Evening journal., 1915-03-22
THURSTON Tells why
He TURNED TO MAGIC

"Iherc is so much back OF my enter
ing into the work OF magician that !
scarcely know how or where 20 begin TO
tell a story of my liic," said Ihurston,
the magician today. "But suffice it TO
say that the first yoarning for excel
lonce in the practice of magic | ever
felt was during a performance OF Herr
mann in my home town of Columbus,
Ohio, when I was but lad OF seven
summers. can't say that Just then /
had any serious emotions that | would
ever cspouse the profession, but in
looking back through the eventful years
that intervene, | must confess that II
was night OF thrills and impulses that
were beyond the mastery of my boyish
understanding.
AT any rate, from then on, mixed
with a career that is almost too cheek.
cred 10 be credible. ! piacticed little bits
of sleight Of hand and added TO what |
had observed that night by an ingc-
nuity that ! recognized but did not app
preciate. As a rcsiJt of my early eX.
periences, found myself continually
called upon by friends 20 assume the
role of entertainer.
MY beginning with tricks so early,
before ! really had any confidence in
my ability, made me resort 20 more
elibness and misdirecting explanation
than was customary, and ! attribute
what iuency and Quickness of repartee
/ possess to these early dlcmmas la
which ! constantly found myself.
"Nhilc | was a student at the ID. J..
Moody School. at Northfeld, Mass.
gave what was really my FIRST perform
ancc before a digniiicd and serious audi
encc at a weekly meeting. Everything
went well until | relieved Dwight j.
Moody OF a suspicious deck OF cards and
demonstrated my cleverness in handling
illusions by decapitating one OF my
, school chums. IN the course OF which
several OF the professors good wives
/ tainted. My magic impulse was nippec
in the bud at Moody School ON the plei
/ that such scances were not fitting fol
prospective divincs.
after developing many new tracks
and Illusions, finally worked into
vaudeville through the patronage oi
Tony Pastor. | felt that | had now
struck my pace. for from them my ef-
forts met with pleasing success. One
evening in Denver. a few months later,
WAS informed that Hermann occupied a
box. He had heard of my clcyerness
with cards and came TO see my tricks.
After the performance the old wizard
eomplimented me by saying: Nh.
Ihurston. you are the only one who evef
mystilied me with cards
"From this Western tour / went ia
England and played under the title of
king ot Carts' for twenty--iN weeks AT
the Palace Theatre. Following This en-
aagement made an extended tour OF
the continent. during which time gave
many special performances before
crowned heads and nobility.
"On returning to America ! set ia
worl,' TO perfect a number of illusions
and necromantic deceptions which have
1 been meeting with years of success in
many OF the largest playhouscs through
ont the country.
"ln 1904. induced by a consuming de.
sire TO meet the labled trickstcrs of the
Orient started ON playing tom
around the world. The natives of III,
far East took my tricks seriously, and
1 / found myself almost uncomiortably
successful.
81 fastened my trip around the world
TO Join kcllar in hi farewell tour OF
America. and at the close of that season
before the Press Club of New York
City. Kellar proclaimed me his worthy
successor"
1hurstou appears at The Playhouse
each evening this week. with matinec'
/ Wednesday and saturday.