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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,267 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 267 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIX In 1904 I paid the old master a second visit. To his professions of pleasure at meeting me once more, he added the gift of several rare programmes now in my col- Alexander Heimburger, a veteran conjurer who presented the suspension trick in 1845-46 during his American tour. From a photograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. lection, and when our hands met in a farewell clasp he told me that he had set all things in order and was ready for the coming of the Grim Reaper. Soon after that visit, [ 238] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,266 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 266 | THE SUSPENSION TRICK ened at the coming of one interested in his beloved art, whose eye brightened with each fresh detail of a long and successful professional life, and who, in fifty years of retirement, had not only written a book, but had kept in touch with the world of magic, giving me information which the most exhaustive encyclopaedia could not yield, answering questions on topics never yet discussed in dusty parchments and fading scripts. It was like having the history of magic unrolled before my eager eyes, in a living, palpitating, human scroll. It had been my intention to remain but a few hours in Münster, but the old master held me as if hypnotized and the hours fairly drifted past. Letter after letter, clipping after clipping, token after token, he spread before my fascinated eyes; and I allowed him to speak without question or interruption of any sort. Early in our inter- view he had remarked that he was beginning to feel old and that only the impetus of my presence was responsible for his unusual strength of speech. For over seventy years he had been collecting books on conjuring and kin- dred topics, which he was able to read in English, French, Spanish, and German. The dinner hour found us still engrossed in conversa- tion, and Frau Heimburger extended a most hospitable and cordial invitation for me to join the family circle. But my hunger was purely mental, and the true savor of the meal was the reminiscent chat of Herr Heimburger, who, from his post at the head of his household, looked as hale and hearty as if he had found the Elixir of Life which so many of his charlatan predecessors claimed to have "discovered." [ 237 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,265 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 265 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN sonally that being pressed for time he had entrusted the writing of his "Memoirs" to a Parisian journalist. As he warmed up to these reminiscences, he held me spellbound. Had he risen from the grave to tell of his Mrs. Leona A. Anderson, daughter-in-law of John Henry Anderson, as she appeared with him in the suspension trick about 1868. From the Harry Houdini Collection. contemporaries, he could not have riveted my attention more securely. Here was a man of eighty-four, whose memory quick- [236] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,264 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 264 | THE SUSPENSION TRICK was living in his native town of Münster, in Westphalia, I determined to secure an interview with him if possible. On March 17th, 1903, while playing in Cologne, I boarded an express train and arrived in Münster bright and early. From the city directory I learned that one Heimburger resided in Krumpentippen, 16. Hailing a passing droschke I was soon carried to my destination, where a bright-faced German girl opened the door and ushered me, without formality, into the presence of the man to whom I desired to pay my respects. An old man, bent with years, snow-white of beard and gray of head, came forward slowly to greet me. Finding that he was quite deaf, I raised my voice and fairly trum- peted my mission, adding that I felt especially honored to stand in the presence of the only magician who, up to that date, had ever appeared at the White House, Washington, by request of the President of the United States, my na- tive land. Alexander had been asked to entertain Presi- dent Polk and his guests on several occasions, and the fact that I knew this seemed to please the old conjurer and pave the way to a pleasant and profitable interview. In a few moments we were sitting side by side, and he was adding to my store of information by relating the most fascinating experiences, stories of fellow-magicians long since dead; and tales which he could corroborate by his own collection of bills, programmes, etc., his diary, and his personal correspondence. He had known Robert- Houdin, Frikell, Bosco, Count Pererilli, John Henry Anderson, Blitz, the original Bamberg of Amsterdam, Compars Herrmann, and many lesser lights among the old-time magicians. Robert-Houdin had told him per- [ 235 ] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,263 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 263 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN IXTRADREIMARY MEW RECEPING IN THE AIR CORDENSED " 'Suspension Chloriforcene,' as presented be Anderson and his son, from a lithograph used by him on his return from the Continent, December, 1848. From the Harry lloudini Collection. [234] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,262 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 262 | THE SUSPENSION TRICK in the field of magic a clever rival, Compars Herrmann; a few months later came John Henry Anderson, the Wizard of the North. Both of these men presented the suspension trick in precisely the same manner claimed by Robert-Houdin as his original invention of 1847. Neither Anderson nor Herrmann claimed the honor of having invented the trick, and it is more than likely that the mechanician who made their apparatus for the suspension trick made the one used by Robert-Houdin also. Herr- mann, like Robert-Houdin, called the trick ethereal sus- pension. Anderson gave it the title of "Chloriforcene Suspension," as the reproduction of an Anderson litho- graph on page 234 will prove. During precisely the same period of time a brilliantly successful German conjurer, Alexander, was presenting the same trick in America, where he remained as a pro- fessional entertainer for ten years. In my collection, together with corroborative handbills and programmes, there will be found this statement from Alexander: "The suspension was at first produced by me in 1845 or 1846, after reading in an Oriental annual, edited by several officers of the Indian Army, the trick of a fakir who made a companion sit in the air by using a bamboo stick. My trick had no success, because the sitting was too near the ground. I then made him stand in the air, and the effect was marvellous." My meeting with Alexander, of which this correspond- ence was the result, marked an era in my search for material for this volume. Having read in a small book on magic, dated 1896, that a man named Heimburger, who had travelled in America as "Alexander the Conjurer," [ 233] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,261 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 261 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN of the iron rod from the back, which would have been in plain sight from the gallery. The stage would not permit the suspension to be worked out of range of the gallery gods. When Robert-Houdin went to London in 1848 he found Svesimg, the - Satreer performed by with - The BOTTLE, as the commend Tine PRINCESS'S THEATRE ALL KINDS-OF LIQUEURS. The Juggier of the Sum and Moon. - - The Bagic Sword, or the Skuful Player at - Blind-Man's Buil. GENERAL REQUEST SOUS and its isclated Bell. (Mechasic.) mose. The July Colums, of the Docile Cart. (Mechanic.) HERRMANN The Philanthrepic Banker. A Chinese Metamorphose. The Funtastic Glass. Pierro the Magician. (Mechanic)) The Marriage at Cana. The Disappearance of * * * The DOVES THE First Professor of Magic in the World The Miracle of Flowers (Mechanie,) The BANDEER of SATAN. Will give six MORE of his The Multiplication of Guinea Pigs. The Flower Garden. ENTERTAINING The Universal Thought. The Miraculous Production of Plumes. OIREES The Enchanted Vases. The Puzzled Choice, or four in one. EMIDA's o BALICE, or the GENEVA CLOCK wons. The Mysterions Chest. And MAGIQUE. - THE ONLY NIGHTS HK CAN REMAIN IN LONDON, many Provincial BONDAY Evening, August 21st. 1848, TORSBAY, 22ud, WEDNESDAY, 23rd, PRURSDAY, 24th, FRIDAY 25th, And SATURDAY, 26th, THE BENEFIT of M. HERRMANN And will be varied with NEW & WONDERFUL ILLUSIONS EN ERIMEENT T al. SUSPENSION ETHER MADAME HERRMANN selncomprehensible Handkerohief " MAND vases FILLED WITH -- Astenishing Frate ANTI-MACNETISM Gold Fish! This extraordinery Feat is executed in a plaia Evening Brees, and must be seem to be belleved. Dress Circle, 4s. Boxes, ** Pit, ** and Gallery, le as. the CLAIRVOYANCE loors open at half past Seven. Commence at Balf.price at Nime . Cleek a a A Compars Herrmann programme of 1848 in which suspension is featured. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 232] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,260 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 260 | Fire Nights only. AT THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS. The celebrated CHING LAU LAURO, - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CLA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - The - - - - 1 - - - - CHING LAULAURO um - - - Os Munday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March the the 1218 121h, and 14th, 1834. = - - - - - - - - - PART #. THE CHEST OF ARCHIMEDES, The Column of - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A at Whet Tim the Wax Candies Eschanted ELEPHANT OF KNOWLEDGE, Forge, Printiag! Flying Watch, MAGE SOTTLE, APPLES OF BEELZEBUB, MAGIC EGGS, LOTEAL 440 with WARIETY - FART n. VENTRILOQUISI - - ROGEERIES OF NICHOLAS. of the Creation, - - the Thruals, Blackbied. Lark, A. - - - - - - de Hir Surprising Poccers of Imitation, CHANGES OF CDUN. - - - Agwy - - the LND DECEPTIONS. PARTE 101. of Strength, - . SEPTO ASTIC EXERCISES. the Jir upou Nothing!! - - - - - - - Allesdance. - - - - - - - M. PABAER - MALE PRICE - - Fim - - - - - - Friday Morsing, at - - 2 - Collection. sumpension in 1832. From the Harry | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,259 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 259 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOU esraping from a bladder or tube. When the blanket was again withdrawn, the conjurer wa on the ground. The mystery was supposed to have been sol Sheshal, commonly known as "the Brahmin of exhibited the trick in 1832 in Madras. It was that his stool was ornamented with two inlaid it was suggested that one of these might concea for a steel rod. passing through the bamboo, another rod. screwed to the perpendicular one ..... In the piece of hide, might be connect ```... of the same metal, passing up the S ...... inc. and forming a circular seat. : was not far from the truth, : is means the greatest of authorities "A i. : this particular instance I be is correct. information I have that wonderful F soll Ching Lau Lauro. Presumab and from the programmes in my fart in England, in 18:28 perform between scenes of - and Jerry," at the one of Ching L. de passibly di veir and . - : - ..... this | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,258 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 258 | Five Nights only. AT THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOMS, The celebrated CHING LAU LAURO, Norcules, and the - furope, Magaro, Nechanicies, of the - and veluable Mechssical, Optical, and Nagient Transformatives - whese Performances the greatest and they hate been eshibited. C.L.L. be had the of Serforming before thes " the " Rreghtee, and ressived letter, by chais Mayesties commend, &m al approvel of ear% Perfermasce, wich Sagether with several others from the Earts of Dewlogh, Nredfent, Marquia leses . Nr Passs's, High etreet of whrth the folloning " repy - Sie rese. Ste, Ny these I have to state that vour Performiece+ " the Pevilion. . the isth of sembei were appreved of by these Majestive Ching Les Lovre, - em vou' Servant See Notel. H The Nebility, Gestry. and the Publer of eiverhamptor and " we séformers the CHING AULAURO LATF or VAUNHALL GARDENS AND DHUNY LINE 1H1 ATKE Well have the beneut of appearing be fore them On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Narch the 10th, lith, 12th, 13th, and 14th, 1934, To Talente in . complete serice of Ammements. combreing- PART I. THE CHEST OF ARCHIMEDES, AND The Column of These self-ecuing pleces of were recruted by the celebrated am! entraded the Cablest of Curiosities at Paris, ber unforeces the Gefore the completies of these Master pieces of Art, they sere dieposed of and gower - gratify the Public with anch advaired pieces of A Game at Whist, Time Flies, the Wax Candles Enchanted ELEPHANT OF KNOWLEDGE, Fulcan's Forge, Miraculous Printing Flying Watch, NAGIC BOTTLE, APPLES OF BEELZEBUB, MAGEC mags, LOYAL NETAMORPHOSE, &c. with , " II.LUSIONS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION PART II. VENTRILOQUISII. CHINO LAU LAURO - the hesour to ansounce that, previons to bas return to Loudon to resume his Eagagements, be bes been induced to preseet novel and popular SATIRICAL LEC TURE. and NOV DIVENTI<EMENT, en.itled ROGUERIES OF NICHOLAS. Imitations of the Feathered Crestion, such as the Thrush, Biackbird. Nightingale, Sky Lark, &c. Also vertraying a variety of Eecentric and Cheracters diaw… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,257 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 257 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN escaping from a bladder or tube. When the screen or blanket was again withdrawn, the conjurer was standing on the ground. The mystery was supposed to have been solved when Sheshal, commonly known as "the Brahmin of the Air," exhibited the trick in 1832 in Madras. It was observed that his stool was ornamented with two inlaid stars, and it was suggested that one of these might conceal a socket for a steel rod, passing through the bamboo, and that another rod, screwed to the perpendicular one and con- cealed by the piece of hide, might be connected with a mechanism of the same metal, passing up the sleeve and down the back, and forming a circular seat. This con- jecture probably was not far from the truth, for while Frost is by no means the greatest of authorities on magic and magicians, in this particular instance I believe that his explanation of the trick is correct. The next authentic early information I have gathered regarding suspension concerns that wonderful performer who called himself Ching Lau Lauro. Presumably he was a Chinaman, and from the programmes in my collection he evidently appeared first in England, in 1828, when he was engaged to perform between scenes of various plays, including "Tom and Jerry," at the Coburg. I repro- duce on page 23I one of Ching Lau Lauro'sprogrammes. About 1833, or possibly a year earlier, he cut out some of his singing, and introduced the suspension with which he closed his performance. At this time he gave the entire programme. According to his programmes, in some places he excluded the public from the gallery, so I judge that his suspension was accomplished by the use [ 230] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,256 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 256 | THE SUSPENSION TRICK The Brahmin suspension as shown in an illustration found in Robin's l'Almanach de Cagliostro. [229] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,255 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 255 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN are absolutely impossible, yet so popular did his works become that, barring the Scriptures, more copies and manuscripts of the books containing his various "Magi- cian Stories" have been handed down to posterity and exist to-day than any works of his contemporaries. Still, Mandeville did not mention this suspension trick, which is sometimes attributed to the Chinese and some- times to the Hindoos. In Cologne, Germany, I purchased an encyclopaedia, published in 1684, from which I reproduce a double- page engraving, which shows the Chinese magicians doing the tricks previously accredited, in the stories of travellers, to Hindoo conjurers. In "Lives of the Conjurers," Thomas Frost describes the suspension trick as offered about 1828 or 1829 at Madras by an old Brahmin with no better apparatus than a piece of plank with four legs. This he had formed into a stool, and upon it, in a little brass socket, he placed a hollow bamboo stick in a perpendicular position. Pro- jecting from the stick was a kind of crutch, covered with a piece of common hide. These properties he carried with him in a bag, which was shown to all those who desired to witness his exhibition. The servants of the household then held a blanket before him, and, when it was withdrawn, he was discovered poised in midair about four feet from the ground, in a sitting posture, with the outer edge of one hand merely touching the crutch, while the fingers deliberately counted beads, and the other hand and arm were held in an upright position. The blanket was again held up before him, and the spectators caught a gurgling sound, like that occasioned by wind [228] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,254 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 254 | Die Chineilche Reproduction of an engraving in an old German Encyclopaedia in the Harry Houdini Collection, which credits to the Chinese the trick of climbing into the air and having the body fall down piecemeal and being set together again. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,253 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 253 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN this date, he had used only the ordinary platform and rod. During the course of researches covering many years, during which I visited national libraries in various coun- tries, the first trace of the suspension trick was discovered in the writings of Ian Batuta, who flourished about the thirteenth century. He mentions two conjurers who per- formed before the court of the Mogul in Delhi. One of the men assumed the form of a cube and rose into the air, where he remained suspended. The other man then took off his shoe, struck it against a rock, and it also rose and hung in midair, close to the suspended conjurer or human cube. On being touched on the neck, the cube descended to the ground, and the conjurer resumed his natural form. The historical verity of this tale cannot be determined, and it may be classed with the familiar story which crops up periodically, describing the ball of cord thrown into the air for a youth to climb into the clouds. Once out of sight, the youth is said to draw the cord up after him; then presently a leg falls from the unseen heights, then another, followed by an arm, a rib or two, and so on until the entire body is scattered upon the ground, the head coming last with the neck standing upward. At the command of the magician, the body seems to crawl together, so runs the tale, and eventually the youth stands up to be examined by the astonished populace. These stories belong in the very first of the travellers' tales. In 1356 Sir John Mandeville, called by some au- thorities "the Father of English Prose," after travelling thirty-four years, published a book detailing some of his marvellous "witnessings." Though many of his stories [226] - | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,252 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 252 | THE SUSPENSION TRICK be strong, invisible to the audience, and still be perfect in mechanism. Robert-Houdin, with characteristic ambiguity, does not refer to a complicated mechanism, but lays stress on his ability to keep his tricks up-to-date and in line with popular movements of the hour. In writing of the sus- pension trick, he gives the impression that but for the sensation created by the use of ether as an anzesthetic he would never have thought out the new trick. His own words as presented on page 3I2 of the American edition of his "Memoirs" are reproduced in this connection : "It will be remembered that in 1847 the insensibility produced by inhaling ether began to be applied to surgical operations; all the world talked about the marvellous effect of this anzesthetic and its extraordinary results. In the eyes of the people it seemed much akin to magic. Seeing that the surgeons had invaded my domain, I asked myself if this did not allow me to make reprisals. I did so by inventing my ethereal suspension, which I believe was far more surprising than any result obtained by my surgical brethren. This trick was much applauded, and I am bound to say that my arrangements were excellently made. This was the first time that I tried to direct the surprise of my spectators by gradually heightening it up to the next moment, when, so to speak, it exploded." While Robert-Houdin, in his "Memoirs," claims to have invented the trick for the season of 1847-48, in the illustrated appendix of the French edition he states that the first production of the trick, with improvements, was in October, 1849. The improvement consisted of working the trick with a stool upon a platform, when, previous to 15 [225] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,251 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 251 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Inventions are a matter of evolution, but as the tricks which Robert-Houdin presented in his new répertoire were not new, he was able to offer them as the result of three months' work. To the expert mechanician or builder of conjuring apparatus his claim is farcical. The ST. JAMESS THEATRE, - - STs THRATRE - DAY PERFORMANCE - WEDVESDAY MORMING 1846 suns 7, 1848 SOIREES A ALMO - SOIREES ANTASTIQUES, - ov - at TUESDAY, THURSDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY EVENINGS, SATURDAY EVENINGS, - a - - - INVENTSD SV - - - - - - - - - - is . the - - - - - - . - - - - - E - . - - - - - - - - n - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- Sottle, vea .... -- SESPENSION vva, sa Parvars - Poster used by Robert-Houdin during his first London engagement, featuring suspension. From the Harry Houdini Collection. majority of the tricks mentioned require skilled hands and infinite patience, if they work in a way that will completely deceive the public. Particularly is this true of the first suspension apparatus such as Robert-Houdin must have used. This included a steel corset or frame for the sub- ject, and both the corset and the supporting rods had to [224] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,250 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 250 | TATERLOO For me Few the PATRONAGE OF HER H. PRINCE ALBERT, a THE ROYAL FAMILY, Aud as represented by at me of * - AT ALL THE COURTS OF EUROPE. This Grent Artito of in the Art of Magio, Inventor of the Insxhanstible Bottle, the Suspension the Kegle Punch Bowl, the Second Sight, and . great sumber of other Tricks, is a Member of the Bociety in Pariz, and the only Conjuror who bes received Notional Rewards of Morit for bis Uuparalleled Thisks Magle Transformations and Astomatons, which have astomished and delighted the Sciontine Mep of overz will mot, in of ammeroms Engagemente, be able to remain mose than . limited period in -x- OBLEBRATED French Conjuror, Propricter & Manager of the Palais-Royal Theatre, & late of St James' Theatre, Londen, WILL orve A SERIES or MAGIC SOIREES FANTASTIQUES:! CONMENCING ox THS EVENING os Monday, June 14, 1852. General reox WEICE A SELECTION WILL BE OIVEN RACH EVENINO. The Gorfoind of Mewers Navele Antente (Mechanic Flece) The Transparent Casket the of - of the The Imexhanstible Bettle The Nagle Oupper toa of Rebert Noudin The Glass of Wise, or the Secret of The The Turtie Boves a Contrabendist - Impossibility realiteed The Enchented Cravat, producing The Miracuions Fishery The Irea Crowa Fenthers, de. The Orange, Lemen, and Walunt The Narvellous Orange Tree The Sugar Loaf The Unifilited of The Gomims of Reses The Socond Nght, witheut any Ques Severeigne The Book des The Bell-riager (Mechanic Pleee) The The The Flewer Basket The Nagmotined Cards The Magie Pertiolle The Neapelitam Mariequia The Remertable The Ball of Lambr Weel The Feather and Cannom Ball the Caballatie arying Aurici (Mechamical Plece) The Great The Sporismes - Cupté The Exercise of as Auto- The Emperer Nicholas The Impressice mates The Two Lemons The Orystal Delle The Ariel Gleck The Phenix Pecket Handkerchief The Colome and Glove The Sugpension Chieroforeeme The Magle Tableam The of Flowerp The Young Saveyard (Mechanic Plece) The Swerd WONDROUS PUNCH BOWL, As - New Trick, producing BON-BONS and PUNCH, ed libitum. De… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,249 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 249 | CHAPTER VIII THE SUSPENSION TRICK I' N chapters XVI. and XVII. of the American edition of his "Memoirs," Robert-Houdin states that he closed his theatre during the months of July, August, and September, 1847, and devoted his time to producing new tricks for the coming season. He chron- icles as the result of these labors the following additions to his répertoire: "The Crystal Box," "The Fantastic Portfolio," "The Trapeze Tumbler, "The Garde Fran- çaise," "The Origin of Flowers," "The Crystal Balls," "The Inexhaustible Bottle," "The Ethereal Suspension," etc. Had these inventions really been original with the man who claimed them as the result of his own brain-work and handicraft, three years would not have sufficed to bring them to the perfection in which they were presented at that time. It is not always the actual work that makes a trick a success, nor the material from which it is con- structed, but it takes time to plan a new trick; and then after you have worked out the idea, it takes more time to make it practical. The same piece of apparatus may have to be made dozens of times, in as many shapes, before it is presentable. Therefore, when Robert-Houdin claims to have invented and built with his own hands the tricks mentioned in the list given above, it is time to prove the improbability and falsity of his statements. [222] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,248 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 248 | SECOND SIGHT ert-Houdin used both the speaking and the signal code, but so did Breslaw, and all evidence points to the fact that Robert-Houdin merely improved upon the trick em- ployed by Breslaw, Pinetti, and others THE DOUBLE-SIGHTED among his predeces- Beautiful Hog, sors in magic, by uti- CARLOS, zs sow sas lizing the newly found Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, UNDER THE assistant to the magi- Patronage of the KING & Royal Family. cian, electricity. In his tiny theatre it would have been entirely feasible to have had TRIS astonishing Animal is from New York, whose sagacity and decility have beea the surprise and admiration of all who have witneesed performances, parti. electric wires run from cularly at Basontow, where Mr. HAMINOTON had the bonour of exhibiting, on the 17th of Dec. 1831, Dow CARLOS' wonderfal abilities, by special Command before all points of the audi- His Most Gracious Majesty William IV. an D ROTAL PAMILY. At the Pavilion; on which occasion hie Majesty and thr tyal Pivinily were pleased torium to the stage, to express the approbation and delight they experiences, as his most extraordinary performances. A visit to this haif-reasoning Dog will amply gratify the levers of Nature's works. This very extraordinary and handsome creature is a Spaniel of the thus doing away with true Spanish breed, and in addition to his wonderful faculties, is of so mild and tract- ables dispesition, that he may be managed by a child with perfect case and enfety. Ris acquirements consist chiefy of Performances with Cards, wherein he displaye both the speaking and the greatest precision. He will also select the handsomest Lady lé the Room, - cording to his judgment (which is seldom.questioned), eldest de youngest Pereom, . say question put by the Company, and the Gentleman most partial to the Ladico. ordinary signal codes, DON CARLOS IS NOW FOR SALE: His price is Fifty Guineas. The present owner of this beautiful animal would be happy to let him accompany him to America, for which be will shortly embark, but even the pne… | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,247 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 247 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN is offered not to belittle the human mediums, but to prove that from start to finish, from the day that Breslaw offered the trick to the present moment, when a number To the Public in general, and thofe of real Knowledge Particularly. To be teen from Tea m the Morning. 6ll Four is the Afternean At Mr. BECKET's, Thank Maker, No. 3r. HAY. - MARKET. Alter all thet has been produced in the Warld, fagacious of the Annial Species, Learnid Pig, the Dancing Dosa &c &c. and which have been acceptad, and acknew ledged with Truff, as WONDERS, Ivt in the fame time, of natural intelle that who could belleve, (exeept feeing,) that themeR Stupid and Infenfate of the CRE ATION Could be Brought to fuch a degree of Sagacity, and Wunderful Learning. of Hunenur Animal Tricks, as the Prodigious G S E, Pids ct Crede Lately arrived from Abroad. Whan spropity before acandid and Public, to levite them to fee, and be Fithe Durrag arfucha (for have a a a particalar sckined fram them - Agilitad as the misd - gevinally (s. Aveg OF LETE le will furdy find, and asknowlar ge to the Adfere A LEARNED GOOSE Who Performs the following Tricke, viz. Perfonning upon Cards, Maney and Watches; telling the Day of the Manth, andtle Month of the Year, as allo the value of any Plece, éither English or Foreign: all furte ard (meft prodigioully. and certainly unbelieuing to thaie who lonow the of . Gouse.) the tells Ladias and Gentlemen in the Company; uf any Perfon's thought ay at Lady drawing of the Pack, thoughever fo fectet blindfoldad at the faine time will And out the draw, It Te aut of the compsis efa Bilt, to enumerate all the Tricks the doa befides. Admittaner, Tua Shillings each Poyun. Rare poster announcing the performance of the learned goose, one of the first of the second-sight animal artists. Traced from the original poster in the British Museum by the author. of skilful so-called mind-readers still mystify the public, some sort of speaking or signal code has been used. Rob- [220] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,246 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 246 | SECOND SIGHT having trained his son's eye and memory by patient effort so as to have a mutual transferrence of thought, I will next show that animals had been trained for years to do tricks by secret signals before the alleged "discovery" of second sight. Two rare old bills in my collection advertise the mar- vellous "mind-reading" performances of a goose and a blindfolded dog respectively. The first, dated 1789, announces that a Mr. Beckett, a trunk-maker of No. 3I Haymarket, is exhibiting "a Learned Goose, just lately arrived from abroad. "It performs the following tricks: performing upon cards, money, and watches, telling the time of the month, year, and date, also the value of any piece either English or foreign, distinguishing all sorts of colors and (most prodigiously and certainly unbelieving to those who know the intellects of a goose) she tells the number of ladies and gentlemen in the company or any person's thoughts; any lady or gentleman drawing a card out of the pack, though ever so secret, the Goose, blindfolded at the same time, will find out the card they drew. Admittance two shillings each person." The second bill features Don Carlo, the Double- Sighted dog, which gave an exhibition of his mysterious skill at the Pavillion by special command, before King William and the royal family on December 17th, 1831. This dog was blindfolded and could present almost in duplicate the second-sight tests offered by the Highland lad who five days later gave a similar exhibition before the royal family at the same place. This proof regarding the use of animals as "mediums" | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,245 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 245 | SECONDE VUE DE M ROBIN: Second sight as offered by M. and Mme. Robin, in which Robin employed the bell and the goblet. From the latter she sipped liquor, claiming it tasted like the wine secretly named by a spectator. Robin's stage was equipped with electrical appliances. From the Harry Houdini Collection. | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,244 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 244 | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1 029 714 238 0 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,244 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 244 | SECOND SIGHT Army, under how many Monarchs he has served, in how many battles he has been engaged, and whether he has ever been wounded and how many wounds he has received. By throwing the Dice, she will every time exactly tell the very number of spots which may have been determined on." This wordy announcement is signed by W. Sahm, of Holland. In my collection there is also an interesting handbill ad- vertising the tour of "The Mysterious Lady" who offered second-sight tricks in the eastern part of the United States in 1842-43. Her name was never stated on the programmes, but the latter, together with a clipping dated Boston, February 20th, 1843, will suffice to prove my claim that she was offering second-sight before Robert-Houdin did, and therefore could not be copying his trick. She also appeared in England fully a year before Robert-Houdin "discovered" second sight. Henri Robin and his wife featured second sight in Italy just when Robert-Houdin first offered it in Paris. It is barely possible that they antedated Robert-Houdin in the production of this trick, for I have in my collection a brochure entitled "Album des Soirées de M. et Mme. Robin," which contains an engraving of the couple offer- ing second-sight, a short poem in honor of Mme. Robin's remarkable gifts as a second-sight artist, and a poem generally eulogistic of M. Robin's talents dated distinctly February 7th, 1846. Robert-Houdin presented second- sight for the first time, according to his own "Memoirs," on February 12th, 1846. To prove the utter folly of Robert-Houdin's claims to [ 217] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,243 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 243 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN least thought, not until then explored. She guesses the age of every one, whether they be married or not; how many children they have, of what sex, and whether they be living or dead at the present time, etc. She does the like for any one having a chance in the lottery, as to what is its number, and what will be its share of gains. She the MYSTERIOUS LADY, Reproduction of the cut used on the mysterious lady's handbills, distributed in America in 1841. From the Harry Houdini Collection. also guesses at every one of the most different sorts of coin, and even at the year with which they were stamped. She guesses at every number which any one shall secretly set down, even though it amount to upward a million. She moreover tells exactly whether any one be in the [216] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,242 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 242 | enormous poster which would be unintelligible if reduced to a size suitable for reproduction. It is now a part of my collection and reads as follows: "The Holland Maid, Twenty Years of Age, from Am- sterdam, whose powers, both in her residence there and in all other places to which she has gonc, have excited the Formemance of the ISTEOUS LADY. 8 The peculiar acquirements and faculties of this highly Talented Lady are almost beyond the reach of description. By some unknown and EXTRAORDINARY ENDOYMENT She is enable. to declare the names of articles produced by the company, although aitting at a distance of 50 to 60 feet, with her face turned from the audience? She will also divine