The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-04

Remarkable Performance Given by
the Great Lafayette.
He Initiates and 0uidoss The Chinese Con-
jursr Ching Ling Foo.


The modern horscless carriage. auto
mobile, Iocomobilc or other described
conveyance hasn't yet become 40 COM
mon in Providence that IL has ceased
to attract good deal OF attention and
awaken considerable curiosity. A
new one appeared on the streets Mon
day, materially different from any be-
fore seen here land the manner i'm which
IL whzzed up and down broadway, Pine
street. on the Boulevard and on other
especially smooth roadways created "A
quiet sensation. Again this morning
II Was seen making good Emile pace
on Elmwood avenue.
The occupant OF the carriage, who
IS always accompanied by a white
pointer dog. is gentleman of medium
stature, rather slight in build, with dark
hair, face at once striking ana
thoughtful. keen and penetrating eyes.
and an evident habit OF close observa-
tion. lie is dressed very modesuy and
rides along al "A lively clip as IL he
thoroughly enjoyed IL. and apparently
obiivious of, or at least Indifferent to-,
the attention he attracts.
Although, there Is an indetinable
something about the man that arrests
attention and compels second glance,
in spite of his quiet demeanor, SIM
plicity of dress and lac1 of self-con-
sciousness, no one would suspect him
TO be other than some merchant or
professional man of moderate means
enjoying his favorite sport. Certainly,
no one would suppose THAI in his own
profession his name il known today
the country over that he has attained
such measure of skill and achieved
such success that by common consent
he has become known as the the
great"
And yet this man Is "The Great La
fayette." the man who but a few short
months ago was only the most artis-
tic character impersonator on IN
American stage, but who today is rec
ognized as the most versatile enter
tainer and the most mystifying con-
turer before the public--the man who
has not only successfully duplicated all
the famous tricks OF Ching Ling Foo.
the wonderful Chinese conjurer. but
has actually gone as far beyond the
Celestial as the latter had advanced be-
yond all those who had preceded him.
During the past three months La
fayette has been creating nothing less
than a sensation in the leading ctties
OF the country, especially 80 in those
previously visited by Ching Ling, Foo;
and at Keith's this week he is dupli-
eating that record.
Lafayettes act consists of character
representations in costume, among
which that OF Sousa, the March King,
Is probably as near to an exact coun-
terfeit presentment as one man can
make OF another, including all the min
utest details OF manner and gesture
and posture so familiar TO those who
have seen the great bandmaster direct
ing his band. The DUPLICATION OF CHING
Ling Foo's tricks follows after some
exceedingly humorous bits OF artistic
deception by the impersonator. who
keeps the spectators guessing between
the identity of himself and his assist
ants.
In dress precisely identical with that
OF the Chinaman, with the familiar
square of cloth. embroidered as the
original, with the same unintelligible
ordinations. the same smirks and
grimaces. the same peculiar gesticula-
tions and the same movements OF body,
Lafayette not only produces once the
immense bowl of water, but he repeats
IL thrice. and each time. In addition 10
the bowl brings forth ducks. pigeons,
dogs and even ''cute" little picka-
ninny. until the audience has reached
pitch OF astonishment from which II
barely recovers In time To express its
appreciation in the customary manner.
Those who fancied they had solved
the problem Gf Ching Ling Foos mys-
terious tricks find themselves now more
than ever -plussed for what seemed
plausible explanations OF the emma
mans work seem altogether made
quate for the mystlfying achievements
OF Lafayette; and as the management
gives it's word that no traps in the
stage are employed. IL is evident that
there are still many guesses coming.
Lafayette frequently changes his act.
and he has promised before the week is
over to present at least once a trick
that in his opinion far surpasses any
thing he has before aftomnfed