pages: unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf, 150
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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 150 | THE PASTRY COOK OF THE PALAIS ROYAL "It was at this time that he came in contact with a person who afterward, under the designation of M. Phillippe, became celebrated in France as a magician. Phillipee (for so was he named in Scotland) was origi- nally a cook in the services of the late Lord Panmure. Leaving that employment, he settled down and remained for a number of years in Aberdeen. He heard of the fame of the youthful magician, was induced to visit his "temple,' and was struck with his performances; and having made the acquaintance of Mr. Anderson, he solicited from him and obtained an insight into his pro- fession, and fac-similes of his then humble apparatus. Phillippe improved to such a degree upon the knowledge he thus acquired that, leaving England for France, he earned the reputation of being one of the most accom- plished magicians ever scen in the country." The date of his initial performance is not known, but he must have remained in Scotland, perfecting his act, for the earliest Phillippe programme in my collection is dated February 3d, 1837, when he opened at Waterloo Rooms, Edinburgh, and announced: "The high character which Mons. Phillippe has ob- tained from the Aberdeen, Glasgow, Greenock and Paisley Press, being the only four towns in Britain where he has made his appearance, is a sufficient guarantee to procure him a visit from the inhabitants of this enlightened Metropolis, where talent had always been supported when actually deserved." Evidently, however, Phillippe made rapid progress, for a programme dated Saturday, April 2ist, 1838, shows that his last daytime or matinée performance in Waterloo [133] |