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MONTHLY

AGAZIN6

Reading and Rubbish

SEPTEMBER 15, 1906. Price, 10 Cents

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

MARTINKA & CO. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA MA UFA C T URERS OF MAGICAL

A PPA RAT US

Illusions and Mechanical Effects for Theatres

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493 SIXTH AVENUE : : NEW YORK CITY Illustrated Catalogue with over 700 engravings, 25c; Illustrated Catalogue of Parlor tricks, free. In preparation: Special Comic Magicians' Postal Cards in two colors. Sample set of three, Five Cents.

Harry Day THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND

Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased togrant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Hffingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. ST. JAMES BUILDING Broadway and 26th Street, New YorR Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations. Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. MANHATTAN DETECTIVE AGENCY, ST. JAMES BLDG., 26>th ST. & BROADWAY, N. Y. Vfc

Tflcrpiiuue y i o M a d i s o n S q u a r e

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The Stadium Cafe and Restaurant GLANTZ & MAY, Proprietors

SIXTH AVENUE $£££&?$$$!&?

NEW YORK

THE RENDEZVOUS FOR ALL FOREIGN ARTISTS

Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

THK CON'Jl'RERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

ERNST

BASCH

Factory for ONLY the largest apparatus used in Magic, Illusions and Mystery shows for large exhibitions In my factory I have one floor devoted entirely for an auditorium, in which I have a large stage where all the latest illusions are ready for exhibition, and you are under no obligations whatsoever to purchase a pfenning's worth, but will pleasantly exhibit any Illusion, Mystery or apparatus as often as required. In Chambre Separe, The Doll, The Fairy of the Rose, The Flying Cage with Lady, The Witches Table and many other novelties that have never been for sale elsewhere. All illusions done without dark background, without glasses and without traps in the stage! Circular Free.

ERNST BASCH, Hanover, Germany

i licrliner Tngcblntt, Sunday, Jan. 29, 1906) ".Secret Hexentiseh* is a small table covered with a black cloth, a nod of the Master "and the cover falls off to the stage. The table is small, can be examined bv any one of "the audience, and can be taken any distance from the Master. It answers all questions, "tells you the card selected, answers mysteriously by ringing of a bell, and will also perf o r m all its mysteries, even when the Master is taken in another room, eyes tied and "hand and feet secured so as to prevent any signals.

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Y E A R

MAHATMA The ()flicial Organ of the Society of American Magicians

An Illustrated Monthly Paper ] devoted to the interest of Magicians and their art. Contains new tricks, illusions r ] and news of current interest.

f MAGAZINE EXCliU5IVErbY

A\AGIC THE-

Subscription - - - $1.00 a year w-i Single Copies - - - - 10 Cents fr I Advertisements - - $1.00 an inch

iff> - S T . F R A N C I S

FRITZ

: Editor .ind Publisher

Official Organ — o f the—

5ociety Of merican Magicians

80S H A L S E Y »] B R O O K L Y N

STREET BOROUGH

New York City, N. Y., U.S.A. Kin-llyy

mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answeriiiR'all Advertisements

THR CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

CONJURERS'

SALUTATORY

There is no apology to make for the appearance of the Conjurers' Magazine. MAGAZINE We do not wish to supplant any other paPUBLISHED BY per ; we have no axes to grind; nothing The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, to sell; no one to extol; we do not seek any free advertisement; we do not labor 278 WEST 113TH STREET under the impression that we shall have N E W YOKK CITY the best paper in the world. But we TELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE shall try and send forth a newspaper that is a newspaper, expressly for the Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents handicraft of Magic, furnishing such news as we can glean with the aid of SEPTEMBER, 1906 No. 1 VOL. I. our paid correspondents. We have no Advertising.Rates Payable in Advance. $100 hesitetion in making the statement that rp to the present day and date we have an inch, $8.00 half page, $15.00 full page. no knowledge of any Magicians' paper Discount on annual and semi- annual contracts. that is a newspaper for the craft. All communications must be addressed as The few magazines that are devoted above. . to Magic and Magicians, especially two published in England, are in the hands Material on all matters likely to l:e of interest of men who make use of their alleged to our readers alwa}'s sought for, manuscript papers to maintain their own business must be marked "Payment" otherwise will be used "Complimentary." Manuscript to be re- end, and are nothing more or less than turned mast have enclosed the required post- "grafting" catalogues. age stamps. One sheet in particular no more deserves the name of newspaper or magaEnglish Representative, Theo. Hardeen, care zine than would a photograph of an old of Anger & Bauer, 50 Rupert Street, London.. wizened cow to be called a creation of \V., England. Gibson. This party once gave us "his" Correspondents abroad, T. Bolin, Moscow, word of honor not to do certain things, Russia; O. Fischer, Vienna, Austria; James and then deliberately broke his promise, Leahman, Teheran, Persia, etc., etc. and when any one will purposely do this he is dead to us in all respects. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is not reThe "Wizard," recently started, seems sponsible for the opinions of its correspondents. to be a clean, healthy journal, and up to As the majority of articles appearing in this the present time has not started to graft. Magazine will be copyrighted, we have no obGermany boasts of the "Zauberspiejection of others quoting from us, providing gle," published in Berlin, and for a numthat we are given credit for same. ber of years the Zaubenvelt held sway in Hamburg. That paper is now deThe Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is for sale funct. The French magicians rejoice in by A. Roterberg, 176 Ontario Street, Chicago, 111.; Martinka"& Co., 493 Sixth Ave., New their "LTllusioniste," which has done York City; W. D. Leroy, 103 Court Street, very well so far. In America we have Boston, Mass.; New York Magical Compaii}', 1621 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; the "Sphinx," which has at certain times-

MONTHLY

THE COXJURHRS' MONTHLY MAGAZlXF.

gone out of its way "a wee bit." In Brooklyn we have the first American magician's paper, "The Mahatma." There is nothing to be said against the latter paper that I know of, unless being, somewhat tardy in appearance is a fault, hut as the Editor assures me that this defect will be remedied, we will let it go at that. The first authentic record of a magician's newspaper or magazine in the English language (we'think) is the Conjurers' Magazine, from which we have taken our name. It was published 1781 in London, England, edited by the eccentric bookseller Henry Lemoine, who went about hawking his paper on the streets. Wilson, in his Wonderful Characters, claims that Lemoine sold over TO,OOO the first month, which at that time was a stupendous undertaking. After his Conjurers' Magazine Lemcine started the "Museum and Magical Magazine" in 1803, .also "The Wonderful Magazine" in 1805. He was known as one of the best judges of the old books, and was a professor of the Hebrew and French languages. I honestly believe that he is the man who placed the small magic books on the market about that time, and of which we have quite a few. Lemoine died in St. Bartholemew's Hospital, April 30th, 1812, aged 56 years. Comn'te,"" the French conjuror, edited his "Cagliostro." Later we have "The Wizard," 1842, and Robin, Houdin and Ernest Basch had their monthly magazines, which they all named "L'Almanach Cagliostro." Anderson, the Wizard of the North, had several newspapers. He carried a printing press, and on his tour around the world printed "The World of Magic" and "The Psychomantic Reporter." Anderson claimed a bona fide circulation of 100,000 weekly for the latter paper, and 25,000 for the for-

mer. Fie must have given them away gratis. He also had conundrum contests. Flis printer would have all the riddles printed on sheets of paper ready for sale before the Wizard's performance was over. We have a copy of each and every paper mentioned in the above list, with the exception of Robert Houdin's. We can only find trace of this in his Memoirs. "We .trust that the Conjurers' Magazine will make a strong bid for existence, and while it is in this world (and we hope it will be permanently) it will be as interesting as we can possibly make it, playing no favorites, and for ever and alwavs promoting the interests of Magic. Should our judgment err, we kindly beg of you to send in corrections and credit will be given to all to whom it is due. ]'lease do not expect that all the mysteries in the wide world will be fully explained in the first issue, that is impossible. But from time to time there will be published as much matter as we have space for, and it will be our effort to give the reader more for his money than he has ever received before in the way of a Conjurers' Magazine. Our motto shall be "Impartial, Fearless and Truthful." Trusting to obtain the support of those interested in conjuring we will draw this to a close, remaining yours t > command, Conjurers' Monthly Magazine. "A man that will listen to rumors, without going to the fountain head for \erification is a paltroon, a cur and fool." --Greek Proverb.

THE CONJLKBRS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

UNKNOWN FACTS Concerning

ROBERT HOUDIN Material collected personally by Harry Houdiiii (Published for the first time)

Robert Houdin, born December 6th, 1805, at Blois, France, died June 13th, 1871, in St. Gervais near Blois, France. No doubt all this material regarding Robert Houdin, will cause a great deal of controversy, but let it be known that at one time, years ago, on first reading his "Memoirs," I firmly believed everything in them, even as if I had been an actual witness of each deed and action. 1 read and reread the book until each and every line was memorized, and when I knew the book so well that it had nothing new for me. being such a great admirer of him, I resolved that should Fate ever grant me the means of looking up his life 1 would do so, in order to find material that he had not published. It was through this that I found out that he had been romancing in his entire book, and I honestly and firmly believe that I owe it as. a duty to the world to give the correct facts so far as I am able. No human being is infallible, and I have been especially careful in all my dates, and should I be mistaken in any of my statements I assure the reader that I will be more than pleased to correct any inaccuracy. Regarding Houdin's ability, I have spoken to quite a number of men who were in a position to understand Magic, and saw Houdin perform quite a number of times in Paris and England. Henry Evanion witnessed every performance of Houdin during his entire first engagement ; in London, Sir William Clayton knew Houdin personally; Ernest Bach saw Houdin exhibit in Berlin ; T. Bolin,

one of the finest mechanics I ever knew, and whom 1 have had the pleasure of meeting (during my engagement in Moscow, Russia) and who bought all the tricks in Paris, saw Houdin at his own Theatre: Otto Maurer. who for manv years had a well known Magical Repository on the Bowery, New York; the combined opinion of these men was that Houdin was not original, and that he was only a little above the average entertainer.

In my search for material I have been assisted by strangers, who have always helped me as much as possible, but I regret to say that I was most discourteously treated by Madame W. Emile Robert Houdin, who is the widow of Emile Houdin, son of Robert, and the son with whom he did the Second Sight trick. Madame Emile Robert-Houdin resides, or rather did reside, in January 1902, near Paris, 5 Chausse du Pont a Bolougne sur Seine.

THK CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

I arrived in Paris December, 1901, to fulfill my contract at the Folies Bergere, and on reporting to the Agent, Mons. Galenzie, he informed me that my contract was null and void and Mons. Marchang the manager and proprietor of the Folies Berg-ere was that day taken to the Insane Asylum, upon which Madame Marchang sold the Folies Bergere to two magicians "The Isolas Freres." That is, they used to run Mystery Shows and Illusions in a small Theatre in Rue De Capucins. This allowed me plenty of leisure until I could make proper arrangements with the Isolas for a new contract, and in the meantime I thought it a good idea to look up material for my "Facts Regarding Robert Houdin." I met several people interested in Magic, and from what I discovered at that time, he was better known in English speaking countries than in his native land. Why, I met dozens of real Parisians who did not know that he was dead. They told me that Robert Houdin was running a small Theatre on the Boulevard des Italiens, which at that time was on the Style of a Fair Ground show. They gave performances with moving pictures every time they had a crowd. On Saturdays, at Theatre Robert Houdin they give Magical entertainments, and I saw Mons. Melies, who was very interesting to me, and he managed to make quite a hit with the Harlequin the afternoon T was there. A friend of mine came to me one day all out of breath and informed me that a man named Robert Houdin had opened a small theatre and was doing Handcuff tricks; and this man was a big star in the Music Hall World. In 1901-1902 Houdin was apparently forgotten, and you can well imagine my

astonishment when a French magician who was very kind and friendly to me, told me that Houdin's sister was still alive, and that she had visited a performance that he had given in Blots. My friend's name is J. Ferraris and t>ii his card he announces the fact. "Agree an Theatre Robert-Houdin,' which I think means that he has been employed there in his capacity of magical entertainer. He was mistaken, however, as the old lady he saw in Blois was not Houdin's sister, but the second Mrs. R. Houdin, and she departed this life [anuary 2nd. KJOI, at the advanced age of 85 years. I"]) to this time I had never heard of or seen in print any announcement of her death, which I think raHier an interesting item in the world of magic. T simply quote this to show that the Family Houdin was not spoken .of very much. But it seems that since th" French Society of Magicians sprang into life, Chambre Syndicate de la Prestidigitation, great credit ought to be given to various members for having a Centennial on Houdin's Birthday, December 5th. T0.05, which affair was mentioned in some of the American papers. It afforded me great pleasure to think that the event was so well received. But T wander, and will return to my experience with Madame W. Emtle Houdin. Mons. Ferraris acted as my guide. Having informed him that I wished to see Madame Houdin, he advised me to write a letter and ask for an interview. This I did. and, will translate for the benefit of my English readers: "Olympia Theatre, For Madame W. E. Robert-Houdin, My Dear Madam Robert-Houdin : With all the respect due you in the world, and as a great admirer of the justly celebrated and famous conjurer,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Robert Houclin, I, as a representative of American Magicians do hereby kindly ask your consent to permit me as a representative of "American Magicians" to place a wreath on the tomb of Robert Houdin, also to grant me a few moments, so that I may have the pleasure of thanking you in person for your extreme kindness. Thanking you in advance for your awaited for letter, I do hereby sign myself your most obedient servant, HARRY HOUDINI."

The above letter was delivered by messenger, with instructions to hand it to no one but Mrs. E. R. Houdin. She did not answer, and refused to send word by messenger, but on being pressed out of politeness to answer my letter, she replied to Mons. Ferraris that she did not care to see any one. Personally, I think she should have shown a little common courtesy to the memory of Eobert Houdin, especially as she is now living in her old age on the proceeds of his endeavors, as she received 35.000 francs several years ago for the Theatre R. Houdin, which passed into her hands on the death of her husband, Emile Houdin. This amount is supposed to cover all the automatons that R. Houdin claims to have invented and otherwise. But this rebuff did not discourage me, and one bright morning I took the train, and after a four hour journey in a stuffy train, arrived in Blois. With my smattering of French I managed to get along very well, and was soon looking after material re my erstwhile hero. I discovered that R. Houdin had a daughter, that is, a step-daughter of his second wife (which he never mentioned in his book for reasons best known to himself), alive and married to Mons. H. Lemaitre—"Reveveur Municipal de la Ville de Blois," and who has hyphenated

his name so as to keep the name of Robert Houdin in existence. The card in my possession is inscribed "H. LemaitreRobert-JIoudin." I called on Mons. Lemaitre and was treated very cordially. He informed me that Madame was not to be seen, as she was busy with some sculptor work, that being her hobby, but that he would be pleased to give me all the assistance in his power. What a great difference to the reception, or attempted reception, of Madame Emile Houdin. I was soon placed at my ease, was shown a great many precious relics that were marked Robert Houdin, and several large "Grandfather Clocks" made by Robert Houdin, and which were about the finest looking clocks of that pattern that I have ever seen, but/ although at that time I thoroughly believed that he had made them, I would not row be at all surprised if R. Houdin had bought them and had his name engraved on the various articles. To me he is in the position of the old and much quoted story about the shep- • herd crying "wolf" to enjoy the sport of having the villagers run to his assistance, so that when eventually a wolf appeared on the scene and carried away some of the flock, the villagers paid no attention whatsoever to the shepherd's cry of "Help, wolf," etc. I passed a very pleasant afternoon with Mons. Lemaitre and, he informed me that if Madame Emile Houdin refused to grant me permission to lay a wreath on Houdin's grave, or to photograph it, he could not grant me permission, but there was no law that would hold me responsible, nor could I be held by the law if I did this without permission, and slyly hinted that I should go ahead. I therefore went to the quiet cemetery and for fully half an hour 1 stood with mv hat in mv hat at

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

the tomb of Robert Houdin. and with all the reverence and homage with which I respect his memory. For even at this date I admire him, hut think that it is only just and right that the real facts should be known. 1 went to the largest florist in Blois and purchased a huge wreath with the inscription "Honor and "Respect to Robert Houdin from the Magicians of America." As the wreath was made of glass beads, that being the custom in France, it is probably on his grave to this very day. (I took several photographs of the tomb, and herewith publish the best two taken.)

Bas Relief on Robert Houdin's Tomb Stone. \<M*

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many portraits which I hereby publish, also adding one which I think was the best taken of him. This was the frontispiece of a book. "Les Figures Du Temps." published in Paris by Bourdillat et Ci<\. 1861. The book is out of print, and the one in my possession was given to me by Mons. Caroly. who is the editor of LTllusionist. j very interesting French magical paper published monthly. ( To he Continued)

American Magician Balked Robert Houdin's Grave.

One incident I would like to relate. I was shown a large portrait of Robert Houdin. upon which he had written a pun about "it not being right to give anybody away, lie must confess he has given-himself away.'" The pun is untranslatable. T offered i.ooo francs for the photograph, but the offer was refused. Since that time I have gathered

Arthur E. Kramer the clever Boston amateur conjurer has been taking a trip through Europe with his mother Mrs. E. G. Kramer and, it appears that he tried to give a performance in the Grand Harem of the Sultan of Turkey but was not allowed, as lie boasted that he would cause one of the favorites of the Sultan to vanish from the Palace. The Sultan hearing of this would not allow Arthur to appear at the Harem to the great satisfaction of Mrs. Kramer.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

On Board the Kronprinz Wilhelm August 2, 1906 Well, at last I have managed to find mv "sea-legs" and am able to write a few lines. On board are several card5harps, one of them has been getting very friendly to me, thinking I am an Ezy-mark, and shall soon enlighten him if he wishes it. Spends his money very freely, and his pal is doing likewise to several merchants aboard. Game has been proposed, and they will play after lunch. Shall watch the game and see how good their methods are. An old fellow on board is the life of the passengers, who is always starting to do some magic trick, and winding tip by saying, "Well, I declare, if I haven't forgotten how to do the trick." Some one put salt in his beer, but he drinks it with a grin and a wink, as if he never tasted better. Nothing doing, so shall close for the day. August 5th, '06. Well, the sharpers have commenced to play cards, and several of the passengers are losers. Saw nothing but very raw amateur work, and as I am "butting in" all the time, they have tried to bar me from the card room. So I said, "If

you do, I'll tell them how you cheat." Up jumped Mr. Sharper and tried to reach my head with a small-sized fist, his fist struck the air, and when they picked him up, it took almost 15 minutes to bring him back to his senses. I told the Captain that T was not looking for trouble, and nothing was done. I left steamer at my destination and reached London in good time. I hear that they played in their staterooms after that. London, England, August 13th, 1906. Some news that may be only "hot air." De Biere, whom I spoke to in Leeds, had just received a letter from some solicitor asking him "if he was prepared to take the Cannon trick out of his performance, as the effect is patented by Goldin. I also heard that this Goldin, whose first name is Horace, has patented the Handcuff act, but while I believe a great many things, this last rumor is too preposterous. Shall let you know, however. De Biere, by the way, is working with a Miss Cleveland, who, they tell me, is a daughter of (Bonnie Godwin, a very clever coon song singer). I was told that Mrs. Dc Biere went to America on a visit to her parents. Handcuff kings are as numerous as ever, but work not enough for them all. Most of them pleased to get anything at all. None of them have "stunts" of their own, and they are using your old material, until they have done it to death. One of them called "Jack the Ripper," informed me, that he was booked in Australia, but I think he is "swanking." I met a performer named Tambo, who has just returned from Australia, who informed me that some one is in that country is using your name, and has a copy of your litho. I'll bet that will hurt your feelings. CNot a bit of it.—Editor.)

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Oswald Williams of Cardiff is now in the fact of allowing 250,000 volts of the market as professional illusionist, electricity pass through the body. This and he claims that he will perform "nine feat is causing a great deal of talk. illusions in a minute and a half." On the bill of the Palace Grimsby I Among his advertised features he has: note a man billed as "Godfrey the man The Great Water Mystery, The Wiz- of mystery." It can't be possible that ard's Hat, the largest Hat trick in the Godfrey is the American that once per"World, The Congress of Nations. Shall formed the "Cell and Handcuff" act see his act at the first opportunity and about twelve years ago at the Old will report. Week of August ioth I Worth's Museum ? Must find out, as I note on the bill of the Yarmouth Pavilion know him very well. The last I heard the name of Oswald Williams in an in- of Godfrey was of him having lost his teresting shadow-graphic entertainment? voice and selling out his entire outfit. I can't understand it. On same bill is O. K. Sato is fooling them at the featured "Mysterious Lilith," which was Edinboro Empire. This is the fellow once exploited by the recently deceased that invented the disappearing cigar box Fred Harcourt. trick in 1885, and it is still new when Moritt, who years ago made a fortune you sec him do it. He is a very clever with his "Man in a Trance," is now sleight of hand man, but now does a lessee of the Pavilion Scarborough. I comic juggling turn. note on his bill, The Blind man who has Carl Hertz has returned from Ameria wonderful memory (I have seen him ca, and will add a new Mystery to his work and he is good), Magna, the magalready plentiful performance. He has netic Lady, and an act named "The Spirnamed it "The Bridal Chamber." I hear it Circle." Datas, the man with a large memory, that he produced it in America. is obtaining a great deal of circus adH. H. Feiber is in London as usual vertising out of the fact that he claims to have sold his head for thousands of looking for novelties. If you please him pounds. He is the man that was on the you "must" be good. New York Roof Garden several years Hermann Melot is at the Palace ago. He managed to do pretty well. On Blackburn. Lie is the best shouter at an same bill are Kahn and Kahn in Necromancy, also Dunning, the Ventriloquist. audience that ever lived. When he is going through his finishing trick, "Flags Alburtus and Bartram, the old time "Wizards of the Clubs," are now play- of All Nations," he marches, he gesing their last dates together, for four tures, he sings, and works the audience years they have been doing this, but alas to such a pitch that lie receives the largand alack it is true now. est amount of applause of any magician Claude Bartram is going to settle in I have ever seen. Another instance of London, where he is the English repre- "It's not what you do—but the way you sentative of the German "Das Prodo it." I start into work soon on the gramme," and Samuel Alburtus will be Moss and Stoll Tour. Will then be in a known as "Altus," the comic Juggler. "The Marconis" are a decided hit at better position of sending news. the Palace Manchester. They advertise

THEO. HARDEEN.

12

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Notesfrom Our

P

The Editor wishes to inform his readers that Herr Osey has been engaged to write for the Conjurers' Magazine as the gentleman of his own free will joined our staff. He did not like the way his material was published several months after he had written it, which is the only reason that he has resigned from the Mahatma. He is under contract to write a certain amount of news every month otherwise he will incur a fine, and if we are late in appearing we must pay him the fine. He will positively write exclusively for this magazine. Well, once again I pick up my unused Magic pen, and try to send you the news of the "Taschenspieler." as sleight of hand artists are known over here. The word "Taschenspieler" is the name given to the magicians years and years ago. because they carried all their apparatus in their pockets. In those days they made a specialty of the cups and balls, and went about mountebanking, and were known as "er spielt von die Taschen" from which they were named "Taschenspieler." "He plays from his pockets" or "Pocketplayer." I wonder why the present day magicians do not add the cups and balls to their entertainments when they perform in close circles. Nothing can be half as effective, and the beauty of this accomplishment is that you can do it at any

time or place, and it is always ready. Just as easy to carry as a pack of cards, and the mystifying results are ahead of anything in the whole art of magic that can be produced with such little practice or fear of detection. Nelson Downs informs me that very few magicians use this old form of mystery, and as I happen to have some very clever moves some day I shall make a few chapters of them and hand them one by one to every magician that I may meet. Can you imagine the surprise of finding a hot weinerwurst or a steaming hot red beet where apparently a few seconds ago you placed a small cork ball. But to other affairs more important at the present time. Magicians are scarce in this part of the world, this being the summer season. "We have plenty of native talent, but some how or other, they live up to the proverb "A man is no prophet in his own land."

Imro Fox, the Komedy Konjurer, is at the Karlsbad Orpheum, where the favorite Vienna Comedian, Herr Modle, has been manager for a number of years. Fox always goes to the various baths in the good old summer time, and soon he will be in Aachen where he is a welcome guest, but he plays at the Berlin Wintergarten before Aachen.

Miss or Mrs. Eugenie YVermke, the strongest woman in the world, has >trengtbened her act by engaging a giant servant whom she calls "Herold." I I wonder what she calls him when he neglects his work.) This giant makes a poor excuse at a few magic tricks. He "does" them while the "Strongest Woman in the World"' is resting, after each test.

THI-; CON'.M'KRRS' MONTHLY MACAZIXK

A real novelty act is being introduced in Antwerpen by Circus WuliT. They are having a daily wrestling match between man and elephant. Captain Rudolphi is the '"man" and Boliver is the elephant. They manage to work up so much interest that the circus is staying seven days longer than originally advertised, and poor old Carlitti has not dared to open with his "Great Mystery Company." This company, by the way, consists of old man Carlitti and one acrobat, and between themselves they give the whole performance. Circus Corty Althoff is touring Holand. Among his "unterer anderern" (among others) he has a Handkuff Kingnamed Kleppini, who now has so many medals on the front of his coat and vest that he will soon have to pin them on the seat of his trousers, as his coat is of the stvle known as the "Sevmour. ' 1

Yank Hoe, who at one time was sc well known in America, is now bus\ looking for a job. Alas, he is creeping to the "has been magicians" and is not in demand as he was in days of yore. ( ircus Rancy, now in Amiens, is featuring "Aga" under the name of "Le Miiacle de Mahomet." As Aga has never been seen in that part of the world it is making more than good. Francis Rothig the legerdemain performer, is filling a month's engagement at the Appollo Theatre, Berlin. The Brothers Kulpcrti, who do a burlesque magic and illusion act, are exposing the best tricks of the modern magicians at the Wriedt's Establishment, Kiel. Their finishing trick they do not expose, and it certainly looks great. One

of them is made up as a long hair Poet, and the comedian looks like Adolphi the circus clown. The Magician holds a large sheet in front of himself, waves it two or three times, and at a pistol shot the sheet drops, the professor has vanished. Tt is as clever as it is simple. When the Professor goes behind the curtain, he covers himself with a sheet, while the sheet is hiding him, from the back of the stage through the back drop tun artificial hands are pushed, and these the Professor places so as to give the idea that the false hands are his natural oil' s. He waves the sheet once or twice, and then under the protection of the sh( ct, makes his exit through the centre door, and runs in front. When his assistant shoots the pistol the hamli arop with the sheet t<> the floor, and the two sticks on which the hands are fastened drop wiih a bang, the "audience are so surpr.sed at the disappearance that they m ver notice the articles on stage. They an. now working on a new idea so that the sticks will flap against the back drop, and this will improve the deception. Chev. Thorn, who is,a brother of Darwin, is in Munich billed very big and ought to do very well. I hear that he holds contracts for America. Herr Max Berol Belmont Konarah. magician, traveler, author linguist, mathematician, president of the German Artisten Loge. etc., etc., is booked to appear in America opening with some Ornheum Show. The manager was in England, saw Berol's act and booked the feat. It is the "Mene Tenkle" trick, where the blackboard is suspended in the air, and a ball writes any and all things that the Herr Introducer wishes. I hear that Karl Hertz had an imitation in England, but it was not the real one. This blackboard trick is the invention of a Berlin

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mechanic. From what I can learn Carl Edward Pollak and Berol are interested in this latest trick. It is patented in all countries, so I've been told, and it must be pretty good when an astute man like Max Berol will accept a contract for an American company with the clause in it that "should an imitation act on the same style appear, the Orpheum contract is to be null and void." The act is drawing a very good salary. By some accident I was let into the secret of the trick, and was honor bound not to reveal the secret unless it was granted me, and as I have no wish to spoil their engagement I will explain the act, as I saw it, from the front, and the reader can use his own ideas. That writer in England, I think his name is Whitely, does not want to be so certain when he tries to get smart and says that it is an old trick, etc. He may be a writer, but he does not use judgment, or else he would not make such a bad mistake, particularly as he had not even seen the act at the time of his writing. As we say over here, "Be sure you are certain, and then make certain you are sure." A description of the act will not be out of place. Curtain rises, a large blackboard about 10 feet by 6, and about 6 inches deep is seen hanging on two ropes that are spliced ; the board is covered with heavy sheets of paper, which are fastened at the bottom, so after each question, is answered by the blackboard they are torn off, leaving the next sheet of paper exposed ; the blackboard proper is never seen. A long mat is spread under the blackboard, and no one ever walks in front. When ever anything- is required they walk in back and behind the board. It hangs about 15 feet from the footlights, and is a good distance from the back. Madame Konorah starts to introduce the board, but informs you, with a

German smirk, that she is not capable enough to run the whole affair, and Mons. will conclude. (Mons. is Max Berol). The back of board is shown half way; it is started swinging from side to side to prove that there are no connections from the back, and it swings true all the time, which shows that the board is of some heavy metal. He shows a small pan in which there are three or four small balls of some black nature. The first move is to place the ball on the board with a spoon or holder made for the purpose and in a sort of a dizzy scrawl it traces the words "Mene Tenkle." The ball is placed on the board and seems to adhere of its own accord. Mons. now steps into the audience and has three names written on paper which he carries with him, after the names are written, he makes use of his old second sight method of conveying the words to Madame Konorah, and soon the selected words are scrawled on the paper. The night I saw the performance three names were selected, the first one, Petersburgh, second Rose, and third Carmen. On the downward stroke on the letter "C" the ball fell off the blackboard which was not picked up, but was replaced by Madame with another from the pan. She explained that there was not enough ink on the ball that fell off. Mons. now returns to the stage, and informs the audience that the board will have something to say of its own accord, and on the ball being placed in position it writes "Good Bye." It has a weak finish but perhaps by the time it gets to America it will be improved upon. An act has been recently patented which seems to me to be on the same style as that of wStaley and Birbcck, the Americans who played Germany several years ago. E. V. Moran, of the team Moran

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and Mareece, will produce a mysterious scene, in which they appear in an elegant parlour with everything apparently real and solid, when at a given signal, in less time than it takes to tell, the parlour scene changes into a most gorgeous garden, with flower beds all over the stage, and in the centre of the garden a very handsome rock grotto, which a few seconds before was a book case, and is spouting water from six large openings. And over a glass wall, water falls illuminated by thousands of electric lights. The lady manageress, Fran Matilda Wolf, who has booked every magician and mystery that has played Germany has been insulted, and offers a reward of 500 Marks (,$125.00) to any one who will bring her evidence as to the person who started certain rumors about her. Should any of our readers know, kindly address her at Colosseum Essen Ruhr. She is the lady who wanted Downs to use German coins instead of American half dollars, as she claimed he must use them being in Germany. Downs always being gallant obliged the lady, but did not obtain a return contract. Okito, the Hollander, son of the original Bamberg, is back in the show business with his Chinese act. He is a -very good card manipulator, but it does not look Chinee-like for a Chink to handle cards. Poor Richardo Bellani, is in durance vile because one of his tricks went wrong in Milan. He being a change artist and magician advertised that he would perform a trick which had never been seen before. He drew a packed house ; the trick was to change his evening dress in full view of the audience into that of Mephisto, and back again as often as he desired. This he accomplished by hav-

ing strings leading from his person to his assistants who were under the stage. But alas and alack, something went wrong at the very first change. He was to have appeared in his devil's suit. The man below pulled too much or too strong, and the entire clothing (all made to pull in half) fell on the stage, and poor Bellani stood there in his Adam's suit, with only half an undershirt on. There was a yell of delight in that audience; women fainted, men howled, and the Gendarmes fought their way to the now transfixed Artist, who stood as if bereft of his reason and they carried him, covered with newspapers, through the streets to the prison. Instead of looking like the devil he looked like H—1. Letter dated Leipzig, August 25, '06. Chevalier Ernest Thorn is here at the Krystal Palast, and has made quite a hit, so much so that he holds three return dates at an increased salary. I met him at the Stam-guest table at the Battenberg Theatre. His years have told lightly on him. He is busy getting together a new Illusion. In it he makes his appearance with a hand grip. Thorn will remove nothing- but clothes which he will fill with straw. Without any warning this figure will assume life and be his assistant through the performance. Bernardi the lightning change artist, will possibly be brought to America for the Schuberts by the Agent Marinelli. Bernardi gives a whole Music Hall performance, on the style of Fregoli. He is a clever magician, and in his performance he opens the show as a Soubrette, sings a song, walks off the stage, returns as a Crayon Artist, bows off, then makes his appearance as a Musical Clown and goes through an entire musical act. Off he pops, returns as a Serpentine Dancer with

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~"*3

lin. He showed me a number of presents that he had received from various crown.d heads, and an old picture in which he was photographed in the act of cutting off a little boy's head. This boy. he informed me. became known to Sacco, the Starvation Artist, is draw- the world as D'Alvini. I spent quite an ing large crowds in Mannheim. He is entertaining- afternoon with him and his the man who agrees to starve fifty days family, and the next week he appeared and nights or forfeit his salary. I wonder with Herman Michaleas (known as the it he starves when he is out of an en- Berlin Hermann) in Circus l'usch, as gagement, for, his engagements are few the Great Herman Handcuff King. Rossand far between. Perhaps there he dis- ner, having a great gift of speech, did all the "speeching," while old man Hercovered his talent ? man exhibited all the "Unhandcufrrng." I never could understand why he should • Renk, a Herman Magician, is in Rustreat me so kindly, when all the time he sia, this being his eighth engagement up knew he was going to "Copy" my act, there. < hi his lithos he has the following and at this late day I can see what a verv "Renk American Illusionist—The World diplomatic man he must have been. He Record." What can this mean" traveled about for years giving the whole show, sometimes engaging small Ah ha, what is this ? Yes it is he. acts to assist, and for several seasons he Alex Weyer, the Luxembourg magician was booked to do "Expose of Spiritualis gradually working his way among the istic Rope Ties" and the "Bandage test" top notcher. He is advertising the fact with which Cazeneune made such a hit, that he has a rooster that will lay twelve and Anna Eva Fay created so much coneggs and will again "take them back." troversy. Rossner's last engagement Did you ever? He must have obtained was a three months run at the Berlin this idea from the moving pictures, for Passage Panopticon, where he remained that is where 1 saw the feat apparently during- October, November and Decemperformed. Weyer is at the Flora ber. 1905. This Passage Panopticon is Theatre Altona—Hamburg. now run by the Rosenfeldt Bros., who managed some of the big productions in New York. DEATH'S ROLL CALL Poor Rossner, he received a hard blow Max Rossner, who has been before some time ago by losing' all his money the European public over 35 years, has owing to the failure of the banking firm b e n called to the great beyond. With in Leipzig of Friedlander and Sommerhim expired the last of the Berlin "one field. He had been confined in his room man show" conjurers. He was born by sickness over seven months and died about 1850, and while not a great sleight after enduring much suffering. He of hand performer, was a well-built man leaves a widow and two sons. He was weighing over 225 pounds, and had a buried Wednesday, August 1st, in the very fine stage appearance. I met him old Jacob Church in Rixdorf, near Berin 1900, and accepted an invitation to lin. Peace be to his ashes. dine at his home, 13 Hasenhaide, in Ber-

all the light effects, then he is m turn a comic singer, juggler, burlesque strong man, and finishes up his performance with "Aga," "Dida" and a very tine prnduct inn of Black Art.

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READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

17

PRESS

WISE, OTHERWISE BY Harry Handcuff Hoi id mi

Old and New Magic "Tlie (Mel and New AFagic." bv Henry Ridgely Evans, with an introducti on by Dr. Paul Cams. Published by The Open Court Publisher Company, Cliica.go. 111. A book that is well gotten up, as far as printer's ink and paper are concerned, but it is full of bad mistakes, misstatements and a great deal of worthless material, especially the "padding." To start in, Evans does not tell you that the photo of Houdin, that he makes use of as frontispiece, is the one that Houdin made use of in his original edition of "Memoires et Revelations," published in Paris by A. Delahays, 1868. Evans is one hundred years behind the time in explaining where the words ''Hocus Pocus" come from. He claims that Conjurers were known in the Seventeenth Century as "Hocus Pocus." He also mentions that the.words first appear in a pamphlet printed in 1641, in which the author, speaking of the sights at Bartholomew Fair, mentions "Hocus Pocus"—showing his art of legerdemain. •Why, I have a book of "Hocus Pocus" of the second edition, printed in 1635, called "Hocus Pocus." The words were first made use of about 1529, in

Englar.d. v. len the first English Bibles were introduced, and gave the Protestants new zeal, and was the cause of great and deadly conflicts, in which the Catholics took part. The most sacred words of the old worship, the words of consecration "Hoc est corpus" were travestied into the nickname for jugglery and legerdemain, as "Hocus Pocus." It was by this attack on the mass, even more than by other outrages, that the temper, both of Henry and the nation, were stirred to deep resentment. Any one wishing more information can consult John (ircen's "English People." In speaking of Chev. Pinetti, Evans simply repeats what Robert Houdin in his Memoirs relates, and Evans does not even give Houdin credit for several stories that he makes use of. Houdin claims that Pinetti died in poverty and want. This has been copied by all writers and Evans also falls into this error. Pinetti did not die in want. He was well off at his death, and in one of the coming numbers of the Conjurers' Magazine will shed some light on the life of the Greatest Magician that lived, "Chev. Willadel Pinetti," of whom, I think, the only authentic portrait will be found in my collection. Evans lias made rambling statements regarding Robert Houdin, but inasmuch as I correct them all in my Robert Houdin article, will not recapitulate them in

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this column. Referring to Bosco's death, it was in 1863, as will be seen on the Tomb Stone, but then that mistake may be a printer's error. Evans states that Anderson wanted to become a magician after he had seen Sig. P)litz, the elder, perform. That is not so. Anderson was an actor, so he said, but lie never drew as an actor. In fact, all the money he ever made he lost trying "to act out." Anderson was a pupil of Bologna, Sr., who traveled for years with his own show. As all these facts will appear in Anderson's life, shall not dwell too long on him in this space. Relating things of Frikcll, Evans is only right in a very few things. He is wrong in the birthplace. Several days before Frikcll died, I asked him to have a photo taken for my then forthcoming bonk. Strange as this may seem, I hold the only picture taken of him since 1849. Frikell had a photo taken by Sarony, New York, in that year. On inquiry there, I found, to my sorrow, that the negative had been destroyed a few months ago. In my Frikell article shall publish all facts about this clever little man. There is no use in devoting much more space in calling attention to the errors in his book. He gives a nice description of the undersigned, and then goes on to give an alleged expose of the handcuff act, as explained in the London Strand some time ago. It was exposed by a plumber of Bradford, England, and to show how unreliable the expose is, shall reprint a newspaper item of my meeting this gentleman. The entire exposure seems to have handcuffs locked on you, all of the same kind, one key to unlock them all. I wish it really were so simple, then I should not

have to do so much worrying. Halifax Evening Courier. November 18, '03. Extraordinary Scene at the Palace. At the first performance last night at the People's Palace, a scene occurred in Houdini's act which was of such a peculiar nature that it reminded one of a three-act drama, especially the termination. Among the committee who came on the stage in answer to Houdini's invitation was a young man about 22 years of age. He excited suspicion by the manner in which he asked questions of the committee. When the braid trick was about to be shown, this young man at Houdini's invitation asked to tie both hands. He bothered about fully six minutes, made speeches to the audience until Houdini remarked that he might be a "so-called imitation Handcuff King." The young man stepped forward to the footlights and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am no handcuff King. I know nothing at all about handcuffs. I am a hardworking lad, and simply came up to tie Houdini at his invitation." This speech won for him the audience, and Houdini was tied. Houdini entered his cabinet, * * * he released himself. When again the young man addressed the audience, and wanted to retie Houdini. Upon this Houdini stepped to the footlights, and said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I can't understand what this young man wants, and I would like to know if any one in the house knows who he is." No one knew the young man, and it looked bad, as it appeared as if he were a confederate of Houdini. All of a sudden a gentleman stepped from the wings and said: "I know him. He is a Pollard (a plumber), the handcuff man from Bradford, and the man that wrote

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that handcuff exposure in the Strand Magazine." Houdini stood there in dumb astonishment, and addressing the audience said: " * * * This is Pollard of Bradford. A few moments ago he led you to believe he knew nothing about cuffs, and this gentleman recognizes him as Pollard, the plumber that wrote the article for the 'Strand.' Now to show you how little he really understands of Handcuffs, I pledge you my word of honor to pay £500 ($2,500) to the poor of Halifax if he will allow me to handcuff him, and he releases himself." Then turning to the wings, Houdini asked: "Mr. McNaughton (manager and proprietor of McNaughton Circuit in Great Britain), will you stand good for me'?" Upon this Mr. Frank McXaughton made his appearance and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I will pay anv amount that Houdini sees fit to forfeit." This elicited loud cheers from the audience, cries of "Bravo," "Hear, Hear." Pollard objected, saying that they were foreign cuffs, and he could only get out of English regulation cuffs. Houdini asked for a pair of English regulation cuffs, directing Mr. McMcNaughton to pay Pollard £100 ($500) if he released himself from them. However, the "Exposer" of the handcuff trick, as published in the "Strand" (which Evans reproduces) refused. Amid the jeering of the audience, he then left, and as Houdini had held the •stage over the hour, the audience was dismissed. Mr. Evans informed me of his book having a reproduction of the "Strand" Magazine, I made special effort to let him have a copy of the above newspaper, and asked "him in justice to myself to publish same. But it failed to appear.

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Mr. G., an editor of a Catalogue which is published by a London firm under the guise of a magic newspaper, goes into ecstacies over the book; but in this he only displays his gross ignorance, as he praises the biggest mistakes in the entire matter. He states that the historical matter is new to the Americans. In making this statement he wishes to impress the reader with the fact that he is one of those "I-knew-it-all-the-time" fellows. Pie informs the gentle reader that this is "Mr. Evans' most ambitious attempt." Let us hope that Mr. Evans will make a more successful "ambitious attempt" in the future. A man in his position should go deeper into facts than he has in his late book. This same Editor G. does not give credit to Dr. Ellison for the prints reproduced, but then what can you expect from a clerk whose knowledge of Magic is such that, as a professional, be is rated a rank failure. ( To he CDiihnueil)

SPECIAL NOTE.—When

MAX ROSSNER Article on page 16

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THK CONJURBKS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Our Mail Bag L'nd.r this column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one that you wish. Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for Our correspondents' opinions.

DAY'S AGENCY Arundle Street, Strand, London

July 5, 1906 My dear Houdini, If you remember this is the act that you took the trouble to write me about specially, and also gave a letter of introduction to me. At the time they called in the office 1 was verv busy with two or three proprietors, hut a> they had a letter from you, I immediately saw them, asking the gentlemen with whom I was engaged to excuse me. As you told me they did a fml-class act I did not think anything further from them was necessary as I kni.w \ou would not recommend anything to me that you did not think would make a big hit. I asked these people if they would be prepared to give a private show in the Beard Room to one of the large mauag:men'iS in the west end of London such as the Empire, Palace, or the Alhambra. They said they would only be too pleased and asked me to arrange same for them. After a lot of trouble and spending all the afternoon getting hold of the different Directors of the Empire, I succeeded in arranging for the Zancigs to give a private show to the Directors of the Empire the following morning. This I might tell you caused me a lot of work and great waste of time. I left word at the hotel where these artistes were staying for them to ring me up on the tele-

phone, and also It ft a note for them that [ had arranged a private show for them the next morning before the Board of the'Empire Theatre, Leicester Square. Mr. Zancig took no notice of my communication and I telephoned to the hotel 4 or 5 times in the afternoon, but got no response. 1 called round at the hotel the next morning at ten o'clock and was informed bv the head porter i after he had made investigations) that they had gone out for a drive about ten o'clock in the morning. [ naturally thought they would turn up at the Empire at eleven o'clock, but this thev failed to do. I waited till twelve o'clock. I saw Mr. Dixon (one of the head Directors), who I might tell you was very much annoyed at being made a fool of as he had put off another engagement at my express recommendation after explaining to him that it would be worth his while not to miss it. Having been treated in what E call a most ungentlemanly and discourteous way bv Mr. Zancig, I called again at his hotel in the afternoon for his explanation. His explanation was to the effect that after careful consideration he did not think it was worth his while to give a private show to the Board of Directors at the Empire and if they wanted to see his act and what he did, they could go to his hotel and see it in the dining room. Of course a suggestion like this to anyone that has any idea of the way that

TUB CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINH

music halls and places of entertainment arc carried on in England would conclude it came from a madman! I might tell you that T left them in utter disgust, and my sincere wish is that I never have to meet people like this again ? Kindest regards, Y
Boston, April IT. 1906.' HouniNi, Sir: You are advertised as if you intended to expose some evil in astrology, clairvoyance, medinmship. etc. You may be clever in your tricks, but silly to meddle with forces you know little or nothing about. Your education does not make you as wise as a Frenchman in the occult. Fake mediums are not any worse than a mechanical fake magician. I have seen you perform once, but what good are you to society ? ' Mind your own trade and keep it clean. A. F. H I L L . IT, Isabella St.. Boston. Mass. TIVOLI THEATRE. LEEDS. AUG. 10.

1906.

In the conjuring line things are very quiet. July and August being an off season. This week on the same bill with myself is De Biere (the man Goldin hates soi. his show mystifies his audience, lie is not doing anything strikingly new. bin gets lots out out of his old stuff. He tells me he has something new in preparation, but when I ask him what it is. he loses his speech and can't talk. He is so mysterious over it that he gags himself when he goes to sleep at night, for fear he will talk in his sleep. Le Roy Talma and Bosco are on the Barresford tour alsr. Mr. Barresford

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evidently likes conjuring shows, as he has four mysterv shows on his tour at the same time, and all following each other m. One week they present Le Roy Talma and Bosco, and the following week Prince Kukoki. then Sidney Lee, and the next week De Biere. Truly this is a conjuring feast, and the audiences seem to enjoy, as the first named go as well as the last, all go equally well. Horace Goldin has arrived with his 0,000 assistants and his 4.000 pieces of baggage, and the railroad companies are happy. So are all magical apparatus manufacturers, as < "loldin is buying all the tricks in the world, as fast as they are turned out. He is at Blackpool for two weeks. Chung Ling Soo is on the continent, still catching bullets, and a big salary. Imro Fox is back in London after a continental tour. It is rumored that Fox has a new trick and two new jokes, but this rumor cannot be corroborated. I am tjoino- to ask Imro when I see him. Dr. Walford Bodie, the electrical and hypnotic expert, is not having such a good time of it here. It seems that his assistants do not like the way he treats them, and they are exposing and telling things to the public. That hurts the Doctor's feelings, and his act also. Verily the life of a hypnotist is not a merry one. A controversy has been started over here by two conjurors that is so serious that it is funny. Spider-legged Carlton claims that he is the first conjuror that ever performed the "Sliding Dice Box Trick," and mentions as a date October 20th, 1895. And Anthony claims that it is his trick, as he did it two months pre-

THR CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

vious. Ye gods and little fishes! Conjurers, do you hear this? This man was the first to do the sliding box trick on September 12th, 1895. Isn't it enough to take your breath away, to my knowledge (and I am a young man) the "sucker dice box" was done, and was an old trick, when I was a boy. Eosco (the original) advertises it in 1845, a n ( ' every magician for the past too years took a fall out of the "Dice Box." Imagine if you can, the immaculate nerve of these two men seriously quarrelling, and saying, "My trick," "My brains." Police ! To convince myself I gazed over some ancient Hebrew Scrolls, and read where Ham. son of Noah, cheated his brothers Shem and Japhet with the same trick, in a game of dice, and later I see that Nero performed the trick in an amateurish way, but lost his apparatus in the big fire. Enough of this. Maskeline and Devant put on a new show at their London House of Mysteries, but they had nothing real new that we haven't seen before. It does seem funny, that I might safely say all of our conjurors who spend thousands in building and inventing new tricks when they have them finished, put them to one side, and do the old tricks, I wonder why this is? I would like to hear a good argument from some of our conjurers, why and wherefore, there must be some good reason for it. JOE

([

HAYMAN.

JOTTINGS AND JUMBLINGS

il

Seeing the "Flamaturgists" billed to expose the act which has caused so much excitement this past season, by the Fays, the act which is conceded by all as being the invention or production of Prof. S. S. Baldwin, but which John T. Fay disputes, I went to the New York Roof Garden, Wednesday, August 1st,

and purchasing my ticket, so that I would be entitled to my opinion, which I might not have had if they had "passed" me in free, I waited anxiously to see the Expose take place. I wanted to note how it feels to have something exposed, and not concern my name or game. The act was presented by H. H. Grannet, the erstwhile whistler C. Herbert and the medium was represented by the little lady with black piercing eyes, a pleasant, petite stage presence, named "Shadow." The greatest astonishment and surprise of the evening was, when the lecturer, in his opening remarks, made a statement that he spoke with the authority of the "Inventor of the Performance, Prof. Baldwin." After that speech I sat back and watched the whole show without being further interested or mystified. The expose consisted of the pads being developed in full view of the audience, on which the questions had been written, showing how the Medium obtained them, showing that the innocent looking leader was one of the assistants, he taking small notes which in turn he passed through "under the stage door" to another assistant, who passed the information through the stage and hollow chair with a rattan to "Shadow." They also exposed the fact that they used a speaking tube connection from beneath the stage to give "Shadow" additional information. Owing to this position I at the present moment occupy in the world of mystery, by that I mean being a public performer, it is best for me to withhold my opinion, and simply publish facts, but I do not believe that this expose has done much to hurt the performance. "Why," people near me remarked, after the whole thing had been presented, "isn't it great! How did she ever know

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the questions?" In fact, the next week I went to see "The Fays" at Hammerstein's Roof Garden, and the audience seemed to believe things just as represented. I spoke to Prof. Baldwin and he stated that he did not expose the act, but simply told the boys that he had no objection whatsoever to the act being shown up, and he only allowed them to use his assistant because they seemed to have no proper medium. Baldwin did not speak as if he had a grudge against "The Fays," and seemed to think very lightly of the expose. T met Tohn T. Fay and from his manner he did not seem to take much interest in the expose; in fact, he claims that it has helped him. and ITammerstein personally informed me that the act held the record on the roof. The dispute seems to arise as to who is the inventor of the act. I cannot get any authentic facts of any one doing it before Baldwin, and he has been all over the world with it. I have programmes dated 1881, 25 years ago, and have some old time lithos of Baldwin's, but if any reader can furnish light on the subject, the columns of the Conjurers' Magazine is open to all. I have asked both parties interested for their opinions and trust that they will find time to enlighten us on the subject. Prof. Andre and his wife are in America. They also have been doing the act a number of years, and Mrs. Andre makes a specialty of remembering all her questions without being covered with a sheet or without being blindfolded. They have played a few dates in this country, and I think they played a few months in Bermuda or Java, but did not collect much of the coin of the realm. While on the subject of second sight

23

artists, it may be of interest to know that the once well known to fame, "The Steens," have separated, and Mr. Steen travels under the name of "The Mahatma" or "1000 Laughs in 1000 Minutes." He is working turns in England, not drawing by any means the large salary he once commanded, and Mrs. Steen made her appearance in New York under the name of "Sahare" ; but from reports she did not create a sensation. The act was presented by Wilkenson, who traveled for years with "The Steens." When touring through England "The Steens" had as a manager Frank Rogers, who piloted them to a lot of money. He also was manager for T. Kennedy, the Mesmerist, and in 1889 he woke up old staid London by the amount of billing he used for a one man show. He had hired the Aquarium in London, and had spent over $3,000 in billing the town. They opened Saturday night, two days before Easter Monday, and played to £TT.IO (about $57.50). Kennedy cried for shame to think that was all he drew, but as time went by business improved, and it was a common thing for him to play to iaoo ($1,000) on each show and give two performances a clay. This Rogers was for the last six years the advertising manager of the London Hippodrome, and is the only man I ever met that worked over time and did it in such a manner that the firm would not find it out. I hear he is in America and connected with the Hippodrome in New York in the advertising department. Edna and Wood, who have been traveling in South America for a great many years, are back in America, and both will take much needed vacations lasting about a Year.

24

TUB CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Dr. S. Ellison has been on his annual visit to the Marnum & Bailey Circus.

The lady that "did" some spirit pictures for Mr. Luther Marsh and others.

Leon Hermann has returned to America, bringing along- a brother of his. also a young cousin. This brother looks more like Alexander Hermann than Leon, but only because he is as tall as Alexander was. The brother is no disciple of Magic, but the cousin has been brought over to eventually become Hermann the Fourth.

Five minutes sufficed for the jury to decide on their verdict, and they found both prisoners guilty. Hon. Justice Bigham in addressing prisoners said, first turning to Theo r "Theo Jackson, in my opinion this verdict is absolutely justified on the evidence. It is difficult to conceive more revolting or more abominable conduct than that of which you have been found guilty under the guise of religion towards this unfortunate child, and I should not be doing my duty unless I sentenced you to a long term of penal servitude. You will go where I hope you will no longer be able to practice your filthy acts. You will go to penal servitude for fifteen years." Turning to Miss Diss De Bar in the same tenor of speech he sentenced her to serve seven years penal servitude. Swami bowed grandiloquently as she left the dock, and I'll wager she bowed when she was released from Aylesbury Prison August 2 this year. A full account of all her exploits is chronicled in Famous Crimes, Vol. 8, Numbers 105 and 106. She is shown in all stages of her career, even when she appeared in tights in a burlesque show.

Dr. and Mrs. W. Golden Mortimer have been out of town all summer on their annual vacation. They returned a short time ago, and I hardly knew the Doctor, he was walking so fast that it was all I could do to keep, in step with him. Must find out where this healthy resort is, so when I get the "Spring fever" will hie myself away to this place. Dr. Mortimer is gathering material regarding Robert Heller, which I think he intends publishing some day. What's the matter with the Conjurers' Magazine, for then you can make use of the old Heller programmes in the Editor's collection. Think it over. Doctor. Would like to hear from you on this subject. In December, 3901, all England's newspapers were full of a certain Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, who were arrested on certain sensational charges for having started a society "Theocratic Union.'" and in which it appeared at the trial that any little girl might belong, providing she underwent certain ( ?) oaths and ceremonies. The affair did not interest me at all •until I discovered one day that Mrs. Laura Jackson was none other than our old friend Anna Odelia Diss De Bar.

Dr. Walford Bodie has won a lawsuit in Leeds against a certain "local Lady" as he advertises for slandering him. The learned Tudge sums up in Dr. Bodie's favor, and he is awarded a farthing damages Max Berol was an unexpected guest at the S. A. M. Saturday, having just arrived from Europe. He opens with the Orpheum Road show on or about September 17th, possibly at the Colonial Theatre. New York Citv.

THE CONfUREKS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

selves, those who evade the critical tests ( which might crop up in such challenges) l.y fraud and colossal lying, those are the individuals who may have something to sav against the divulging of their various methods of hoodwinking a credulous public, nevertheless, in the following pages, startling revelations of the "modus operandi'' of such performers are to he found. You will doubtless have seen announcement of some so-called Hand-cuff [CjpyrighleJJ king who issues such a challenge as menThe following material was first in- tioned, couched in sensational phraseolotended for a book and was written by gy and perhaps you have paused and the author, during his Tour in Great wondered that "such things could be and Britain in response to the thousands of you would have wished to test him, skepletters received requesting light on the tical as to the genuineness of the chaleasy methods adopted by his numerous lenge, but you refrained from doing so. imitators. But not having had the re- Had you however done so and sought quired time, the book was not published, permission to step on the stage as a but as it seems a fitting place in the Con- member of the Committee to apply your jurers' Magazine, it will appear in tests, it would be very probable you Monthly instalments. In reading the va- would not have been allowed to appear rious instalments, please bear in mind before the audience, unless you had the that it was written to appear in book common ordinary handcuff alone, and form. not special irons, the manipulation of which might baffle him, and if you T H E AUTHOR. persisted in your desire to test him, you would in all probability be escorted PREFACE. In Publishing this book, revealing as off with the accompaniment of very forit does, clearly and concisely, the various cible language, and you would find yourtricks performed, and artifices used, by self promptly ejected through the nearest many of the so-called Manacle Mon- exit by some one of more physical archs, Handcuff Kings and Jail Breakers, prowess than yourself amid derision I do so without intent to offend those and taunts, as such a tvpe of performer performers who work on thoroughly le- out exposure, but as the original handgitimate lines. Doubtless, however, hesitates at nothing to gain his ends those performers who issue lying chal- and imlv permits on his stage those lenges as Jail Breakers, and Hand Cuff with the common ordinary manacles, and Kings, those who feebly endeavor to imi- Confederates who have already been tate, those who make fictitious statements "planted" amongst the audience and supand offers of large sums of money to any plied with handcuffs and other irons by one who can produce police regulation the performer and his assistants. Confederates? Impossible that such handcuffs from any part of the universe from which they cannot release them- could be the case—that the performance

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

f

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

could be repeated night after night, with a change of Committee each time withen ff King of world wide experience, I think I mav be accepted as an authority and T know for an absolute fact that it is so, having met such adventurous, would-be imitators in various parts of the world. In speaking of Confederates it is quite admissible to have a few pair of handcuffs given to some persons in your audience beforehand, as it is quite possible that no one might have brought anv, and if there were no cuffs present you could not perform, unless you introduced some of your own on the stag1* which would weaken the performance considerably, and it is always well to be ready for such contingency ; but, this act does not prevent others of your audience acting on Committee—and my remarks relative to Confederates are, where none are allowed on stage, except Confederates— herein chiefly lies the imposition. To my present knowledge no reliable work has been written, exclusively dealing with this subject, but I have come across some flimsey leaflets, here and there, which aim at explaining some methods adopted, but the attempts at revealing the secrets are S"'> vague, vapid and unfinished that no one could grasp at the writer's meaning, not even those who have alreadv been initiated in some of the mvsteries of the subject under consideration. This book is purposely written for the benefit of professionals, Amateur Magicians and those desirous , , . . . . , 01 becoming adepts in entertaining and mystifying their friends, etc,, with escapes and tricks with handcuffs land other fetters. I also explain a way in a lucid manner to present some startling, novel illusions and deceptions hitherto unpublished, such as.

The Great Prison Cell Mystery The Gruesome Coffin Imposture The Xailed-up Box and Escape The Strait-Jacket Lock-picking and Files for same American and Continental Handcuffs, etc.

•

I shall not delve into the very deep intncades

of

some

of

the

great moaern feats of hand cuffs manipulation and jau-

leaking:, as accomplished by mvself but shall explain a way in a simple fashion how my performances have been imitated and plagiarized by those self-styled world's greatest Manacles Kings, Handcuff Monarchs, Jailbreakers and dealers in material for the craft, so that you at least will find a storehouse of information in these pages to enable vou with a 1'ttle practise and patience to give a very creditable and mystifying performance, s o m e of the secrets revealed in this book h a v e h e e n 3 o k , m 1 . : n K l a n d ljv a c e r t a m class of 'Capacious parasite' for any amount lie could get from £5 to 2.6. The numerous illustrations interspersed through, these pages, taken in most instances from photographs, enhance its u s e t - u l n e s s a m l v a U i e . a 5 they enable the , ... .' .. reader at once to tollow with quick r>erce

P t i o n t h e d e t a i l e d explanations given, Trusting I will have been the means of enlightening and entertaining all while I offend none, HARRY HOUDINI. The original Handcuff King-

THE CONJURERS' MAGAZINE

RICKS WITH HANDCUFFS

[Copyrighted

In writing' this hook on handcuff tricks and allied mysteries. 1 simply do so as a great many people imagine you must have exceptionally rare talent to become a handcuff king, hut such is not the case. The primary lesson is, to learn to use both hands with equal facility as —it I may use an expression—one hand washes the other, but in this case one hand releases or unlocks the other. The method adopted by me to acquire this end was. when at table 1 practised to use the left hand persistently until I could use it almost as easily as the right. In addressing your audience do not become bombastic or overbearing in demeanor hut speak as you would t" critical friends, thereby gaining their confidence and sympathy and no matter what may worry or trouble you, never let your audience detect any irritabilitv or ill temper, but always display a bright and pleasing manner. Nothing is more offensive to an audience than a performer to appear surly and bad tempered. He is to please the public and to do so he must be on the best of terms with himself and I may add—the best of humour.

27

same as 1 have used on opening the handcuffs or in performing the various other sundry acts, but I speak with absolute confidence when I assert these are the methods that can be, and have been, used to imitate my performances without much outlay, and with little practice. I wish to instruct, rending aside the veil of mystery surrounding many tricks which constitute the stock in trade of certain performers—many of mushroom growth—and in doing so I do not wish to harm any person, as I claim to have the honour of having placed on the market an act or performance by which many an individual is now making a livelihood, whilst I am about to retire. It may come as a surprise to many to know that in the British Isles the variety of make of handcuffs is very limited—7 or S at the utmost. In America, however, the number reaches about 175 (or more), while on the Continent padlocks are added to the ordinary list of manacles. So one would need be an expert of '"picklocks" to get along outside the United Kingdom. For the present let us confine ourselves to disc u s the British types of handcuffs. 1 laving practised sufficiently to make both hands of equal use, the novice should commence by performing tricks requiring little or no practice, and so I shall explain the easiest methods of getting out of the handcuffs or manacles with which you desire to perform The methods described are those chiefly used by the so-called World's Greatest Handcuff Kings, and are so easy of duplication that I wonder why many more of these "kings" are not in evidence.

You will notice that some of these tricks are verv simple—but remember it is not the trick that is to be considered, but the style and manner in which it is presented. The easiest cuff to work with is the I do not deliberately say that the forENGLISH REGULATION lovving methods given are precisely the as illustrated in E,

28

THE CONH'KEKS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Having provided yousclf with a set of these manacles you get duplicate key? for same. With one solitary exception, these cuffs have spring locks and are

Tl c Common Knglish Regulation, l'i.^. E I.

manipulated by screwing the key in to open, but they close on pressure with a snap. The exception is what is styled " P l u g S [Fig. E.] to which I shrill allude later on. I'or performance. You must adopt the best method suitable to you for concealing your duplicate key. Either in some get-at-able pocket or in shoe, drapery of cabinet, etc., etc. You may have difficulty in getting handcuffs from your audience so you must prepare for this emergency by having some of your own secretly beforehand '"planted" by your assistant with some confederates in audience. As each comes on you examine the irons and satisfy yourself they are of the regulation pattern, as it is with rcg-

ulation handcuffs alone you guarantee to free yourself, __ _

. " P l u g S " Fig. E-2. Having examined the cuffs, you allow your committee to lock them on you, all present being satisfied you are securely locked. You enter your cabinet and obtaining possession of your duplicate key you simply unlock cuff and again conceal key. There are, however, -'.<>me cuffs larger than others, and in this case you slip one hand from cuff; then it is easy to procure your key and open both. The Irish 8, similar in appearance to Ting 8, but has no screw or plug. It locks with a snap on the same principle as the ordinary English Regulation. It is used by the Royal Irish Constabulary. This cuff is opened in a different manner to the English Regulation cuff, as you would find it difficult to get key in with fingers unless you had a very slender wrist to enable you to stretch out one hand as far as possible, thereby bringing cuff further up arm, so that fingers of the other hand which hold key would come close to keyhole. Should you be unable to do this you unlock by placing key in your mouth, and it is ad-

29

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY .MAGAZINE

visable to have handle of key covered with rubber to prevent injury to your teeth. The best way to have cuff locked is with the keyhole upwards. I do not detail all the methods adopted, but simply the principal ones. As you advance, your own ingenuitv will come to your assistance.

'handcuff searched.

opener.

and

be

False Finger to Conce.nl Key

False Finger with key concealed

It ivas a master brain, of whom I have no record, that invented the hollow false finger to produce or vanish a silk handkerchief. "With the aid of a false finger you can present a most pleasing handcuff trick, and still easy as it is of execution, the better you will think of it. You can allow your wrists to be handcuffed with the cuff-: your sleeves are turned up; your hands are now placed into a small bag. ami in fu^l view of the audience you escape from the handcuffs, and bring out the cuffs from the bag. opened. As per illustration, you will note the false finger, which is made of metal, easily purchased from any reliable dealer in magical apparatus: you have concealed your second kev of cuff; all that is required of you is to allow yourself to be handcuffed, with your cuff; beforehand you place the false finger in position, and under cover of the friendly bag you obtain the key and unlock the handcuffs. I once knew a certain amateur who had a novel method of concealing his

First he would take his friend into his room, and ask him to turn hi- back until he had stripped nude "a la 1 loudini." While this friend's back was turned. Mr. Amateur had his "gag" made with a small pin soldered on in a hook shape, and this he would slyly ^insert on his "audience's coat" where it would hang "concealed."

Split Key" for English Cuffs

Now being ready he would ask his "audience to run about" and search him. This was done, nothing could bj found, the amateur was handcuffed, and the "audience" would again turn around so that he could not see "how it was done;" this naturally brought the "gag" back again to the amateur, who would use the instrument that he had hung on his unsuspecting victim. He tried the game with me one day, but alas and alack, when trying to pin the key on my coat tails, on his informing me to "turn about." I "turned" with such speed that Air. Key flew- off its "hanging on place" and fell ignominir.usly on the floor with a "dull, sickening thud," as the iiovc:lists say. {To be continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

WANTED Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia.

so as to be able to eventually

Address: C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y

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^WANTED: Am looking for Artists to open November or December, for one year's contract, for a tour through India and East India. Acts must be New for the Countries Visited Can use Magicians that will be able to do Comedy Clown Magic, Illusions or any sensational mystery that can be done in ring. Salary no object. Write in for any act or feature that you think will make good. Prompt replies to all questions. All traveling expenses paid to destination. .Send photos, lithos an:l particulars to

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NOTE: For further information write to the representative of Mr. Hagenbeck: I'.RUXO \VERL,ICH, R.5inark
IT'S NO TRICK TO MAKE MONEY

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—Simply a case of getting in the right thing at the right time, and being protected against te. Send your address, with stamp, and let me tell you how hundreds of shrewd small investors are making money, and paving the way to future independence. If you can make money for them why can't we do it for you / Address

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Theodore Hardeen The Kiny c«f all Handcuff Kings and the Mighty Potentate of all the Monarchs and Jail Breakers (bar Houdini). The official European representative of the Conjurers' Magazine, and to whom all business communications can be addressed. En Route Jtoil Tour, or care of Mnger «*• Bauer. SO Rupert St., London, IV.

NOW

READY

Special List of Entirely New BooKs on Conjuring' and Kindred Subjects Also Uist No. 4! of 550 decided bargains in Magical Apparatus. Hoth list? sent on receipt of a two cent stamp Catalogue free. Professional catalogue 170 pages. 750 tricks. 20c.

JENNIE JACOBS

R

epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novelty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

48 CRANBOURNE STREET OPPOSITE

A. ROTERBERG 176 Ontario St.,

CHICAGO, ILL.

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1621 Broadway, (Tept. 4t) Brooklyn, N. Y., U . S . A . Ntw C^t.ilf Lr\it I+i*t« and Bargain Sheets for Stamp.

Jiny trouble with your Scalp or Hair? I have hail success in many cases pronounced incurable. Mv references, President Roosevelt, Hrs. McKinley, LI S. Senator Clark. F\r. and H r s Henry Siegel. etc , etc. The .Veu- York Hernlil, Ac-iv York Wdr/d. Mew Y01 k Journal, and Medical Journals actually endorsed Prof. S : h ) l Isr a; b?in » i t!ii .ii)>t s.i;;;i?fji H lir an 1 Scalp Specialist in this cDantry! T h e original editorial can be seen at my office.

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Hours from 9:30 a. m. to 6 p. m. Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

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B. F. KEITH'S Theatres and Vaudeville Booking Circuit Routes arranged by skilled experts, providing for the smallest of jumps with a minimum of expense in railroad fares. A distinct advantage, gained ONLY in this office.

most advantageous o p p o r t u n i t i e s offered in this office to Vaudeville Artists who are desirous of engagements covering an entire season's work.

Book with this Office and fill All your time

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Our List of houses reaches from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles, California.

Good Acts always in demand and no trouble to Book them fortyfive weeks. ]O|

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Performers will do well to write

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St. James Bldg.

J\ K- HODGDON, Booking Manager 823 to 828 St. James Building, New York City

MONTHLY

CONTENTS English Notes Spiritualistic Effects Reading1 and Rubbish Our Mail Bag Handcuff Secrets Hocus Pocus Etc., Etc.

