The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-13

JuggIer- at the
Elysium M u i O
b all, and the
house was crammed- The prestidigi-
tator Is not always a popular ''turn;''
ne lacks piquancy and excitement,
and very often originality; but Alcorez
had got hold of one or two almost
startling feats which current rumor
gave him the credit of perilously
stealing from Thibet. At all events
his name on the bill was a feature,
and he always took we'll
The conjurer himself stood at the
bar waiting his call, and sdrank spar
ingIy with his admirers. He was in
good spirits that night, for on the
following week he was to start on a
big American tour which was almost
sertain to result in further engage
meDts and assure his future.
On the stage the Sisters de Leari
were singing the third and last en-
core verse of their great success, I'VE
Set There All the Same" At that
early period they dressed as their
grandmother Thirty years later
they will make up as nearly as posi-
bic like their grandchildren. Art de-
nands such sacrifices from its vo-
taries.
Alcorez made his final adieus and
went behind to his dressing room.
The Sisters de Leari gave place to a
low comedian, then the curtain went
up on Alcorez's table and appliances,
his name blazoned in letters. of gold
upon black background.
At different times and in all places
there are sympathetic audiences and
sxacting audiences Why, and what
controls them, none can say. Simply
Fexr har nd RI, no oil cd
for. AS the juggler bowed, his ex-
perienced eye took in the sea of faces,
and he smiled
He generally began with a very
simple trick that is as easy as it looks
impossible, and older than the NEGRO
mancers. He would borrow a watch,
get a stranger from among the audi
ence to come upon the stage and hold
It, and then cause it to disappear and
be found in someone else's possession
1t is very absurd when you see how it
Is done, but it is capable of endless
variations and can always be made to
raise a laugh, which is the conjurer's
first object.
Tonight Alcorez borrowed the
watch. Almost before he had made
the request a man from the front row
of stalls stepped upon the stage to as
StSL A1AA4- Il HIS d4dCL1IN was 50 uAuSu-
II that Alcorez looked at the man
suriously, and wondered that the face
seemed SO familiar to him. A word
from the audience caught the juggIer's
ear and he turned quickly to the
stranger.
Sir, are you my friend, my accom-
p1ice, my servant? A gentleman in
the audience distrusts me. Is it sop
Certainly not said the stranger.
'tHave you ever assisted me before
and become familiar with my ways?'
continued the conjurer.
There was just the suggestion of a
pause, but the mo" was firm and en-
phatic, and A1corez proceeded
Generally it was easy to reduce the
assistant to the necessary state of
confusion at a very early stage, but the
stranger did not indulge in any of the
humorisms by which the volunteers
lay themselves open. Alcorez, a little
puzzled, placed the watch in hand
kerchief, gave the ends to a stranger
to hold, and crossed the stage.
There was still an almost unfaiIing
ruse. Few men=thOse accustomed
to powder least of all-can face a gun
or a pistol without a tremor. This
gives the conjurer double advan-
tage; by means of a weapon he can
bring a too observant assistant into
such a condition of nervousness that
he is unable to proceed, and he can,
for moment, startle a whole audi
ence out of vatchfulness by the sud
den flash and report. Alcorez picked
up a glittering revolver, raised it