of the art Of
magic are not so well kept, and there is
hardly trick or an illusion performed
upon the stage which the amateur may
not at a sufficient expenditure procure.
One thing that makes IL difficult for a
compiler to procure books or writings
explaining how these mystifying things
are done Is that il requires long chem
ical and arithmetical dissertations, and
as a necessary result the portion de-
voted to the coniuring proper is treated
SO briefly and scantily as to be prac-
ticany useless. There is vast differ
ence in telling how trick or an illusion
is done and teaching how TO do it
Therefore it Is not everyone who can be
Robert Houdin or a Bautier. who were
probably two of the greatest onjurers
the world has ever known. A wizard
is not to be made in a day, and he who
would attain excellence must be con-
tent to proceed as he would with mu-
sic, painting, drawing, or any other ac-
complishment The first rule to be
borne ia mind alway is this: Never
tell your audience beforehand what you
are going to do" If you do SO you at
once give their vigilance the direction
which it is most necessary to avoid, and
thereby increase tenfold the chance Of
detection. There is good trick In
which the performer, after borrowings
handkerchief, gives il to some one TO
hold. When it is returned il proves to
be torn into small pieces. 1t is again
handed to the holder, who is instruct
ed in order to restore II, TO rub il in n
particular manner; but when it is again
unfolded it is found to be in 4 long
strip.
These effects are produced by sue
cessive adroit substitutions, and the
whole magic consists in the conceal
ment of the particular movement at
which each substitution is effected.
The best trick loses half of its effect on
repetition.
1t is not many years ago since the
orthodox dress of the coniuror was a
long. flowing robe embroidered more
or less with hieroglyphic characters
and giving ample space for the conceal
ment any reasonable sized article
from frying pan 10 a live goose. The /
costume of the magician of to-day is .
ordinary evening dress. The effect I
Of the feats performed is greatly
heightened by the close fit and com
parative scantiness of such costume. /
which appears to allow no place for
secret pockets or other place of conceal
ment
In the past many clever conjurors
have led audiences to believe much in
the materia lization of suirits and the
visits of spiritual inhabitants from an
other world. This affords proof that
there is apparently no bounds TO hui
man credulity and stupidity. NJ. Servais
lie Roy, the French conjuror. has done
much TO destroy in his native country
the belief in the spiritual world founded
on tests offered by would-be mediums
In volume OF Memoirs de facade
mie des Sciences" Of 1929 IS found an
account of most extraordinary trick
performed by Pere Truchet for the
amusement OF Louis XIV. when young.
1t consisted of not only producing from .
a sbinet spirits of the departed but
also three beautiful girls. Such is the /
principal feature of Servais lie Roy's /
act, and the secret c' which he guards /
carefully. How it is done no one has /
ever quite found out. He claims to 4
have secured il from his grandfather 4
many years ago. who in turn secured I
it from some Of the discarded effects o. /
the gay and naughty emperor OF the /
French during the last century Chi /
cago Tribune.