the whispered wish ot any one. although satisfactorily out of hearing. She will also, describe the dress, ornaments, &c. of any iudividual who may wish it, with an accuracy truly surprising; upon a card being selected from a pack, she will declare its name; but as the performance varies and depends in a great measure on the pleasure of the company, no regular routine can be speci- Sied, but of this the company may rest assured that every consistent stiort will be used to gratify and afford them satisfaction. Reproduction of original billing matter used by the mysterious lady who offered second sight in the United States in 1841-42-43. From the Harry Houdini Collection. great astonishment and much applause, and she will also in this place endeavor to obtain the same tribute of public applause. She will after the exhibition place herself before the eyes of all the spectators on the outside and gravely stand thereon and at all times give an answer of assurance to any one present to whom her judgment in all questions gives the most accurate response. She con- trives also by her acuteness to discover and reply to the [ 215] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,241 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 241 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Talented Highlanders and most extraordinary Second- Sighted Young Highlanders." These lads, I believe, were three brothers, one the original M'Kean, or the latter working in conjunction with two other boys trained to the tricks in order to secure more impressive results. The trio appeared 1897 Decoration on the broadside used to advertise a young Dutchwoman who created a sensation in the early part of the eighteenth century. From the Harry Houdini Collection. eight years before Robert-Houdin became a professional entertainer. Holland also contributed a successful performer of second-sight tricks, the medium in this case being a Dutchwoman who created a profound sensation while [ 214] | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,240 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 240 | SECOND SIGHT cards for this trick, also outlining the manner of giving the medium the cue for certain phrases. For instance, while explaining to the audience that he will not speak at all, in the very sentences addressed to the spectators he informs the medium which cards have been selected. Pinetti's code must have been clever, as Decremps was unable to explain the entire second-sight act. He has omitted the principal part of the mystification, that is, naming the articles held up for the performer to see. That the card trick was only one test of his second-sight performance, and that Pinetti's medium did not retire after naming the cards, are facts shown by the following clipping from one of his announcements: "Signora Pinetti will have the special honor and satis- faction of exhibiting various experiments of new discovery, no less curious than seemingly incredible, particularly that of her being seated in one of the front boxes with an handkerchief over her eyes, and guess at everything imagined and proposed to her by any person in the company." Third on the list of second-sight performers, according to the data in my collection, was Louis Gordon M'Kean, who created a sensation at the Egyptian Hall Bazaar, Piccadilly, London, in 1831, or fifteen years before Robert- Houdin, according to his claims, "discovered" second sight. Young M'Kean was featured as possessing dou- ble, not second, sight, and one of his bills is reproduced on page 212. Another programme in my collection, dated the Théâtre Scarboro, Friday evening, August 4th, 1837, announces "For a limited engagement of three nights the Three [ 213 ] 1 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,239 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 239 | UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF His Most Gracious Majesty WILLIAMIV. The Wonderfal DOUBLE" SIGHTED Phaeno- menon: Young Master M 'KEAN, Since his arrival in London, has had the honor of performing (on Friday, Dec. 23rd. 1831,) before their Master M'KEAN, only . Years old! ONK or Most Gracious Majesties & Prince George. GREATEST PRODIGIES of the Age His Grace the Duke of Argyle. Has just returned from the Pavilion at Brighton: His Grace the Duke of Gordon. Towhich plare be lad de heaer of a Sperial Conmand, aud is again exhibiting his mest His Grace the Bruke of St. Albans and Duchess. At the Egyptian Hall Bazaar, Piccadilly. Her Grace the Dachess of Nortbumberland. The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Coventry. In addition to his performance before thair MASESTIES and their Court, this The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Errol. extraordinary Child, siace his arrisal in Town, has had the bonor to exhibit his sur- prising talent before several of the Nobility of the highest rank, wheee admiration and The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Bellast. astoniehment have heen uniformly expresaed in the strongest terma. The Rt. Hon. the Earl and Countess of Morley. The fuculty which be possesses has defied the research of all the Medical men, by whom he has been seen-a faculty. which enables him to distingruish colour, read either The Rt. Hon the Countess of Essex. print or manuscript, tell the hour of the day on a watch, or declare any other fact as pra- The Rt. Hon. Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence misely R$ the cleverest sighted person, although his eyes are at the time, completely The Rt. Hon. Lord Augustus Fitzelarence. blindfolded, and his back turned to the object of examination. Anning other aurprising performances, may be mentimed the fallowing The Rt. Hon. the Viscountess Faulkland. He will read in English, Latin, French, or Italian. Any one present may insert The Rt. Hon. Lord and Lady Dever names or figures ad libitum, and he will instantly presounce the same, and tell the Sir Edward, Sir Arthur Berkeley, & Lady Paget. name of esch figure separately, and their … | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,238 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 238 | L'ENVOI WITH these last lines I lay down my pen, as I have long since laid down the wand. I do SO with regret, for writing about magic has always been to me a labour of love, but failing energy and failing eyesight warn me that my day is over, and that "the night cometh, wherein no man can work." When I first began to discourse of magic, I had the whole field, in a literary sense, to myself. That state of things has long since ceased to be. Fertile brains and ready writers have taken up my task, and magic has now a worthy literature, growing day by day. "So mote it be!" Furthermore, if I may be allowed a word of ad- vice, let me say that every lover of magic, be he professional or amateur, should join a magical so- ciety. No great work can be carried forward with- out organization, and the success of such bodies as The Magician's Club and the Magic Circle here, and the Society of American Magicians over seas, has proved that magic is no exception to the rule. I must not close without a word of hearty thanks to Harry Houdini, Oscar S. Teale and John W. Sargent, of the Society of American Magicians, for their generous offices in connection with the publi- cation of my book. With this last legacy to the friends, at home and abroad, who have derived pleasure or profit from my writings, I bid them a cheery farewell. LOUIS HOFFMANN. 222 3477-3 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,238 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 238 | SECOND SIGHT The talking code employed by Pinetti was not original with him, as it dates back to the automaton worked by a concealed confederate who controlled the piston for the mechanical figure or pulled the strings to manipulate the dancing coins or moving head. It was novel only in its application to the supposed thought-transferrence by a human being instead of an automaton. This code is described by various reliable authors. On page 388, Volume III. of Hooper's "Recreations," edition 1782, it is stated that the confederate worked the apparatus from another room. "By certain words, previ- ously agreed on, make it known to the confederate," is the advice given to would-be conjurers. Beckman in his "History of Inventions" relates that he knew an exhibitor of a "talking figure" whose con- cealed confederate was cued to answer certain questions, the answers being given in the manner of putting the question, also by different signs. These instructions will be found on page 3II of Volume II., edition of 1817. Decremps undertook to expose Pinetti's method of working the second-sight trick in his famous book, but in this attempt he scored one of the few failures which marked the bitter fight he waged against Pinetti. In his book "La Magie Blanche Dévoilée" (White Magic Exposed), first edition, 1784, he offers on page 40 "Les Cartes dévinées, les yeux bandés" (The Divination of Cards with the Eyes Blindfolded). In this feat Decremps explains that Pinetti would allow cards to be drawn, then a lady (Signora Pinetti) would appear on the stage, would be blindfolded, and would name all the cards that were drawn. Decremps explains the prearranged pack of 1 | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,237 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 237 | A FEW WRINKLES 221 and shorten it to an exact square, closing the lower end as before. Envelopes of the above kind are procurable in many varieties of paper, and in widths ranging by various fractions of an inch from four inches upwards. 13. To make a line, thick or thin, run freely over a pulley-wheel or through an eyelet, use as a lubri- cant powdered talcum, otherwise known as French chalk. This is equally useful for minimising fric- tion between wooden surfaces, or between wood and metal, say between a pulley-wheel and the pivot on which it turns. Where the slight extra cost is not an obstacle the use of ivory as the mate- rial of a pulley-wheel secures the perfection of easy running. It is, I trust, hardly necessary to say that wher- ever I have mentioned an article to be had by pur- chase, my recommendation is based solely upon practical experience of its merits. I have no inter- est, direct or indirect, in any of the articles men- tioned, and my knowledge of their manufacturers is derived solely from their respective labels. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,237 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 237 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN almost sixty-two years before Robert-Houdin presented it as his original invention. The London Morning Post and Daily Advertiser of H A Y . M A R K E TI By PERMISSION of the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, Signor and Signora PINETTP S Molt grand, aitotifining and inimitable N E W E X FI IB L: T I o N, A T the Theatre-Royal, in the-Hay-Market, TO-MORROW, Decembier 2, $ guor PINET r', Knight of the Order of Merit of St. Philip, &c. &c. with all duc deference informs the publick, that be is juft returned from Windfor, and that he will, by the above permillion, open agáin this Theatre on Thurfday aud philofophical and abfolutely pieces, which inimitable, his recchanical, deep wonderful, ferutiny phyfical jo aud with his Confort, will-exhibit moft recent thofe friences, and afliJuous exertique have enhabled him to inyent and confruct among wh;ch Siguora Pinetti will have the fperia honour and facisfaction of exhibiting vari- cus experiments of new difcovery, no lefs zurious than ficmingly incredible, particularly that af her being feated in one of the front hoxes with an handkerchicf over hes ryes, and guefa at every thing imagined and propefed to ber, by any perfon in the company. Signor Pinetti being moit unsious and ambitious of re- reiving the countenance and farction of this great and dif- terming nation, in his endeayours It fhall ba his conftant Audy Nill to find out nteans which mày euable him to: prc- Tent, at interavals, mon curinus, furprizing, and interelling original pieces befote the publick during his thort my in never but ever difplay thiskingdom what inof of which his of pieces, invention hie having and been difrovery, honoured producing approbation, and with in only the own a written teltimony Britanuic Majefty's figned with his own hand (befides being poffelled of carti- ficases of the like niture from Several other Sqvereigns) hunably bopes and Lolicits for the continuance of that pir tromage and encouragement, which he moft gratefully ac- knowledges to have already fo impartially:… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,236 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 236 | 220 LATEST MAGIC yard lengths, and in half a dozen grades of thick- ness, the finest being not much thicker than a hair line. The breaking strain of this is much greater than that of ordinary thread, and it has the fur- ther advantage that being plaited instead of twisted it does not unroll or "kink" in use. All- cock, of Redditch, a name familiar to all anglers, is a noted maker of such line, but he has no mo- nopoly of its manufacture. It is usually sold white, but may be easily dyed any desired colour. For this last valuable "tip" I am again indebted to my often-quoted friend, Mr. Holt Schooling, who, as an enthusiastic angler, is an expert as to lines of all descriptions. The reader will find numerous instances of the practical use of such line in the earlier part of this book. A good way of dyeing line is to thread a needle on to one end, and pass it by the aid of the needle through one corner, moistened with the appropri- ate dye, of a soft sponge, and then back again through the dry part of the sponge to clean off any excess of moisture. When dry, if necessary, repeat the process. 12. Square envelopes, for the purpose of form- ing "nests" or otherwise, are now and then needed by the conjurer, but envelopes precisely square (save the small variety known as "pence" envel- opes) are not kept in "stock" by stationers in the ordinary way. When such are needed the readiest plan is to take an envelope of the long "bag" shape | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,236 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 236 | SECOND SIGHT having stumbled upon, quite by accident, a trick which he did not know that others had offered before him. Such a statement is illogical and absurd. Books of magic to which Robert-Houdin had access and which he admits having read describe the trick in a more or less crude form. Pinetti, whose tricks were fully described to Robert-Houdin by his old friend Torrini, used the second-sight mystification with excellent effect. Robert- Houdin could not have been ignorant of its existence as a trick. In making the claim to its discovery in his "Memoirs" he simply trusted to the ignorance of the reading public in the history of magic. According to programmes and newspaper clippings in my collection, Philip Breslaw was the first conjurer to feat- ure second sight in his performance. Breslaw was a clever German who so established himself in the hearts of amusement-loving Englishmen that he remained in England for forty years, dying in Liverpool in 1803. In 1781, while playing at Greenwood's Rooms, Haymarket, London, he announced as Part One of his entertainment: "Mr. Breslaw will exhibit his new magical deceptions, Letters, Medals, Dice, Pocket pieces, Rings, etc., etc., and particularly communicate the thoughts of any person to another without the assistance of speech or writing." Pinetti comes next as an eminent presenter of second sight. Between these two well-known conjurers there may have been various unimportant, unchronicled per- formers who made use of Breslaw's trick, but they have no place in the history of magic. The trick appeared on a Pinetti programme at the Royal Haymarket, London, England, December ist, 1784, 14 [209] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,235 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 235 | A FEW WRINKLES 219 mill-board, without folding or bending, preference should be given to "Bristol" board, sold by artists' colour-men. This is somewhat more expensive but is stiffer and harder and has a better surface than the commoner articles. 9. For joining wood to wood without glue where there is no great thickness to be penetrated, "needle-points," procurable of any ironmonger, will be found useful. These are stout eyeless needles, of very brittle steel, about two inches in length. To use them, bore with a fine bradawl a hole partially through the wood, then drive in the needle-point by gentle tapping with a hammer, and when it has penetrated the desired depth snap off all that remains above the surface. 10. Also useful for many purposes are what are called by drapers "blanket" pins. These are of brass, and a card of such pins in three sizes, rang ing from two to three inches in length and varying proportionately in thickness, may be bought for a penny. Pins a trifle shorter and thinner than the above are known as "laundry" pins. Apart from their normal uses, pins of these kinds are very useful for bending into hooks, or to cut up into short lengths of stiff straight wire for pivots or otherwise. 11. For all effects dependent upon a thread pull use, in place of ordinary thread, plaited silk fish- ing line. This is procurable of any sports' out- fitter or fishing tackle dealer, in twenty and forty | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,235 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 235 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN piston to touch the sole of the foot whenever the con- federate presses the bulb or pushes the button. From this array of facts it will be seen that second sight is and always has been a matter of well-drilled phrases or signals, prearranged rotation of articles, well-built The author at the long-neglected grave of Robert Heller, in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, U. S. A. From a photograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. apparatus or well-trained confederates, but never a feat of actual thought-transferrence. Some of Robert-Houdin's ardent supporters insist that in claiming the invention or discovery of second sight, the French conjurer was merely an unconscious plagiarist, [208] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,234 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 234 | 218 LATEST MAGIC that the "marker" is replaced by a little spade- pointed cutter. This tool is only available for cut- ting wood up to say eight inches in width, but to the amateur attempting small work only, it will be found invaluable. 