OCTOBER 15, 1906 Price, 10 Cents

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34

The ^Stadium Cafe and Restaurant GLANTZ & MAY, Proprietors 7fi i j

\

SIXTH

AVFNIIF

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iji/i 1 11

tr\. v i—ii 1 \-) I-*

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•••••«

THE RENDEZVOUS FOR ALL FOREIGN ARTISTS

Harry Day THE, AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. ST. JAMES BUILDING Broadway and 2@tK Street, New YorK Thirty-five (33) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. MANHATTAN DETECTIVE AGENCY, ST. JAMES BLDG., 26th ST. & BROADWAY, N. Y. Triephonc- <•)11> Madison Square

WANTED. Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. _ Old programmes, L,ithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician so as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia. Address: Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 278 XV. 113th St., New YorK

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35

TAILORS m

QYlomeon's £atfortng QXxt

We are not much at black art, but we have a faculty of being able to turn cloth and thread into the swaggerest of tailored-tomeasure clothes. Other tailors are wondering how we can give the value we do in our suits to order at $18. No tricks either. All fabrics plainly price-marked and you don't take the clothes until they are entirely satisfactory to you. Samples and style book upon request.

1O6-1O8 Fulton St.. N.Y.

ERNST

B AS C H

Factory for ONLY the largest apparatus used in Magic, Illusions and Mystery shows for large exhibitions In my factory I have one floor devoted entirely for an auditorium, in which I have a large stage where all the latest illusions are ready for exhibition, and you are under no obligations whatsoever to purchase a pfenning's worth, but will pleasantly exhibit any Illusion, Mystery or apparatus as often as required. In Chambre Separe, The Doll, The Fairy of the Rose, The Flying Cage with Lady, The Witches Table and many other novelties that have never been for sale elsewhere. All illusions done without dark background, without glasses and without traps in the stage! Circular Free. E R N S T BASCH, H a n o v e r , G e r m a n y (Berliner Tagcblatt, Sunday, Jan. 29, 1000) "Secret Hexentisch* is a small table covered with a black cloth, a nod of the Master 'and the cover falls off to the stage. The table is small, can be examined bv any one of 'the audience, and can be taken any distance from the Master. It answers all questions, 'tells you the card selected, answers mysteriously by ringing of a bell, and will also per'form all its mysteries, even when the Master is taken in another room, eyes tied and 'hand and feet secured so as to prevent any signals.

SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS Meeting on the First Saturday Evening of each month at eight o'clock, except legal holidays, at Martinka's magical Palace, 493 Sixth Avenue,

L'lLLUSIONNISTE Le Seul ournal Francais devone aux Magiciens Paraissant tous les Mois-fonde en 1901 abounement 8 frs. ($1.60) par an. Specimen Number, 0.75 Editeur : C A R O L Y , fabricant apparatus 11 Rue Cardinal Lemoin

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36

CONJURERS'

EDITORIAL

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE Well, Well, Well !

PUBLISHED BY

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co,

First Of an we herewith wish to thank one a " f o r t h e m a n >' S o o d wishes we have received by wire as well as by mail, and smce"rely trust to merit all the good things that have been written to the editor of the Conjurors' Monthly Magazine. and

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All communications must be addressed as above. 2 Material on all matters likely to be of interest to our readers always sought for, manuscript must be marked "Payment" otherwise will be used "Complimentary." Manuscript to be returned must have enclosed the required postage stamps. »

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1 - 1 1 4 1

i-

«

L

English Representative, Theo. Hardeen, care of Anger & Bauer, 50 Rupert Street, London W., England. Correspondents abroad, T. Bolin, Moscow, Russia; O. Fischer, Vienna, Austria; James Iyealiman, Teheran, Persia, etc., etc. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is not responsible for the opinions of its correspondents. As the majority of articles appearing in this Magazine will be copyrighted, we have no objection of others quoting from us, providing that we are given credit for same. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is for sale by A. Roterberg, 176 Ontario Street, Chicago, 111.; Martinka & Co., 493 Sixth Ave., New York City; W. U. Leroy, 103 Court Street, Boston, Mass.; New York Magical Company, 1621 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y., Bailey and Tripp, Cambrklgeport, Mass.

B u t t ] ] e s u r p r i s e o f surprlses

was>

whcn

the foremost magical dealer in New York informed one of our representatives that he na d this month already sold almost twice the number of our magazine as he did in a YEAR of all the others combined. Think of ^ the ^ Editiont t h e Ilewest arrival, at one clean jump, should become the foremost paper of its class in the world.

The question arisi-x will we stay in that exalted position? Time alone can only tell Of course the fact of the magazine being sold in the theatres, easily allows it to become THE biggest circulated conjurors' paper in the world. We wonder if some of the narrowminded and egotistical editors of magician:.' papers will show their teeth, or try to stab in We know that wea7e far from being perfeet, and are open to any suggestion that may better our magazine, and should readers wish to g ' v e us their ideas, will highly appreciate their S o o d vviI1. . . . . Again thanking all for their cheerful letters and encouraging words I beg to sign my^

T H E EDITOR.

Howard Thurston has favored us with a postal card from China. He is on his way to India, and will have a run at the Theatre ^al, Calcutta India. Rumor has it that Howard is making several fortunes in the Orient, and he has great prospects of making more money -that any Magician that has ever "gone the route" through India. Paul

-

Tlne

Mystifier. is a new aspirant for

press speak well of him. Several 1 petty thefts have occurred at the "M^t"?? " warehouse, and suspicion points tne little 'catalogue collectors' that infest the neighborhood.

t0

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

UNKNOWN FACTS Concerning

ROBERT HOUDIN Material collected personally by Harry Houdin (Published for the first time) (COPYRIGHT, I906, BY HARRY HOUDINI.) * * *

My admiration for Robert Houdin amounted almost to hero worship, and the numerous men that have eulogized him, for instance, Joseph Jastrow, Brander Mathews, etc., etc., all writers of the present decade, and I bar none, with whom even in my wildest dreams I would not dare to cope, have as a rule copied studiously from Robert Houdin's book, and repeated with great exactness the fairy tales that Robert Houdin mentions in his book. I wilL call attention to the fact that Robert Houdin's book is a very enchanting romance and reads beautifully, in fact I have never read a book half so pleasant regarding the life of a conjuror, with the exception of

Herr Alexander who is now residing in Minister in Westphalen, and who has presented me with his two books. They are written in German, and some day I hope that they will be translated into English. I am almost certain that they will be as popular as Houdin's Memoirs. Herr Alexander (Heimburger) informed me that he kept a diary, and it was from this he wrote his book. To show you the kind of a man I found him. I will reprint a letter I sent to the Mahatma, after my visit to him at his home Accidentally picking up a small magic book, dated 1896, I noticed that an old man named Heimburger, traveled in America as "Alexander the Conjurer," and that he was living in his native town

37

Munster. As I am very busily engaged in gathering material for my book, "Encyclopedia of Magicians," thought that I would investigate this affair, possibly obtain some material for the book, which I will try to make the greatest of its kind ever published.

Visit to Munster So when in Cologne, Rhine, I boarded the express train (D. Zug.) for Munster and arrived there bright and early on March 17, 1903. In the address book, I found out that a man named Heimburger resided in Krumpentippen 16. Hailing a passing cab (drousche) and after a short drive soon found myself knocking at the door of the address that I had found. A bright German maid came to the door, and I was at once ushered into the presence of the man to whom T had come to pay my respects. An old man, gray haired, with snow white beard, bent over with age, came slowly to greet me. I soon found out that he was very hard of hearing, and had to speak to him in a very loud tone of voice.

Interviewing Herr Alexander Short and briefly, I explained my mission to Herr Alexander; also stating that I was greatly pleased to see him well, and honored to think that I was talking to the only Conjurer that had given a Magical performance in the White House; for Herr Alexander had been several times in the White House before United States President Polk. Alexander seemed greatly pleased, and. soon was relating to me stories of magicians, personal friends of his, now long dead. He knew Houdin, Frikell, Bosco, Count Pererilli, Anderson, Blitz, Hespe, the original Bamberg of Amsterdam, Compars Herman, in fact he knew all the old timers.

38

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. With the stories he told me, Herr ten by a conjurer. He tells me that Alexander held me spell bound—had he Houdin never wrote his book, but had risen from a grave he could not better it written by a Parisian journalist, as he have commanded my attention. Here was an old man 84 years of age, did not have the spare time himself. In fact Alexander informed me that who had retired 50 years ago, and telling me tales of people whom T had Houdin personally told him this. numbered among the long past dead.

Alexander's Early Exploits Herr Alexander Heimburger was born December 4, 1819. He traveled in North America four years, and in South America—from January, 1844, until September, 1854. During this time he had managed to make a large fortune, and retired on his return to German}'. He was still a young man, about 24 years of age, but had so many stories to tell, so many keepsakes to show, so many strange affairs to argue about, that he was lionized by the highest people in Germany. This kept him from again giving performances, for to have done so would have closed the aristocratic doors to him, as Conjurers are not the best thought of people in Germany, especcially was this so 50 years ago, and it is only lately that Magic has taken its place among the higher Arts of Europe. With all the prospects staring him in the face, Alexander was content to be a welcome guest all over, ever finding ready listeners to his wonderful interesting tales of his huge successes. So passed a great many years, simply wining and dining, and telling stories.

Alexander Writes a Book At last however he was coaxed write a book from a diary that he had faithfully kept through all the years of his travels. This book is published in Minister and called "Der Moderne Zauberet" (The Modern Magician). Herr Alexander claims that his book is rated as one of the gems of German literature, also the best book ever writ-

AI.hXAMlKR

Alexander's book is written from extracts from his diary, and is on the style of Sig. Blitz's book, but ever so much more interesting.

Alexander in New York Pie showed me his scrap book, in which T read some grand notices from New York, and in fact all through North and South America. What interested me was to see a half page devoted to Herr Alexander in the New York Tribune, October, 1845, m which he is shown dressed in a Chinese costume, producing huge bowls of water, flowers and all kinds of heavy articles. This was a surprise to me as it has been my impression that Ching Ling Foo was the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. first to do the Chinese act in America. Alexander assured me that all the old timers would change their programme by adding "The Chinese Magician" to their show. To verify this statement the New York Herald, November 6, 1845, New York Tribune same date, New York Evening Gazette same date, will show full particulars. Herr Alexander arrived in New York after a very disastrous tour of America, almost penniless, and tried to hire Niblo's Garden, but they never opened the theatre in winter, so would have failed, but for the kindness of Mrs. Niblo, who managed to have Herr Alexander obtain the theatre for twenty dollars per night. He opened with a very small house, and for the first three nights did not play to expenses, but the fourth night the house was packed and sold out, and for the following three months he did a grand business, closing his season in New York because he could not change his program any more, and his professional pride would not allow him to continue with the same routine.

Barnum Visits Alexander P. T. Barnum on one occasion visited the performance of Alexander, in Saratoga, and had Gen. Tom Thumb with him. After the performance Barnum offered to engage Alexander for his New York Museum, but Alexander refused, because it would have hurt his drawing abilities; for Barnum only charged 25 cents admission to his Museum, and Alexander charged 50 cents and one dollar.

" T h e Spirit Bell" Alexander related a very strange trick that fooled the inventor Morse, of telegraphic fame. Alexander had a trick called "The Spirit Bell"— which all conjurers worked with a

39

thread or hook—electricity not being so well known at that time. Alexander had a large glass bell, on top of a fancy looking case, which he could set anywhere, and it would ring at command. Morse saw this trick and was greatly mystified in fact he was under the impression that Alexander had discovered some new law of nature that would be of some help to him in his then looked for discoveries. Alexander, however, refused to explain this trick to Morse, as it was his own invention. The method of working this trick is so novel that I will describe it as explained to me by Herr Alexander. The secret was that he had a small bird that was trained to jump from one rung of a small ladder to another, at command or the waving of a stick or wand which the bird could see from where it was imprisoned- every time that it would jump from one rung to another, it would pull down a step which was so arranged that by the smallest overweight it would release a catch, which would in turn throw the hammer against the 'glass. By the bird stepping off, it would again come back to its original position and be ready for the second blow. He explained this trick to me, saying he had bought the bird from a street fortune teller, who had trained the bird to go up different steps of a ladder and pick out envelopes, in which would be differently printed fortunes. To my judgment even to-day this trick, properly handled, would be clever enough to fool the average sight-seer. He was personally acquainted with President Polk, Henry Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and in fact all of the noted statesmen of that time. Tt was through his friendship with President Polk that he was allowed to sail to the West Indies with letters of recommendation from the President to the Governor,

a

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

A very rare and possibh- the only lithograph in existence of Robert H o u d i n ' s stage setting; used by him in Paris, 1847, and London, 1848.

and which also opened the dour to the aristocratic circles of Brazil. Tt had been my intention to simply stay a few hours in Munster, but the old Master held me there as if I were hypnotized, and the hours fairly drifted away. He showed me letter after letter, clipping after clipping, token after token. f allowed him to speak, for fear my interruptions would stop his flow of conversation, for he informed me that he could not talk as much as of yore, and it was simply the unusual excitement of my visit that had given him the unusual strength of speech. For he told me, "Yes, my boy, we get old after awhile."

Alexander a Bookworm He sits all day among his belovei! books, of which he has a rare collection. He has collected bocks over 70 years, and about that time he secured a whole library from some learned man's widow, so it can be seen that he has a rare collection of Conjuring books. He reads English, French, Spanish and German. He is grateful to the Almighty for having spared him his eyesight, although he has to wear very strong eye-glasses

and reads only in the day time. During his travels in South America, he thoroughly mastered the Spanish language, and was the greatest magician that ever visited those shores.

Alexander Welcomed by RoyaltyHe was a welcome guest at the Palace of the King of Brazil and has in his possession letters from the King and Queen. He showed me the personal signature of King Pedro II, also his Queen ; the letters were dated Brazil, 1850. Therefore it can well be imagined what a great reputation this man must have had during his travels in North and South America. It must be a source of great pleasure to him to sit back in his heavy upholstered easy-chair and think of all his marvelous travels and successes. After an absence of ten years from his native town, he returned, married one of the prettiest girls in the village, and was blessed with six children, two sons and four daughters. All are well, one son is in New York at the present time. I had made my stop so long that Mrs. Heimburger kindly invited me to stay for dinner, which I willingly did, al-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

though 1 had no desire to eat, but hungrily listened to every word Herr Alexander spoke. To hear the white-haired old man speak, to watch his actions, to listen to stories of things that happened years ago, made me think that there was some possibility of him having discovered the real Elixir of Life, that all the Old Charletans used to claim they "had discovered," or possibly Grim Death had mislaid the address of the old master Magician, and as he had gone through ten severe sicknesses in South America, each one of which is known to be fatal to foreigners, let us hope that it will be a long time ere Father Time will gather in our famous friend—Alexander. At last the time for parting came, and with a hearty handclasp, and both extending to each other the best wishes, the old master returned to his books, while I with bowed head slowly walked out into the bright sunshine, deeply thinking of the various things engraved in my memory. HARRY HOUDINI.

Second Visit to Alexander August 26, 1906. Strange thoughts come to me, as I reread my letter or rather the facts of my meeting "Alexander." I paid the old Master another flying visit in 1905, on my way to London, and he was delighted to see me once more. He informed me that he was as well as could be, the folks were all well, and he had nothing to do but simply await the arrival of the "Grim Reaper." On my taking leave of him he made me a present of several rare programmes, which arc now in my collection, and which I prize very highly. Fate plays queer pranks. Some time after my last visit to him, I received a postal card which read as fol-

41

lows : "My Dear Friend, Have not been very well of late, and have been expecting my last days. All preparations have been made, and Death the Visitor arrived, but instead of calling for me, he has taken away my beloved wife. I am not capable of writing more. God be with you. From your old friend, Alexander Heimburger." * * * With the exception of a small brochure, everything you read about Robert Houdin is the same thing over and over again. H. R. Evans even goes so far as to say that Hoiulin at one time made a favorite trick of "Socrates, the talking bust." Of all the programmes that I possess, none of them even mention the fact of him doing this feat, and perhaps Evans has simply taken some one's word for it. I may be mistaken, but I have looked high and low for some clew regarding Hondin doing this Looking Glass Illusion, and so far have failed to find one. All I can find is a description in the posthumous Houdin book, but Houdin does not say he performed it; he simply explains the illusion. It is in this book that Houdin makes a huge error in his explanation of the Indian Basket trick. I regard Evans as a very unreliable authority with a fanciful brain. He apparently will take anything and weave it into something to fit his story. I am judging him from the several books that he has written, in which he takes mediocre performers and lauds them to the skies, especially an English conjurer who for the past few years has made his living by peddling books, which he cither hawks or has peddled around the Theatre where the performer whose tricks he is publishing is working. In fact, almost all of Evans' material is virtually second-hand. (To be continued.)

42

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Facsimile of Posters Houdin used during his various engagements in England. ST. JAMESES THEATRE. «. A.«k'«an«'"aa~M.a««h.Ma

ROBERT-EOUBIN SOIREES " FANTASTIQUES,

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i3 Facsimile of a rare copper engraving ot K-{/9 showing a Conjurer swallowing a man alive.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

43

they are allowed trial shows, they cannot get along. The Encore had comNotes petitions for the best amateur performer, and some very good talent was From unearthed. Theo. There ought to be a standard house over here that would permit ''Try-outs" Hardeen, like Mr. Albee allows at the Keith 14th Street house in New York. There Our anyone can give a trial turn by simply Official applying to Mr. Elmer Rogers, who lias given many a magician permission European to show his act, and I don't know of Correone theatre in England that will allow a trial show to go on, unless you have spondent special permission after a lot of red tapeism. Carl Eaynor, the Nottingham magician claims that he failed to gain Lussac 1 anna after a brief absence, permission at several places, and alagain pops np, and has made quite a though he has written 140 letters, and hit in Stockport, with his Mysterious enclosed stamped envelopes the best he Trunk Dressing trick. received of the whole lot was two letters and three postal cards. There are Germaine, the American Magician is so many magicians in England that getting along very nicely, and has man- managers seem a bit afraid to book aged to' obtain some excellent work in them. I'll wager if you throw up a stone London, playing several halls a night. in London, it will fall and hit a magiAt the Palace Grimbsy, Prof. Fuller cian. English magicians are much betintroduces "Astarte"' an Up-in-the-air ter all around performers -then the Illusion. It appears to be a version of American magicians. In America we the Maid of the Moon that Robinson have the specialist, who makes one ceronce did for Hermann. Perhaps this is tain thing his hobby. Downs with his one of Greenbaum's Illusions. I hear coins, Thurston with cards, Stillwell (hat Greenbaum is making a fortune in with handkerchiefs, ITornman with Germany with his moving picture ma- clockwork tricks, Dr. Elliot with card chines. In fact he has been at it a long table sleights and effects, etc., etc; but the English magician, that is the avertime. age, is a very good all-around entertainer ; he has excellent patter, makes Colby and May are at the Cardiff a routine of various tricks, adds novelEmpire. Colby is a very clever Ven- ties and goes after the thing much the triloquist and the mysterious Doll is same as a general observer. well worked. The last time the act Where have we a man in America was in England it was Colby and Way. that can approach J. N. Maskelyne for I hear the original Doll has gone the Illusions, or Devant for wit and humor? way of the great majority. In fact almost every English magician * * * * * has a varied programme. This does The Encore is full of letters of strug- not allude to the cheap sort that copy gling magicians that wish to air their the specialty magician, who arrives in troubles; they claim that even though England: and the British Isle abounds *

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*

44

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

with hundreds of that class who work for a mere pittance, and strut about as if they were all that their "Bombastic Mouthings" claim them to be. It seems strange that Harry Kellar has never played the English Provinces, and if he ever comes to England he will find out that he is about the best known magician that America has at the present moment. But as he is making all the money he wishes at home, perhaps he does not care to roam into the fields and pastures of the historically celebrated magicians like Boaz, Breslaw, J. H. Anderson and a host of others. Sydney Lee the Magician has been working steadily the past few years ; his card work has improved very much and he has earned for himself the reputation as the best card thrower since Thurston's time. He has been at work on a card trick that will make the rest of the Manipulators "Sit Up and Take Notice," as he will throw towards the gallery 52 cars, which will return and fall into a tall hat suspended in the centre of the theatre. Lazerne, the Mystic is making a bid for public favor, and will soon rejoice with a bunch of contracts, "passed'' to him by "Caddie's Agency." * * * Albertine Melich, the graceful wire walker now at the London Hippodrome, is the daughter of Melich, the old time German Magician, who in 1850 startled the natives of the German cities with his Ghost show and huge apparatus; he is now in his "Fatherland" feeding his pet cockatoos, which he used in his per-

formance, the same as Sig. Blitz did with his canaries. Melich has another daughter who is also a wire walker.

I wonder how many of your readers know that a nephew of the original Sig. Blitz is still alive and in the ring in Birmingliam ?

This is the nephew to whom Sig. Blitz willed all of his apparatus. Abraham Blitz is a true friend of Chung Lung SoOj and it is whispered that they both helped put Robinson's new act together. Abe Blitz is quite a performer in Magic, and when not at this, he is inspecting the various advertising spaces of the Empire Theatre Brum.

Alfred Holmes, who married a daughter of Anderson the Wizard of the North, is Bill Inspector at the Empire Theatre, Sheffield; he informs me that Anderson at one time would collect photos of Magicians, and had a very large collection, but being shipwrecked, lost all his valuable magicial paraphernalia, clippings, and photos that had taken years to collect. Holmes never works now, but is content to look at the younger generation mystify the public, and tells them "How it happened" when he took Anderson's place, when John Henry was unable to take his own place.

Ornum, the Chief of the Ornum Magicial Repository, Editor or Proprietor of the "Wizard" is in Bonny Scotland gathering thistles and other pleasant things to verify the statement that "You cannot sit down on the Scottish Thistle."

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Jotes from., .,, Our special

Well, the season has started, and we have magicians galore on the continent. At the Wintergarten, Berlin, Chun? Lung Soo is doing very big, and has a lot of people on his stage (supers) makign his act very spectacular. This makes his third engagement at this theatre, and every time he returns he seems to go better. Goldin is the star feature at the Hansa Theatre, Hamburg. He seems to be able to write whatever he pleases on his contracts, and it is through him that Arnold De Biere was canceled at the Hansa some time ago. De Biere refused to cut out the "Three Trunk" trick and Herr Grell closed the act. De Biere brought suit; personally I can't see how Grell can win. * * * Miss Lucie is booked at the Circus Paris with an act billed as "Payen" Enigmatique Gymnaste Auto-pierrot. This is something on the style of the Moto Girl performances, and seems to have caught on. * * * Tscliin Maa's Seven Holy "Chunchusen-Magicians" are at the Nurmberg, and as they are real Chinese and are exploited by J. Deutch they manage to get along very well! They do not get anywhere near the salary of Chung Lung Soo. * * * Willini le Maske, a magician that wears a mask while on the stage, advertises himself as "The Present King" as he gives away presents to the audience, which he produces from a borrowed hat. He is not the original Masked magician.

45

Griffern, who once lived in Suffern, New York, is on the list to be balloted for in Merlin to join the International Artist Lodge. * * * Roland, the Illusionist who is duplicating the entire act of Goldin, is creating a sensation in Luzerne at the Kursaal. This Illusionist was a travelling shoe salesman in Prag, Austria, and after witnessing Goldin's act, and hearing the salary Goldin was drawing, made up his mind to become "one of those fellows" himself. Having money saved he went to the various dealers, and soon was launched as Roland the Great, and was taken up by the agents, and has been in demand ever since. While he does not work near as well as Goldin, those people who have only seen the one act, always speak highly of Roland's performance. * * * Prof. Roberts the Illusionist is at the Colosseum Essen Ruhr. * * * At the Apollo Theatre, a team billed as the ITartly Wonders, are doing "barrel" jumping, the night I saw the act, some one raised a disturbance, because he could not get the team to show the bottom of one of the barrels. He claimed that they had a spring board at the bottom, but that is all foolish talk. They may have a false bottom, raised about C> inches from the real one, hut that is only to enable them to obtain a better lift for their somersaults. * * * Years ago a German team, the Braatz Bros, exhibited an act in which they displayed their prowess as Hand to Hand and Llat to Hat balancers. They concluded some time ago that they were getting too old for their work and retired. But the many years of wandering has told on them, and first one of the brothers started in to manage Selma Braatz, who is in America, and the other brother is now on the market with a

46

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

trained Dog performance, which is said to be the best dog act ever produced. He works the dogs with cues from behing the stage, and one dog is trained to do a sort of mind reading act. I think the dog gets his cues, by Braatz simply creaking his finger nails together. The dog cannot see, so this "hearing" is the only solution I have of the dog receiving his cues to find the various numbers and cards. * %* At the Metropole Theatre in Hanover, we have a "horseshoe breaker,'' who rejoices under the name of Apfelleas Applebaum. He does not do anything new, and from the hurried examination of some of the irons he breaks, I wonder if he resorts to "Sleight of Hand" in preparing his material. * * * Teske's Illusion Theatre is billed for four weeks at the Bluemensaale in Muenchen. * * * The International Artisten Loge is booming the show business. First they have managed to bring the Hamburger Dom to Berlin, and now they are arranging a tour for several companies of their members, and they intend playing all large'cities and towns where there is no regular Variety Theatre. All members are going to work on percentage so there will be no dissatisfaction regarding salaries. It looks as if the thing will be a success. For the benefit of readers who may not understand what the Hamburger Dom means, it is a certain arrangement in vogue many years whereby all acts would go to Hamburg, and work for almost nothing, so that the various managers who always came to Hamburg, could see their acts; and many an act has received contracts for several years during this Dom Zeit. The affair has not been any too great a success of late years, so the I. A. L. has decided to have the affair take place in Berlin, which is really the proper place for an affair of this kind. Arthur Mar-

tinius is the head of the committee of arrangements. * * * Imro Fox is at the Central Theatre, Stettin. * * * Constantino Bernardi is traveling through Italy playing the large theatres, and is doing a big business. He is very busy advertising the fact that managers are swindling the public advertising that they have Bernardi engaged, but such is not the fact, and he wishes all to notice his Christian name is "Constantino." In launching this "Beware of Thieves" he is alluding to his brother, "Arturo" Bernardi, who is said to have stolen his famous brother's act. Whereever Constantino is booked, his brother follows him about, making things very disagreeable. Okito is at the Circus Albert Schuman Theatre in Frankfort on the Main, and has -been very successful. Some of his material he works exceptionally well. * * * Herr Dir. Tichy celebrated the 25th anniversary of his theatre in Prag, and received hundreds of letters and wires congratulating him on his successful management. I wonder if the many magicians and illusionists to whom Herr Tichv has given work remembered the gentleman on his celebration. Let us hope so, as he is always booking mystery acts and magicians. * * * RUSSIAN RUMBLINGS. MONS. T. BOLIN.

Moscow. Russia. Petrofsky, the "Mysterious," who is related to the Russian champion wrestler, was booked at the "Sadffi" in Warsaw. On arriving there with all his baggage, he discovered that the police had closed all the theatres on account of the many riots taking place. He has written to me for assistance to leave that city, and is now on his way to Wilna to open at the "Zoological Gardens."

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T11F. CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Director Anmont of the Aquirium is the cause of the existing bad state of affairs in Moscow; he has for years been very bad pay, and although repeated warnings have been sent cut that he will not pay salaries, he still manages to get plenty of- artists that will take a Sloan, the "Plate Wizard," is billed long chance. I wish to caution all who at Hotel du Nord in Odessa. He made are thinking of coming to Russia to bea failure with his "Dida'' as he was go- ware of Mons. Aumont; ask him for ing to produce two women from the salary in advance or book at the Ermitwater, then at a given signal, the water age or Yard. I predict that he will not would disappear and the tank would run his place more than a season longer when the final blow arrives, it will become filled with fire, from which he and affect all the tradesmen of Moscow. would produce another woman. The first night things went wrong, and the second night he nearly burnt the one to death that was to appear in the "fire" POSITIVBCT T S 9 &A0* SEK MIGHTS OF production. Alexander Segall, the St. Petersburg agent, was reported to have died, but it seems that that is wrong, and he can say with Mark Twain that the report Id grossly exaggerated.

*

ROBBRT

* *

Joseph Alfredson, who has been in St. Petersburg for the last 10 years, has made enough money working the "cabinets," entertaining the guests, that he has given notice to his managers thai he has bought a small acreage near Moscow and will settle down for the rest of his life. Have seen him work a number of times, and his card work is very clever, but not good for any stage. Al•fredson is also a very clever musician. -'i

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«RAOS9V8 MAJESTY,

1: AtJiJEgl&SENT gg«7EKM WEEE 1BQ3&E PRICES

SUES off MAGICAL MAY 9tfa, 1833. and Even EUaint DuriM the Week

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The Terese brothers have made their usual visit to Moscow and Nischa Novogorod. I think that the manager of the Folies Bergere is married to one of Terese's sisters. *

ton *<• m a ran inwm tr m n n w oown ar

*

•

Madame Rasschohin, the Moscow agent, is booking all the magicians she can for Establishment Yard. The stage is too small for acrobatic acts, anl mysterious shows have always clone well. So far she has booked Robert Lenz. Renk, Georg Hartmann, Demantini, Kendlcr and Madame Orlowo and Prital Fay. Coldin was offered a huge salary but cannot accept: lie dare not come on to Russia military reasons —as he is a native of Wilna.

Ti-ts animated Card*. The Travel tine Turtle Dovos. *2He Transparent Crystal Bex. •Si* Confectioner.

A Wonderful Surprise <°i tk

The ta«b»usUble Bowl of Bobertnocdln'a Portf»Uo ACtonllblBC lavlBlbllltT. of B1UU of Hand Vrloks. s « irtle, - 3*. Boxes, . tin. Pit. - I*. Gulltr> - O
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Reproduction of Poster used by Houdin duringg an engagement at the old Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, 1853. He never mentions this engagement, as he was not willing that it should be placed on record that he played the unfashionable Sadler's Wells. Houdin had by this time worn out his welcome at the S':. Tames and Anderson held the elite public there.

48

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Extraordinary Spirit Slate Writing

Method of reading sealed letters and of obtaining' spirit slate writing; attributed to the late " Zanzic " who once was under the management of Jack Curtey. This trick seems to have been the one with which the lately deceased Zan Zic made his money. In fact he fooled the best of them, and I do not know of any better trick that can be worked in a parlor for private sittings than the one in this number. In a room in which you give your "sitter" a private reading have a table, two chairs, and an innocent looking chiffonier. This chiffonier has all the drawers cut away, in fact it is only the shell of the real article. In this you have concealed your confederate, who has a good supply of slates, envelopes, strings, wires, seals, knife, scissors, in fact anything with which he can reseal any envelope or slate that he has handed to him. The ''sitter" is seated with his face towards the \v:ndow and his back towards the chiffonier. Zan Zic would walk up and down, whilst his "sitter" would be writing the questions and placing them in envelopes. After all the questions had been written Zan Zic would stand behind the "subject," and taking up an envelope with his right hand, would place it on the head of his unsuspecting "sitter," and

with his left he would reach for an envelope that the concealed confederate passed to him from the chiffonier. With a shaky movement he would exchange the envelopes, and ask the "sitter" to hold the envelope so as to get more "magnetism." The confederate would tear open the envelope, and hold the message out of the drawer, enabling Zan Zic to read it. After the message was known, the confederate WJOUICI reseal the letter or question, and it would be handed back and "switched" for the "dummy" envelope that was being held on the head of the "sitter." To obtain writings on sealed slates, the slates would be exchanged the same way, the confederate would open the slates, write the message, and reseal or rivet them and put them back in the original position. This test, worked properly, is the strongest that has ever been known. Another test of like nature will be described in next month's issue, which is still better than the above. The above "test" has been described to me by several people, foremost amongst whom were Prof. S. Baldwin, Harry Stork and Llywellian.

THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BISH

READING REVIEWING BOOKS AND

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FROM THE

T H INGS

PRESS

WISE , AND

OTHERWISE BY Harry Handcuff Houdini.

The Right Bosco Wronged by Hilliar. In the July number of the Sphinx, under the title of "Some of the Magicians I have Met," W. J. Hilliar, an old English friend of mine, writes very entertainingly, but he unknowingly makes a few misstatements. He writes in 1886 he met the veteran Italian Bosco, "an old man nearing the 80 mark, with flowing white beard, almost an exact autotype in appearance of the "Prophet Dowie." In 1886 Hilliar was almost ten years of age and perhaps his youthful eyes looked upon the old fellow as the real Bosco. The original Bartolemeo Bosco was born in Turin, Italy, and died in Gruena near Dresden, March 6th, 1863. Have looked up the best known imitators of Bosco, and can find only one of them that wore a beard, and he being not 80 years of age, did not have a flowing white beard, but a jet black one. This Bosco never advertised his first name, but simply traveled as "Signor Bosco." He was the most daring advertiser I ever heard of, for on his bills he made the following statement: "In consequence of so many imitators taking the name of Bosco and misleading the public, Signor Bosco will, for the fu-

ture have bis likeness on his bills to protect himself and the public from imposition. Any one using bills without the likeness is not the genuine Bosco." Permanent address, Signor Bosco & Son, Paragon House, Hastings. The oldest imitator is Alfred, then follows Signor, then Leotard and Madame, then Madame traveled alone, after this Louis Bosco appeared on the scene. To the best of my knowledge none of them ever had the right to use the name Bosco. In the near future have a special writcup on the Life of the Original Bosco, and shall shed light on several things in this Magician's life that have never been known publicly before. The original Bosco played in London, England, in 1851. Having looked all over the continent for traces of Bosco, I met a second cousin living in a village near Dresden, who informed me thnt Bosco died without leaving any children, Eugene in 1S57 having crippled himself with a pistol shot in his right hand, and being unable to entertain as well as he ought, he died in want and penury in a small town in Hungary. Strange as it may seem, have received an original letter from one of my agents which is a sort of a contract in which Bosco pays Eugene a sum of money not to do certain things. Will publish all facts later on.

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THE CONJURERS' MOXTHL'Y MAGAZINE.

Our Mail Bag Underrthis column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one that you wish. Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for our correspondcnts' opinions. My dear Houdini: The information in my possession relative to John Macallister, deceased, is enclosed herewith; any light that you can throw on this subject will be appreciated by the committee of which you are a member. Hoping you and wife are well and doing well, I am, Sincerely yours, FRANCIS J. WERXER.

To Right Ill. Harry Houdini, First VicePresident the S. A. M. This information was obtained by me from V. 111. George H. Stipp, Rep. for California: JOHN MACALLISTER.—62 years; actor; nativity, Scotland; died, October 21, 1899, at the City and County Hospital, from chronic diffuse nephritis; W. W. Kerr, physician; body removed to the California Medical College, for anatomical purposes, October 24, 1809. The remains, after dissection, on November 26, 1899, was buried by Joseph Hagan, city undertaker, in Potter's Field, San Francisco, Cal. The above letter explains that the S. A. M. is looking for facts regarding John Macallister, as it wishes to find a worthy burial place if possible, also to establish the fact as to "which Macallister" this one is. From the amount of material I have in my possession of the original Macallister. it can not be possible that the Macallister buried in San Francisco is the original. I deduct as follows: The original was with Phillippe

in 1837-8 and 9, so in 1899 the original Macallister must have been at the very least 87 years of age. Macallister was taken as a lad by Phillippe in 1837; a lacl must be at least 15 before he can be so clever that a magician will take him along; so the man that died in 'Frisco may have been a son, as Macallister the original had a "Madame Macallister" On his programme at the Bowery Theatre August nth, 1S51. On this programme he advertises he invented the inexhaustible bottle in 1840. His first trip to America was 1849, so it is out of the question that the Macallister that is buried in 'Frisco can be the original. For the 'Frisco magician was born in 1837; in 1849 n e w a s I 2 years of age. Perhaps it was his father, but as to that I am in no position to state. In my Robert Houdin article, which is now appearing in monthly instalments in this magazine, have quite a lengthy article regarding Macallister; also shall reproduce several of his programmes and photo, so do not wish to publish those facts, as they belong in a certain chapter and must appear in rotation. But nothing that will appear will shed light on his death, so if any one can assist the S. A. M. in positive facts regarding this man, they will confer a great favor all around.

You can communicate with any of the committee, who to the best of my knowledge and belief are Right 111. President Francis Werner, 111. T. F. Fritz, 111. George H. Stipp, and 111. Harry Houdini

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Mr. Harry Houdini, My dear sir: Referring to the article in your September number on the S. S. Baldwin performance ; I have been conversant with illusionary shows since the days of the original Anderson The Wizard of The North, and have been regularly, actively and successfully engaged in every form of amusement business since 1865. I have known the work and personality of the Davenport Brothers, Prof. Fay, Charles Foster, Robert Heller, The Steens, Washington Irving Bishop, and every entertainer of ' note who has ever attempted mind reading or kindred exhibitions within the time of my experience, but I never saw the mind reading act given by Prof. S. S. Baldwin, or anything nearly like it until he produced it in America about twelve years ago; although I had evidence of his presentation of it for many years previously in Australia, China, Japan, India, Africa, England, etc., and I firmly believe him to be the originator of it. His first imitator in America was Anna Eva Fay who saw the Baldwin show in Haverhill, Mass., towards the close of his first season here ; since then many others have sprung up, but none of them bear any better comparison to Baldwin than Kankakee does to New York; and if copyright laws existed that would protect such mental effort as Baldwin employed in originating his act, these imitators would all be in jail now, instead of grinding out an existence with the goods they stole from him. I managed Baldwin for a few years and naturally have some knowledge of him; we hardly ever agreed on anything, but I never denied his ability as a superlative and inimitable entertainer, or his standing as a most upright business man, and although T have "no business interest in him now, I feel that he has been robbed. Even the "Caution to the Public" on our programs that I wrote myself, have been

51

copied, and anything we failed to nail tight, they got away with." Furthermore the title "White Mahatma" I never knew to be used in show literature previous to Baldwin's use of it, in fact most of his copyists don't know what it means—but they use it. Yours, etc., JOHN M. HF.CKEV.

Manager, Tour of John (iriffith. Mildred and Rouclere, etc. * * * Hornmann is busy writing us that as soon as he gets through with this circus season, he will positively have his big act ready to show the American public. Tn the meantime he is selling Trick books and saving his loose change, so that he can spend it in the machine shops, which have been his hobby for the hist 15 years. :|: ;|: :|:

Powell, it is rumored will shortly add a new Illusion to his act that will make "them all sit up and take notice." Raymond the Handcuff Mystic some time ago played at Luna Park, Pittsburg, and made "good" but he should make a reputation on his own merits, and leave the "others" alone: the same thing can be said of Sirmnje, as well as Butler. Can't they convince the public that they are good without dragging in the name of a performer that has had to work hard to occupy the position he holds. Wre all have to start, but let us do it on our own individual merits. Shaw is booking some good time in America, and seems to have the entire field to himself at the present moment. We met him up in the Managers Association office, and he looks fat and prosperous. Roltaire, who does a very pleasing act, played a week at the Keith-Proctor 14th street house, and must have made good, as he holds return contracts.

T&a

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Paul Eichelroth is reported " D e a d " by the Postal Authorities in California, and the Society of American Magicians would like some definite information reg a r d i n g Illustrious Brother Eichelroth: if dead, where is he buried? Any information will be thankfully received by our most Illustrious Brother Secretary Oscar Tcale. *

*

«

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch September 23, 190^, has devoted a page to a hazy exposure of the methods cmployed by "some" of the "Chautauquas." Some of the material is good, but most is simply a description of present occurrences ; it is well illustrated and signed "W. M. S." There is one trick • r.wfeifi;' that we have never seen explained, and that is to go to a public library and look up the old directories to- trace old addresses, and then give the oldest inhabitants information that seems wonderful. We know of a Spiritualist that had access to the Public Library in St. Joseph, Mo., and he would hold his seances near this place; whenever necessary he would sneak out the back entrance of the building, rush to the library, and search the old directories for the names and addresses asked of him, and always made a hit by correctly giving the desired information to the "Seekers after the truth."

Any magician wishing information regarding patented illusions can write to J. J. Allen, 1019 Lamont street, N. W. Washington, D. C. as he will be pleased to furnish news regarding same, and is ready at all times to correspond with ; magicians. We met the young gentleman during our visit to that city, and found him very interesting, especially so when conversing on the Patented Illusions. Remember his address for future use.

We wonder which "Paul'' this is, especially as one .of them announced himself as the "Greatest Ever." We reprint a portion of the critic of the Oakland Tribune November 22, which says:" * * * The Bell Theatre. Only one feature marred what could have been the greatest show that The Bell has put on its boards. That was the overrated act of the so-called Prof. Paul who terms himself "The Handcuff King of The World." His work is very raw, and the management acted wisely in closing him after his first performance last evening. In his place to-night will appear a good comedy act and with the handcuff feature eliminated from the bill the show is a good one and no doubt will pack the play house to the doors for the balance of the week. * * * Hermann the Third will play dates aft.er his present tour, and is booked at a very good salary in some of the Keith Houses. * * * T. Nelson Downs is booked on the Keith-Procter Tour, and will shortly appear in his "Miser's Dream act." He promises to add some new material, such as polishing his coins, and springing a few new "gags." First thing we know "Tom" will be doing a monologue turn; lie certainly has the gift of "Talk." * * * The Zancigs are in New York seeing old friends before they start in on their regular season. Their act is about the best of its kind that we have ever seen, and we have seen almost all. Whatever code they use is a good one. and if Colonel Zancig will ever get that scheme of his through with the "Talking heads on the Wall," he ought to make a lot of money. The idea is good, and ought to be a winner.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

\ ^ ~ ANSWERS TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS Harry Hatton. Yes, we have the largest collection of Heller programmes in existence. As you do not seem to know where Robert Heller is buried, we wish to inform you that some time ago we read an article of "Forgotten Actors' Graves" in the New York Dramatic Mirror, and regret to say amongst them was mentioned Robert Heller. He is buried in Philadelphia, Penn. * * * H. R. Evans. You are positively wrong in your assertions. But then we are all entitled to our opinions. Don't worry, we have a real picture of Pinnetti and shall publish it in due time. For your forthcoming book we will b« pleased to give you any information in our power; all we ask is credit for same. You are right in correcting your mistakes. Thanks for the last line in your letter, we hope to deserve it. * * * A. Roterberg. Wrong. Yes, ynu are right. We certainly will tell the truth even if it

53

This very rare photograph of Macallister was given to Savern, the magician, by Macallister, and at Savern's death it passed into the hands of Henry Evanion, and at his death it passed into my collection, which is without a single doubt the greatest of its kind in existence.

f)

hurts. *

* *

Appleton Subscriber. No, the Sphinx is wrong, or rather the source from whence it obtained its information is unreliable. Harry Helms may be the writer of that news item Houdini never visited their New Jail and never made any wager to escape from It (as Houdini never wagers). It is more than two and a half years since he was in that town. He simply went to Appleton to see some friends of his schoolboy days So the entire paragraph is a blunder. * * * J. Nevil Maskelyne. Yes, we shall do so. It has cost many a weary hour, but it is now useful. Many thanks for your well wishes. * * * T. N. Downs. You paid too much. But if things are as stated, the M. A. A. will abide by your decision. No siree, bob! * * * Knocker. To H—1 with you. And all others like you. "We shall do whatever we feel like, and no amount of advertising will make us change our plans. * * * Harry Helms. The price you quote as being offered for your three books seems impossible. If you want our advice, quickly accept it before they change their minds. "With all your years of experience, you certainly are, or ought to be, in a position to write good material. Can't use it at present. * * * Kansas City. No thanks, we do not wish the private history of the party you mention. We shall not do business that way. It matters not what he may say or do, we are going to run our paper in one groove and shall not deviate from its course. * * * Anxious. Yes, the other Conjurer's Monthlies will1 now have to get a move on, and you can expect to see much better editions than ever before. For that we positively take the •credit.

The original "Macallister" was at one time with A Ions. Phillippe, 1840, etc Photograph by J. H. Fitzgibbon, 116 North Fourth street, St. Louis, Mo. HARPINGS FROM HAYMAN There is evidently going to be "something doing," however, between Ching Ling Soo and Carl Hertz. Soo is at the Wintergarten, Berlin, and has revived "La Cacoon" on an elaborate scale with great success. Hertz claims he patented this trick, and will stop Soo or anyone doing it in England. This sounds good, but can he do it? "La Cacoon" is an old illusion, and I believe the invention of De Kolta. It was done in America and England by many conjurors, and the old argument again crops up, can an illusion be patented? As it

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

siands now, L'hing Ling Soo is not frightened; Mr. Hertz is very determined, and there will probably be some important "doings" in the future. * * * "Empress," a lady Handcuff Queen, had a very unpleasant experience at the Palace, Dundee, Scotland. Evidently she was an empress in name only, for she had as an assistant, a young lad of about 16 summers, to handcuff her. The young man bravely tried to do his duty, and after vainly trying to lock the cuffs en the "empress," he failed, but the lady nevertheless informed the audience that they were locked and started towards the ''cabinet." On her journey the manacles fell to the floor, whereupon the audience became very unkind to her, making unladylike and ungentlemanly noises not unusual to the canny Scottish folk. Some one even went so far as to shout "swanker" and "spoofer," which is almost equal to our American word of '"fraud," when lo. and behold, the scene faded away, for the curtain had taken a roll of its own accord, guided by the argus-eyed stage manager. The "empress" made a quick exit amidst the derisive shouts of the lads and lassies— hoot, mon, hoot! (And they hooted.). Dr. Bodie has been extra busy suing people who have been slandering him, so he claims. The doctor is a clever showman, although personally I have no admiration of the methods he makes use of, but must give him credit of winning all of his cases, thereby obtaining a lot of free advertising, which cannot be bought for love, money or kind words. * * * Lieut. Albini, the illusionist, is recovering from a "nawsty" fall and promises to be able to appear shortly, with his "Queen of Sheba." This week he is due at the Metropolitan with his "Lady in Black."

T. M. Paul will shortly bring before the British public the great lady illusionist, Mdlle. Yon Etta. :|: *

*

"Lora, the thought-reading parrot," opens at the London Hippodrome. The chief item of this "Lora" is supposed to be the wonderful memorizing powers of the "parrot." Each member of the audience is supplied with a card containing two hundred rows of figures, each containing thirteen numerals, and on mentioning any index number of the two hundred, the "parrot" will repeat the thirteen figures, afterwards giving them backwards. • :|:

:J:

*

The Melville's Moto-Girl has sailed for Australia to fulfill eight months with Harry Ricards. Any one wishing to reach him by mail can do so by addressing Tivoli Theatre, Sidney, Australia. :•:

*

:|c

Hans Arwey the Magician Mimic and Animal Imitator, who was reported as being sick and penniless in Halle an Salle, died July 22nd from the effects of a fall from his bed. He was 32 years of age. JOSEPH HAYMAX.

* * * Boston, Mass., Mar. 12, '06. MR. HOUDIXI.

Dear Sir: You have proven your ability to escape from securely fastened boxes and baskets but for a real test of your powers I would suggest your trying to get into your room, at, say 2 o'clock in the morning, without arousing your wife. Wishing you success in the above I remain, Yours resp'ty,

TUB COXJURERS" MOXTHLY MAGAZINE THEOSOPHIST CAMPAIGN It is announced that the members of the International Theosophical Society from all parts of the globe, accompanied by their president, Col. W. S. Olcott, are now meeting in convention at Chicago for the purpose of exposing "fraudulent spiritualists and other psychic imposters." We await with interest details of the exposures. EX-EMPEROR'S FAVORITE AND STACK BEAUTY IN COURT Miss Emma Linden, a star of some years ago, and the recipient of many valuable presents at the hands .of the late Emperor Don Pedro, is the defendant in a prosecution at the Taunton Court on a charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance. She is the widow of Balbrigga, the well-known magician, and for a time was proprietress of a large cafe in New York. Balbrigga, assisted by his wife, was the first magician that presented the second-sight act in the Spanish language.

DEATH OF FRENCH AERONAUT At a time when many artists are seeking recreation and rest by means of the new pastime, "ballooning," those interested in aeronauting will learn with regret of the death at Paris of the famous French aeronaut, Albert Tissandier (born in Anglure,") Department of the Marine,. October I, 1839. During the siege of Paris this intrepid adventurer was attached to the army of the Loire and made several gallant attempts to return to the French capital by balloon, but without success, and since the termination of the war he has devoted nearly his whole time to the study of aeronautic navigation. vGaston Tissandier, his brother, was the most noted of the two,, and was a wonderful chemist. He was a writer on scientific subjects, and one of his books, "La Physique sans Appareils," has been sold in a great many editions, and has been translated in almost every known language. It was published by G. Ma-son, 120 Boulevard St. Germain Paris, January, 1893. Gaston died September 8, 1899. JUDGE AND ACTORS' APARTMENTS The wife of John J. W. Crampton,, an actor who has been engaged with Julia Marlowe's companies for many years past, has an objection to residing in professional apartments, which she described before Magistrate Sweetser the other day as "dirty old actors' boarding houses." The occasion for this outburst on Mrs. Crampton's part was on her application for $20 weekly allowance. Ultimately Mr. Crampton agreed to pay $10 per week, the

magistrate laying down the law with the following declaration: "A wife's place is with her husband, no matter if it is in an actors' boarding house or in a furnished room with a gas stove. The judge is right, for many a magician we have known has found apartments such as above mentioned a veritable paradise, especially if they have the money to pay in advance. RUSSIAN CZAR'S MEDIUM The Rev. May L. Pepper is looked up to as the leader of spiritualism in Brooklyn. It was commonly reported that she was about to go to Russia to interview spirits for the Czar. but she has qualified the rumor by stating that she does not expect to go until the revolution is over, when her services may not be required. The supply of bombs does not yet seem to be exhausted and Mrs. Pepper no doubt finds healthier scope for her energies here. LAFAYETTE DENIES ALIENATION Many of our readers doubtless saw Lallah Selbini's graceful display at Hammerstein's Roof Garden and envied her, enveloped as she was in her light and airy attire whilst themselves doomed to swelter in garments less diaphanous. She is now the centre figure in a suit for damages in which her husband claims $50,000 as the value of her "alienated affections." The "alienator" is said to be Lafayette, the producer of the illusion known as "The Lion's Bride." If alienation be proved, we presume that Miss Selbini will repeat her bathing act in court before the jury decides at what figure to assess the damage. Her very fascinating display should operate as a determining and useful factor in the assessment whilst also constituting a very pleasant diversion for the judge who should 'be greatly assisted in his summing up by the exhibition. It may interest the reader to know that Willy (that's the way he spells it) Pantzer, who is the injured husband, is of the once famous Pantzer Brothers, Willy and Ernest. After Willy married, Ernest also followed his older brother's example, and eventually the act was given up. Willy being really a very clever producer, put the act together for his wife, also building an act for himself, and as for Ernest we have never heard what he has done or intends to do in the future. Pity the act is out of existence, for we have never seen an act of its kind that could come near the Pantzers for grace, finish and ability. The Three Willi Brothers now stand supreme in the head-balancing" business, unless you would call Baptise, who hops on his

THE C0N1URERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

56

head on the streets until he is arrested, for the advertisement, also a head-balancer. It's a wonder why these head-balancers do not suffer more from brain troubles, as nature certainly never intended the head to be used as a means of locomotion to hop down a staircase or up a street. * * * In interviewing Mr. Lafayette at the Belasco Theatre in Washington, D. C, in his dressing room we quote his own: "For many years I have been travelling, meeting many beautiful women in all stages of life. I remained a bachelor at heart as well as deed. "Stage beauties, no matter how illustrious, never attracted me nor did the glare of the footlights; when femininity is concerned. So why, after all these year?, am I accused of falling in love? and with a married lady. "I esteem and admire Miss Salbini, for her personality as well as her cleverness, but am I the only one? ''Can't a gentleman admire a lady, without falling in love, and being accused of alienating someone's affection? "Now regarding alienation of affection I think there must be proven first of all an 'affection,' secondly the 'alienation.' I have never heard of Willy Pantzer or the beautiful Lalla Salbini till recently. One I have already dismissed from my memory. The other one—well— but pardon me—my stage manager is calling—I must go—yes, I am coming." *

*

*

The Fays Lose COURT REFUSES INJUNCTION AGAINST LAMBOURNE'S PARODY ON ACT Supreme Court Justice Nevvburger has denied the application of John T. and Eva H. Fay, known on the vaudeville stage as "The Marvellous Fays," for an injunction restraining Herbert Lambourne from in any way using the name "The Fays" in his pla), wherein he says he exposes the Fays' act of "wonderful thaumaturgy." The decision says "A careful reading of the plaintiff's affidavit fails to disclose any facts that would warrant the intervention of a court of equity. The motion must therefore be denied."

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

(COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY HARRY HOL'DINT.)

The following material was first intended for a book and was written by the author, during his Tour in Great Britain in response to the thousands of letters received requesting light on the easy methods adopted by his numerous imitators. But not having had the required time, the book was not published but as it seems a fitting place in the Conjurers' Magazine, it will appear in Monthly instalments. In reading the various instalments, please bear in mind that it was written to appear in book form. This will be the most exhaustive article ever published on this peculiar mode of entertainment. T H E AUTHOR. ^

%

•

(Chapter 2 Continued.) OPENING SEALED HANDCUFFS. If you wish to have handcuffs sealed it would be well to try and have a pair rather large so as to slip the hands. You can then easily open the cuffs by giving it a sharp blow with the keyhole downwards. Strike the cuff where the hinge and keyhole are on the heel of your shoe or against the floor and it will spring open. I once used a plate of lead fastened on to drawers at leg above knee, sewn in to prevent it slipping away. This was bent to shape of leg so

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. that it was not perceived. I struck curl on where plate of lead was fixed. This method, however, was rather uncertain. On reference to illustration. Fig. D, -—i. you will see how and where I hit. the cuff to open it.

A

Fig. D 2 B spring and inserting a weak one, you can by merely striking it against your limb above knee, jar the cuff open. "To Show" how long it will take, you first of all lock the cuff on wrists of one of your committee with the keyhole upwards and

Fig. D 1 A certain handcuff king who served eight years in prison for various offences claims to be able to open all his cuffs by striking them on an anvil and it is true he has opened several pairs that way while they were on his hands. Once, however, he missed and struck the anvil with his fist nearly breaking it—not the anvil, but his fist. Should you use your own cuff a good idea is to have a tricked cuff made—(The Irish figure 8 design snap lock already referred to", Illustration Figure D 2). Ry removing the strong spiral

I i " . L) 4

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

give him the key asking him to unlock the cuff. It will take him a considerable time to do this. You now ask him to lock the cuffs on your wrists but this time take care to have the keyhole underneath. (See Fig. D.-4. When cuff is fastened and having satisfied your committee that you are securely locked 'you enter your cabinet or go behind screen, and striking the cuff sharply at hinge down on your limb it will spring open—instantly to appear with manacle opened and you will find this the best effect you can produce with a single pair of handcuffs. In addition to the cuff with weak spring already alluded to there is a prepared cuff that pulls open. This cuff will lock and unlock the same as the usual type of cuff but the catch bolt has been filed away to look like a V. This cuff opens by pulling it apart as easy as it closed. This is very useful for rapidity when you wish to leave curtain of cabinet open and you remain in full view of audience while hands are locked behind your back. The Snips or Come-Along as shown at A Fig. D-2, when placed on the wrists of a prisoner make him walk along as meek as a lamb by the constable simply twisting the wrist, no matter how strong the arrested may he. Fig. D 2 " . . B shows the English Regulation cuff minus a chain. T H E MASTER KEY t o open any of the foregoing locks except Plug 8 is shaped as shown on page 29 of September issue. When using the key one or two turns suffices to catch the thread of screw, then pull and cuff opens. A cuff that resembles an English regulation is one used in South Germany and is made b y A . Stotz in Stuttgart. It is of the ratchet pattern; (see top cuff Fig. E 1 page 28.) the screw of this is reversed, i. e., instead of the ordinary method 'of opening which is done by turning screw

Cuff manufactured by A. Stotz. from right to left, this one opens by turning from left to right and is known as the female cuff or bastard thread. T H E PLUG 8 HANDCUFF. Has a metal plug which screws into keyhole to prevent insertion of a key when locked. It differs from the Irish 8 as it has no spring and does not lock with a snap. It is fitted with a screw instead of the ordinary spring, consequently it cannot be pulled open,, but must be unscrewed by first removing plug at keyhole. The head of the plug has two small keyholes in it and to open or unscrew this plug you use the fork end of key (Fig. E-2, page 28, September issue) the points of which fit in holes in head of plug screw, then unscrew or twist the key from right to left and out comes the plug. (To he Continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Frontispiece to

HOCUS POCUS or the

WHOLE ART of

Legerdemain in Perfection Written by II. DiJAN The Twelfth Edition Glasgow: Printed by J. & M. ROBERTSON MDCCXCVII

59

HOCUS POCUS The oldest conjuring book printed in the English language with one excep tion. The first issue of this book must be about 1620. This fac-simile of one of the earliest bcoks on the "Art of Ledgerdemain," has been produced in the belief that it will prove interesting to lovers of the Art in the present day. The "patter to tricks on several pages are not quite suitable for a modern drawing room entertainment; but it is remarkable that a number of most effective modern experiments are simply elaborations of tricks at least two hundred years old. The Confederacy trick contains the essence of "Second Sigh'" before Chev. Pinetti introduced it, and two hundred and nine vears before Robert Houdin presented it.

H O C VS P O C VS I V NI O R The Jnatomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. O R, T h e Art of lugling f« forth in his proper colours, faliy, plainly, andexaftly, fbrhatan ignorant p«fon may thereby learn the full petfeftion of the i i»ie,3rtcr a little praftife. Vnto each Tricke is added the fipire, where it is necdfijlJ Thefectnd Edititn, vitb m»«j ttUition!. PrtQtt sihiliqutmuhilfKcie.

Strange feats are herein taught by slight of hand, With which you may divert yourself and friend, The like in print was never seen before, And so you'll say, when once you've read it o'er.

XiON D O N,

Printed by T. H. for R.M.

1 63j .

60

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

in fact this book contains the rudiments of some of the greatest feats of the present day magicians. In it will be found the card trick of reading names written on pieces of paper—so often performed by certain persons either exposing or claiming "Spiritualism" as an actual fact. In 1882 Mr. John Anderson, a printer in Glasgow, reprinted "Hocus Pocus" the 12th edition. My reprint is from the second edition, 1635, being over two hundred years earlier than the 12th edition. Mr. Anderson is no relation to the "Wizard of the North" Anderson, but a man that is deply interested in Legerdemain. In his he writes "If any persons want to be furnished with these books they may have them by applying to the shop of Richardson & Kerr in the town aforesaid. (Glasgow.) A few copies only are for sale. The price of this book is six shillings. ($1.50.) If you cannot raise the money honestly do not buy the book. J. A. The spelling is exactly as in the bonk and some of the words are not as used to-day! Nevertheless I trust that it will be interesting reading. Some of the cuts were given to me by Mr. Anderson and were used in his edition of 1882.

Hiccius Doctius, 1635.

In the various editions the frontispiece was changed, and I never reproduced the earliest one, which has been used in the German translations of which I have several copies dated 1667.

Frontispiece I635 Edition How to shew the Hen and Egg Bag, and out of an empty bag to bring • out above an hundred eggs and afterwards to bring out a living hen. You must go and buy two or three yards of calico, or printed linen, and make a double bag, and at the mouth of the bag on that side next to you you must make four or five little purses, in which you must put two or three eggs in a purse, and do so until you have filled that side next to you, and have a hole made at one end of your bag, that 110 more than two or three eggs, come out at once ; then you must have another like unto that exactly, that one must not be known from the other, (To he continued)

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Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for lnng run in England. .Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music lialls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. £ffingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

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We are not much at black art, but we have a faculty of being able to turn cloth and thread into the swaggerest of tailored-tomeasure clothes. Other tailors are wondering how we can give the value we do in our suits to order at $18. No tricks either. All fabrics plainly price-marked and you don't take the clothes until they are entirely satisfactory to you. Samples and style book upon request.

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In my factory I have one floor devoted entirely for an auditorium, in which I have a large stage where all the latest illusions are ready for exhibition, and you are under no obligations whatsoever to purchase a pfenning's worth, but will pleasantly exhibit any Illusion, Mystery or apparatus as often as required. In Chambre Separe, The Doll, The Fairy of the Rose, The Flying Cage with Lady, The Witches Table and many other novelties that have never been for sale elsewhere. All illusions done without dark background, without glasses and without traps in the stage! Circular Free. ERNST BASCH, Hanover, Germany (Berliner Tageblatt, Sunday, Jan. 20, 1000) "Secret Hexentisch* is a small table covered with a black cloth, a nod of the Master 'and the cover falls off to the stage. The table is small, can be examined bv any one of 'the audience, and can be taken any distance from the Master. It answers all questions, 'tells you the card selected, answers mysteriously by ringing of a bell, and will also per'form all its mysteries, even when the Master is taken in another room, eyes tied and 'hand and feet secured so as to prevent any signals.

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UNKNOWN FACTS Concerning

ROBERT HOUDIN Material'collected personally by Harry Houdinj (Published for the first time) (COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY HARRY HOUDINI.) * * *

(Chapter 3 Continued) I believe Houdin never performed the "Indian Basket" trick. In his book (Secrets of Stage Conjuring) Robert Houdin makes many grievous mistakes, and gives us explanations of tricks and illusions as suits his fancy. Perhaps he never wrote this book, but as the foot notes bear his signature he is the responsible party. One very grave mistake is in his explanation of what he terms the genuine Hindoo Basket Trick. The Hindoo Basket Trick.—lie states the child is placed into the basket, the Indian fastens down the lid of the basket with leather straps and to facilitate the operation rests his knee against the basket. The bottom of the basket being turned towards the performer, the boy slips out through the cunningly contrived "trap" and quickly conceals himself under the robe of the Magician. whose attitude favors this concealment and makes it a comparatively easy thing to do. This cannot be the way the trick is done. In the first place the Hindoo seldom wears "Flowing robes," and every Hindoo that I ever saw wore short trousers and stood on naked feet. Hoffman (he of the "Modern Magic Book") 25 years ago disputed this, and with him, I contend that it has never been performed by an Indian as described by Houdin. As the Hindoo basket feat is the Hindoo's greatest mystery to the public, a proper light thrown on their actual methods may prove of inter-

69

est. The trick proper consists in placing a person into a net, in which he is firmly tied, after having had his big toes and thumbs fastened with a small bandage; he is then with many a groan and grunt lifted into the basket; but as the "subject" pretends that the basket is too small for him, he really is seated on one side and keeps his back in the air. He

Position taken by "Disappearing" Hindoo before he is covered with the sheet. You will note that he is seated on the edge of basket, in an awkward position, as if basket were too small for him to enter. The Hindoo on the left is trying to make yon believe that he is pushing him down as far as possible with his foot, but that is only a "make-believe."

does this so that it will eventually appear as if it had been impossible for him to crouch down or around the basket. The lid of the basket is now placed upon his back, and a large sheet is

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

thrown over the entire thing which conceals from the audience all the movements made by the subject. Now commence the Hindoo magic words, which mean a lot of yells, charlatan movements, like striking the basket with the sword or cane, stamping the ground, gnashing of teeth, and then the cover of the basket gradually sinks down and the basket seems empty * * * so the

Showing how the basket appears after "Disappearance" of Hindoo. Sheet still covers basket, and the vanished Hindoo is lying on the bottom of basket as illustrated in cut 3. The one seated in basket is trying to make believe that the subject has gone and is seated in basket to "prove that it is empty." But if you were to take the sheet away, you would easily see the deception.

spectators imagine. The Fakir now takes off cover of basket (but the sheet still covers basket), jumps into the bas-

ket, stamps all around it, and takes out the net in which is found the turban, and thumb tie. But the "vanished" subject is not seen, and to show still further that the basket is empty, the Hindoo sits down in the basket as in illustration. The lid of the basket is now replaced, and under this friendly covering, the sheet is taken off, and basket is tied up. Now recommences the Hindoo magic. The magician is a real actor. He seems to pray to Mohamet, he gets very angry and with fierce looks, ejaculations and with muttered curses (so it sounded to me) he grabs up a sword or cane, and jabs it through different parts of the basket. During all this time the subject (who is somewhat of a contortionist) is wriggling- about on the bottom or side of the basket, keeping out of reach of the sword ; in fact guiding it between his legs, this being a very simple matter, as he knows just which way the thrusts are coming, as they are all prearranged. By this time the Fakir has convinced you that the basket is empty, in fact he does everything (but will not allow you to handle or touch the basket) ; he replaces the top, this time on top of the friendly sheet, ties up basket, and again begins his bloodthirsty yells, screams and starts to run to and fro, all the time playing on some kind of an instrument that has a most beautiful tone, something like a whistle of a locomotive when it has a cold, only the instrument the Fakir uses looks to be a sort of a flute sawn off and hammered down, with a tin whistle's notes inserted. The basket gradually commences to rock, the subject or contortionist inside raises himself, and when the noise is at its height gradually straightens up in the basket and raises it with his back as far as it will go. To the uninitiated it ac-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Cut 3.

Position

taken by the vanished Hindoo when he is concealed in basket. Thi; is not as difficult as one would think.

POSITION OF BOY IA[ BASKET

tually appears as if he had returned to an •empty basket in his original position. It is very deceptive, but only a Hindoo can •exhibit it with success, as a white performer could never go through the va rious screechings, imbecilities, etc., thaiare required to bring about the desired •effect. Sometimes the trick is-varied ; instead of the performer being found back in the basket, he is seen running towards the •crowd. This is accomplished by having another subject that resembles the original as much as possible, so when this "Duplicate" is seen the spectators generally imagine that he is the one, they saw placed into the basket. Hindoo Performers.—-As a rule they 'ire very clever cup and ball performers and do some clever work with tearing and burning a long piece of linen. Lifting weights with their eyes is also a delusion, and outside of their regular programme, I have never seen them do anything that was actually marvellous., except perhaps to show their marvellous nerve in presenting their various efforts to mystify. But the public likes their

performances and as the great problem is "To please the public'' there is nothing more to be said. Their Lotto Hubble Bubble Trick, their Dancing Duck, and Bandage Cutting Trick, have been improved upon by European and American magicians. Have witnessed a great many different troupes exhibiting, and they are. all alike; they do not know the modern sciences and have only their hackneyed tricks to fall back upon. A good many Hindoo troupes have been brought from India by Herr Carl Hagenbeck of Hamburg, who owns or controls a large tea plantation and in the dull season imports whole mobs of them, and has them appear at the Annual Fairs, known in German as "Yahrmarket" or "Messc." One of the following photos show a Troupe just landed and standing in front of their "Hindoo Village" and the second shows a Hindoo and his wife improving ( ?) their trick. Note the legere manner in which the gentleman stands holding his horse-pistol and he must be a daring fellow, for he actually has the pistol trigger cocked. The bas-

72

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ket used by him is an American made one, but in the photo of the group the basket is one brought to this country from his native land.

For Six Nights only. BY PERMISSION O F

In the Large Room, opposite the Custom-House, IN WHITEFRIAR GATE. Tbe Inhabitant! of HULL and its Vicinity are rupccifiill/'informecl, thai

On Wednesday Evening, Jlitg. 26,1818. And Thnrstfay, Friday, Saturday, Monday ond Tuesday Evening* following,

The Indian

Jugglers "Will exhibit •their unrivalled Performances. These extraordinary Indians arc Natives ofScrin^iipalani, and have been exhibiting for lomc lime past in (he Metropolis, before many of the Nobility, who unanimously pronounced tbcm ti> be the first Masters of the Art in (his Kingdom.

Various Deceptions with Cups and Balls; CHANGING SAND TO DIFFERENT COLOUKS;

EVOLUTIONS With Four hollow Brass Balls, about the size of Oranges. The power of the Ju^lcf over tbe<e i. al...™i miracalon-., lie C-LU.'C. ll.cm to describe cvary po.siblc Circle—WiiontdN perpendicularly, obliquely, transversely, round IIL. l--g<, under bis Ann. ..Iwnl liit Head, in small und Utvc Circuntfercoces ...J, »oodroo. r.pidil,, »nd ketpin t ll.e »h»le in Moli.m .1 the »aine lime. Tin. bcin? the .olc fruil of Eiforl, Acti.ity* M°e"pe°rT'm -'' °|1 b l ' ^ ' u ' nVd"!°"h °° "'" " ' " ' " ' n ° ' " ' ' ° " S " ' '' "" '"™ "° ' d " • ' ' " "«»'»ee. Tlii. pan of

A Hindoo and wife, who have escaped from a Regular Hindoo Troupe and are "fooling 'em" alone on their own responsibility. Photograph by Obcrmuller & Son, New York.

