The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-14
Kellar,s Magic at the Bijou.


It is automatic that there are exceptions to-
all laws, even natural laws. we are tola tnat
two objects cannot occupy the same space
at the same time Kelar controverts that.
We are also informed that matter is indie
structible but Kellar controverts that, too.
In fact, he negatives all our traditions and
with iconoclastic hand sets at naught the laws
of nature. ~.
In our infancy we were led to believe that
the law OF gravity was Interchangeable as those
of the Modes and Persians. Kellar wastes no
time in argument against this proposition.
He simply waves his hands over young
woman. the Princess Karnac, who is sleepy
enough to. have hailed from the magician's
own town of Philadelphia, and she floats in
air. suspended between heaven and earth like
the tabled coffin of Mohammed. In short, the
American wizard seems to have made pact
with Dame Nature who, on occasion, is a COM
PLEASANT old lady, despite the abuse so fire.
quently heaped upon her, whereby he is per-
mitted to violate her laws with -impunity, to
the obvious ACKNOWLEDGMENT of his own wealth
and to the delight of his audiences.
Had Kellar lived in Salem a century or
so ago he would never have grown bald; and
just at present his personal appearance sug-
gests a before using advertisement OF the
seven Wonderland sisters. The inhabitants of
that little New England hamlet had a play
full habit of dealing unkindly with men OF
his class, whom they regarded as earthly
emissaries of the gentleman from hades.
Their method was eficacious, for in case the
magician survived the numerous tests pre-
pared for him they would argue that he
could only have done so through the aic
of his master and would have proceeded to
end his mundane career by sure and Ger
tain means, while if he died his guilt at
tonce became apparent to-. However, Temporal
7 mutantur, which, by the way, Is LUCKY
! thing for the man of mystery. arr as
Kellar is at the Biiou this week. His
program does not differ materially from others
that have gone before; but it is still be-
wildering. still mystifying. You may ex-
plain his magic satisfactorily to yourself if
you can; but you connot satisfy the curiosity
of your neighbor in seat I'D 49,, and you
might as well save yourself the trouble OF
trying. That's all done by mirrors you
say Eyes, but how?'' ''He dropped thai
down behind the table, you retort. "Ot
course, but the table is supported by single
metal rod and can see under it as we'll as
you can. I didn't see anything fall ''Well
he must have done it that way. Where else
could he have put t?'' There is reply
! to that argument, and the discussion at once
comes to close. ....N 49,
| Kellar has been in the magician business
| for more years, probably, than he cares tt
remember; and his tricks are not to be ex-
planned by the casual observer, sophisticated
though he may be. He will build cabinet
before your very eyes and wheel it down to
the footlights to show you that it is empty
Then he will close the door, wave his hand
and Immediately the sounds of an amateur
riot come from within Tambournes, canes
and handkerchief are thrown from the win
| dows a face peers out and wnks; yet when
| the doors are again opened the compartment
| is empty.
! He will suspend an empty wlgoda from a
chain in the middle of the prosceniunl open
! ing while a like contriyance on the floor
! of the stage contains a living woman. Then
presto, the woman is disclosed in her hang
! ing prison, while the stage pagoda Is empty
| Hermann had similar trick, but it was
! childs play compared to this.
He will permit committee from the audi
ence to bind his hands securely behind his
| back, and will then face about and Olsen
| tangle the knot before you know that any
thing Of the kind is meditated. These are g
few Of Kellars mysteries; but there are
others equally surprising and equally mex
plicable.
! A master of palnlistry, as malapropian
young lady once remarked, his sleight of hand
| is we'll nigh marvellous. Seeing, they say, is
believing, but while watching Kellar you sec
only the unreal; you may believe what you
choose. j. S. Lawrence
4 y" i. i