The times., 1898-07-17

w III a. rage, a local boy VINO mas man
aged to cut wide swatn IN the theatrical
end Of newspaper work Is spending
portion of his vacation among the old
haunts here. Before seeking a more Iu-
crative field for his talent, Mr. Page was
employed on a daily in this city and the
many friends he made at that time have
welcomed him right royalty. He is
brilliant writer. an intelligent and capable
critic and a good fellow
Among the weeks arrivals in town was
Al Stern. the mimic. Mr.. Stern is a na-
tive of the Capital City. and will be re-
menlbered for his work here last wear
with Graus Celebrities. He has put in
the season playing dates.
John Earle van Auken, ex-editOr of the
stage weekly. Between the Acts. is al
present in this city. Next season Mr.
Auken. who is hustIing young business
man. will go on the road ahead of
burIesque aggregation of merit and will
also be connected with a vaudeville pa
per in New York.
In many respects the most remarka BILE
man ever seen here is Clivette, the Jug
gler and shadographist whose perform
auce last week at Glen Echo astonished
almost as much as II pleased. Ones first
impression of the performer is that he is
thoroughly and distinctly an artist in the
fullest sense of that uiuch-abused word.
His work is done with grace and smooth
ness, that shows the most intimate IA
miliarity, not only with every branch of
the labor he is accomplishing. but with
each of the many separate professions
that might aid in its perfection. All that
he does bears the imprint or long study
and achievement that is the result OF
more than accident.
But the most wonderful thing about the
entertainer develops when he calls forth
his conversational powers. He has been
everywhere, seen everything. and has at
least passing acquaintance with every
body. And all this has been acquired
understandingiy. Indeed the man knows
so much that in attempting 20 tell
large portion Of IL he crowds into a ten
minutes talk at least a dozen irrelevant
subjects. to each of which the average
scientist would give lifetime. Clivette
presents a strange picture while giving
vent 10 this matter In appearance not
at all unlike the elder HERMANN. mis- ner-
vousness and mode of speaking remind
one greatly of that queer genius As his
words are formed into sentences he
marks time 10 them with his head, num-
bers them by slappiug one on the shOul-
ders and arms makes frantic gestures
and, above ALI keeps his fingers in con
stant motion. His eyes glance from one
side of the room TO another and his
whole appearance is not easily forgotten.
Yes he said on Monday when ap-
preached on the subject II have been
about a great deal have been fourteen
times across the continent. have learn
ed nine languages. I have made the trip
over the Atlantic thirty times. I have
worked and done and studied everything
During my career I have been an inter
prefer, a trainer in physical culture,
strong man, a hypnotist, q mind-reader.
a magician. juggier. a pantOmimist,
an actor, a shadowgraphist. and nearly a
dozen other like things For years I
have worked and studied at my theories
Two or three details in my system of
muscle culture are now being used uni
versalIy and I myself have 4 thousand
times tested them. 1 have taught a man
TO double his lifting power in three les
sons. See?
"A few years ago I journeyed 10 In
dia that | might study the far-famed
Hindoo magic. I found it overestimated
Everything shown me was puerile in its
simplicity. Travellers exaggerate and
hence the stories. The occult sciences
are carefully cultivated there and many
things that we attribute 10 coincidence
are studiously explained. The existence
of sixth sense-a sort of mental under
standing and languag gels one of these
Cultivated intuition enables one TO read
character perfectly. l have acted on that
feeling in my relation with people and
their motives without ever making a mis-
take. To me there is no difficulty about
the matter. / can even meet and talk
with a man. part with him, and, entering
a room shortly after. tell if he has been
in there.
"A great deal of this is accomplished in
India by trickery. and the brightest peo-
pie do not discover the deception. As a
matter of fact. the brainiest men are the
most easily deceived. Scientists and
scholars have been taken in by my magic
where dullards have understood. The
reason is plain. A necromaneer SAYS, I
am not going TO do such a thing'-and
then he doesn't. The sensible fellow
listens to his words and thinks, He de-
clares that he viii not-ergo he will Then
he watches for the fulfllment and is
undone. The clod says nothing and thinks
less, but his eyes never leave the hand
of the man in front of him.
After ALL audiences never understand
these businesses. and when I consider
how feats in jugglery learned in a month
are applauded over those the undertake
ing of which consumed years / am dis
gusted. A house gets none OF the finer
points. 1t doesn't know that when a
man turns one bottle one way and one
another in throwing them up and catch
ing them he makes the act three times as
hard as though he were moving both in
the same direction. 1 broke a ton of
TASKS learning that My final turn is
much praised, but still its detail is not
realized. People forget that there is diff
ficulty in keeping anything whirling per-
petually and they do not know that the
false move of the decimal part of an inch
might ruin the whole business. Nor do
they understand the weight held at arms
length and the distance between the OBJ
jects and the vertebra on which my body
is supported. In that portion of my act
I lift nearly ton. The nervous strain
is frfghtfuf l have had half my face
paralyzed and have smiled jovialIy at an
with one side of my mouth while
the other remained stiff and rigid.
"Shadowgraphy? Well. that is a pc
cuIiar art. 1t requires strength. too. alb
surd as that may SEEM Feel the muscles
of my hand The thing is not appreciated
here. 1t is primarily a French invention
and the French alone do it justice. To be
a success at 1t one needs to observe more
than anything else. He must also feel
his work. Behind my screen / act with
my facial expression the scene my hands
are showing to the audience Often the
thing goes automatically. My mind is so
intent upon the work that my fingers are
hypnotized. There is much of interest in
this business. You must return and let
me show you. Going already? Why. l
was Just getting warmed up to my sub
ject. Come again. Good-by."
And Clivette, one of the most interesting
men as well as one of the greatest artists
on the vaudeville stage. returned to his
makeup.