STRINGING BEADS WITH HIS MOUTH, At |ho .ame lime larnin, Rinj, ,,ith I i, fi,,gc-.. and Toci.

Tocr.THLti U I T I I s r v i n \ i

Feats of Balancing,

curious Pagoda OH the top of his Nose, The earliest programmes that I pos- Erecting a A*U «F.MOVI\O r u t SAME u ITII 5LHprt| |>"a |*Gr.N L'irY. sess, of the Indians in Europe, are dated His manly activity in throwing-a Large Ball, the size, of an Eighteen-pound Shot, 1818, and as some of them read "The Indian Jugglers" lately arrived in this Throws tltis Ball of Twelve Pounds round his Head, country from Seringapatam, Superior out loc liuiuocc ol hi) Hands, and iflicril olher AcFuuvemcoli, loo num«ou, lo mention in (he limit's of a lljni] Gill, The tmmeroui t'erformjuces Coavludc with Hie womlerfu! FLUI of to those which lately left England," there must have been Indians earlier than the Troupe that opened up at 23 New Two Feet long. Bond street; the Chief of the Indians Tram Stall, ^ . - U « l Seal., I,. Door. o,-neJ al Half pa,i Se'cn, and Co commenee at Gglii. N. B. Mr. RAMOSAMEE. principal 1'crrorniiT, wi.hn |o intim.lc lo tlia Publir (hat (!,<.„ was advertised as Ramosamcc, who eventually split his name and for years toured England as Ramo Samee. My latest programme with Ramo Samee on One of the Earliest Pragrams of the it, is dated February 9, 1846, and he is Indians in Europe. 9

• ' " « " ' • ' p w » o l l u > B « l > , - i i h i h . f r e . 1 , . 1 e . « , he p l . i d it b . l . , , n bL> F u - , , , n d thro»> it „ „ , „ „ ShoolJcr, >'hrnil alichlion h n Aro.. and Ih. n u.th tU-i ^rc-ntct facl.l) throw, it on tL« back part of hi, Nock, and allcr di.i.bv m 8 a ^ar;cly of GarflUotsof Ih,. so.l, be l.nally, but Hilha rjastcrly j c i k , niTla>-

Swallowing a Sword, fint<;n; 47,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

73

Troupe of Hindoos photographed in Vienna, Austria, on their first appearance in an European Country.

engaged to do his solo performances at from 1818 until 1827. I have a clipping the Garrick Theatre, London, between which I think is cut from Bell's London the acts of "The Broken Heart," and THE.HSTLY CELEBRATED the performance finishing with "MelRAMO SAMEE, moth The Wanderer." CHIEF OF 31 is from Ramo Samee that the jugThe Indian Jugglers, gling of brass balls was made so prominent ; all the magicians seemed to try Extraordinary FenU ot" Strength and Agility, at this date and introduce it in their 222, PICCADILLY, performances. , Juggling balls i? an old FOUR""BHASS BALLS art, as Strutt in his "Sports and PasTHE. siy.ic OF <*K4Xt;h:s. times" illustrates a juggler throwing tORilOKIALL\. PLRI'L-NDIfTUHLV oBLUU'EL^ TIUNSTERSFJ-Y. ROL'ND HIS U63, I'NDEH HIS ABMS. tiv\ AliOLT HIS HKAb. in \*rg* *nd ^ilHVfutafeTrocn. iTWh ^ 1h 'Tl t tr d lt i three balls and two knives into the air ' t ^ k t ^ l SEVERAL FEATS OF BAIXANCING. and catching them. Strutt claims that Building a Canopy with his Tongue his Juggler dates from the Tenth CenON THE TOP OF HIS NOSK. • tury. Ramo Samee, must have been a AND RE.MOVINt THE ^AME WITH SlHPOJZlVr. Isr.ENITTV "Spinning of* Top on A Point ns fine as a Needle, very clever man. Herewith is reprinted BALASCI.SG THE SAME O.V HIS CHIS. one of his programmes. On

MONDAY.

Hi* povr^r ottr thrtn ii -ilm^t mLrnralfjim

JILY

Hi.

hr rtiu** thrift <" rli^.Ht* evrry pmtbli* eiTtJe .

lu wh,, b U >ill iBtrodoit the

^lol- icv.,WicS on (h» Mcfcrc'DiioDott Pout.

WONDERFl'L FEAT WITH LARGE KNIVES.

In 1818, there seems to have been SWALLOW ISO A STOSK THE SIZE Of 4X EGO. quite a lot of Hindoo Magicians and Throwing a Lar^c Ball the size of aa •18-pou«|d Sliot Jugglers; in opposition to Ramo Samee, To difcfwt rafUnrhu K**< "ilh ,[,. -^l*c,.Jd~.ton,»U,«. ,1 -light. ... ikt bm! othi. ta ttrac 1^ ^.."1 olh.. p.^. , 11» > W - . W lull). »ilb > mart. .1. ,..», Ih.o-™ 11. W Bad. "•tbOTl 1b. • » £ • ! • -I b» !UK1. , .11.• « « P . I olh.t » W « * . b. -ill « « J there was another Chief called Kia SEVERAL NOVEL FEATS. „(•„ Tk« P»rfonmuH<-i to commence " c r y Da> al On o Clock, uvi <>vor5 E»e Khan Khruse, who had quite a rim in • I E u i t oClock-—Admittance *•. . . ^ h —Children Half-pric*. * w England, but nothing like Ramo Samee; programmes in my possessions date Projj'rani of Ramo Samee's Entertainment • A l s o . I m [ B J t i l i A. I M , I \ m

t

74

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Luc, and is marked 1818 in which Kia Khan Kliuse challenges "somebody" and I think that "somebody" is Ramo Samee. Here is the clipping: Performance to commence at ONE, and again at SEVEN in the Evening, for this Week only. A CHALLENGE FOR 1000 GUINEAS—At the WATERLOO BAZAAR, adjoining the Panorama, Leicestersquare, KIA KHAN KHRUSE (from Lisbon, instructed in the Caves at Salamanca) Chief of the whole of the JUGGLERS, who has performed at various Theatres in this and other countries, and in all the .provincial towns, will perform some of the most Astonishing Feats ever witnessed in Europe! His performance will conclude with having an immense stone of 1200 weight, broken in pieces on his breast with sledge hammers, with perfect ease to himself, and without deception. After touring the provinces, and \ showing their drawing ability, both the jugglers were used as "fill in" acts between Legitimate shows. I reprint his programme, and as some of the tricks are varied, will speak of a few oi them, I call attention to his swallowing needle trick, which seems to have been resurrected by Maxy the Needle King, and is a trick which I have made use of with wonderful success. Regarding their changing the color of sand trick I wish to say that trick was introduced by Pinetti in London in 1784; a critic of which we herewith reprint. The Press clipping is dated London, October 22, 1784. It is either cut from the London Post or Gazette. * * * The qld adage of "Live and Learn," may be sometimes applied to the most enlightened characters. We had an instance of this on Tuesday"evening at the

JBy Particular Desire. Tie Ppblie are reapectfally informed, that la eoamqaenceor Uie very fatter• g KeceptioB o< th« Indian Juggler, he will bare Ox honour of Performing .' ftfajji, and humbly loliciti a fartKw evteonon of their Patronage. AT THR LONG BOOM,

Griffin Inn, Ipswich, On Wednesday September 9, 1818. B V PBBMIS81ON ) F THE BIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE BAILIFFS. Tfce foflo»iog ooutelle and ixtMOfdmar; Feata of AGILITY and DECEPTION

Hare been Enhibited before •everaj Branchei of Ihe

jfamOitfi of And OUMLT Countries, who were pleated to « p r e » their wtrmeak tpprotMtioD.

INCREDIBLE AGILITY OF THE HUMAN BODY. ftr ow trtt f k i w M «rf AnxtomUti, uflcfaattr psfart tW
KIA KHAN KHHUSB, < Pro*) LUb^,—Utfrftcarf ta Oe Ca>w *t SILIBIMI),

CHIEF OF THE INDIAN (Ptnigoi fii tik riMinrtM^n, hit r*g*g«, wtU.

r e s r o j i a IOUB of

Em viliurd

THE MOST

ta EUROPE II!

ISHA Lt. r.o TRBocoa em

Protean

r

Framformation8,

KTOIOUOOI, SerpcntlM PwurUc* *c-

LEGERDEMAIN EXPLODED, Hi a variety of J*ggt**g with Swords, ftatg*, Kmwt, Chain, Mtmrf, 4 A small Bat) wilt bo turned info a Long Snake. Abo BABLBY ckugaUBto WHEAT—Tfl&BE SHILLINGSfatto% BOASES FOOT. AMtowM la uatkn Iwuoi (ke* Hi ) "i ''.. ^T Be •Hll Mk< tbc C*rf* Bvch fraa the PML, n t ( ; sao, o» A* Floar of tlw RMI> ;—cBwcs UM Cobnr o f W d , 4e.;—41ft» boftte al Wutr bf 1 Mna i - t u b B»IU.C»«i pui from oae Cop to aaollKr U 10 Tvdt (BtaobUagTrick) be "HI

Co/cA «» A;> Hand

a marked

Bullet^

Added to tb* Pawdcr LofttUox of • Pbtol— wUcb n / m u j GnalkHi He willfinftPbtol,
FT»/A a varw* rel="nofollow"> tfoiker A8T6Til8Bi$G

TRICKS, too •w.inni.1tomtert.

STONK OF TOO W E I G H T . Breton into pietm* on bis Bmsi

*ciM a

VUbprU E*»* to .isnelf, art vMhd« ~

BOXES, 2B.—PIT, IS. Tkteti to t» h»rf erf C HUNT, Bookrelltr, and*

INK,

y PRIVATE e&itFOKMANCES OD the abort** notice

Program of 1 818 used by Kia Khan Khruse.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Haymarket Theatre, when Sir Joshua Reynolds was in the stage-box to behold the extraordinary deceptions of Signor Pinetti. This Prince of modern Painters appeared equally delighted and surprised at the Italian's dexterity, who mixed a variety of colors together, and afterwards would instantly separate them at the command of the audience. It is admitted universally, that Sir Joshua has arrived at the summit of perfection in the knowledge of blending his colors; but it was reserved for the honor of this itinerant Conjurer to instruct him in the art of disuniting them when blended.

Tuesday, Thursday

Poster used in 1848 by Robert Houdin in London.

On Tuesday evening Signor Pinetti's reputation received a considerable wound in the failure of two of his most capital manoeuvres, particularly in that of firing the nail through the card, which he attempted twice, and was unsuccessful : in consequence of the second disappointment, he had the temerity to run up and fix the card to the back scene, but the imposition was too palpable, and met with a general mark of disapprobation. He was so much dispirited at the event, that at the end of his performance, his interpreter came forward, and told the audience that Mr. Pinetti was very unwell, and did not know when he should perform again; notwithstanding which, candor obliges us to acknowledge, that several of his deceptions were truly pleasing and wonderful. It was remarked, that when Pinetti was in the act of taking off the man's shirt, the female part of the audience were unusually attentive, and every eye seemed rivetted with curiosity, from the wrinkled Dowager of fifty to the tittering young spinster of sixteen—October 22, 1784. (To be continued.) When completed the articles under this heading will be a sort of Encvclo-' pallia of Magicians and their tricks dating back to 1080; in some monthly installments Robert Houdin facts are l-.ardly mentioned which is due to the necessity of showing from where the material and data were obtained to proveall my claims; but all material will form a chain, each fact and date leading to the other. It is impossible otherwise to prove my statements.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

76

H O CV

Ji Very Rare Houdin Program

P O C VS

From the Collection of Harry Houdini

I V N I O R. The Anatomie of Legerdemain. THE

QUEEN,

Edition of 1635.

HIS ROVAL HIOHSESS THE PRINCE Al&ERT. HER a o V A t H I G H N E S S T H E D U C H E S 3 OF KENT. THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES TriE DUtE & DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE,

(Continued.)

HER ROYAL KIOHNESS THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER

Put a living hen into that bag and hang it on a hook on that side you stand.

A GRAND

QBN1

NO

flit,

A CONCERT & DANCING, anD MiasljitjouBCB fot iljc

ON

fl.abouuns

WEDNESDAY, JULY THE 19TH,

t Inn M I Jc»u% platrd al fh/ H,p,,,al tf ihr LtAui Pai

[ooibinr t v rtnlnmi £rrtt<<»

SIO.

MADAME CASTELLAN, M i D A H E GHISI, . . * „ _ - : &LHONI, MARIO, M. ROOER. SIO. TAMBURINI, & SIO. LABLACHE.

A TENT WILL BE ERECTED IN THE GROUNDS, ROBERT HOUDIN, K K 3 S.2JLH5 E 7 A : a 7 A S 7 Tbe Oroo&di wUl be opeD from One o'clock unui EigbtOOVO4. TICKETS FOR THE FETE,

The manner of performing it is thus: take the egg bag and put both your hands in it, and turn it inside out, and say, "Gentlemen, you see there is nothing in my bag; and in turning it again you must slip some of the eggs out of the purses, as many as you see fit, and then turn

^ ^arriti

Sent

and Dat,Qlunt,flU

>amc F'imils.

L\

I . , tat)'

" s e t*',i. E r ;..™.i.......M.'«••<•

7^w.,-.Lr»;-iU.

"

, c i y° u r

_

ua

.

£ a£ain»

<

an

•

,

•

•

,

d in turning it again,

yon command more eggs to come out,

•'

The above reproduction of program of July 19, 184S, is one of the few descriptions that is authentic and unexaggerated in "Memoirs of Robert Houdin," vide page 343 of this book.

j wJien all is come out but one, you must take that egg and shew it to the company and then drop down your egg bag, and take up your Henbag, and to shake out your hen, pigeon or any fowl. This is a noble fancy if well handled. (To be continued)

a n

77

Till-: CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

preme in that hall, and it was worth while travelling hundreds of miles to watch that audience. How they yelled and "Birded" any talent that was not up to the required mark! So Mr. Germaine the silver lining in; that cloud was that you did not have to spend a tough week. *

*

*

Sid Macaire, who once was a resident of Chicago, 111., is now the Resident Manager of The Empire Theatre, Bristol. He has taken the place of Manager Fred Leighton, who is now' on the staff of the London Alhambra Theatre, and has worked himself up to his present position by sheer hard work and ability. Macaire was Secretary for Houdini in the latter's last tour in England; he also was with Chung Ling Soo, but left to accept the assistant managership of the Bristol Empire. * * * Kuroki the young London Magician with the Japanese name, was at the Theatre Royal, Bolton, and managed to make "them" believe he was a Jap. He does a very clever little show.

Am back again in London, after a short skirmish in the Provincial "Bergs" and very glad of it. Here in England, no matter where you go, in speaking of London, you always say "In Town" as it is conceded by all that London England is London. England. Not a solitary Magician or Handcuff King in sight, and am feeling a bit lonesome to think that we have no men of Mystery working at the " 'alls." The only excitement that 1 have had was, hearing that Germaine, the Cleveland, Ohio, Magician had marie the biggest jump in the British Isles, from London, EngAnna May Abbot is on the Moss land, to Glasgow, Scotland, to open on & Stoll Tour, and has been topping the a Monday morning, and found to his bill all over the tour. When playing surprise that the manager claimed he Dublin, her manager was seen going to had not been booked. Now Germaine the Post office with a huge bundle of may think that this is hard luck, and "Posters" wrapped up and marked should he sue the manager, he is cer- readv to send to America. tain uf winning, but let me tell you right * * * here that it is one of the most difficult In Dublin at the same time we had propositions to make a hit in this ball, Fasola the Indian Fakir at the Tivoli, and as Germaine is a clever society ne- and Allan McAskell, a smart and hucromancer, he does not know what he morous Magician entertained at the missed by not opening at the Queen's in Round Room Rotunda with Pool's Glasgow. I once had the fortune of Myriorama. This is the place that John witnessing an "Amateur" performance Henry Anderson engaged on his regular when Barney Armstrong reigned sutours, and always managed to pack

78

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"them in." In this town Anderson had his bills printed in the Gaelic language, and these bills are now very scarce. * * * Jacques Inaudi the Rapid and Mysterious Calculator is on the Robinson Circuit, and manages to draw very well. He is beginning to speak English and may "tell the tale" in the Theatres Himself.

S. A. M. would frown on many of their deeds. Still they provoke many a hearty laugh, and managers seem to book them all the time. * * * In one week in Morecambe were Loudon Cameron at the Alhambra and H. Pawson at the Wintergartens. Both artists pleased with their various feats of Magic. * * • * * * Alberto the eccentric Magician "kidKahn & Kahn were at the Palace ded" them along at the Margate HallTheatre, Hull. Very clever show. by-the-Sea. * * * * * * At the Lancaster Hippodrome Qiquot W. F. Frame the Scotch Comedian the sword swallower is "making good." is "travelling" his own show, and on He has added a few peculiar feats, such as swallowing a watch, an electric light, his programme at the Town Hall in a cane, and an umbrella. He is the Paisley he has billed a magician called gentleman that nearly was killed in an Mons. De Li. Wonder from where he hospital in New York, whilst giving an came? * * * exhibition; for one Medico thinking it Picitt & Lizette are doing well in a was all fake, ran from his seat and novel act which they have named "The pulled all the swords from Cliquot's Crazy Cook," and manage to introduce throat, thereby causing him to bleed so much that his life was despaired of. several interesting illusionary effects. * * * There is no danger in sword swallowing Cull-Pitt, I think he does "Handcuffwhen the swords are taken out one by one, but when the smooth thin flat ing," was billed at the Wallsall, Her blades are taken out all at once, it is Majesty's Theatre. * * * dangerous. This is the only accident Sacco, The Fasting Man is in Engof which I ever heard, and in my travels have seen many and many a "sword" land looking for engagements. This is swallower in the various dining rooms the "Faster" that they seal up in a glass house and watch that he does not I have visited. "eat" for the stipulated time. * * * * * * Jean Suel is still presenting his Black De Courtray who is an Illusionist, InArt in a single act, and goes along from ventor and Scenic Painter, is well season to season, pleases them all, and known as a man that will build any ilnever bothers any one. lusion in any shape you wish. He * * * makes a specialty of Stage attractions, Walton & Lester, The World's Worst and has really staged some clever ideas. Wizards have added a few new ex* * * posures to their "Muddling Magicians" Dr. Walford Bodie is back again in and are "touring." This is an act that the Stoll fold, and has been doing a big would do well in America, but the business almost every where.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The Franko Brothers, the Midget Magicians are "doing it" along the Macnaughten Circuit. Their act is well' presented and as they hold contracts for a long time to come, there is nothing more to say regarding them. * * * Lieut. Albini (no relation to Herbert Albini the Magician who made the egg bag famous in America) is presenting "The Lady in Black " He was at the Blackpool Hippodrome for se\eral weeks.

79

to, and that any illusionist could produce a ghost when you have to sit down in the audience and watch it. Mr. Maskelyne will certainly force the issue, and claims that if he is not handed over that £1000, he will go to the courts for it. The battle ought to be interesting. The present effect is that Maskelyne again has a "money-making" performance. The London Express October 9th has a full column of the affair, and in this

MASKELYNE MATERIALIZES A £J,OCO GHOST

Mr. J. N. Maskelyne and Archdeacon Colly are now the talk of England. Maskelyne claims that he has produced a "Ghost" as per the stipulations of Mr. Colly, but right here these gentlemen differ. Archdeacon Colly claims that his conditions were not adhered

column Archdeacon Colly, makes a statement that his last letter was not read or published, in which he wishes to have the "Ghost" appear with a committee of six and a referee. If the "Ghost" will appear under the same conditions that it appeared to

80.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

poses HI the library of Harry Houdini. * * * Playfair & Nikola are also doing a paper tearing act being billed as Papiero-graphists. * * * Melot Hermann is still in the Provinces and making money. It is not very well known that Carl Edward Pollak booked him, and only on the strength of the "Real Flowers from the Hat Trick." Melot has been saving his money and soon will be able to retire to his beloved France, and "do" nothing at all. Madame Melot has some very gorgeous costumes, and is a very capable assistant. Melot carries a huge bank lock, * * -jf which he hangs on the door of his dressJ. F. Burroughs of Birkenhead, Eng- ing room, and insists that the stage be land, is soon to publish a book in which kept clear while he is on; I never saw will be reproduced all the programmes a magician that tried to keep his tricks of the various magicians from 1868 up so secret. I hear one time in Prag, to 1606. We are awaiting its appear- Austria, he threatened a fireman with a knife, for refusing to vacate his spot ance, and hope it will "make good." on the stage. Melot was fined, and es* * * caped by saying that he only said it in At the same time we find in Blackpool, Yettanah a Japanese Magician at "fun." He is worthy of being brought the Hippodrome and Roberto, Sleight of to America, and will show us Americans how to do the Flag trick. Hand adept at the Gaiety. * * * ! * * * t Curtis Leo is gradually rising in the Mint & Mart are introducing a novel World of magic. He has combined paper tearing act, and with this alone Juggling with magic, and if his magic have made a very interesting show. But I wonder if they have ever seen Morton improves as much as his juggling, he and Elliot? What would Old Man King will be hard to beat as a necromancer. * * * the Paper King of the Dime Museums The Variety Artists Federation has have to say? Wonder where the old gentleman is, have not heard of him been debating for months past on that in many a year. He was at one time most important subject, "The Quietus of supposed to be the greatest paper tearer the Tipping System" and it seems that in the world: He personally informed from January 1, 1907, the Tipping Habme that he had invented the paper fold- it will receive a blow in the solar plexus. ing feat, but as years rolled on, I found They maintain that the wages are not as out that he was "Josshing" me, for the good as they ought to b* for the lower trick or pastime is described in the class of workers in the Music Halls, 1 f>35 edition of Hocus Pocus which re- and that by entirely abolishing the tipArchdeacon Colly under the guidance of Dr. Monck years and years ago, then the money will certainly have to he paid. All I have to say is that this affair is creating a good deal of "Free Advertising" and as to the outcome? * * * well we must wait and see. * * * There is a young man over here calling himself "Melrose" The Mystic, who has some novel ideas; he has had a special safe constructed into which he is locked, and after a short space of time manages to make his escape. He has a partner, "Paul" and they claim that between themselves they can open any safe in England.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

SI

ping system, it will make things more We Hereby Introduce to Our agreeable all around. It is alright to tip Readers Herr Ottolcar Fischer. a man that assists or helps you in any part of your performance, but when you have to tip the man that "saw you come in," then it is not pleasant. Personally it does not affect me one way or the other, but I am thinking of the poor little "few pounds per zveck pro" (that actually cannot afford to tip them )as he leaves the stage door. Many indeed have I seen sneak out like a thief in the dark, simply because they could not see their way clear to tip all the "Handshakers" as they bade them good bye. * * * De Biere the Magician who has made From Our Own Special Viennese a host of friends by his very gentlemanly Correspondent, Herr Ottokar Fischer. manner, seems to be afflicted with the This gentleman has gone to the exsame disease that has attacked his supe- treme trouble of learning to speak the rior Goldin. He may have to get his English Language so that he can conhat especially made or else get some one verse with the English Speaking Magito read an English book to him, the title cians whenever they visit Austria; and of which might be "Rules on Etiquette," we think it only right that our readers or "Who Hit Him With a Club?" He should become acquainted with Mr. begged me to introduce him to Mr. Fischer in his right vein, and so will Harry Day, the Agent, and after doing publish his letters just as he sends them so, was offered work by Mr. Day at De lo us. Biere's asked-for salary. >k % % Did De Biere accept? Certainly not, Vienna, Austria. he returned them and added insult by Editor of Conjurers' Monthly Magazine: writing a most uncalled for letter to Mr. Austria formerly was a classical counDay, informing him that he would not try of magicians, and many celebrated accept work from his Agency at lioo names in the magical world have emanper week!! De Biere, don't do things ated therefrom, or have lived there. I so unworthy of yourself, as by such ac- will mention the world-famed Compars tions one readily loses even steadfast Herrmann, who by American Conjurers friends. persistently is called Carl and to whom * * * some American Magicians by main force Regarding my letter in which I men- will be related, although Compars Herrtion Oswald Williams, the man that ad- mann never had any brothers or sisters; vertises nine illusions in a minute and or Ludwig Dobler, who was the darling a half, it is reported to me that his as- of many "crowned houses" ; then Dr. J. sistants look so much like him that after N. Hofzinser, the most eminent conjurer he makes his various changes the audi- with cards, whose card tricks have not ence does not know what has happened. been surpassed by anyone to this day;

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

further Kratky-Baschik, perhaps the most popular magician, whose name has become proverbial in Europe's later time; furthermore Haselmayer, one of the few magicians who—in later time— traversed the world in all directions and who was one of the first to give performances in the wildest Australia; and so on: men, who are dead now and whose names for the present generation more or less are unknown or forgotteji... The times have changed! Austria, that once produced conjurers itself, is very glad when now and then, some magician of reputation favors it with a visit. There are two or three more special Austrian magicians who are able to give "twohour performances" in fine style: foremost is Chevalier Ernest Thorn, who now is playing in Music Halls with his great magical act, "One Hour in Dreamland" ; others on Music Hall stages of Austrian birth are A. Fredmar, Alfred Freiherr von Kendler, The Great Roland, Karl Krause, etc. I am informed that Imro Fox, too, is an Austrian, but some say he was born in Braunschweig.

Our Vienna four Varieties opened their season September 1, but nowhere as yet is a magical number to be seen. In my next letter I will introduce to our readers the celebrated Chinese magician Theo. Okito, who is now doing sensational things in Europe. . Ottokar Fischer. * * * Vienna, Austria, (Jet. 30, 1906. Editor Conjurers' Monthly Magazine: The first number of C. M. M. found here an enthusiastic reception. No wonder ! Its free and intrepid speaking surprised everybody and it is no doubt, that the C. M. M. soon will rise to be the leading magical paper. I've the pleasure to congratulate you to this meritorious success.

In Vienna we have a permanent Magical Theatre which was founded about 33 years ago by the above mentioned magician, Kratky-Baschik. This Theatre is the largest establishment of its kind in the world. I will be pleased to give you in one of my next letters a short story of this Theatre, for I guess it will interest our readers, will it not? Of course, there are many "Amateurs" in Austria and especially in Vienna. I met Amateurs in the most distant and smallest places, but there are very few, who are really clever. By degrees I shall make known to my American confreres An old French print of the "Taschenour best Professionals and Amateurs and spieler" showing the complete outfit he hope to make a way for an intellectual carried from place to place. relationship between American and AusFrom the collection of Ottokar trian lovers of magic. Fischer.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. At first some words against Mr. Osey's opinion, according to which the German signification "Taschenspieler" for magicians is to be derived from the fact, that the old time magicians played "von den Taschen," concealing their apparatus in the pockets of the clothes. The old time conjurers had no occasion to conceal something in their pockets, for the old, tightly fitting necromancercostumes probably had no pockets at all. When you remember what clumsy apparatus the old time magicians were using, you can imagine that no one of them could be concealed in any pocket. Sleight of hand work was quite unknown and all the old magicians were not able to let disappear a large object without using their table or a complicated apparatus. Most often a secret "aid" was hidden behind, or better still in the table and executed from there all the wonders. I remember a comic episode during a performance of such a magician, Bergherr by name. B. was often absent-minded. Once a watch had to disappear: he should have put it on the table, close by the trap or hole, and cover it with a cover. In his abstraction Bergherr put the watch in the middle of the table and continued the trick in the accustomed way, when suddenly a hand rose out of the table, and fumbled for the watch; of course without finding it. But this absence of mind of our "professor" had a disagreeable consequence. Many ladies, seeing the "ghost-hand," swooned away and the performance had to be interrupted, till the ill ladies were removed. I think there is another, more correct explanation of the expression "Taschenspieler." Formerly there were many people who crossed the world with no other trick, but the "Cup and Ball trick." They transported a stand on their back.

83

the cups and the balls being in a large pocket (Tasche), which was fastened in the front of the bod)-. Arriving somewhere, the stand was very soon put up, giving a simple, but efficient conjuring table and the performance could be opened. Of course the large pocket was used also like a "Servante" on our modern conjuring-tables. I have the pleasure to send you a very rare picture of such a wandering conjurer, to show you the whole arrangement. These people were called also "Publik-Spieler." And now let us go to present times. Yesterday our Varieties changed the programmes, but to my regret this month too I had not the pleasure of meeting any magician in them. At Colosseum Miss Norton, with her Chemical Wonders is doing big. America's "funniest Juggler," Wieland was prolonged a month more at Ronachers, which is a good sign for him. December ist, Thorn will open at Ronachers. According to my promise, today I'll acquaint my American confreres with one of the most interesting European magicians, who everywhere is sensational : namely Theo Okito, whose real name is Theo Bamberg, - was born in Amsterdam on July 15th, 1875. He is-the 6th generation of magicians, all bearing the same name. The first conjurer of the Bambergs was Eliazer Bamberg, then follows his son Edward. Then Edward's son David Leendcrt, then his son Tobias. Then Tobias' son David Tobias, who is still living and at last his son our Theo. Theo had always very much interest for the magical line of business even when quite a youngster; of course that was only very natural, as the magical blood was running pretty freely through his veins. He started to work for the first time before the public when he was

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

13 years of age. There is no need to father he worked as "Smallest conjurer assure anyone that lie felt very proud of the world" until he was about 17 years as he met with unbounded success. To of age. Then he started to practice as crown all, he received a command to Shadowgraphist and in one year he was appear before Her Most Gracious able to give an entertainment of 2 and Majesty Emma, The Queen Mother of one half hours, consisting of Conjuring and Shadows. And so Theo went travelling several years through Holland and Belgium, alone with only the aid of an assistant and Pianist.

fheo. Bamberg, known as Okito; the only magician who can prove with documentary evidence that his ancestors were magicians. Holland and her daughter Princess Wilhelmina, now present Queen of Holland. Under the protection of his

Once, unfortunately, when swimming, some water got into his ears. This caused him great inconvenience, as he could never hear as well thereafter, and it was very difficult for him to ask questions on the stage, for he could not hear the answers very well. So he decided to go on the Music Halls and do a dumb show. He chose for his purpose a "Chinese Act." Theo is travelling with his own stage-outfit, which is the most elegant you can imagine. His show up to the present time has turned out very successfully and he is continually enlarging the same. Most of his tricks are invented by himself and made by his own hands. Till now Okito has toured the following countries successfully: Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. Next year he starts a tour through the United States of America and many of my dear confreres will find the opportunity to admire this really eminent artist. OTTOKAR FISCHER.

85

THK CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

FROM THE PRESS

WISE , AND

OTHERWISE BY Harry Handcuff Hotidim .

KHALDAH'S SECOND SIGHT The New York World, October 28, 1906, has a full page article which is •signed by some man who calls himself •"Khaldah," and professing to be an "Egyptian, he goes on to expose all the tricks of which he can -think and some of them in a most bungling manner. He • does not expose them purposely in a bungling manner for he issues a few challenges to people to do certain things that he cannot explain. Well we don't know what his "Graft" is but he must "have some "Graft" or else he would not tell you at the finish of his article of a wonderful trick that he does, which he will not explain for fear his "Society friends" (we should call them dupes) will not be interested in his work. If he exposed his tricks, and then •gave a few plausible explanations of other tricks, well and good, but he commences to tell you how great his eyesight is, and that he can tell you what any man is writing by simply watching the top of the lead pencil. Either that page is a "Paid Advert." or we must give him credit of getting a full page free for advertising purposes. He tells you that magicians can swell up their hands and feet, while being tin], and when wishing to free them-

selves, simply contract their muscles, and in this manner manage to slip out. l\ol, with a capital "R." In his explanations of second sight, he informs you that it is done by the manner in which the words are accented. Perhaps he is trying to show you how the Zan Zics do their work, if so he fails ignominiously, or purposely. Khaldah : s pictured holding up a bill, signalling the number "4" showing four finger? on the outside of bill? I presume when he reads a lot of numbers, his fingers will have to move as if he had "St. Vitus Dance!" To free yourself from rope after being tied by your committee, lie instructs you to cut yourself free. And when one stops to think of all the easy methods in existence, by which you do not even have to strain yourself to escape from rope bondages, his expose is "worthless." We read with childish glee that he is writing a book on "Psychology." Tf it is written as clear and lucid a 5 this one page article, then it will be a "good" book—"good" for nothing. * * * RUBBISH. A copy of an English monthly catalogue has just reached our hands in which G the errand-boy-clerk, posing as editor, tries to give a brief maliciously erroneous history of the handcuff performance and being ashamed to use

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

his own name has the article signed with that of a weakling's who is an amateur magician, and so besmirches his manhood. This errand-boy-clerk using tactics of a confidence man long has made a living selling the "Houdini Handcufif Secret," and for this giving two keys and • a pair 'of handcuffs (as described in September issue of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine) for any amount he could obtain from the deluded amateur, and actually demanded £5 (25.00) for showing how to knock the handcufif open on a plate of lead on your knee. He has written several articles against the handcuff act, and says it is all "Fake;—" Why? Simply because his sluggish narrow-minded brain cannot conceive of anyone knowing more than he does. Why a legitimate firm should employ a man of this calibre to further their interests is hard to surmise, and if they are seeking to make friends with the Conjuring world, they ought to have a well-informed, educated gentleman look over the writings of G and omit deliberate lying and misstatements; for they are directly responsible, even if an attempt is ma'de to place the blame on an amateur's shoulder.

ANSWERS TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS Stoltz. We cannot vouch for the honesty of party mentioned. Have known him as a petty grafter for years. Be careful. * * * Frisco Cardster. No, certainly not. Thurston is simply a clever card manipulator, and can throw a single card as far as it has ever been thrown in a theatre; but he is not the greatest that ever lived. We know several that are superior to him in many card sleights. The greatest Card

Trickster that ever drew the breath of life was the Viennese Hofzinser, whose tricks when done even to-day are the best ever. * * * Leipzig Letter. No, Carl Willmann has never sold us any trunk trick. * * * W. Friedlander. Herman Mellini is still living in Hannover, Germany. If you wish to write him, address your letter to Koenigstrasse 39, Hannover, Germany, as he lived there when we last visited Hannover. He has retired and has sold his theatre to Herr Lolgen, who once ran a mediocre theatre in Cologne, Rhineland. * * * Edward Hart. Received letter and will have to answer personally. The matter is of such a nature that it will require too much space. * * * Raymond Handcuffer. Allegheny. We await that letter of protest. Will certainly publish same. * * * Admirer but Copyist. According to our contracts we will not remain in America more than one season. It is doubtful if we will ever play return dates, as we now cry "Enough!" * * * J. Caroly , Paris. We have answered your long letter by first steamer. * * * Punch Wheeler. Received postal from Mexico City. Thanks. * * * Russel. No! the Original Dexter is not the Dexter that is now in this country and who was engaged as lecturer in Huber's Museum. The Original Dexter is now manager of a Music Hall in Oldham, England. He was always supposed to be a clever magician. The Dexter at Huber's Museum has worked numerous mystery acts from Silent Second Sight to Box and Handcuff mysteries. I guess you can call on him and he will give you the required information. There is another Dexter in Bradford, England, whose right name is Dexter, but at one time he used the name Hanneman. He was once interested in Handcuffs, but

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. when we last heard from him, he had the religious craze and was preaching on the streets of Bradford, and telling bis hearers of the wicked things he did while he was a so-called Handcuff King. * * * Liverpool itc. No, poor "Hanco" committed suicide. His right name was Theodore Bernstein. He killed the goose that Iayed the Golden egg, by exposing his entire performance, so when he had played once around, the managers could not reengage him. * * * Ardie Weichers. The trick you have sent to us is not new as you state, and if you invented it, this is the rirst time we are aware of it. The trick has been explained in several books and magazines, and was called "The Magic Bat." Please be careful when sending tricks, so as not to have things conflict with material that has appeared in other places. If you are the originator of the trick, kindly let us know, and we will publish same as "original"' with you. * * * Dr. Emil Bories. Thanks for your letter, hope you will always like the magazine, as we will try and keep it on a "square'' footing. *

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Browning. We do not know the present address of ''Milwaukee Rapp." If you mean Augustavus Rapp, his permanent address is Hesperia, Mich. *

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Edgbert Brooklyn. That is a hard thing for us to decide, there are many performers that excel in certain branches of Magic. In our estimation the best all-around performer living to-day is Servais Leroy. In the last few years he has certainly earned the reputation of having placed some very good performances before the Magic-loving World. We cannot say if they are all his inventions. The Duck Hunt cannot be the invention of any living magician, as the trick is on the programmes of some of the old timers. These programmes we shall reproduce from time to time. »

Chung Lung

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•

(Robinson)

Soo. Bolton,

England.—We are waiting for the package, and hope to receive it in good order. Hope

you do as well with your own show on return dates as you did on your first visit. Take our advice and be careful of your "Bullet Catching Trick" as your method is certainly daring. How are your teeth and let us know if that newly discovered "Toothgrower" you have is worthy of publication. * * * Ike Ruse, Saharet.—Have mailed you book and information asked for. Met Max Berol, being on same bill with him in Cincinnati at Columbia Theatre. From his account, things in Germany are as "Easy" for you, as they have been in a lung time. Menetekel is doing fine. « • • H. J. Slocum, M. D., Eagle Station, Ky.~ We can cheerfully recommend Rotcrberg's "New Era Card Tricks" as being among the "Best Ever" on this subject: although at the time of its publication we were greatly slighted, we must give credit to whom credit is due. * * * • Frank Lindsley, Cincinnati, Ohio.-—Thanks for your letter, if you are as good a magician as you are a penman you certainly must be a wonderful entertainer. *

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Edward Marschel, Providence.—You are economical with the truth and we could u = e words of various natures to strengthen our assertions but then "What's the use?" for your whole letter is a deliberate falsehood. * * * Truth Seeker.—No you are really right. The reproduction of "Conjurer Swallowing Man Alive" on page 42, October issue, was purchased by us in Bonn, Germany, and is supposed to have taken place in Prag, Bohemia, in the presence of Kaiser Wenzeslaus, who was a great lover of Magic, and always had a regular "set" of Magicians on hand to entertain his guests. By looking carefully on the reproduction you will observe that one of the guests, cannot withdraw his head from the window, as this "Conjurer" has with the aid of his Magic Art placed a pair of Antlers on the head of the guest looking out of the window) and he is hrld in that position. The horns are easily seen on the engraving, and being rushed for time, we failed to make note of this when cut was reproduced. We personally gathered our material in Germany, and shall in the future give destinations of the source of the material reproduced.

as

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

a highly prosperous one. They are advertising "Everything new but the title," which is the "Flight of Princess Iris." * * * Chefalo the Italian Magician played a week in Pittsburgh at the Grand Opera House. If he will cut out that rapid talk which is delivered so fast that the audience cannot understand what he is "driving" at. he will greatly improve his performance. His routine of tricks are well placed. Madame Chefalo will shortly appear as assistant for her husband. * * * Charles Carter & Company were head liners at the Olympic Theatre, Cincinnati, and created a very good impression. The hit of his entertainment is his wonderful "Gift of Talk." That always has been his stronghold, and we have seen him entertain an audience with a trick, and have them in roars of laughter, by simply "telling 'em the tale." He has written a book, "Carter's Magic and Magicians," the preface of which alone is worth Hellmann continues to please on the Krith the price asked for the book. Tour. * * * * * * Henry Siebert the Magician that once Ziska and King had a return at their Old "hailed" from Chicago, has now settled down Chicago Theatres. They were going to sep- in his native "village," Elmwood Place, Ohio, arate several times, but up to the present are and has one of the swellest hotels outside of still together and doing an exceptionally Cincinnati in that State. He is still interested clever act. The Comedian is good, but did in Magic, and we believe him when he says, you know that you have to have a good "Once a Magician, always a Magician." "Straight" man to act with you as a foil, and * * * Ziska certainly looks his part; this a;ds things Charles E. Griffen has just closed a most all around. successful season of two years with the Buf* * * falo Bill Show on the Continent and has made Hornmann is with the Carl Hagenbeck preparations to return to America. Greater Shows which are gathering in the * * * Cities of Texas and Arkansas during October The Sa Heras played Keeney's Theatre, and September. Brooklyn, some time ago and made more than • * • "good." This is saying a great deal as MysThe Floyds, Lyceum Magicians, opened tery acts find it hard to work the Press. But their season October 15. They have thirty- . Sa Hera was very successful. * • • one weeks booked solid for the American Lyceum Union. This is their fifth season Mystery Acts certainly are booming! with the Union. The company consists oi' * * * Professor Floyd, Magician and Illusionist; Anna Eva Fay featured at the Grand Opera Mrs. Floyd (Mohala), Mind reader, and Lewis House, Pittsburgh, and did well. L. Allard, Musical Director. They present a * * * two hour program, and are booked in the The Fays springing up now and then leading "Star Courses" in twenty-eight States. creating a sensation. * * * * * * Mildred and Rouclere under the manageGranet and Herbert are also springing up ment of John M. Hickey are playing to a great after them and exposing the act. We hear business, and it seems as if this season will be that they are booked on the Keith tour. Lockliart, Oxford, Ind.—Only too pleased to hear from you any time. You are the first one-armed Magician of whom we have any record. In 1713 there lived a German named "Buchinger," who had no hands or feet, but managed to give exhibitions with Cups and Balls, Doves, Birds, etc. Will reproduce his portrait in due time, as it is of rare interest. * * * Chevalier Thorn, Nurmberg.—Posters received. Will keep you informed as to the party looked for. * * * Several letters remain to be answered in next issue.

Jottings and

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Mene Tckcl is the Star attraction of the Orpheum Road Show. * * * When we say "Mene Tekel" we mean Mr. and Mrs. Berol, also William Berol. * * * The Mysterious Howard Brothers are a recognized feature, and have plenty of time booked. * * * George W. Hussey has gradually worked his way into the front ranks of the "Ventriloquists," and with the assistance of his young wife, who is a clever musician is pre;enting a rather pleasing and diversified performance. * * * Gus Leonard comedy Magician is on his way towards Frisco. We think he makes that place his home. *

•

*

Leigh of Latimore and Leigh gave us a social call during our stay in Pittsburgh. They have out a dramatic show, and Leigh is now a real live actor, and fast becoming a matinee idol. *

•

•

Leo the Illusionist is taking a vacation in Detroit, Mich. *

•

*

Harrison L. Davies of Detroit, Mich., is rapidly obtaining a good name as a "Man of Mystery." * * * Why have the Zancigs kept their engagement at the Alliambra, London, England a secret ? Are they ashamed of the way they treated Harry Day, whom they used as a convenience? « * * Major Zamora the Triple jointed wonder and his Mysterious Bottle of Bass's ale is no more and he is now travelling about as a sort of a "Turtle-boy" and has a full beard.

Social Session of the S. A. M. The first social gathering of the S. A. M., held at the Magical Palace, 493 Sixth Avenue, New York, since the regular annual dinner occurred November 3, 1906, following the regular meeting of the society which was called to order by HI. President, F. J. Werner. The attendance was one of the largest in the history of the organization and the

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pleasing program and tasty refreshments put everyone in good spirits and surely will cause pleasant remembrances for sometime to come to those that were present ; having amply repaid the committee by its success, this affair will be an incentive for others in the future as it conclusively proves the wisdom of bringing together/ the members and their wives and friends in social sessions. 111. Martinka was especially careful to entertain the ladies and kept them interested in the many things he had to show them. The entertainment: nrnner consisted of a varied program, the participants being Mr. A. J. Rehbein presenting Flag Tricks, Mr. M. Linnett, Water and Wine Tricks, Mr. Hal Merton, Ventriloquism, Mr. Brainerd Phillipson, Card Tricks and a portrayal of the Idiot and Thimble, Mr. Charles Roltaire, Paper Tearing Tricks. Among the many present of the members and friends were: Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Werner, Mr. and Airs. G. S. Tipson, Mr. and Mrs. E. Phillipson, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Ransom, Mrs. H. C. Shipman, Mrs. William Canhum. The Misses Zue McClary, L. Trebour, Sheeliy, L. Carroll, Freda Metzel and Eschenbach. Messrs O. S. Teale, Adrian Plate, W. A. Ransom, A. J. Rehbein, William M. Linnett, Harry J. Kline, S. R. Ellison, M. D., F. E. Vander Veer, M. D., J. L. Mott, M. H. Winans, Charles Roltaire, G. G. Lauyreyns, Anthony Rotunno, M. C. Morris, R. G. Farrell, Hal Merton, F. L Holly, F. Hendschall, Richard L. Phillips, Brainerd Phillipson, W. G. Von Gemmingen, Tyson Kline, L. B. Wright, Milton C. Farrell, J. Ellra Canhum, Clifford Walker, Waring, Sabin, Karlmann. Quad, Long, Van Dine and Hagan.

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Our Mail Bag Under this column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one that you wish. Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for our correspondents' opinions. going to call for and had the cards all Brooklyn, N. Y. fixed, "But one of those sleight of hand GENTLEMEN : I enclose you check for five dollars for which enter my name actors once let me take a pack of cards on your subscription list for five years, right in my hand and pick one out, and commencing with your initial number after I had shuffled it up in the rest of of the "Conjurers' Monthly Magazine." the pack, he put the pack back into the Wishing vou success in abundance in glass and By Gosh! that same card came your new enterprise and in hopes that right up."—So there you are.Years ago when beginning to learn I may still be among the living when my turn comes to renew my subscrip- something for magic I was taught to fix up many of the tricks by my employer tion for another five years, I remain, E. C. Taylor, the magician and gift show Very Sincerely Yours in M. U. M., T. FRANCIS FRITZ. man, once well known in the West. He * * * made a fortune and I have not heard Nadeau, Mich., Oct. 15, 1906. from him in twenty years. One of his MY DEAR EDITOR : Your initial copy tricks was the rising cards with the folwas received and I am sure the Con- lowing elaborations—there was a crystal jurers' Monthly Magazine will be con- clock with base and rod having the sidered a valuable addition to the publi- numbers on it; another crystal dial suscations of like character. pended by two cords with the four suits I am, and have for years been giving on it; one glass bell on rod and base, a one man show, consisting of Magic, and another larger bell hanging from a Ventriloquism, I l l u s t r a t e d Songs, single cord; then there was a goblin Travelogues Talks with Views and drum suspended from two cords and Moving Pictures, Marionettes and tied to a wire fastened on opposite sides Character Work—visiting the same of the hall, so that the drum hung over places once a year and remaining from the head of the audience; whenever we four days to one week, which establishes could get overhead we had a common the fact that I manage to please the string hung from the ceiling and on the people. I find the old tricks done with end of the string a tin fruit can, with dash and good comedy go just as well lid off, the string was fastened to the as the carefully-prepared-time-taking- can by means of two holes in the bottricks, as for instance—take the latest tom of it. After all this, four half dolmethod of the rising cards from the lars were supposed to take part in the glass—any card coming up as called for effect as they bounced up and down in —I overheard a man saying to some a goblet. Four cards were selected and friends that I knciv what they were duly deposited in the glass from whence

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

they rose at command. All these things were used to find the cards; the two bells, the clocks, the drum, and the tin can with its hollow weird plunk! plunk! They would work singly and in pairs and I have had the clock hands spin in wild confusion—the drum roll frantically—the bells ring for dear life—the coins jump merrily—and the tin can plunk! plunk! all at once in answer to some question relative to some young man or fair one in the audience being in love. Then again in those old clays we had the Rose Tree, Rooster, Frankenstein Mystery and scores of other tricks that would not be one, two, three in the cities; and that is why I stay where there are millions who eat up the good old magic (when done well) and let the big cities alone. I am satisfied with a good fair income. Yours truly, F. C. HIGGINS.

* * * London, Fng. J. D. Bardelle, a young man aspiring to become a notable Handcuff King, undertook what to my mind was a foolhardy trick; he allowed himself to be handcuffed and legironed and then passed into a cage containing 3 Bears, 2 Hyenas, and 5 Wolves, all being considered safe, and not in anyway vicious. He succeeded for sometime in releasing himself from the Irons until in Newport he was fastened by a member of the audience, and entered the cage; no sooner had he done so, when one of the Wolves named "Prince" sprang up and caught him by the neck; however, the wolf was beaten off by the aid of two attendants and Bardelle made his escape from the den. Since that time his name has not come to my notice. Jack Clempert, a Russian, up to a

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short time ago performed the Handcuff King Act. When first he came to this country, he challenged the Public at Wrestling, and was a "paid wrestler" (receiving a weekly salary) for Georges Hackenschmidt, who used him as a sort of a "come-on" or "booster" and would wrestle with him, as if he were a real opponent. Hack would pretend that he had a hard task, but would eventually throw Clempert. If the truth were known, Hackenschmidt could have thrown his man in less time then it takes to tell it. * * * Later Clempert tried the Handcuff Trick, undertaking to escape from Regulation Cuffs and Legirons only; whilst in Stockport at the Grand he was challenged by a gentleman to escape from a rope ; he accepted the challenge and on June 4, 1904, was duly fastened with rope only; he entered his cabinet and emerged from it at the end of 15 minutes, being unable to release himself of any of the bindings, and was released by the challenger. He next undertook the act which ended with such disastrous results in February, 1903, with a Circus at that time showing at a town called Rochdale in Lancashire; he was as usual handcuffed with a pair of handcuffs behind his back whilst on a platform and the rope duly placed around his neck, the trap fell and he dropped, but to the amazement of the audience and manager he failed to give the usual sign, he was also black in the face and neck; the manager rushed to cut him down and found him unconscious; the doctors ordered his removal to the Infirmary where he lay a considerable time before being able to return to his professional life, but he never again renewed the act which so nearlv ended

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his life. I might say that he is not the originator of this act: "Cardona" introduced it 9 years ago and has performed the same to this day without having to seek medical aid; he undertakes to be pinioned in the regulation manner and takes the drop up to the distance of 15 feet in the same manner as used in this country for Capital Punishment. Clempert in August, 1904, joined Mrs. W. Warren's Menagerie, well known in London and on the Continent, and was performing the strong man act and the remodelled Handcuff trick and sailed with them for India. Hanco, I saw in Manchester, Stockport, Dunenfield & Eccles; at the latter place he worked the screwed up Box Trick; the Carpenters who made the Box for him screwed it up after he had entered, and it was carried into the "cell-like" cabinet. He was 53/2 minutes in making his appearance, the box was brought out and shown to the audience and appeared to be the same as when he entered, I stepped up to examine it, and accidently kicked one end, when to my surprise it opened inward, showing it was only held in place by a screw entering about one-eighth of an inch: thus proving the trick to be a fraud. H. S. BURKETT.

Harpings From Hayman The one absolutely important and interesting topic that is being discussed by conjurers and the profession in general, is the really startling and very unique idea of Servais Le Roy & Co.; namely that of giving a three hour entertainment, in a sort of mystical magical melodrama, entitled, "Lady Kinton's Necklace;" a full supporting company has already been engaged. I am advised that at the termination of Le Roy Talma & Bosco's enLONDON, ENGLAND:

gagement at the Alhambra, Paris, active rehearsals will immediately begin. It will be a connected story with a few melodrama embellishments, and will bind together many of Le Roy's best illusions. As the idea was presented to me, I venture to say the entertainment will be on the style of Maskelyne & Cook's shows, but on a much larger scale. I wish Le Roy every success, as he is really one of the few inventive geniuses, who is blessed with the brains to put on neiv illusions and tricks, and has the money and business ability with which to carry them out. Le Roy is responsible to my mind for the majority of the so-called American illusionists, who steal his brains and tricks,, and then brazenly perform the same in houses ere Le Roy ever reaches them; and I know of two cases where they have even tried to have his tricks patented, so as to prevent Le Roy from doing his own: in a later article I shall mention dates and facts, at present I borrow the words of the illustrious Greek poet, and say "enough is enough and too much is plenty." * * * An illusionist by name Nero Bianco, is appearing at the Brixton Empress, London, and is creating quite some comment. Abstract from newspaper: An element of novelty is infused into the programme by the illusions of Nero Bianco, which are presented in the shape of a sketch. A mysterious barrel has been found floating in the sea by a fisherman, who also discovers in the interior of a fish a roll of parchment which explains how a beautiful sea-nymph may be produced from the barrel. The idea is soon put into practice. Thin paper is placed over the top and bottom of the empty cask, a strong light reveals a figure moving within the barrel, and

THE CONJURERS' MOMTHLY MAGAZINE

presently a prepossessing maiden breaks the paper covering and steps forth. The lady is then placed inside a cabinet built up in full view of the audience, and afterwards raised several feet from the ground. The door of the box is then opened, and the lady is found to have disappeared, only to emerge immediately afterwards from among the audience. The illusions are smartly effected, and leave the audience in a pleasing state of bewilderment. * * * Maskelyne & Devant produced their latest effort at St. George Hall on September 3, they call it "Daylight Ghosts" and the programme tells us it is a comedy of terrors; in one scene, invented and written by J. N. Maskelyne and David Devant, the playlet has a neat plot, is splendidly acted, and tells the story of two lovers, by name Patricia and Charles, who are desperately in love with one another. The curtain rises disclosing the lovers in a summer house swearing eternal love; they are continually interrupted by a noisy old gardener who uses this summer house as a storeroom for his tools, and in order to keep him from them, the lovers invent excuses and stories which fail in their purpose as the gardener seems to know their object, and in his own way is having a good time; but the gardener has an aversion and fear of ghosts, which being known to the lovers, they determine as a last resort to employ this knowledge to keep the gardener away from themselves ; so they tell him that the summer house is haunted by an old gardener, since dead, who mistreated and starved a poor cat to death, and as a penalty for this he is denied the usual eternal rest, and his ghost with that of the cat's and Patricia's grandmother

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haunt the summer house; the lovers then proceed to impersonate the ghosts and with the assistance of the other characters, much comedy ensues while they disappear and appear in rapid succession from the summer house, using it as you would a cabinet. At this point a committee is invited from the audience to inspect the house, and after so doing, they remain on the stage, and watch the summer house, and as is the case with all eagle-eyed committees, they see—nothing; as the elder Hermann used to remark, "the closer you watch, why! the closer you watch." Mr. J. B. Hazzard as the gardener is a splendid actor and comedian. Besides a Japanese juggler, wire walker, pianist, monologues and impersonations, the capital program was rounded out by Mr. David Devant, who was assisted by his sister Dora, in a second sight and mind reading act, that was extra good. A show on these lines ought to be a tremendous success financially and artistically in America, and some day some wide-awake conjurer will make name and fortune for himself by presenting it. JOE HAYMAN.

Howard Tlmrston has favored us with a postal card from China. He is on his way to India, and will have a run at the Theatre Royal, Calcutta, India. Rumor has it that Howard is making several fortunes in the Orient, and he has great prospects of making more money than any Magician that has ever "gone the route" through India.

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CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

New Notes About Robert Nickle MY DEAR HOUDINI : Permit me to give you a few items in regard to the late Robert Xickle: In the August number of "The Sphinx" Mr. Yost gave soinc information about this once popular Magician, which is correct, as far as it goes, but I think I can add a few important points to Mr. Yost's story,

nearly a year, opening at the Boylston Museum in Boston, May, 1882. He called me Albert Nickle, and introduced me as his nephew. He was a most brilliant entertainer both on and off the stage; the published pictures do not do him justice; the hair and mustache were of a light red; the mustache measured

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PH I L A D E L P H I A .

PA.,

Facsimile of Robert Nickle's letter-head, sent personally to W. E. Floyd who still retains possession of same. I first met Robert Nickle in Boston in nine inches each way, with goatee to February, :882. He advertised in one match, upon almost any other man this of the Sunday papers for pupils; I took would have looked ridiculous, but as he five lessons, and have always been glad was a very large man with a full face it that I did so, as he taught "Cup and gave him a striking appearance, and Balls," Different Ways of "Palming" were it not for his one failing he would and Card Manipulations, etc.; and by- undoubtedly have rivalled the greatest the-way, Mr. Nickle was thefirstoneartists of his time; he became very I ever saw do the front and back hand friendly and confidential with me, and palm with cards and coins. This was told me that his real name was Charles in 1882, long before Thurston or Downs Robert Nicholls, that he was born in were heard of. He said that I was his May, 1842, at the corner of Broome most apt pupil and he engaged me to street and the Bowery, New York. He act as his assistant, which I did for had been married twice (his first wife

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. was from Portland, Oregon), but whether she was living or dead I never heard him say ; his second wife died in 1880, and it was after her death that he took to drink. He told me that he had taken a young man from Philadelphia, (named Connely), who was the original Albert Nickle, and that he was dead, and in order to use the Lithographs that he had, lie called me Albert Nickle, as before stated. Robert Nickle told me that he was a "Knight Templar" and "an Elk." At one time he was a policeman in Troy, N. Y. His repertoire was not extensive. (The Chinese Rings, Egg Bag, Bird Box and Cage, and Card and Coin tricks) but, in these few he certainly excelled. He had a few "Feature experiments," such as "Fried Oysters served hot from a borrowed hat" and the production of a dozen glasses of beer, etc., which I may explain to you later, if you wish. W. E. FLOYD.

Chelsea, Mass., Oct. 29, 1906. : In my story about the late Robert Nickle there was one quite important point I forgot; that was that he had lost a part of his right thumb, and performed all of his work with the left hand. He told me that he lost his thumb on a paper cutter, while he was trimming a pack of cards to make "Strippers." * * * New York Clipper, Saturday, November 16, 1889, states: Prof. Robert Nickle, magician, died November 5, at Washington, D. C, after a short illness. His last engagement was at the Globe Theatre, Washington, week of October 28. He was said to have friends in Philadelphia, and relatives living at Portland, Oregon, but as yet, nothing has been learned from EXTRA

95

either city. His body was buried in Potter's Field. It is reported upon good authority that he had Elk and Masonic emblems upon his person when he died, but he was found to be in arrears for dues in both orders. FLOYD.

* * * Washington, D. C, Oct. 17, 1906. MY DEAR HOUDIXI : Your letter received and would say in reply I have at last found what you wanted, and enclose copy of Nickle death certificate; in your first letter you give the date as 1899, the second (1889) is correct. I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long, but I could not get the information until to-day. Best regards to all, wishing you success. Yours, BECKF.R. Copy of Certificate of Death. Health Office, District of Columbia. (Permit No. S., 69491). Mr. Robert Nickle. Age, 45 years. White. Married. Actor. Birthplace, New York. Residence, in District of Columbia, two weeks. Place of death, No. 305 10th street, North West. Cause of death: 1st Primary — Phthisis Pulmonalis. 2d Primary— Oedema and Asphyxia. Sick since October 21. Died November 5, 1889. Buried, November 7, 1889. Washington Asylum. Undertakers, Authorities. Dr. A. E. Sellhausen.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

is made by Hiatt, of Birmingham, Froggott of Boardsley and the one time Handcuff maker Fields. Strange, but almost all of the English cuffs are made in Birmingham or its vicinity. You will notice that when open it resembles a double W and when closed it resembles the figure eight; after it is locked you insert a small steel plug in the circular keyhole, and from this steel core or plug, I have named the cuff "Plug Eight." In fact I have really named every single cuff in the world today. And all of my imitators have (COPYRIGHT, I 9 0 6 , BY HARRY HOUDINI.) taken my "Tales" and names bodily, and The following material was first inwithout pretence of knowing why the tended for a book and was written by cuff is so called. the author, during his 7'our in Great You will note that the key to the Plug Britain in response to the thousands of Eight has two teeth at one end, this is letters received requesting light on the easy methods adopted by his numerous the end that unscrews the "Steel Plug." imitators. But not having had the re- After this "plug" has been removed, you quired time, the book was not published take the other end of the key, and insert but as it ^cms a fitting place in the Con- it into the key hole, and unlock the cuff jurers' Monthly Magazine, it will appear in by turning the key in various directions. Monthly instalments. In reading the va- Some are female cuffs, which turn from rious instalments, please bear in mind left to right, whilst others are the regulathat it was written to appear in book tion right to left "unlocking cuff." It is very easy to make a master for these form. cuffs, as all work on the same princiThis will be the most exhaustive ar- ple. ticle ever published on this peculiar mode One "Would-be author" in Germany, of entertainment. who resides in Altona, and who is said :\lso to be a magician and has writtpn Blunders of Some "Handcuff several pamphlets on Magic, has endeavExposers" and Light Thrown ored to write a pamphlet explaining my on Some Personal Foreign Handcuff secrets. Fights. If his Magic pamphlets are as insipid Chapter 3 Continued.) as the Handcuff pamphlet then I wonder Herewith is presented the "Plug how he ever managed to have a publisher Kit' mm [andcuff." This is an extraor- accept his manuscript. I have had some dir Sf broad one, was used in South very bad printed matter handed to me Africa during the Boer war, and they of foolish "piffle'' and "Tommy Rot" exsay the cuff is used on the Kaffir dia- plaining the Handcuff trick, but Herr H. mond thieves. No matter how heavy F. C. Suhr certainly is the limit; in fact the manacle may be, the locking arrange- only one man ever explained it in as bad ment is generally the same. This cuff a shape, and he is an Englishman who

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. sells some kind of a monthly Catalogue, which he puts before the public as a monthly paper. Suhr in his pamphlet

97

broke all records for paid admissions; opened at the Wintergarten, Berlin, for October, made such a sensation that the Management paid the Roanachers Establishment in Vienna a full month's salary in order to prolong my engagement another month; left for England and remained three months, returning to Germany for almost two solid seasons. Broke all records in 99 per cent of the cities I visited, and in Essen Ruhr played to such a sensational business, that ManThe "Plug Eight," showing cuff open, ager Schultz actually had the front doors torn down, so as to enlarge the holdclosed, key, and steel plug. ing capacity of the Colosseum. Never "Magische Tandeleien'' stumbles, blun- before or since have they ever played to ders and gropes in what is to him such business. With "Corty Althoff" I "Egyptian Darkness" and being unable played to such a phenomenal business to shed any light on the subject, his that he kept raising my salary so as to statements are of such a nature that he keep me longer, as thousands and thousomewhat resembles a man with a mania sands of marks were placed in the banks to publish a book and it matters not what to his account, which he will publicly he puts into it as long as he can fill it make statement was due to my "drawup. Among various statements, Suhr in ing powers," as all of his horses were a grandiloquent manner informs you that condemned in Gelsenkirchen, he had "Harry Houdini the American Hand- only three horses, and in Germany a cuff King who came to Germany does circus without horses is no circus; not merit his sensation. His work is my act is therefore solely responsible for simplicity itself. The only thing new his large "gate receipts." These statethat he brought over (for all he did was ments are simply made to prove that to warm up some old soup and hand it to Suhr is prejudiced and I wish my stateus) was the boastful American Bluff ments to be positively true. After the Advertising Methods; in this he ex- Wintergarten engagement, I played recelled us Germans. He was heralded as turn dates at increased salary at Dres'Wonderful' but the finish of this man den and Berlin, and in Hamburg, Leipafter all we Germans proved how simple zig, Frankfort on Main, Magdeburg, his work was, was that he could not get Dortmund, Bochum, Osnabruck, Coany more work, all his existing contracts logne, Mannheim, etc., etc., created were cancelled, and he had to sneak out my usual sensation. All this time the of Germany back into England." German Magicians were trying to copy In answer to this I say he is either my act, and all of them had one cuff making a deliberate and malicious mis- and two keys. This is the method that statement, or is in blissful ignorance of Suhr describes; "obtain the one English what has actually happened. cuff, and use two keys." In The "ConI arrived in Germany September 1900, jurers' Monthly Magazine," September opened at the Central Theatre, Dresden, Issue, you will find a full explanation

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. of their method of opening handcuffs. If I am not mistaken Suhr in a latter book actually displays his ignorance by illustrating the "Tower Double Lock Ratchet Cuff," and states with serious words "That this is a Chinese handcuff" !! Hilmar another German "Handcuffer" came on the stage in the Wintcrgarten, Berlin, and tried to "Do things to me" but he reckoned without his host. He claimed he could do things that no American could, and I placed a common pair of German cuffs on him and he actually rried and shed real tears for me

was unable to call his bluff until I returned. I wired him that I was coming bright and early and he informed me on my arrival that he had only allowed a certain time limit for me to accept. He showed me the handcuff, which was of the Ratchet type, and on seeing the manacle, I immediately offered him £100 ($500.00) if he could again get his "Moneyed-man" to make an appearance. But Herr Carl Willmann would not accept, and I think since calling his bluff, he has no longer been so boastful. He has treated me very nice since that time, but the truth must predominate. One morning I visited his establishment, being received by his son John, who challenged me to unlock the lock of his front shop door. John Willmann personally locked the door after I had stepped outside, and in less than two minutes I walked into the shop having unlocked the door. I noted the make of the "safe" they were using, and offered to "try" to oper» that also, but he was not willing until "father was in." In Cologne Rhine, I had a lawsuit The cuff from which the German Handcuff King Hilmar failed to escape; against the Police, which lasted one full year, and was successful in obtaining a Wintergarten, Berlin, November, 1900. public apology "by Command of Kaiser Wilhelm" as it had been stated that I to release him. Herr Carl Willmann was misrepresenting to the German Pubtook the spear up against me. I could lic. The case was appealed and fought neither speak or write as good a Ger- in all the highest courts in Germany ,b it man as I do now, and he made this I won in each instance. friendly ( ?) statement to me in a letter After all my battles in Germany, I which is in my possession: "You can't think that I earned a good rest; and am write or speak German; well if the Ger- glad to say on my next visit I was man's money is good enough for you treated very fine, and hope again to play to earn you ought to learn the Ger- engagements in that Country, as the man language." He challenged me work is now easy, and the public are a through his "Zauberwelt" and offered good natured sort of people, and treat 40,000 marks against my 20,000 if I you as a personal friend. would release myself from a handcuff I will illustrate the German cuff that that he had in his possession. Being in held Hilmar as I know that the cuff is England at the London Alhambra, I seldom seen here in America.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

A new British handcuff has been patented, since writing this article, which is supposed to be the invention of a Police Sergeant in Sheffield. While he may claim to be the inventor of this style lock in a cuff, I know positively that Nathaniel Clarkson of Halifax and Detective Sergeant Arthur Maine of Leicester had handcuffs like this in their possession several years ago; and before Sergeant Brooks had thought of the invention.

"Scotland Yard Adjustables." When playing in the Empire Palace in Sheffield I was challenged by Sergeant Brookes to escape from his invention, which up to that time he had not patented. As a Sheffield reporter happened to be at the performance that evening, I will only quote a few extracts from the newspaper. The Sergeant remaining in the audience sent his boy on the stage with his cuff, and instructed the bright lad to refuse to put the handcuffs on me unless I would allow them to be locked on my wrists behind my back. I consented to this and escaped in a fair and square manner by opening his cuffs. Extract from the Sheffield Daily Independent, Monday, May 2, 1904. * * * There was not even standing room and excitement

99

ran high as Houdini's turn approached. * * * Some eight men walked on the stage but the first pair of handcuffs Houdini selected he looked at carefully. He then turned to the audience and said he had been expecting this for some time. Turning to the young fellow from whom he had obtained the manacles Houdini said: "You are Inspector Brookes's son? This was not denied * * * Walking to the front of the stage Houdini suddenly wheeled and said: "These are Inspector Brookes's handcuffs" and he (Houdini) decided to have them on first. Houdini objected at first to having them fastened behind, but a man in the audience easily recognized (as Inspector Brookes) shouted: "Put them on behind or not at all." Submitting his hands to be fastened behind in about three minutes he came out free, with the handcuffs undone. From illustration you can see 'that they are shaped on the style of the cuff that I have named "Scotland Yard Adjustables." The new key instead of being threaded inside of the barrel, is threaded on the outside of the barrel. The difference is easily seen in illustration where the old style key is placed alongside the new key.

This invention is reaiiy better than the old regulation, as the majority of the old time cuffs you can open with a shoe string; by simply making a loop in the string, you can lasso the end of the screw in the lock, and yank the bolt back, and so open the cuff in as clean a manner as if opened with the original key.

To he Continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

100

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These serial articles will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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(Berliner Tageblatt, Sunday, Jan. 29, 1906) "Secret Hexentisch* is a small table covered with a black cloth, a nod of the Master "and the cover falls off to the stage. The table is small, can be examined bv any one of "the audience, and can be taken any distance from the Master. It answers all questions, "tells you the card selected, answers mysteriously by ringing of a bell, and will also per"form all its mysteries, even when the Master is taken in another room, eyes tied and "hand and feet secured so as to prevent any signals.