5. For staining wood or cardboard a deep dead black I have found nothing better than the "Record Jet Stain," manufactured by the Record Polish Company, Eccles, Manchester. It is normally designed for staining leather only, the makers not having apparently realised its usefulness in other directions. It is to be had of any dealer in leather goods, in twopenny and sixpenny bottles. In many cases I have found it best to rub it in with a pad, rather than to apply it with a brush, but this will of course depend largely on the nature of the article to be treated. 6. An excellent polish for use after staining, or for other purposes, is made by dissolving white wax in turpentine, to the consistency of cream. Applied sparingly, with plenty of friction to fol- low, this produces a clean hard gloss, free from the stickiness which is sometimes left after the use of other polishes. 7. For enamelling small articles use Maurice's Porceleine (the makers of which are Walter Car- son & Sons, Grove Works, Battersea, S. W.) pro- curable at "oil and colour" men in tins from three- halfpence upwards. 8. For any article to be made of flat card or | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,234 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 234 | SECOND SIGHT the signal button so that it could be easily reached on the arm or front part of the seat. The receiving instrument was attached to the sofa on which the medium was seated. The latter would be silently informed as to what was being shown and would answer all questions. As proof that these statements are not mere hearsay, the Heller sofa can now be seen in the possession of Mr. Francis J. Martinka, of New York; and Dr. W. Golden Mortimer, who once presented "Mortimer's Mysteries," a show on the style of Heller's performance, furnishes the information that when Heller died in Philadelphia, November 28th, 1878, he engaged the dead magician's chief assistant, an expert electrician named E. J. Dale, who had acted as secret confederate, assisting the medium. After travelling with Mortimer some time, Dale eventu- ally returned to England, and retired from the profession. He opened a large shop in London under the firm name of H. & E. J. Dale, Manufacturing Electricians, 4 Little Britain, E. C., in October, 1882. It was the easiest thing imaginable for Robert-Houdin to have his theatre arranged with secret confederates and wires back of the scenes, where a man with powerful opera-glasses could stand. The place being small, he could look all over the room and see the minutest article. When not making use of the talking code; the simplest method employed by second-sight artists is to have a con- federate in the audience, with either an electrical push but- ton or a pneumatic bulb, who gives the medium the signal. This is received by a miniature piston, which requires only a small hole in the stage, while the medium has a matching hole in the sole of his shoc. This allows the [207] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,233 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 233 | A FEW WRINKLES 217 many purposes for which Seccotine is too aggres- sively viscous, while ordinary paste is not adhesive enough. In such cases I can strongly recommend Pastoid, a composition midway between glue and paste. For all purposes for which paste (in small quantity) is ordinarily used, Pastoid may be sub- stituted with advantage. I myself came across it accidentally two or three years ago, "since when," like the gentleman in the soap advertisement, "I have used no other." The maker is Henry Rob- erts, Middlesborough, but it should be obtainable of any up-to-date stationer or fancy dealer. It is supplied in glass jars, at sixpence and a shilling. 3. Where an actual glue, of fine quality, is needed, procure sheet gelatine, to be had of any grocer. Cut into small pieces and melt in an ordinary gluepot using water enough to make the resulting solution about as thick as ordinary gum water. It should be used as near boiling point as possible, and the joined surfaces left to dry under the heaviest pressure available. A joint made with this glue is practically invisible.¹ 4. For dividing up thin stuff (wood or card- board), into rectangular slabs, the handiest tool is the "cutting gauge." This is practically iden- tical with the better known "marking gauge," save 1 For the information contained in this paragraph, as also that re- lating to the use of Veneers I am indebted to Mr. Holt Sehooling, who is an expert in such matters. My own essays in the direction of fancy cabinet-making have for the most part been limited to rough models to be reproduced in finished shape by more practised hands. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,233 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 233 | MELODEON FOR POBITIVELY TWO WEEKS ONLY. MONDAY, MAY 15TH, FIRST NIGHT or ROBEAT THE FAMOUS SOMATIC CONJURER, PIANO-SOLOIST AND CAUSEUR, wae MAS rest ass 365TH PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK, Belag . career " success which . other Conjurer has, et asy time, accemplished le that eity, PART 1.-MAGIC. WONDER 1 HELLER'S CABALISTIC CLOCK WONDER II. THE ERIAL DELI. VONDER III INPORNAD celebrated Patent Mediciné Ware- bouse in the Netherlund WONDER IV THE_ WITCHES POLE, with singular developments in Cartomancy WONDER V ANIMATED DOLLARS, with Life and Intellegence Manifested WONDER VI. HELLER'S ARABESQUE RINGS WONDER VII THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL PART II-MUSIC. No. & GRAND FANTASIA on Airs from the "Sonnambula" of Thalberg, performed by ROBERT HELLER, on Steinway's Grand Pianoforte. No. 3 Ma Laughable Description the Piano-practice of a Boarding School Young Lady.-Illustrated. The Young Lady by Robert Heller. PART II.--MBTE. 200. 2. HELLER'S SECOND-SIGHT MYSTERY Anvented by Sim, by éle and which has made bie colebrity frota hio appresesee in public, being designated as No. PLUMES OF VICTORY . wisse PART PARLOR KAOIC, or Tricks Made Ensy, every - person in the Audiends not , only shown the Tricks, but taught publicly how to do them, do that they may go and start out asconjurers for them esivesani achieve as great a fortune as bas fallen to the lot of Rosear, Poster used by Robert Heller during his Boston engagement in 1853. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [206] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,232 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 232 | 216 LATEST MAGIC 1. For woodwork on a small scale, an old cigar box will often be found suitable material. Where such a box is not available or not suitable for the particular work in hand, what is called "three- ply" may supply the need. This consists of three layers of thin wood glued together under pressure, with the grain of the intermediate layer running crossway to that of the other two, the tendency to warp being thereby greatly reduced. Drawing- boards are, for this reason, now usually made of wood SO combined, and a drawing-board makes for many purposes a good enough extempore work- bench. For a finer class of work, the amateur mechanic, if he is willing to take the trouble, may make his own three-ply. For this purpose he should procure a supply of what is called "knife- cut' veneer, i.e., thin sheets of walnut, mahogany, satin,-0 other hard wood, and glue them together with the white glue to be presently described. Ve- neer merchants form a distinct trade, and are com- paratively few in number, but the resident in Lon- don can obtain veneer and thin woods of all descrip- tions from Messrs. McEwan & Son, 282 Old Street, E. C. In country districts the shops which hold agencies for "Hobbies' materials also sell planed- up woods of various kinds, ranging like veneer from one-sixteenth to half an inch in thickness. 2. As a handy substitute for glue, most people are acquainted with the virtues of Seccotine, in its way a most useful preparation. But there are | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,232 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 232 | SECOND SIGHT at his own theatre, February I2th, 1846. Unquestionably at this time he employed the speaking code, wherein the answer is contained in the question asked of the medium by the performer. As he describes scene after scene in which he and his son participated, it is almost possible for a conjurer or any one interested in magic to follow his code. Apparently the amusement-loving public be- came familiar with his speaking code, for three years later, according to the illustrated appendix of the French edition of his "Memoirs," he adopted a code of signals, which he states was especially arranged to confuse those whom he terms his "fearless discoverers." A mysterious bell was used in this connection, but he admits that it mattered not whether the bell struck or was silent, his son could name the object under consid- eration or answer the question. While Robert-Houdin asserts that he did not employ electricity for working his silent code, investigations make it almost certain that this was the method used. It is known throughout the world of conjuring that in 1850-51 Robert Heller (William Henry Palmer) reproduced Robert-Houdin's entire répertoire of tricks, with the exception of the suspension, and all worked precisely by Robert-Houdin's methods. In the second-sight trick, which he first presented with a young man as the medium, then later with Miss Haidee Heller, the medium was seated on a sofa fully equipped with wires and electric batteries. Heller's second sight was worked with both the speaking and silent codes. His confederate was concealed behind the scenes watching Heller through a peep-hole, or possibly he used another, seated in the au- dience, and had the wires strung under his chair, arranging [ 205 | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,231 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 231 | A FEW WRINKLES 1 EVERY conjurer who has in him, as all conjurers should have, the creative instinct of the artist, and aims therefore at putting something of himself into his work, must of necessity be to some small extent an amateur mechanic. The hints which fol- low are addressed to the reader in that capacity. I have no pretension to teach him how to do things in the way of construction, but merely to make the doing of them easier. Though relating to matters in themselves small, the "tips" which follow may safely be said to come within the scope of Captain Cuttle's celebrated counsel, "when found make a note of." It often happens that the amateur mechanic has to take considerable trouble and pains in procuring some special requirement, while there is already on sale, at small cost, just the thing he wants, if he only knew what to ask for, and where to get it. The paragraphs which follow will, in some at any rate of such cases, supply the needful information. 1 This book having been written primarily with a view to British readers, some of my recommendations will naturally be of no value to my American friends, but I have not thought it necessary to delete them. L. H. 215 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,231 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 231 | NEW STRAND THEATRE. C SOIREZE MYSTÉRIEUSES DE ROBERT HELLER. These elegant and original Performances will be given at the above Theatre C Commencing at 8 A MORNING PERFORMANCE EVERY MONDAT TEUREDAY, AT HALF-PAST 2 O'CLOCK. On each occasion will be presented the following inexplicable experiments, invented and performed by Ecbert Heller. PART I. The Cabaliatic Clock Le pendule Cabalistique The Obedient Dove La colombe Obéimente The Fans and Balle Les eventails et les boulets de Canons The Plumes of Feathers Les plumes The Basket of Flowers La corbeille de Flueis 000 The Marvelious Orange Tree. L'Oranger PART II. The Mysterious Port-folio Port-feuille mysterieus The Mystic Boquet Le bouquet mystique The Wonderful Balance L'equilibre The Automaton Cook Le cuisnier automate The Safety Casket L'écrin de Sureté The Magio filtration Le filtration magique PART III. THE SECOND SIGHT I LA SECONDE VUE or ERNEST HELLER. ESCAMOTAGE or ERNEST HELLER WHO WILL VANISH FROM THS ETES or THE AUDIENCE The Bottle LA bouteille The cornucopies Le corne d'abondance From which Fana, Toys, Bonbons, Journals, &c. will be shovered upon the audience in the greatest profusion. Dears de epm at 7, and at sfer the Morning - PRIVATE moxes 1s. a £1 11s 6d. Stalls 3a.; Boxes Pit Gellery 6d. The Bes Cillee epea from " to & dally: where Tickets and Finses may be secured. a - Programme used by Robert Heller in 1851-52, when he was about e years of age. Probably the only programme of this date in existence. in the Harry Houdini Collection. [2041 | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,230 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 230 | 214 LATEST MAGIC I should like to mention. You hear people talk about the quickness of the hand deceiving the eye. I don't know whether the quickness of the hand ever does deceive the eye, but I want you to under- stand that you must not expect anything of that sort from me. I am naturally slow. I was born twenty minutes after I was expected, and I have been getting slower and slower ever since. "To-night, I intend to do everything even more slowly than usual: SO that you will only have to watch me closely to see exactly how it is all done. Then, when you go home, if you do as I do, and say as I say, without making any mistakes, no doubt you will be able to produce the same results. If not, there must be 'something wrong with the works.'' | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,230 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 230 | SECOND SIGHT "Memoirs" of spending hours with his son in poring over an enormous collection of coins, medals, etc., which severe lesson helped them both in future performances. To the conjurer, this tale is farcical. Not only was there no need of forcing the boy to become a coin expert, but the task was one which could not be accomplished in the brief time which Robert-Houdin allowed himself for perfecting the trick. The only knowledge required about coins is to recognize a coin when you see it. Some one may hand a coin of peculiar stamp, and the operator must signal to his medium the metal and all he knows about it. Of course, if both know the various coins, then they can understand each other with less signaling than if the coins were unfamiliar to either. Inaudi, the French calculator, can look at a blackboard filled with numbers for a few seconds, then turn his back upon them and add the entire amount that he has just seen and memorized. But let the reader understand that Inaudi is peculiarly gifted by nature, while second sight is a trick in which the person on the stage known as the medium is assisted by words, signs, prearranged movements, or articles or figures in rotation, which to the layman have the appearance of being unprepared. At a familiar cue, however, the operator touches articles that have been memorized, a ring, a watch, a scarf-pin, a lady's fan, an opera glass, all in rotation. At a snap of the fingers the medium will know that the articles are to be named in consecutive order, and only after the snap of the fingers or another cue agreed upon. Robert-Houdin presented the trick for the first time [203] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,229 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 229 | THE USE OF THE WAND 213 hoist him up and drop him in the water-butt, or into the Red Sea, according to order. If the magician wanted a week at the seaside, he had no need to pay railway fare. The familiar would just pick him up, house and all, and land him gently in the middle of the mixed bathing. The only draw- back was that, sooner or later, a time came when there was no performance, because the magician had been carried off by his familiar on a pitchfork. "As the French say, nous avons changé tout cela, Familiars are as extinct as the dodo. Per- haps it's as well, but it makes it very much harder to be a magician. In the first place you must know all about astrology, anthropology, Egyptology and all the other ologies. You must be well posted in mathematics, hydrostatics, pneumatics and numis- matics. You must know all about clairvoyance, palmistry and thought reading, sympathy and antipathy, magnetism, mesmerism, wireless teleg- raphy, X rays and all the other kinds of rays. Of course you must be well up in Greek and Latin, and a little. Hebrew, not to mention a few other things which I forget for the moment, but I won't stop to think of them now. When you have stud- ied these little matters fourteen hours a day for nine or ten years, you will be as 'chock-full of science' as old Sol Gills himself, and you will be able to do all sorts of wonderful things, some of which I hope to show you this evening. "Before I begin, there is just one little matter | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,229 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 229 | Robert and Haidee Heller from photographs taken at the time that they were presenting second sight accord- ing to the Robert-Houdin method by an electric code. From the Harry Houdini Collection. | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,228 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 228 | 212 LATEST MAGIC having been executed as a special favour to Pal- mer, by Hassoun, an eminent professional "scribe." I am reluctantly bound to admit that the Pal- mer wand, in my hands, did not exhibit any special magical virtues, and when I ceased myself to use it, it seemed to me that it could not find a worthier home than in Dr. Ellison's fine collection. Reverting for a moment to the subject of patter, I will conclude by quoting, for the amusement rather than the instruction of the