Evening star., 1928-11-04

3 SAzAiaa@
DIR. HENRY RIGELY EVANS.
English and would BE- uncomfortable
IN a dress suit would simply be I'M
possible. II one has not those requisite
qualities of mind and heart and pres
cncc. he will be on Of ths lower grades
Of his chosen profession.
Should Know Physics.
The magician should have a wide
knowledge of mechanics. optics. elec-
cri,tiy and radio" DR.. Evans continued,
for the more intimate his knowledge
II these things. the more quickly will
he BE- able TO present new illusions"
The modern magician he's hard Up-
-ill task to interest people. because Of
the wonders Of modern science that
The man in the street looks upon as
everyday affairs. DR.. Evans explained.
Science itscn hes turned magician.
evolving near -msrvcls at almost every
turn with the triumphant march OF
the revolutions of neN inventions. he
added.
To combat this opposition from
science, Or. Evans said the magician of
today mist uss ConSumate skill. pres
nee end environment 70 produce the
bet elects.
Think" said DR.. Evans. III the
magician had radio alone, he would be
incomnars bic"
Radio was the key that opened up
another storehouse of knowledge Of
Or. Evans, for this new wonder has
had its. part in the repertoire OF the
magicians When this new science was
in its infancy. this savant Of magic
pointed out, nlagicians used it for pre-
tended thought transference and tels-
pathy. but when the science came to be
we'll known, the nagicians had to
abandon it.
Ideal for Children.
Magic will always be, however So
phisticated the world may grow, the
ideal performance for children" Or
Evans said, "as it excites their innagina-
ton. as it Is more akin to the tairy
story than anything We know and has
a real psychological value to students"
AS regards the psychology Of magic,
about which he has written so learn
edly. DR.. Evans has some very pro-
nounced views that quite unset popular
conception of the feats of Sleight-of-
hand as commonly seen uuon the stage.
The uuickness OF the hand deceives
the eye is an axiom" he said. among
those unacquainted with the psychology
Of magic; as II the movement Of the
hand bore some resemblance to
cinematograph film passing through
projecting apparatus and blending into
one consistent whole upon the screen.
This Is an erroneous impression
DR.. Evans added. "luicSness of hand
does not entsr into the performance Of
most coniuring feats but it is a celebrity
that is very seldom exhibited to the
spectator. being masked in some man
ner; for example, executing subtle
pass with cards under cover cf a sim
pie gesture or loadlr5 hat while MAX
ing half turn to lay some object on
a table, etc. The more natural con-
jurer is and the less parade Of deXterity
he exhibits. the more his tricks re-
semble miracles. Everything must ne
hidden by natural movements of the
hands or the body Misdirection also
plays powerful role in magic. DR.
Joseph Jastrow OF the University Of
Wisconsin subjected Hermann and
Kellar to some interesting tests to de-
termins their tactual scnsibility and
quickness Of hand.
ut is not so much what you do IN
magic that counts, but how you do it.
how you present II to an audience.
Most feats of lcgerdemsin are absurdlg
simple when explained. The great thing
is to invest them with a mystical halo.
or else scientific setting. 1t is easier
to deceive grown person than child
in coniuring seances, because the adult
is more susceptible 10 suggestions Of a
pseudo-scientific or occult charactsr.
and is anxious to lend the entertainer
every assistance possible for the perDe-
tration of his sleights. But the child
the enfant terrible--looEs at everything
in a matter-of-fact way: CLUES his eyes
on the performers hands, and will not
be diverted.
AprcaI Is 10 Intellect.
Magic is an appeal to the intellect
hence the necessity OF cultivatl1g the
histrionic art. A magician who Is not
an actor will not get very far in his
profession"
Due TO his close acquaintance with
the eminent magicians Of the day, Or,
Evans declined to draw comparisons,
but said that as far as outstanding
illusions Of the past went. these stand
out in his mind The blue room" OF
Kellar. an illusion based on system
of mirrors that was "most magical and
inspiring: Peppers ghost show"
plain glass and the casting of images
Of persons on 1t by oxy-hydrogen light
The Vanishing Lady Of the Magician
De Kolta of France. the greatest in
vcntive genius in magic Of the nine
tecnth century" which Hermann said
was the greatest illusion created, and.
perhaps the greatest Of the smaller
tricks, the flying bird cage"
Such is the interesting domain
wherein DR. Evans Is a leading student.
For more than 40 years now he has
applied himself after working hours at
the Bureau Of Education to research
into magic and the ways of magicians
and in three Years more he is scheduled
10 retire from the Government service.
AS he nears the 70-year mark, the keen
intellect and the vigor of his health
belle the advancing years. for DR.. Evans
seems to have been blessed by some
hene1cent Prospero with youth that
Goes not fade. Last Summer he was
In Rome and in previous Summers he
has visited Switzerland. Belgium and
France. ever pursuing the beWitchlng
light OF knowledge. with his blue eyes
ever eager to scan some historical work
or scene that will add further to his
lore Of the occult the necromancers,
thc r1agicians and that rare brother
hood that delights in amusing and en-
tertaining their fellows with battling
exhibitions Of skill. On wednesday DR..
Evans will celebrate his sixty-seventh
birthday, placing another milestone in
notable career of the man who has
nrebabiy the most unusual hobby in the
Government service.