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finding

o u t i{

you are a success is to find out how much Advertising Rates Payable in Advance. jealousy and malice your success may have Discount on annual and semi annual contracts. aroused in the beings who are the mile-stones of the worst kind of life's failures. All communications must be addressed as * * * above. But an educated failure is more to be . , pitied than scorned. Material on all matters likely to be of interest * * * to our readers always sought for, manuscript T-, ,. , . ., . , . , , , ,, The police state that an educated rascal must be marked Payment" otherwise will be , . .. , , , , ,,„ , . * , , „ • , is the worst kind of a crook, used Complimentary." Manuscript to be re* * * turned must have ehclosed the required post . , , , , . , . ., r » F ^ And for those that gloat over the fact that the Handcuff Act has met its Waterloo, English Representative, Theo. Hardeen, care o r t h a t k h a s m e t i t s downward step, kindly of Anger & Bauer, 50 Rupert Street, London. r e a d Manager J, H. Moore's unsolicited letter in o u r M a i I B a W., England. S pages. * * * Correspondents abroad, T. Bolin, Moscow, So let all of us forget our hatred against Russia; O. Fischer, Vienna, Austria; James those that are more successful than ourselves, Leahman, Teheran, Persia, etc., etc. and extend them all a hearty Merry Christmas. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is not re* * * sponsible for the opinions of its correspondents. Our circulation is increasing every month, and if you wish to sell or buy anything, or The entire contents of the Conjurers' obtain information, try our advertising space. Monthly Magazine are protected by copy* * * right, and publishers everywhere are Thousands of people read the Conjurers' cautioned against reproducing any of the Monthly Magazine, and it is the best paying matter, either wholly or in part without advertising medium in the world today for any permission. magician or people that cater to a reputable mail order business. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is * * * for sale by all reputable dealers of ConAny one answering any of the advertisejuring Apparatus. ments in our columns, and failing to obtain full value for money sent, will favor us by Back numbers can be purchased by sending sending particulars so we can investigate each Ten Cents for each number. and every case.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

109

"tights," which, we suppose, are common to acrobats in all parts of the world. Concerning Both men and women are evidently ROBERT HOUDIN adepts at their work; and it was anMaterial collected personally by Harry Houdini nounced in the bill of the evening that they had once formed part of a cele(Published for the first time) brated company which was in the habit (COPYRIGHT, I906, BY HARRY HOUDINI.) of playing before the King of Oude at * * * When completed the articles under Lucknow. To this an oral statement this heading will be a sort of Encyclo- was added last night, to the effect that paedia of Magicians and their tricks dat- the jugglers had only just, arrived from ing back to 1080; in some monthly in- the East, and that they, had been obliged stallments Robert Houdin facts are to increase their ordinary rate of travelhardly mentioned which is due to the ing in order to arrive in time for last necessity of showing from where the ma- night's representation. terial and data were obtained to prove This announcement was received with all my claims ; but all material will form more applause than were the juggling a chain, each fact and date leading to tricks and acrobatic feats that were afthe other. It is impossible otherwise to terwards exhibited. But it was, in fact, prove my statements. much more remarkable that the circus company of the ex-King of Oude should (Continued) hasten their journey (whether overland * ** or by sea) in order to arrive at CoventIn 1868 a Troupe of Indians was garden Theatre on a particular evening, brought to London and exhibited at the at a particular hour, than that they Covent Garden. This Company con- should tumble, walk on their hands, and sisted of six females and twelve males: balance themselves on the slack rope I reproduce the original programme and neither more dexterously nor more quote from the Morning Post, February. gracefully than the posture-masters, con1868, as follows: tortionists, and rope-dancers of France and England. COVKNT-GARDEN THEATRE. Everything that the Indians did was While all sorts of rumors are bein« well done, but they were a long time circulated as to what is to be done at this theatre during the opera season, an doing it, a still longer time getting ready element of variety has been introduced to do it; nor did they attempt anything into the performances now taking place. that was really extraordinary. The A number of Indian acrobats and jug- chief juggler, as he seemed to be, after glers have been engaged, six of whom an immense deal of preparation, poured are said to be women, while the remain- a handful of dry sand into a basin of ing twelve are avowedly men. The al- water, and then took from out of the leged women are wrapped up in band- basin of water a handful of dry sand. ages, as if to prevent the bad effects that This, astonishing as it no doubt was, apmight otherwise be caused by the hor- peared, after all, but a small achieverible contortions into which they throw ment for so large a theatre. Probably themselves. The men wear Indian tur- the Indians conjure better than Leotard; bans, British flannel shirts, and the and they are doubtless more at their ease

UNKNOWN FACTS

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. on the slack rope than Robert Houdin Hood" to follow, the Indian performwould be. But they can do no one thing ance, as now given, is to an English ausufficiently well to satisfy, nor, indeed, dience somewhat long. to come in any way up to, the expectations of those who have seen the great After their engagement at the European performers in a similar style. Nevertheless, there is a certain character Covent Garden they played for a long about these Indians which makes their term at the Crystal Palace. In 1877 Dr. Lynn brought to London exhibition interesting for a short time. They are not quick enough to please another troupe of Hindoos, and judging our public. That seems to us their chief from the newspaper clippings in my fault, and it is one which may be reme- possession they went through the same died. The King of Oude no doubt con- routine as their predecessors. The only strange trick that I can find in their programme is cooking on the head of one THEATRE ROYAL of the youths. The following extract is from the London Telegraph, April, 1877 : THTS E.VEN ING, "Dr. Lynn has brought to England some native Hindoo conjurers and snake GOOSE WITH THE GOLDETST EGGS. charmers; * * * first appearance at the jv / J Oount'y Attorneys .Mtorpeys ( Mr. J. OI.AKKK Oountiy Mr J. U. S1UYLE Aquarium to-day; * * * but at their priBonseT. Turb>'5 Clerk I Mi . WALTER r.OniNS Mrs Turly, Miss EDC.'.R CU-a Miis FLORENCE EVELE1OH vate performance for the Press * * * After which, at lilGIIT o'clo.k. one of the most applauded tricks was THE EXTRAORDINARY AND ORIGINAL the cooking, by means of a fierce fire placed on the boy's head, of a very I'i'ATS OF THE WONDERFUL savory dish. The body was enveloped in a loose cloth, but from time to time c the boy's voice could be heard. When the dish was cooked and the cloth withdrawn he was discovered seated, quite Cor.si-.ting of Six Females arid Twelve Males, from Dehli, cool, comfortable and smiling." Luckr.ow, Nepaul, and the Junjaub. From this date onward the Hindoo TLc Members of ihe Troupd ivc— Troupes came in such droves to Europe, CADOTREE, ELECF.LAH, PEROJAH, ELECHEK, BANG, LOUtfG, Fcrcale CusrcctUes; that they lost their drawing power and MOULAU BUN, JADOOGHEEU, SAMJOO ML'NGKuO, novelty: to-day they are simply used for Nuths Cusruilf; a fill-in number or for the Fairs, Street RA.R'B, DAVU1E, SOLAC, IVrformois on ilie ViUittnng Ropo; Carnivals and Store shows. llUHEZ. KULI.OO, UYKiLS, JUDDHOO, S O N A B . DICK.NOO. Another East Indian "From Madras" KING OF OUDK, •>• Lui was featured in England, about 1819, perfoi mei'9 or tlidi cU?» in l o j u . and on the following page there is reOriginal program of Troupe of Hindoos produced a programme from the manj "brought to England, February, 1868. in my possession. sidered the doings of his acrobatic troupe Conjit ring Auth or a' Mistakes quite enough for a single evening's enIt seems strange that so many mistertainment ; but, with the farce of the "Goose with the Golden Eggs" to pre- takes have been copied from one author cede it, and the pantomime of "Robin to the other. I have taken no man's 110

W i l l b e P r e s e n U d ( a t S e v t n c l o c k ) t h e p o p u l a r a n d U u g l u . b l c f a r c e o f I I I IC

r y

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

(FOR THIS WEEK.) By Particular Desire of several Ladies and Gentlemen. NEW AND GRAND PERFORMANCES. BY PERMISSION OF THE

Right Worshipful the May or THIS PRESENT

Monday Evening, March 29th, And every Evening during the Week,

(FROM MADRAS) Whose wonderful Feats of Strength and Agility, as well as Dexterity of Hand, were received with such unbourrted Admiration and Apphuse throughout the whole World and which have attracted the attention of all rank', from Uojalty downwards, WILL COMMENCE HIS PERFORMANCES

In i\Ir. Soulby's Large Room, over the Corn Exchange, .

MARKETPLACE, HULL.

His astonishing HYi formances commence with 1. Breaking in pieces a quantity of Thread, burning it, and then miraculously rejoining ihe pieces, and bringing them to their former stjle 1, The wonderful Transformation of common Sea Sand into various celours. 3.. Whimsical Deception with the K:;g and Bag. 4. A great variety of singular Feats with Brass Calls and Cups, by which it would appear that he can wonderfully increase their number at command. 5. Series of Evolutions with four hollow Bni-s Balls, each one Pound weight, with which he forms every possible Circle; horizontally, perpendicularly, obliquely, transversely, round his Legs, under his Anns, about his Head, in large and small Positions, keeping the whole in motion at the Same time, and with the rapidity of a whirlwind. 0. The Indian T o p , which he spins in a manner peculiar to his Country, balancing it on hi- No-e and Forehead. 7. Wonderful Balance of a Sword upon l>is F o r e h e a d ; at the same time twirling Four circular Pieces of Brass, on his;large Toes and Fore-fingers, and threading a quantity of small Beads with his Tongue. 8. He will balance on his Forehead an artifirial Tree, on which are perched upwards of twenty Biid°, which he singly shoots off the Branches, by a Tube loaded with small Builets, placed in his Mouth. ; • 9 Surprising Feats with Three remarkable Two-edged Knives, keeping them all in motion at the same time, and with the greatest rapidity. • 10. A beautiful Chinese Temple, which he forms in a surprising manner with his Mouth, by twelve small Car.es ; afterwards balancing the whole on his upper Lip. . I t . He swallows a Stone, cf the weight of two ounces, with the same ease as an European would swallow a small piece of Sugar, which when it comes up again will bring with it a quantity of various coloured Thread I'2. He will put a Hook Up his Nose, to which is attached a String, with a Stone suspended to it of upwards cf 3fl!) weight, which he will swing to the distance of a Yard, and throw all away togellier. 13. T o conclude with throwing'a large Stone Ball, weighing Twelve Pounds and a Half, with his Feel over his Head, receiving it on his Arms and various parts of his Body, with surprising quickness. Admittance — Front Seals, 2s.— Bark Seals, Is. * » * Doors to be opened at Seven o'Clock, and to commence precisely at Half-past.

gcj" .Music during- Hie Performance. GOOD FIRES IN THE ROOM. For the Accommodation of Ladies and Gentlemen attending the Market, there will be a performance on Tuesday Forenoon. Doors to be opened at"Eleven o'Clock, and to begin precisely at Half-past. Topping and Dawsoo? Printers, 47. Lowgate, Hull.

Program of East Indian from Madras, 1819.

Ill

112

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

word for a certainty, and have visited not give credit to the original translator, almost every country in Continental Eu- and from whom Mr. Mackenzie's book rope to hunt for material to verify the is copied word for word, simply writmatter that I already had in hand. No ing a new preface in which he corrects statement made to me was accepted as By particular Desire. Positively the last Niglit. genuine, and should I make a misstateTewkesbiiry*New Theatre. ment, shall onlv be too pleased to public* 1

!y correct same. ing undoubtedly mew F a i r book) teresting books j u r e r s , " "Circus

'

Underlhe I'jlroo.icr orilie

Thomas Frost (hav- PROPRIETORS OP" THE THEATRE. read Motley's B a r t h o has written several in("Lives of the C o n Life," " O l d S h o w m a n "

~ Ct)f tr IrtratrUSntiian, «».b.b...»,,„.„„„„.„,0,J','H,^,D.)2.To...,^.;i!n>.«.b...a. .b.,

and "London Fairs" etc., etc.) and has On WEDNESDAY Evening next, '

also

made

some

gross

mistakes;

The l l l h of JAMJAKV. 1326.

he

m. WILL EXHIBIT HIS

quotes the bogus Blitz and bogus Bosco as the real; calls Joseph Stodare, Alfred;

J5*traoi'liin,ir§» Strength and "bichhate^""«J'niri"i0"°rE"r"i"-

omits the existence of t h e other brother,

Amongst a great variety of wonderful Performances, tie will display his astonishing

Alfred, entirely; in fact Frost has placed _ _ i""""" -^pjk V - H on record many an inexcusable error / H BfcM*$B & ^ i R » f l l l t t where he was right on the ground, and with very little extra effort could have

given the correct facts. The errors in E. R. Evans's books also are mainly the

HEIGHT-, EACli QyE P0UND "* ^i,'j ^an'ivfre^ro^rii'.'a U«s ^I.j'*^u^rAr^,bo»!iI"li'rHtir')u':'.o ^I^'Cr'ri^rHrd.^'^-s'^^^^"•"-oV^'^° «—°..^. J^L.^^

ot)ll

CITTIVF'SF'' TPFT\f PT F*

r e s u l t of c o p y i n g from t h e m i s t a k e s of ,„ a surpnsit,s Manner „«„ his M™,h. .i.n.A.c..™; an.,—,d, b'anc.-..s , «

llie whole II|JO:I !>>s u^fit'r Lif/.

oiners.

HE W ] L L

xnnow A LARGE

In his book "Old and New Magic" ( p a g e 112) he says R. Shelton Mackenzie translated Houdin's life in l8SQ- With his Feet, over his Head, receiving it on bis Arm aDcl J . . various parts of his Body, with surprising quicknes9. I h i s is w r o n g , as t h e book " H o u d i n s A ,,v c o d o r h ,, s Pe,'f, j r m a n cn>. b^.iiianuaii.

Memoirs" was first translated in Ken- SWALLOW A SWORD, sington, May, 1859, by the writer of TWO FEET LONG; "Criminal Celebrities," an author known

-^-m

m

A ^ ^ ^ ^ . I

as Lascelles Wraxall, Comparing the J^ i/f*C ' frOf* KS

!

first and original edition and translation,

Thi.»to»iSfcii,r..ii>.j,-.b.iH,.ib.«imy^»,,..^k,,w.,h,..u,™.,.f.iiM™rfs«i.«,

I note t h a t M r . R . Shelton M a c k e n z i e does not acknowledge who the real

iw,wiu^^ =. su.-tw....< * r.«.~..r,^...^,.$„..MM,™«, *»ai»t»kiKito.hf.««i,t™iiiM, *"£•£*£££££?»"• •i»«.n.-v.tPii»1»Hiu. i.k«

translator is, and apparently wishes to convey the idea that he is the real and only "Simon Pure" translator, for he fails to mention Lascelles Wraxall's name, and in his preface he states "A faithful translation of which is here presented to the American readino- public. I cannot sav that-Mr. Mackenzie de... . ' ,. hberately took credit for translating the book, but T can safely say that he did

m"5:::::::::::::::/. f % \ "ill". CALLtRY.

1 0

I

O«i*

"' L,..,°°IL,.:\">,\S, Vera Breda's program of 1826: By comparing this program with the one of the Indian from Madras you will note the same routine of experiments; and so undoubtedly (even t hough n o n a m e is nicntion , , « D this East Indian must have been Vera Breda in 1819; both p r o g r a m s a r e r e p r o d l l c e d for y O u r compari. Prn and studv.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

some gross errors of Houdin, and at the finish adding an index. ThijS certainly cannot be considered fair towards the original translator; for many years it has been the prevailing impression that Mr. R. Shelton Mackenzie himself did the translating. While searching the book stores in England I purchased several copies of the original translation. It first appeared in two volumes published by Chapman & Hall, 193 Piccadilly street, London, 1859. Mr. L. Wraxall signs his preface, May, 1859, while the American edition is signed by Mr. R. S. Mackenzie, Philadelphia, September 26, 1859, and published by Geo. G. Evans, 439 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, Pa. While Mr. R. S. Mackenzie praises Robert Houdin in his preface nevertheless he calls attention to several errors which T have already mentioned, and which only proves that Robert Houdin simply wrote his book to make it interesting, and in that he has succeeded. T agree with Mr. L. Wraxall, who seems to have an insight into Robert Houdin's life; for in the preface he says: "Tn my humble capacity as translator of Robert Houdin's life I may be permitted to make one or two remarks, and answer in anticipation the objections which I feel confident will be raised. "Tn the first place, T am perfectly aware that this English copy of Houdin's book will strike many of my readers as even more Gallicised than the original ; lint T beg to assure them I have produced this impression from malice prepense. It would have been an easy matter to make this book thororoughly English, but I feel, had I done so, it would have been as flat as yesterday's champagne. The great merit of the book, in my mind, is the intense belief M. Houdin has in his missions, and though no Englishman would write of

113

himself in such a satisfied tone, I am firmly convinced that the Arch Conjurer is actuated by the same feelings which induced Yatel to fall on his sword because the fish did not arrive in time. "'Death before Disgrace!' is apparently Houdin's motto. "Granting this indulgence for his brave 'ords, I thought it much better to present him to my readers as a real Frenchman, and not to endeavor to array him in an English garb in which he would have been a nondescript. That he is an author, almost a novelist, the Torrini episode will prove. * * * "I dare say, after all, that many Englishmen are equally convinced of their own supreme talent, though they do noi express that opinion as naively as does Robert Houdin." LASCELLES WRAXALL.

Kensington, May. 1859. .Vote.— My T"ieivs of Houdin, My opinion of Robert Houdin is that he had a wonderful good opinion of himself, and thought it was not such a wrong thing for him to take other people's brains and annex them as his own. He must have been an exceptionally well read man, and had an excellent memory. In his fight with Robin, he claims Robin copied the Inexhaustible Bottle Trick from him, whilst Robin states that Houdin deliberately took the trick from him. Both give dates, and I put myself on record as saying that while I believe Houdin had the trick, he certainly has not the advantage of Robin, as Robin never was known to make misstatements, and without any malice whatsoever I say that if both claim priority of the trick, Houdin was the "second best" man. (Macallister, the Scotch Magician also claimed the Inexhaustible Bottle as his trick.) (To be continued.)

114

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Notes From Theo. Hardeen, Our Official European Correspondent

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. Have been playing two halls a night this week, the Paragon Mile End and the Metropolitan Edgeware Road, and as I shall have to play two halls a night for some time to come, will have to hustle so as to have my news in time for each issue. First of all, the papers are full of the colored Hypnotist Prof. W. A. Barclay of Jamaica (Kingston), who has buried his wife for 104 hours, and has immense crowds watching the burial place to see that no food is passed in to her. Strange how an old trick will be resurrected and cause so much talk. Years ago Morit.t created a sensation over here with his "Man in a Trance'' and I know of several cases in America where a man was buried for advertising purposes. One case caused a great deal of merriment. This "subject," a young fellow, was buried in a fair ground, and it cost ten cents to take a peep at him. A heavy rain storm arising caused the water to rise, and pretty soon the coffin was half filled with water. It did not require the Professor to wake the "Subject" for the water did

this, and he hurriedly broke the glass cover on the coffin, and yelled for "assistance" until he had been dug up. *

*

Mr. William Crooke in his book, "Things Indian," has met Indians that claimed the power of remaining buried for a long stretch without detriment ; other cases have been reported by such travelers as Dr. Honigberger and Capt. Osborne. Most of these cases I think are obviously impostures, and are generally the acts of ignorant fanatics. *

:|:

£

Jimmy Johnson, who will be remembered as the Chief Assistant of Horace Goldin, joined with Burns of the original Blocksom and Burns and are now working as Burns and Burns. They are presenting a very clever comedy turn introducing mysterious effects; for instance they have a gun that in some unaccountable way follows one of them all about the stage; also have a peculiar disappearing umbrella trick that always makes them town talk. They have just returned from a six months' tour of South America, and Jim tells me that he could not find trace of a single magician in South America. Edna Wood taking a rest in America for a year and Balbrigga dead, naturally leaves that country destitute. * * * In my last letter I wrote about a man that claimed he was the originator of "Dropping-with-a-rope-tied-about-hisneck." He has eventually met with an accident and barely managed to make his exit from a hospital. He may never do the rope drop again. *

*

Met H. W. Snelling P. P. G. M. of Newcastle on Tyne, and was surprised to learn that his daughter M. Vano was married to Vano the Handcuff Expert.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. They were over on a visit some time ago, and gave two trial shows, one at the Empire New Castle, and the other for the London Mirror. Both of these performances failed to bring in any bookings. *

* *

The Barlocks, two youths of modest mien, are working right along and doing very well. They make a specialty of rapid work in all of their mysteries. * * * At the Empire Dudley, I note on the bill a lady advertised as "Empress." "She will extricate herself from any position." That is a happy talent! Wish at several tim-es I could have extricated myself from positions I have been in, like seasickness or from hotel bills, when years and years ago managers did not think so well of the Mystery business. But such is life. * * * William Cree, known as "Vilvoe," Strongman and Police Defier, has married a young lady of Sheffield. Good luck to them both. * * * Sampson the erstwhile strong man is out again with a new Mystery performance called "Sargent Brue." The nature of the mystery has been kept secret. * * * Wilfred Zelka M. I. M. C, whatever that may mean, is manager of a new "City Magicial and Entertainment Company" in London. * * * Manager Alfred Butt, has struck on a novel advertising scheme in inviting the public to accept picture post cards of the Mysterious Galateas Exposition of" Living Statuary. This act is causing a good deal of favorable comment. * * * The following is an article that I reproduce from a daily newspaper, and it ought to take rank with the story of

115

the magician throwing the ring into the ocean, and then catching a fish with the ring in the fish's mouth. * * * A theatre in Paris is giving a oneact play called "An Adventure in Chicago." In it a French family is giving a luncheon and sends out for a pattie. It is a canned affair from Chicago and after the dinner is started a one-armed guest is asked how he came to be deprived of the member which he lacks. He tells a long story about being run over by an electric car in Chicago and how a dog ran away with his arm, which he was particularly sorry to lose, because on the finger was a curious ring which he proceeds to describe. At this point one of the guests bites on that very ring, and then—well, it is not necessary to go any further. In France this delicate play is regarded as a farce. * * * Tom Ffearn the Lazy Juggler is at the Central Theatre, Dresden, this month ; he handed out a splendid laugh to all the boys, wii.h the following letter printed in the ENCORE : Central Theatre, Dresden, October 29th, 1906. To the Editor of T H E ENCORE. DEAR SIR:—In one of your issues you referred to Carlton as a "comedy juggler." In justice to Griff and myself, allow me to inform you that he is not such. He may be a comedy conjurer, but this is none of my business. Faithfully yours, TOM HEARN. * * * Will Brown, an old friend of mine, is in London, and greatly interested in the Handcuff business. Although he does not do any Handcuff work, I think his knowledge in that line is certainly ahead of many of the so-called professional Handcuff Kings.

116

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

COMBINATION "CARD IN EGG" TRICK An excellent trick for Amateurs or Professionals. Note.—Effect to the Audience You show a pack of playing cards, shuffle them, and allow one to be selected ; allow this card to be torn up and while it is being destroyed, walk to your table, and pick up a black box into which you allow the torn card to be placed. After the torn card is in this box, take one torn off corner of the card and hand it to some one to hold. The black box is now also given to some one to hold, and while it is being held up in full view, you again turn to your table and bring down a plate full of fresh eggs. You allow an egg to be selected by some one at the opposite side of the card selecter; after the egg has been selected, you ask the person to hold the egg in the air on a small plate that you have for the purpose. At command the torn card will leave the black box, and on breaking open the egg, the card is found in it, restored, but with one corner missing, and on the other corner being matched, that has been held by the spectator, it will be found to exactly fit the card that has just been taken from the egg. EXPLANATION. The card selected must be forced, that is, you compel the party selecting a card to virtually select the card that you almost push into his hand- If you do not wish to take any chances on the trick, the best way is to use a "forcing pack," in which all the cards are alike. Advance preparation. Let us suppose that you are going to force the Jack of Diamonds. Before the performance take a Jack of Diamonds, tear off one corner, fold the card into three parts,

make a roll of it and place it into the end of a hollow wand which contains a rod that can be pushed up and down inside of it; this wand is painted black so as to look like any ordinary wand. Place the torn-off end of the card into the bottom compartment of a mechanical black card box (its mechanism will be described later on). Performance of trick. Take a pack of cards and ask someone to take a card, either forcing the card, or if using a "forcing pack" allow any card to be taken from the pack; ask selector of card to completely tear up the card and place it into the mechanical black card box; now this has a flap on the side which is held down by a small hook which releases the flap when you close the cover of the' box, and so takes up the torn up card and makes it appear that the card has disappeared and brings to view the torn off corner of the card you had prepared in advance. Now hand this torn off corner to the person that selected the card and say that he had better retain it in his possession. Next take an egg, which you have previously allowed someone to choose from the plate full of eggs, and break it with the tip of your wand that contains the rolled up card, and as you break the shell gently, push the card into the egg by forcing it out. of the wand by means of the rod. Suddenly you spy the card and show the audience that you really extract the card from the egg. Next unroll the card and hand it to the card selector, proving to him that it is the card he selected and that the corner he has in his hand exactly fits the missing corner of the card taken from the egg. Note—Any amateur can perform this trick, and the mechanical card box, wand and forcing pack of cards can be purchased from all reliable magical dealers.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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Our Mail Bag Under this column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one tnat y ° u wish- Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for our correspondents' opinions. We only publish this letter in order to answer a lot of so-called jealousies that are circulated regarding the drawing power of the Handcuff performance.

what is wanted amongst the 'profession' in place of the many worthless 'journals' ( ?) foisted upon us at present time—papers compiled and edited by would-be Magicians who have no more TEMPLE THEATRE, knowledge of the art than the person Detroit, Mich., Dec. I, 1906. you mention under the guise of 'Mr. G.' To HARRY HOUDINI, "Handcuff King." (I recognize the man and perfectly This is to certify that you have dur- agree in all you say about him.) ing your engagement at the Temple Kindest regards. Theatre, Detroit, Mich., the week of . Yours fraternally, November 26, 1906, broken all existing MONTAGUE R. FITZWILLIAM. records of the theatre for attendance. * * * And it is to further certify that the recAndover, N. H., ord of the theatre you have just broken, October 21, 1906. was made by yourself at a previous en- Editor Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, gagement when you broke the record DEAR SIR : held by Vesta Tilley. In answer to your ad. regarding inThe statement of Col. Gaston Borde- formation concerning old time Magiverry, to the effect that he broke the cians, I can give some account of a cerrecord for attendance at the Temple tain man named Richard Potter, who Theatre during his engagement at said was known as a wonderful Magician, theatre, is without foundation. He was born in 1783 and lived 52 Yours most respectfully, years. He was part Hindoo and was J. H. MOORE, Proprietor and Manager, married. He had some books, which are now in the possession of an old lady, * * * which I shall try and get. They are 10 Tytherton Road, written in a foreign language. Potter Tufnell Park, N. DEAR SIR : was a Hypnotist and a celebrated VenFirst copy of the Conjurers' Monthly triloquist. Here are a few wonders he Magazine safely to hand, for which ac- performed. Before a score of people cept best thanks. You may add my and in the open air, free from trees, name to the list of regular subscribers, houses or mechanism, he threw up a ball I have at present only glanced of yarn and he and his wife climbed up through the first pages of No. 1, but on it and vanished in the air. A person even from such a casual notice I have coming up the road asked what the come to the conclusion that it is just people were gazing at, and being told,

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he said he met them going down the road. Potter also crawled through a solid log. One day he happened to be passing a farm, where several men were trying to start a load of hay, which was to be pulled up the hill into a barn. Potter laughed at them and unhitching the horses, he produced a Rooster from his pocket and hitching him on witli a string he pulled the load up into the barn. The next morning when they went to pitch off the hay, they found it at the foot of the hill. There are many other things he did. Potter Place, N. II., is named after him and in his dooryard is erected a small gravestone inscribed "In •Memory of Richard Potter, the Celebrated Ventriloquist, Aged 52 years. Died. Sept. 20, 1835." Beside him lies his wife, who died at 45 years of age. I will try and find his photograph if it will be of any account to you. I live in the town in which he lived and have talked with people who saw him perform these wonders. Yours respectfully, G. DANA TAYLOR.

P. S. I am about to make my Profession publicly known and shall throw a mist before their eyes as is supposed to have been done by Potter. *

*

We are in touch with Mr. Taylor, relative to this matter and hope to shortly bring some interesting fact to the attention of our readers. * * * Editor Conjurers' Monthly Magazine: In September number I see an item from Joe Hayman, mentioning Maskelyne and Devant shows, and asking why .it is that all . magicians who are great inventors fall back on their old illusions and tricks. He said there must be. a. good reason, and asked for some one to enlighten us on that subject.

I will try to the best of my ability to give several reasons. I personally have spent over ten thousand dollars in the last seven years trying to accomplish something new, in which I have been ONLY partly successful. First, inventions are seeds, that have to grow, and they take a long time, sometimes years, before they are perfect. All the old illusions and tricks which are now performed before the public are masterpieces and cost thousands and thousand? of dollars before they got to that stage of perfection. For instance, take levitation ; it took fifty years till it got to its present state. If one man had spent all the money on the different forms of suspending a lady in the air, he would have spent over a hundred thousand dollars. The First Invention zvas the suspension on a rod. Next comes Astarta, next Lunet, next Aga; then Keller the magician improved Aga so he could do it without a black cloth and without standing behind. Then came Maskelyne's Levitation, which is the perfection of all. So it is with all other inventions ; to accomplish something it takes years, an unlimited amount of money, patience and persistence; many fall by the wayside and give it up, and go back to the old masterpieces. Others stick to the old masterpieces till the new inventions materialize. All inventors in every line are dreamers, and very seldom realize their dreams. I have worked on a growth of flowers for seven years. It cost me over twelve hundred dollars and yet is not finished. I have an aerial suspension that cost seven hundred and fifty, worked six years on it, and I could improve it a good deal more if I cared to waste more money. I hope this will answer the

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question why the new stuff is not rapidly produced. PROF. OTTO HORNMANN.

* * * Detroit, Mich., Nov. 22, 1906. Editor of Conjurers' Monthly Magazine: Here is something I would like you to fathom—A lady comes into a parlor and is told to write whatever questions she wishes to have answered on a sheet of paper. She does so and places the sheet of paper into her pocket book. The party tells her all she has written and answers all her questions, though they were seated on a lounge across the room. Please answer in your next issue how this is accomplished. EDWIN JOYCE.

* * * If Mr. Joyce will be more explicit, perhaps we can enlighten him on the

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many ways of obtaining duplicate writings, that if you will take pains and give an exact description as to what took place, we will try and give you a clearer description. An old method of reading a card inside of an envelope is to have a sponge soaked with alcohol, and on taking the envelope you simply wash the envelope with the alcohol, which causes the paper to become translucent, thereby enabling you to easily read the message written. Alcohol evaporates rapidly, and after you have read the message yon can make some excuse for delay until the envelope has regained its original condition, and no one can tell what has transpired. Fifteen years ago we personally paid a spiritualist $25 for this trick, and always felt that we received our money's worth. * * * London, Eng., Oct. 30, 1906. DEAR THEO. HARDEEN :

May I congratulate you and all concerned upon the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine? It's great and just wipes the floor with all the others. I only discovered it to-day and that quite by accident. And how may I explain your query and my act in your first number, page eleven ? Firstly, I am not Oswald Williams of Cardiff. This gentleman's name is Charles Oswald Williams ; he is a very clever amateur conjurer, but I believe has never been on the Music Halls. I met him some years back and we were so struck at the strange coincisubject. A neat way of rinding out how dence in the similarity of our names things are written is shown in the illus- and craft that we were photographed together. tration. The act you refer to, I was producing You will observe that in the cabinet there is a concealed confederate, who at. Holborn Empire, the week before sees what is written and tells it to you ; which I was giving the Shadowgraphy this is one method; but there are so Act (an old booking) at Jarmouth.

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I think this clears the matter up, so with every good wish I beg to remain, Fraternally thine, OSWALD WILLIAMS.

Washington, •D.* C,* Nov. 7, 1906. MY DEAR HOUDINI :

You will have to pardon me for the delay in getting this information, as it has taken a lot of time. I found the Doctor who attended him during his illness; he knows very little, only that Nickle died a very sad death in a furnished room house on Tenth street; his room was on the fourth floor and very humble, dark and ill-lighted. Nickle was working at that time at Kernan's, which theatre then was called The Central; he was alone, his wife not being with him, and there is no one here alive now who could give any information about him or his family, as the man that kept this place where he died, also died about five years ago. I saw his wife, but she knew nothing about it. Dr. Sellhausen says he was called about II o'clock the night he died and found him very bad; in his haste to answer the call he left his medicines at home, and when he found him so very low, he said he had to go to the drug store for some drops to try to keep him alive, and as he went out of the room Nickle's last words were: "Hurry up, Doc;" he was gone five minutes, but when he returned Nickle was dead; he says Nickle was a fine looking man, having dark hair and beard, was very pale, but very lively, and from what he could learn was a "sport." I have tried to find out more about him but could not. Nickle had no doctor until Dr. Sellhausen came and then only for five minutes. Hope this will help you some; sorry I could not find out more. Will close for this time, with best wishes. J. H. BECKER.

Mexico, Oct. 27, 1906. MR. HARRY HOUDINI. NEW YORK. DEAR SIR:

I take the liberty of writing you this letter hoping you will excuse me, and beg you, if it is possible, to let me know the address of Mme. Emma Lynden— wife of the late Balbraga-—of whom you speak in the Number 2 of the Conjurers' Magazine. Hoping you will render me this favor, I remain at your service. Yours respectfully, L. ROUX-RORERTY.

Address: L. Roux-Roberty, San Camilio 5, Mexico. * * * Note: We have written to the lady, and if she wishes to enlighten you she will do so. But our only address was Taunton, Mass.

Harpings From Hayman London, Eng. This month London is certainly having its share of all things mysterious; the Zanzigs are at the Alhambra; Carl Hertz at the Croydon Empire; Dr. Bodie at the Chelsea Palace; Herr Fritz at the New Cross Empire; Carlton's illusion "The Mysterious Cross" at the Empress Brixton ; Hardeen at the Metropolitan and Paragon; and good old Maskelyne and Devant doing business at the same old stand. Leicester Square abounds with conjurers telling each other how good they are, and what they are nightly doing to the poor public; the magical manufacturers are wearing a satisfied smile and seem supremely happy; in fact there is a prosperous happy look on all the mystery perpetrators. * * * The Zanzigs opened at the Alhambra Monday (November 5th), the feature of

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the bill, and to them fell the star place 9:50 p. m., before the big ballet; 9:50 p. m. at the Alhambra is not a sinecure spot by any means, as you are following ten of the best turns in the world, and at that hour the audience have had enough of vaudeville, and are polishing up their opera glasses so as to have a good clear view of the dainty ballet girls. *

*

Prof. Alex, a hypnotist, gave a private performance on Monday before the directors of the London Pavilion, and a delegation of medical men were present to test the genuineness of the trances, etc. The best test performed consisted in putting the subject, into a trance and having1 a horse with a man mounted on its back step on the subject, and failing to break the rigidity of the person stepped upon. It was a splendid performance. I have not heard if the Professor hypnotized Mr. Frank Glenister, the managing director of the pavilion, into giving him a contract. Note. (The horse referred to, with the man on his back, was a four-legged animal.) * * * Carlton has launched a new illusion, called "The Mysterious Cross." A man is tied and bound hand and foot to the cross, and releases himself;—this is the only description Carlton gives, but I shall see it. at the first opportunity and explain in detail. * * * I am advised that Mellini will sail for your side on the 14th inst. Mr. Ornum tells me that in his presence, to decide a wager, Mellini scaled a card to the roof of the Grand Hotel in London, and caused the card to return to his hand ; this, I think, is a bit of a record, although Howard Thurston some

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time ago scaled cards nightly at the Palace from the stage to the dome of the theatre; Mellini has appeared before the King several times, but he does not brag about it; a very amusing incident is related of Mellini; he wished to appear before the Queen, and not knowing how to go about it, wrote the Queen a letter, and it began as follows :— Dear Mrs. Queen. The letter was a big laugh in court circles, but Mellini received the desired permission; in this country he is considered the best parlor entertainer in the world. * * •* Anthony is in his second month in Paris, doing his entire act in French, which is described as a sort of a WeberFields-Hackenschmidt, half Nelson, on the language ; but he is winning out with it, and that is the answer. Paris, by the way, is evidently reforming, not morally, but sensationally; there was a time in "Paree," if you could perform some feat whereby you would take your life in your hands at each performance, you could name your own figure for salary; but. now this is all changed. Two harmless young men wished to allow motor cars to run over any part of their body, as their part of the performance at the Folies Bergere; the public were invited to bring their own motor cars along, bar nothing; just imagine some chauffeur with a record of 24 killed and 69 wounded, armed with his own machine, coming to the Hall to try to kill the two young men in question ! but alas, it was not to be, for the cruel police stepped in and said no in French, and the manager had to omit the act. * * * A friend of mine who has just returned from South America told me the following incident, which is as true as

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it is strange; while my friend was playing in Buenos Ayres he formed the acquaintance of a titled gentleman named Marquis Luis Almeda; the Marquis was an amateur illusionist and conjurer, and quite an inventor in things magical; having unlimited means at his command, he could easily satisfy his desires in that way. The Marquis would always meet the incoming artists, and find out from them the latest illusions from the old and new worlds, his great pleasure consisting in inviting a few performers to a dinner, after which he would do his act for them; one of the newcomers told the Marquis all about Lafayette's "Lion's Bride" and described it to him in detail. In a fortnight the Marquis, all smiles, came around to the boys with the news that he had completed an illusion that would go the "Lion's Bride" one better; he employed three Bengal Tigers in his illusion and he would "disappear them," while he was in the cage with them; he invited all the boys to dinner that night, and he seemed ill at ease and anxious for the dinner to be at an end ; dinner over, they repaired to his studio, which was fitted with a miniature stage and all the necessary equipments. He had a cage containing three tigers brought forth, and stepped into the cage, closing the door behind him; at his word of command his assistants held a sheet in front of the cage; in a moment there was heard in the cage terrible roaring and gnashing of teeth and then all was quiet; the sheet was hastily taken away, and the Marquis was found literally torn to pieces on the floor, the tigers standing over him, satisfying their ferocious appetites; the apparatus had failed to work! It was afterwards reported that the Marquis had taken this method to commit suicide, on account of money

matters, but his desire to be a conjurer really was the cause of his terrible death. Last Wednesday in Liverpool, at Barrisford's Hippodrome, a most peculiar accident occurred; the County Council compels all places of amusement to be furnished with an iron asbestos fire curtain, which must be lowered and raised at least once before the public during the performance to show them it is in good order; the curtain on that night got unruly and after it had been lowered, absolutely refused to be raised; kind words and force were tried, but to no avail, and as the curtain weighed some tons, it could not be raised again. There was nothing else for the manager, Mr. Hassen, to do but dismiss the audience, and there was no show that night. *

*

*

Our German friend Otto Heinemann, who travelled in America as "Mellini" and who copies all mystery acts when they come to Germany, has made a discovery; he found a giantess some 8 feet 2 inches high, weighing 376 pounds; she is booked for the Moss-Stoll tour in this country by Messrs. Anger & Bauer, Heinemann's English representatives; this month the discovery is showing her size and weight at the Homey-Fey Theatre, Vienna. * •

*

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C. C. Bertram, formerly of Albertus & Bartram, has accepted the position of Editor for "The Performer," the official organ of the Variety Artists' Federation ; his former partner this month is working at Montpelier, France, with a new partner. JOSEPH HAYMAN.

THE

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READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

BISH

FROM THE

PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE Rvans, but that did not prevent us from going after him, and we are sure that the next book or article from the prolific pen of this gentleman will be the most THE " WIZARD" WANDERS accurate thing lie has ever placed before the public. And is Inconsistant Why? Simply because he has been Our esteemed contempory the London informed as to his mistakes, and will "Wizard" has apparently-gone over the gather his future material with greater various numbers of our Magazines (to discretion then in days of yore. Reits own satisfaction) and makes sev- garding Robert Houdin, we are not eral statements that we know have not traducing him any way. That man been fully considered. We know the wrote a book, and it is full of cool and Editor personally, and have always deliberate falsehoods!! He gathered up found him a square and broad minded a lot of tricks in his lifetime and alperson, and in our belief, he is the Edi- though he had no right whatsoever to tor of the only healthy Magician's claim them as his own, nevertheless he Monthly in England, but this will not informs you that he is the inventor of prevent us from enlightening him on them all. several things in which we think he is * * * greatly mistaken or misinformed. No one ever favored us; we have * * * never asked for favors, and should we First of all, we are not publishing our misinform people, naturally it is the natMagazine for the money that we are ural law of events that "Truth Will Prelikely to make!! This is something that vail." is a serious thing to assert, but time will And in the Wizard's opening column eventually prove our assertions. of their "Gossip" they are positively When we attack any noted author or arguing in the same strain that we are. performer, it is simply because we think Thev are upholding the fact that it is wrong to patent another man's brains; that he ought to be called to task. We attacked Mr. H. R. Evans be- wrong to take another man's brain and cause he was looked upon in the light of claim that it is your own ; wrong to even an "unerring" writer, and all the time prevent someone else from doing somehe was quoting wrong persons, false thing that he has the right to do. facts and misstatements. We are perWell, those are our contentions resonally and friendly acquainted with Mr. garding Robert Houdin.

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He has been quoted as being the inventor and producer of all the various tricks that he had in his entertainment, and we claim without any fear or hesitation that at the present moment we are the only authority possessing material to prove that Houdin's entire book bristles with false laurel wreaths. The "Illusionist" the Parisian Magicians' periodical says: "Harry Houdini is going to uncrown our hero Robert Houdin." But then no one ever was interested enough in Magic to spend so much time and money as we have, making various journeys simply to verify our statements. We wonder if the Magicians know that our collection of old Newspapers, Programmes and Magic books has cost us over $IO,ooo. (Over £2,000.) So we trust that all our readers will have patience until the entire Houdin material is published; and it will show that we are not trying to clown him, but give credit to those to whom it rightfully belongs. We intend to add tricks from time to time, and hope that we have come to stay. We are always open to corrections, and we thank the Wizard for a few excellent suggestions, of which we will take advantage. *

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Barnum & Bailey's Annual Route Book We have just received a Morroco bound book published by Chas. A. Andress, called "The Barnum & Bailey Annual Route Book." It is a $2 book, but the material contained is of such a peculiar nature that it is well worth the money asked for. We doubt if anyone else could have obtained the information within its pages, and some of the material is interesting,

as it brings back to mind all the old time Circus performers. Amongst the celebreties we find the ubiquitous Dr. S. Ellison. For an enclyopedia of general show information it is the most complete that we have ever seen.

A Fraudulent Bo6k A pamphlet has fallen into our hands called "New Necromancy and Hindoo Feats explained." It is written by Stelling Brynert, a man of whom we have never heard. The book is printed on very good paper, but the rot it contains equals any we have ever seen. Not even in our palmy circus days would he dare sell such stuff. Years ago we heard that Charlie Carter sold the secret of doing the braid trick, but having a printed circular, which informed you to go buy some "goose-goose" and rub in well on your writs, but then he did not try to sell you this wonderful "goosegoose." He did not even try to sell you Limber juice, although Nelson of the Funny-advert fame did ; but this Brynert actually wishes to sell you some power which you can spread in a room, and make everyone believe everything that you tell them. He sells a bottle of "Palming oil" that will enable you to duplicate any trick you may witness with a pack of playing cards. All through the book he is selling you some fraud. If any of our readers know of friends that have been defrauded by this man, we will esteem it a favor to publish their complaints.

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% Jottings and

$

We were in Chicago two weeks How things have changed since our first visit. Magic then was a cheap form of entertainment, except when exhibited by Hermann and Kellar; but on our visit this time, mystery acts "topped" the bill at the various vaudeville theatres. * * # Charles Carter & Co. have left Chicago and are now touring on the Slayten Lyceum Bureau; his act has been enlarged. * * * Ziska and King are still on the Western Circuit, and Ziska has a new Cannon Trick which will startle the world. He claims that he can take any lady and place her on a platform suspended in the air, two feet from the stage, and with a huge cannon blow her out of sight, without any covering whatsoever. "But." he added, "if they find any pieces of her, the trick will be exposed." He personally informed us that he intends to1 kill a lady at each and every performance. * * * J. D. Spaar has decided to open a Magical Bazaar in Chicago, on Larabee street; being an old harness maker, this would be a good place to send folks for "strap oil." * * * Miss Grace Kennedy, who once rejoiced in the exalted position of being Roltair's wife (now divorced), has been preparing to mount the stage with a large Magical performance. * * * During our engagement at the Majestic Theatre, an old has-been handcuff-man, according to the Chicago newspapers, came on the stage with a "fixed" Tower and Lyons do'uble-lock ratchet handcuff, and tried to "do things to us." We opened his manacle, and although we offered him $500 in real money, he refused to even attempt to open our handcuffs. We did not catch his stage name, but he is the handcuff man that was closed in Oakland, at the Bell Theatre, after his first performance, and was canceled in Moline, 111.,

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because his act was not up to the standard he claimed for it. * * * Logrenia has just returned from the Pacific Coast, and is looking younger than ever. He is playing around Chicago. * * * Vernallo is still at the Clark Street Museum, and really doing a very clever act, considering that he has been there so long; for a magician is apt to neglect his work when in one position a long time. * * * The Stettars of Detroit are said to be adding illusions to' their usual performance. * * * Mr. Fred Roterberg, son of A. Roterberg, the Chicago dealer, assisted by his twin sister, Miss Hattic Grace, will very likely soon appear in an act called "The Missing Stamp Collector," which is a sort of an illusion in which things vanish; the scene being laid in a postoffice. * * * That reminds us of some foreign act giving a trial show at the Majestic—Mons. Demanto —in which Madame Demanto escapes from a large mail pouch. They made "good" on their trial, and have been booked on the smaller circuits. * * * Nelson Norr's (the millionaire packer's son), who has been known never to wear a hat, appeared in Chicago as a handcuff expert and with his personality made a decided hit with the audience. * * * Wassman, the Magician, is still about looking as spruce as ever. * * * Sa Hera always finds time (though busy strenuously working the newspapers for space) to send us a bill with his act always featured. * * * Gay, the Mystifier, was in Marion, O., and made good. * * * New York Journal, Nov. 23rd, has an article in which Samri S. Baldwin, the world-famous and original White Mahatma, has been sued for divorce by his wife, Mrs. C. Baldwin. Her counsel, Charles M. Beattie, asked Justice O'Gorman to allow a counsel fee of $750 to prosecute the case, and $40 weekly alimony,

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pending the determination of suit. The justice reserved his decision. Baldwin denies the various charges. * * * Sears, the Illusionist, has now collected a variety of good mysteries, and ought to be heard of oftener. * * * Albini, the original Egg-bag-i-t, is starring on the Krystal Circuit. * * * Rismour, the Hindoo Mystifier, is also on the Krystal Circuit; and so are many more magicians on this same circuit. * * * Diavolo, the original Loop-the-Loop Daredevil, defied death twice daily for a long time, but Fate eventually overtook him. After escaping death on the loop, he was killed in a railroad wreck near Rome, N. Y., while doing duty as fireman in the employ of the New York Central Road. His body was frightfully mangled. * * * Delbcrt Craig, the Modern Magician, is looking for work; but there are others. * * * Felix Bcrol, brother of Max and William, has joined hands with J. Warren Keene and will soon be seen with one of the most novel tricks ever placed before an audience. Although many may know how the trick is done, none can duplicate it. It is a large, transparent clock dial, which is taken to' any part of the house, and no matter what question is asked it will answer instantaneously anything that can be answered by letters or figures. It is called "Askme." * * * Prof. Donar, our old-time .friend, has actually been accused by the "Variety" of being a "near-comedian." Good boy, Donar. * * * Norton was at the Appleton, Wis., Bijou Theatre last week, and Squire Montgomery informed us that the folks "sed he wuz good." * * * While on the subject o'f Applcton, we wish to state that Harry Helms, who is a large taxpayer in that township, is there, owing to the death of his father-in-law, John Stoesser, who died leaving a large amount of property, but neglecting to leave a will. The -•estate is now in the probate court. Mr.

Stoesser was one of the leading contractors of Applcton. * * * Kalera Yamanab, the Hindoo Magician and Snake Charmer, according to the New York American, was admitted to Bellevue Hospital as a patient, and entered with a small silken black bag. On being asked what he had in the bag, he chirped several times, and lo and behold, out wriggled five fair-sized snakes. Several of the medicos made a record sprint for the window, and although it was a clear jump of ten feet, they cleared it without an effort, and landed on the soft grass below, from which point of vantage they explained to' the Hindoo that the only snakes allowed in Bellevue were in the alcoholic ward. The snakes were returned to the black bag, and sent to a friend of the Hindoo, at 79 East Tenth street. * * * Mrs. Adelaide Hermann was on the opening bill at B. F. Keith's new theatre in Altoona, Pa. * * * We note that My;tcrious Caesar is meeting with success, and has strengthened his ;
Indignantly Resent Would-be Exposer Extract from Herald, Washington, D. C, Oct. 30, 1906. Prof. Maurice Joyce, the physical culture teacher, who gave a performance at the Columbia Theatre, Sunday evening, gave serious offense—unwittingly, perhaps—in his talk about Houdini's feat?, especially the so-called "box-trick." He said that the escape from the box was made possible by collusion with the carpenter. This assertion is vigorously re-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. sented by the employes of several Washington house;, notably those of S. Kami, Sons & Co. and Saks & Co. who furnished boxes for Houdini's tests during his engagement here at Chase's. "Prof. Joyce certainly could nut have meant to say what he did," said Howard B. Campbell, advertising manager of S. Kann, Sons & Co. "I know him too well to believe that he would question the integrity of the men from our store who furnished the box for one of Houdini's tests. Collusion was absolutely impossible, to my personal knowledge, as I closely supervised the construction and handling of the box and saw the test. The box was not allowed to be out of our sight from the time it was prepared until Houdini entered it on the stage. There is doubtless a simple explanation of how Houdini does it, but certainly Prof. Joyce is wholly wrong when he asserts that it is done through collusion with the carpenter." The employes of Kann, Sons & Co. yesterday united in an indignant protest against Prof. Joyce's statement. The employes of Saks & Company, who challenged Houdini to escape from a packing case which they were to build on Chase's Theatre stage, and from which he did escape, leaving no trace of his egress, are also highly indignant that they should be charged with having been in collusion, either separately or collectively, with Houdini, and that a secret panel in the packing case provided the means for Houdini to escape. The five shippers and packers say that all who witnessed the escape feat will remember seeing the separate boards of the case on exhibit in the lobby of the theatre throughout the part of the performance preceding the feat, and that one of their number was constantly on guard over the boards. Then the boards were taken to the stage, and, in full view of the audience, the •case ivas completely built zvith these very •boards. Under such circumstances they declare it simply ridiculous to assert that there was a secret panel or any other previously prepared mode of egress in favor of Hou•idini. The case was thoroughly nailed along all edges and corners, and there were several rows of nails everywhere. Moreover, .Houdini entered the box handcuffed and legHrsfiedv . Then, afterward, the box was strong•ly^roried. Even had a secret panel or any ••other -means been employed, the nails and ropes made it futile.

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They have prepared an affidavit covering the question fully. In it they solemnly swear that the statement made by Prof. Joyce is ''absolutely false and unwarranted," and detrimental to their character as men and citizens; that their "challenge of Houdini was genuine and honestly carried out on the part of all parties concerned, and that Houdini did fairly escape, as stated by the press at the time." The stage carpenters and mechanics of Chase's Theatre are also aroused by Prof. Joyce's announcement that Houdini's escape was made possible by collusion with the carpenter. They deny that any compact was made with them by Houdini during his recent appearance at that theatre and say they are willing to wager any amount up to $1,000 that they can construct a box from which it will be impossible for Prof. Joyce to escape. Mr. George P. Killian, of the firm which manufactured the paper bags used by Houdini in his performances in this city, says that the bags used were made under his personal supervision. He says the "bag trick" as performed by Maurice Joyce is utterly unlike that done by Houdini, and that there was absolutely no' collusion between the performer and his employes. The bags were made of a single sheet of paper, and not with an outside wrapper. Grose, a Handcuff King, during his engagement in Detroit at the Crystal Ten Cent Theatre, week of November 25, widely advertised the fact that he would escape from the Wayne County Jail. To stimulate his endeavors, Under-Sheriff Cunningham offered him a reward of $100 if he succeeded. .Grose made the attempt, and after two hours acknowledged he could not escape. He tried again, the next morning, and again failed.

ANSWERS TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS

If

Alfredson.—No, decidedly not. We do not sell our interviews, neither do we sell any space and make it appear as a gratis notice. '1 he others will accept your money, but the only way you can obtain space in this Magazine is to pay for an advertisement in the advertisement pages. This is a Magazine for the Craft, and not for the Graft.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

H. R. Evans.—Will attend to everything as soon as this holiday rush is over. We are only too pleased to let you have material. • » * Wilkson, Jr., Milwaukee.—No. You are mistaken; we simply are entitled to our opinion, and are tired of the "bull-con" papers, and want to sec if a Magazine, fearless and truthful, can come to stay. This petty grafting is such a mean, despicable method of getting money that it was time to call a halt. We don't care if you advertise or not, and our opinion will not be rated by the money you spend with us. • * * John Lickert, Chief of Police, Newport, Ky.—Your proposition is of such a nature that it is impossible for us to accept. Merry Xmas. • * • Walters, Holyoke, Mass.—The best practical Spirit Slate test of which we know, where you must obtain "spirit writing" between the slates and can make no substitution, when sitters bring their own slates, is to have a very rough, small piece of steel, saturated with some adhesive matter, and then rolled in chalk until you have what apparently looks like a small round slate pencil. Your "sitter" uses this pencil to put in between his slates; they are tied together, sealed and riveted, and then placed under the table. Under cover of darkness you take out a large, powerful horseshoe magnet and simply trace the message backwards on the outside of slate, and it will appear the right way on the inside slates when opened. There are several other ways of producing writing between slates, but this is the only one we know of where you don't have to use confederates or open seals to get to the inside of slates. • * • Matlock Brown, England.—Your letters arrived, but, man to man, surely you must know in your heart of hearts that a personal explanation of the reason of your conduct in Sheffield should be forthcoming; when we return to England we trust you will pay us a more friendly visit. • • • Dr. Hartley Snow, Cleveland.—We thank you for your postscript. • • • Francis J. Werner.—We positively never sent oxit the circulars, and we challenge any

one to come forward and prove the charge. And who ever started the rumor that Fritz was interested in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine must have done so with malicious forethought. * * * Martinka & Co.—Read answer to F. J. Werner. * * * Hypnotist, Buffalo.—It i; true that Dr. Walford Bodic is booked to appear in America at an enormous salary for Al Woods. He ought to be a big hit. * * * Ralph Arnheim, Chicago, 111.—Send postage to cover the expenses, and we will forward the photo as per your request. * * * Lorenz The Great.—Your contribution received, and it will appear in next issue. La Velk-.—That is an easy thing to answer. The Temple Theatre does not advertise in the Detroit Times, and they roast every show and act that plays there. But that is one way of making a living. * * * The Zancig=.—Thanks for your letter; you must always use discretion in your actions, and when you do anything wrong and are called to account, take your medicine like a man, and do what is right in the future. * * * Sidney Brooks, 120 Arthur Street, Toronto. —Your letter is about the sauciest we have ever received. * * * John Gumtz, Wausau.—We do not give private instructions in card manipulating, but if there is any particular trick you wish described, will do so in these columns. After the holiday rush is over the Magazine will contain more tricks and illusions. * » * Elkins, Pittsburg.—Strange you should ask that question, as we accidentally met Logrenia several weeks ago, and asked him the self-same question. The Logrenia doing magic at the present time is not the original, but a son of the original John Loggie Logrenia, who died in the New York Hospital in 1880 and was buried in the Elks' Plot, Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn. He was about 52 years of age. The one doing magic now is named Charles and works under the name of Ali Zada, Oriental Necromancer.

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Alexander Heimburger. — Received your long letter. Pleased to hear that you are well. We may visit you this coming summer. * * * Frederick Mellville.—Won't you please send that answer to House, Grossman & Vorhaus? You certainly ought to do it. * * * Howard Thurston.—Money landed in good condition. It is not how much you make, it is "how much you save." * * * Prof. Lorenz, Port Nechas, Texas.—Received your description of the Mystery, and as soon as space allows will publish the trick and give you full credit for same. We think that it is good for certain readers, magicians, of the Magazine. * * * Chas. A. Lee, W. Whitcraft, G. Derlent, Washington.—Thanks for the information, but we will only reprint what the local papers have to say on the subject. You will find the article under the heading of "Jottings and Tumblings." * * * Prof. Nathu Manchachand, India.—Book arrived in good condition. * * * E. J. Burt, Bristol.—We are waiting to hear regarding that half-tone block. * * * Weichers & Sokell, New York.—Yes, Dr. S. Ellison is always willing to allow any one to read the various books in his great collection. It is not the greatest collection in the world, as we modestly think we possess the largest and most costly collection of magic books, programmes and clippings that has ever been collected. But Dr. Ellison's collection is in such perfect condition that no matter what subject or article you are looking for he can find it with his eyes shut. Mr. Adrian Plate also has his collection in perfect condition. *

*

*

Wm. Jaques, Ocean View, Va.—We have written several books, but when about to publish them, we decided to insert them in monthly instalments in our Magazine. So they will appear in chapters until complete, and will then appear in book form.

129

W. Berol.—Matter arrived too late for this issue. *

*

Germaine.—Received through Hardeen.

*

letter;

will

answer

* * * Beechman.—Hamley or Ornum, in London, or Whitcly, in Manchester, can supply you. * * * Disappointed.—Tell Hardeen what you write us, and if he does not give you all you are looking for, wait until we arrive. The only reason we have for not publishing your name is because it is not fit for mention. * * * El Paso.—The handkerchief is concealed in the matchbox, and after you light the candle you close the box, which really pushes the handkerchief right into your hand. De Kolta is given credit for this. *

*

*

"Veritas," our Southampton correspondent. —Your news has reached us too late for this issue. *

*

*

Ernest V. Kay.—Your letter will be answered by Hardeen. *

*

*

J. N. Maskelyne, London.—Kindly pardon our error in not giving you credit for photo of the £1,000 ghost; in our rush we omitted to state from whence we obtained same. Will be more careful in future.

Clemont de Lion.—-Your letter is very interesting, but too long for this issue. The. news that you are "merry now to a chermen ladi" is news to us, and we heartily congratulate you. * * * Several letters remain to be answered in our next issue. ,

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

(COPYRIGHT, I 9 0 6 , BY HARRY HOUD1NI.)

The following material was first intended for a book and was written by the author, during his 7'our in Great Britain in response to the thousands of letters received requesting light on the easy methods adopted by his numerous imitators. But not having had the required time, the book was not published but as it seems a fitting place in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, it will appear in Monthly instalments. In reading the various instalments, please bear in mind that it was written to appear in book form. This will be the most exhaustive article ever published on this peculiar mode of entertainment. • • • Blunders of Some "Handcuff Exposers" and More Light Thrown on Some Personal Foreign Fights. (Continued.) During my engagement at the "Establishment Yard" in Moscow, Russia, several officers stepped upon, the s'age.

to act as a committee, and one of them was very arrogant, and would insist on standing in the centre of the stage,, thereby obstructing the view of the audience. In my politest Russian I asked him to step aside, but instead of so doing, he demanded how I, a common menial, dare even address him. I honestly did not know what he meant, and again asked him to step aside and this time omitting "Please." The officer became enraged and planted himself right down in the midst of the footlights, refused to budge, and commanded me to go on with the performance. By this time I knew that he was someone of high rank, from the way the rest of the folks about bowed, scraped and fawned to him; so I thought that the best thing I could do was to inform the audience that unless this officer stood1 aside I would refuse to go on with the show. The officer only grinned, so I had the cabinet carried down stage so that if the curtain was rung down, it could only come down to the top of my cabinet, and the siege started! There were many officials of high rank in the audience and soon they started in to protest to think that the show had been cut off. Eventually the manager was sent for, and explained things to me as best he could, but I remained obstinate, and" insisted that unless this officer stood1 aside I would not. go on with the show. It was explained to me that people working for a living, and especially performers, are not looked upon in a favorable light, as the majority of Russian men act simply as guides for their acts, and generally employ all kinds of women to sing in their troupes, and instead of being paid a salary by the theatrical managers, they have to pay

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

for the privilege of having their troupes work the cabinets. Their cabinets are on the order of the Western wine rooms, only on a very much higher scale. In Russia, the well-to-do folks come to dine in the cabinets, and if they do not wish to see an act on the stage or .have missed a turn, they pay to have the act go through its performance in the Cabinet. The audience in the "Establishment Yard" was now aroused to a fever pitch, and it was only on my explaining to the officer that, in America I was rated as a millionaire, that he profusely apologized to the audience and to me, and stepped aside. This officer was the means of obtaining a performance for me at the Palace Kleinmichel where I appeared several times in the presence of the Grand Duke Sergius (who was assassinated several years ago), and we became quite friendly. During one of my entertainments the Grand Duchess assisted me in the role of Second Sight Artist; all this helped to make a name for me in Russia, which will not be forgotten for some time to come. Naturally this caused a great deal of jealousy amongst the Russian magicians, and one after the other started in to run down my performance. Robert -Lenz claimed that he did the trunk trick thirty years ago, and because his wife was so much fatter, larger and more awkward than Madame Houdini, he claimed that his trick was superior. He started in to do a lot of exposing, and one bright morning I arose and found all over the streets of Moscow bright red posters, reading "Roberta, the Celebrated Exposer, will show you how to escape from all handcuffs, and from all locks." I awaited his opening, and then saw his show. Of all the false representations, and schemes for obtaining money

131

under false prepense, "Roberta the Celebrated" took the bun, biscuit and bake shop. He did not even know what a handcuff key looked like, and his entire exposure consisted in removing a rivet from all his manacles, which had been specially prepared for the purpose.

In illustration you will note that the Neck-cuff or Collar is open at the hinge, and the "False" rivet is shaped like a screw ; this is also shown on the handcuff. On the cuff the dotted lines "A" show where the rivet is held, and the false screw or rivet is screwed down tight with a good pair of pliers, so that with the bare hands or fingers no one can unscrew this bolt. Naturally you can allow anyone to bring along as many locks as they desire, and you can make your escape. All you have to do is to take out your pliers, unscrew the bplt, and close it up*

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

again. With this arrangement, you can build a large cross, or gallows, and allow the committee to lock you with as many locks and chains as they wish to bring along, but be sure that they run the chains through the staple or place prepared to hold the locks. The collar which I invented and used years ago, when being compelled to give two or three performances, was one that even fooled the best magicians in the world. It was made of light metal, and the fake part of it could not be moved either with the fingers or instrument. The secret was in the hinge, as I had a steel pin placed in the rivet (which was hollow), and this pin could only be moved by using a strong horseshoe magnet, which would pull it up to the top and allow the hinge to open. This method defies detection, and I can honestly recommend it to anyone wishing to make a good set of "Fake" Handcuffs, or make what is known as a "Spirit Collar." (To be continued.)

Jotes from.,

First of all a few words in defense against the "few words" of my confrere Herr Ottokar Fischer, who in the November issue corrects what he thinks is a mistake of mine. I did not say that the old time magicians had their apparatus in their pants' pockets, I simply stated that they carried their apparatus in their pockets. In this I mean the Tasche that they carried and in translating the word "Tasche" into English

I simply called it "Pocket." Perhaps I was not explicit enough, but by carefully reading over my first letter, it can be seen that that is what I meant. Still I thank Herr Fischer for his suggestions, and in the future will write more in detail. * * * Regret to write that Cheav. Thorn's wife was taken suddenly ill and they had to cancel several months' work. * # * Carlos Eifenger, the Parlor Magician is being looked for by the Prussian Police. It is said he vanished with a lady's gold watch that happened to be on a table, on which he was allowed to prepare his tricks for an evening's entertainment. He is a clever performer, but such a person is one who is not wanted in the entertainer's class, and especially not in the conjurer's. * * * Some of us over here would like to know what has ever become of that Society that was founded by Carl Willmann of Hamburg. Is it still in existence, and what is its aim? I know of one Society in Berlin that is the best of its kind ever organized. It is called "Amatuer Vereinigung fur Magischekunst." The address is Eichendorf Strasse, 4 Berlin N. It will pay all magicians visiting Berlin to note this, as they have done more to advance Magic than any organization that ever existed. They have weekly meetings, and whenever a foreign mystery man comes to town, they invite him to their meetings and make him feel as if he were among friends. Some of the members are very clever, and you must be a gentleman of spotless reputation to belong to this Society. In fact, it seems as hard to get into this verein as it does to join the Masonic order. Their membership is

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

limited, and it is a movement in the right direction on their part. They really exchange secrets and each one vies with the other to have something new at. their meetings. Shall try for an invitation to their meetings and if permitted will send more details. * * * The Great Roland has finished two months in France; he is engaged in Holland for the Christmas holidays. *

=:-•

*

Alfredi the Man of Vienna, who some time ago changed his name to Mourdini, has returned to his old magic tricks, but is not killing any one with his present success. He is a fierce looking fellow and has a heavy black mustache which he could use to advantage in a ventriloquil performance. *

*

* •

Clemont De Lion, the billiard expert, is engaged for month of December at the Mctropole Theatre, Hamburg. *

*

:|:

Madame Carl Edward Pollak, the wife of the well-known Berlin Agent, will not trod the stage as Illusionist". Her plans are changed, and I can't find out what Car! Edward will do with the various tricks he has purchased. Perhaps he will wait until his son Eric •grows up, and put him in the business. The other Pollak, Max, who made a specialty of booking Magicians in Germany, is now permanently connected with the Hansa Theatre in Hamburg:|;

:j:

*

An Albino calling himself Tom Jack is busy at the present time telling the managers that he is the "Lightning chain-escaper-performer." He has filled a few contracts, but as he holds no return dates I cannot give any information of his show.