reader, an ora- tion which (with variations) now and then formed my introductory boniment, and might on occasion still serve, in default of better. "Ladies and Gentlemen, and members of the Royal Family, if any happen to be present, I am about to exhibit for your amusement, a few experi- ments in Unnatural Philosophy, otherwise Magic. "Magic in the olden times was a very different thing, as I daresay you know, from what it is at present. In those days every respectable wizard kept a familiar spirit: a sort of magical man of all work. He cleaned the boots and knives, and when his master gave a show, it was the familiar who worked all his miracles for him. The magician only did the talking, and pocketed the takings. But the familiar did much bigger things than that. If his master's next-door neighbour made himself disagreeable, the familiar would | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,228 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 228 | SECOND SIGHT Then, picking up the long idle quill of Baron Mun- chausen, he proceeds to explain the methods by which he perfected the trick and trained his son. To the layman these methods read most entertainingly. To the expe- rienced conjurer or his humblest assistant they appeal as absurd and impossible, a sheer waste of time, of which Robert-Houdin and his son Emile, presenting second sight. Here the bell is used as it was by Henri Robin. From an illustration in the original French edition of the Robert-Houdin "Memoirs." a man who reproduced the tricks of his predecessors as rapidly as Robert-Houdin did, would not be guilty. He claims to have trained the eye and memory of his son, by leading the latter past shop windows, and after allowing him one glance, demanding the names of articles seen at this single glance. When the boy could mention forty things after passing the window, his education was pronounced good. Robert-Houdin also tells in his [201] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,227 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 227 | THE USE OF THE WAND 211 His skill in sleight-of-hand, which he had in the first instance taken up merely as a pastime, proved to be of immense service to him in his desert wan- derings; adding not only to his popularity but fre- quently gaining for him the prestige of a genuine magician, and thereby increasing his influence. In 1871 he was appointed to the professorship of Oriental languages at Cambridge, his official title being the Lord High Almoner's Reader of Arabic. In 1882, in anticipation of the Arabi trouble in Egypt, he was entrusted by the then Government with the difficult and dangerous task of winning over the Sinaitic tribes, and preventing the threat- ened destruction of the Suez Canal. His first trip, extending from Gaza to Suez, was carried out successfully, but on penetrating farther into the desert, he and his two companions, Captain Gill, R.E., and Lieutenant Charrington, R.N., fell into the hands of a tribe to whom Palmer was unknown, and were barbarously put to death. Happily, their bodies were recovered, and received from the nation the posthumous honour of burial in St. Paul's Cathedral. The wand presented to me by Professor Palmer is a curiosity in many ways. It is made of acacia wood (the "shittim" wood of the Old Testament) brought by Palmer himself from Mount Lebanon. Around it, in spiral form, is inscribed an invoca- tion from the Koran, in Arabic characters. The writing of the inscription is a genuine work of art, | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,227 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 227 | CHAPTER VII SECOND SIGHT E VIDENTLY second sight was the foundation- stone of Robert-Houdin's success. Reading be- tween the lines of his autobiography, one finds that this was the trick which carried him into the salons of fashion and royalty. Before he introduced second sight into his répertoire, his tricks were so com- monplace that they did not arouse the interest of the court circle, whose approval furnished the seal of success. This trick of second sight he claims body and soul, as the favorite child of his brain. He even goes as far as to relate a story to prove that the trick came to him in the form of an inspiration. I quote directly from the American edition of his "Memoirs," page 255: "My two children were playing one day in the drawing- room at a game they had invented for their own amuse- ment; the younger had bandaged his elder brother's eyes and made him guess the objects that he touched, and when the latter happened to guess right they changed places. This simple game suggested to me the most complicated idea that ever crossed my mind. Pursued by the notion, I ran and shut myself in my workshop, and was fortunately in that happy state when the mind follows easily the combinations traced by fancy. I rested my head in my hands, and in my excitement laid down the first principles of second sight." [200] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,226 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 226 | 210 LATEST MAGIC sies are chary of speaking Rommany except among their own people, and the inquisitive strang- ers were frequently told that there was no such language; whereupon, one of them would turn to the other, and in purest Rommany quietly express an opinion that their temporary hosts were not thorough-bred gipsies, but of some inferior stock. This produced Rommany in plenty, and the visi- tors were energetically taken to task for that, being themselves gipsies, they should ape the dress and manners of the Gorgio. A friendly explana- tion made all end happily. Palmer made his first start in life as a clerk in the City of London, where in his spare time he made himself master of French and Italian. A little later he took up the study of Persian, Arabic and Hindustani, and speedily conquered them: In 1867, after taking his degree at the University of Cambridge, he was elected a Fellow by his Col- lege, an honour conferred on him in recognition of his mastery of the Oriental languages. During the years 1868-1870 he was employed on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund, to make a survey of Mount Sinai, in the course of which he became upon friendly and indeed almost brotherly terms with many of the wild Arab tribes, among whom he was known as the Sheikh Abdullah. As in Eng- land he had been made free of the gipsy tent, so in Palestine he could drop in upon many a Bedouin encampment, and be sure of a hearty welcome. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,226 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 226 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE London he also appeared at the Egyptian Hall. He published his own magazine, L' Almanach d'Cagliostro, an illustrated periodical which was quite pretentious. Robin presented all the tricks and automata that Robert-Houdin claimed as his original inventions, and in the famous controversy, Robert-Houdin came out second best. Robin proved that he had used the bottle trick before Robert-Houdin did, by showing back numbers of his magazine, whose illustrations pictured Robin perform- ing the trick at his theatre in Milan, Italy, July 6th, 1844, or three years before Robert-Houdin presented it in Paris. Robin, however, never wrote an autobiography nor any exhaustive work dealing with the history of magic, while Robert-Houdin did. The latter set forth his claims over other magicians so skilfully that for more than half a century the intelligent and thoughtful reading public has been deceived and has accepted his statements as authoritative. According to an article published in L'Illusionniste, scientists to this day, in explaining the law of physics as operated by the use of air-holes in the inexhaustible bottle, refer to it as the "Robert-Houdin bottle," when in reality the honor of its invention belongs to some obscure mechanic or magician whose name must remain forever unsung by writers on magic. [ 199 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,225 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 225 | THE USE OF THE WAND 209 portions of one-while walking-sticks, promoted to a nobler use. Mr. J. N. Maskelyne's "wand" is an ordinary file, which, from the inventor point of view, he regards as the greatest of wonder-work- ing appliances. My own contribution may claim to be of excep- tional interest, not merely as being in itself a curio, but as a memento of a very remarkable man, SO remarkable, indeed, that a brief notice of his career may be interesting. It was presented to me by Professor Palmer, a gentleman who was not, like myself, a bogus professor, but the real thing, and withal an exceptionally eminent man. Skill in sleight-of-hand was the least of his accomplish- ments. He had a marvellous gift of tongue, there being scarcely a European or Oriental language with which he was not thoroughly familiar. He was born at. Cambridge in 1840, and from his earliest years showed indications of his peculiar gift for acquiring languages. As a school-boy he made friends among the gipsies, and learned to speak their queer language so perfectly as to deceive even those to whom it was their native tongue. In later life it was a favourite joke of his to saunter, in company with his equally accom- plished friend, Leland, into some gipsy encamp- ment where they were not known, and after pay- ing their footing by having their fortunes told, to ask some of the nomads gathered round the fire, to talk a little Rommany for their benefit. Gip- | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,225 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 225 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN about 1839-40, when he toured the Continent. He was popular in London, Paris, and both the English and French provinces. A polished man, famous for the elegance of his speech and manners, he conducted his performance Henri Robin, generally conceded to have been the most polished conjurer in the history of magic. From the Harry Houdini Collection. and all his business in a quiet, conservative fashion. In both Paris and London, he had playhouses named tem- porarily in his honor, Salle de Robin, and at one time in [ 198 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,224 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 224 | 208 LATEST MAGIC famous magicians, past and present, especially in the shape of wands, as being the most characteristic possession of the wizard. Accordingly, some years ago, he began to collect wands, and he now possesses more than eighty such, each a wand which has been habitually yielded by some more or less famous magician. By the courtesy of Dr. Ellison I am enabled to furnish particulars of some of them; as given in a very interesting pamphlet by Epes W. Sargent, a well-known American writer. The catalogue commences with a wand formerly belonging to Professor Anderson, the once famous "Wizard of the North." Here are found also the wands used by the two Herrmanns (Carl and Alexander), Buatier de Kolta, Lafayette, Martin Chapender, Carl Willmann and others who tread the stage no more. As regards the living, there is here a memento of nearly every English-speaking conjurer of note: besides many others of cosmopol- itan celebrity. The wand here exhibited is not always the con- ventional ebony and ivory affair, some of the speci- mens being indeed of a highly original character. For instance, the wand contributed by a Hindu magician consists of the leg bone of a sacred mon- key from the temple of Hanuman, the monkey god, at Benares. The wands of Madame Adelaide Herrmann and Chung Ling Soo take the shape of fans. Horace Goldin's is a cut-down whip-handle, and those of Clement de Lion and Imro Fox are | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,224 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 224 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE honor of having invented this trick arose between Robert- Houdin and Henri Robin, who were contemporaries. Robin, whose right name was Dunkell, was of Holland birth and died in Paris in 1874. He was at his prime PoGA LAY-MARKET - Evening. Tharsday, April seth. - a - - Manager, ou Le Velage des Cartes: with Carts. LE BOUTELLE INEPOISABLE; THE Mereary. T Arlogala le DisMe quetre, Mariogale, the Bevil. L'Egee Magigne: The Magle Sword. WONDER OF THE WORLD: L'Tacomotage de Lose et de Soliel the Saggier et the and the - LE CADRAN MATERMATICIEN: Les Colombes Sympothetiques: The Sympethetie Devea, Le Rie Enchente The La Cafetiore de Grend Megal The Coffee Pes or the Geand Megal Le - de - Magique: The Nogle Swestenks. She Last Two Nighte! Le frelerd Serpont The la Borme Magique: The Magle Stove la - du Poimon reage, execute - bebit de ville, The math of performed in - La Some tome dus Cartes et de - blanche; Now Masions wills Thursday, Saturday, - Whise Le Billet de Solomee Note. Les the Apens sea, and ns4s. des pieces de messaire: the TRAND NEW ILLUSIONS FROW M. HERRMANN. Le SUSPENSION THEREENNE - maseva PRESTIDICITATIUR OF PRANCE, om IN - - - SOIRÉES MAGIQUE it - - - the caly cosasions he cas SUSPENSION ÉTNÉREENNE. aggear is this Seasom. LE DOUBLE VUE! zm. EEREMANN Or, Second Sight, BY was - MADAME EERRMANN. New anes Startling y WETHE VARIOUS . vasions paste . - ILLUSIONS WITH CARDS AND MAGIE MADE. HERRMANN AND , - - - - ber gevere os BECOND SIGHT: II IMITATION OF VABIOUS BIRDS, ar HEREMANE. INTI-MAGNETISM asalle a Boxes &u. PK Se. Galleries 2s. a ls. Second Price as N ine o'cloek. ages, any that may be Deses opee Malf-past Seven: the Performance Eight . se Plases 1 A Herrmann programme dated April, 1848, showing that Herrmann pre- sented the inexhaustible bottle two months before Robert-Houdin appeared in London. [ 197 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,223 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 223 | THE USE OF THE WAND 207 even though he be a Past Grand Everything, knows no more than the veriest outsider. When in this direction there were no more mys- teries left for him to conquer, Dr. Ellison natur- ally turned his attention to Magic: and in accord- ance with his habitual determination to know all that there is to be known with regard to his hobby for the time being he began to collect books upon the subject. At first there were but few to collect, but the literature of magic has grown, and grown, and side by side with its advance Dr. Ellison's col- lection has grown larger and larger till it numbers some hundreds of volumes. Harry Kellar, the dean of American magicians, and himself an enthusiastic collector, yearned to possess it, and offered the doctor for it the handsome sum of two thousand dollars, equivalent in English money to about four hundred pounds. But Dr. Ellison was not to be tempted. In order that the collection should be preserved intact, he donated it, some years ago, to the New York Public Library, also providing a fund for its upkeep and further devel- opment. But Dr. Ellison's interest in, and services to Magic did not end here. He has made a collection of models, entirely the work of his own hands, of the appliances for over sixty stage illusions. Some are of full size, others quite miniature affairs, but one and all exact to scale. Further, the doctor has a special affection for souvenirs of | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,223 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 223 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN Theatre. A bill used by Herrmann at the Princess is reproduced on page 232. It evidently proved satisfactory to the public and he used it without change for many years. Probably the most notable warfare waged over the BOTAL, POGAM E le Velage dus Carte: with Nr. a. WESSTER, Sele Leisse - ou Bromptes. Le des Dames the - LA DOUTEILLE merna FAREWELL Rebia le Sercior, ( - - Le Poche the Mervelless MORNING Lee Noces de Canna: - Solme " - and Lee Colmmbee the LS CADRAN MATREMATICIEN; TME cseom. Le Timbre Soula, - - Restated Cleets Mell. Le - de - Nagique: The tome de Cartes et de magie New with Caste - Whitte MADONDE la - dus reages, esecule - de ville; The - porformed - - Brom. MAGIQUE CRAND NEW ILLUSIONS FROM Le SUSPENSION ET LE REENNE Commencing at Two o'Clock. WONDER OF THE WORLD: THIS MORNING. SATURDAY, May 6th, 1846, M. HERRMANN. (ou MANOVERN PREMIER PRESTIDICITATEUR OF FRANCE, 11 ... FIRST PROFESSOR OF MAGIO IN THE WORLD, the Nobility, Geeary . Puble general, thet be will - LAST A Morning Performance, SUSPENSTON ÉTHÉRÉENNE. Frevious to als departure se the provinces, and will Intreduce Six New Extraordinary Tricks, DOUBLE VUE! NEVER BEFORE : Or, Second Sight, L'Alben Heneveries; The Maseveriam Albsta. " Les Chapeses Diaboliquee: The Diabelical Mata, Le Cufre infernale: The Seformal MADAME HERRMANN. Le Vase d'Armite: - l'horiogerie de Geneve: Armida's Vase er, The Gemeva Cleckweek. WETE VARIOUS Le Mudtiplication des Indes: Les Mysteres de Perie; The of Paris, ILLUSIONS WITH CARDS no Endame MAGIE as performed - weeke simee as she Thentre Megral, Adelght, AND MADE HERRMANN + o , . 3 R Will also exbrbit her extraerdinary pevent of II IMITATION OF VABIOUS SECOND IME. REMANE. oa, ANTS MAGNETISM stalle and mexes en Doom egee at Osse the ay with Clesed Eyee, any objecte that may be submitted se thie preef, whica - assomished the mees acientifie, Billing used by Compars Herrmann when he played in opposition to Robert- Houdin on the latter's arrival in London. This shows that Herrmann dupli-… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,222 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 222 | 206 LATEST MAGIC cards, or to effect some other substitution neces- sary for the purpose of his next item. Verbum sap, by all means cultivate the use of the wand, and for the sake of effect, let it be of an ele- gant and distinctive character. An office-ruler or a piece of cane would serve many of its mechanical purposes, but would lack the prestige attached to what is, professedly, the genuine article. One of the most striking proofs of the extensive use and appreciation of the wand by modern magicians is furnished by the remarkable collec- tion of such implements got together by Dr. Saram R. Ellison, of New York. Dr. Ellison¹ is an eminent and popular phy- sician, whose ruling passion is wanting to know things, particularly things that other people don't know. Such being his temperament, it goes almost without saying that at an early period of his career he became a Freemason. Having been duly initiated into the mysteries of the ordinary lodge, and learnt all it had to teach him, he still yearned for "more light," and accordingly worked his way up step by step through intervening degrees in masonry till he reached what is known as the thirty-third degree, an order even more exclusive than that of the Garter, and claiming to possess secrets as to which the ordinary "blue" mason, 1 Since this was written Dr. Ellison has passed into the mysterious beyond. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,222 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 222 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE New York, however. In December, 1848, and January, 1849, he played at the same theatre, and announced that he had just concluded a successful engagement at the Grand Theatre Tacon, Havana, Cuba. Although Macallister claims to have invented "The Inexhaustible Bottle" trick, it is more likely that, having been connected so long with Phillippe, he knew the secret several years before Robert-Houdin appeared in public. But as Macallister also claimed to have invented the peacock and the harlequin automata, both of which are recognized as the inventions of his predecessors, his claim cannot be given serious consideration. He advertised to produce twenty-two kinds of liquors from one bottle, and therefore he must have utilized the essence glasses in connection with the bottle. What must have been Robert-Houdin's feeling when, on arriving in London in 1848, he found another magician, Compars Herrmann, heavily advertised at the Théâtre Royal, and already offering each and every trick included by the Frenchman in his répertoire. Even the much- vaunted bottle was in Herrmann's list of tricks. No one seems able to tell where Compars Herrmann obtained the tricks he used, but he must be given credit for never advertising them as his own inventions. His record in this respect was clean throughout his life as a mysterious entertainer. The programme presented by Herrmann at the Théâtre Royal during Robert-Houdin's opening week at the St. James Theatre is herewith reproduced. Herrmann re- mained some time in London, playing at the Adelphia, then at the Royal Princess, and finally at the Surrey r 1 | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,221 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 221 | THE USE OF THE WAND 205 produced. There is much virtue in what may be called a magical atmosphere, and after the wizard has proved his magical power by performing two or three apparent impossibilities, the mind of the spectator (though in his calmer moments, he knows, or should know, better), is led to adopt in a greater or less degree the solution "forced" upon him by the conjurer. Habitual use of the wand, with apparent seriousness, goes far to create the desired atmosphere. A good effect may be produced by "electrifying" the wand now and then, by rubbing it with a hand- kerchief. The main uses of electricity are so widely known, and so little understood by the mil- lion, that they are quite ready to give it credit for still more marvellous possibilities. My friend Mr. Holt Schooling, mentioned in connection with The Secret of the Pyramids, finds an additional use for the wand. He uses, not one only, but half a dozen, of different appearance, each credited with some special magical virtue. At the outset of his show these are arranged horizontally, one above another on pins projecting from a small sloping blackboard. For each fresh trick the wand professedly appropriate to it is brought into action, the one last used being at the same time replaced on the stand. The spectators do not sus- pect that behind each top corner of the board is a small servante, enabling the performer, under cover of the change of wands, to change a pack of | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,221 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 221 | The original Compars Herrmann, who was Robert-Houdin's very active rival during the latter's first engagement in London. Best portrait now in existence, and only one showing Herrmann in his prime. Original photograph loaned for this work by James L. Kernan. of Baltimore, Md., U. S. A. [194] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,220 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 220 | 204 LATEST MAGIC the first difficulties of the novice, as he comes for- ward to introduce himself to his audience, is to know what to do with his hands. He can hardly advance with hand on heart, within his vest, à la Pecksniff. Held open, with arms hanging down by the sides, the hands look too stiff, and to advance with them in his pockets would hardly be good form. By coming forward wand in hand, he avoids these difficulties. The hand holding it auto- matically assumes an easy and natural position, and he ceases to think about the other. With the wand held in the right hand across the body, its free end resting on the palm of the opposite hand, he is in an ideal attitude for delivering his intro- ductory patter. Later on, by holding the wand in the hand, he effectually disguises the fact that he has some object, a card, a coin, or a watch con- cealed therein. If he has occasion to call atten- tion directly to any object, the wand forms the most natural pointer. If he finds it necessary, for some reason connected with the trick in hand, to make a turn or half-turn away from the spectators, the fact that he has left his wand upon the table affords him the needful opportunity. Lastly, if the wand is habitually used as the pro- fessed instrument of a desired transposition or transformation, a certain portion of an average audience gradually becomes impressed with the idea that there really must be some occult connec- tion between the touch of the wand and the effect | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,220 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 220 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE viously been deposited under lock and key at a consider- able distance." Macallister, the Scotch brick-mason, who became the pupil and assistant of Phillippe, as described in the chapter on "The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal," also Andrew Macallister as he appeared during his engagement in the United States. From the Harry Houdini Collection. claimed the bottle trick as his invention. I have been unable to obtain any of the early programmes used by Macallister, but I am reproducing the one he utilized during his engagement at the Bowery Theatre, New York City, in 1852. This was not his first appearance in 13 [ 193 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,219 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 219 | THE USE OF THE WAND CLOSELY connected with the subject of patter is the use of the wand, which in my own opinion can- not be too sedulously cultivated. To the cases in which the wand itself forms the prominent item of the trick, I devoted a special chapter in "Later Magic." To these therefore I need not further refer. More important, however, is the part played by the wand from the point of view of gen- eral utility. In the first place, it is the only remnant of the traditional outfit of the magician. Time was, when the regulation costume of the wizard was a sugarloaf hat, and a robe embroidered with highly coloured mystic symbols. Such a robe is still worn as part of their make-up, by Chung Ling Soo and a few other Orientals, but the orthodox costume of the latter-day wizard is ordinary evening dress. The wand alone remains; the symbol and the pro- fessed instrument of his mystic powers, and from its traditional connection with magic, there is a special prestige attached to it. For these reasons alone it would be desirable to retain the use of the wand, but apart from them, its practical uses are many and various. One of 203 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,219 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 219 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN into Different Liquids-Sherry, Port, Champagne, Gin, BOWERY THEATRE Milk, Rum, and Water." The London Sun of Domes. Pit. 1-9 Conte Seate de Orchostra Beses. se Conte Domes for FIV Dellase Boots egee from 9 A. a April 18th, 1843, says: The Deors will open et asd the Seiree et . e'slesh. These le se Cheatrical Eshibition with these "Mr. Anderson, be- NIGHTLY JAMMED! THE GREAT WIZARD sides the feats by which MAGALLISTER! his reputation was es- tablished in his former bie Trimmbant Career, and sightly exhibite bie Grand and De'ginal exhibitions in the metro- Experimente in MAGXO, x. ac., in bie Gorgeous Temple before AMAZED THOUSANDS polis, performed with per- "Men of Mighty Words and Little Deeds! Whe elaim the sele right to the name el WIZARD try in vais to convince the werld of fect ease and success beis greatness!--They may well writhe under the exposure of their FRES SYSTEK, by which they seek to obtain es sudiesce, while the daily assouncement of ous TRIOKS under www show the strait to which they ase driven! They have learned " their cost, that some of greater difficulty " Feels rash in where Angels fear to tread." For the time bere. Macallister will perfores hie than those by which Herr GREAT LIGHT FEAT Döbler astonished the AND INSTANTLY Iliuminate the Interior of the Theatre world, such as serving AT A PISTOL SHOT Requert, will be repeated the several kinds of wines MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE ANDITS from the same bottle." " GREAT GUN .FEAT!" or, FEAT A LA Wm. TELL. was - sine Wendes the em origimal MAGIC BOTTLE - The Morning Adver- ANCALLISTERS tiser (London) of the ORICINY same date said BOTR KINDS OF LIQUOR "With the utmost ease OUT or MACALLIITER'S he produced from an BOTTLE world that cas empty bottle wine, water, produce kinds of Liques and the same Dottle. port, sherry, and cham- ednesday Evening, August 11, 1852 pagne, and immediately wm be gives the Mystorics of the ENCHANTEDPALACE afterward, under a blaze Programme used by Macallister at the of wax and gas, he broke Bowe… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,218 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 218 | 202 LATEST MAGIC be left to take care of itself. It should auto- matically improve with each of its earlier repeti- tions as good wine improves in bottle. Faults will correct themselves, and being made perfect by practice, the performer will thenceforth be able to "speak his piece" without effort, and devote his whole energies to the actual working of the trick. To the amateur, only performing on special occa- sions, with perhaps considerable intervals between them, I commend a plan from which I myself derived great benefit, viz.: Write out from memory the patter for each trick on the pro- gramme a day or two before a coming performance. After you have given your show, go through your manuscript again carefully, noting and correcting it in any point in which the patter failed to be ex- actly right. The interpolation of a single sen- tence, the transposition in point of sequence of two movements, or the alteration of some trifling detail, such as standing at a different angle to your table at a given moment, may make all the difference be- tween partial failure and complete success. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,218 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 218 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE together in one receptacle, and he fills out first a glass of sherry, then one of port, then one of champagne, and so on." The critic then describes how the bottle was broken, and the borrowed handkerchief was found inside the bottle. Probably because of the prominence which Herr Dö- et. James's Theatre, King St, LAST NIGHT BUT FOUR OF HERR DOBLER'S TUEBRAY, JULY 5, (on thero will - NO SATURDAY, JULY 9. LOUDS NATURAL MAGIC - WALL shortty ANO NUMEROUN HEW EXPERIMENTS INTRODUGED - - - - - - A de - ed. . - Walle - Gallery - - as. qui Döbler programme with illustrations of his tricks, used during his engagement at the St. James Theatre, London. From the Harry Houdini Collection. bler gave to this trick it attracted more attention when Anderson presented it during his London run of 1843. He announced it as "Watervs. Wine, or Changing Water [ 191 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,217 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 217 | CONCERNING PATTER 201 that he is actually the person whom he represents. The modern magician should do the same. If he has enough of the true artistic spirit to imagine, when he steps forward on the platform, that he is a magician, and that his miracles are genuine, he will go a long way towards producing a like impres- sion in the minds of his audience. Bearing this in mind, describe what you propose to do as an "effect," a "marvel," an "experiment," or a "phenomenon"; never by any chance as a "trick." It may be objected that I have myself repeatedly used the obnoxious word in the course of the fore- going pages, but that is another matter. This book is written by a conjurer for conjurers: and as between ourselves we are forced to admit, painful though it be to do so, that our greatest miracles are only tricks. But we need not tell the public SO. Logically-minded persons know it well enough, if they are allowed to think about the matter. Our business is to make them, for the time, forget it. A wise old Roman said: Populus vult decipi: decipiatur. Your audience wish to be deceived; in fact they have come together for that purpose. By all means let them be deceived to the top of their bent; and the first step towards effectually deceiv- ing them, is to persuade them, if possible, that there is "no deception." The patter for a given trick, once composed, and tested by a few performances in public, may thenceforth, SO far as the professional is concerned, | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,217 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 217 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN FLORA'S GIFTS. HERR DOBLER Ludwig Döbler in his prime, offering his most popular trick, "The Creation of Flowers." From a rare lithograph in the Harry Houdini Collection. [ I90 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,216 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 216 | 200 LATEST MAGIC ited in the right hand, he has only to say, "Now I want you particularly to keep an eye on this" whatever the article in the right hand may happen to be. All eyes are for the moment, instinctively drawn to the object in question, and in that moment the deed is done. The artifice is ridiculously sim- ple, but it is effective, and it is on being fully pre- pared with the right thing to say and do at the crit- ical moment that the success of a magical enter- tainment largely depends. Careful rehearsal, pre- ferably before an expert friend, will furnish the best hints as to the danger-spots in the working of a trick, and how best to devise patter to meet them. A final word of advice-advice that has been often given, but cannot be too often repeated if you really aim to carry your audience with you. Never lose sight of the fact that you are, in the words of Robert-Houdin, "an actor playing the part of a magician," and take your office seriously. In par- ticular, never before an audience use the word "trick," which at once gives away all your preten- sion to magical power. An actor never tells his audience that he is an actor or that he is playing a part. He does not call their attention to his make-up, however excellent, or tell them that his wig comes from Clarkson. On the contrary, he does his best to make his audience for the time for- get that he is Hubert de Barnstormer, or whatever his stage name may be, and to keep up the illusion | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,216 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 216 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE "DOBLER-ST. JAMES THEATRE.-Among the illusions that more particularly struck our fancy was one entitled "The Travelling Bottle,' where Herr Döbler, filling a common bottle with water, transformed this water into a collection of wines of all countries, amicably assembled Döblers Strauschen und gervidmet. 2ins to ging's mil anbern Stanfe... ou Annã, Die ber gethan, Nech in Wintee, - ate Sife accce aberneg bie méefat Gunt, ward fatt Davan- mis Am Jänben, girrig mit Den Mingen. mit bem Spiegef, Fingen Re Die Samen anf. und mit der Flaghs Wein. Qiefe Kafges Nicmans Grach bas biegef 9u Des. Singe Sanf. yes es Acia. Sem was ensfeeret Teinen Rufym ou nacf, Jashm. fonber gaft. gevif uns jurüch, Sat man nene Segefycet Wenn Die wea bu es Die keine mit Magiers Qatich. ben Samber gn Tann mafangen wir bich wisbes, hore, But was wieber vell, Lafen biefj auch nieft mefje aup, in Bie on ans las ;bemp fifjun vöffig tell.' Sefellef hier fich in Reife anf So in Theatey. Döbler's farewell programme in verse, used when he played his last engage- ment in the Josephstadter Theatre, Vienna. Original given by Döbler per- sonally to Henry Evanion; now in the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 189] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,215 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 215 | CONCERNING PATTER 199 cheerful. Geniality of manner is one of the most valuable assets of the conjurer. Above all, don't be nervous. You may say "I can't help it," but to a great extent you can. It is largely a matter of will. Start with the idea that all will go well, and it will probably do SO. On the other hand, a low- spirited conjurer always makes a low spirited audience. In any case, be sparing of puns, which have been deservedly described as the lowest form of wit. A single pun, if good enough (or bad enough) may win a laugh, and score to your credit, but to pep- per an audience with verbal shrapnel in the shape of puns is an outrage on good taste. Passing to the third function of patter, the mis- direction of attention in the course of a trick, we will assume that you have made a start in the right direction at the outset, by suggesting some fanciful explanation of the effect you intend to produce, SO that your audience, starting from wrong premises, do not know the points at which their too close observation would be inconvenient. The best way of diverting their attention at one of these critical points is obviously to attract it to some other direc- tion. A mere sentence, particularly if accom- panied by appropriate action, will suffice. Sup- posing, to take an elementary instance, that the performer desires to drop unseen into the profonde from his left hand some small article for which he has just deftly substituted a duplicate, now exhib- | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,215 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 215 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN only breaking this rule when presenting his show before H. M. Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort. He played the provinces, then went over to Dublin, where, although unable to speak English, he was a ver- itable sensation. In 1844 Döbler played a return STREET, ar. SATURDAY EVENING, date at the St. James APRIL. 10, 1842 la Ne - by Theatre, London, and sme LOUIS DOBLER, this time he had Ander- to - the of son as a rival at the Thé- - - - the gener NATURAL cummer âtre Royal Adelphia. MAGIC Döbler amassed a for- lass keil the - of - de - of Name - tune very rapidly; in fact - - - - NER MAJESTY THE QUEEN & H.R.M. THE PRINGE ALBERT. The - be divided inte Twe Para and with Mark - he retired in 1847, and by M. - Eigli - - PROGRABNE OF PERFORMANGE PART L never again appeared on The Magle Illumination, Tero Hundred Candles lighted by One Platol Shot The Magle Looking Olass. The Wandering The Travelling Bottle. The Witched Chair. the stage. He always ex- The Sympathetle Fruit. The Wonder The Corresponding Clooks. Kitchen. PART n. plained his early retire- Farmes The Magnetic Sword. The Notallie newer Zoots. Instantaneous The Great Necamotage. The Miracuions Washing ment by saying: "The More and There. Floga's aifta. vass THURSDAY. APRIL 91; and ou SATURDAY, APRIL ss. public loves me, and I PIt, Se. Gallery Stalls, is. ed. A - Orehostre Datte - be 9a. - - PRIVATE BOXEA, ITALLA - TICKETS - be - - Royal Librasy, ss, osd want it to always love me. Mr. asqunt's Librasy, Regent-street; Mr. sams's Librasy, Jamos's-streed; Andas - - of the Thestre, whieb le - - . Pivo I may return and be a # - - at as failure, so it is best to A Döbler programme from the Eva- know just when to stop." nion collection, dated 1842, now in the possession of the author. He died in a little village near Tunitz, on April 17th, 1864, when one of God's noblemen was laid to rest. "The Travelling Bottle" alluded to by Döbler in his programmes was nothing more or less than "The Inex- haustible Bottle." The following excerpt fr… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,214 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 214 | 198 LATEST MAGIC to change the mode of presentation altogether, and to make the illusion no longer objective, but subjec- tive. He announced that by means of his magic power he could take away the strength of the strongest man, and render him weak as a little child. The "chest" was in this case merely brought forward in a casual way, as a convenient object wherewith the assertion of the magician could be tested. The strongest man in the com- pany was invited to come forward, and try whether he could lift that little box. Of course he could, and did; a child could have done the same. "You lifted it because I permitted you to do.so," said the magician. "But I take away your strength. Try to lift it now!' Again the athlete tries his strength, but now he fails. With teeth set, and every muscle tense, he strains, and strains, but in vain, and he has to con- fess that the infidel wonder-worker has, for the time, taken away all his strength. Here was a wizard indeed! In arranging your patter, be humorous if you can, but if, like the gentleman we have all heard of, you "joke with difficulty," don't force yourself to be funny. That it is possible for a man lacking humour still to be a great conjurer is proved by the case of Hartz, who was notably deficient in this particular, but by his excellence in other directions won a place in the very first rank of his profession. But if you cannot be humorous, at any rate be | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,214 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 214 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE intaliset, minister of the King's mansions." He also orms his friend that he expects to visit Paris the next son and build his own theatre. He states a fact most resting to all magicians, namely, that he has rented (lay Drive udwig Döbler in his prime, taken about 1839. The original of this rare re was discovered by the author in a small print shop in Moscow, Russia. now a part of his Collection. St. James Theatre in London for two thousand ICS ($400) a night, or more than $2,400 rent for one k. Döbler drew such big audiences and made so ch money that he refused to give private perfomances, [187] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,213 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 213 | CONCERNING PATTER 197 but with only a cloudy recollection as to what they were. In devising, as is sometimes desirable, new patter for an old trick, an endeavour should be made to look at the effect from an entirely fresh point of view, so as to make the trick practically a new one. A remarkable instance of such a transformation is furnished by an incident in the life of Robert- Houdin. At one period of his career he was entrusted by the French Government with a very important mission. He was sent to Algeria, spe- cially charged to "astonish the natives," and by his greater wonders to destroy their belief in the pretended miracles of the Aissoua. Among other surprises, he decided to make use of his "Light and Heavy Chest," a chest which, as the reader is doubtless aware, became at command, by means of an electro-magnet in the pedestal on which it rested, so "heavy" that the strongest man could not lift it from its base. This trick, pro- duced at a time when the phenomena of electricity were but little understood, has produced an immense sensation at his Paris performances. But the Master instinctively felt that the trick in that shape would produce little or no effect on the more primitive mind of the Arab. He would sim- ply have taken for granted some mechanical means of holding down the chest, beyond his own com- prehension, no doubt, but by no means to be regarded as miraculous. Robert-Houdin decided | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,213 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 213 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN " THE GREAT WIZARD OF THE NORTH," Performing hie triak of POURING FOUR DIFFERENT LIQUIDS FROM ONE BOTTLE. Reproduction of a political cartoon in Punch, published during Anderson's London engagement, April, 1843, proving that the Inexhaustible Bottle Trick" was used by Anderson before Robert-Houdin was a professional entertainer. From the Harry Houdini Collection. [ 186] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,212 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 212 | 196 LATEST MAGIC by the introduction, among the "properties" used, of some object professedly essential to the trick, but as a matter of fact having no real concern with the effect produced. The audience take for granted that it must have something to do with the effect, or it would not be used, and are thereby led away the more effectually from the actual explana- tion. Numerous illustrations of the use of this device will be found in the foregoing pages. If, in the case of a given trick, the performer is absolutely at a loss to produce a satisfactory fable to introduce it, he may evade the difficulty by stating that he is about to produce an effect for which he cannot himself account, and inviting the assistance of his audience in doing SO. The second function of patter is the calling of the attention of the audience to matters which you desire them to take note of, and to give oppor- tunity to do SO. There is small credit to be gained by changing the ace of clubs into the ace of hearts, or making a given article pass invisibly from one spot to another, unless the spectators have been first made to realise the original state of things, and they must be allowed sufficient time to do SO. I have more than once seen an otherwise brilliant show spoilt by being rushed through at railroad speed. The mind of the spectator had not been allowed time to receive clear impressions. The company in such a case disperses with a conscious- ness of having had a rapid succession of surprises, | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,212 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 212 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE grammes used by John Henry Anderson, the Wizard of the North, in the same years. According to these programmes Phillippe and Anderson showed the bottle empty, filled it with water, and then served five different liquors. On April 30th, 1838, Anderson thus announced the trick on a programme used at Victoria Rooms, Hull: "Handkerchiefs will be borrowed from three gentle- men; the magician will load his mystic gun, in which he will place the handkerchiefs; he will fire a bottle con- taining wine, the bottle will be .broken and the handker- chiefs will appear." Programmes in my collection show that Anderson pre- sented the trick, serving various sorts of liquors, when he played London in 1840, but little attention was drawn to the wonderful bottle. In 1842 Ludwig Döbler, Germany's best-beloved magician, came to London and featured what he termed "The Travelling Bottle.' Ludwig Leopold Döbler was born in Vienna in 1801. He was the best-beloved magician who ever trod the stage. He started life as an engraver of metals, but his fancy turned to necromancy. He gave his best performances in his na- tive city. In 1841 he was touring Holland, and in a letter now in my possession, which he wrote to a director and editor in Vienna under date of March I5th, 1842, he in- forms his friend that he has sent all his baggage to London from Amsterdam, and is on a visit to Paris. He regrets that he has not all of his apparatus with him, but has given several performances, and mentions the fact that " to-morrow I am engaged to give a performance in the private parlor of Rothschild and then by the Count [ 185 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,211 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 211 | CONCERNING PATTER 195 away from the true explanation of the marvel, and to suggest, in a more or less plausible way, some other, remote from the real one. The suggested explanation may be either pseudo- scientific, where possible based on some generally accepted truth (and it is surprising what a long way even a few grains of truth go in such cases) ; or it may be downright "spoof," delivered however with due appearance of seriousness. The explana- tions will naturally fall a good deal short of the George Washington standard of truthfulness, but the most tender conscience need not in such a case have any scruples on the score of veracity. No sane person expects truth in a fairy tale, and a magical entertainment, from beginning to end, is but a fairy tale in action. To put the matter in an epigrammatic nutshell: Truth is "a gem of purest ray serene," A virtue always to be cultivated, But such depends,-you'll gather what I mean, On how you happen to be situated. At home, abroad, wherever I may be, I tell the honest truth, and shame the d- . But when you ask to be deceived. Good gracious! You can't expect me then to be veracious. In that case only do I make exception, And most deceive when vowing "no deception." This function of patter, the leading away the minds of the audience from the true explanation of the puzzle offered them, may be materially assisted | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,211 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 211 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN W'aterloo Rooms. three sorts of wine, Port, " est Agreenble et Plaimes de S'Instruire - Sherry, and Cham- THE LAST pagne, out of one bottle. Spiendid, Brilliant and Fashionable Then he put them to- DAY PERFORIANOE WILL TAKE PLACE ON gether, and from such a SATURDAY Sist APRIL, 1939, Under the High and Distinguished mixture produced sher- ry in one glass, and port THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY GIFFORD, in another." THE RIGHT HONOURABLE From this notice it Lady H. Stuart Forbes, will be seen that Falck WHICH OCCASION had "The Inexhaustible dec. dyc. dec. religional Mons". PHILLIPPE Bottle," and had some WILL SELECT The most INTERESTING, ATTRACTIVR and method of returning all PRISING FEATS the liquors not drunk FROM HIS EXTENSIVE STOCK or NECROMANTIC, MACICAL a DEXTERICAL back into the bottle DEMION-STRATIONS! and then pouring out La Gaieté est la Santé de L'ame la tristesse on est le poison. two different kinds of Programme. zase z. Aed - - ema liquor. Indian and Chinsee Meale !!! A CURIOUS OPERATION, sova wese Empe ammid by - Ser . Nom P. - - - Perhaps he resorted sese - - A ****ON som Le La Esso - - - - Jehe Lopes - WINGS AGAINST WHEELS, on THE la SRAND TOUS - - to chemicals, but one warch: de / TRACIC SCENE - ACRECABLE LES Porssons woa !!. tothe - Tare CONCLUSE the BIBTH y thing is evident - the The SUBLINE TUAT the Auternal Nettle, PATRIOT and bottle was used for six ay CAP. Toing BALL - - ORANCE Noad of I# THE. UNPARALLELED, zase sv. different kinds of liquors JUPITKE . rulcan FIRES: The - - - - " The OUN-AT PRACOCE, FICURES at one and the same as - reas ***. - sie A NIGHT IN THE FAD-JUNO - JUPITER-1 PALACE OF PERIN: -The MACICIAN Hond time. TWO BARBER a Mess. PEILLIPFE wis appone The UUN-ECLIPEE " AS TRE OSSAT of BOYAL MAGIGIAN LEQUIN in QUEEN VICTOILA Phillippe from 1836 to IN PULL COSTUME, of SCOTLAND, ENOLAND, - ON MONDAY 1838 featured "An In- Mens. P. takes his BENEFIT. fernal Bottle" trick, also "The Inexhaustible Poster used by Phillippe during his Edinburgh engagement in 1838… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,210 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 210 | 194 LATEST MAGIC a "giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief," or the reverse, cannot be expected to be a becoming gar- ment. Every man has, or should have, a style of his own, and it is rarely good policy to imitate that of somebody else. If a low comedy man were to essay to play Hamlet, or a tragedian, however eminent, were to try to give an limitation of Harry Lauder, the result would be likely to be disappoint- ing. The reader, undertaking to write his own patter, and desirous of making it just what patter should be, will find counsels of perfection in "Our Magic," and the more nearly he can approach them the better. As, however, all have not the good fortune to possess that admirable work, I venture to indi- cate what to my own mind seem to be the chief points to be aimed at. It is almost a commonplace to say that the main object of patter is misdirection. As the term is more usually applied, this means something said or done midway in the course of a trick to draw away the attention of the audience at some critical moment, and to create what the French conjurers call a "temps," i.e., an "opportunity" for doing, unnoticed, some necessary act. But misdirection may very well start at an earlier stage than this: in fact, well in advance of the actual execution of the trick. Each trick should have some sort of introduction, and the patter serving this purpose should be such as to lead the mind of the hearer | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,210 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 210 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE Mr. Falck opened at the Queen's Bazaar, Oxford Street, London, November 8th, 1835. Before opening, however, he gave a private performance for the press, and received quite a number of notices. A half-column clipping in my collection, dated November 4th, 1835, NATURAL MAGIC! MCR. FALCK, Of Konigaberg, Pupil of the celebrated Chevalier Pinetty, has just arrived in England, and will exhibit his surprising deceptions, NOW UNRIVALLED IN NATURAL MAGIC, AT THE Queen's Bazaar, Oxford Street. AMONG THE NUMEROUS FEATS EXHIBITED WILL BE FOUND THE FOLLOWING:- The Enchanted Bread-The Walking Rice-Paying a Tavera Keeper-The Enchanted Egg-The Calculation of Money-The Lost Ring-The Exchange of Wine-The Enchanted Dice-The Card in the Pocket-The Present, or Gift of Flora-The Wine and Dessert-besides Surprising Deceptions with Cards, &c. &c. The Performance to begin daily and at Three till half-past Four. ADMITTANCE ONE SHILLING-CHILDREN SIXPENCE. Geo. Nichole, Printer, Earl's Court, Cranbourn Street, Soho. 10 - Poster used by Falck of Koenigsberg in 1835, featuring the trick of exchange of wine. From the Harry Houdini Collection. which I think is cut from The Chronicle or The Globe, the trick among other effects like "Flora's ift," "The Card in the Pocket," etc., and adds that the "exchange of wine was so that if once in Mr. Falck's Company, we should not wish to exchange it, for he poured [r83] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,209 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 209 | CONCERNING PATTER 193 great deal, and done very little, and that I had had very little real magic for my money. On the other hand, the loquacious doctor was always amusing, and it must not be forgotten that to amuse, even more than to puzzle, is the raison d'être of the mod- ern magician. It seems to me therefore quite legitimate to use, to a reasonable extent, the art of the raconteur to supplement that of the magician. If my own patter is in some cases found super- abundant, I have at any rate done my best to make it amusing, and if the reader opines that I have not paid sufficient regard to the late Mr. Ducrow's cele- brated maxim, "Cut the cackle, and come to the 'osses," he is quite at liberty to cut my cackle to what he may consider more reasonable