New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-11

Merlin, but don't see anything that will help
me- except perhaps that chapter about beautify-
ing Just what is that about
The young man took the book himself and
opened to a page where his eyes fell on these
words:
How the hair may be dyed yellow or gold
color. Add to the lees of white wine as much
honey that they may be soft, and like some
thin matter: smear your hair with this, let 1t
be wet all night; then bruise the roots OF Ceian-
dine and Of the greater Clivers Madder. of each
a like quantity. Mingle them. being bruised
very well with oyle, wherein Cummin seed
Shannigs of Box. and little saffron are mingled;
anoint your head and let il abide for twenty
four hours Then wash it with Iye, made of
Cabbage stalks, Ashes and Barley Straw tbut
Barley Straw is the best for this). AS women
have often proved it will make the hair a bright
yellow"
Il see that one chemical compound has cut into
the magicians business" remarked the youth
looking up from the page Peroxide of hydro
gen suits the women better now
On the opposite page the straightforward per-
former caught sight of these words:
How hair may grow again The ancients
made their lair grow again with these remedies.
with the ashes Of a land Hedge Hog, of burnt
bees or flies, or the powder of them dried. and
ashes of small nuts waInuts chestnuts. and
other bean like substances"
That's a good remedy" said the doctor, who
Glanced to see what page it was, but as for
myself 1 would prefer badness
The book seemed to have a fascination for the
young man. and so he skinned on through Its
pages. He read recipe how one may long en-
dure hunger and thirst. by swallowing balls of
tobacco. mixed with the ashes Of cookie shells,
how the ma gician used to fool banqueters by
pouring water into their brandy, and after
drinking off the spirit leave the water for the
guest; how may read letter on dark
night. by holding it up TO a concave glass in the
focus of a bright star.
1.-The magician was a man of skill in natural
science" said the doctor. lat the time that book
was written. He used natural forces to per
form what the ignorant thought miracles. SO
the populace feared him. In these days. when
everybody knows about these things the venera-
ton in which the magician once held
has disappeared
The visitor had opened a book entitled The
Whole Art of Legerdemain, or HOCUs POCus."
The volume was printed in 17S1. and its frontis-
piece bore the picture of man who had been
decapitated. and whose head stood on plate
yard from his feet On inside page the
explanation Of the trick. which showed it to be
consisting of a board with two holes in it. The
head of the decapitated man was hanging down
through one hole. and was thus out Of sight.
The visible head projecting out of the other
hole was that of another person.
THAT illustrates the next stage in the ma
gician's development" said the doctor. HE was
now shOrn of his supernatural pretensiOnS, and
relied instead on grand and grewsOme stagings.
He appeared before his audiences in long robes
and flowing sleeves. which made it easy for him
to conceal all manner OF things. 10 was not till
the time of the great French magician. Robert
Houdin, who was born in 1905. that the present
school OF cOnjUring was established. HOudin
appeared as his successors do now. in plain even
ing dress. By such garb he made his feats
appear the more difficult
The visitor was engrossed in ''Breslaw's Last
Legacy, or the Magical Companion. 17Si" and