133

ROBERT HELLER (WILLIAM HENRY PALMER) There is so very little known of the old-time Magicians, that it is about time we brought some light on the subject, and gave them the due that is their due. Look at the various Arts and Professions, and then at the old-time Magicians ; none of them have been properly remembered! No matter how clever they might have been, all that we can say of them is "Well he was a very clever man" or "He was the wittiest man on the stage" but we have no proof, and they never left anything behind to show to the wondering public what they really were capable of doing. A painter when he dies, leaves behind paintings, an author leaves as a monument some of his books, the music master leaves his inspirations, but how can a magician leave behind a positive proof of his genius ? For years and years I practised a two-handed card shift, so as to make it an invisible one, and, many of my friends who saw this "invisible shift" will testify that it was about the "Rest Ever." But how can 1 in years to come show to the public a sleight that has taken me 15 years to master? We have many a magician that has really some wonderful move or other, but nothing can be said or done to show this when he has passed away. So I contend that it is about time that some one should extol the virtues of the poor past and almost forgotten Magicians. The following material is only a small item of the great collection I have managed to get together, and from month to month, when space will per-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Rare and only Heller program of this mit, reproductions of the programmes and explanations of the tricks of the date in existence. Original program of Robert Heller when about 18 years of old Master Magicians will appear. The program on this page is from age, 1851-2. the Strand Theatre London, Tuesday, April 1, 1851, and was before Heller visited America, and when he was a NEW STRAND youth of about 18 years of age. From this it will be seen that Heller copied Houdin's programme, for he has taken many sentences and tricks from the bill SOIREES of Robert Houdin, he uses Ernst Heller where Houdin used his son Emile etc, etc.; still if he copied other people in his early days, he gradually eliminItOIIEKT HELLER. ated this from his programmes as he These elegant and original Performances will be given at the above Theatre grew to be more experienced. On his return to England in 1868 he did not Commencing at 8 o'ol6c£ A MORNING PERFORMANCE present his Second Sight Mystery, and EWE'S? TOlTOA'i? MS® ^ it is not until 1873 that I note this exOn each occasion will be presented the following periment on his English programmes. inexplicable experiments, invented and performed by Robert Heller. He presented this trick in New York in PART I. 1852. J-.a. i-cndulc Cabnlistique The Cabalistic Clock La colombe Obl-iisBantc The Obedient Do\e Heller claimed to have invented the The Fans and ODD00 Build Lcs evcnlails t t lea boulete dc The PlumcB of Feathers Lcs plumes tricks he performed, but then it may The Basket of Flowers " La corbeillc do Fluera The Marvellous Orange TreeL'Oraoger have been the custom at that time to adPART vertise the tricks as, "Self Invented" and The Mysterious Port-folio Port-feuille myeterieux The Mystic Boquet Le bouquet myatique the old programmes will bear witness The Wonderful Balance L'equilibrc The Automaton Cook Le cimaier automate The Safety Casket to this. L'e'crin de Surete The Magic 61tration La filtratiop magique On his opening night at the PolyPAST m. graphic Hall, my old friend Henry THE SECOND SIGHT I LA SECONDE VUE Evans Evanion saw the entertainment OF ERNEST HELLER. ESCAMOTAOE OF ERNEST HELLER WHO WILL VANISH FROM and wrote on a programme and exTUB EYES OF THE AUDIENCE. The Inexhaustible Bottle | La bouteille Ine"puisablc plained each trick as Heller performed The cornucopia [ La corne d'nbondaace From which Fans, Toys, fionboos, JonmaL^ Ac. will be ehowered it. This programme is in my possesupon the audience in the greatest profusion. sion and when space permits will give a Doort to open at half-pott 7, and at 2 for the Morning Performance. full expose of these tricks that Heller £1 le. & f 1 lla 6d. had on the programme, and some of Stall* 3B. t Boxes is.; Pit la.; » Gallery 6
MYSTERIEUSES

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. thaumaturgist of high American repute on Monday evening, at the Polygraphic Hall, King William street, Strand. The neatly decorated and commodious building, so long the scene of Mr. W. S. Woodin's protean personations, has been tastefully refitted, for the purpose of showing the metamorphoses of the magician ; and hearty welcome was accorded the gentleman whose fame on the other side of the Atlantic has been progressively increasing during the last dozen years. It must, however, be by no means understood that Mr. Robert Palmer Heller is to be regarded as a stranger to this country. England claims him as a native, for he was born at Canterbury some five and thirty years ago; and we can remember some of his earliest experiments made as a professional wizard, when he tested his skill in a professional tour through Kent. Pianoforte playing has been his study from six years of age. He was a pupil at the Royal Academy of Music, and Cipriani Potter and Sterndale Bennett were his teachers; but one night he saw Robert Houdin at the St. James's Theatre, and from that night his resolution was fixed. He would become a conjurer, and, after a little practice in the Provinces, he ventured on a public appearance at the Strand Theatre in 1852. For two months he held his ground successfully, went to Liverpool, and in the September of the same year crossed the Atlantic, and made his debut at the Albany Museum. During the last sixteen years he has visited every city on the western continent, and every traveller who has passed through New York will remember his highly attractive "Salle Diabolique" in the Broadway. Bringing with him those marvels that have baffled the explanation of even our cute

135

Yankee cousins, Mr. Robert Heller has now revisited this country, and we may say at once that a more complete master of his art has not been seen since the days of the illustrious Robert Houdin. Conjuring tricks are especially to be included in the category of those things which ought to be seen and not described. Nevertheless, it would be impossible to give the reader an idea of the ingenious apparatus which has been provided without referring to the nature of the illusions performed. A transparent dial, suspended by silken cords from the ceiling, indicates any hour desired by the company, tells the number of any card chosen, and goes through its intelligent performances equally well when held simply by the finger and thumb of the exhibitor. A glass bell, struck by a hammer, and of which the motive power is curiously concealed, reveals the color of the suit, and replies, as far as truth can be told by tintinnabulation, to any question asked. Handkerchiefs are cut, burned, and made whole again; rings are fired off from pistols, and are presently seen round the neck of a little Cupid rising from the midst of a rose-tree, which puts forth its leaves and flowers in sight of the audience. A hat becomes filled with half-crowns, apparently plucked from the "motes that people the sunbeams," and a stupendous illusion is reserved for the last, where, in imitation of the famous cabinet of the Davenport Brothers, a simple structure is placed on a raised platform and made the scene of extraordinary doings. A man is tied up in a sack by persons selected from amongthe audience, the ends of the rope and knots are sealed, and presently the man is mysteriously liberated and the sack is found whole, the knots tied as before, and the seals unbroken. Hands flutter

136

THE

MONDAY, FIRST

CONJURERS'

MAY 151'H, NIOHT

3G5TH PERFORMANCE

O F>

IN N E W Y O R K ,

-£s-^E P R O G R A M M E ISTo. l i t «£PABT 1.-MAOIO. WONDER I HELLERS CABALISTIC CLOCK WONDER II THE A;RIAL EEL1. WONDER m..:.INP£RN*t)-WU>8;-from-»CTl?bra'.e.l Pntfiil Ntdidne WnnboUBe in the KtlkirUui WONDER IV THE WITCHES' POLE, witli singular development' in Carlomaney WONDER V ANIMATED DOLLARS, with Life And InlelleBence Manifested WONPER VI HELLER'S ARABESQUE R1NCS WONDER V I I . . . ' . . : '..'. THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL

PABI II.-MTJSICNo. No.

GRAND FANTASIA on Airs from the ••Sonnarobiih" of Thalberg. performed by ROBERT HELLER, on Suinwa/a Gland Pianoforte 2 Ma HBLLEB'8 Iyiu^liuble Description the I'lano-pnuuice (.fa Boarding School Young Lady.—llluilrated The Voting L.idy by Robert Heller.

FART

III.-MTT3TEEY.

HEUEB'S SECOND-SIGHT MYSTEBY lnmud bj hid. pflrfrnnul bj Birt onlj. md •bob *•» umdo bu eeltbrilj from Mafirsttppaanoco U public, bciog frcqa«iOj dcugoulcd >•

No 2 -TBE PIDMKS OF VICTORY

PART

IV.-IN8IBtJOIION.

PXJ1LOH M A O I C , or Tricke M«do Eaiy.'eviry pcinoii In llie Audien*ouulg not only«howu Ule Trickn, but lauyhl)nJ>l"'y >'ow to do Ihem, «o that they m.y e o»nd«Urtoiita3C0iijorer s for I'iriDi.'lvclii'ilaishievd [lament » fortune as has fallen to the lot of ROBERT, IIKLLEE..

A.

INi ES'VST

j »• nmuktbl« u utLr

ADMISSION RESERVED SEATS

60 CENTS 75 CENTS

Do. Omc. open to .ocu™ Ho.or.oa Boat. Crem » Mil 12 ana frooH till 4 o'clock Doorsoponnt? • To c o m m o n o «t 8 o'clooli

%^-Matinee

Wednesday, at 2 1-2 o' OOOBS OPEH AT 3 O'CLOCK,

Poster used by Heller in Boston.

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE.

through the curtains, bells ring, and yet the curtains are drawn every now and then rapidly aside and no one is seen within. That Mr. Robert Heller teaches his audience how to do a variety of conjuring tricks, that he makes an interminable quantity of puns, that he shows a great deal of humor (chiefly of the American kind) in a dry, droll way, and plays the piano in brilliant style, and gives imitations of a boarding-school young lady after the manner of Mr. John Parry, may simply be mentioned ac. so many additional securities for the amusement of the audience. It is on cabalistic grounls that Mr. Robert Heller will most firmly take his stand in the Metropolis, and, though several of his illusions are familiar, they are endowed with all the freshness of novelty. Notwithstanding some of those imperfections incidental to a first night, and which have since been amended, it was palpable to all that the entertainment has features of excellence which will be gladly recognized bv the sight seekers of London. * * * From this it can be deducted that Heller was born about 1833. Amongst my clippings I have several cut from the New York Clipper. Under date of Saturday, April 27, 1867 from their San Francisco, Calif, correspondent there is a very good criticism, stating among other flattering words: "So far he has attracted large houses and is the greatest success of any public performer that has appeared in this city for years." Heller opened at the Metropolitan Theatre, March 4, 1867, and for the first fifteen nights his receipts amounted to $22,400, which is certainly a marvelous figure especially for those days.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Heller must have made several trips to England, as I have programmes and posters of later dates than 1868, the latest being 1873. But what puzzles me is that the 1873 programme reads "First appearance in England, Saturday, May 31, 1873," although he had a very successful run in England in 1868. In one early programme of his performance in America he claims to have invented the Second Sight Mystery. I am not certain as to the date, but as the programme contains the tricks that he used on his very early bills, it must date from 1853 or 1854. I deduct that according to his own statements he landed in America in September, 1852, and on this Boston Poster (which is herewith reproduced), he states that he has just finished a successful season of 365 nights in New York, so this reproduced poster must be about November or December, 1853. In 1873 during his provincial engagements, Heller had a very fine show, the programme was large and varied, and some of the "Attractions" billed were the Decapitation, Second Sight Mystery, Blue Beard and Demon Monkey Illusion, and Living Pictures; (in this Living Picture Illusion Miss Haydee Heller was the important factor, as the act consisted of an artist's easel being placed on the stage and a series of portraits (without faces) of public personages being placed on this easel. Miss Heller by placing her face in the aperture would "look" like the person whose clothes were painted or pinned on the

137"

canvas) ; Christy's Minstrels (a la Marionettes), Heller's Wonders and numerous other effects were introduced by this very clever and versatile man. In Heller's advertisement of 1864 during his engagement at "Salle Diabolique," 585 Broadway (opposite Niblo's), six of his features are quoted. 1. A Perfect Dream of Illusion. 2. Seemingly Supernatural Marvels,, surpassing all "Spiritual Manifestations." 3. Piano Solos by Robert Heller. 4. Heller's Extraordinary Second Sight. 5. Magical Minstrelsy. 6. Witticism, Drollery and Mirth. Dr. W. Golden Mortimer and Henry Hatton are two men alive today that have a fund of information of this Master Entertainer, and I am pleased that the many facts are becoming published. Dr. W. Golden Mortimer before undertaking the practice of Medicine travelled through America with a Mystery Show, which he termed "Mortimer's Mysteries" and Henry Hatton is given the credit of being one of the pioneer "Box-Trick" presenters, and in his time it was a most expensive mystery. There remains very little more to be said about Heller, and should our readers know of authentic facts regarding this versatile performer, we shall be pleased to give them credit in our columns for any information sent. HARRY HOUDINI.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

138

H O CV S P O C V S IV N IO R The dnatomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. OR, The Art of Iugling fet forth in his proper colours, foliy, plainly, and exactly, Co that an ignorant pet Ton may thereby learn tht full perfection of the iamcaf ter a little praftife. Vnto each Tricke is added thefigure,where it is nccdfidJ forinftruflion.

Theftctnd Edititn, with m*«j addition!. Prtflit aibiliquimLJhdftceic

i>Bl) "•

10

« D O N,

P r i n t e d b y T. H. for R.M.

(Con fin

1 6 3 5 .

iierf)

OF THE PLAY OF THE BALLS. The operator must have his implements of purpose to play withal; and first he must have three cups, made of brass, or crooked lane plate; these cups must be all of one size and the bottom of each of them must be set a little within the cup; also he must have four balls made of cork about the bigness of small nutmegs. First, he must practice to hold these cork balls, two or three of them at once in one hand. The best place, and the readiest to hold one ball, is between the ball of the thumb and the palm of the hand ; but if you hold more than one at one time, between your fingers towards the bottoms. The place to hold a great ball is between your two middle fingers. Remember in your play always to keep

the palm of your hand downward; after you have once learned to hold these balls handsomely, you may work divers strange and delightful feats. But whether you seem to cast your ball in the air, or into your mouth, or into your other hand, yet still retain it in the same hand, still remembering to keep the palm of your hand downward, and out of sight. Now to begin: He that is to play must sit on the farther side of a table, which must be covered with a carpet; partly to keep the balls from rolling away, and partly to keep them from rattling; likewise he must, set his hat in his lap, or sit in such manner as that he may receive anything into his lap, and let him cause all his spectators to sit down; then let him draw his four balls, and lay three of them upon the table (and retain the fourth in his right hand). So then you have three balls on the table to play with, and one left between the fingers of your right hand. The Operation of the Cups is thus. 3

Lay your three balls on the table, then say, Gentlemen, you see here are three balls, and here are three cups, that is, a cup for each ball, and a ball for each cup. Then taking that ball that you had in your right hand (which you are always to keep private), and clapping it under the first cup, then taking up one of the three balls, with your right hand, seeming to put it. into your left hand, but retain it still in your right, shutting your left hand in due time, then say Presto, be gone.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Then taking the second cup up, say, Gentlemen, you see there is nothing un-

der my cup ; so clap the ball that you have in vour right hand under it, and then take the second ball up with your right hand, and seem to put it into your left, but retain it in your right hand, shutting your left hand in due time, as before, saying, Vcrda, be gone.

Then take the third cup, saying, Gentlemen, you see there is nothing under my last cup ; then clapping the ball you have in your right hand under it, then take the third ball up with your right hand, and seeming to put it into your left, hand, but retain it in your right; shutting your left hand in due time, as before, saying, Presto, make haste; so you have your three balls come under your three cups, as thus; and so lay your three cups down on the table.

Then with your right hand take up the first cup, and there clap that ball under, that you have in your right hand ; then saying, Gentlemen, this being the first ball, I will put it into my pocket; but that you must still keep in your hand to play withal. , •

139

So take up the second cup with your right hand, and clap that ball you have

conccaI second

< ^ »"' o u r r i S h t hand, and l*ewise, I take and put into

*a-v' m v - Poc

e

'

Likewise, take up the third cup, and clapping the cup down again, convey that ball you have in your right hand under the cup, then taking the third ball, say, Gentlemen, this being the last ball, I take and put this into my pocket. Afterwards say to the company, Gentlemen, by a little of my fine power of experience, I will command these balls under the cups again. As thus.

So lay them all along upon the table to the admiration of all the beholders. Then take up the first cup, and clap the ball you have in your right hand under it, then taking the first ball up with your right hand, seem to put the same into your left, hand, but retain it still in your right, then say, Vadc, quick be gone when I bid you, and run under the cup. (To be continued)

140

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

B. F. KEITH'S Theatres and Vaudeville Booking Circuit The most advantageous o p p o r t u n i t i e s offered in this office to Vaudeville Artists who are desirous of engagements covering an entire season's work.

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Our List of houses reaches from Portland, Maine, to Los Angelos, California.

Good Acts always in demand and no trouble to Book them fortyfive weeks.

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B. F. KEITH'S Booking' Offices, St. James Bldg'. S. K- HODGBON, Booking Manager 823 to 828 St. James Building, New York City K i n d l y m e n t i o n C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y M a g a z i n e i n a n s w e r i n g all A d v e r t i s m e n t ^

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141

SPECIAL NOTICE! These serial articles will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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190

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Theodore Hardeen The King of all Handcuff Kings and the Mighty Potentate of all the Monarchs and Jail Breakers (bar Houdini). The official European representative of the Conjurers' Magazine, and to whom all business communications can be addressed. En Route Stoll Tour, or care of Jtnger <£. Bauer, so Rupert St., London, W.

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epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novelty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

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WOMAN IS W H A T HER SURROUNDINGS MAKE HER

The Renowned W O O D B U R Y Preparations contribute to her facial beauty and general attractiveness. The curative and cleansing formula which has made Woodbury's Facial Soap a household word is equalled in merit throughout his other preparations. They sell everywhere at 25 cents. Special—A postal will bring our Beauty Booklet. Send 10
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MONTHLY

MAGAZINE fi

W

,1

CONTENTS Robert Houdin

'(It

European Notes Tricks for Amateurs and Professionals

I

Mail Bag Jottings and Jumblings Reading and Rubbish Handcuff Secrets Hocus Pocus

•>'*'*A*Sc^ Vol.1.

Ncmfcer 5

JANUARY \5f 1907 Price, 10 Cents

146

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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Harry Day THE AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and-how much you want for doing it. Zffingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. ST. JAMES BUILDING Broadway and 2@tK Street, New YorR Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. MANHATTAN DETECTIVE AGENCY, ST. JAMES BLDG., 26th ST. & BROADWAY, N. Y. »

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j

WANTED: Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician so as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia. Address: Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 278 W. 113th St., New YorK MOTE: Jtny one sending information will be given full credit in our columns. Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

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The Stadium Restaurant GLANTZ & MAV, Proprietors S. R. Cor. 43d Street, Opposite The New York Hippodrome

7>4 SIXTH AVENUE

.NEW YORK

THE RENDEZVOUS FOR ALL FOREIGN ARTISTS

The Devil's Own Trick An entirely new and clever card trick for the pocket. Fools the knowing ones and still is easy to do. Sure to please you. Complete with ingeniusly prepared special cards (which can be examined) and full instructions Price 25 Cents. :: :: :: :: ::

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Chicago, 111.

Some New Ones! "Great Memory Feats." To instantly memorize and repent the names of 30 to ldO objects, called out ouce only by the audience. To instantly memorize, in any ordt r, the whole of the cards in a pack of u2. To add up an additi'in sum of 3G figures without seeing a single Ggnire. To immediately give the day of the week for ajiy given date, etc., etc Complete instructions for these and other feats, by registered, mail. Prire. $1.00

" Marvelous BlacK-Board Feat." Several rows of figures are written on a black-board by any person from audience. The performer, who is blindfolded, and sits close to footlights, facing the audience, instantly adds up and calls out the correct result; he also names any figure pointed a t by any person, tells the number of spots on cards, suit, etc. No confederacy. Easy to introduce. Price, $1,00

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TLPROF. J. H. AUSTIN, Skin and Scalp Specialist, 4 6 5 McVR'kers' Theatre Building, Chicago.

A fine test for newspaper office or hotel work. Performer steps into a newspaper office and iisks some one to think of a card in an imaginary pack, when he has done so to write name of card in his own note-book, and keep same in his pocket. He then writes a n"ote asking name of card, encloses it in envelope, which he seals and addresses to performer's assistant: he then rings for a messenger boy to deliver note to assistant at hotel and return with answer. He does so and answer is found correct. Person who thinks of card writes name himself, also writes note to assistant, using his own words. Performer does not write a word, nor handle note, or see it. No confederacy, no cards used, no prepared paper, any paper used, failure impossible. Easily learned in a minutes, done anywhere at any time. A sensational test. Prim, $1.00 Will send all three of above for $2.50.

VERNE

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34 Maple Street

K i n d l y m e n t i o n C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y M a g a z i n e in a n s w e r i n g a l l A d v e r t i s e m e n t s

CO. Chicago. 111.

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No. 5 , What improvement do you suggest in the Magazine? Advertising' Rates Pa\-able in Advance. Discount on annual and semi-annual contracts. We will have a regular column each month, All communications must be addressed as w i t h s i m P l e t r i c k s f o r amateurs and new beabove. g' n n e r s * ** Material on all matters likely to be of interest And we are always willing to spend money to our readers always sought for, manuscript for any new idea that will increase the popumust be marked "Payment" otherwise will be larity of the Conjurer's Friend. used "Complimentary." Manuscript to be re# ** turned must have enclosed the required post n 1 1 r Remember, that we are open for all sugage stamps. . , . . . gestions, and should you have a trick that you wish t0 become English Representative, Theo. Hardeen, care known, or an idea that you of Anger & Bauer, 50;Rupert Street, London. w l s h finished rel="nofollow"> send it along, we will publish same and W., England. perhaps our readers will assist you, if we cannot do so. Correspondents abroad, T. Bolin, Moscow, * ** Russia; O. Fischer, Vienna, Austria; James Through the courtesy of Mrs Leona AnI.eahman, Teheran, Persia, etc., etc. dersonj w i d o w of J o h n H e n r y A n d e r s o n ; Jr.; we have lately added some very rare John The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is not re- H e n r y A n d e r s o n photographs to our collecsponsiblefor the opinions^ its correspondents. tion _ a n d w i ] , r c p r o d u c e t h e m f r o m t i m e t 0 time. The entire contents of the Conjurers' ^^ Monthly Magazine are protected by copyHave right, and publishers everywhere are y ° u an >' o l d magician's photo that you cautioned against reproducing any of the W l s h t o b e c o m e known to the Magical Frat e r m t ? Don>t kee matter, either wholly or in part without y P them under lock and key, send them alon permission. g ; w e will either buy or publish them, giving you credit for same. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 13 * ** for sale by all reputable dealers of ConWe thank all for their hearty support, and juring Apparatus. . hope to merit half that the various letters of praises, etc., shower on our humble efforts; Back numbers can be purchased by sending a n d hope further to have a clean paper free Ten Cents for each number. from all graft or cheap "Bull con" or "Swank."

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

UNKNOWN FACTS Concerning

ROBERT HOUDIN Material collected personally by Harry Houdini (Published for the first time) (COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY HARRY HOUDINI.) * **

149

writer, Houdin says, wrote "Robert Houdin." Had Houdin told the truth, the automaton would have written "Droz," the Swiss genius who also invented the musical boxes. I shall show one thing after the other, just what Houdin invented(?). My dear reader, do not think for a moment that I do not give Robert Houdin credit for being a good performer, for this was about all that he could legitimately lay claim to. I know he was a clock maker, and he may have been a good mechan-

When completed the articles under this heading will be a sort of Encyclopaedia of Magicians and their tricks dating back to 1080; in some monthly installments Robert Houdin facts are hardly mentioned which is due to the necessity of showing from where the maI WATERLOO ROOMS, EDIWtt. terial and data were obtained to prove all my claims; but all material will form iHERMAJEm THE QUEEN a chain, each fact and date leading to the other. It is impossible otherwise to prove my statements. (Continued) # * * French Conjuror, j Some of the material in Houdin's book, and the way he presents it in his FA\TAMTI«JJTE8! ! memoirs, is veritable "rot"; he takes his Monday, Jane 14, 1852. readers for an audience that will believe everything he says, and will swallow it without any further inquiries; strange to say for all these years to the present time he has been quoted by learned men as being actually equal to many of the A GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE other celebrated men of the past. Among the gross misstatements which are willingly and wilfully placed before Reproduction of poster (June 14, 1852) the reader are the following: How he used by Robert Houdin during his provincial taught his son Second Sight, or how he tour. This seems to be the only bill he ever invented the trick. How he slept in the used on which all his mysteries were adverwoods to get the right sound of the t-r- tised. r-r-r of a song bird. How he invented a ician. I claim that Houdin bought the lock with which he marked a burglar of automatons, although like the automathe Count D'Escaploiuer. How he mod- ton writer they may have been in bad eled the face of his "writer," and how condition, and he may simply have rehard he worked, and long it took him to paired them, and claimed them as his finish this "writer"; how with tears in own. his eyes he had it write who was the I can positively take and repair almost author of his being. The automaton any lock in the world with time, but that TTHT..-J ITTTI n m r n m i r t»Tlif.»inr nr

AT ALL TUIR < OIRTH OF El ROPE.

HOUDIN! i ti tiuwr t U P
MAGIC SOIREES

150

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

does not permit me to say I invented the Opre helped Houdin in all of his automlocks. For instance, in Moscow I took aton tricks and experiments ; in fact, he an old, complicated, lock, viz., one of a was the "real assistant" for Houdin. safe, and after working on it four days, I The automatons known as Pastrycook opened the safe and put it in working of Palais Royal, the Windmill or Dutch order. It was a mechanical arrange- Inn, Auriel and Duberiu the French ment, having six policemen and six crim- Gymnasts, the Harlequin, and the Chausinals guarding the keyhole. By manip- seur, originated from Opre's brain. And ulating the criminals, one after the other, so far, I have only seen Opre's name in the policemen would assume different ST JAMKS'S THEATRE. positions, and when all were in the right Saturday Evening, Aug. 19. aisles, the policeman nearest the keyhole 1'O.slTIVKH TBB bent over, inserted his sword and opened NIGHT LAST the lock. This was accomplished not by OF THE SEASON. the policeman inserting his sword, but BENEFIT OF by an arrangement whereby when all the figures were in the right aisle, certain wheels would revolve, which would pull ROBERT back the bolts of the locks, which, when drawn clear back, would cause the one policeman to stoop over, and make his Last Appearance in London sword enter the keyhole. Saturday Evening, Aog. 19, Til ft PH
EWILE HOUDIN

•©IIP M l

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. man named Baron von Sandhovel, of Dodrecht, Holland. At the Baron's death they were given to Ernest Basch, who still had them in his possession at the time of my visit to him on February 25th, 1903. Basch also has the Zouave Tambourine player. This seems peculiar, but it is never the less the truth; Mr. Basch is always pleased to show them. When I visited Paris, I was in-

151

gives Opre the credit of having made the Harlequin. On page 77 of his Memoirs he is informed by Torrinni, that he wishes him to repair an automaton "I bought from a Dutch mechanician, of the name of Opre." On the same page Houdin describes the automaton, which is the Harlequin, supposed to leap out of the. box in which it was confined, perform evolutions, and return to box

Reproduction of the favorite ''cut'' of Rob.Tt Houdin, used on the majority of his posters and in the original edition of his Memoirs.

formed that the Theatre was sold with all the original automatons, but I think that a few will be found missing. That is from the programme Robert Houdin used. I have sought hard for further information regarding Opre, but all I could glean is that Opre's son died about 1888. (Mr. Ernest Basch even went to the trouble of making a special trip to Holland for me.) Houdin incidentally

at command. Houdin introduced this Harlequin as his own invention in London and called it "Le Petit Pierrot" (as appears from his various programmes) and in the Provinces he would call it '"The Neopolitan Harlequin." In 1784, Pinetti had a figure on the same style called "Mohammet." (To be continued.)

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Germaine is at the Empress, Brixton. and was paid a high compliment one Tuesday evening, by being picked out of 500 performers by Mr. Adney Payne to perform at a huge banquet given for some notable whose name I could not learn. * * * A strange case was in the Law Courts lately; action was brought to establish the will of the late Octavia Day, of "West Kensington, London, a Spiritualist. 'Sir. W. T. Pearce sought to obtain probate, and this was opposed by the brother and sister of the deceased, who contended that the deceased was of unsound mind as she believed in Have just started a return date on Spiritualism, and in all the various tricks and devices as shown by the Medthe Stoll Tour, and on same bill found a iums of the Dark Circle class. Mr. E. mystery act called "Buddahs BlackWhite, a man who has spent 30 years board," and hear that the act is booked in the study of lunacy, was called to tesin America. But as Carl Hertz has tify, and stated that he was Professor presented the Mystery in America, and of Psychological Medicine at Kings no scenery being set afire with this IlluCollege, London, and late resident sion, can hardly predict a huge success physician of several other London for this act, although it is certain to a. ylums. He said that people sufferplease. After that act called "To-To" ing from delusions were frequently, went about America, I will believe any- apart from their delusions, capable of thing of the American managers. Al- managing their own affairs, and that though "Buddahs Blackboard" is far there are many people who suffer from ahead of that "To-To" thing, this black- various delusions which it would be imboard is nothing at all like Mena Tekel. possible to discover in the course of an * * * ordinary conversation. Although the R. A. Roberts, the man that made witnesses were almost all of the opinion such a hit in America with his rapid that the deceased was of unsound mind, change act, was assistant to Maskelyne the jury found that the deceased was of and Cooke years ago, and attributes his sound mind and the judge pronounced success to the training he received while for the will. in their employ. * * * * * * The Magic Circle held its first annual Chung Lung Soo is billed like a cir- dinner at the Florence Restaurant. Mr. cus at the London Hippodrome. He Nevil Maskelyne was in the chair. An has a fine lot of new Lithos. Wonder excellent entertainment was contributed if he has new tricks, as he is always by David Devant, Zancigs, E. H. springing new material on the public. Adams, J. Collins, Gordon Powell, Leon

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Sprinck, L. Lambert, W. R. Minus, Louis Nikola, A. Glynn and Horace Goddard. *

*

Mr. E. S. Nesbit, the well known writer of magic stories, has written a magic play, "The Magician's Heart"; the plot of which appears as a story in the "READER" Dec. 15th, and the play will be produced December 20th at Maskelyne and Devant's. * .* * Speaking about Maskelyne & Devant, perhaps it will interest the Readers to know just what is going on at the Representative Hall of Mystery at the present time. At no time have we ever witnessed a better performance than that now running at England's new Home of Mystery, St. George's Hall. We had the pleasure of being present on Wednesday afternoon. The curtain had already risen when we took our seats, disclosing Joad Heteb, the Wizard of the Sphinx, who contributes what the programme terms "A Spectacular Act of Egyptian Mystery." The act is very good, and includes some clever paper tearing. Selbit's changing blocks held the audience spellbound, as the wondrous cubes changed their position in sympathy with the numbered cards. Mr. Harry May Hemsley we had not seen before. His comic sketches were certainly good, but we much preferred hearing his imitations of children. These are undoubtedly very clever, the intonation so peculiar to the childish voice being faithfully portrayed, and we have no hesitation in saying that in his particular line Mr. Hemsley stands alone. *

*

Too much has been already written about Mr. J. N. Maskelyne's clever illusion, "The New Page," to need any-

thing further being said here, and a full description with photograph of the £1000 illusion, "A Side Issue," will be found in our November number. Mr. Maskelyne has had pamphlets issued giving a complete history of the challenge; how he fulfilled the conditions, and how, by doing so, he added another splendid mystery to his extensive repertoire. *

*

After a short interval, Mr. David Devant stepped forth to present his latest Magical Problems. In the first of these, entitled, "The Point of View," he takes two doves from a cage and with the aid of two ordinary straw hats changed them into rats. This, by the way, is, we think, very daring, and we were quite prepared to see a stampede amongst the ladies. Mr. Devant, however, put everyone right again by persuading them that he had only changed their "point of view" and that it was merely imagination. We feel, however, that certain of the audience were more comfortable when the "point of view" was changed back once more by seeing the two rats vanish and the doves appear mysteriously in their own snug cage. This inimitable performer also introduces the Flying Lamp to advantage, having done away with the old method of covering the lamp. The vanish and re-appearance is now done in full view of the audience. We may say, however, that we looked for something more than the old Lamp trick, under the new title of "The New Aladdin's Lamp." Mr. Devant is still working the Problem of Diogenes. Also his "Mental Magnetism," in which he is assisted by his sister, Miss Dora Devant. * * * Mr. Barclay Gammon is as well received as ever in his new "Alleged Humorous Musical Interlude, 'Snippets.' "

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. • In the sketch, "Daylight Ghosts," we pickpockets and; sleight-of-hand entereasily recognized the Cabinet of Pro- tainers are all the same—only different. * * * teus, but under its present guise it afIn my last letter I had a small item fords much amusement, and as the cursaying that Cul-pitt was doing handtain fell, we heard sundry guesses as to cuffs, it ought to have been that he was "how it was done." doing Hand-shakes with Anger & * * " As I have said before, I do not know Bauer for handing him a bunch of conwhen we have ever witnessed a better tracts away into 1908. These are the same agents that have booked Melot performance. Hermann two long tours on the Stoll tour, so it can be readily seen that good Mr. Cecil Cooke, M. M. C, Magical mystery acts can obtain plenty of work Entertainer (and a good one at that), is from Mr. Oswald Stoll, if they can announcing his first grand evening con- make good. ; cert for Jan. 17th at the Atheneum, * * * Camden Road. A Chinese Magician calling himself Fee Lung is billed to appear at HengThe M. M. C. (Magicians Magic Cir- lers Circus, and he is throwing out a cle) are the proud possessors of a very challenge to the world for anyone to rare collection of Magic books, that duplicate his performances in the centre was presented to them by David De- of the ring. I wonder if this is the vant. The Circle threatens to grow, and Chinaman that is a born Ameiican, who let us hope it will help to "vanish" the was brought over to England by Chung petty jealousies that arise among a cer- Ling Robinson Soo. At the same circus tain lot of magicians that envy their a donkey is billed "Domino" who will more fortunate brethren. entertain as a mind reader.

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^:

-jf.

A

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.X

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There is trouble brewing between Horace Goldin and Chung Ling Soo. Don't be surprised to hear some sensational Magic War News. I don't know at the present, moment what it is, but am almost certain that it will be due to that boastful manner of Goldin's for which he is no noted. Ever since he left his hotel because they did not have sea food that he required he has made me laugh. * * *

*

~'t

*

Herbert Lloyd is still juggling and conjuring at the London Empire. :•:

••-,•

5)5

The Violas, Thought Readers, and Shanghai are on the bill at the Manchester Palace Theatre. * * * James De Voye, tutor of the famous mind-reading horse "Billy" died at the Leeds Imfirmary December 15th. De Voye's horse was known as one of the best mind-reading horses in the world, I note in the "News of the World" and Herr Dir. Busch booked the horse that a pickpocket was called by a worthy for his circus. As the world knows that judge "a sleight-of-hand performer." Busch is the greatest horse trainer that The judge either imagines that sleight- ever lived, this will be the highest comof-hand performers are obtaining money pliment that can be paid to the deceased under false pretenses, or thinks that tutor.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

SOME OLD TRICKS FOR NEW BEGINNERS. EASY METHOD OF FINDING A CHOSEN CARD.

In many cases you may be unable to get hold of a card that has been selected; and often when doing a card trick some: "wise one" would almost spoil the trick about to be shown, simply because he

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you cannot do so with the aid of sleight of hand. First of all allow a card to be selected, and while attention is being drawn to the selected card, you take the

pack of cards in your hand and bend them into an oval shape as in illustration marked A. You now have card returned, and as that card alone has not been bent or "ovaled" or shaped, by simply straightening up the cards you can easily select the chosen card, as it is the only straight card amongst all the other bent ones. The accompanying illustrations will fully explain the sleight or subterfuge.

A knew how to shift the "pass, or slip the. From our Special Correspondent, Fredcut, or whatever name you wish to call rick Melville. the movement, in which you exchange Arrived in Melbourne, found your the top half of the cards for the bottom, letter of instructions, and will send you but with this simple subterfuge you may what ever news in my judgment will interest your readers- Opposition here is large, four theatres, and two circuses within a stone's throw of "Rickards." Both circuses are having big attractions. The Bostock & Wombwel circus has a man named Williams who allows himself to be buried for a full week, and after being awakened from his stupor he is taken blindfolded in the midst of the large crowd to find hidden articles. * * * C The Moto-girl has had her usual sucbe able to deceive even a knowing concess, and drawing salary every Monday jurer, as you can even allow the selector of the card to take the pack from your morning. We live three miles from hands and replace his card into the pack Melbourne and have our "Home" on the himself, thus proving that you do not shores of the sea, and having only one shift the selected card and bring it to show per day, we have lots of time to listen to "What the wild waves are saythe top or bottom of the pack. Suppose you have had a card selected, ing." and you must gain possession of it, and Fredrick Melville. :|:

*

:;c

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Our Mail Bag Under this column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one that you wish. Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for our correspondents' opinions. ed about ten inches from the floor. Mr. Bombay, India, Dec. 2, '06. Preston then appears, delivers his oraDear Houdini: Delighted with CONJURERS' MAGA- tion, opens the curtain of the cabinet and shows a cross about six feet in ZINE. It has the spirit of success or height, with a deep notch on the top, Houdini, which are synonymous. and notches on each of the horizontal Your friend, crosspieces, the apparatus is then deHOWARD TIIURSTON. scribed, and attention is called to the fact that no. glasses, traps or doubles are used, and £500 ($2,500) is offered to any Harpings From Hayman one who can prove different; the man in the red suit is then tied to the cross with London, England. I dropped into the Oxford this after- ropes, which are knotted at the waist, noon to see Carlton's new illusion, "The arms and throat to prevent slipping, and Mysterious Cross." This act was a handkerchief is tied over the knots; launched for the very first time five the ends of the ropes are passed over the weeks ago at the Empress Brixton, and top of the cabinet and held on the outwas given one week to test its worth, side by two men; the curtain of the caband now has about one year's bookings. inet is then closed, and a pistol shot is The illusion is introduced by Mr. Ar- fired, when the curtains are once more thur Preston, who is assisted by a lady opened, and the man in red has disapand gentleman; Mr. Preston describes peared, and in his place we find a charmthe illusion to the audience, and in the- ing young miss garbed in green; she is atrical parlance "he sells it great;" bound on the cross in exactly the same garbed in the conventional dress suit, position as was the man, with knots on his appearance and language help a lot the ropes undisturbed; the young lady towards the success of "The Mysterious is then released, the curtains of the cabCross." The curtain rises 'mid the inet are closed again, immediately strains of slow, creepy music, the stage re-opened, and the young man in red and house being in total darkness; a spot is seen reading a letter; evidently the light flashes, and discloses the figure of news therein pleases him, as he smiles a man dressed in a suit of bright red (a pleasantly. The entire performance is pretty mysterious effect) ; the house smooth and clean cut, and as a solo mysgradually becomes lighted, which en- tery show, it ranks with "Aga," "Dida," ables you to see a cabinet about eight and the rest. There is a big demand for feet square, standing on a platform rais- this act, and it is a hit.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Dr. Bodie, the Hypnotist and Healer, delivered a lecture some four or five weeks ago at the Canterbury Music Hall on a Sunday night; the lecture and the Doctor's efforts were a success, financial ly and artistically, the gross receipts for the night were £37.9.6; this amount, less expenses, was turned over to the Waterloo Hospital, but the Governors of the Hospital would not accept the donation, although the Hospital is badly in need of funds; then Dr. Bodie divided the amount of the check in halves, and sent one-half to the Music Hall Fund, and the other half to the Music Hall Home, where it was accepted. * * * While Carl Hertz was performing at the Croydon Empire, week of November 5th, a very amusing incident occurred; Hertz was in the middle of his performance, when bang!! out went every light in the theatre, leaving the entire house in darkness. The manager of the house, Mr. Jay, came upon the stage to make an announcement, and Hertz lit matches, so the audience could see(?) what the manager was saying. It appeared to me, however, that Hertz was making light of the manager's remarks! * * * Carlton starts rehearsing with a pantomime at Edinborough, Scotland, next week; Imro Fox finishes at the Mellini Theatre, Hanover, and I am told will also play a part in a pantomime; I believe it will be a part in Alladin; Fox played a similiar part last Christmas with great success ; Carl Hertz is at the Empire Bradford, and the Zanzigs still top the bill at the Alhambra, London. I received a card from Nate. Leipsic from Johannesburg, So. Africa, in which he modestly tells me he is earning his money and mystifying the natives of "Joburg." Anthony is at the Alcazar,

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Marseilles, France; he takes credit of being, to use his exact words, "the swankiest swanker of all the swanks;" it would be hard to explain the entire sentence in American English, but swanker, while not defined by either Webster or Nuttall, means humbugger; so you can figure it out for yourself; I fail to see why he should call himself names. * * * Mr. Judge, the solicitor of the Music Hall Artists Railway Association, is editing a column each week in the "Performer," the official organ of the Variety Artists Federation, and gives gratis some pointers on theatrical law, which are instructive as well as interesting. Mr. Judge is a recognized authority on all matters of this kind, and the following note should prove of interest to conjurers who intend coming to England, viz.: If you have a happy thought over a conjuring trick, and want to prevent the other fellow from using it, patent it. The preliminary canter in the Patent Office costs little, and by the time the provisional protection has run out the novelty will have worn off the trick. *

*

At Toulin they have a Municipal Theatre; the natives were at one time in the habit of "making nasty noises" as a sign of their disapproval, and throwing things at the actors; this provoked the Mayor of the town, and he issued the following edict: "In future no one will be allowed to hiss, make audible remarks, applaud in the wrong place, yawn noisily, use bad language, stamp or whistle, or throw things at the actors; anyone disobeying this edict will be ejected from the theatre, arrested and fined." From all accounts, the Municipal Theatre, Toulin, is now a veritable paradise. I am going to write the Mayor

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

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at once for an engagement at the Municipal Theatre. #

*

London, Eng., Dec. 26, 1906. The latest bit. of news, that has created almost a sensation in music hall circles, and the conjuring world, is the i'.l advised move of the Fay's; these artists came to this country, some two weeks ago with a contract for 200 pounds ($1,000) a week, for four weeks certain, for the Oxford Music Hall; (absolutely the biggest salary ever paid any act of its kind, in this country) and now comes the foolish move; the Fay's gave a private matinee at the Oxford Friday, December 21st, to which all the members of the press, and other wise ones were invited; there was a goodly crowd present, as the tip went around that something could be seen for nothing. As we all know the act of the Fay's is divided into two distinct parts, with a 20 minute interval between each part. There was nothing to do< during this interval but listen to the band play, and the wiseacres began to ask embarrassing questions; said one, "Why this wait?" another, "Why this delay?" * * * "Why not give the entire show at once," and other questions even more pertinent than these, that no one could answer but the Fays, and these artists seemed to be very busy during this space of time. One gentlemanly knocker, in a very audible tone that could be heard all over the house, said he had just returned from U. S. A. and he saw two men expose this show in the States ; he also went into details, and told them how the men in question exposed the act. If this man had been paid by the enemies of the Fays to kill their trial show or opening, he succeeded admirably, for when the Fays returned to

present the second half of their act, they were given the "marble face" and the "icy stare," and you could have cut the frosty atmosphere with a knife. The artists answers to the various questions were far from satisfactory: for instance, one sport, asked "Who will win the Derby?" (This is the classic turf event of England.) Mrs Fay's reply to this question was, "That it would be a better horse than Spearmint;" (This horse by the way, won the last Derby.) This was hardly a satisfactory answer, and did not. help to dispel the gloom; several gentlemen said they had written questions on envelopes, and their own pads, and their questions were not answered. * * * The entire idea of a trial show to the press, was a big mistake, both on the part of the Fays and the management of the Oxford Music Hall. Instead of creating a favorable impression, it really hurt the act. The next day the daily papers told us that Mrs. Fay was quite ill with neuritis, (whatever that is?) and that the doctor had forbidden her to appear for a long time. Mr. Fay then PAID TO THE ADNEY PAYNE COMPANY, £75 ($350.00) A N D ALSO SIGNED AN AGREEMENT NOT TO APPEAR IN GREAT BRITIAN FOR ONE YEAR, and then was relieved from his contract

JOE HAYMAN.

Ed. Note: We regret to chronicle this news, for England is a good show country.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

THE MUST VALUABLE AND R A R E S T PHOTOGRAPH JOHN HENRY ANDERSON EXTANT.

The above reproduction is from a photo taken about 1847-8 and depicts John Henry Anderson and wife and John Henry Anderson, Jr. The above photo of Mrs. Anderson is to the best of my knowledge and belief the only one in existence. John Henry Anderson was born (according to his own handwriting) July 15th, 1814, in Kincardine, Scotland and died February 4th, 1874, in Darlington,

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OF

England. Mrs. I lanuah AndtTMin died in her forth-ninth year in Newburgh, New York, August 22nd, 1866, This is the first time the final resting place of Mrs. Anderson has been in print since her death. I have the letters that were exchanged by the family at the sad event. John Henry Anderson, Jr. died in Philadelphia, June 2T,(\, 1878.

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THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BISH

READING

FROM THE

REVIEWING BOOKS ANDTHINGS

PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE Good luck to the Zancigs and may they never again have to tell fortunes for a living. *

W. T. STEAD FOOLED AGAIN. MAGICIAN'S

LIKE

*

• *

POETS

ARE

BORN

Several prominent papers are pubAND NOT MADE. lishing' lengthy interviews of what Mr. We are indebted to Monti for sending W. T. Stead has to say about the Zanus a page of Pearsons Weekly for week cigs. Credit certainly must be given to ending December 20th, 1906, in which a the Zancigs for so completing fooling and pulling the wool over the eyes of full page article is published from the this well-educated, worldly man. In pen of Horace Goldin. At least the fact we are somewhat surprised at the article is signed by him and a fac-simile easy manner in which he fell a victim of his signature is at the end of article, to this, as he has lately been in the spot but the language and grammar used, lights of several theatrical affairs. This never emanated from Goldin's pen. The reminds us of the manner in which Dr. article exposes the Bullet Catching trick, Slade fooled Prof. Zollner the eminent and several other tricks that are of little scientist of Leipzig, and Prof. Zollnei importance, but the introduction is the wrote several books on the marvels of thing that calls for comment. Dr. Slade, only to make a laughing stock If Goldin did not write the introducof himself for the rest of his life. Prof. tion then he ought to have at least editZollner believed implicitly in Dr. Slade ed the editor's remarks, which reads but, alas, even to his dying day, he refused to believe that he had been the fooled that Mr. Goldin points out that it is a great mistake for people to imagine that party. We believe with Mr. W. S. Davis the art of mystifying need necessarily that in view of what has been experi- take a long time to acquire, and with a enced in the past, scientists are not the little patience the most, inexperienced men to use for investigating such phe- conjurer can perform most mysterious nomena. They may be qualified to extricks. amine the cellular structures of the hind Wre disagree with this in every detail. legs of a frog under a microscope, but not to investigate mind readers who The smallest trick possible looks difpossess one of the best codes that has ferent in each and every magician's ever been introduced. hands.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Magic is like playing a part in a performance. Let us take for instance Sir Henry Irving. He could play certain parts better than others. Would it have been possible for a strange and inexperienced actor to have with a little practice or rehearsals gone on the stage and duplicated Sir Irving's part? Can you give a street cleaner a full dress suit, a shave, a hair cut, and then have him make an after dinner speech that you could find in a "Ready After Dinner Speaker." Magic and magicians and all other things are on the same scale. There are magicians and magicians. They are like poets born and not made. And to be an entertaining conjurer you must like the craft and you must put in plenty of time in knowing just how you arc going to do your tricks to the best advantage.

* Jottings and Will Prince Albene send his address at once to the Editor, as we have something of interest for him. * * * There is a rumor afloat that Harry Kellar, the Representative American Magician, is going to retire from active business. We would like to hear from Mr. Kellar on that subject. * * * Hornmann has sworn never to go out with another circus as long as he lives, unless his big act does not make the sensation that he expects from it. It is about Hornmann's time to come out as a feature, and his new act is being waited for with abated breath. * * * Clinton Burgess is slowly but surely coming to the front as a "Sure-hit'1 Conjurer His tricks, rendered at the clubs at which he appears, have brought him many return contracts.

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Prof. H. Rinaldo has organized "The Mysterious Elsa" Company, and this "Elsa," by the way, is a ten-year-old girl that duplicates all the psychic power, as shown by Anna Eva Fay. At least the Professor claims this much. * * * The Great Du Bois has been working steady and is now on the Mozart Circuit. In his act he features The Enchanted Tomb, Noah's Ark, and "Vanished." * * * The Great Lafayette was booked to appear at the Novelty Theatre week before Christmas but he had an argument with the local manager, C. Williams, regarding payment of special Souvenirs, which the management generally presented to the Wednesday Matinee audience, Lafayette refused to pay for anything, claiming that his contract called for his full show and a certain amount of acts, and that he required the Theatre to be run as usual, they to bear all expenses. After a severe "War of Words" the show was called off, ten minutes before the time for the curtain to be rung up, and the audience was dismissed. The house remained dark all week. Mr. Percy Williams treats this affair as a joke. * * * Ziska and King, during their engagement at Keith's Theatre, week of December 31, were on the bill with The Baggesons, and as their plate-breaking comedy interfered with Baggeson, they politely cut it out of their act. We must say that Ziska and King certainly do a very clever act. Good, honest Magic and clean, healthy comedy. * * * Charles Roltare has written a bright little pamphlet, "The Utility of Suggestion in Magic," that is only distributed among members of the S. A. M. It merits reading by outsiders, as the writer believes in his subject and writes it well. * * * Chevalier Ernest Thorn, during his engagement in Vienna, was given the front full page of the "We
THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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Who knows what has become of Melville, the old-time Burlesque Magic man, who originated "Watch the Professor"? * * * Mena Tekel is still with the Orpheum Road Show, and at present is in San Francisco, California. -•:••

*

*

We wish to thank the following for photos received for our Gallery: Ernest Thorn, F. L. ITiggins, Dr. Ellison (his wand and book collection), Dr. Emil Boris, Welsh Miller (Are you still in the business? Where have you been?), Reid Miller, The Great White Zerda (a handsomely costumed lady Mystifier-ess), Adrain Plate (Plate, you are looking good), and we hope to receive more. When sending photos for the Gallery, kindly write name and permanent address on photo. •%. * %

• •- in midst of the audience blindfolded, and without a word or apparent sign, describes articles, reads cards, letters and numbers on bank notes. This is certainly "going -dme." * * * Tom Nelson Downs is now a real live manager. He has purchased a theatre in Marshalltown, la., and as the opening attraction he featured himself. Illusions, moving pictures and a genuine millionaire mimic constituted the first week's bill. Business great, and so was the show. *

£

*

Volta an European illusionist, is appearing on the Keith circuit. * * * Daughter-in- Law of John Henry Anderson

Edward C. Conklin, the Juggling Conjurer, ha? just closed a 38 weeks' season with The Great Henry Show, and has been re-engaged for the season of 1907. Conklin, you mu-t have made good. Keep it up. * * * Do you know Adams and Mack? No? Well, they are doing a Comedy Magic act, using their own scenery, and have booked 20 weeks with the Keith's Tour. * * * Gus Leonard, calling himself Hermann the Second, is in California. * * * The woods are full of Handcuff Kings and Queens. Let 'em all come. * * * Sears, the Magician, informs us that he is booked in England. He is making good on the Orpheum Circuit. '* * * Another Magician?' paper has started in for the race of popularity. This time it is an Italian one, called "La Sfinge," edited by Ilia de Wit. Shall review the first issue in Reading column. That is, as soon as we receive one. *

*

*

Mr. E. L. Twing, a well known and prosperous attorney of Toledo has the reputation of resembling Kellar, both in facial and digital dexterity. He gave a performance some time ago at the Zenobia Hall in Toledo and his silent second-sight is said to be the best ever presented in that city. Mr. Twing

-Mrs. Leona A. Anderson, widow of J. H. Anderson, Jr., who is alive and resides in Philadelphia. The above photo depicts her in the old-time suspension mystery. Date, about 1868.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ANSWERS TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS

If

E. J., Columbus.—There is nothing as despicable as a man that will write anonymous letters. . But we think you are the party that wrote us from Detroit. Well, who ever you are, you need never write in again. If you think that we are going to sell every performer's secret for 10 cents, you better stop your subscription. * * * G. G. Jeary.—We do not know the whereabouts of Kerrigan, the Ventriloquist and Magician. Hi; right name, we think, is J. K. Igo, and when last heard of, he worked in Toledo, Ohio, about 10 years ago. He left his trunks pawned with a party named McFann, who is still in the restaurant business in that city. Kerrigan disappeared about that time, and has never been heard of since. * * * James R.—The letter both misrepresents, as well as deliberately lies. Do you remember what Weber and Fields used to say? "Let him lie, what do you care?" * * * New Subscriber.—He docs not advertise with us, but his address is Edward Beagle, Room 9, 1193 B'way, New York City. * * * Monti, Tufnall Park.—You are right in your assertion. The party in question is an ignoramus in the handcuff business. The cuff described is not the Bean, it is only called that because it might be a better seller. The inventor of the cuff in que.-tion is Layman H. Cobb of South Portland, Maine, and the cuff was patented May 2, 1899. It never was sold as "Unpickable"; a few strokes with a file, and you can insert any thickness of spring into the opening. This is not a new trick. Your letter is somewhat long for the present; will use it whenever space permits. * * * Wm. Brodersen.—Carter's Book can be purchased through any reliable dealer. Think we saw some in stock at Roterberg's, in Chicago. You. will find Irs address among our advertisers.

163

Carl Anderson, Rochester.—Thanks for the cutting, but have seen the original years ago. Sorry we did not meet while we were in Rochester, as it will be a long time ere we again strike that city. * * * Oscar S. Teale.—Your suggestion is good, but the laws of the Post Office compel us to have name on outside of an envelope. This is not necessary on wrappers, but we wish the Magazine to arrive in your hands neat and clean, so prefer to use envelopes. Should you or any one else fail to receive copy of Magazine, kindly drop us a postal and we will send another. * * * Dana Taylor, Andovcr.—The photos of the grave of Potter cannot be used. We cannot reproduce them unless we obtain better results. Will write you personally. * * * Perkins.—One glove you vanish on your table, after you have palmed it you drop it, as you reach for your wand, which you must have lying on table, and the other glove you can have fastened on a strong black elastic rubber, which will carry it up your sleeve as soon as you let go of glove after you have rolled it into a ball. * * * Some one in Providence, R. I., has sent stamps for reply, asking if we could supply back numbers of the Magazine. We can, but you enclosed no address, and failed to sign your letter, so how in thunderation can we send you a letter? Do you think John Smith, Main Street, America,.will reach you ? * * * R. H. Gysel—The Handcuff Act, .as sold by dealers, consists of selling you a number of keys. * * * A. Hederen, Chicago.—If you will take the trouble to again read the article in last number of Conjurer Potter, you will read that Mr. Potter has been dead since 1835, but don't let that stop you from doing the "Crawling Though the Log" trick, as it is certain of making your fortune and reputation.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

A New Billiard Ball Manipulation given above), place one of the two rings By W. F. Alder Instead of using the old boxwood balls, I am using the red electric light globes called festoon lamps. These are spherical electric lamps just adapted to the purpose and make a pleasing addition to the passe sleight. The moves of the trick are identical with the old style, but the effect is very good. Handled correctly they are quite an addition to a performer's repertoire, but in the hands of an indifferent performer they are a "frost." To prepare the apparatus for the trick, procure four festoon lamps for 26 volts. These can be obtained from the General Electric Company. Cut off the little wire terminals and solder on in their place a copper foil disc the size of a cent. For the shell use the glass "fake" sold by the dealers for the "Dissolving Billiard Rail." Color the lamps to suit with Frostine a liquid dye made for this purpose and sold by all reliable electrical dealers. Next prepare five thin brass rings, each one-eighth of an inch wide and make them fit snugly to one of the fingers of the hand with which you work; these rings should be insulated inside with a thin coating of rubber cement. Solder two wires, one to each of two of these rings. These wires should be silk covered No. 30 insulated copper and should be long enough to reach from the hand along the outstretched arm to the shoulder and down from the shoulder to the heels of your shoes, terminating in a small copper plate on the heel. Place two corresponding plates on the floor and connect each to one of the terminals of the electric light circuit in the house in which you are working. Now (assuming that you have carefully followed directions as

with the wires attached on the thumb and the other on the little finger; then lead the wires up your arm and sleeve down beneath your shirt and fix them to the plates on your heels. One on each plate. Place the four lamps in your hand so that each copper disc is touching a ring. Step on the floor plates and the globes light up. Now finish the apparatus by giving all metal parts exposed to view of the audience and especially the wires on your arms, a coat of flesh-colored paint. Use fleshcolored rubber bands for holding the wire tightly to the arm. As these lamps are intended for 26 volts, do not attempt to light less than four at one time as it will result in ruining the lamps. The trick after a few hours practice is absurdly simple if you have mastered the old multiplication; the main trouble is handling the fragile globes. These however will stand a lot of misuse, for I have dropped my set repeatedly on the carpet, while rehearsing the trick and have never broken a ball. I shall be pleased to give any further information regarding this trick to Brother Magicians who may be interested. •

*

*

Howard Thurston in a personal letter informs us that he met the original Ching Ling Foo in Shanghai, China, and that Foo was looking very old and becoming bent with age. Foo and his daughter Shee Toy are busy making arrangements for a return to America. If they do return it will be under the management of that clever showman and astute manager, Mr. E. F. Albee, who has the Chinaman under a contract, Thurston is in Cairo, Egypt, where a letter addressed care of the Post office there will reach him.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

165

From Our Own Special Viennese and perplexed by the excess of pride Correspondent, Herr Ottokar Fischer. and luxury. As for the illusions themThis gentleman has gone to the ex- selves, they are as surprising as they are treme trouble of learning to speak the elegant, and quite new for Vienna. My English Language so that he can con- American confreres will soon have the verse with the English Speaking Magi- occasion of admiring Thorn's excellent cians whenever they visit Austria; and show as he already has American conwe think it only right that our readers tracts. should become acquainted with Mr. Last week I had a very pleasant meetFischer in his right vein, and so will ing with Thorn and his likewise celepublish his letters just as he sends them brated brother Henry, in the artistical world known as Darwin. to us. Imro Fox appears the last half of December at the new Thalia Theatre in Elberfeld. As it was the real opening, just as the last number was to appear, before Imro Fox, Herr Dir. Stein introduced Imro Fox to the Publicum and Mr. Fox will ever remember the presentation of the Herr Director. The applause and cheers lasted a long time. * * * Willini Le Masked Magician is booking time from his engagement of the Hamburger Dom. * * *

Vienna, Austria. Editor Conjurers' Monthly Magazine: " Beginning my letter of this month I first of all must state the enormous success with which the celebrated magician and illusionist Chevalier Ernest Thorn met here. He is performing this month at Ronachers. As for magic the Austrian public is very much spoiled and a conjurer must be really very "good" in order to please here. Regarding Thorn there is nothing to be said but; "Noch nie da gewesen!" His outfit is an extremely elegant one and his apparatus and illusions are of such solid quality, that best could be called lavish. . All is made from best material: best silk, best wood, best carpets, best steel, all glitters and shines to the least detail. When the curtain rises everybody is surprised

De Biere is touring France. Renk the stylish coin manipulator is in St. Petersburg, Russia. * * * All magicians coming to Vienna should do me the great favor of so informing me, and it will be my utmost pleasure of making their stay in our city as friendly as possible. * * * On December 15th, Okito sailed in company with his father from Amsterdam to Dutch India and will arrive on January 21, 1907, in Batavia. Papa Bamberg and his son Theo are intending to give performances in all cities of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Guinea, etc., and probably will also visit Australia. Scarcity of news prevails. Hope next time more.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

and it will appear thus; all the three balls to be under one cup.

H OC V S P OCV S I V N I O RThe Andtomie of

• And if you can perform these actions with" the cups, yoir may change these LEGERDEMAIN. O R, balls into apples, pears, or plumbs; or to .The Art of Iugliog fet forth in his proper colours, foliy, living birds, to what your fancy leads plainly, andexaftly, (b that an ignorant perfon may thereby learn the full perfection of the (a«ie,af ter a little praftife. you to. I would have given you more Vnto each Tricke is added thefigure,where it is needfidJ examples, but I think these are sufficient forinftmaion, for the ingenious, so that by these means Thcfecend Edititn, ttith many addition!. you may perform all manner of actions PrcQit ai with the cups. Note. The artificial cups cannot well be described by words, but you may have them of me, for they are accounted the greatest secrets in this art: therefore I advise you to keep them as such, for this was never known to the world before. . How to Shozu the Wonderful Magic UKJ> — LONDON, Lanthorn. Printed by T. H. for R.M. i 63 j. This is the magic lanthorn that has (Contiimrd) made so much wonder in the world, and Then taking that cup up again, and that which Friar Bacon used to show all flinging that you have in your right his magical wonders withal. This lanthorn is called magic, with rehand under it, you must take up the second ball, and seem to put it into spect to the formidable apparitions that your left hand, but retain it in your by virtue of light it shows upon the white right hand, saying, Gentlemen, see how wall of a dark room. The body of it is generally made of tin, and of the shape the ball runs on the table. So seemingly fling it away, and it will of a lamp; towards the back part is a concave looking glass of metal, which appear as thus. may either be spherical or parabolical, and which by a grove made in the bottom of the lanthorn, may either be advanced nearer or put farther back from the lamp, in which is oil or spirit of wine, and the match ought to be a little thick, that So taking the same cup again, then when it is lighted, it may cast a good clapping the ball under again as before, light that may easily reflect from the then taking the third ball in your right glass to the fore part of the lanthorn, hand, and seem to put it under your left, where there is an aperture with the perbut still retain it in your right, then with spective in it, composed of two glasses your left hand seem to fling it in the cup.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. that make the rays converge and magnify the object. When you mean to make use of this admirable machine, light the lamp, the light of which will be much augmented by the looking glass at a reasoijable distance. Between the fore part of the Ianthorn and perspective glass you have a trough made on purpose, in which you run a long, flat, thin frame with several different figures, painted with transparent colors upon glass; then all these little figures, passing successively before the perspective glass through which passes the light of the lamp, will be painted, and represented with the same colors upon the wall of a dark- room, in a gigantic and monstrous manner. By this Lanthorn you may show what man, or woman, or birds, or beasts, and all sorts of fish that are in the sea ; so if any gentleman has a desire to furnish themselves with one of these lanthorns, I have the best that can be made. The figure is as follows.

(To be continued)

167

HARRY HOUDINI FINDS THE FORGOTTEN GRAVE OF ROBERT HELLER.

The long forgotten isolated and uncared for grave of William Henry Palmer, known as Robert Heller, the conjurer. Heller died in Philadelphia, November 28, 1878, was taken to the Macpalach cemetery, placed in a vault November 29th, only had four carriages and the hearse, remained in the vault until June 9th, 1879, when Miss Haidee Heller bought a plot in Mount Moriah cemetery, where the last remains of Robert Heller were laid in their resting place. The grave has been neglected for years, and owing to carelessness of the then keeper of records, it was a very difficult task to find the grave; it was only through finding the old grave digger who buried Heller that I was able to find the grave. There is some one buried on the right of Heller but the place is unmarked and it will take a protracted search, looking over 100,000 names to find out who that unknown person is.

168

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

(COPYRIGHT, I 9 0 6 , BY HARRY HOUDINI.)

The following material was first intended for a book and was written by the author, during his Tour in Great Britain in response to the thousands of letters received requesting light on the easy methods adopted by his numerous imitators. But not having had the require dtime the book was not published but as it seems a fitting place in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, it will appear in Monthly instalments. In reading the various instalments, please bear in mind that it was written to appear in book form. This will be the most exhaustive article ever published on this peculiar mode of entertainment. * * *

A FAKE OR SPOOF MANACLE While on the subject of prepared cuffs -or those that are not standard or regulation, would like to call my reader's attention to a cuff that is being sold in

England only to amateur magicians at the present time. It is sold for a sum equal to $6 (25 shillings) and is not worth that many farthings, as it is not a practical cuff; still it is being sold as "The Gfeatest and Most Wonderful Cuff ever Invented." In my opinion (and I may allow myself the modesty of calling myself an "expert") this cuff is absolute rot. It cannot be opened with a key, and the instrument that you note illustrated at bottom of cuff can only be used to force a screw into the lock proper, or force the lock so that the regulation method of opening may be retarded, until the screw has been loosened. The seller of the cuff informs you to offer £1,000 ($5,000) to any one who can escape from this cuff, but, alas, in a humorous way he forgets to inform you where from you are to obtain this sum of money to offer. The lock proper is in centre of cuff and what appears to be, or what ought to be the keyhole is only a screw stop. To open this cuff you can use either a long needle, a pin, a steel knitting needle, or anything that you can insert into the lock, which as stated before is concealed in the centre of cuff and by insertion of the pin it releases the lock, opening the cuff. And proper care must be taken so that the cuff is locked with the pin hole towards your fingers, for if the pin hole is towards your body you are supposed to be unable to get out. So that the reader can see just exactly what directions are sold with this cuff, will reprint them verbatim: "As stated the secret lies in the special pair of faked handcuffs supplied herewith. Before giving secret it is advisable to take special warning to thoroughly master the working of the handcuffs, both opening and shutting, before placing them on your wrists, and I would further caution customers to al-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ways thoroughly test them just previous to each performance, to see that they are in working order. They should not, of course, be kept in a damp place where they would be likely to rust. "Secret: The handcuffs are sent out set as they should be at the commencement of each performance. The method of performing is as follows: You take the handcuffs and exhibit to the audience telling a similar tale to that on catalogue, and drawing special attention to the immense strength and rigidity of same, allow some gentleman to place them on his wrists, close them with your thumb and fingers (you must not lock them on him) but holding them in position while you allow him to try various movements, such as taking an article from anv of his pockets, he will then see the difficulty of such operations. You then remove the cuffs from his wrists and place them on your own, (but this is a most important point to observe) in one of the grooves on the centre of one side of the cuffs you will observe a small hole; this must always be facing the audience when on your wrists, or if the hands are held up, uppermost; of course, you must not look for the hole, but as the handcuffs have a large number of marks on one side different to the other you will know at a glance on which side the hole exists. Having now the cuffs on your wrists, call attention to the fact that you have only one key, allow the audience to place this firmly in the keyhole, and give it about 2 turns to the left, at the same time pressing the cuffs together; this will lock cuffs. Now allow them to bind tape round the portion nearest the keyhole and over the keyhole itself; then apply sealing wax and mark same. The cuffs are now securely locked, and any person may be allowed to examine same. The per-

169

former now retires to his cabinet or tent. "Have concealed either in the top of your boot or in a little special pocket in the bottom of trousers leg (one in each leg preferable) you will find you are easily able to obtain possession of a fake; taking it between the fingers and thumb of right hand and holding it by the wooden handle, now with the assistance of the fingers of the left hand you will find with very little practice you can easily place the steel pin in the little hole in groove; hold it in that position while you place the left cuff between your knees and press the cuff to( they will not open easily unless they are pressed in this way) ; now press little fake, and while pressed fully down give a side strain cither way and open cuffs;

The Fake or Spoof Manacle come forward, showing cuffs opened, with seal and tape intact; take back key, place in lock, close cuffs, which really now lock of themselves, but give key a turn to make believe key locks them. To reset for working, place fake in hole, press and open cuffs, place key in keyhole, looking down hole from opposite end to be sure that it is working correctly ; give about 2 complete turns to the right. This, if properly done, should allow cuffs to close within a little less than I-T6 of an inch, but should prevent them locking . "Caution: When cuffs are locked be careful never to have the key turned to the right, as this will strain the lock,

170

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

He has been closed in innumerable places, and one manager hires him simply to cause a lot of talk, pays him his salary and then allows the audience to jeer at him. Strange to say, in Stockholm this man finished his engagement, and now there is nothing too bombastic for him to say or do. His handcuffing trick is to allow you to bring along your own locks, and you can hang these on his Chinese manacles. His Chinese manacles was nothing more nor less than a common set of hand and foot irons, on which you could hang your own locks. Kleppini's secret was to take a pair of strong cutting pliers and file, cut away I think it may further interest the the original rivet, and replace it with a reader to have presented some of the new rivet. various artifices relative to fake handIn case any one would bring a handcuffs and rivets I met in my travels. cuff instead of a lock, he would with Will only explain them as detected by great presence of mind say, "Pardon me, myself, and as all bear improving you sir, but will you please wait with your can change the methods to suit your concuff, until the second part of my entervenience. In Germany there is a man tainment, then I shall only be too pleased who calls himself Kleppini. He is to accept your handcuffs." Naturally either a crazy man or a handcuff man the party bringing the cuff would wait, on the style of the once well-known Kleppini would do his act, and down Cherry Sisters, who were such wretchedwould come the curtain. The committee ly poor actresses they drew a large salwould be dismissed, and whoever ary and large crowds simply to see how brought a cuff would simply have to grin really bad they were. (James Owen at the manner in which they had been O'Conner, I am told, used to have a wire "taken in" by a most illiterate man. netting spread across the stage, so that The handcuff article would never be the egg fruit and vegetables could not reach him. Boys circulated amongst the complete without introducing to our audience selling material to throw on the readers Capt. E. D. Bean, the inventor stage, etc.) This Kleppini belongs to of almost every police equipment now in this category. He has a shirt front general use; also inventor of the jammed full of medals, and a very large world-famous Bean Giant Cuff; he ofstage "diamond" star hanging on a red ribbon; across his collar he has in golden fered $500 to any one who could release letters reading "The Champion of all himself from this, even with a key. After I had gathered in the reward. Champions of Handcuff Kings." The last time I saw him in Dortmund, it was reduced to $50, and now the cuff Germany, he had 4 medals pinned be- is not looked upon as being invincible. hind his back. (To be Continued.)

