The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-08-08
Dbases Of Show Life.

velops into free-for-all fight.
Another phase of show life that
seemed to me to be the sleepiest posi-
tion ever held, was when became |
subject for hypnotist. While I was
to be buried alive as lead
ing card for this hypnotist show, cir
cumstances deemed otherwise and my
stunt was changed to window sleeping
from twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
While it lasted it was good paying
position, for l received a salary from
the manager and nine times out of
ten suit of clothes or some other
wearing apparel from the proprietor
of the clothing house in whose window
[ slept. But 1 am sorry to say that
my career in this line was cut short by
several of the citizens at Ely, Mimi,
who, to show their appreciation of my
stunt, presented the company with a
few dozen tainted eggs which were not
on the program. And those eggs; every
time think of them l shiver, for the
aroma which arose as each one came
in contact with the various members
of the company proved them to be as
ancient as the pyramids.
Now from hypnotism to the black
art appears to me to be but a very
short step, especially as both include
much that is mysterious to the average
person. And altho number of books
are published describing the means by
which many tricks in this art are &C.
complished, think that a few words
on this phase of show life by the writer
would not be Out of place at this time.
The most important part is in the stage
setting. On both sides and in the
back of the stage are black curtains
which extend from the ceiling to the
| floor. The floor is also covered with
black cloth which leaves the ceiling
and front part of the stage open. The
footlights have shades arranged in
such manner that they will throw
their reflections off the stage.
In performing many of the difficult
feats, or the wonderful illusions IN
magic that used to be placed before
the public by such men as Keller or
! Herman, one or more assistants were
required. These persons are really
the ones who performed the tricks
They are dressed in black and move
about the stage unobserved. After
the magician addresses the audience
he performs one or two simple tricks
as kind of introduction of what is tt
follow. He will place light-coloreC
object on one side of the stage, flour
ish his magic wand, distort his face il
an effort to appear droll, and presto
the object appears on the other side o.
the stage. 1t is needless to say tha
the assistants who are invisible to tn,
audience had, with the aid of blacl
bag, made this lightning transforma
, tiOn.
There are many phases Of theatrica
| dife which might prove interesting
were l to mention them, but as time i
} short, and, as dislike tainted eggs,
will be brief on this matter.
3 Circus life as we all know is attract
t i've to old and young alike, but to thos
= who are acquainted with the man
/ ups and downs to be conquered
d before one becomes successful in tn
8 business, is not so attractive as yo
t would imagine. "Big" Otto, who ha
: a trained wild animal show at tn
q "White City," In Chicago, is Gale
Q Americas animal king. Five year
lago this season the writer was wort
Y ing in brother act with Otto's show
y At that time all the animals he owne
+ were four or five performing goats,
i troupe of dogs and few horses. Blu
+ all managers cannot have as success
d full career as ssBig" Otto. To demon
b strate this l will just mention mi
: fortune that befell circus manage
l near Clinton, Iowa, a few years ag
10 This circus. The Royal Railroad sho,
; had embarked on train for Clintol