proportions. No doubt, time would be saved thereby. If, for instance, he were to cut out the little romantic fictions with which I have introduced "The Miracle of Mumbo Jumbo" and "The Story of the Alka- hest," and start "right away" with the bare per- formance of the trick, both could be exhibited in little more time than I have allotted to either alone. Which treatment is likely to give the greater satis- faction to his audience, he must decide for himself. Where the performer has the gift (for a "gift" it undoubtedly is) of devising effective patter for himself I am strongly in favour of his doing SO. Borrowed patter may be likened to a borrowed dress-coat. It is never likely to be an exact fit, and | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,209 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 209 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN tory of that automaton. The programme published in that chapter is dated FOR SIX NIGHTS ONLY, - NOWDAY, - To of - - nive FRIDAY, - le fue 1827, and does not in- Mr. Schmidt's BENEFIT, - SATURDAY to - LAST NIONT of the clude the famous bottle, MECHANICAL OPTICAL THEATRE At the Mueic-Hall, because it was no longer a Albion-Street, Leeds. novelty in Herr Schmidt's zm. - respostfully the Ledice and of LEEDS Vielaity, that aftee - Years laboer be hee completed some AUTOMATAN NOPE DANCERS, - lasge - Life, which go through Variety of Evelations es - répertoire; but the ad- Tighs Repe. To Men of Selence they mest appess impossible, for though thay are estacity with the they from tt, and balance le WITHOUT the UST or THEIR HANDS, AND INSTANT. LY CONNECT TREMSELVER wire THE MACHINERY AGAIN vertisement reproduced herewith, dated 1821, schedules the bottle trick thus: "The Bottle of Sobriety and Inebriety, proving the inutility of a set of decanters, when Me. will also introduce Variety of interesting and amasing Pieces of Mechonion, never before exhibited in Loeda, RAMO SAMMEE, various liquors can be TNe - Nette Pigure will correctly inform the Company the Time by any Person's Watoh: be will also decipher Writing, and any Question proposed to bim. The Dutch Coffee House, produced by one." Thus As elegast little Bullding: on the Travellers ringing the bell the door opene-th attende and provides hém with any Liquor be may vall for. Schmidt antedated or SAPETY. which Proporty of any description can be placed on the direction of the Company : the contente will imporceptibly ebange from drawer into another, or evem bobind the glanses. The Bottle of Sobriety and Inebriely, Houdin's offering of the Proving . instilley of est of Decastora, when varions Liquors be produced by - THE MECHANICAL TEA CADDYS, Any Lady or Gentionna haring deaire to of any Article, locke in one Cuddy, trick by more than a yet - opaning the ether is is lomed there, althongt the Cadity le la the hand of any othes Porsoa. AN GLA… | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,208 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 208 | CONCERNING PATTER IT will doubtless have been observed that I have in the foregoing pages been somewhat lavish in respect of patter. I have done SO for two or three reasons. First, in order to enable the reader to form a better estimate of the effect of the trick presented, duly clothed and coloured, to the mind of the spec- tator. A trick described, however minutely, from the mere mechanical or technical point of view, gives scarcely more idea of its actual effect than the rough charcoal sketch of the artist does of the finished painting. Secondly, because ready-made patter, if the reader cares to use it, will save him a considerable amount of trouble. My third reason is more personal, namely, that it has been a labour of love to do SO. To my mind the devising of some little bit of appropriate fiction to serve as intro- duction to a trick is the pleasantest part of the inventor's work. It may perhaps be thought that I have, in some of the more ambitious tricks, been overliberal in this particular. I remember thinking, after wit- nessing a "show" by Dr. Lynn, a popular per- former of the last generation, that he had talked a 192 | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,208 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 208 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE a view of "the Barrel that plays so many Liquors and is broke in pieces before the Spectators." " In 1780 Dr. Desaguliers presented in London a per- formance entitled "A Course of Experimental Philosophy wherein the Principles of Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Pneu- matics, and Optics are proved and demonstrated by more than 300 Experiments." In the course of these lectures he produced a sort of barrel, worked by holding the fingers over the air-holes. He also exposed the real source of strength of the notorious strong man of his day, John Carl von Eckeberg, who allowed horses to pull against him, permitted heavy stones to be broken on his bare chest, and who broke heavy ropes simply by stretching or straightening his knees. These lectures and exposés made Dr. Desaguliers so famous that he has been given considerable space in Sir David Brewster's "Letters on Natural Magic," pub- lished in London in 1851, in which book the various de- ceptions used by strong men are fully described. In fact the book is one that should be in every conjurer's library. The old Dutch books explain the barrel trick, and in 1803 Charles Hutton, professor of Woolwich Royal Academy, translated four books from Ozanam and Montucla, exposing quite a number of old conjuring tricks. The barrel trick will be found on page 94 of Volume II. The first use of "The Inexhaustible Bottle" by modern conjurers I found in an announcement of Herr Schmidt, a German performer, who for a time controlled the original writing and drawing figure, as will be found by reference to Chapter III., which is devoted to the his- [ 181 ] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,207 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 207 | THE WIZARD'S POCKETBOOK 191 to call attention by name to the cards exposed, and say, "When these three cards appear in conjunc- tion, it is clear that the card drawn was the queen of spades" (or whatever it may happen to be). Any one deluded, as the majority will probably be, into believing that you really infer the name of the drawn card from those on the table, will be farther from the real solution than ever. | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,207 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 207 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN target revolve, or, if the frame is used, by having a black velvet curtain pulled up by rapid springs or strong rubbers. While all this is going on, some one has brought on the stage the loaded bottle, and as no attention is called to this, by the time the watches have been restored to the owners the conjurer introduces the bottle trick, pours out the various liquors, and eventually breaks the bottle and reproduces the borrowed article tied about the neck of the guinea-pig or dove. Many names have been given to this trick. The old- time magicians who remained for months in one theatre had to change their programmies frequently, so for one night they would present the bottle without breaking it, and on the next they would break the bottle, so as to vary the trick. This bottle trick originated in "The Inexhaustible Barrel." The first trace that I can find of this wonder- ful barrel is in "Hocus Pocus, Jr., The Anatomie of Legerdemain," written by Henry Dean in 1635 (Second Edition). On page 2I is described a barrel with a single spout, from which can be drawn three different kinds of liquors. This was worked precisely on the same principle as was the inexhaustible bottle trick centuries. later, by shutting up the air-holes of compartments from which liquors were not flowing. Its first public appearance, according to the data in my collection, clipped from London papers of 1707 and I7I2, was when the "famous water-works of the late ingenious Mr. Henry Winstanly" were exhibited by his servants for the benefit of his widow; and the exhibition included [180] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,206 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 206 | 190 LATEST MAGIC please remember I have not touched since you shuffled it yourself, into six portions, one for each page of the book." This is done, the six packets being turned face down on the table. We will suppose that the chosen card is not found on the first page. "Then," says the performer, "this first packet will tell me nothing, and may be disregarded. Now, for the second page, is your card upon that ? It is ? Then I draw two cards from the second heap, and turn up one of them. And now for the third page. Do you find your card there? You do ? Then I take up three cards from the third packet, and again turn up the last one." We will suppose that the chosen card is not found in either the fourth or the fifth page, but re-appears on the sixth, whereupon six cards are counted off from the corresponding packet, and the last of them turned up. The performer has by this time mentally added up the key numbers of the second, third and sixth pages: viz., 2, 4 and 32, together making 38, and knows therefrom that the card is the thirty-eighth in the list, viz., the queen of spades. He does not however at once display his knowledge, but pretends to make a mental calcula- tion from the cards exposed upon the table, giving, if he so pleases, and the cards lend themselves to it, some fanciful explanation of his method. It seems to me, however, that this last is a needless elaboration. Personally, I should prefer merely | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,206 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 206 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE Again, this bottle can be genuine, with no loose bottom at all, and a small article can be inserted, but this makes a great deal of trouble, and the effect is not greatly in- - creased. In doing the trick thus, I was always com- pelled to have an optician cut the bottom from the bottle, and then at times even he would break it. To explain further how the article is "loaded" into the bottle, the performer borrows several articles, for example a ring and two watches. He will place the ring and watches into a funnel at the end of a large horse- pistol, and shoot them at the target. The two watches appear on the target or in a frame or any place that he may choose. In obtaining the articles, he may have wrapped them up in a handkerchief which he has hidden in the front of his vest. Alexander Herrmann was excep- tionally clever in making this exchange, his iron nerve and perpetual smile being great aids in the trick. The performer now places the duplicate handkerchief on the table in full view of the audience, and walks to another table for a gun. While reaching for this gun, he places the criginal articles which he borrowed behind his table on a servante, so that his hidden assistant may reach for them, place the two watches on the "turn-about target," tie the ring on the neck of the guinea-pig, shove him into the bottle, and insert the false bottom. The trick is then ready in its entirety. The magician calls for something to use as a target, and the assistant responds with the revolving target or frame. When the conjurer shoots, the two watches appear on the target or in the frame. This part of the trick is accomplished by having the centre of the [179] | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,205 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 205 | THE WIZARD'S POCKETBOOK 189 ing on the same page, their appearing under these conditions making no difference to the calculation. I am indebted to an ingenious amateur, Mr. Victor Farrelly, for the idea of a novel method of using the pocket-book. Mr. Farrelly does not offer of his own accord to show what can be done with it, but keeps it in reserve, for use in a special emergency. Every conjurer meets now and then with the pig-headed person who absolutely declines to have a given card forced upon him, and persists in endeavouring to extract one from some other part of the pack. Armed with the pocket-book, the performer can set such a person at defiance, and indeed get additional kudos from his objectionable behaviour. He cheerfully gives up the struggle, saying"You seem to think, sir, that I wish to influence your choice in some way. To prove the contrary, I give the pack into your own hands. Shuffle it well. Thank you. Now take from it any card you please. Look at it, and put it in your pocket. You are satisfied, I presume, that I do not know that card? You are quite right. I have not the smallest idea of it, but I shall discover it without the smallest difficulty by a process of mathematical magic. I have here" (producing pocket-book) "a little book of six pages, on each of which thirty-six cards are illustrated. Will you kindly see whether the card you chose is represented among those on the first page? Meanwhile I will divide the pack, which | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,205 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 205 | THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN nel which has a tapering nozzle made specially for this purpose. The trick is generally started by proving to the audience that the bottle is empty. It is then filled with water, whichn is immediately poured out again, all this time the five pinholes being covered tightly with the hand or fingers which are holding the bottle. When a liquor is called for the performer raises the finger over the air-hole above that particular liquor, and the liquor will flow out. When a large number of liquors may be called for, the performer has one compartment filled with a perfectly colorless liquor, which he pours into glasses previously flavored with strong essences. Certain gins and cordials can be simulated in this fashion. Various improvements have been made in this bottle trick. For instance, after the bottle has yielded its various sorts of liquors, it is broken, and from the bottle the per- former produces some borrowed article which has been "vanished" in a previous trick and then apparently for- gotten. This may have been a ring, glove, or handker- chief, which will be discovered tied around the neck of a small guinea-pig or dove taken from the broken bottle. This is accomplished by having the bottle especially constructed. Its compartments end a few inches above the bottom of the bottle and the portion below having a wavy or cracked appearance, is made to slip on and off. The conjurer goes through the motions of actually break- ing the bottle by tapping it near the bottom with a small hammer or wand, and the appearance of the guinea-pig or lost article causes surprise, so that the pretended break- ing of the bottle passes unnoticed. | |
latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf,204 | latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 204 | 188 LATEST MAGIC 8 + 2 = 10 8+2+1=11 8+4=12 8+4+1== and SO on throughout up to 52, which being the limit of the pack, is the highest number with which we need concern ourselves. In making up the pages of the pocket-book, advantage has been taken of this principle. A given card is inserted on that page or pages (and those only) whose key numbers, alone or added together, correspond with the position which the card holds in the list. Thus the ace of clubs will appear on the first page (not because it is the first card, but because the key number of that page is 1) and on no other. The deuce of clubs, in like manner, on page 2, the key number of that card being two. The next card, the three of clubs, must appear on page 1 and page 2, their key numbers together amounting to 3. The process as to cards standing at higher numbers is the same. Thus, the ace of spades, being the twenty-seventh card, and twenty-seven being the aggregate of 16, 8, 2 and 1, will appear on the first, second, fourth and fifth pages. Conversely, if the performer is told that the card appears on the four pages last named, he knows that it is the twenty-seventh card, i.e., the ace of spades. Any spaces remaining vacant on the page after the whole pack has been dealt with, are filled up by duplicates of cards already figur- | |
unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf,204 | unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 204 | THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOTTLE tricks, and twenty London papers bear mute testimony to this fact. In a complete collection of press clippings regarding his first London appearance, only four of the London papers mention the trick. The Times, the great conservative English paper, in reviewing Robert-Houdin's performance in its issue of May 3d, 1847, ignored the trick entirely. The four London papers which made mention of the bottle trick, and then only in a passing comment, were The Chronicle, The Globe, The Lady's Newspaper, and The Court Journal. Any one acquainted with the two last-named periodicals will know that they rarely reach the hands of the humble artisans in Man- chester. Punch, London's great comic paper, gave the trick some space, however. The trick of pouring several sorts of liquors from the same bottle has been presented in various forms and under different names. To prove the futility of Robert- Houdin's claims I will explain the mystery of this trick, which is of an interesting nature. To all intents and purposes the bottle used looks like glass; but it is invariably made of tin, heavily japanned. Ranged around the central space, which is free from deception, are five compartments, each tapering to a narrow-mouthed tube which terminates about an inch or an inch and a half from within the neck of the bottle. A small pinhole is drilled through the outer surface of the bottle into each compartment, the holes being so placed that when the bottle is grasped with the hand in the ordin- ary way, the performer covers all but one of the pinholes with his fingers and thumb. The centre section is left empty, but the other compartments are filled with a fun- 12 177] |
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