This may seem rather a long description, but you will see (with cuffs in your hands) in a few minutes the working which is quite simple. The real lock, of course, is secretly contained in the centre, that which is in the keyhole being only a screw stop. If you close the cuffs in the ordinary way, then with key give it one or two turns to the right, the lock is slightly strained apart and the cuffs will not then open even with fake until key has been turned again to left. Placed on a person's wrists in this position you could defy him to release himself even though he had and knew how to use the fake.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HEHUNg

171

Every Home Needs

THE

ZAM-BUK Some Experiences of Householders In e v e r y home cuts, bruises, scalds and similar injuries are sure to occur, especially where there are

& ZAM- BUKS HEALING POWER. Willem Sherring, of Hamilton. Canada's hero, the winner of the Marathon Race, trained on Zam-Buk ^as proved its merits. He says: " While training for my great run from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 26 miles, I used Zam-Buk and it proved a great boon to me. I have used it both as an embrocation and as a salve for chafing sores, bruises caused by stepping on (o stones while runn ng in light shoes, and other bruises and have found it the best salve and ointment I have ever tried. Its healing powers are exceptional, and fur genera' household use it should be a wondtrfully fine curative. I have pleasure in expressng my appreciation of it> value." Zam-Buk is a healing l>:ilni composed of the finest known medicinal herb.i] extracts. It acts as a skin food, and rejuvenates all diseased or injured tissue—rebuilds unsound skin, etc., just as a builder rebuilds a damaged building. The most delicate skin —the skin of young babies can absorb it. No staining, no harmful coloring milter, no mineral poisons. I'ure nature applied to nature's ills. eczema, skin di>eases anil erupiions, ulceis, abscesses, boils, bad leg, chronic or po sone
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chapped hands. chilblains, eczema, ring-worm, ulcers and other skin diseases occur. For these you need a balm which is pure, herbal, free from mineral compound, tree from animal fat, antiseptic, able to stop bleeding and which should heal. Zam-Buk meets all these requirements. Why not prove its merits. Read this: — .Mrs. Everett Brown, of Miirkhiim. (Ont.), says:— "Zam-Buk cured some bad n my knee. I also tilllises Inn

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Mrs. Lizzie Gilmour, of Kingston, says:—"I had an ulcerated leg. which became so bad that I could not wear a boot. The foot and ankle were swollen to nearly double their ordinary size, and the pain was terrible. The uleers spread in a ring all round the limb. Doctor's treatment brought no relief, and at one time it was thought o n l y amputation could end the agony I suffered. Zam-Buk was brought to my notice, and I bought a few boxes. Each box gave me more ease and healed the ulcers. To-day I am quite cured, the limb is sound, and whereas before I could not stand, now I can go up and down steps with ease. I owe it all to Zam-Buk." I'sed as an embrocation it cures rheumatism and sciatica and rubbed well into the chest cures lung troubles, colds, etc. For all purposes to which a household balm Is put Zam-Buk will be found urn dualled.

TORONTO, CANADA.

Kimilv mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisement-;

172

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Hamley Brothers.

35, New Oxford Street, T. W. G. London, Eng. LIMITED

an(j

(City Depot) 29, Ludgate ill, E. C.

WE BEG TO NOTIFY OUR NUMEROUS CLIENTS OF OTJR REMOVAL FROM OUR LATE PREMISES 231 HIGH HOLBORN, W. C. TO OUR BRANCH AT 35 NEW OXFORD STKEET, W. C, WHICH NOW BECOMES OUR HEAD DEPOT FOR CONJURIING TRICKS &c. FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CITY CUSTOMERS AND THOSE ARRIVING IN TOWN AT CITY STATIONS, WE HAVE OPENED NEW PREMISES AT 29, LUDGATE HILL, E. C. AT BOTH BRANCHES, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY MADE TO ENABLE THE BEST & PROMPTEST ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN TO CALLERS AND ALSO TO MAIL ORDERS.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING THIMBLE An Entirely New Method

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to the corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing it plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand the thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracles. We can moreover positively assert that two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5 /4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND This wand is quite new and is made on hitherto unused principle so far as magic Is concerned. The effect is wonderful in the extreme. The trick is worked as follows: The performer borrows 3 coins and throws them up in the air and they vanish. He now takes the wand, which is quite a thin one about 2 feet in length, made of brass handsomely nickled. This is first of all given for examination, he then waves it about in the air, the audience sees a coin adhering to the top of the wand. This coin he takes off and gives it to audience to examine. He proceeds again in this way, and produces another coin and then another, both of which are handed immediately to the audience. The marvellous part about this wand Is that it can nt any moment bo handed for examination. It is impossible to overrate the value of the wand, because it can be used for any ordinary purpose, and yet this astonishing trick can be performed at any time by its aid. The price is no indication of its value which is very considerably more, but as we anticipate selling a large number we are enabled to offer them at this price. We have only a limited number of these in stock at present, so orders should be sent early in order to secure one. Price 5/6, post free 5/11. Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents.

HAMLEY'S IMPROVED CARD STAR for examination and the utis guaranteed. Six cards are one is placed In each arm of so that the performer does not any of the cards. He now ence and spins it, when it can is perfectly unprepared. The card the arrow shall point at, replying, he spins the arrow, that particular person to name the arrow has stopped ispinhim to come and take the card and show it to the audience, ence sees that this is quite corin this way with all the cards, other ways, free 43/- or $11.50.

Everything can be given most accuracy and certainty chosen by the audience and the star, back to the audience, get the slightest glimpse of Bhows the arrow to the audireadlly be seen that the arrow performer then asks whose' and, upon one of the audience and while it is spinning asks his card. He docs so, and when nirtg the performer requests that the arrow is pointing to Upon his doing so, the audireot. The perrormer proceeds It may be worked in many Special Low Price 42/-, post

Many other Novelties in addition to above. List free on application. NEW MAGICAL SLEIGHTS & FAKES by R. A.Morrell. Price 3/-, post free 2/2. NEW DIALOGUE FOB PUBTCH & JTUDY.

PRACTICAL HYPNOTISM by

John

Price 6d. post free

Barter.

7d.

Price 1/-, post free 1/2.

MODERN CRYSTAL GAZING. Price 6d, post free 7d. SOME ETEW MAGIC by J. F. Burrows. P r i c e l / - , post free 1/1. H O 7 I L NOTIONS. Price 2/6, post free 2/10. Kiadly meutiou Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

173

SPECIAL NOTICE! These serial articles will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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190

The Columbia Theatre Cincinnati, Ohio

The City Magical Company MANUFACTURERS OF

magical jlpparatus 1, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. Eng.

" Always a Good Show at The Columbia."

Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for I_ists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention

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174

Selbif s Magic Blocks •••y.-'W//

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The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties

write to,

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MONTHLY

'VGAJINe

CONTENTS Robert Houdin European Notes Tricks for Amateurs Reading [and Rubbish Our Jottings and Jumblings Hocus Pocus Handcuff ^Secrets

FEBRUARY I5f 1907 Price, JO Cents

178

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Harry Day THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under iny control. Write, stating- what you do, and how much you waul for doing it. Zffingham House, Arundle Street, Strand,, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. ST. JAMES BUILDING Broad-way ar&d 2Qth Street, New YorK Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecv are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. MANHATTAN DETECTIVE AGENCY, ST. JAMES BLDG., 26th ST. & BROADWAY, N. Y. »

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f Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Litlios and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician so as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia. Address: Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 273 W. 113tH St., New York MOTE: Jfny one sending information will be given full credit in our columns. Kfudly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

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The British Barnum

Dr. Walford Bodie The Electric Wizard! The Famous Bloodless Surgeon! The Record Breaker Playing the Leading Halls and Theatres in Great Britain to overflow houses.

America Shortly London Agent:

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The Devil's Own Trick An entirely new and clever card trick for the pocket. Fools the knowing ones and still is easy to do. Sure to please you. Complete with ingeniusly prepared special cards (which can be examined) and full instructions Price 25 Cents. :: :: :: :: ::

A. Rotherberg's Magical Repository 176 Ontario Street

THE PIONEER

MAGICIANS. Marked

Cards—used

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amateurs or professionals—best per deck, by mail.

work—$l.oo

Address Erwin A. Klein,.

"Sphinx Wizard," Palmyra, Wis.

Chicago, III.

Some New Ones! "Great Memory Feats."

" Marvelous Spirit Vision."

To instantly memorize and repeat the names of 30 to 10O objects, called out once only by the audience. To instantly memorize, in any order, the whole of the cards in n pack of 52. To add up an addition sum of 3G figures without seeing a single figure. To immediately give the day of the week for any given date, etc., etc Complete instructions for these and other feats by registered mail. Trice,

$1.00

"Marvelous BlacK-Board Feat." Several rows of figures are written on a black-board by any person fmm audience. The performer, who is blindfolded, and sits close to footlights, facing the audience, instantly adds up and cnlls out the correct result; he also names any figure pointed a t by any person, tells the number of spots on cards, suit, etc. No confederacy. Easy to Introduce. . : Price, $1.00

A fine test for newspaper office or hotel work. Performer steps into a newspaper office and asks some one to think of a card in an imaginary pacU, when he hns done so to write name of card in his own note-bunk, and keep same in his pocket. He then writes a note asking name of card, encloses it in envelope, which he seals and addresses to performer's assistant: he then rings for a messenger boy to deliver note to assistant at hotel and return with answer. He does so and answer is found correct. Person who thinks of card writes name himself, also writes note to assistant, using his own words. Performer does not write a word, nor handle note, or see it. No confederacy, no cards used, no prepared paper, any paper used, failure impossible. Easily learned in 5 minutes, done anywhere at any time. A sensational test. Price. $1.00 Will send all three of above for $2.50.

VERNE

&

34 Maple Street

K i n d l y m e n t i o n C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y M a g a z i n e in a n s w e r i n g all A d v e r t i s e m e n t s

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Beginning with our next issue, we will a Barter and Exchange Column, and will accept any reasonable advertisement free of charge. All communications must be iddressed as If you have anything that you want to above. exchange, write out what you have and what you would like to trade for it. If you don't Material on all matters likely to be of interest know what you are looking for, simply say: to our readers always sought for, manuscript "Will exchange for best offer." You maymust be marked "Payment" otherwise will be have a magic table that is in your way, and used "Complimentary." Manuscript to be re- would like to exchange it for a billiard ball turned must have enclosed the required post trick; perhaps you have two tricks of one age stamps. kind, and want to exchange, or you may have some instrument or article that you want to EnglishRepresentative.Theo.Hardeen, care t r i d of> o r y o u m a y w a n t t o g e t s o m e . of Anger & Bauer, 50 Rupert Street, London ^ a n d w M t tQ offer seyeral bookg Qr W., England. ., . , & ' things for same. Send along y0Ur Correspondents abroad, T. Bolin, Moscow, advertisement, and in it g O e S a n d >twl11 C O s t n o t h l n Russia; O. Fischer, Vienna, Austria; James ' SN o deaIers> Leahman, Teheran, Persia, etc., etc. advertisements accepted in this barter and exchange column. The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is not re* * * sponsible for the opinions of its correspondents. T n i s Barter and Exchange column is as free as the air you breathe, no after-graft; The entire contents of the Conjurers' y ° u b i n d yourself to nothing, and we only Monthly Magazine are protected by copy- reserve the right to exclude any advertisement right, and publishers everywhere are w e d o n o t w i s h i n o u r paper. cautioned against reproducing any of the * ** matter, either wholly or in part without Under no circumstances whatsoever will permission. we allow any "Graft" to be advertised in our columns, and if we find that any one is The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 13 making undue use or taking1 advantage of our for sale by all reputable dealers of Con- Readers, bear in mind that we will flash the juring Apparatus. light of "Exposure" on them. * ** Back numbers can be purchased by sending Please inform us of all unfair dealings, as Ten Cents for each number. we wish to protect our Readers. nave

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

UNKNOWN FACTS Concerning

ROBERT HOUDIN Material collected personally by Harry Houdim (Published for the first time) (COPYRIGHT, I906, BY HARRY HOUDINI.) •

*

*

When completed the articles under this heading will be a sort of Encyclopaedia of Magicians and their tricks dating: back to 1080; in some monthly installments Robert Houdin facts are hardly mentioned which is due to the necessity of showing from where the material and data were obtained to proveall my claims; but all material will form a chain, each fact and date leading to the other. It is impossible otherwise to prove my statements. * * * (Continued) Houdin's Tricks. I shall take the tricks first, from which Robert Houdin made his reputation for being a brainy man, and show that they have been done long before his time. As the Second Sight is something that he handles as if he never wanted the right "Modus operandi" known, I shall first of all give facts regarding that experiment. It is claimed by Robert Houdin that he invented the Second Sight and produced it for the first time February 12, 1846. It is amusing to read how he claims to have stumbled upon the idea; that is, if you know that he is deliberately misinforming his readers by his information. I shall quote his exact words, and then you can decide for yourself regarding how truthful he was, especially after you read the real facts. "The experiment to which I owe my reputation was one inspired by that fantastic God to whom Pascal attributes all the discoveries of this sublunary world:

181

chance led me straight to the invention of Second Sight. "My two children were playing one day in the drawing-room at a game they had invented for their own amusement (Houdin even makes his children invent) ; the younger had bandaged hii 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." Then Houdin goes on in a peculiar way and tells you that he perfected his second sight in various ways, going past shops, and with one glance noting down the articles in the window ; starting with one or four articles, and improving until the son could jot down 40 articles with one glance. But all this has positively nothing to do with the second sight, for in those days the code was only the speaking code, although Houdin may have resorted to electricity, in giving his son the various cues. There are many ways of doing second sight, but the first second sight was to ask the Medium a question in which was contained the answer. With very little practice any two people can do a fairly entertaining second sight by prearranging a collection of questions which can mean any article that can be carried. There are several books published on the subject and any book seller can furnish you with one or more works on the subject.

182

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The first trace that I can find of second sight is that Chevalier Pinnetti had it in his programme at the Theatre

originally comes from the different automatons, where a concealed confederate works the various pistons or pulls

From the collection of Harry Houdini: A very rare and extraordinarily fine lithograph of Robert Houdin; he was especially fond of this and only gave it away to his friends; it depicts him in the midst of his "inventions." On his left he has the "Automatic Writer," behind he has his son Emile doing "Second Sight," and on his right under the clockwork arrangement he has a drawing which on the original shows the "Suspension Trick." Houdin has no right whatsoever to claim any ofthese as his inventions, as will be proven by facts and dates in the article appearing in monthly installments in this magazine.

Royal, Haymarket, London, England, strings to manipulate the dancing coins December 1st, 1784, almost sixty-two or moving head. years before Houdin presented it as his This method is mentioned by several own invention. Perhaps Torrini also reliable authors. In Hooper's Recrea-' had it on his programme and taught it tions, edition 1782, volume 3, page 283, to Houdin. it informs you that your confederate The London Morning Post and Daily worked yoivr apparatus from another Advertiser, December 1, 1784, contains room, "By certain words, previously the following advertisement of which I agreed on, make it known to the confedpossess a copy, which is herewith repro- erate." duced . Beckman in his history of invenThis talking code was not even new at tions relates that he knew an exhibitor the time Pinetti vyas exhibiting it, as it of a "Talking figure," in which the con-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

183

In his Memoirs, according to R. Houdin himself, Count de Grisey, or Torrini claimed that he had the whole of PinH A V - M A R K, E T», netti's programme, so if as related by frv PERMISSION of ther LORI) CHAM.RER£.A12>I Robert Houdin, Torrini taught him the Signor and Signora f I N E T J I ' s iyioft ^raml, oilunifhin^ ami inimitable second sight secret, then Houdin must N E W" E X H I JB I: T I O NT, T ttic Theatre-Royal, in theHaj-Market, have overlooked this until it was reTO-MORROW, December 2, produced in Paris by some smaller perS K u o r P I N E T H , Kni s iit of the Order of Merit of St. former who exposed it in book form, bePhilip, £cc. &c. with all due deference infmins tuc pubUctc, that be i> juft returned from Wjndfor, and thai he will, by cause Houdin took credit for the second tlic above permillion, open again thU Theatre on Thurl'day iKXt, mid with his Confoit, will exhibit ninfl wonderful, sight invention. ftlipendtus, and absolutely inimitable, me'chariical, phyfi al and philofopliical pieces, which his w e n t deep fenitiny ,i-n Second Sight Performance. thefe fek-necs, and ;iJliJliou-i exertion* have euluhled him to The next second sight artist that I indent and conflruc't:-among \vh;ch Siguora Pinetti uill iruve the jj>eiiKl honour and i.ttisfacTiioii uf exhibiting varihave been able to trace is Louis Gorden *B3 expciiment9 of new- diftovery, no lefs .furious than iccmhyly incredible, particularly that nf her heing fejted M'Kean, in 1831—about 15 years before i n o n e o l the front boxes with on handkerchief over hei Houdin presented it. The bills explain fyes, and guef. at every thing- imagined and proofedJo, li'cij bT any rrerl'iTi) in the coaipany. [, " ' everything, and herewith are exact reSignorl'iiietti 1>cing moil aosious and ambitious of retrtiviug the countc-imiiLTc andfandlionof thi^ great and viilproductions of the back and front of the fcrninr natinn, in .his cndcuyouis h iTull bs liis onft.-mt bills. ftudy ftill to find oyc means which may enable him to. prcTent, at ititcEV3ls,'mn!l curit>i,(aticin, r the bill introduces "For a limited Egned.u ith his
A

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

184

of a lot of the code words and signs brought about such a remarkable scene DNDEB THE PATRONAGE OF

HisBlost Gracious Majesty WlJLLIAIlI IV. The

This A Watch. Well This A Card. You This A Case. Now T h i s . . . . . . A Paper." For their silent work, the papers state that the white coat worn by Zancig helps

Wonderful

SIGIHTIEJD

Phseno-

inenon:

Master M'KEAN, only 8 Tears Old!.

GREATEST PRODIGIES of the Age! Has Just returned from the Paviliofc at Brighton t

Young master Hl'KEAN,

^Jlt the Egyptian Hall Bazaar, Piccadilly.

Since his arrival in London, has had the hnnor of performing (on Friday, Dec. 23rd. 1831,) before their

IN addition to liis performance before their MAJESTIES and their Court, thii extraordinary Child, since his arrival in Totvo, has had iho honor to exhibit his mrprising taleot before st»cral of the Nobility of the highest rank, whoso admiration bad nonl have have been been uniformly uniformly expressed expressed ID ID the CDi3uTtionl ino strongest terms. The faculty which he possesses has defied the research of all the Medical men, by who,om ho has been suun—a faculty, frhich enables him to distinguish colour, read either pri or iniinus^njii, ton lite nour oi ino oiy on u WQten* or titciaro HTIY OIJICT iuci us propnot ebely as tlio cleverest sighted person, although bis eyes ore at the tiioc. oompletdy blindfolded, and his back turned to the object of exam.Dalioa. Among hit Qthff tvrprtttng pcrfvnnancfi,

frtuy be mentioned the following :

. He will read in English, Latin, French, or Julian. Any one present may los&rt names or 6pure« ad libitum, and he will instantly pronounce ihe eame, and toll th# name of each figure separately, and their value together. A pioce, or pieces of money, keys, or trinkets of any description may bo produced by any of iht> compaD)1, and ha will msln&tly t"ll li'>w mnn7 tliere are—whether composed of •

••

Gold, Silver, Brass, or Copper'!

T^ii date onr] \ .il»» of tliu Coins, and describe every other article vary minutely, OTOQ *hould there appear a 6pot upon them. Ho will also describe the dross of any pcraoD, and in what position they sit oj sUnd. . MASTER M'KF.AM will ask the favor of any Ltdy or (Jwntlenian in the company to ej>eak softly witllio themselves, RO that thay may not be hca.-d by irioac who sit OQ tbo riqbt or left, and ha will instantly ropoat them, nlihoujrh ot one hundred yurds' dl^t-.rnce. blioold there be 100 Watches produced, and each differently set, ho will toll llio hourn nnd minutes indicated by each, anil perform many other AaTONisni KG F m s , wbich must bofloento he credited Hou t t i , 1, 3, and i,. Admuiwn, 1 •. &f. tath ;—CA>Wrrn Mj-prnt. of E ritate ^ihitiiion M tlieit Or>n KeiiduiCc. atror 6 o'clock ID the tvcriio;, t t^ y o boui'i nollce, on DMLrat

Most Gracious majesties & Prince George. H i s O a c e t h e Duke of Ar-vl.-. His Grace the Duke of (iordon His Grace the fjuke of St. Albans and Duchess. Her Grace the Dochess of Northumberland. The Rt. Hon. the liarl of Coventry. The Rt. Hon. the liarl of hi -ml.' The Rt. Hon. the F-arl of Belfast. The Rt. Hon. the F.arl and Countess of .Viorley. The !'.t. HOQ the Countess of Essex. The Rt. Hon. Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence The Rt. Hon. Lonl Augustus Fitzclarence. The Rl Hon. the Viscountess l'aulkland. The Rt. llou. Lonl and Lady Dever Sir Edward, Sir Arthur Berkeley, & Lady Pa^et. Admiral Sir Manly Dixon. Admiral Lukin. Admiral Duker. 4&nd many others of the Nobility of the United Kingdom. KB*

Reproduction of bill used in 1831 to advertise the second-sight act. N.B.

at the Alhambra Theatre, January 2, that when Jules Zancig was handed an article and asked "Or this" several of the audience shouted out "A watch" even before Mrs. Zancig had time to answer the question. In the issue of January 3, the Chronicle states: "It was noticeable last night, that there was a considerable falling off in the number of articles submitted by the audience. As a result those who had primed themselves with the code given in tne Chronicle were able to interpret Mr. Zancig's words. These formulas came repeatedly last night:—Why This A Pin. Or

The HIGHLAND YOUTH'S Figure is erect, his Features particularly handsome, and of bis age considered vemarkably tall.—He daily gives increasing satisfaction to the tiiost distinguished characters. V The HigUaoJ Youth ID B notive ol InveroMi. Tb« Company arc particularly requested nut to dislujb tlit Youth's mwd duriug tho T't-rfoinvin^

Reverse side of advertising bill used.

her to see the signals he makes; for instance, in being handed an article he either holds it a certain way and if he has to read a card he brings it up to his eyes, and has a world of scope for passing her signs; if the reader is interested in the various things he can purchase the London Chronicle of December 31, January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and find interesting reading. These papers can always be found on file at large libraries. I really cannot see why he does not. improve his code, and not speak a single

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

word; with their silent code he has only to number his articles and then swiftly send her his signs. Kennedy and Lorenz had an elegant silent code, and he would have his medium answer all articles by slight signals. Lorenz eventually improved his act and played America, also at the London Hippodrome as The Svengalis. I am willing to put myself on record as predicting that the Zancigs will eventually cut out all of their talk and arrange a new set of signals for articles. This ought to be very easy for them, as they have been working together so long that it will only mean a few hours practice on their part, and then these knowit-alls will have to dig deeper for their explanations. Prince Albene and Labrandt have a clever act but sacrifice a great deal of the mysterious in order to obtain laughs. Albene, by the way, has arranged a most excellent method of silent spelling, for with several almost imperceptible movements he can spell any name or letter to Miss Labrandt with lightning rapidity. I am not exposing the Zancigs or Albene and Labrandt, as I consider their work very clever, but I am in a position to know for a positive fact, that there is nothing whatsoever supernormal connected with their work. I am not writing an article on second sight, so beg my reader's pardon for deviating, and shall proceed with my article. * * * Animals have been trained for years to do tricks by secret signals, and I have in my possession two rare bills, one dated 1789, where a Mr. Beckett, Trunk Maker of No. 31 Haymarket, announces the fact that he has a learned Goose, •"Just lately arrived from abroad," (To be continued.)

185

Mind Readers, Second Sight and Silent Transference of Thought is now the rage, and will be until over done, when it will again die out for another generation. The latest prodigy heard from is the Mind Reading Collier's Daughter, Myra Ritsill, who I have been told was booked all over the Stoll Tour, after having given a trial performance. * * * So much has been written about the Zanzig controversy that the less said at the present time the better, but it certainly was a bit of a shock to some of the mind readers and second sight artists to have them come in and obtain such a lot of free newspaper advertising; but we will let it go at that and await the next sensation, which I see from the Encore is a Pair of Legs without head or body, answering all questions with a mouthless voice. What'll we have nextThe Great Roland is now under the exrlusive management of H;irry Day, and that means "Working R^gvlarlv." Roland was on the bill with Hf-nean, t;ie Armless Artist, and cai';jnr Heneau practising the billiard ball trick with his

186

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

feet. Ceriuilj a peculiar feat for an armless wonder, Heneau, you behave! * * « Picitt & Lizette with their "Crazy Cook Conjuring" turn are improving right along, and promise to have one of the best comedy magic turns on the halls. * * * The Days, Mental Wonders, bewildered the folks at the Palace Lancas;::r. * * * Gustave Fasola, the Indian Fakir, created a mild sensation at the Hippo • drome in Leeds. John Warren is presenting "The Magic Casket" and reports success. * * = : Lora, the Marvelous Talking Bird, left for Germany. This is the large parrot, having concealed in its interior a human being who does the Second Sight Mystery. I wonder how nianv people are aware of the fact that an irritation act was built in America, and was a dead failure? Its a fact and I know that the "Bird" is now for sal:. For further particulars write to Albert and Labrandt. *

*

V

The Schwartz Brothers are on the Stoll tour and doing very nicely. Their work does not stand out as well as it does on the continent, where whenever they appear on the bill, the audience only waits for them to see how they will burlesque the other acts on the bill. Their funniest magic stunts were when, following T. N. Downs, they caught the fish from the leader's whiskers. Astroi and Walsh, Illusionists and Conjurers are coming to the managers' attention as a good mystery act.

Rumor has it that Ziska and King are booked in England. They ought to do very good, as their act will be something new in the line of Magic and Comedy mixed. * * •> Chung Lung Soo informs me that he will shortly present a new Illusion; he will take Madame Twin-peanut Soo, place her in an oblong glass box, which will be suspended all the time, and the audience will be able to see her all the time; (no covering used), the glass box will start, revolve faster and faster, and when it is eventually stopped the little Mrs. Chinee will have vanished. I met Abraham Blitz, who is the real friend of Soo. and on asking him a few questions about this trick, he winked his off hand eye, and said "That's what they all say." Abe Blitz, by the way, is the real hallmarked nephew of Signer Plitz. *

*

v

Speaking of Blitz reminds me that Eddie Weston, who is one of the American Blitzes died a few weeks ago. He was a comedian, and veil known as the best Second Johnny Ray we have ever had. Sidney Lee is working steadily and is thinking of adding a new illusion as a finish to his card work. ^ * * Carl Hertz is still the same old Hertz and keeps adding material to his performance. I'll wager that Hertz can lay his hands on more magical tricks and illusions than any three conjurers in the show business, barring Master Magician Maskelyne or Darring Devant. * * * Did you know that Devere of Paris makes periodical trips to London and gets back to his mansion before anyone knows he is out of town? Devere his

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. several ledgers in which he has kept track of the tricks he has sold to his trade of the old time performers. He could relate some interesting matter if he so wished, as to who invented several tricks that certain necromancers are supposed to have invented.

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Long Lanky Conjurer Carlton is making quite a hit in the Pantomime, Bristol. Too bad that he was not en-v couraged with his big illusion act, for he had the fortune of finding a man that acted as his double so no one could tell them apart after they had both been made up. Never mind Carlton, He; rn says you are all right, if you don't beWilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C, who by the way is also Manager of the City lieve me ask him. * * * Magical Company, is my London CorAn old fellow named Hardgraves was respondent and he will keep his eye open for news and information that may in- doing a rope tying act and after he had terest the readers of the Conjurers' collected a certain amount of pennies, he would allow himself to be tied, and then Magazine. would wriggle out of the ropes. He + * * had had a prosperous day, and several The Three P's, Pharos, Phantom, men waiting their opportunity, eventualPalias, Egyptian Illusionists, are reputed ly tied him when only their own pals to have been the sensation at Moss's were about, and they tied the old fellow Carnival, Edinburgh, this season. When up so tight, that he could not move, then Fred Harcourt was alive he gen- while one stuffed his handkerchief down erally was the chief Mogul at the Wa- the victim's mouth, the others managed verly Fair, but alas, time and tide pass to carefully pick his pockets and take along and the first thing we know we away from him all the money that he know nothing. had made that day, also his savings of £20 ($100), which he had in the lining Loudon Cameron is mystifying the of his vest. Instructing him: "See how good people that attend Pools Myrio- quick you can get out, gov'ner" they ran rama. He is starring with this enter- away, and it was several hours before a passer by found the old fellow in a very prise en route. bad condition. The ropes had sunk deep * * * into his flesh, and he was taken to a Anthony is still "swanking" about as hospital, where he is doing very well. usual, and saving his money. That's He does not mind his wounds, but misses right, Anthony, it is not what you make, his money, which means a great deal to it's what you save. And if you look up him. the records of the old time conjurers you will note that very few of them * * died well off. Augoston died on the The Nassaus are at the Oxford ; they streets of Berlin of hunger and priva- do a mind reading act, and do that old tions, and at one time he was the owner gag of finding a hidden article. Who of a large boat on which he gave his they are I do not know as I never hearJ •performances. Houdini has a list of the of them. Mahatma had a £100 chalold-timers and undoubtedly will publish lenge in the paper against the Zanzigs, a list of their various ends. So save but the Zanzigs will pay no attention to your money. them, if they are sensible. •A

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I received a very nice box of Chinese salmon from Saginaw, Michigan, but as the sender did not add his name, I do not know who to thank; at any rate, I am very much obliged for same, and take this means of thanking him or her. (Editorial Note: No flirting allowed.) * * * Chung Ling Soo has left the Hippodrome and is now on the Stoll tour; this week he is at the Palace, Hull. It will surprise you to see how many magical acts are on the Stoll tour. I will just mention those on tour week of January 21. Starting at the London Hippodrome we have the Trilby Svengalis, who give a thought reading performance. At the Shepherd's Bush Empire we have Kahn & Kahn, clever magical entertainers. Prince Kokin, at the Empire, Belfast; The Magic Carpet at the Empire, Leeds; Sylvesta at the Empire, "Newport. Speaking of Sylvesta I want to let readers know that he was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., but at the age of three left for Merry England and has been there ever since. He does a very nice act, assisted by his wife; he opens with the clock and rapidly goes through several good tricks, concluding with the old reliable egg bag. He certainly can sell the last named. He is booked in America, and magicians will have to go and see him.

HSOME OLD TRICKS FOR

NEW

BEGINNERS

THE MAGNETIC HAT. An excellent trick that is always good, and which you can perform at a small cost, is to cause a borrowed high hat to apparently adhere to the tips of your fingers, and in every conceivable position, and still you can allow it to be examined at any moment. To prepare for this trick, you make an endless loop of a string of fine black silk thread. Figure A. Before starting this trick, hang this loop over your elbow, and with

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it hanging in this position you are ready to borrow the hat. After the hat is handed to you, you allow this loop to fall over the hat catching it as near the centre as possible, and the pressure of your fingers causes the hat to remain in the position required. This is quite an old trick, but can be worked up very effectively. To present this properly

Oswald Williams is at the Alhambra, Paris, and getting along fine. * * * The Cumberlands, mind readers, are at the Hippodrome, Bury. Wonder if they are related to Stuart Cumberland, writer of "A Thought Reader's Thoughts," and if so, how would they practice it to your own satisfaction, and like a little publicity entitled "How J3 have several loops prepared of the size Read Thoughts," or as Sid MacCaire's you find convenient, as one of them is liable to break. book says, "Muscle Reading."

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READING

REVIEWING BOOK.S AND THINGS;

BISH PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

Houdini Contra Robert Houdin. In the January edition of our worthy contemporary, The Illusionist, our friend and confrere Mons. E. Raynally, in a most gentlemanly manner, in the strain that only the polite French race can utilize, has taken up his pen and requests us to stop telling the truth about Robert Houdin. He takes pains to inform us, for our own sake that it is best to pause! No! We shall not pause, and there is nothing that will make us stop, unless we can be convinced that it is not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth that we are publishing. Mons. Raynally even strengthens our argument by informing us that he discovered that the Orange free was exhibited by some one as early as 1746, and then later by the justly famous Pinetti. Thank you ever so much, Mons. Raynally for that just completes our chain of evidence, as we could not find out who obtained the trick after1 the death of the inventor Pinchbeck, the English mechanic. Perhaps Pinetti had the selfsame orange tree. It is impossible for us to publish our material haphazard; we have taken one trick after the other and that is the way they will appear in The Conjurers' Magazine. The inventor of the Orange Tree, at least so we must judge was Christopher Pinchbeck.

who was born about 1670 and died 1732; this is the man that made all the material for Fawkes who at that time was the Great English Conjurer. We have mezzo tints and engravings of all these men, and they will be published in rotation. It would be an injustice to the world at large if we were to stop publishing the various rare facts that have taken so long to collect. Kindly bear in mind that we are only too willing to correct anything that may be a misstatement. Another thing, you are wrong in saying that the earliest Handcuff Evader was Latude who did so at the end of the 18th Century. Mons Raynally, we will go back further than that, The original Jail Breaker and Handcuff King was St. Peter, and to show you that this was really the case, we shall repro lute a page from an old book the date of which must be about in Caxton's time, which shows St. Peter breaking out of prison and he also escaped from his shackles. So you see we only claim to be the original "Challenge Jail Breaker and Roi de menotte le monde," but not the first in the world. We hope you will read over our account carefully, and when ever you find mistakes, just inform us of the fact, as we are only too willing to give Robert Houdin all the credit that is his due. Houdin's fame can never die, but let us have the truth and let us be just to the other men of brain, who were born when printer's ink was not so

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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The Scrap Book. of the leading performers from Heller's The Scrap Book for January has an time up to the present day magicians, article of Robert Houdin copied from but the following leading conjurers his memoirs. It makes interesting have been entirely forgotten, and some reading. In the February number of of them are full blooded Englishmen the same magazine there is a special arti- and excellent entertainers. The original cle on Cagliostro, whom the writer Buck, Anderson, the Wizard of the terms "A Prince of Imposters," and in North, Barney Eagle, Testot, Dexter, one chapter tells you the main facts of Beaumont, Burmain, Wizard Jacobs, Henry Evanion, Savern, Madame Card, this Master Mason. Gvngell (whose father was a famous * * * We have in our possession a very Bartholemew Fair Conjurer) ; some of rare portrait of Countess Cagliostro, the leading foreign artists that have visand will some time publish it with our ited England's shores are not mentioned, vci.iion of the "Man that turned base as D. Epstein, Kraty-Batschick, Jacoby Harmes, L. Homme Masque, Original mean in':<> gold," Cagliostro. Wiljalba Frikell, etc., etc. Quite a few names are in the book that no more Programmes of Magicians. belong under the list of "Notables" than (By J. F. Burrows, assisted by H. J. a fish belongs to the mammalia. Holland.) If this book is given the proper re We have just received a copy of this ; book, and wish it were as good as it vision t ought to be in the possession of ou)jht to have been, and could have every magician in the world, but in its been. The two gentlemen evidently present form we cannot recommend its meant well, but they did not go into their purchase as it is not authentic. If the subject deep enough. They have only publishers will send us a list of questaken things as they found them, and tions, we shall only be too pleased to apparently did very little looking up for give, free of charge, whatever informaauthentic facts. By that we mean their tion is in our power, as we have original material is not reliable. It badly needs programmes of almost every magician revising. They fail to give the various that has played England since Fawkes' magicians their just due. For in- time, 1625. stance they mention "Doebler's proWOULD THIS INTEREST YOU? grammes," and neglect to say that this is (From Boston Globe.) the bogus Doebler; by looking at their Here is a puzzle that puzzles everydates of Bosco's programme they could body : Take the number of your living easily have known that the original brothers, double the amount, add to it Bosco could never have been the Bosco three, multiply by five, add to it the they mention, as he died in 1863 ; rela- number of your living sisters, multiply tive to Herr Frikell they fail to mention the result by ten, add the number of that this is a son of the original Wil- deaths of brothers and subtract 150 from jalba Frikell; we happened to be on our the result. The right figure will be the way to visit him and found he had just number of deaths, the middle will be died on our arrival; Okito, they merely the number of living sisters, and the left mention as a Chinese magician. will show the number of living brothers. It professes to give the programme.; Trv it and see. *

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Our Mail Bag Under this column, you have the right to make any complaint against any one that you wish. Perhaps it may be the means of bettering certain conditions that exist at the present time. We will not be responsible for our correspondents' opinions. Pueblo, Col., Dec. 5, 1906. Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, No 278 W. 113th St., New York City. Mr. Editor, Dear Sir: DeVoe & Wilson are doing Burlesque Magic on the Crystal Circuit. One man, well he does nothing. The other man explains it. Yours respectfully, Reid Miller.

Chairman of the meeting was Mr. Neil Weaver, London correspondent to Mahatma (is that paper still in existence?) WILFRED C. ZELKA. * * *

London, England. Regarding news ; there was a meeting of the Magic Circle on Tuesday, January 15, at Hotel Tudor, Oxford St., London W., at 8 o'clock. I was only able to drop in for a short time, so missed part of the meeting. Germaine was present, working the stunt of writing a name on a rolled up cigarette paper, impaled on the point of a pencil, (the paper was impaled not Germaine) ; also one . or two other pocket tricks ; the work was wonderfully neat, his palter good, and pleased the boys. Sumerville Gibney, well known novelist and amateur magician, worked an original trick with cards bearing a string of numbers on each. Among others present I noticed Messrs. Nevil Maskelyne, Prof. Donn, Chas. Delvos, G. Gordon Powel, C. H. Short, also Mr. A. Stannard Cubitta, London amateur, who has just returned from the States and who will be returning there in about three weeks.

London, England.—London is now in the midst of a Theosophic revival; an East Indian by name, Agamya Gum Paramahamsa, who is known to the elect as the "Tiger Mahatma," chief Yogi of all the Yogi. He was received here a fortnight ago, with all due acclaim, and has taken a beautiful house in Margaret St. Cavendish St., a most select part of London. In this house all good and true Theosophists will gather, and the Mahatma offers to these and to the unbelievers, the secret of "How to become what you are," and to witness demonstrations of a theosophic nature "without fee." Agamya, etc., is looked upon in India, as the incarnation of Krishna, proven by the fact that Agamya has on his right foot a birthmark in the shape of a lotus flower.

Harpings From Hayman

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New York will not see Dr. Bodie next March as reported. All arrangements had been made by cable for the Doctor to open in March, and he was to sail

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middle of February; the business was transacted by Miss Jennie Jacobs and Mr. Harry Day, respectively, representing Dr. Bodie in New York and London. The contracts were duly posted at New York, but were never received in London ; the Doctor waited a fortnight, and not receiving contracts came to the conclusion that negotiations were off, and as he is in great demand in this country, he booked the time elsewhere; I am advised, however, that new contracts were sent, but too late. Dr. Bodie expresses a willingness to go to America in October or November, and his wishes shall no doubt be gratified. His appearance in America will be under the direction of Mr. Al. H. Woods, the Melo-Drama King. * * * Le Roy Talma and Bosco are playing the current month at the Colysee Royal Varieties, Lisbon, Portugal, with their usual tremendous success. * * * The Mysterious Cross is still in London, and a big hit; this would be a great act for America, if not already booked there. * * * Week of January 7th, Roland the Mysterious, played on the same programme with me at the Empire Royal Holborn, London. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of seeing this act, and I will say it is the best copy of Horace Goldin's act I have ever seen. He does trick for trick that Goldin docs, and some original stuff interspersed; the act is a tremendous success; after the first performance he wns booked :for some 16 weeks by Mr. Walter Gibbons, through Harry Day, Roland's agent. Last month Roland appeared in Madrid, and during the second week of his engagement was commanded to appear

before King Alphonso and Queen Ena, which he did. * * * Something new at the Folies Bergere, Paris; a turn called "The Human Brake." The act consists of two motor cars and a strong man; the motor cars come rushing on to the stage in opposite directions, and as they rush by, the man grabs them and stops the cars from making further progress ; you can hear the motors snorting, and sec the wheels of the cars slipping; the only power used in stopping the cars is the natural strength and power of the artist's arms. What a Sampson he must be! *

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Nate Leipzig called on me last week, having just retumed from South Africa. His trip evidently did him lots of good, as he looked the picture of health. Nate told me he had done well in Africa, and showed press notices to prove it. He certainly must have been a social success also, for he is just loaded down with beautiful presents, which he received in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The one he prizes most is a solid gold and diamond studded match safe, with the following inscription engraved on one side "From Mayor Quin of Jo'burg, South Africa, to Nate Leipzig, a good fellow and a clever artist." * * * Prof. Albini, who has recently recovered from an accident that laid him up for repairs for quite a few weeks, had another accident while playing at the Hippodrome, Putney; he was standing on the side of the stage awaiting his turn to go on ; a short flight of stairs was immediately at his back, leading to the property room; a property man was carrying down a bulky piece of furniture, and tripped and fell right on top of the Professor. Albini was

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. knocked unconscious, and the best he reJotes from ceived by way of an apology when he regained his senses was, "I'm sorry." Albini was able to go on later. The "Encore" in commenting on the accident says, "Prof. Albini is a good sleight of hand performer, but as a knockabout comedian he is an absolute failure." Cruel, wasn't it? • • • George Mervyll, Manager of the It's remarkable how long an act can trained monkey, "Jean," has been inbe booked in Great Britain! We all forming managers that "Jean" will soon know of the long run Downs and Thurs- do a regulation magician's performance, ton had at the Palace, and Houdini at the and is the first monkey that has ever Alhambra and Hippodrome, London, been trained to present magic tricks. I but the record of all records for book- cannot agree with Mr. Mervyll, for ing or being booked belongs to Harry monkeys have been doing magic tricks Russon, who with the kind assistance many years; in fact there was a magiof Harry Day, who has no mustache to cian in Pasau some time ago that ought He did not deceive you, actually booked Rus- to have been arrested. travel with a keeper or manager, and son between the hours of 5 p. m. and 3 a. m. the unheard of time of 193 managed to get along very well, but with consecutive weeks ; four days later Rus- his boorish manners and uncouth speech son signed contracts that will carry him he soon will be placed in a cage where away into 1913 with only 7 weeks open he belongs. time. Stop and think of this: Seven * * * years' work booked ahead and all obBalston, the colored mystifier, landed tained in less than a week. This is cer- in Berlin, and was astonished to find out tainly a record for both parties con- that he would not be admitted to the cerned and the agents will have to take Cafe of the Victoria Cafe, as two Ameroff their hats to Day for this record. ican colored men started a "Ruction" • • • and tried to clean out the place; but Chung Lung Soo besides mystifying "Germany to the front" was the cry and the audiences, also manages to give away although the colored artists from Amerenough to eat to satisfy the most fastid- ica cried in vain "Hey Rube" they were ious, so the advertisements exclaim! On ignominiously ejected on the broad Unbeholding the Chink work I noted that ter den Linden. This Cafe now stands he performs the rice and water trick unique as being the first place to refuse with the two bowls; instead of produc- admittance to a colored person, for as ing water he produces hot tea, and pass- we all know in Europe the negroes are es it amongst the audience. He next treated on an equal footing with the produces a large orange tree, and from whites; many arguments take place, it real live oranges, and throws them when some hot natured American lands into the audience, where they are in Germany, and finds himself seated at grabbed and stripped out of their yel- the same table with a big buck colored low strait jackets and eaten. man. But in this country it is wise to Joseph Hayman.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. start no arguments, as you will be in the has specially made on the outside of wrong. his coat, and it is the cleanest move I * * * have ever seen any magician do. The Miloska, the Sorcerer, assisted by Police will pay a reward of 20 marks Prof. Balsoma managed to get away ($5) for his arrest, or information that with their 15 days salary, but the man- will lead to his arrest. ager yelled "Police." Their act will * * * stand a lot of improving. Hartma the German Magician is still going around and doing his old tricks Marco Belly appeared at the Apollo with the same old smile. He manages Theatre, Dusseldorf, introducing some to work all the time, while several manew tricks. If you don't believe it read gicians that I know who are his superior, are waiting at tables half the time. his letter head. * * * Clemont DeLion made quite a hit at Something must be wrong with the the Apollo Halle in Salle, so much so Berlin Passage Panopticon, they have that the opposition manager of the not presented a new illusion in 6 months. "Suchmilche Halle" engaged Adrian What's the matter Heinemann, nothing Sheldon, another billiard ball manipu- coming along worth copying? lator. * * :|: Carl Wilmann once promised that he A man calling himself Mahatma was would publish his Zauber-welt every billed at the Etoile Palace in Paris, but once in a while, but evidently that once I cannot find out who he is. in a while has not, arrived yet. Several of us members of the Carl Wilmann SoDeBiere has been touring France, but ciety of Magicians would like to hear things did not turn out as expected, and from you once in a while. :fc * * I think he will shortly return to England. Horster-Conradi is rapidly coming to * * * the front in Berlin as the best instructor Renk, who has been having a run of of the Art of Mystery that Germany has 14 weeks in St. Petersburg, Russia, is seen in some time. At least up to the advertised as an American Illusionist, present time he has made good all his but he positively cannot speak one word promises. of English. * * * Ben Ali Bey who is the inventor of There is a warrant out for the arrest of Heinrich Niedrach, Magician and Il- Black Art, is still merrily traveling and lusionist. He has simply made himself making a nice living. * * * vanish, as it was time for him to enter Mons, Cazaneuve is in Asia ; although the army for two years. Neidrach, with whom I am well acquainted, is very becoming quite an old man, he is still clever with vanishing drinking glasses. rated as being very clever. * * * His great trick is to order a glass of beer, drink the beer, and then apparently At one of the yearly Fairs in Hamthrow the ghss on the floor. He throws burg, in one of the numerous "Ten the glass into a large pocket which he Pfenning" shows, a lady was going to194

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show the Mermaid illusion. Right in the midst of the lecture a small insignificant mouse entered the building, (possibly being attracted by the grandiloquent lecturer) and when beheld by the "Mermaid" who was safely encased behind two mirrors, Miss Mermaid uttered a scream, and to the astonishment of the spectators, arose and ran behind a friendly fat man that happened to be in the crowd, and obligingly fainted away. After being revived she entered the space she had vacated, in full view of the audience, and the lecturer proceeded as if nothing had happened. It takes Germany to take things stoically. * * * Paolo Uferini is traveling about with his own Zauber-Theatre and has made quite a lot. of money in the" Magic business. * * * William Steckenorf was arrested and fined 5 marks in Strassburg last week for "Manners unbecoming a gentleman" in a public restaurant. He burnt his mouth with some hot soup, and started in to roundly curse the proprietor, Johan Schenkes, who promptly had him arrested. The strange part of this turns out to be that Steckenorf is known as "Biscknoff, Der unverbrennbare Mensch" (The human being that cannot be burnt) ; he also delights in swallowing- molten lead etc., but he failed to make good with the hot soup. * * * Rumor has it that Maskelyne & Devant are going to send out a number two company to travel through Germany. * * * Bruno. Schenk is busy trying to persuade himself that he can do well in America. I think he could, if he were handled properly, as some of his material is very good.

t Jottings and \ Jumbtings

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Ziska and King at Keith's Theatre, and as usual made their hit. The oftener you see them the better you get to like their act. Ziska looks like a dashing warrior bold, and King—well, he is certainly droll. The two men arc well mated. Ziska is there with the "bull con," and King the quiet "kidder." * * * We note that Sime of the Variety gives Chefalo, the Italian magician, some good advice. Chefalo has been told repeatedly to cut his talking, as he cannot be understood, even by those standing in the wings. The quicker lie cuts his chattering, the quicker will he be placed in the ranks as a clever entertainer. His work is all right, and he has that peculiar foreign appearance that always aids a performer. * * * Anna Eva Fay did very well in Chicago at the Majestic. * * * Herr Jansen Company made good at the Lyric Theatre in Altoona, Pa. * * * Some of the newspapers speak of Randion as being a Hindoo conjurer. Such is not the case. Randion is a Hindoo born without arms or lower limbs, and is the latest freak to invade America. It would be a good idea for him to do magic tricks, some that require only the pulling of a string by concealed accomplices. Buchinger, in 1700, a German, also born that way, was advertised largely as "sleight of hand man." * * * So much talk has been going on about Jean Bedini's alleged stealing, or what he is said to be stealing, Fred Karno's "Night in the Music Halls," but we never see or even hear of any one being accused of stealing Harry Houdini's brain work and originations. There ought to be a law that would protect an artist from these parasites that wait until some one presents something new, and then imitate it, and add insult to injury by claiming that they originated the idea, and that the actual originator is the pilferer.

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Windecker, the Chicago conjurer, is back home after a tour with the Otto Floto show in Mexico. When Windecker was with Rotcrberg, several years ago, he gave promise of becoming one of the best conjurers, but up tw the present time he has not kept his promise. What's the matter, Windecker; too much wind? * * * Hornmann still busy with his mysterious "Doings." Wonder what he is doing in Prooklyn all his Sundays. Hope he wakes u^> Fritz. * * * Frederick Melville is hot on the trail of i^nie one who reported in America that his act was a failure, and to prove that the performance of La Moto Girl was a decided hit and a huge draw, he is busily advertising a letter that Manager Harry Rickards has given him in which Mr. Rickards goes on to say, among other things, that La Moto Girl is the most genuine novelty that he has ever imported into Australia. Miss Doris Chertr.ey is highly complimented. The Moto Girl sails for Colombo, India, opening January -JOth for a nine months' contract with Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus, touring through India and China. * * * Mcna Tckle, under the supervision of the Berol Highnesses, has made a record. The only mystery act which has ever been placed beiort the public that has not found a host of imir,itors. The act is a success, but still 10 cue has been abk- to present it in the manner th.it it >s III.W being exploited, and all due credit must be given to the Berol outfit for the manner in which they have taken the trick and kept it the headline attraction of the Great Orpheum Show. * * * Carl Hertz received a letter from Horace Goldin's solicitors warning him not to do the illusion called "The Bridal Chamber," informing him that they would enjoin him (Hertz) from producing the trick. Wonder how many tricks would be left in Goldin's act if he would be enjoined from doing other people's ideas. * * * Who is the London firm that sold a Continental magician the "Dcvant Burmese Gong," and in such a bungling manner that "I want my money back" is all the conjurer is saying?

A would-be editor of a magical monthly catalogue is claiming that he is the originator of the Nelson Downs Coin Wand. Tom's patent number of wand is 11,901, so there is no question as to who is the ! * * * At the October meeting of the Magic Circle one member resigned whose name starts with a "G." David Devant's remarks, when the resignation was accepted, were forceful but even then weaker than the man deserves. * * * Variety credits The Psychromancer as being the feature that has proven all his claims by holding the audience spellbound during his performance. The correspondent further says he was the biggest drawing card of the season at Altoona, Pa. * * * W. D. Leroy has received an interesting clipping from the Melbourne Punch from his correspondent, Robert Kudarz, which states that the Salambos, of electrical fame are running an American •'Dreamland" resort. * * * Ralph Lukenbach tried to show the natives of Colwyn, Pa., how easy it was to escape (Hit of handcuffs, so allowed a cigar store merchant to lock an old manacle around his wrists. After breaking several chairs in trying to knock them off his wrists he failed, and the key not being found the cuffs had to be filed off It was then discovered that the cuffs had never been locked. * * * E. J. Norris, who calls his lady assistant Sirronje, which is his name spelled backwards, ought to behave and stop sending out lying material, or some day he will wake up and find himself back to his old job, waiting on tables. * * * Volta, the Electrical Wonder, is on the Keith tour. * * * Diamonds and other jewels valued at $3,500 were found hidden in an old trunk in the home of the late Charles Tripler of Manhasset, L. I., discoverer of a method for making large quantities of liquid air at small cost The find was made by Mr. Tripler's son, L B. Tripler, who was appointed administrator and is heir to all of the Tripler estate.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The son knew nothing of the presence of these valuables until he opened the trunk in order to make an inventory of the estate of the dead scientist. The older Mr. Tripler also left considerable real estate to his son. * * * Mr. Frederick Roche of Boston writes that Matzoni exhibited "Aga" at Walker's Museum, and that the entire mechanism could •easily be seen by the audience; that William Baker, a pupil of S. Wilson Bailey, gave a performance at the Cambridge Y. M. C. A.; that W. D. Leroy also entertained at the same hall, only on another night; that a lot of us fellows sat in the gallery taking a look. Question—What did Leroy think? Answer— What did we fellows think? A man named Gans (not the colored fghter) escaped from a straitjacket, and the greatest wonder was that it did not fall off before he wriggled out of it. That Ottura, a Japanese lady magician, gave hourly seances at Austin & Stone's. That Quigley's "Better than Houdini" man exhibited his prowess, or rather his lack of ability, at the Boston Theatre one Sunday night and made a laughing(?) hit. If you don't believe it, ask Maccaron.

Serious Occidents to Houdini Imitators. From The North American, Philadelphia, Pa. After enduring five excruciating minutes in a tightly nailed packing box, g-year-old David Brasher, of 2000 South Fifth street, the latest rival of Houdini. was chopped out last night by a number of boys who had dared him to try the feat. Spying the box, which was in front of a store in Fifth street, Brasher said: "If I was nailed in that I could get out of it just as easy as Houdini did." Taking him at his word, three of the boys got hatchets and nails and boxed him up. There were some heavy thumps on the inside and then piteous wails for help. The audience attacked the box with axes. When the boy was dragged out from the "box a splinter four inches long was protruding from his abdomen. The youngster was taken to the Mount Sinai Hospital, where the lumber was removed by Dr. H. S. Emil. From The Gazette Times, Pittsburg, Pa. ROCHESTER, PA., Jan. 18.—"This will be the last box I w.ill ever get out of in Rochester," declared "Raymond, the Handcuff King," at

197

the theater here to-night before he entered a strong box which had to be broken open by stage attendants almost an hour later, when Raymond's apparently dead body was carried from the stage. Raymond appeared here six weeks ago and drew such crowds by his magic and bursting of handcuffs and boxes that he duplicated his performance this week. At the magician's request last night six well-known citizens mounted the stage and constructed a box from planks, two inches thick, using heavy spikes. Raymond was then manacled and tied with heavy ropes as in previous exhibitions and placed in the box which was nailed up. "Don't be stingy with the nails," shouted Raymond from the inclosure. His advice was taken. For 20 minutes there was absolute silence in the auditorium. Then the nervous strain of the audience increased until finally there were exclamations of terror. It was evident that Raymond had at last been beaten and the box was torn open. The "handcuff king," with rope and manacles intact, was found unconscious. Women fainted or shrieked. Raymond's wife, who had been standing in the wings, fell in a swoon. The magician was taken to the hospital where he later revived. Had he been left in the box five minutes longer, it is said, he would have smothered to death.

ANSWERS TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS —

—,

Burke, Oakland.—We hold the recipe of the vanishing ink, also how to cause the paper to crumble. Take ordinary paper; first steep it in sulphuric acid, diluted according to the intended durability and it is then dried and glazed, the acid being partially neutralized by ammonia vapor. The material is adapted for temporary use. Sooner or later the paper must fall to pieces, and this is a good thing to know if you wish your letters to be destroyed. * * * B. W. Brussles,—We do not know if A. Lewis copied his material or part of his Modern Magic or More Magic from the French books of J. H. Ponsin. Ponsin's books were published in 1R53-4 in two volumes and were called "Nouvelle Magie Blanche Devoi-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

198

lee." Published by A. Ddahays, Paris, France. Yes, Prof. Hoffmann's name is A. Lewis. Perhaps Prof. Hoffmann would kindly answer your letter through our columns. Modern Magic was only first published in 1877. Ponsin's book was, therefore, in the world before Hoffmann's. * * * Limerick.—Yes, the Fays were booked at the Oxford at the salary of £200 ($1,000) weekly, but then they had to give a matinee alone each day and without being assisted by the regular performers. That is the largest salary ever paid to any mystery act in England on its first appearance. * * * Winters.—Our correspondent, Herr Fischer, sent in his letter and we published same. We met Leon Hermann in Boston, and he objected to the information being sent, but promised full particulars of the family tree of the Hermann family. He even mentioned Samuel Hermann, the father of Compars, but up to the present date Leon Hermann has not sent us the material. Let us hope that after this reaches his eye he will send in the promised matter. *

*

*

Z. Z., Salford, England.—You are greatly mistaken; the party you mean cannot be Harry Whiteley, as we happen to know him personally, and have always found him upright and honest. You can see him personally, as he lives in Manchester, 86 Medlock street. The man to whom you refer is a greatly disliked fakir residing in London. *

*

*

Childs, Leeds.—Yes, he is a great admirer of—himself. * * * Edwards, Akron, O.—Can't you fellows ever become accustomed to the fact of one man doing better than the other? If you want our candid opinion, you are a jealous "stiff," and we will not publish this derogatory news, as it seems like spite work on your part to injure the party in question. * * * James O'Rielly, Skowhegan, Me.—How you ever received the Magazine is a mystery. Better take it by the year and make sure of it. * * * Harrcll, Waltham.—'Tis pleasant to receive a letter like yours once in a while. Brings along a little sunshine.

Elias M. Rogoff, Cleveland, O.—Keith's Circuit will pay any salary that is asked for, if the magician draws money to the house. We have personally been on programmes with two different magicians, one drawing a small salary, the other drawing a very good salary. Salaries are paid according to demand. Let us say Keith pays from $2,coo per week down to $25. No salary is too large—if you can get it. * * * Augustus Rapp.—Letter received. Hope the better half gets better. Hope to see you ere we sail to Europe. * * * F. Tibby.—Thanks. Send all the clippings that you think will interest. * * * St. Albian, Melbourne.—You stop your "kidding"; try it on some one else. We are so used to such "rot" that you did not even make us titter. * * * Robert Gifford. — Received programme. Read it and save your money. * * * M. F. Platt, Cincinnati, O.—You must, first of all, rub white wax on reverse side of paper intended for use. Ground graphite is generally used. There is a firm on Broadway that sells the photos in question, but should this meet the eye of any one possessing photos of Hermann and Kellar, he can sell one of each to Mr. Platt, whose address is 327 Walnut street, Cincinnati, O. * * * Harvey Emmctt, Spokane, Wash.—Your news notes received, but too late for January issue, and 'twill be too old for February number. Thank you just the same. * * # Geo. A. Rcnna.—We cannot, in justice to the Howard Brothers, even give you a hint as to their work; if you are interested you must get up a code yourself; perhaps the second-sight article in the Robert Houdin material may give you a hint. * * * Wm. Jaques, Norfolk, Va.—The method used by his imitators for escaping from a packing case will be exposed in the Handcuff Secrets Exposed article. * * * More letters remain to be answered.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

H O CV S P O C V S IVNIOR The Andtomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. OR, T h e Art of Iugling fet forth in his proper colourj, folly, plainly, and daftly, Co that an ignorant perfon may thereby learn tire full perfection ofthe Ume,sher a little prafitife. Vntoeach Tricke is added thefigure,where it is needful] foiftai ThefectndEditiw, with miutj additiont. PrcQat nibili quim utulficeic.

—•

XiO H D O N,

199

-your lap, and clap your pudding into your mouth, which will be thought to be the ball that you showed them; then de-

tr i cline your head, and open your mouth, and the pudding will slip down at its full length, which with your right hand you may strike it into your mouth again, doing this three or four times, then you may discharge it into your hand, and clap it into your pocket without any suspicion, by making three or four wry faces after it, as though it stuck in your throat, and if you practice smiting easily upon your throat with your fist on each side, the pudding will seem to chink; as if it were lying there; then say, "Thus they eat puddings in High Germany, they fling it down their throats before their teeth can take possession of it."

To Seem to Eat Knives and Forks. Desire any one of the spectators to {Continued) lend you a knife, which when you get To seem to szuallozv a long pudding made hold of, so that you may cover the whole with both hands, the end of the haft exof tin. This pudding must be made of tin, cepted, and setting the point to your consisting of twelve or thirteen little eye, saying, "Somebody strike it with hoops made as in the figure following, your fist," but nobody will, because it so as they may almost seem to fall one is so dangerous a thing; then setting through another, having little holes made your hand on the side of the table and at the biggest end thereof, that it may looking about you, ask, "What, will nonot hurt your mouth, hold this pudding body strike it in?'' in which time let the ("for so it is called) privately in your left knife slip into your lap, then make as if hand, with the hole end uppermost, and you chop it hastily into your mouth, or with your right hand take a ball out of to hold it with one hand, and to strike your pocket, and say, "If here is ever it in with the other nimbly, making three a maid, that has lost her—or an or four wry faces, saying, "Some drink, old woman that is out of conceit some drink," or else, "Now let somewith herself, because her neighbors deem body put his finger into my mouth, and her not so young as she would be, let pull it out again," some will cry, "You them come to me, for this ball is a pres- will bite me," say, "I will assure you I ent remedy:" then seem to put the ball will not:" then when he has put his into your left hand, but let it slip into finger in, he will pull it out and cry, Printed by T. H. fpr R. M.

i 6 3 j.

200

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"There is nothing;" this is time sufficient to convey the knife into your pocket; then say, "Why, you have your finger again." So by this means you may swallow knives and forks. To Put a Lock upon a Man's Mouth. You must have a lock made for this purpose, according to the figure; one side if its bow must be immovable, as that marked with A, the other side is noted with B, and must be pinned to the body of the lock, as appears at E, I say it must be so pinned that it may play to and fro with ease; this side of the bow must have a leg as at C, and then turn it into the lock; this leg must have two

the partition when the lock is shut home, will the least of all be suspected in the use of the lock; you must get one to hold a tester edge long between his teeth, then take another tester, and with your left hand proffer to set it edgeways between a second man's teeth, pretending that your intent is to turn both into which of their mouths they shall desire, by virtue of your words: which he shall no sooner consent to do, but you by holding your lock privately in your right hand, with your fore-finger may flip it over his cheek, and lock it by pressing your fore-finger a little down, after some store of words, and the lock having hung on a while, seem to pull the key out of his nose. You may have these locks neatly made, at my house, near the watch-house, on little Tower-hill, Postern-row, a bookseller's shop.

How to Show the Magic Bell and Bushel. This feat may well be called magical, for really it is very amazing, if it be well handled. This device was never known to the public before. This bushel must be turned neatly like unto the egg-boxes, so that they cannot find out where it opens, and you must have a false lid to clap on and off, and upon that false lid glue some bird-seed, and then you must have a true lid made notches filled in the inner side, which to clap neatly upon the false one. now must be so ordered, that one may lock you must have your artificial bell to or hold the two sides of the bow as close show with your bushel. You may make your bell with wood, together as may be, and the other notch to bold the said part of the bow a pro- or brass, your bell must be made to unportionable distance asunder, that being screw at the top, that it may bold as locked upon the cheek, it may neither much seed as your bushel will when pinch too hard, nor yet hold it so slight it is filled, and you must have the handle that it may be drawn off; let there be a of your bell made with a spring, so as key fixed to it, to unlock it, as you see to let the seed fall down at. your word at D. and lastly, let the bow have divers of command. notches filled in it, so that the place of (To be continued.)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HANDCUFF SECRETS EXPOSED

(COPYRIGHT,

I906,

MY I 1 A R U Y

(Continued.) After I had gathered in the reward, it was reduced to $50, and now the cuff is looked upon as not being invincible with the exception, of certain makes that are being used by the United States Government, and several pair now being used by my brother, Theo. Hardeen, who at present is touring Great Britain. Capt. E. D. Bean was born in Hollis, Maine, July 29th, 1838. He gained his rank as captain during the Civil War in the United States, 1861-1865. Was on the police department service over ten years, and during all this time worked faithfully perfecting all the restraint implements for the use of the police department, and through his efforts, the

lHU'DLXI.)

The following material was first intended for a book and was written by the author, during his tour in Great Britain, in response to the thousands of letters received requesting light on the easy methods adopted by his numerous imitators. Not having had the required time the book was not published; but as it seems to find a fitting place in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, it will appear in monthly instalments. In reading the various instalments, please bear in mind that it was written to appear in book form. This will be the most exhaustive article ever published on this peculiar mode of entertainment.

Capt. E. D. Bean, inventor of Police Restraints bearing his name.

handcuff became a practical police instrument. At the present moment he is busy working on a sort of a thumb clip,

202

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

which when completed will be about the second lightest restraint in use by the police department. He is hale and hearty, and let us hope that the captain will be with us a good many years. He resides in Boston, Mass. The lightest restraint in actual use is the Thumb

Thumb Cuff.

Cuff, and from illustration you can see just exactly what it is, and how it is used. Mr. P. C. Holland, the great criminalogist of Chicago and editor of "The Detective," informs me that this thumb cirff was invented 16 years ago,

great many years, and were the most frequent in use at the Spanish Inquisition, and at the French Bastile. In freeing yourself from the old-time thumb screws it is not a difficult matter to open the smaller locks used, for with very little practice with a common lockpicker, feu can easily open all locks capable of being hung on the thumb screws. Will illustrate different lock pickers in a future number. A Few Facts Regarding American Manacles. As the number of American manufactured manacles are so great, (over 175) it will take a special article to de^ tail and explain them, which I shall leave for some future date; for the present let it suffice that I should illustrate and de-

Thumb Screw used in the Bastile, Paris

and that the inventor died on his re turn from Washington after having had his patent granted. Thumb screws have been in use a

Illustration No. 1.

scribe some of the best known makes now in use in the United States of America.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Illustration No. i. This is a photograph of a pair of Handcuffs invented by Herman Ahrend, April 27, 1880, and are made by a firm in Newark. The legirons are of the "A. Rankin," Philadelphia pattern. The two form a unique manacle to fasten the hands and feet together. Illustration No. 2. There are dozens of different patterns of ratchets, or cuffs that are adjustable to any size wrists; the most in service are (A) the Tower and Lyon Double lock, (C) the Cobb 1900 Cuff, the cuff called (P>) Pinkertnn Detective cuff. (I

203

Adams and I often meet with his cv.lT; W. Kimball's Handcuff was placed on the market, (and never sold) in i860; some officer in Newark has a very fine pair; he informed me that he takes pride in having held all the Handcuff Kings and Queens that came his way. T beat, it in less than 2 minutes; it is a fairly secure cuff. In 1861 A. Delestatius brougni out a cuff which looks something like A. Rankin's, but Rankin did not patent his cuff with a few improvements until 1862.

Illustration No. ,3.

Illustration No. 2.

suppose it is called by that name because Pinkjerton the famous detective never had anything to do with it), and of all the cuffs that I have ever had the fortune to be locked in they are the limit. I wish all cuffs were as easy to manipulate as this cuff. The early ratchets were invented about 1862 by William V.

The majority of the ratchet cuffs can he opened by a small piece of apparatus as shown in illustration No. 3, which consists of a strip of fine steel about 3^/2 inches long and % inch wide with a knob on the end. This is inserted through the handcuff where the lock snaps, X showing position of apparatus when inserted in cuff. On the double lock ratchets when they are doublelocked, this steel is useless. (To be Continued.)

204

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Hamley Brothers.

35, New Oxford Street, T. W, G. London, Eng. IIMITFI) and (City Depot) 2 9 , Ludgate ill, E. C.

WE BEG TO NOTIFY OUR NUMEROUS CLIENTS OP OUR REMOVAL FROM OUR LATE PREMISES 231 HIGH HOLBORN, W. C. TO OUR BRANCH AT 35 NEW OXFORD STREET, W. C, WHICH NOW BECOMES OUR HEAD DEPOT FOR CONJURIING TRICKS &c. FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CITY CUSTOMERS AND THOSE ARRIVING IN TOWN AT CITY STATIONS, WE HAVE OPENED NEW PREMISES AT 29, LUDGATE HILL, E. C. AT BOTH BRANCHES, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY MADE TO ENABLE THE BEST & PROMPTEST ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN TO CALLERS AND ALSO TO MAIL ORDERS.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING THIMBLE An Entirely New Method

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to the corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing It plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand the thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracles. We can moreover positively assert that two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5/4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND This wand is quite new and is made on hitherto unused principle so far as magic Is concerned. The effect Is wonderful in the extreme. The trick is worked as follows: The performer borrows 3 coins and throws them up in the air and they vanish. He now takes the wand, which is quite a thin one about 3 feet in length, made of brass handsomely nickled. This is first of all given for examination, he then waves it about in the air. the audience sees a coin adhering to the top of the wand. This coin he takes off and gives it to audience to examine. He proceeds again in this way, and produces another coin and then another, both of which are handed immediately to the audience. The marvellous part about this wand is that it can at any moment be handed for examination. It is impossible to overrate the value of the wand, because it can be used for any ordinary purpose, and yet this astonishing trick can be performed at any time by its aid. The price is no indication of its value which is very considerably more, but as we anticipate selling a large number we are enabled to offer them at this price. We have only a limited number of these in stock at present, so orders should be sent early in order to secure one. Price 5/6, post free 5/11. Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents.

HAMLEY'S IMPROVED CARD STAR for examination and the utis guaranteed. Six cards are one is placed in each arm of so that the performer does not any of the cards. He now ence and spins it, when it can is perfectly unprepared. The card the arrow shall point at, replying, he spins the arrow, that particular person to name the arrow has stopped spinhim to come and take the card and show it to the audience. ence sees that this is quite corin this way with all the cards, other ways, free 43/- or $11-50.

Everything can be given most accuracy and certainty chosen by the audience and the star, back to the audience, get the slightest glimpse of shows the arrow to the audireadily be seen that the arrow performer then asks whose and, upon one of the audience and while it is spinning asks his card. He does so, and when nirtg the performer requests that the arrow is pointing to Upon his doing so, the audireot. The performer proceeds It may be worked in many Special Low Price 42/-, post

Many other Novelties in addition to above. List free on application. NEW MAGICAL SLEIGHTS & FAKES by R. A.Morrell. Price 3/-, post free 2/2. NEW DIALOGUE FOR PUNCH & JUDY.

