The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08


Lafayette, who was at the Grand Opera
House here during the last season, per
forms his famous illusion of The Lions
Bride but III wager that you can read
them all and then be more mystihed than
ever with Lafayette's act.
When / had been hard at work for
couple OF years trying 20 perfect myself in
sleight-Of-hand tricks made UP my mind
that the only way in which 1 could obtain
any line on my ability was 10 secure the
attention or some professional magician,
have him grant me an audience and then
criticise my performance. 1 had met the
clever conjurer. Powell two years before in
New York city. and. as enjoyed speak
ing acquaintance with him. determined TO
hunt him I'D. BY this time the study of
magic had become such a fascinating
hobby with me that was neglecting my
regular work in order 10 become expert in
-back-palming' a dozen cards or vanish
ing a handful OF coins. / would some
shines sit az my desk for three and four
hours at a time practicing a new sleight,
white pile OF letters remained unanswered
We'll, I started out TO find Powell, and 1
tell you it was a wild-goose chase. A the
strscal paper told me that he was playing
ut Ke.th's Theater in Boston, and 70 Bos-
ton 1 went Powell had just closed his en-
gagement and had started out with
vaudeville company on tour Of one-night
stands throughout New England. I reached
the first stand just a half hour too late.
Tor the company had given it's performance
and departed for the next town. There was
no other train that night, and when 1
reached the second stand 1 found, TO my
intense disgust, that the company had can
celed its date there ard had gone on to
large place. Well, 1 missed 'em once more
on account Of a railway wreck that was
only Sc ious enough 10 delay my train four
hours. II seemed as II the fates were try
Ing TO keep me from ever catching up with
the conjurer and 1 was beginning to think
that perhaps he was exerting some of his
own mysterious powers in keeping out Of
my way.
DID THE SAME TRICKS.
But ran him down at last after spend
sng lot Of money in railway fares and
great deal of valuable time that should
have been devoted TO business. caught
mp with him in little place up in Maine;
stuck to him until ne took me up to his
room at the hotel after the performance
and then, still enthusiastic over my newly
acquired dexterity. proceeded with beating
heart TO give him a private exhibition.
When had concluded and stood anxiously
awaiting his verdict, he rose lazily TO his
feet and said: Now, I'll do the same tricks
that you've just done. 1 saw how you
cid yours; see if you can tell how I do
mine. Well. upon my life, 1 couldn't tell.
He went through my own repertoire OF
Bleights with cards. billiard balls and coins
and 1 swear 1 was as innocent of how he
was performing those tricks as If 1 were
seeing them done for the first time. Don't
you think my ways a little bit better than
yours? he asked modestly, when he had
concluded 1 said 1 thought 1t was. and
ventured 10 ask IL he would mind showing
me how to perform the tricks in his way.
4 do 'em the same way you do he said
with smile, but I m more practiced I'm the
art OF deception than you are-in fact I'm
a better liar
THE truth was that his personality was
the dominating feature of his work When
ne got through with me that night found
that all 1 had studied and practiced before
was as nothing compared TO the one hours
instruction in psychology that 1 received
from him. That chase after Powell was an
expensive one, but it was worth the money,
for when perform my tricks in drawing
room nowadays it is with the feeling that
am fooling my spectators in spite OF them
selves, and that. although some of them
may be able TO give scientific explanations
OF how the tricks are done, still they are
not capable of observing me in the actual
carrying out OF the deceptiOn-and so long
as the cOnJuror can deceive that wonderful
little detective, the eye, his performance is
q success"