The Washington times., 1902-08-10
BLACK ART In
NEW YORK CITY
Mysteries Taught That Call
Forth Wonder.
Magicians Turned Out Fully Equipped
in knowledge of DelusiOn-Can
Then Astonish Their Friends.

In this day of Spanish in Eleven Les
sons at 40 Cents and Every Man His
Own Trainer" II is not surprising to
learn that New York can boast of two
tstablishm ents which will turn out fully
equipped magicians at bargain rates.
One is located on Sixth Avenue. the
other on the Bowery, and both reach
cut for the trade of amateurs as well
as professionals.
Here may be purchased tricks at
prices ranging from 10 cents to $1,000.
Here also is supplied the apparatus for
many well-known conjurers, for there
are few who. like the late Herman and
Keller can afford private workshops.
The store presents commonplace ap-
pearance, and its shelves are stacked
with tricks as are patent medicines In
drug store or canned goods in a grocery.
The trick asked for will be taken down
and explained by the salesman with all
the nonchalance of the dry goods clerk
dlating on the good points of ready
made suit. These tricks are for the most
part on familiar patterns. vases with
false tops, boxes with deceptive bottoms.
or perhaps such ambitious bits of mech
anism as the sword with which a ma
gicisn stabs deck of cards and impales
selected pasteboards. Here, too, may be
bought the glass handkerchief box in its
old form. and the familiar ball that will
stop on string at the word OF com
mand. Some bits of apparatus. heavily
plated. cost as much as s25, or even $50.
Back Of this shop is a second, COM
bining show room and workshop. Only
working magicians, are admitted to this,
for here are displayed the very newest
things In black art. particularly i'm
proved apparatus for attaining old ends.
Hints and tips are here given that never
reach the public eye or ear. and from
this point is handled an exchange of
tricks with London firm.
Here anything from a trick table to
complete illusion may be had for the
price, and anything not in stock will be
turned out in short order From work
ing drawings new tricks are made, and
trick put out by one magician Is
quickly copied for the many. The work
ers are as familiar with methods of
magic as the small boy with the
rules OF his national game. Many of
them in time go en- the stage and gain
more or less reputation.
When Ching Ling Foo's bowl trick was
creating a furor there was wild de-
nand for apparatus by which the trick
could be copied. II vas said tnat Ching
held the huge bowl filed with water
against his abdomen, his extreme lean
ress aiding such a bestowal nf he
awkward stage property However COR
rect was this idea of the trick, no less
than three different styles of harness
were made by imitatOrS. One of the
men who worked out the trick was
shopman of the prosaic name CT ROBIN
son. who had assisted Herman in build
Jig and working out his tricks. When
il was decided that Ching Ling Foo
should cancel his Londcn engagements
Robinson seized the opportunity and
went over billed as Chung Ling 500,
creating such sensation that he will
probably remain abroad indefinitely.
A profitable mail order business is
conducted by these firms, who count
among their patrons all classes CT magi-
clans, from the ambitious youth who
would dazzle his fellow citizens in the
district schcolhouse to professional ma
gicians and vaudeville favorites. Sup
Elementary catalogues are issued at
regular intervals. just as publishers OF
books and plays send forth notices of
fresh offerings. Tricks are offered by
Within a mile of the fashionable thea
ter district is a trick store whose pro-
prietors are decidedly averse to adver
tising OF any sort. The firm denies con-
nection with any other concern, and the
less the general public knows of its
wares, the more 1t is pleased. new
purchaser must be vouched for by some
old customer.
The concern deals in states and other
means employed by mediums. One
may have the choice of half dozen
modes of slate writing. or purchase the
flmy wrappings with which the feshy
''spirits" clothe themselves. Devices
for table-rapping and other demonstra
tions are included in the stock offered. |
and. of the three concerns mentioned. |
1t must be admitted thai in proportion
to it's size and capital, the last-named |
firm does the most profitable business. |
The more the dear public Is fooled. the |
larger price 1t is willing TO pay for the
York sun.