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SPECIAL NOTICE! These serial articles will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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190

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Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

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Theodore Hardeen The King of all Handcuff Kings and the Mighty Potentate of all the Monarchs and Jail Breakers (bar Houdini). The official European representative of the Conjurers' Magazine, and t > whom all business communications can be addressed. £

Route Stoll Tour, or care of Jinger &• Bauer, SO Rupert St., London, ZV.

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epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novelty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

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& ZAM-BUK S HEALING POWER. Wiiram Sherring, of Hamilton. Canada's hero, the winner of the Marathon Race, trained on Zam-Buk and has proved its merits. He says: " While training for my great run from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 26 miles, I used Zam-Buk and it proved a great boon to me. I have used it both as an embrocation and as a salve for chafing sores, bruises caused by stepping on to stones while runn ng in light shoes, and other bruises and have found it the best salve and ointment I have ever tried. Its healing powers are exceptional, and for general household use it should be a wonderfully fine curative. I have pleasure in expressing my appreciation of its value." Zam-Buk i9 a healing balm composed of the finest known medicinal herbal extracts. It acts as a skin food, and rejuvenates all diseased or injured tissue—rebuilds unsound skin, etc., just as a builder rebuilds a damaged building. The most delicate skin—the skin of young babies can absorb it. No staining, no harmful coloring matter, no mineral poisons. Pure nature applied to nature's ills. eczema, skin diseases and eruptions, ulcers, abscesses, boils, bad ley, chronic or poisoned sores, cuts, burns, scalds, scalp sores, ringworms, babies heat or chafing sores, chapped hand*, chilblains, sore nipples, and all skin diseases or injuries. All druggists at 60c a box, or post free from the Zani-Buk Co., Toronto. (6 boxes for $2.50).

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Zam-Buh Co.

In e v e r y home outs, bruises, scalds and similar injuries are sure to occur, especially where there are children. In most homes, tool, chapped hands, chilblains* eczema, ring-worm, ulcers and other skin diseases occur, For these you need a balm which is pure, herbal, fre« from mineral compound, free from animal fat, antiseptic, able to stop bleeding and which should heal. Zam-Buk meets all these requirements. Why not prove its merits. Read this:— Mrs. Everett Brown, of Markham, (Ont.), says:—j "Zam-Buk cured some bad; bruises on my knee. I also tind it t'xcellt'iit f«>r chapped; hands. Mrs. Lizzie Gilmour, of Kingston, says:—"I had an ulcerated leg, which became so bad that I could not wear a boot. The foot and ankle were swollen to nearly double their ordinary size, and the pain was terrible. The ulcers spread In a ring allj round the limb. Doctor's' treatment brought no relief, and at one time it was thought o n l y amputation could end the agony I sufferd. Zam-Buk was brought to my notice, and I bought a few boxes. Each box gave me more ease and healed the ulcers. To-day I am quite cured, the limb is sound, and whereas before I could not stand, now I can go up and down steps with ease. I owe it all to Zam-Buk." Used as an embrocation It cures rheumatism and sciatica and rubbed well Into the chest cures lung troubles, colds, etc. For all purposes to which a household balm Is put Zam-Buk will be found unequalled.

TORONTO, CANADA.

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MONTHLY

AGAZNe

CONTENTS History of Magic

Tricks for Amateurs and Professionals Reading- and Rubbish Our Mail Bag Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Handcuff Secrets

MARCH 15, 1907 Price. 10 Cents

Entered na second-class m a t t e r

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English, Hmerican anb Continental lDavict\> Bvtistes 50 RUPERT STREET, Continental Representatives for English and Continental for Messrs. A. Hon imioi an 1 l'r.mic K. Killis's Enterprises m South Africa.

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Harry Day THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give anvgor>d Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating- what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. ST. JAMES BUILDING Broadway and 2QtK Street, New YorK Thirty-five (3.") years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. MANHATTAN DETECTIVE AGENCY, ST. JAMES BLDG., 26th ST. & BROADWAY, N. Y. %

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^WANTED: "Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit .to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician so as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia. Address: Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 273 W. 113tH St., New YorK

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The British Barnum

Dr. Walford Bodie The Electric Wizard! The Famous Bloodless Surgeon! The Record Breaker Playing- the Leading Halls and Theatres in Great Britain to overflow houses.

America Shortly London Agent:

Head Office:

163 Blackfriars Road, LONDON, S. E.

Mr. Harry Day Cablegrams "BODIEISH" London

THE PIONEER

The Devil's Own Trick An entirely new and clever card trick for the pocket. Fools the knowing ones and still is easy to do. Sure to please you. Complete with ing-eniusly prepared special cards (which can be examined) and full instructions Price 25 Cents. :: :: :: :: ::

Space for

A. Rotherberg's Magical Repository 176 Ontario Street

Chicago, III.

Some New Ones! "Great Memory Feats." To instantly memorize and repeat the names of 30 to 1(K) objects, called out once only by the audience. To instantly memorize, in any order, the whole of the •cards iu a pack of 52. To add up an addition sum of 36 figures without seeing a single figure. To immediately give the day of the week for ajiy given date, etc., etc. Complete Instructions for these and other feats, by registered mall. Price, $1.00

"Marvelous BlacR-Board Feat."

" Marvelous Spirit Vision." A fine test for newspaper office or hotel work. Performer iteps into a newspaper i.mce and asks seme one to think of a •ard in an Imaginary pack, when lie lias dune so to write name of card in his own note-book, and keep same in his eket. He then w rites a note asking name of card, encloses it in envelope, will h he seals and addresses to performer's assistant: he then lies for a messenger boy to deliver note to assistant at hotel nd return with answer. He does so and answer Is found c< rreet. Person who thinks of card writes name h.imsolf, also writes note to assistant, using his own words Performer does not write a word, nor handle hote, or see it. No confederacy, no cards used, no prepared paper, any paper used, failure impossible. Easily learned in 5 minutes, done anywhere at any time. A sensational test. Price. $1.00 Will send all three of above for $2.50.

Several rows of figures are written on a black-board by any person from audience. The performer, who is blindfolded, and sits close to footlights, facing the audience, Instantly adds up and calls out the correct result; he also names any figure pointed at by any person, tells the number of spots ou cards, suit, etc. No confederacy. Easy to introduce. 34 Maple Street Price, $100

VERNE & CO.

K i n d l y m e n t i o n C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y M a g a z i n e i n a n s w e r i n g all A d v e r t i s e m e n t s

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If you want to get ahead in the twentieth century, be "different." That, is why the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine is making good. It is the "different" maga7ine of magic and kindred interests. Much of the material we publish is exclusive, and we spare neither expense nor trmibie to cable, write or telephone, to our numerous representatives for reliable information on topics of news interest.

Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without permission. The magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman. Contributions on till topics of interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. VOL.

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MARCH 1907

No. 7

Have you noticed the Free Barter and Exchange Column; If not, you are missing something worth while. No graft in this, just a chance for our readers to get acquainted and perhaps get also something they want for something they want to get rid of. We believe in brotherly love even among conjurers, so get acquainted with fellow conjurers through our columns. Incidentally, if you have any complaint against anything published herein or against conditions under which you work, write to us. s

Does it pay to advertise in the Conjurers' Monthly? A great many conThe scandal of the past thirty days jurers, business men and dealers in magic apparatus think that it: does. in' spiritualistic circles has been the alWhy? Because every manager of note leged exposure of "the Rev. Dr." Hugh receives a copy of this magazine each Moore and his famous spook house on month, and all the publicity promoters West Thirteenth street, New York City. at the theatres quote from our columns. Somehow, yet why none can explain., Each month shows a big gain in our cir- this sort of thing always reflects in a culation, which means hundreds of new way on the conjuring and magical proreaders that you ought to reach. Ama- fession. It is high time that distinctions teur conjurers are counted by the hun- should be drawn clearly between the dreds on our list of subscribers, and our conjurer or magician who entertains advertising columns are therefore the merely and the "worker" who is after best ever for the conjuring and mail graft. An A-i magician does not have order business. And we are proud to to stoop to unscrupulous practices, for add that we now reach the four quar- his act commands every dollar it is ters of the world—also the hind quar- worth, and is a credit to his earnest endeavor. ters of Kansas Citv.

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213

P R O I ' K R PI,.VCR I X T i l l ' ;

HISTORY OF MAGIC a In this series of articles, it is my intent ion to correct many errors regarding the history of music which h;ive existed in the public mind since "The Life of Hubert Hoiniin" was issued. In such endeavnr, necessarily, I have introduced references to Ilnudin's contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a comprehensive history of magic from 1GS0 to the present day. In order to prove my statements, it is also neressary to wander frequently from the central figure, Houdin, but though some instalments may not present the name of Houdin, the facts presented will, in the course of the history's development, be found to have direct bearing1 on his life and work. In taking issue with those generally accepted as authorities, I am actuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained by me during years of- earnest investigation at home and' abroad, and to do justice to those who preceded Houdin and to whom he owed a greater debt than he set forth in his autobiography. Copyright, 100G. Jiy Harry Iloudini. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT VII. SECOND SIGHT ( Con tin u eil )

was blindfolded and would go through a lot of second sight tests in imitation of (he Scotch boy who was in England, and f) days later also, gave an exhibition before the Royal Families at the same place. * * * In 184T, 1842 and 1843 there traveled through the Eastern States of America a Lad)' doing Second Sight, whose name I cannot find out. The only clue [ have regarding her, are the bills that were distributed, and I now reproduce several of them.

The Goose performs the following tricks; viz: " Performing" Vh« Extraordinary Ptl»rui*not> «f ttie upon cards, money and watches, telling the day of the month, year and date, also value of any piece either English or foreign, distinguishC7 The p«cativ acquirement* tnd flcnUiti of this highly Talented L«dj >re lltnott beyoad the reaifi of deicriptiou. By some aaknawa ing all sorts of colors and (most, prodi""EXTRAORDINARY ENDOWMENT giously and certainly unbelieving to those S'»e it raable 1 to decbw iho DMTIM o f w t i c k i proJneed hy the comjuny, •tUioagh titliDg at 1 di»l*nce of 10 to 3U fro', wilh her face turned I rum who know the intellects of a goose) Cue ftudirncal Aha will aJoo divuie t b t wbi"|>priHt vish ot any ooi>, although ottuAotorily out of bnu-tog. Sba u-ill nlao dtucriln' iLi- Jrcea' ornamrali, &c. of wy utditidud who mny e spt< bed, but of thin tlw cumptay cmy reat assured th ry ixnsuivat,. 'TiC^x v\i' oe \ucd to fzrstily i^p*| uioru IJLCI^' &Ht^sf>Q£Lj thoughts ; and lady or gentleman drawing a card out of a pack though ever so secret the Goose blindfolded at the same I also have a clipping dated Boston time will find out the card they drew. February 20, 1843, which will exAdmittance two shillings each person." plain the performance. This MysAnother bill that I have is of Don terious Lady appeared in England Carlo the Double Sighted Dog, who fully a year before Houdin invented gave an exhibition of his mysteriorj- Second Sight, and also performed this skill at the 1'avillion by special com- Second Sight in America four years mand before King William and Royal before she went to Englan^l, so it Family, December 17, 1831. This dog cannot be said that she copied him.

MYSTERIOUS

LADY.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

To finish up this Second Sight evidence against Robert Houdin I reprocience against Robert Houdin I pro duct1 a "board-side" from Germany in the early part of 1800, about the time Houdin was a mere baby. This is some Hollandish Lady that performed the Second Sight trick at the fairs, and charged a small admission to the public to see her marvelous power.

THE MYSTEKI0D8 LADY.

Reproduction of the out used on the handbills that were distributed on the street to advertise the wonders of the mysterious lady in America In 1841.

There is nothing further to be said on Second Sight; it has been on the programme of almost all of the old timers, but from the evidence presented, it will be clearly shown that Robert Houdin did not invent the trick, and has no right what so ever to claim it as the creation of his brain. We will next take up the ''Suspension Trick."

HOUDIN'S "SUSPENSION." Robert Houc'in claims the invention of "Suspension." or as he terms it "Suspension Ethereenne." On page 312 of his "Memoirs" he sets forth his claims to the trick with all the vanity peculiar to the mass of his "revelations." Vanity and egotism are to be traced between the lines on every page of this remarkable book, but here he is particularly flagrant, lie says: "It will be remembered that in 1847 t n c insensibility produced by inhaling ether began to be applied to surgical operations; all the world talked about the marvelous effect of this anaesthetic, 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." Continuing, Houdin claims to have presented the trick as described above in October, 1847. hi July, 1848, he came to London where Herrmann and Anderson both offered it on their programmes. Each did it in exactly the same way, as numerous cuts of programmes will prove. I mention Anderson and Herrmann simply because as both were his active contemporaries, offering the same trick at identically the same time and in the same way, whoever made the apparatus for one made it for the other two.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Herr Alexander, who is alive at this writing, adds proof to my argument. I wrote to him, asking when lie first offered the suspension trick. Enclosing programmes as evidence, he replied as follows:— "The suspension was at first produced by me in 1845 o r 1846 after reading in an Oriental Annual (edited by several officers in the Indian Army) the trick of a fakir who made a companion sit in the air bv using a bamboo stick. Mv

before the Court of The 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 arose and hung in mid-air, dose 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.

Reproduction of an engraving in an old German encyclopedia in credits to the Chinese the trick of climbing into tlie air and having being set together u^ain.

trick had no success because the sitting was too near the ground. I then made, him stand in the air and the ei'fect was marvelous." From this it will he seen that he performed the trick several years before Robert Houdin claims to have invented it. During the course of my researches, I found the first trace of the suspension trick in the writings of Jbn Batuta. He mentions two conjurers who performed

215

lliirry 1MH!\

Ilrudiii: i-nlli'ctinn, which f;ill i l " U 11 p i c e . - m e a l and

I cannot vouch for the historical verity of this tale and ii may lie classed with the familiar story which crops up periodically about 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 afier him ; then presently a leg falls from the unseen heights, then another, followed by an arm, some odd ribs, and so on until the entire body is scattered upon the ground, the head coming last with

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the neck standing upwards. 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 travelers' tales. In 1356 Sir John Mandevillc, called by some authorities "the father of English prose," after traveling thirty-four years, published a book detailing some of his marvelous "witnessings." Though many of his stories are absolutely impossible, yet so popular did his works become that, barring the Scriptures, more copies and manuscripts of the books containing his various ".Magician Stories" have bjen handed down to posterity and exist today, than any works of his contemporaries. Still Mandeville did not mention this suspension trick which is attributed sometimes to the Chinese and sometimes to the Hindoos. In Cologne, Germany, I purchased an encyclopedia, 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 travelers to Hindoo conjurers. The limited supply of old books which explain natural magic is due to the fact that in the olden days magicians guarded their secrets closely and jealously. For the same reason Athanasius Kircher, who died in 1680, is credited with being the inventor of the magic lantern, when in reality there is proof that the magic lantern was invented 200 years before Kircher was born. Roger Bacon, in his ''Discoveries of the Miracle of Art, Nature and Magic," which I believe he wrote about 1260, describes the glass lenses used in the lanterns, and Chaucer, the English poet, who died in 1400, speaks of a learned

clerk, who, for the amusement of his friends, showed to him forests full of deer, where he saw many of them slain; the hunting being finished, a company of falconers appeared upon the banks of a river where the birds pursued the herons and slew them. Then knights were seen jousting upon a plain, and, by way of conclusion, a lady dancing. But, when the magician thought fit, he clapped his hands, and all was gone. Such effects as these must have been produced bv a magic lantern or some other optical illusion.

FROST'S SUSPENSION. 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 IK- had formed into a stool, and upon it, in a little brass socKCt, he placed a hollow bamboo in a perpendicular position. Projecting from the latter 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 mid-air 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 heads, 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 escaping from a bladder or tube. When the screen or blanket was again withdrawn, the conjurer was standing on the ground. (To be continued.)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

B e r l i n

N o t e

From Our Special European

T

H E. O

217

H

Correspondent

A R D E E N

Business having taken me to Berlin, which the Orpheum circuit is going to Germany, I send this letter- to you open in Berlin. Wish you luck, Willy. whilst gazing out of the Westminster Be sure and book all the mystery acts hotel from a window facing the famous that you think will make good. "Inter den Linden." Here I can watch a real king pass my window, and sit Just met several performers returning back and enjoy the spectacle without from Moscow who claim they were not thinking that this is a king that will paid their salaries by Herr Director Aubring along a handcuff. mont. Acts going to Russia had better In Berlin I note Rudinoff, the man demand a large advance on their salary, that was going to retire some time ago which will he paid to them, and then and become an artist. He is a very they will have the consolation of knowclever entertainer, and certainly knows ing they are going to get something. how to throw smiles at the audience. It is the custom in Russia to advance He will be remembered in America by a sum of money to foreign artists visithis smoke pictures and his whistling ing the country. Aumont is manager of the Aquarium and Aumont's Theatre. comedy, '"Mr. and Mrs. Nightingale.'' * * * Morton and Elliott, paper wizards, It's hard to be a widow. Widow Biaam. who has a traveling motion picare also on the bill. * * * ture machine, landed in the quiet city A beauty wizard has managed to of Dieringhausen, near Koln. She transport himself into jail. One of 1ne erected her establishment and allowed German soubrettes, Liane Leischner, certain pictures to be presented, the purchased some beautifier for the face names of which were "The Temptation from this beauty wizard and "rubbed it of St. Anthony," "The Bridalnight," in" before retiring. In the morning she "The Villain Still Pursued Her," "The beheld, to her consternation, that her Naughty Plea, "The Traveler's Unexface was covered with eruptions and pected Return," "The Newspaper Keyboils, and at once had Mr. Beauty Wiz- hole," etc. The police stepped in, and ard arrested. the widow was fined 50 marks for al;Ji ;.k # lowing "unsittliehe films" to be preWilly Passpart, of the Dancing Pass- sented, and she is now a wiser but sadparts, is now touring through the Con- der widow. tinent with Martin Beck of the Orpheum Circuit, booking acts. Passpart will Alexander Weyer, the magician from give up playing dates and become the Monnerich, was stopped by the manreal manager for Martin at the office agers from doing the "Extraction of the : • ;

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Eggs from a Rooster," until he had fully explained the secret to them, as they imagined that he was cruel to the birds. Why, Alex, would not even harm a ginger snap. * * * Roanacher's establishment has just lost a law suit to the copy act of the "girl with the golden hair." This is the act which Manager J. J. Murdock originated and which some Russian Dancer Newsky appropriated to himself and took to Germany. Roanacher engaged a girl to do this act last December, and the act was hissed off the stage. The act was closed, and the girl entered suit against the management, where it was proven that the rival act had hissed the girl, compelling the curtain to be lowered, as she happened to be in bad form. At the proceedings in the court room, she gave a "specimen of her ability" and proved that there were professional "hissers," and she received damages for the entire amount, with costs. * * * Marco Belly is featured at the Coliseum, Essen Ruhr. His billing reads "Magic Illusions," and he is rapidly coming to the front as a conjurer. • * •

Some time ago I made mention of the fact that in England it was hard for a beginner to obtain a trial show. I must take all of that back, for I had overlooked the fact that Mr. Oswald Stoll has given dozens of aspirants a trial performance, and if any one in England wishes to obtain a trial show, they can apply to one of Mr. Stall's district managers. This ought to be interesting to many of the conjurers who wish to show their skill and cannot get a professional hearing. * * * Return to England next week; until then, an rcvoir.

from fiayman LONDON, ENGLAND

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News is plentiful. So a r e m i n d r e a cling acts. England has more m i n d r e a ding acts since the Zancigs entered than ever V before in the history of the show business. * * * The Mysterious Howards are at the 1'alace, London. Act good. The Great Cee Me Troupe (real Chinese magicians) are working right along, and meeting with favor. * * * Goldin is playing the halls about London. * * * Carl Hertz is on the Stoll tour. Dr. Walford Bodie broke the record at Stoke Newington Palace of Varieties. Breaking records is quite a regular pastime for the doctor.

* *a *lot of newspaper Carlton obtained work in Bristol by doing the "finding the lost article" trick. One of the staff of the Bristol Times hid a stylograph in the axletrec of an old cannon, and Lanky Carlton found it after a strenuous search. This feat seems peculiar, especially as the manager of the Empire and Hippodrome in Bristol, Sid Macairc, formerly of Dublin, is the author of a book called "Mind and Muscle Reading" which gives a most lucid explanation of the experiment. I wonder if Macaire witnessed this affair?

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

B. Wilda, conjurer, was at the South Shields Tivoli, and as he received two return dates he must have done well. *

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Prince Chandrick, mind mystifier, is featured with Leon Wood's show at the Blackpool Colisseum.

to float in midair, and whilst doing this feat, the young- lady rushes through the audience, coming from the front of the house. She changes her dresses twelve different times in ten minutes, which is something very woman-like, anc j c a n n n t help l,ut create comment. *

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* * The Mysterious Cross is the top of the bill act on the MacNaughton circuit.

Nat Clifford is doing an act which he calls The Astronomer, in which he dresses as a magician and manages to obtain some healthy laughs.

Have just heard that Mr. Chas. Bertram, who was in America some time ago with Chevalier, died on Feb. 28, at the age of sixty years. He was one of the best known drawing-room conjurers in Europe.

Paul Kratern, a sidght of hand performer who sells pocket books in Petticoat Lane, caught a Tartar in the German acrobat, Becker. Becker had heard so much of the Lane that last Sunday he went with a party of friends to look it over, and whilst in that pleasant work he came upon Kratern selling the pocketbook with silver in it; Becker bought three of them without first looking for the contents, though finally he did take one long, lingering look and beheld that the several pocketbooks simply contained ha-pennies; he quickly went into action; grasping Kratern by the back of the neck, he commenced to shake the purse seller's head until he willingly handed back all the money he had taken in. Becker took the money, which happened to be more than he had spent, and whilst walking away was arrested by an officer who had noted the disturbance and had also arrested Kratern. After a hearing in court, Kratern was discharged with a reprimand.

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John Warren, who calls himself the Court Magician to the Sultan of Morocco, was at the Camberwcll Palace. His several illusions are presented in a unique manner, and although some are not exactly new, he has them dressed differently and that is why his work seems so refreshingly neat. Mr. Cecil Cooke gave a highly successful entertainment at the Camden Atheneum January 17th, and judging from the amount of press work obtained it must have been a decided success. Mile. Vonetta, who proclaims herself as the World's Only Lady Illusionist, has made quite a hit at the London Hippodrome. The illusion most commented on by the press is one in which she enters a coffin shaped box that rests on two stools; this box then commences

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Frank Latona, the mysterious musician, will insist on talking about his farm; hope he will not raise lemons, as he is so charitable he might pass them about.

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VIENNESE NOTES BY HERR OTTOKA.R FISCHER This gentleman has gone to the extreme trouble of lenrning to speak •tin' Kiiglish luiigunge so tliat lie can converse with the English speak ins magicians whenever they visit Austria; and we think it only right that our readers should become acquainted with Mr. l'iseher in his "right vein, mid so will publish his letters just as he sends them to us.

Past month Goldin performed here, after having delayed the contract for four or five times at Apollo with big success. His whirlwind performance made a great impression upon the Viennese public. The manager intended to prolong his contract for two weeks, but Goldin could not accept, as he was expected in London, where he must arrive on time. He accepted a re-engagement for 1910. Goldin informed me that he is not the auihi-r of the expose of ChungLing-Soo's tricks, as published in Pearson's Weekly. His name was evidently abused. Goldin's lawyer is entrusted to clear up this affair. The Italian magical paper "Sfinge," stopped its appearance after the publication of (he first number. I am sorry that it did so, for "Sfinge" seemed to be a useful and interesting paper. The Vienna manufacturer and dealer of magical apparatus R. Klingl, (later (Klingl & Baumann) celebrated his existence of 30 years by the publication of a large new catalogue. Everybody can obtain it on application.

Four weeks ago I made a trip to the town of Triest (12 hours quick-train from Vienna) to make the personal acquaintance of the ingenious inventor of magical apparatus and clever performer, Mr. Antonio Molini. Molini invented, amongst other things the Organ Pipes, and created a load of new principles in magic. Many chemical tricks were invented by him, also some of the "Japanese" or "Chinese" silent acts. I spent three very pleasant days with him. Okito has favored me with a postcard from Colombo, Ceylon, dated January 17th. He will be in Batavia now, I believe. At Ronachers at present we have "The ()riginal Svengalis," manager, Air. Lorenz; great success. Thorn is in Chemni'.z with usual big success. He made a great sensation in Budapest, where he produced an enlarged program; might be called a lightning program: six tricks and ten illusions in 20 minutes! The papers published enthusiastic articles about his show. Thorn's wife is all right again and performing in the act. Clement de Lion wrote a nice letter to me from Braunschweig, where he is manipulating his balls with acknowledged elegancy. He improved his act so that it is yet more jnysterious than formerly. The Great Roland did not forget to inform me about his English tour. He is making a big hit and always improving his show. Business and contracts are very good. Roland will surprise the artists' world with a new invention. No communication allowed on my part, but he intrusted his secret to me.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

m

(

SOME OLD TRICKS FOR

NEW

BEGINNERS

1^)

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A NEW WRINKLE TO CATCH A "WISE 'UN." By Edward C. Conklin.

This is a welcome change from the THE BALANCING MAGIC WAND. old "Sucker Dice l!ox" that some of the The effect of this is to cause your present day magicians in England claim wand to adhere to your fingers in many as their own, and which is so old that positions. The secret of this is to pro- no reputable magician would dare work in the theatres of America, and is only used with* side shows (penny gaffs J ; but the following is simple and good for changing your laugh obtainers. First of all arrange to vanish a large silk handkerchief. You can do this in several ways, either using an elastic pull, or double drawer box. A small Jap-box with the regulation side "empticure for yourself a blonde lady's long ness" will do. hair, knot it and make a loop, as per Take a small piece of silk of the same instructions on page iSN, cut A. Februmaterial as the handkerchief you are using, and tie it to your suspender on the right side nearest to your hip. Show your real handkerchief, drop it into the Jap box or vanish it in the double drawer box, and make a false movement, throwing back your coat with your right hand so as to cause the ary issue. This you can have lying on audience to note the small piece of silk your table on top of a sheet of paper, or in some position where you know on your suspender and make them think how to reach it. and when ready for the that you have placed the handkerchief trick, you push your right hand into this there. Your "wise 'un" will now certainly try and show you up. and you can have all the merriment you wish, at his expense, by eventually showing that this small piece of silk is only there to "keep out the North winds" and you can produce a duplicate handkerchief of the loop as per illustration, and by careful pressure you will be able to balance all one vanished any place you wish. This can be worked with or without light objects. Properly used, this light hair is positively undetectable, and many detachable button, the idea being pregood results can be obtained from same sented for improvement.

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READING

PRESS

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS,

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

MORE LIGHT WANTED. We call upon the editor of the London Wizard to enlighten us as to the paragraph in February issue, page 284, in which he states with positiveness that the oldest book in existence on conjuring is dated 1584. We would like to know who is his authority. And will he kindly publish the name of the book? We have in our library a book written in 1489 (German language). It contains impossible tricks, a few mechanical devices, and a few card tricks. Its title is "Magic, Natural and Unnatural," from which liaptiste Portis first obtained the title for his works. PROTECTION FOR MAGICIANS. The Concerts Artists' Journal, February edition (London. England.) has a full page article on material from the pen of Cecil Cooke. He wishes to soften the work of the conjurer's brain thieves, who only wait to steal some one's trick and add it to their own show. We agree with Mr. Maskelyne that there are a great many unscrupulous people in the mystery business whose greatest talent is to take from others, or as it was called '"gobble and take." A man writing a play has full protection, but what protection has any magician who actu-

ally hits upon the rare idea of a clever feat or illusion? A conjurer has as much protection for his inventions as a snow ball would have in hades. Tis true we have some gentlemen in the mystery business, but you show us one man, and we will show you two that carry out Darwin's theory. We once took out papers to patent an invention of ours—the split key for the British cuff. Did it do any good? Answer: Yes, to those that did not know how it was done. And now if you toss up a stone in the Strand, it is almost certain 'to fall and hit some one on the head who lias a split key in his pocket. We must, however, be placed on record as saying that the magic societies have done more to make friends of the magicians than anything that has ever occurred in the history of mystery. All magicians should help each other, but with sorrow we must state that, as a rule, one magician will instruct his friends in the secrets of his rival's feats, simplv to show how much better he is than this other fellow. An illusionist, who hails from .America, used to make it a practice to carry the best tricks of his fellow-conjurers in his pockets, and, when visiting agents' offices, would show them how the trick was done, simply because it did not fit in his performance. Let us be friendly, and help one another. We have personally gone on a stage and allowed kreiger to

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. hypnotize us, and made a hit for him. Of course he did not know who we were, and we enjoyed the fun as much as lie did. Lafayette informed us that when he was in A ienna he acted the clown for our Vienna correspondent, Ottokar Fischer, who did not know Lafayette. They are now the best of friends. These small courtesies are the ones that help weld the irons of brotherly friendship. * * * SPIRIT PHOTOS AGAIN. . . The AYTC York Sunday IVarid last week has a two-page article, most interestingly illustrated, as only a gigantic paper like the World can illustrate, informing us about the great scientists who believe in the dead being able to revisit us after the soul has left the body. While it makes interesting reading, we cannot agree with any of it, as those spirit photos are so simple of production, and the various effects reported so easily duplicated that the only thing we can say is that Flamoricn, Stead, and several of the other mentioned great minds, have lately been compelled to keep in close confinement, so as to evade questions that they could not answer. * * * DEATH OF HARRY N. STORK. The Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N. Y., March 3, 1907, states that Henry N. Stork died the morning before at his home, No. 8 Chamberlain street, aged 43 years. He was one of the best known conjurers in this country. Early in the eighties Mr. Stork went to Detroit, where he engaged in the business of selling apparatus used by magicians, much of which he invented himself. Such wellknown professional conjurers as Alexander Herrmann and Harry Keller purchased his illusions. Mr. Stork traveled for several seasons with Harry Keller in an advisory capacity, and

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Mr. Keller repeatedly said that Mr. Stork was the most valuable assistant with whom he had been associated in his long career as a professional entertainer. About seven years ago Mr. Stork retired from the stage and settled down in Rochester, lie leaves a wife and his mother. * * * BOSTON BITS. By Frederick Roche. After each of Mr. Houdini's visits to Boston "handcuffers" spring from everywhere. Fur the last two weeks everybody from "the stable boy to the landlord" is performing "escapes." Thomas Lloyd, a porter at the Hotel Westminster, after several unsuccessful attempts, got out of a box in 20 minutes. He also escaped from an icebox. I low is that for a freezeout? Miss Effie Lorraine, a 200-pound "Venus" has been added to the ranks of the "handcuffers." According to a Boston paper, she escaped from the vault of the Old Winthrop bank, Washington street, Roxury, in 18 minutes. Some doubt this, but the story has secured her an engagement at a local dime museum. She claims her escape was accomplished by methods other than Houdini's. She will use a box and a hamper at the museum. It will be a tight fit. One of the amateur "handcuff kings" hearing that Mr. Houdini would jump off from a bridge and escape from the cuffs in the water, purchased a collapsible bathtub, and now shows his friends how he does it. Millard Franklin, one of the local handcuff kings, was drowned when the steamer Larchmont went down off Block Island a few weeks ago. On May 7, 1906, a number of the amateurs of Boston met and organized the Society of Roston Magicians. Walter M. Jackson was chosen president, S. Wilson Bailey, secretary and treasurer. Pins were adopted. The society meets every fortnight in Cambridge, and has on file The Conjurer's Monthly and all the other magazines relating to magic.

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Our Mall Bag In this department it is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold bimsclf responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

Riverside, 111., Feb. 19, '07. Editor

CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

MAGA-

ZINE.

Sir: T11 your February number you do me the honor of mentioning' my name, and with it ereate a pun which, by the way, .1 don't mind admitting' is quite appropriate; you know it takes wind to make any windmill go, and a good deal to operate the windmill of a magician's life. Please don't misunderstand me; T am not taking exception to your manner of joking, but feel rather flattered, as the name was given me at my first appearance on earth, and has remained with me unaltered during my twenty-five years' residence here, and I am proud of it. I enjoy reading your paper immensely, and really believe that any reader gets one hundred times his money's worth. Inasmuch as you ask '"What's the matter?" and "Why have I not become one of the best conjurers?"' allow me to state (and it will please me very much if you will publish this letter) that I am still quite young (only a little over twentv-five), and perhaps in the near future [ may safely lay claim to being one of the best. Most of my time, in the past seven years, has been spent with circuses, in museums, concert halls and other ignoble(?) places fat least so called by some snobbish, kid-gloved amateurs

who would starve to death if they ever got away from home), and as the editor has himself been through the mill, you will appreciate the saying of the great New England philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The height of the pinnacle is determined by the breadth of the base." So you see I have been merely laying a good foundation and shortly I hope to give you the pleasure of seeing the beautiful mansion I am building thereon. Rockets and lightning appear for a moment high up and with a flash, but old John D. believes in the steady glow of the lowlv oil. So, Mr. Editor, from your own experience, that to the persevering mortal the blessed immortals are slow at first but finally give their rewards in good round chunks, and watch for the "airy" name of Windecker to rise on the horizon of success and illuminate the realm of magic in a way that will be highly complimentary to your keen powers of discernment as to my early promises. Wishing you the best of luck, and thanking you for your kind mention, I remain, Yours winded, A.

WINDECKER.

Budapest, Hungaria, Jan. 29, '07. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: Enclosed find my permanent address. Pleased to inform you that Mrs. Thorn is well, and things are brighter than ever.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. For month of February and March we are booked at the Central Theatre, Chemnitz, Germany. It may interest your readers to know that Elberfeld (where you opened that bank safe) now boasts of the largest and finest theatre in Germany. Mr. Matin Stein has been elected director. Kindest regards to all friends, and with best wishes, Yours for always, ERXF.ST THORN.

(Revillo) who, 1 believe, died in South America; also Balabrega. 1 remember him when he first appeared in Boston at the ''Howard" and was billed as the "Swedish Boy Wonder." I shall be pleased to hear from you at any time. Yours most sincerely, W.

E.

FLOYD.

Newport News, Va., Feb. II, '07. Editor CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Okmulgee, I. T., Jan. 20, 1907. Editor CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Sir: The copy of your magazine containing the article about Xickle has just reached me. I am much pleased at the manner in which you displayed it. As [ was a great admirer of Mr. Xickle, I have felt for years that something about him should have been put in print. When I get home again T will look up something about the late Johnathan Harrington (the original), who was the best known magician in New England for many years. I met the old gentleman a few times. He died at Revere, Mass., May 4, 1880. I might also get a "story" about Charles F. Fillibrown of Salem, Mass., if you wish it. No doubt you will remember E. C. Taylor. Do you know whether he is still living or not ,J I am well acquainted with his wife (Irena) and his daughter Florence. They are still living in Somerville, Mass. But they do not know where he is. His full name is Eli Cooper Taylor, born in England. He came to America when a very young child. I have an excellent photograph of him, which I will lend to you if you wish it. In a series of articles about once famous magicians you ought to get "stories" about Oliver

Sir: Reading your query as to whether or not I am still in the business, allow me to enlighten you. I have been living in retirement the past four years in the above mentioned town, owing to sickness and to an unfortunate marriage, into which I entered whilst playing an engagement at the Argyle Music Hall, Birkenhcad, England; my wife and I separated after a year and six months of married life. Expect shortly to again become active in the profession, and extend greeting to Downs, Thurston, Chung Lung Soo and all other friends. Anyone wishing to hear from me can personally write to my home address, Flotel Huntington, Newport News, Va. Trusting you will find space for my letter in your esteemed magazine, I remain Yours sincerely, WELSH MILLER.

Afton, Stacey Road, Cardiff, January 26, 1907. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: I have had each number of your paper, and it is a welcome addition to the magazines devoted to magic. Our own Wizard, and the Conjurers' Monthly are really good papers, the others are monthly catalogues. Now there is one thing that I do not care for in your

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paper, and that is the handcuff articles. Conjurers are very little interested m handcuffs; you are personally, as I know, a specialist in this branch, but taking it generally, it interests magicians about equal to any other trick—not more. Now, personally, I can get out of a pair of English regulation handcuffs that are not in any way tampered with, without any master key. In fact, a pair of ordinary cuffs can be put on and I will get out of them before a spectator without any "fakes" of any kind. This is a fine secret, and 1 believe it is only known to very few; yet, although 1 know it and can work it, I have never done so in any of my entertainments, always preferring to give experiments of a more interesting nature. Let us have some interesting conjuring tricks in your paper and please drop the handcuff articles; no one is in the least interested in them; at least I have never yet met a conjurer that took any interest in the handcuff act, and I have met a few. Now, in one number you mention a card conjurer who you say is the cleverest that ever lived—the Viennese called Hofzinser. As I know that you are yourself a good card performer, your statement about Hofzinser is interesting. I have a fine library of works on magic, and am fairly well informed, but I have never heard of this man before. I feel sure it would interest your readers very much if you gave us all the particulars you could regarding him. W h a t were his principal tricks? When did he live? W h o was he and what did he particularly excel in? All this would be very interesting. Wishing yon well. Yours truly, CHAS. OSWALD WILLIAMS.

ANSWERS TO VARIOUS"""?/ QUESTIONS I Chas. Oswald Williams, Cardiff. The handcuff series is one of the main features and is selling the magazine. Although it may not interest you, we are constantly receiving letters regarding the articles, and asking information on various handcuff subjects. It will be continued until finished. Regarding Hofzinser, he was born in Vienna, Austria, July 6, 1806, and died in the same place, March 1, 1875; his great tricks were to use a certain prepared pack of cards, so that no one could think that he resorted to mechanical cards. He mixed sleight of hand with mechanical effects; he undoubtedly was the inventor of the glass clock in which the counter weight is used. Instead of using only the hours, he had a full pack of cards glued on the dial, and the pointer would indicate the cards selected. We will have an entire article about him in one of our forthcoming issues. We must take one conjurer after the other. His programmes and photographs will be reproduced. Atlanta, Ga. Write full particulars and we will publish it in our Mail Bag columns. But be careful, as you are not the first man that lost his wife through the arts of a conjurer. Will hold back your appeal until we hear from you again on this subject. As an answer to your second question, we can only say, with our comedians, that it is very hard to lose a wife, in fact almost impossible. *

*

*

Albertz. The first handkerchief is produced from the end of a hollow tip on wand; the second from a false finger shell, and the third from a small pocket near the elbow on coat sleeve, which you obtain, whilst showing the audience that you will roll up your sleeves, thereby allowing your hand to easily grasp the handkerchief.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. John Zimmer, Phila. Impossible for us to mention all, but the best known conjurers with names starting with H, arc as follows: Hespe, Herrmann, Houdin, Hamilton, Holden, Hall Sr., Heimburger, Herkimer, Hollis, Heller, Hartz Bros., Hertz, Hornmann, Milliard, Hilliar, Horn, Henri, Hannover, Hannes, Heaubeck, Hiam, Henri Hermann (now with Devant of England), Hugli, Hayman (we know four different Haymans), Hartman, Hoffmann, Harrell, Hermes, Holland, Hardeen, Hurd, Hellman, Jlcrwin, Hewes, etc., etc., etc. Reader, Boston, Mass. In 1806 a spiritualistic walking piano was patented. A man was concealed inside. Maskelyne introduced something like this effect in one of his sketches. We personally saw this and it created much merriment, as the piano chased the terrorstricken subject about the stage. Louis Grannet. Letter received. Send along any material you may obtain. Party to whom you refer was Hardeen. They used to call him Texas. Seventy-fifth street is not the street it used to be. We lived there, I mean, starved there for years. *

*

*

Well built, New York. Certainly, yr>u can wear tights when doing magic. It is not the fortune of everybody to have good limbs, and if you wish to wear tights, go right ahead and do so. Ziska, Powell and many other conjurers wear tight fitting knee pants. By all means give the audience a treat. *

+

•

B. G. Hull. Kmoklyn. Stripper pack of cards, are where the cards arc narrower at one end than at the other. You allow a card to be selected, while selector is looking at the chosen card, turn your cards around, and when the chosen card is returned, it can be distinguished by being wider than the rest, at one end, which will enable you to draw it out of the pack, and place it anywhere you wish. All dealers sell them. They will cost from 25 cents per pack up to $2. They are very useful, requiring very little practice.

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John N. Hilliard, Rochester. Greetings. Angthing doing in answer to our exchanged letters? Hope all's well. * * * Peter Hansen, Kopcnhagen. Mailed paper to your address. +

*

•

Paul Kinkade, Revere. We positively refuse to inform you who sent us the news. We make it a rule never to publish names, without the writer's permission, and in this case we were asked to omit same. * * * Teegardcns, St. Louis, Mo. Thanks, so do we. Hope you always will. * + * MacKicrnan, Stucbenville. We do not reply to such questions, but can refer you to the editor of the War Cry. * * * Joseph Wolf, Peru, 111. Instead of a bag being used, a small light weight tube is used, which is sewn in the last produced handkerchief. * + * Albert Rudiger, New York. It all depends on what the trick is. If you wish to sell it, patent it; but if the trick is one you wish to keep secret, don't patent it. * * * Reader, St. Louis. Thanks for that clipping. * * * W. L. Hicks. Pleased to hear from you any old time. * + * Chris M. Forbes. Lanark, Canada. Will use that item and give you credit for same. Heard of Old Malabar when we were in Scotland. There is another old man in Leith who sells horse radish, and in between sales, does the ball trick. * * *• G. Dana Taylor. Can you not procure better photos? We would like very much to reproduce Potter's grave, as he is one of the early magicians. We will pay all expenses. * -+ * James Trask. You don't say so! We believe you-not! In other words you are trying to catch birds by putting salt on their tails. Run along now and be a good boy.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Harry Mulvey, Indianapolis. Yes indeed, we know the secret you mention, and it will appear later in the article on Handcuff Secrets. But we can't publish the whole thing in one issue. We do not sell other performers' secrets, and again must inform you we are for the craft and not for the graft. *

•+ *

Chatham. Rreslaw was not an Englishman, but a German. He was one of the best known conjurers in England. He arrived in London about 1763 and travelled steadily until 1803. He is buried in Liverpool. We have never seen an authentic picture of him, but in our collection we have sketches, programmes and clippings, enough to make an interesting article in a future number of the magazine.

ty Jottings and \ Jumblings

$ /y#

Who knows the whereabouts of J. Randell Brown, formerly of Minneapolis? His mother seeks his address. If this meets his gaze, will he kindly write to her in care of D. J. Witaker, 237 Seventeenth avenue, Council Bluffs? *

+

*

The Pcttits who arc earning for themselves the reputation of being the representative colored magicians of America are with the Gidean & Ferndon's Hottest Coon in Dixie Company. * * * Canfield and Hildcrra have signed with * * * the Lowcry shows for the coming sumBud Chambers, Glasgow. So you warn mer season. Their work reminds us of the us against your city. Allow us to tell you old time halcyon circus days. They are we are booked for Glasgow, and will appear booked to do magic, juggling, trapeze and even if the entire handcuff fraternity appears. contortionistic evolutions. The only place in which we know fear, is in * * * the dictionary. Go right ahead and do your Grace Courtland, The Witch of Wall worst. street, is on the Majestic Circuit, and is * * * reputed to answer all questions propoundA. H. Provost, Fall River. Yours is a ed by the audience, without making use of strange question. We will say 9,546. If you pads, telephone connections or confederdon't believe it, count them. ates. * * * * * * G. S. B.—There are so many ways of doing Buckhardt has been informing folks that the bag trick that it is impossible to explain he will quit his graft act next season and one unless you state which one you wish. produce a fine mysterious entertainment. The simple method is for a person to get out, He is at present at Walker's Museum in then have the assistant sew up the bag, or Boston, and if he makes as much money else you resort to the false seam method. playing dates with a straight act as he has Will describe a few bag tricks in the future been doing with his graft he must do well. issues of the MAGAZINE. We give him credit for being a good worker. B. G. Hull—Best books to consult are Spirit Mediums Unmasked, Robinson's Slate Writing, Bottom Facts of Spiritualism. If you will let us know which rope tie you wish, we will explain in next number.

Pauline, the Hypnotist, was at the Nelson Theatre, Springfield, Mass., and gave a creditable performance. He is assisted by Chas. Kcnna and the Four American Trumpeters. Business good.

Arthur V. Sterry.—Hope you will always like it. Don't be afraid of making complaints. We shall publish simple tricks from time to time.

Arthur H. Aloser is playing Western New York State under the management of C. F. Hartman and reports S. R. O. business.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Adel aide Herrmann was the fe; iture aet at the O r , )1icuni in U tica, N e w Y'ork, and made her accusti omed hit. Miller, a Ilandeuff King, was in Snginaw some time ago, and as there arc several Miller Cuff Kings, we think they ought to place some identification mark on their names, so we can tell one from the other. Prof. Miller of Philadelphia is still unhandcuffing himself, and his son seems to be following in the footsteps of his dad.

Albcne and Labrandt are commencing to be rated as a feature act out West. Albini played Seattle, Washington, at the Star Theatre, and as this is the town in which he once was a real manager, his good friends all gathered in force to give him a hearty greeting.

The New York Clipper states that J. W. Coffey, the well-known skeleton dude, has suffered an injury to his leg, and although he greatly objects to asking charity, his friends would aid him by contributions to assist him in buying a wagon in which he can travel and earn his living. He is not able to walk, but is otherwise in good health. His financial condition is verybad, and those of his friends who care to aid him, may address him in care of the Franklin Hotel, Chester, Pa.

Kellar, the magician, is «till merrily plodding alone, doing a g'oorl business. Herr Yaladon seems now to have a beitcr faculty of pleasing his audiences. Kellar has neither denied nor affirmed the rumor that Valadon will be his successor. Question. Will Kellar retire? Edwin Stevens, the well-known comic opera comedian, who is now playing vaudeville time, is the best conjurer that we have ever seen, who belongs to the legitimate stage, bar no, one.

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The Great Do Weird played a week at Altoona. They say his act was weird. * * * Adams and Mack arc still on the Keith Tour, and if they did not expose all of their tricks, they would not have to be so quiet. Different managers of Keith's Theatres have personally informed us that it is a pity for them to show up the work. * * + The London Encore has a paragraph, mentioning acts that were willing to lend their aid against the strikers on the Music Hall stage. Amongst the notables was that of William Robinson, known as Chung Ling Soo, who offered to give a two-hour show to Mr. Stoll at any of his houses. What has Robinson to say about this? * * * Herrmann the Third, and Ziska and King held a meeting in Boston, to talk over the advisability of Herrmann engaging Ziska and King for his show. This ought to score an improvement, and it will be a novelty. With Kellar retiring, Herrmann now ought to have a good field in America. Warren Kecne, with the novelty glass clock, "Ask-me" is reported to have met with an instantaneous success.

Henry Steel Olcott, co-founder of the Theosophical Society with Madame Rlavatsky recently died in Adyar, India. His death has been announced by the Secretary of the Society, Mr. Alexander Fullertcitl.

The Floyds, Lyceum Magicians, have been reengaged for next sea'on by the American Lyceum Union ; and as they play J. J. Flynn's circuit of Parks again this summer, they have work booked solid for 18 months.

Mr. Francis J. Werner, President of the Society of American Magicians, was tendered a masque surprise party by a few of his friends at his Parkville estate.

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fiandcuff Secrets exposed The material for these articles was (lathered d u r i n g -the author's first tour of Great Britain, and was prepared for publication in book form. This was done In r e p o n s e to the thousands of requests f o r light upon the methods used by the horde of Imitators who sprang up at that time. After the manuscript had been c o m p l e t e d , the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now be printed for the first time In monthly Installments In the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages It is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various Instalments, but, in its entirety, tills treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. Copyright, 1900. By Harry Houdinl. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT VII DOUBLE LOCK RATCHETS (Continued)

This double lock ratchet handcuff is also the most dangerous handcuff, for if you break the key or anything on the lock the cuff must be cut off from the wrist. It cannot be forced back with the above steels ; still the old time ratchet can be opened with the spring steel as it only locks once. One good key which may be called a Master Key will, however, open almost all double lock ratchets. Illustration No. 4. The cuffs shown in this illustration arc: (D) Boston Bean Prison Cuff, (E) The Bean Giant, and (F) the Bean Prison Legiron. The above cuffs are the inventions (if Capt. E. D. Bean of Boston, who at one time offered $500 to any one that could escape from the cuff with or without the key; slipping the hands were barred. T escaped from this cuff, in less than 10 minutes, and now if it takes me 25 seconds, it appears a long time.

Illustration No. 4.

The Boston Cuff requires a piece of spring like apparatus as in illustration No. 3, but with a double tooth. It is a cuff much used by fraudulent spirit mediums. All these handcuffs that can be opened by the aid of a piece of spring steel are very useful, inasmuch as they can be brought up to performers with key-holes plugged, sealed and soldered and as a result the release from same is most mystifying and creates excitement. Illustration No. 5. (G) American Army—requiring two keys to open. (H) American Prison Ad justablc Legirons. These are one of the few irons that are double-locked. (I) The "Guiteau" made by Rankin & Co., Philadelphia. Such was the style of Cuff which T have been informed was used on Guiteau, the murderer of President Garfield, who was afterwards hanged for this crime. It is a formidable cuff

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

231

and very difficult as it requires a key within a key to open. In the year 1900 T visited the maker of these cuffs and asked him to open them but he failed to do so; I, however, succeeded. These cuffs, made rigid by having ;i bar of

now obsolete in the army—but is in use at present in the U. S. Navy. Illustration No. 6. (P) Is a South German Cuff resembling the English regulation. (Q) The Berliner. This is made in

Illustration No. 5.

Illustration No. 6.

iron fixed so that a cuff was on each end of the bar, were used during the Civil War on those who had received bounty money and had run away; hence they were designated, "The Bounty Jumper," They are very scarce. Although thev lock easily, few understood how to open them and hundreds of them had to be broken off the prisoners' wrists. (J) The Jersey Cuff. ( K ) The Lilly Iron. This cuff was invented by Captain Lilly, U. S. Army. He was the first man that ever put them on and through a strange irony of fate he died with a pair of them on him. It is a regulation cuff—•

four styles and also made with a belt for strapping hands to sides of the body. The escape is made by working your hands with the belts, on down the legs and over the feet, then you step out. (R) Is the Houdini Bell Lock Handcuff, (my invention) ; a bell rings when the cuff is locked or unlocked. (S) Spanish Manacles used on Prisoners about 1600 when sentenced to be burned to death. (T) In Centre, Thumb screws used in the Bastile, Paris. (To be continued.)

212

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

A SPIRITUALISTIC SEANCE By Monti. It is now some considerable time since I attended a spiritualistic seance, but on being invited to one held recently, I accepted. It was on Monday, the 14th of January, that we stood outside a dingy house in the neighborhood of Westbourne Park, N. W. The lower part of the house was used as a photographic studio, but what attracted our earnest gaze was a small painted signboard hanging from the first floor balcony. It contained the words: "Madame Ridley,' Clairvoyant and Psychometrist." I

then knew that this was the abode of the ''medium" of whom we were in search. We strolled through the narrow passage and toiled up a still narrower flight of stairs, until knocking at a door, we were bidden to enter. The room in which we found ourselves contained very little with the exception of a few chairs and a small piano. On the mantel shelf, however, I noticed some spirit photographs, and it was whilst examining these that Madame entered the room. She wished us good evening, and started chatting to a lady friend, mentioning that she had psychometrized a letter received and had discovered that this lady friend was suffering from a bad cold. We started the "seance" promptly at 8 o'clock and prayers were offered up, asking for God's assistance to help the

medium to converse with and convey the messages of the spirits. Naturally enough, we did not join in this blasphemous appeal. After the usual messages from those off the earth plane, a spirit, whom they called "Lottie," commenced to speak through the medium, and psychometrized various articles produced by the "sitters." When my turn came, I presented a pair of handcuffs. This seemed to somewhat surprise her, and I noticed sundry whisperings pass between the medium and her husband. After a great deal of handling the medium stated what the arcles were and asked why I carried them. I told her that I used them very often, whereupon she evidently jumped to the conclusion that I was connected with the police, and said that she got the impression of robbers and thieves, and continued to tell me of some dangers that I would meet with in my capacity (as she thought of a detective. I led her on this line for some time, and then informed her that, although I used the cuffs, 1 had never mentioned that they had fastened criminals, and that as a matter of fact the cuffs had never been used officially. She was, of course, somewhat confused by this statement, c^nd then promptly jumped at the only other likely, reason for my carrying Handcuffs, saying "You are connected with music halls and are on the stage; and sometimes you get fastened up in difficult positions, from which you find it very hard to escape." I told her that was the case, and she asked if I ever hurt my head in my struggles as she got that impression. I said "no!" whereupon my friend, (whom you know well as Matlock Brown) caused a sensation by shouting "You try the straight

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. jacket, cockie!" These words, coming1 as they did, from a very substantial '"spirit," threatened to break up the meeting. After a few minutes, however, peace was restored, and now comes the most amusing and instructive part. The spirit, who is supposed to be a litle girl, told me through the "medium" that if T attended the sittings regularly (at a 1/ a time) she knew of another "spirit" who used to be a clown when on the earth, and if I believed in him he would open with a "spirit key," absolutely any handcuffs, padlocks, or manacles with which I could be fastened. Now on this, what about the Handcuff Mystery ? All you have to do is to get fastened up as securely as possible, enter the cabinet, and wait for the spirit to unlock everything. I was not told how many sittings I should have to attend before the spirit would condescend to favor me like this, but probably I should enter the cabinet a young man, and emerge verv aged, with a grey head and beard and what is more, still fastened. No! I think that in spite of the kind offer, I will still continue to effect my escape by other methods, which are more certain. This was all the information I could get, but my friend, Matlock Brown, was more successful. He was told that a large sum of money was to come to him when he reached the age of 2T, and also another sum later in life. As he is already well past 21, he is now seriously considPerhaps the medium could give him ering the advisability of making a search for the trustees or holders of the money, as same has never reached him. some particulars on this point, and some idea as to where it would be best to

233

make inquiries. Then she told him that she could sec spirits all around him and gave him several descriptions, which, of course, he failed to recognize. One was an old man carrying a load of books and papers, and the medium asked my friend if he was entering for an examination ; lie answered in the affirmative (having already given her the information in answer to a previous question) and was told that he need not worry over the results as the spirit of the old gentleman wished to say that everything would be all right and that he would pass. One other point which we particularly noticed, goes to show to what extent hysterically inclined women and even men believe in these humbugs. A young person present has been accused of theft by her mistress, and she anxiously inquired of the medium whether ail would become right. After some length)- communication with the spirits, the medium informed her that her innocence would certainly be proved without her worrying at all; but, in the meantime, she was to put the matter in a solicitor's hands and let him carry it through. The question is, "why spend money on solicitor's fees when one is assured that bv trusting in the spirits, perfect innocence will be established." My friend and I will visit the same medium in. a week or so, with the intention of breaking up the meeting at which so many weakminded persons attend for the purpose of being gulled by one who takes their money and doubtless laughs at the confiding crowd who still continue to believe in "Spiritualism and the Spirit World."

234

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. What am I offered ? Have a prepared box, made of heavy lumber, on which anyone can hang their own locks and positively defies detection. Can be placed in the lobby of the theatre all day, and have had thousands examine same. Size, 37 inches long, 19 inches high, and 22 inches wide. A large man cannot be placed in this box. J. W. Tomlin, 1418 South Charles Street, Baltimore, Md.

Barter and exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there is in. after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper. Please Inform us of all unfair dealings as we wish to protect our readers. Make your advertisement brief and condensed, omltlng unnecessary words.

What am I offered for forty back numbers of the Mahatma? Would prefer mechanical cards. Richard Freeman, 35 \V. 133d street, New York. Would like to have a Hindoo Box Trick, or Mysterious liarrel. State what is desired in exchange. Arthur Kramer, Lennox Hotel, Boston. Mass. Have a lot of juggling apparatus, clubs, etc., also a large green baize. Will willingly exchange for any idea or sutation that can be made use of in my club juggling act. Sam Altus, 209 E. 14th street, New York. For $4.00, brand other Ohio.

Exchange—1 half-dollar wand, value and 1 Fire Bowl, value $2.50. Both new. Will exchange for equal value in apparatus. S. J. Stilwell, Springfield,

Will exchange magicians' photos, cards, etc. Thos. J. Peters, 3252 46th street S. \V., Cleveland. Ohio. Have a fine centre table, heavy gilt moulding wrist and rabbit traps; everything in perfect condition and in a crate ready for traveling purposes. Belonged to my brother the well-known Magician Gardner. Will sell for $15. A positive bargain. Address, Walter Gardner, 1737 Hannover street, Baltimore, Md.

Highly nicklc-plated Billiard Ball Holder for five balls. New. Made by Yost & Co. Cost $12. Will exchange for anything good. The Kardells, 272 West 117th street, New York City. To trade two centre tables, with trap, rice and orange trick, and some others. Will send photo. What have you? Carl Anderson, Box 477, Rochester, N. Y. Will exchange Aga, Flying lamp pedestal (only) tables, pulls, balls, etc., for good illusion or best offer. Mosher, Magician, Little Valley, N. Y. Organpipc canisters, handkerchief wand, Roterberg's card, lyre and bottle, coffee and milk trick; prefer exchange in following servants, or silk handkerchiefs. What is best offer? Chas. J. Hagcn, 1431 Ave A., N. Y. C. What is best offer for following which cost me $107? Keller's coffee and milk trick; sliding die caddie, billiard ball change to handkerchief, bewitched fan; Pocket Poco camera and dark room outfit complete in every detail; Edison phonograph and six dozen records. Will accept other tricks, side tables, or black art outfit. Wm. H. Traphagan, 16 William street, Ossining, N. Y. Who can supply me with a Lilly Iron. Also want any old-fashioned handcuffs or manacles. Have 18-inch glass clock, with nickle-plated arrow, two side tables and a set of double drawer boxes. Will exchange either for cuffs or brass tubing cabinet. Address, Edw. Johnson, 106 W. 134th street, New York.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

H O C VS P O C V S IVNIOR. The Jnttomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. O X,

.The Art of Iugling fet forth in his proper colours, faliy, plainly, and exactly,fothat an ignorant petfon may thereby learn the full perfection ofthe fa«ie,artcr a little praftife. Vnto each Tricke is added thefigure,where it is needful! fonufbuSion,

Thcfectni Edititn, wstb mat] additions, PrcQit

ZO K D O N, P r i n t e d b y T. H. for R.M.

1635.

INSTALMENT VII. MAGIC BALL AND BUSHEL (Completed) The manner how to use them is as follows: Note you must be sure to fill the top of your bell with seed before you begin to show, then saying, "Gentlemen, you see I have nothing in my bell" (which they cannot, if you hold it by the handle) "nor have I any thing in my bushel, therefore I will fill my bushel with seed," and in rilling it clap on the false lid, and no man can tell the

235

If you cannot rightly conceive this by words you may have them of newest fashions, ready made, at my house. *

*

+

HOW TO PUT A RING THROUGH ONE'S CHEEK. You must have two rings made of silver or brass, or what you please, of one bigness, color, and likeness, saving that one must have a notch through, and the other must be whole, without a

o

notch ; show the whole ring and conceal that which has the notch, and say, ''Now I will put this ring through my cheek," and privately slip the notch over one side of your mouth, then take a small stick, which you must have in readiness, and slip the whole ring upon it, holding your hands over it about the middle of the stick; then bid somebody hold fast the stick at both ends, and say, "see this ring in mv cheek, it turns round;" then while you perceive them fasten their eyes upon that ring, upon a sudden whip it out, and smite upon the stick therewith instantly concealing it, and whirling the other ring, you hold your hand over round about the stick, and it will be thought that you have brought that ring upon the stick which was upon your cheek. * * *

HOW TO CUT THE BLOWING BOOK.

Take a book seven inches long, and about five inches broad, and let there- be Then ask anybody in the company iu hold that seed in their hands and you forty-nine leaves, that is seven times will command it all under the magical seven contained therein so as you may bell, so clap the true lid on, and then cut upon the edges of each leaf six ring your bell, and the seed will be gone notches, each notch in depth of a quarter out of your bushel into your bell to the of an inch, admiration of all the beholders. ( T o be continued) e c u 11 t**"j'.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

236

B. F. KEITH'S Theatres and Vaudeville Booking Circuit Routes arranged by skilled experts, providing for the smallest of jumps with a minimum of expense in railroad fares. A distinct advantage, gained ONLY in this office.

The most advantageous o p p o r 1 u n i t i e s offered in this office to Vaudeville Artists who are desirous of engagements covering an entire season's work.

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Good Acts always in demand and no trouble to Book them fortyfive weeks.

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Performers will do well to write

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Manager

825 to 828 St. James Building, New York City Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

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SPECIAL NOTICE! These serial articles will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a cop}7.

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190

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Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

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Route Stoll Tour, or care of Jinger «£• Bauer. SO Rupert St., London, IV.

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Special List of Entirely New BooHs T I Conjuring and Kindred Subjects

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epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novtlty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

Also List No. 41 nf ;,;Q decided bargains in Magical Apparatus. Both lists sent on receipt of a two cent St2mp Catalogue free. Trofessional catalogue 170 pages. 750 tricks. 20c.

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186^

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Exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great criminals, Male and Female. The L/ondon Mail, Boston Herald anl Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. "Best of its kind ever presented." Price Twenty five cents.

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240

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Hamley Brothers,

35, New Oxford Street, T. W. G. London, Eng. IIM1 :

""

and (City Depot) 29, Ludgate ill, E. C.

WE BEG TO NOTIFY OUR NUMEROUS CLIENTS OP OUR REMOVAL FROM OUR LATE PREMISES 231 HIGH HOLBORN, W. C. TO OUR BRANCH AT 35 NEW OXFORD STREET, W. C, WHICH NOW BECOMES OUR HEAD DEPOT FOR CONJURIING TRICKS &c. FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CITY CUSTOMERS AND THOSE ARRIVING IN TOWN AT CITY STATIONS, WE HAVE OPENED NEW PREMISES AT 29, LUDGATE HILL, E. C. AT BOTH BRANCHES, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY MADE TO ENABLE THE BEST & PROMPTEST ATTENTION T O EE GIVEN TO CALLERS AND ALSO TO MAIL ORDERS.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING THIMBLE An Entirely New Method

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to the corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing it plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand the thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracles. We can moreover positively assert that two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5/4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND This wand is quite new and is made on hitherto unused principle so far as magic Is concerned. The effect is wonderful in the extreme. The trick is worked as follows: The performer borrows 3 coins and throws them up in the air and they vanish. He now takes the wand, which is quite a thin one about 2 feet in length, made of brass handsomely nickled. This is first of all given for examination, he then waves it about in the air, the audience sees a coin adhering- to the top of the wand. This coin he takes off and gives it to audience to examine. He proceeds again in this way, and produces another coin and then another, both of which are handed immediately to the audience. The marvellous part about this wand is that it can at any moment be handed for examination. It is impossible to overrate the value of the wand, because it can be used for any ordinary purpose, and yet this astonishing trick can be performed at any time by its aid. The price is no indication of its value which is very considerably more, but as we anticipate selling a large number we are enabled to offer them at this price. We have only a limited number of these in stock at present, so orders should be sent early in order to secure one. Price 5/6, post free 5/11. Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents.

HAMLEY'S IMPROVED CARD STAR Everything can be given most accuracy and certainty chosen by the audience and the star, back to the audience, get the slightest glimpse of shows the arrow to the audireadily be seen that the arrow performer then asks whose and, upon one of the audience and while it is spinning asks his card. He does so, and when ning the performer requests that the arrow is pointing to Upon his doing so, the audirect. The performer proceeds It may be worked in many Special Low Price 4 2/-, post

for examination and the utis guaranteed. Six cards are one is placed in each arm of so that the performer does not any of the cards. He now ence and spins it, when it can is perfectly unprepared. The card the arrow shall point at, replying, he spins the arrow, that particular person to name the arrow has stopped spinhim to come and take the card and show it to the audience, ence sees that this is quite corin this way with all the cards, other ways. free 43/- or $11.50.

Many other Novelties in addition to above. List free on application. NEW MAGICAL SLEIGHTS & FAKES by R. A.Morrell. Price 2/-, post free 2/2. JTEW DIALOGUE FOB PUNCH & JUDY. Price 6d, post free 7d. PRACTICAL HYPNOTISM by John Barter. Price II-, post free 1/2. MODERN CRYSTAL GAZING. Price 6d, post free 7d. SOME NEW MAGIC by J. p. Burrows. Pricel / - , post free 1/1. HOTIL NOTIONS. Price 2/6, post free 2/10. Kindly mention Conjurer.-?' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

MONTHLY

CONTENTS History of Magic European Notes Tricks for Amateurs Reading and Rubbish Light on Alleged Jail Breakers Our Mail Bag Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Handcuff Secrets

Number 8

APRIL 15, 1907 Price, 10 Cents

Enttrcd as second-class matter September 12, 1906. at the post office at New York. N. Y., ODder the act of Congress of March 3, 1879.

242

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone Xo. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. Y. and C. A. A.

ANGER &, BAUER AGENTS FOR

JEnolisb, Hmerican anb Continental IDavtet^ Hvttstes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. Continental Representatives for English and Continental for Messrs. A. Uonamici and Frank H. Fillis's Enterprises in South Africa.

I ^ ^ IV ^ I"% ^ \ IVI

j ^ IVI ^^

Harry Day THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND

Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, Inc. OPPOSITE METROPOLlTJtS

OPERJt HOUSE

1416 Broadway, Corner 39th

Street

Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. Suite 4O4. Telephone 4<38O Bryant

^WANTED: Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician so as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia, Address: Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 278 "W. 113tH St., New York

AtOTE: Jiny one sending information will be given full credit in our columns. Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

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243

Professional Cards CLINTON BURGESS Champion Stage Card Manipulator

T. ROY BARNES

of America

Open for engagements for clubs, parties and parlor entertainments.

That Funny Mysterious Boy

In his neat Comedy Creation "I'll explain it again " Booked solid and always leaves them laughing Per. Address, Conjurers' Magazine :

163 St. Nicholas Ave., N. Y. City

278 West 113th Street, New York.

BERT KILBY

Prof. NATHU MANCHACHAND The Great Indian Magician

The Mysterious

Entertainer

Care

Presenting the latest of the newest tricks

New Britain, Conn.

HARVEY EMMETT

DR. KHACAVANDO

Old Hanuman Lane, Kalbadevie Road, Bombay, India CHAFALO The Italian necromancer assisted by the beauty Mile Capretto

Clean, Clever Comedy Conjurer

South 1122 Hatch Street, Spokane, Wash.

BERT WIGGIN

Italian

In his mysterious novelty magicial performance "Tee=ta=talk." Permanent Address : Conjurers' Magazine

278 West 113th St., N. Y. City

W. L. HICKS

The Honk^honk Mystifier. Also Lightning Crayon Sketch Artist.

R.ope Manipulator,

Handcuff Expert and Packing Case Evador

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Western Representative of the Conjurers' Magazine.

