The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
MAGIClANS SWAP TRICKS.
A THIRD AVENUE SCHOOL, or
THE BLACK ART.

Black Hair 10 MREie-The Newest wizards
WaiStcoat-Th Magic Harp HObsOn
and the Spirit Bells The Indiner.
eut Yankee Beer and Sandwiches.
In q dingy back room behind O dingier
Third avenue shop is New York's m~agicians'
exchange. It's clearing house Of professional
magic. Here every Monday night gather
keen eyed. oily haired men and women
intent on keeping abreast OF their profess
sion, eager for new ideas and ready to
offer their own experience in exchange.
sEntres. eatreF,' purred the wonderfully
| coifured and beaded person who opened
the door. Her breadth Of. figure and Of
face spoke the German, but her
was straight from Paris. Il will give you
70 ordnde view. I will give you ze good
place. 1t ID re great things We are to see
tonight
Every one who came received the same
welcome. Every one got the place from
which re prdnde view" was obtainable.
Most Of the arrivals she called by name.
with many Of them she exchanged q banter
ing salutation in French into which an
occasional German word dropped.
Slowly the long, narrow room filled.
The bench in front Of the faded calico
curtains that covered one wall was soon
crowded. and the chairs were pushed sup
close around the huge stove, whose length
after length Of rusty pipe stretched the
entire length OF the place. Why the stove
must always be the greatest possible dis
lance from the pipe hole is a problem that
not even a magician can solve.
AZ the men gathered a resemblance be-
tween them all was observed. Each might
have been the twin Of any Of the others.
It was all in the hair and beard. The
hair Of each one was cut after the same
pattern, was dyed and oiled to the same
degree Of glistening blackness, Dominat-
ing the collection Of rusty Autographs that
covered another wall was the highly COL
ored original Of this style Of tonsorial art.
A particularly hearty burst Of @EntreS'
and "Komm' herein from the door
announced the arrival Of an important per-
sonage. He was the master Of ceremonies.
The grace OF his bow to right and left and
the assured ~springiness Of his step as he
made his way to the stage announced the
fact, while a single glance at his waistcoat
gave ample proof that this was indeed an
artist.
1t was a wonderful waistcoat and that
the wearer knew il was evidenced by the
confident way in which he threw back his
spreading coat and inserted his thumbs in
the armholes Of the beauteous garment.
1t was OF white broadcloth. cut very high
and long, with a wide black facing, not too
wide, though, to occupy space that might
be used for the confetti shower Of embossed
and embroidered hearts, spades, clubs and
diamonds that spread themselves in lux
uriant size and number over the entire broad
expanse.
1t was evidently the first appearance OF
the wonderful creation. for az it burst into
full view a little murmur Of awe and envy
went over the room. a murmur to which the
owner OF the magnihcence remained mod
estly unmindful, though an added lift Of
the head showed him not altogether in
different.
AS he stood under the portrait OF the
Great Master he seemed almost his REIN
~carnatiou. The styeian black hair was
the same, the impressive mustache and
imperial, the poise Of the head and the
glitter Of the eye. Only different was an
unfortunate tendency to em%bonpoint. for
which even the greater breadth Of waist
coat it permitted was not compensation.
The sensation Of the waistcoat having
spent itself. though il was renewed in
the eyes Of every late conner, the business
OF the evening was put under way. But
there was no impressive introduction. no
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention
for one moment" when the performers
took their places. There was no elaborate
adjustment of cuffs and sleeves. The
as seen from the front wal lacking. 1t
was a plain, businesslike exposition.
1T mas been requested" said the man
behind the waistcoat, that Mr.. Hobson
dc his version of the spirit bells. There
are some things about II that some OF us
do not understand"
Mr.. Hobson. a twin 80 far as haircut
went of the master OF ceremonies. oblig-
ingly took the stage, and was carefully
tied up, arms and legs, by his assistant.
bells were then rung, tambourines beaten
and nails driven.
Immediately Mr.. Hobson was deluged
with questions, not as to the details Of
the trick itself-they were too obvious to
those trained eyes-but as to the details
Of artistic finish-the technique Of the
performance.
Better TO illustrate his point he did it
again, then paused In his demonstration
while the master of ceremonies answered
the telephone on the wall behind him.
Cant come? Too bad. No, Hobson
can't talk TO you now, he's tied up for his
trick. Aw, get out"
Then as he hung up the receiver and
turned to the audience, he explained;
Joe Wilson's in Hoboken, but he says
he wants TO see Hobson's trick and for him
to wait till he ONES"
At which the crowd gave the first laugh
of the ~evening-the idea OF perspriing
Hobson staying tied till Joe arrived from
Hoboken.
When every one was satisfied with Hob,
sons performance and felt himself prepared
to reproduce it, Hobson himself called for a
trick on which he felt the need OF improve
ment. He was TO give a show at a private
house the next week, he said, and he thought
this was Just the thing that would 60. So
his brother artist demonstrated. while Hob
son, close to the platform, followed his
every movement.
The next man 70 take the stage was so
little and 50 shabby, so wrinkled and worn
and old, that but for his haircut his calling
would never have been suspected. He
crept meekly TO the front and cleared
his throat nervously as he explained:
you do not recognize me, ! know, and l
feel that ! owe you an apology for taking
your time here tonight, This Is the first
time | nave appeared in public for twenty
Eve wears, and | can show you gentlemen
nothing. But your fathers knew me-
anI the bent shoulders s~traightened. SIN