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244

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Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of tlic Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected liy copyright and must not be renroduce.d either wholly or in part without permission. The magazine Is for sale by all reputable dealer* of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Then Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, \V.; Moscow. Russia. T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, 1'ersla, James Leahrnan.

by the present he received from his royal patron. So, not being content with the pin that was sent to him, he had the original stone removed and a large diamond reset in its stead. He shows it with much vain pride, declaring "This is it—vat the King nave give me." Not so Bertram. He never prated. of his popularity with royaltv, and it is unfortunate that the profession is not graced by more of his calibre. We met him last, playing at the Tivoli Music Hall in London, and knew from his having accepted this engagement that he must have been in need, though never by word or deed did he give sign that he was other than prosperous. >;-

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For every conjurer who died well off we can name many that died in Contributions on all topics of interest to magiactual want. The old-timers all had cians are welcomed. When puyment is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; their ups and downs, while the rich otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped magicians, or even the well-to-do, could and addressed envelope. be counted on your two hands. Faux, VOL. I. APRIL 1907 No. 8 Pinchbeck, Droz, Pinetti, Robertson, Lane, the older Gyngell, Frickell.HouIn the death of Charles Bertram din and C. Herrmann left more than (James Bassett) the profession has their share of worldly goods. On the sustained a real loss. Mr. Bertram was the most gentlemanly conjurer we have other hand Anderson, the Wizard of had since Robin's time. Many hon- the North, died penniless, though he ors had come to him and though he was once rated as the wealthiest of all had appeared more often before Eng- conjurers. Augoston was found dead land's royal family than any other con- of starvation in the streets of Berlin. jurer in the history of magic, he died Breslaw, Bosco, Robert Heller, Nichols, as he had lived, simple, unaffected, un- Heubeck, Evanion, Guibal, Harrington assuming. and others too numerous to mention all * * * felt the pinch of penury ere death brought relief. The magician who is By comparison , the American illusionist, who, some time since, appeared enjoying his little meed of success before King Edward and Queen Alex- should take warning from those who andra, cuts but a sorry figure. Like have gone before. Tomorrow may the mercenary, flat-headed, pride-inflat- bring a better trick—by another man— ed individual that he is, he imagined and today is the time to save against that his future standing would be rated the morrow when popularity wanes.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

la this series of articles, it is my intention to correct many errors regarding the history of magic which have existed in the public mind since "The Life of Robert Houdin" was issued. In such endeavor, necessarily, I have introduced references to Uoudin's contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a comprehensive history of magic from 1GS0 to the present day. In order to prove my statements, it is also necessary to wander frequently from the central figure, Houdin, but though some instalments may not present the name of Houdin, the facts presented will, in the course of the history's development, be found to have direct bearing on his life and wort. In taking issue with those generally accepted as authorities, I am actuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained by me during years of earnest investigation at home and abroad, and to do justice to those who preceded Houdin and to whom he owed a greater debt than he set forth in bis autobiography. Copyright, 1000. By Harry Houdini. All rights reserved.

INSTALLMENT

NO.

8.

THE SUSPENSION TRICK (Continued.) SHESHAL'S TRICK. 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 concealed by the piece of hide,

245

might be connected with a mechanism of the same metal, passing up the sleeve and down the back, and forming a circular seat. This conjecture 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 his explanation of the trick to be correct.

CHING LAU LAURO'S SUSPENSION The next authentic early information I have on suspensions 'concerns that wonderful performer, who called himself Ching Lau Lauro. Presumably, he was Chinese, but from the programs 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 reproduce herewith one of Ching Lau Lauro's programs. 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

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

he gave the entire program. According to his programs in some places he ex, , , , ,,• c , ,, cluded the public from the gallery, so T i 1, • i i• • I should judge his suspension was ac.. , , . , it . , , iU complished with the iron rod from the , , , •, ,, , , . , . back, which would have been in plain . , , ,, „, .. t1 t sight from the gallery. I he stage would ., , , . , , not permit the suspension to be worked . c ,, , c ,, out or range of the gallery gods. '

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MASKELYNE'S SUSPENSION T-, , . , , ^ he crudest methods used for accom.... , . . , - . phshing the suspension trick consisted , , , . , , of a steel corset, an iron rod painted to ,, ' , . ^ resemble wood, and a platform. T h e . , ' . x steel rod was fitted into a special place , ,, . . , , : for the corset; also in the platform, ,,,, . , , . , _ * -1 his method was unproved, first to make . . . 1r it a self-raising suspension, then event-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ling to pay well for the product of his brain, and he then secluded himself in Bellville, a suburb of Paris, where he had rented a small room for a workshop. Here he had so much trouble with his wood-carver that he was obliged to carve the head himself, and he adds in phraseology that is at once a polite bow, a condescending smirk and poorly veiled appeal for kind applause, that he used his own face as a model, and eventually the figure commenced to resemble himself. In fact, so cleverly does Houdin write this chapter, which is one of the best in the book, that I quote from it literally, so as to give my readers a distinct impression of the man and his invention: "I harl only to press a spring in order to enjoy the long-waited-for result. My heart beat violently, and though I was alone, I trembled at the mere thought of this imposing trial. I had just laid the first sheet of paper before my writer and asked him this question: 'Who is the author of your being?' I pressed the spring, and the clock-work started—began acting. I dared hardly breathe through fear of disturbing the operations. The automaton bowed to me, and I could not refrain from smiling on it as on my own son. But when I saw the eyes fix an attentive glance on the paper —when the arm, a few seconds before numb and lifeless, began to move and trace my signature in a firm hand—the tears started in my eyes, and I fervently thanked Heaven for granting me success. And it was not alone the satisfaction I experienced as inventor, but the certainty I had had of being able to restore some degree of comfort to my family, that caused my deep feeling of gratitude. "After making my Sosia repeat my signature a thousand times, I gave it

247

this question: 'What o'clock is it?' The automaton, acting in obedience to the clock, wrote: 'It is two in the morning.' "This was a timely warning. I profited by it and went straight to bed." Houdin injects a little humor into this chapter, for IK- relates that as Moliere and T- ]• Rousseau consulted their servants, he would do likewise; so early the next morning he invited his portress and her husband, Auguste, a stone mason, to be present at the first performance of the figure. The mason's wife chose the question: "What is the emblem of fidelity ?" The automaton replied by drawing a pretty little grayhound, lying on a cushion. The stone mason wished to see the works, saying: "I understand about that sort of thing, for I have always greased the vane on the church steeple, and have even taken it down twice." BARNUM'S DEALINGS WITH HOUDIN. With this automaton Houdin made a lot of money, and he claims to have shown it at the exhibition in 1844. Several times in his book he refers to the fact that a certain Mons. Gbought this automaton from him, then again he borrows the automaton to exhibit it, but here evidently something is wrong, for Houdin fails to mention the fact that the greatest showman in the world, the late P. T. Barnum, purchased this writing figure from him, at the exhibition of 1844, for a goodly sum. I am greatly surprised that Houdin should neglect to mention having met Barnum, or having received money from the great showman ; but I will allow the circus magnate to speak for himself in his own book. "When I was abroad in 1844," sa Y s Barnum, "I went to Paris expressly to attend the 'Quinquennial Exposition'— an exhibition then held every five years.

248

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"I met and became well acquainted with a celebrated conjurer, as he called himself, Robert Houdin, but who was not only a prestidigitateur and legerdemain performer, but a mechanic of absolute genius. I bought at the exposition the best automaton he exhibited and for which he obtained a gold medal."

the Atlantic to my American Museum where it attracted great attention from the people and the press. During my visit, Houdin was giving evening legerdemain performances, and by his pressing invitation I frequently was present. He took great pains, too, to introduce me to other inventors and exhibitors of moving figures, which I liberally purchased, making them prominent features in the attractions of the American Museum." Barnum then continues to describe Houdin's greatness and his cleverness in the use of electricity. The showman was always a welcome guest at the magician's house, and he relates how, at luncheon time, Houdin would touch a knob and through the floor would rise a table, laden with inviting viands. These statements make it all the more strange and inexplicable that Houdin should omit all mention of the great showman's name in his Memoirs.

BARNUM'S TALKING MACHINE. Another wonderful trick that Barnum brought to 'America was the talking machine invented by Professor Faber of Vienna. While Barnum did not openly announce that he had purchased this P. T. Barnum, the world's greatest showman, talking machine, in .1873, in his addresscontradicts Robert Houdin's statements about the writing automaton, in several vital points. es to the public, he mentioned his big (Houdin states that he received a silver show, and this paragraph was signifimedal.) "I paid a round price for this cant : "The Museum department conmost ingenious little figure, which was tains 100,000 curiosities, including Proan automaton writer and an artist. It fessor Faber's wonderful talking machine, sat on a small table, pencil in hind ; and, costing me $20,000.00 for its use for six if asked, for instance, for an emblem of months ; also the National Portrait Gal'fidelity,' it would instantly draw the lery of 100 life-size paintings, including picture of a handsome dog; if love was all the presidents of the United States, wanted, a cupid was exquisitely pen- etc.; John Rogers's groups of historic ciled. The automaton would also answer statuary; also an almost endless variety many questions in writing. I took this of curiosities, including numberless aucuriosity to London, where it was ex- tomaton musicians, mechanicians and hibited for some time at the Royal Ade- moving scenes, etc., etc., made in Paris laide Gallery, and then I sent it across and Geneva."

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. It can be imagined how wonderful this talking machine must have been when Barnum gave it special emphasis, selecting it from the hundreds of curios he had on exhibition. As this talking machine is almost forgotten, I will be pardoned if I reproduce the bill used at the time of its appearance in London, England.

Argyll Street. Oxford Circus, W.

TA1KIN6

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• Tlic'Kihibil'ion is not limiu-.J to simple talking, liui is enLmccil l>y on . ciplflnulor^J^trlption of ilic niciliod of producing the vnrious sounds word, .-iniAeatcnecs. visitors a l i e n i n g alloacd to inspect every part of the l i t e s t i n g to (Lc Scientific tr. illustrating Ibc ibeorj

EXHIBITINO DAILY Fr?m 11 a m, till 10 p.m. AdmlEsioa, Is. Kcucrvcd foat3, 2s. CbildreDj Cd.

Advertising hanger from the collection of Harry Houdini, used by Professor Fabor in exhibiting his talking machine, which P. T. Barnum brought to America. As Barnum speaks of a life size figure we reproduce the original bill. The earliest one simply shows the head, and later it was shown in a three quarter size. This automaton was the first perfect artificial talking invention that was placed on exhibition.

This talking machine was the real article, and actually did as represented. The tones were caused by touching keys as on a piano. This machine must not be confounded with the mysterious talking heads, a la Dronza or Don Ban or

249

similar devices worked by concealing a boy in the box and having him talk through the head to the audience, answering all questions. These heads are all clever deceptions, and later I will explain one method of working them ; but Prof. Faber's machine was genuine. I have never been able to ascertain what eventually happened to this machine, but perhaps it is even now stored in Vienna, in some quiet, unfrequented spot, if it is still in existence at all. When Barnum was in London in 1844, with Gen. Tom Thumb, who was then performing a t the Egyptian Hall, he first saw the automaton talking machine and engaged it to strengthen his show, as it were. Thirty years later, Prof. Faber's nephew was the lecturer who explained t^ the American public the automaton's mechanism and also the performer who manipulated the machine. Just one thing I have never been able to explain away or tr •understand. Barnum always speaks of the talking automaton as being a life-sized FIGURE, but the reproduction of the blocks used for advertising purposes show that it was only a head. The bill reproduced on this page is positively original, as likewise is all the matter used. So much for Houdin's automaton and the talking figure made by his contemporary, Professor Faber. In the next installment we will trace the history of automatons back to their real inventors and give credit where it is due. (To be continued.')

250

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ovp/pecial

vwesDondcnt LONDON, ENGLAND

After my return from Berlin, the first conjurer I met was DeBiere and he told me that he was engaged at the Alhamhra, London, for four weeks opening April 1st. He tells me that he has the Bridal Chamber and is going to add it to his act in spite of the protestations of others. * * * In my last letter I asked why Heinamann did not have anything new to present. I can now tell you. He resigned from the management the middle of February, and now has nothing at all to do with the Passage. * * * A very strange thing happened to DeBiere. He is making so " much money that he has taken to giving away type-writers, but the one he gave to an intimate friend almost got him into a lot of trouble. After he gave it to his friend it was sent to the factory for repairs, and they kept it, saying that it was a stolen machine, and had not been paid for. * * * The company went looking for DeBiere and found him. Had he not had possession of the receipts, he would

Haiileeit

now be looking for Houdini, to show him how to break jail. * * * This present week, March 4th, I am on the bill with Oswald Williams, who is presenting a big show. One trick that he does, which he claims to be original with himself is as follows: He fills four glasses with water, has his assistant hold them on a tray, places handkerchiefs over them, fires a pistol and the glasses disappear. He fires the pistol again, and glasses, full of water, appear on the other side of the stage in the tray held by another assistant. This trick looks very good from the front. * * * I was surprised to note that Williams did not clear his stage when working, for at the Zoo, Glasgow, where he was on the same bill with me, the stage was full of strangers, who readily saw from the back how he worked some of his best tricks. I would suggest that he should drape off his stage with some suitable cloth. *

*

•

Williams tells me that he is booked at the Hippodrome. So that makes

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Goldin, Chung Ling Soo and Williams follow one another into this house. * * * At present Chung Ling Soo and Goldin are in London, both of them on the Stoll tour. * * * Dr. Bodie is running his own show through the Provinces and, as usual, drawing big houses. * * * Carl Herman is also running his own show. He informs me that he is also booked in the opposition houses as soon as Bodie opens in America. * * * Billy Hanvarr of Hanvarr & Lee, told me that he was booked in America. This is a very good juggling act, and ought to do very well. Feiber saw this act at the Royal Holborn last week. * * * Ormonde Penstone and his Chinatown Be-lle appeared at Stalybridge in their magical pot-pourri act, and did very well. * * * Violas arc at the Hippodrome, Wigan ; on same bill is Shang Hia, who doubles as one of the Violas. * * * Servis LeRoy wrote a very nice letter to the V. A. F. stating that his sympathies were with the artists; this letter came from Portugal; quite different from our old friend Chung Ling Soo, who gave his opinion before he was asked for it. * * * Week of March n t h found the following conjurers on the Moss & Stoll tour: Sylvesta at the Empire, Belfast; Chas. Frazer's lona at Empire, Birmingham; Culpitt at the Camberwell Palace, London ; Hymack, the man that makes gloves disappear, at Empire Coventry; our old pal, Imro Fox, at the Empire Glasgow.

251

Mile. Von Etta left the Hippodrome, London, and is now on tour, opening at the Empire, Hackney. Howards at the Palace, Hull; Chung Ling Soo at New Cross, Carl Hertz at the Empire, Nottingham, and Horace Goldin, Empire, Shepherds Bush. Leipsig is on the same bill as Culpitt; so you see two magicians can work on one bill in this country. * * * The March issue of the Strand is again exposing the box trick as done by J. W. Lynn. This is the canvas wrapped trunk trick which Herbert Brooks is also presenting. It is a common trick in England. * * * Talk about handcuff kings, Glasgow is just full of them. As soon as I would ask for any one with handcuffs, the whole audience would seem to get on their-feet and come towards the stage. * * * Glasgow and Birmingham are two towns that I am positive some of those alleged American Handcuff Kings would certainly remember as long as they lived, were they to open there, that is if they lived long enough to take the next boat back to the United States.

fiappenings from fiayman LONDON, ENGLAND, March 22d, 1907. At the Alhambra, London, we are being treated to a new cremation illusion, called "Quo Vadis." It is being exploited by Mr. Lewis de Burgh. A box is shown, (no illusion seems complete these days without the use of a box) and then a tray is shown made of sheet iron; the lady is placed in the tray, her hair is saturated with parrafin and ignited, causing it to burn brightly; the cover of the box is now closed, and when reopened, the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

252

la.dy has disappeared, nothing remaining but some smouldering ashes. The act is booked by Marinelli for America, opening at Hammerstein's June 3d. *

*

•

Mr. St. Armande, a Scotch hypnotist, is out with a challenge of £500 to substantiate his claim to hypnotize anyone, the craft not excepted. Surely this is a rather broad challenge. Well, I'm from Missouri, and he'll have to show me. * • *

Three men, made famous by roasting one another in the theatrical papers in this country for years, left England and sailed for foreign shores. I refer to Carlton, Tom Hearne, and Griff; Carlton sailed for Australia, where he plays for Mr. Rickards ; Tom Hearne for America to gather in the shekels on Mr. Keith's big tour, and Griff to South Africa for Messrs Hyman. * * *

Mr. Maurice E. Bandman informs us that in India he discovered two mind readers and all around wonder workers, who will startle the world. They are Prof. Grossi and Mine. Roux. Mr. Bandman booked them for his own theatre in Calcutta at which place they met with tremendous success. Grossi is an Italian, and goes through his act without uttering one word. They will shortly be seen in London. * * *

Nate Leipsig recently accepted one week on the Stoll tour, as a trial, and was given a 26-week contract before the completion of the week. * • •

I. visited Maskelyne & Devant's house or mystery last week and saw an excellent show. Carl Germaine is making a full-sized hit, and seems to be the right man in the right place at St. George's Hall; a very clever conjurer indeed is Joad Heteb; has a handsome lady assistant. Two hew mystical plays are

being produced by Mr. J. N. Maskelyne, "The New Page" and "The Enchanted Hive." * * *

The night the Zanzigs closed at the London Alhambra, Mr. Alfred Moul presented Mrs. Zanzig with a handsome diamond star. Mr. George Scott, the house manager of the Alhambra, who is credited with really engineering the Zanzig boom, was rewarded for his hard work by Mr. Zanzig with a handsome cabinet photograph signed and dated; he also received Mrs. Zanzig's sincere thanks. (Scotch papers please copy). * * *

At the Palace, Leeds, recently I played with Walton & Lester, who term themselves "The World's Worst Wizards" and they are all the title implies. These boys do a burlesque on the cannon trick that is nothing short of a riot of laughter. The act would be a success in America. * * •

Le Roy Talma & Bosco have just completed a two months' engagement at the Colysee Royal, Lisbon. The current month will find them at Oporto. This Fall they will tour in the legitimate theatres of Great Britain, with their mystical musical play "Lady Kinton's Necklace." Mr. Scott Phipp is attending to the tour. *

•

*

'

I witnessed the novel turn at Stoke Newington Palace of Picette & Lizette, in their entertainment called "The Crazy Cook." The scene represents a kitchen of a hotel, the gentleman making up as a cook and the lady as his assistant. By a series of illusions, they produce in rapid succession everything in the cooking line, rabbits, chickens, ducks, fish, eggs, etc. For a finishing trick, they present a lady disappearing illusion, a la Dida, that is good. The entire act is novel, and a hit. Joseph Hay man. (Of Hayman & Franklin).

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

VIENNESE NOTES BY HERR OTTOK.A.R FISCHER This gentleman has gone to the extreme trouble of learning to speak the English language so that lie can converse with the English spunking magicians whenever they visit Austria; and we think it only right that our readers should become acquainted with .Mr. Fischer In his right vein, and so will publish his letters just as" he sends them to us.

Vienna, Austria. Sir:—Mr. David Devant, from St. George's Hall, London, arrived in Vienna with his company to give a series of his incomparable performances. He opened on Sunday, March io, in one of our biggest halls, "Sofien-Sale," before a packed house and the Vienna public liked the show exceedingly well. The greater part of Devant's program was new for Vienna, therefore his success was complete. Devant intends to stay here for four or six weeks and also to return next year again, provided that the business will be. satisfactory. I am sure it will be! Devant probably will visit some of the other Austrian cities and then go back again to London. I spent many pleasant hours with Devant and his charming wife, and am really glad having learned to know this eminent magician personally. * * * Some days ago I received a large and fat letter from Okito, containing the news that he safely arrived in Batavia on January 29th, Papa Bamberg and son, Theo, being in best of health. During the voyage Okito and his father arranged two performances for the benefit of the equipage of the steamer "Koningin Wilhelmina. The success was in every way a great one. Okito gives me further a very

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very amusing description of an Oriental magician's performance, who came on board the steamer in Port Said. His program consisted of three tricks: 1. Multiplying of chickens, 2. Cup and Ball trick and 3. Changing of guinea pig and snake. At last Okito puzzled the wonder-worker with some modern coin-tricks and it must have caused the fakir's eyes to pop out to see the front hand with the back hand palm coins. * * * I was very agreeably surprised by a writing from Prof. Kudarz of Wellington, New Zealand, which I received the 14th inst. I am indebted to the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE for this pleasure, for Mr. Kudarz became interested to my person by reading my modest contribution in number 3. Mr. Kudarz asked me especially for some details regarding the magician, Prof. Louis Haselmayer, who traveled in Australia in 1872. Of course, I gave to Mr. Kudarz the best information 1 could and will, besides, be pleaseu to send you in a short time a biography of Haselmayer, for he is doubtless one of the most interesting conjurers of later days. * * * On Sunday, the 17th, our magical theatre of Kratky-Baschik opened its 35th season. The prestidigitateur Mr. O. F. Marteau is again acting on this stage (8th year) and brought a new and interesting opening program. * * * Many of direct subscribers of the Conjurer's Magazine are complaining with me of an irregular delivery of the issues, and I sent several times duplicates to these gentlemen. Being highly interested that all subscribers are satisfied I hope I am right in having done so. * * * In the variety theatres this month there is no magic and no magician. Ottokar Fischer.

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Beatf)

Cnglanb & America

Selecting 3Ttoo $5rigf)t Htgfjtg of tf)£ Conjuring Jfratermtp HARRY STORK.

States and was at one time a favorite in New York vaudeville, playing as After a three weeks' illness of spinal meningitis, Henry N. Stork, for many headliner at Tony Pastor's theatre. Personally, Harry Stork was a years an active magician and inventor of prince of good fellows, and a squarillusions, died at his home in Rochester, N. Y., on Saturday, March 2d, aged 43 er man never lived. In the many years. Until seven years ago he was years of our close acquaintance I never engaged in his profession, but at that time he retired from the life of the stage and entered business in this city. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Carrie Putnam Stork; his mother, Mrs. Catharine Stork. He was one of the early members of the Society of American Magicians. Mr. Stork was known to the theatrical world as Harry Stork. He was born in Rochester and at an early age showed a marked aptitude for sleight of hand and feats of magic. He was a favorite at local entertainments during those years and performed in Rochester some of his own tricks which had never before been seen. In 1881 he removed to Detroit and set up a unique place of business in the nature of a magic shop. His specialty was the manufacture and sale of apparatus for the performance of tricks of HARRY STORK magic and many of the specialties which he offered were his own inventions. His knew him to speak slightingly of a fellittle shop soon became widely known low performer, or, for that matter, of and was the mecca of magicians and anyone. Like Jim Bludsoe, the hero sleight-of-hand performers from all parts of John Hay's poem, Harry Stork did of the country. Often Alexander Her- not know the meaning of an untruth, mann and Harry Kellar visited his office and he was scrupulously exact in all his and obtained ideas or new illusions with relations with his fellow man. He was which to startle the public. the soul of hospitality, and among his Mr. Stork appeared often in vaude- friends was geniality itself, as Tommy ville houses, especially in the old days, Downs, Harry Houdini, Howard when magicians were not so numerous Thurston and many others can attest. as now. He traveled all over the United One of the last pleasant gatherings at

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his home was on the occasion of Har- were present or sent beautiful wreaMis ry Houdini's professional visit to Ro- were Cinquevalli, Maskelyne, Devant, chester. The genial Stork was host, and Sidney Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Whitely, Harry Houdini, Airs. Hnudini and the members of the Savage Club, The Magic writer were the guests. It was a mem- Circle, Lyric Lodge, F. & A. M. The orable Sunday. Of course the conver- officiating minister was the Rev. S. sation was on magic—magic—magic ! Xicholl of Christ Church Streatham. Nothing but magic from dinner to supIt was generally thought and believed per, and there would have been more ihat Chas. Bertram was a wealthy man, magic after that if Houdini had not had and in very comfortable circumstances. an evening engagement at the theatre. This has been disproven by the fact that Of course, the conversation was punctuated with tricks. Stork performed his incomparable flag trick and executed his fancy shuffles and sensational onehand "drops" with cards; Iloudini swallowed needles, manipulated handkerchiefs, and fooled us with his invisible two-hand pass with cards. It was a merry gathering; every one was in high spirits—particularly our host. Little did any of us dream at parting that evening that within a few short months the prompter would ring down the curtain on the merriest one of the merry company. John Northern HUHard. CHARLES BERTRAM. James Bassett, professionally known as Chas. Bertram, the king's conjurer, died on Feb. 28th of that dread disease, cancer, at his residence in Streatham, London. Mr. Bertram was born at Woolwich in 1853, was educated for the Wesleyan ministry, but had to give up his studies on account of delicate health. CHARLES BERTRAM He was a personal friend of King Edward VII. and had a speaking acquaint- at the present writing a benefit is being ance with the entire royal family, and arranged for his widow and daughters, no reception or entertainment at the whom he left in rather straitened cirpalace was thought complete without cumstances. The date has not been seBertram. He was a clever conjurer, lected as yet, but a large London theabut not a wonderful manipulator. Ber- tre has been placed at the disposal of the tram possessed a charming personality, committee, and the Lord Mayor of Lonand a rare fund of humor. don and the royal family will be the The funeral took place on March 5th, patrons of the affair. This alone enat Norwood cemetery; among those who sures its success.

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I am induced to take this step for the manifest reason that the public of both hemispheres may, through ignorance of the real truth, give credence to the mendacious boasts and braggadocio of the horde of imitators who have sprung into existence with mushroom rapidity of growth, and equal flimsiness of vital fibre, and who, with amazing effrontery and pernicious falsity, seek to claim and hold the credit and honor, such as they may be. that belong to myself. It is in the same spirit and for the same cogent reason, I execute my present duty of duly setting forth my right to the title which I Hold, and the absolute pilfering of name, fame and the other emoluments of success, by those others wdio advertise and rate themselves as "Handcuff Kings," "Jail Breakers," etc., ad libitum, ad nauseum. That I have a horde of imitators may not be as well known as it will be to those who have the patience and the sense of fairness sufficiently developed to lead them to read this article through to its conclusion. Therefore, it will not be considered unbecoming of me to set forth here the details of my conception, execution and performance of the Challenge Handcuff and Escape Act, as pre-

sented by me at this time in the principal vaudeville and music hall theatres of Europe and America. And I trust also that I will not be deemed guilty of undue egotism, or of having an attack of "exaggerated ego," to borrow a popular term growing out of the Thaw trial, if I assert that this act has proved to be the greatest drawing card and the longestlived sensation that has ever been offered in the annals of the stage. This has been demonstrated by the recordbreaking attendance in every theatre in which T have given the act, either in part or whole, and also by the .duration of my term of engagement in the principal theatres among those in which I have been booked. Art is long and life is short, says the ancient poet. The stage and its people, in the light of history, make this a verity. As examples, take the famous Davenport brothers, also the "Georgia Magnet," also the "Bullet Proof Man," etc. For the benefit of those who have not heard of this sensational attraction—which was indeed a great novelty for a brief time—I will explain that the man was a German who claimed to possess a coat that was impervious to bullets.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. He would don this coat and allow anyone to shoot a bullet of any calibre at him. Alas ! One day a marksman shot him below the coat, in the groin, and eventually he died from the wounds inflicted. His last request was that his beloved invention should be buried with him. This, however, was nut granted, for it was thought due the world that such an invention should be made known. The coat, on being ripped open, was found stuffed or padded with powdered glass. Returning to the subject of my own career, I assert here with all the positiveness I can command that I am the originator of the Challenge Handcuff Act, which consists in the artist inviting any person in his audience to submit handcuffs of his own, from which the performer must release himself. And it is proper that I should add, at this point, that I do not claim to have conceived and originated the simple handcuff trick, as every novice in this line knows that it has been dune for many years, or so far back, as the lawyers say, "that memory runneth not to the contrary." French historians of the stage show that, as far back as early 1700 La Tude performed it. Pinetti did chain releases in 1780 and modern magicians have had it in their programmes ever since 1825. The Sr. Bologna, instructor of John Henry Anderson, made a small trick out of it. Anderson placed it among his repertoire the second time he came to America in 1801, and when exposing the Davenport brothers, he made quite a feature of it. In fact, I have an old monthly of 1870 in which a handcuff trick is explained in an article exposing spirit mediums. Dr. Redmond, who, I hear, is still very much alive in England, made quite

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a reputation as a rope expert and handcuff manipulator in 1872-3 and I have several interesting bills of his performances. Few give me credit, but had I been able to copyright my new tricks they would all have to pay me a royalty. But, as such cannot be done, the only thing I ask of the numerous imitators is to give credit where credit is due. No one, to my knowledge, performs my tests according to my method, except my brother, Theo Hardeen as they ALL resort to fakery and collusion in presenting to the public that which they wish to have thought is exactly as Houdini performs his challenges. The following challenges have been performed by myself, some of which are very interesting. Release in full view of the audience from straightjackets used on murderous insane; the nailed up in the packing case escape; the packing case built on the stage; the paper bag; the willow hamper; the hamper swung in the air; the steel unprepared cage or basket; riveted into a steel water boiler;-hung to a ladder in mid-air; nailed to a door; escape from unprepared glass box; out of a large football; release from a large mail pouch; escape from a roll top desk; escape from a zinc lined piano box, etc., etc. In fact during long engagements I have accepted a different challenge for every performance. In order to stop all controversy concerning this jail breaking affair, I shall publish the methods that have been used by some of those that will stop at nothing in order to willfully deceive the public. First of all, there is a young man who calls himself Brindemour who, according to all I can learn, claims to be

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the originator of jail breaking and has accused me of stealing the material from him. He has even gone so far as to say that I assisted him. Why, in 1896 I visited Woonsocket, R. I., with a show and made quite a hit with the handcuff act. There I met a photographer whose name was George W. Brown. He made himself known to me and informed me that he was an amateur magician, and that at certain periods of the year he gave performances

started in to expose his handcuff act. He did this in Providence, also Philadelphia, and made a dismal failure. The effect of his work showed him that he was on the wrong track, and eventually he did not expose the few fake tricks that he had and went into it without the exposures. He pursued the same old groove until I returned to America, when he deliberately copied all of my challenges as best he could. I wondered how he did

.. W. /?pt,ig,t, UP FANCY DANCING.

PROFESSOR OF LEGERDEMAIN.

Years aftcT Harry Tlmidini had earned the reputation of Handcuff King and Jail Breaker, the above card was u.st*d by Brindamour in 1897 orl898, which was long before he became familiar with handcuffs.

for friends and lodges and his great hit was to impersonate a ballet girl. He showed me pictures of himself in ballet costume, and seemed to be proud that he could impersonate the female sex so perfectly. This was in 1896. About a year later, after purchasing a bunch of handcuff keys, this Brown called himself Brindemour. He gave a trial show at Keith's Providence house for Manager Lovenberg and failed to make good. His great stunt then was to make the church bells ring, which is accomplished with a confederate and was Sig. Blitz's standby. At any rate, the Great Brindemour, failing to make good, followed me into Philadelphia and

his jail breaking stunts, as I knew that he could no more pick a lock than the Czar of Russia will give the Russian newspapers the right of free press. Recently I have ascertained the facts as to several of his escapes, or rather their "mysterious means," and I will give the reader the benefit of my investigations. At the same time I invite the closest investigation of anything that I have ever done. While filling an engagement at Albaugh's Theatre, Baltimore, Brindemour escaped from the cells at police headquarters under the following circumstances : A reporter on the Baltimore News, by name of "Clint" MacCabe, called on Harry Schanberger, who

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. is engaged in an official position at police headquarters (this incident was told me personally by Harry Schanberger and in the presence of witnesses) and MacCabe of the Baltimore News, after a chat with Harry Schanberger, borrowed the set of keys from Schanberger, telling him that he wanted to give them to Brindemour, so that he •could give a press performance and make the people believe that Brindemour had escaped "on the square." Schanberger loaned MacCabe the two keys, and naturally Brindemour escaped from the police headquarters cells, using the genuine keys that belong to the Police Department. AND HE DARES TO CALL HIMSELF THE POLICE MYSTIFIER! In mind I can almost hear the spirit of poor Chas. Bertram say "Isn't that wonderful?" The strange thing about this affair is that in Baltimore another alleged jail breaker met his quietus for the time being. He is Cunning, who also labors under the delusion that he is the original world's greatest. I quote from the Baltimore News, and it will be seen how much "talent" this gentleman possesses. TCxtract from the Baltimore "News," Thursday, February 8, 1906. CUNNING'S

GAME

EXPOSED.

Cunning, the hitherto mysterious opener of TiandcufTs and shackles, who is exhibiting at the Monumental Theatre this week, was found out today by Acting- Turnkey John Lanahan at the Central Station and had to abandon the feat that he had promised to do of escaping from a locked cell. Before being locked in the cell, Cunning •went into the latter, pretending to examine it and secretly placed a key upon a ledge, but Lanahan discovered the key just as Cunning was about to be locked in, and when told of the discovery, the wizard said, "You've got me," admitted that he could not open the c II without •a key, and abandoned the exhibition.

The real truth of this jail break is that Mr. Joe Kernan went to the police captain and borrowed the keys, and handed them to Cunning. The turnkey, Lanahan, not being in, the "know,'1 discov-

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ered the palpable "planting" of the keys and ran with them to the captain. In this way the "stunt" was unexpectedly exposed. Personally, I think that it ought to be a prison offense for any official to loan his keys to these would-be and so-called mystifiers, and if managers wish to lend themselves to wilfully deceive their audience, the quicker they find out that they are treading the wrong path the better for them, too. You can take any stage hand, and in five minutes make just as good a jail breaker as the many that are now trading on my name. Another "gross" mi.srepresenter is a youth named Grosse. This man, or rather youth, claims that he can open time lock safes, and all the complicated locks of the world, stating that handcuffs are mere play to him. Why, he can't even pick his teeth, and if he were put to a test with a lock picker I doubt that he could even throw back a onetumbler lock. Yes, he would have trouble to pull back a common latch. No doubt some of the police that are entangled with some of these jail breakers will grow hot under the collar at me for showing this thing up, but as long as these fellows are pretending to do my work, and as long as they stoop to do it in this manner, just so long will 1 publish the real facts as soon as I find them out. In conclusion I wish to state that I defy any manager or police official to come forward and prove that I, by any underhand means or conniving methods, have stooped or lowered my manhood to ask them to willfully deceive the public by such base misrepresentations.

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Our Mall Bag In this department it is the privilege* of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

London, England. Editor Conjurers' Magazine. Sir:—The usual monthly meeting of the Magic Circle took place at Ho':el Tudor at the end of February, but too late to report for the March magazine. Chairman was G. Gordon Powell and about 40 members were present. The membership of the Circle is fast increasing. Nearly all conjurers who arc not members are hastening to join. There is now an intermediate degree, between M.- AT. C. (Member Magic Circle) and M. I. M. C. (Member Inner Magic Circle, the new degree being A. I. M. C. (Associate of Inner Magic Circle). The second Annual Grand Seance of The Magic Circle will take place at St. George's Hall, London, on Tuesday evening, March 26th. I will send you full particulars immediately after, so that you can get it in May number. At this seance a public show is given on the stage of the magical theatre and all the best known magicians who are in town at the time will take part in the programme. I think last year's seance, was the first time on record when a program all magic, was given in a theatre and both performers and audience all were magicians. Every seat for this year's seance has been booked for some time. Herr Fritz, Carl Hertz, Kahn & Kahn, Gnldin, Chung Ling Soo and Von

Etta, are all following each other on the Stoll Circuit, with only one week between each. The funny part of it is that as each has one or two of the same tricks in his act, the audience must be rather tired of seeing growth of flowers, rice bowls, cannon tricks, ami bridal chambers, done by two or three different people at such short intervals. Current attractions : Palace Theatre,—The Howards—second sight. Metropole, Cambenvell — Colenso (Stanley Collins). Gu stave Fasola (Indian magician) has just played the Palace Hammersmith, and is now at the London, Shoreditch. Leipsig is at the Granvillc, AValham Green. E. E. Xoakes is at the Electric theatre, Crystal Palace. He has now had a run of five consecutive months there and introduces his football illusion on days when a big match is being played. In this theatre, the gear for working the blue room, which "Roltaire used there, is still lying around. The theatre has been used for magical purposes for years past. Among others who have performed there are the late Dr. Lynn, Dr. Holden, Le Roy, Roltaire, etc. The late Prof. Norris performed in this building when the Palace was first opened and at that time it was the custom for magicians

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. to wear the conical cap and long cloak to perform in. Norris told me that he used to have a stall ou'side where he sold boxwood tricks and puzzles, and a workshop with a lathe at the back. He used to take off his cloak and make the turned goods between his turns. I still have in my possession a form of ball box which he made there. It contains two half balls and a solid one, I should think it must have been in existence long before De Kolte used them as the billiard ball trick. Norris was a funny little man with a bluish colored beard. He must have looked a sight in his conical hat. Chas. Bertram appeared at the Electric Theatre last Summer and it was one of the last places he played in London. Connected with this place is an American, who goes by the nickname of Stumkey. Although not a conjurer, he probably knows more about the old time magicians than anyone in this country. He was at one time with Kellar and also managed a place of entertainment in Atlantic City. He also traveled with the Baldwins. John Warren is at Camberwell with his Magic Carpet. Chung Ling Soo has added a new mystery to his act in which he fires an arrow, to which is fastened a rope, through his wife's body. He now pulls the rope forward and backward, giving the exact appearance of the arrow having impaled her. IV. C. Zelka. Editor Conjurers' Magazine, Sir:—Have just received a letter from 111. Robert Kudarz, Wellington, New Zealand, who writes that he is pleased with the Conjurers' Magazine, and wishes to make a correction. Hardeen, in October issue, states that it seems strange that Harry Kellar has never been in England. This is wrong,

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as the old veteran did play the English provinces in 1879-1880, as Prof. Kudarz saw him at the time and ought to know. Kellar's Magician's Tour probably gives it as well; he did not return to America to start in earnest until Robert Heller's death. Then, owing to the similarity of names, Kellar changed his name from Keller to Kellar. Trusting you will find space to correct your correspondent's error, I remain sincerely yours IV. D. Leroy. Glasgow, March, 1907. Editor Conjurers' Magazine, Sir:—Last month we had the following mystifiers entertain us: Theo Hardeen at the Zoo Hippodrome; Oswald Williams brought some excellent illusions, John Warren produced the Magic Carpet, but I liked his handkerchief tricks; Sylvesta gave us a delightful show and the perennial Imro Fox introduced his growing box trick. Regards. T. C. Ardock. Editor Conjurers' Magazine. Sir:—Hcrr Max Berol opened last week's bill at the Valentine with his mysterious "Mene Tinkle" trick and played to a fair house. Herbert Brooks, styled the king's magician, is at the Valentine this week with a trunk mystery, and also does the front and back palming of cards ; not going into any details this gentleman ought to do some extra practicing with the front and back palm of cards as he needs it very much. Outside of these two acts Toledo is dead with magic. Sincerely yours, R. H. Gysel. Spokane, Washington. Editor Conjurers' Magazine, Sir:—Where you will find one man like Mr. Williams you can find a hundred that are different. The handcuff secret', are great. That's the first part of the paper I read. Please keep .them up. respectfully Harvey Emmett.

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Herrmann The Great sailed April 4th on the French liner La Provence for a trip to Europe. He writes he is booked for a tour of six months through France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, returning to America in September with several new illusions. Whilst abroad he has promised to send us news notes from time to time. We shall certainly be pleased to hear from him. * * * The Kardells have separated temporarily but have made arrangements that they will re-join each other in two years. * * * Marcus, "The man in the box," is featuring Houdini's packing case trick and is industriously seeking engagements. When last heard of he was in Coxsackie, N. Y. * * * E. L. Twing, tlie Toledo Kellar, is now considering whether or not he should tour America with his magical performances. * * * Mr. Orestes A. Senter of Columbus is one of those conjurers that witnessed the performances of the original Anderson and Blitz. Mr. Senter is an expert picture machine manipulator, and is capable of entertaining either with magic proper or magic lantern. * * * Mr. Otto F. Walton sends us a programme, printed in the Greek language, of Kalhas, the magician, who exhibited a programme of regulation tricks at Brandt's Hall, Chicago, Marcli ;th, this year.

Warren Keene has appeared and the "Askme" has made good. Felix Berol, a brother of Max and William Berol of Mena Tekel and around the world travel fame, is connected with Keene, and all reports of their work is excellent. There is no possible chance of duplicating this act, as it is the outcome of ten years' study. The title was suggested five years ago by Mr. Percy Williams. * * * John Johnson, who hails from Greenville, Ohio, will certainly be heard from soon. His mysterious effects are so easily accomplished that no matter what he does he does well. He is a noted athlete, being a pitcher on the American League, and if he does not make his mark in the magic world, it will not be for lack of a good act. * * * The St. Louis Star Chronicle, February II, '07, has quite a lengthy exposure of Anna Eva Fay in its columns, even going so far as to illustrate the writings reproduced in the pads. * * * There is talk among the prominent dealers of magical apparatus of publishing a blacklist sheet which will be sent to all dealers with the various names of people who make it a practice of getting the best of dealers by misrepresentation. While this is a good move in the right direction, we believe all the dealers do not care to publish the fact that they have been bested. I think some would glory in it, while others would be ashamed to acknowledge it.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Well, we came across the first intoxicated magician in the many years of our professional career. This magician is a drunk of the first water, and what little talent he possesses is oozing out at his finger tips. Too bad. Will not mention his name, but if he ever sees this, and we trust he will. We hope that he will stop, for otherwise he is certain to fill a drunkard's grave. Magicians, as a rule are not heavy drinkers, but this fellow makes up for fifty. * * * Frank B. Widemayer lias invented a handcuff that he claims is far ahead of the Bean Giant. From drawing sent us, it looks good and we will look the cuff over carefully. Widemayer is an electrician of more than ordinary merit, and simply invented the handcuff for the fun—and hopes that it will make a few dollars for him. Tower & Lyons are stated to have bought the patent. * * * We met E. C. Adams, the originator of the thimble trick, in Toledo, and his parlor work is par excellence. * * * Our readers will be surprised to hear that the various tricks and apparatuses used by secret lodges can be purchased by any one. The firm of M. C. Lilly, Columbus, Ohio, furnishes all the trick paraphernalia used by secret lodges, and their catalogue is a very interesting book. * * * Little Lola Cottun is being heavily featured by her father. They have been doing a second-sight act for a number of years. Mr. Cotton gets very arrogant in his advertisements and claims that he uses no code, and calls attention to the fact that "Other acts make their own selections to a limited number of articles whilst we, the originals, let the audience select." Mr. Cotton, you are doing a good act, but you are hurting yourself with your bad advertising matter. But then, perhaps you labor under the belief that you are the original. You do not explain things clearly and you may be hitting at some other child artist. If so, you are foolish to notice any one. * * * Joseph Hayman, of Ilayman and Franklin, one of our news gatherers in Great Britain, was ordered by his physicians to take an ocean voyage. He took the first steamer to

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America, gave us important news items and went back on the next steamer. * * * The usual human ostrich has appeared at the hospital, and demands a spring cleaning. This time it is Alburtus Pierce who reported at the Bellevue Hospital suffering from a poisoned leg, the resuU of swallowing lookingglasses. Through an X-ray apparatus the physicians located a great many foreign objects. He is in a bad condition, as the many knife blades, packages of tacks and portions of glass bottles he has eaten are now clamoring for digestion. The Bellevue experts say that Picrce's bones will likely decay or at the very least he has a "-months' siege in bed. * * * Arnold 1 )e Biere rives vtnt to his feelings in poetry in our advertising pages. Is his ecstacy due to receiving notification from Goldin's attorney that Goldin Withdraws a charge against him for doing an illusion invented by Xoah on the Ark during the flood? * * * Howard Thur.non is still gathering in the shekels, and if he keeps <m he will have to hire a special ship to bring back the money that he is nuking in the far eastern countries. He is playing an indefinite engagement in Cairo, Egypt. * * * Chefalo and Caprefta arc now on the Keith tour. Chefalo, will you ever learn to talk slow in your exhibitions? The act is better since he has added the famous Italian beauty, Signoretta Capretta. *

•

*

The Sa Heras were headliners at the Lafayette Theatre, week of March 25, and scored their usual success. * * * Tomlin, the young wizard of Baltimore, is fast becoming prominent. * * * Col. Gaston Bordevcry, having fininshed second best in a newspaper affair with several sharpshooters (De Loris and MacCrea), has launched a most ambiguous advertisement in which he says that ho is not a conjurer. Does the gallant Colonel mean to infer that we conjurers are of such a class that he wishes not to be confounded with us wretched people? If such is the case, we demand an explanation why he launched an advertise-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ment in which he claimed that he broke a mystifier's record for drawing paid admissions at Moore's Theatre, when he was well aware at the time that he did not break any record. * * * Carl Brehrncr was at Pastor's theatre, billed as Herr von Bliczcn, the crazy magician. He finished his week well liked. On same bill was seen H. Wm. Van Dorn with his mysterious Crucible, * * * Zisk'a and King arc still at it on the Keith tour. * * * The Washington Post, March 27th, had the following news item cabled to them from their London offices : "The Magic Circle, which is the official designation of the Society of Conjurers, met in great strength at St. George's Hall to-day, and the members tried to mystify one another with a series of their latest tricks. In some cases they seemed to succeed as completely as they did in puzzling the lay section of the audience. The society's gold medal was finally awarded to Leipzig, an American, in recognition of his marvelous skill and originality. Carl Gcrmainc scored heavily with his slate trick." * * * Saturday, April 6, 1907, found the Society of American Magicians in social session in Martinka's Magical Palace, 493 Sixth Avenue, New York City. * * * Mr. W. L. Hicks of Chicago, a newly elected member of the S. A. M., made a special trip to New York to complete arrangements for becoming our official Western correspondent.

The great Russa, jailbreaker, handcuff king, magician, man of mystery and several other things, is at Walker's museum this week. He gets out of a cage, trunks, boxes, etc., and alter the show, walks out the door. * * * 1 he society of Boston magicians has offered prizes to its members for the best cntcrtainiiKiit, the best original trick and the most improvement- shown by any member. * * * Lawrence Crane is at the Columbia this week introducing several illusions. His work ad ways goes well. * * * The German Rose has just finished a two weeks' engagement at Austin & Stone's museum. * * * The great Goss is advertised to give a performance on May 2. He will be supported by a squad of vaudeville artists. * * *

NSWERED

A. L. Roy, Providence.—The Post Office has suspended that order until further notice. Thanks for calling our attention to1 that fact. * * * Chung Ling Soo.—Clippings arrived too late. * * * Berliner. — That is not true. Harry by FREDERICK ROCHE Houdini's first lappearance before any audiWhile at Austin & Stone's museum, Miss ence was at Appleton, Wis., the summer of Erne Lorraine presented a box mystery. A T88I. He was then engaged as the star perlarge heavy base on legs was shown first, the former of a five-cent circus by Jack Hoeffler. sides of quarter-inch wood, were placed upon Mr. Hoeffler is at the present time proprietor the base, the Venus entered and the top was and manager of several theatrical enterprises, strapped down, but not nailed. The complete but will be pleased to corroborate this statebox was placed in a crate which was locked ment, for he has only lately described the red with several locks. This particular escape is woolen stockings that Houdini wore as evidently meant for a deaf audience judging "Eric, the king of the air." Houdini was born by the amount of noise made by the lady es- in 1874. cape artist in getting out, which great feat * * * she accomplished in about five minutes. She Prof. A. Thompson, Liverpool.—Thanks was assisted bv Prof. Bellvea. for photograph.

Boston Bits

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Dissatisfied, Chicago.—Well, what are you going to do about it? TEe more you speak about it the less you will be given credit for knowing. So shut up. * * * Barney K., Milwaukee.—For the trick you describe, use muriatic acid in the glasses, and strong ammonia in the pipes. The two chemicals coming together cause a dense smoke to be created. Also put a few drops of ammonia in one pipe and in the other a few drops of muriatic acid. The best way is to simply allow the chemicals to run through the pipe stems. Be careful with the muriatic acid, as it is a virulent poison. * * * G. W. Saltonstall, Toledo.—No; Horace Goldin never wrote a book. The party you mean, George Fuller Golden, is now publishing a comedy paper. If Horace Goldin ever wrote a book on magic and magicians it would read something like this : 1 lii 1 1 iiii and me, also 111 iiii i ii iiii 1 and 1. 1. 1. * * * A. Lacahnce, Quebec, Canada.—If you will read the article entitled "Light en the jail breaking of my imitators," you will obtain all the information you seek. *

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*

Franklin Gerogasen, Salt Lake City.—We never answer questions by mail unless specially important, and then you must enclose stamp for reply. You are wrong regarding the ashes of Madame Blavatsky. The urn in which the ashes were placed after cremation is in a niche in Aryan Hall, 144 Madison avenue, New York City, where the Aryan Theosophical Society meets. * * * Mosher, Little Valley.—We contemplate giving our subscribers space for professional cards at the rate of one inch for six months for $3, or for one year for $5, payable in advance. * * * B. Chadwick, Burnley.—Summer of 1904, Will Goldstone was running a busking Pierrot show at West Kirkby, Yorkshire, England, and attempting to do the handcuff act. In case you do not know what "busking"' means, it signifies that the hat was passed, and any one could drop in a coin to repay the artist for his labors. Some of these buskers earn good rr.oney.

265

James Engelhardt, Hastings, Mich.—The Japanese method of producing eggs from the mouth is accomplished by their learning to bring up swallowed articles. When we were with Welsh Bros.' circus a troupe of Japanese, San Kitchi Akimoti, had an old man who taught us the trick. First of all take a potato and tie a string to it, and practice swallowing it, to your Adam's apple. The string helps you to pull it back; in case you do not care to digest a potato, use a small * * * apple, which is more palatable. In this way the Japs hold concealed four to seven small sized balls, and produce them one at a time. In case you do not care to go to all this trouble, purchase the egg shell fake from any reliable dealer. He will also send full instructions for using same. Keep the fake in your mouth, and when showing your mouth empty you really show the inside of the fake which is painted red. * * * Clinton Burgess.—Thanks for clippings received. * * * T. F. Fritz.—Postal with phison; managed to escape the vigilance of the Postmaster. So we know how you look. Wondered if it was so what you said he said we said. * * * Hal Merton.—Sorry to have missed you. Photo arrived in good condition. * * * H. G. Shields, Newmilus, Scotland.—Received letter. Will put your name on record for book when published. You will find due notice of its appearance in the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE.

* * * R. H. Gyscl, Toledo, Ohio.—The journal you mention appears to be simply brief extracts of the book published in England in 1850, "Locks and Keys," by George Price, inventor of fire-proof safes. *

*

•

R. I-I. Gyscl, Toledo. The cuff secret you mention is simply applicable to the English cuff. In the act of locking it on you drop a small shot, which you had concealed between your fingers, in the snap portion of the cuff. This will prevent it from locking, and all you have to do is to pull the cuff open. The shot falls to the floor and is not noticed. You will have to use two shots, one for each cuff.

266

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

PRESS

REVIEWING BOOKS ANDTHINGS,

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

SELBIT'S THE MAGIC ART. Being' thoroughly cognizant of the fact that the patter of a public performer and the manner of delivering same is of the greatest importance, we have carefully gone over several books that have been sent to us from Great Britain and will say that the English conjurer can manipulate the English language with greater facility than the average American necromancer. The book from the pen of Selbit, '"The Magic Art" really contains some very meritorious matter. In fact the patter is the best that we have ever seen in print. He is mistaken when he states that the egg-bag trick as presented by the American is original with us, and we would like to enlighten him on that score. The egg-bag as presented by the American magician was first brought to the United States by Herbert Albini. The aggressive manner of Albini was natural with him, and was the cause of the egg-bag being the sensation he made it; eventually his imitators copied all his movements. The trick can easily be placed among the very good tricks which any magician can add to his repertoire. We do not say that Albini was the first to do the egg-bag experiment, for

in the Harry Houdini collection there are programmes of the early seventeenth century mentioning it, and Hocus Pocus also has the trick in its various descriptions. MEDRINGTON'S BROCHURES. "Magical Novelties" and "The Magician's Book of Patter" by Charles Medrington of Birkdale, Lancashire, are two brochures that contain some good matter. There is nothing extraordinary about the publications, and while the author is rather weak in a good many of his theories, he possesses a very natural, frank manner; the books will hold your attention until you have glanced through them. He cannot be called author ; compiler is more appropriate as in the "Magical Novelties" he has ten different magicians contribute tricks to him. It is far better though for a man to give people their just dues, than to publish other people's tricks, and take full credit for same, which we know for a fact is the case with two authors ( ?) in Great Britain. One is certainly a flagrant offender, and deliberately steals the brains of other people and then publishes the material as original. When he wishes to shield himself he places some poor deluded friend's name at the end of the article. That is why we like Medrington's frankness; he gives people the credit due them.

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

267

Howard Tluirston's Pastime in India Well, what do you think about Kellar's retiring? Is Valadon going to succeed him? It does not appear so to us. Would you like our opinion as to who will succeed to the place of honor? Yes? Well from all signs and indications, the dark horse in the race seems to he Howard Thurston.

Howard

Thurston

regular abode, beg their way, and very seldom are refused food and, as for shelter, they are satisfied to sleep on the soft side of a stone pavement or door way. Secrets are passed from generation to generation and very few cases are known of outsiders being initiated into their mysteries. Three classes of

in the midst of a group of Indian conjurers taken in Bombay, India.

Thurston by the way is now touring the world, and at the present time is in Lucknow, India, making all kinds of money. The Indian conjurers are of different castes, wearing barely enough clothes to cover their bodies. In very few instances they travel alone, preferring to travel in troupes of from two to six. The snake charmer and magician are in classes by themselves, for they never associate; the conjurer being of higher caste. They are of a nomadic disposition, having no

and

snake

charmers.

Photo

miracle workers exist in India. The Mahatnia or Priest, who can only be found in the mountains,, and who is supposed to be able to perform his wonders owing to his abilitv of going for weeks without food or drink. Then comes the Conjurer, and last but not least the Snake Charmer. It appears from reports that the Indians are the best visitors to his performances, in fact better patrons than any other nation visited. The whole company is booked shortly to appear in France.

26S

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

letter lock. (M) Russian legirons as used on murderers. These irons are not The material for locked, but riveted on to the culprit's these articles was gathered d u r i n g ankles. The device of a heart in centre the author's first tour of Great Britdenotes that the wearer is a life prisoner. ain, and was prepared for publication in book form. In Russia there is no capital punishment. This was done in r e p o n s e to the Murderers are rewarded with life sentthousands of requests f o r light ence down in the Siberian Mines. The upon the methods used by the horde different crimes are designated by variof imitators whu sprang up at that ous devices, viz.: A Spade, Club, or Diatime. After the manuscript had been mond on the centre of chain. The prisc o m p l e t e d, the pressure of professional engagements [ire ven ted immediate publicaorers are positively riveted to a coal car tion. The text will now be printed for the first time in monthly installments in the Conjurers' Monthly down in the mines and are never separMagazine, to wh.ise pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the tv.ct of its being ated from the car until death sets him prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various free by taking the wearied soul from the instalments, but, in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be _ the most complete and tortured body; they sleep alongside the reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. track on which the coal cars run. Copyright. 190G. By Harry Houdint. All rights reserved. (N) Egyptian Hand and Legircm. INSTALMENT, NO. 8. The original from which this photograph is taken is hundreds of years old. AMERICAN HANDCUFFS When these irons were made, locks were (Continued) very scarce and expensive in Egypt— Among- the Continental makes may be these were made by the Smith to lock mentioned (L) the French Cuff with with a wedge. (O) The latest Russian Manacle, 1902, one of the most complicated locks ever used in a handcuff.

fianckuff Secrets exposed

THE GERMAN TRANSPORT CHAIN. Just at this juncture, it is not out of place to describe the German transport

Illustration No. y.

. The way the transport chain should be fastened on the wrists.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

269

chain, which is used by the German police almost exclusively for transporting SOME OLD TRICKS prisoners. FOR The chain has two rings, one for each NEW BEGINNERS hand, one being located at the end of the chain and the other in the center. BALANCING A BORROWED CIGAR ON A BORROWED HAT. One lock- is utilized for securing both A peculiar little trick that we once hands. In the illustration you will note that the chain entwines both wrists, saw the Berliner Herrmann perform, was the balancing of a borrowed cigar which rest one above the other. on a borrowed hat. It was quite puzzling, and for the benefit of our readers we will illustrate the apparatus that he used. Have concealed in your hand before borrowing the hat or cigar a common cork, in the centre of which you have forced a sharp needle. As per illustration. Borrow a hat, and take it in your right

hand, and place it over your left hand After the chain has been fastened on in which you hold concealed the your wrist as in the illustration, the first "needle-cork ;" now ask for a cigar, and movement is to bring the arms akimbo, when it is handed to you, go through all thereby causing one hand to lay length- kinds of motions of trying to balance it, wise on the other, i.e., the fingers of both until eventually you insert the needle into the tip of the cigar, and then you are ready to go through your various gags in balancing the cigar and making it do the hooche-kooche dance. Hand back the cigar, with your right hand, and after it is returned take the hat from you/ left hand and return it with your right. This allows you to repeat the trick if called upon 1o do so, and also allows you to return the needle F r e e i n g t h e s e c o n d h a n d w i t h t h e a i d of t h u o n e t h a t w a s first s l i p p e d o u t of t h e c h a i n . to your pocket. Do not forget that a hands pointing toward the elbows, and needle is sharp, so it is best to rid yourby sheer force of strength you extricate self of the cork and needle by placing it yourself from the chain, one hand at a in your side coat pocket where you run time. no danger of being stung. (To he continued.) Pullins the first hand out using the teeth as an aid.

by sheer

strength,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

270

feet and two White Bros.' hampers? All are in good condition. Sam Altus, 209 East 14th street, New York City. *

Barter and Exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there is no after graft and you hind yourselves tn nothing; we only nserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper. Please inform us of all unfair dealings as we wish to protect our readers. Make your advertisement brief and condensed, omltlng unnecessary words.

1 will exchange a number of magic song books, freak fountain pens, ready for use with full instructions, and Kirk's mysterious wig trick, for any other tricks of value. Address M. McLoughlin, 121 West 42d St., New York. *

•

*

For trade; very fine dove pan, no fakey cover, also rice vase, drawer box, etc.; will send list and photo. Carl Anderson, P. O. Box 477, Rochester, New York. * * * High pitch saxaphone (soprano), in leather case, etc.; Kellar growth of roses, (with or without flowers) ; four pair of handcuffs in good order; lot of keys; five side tables; fine tipover box; two crystal caskets; three collapsible balls ; a lot of small stuff of which I have two of a kind. What have you? Mosher, Magician, Little Valley, New York. * * * What is best offer for a large steel cage on the plan of the great prison cell escape, including locks, handcuffs, leg-irons and some of the best rope ties ; cage weighs 365 pounds and is very showy, being decorated in gold and black. Inclose stamp for full particulars. Wm, Bruncll, general delivery, New Bedford, Mass. * * * Will trade for best offer, a center table complete with traps; also flying handkerchief decanter and giant bouquet. Vasco, 523-4 Park Building, Pittsburg, Pa. * * * What have you to offer in exchange for sixteen Indian clubs, one green baize 20x24

*

•

Will exchange for best offer, crystal bell, stand and spiritualistic hand; all in good order. I. Gould, 314 Beacon strejet, Toledo, Ohio. * * * Best offer takes 240 silk spring flowers, Martinka's best, value six cents each. A Karlemann, 411 West 35th street, New York. * * * Two side tables, large flag vase, sack trick, four-foot collapsible snake and other things. Will exchange for best offer or for first-class parlor or small hall tricks. Everybody write. E. D. Williams, 29 Seymour avenue, Utica, N. Y. * * * Wanted.—Bean Giant and improved Bean cuffs, also split key; will exchange three pairs American cuffs, one pair English cuffs, and one transport chain. R. W. Strong, 4323 Vernon avenue, Chicago, 111. * * * What have you to ntTcr for Aga illusion with sofa and painting for lobby; the threetrunk mystery; Dida and two center tables, all nickeled? Every one of the above articles is in first-class condition. Prof. Leo, 218 West 135th street, New York. * * * Have a fine lot of magical apparatus which I would like to exchange for Kellar growth of flowers, trunk and handcuff mystery, and other good ones. Send list of what you have and I will do likewise. R'ay C. Hayden, 20 Baltimore street, Cumberland, Md. * * * Gramaphone with sixty records and fivefoot brass horn with stand, for best offer. Have other magical apparatus for exchange; will send list for the asking. Charles J. Hagen, 1431 Avenue A, New York City. * * * For Exchange.—Apparatus to change handkerchief to paper ribbons held in hand; apparatus to change three handkerchiefs to flag, Martinka make; both are new. Would like similar apparatus, preferring palming coins, flags, handkerchiefs or billiard balls. William E. Simms, Dobbs Ferry on Hudson, N. Y.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

271

first directly, so as when you have cut the first seven leaves in such a manner as I have described, you are to begin the self same order at the eighth leaf, descending the same manner to the cutting other seven leaves to twenty-one, until you have passed through every The Andtomie of leaf all the thickness of your book, etc. LEGERDEMAIN. This feat is sooner learned by demO R, onstrative means, than taught by words The Art of Iugling ftt forth in his proper colours, folly, plainly, andeiaftljr, (b that an ignorant pet fon may thereby of instruction; so if any person wants learn die full perfection ofdie iame.aftcr a little, praftife. to be furnished with these blowing Vnto each Tricke is added thefigure,where it is needfuD books they may have them at my shop fbrmitrudion. on Little-tower-hill aforesaid. Tkcftcend Edititn, with many addition,', Pttflit cibili quim LJU ficcic TO SHOW T H E TRICK W I T H T H E FUNNEL. You must get a double funnel, that is two funnels soldered one within the other, so that you may, at the little end, pour in a quantity of wine or water, tin's funnel you may have ready filled before hand, with whatsoever liquor you please, and call for some of the same tO N D O N, kind, then draw your funnel and setting Printed by T. II. for R . M . 1 6 5 5 . your middle: finger into the bottom of it,, INSTALMENT No. S bid somebody, or else do it yourself,, HOW TO CUT T H E BLOWING pour it full, and drink it up before BOOK. them, and turn the broad end of the (Completed) funnel downward, saying, "Gentlemen, Let each notch be one inch dis- all is gone;" and in a trice turn yourtant ; paint every thirteenth and fourteenth page, which is the end of every sixth leaf and beginning of every seventh with like colors, or pictures, cut off with a pair of shears, every notch of the first leaf, leaving only one inch of paper, which will remain half a quarter of an inch above that leaf, leave another like inch in the second part of the sec- self about, and in turning pronounce ond leaf, clipping away an inch of paper some terms of art. withdraw your finger in the highest place above it, and all from the narrow end, and let the liquornotches below the same, and orderly out between the funnels, and it will be to the third and fourth, and so as there thought to he that which you drank out shall rest upon each leaf only one nick of the funnel, and so you may persuade of paper above the rest, one high uncut, them it is the same. (To be continued) an inch of paper must answer to the

H O CVS P O C VS I V N I OR

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

272

IMPORTANT NOTICE! The serials now running in this magazine will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fillout the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers'Monthly Magazine sent to you regular^ and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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Please semi me C O N J U R E R S ' M O N T H L Y M A G A Z I N E for twelve months, commencing with the issue, for which I enclose One Dollar. Very truly yours,

Dated

190

The Columbia Theatre Cincinnati, Ohio

The City Magical Company MANUFACTURERS OF

magical Apparatus I, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. Eng.

r

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^Special For Our Readers ! Professional Card Column In the future we intend to have a professional card column, for which we will charge a very low rate. Cards will only be accepted for at least a six months' run. Cost to be $3 semi-annually and $5 annually, payable in advance for space of one inch. The rate for this column has nothing to do with our usual advertising rates, being simply a special inducement for our regular subscribers. Address Special Advertising Bureau :

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27S w

t

N2K"*

cJtreet

Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Go. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

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for The Conjurers1 Monthly Magazine

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Look! who's here,

J.

WARREN

KEANE

128 West 34th Street, N. Y. PRESENTS

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THE DIAL OF ETERNITY This wonderful dial answers correctly

50,000 Historical, Dates and Events. J00,000 Geographical and Statistical facts, &c.

Hotel Putnam (Opposite Madison Square Garden)

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A New Hotel with all modern improvements, centrall}' located. European Plan. :: :: :: What fat fellow tried to make a Muff ? Who said De Biere would quit the business in a huff ? But now who is crying hold, enough ? Fat-hearled G . Who never wants to be a manager's pet ? Has money to burn, umbrellas to keep out the wet ? Who has always worked, and is working yet ? ARNOLD D E BIKRK. Hurrah for little Arnold, (cries, of Hear! hear! hear !)

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Theodore Hardeen The King of all Handcuff Kings and the Mighty Potentate of all the Monarchs and Jail Breakers (bar Houdini). The official European representative of the Conjurers' Magazine, and to whom all business communications can be addressed. B

Route Stotl Tour, or care of Mnger «$• Bauer. SO Rupert St., London, IV.

NOW

READY

Special List of Entirely Ne-w Books *»*» Conjuring andHindred Subjects

JENNIE JACOBS

R

epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novelty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

Also List No. 41 of 350 decided bargains in Magical Apparatus. Both lists sent on receipt of a two cent stamp. Catalogue free. Professional catalogue 170 pages. 750 tricks. 20c.

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We keep every Trick, Magic Book or Paper for Sale. Selbits "Magic Bricks," Stage Size, $8.00

W. D. Leroy, 103 Court St., Boston, Mass.

New Lessons in Sleight of Hand Tricks Both sexes made experts by mail 1621 Broadway, (Dept. 4,) Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A. ADDRESS :

Tnhn dimmer, 7immar jonn

/4 2

'

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New Catalogue Lists and Bargain Sheets for Stamp.

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JUST OUT

The Right Way to do Wrong By Harry Houdini Exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great criminals, Male and Female. The London Mail, Boston Herald and Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. "Best of its kind ever presented." Price Twentyfive cents. Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 2T8 West I13th Street tlew York. or THEO. HARDEEN, 50 Rupert St. W. Care of Anger & Bauer, London, Bng.

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HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING An Entirely New Method

THIMBLE

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to the corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing it plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand the thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracles. We can moreover positively assert that two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5 /4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND T h i s wand is quite n e w and is made on h i t h e r t o unused principle so f a r a s m a g i c is concerned. The effect is wonderful in t h e extreme. T h e trick is worked a s follows: T h e p e r f o r m e r b o r r o w s 3 coins and t h r o w s t h e m u p in t h e a i r a n d t h e y vanish. H e n o w t a k e s t h e wand, which is q u i t e a t h i n one a b o u t 2 feet in length, m a d e of b r a s s h a n d s o m e l y nickled. T h i s is first of all given for examination, he t h e n •waves it about in t h e air, t h e audience sees a coin a d h e r i n g to t h e top of t h e wand. T h i s coin he t a k e s off a n d gives it t o audience to examine. H e proceeds again in this way, a n d produces a n o t h e r coin and then a n o t h e r , both of which a r e handed i m m e d i a t e l y t o t h e audience. T h e m a r v e l l o u s p a r t a b o u t this wand Is t h a t it can a t a n y m o m e n t be handed for e x a m i n a t i o n . I t is impossible to o v e r r a t e t h e v a l u e of the wand, because i t can be used for a n y o r d i n a r y purpose, and y e t t h i s a s t o n i s h i n g trick can be performed a t a n y time by i t s aid. T h e price is no indication of i t s value w h i c h is very considerably more, b u t aa w e a n t i c i p a t e selling a l a r g e n u m b e r we a r e enabled to offer t h e m a t t h i s price. W e h a v e only a limited n u m ber of t h e s e in stock a t present, so orders should b e sent early in order to secure one P r i c e 5/6, p o s t free 6/11. : • Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents. " -,'•<•.-•'-". Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements f

CONTENTS History of Magic European Notes Reading and Rubbish Our Mail Bag Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Handcuff Secrets

MAY 15, 1907 Price, 10 Cents

Entered as second-class matter September 12, 1906, at the noat office at New York of Congress of March 3, 1879.

N. Y

under thi> »rt

278

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

NOTICE

Professional I have just e .nnpleted the Illusion "WRITIXG ().\ THE WALL", which is conceded to be the novelty of the moment I guarantee this illusion to be equal in every respect and "THEN SOME" t o the famous "MKNE '1EKEL" which has met w'lth such phenorninal success in this country and abroad, in the hands of HERR. MAX BEKOL & CO. My apparatus is lor sale to the profession only, and all inquiries about same must be made on your professional stationary or contain a re< ent program. For Further Information Address :

. .

Frank W. Lindsley

*

*

Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio Telegraph -LINDSLEY" Winton Place, Cincinnati 0. Members T. V. and C. A. A.

Cable Address : "Avcu^nitnt, London." Tele,-hone No. 1919 Gerrard

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, Hmerican anb Continental IDaviet^ Hvtistes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. LONDON, ENG

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"WE BEG TO NOTIFY OUR NUMEROUS CLIENTS OF OUR REMOVAL FROM OUR LATE PREMISES 231 HIGH HOLBORN, W. C. TO OUR BRANCH AT 35 NEW OXFORD STREET, W. C , 'WHICH NOW BECOMES OUR HEAD DEPOT FOR CONJURIING TRICKS &c. FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CITY CUSTOMERS AND TIfOSE ARRIVING IN TOWN AT CITY STATIONS, WE HAVE OPENED NEW PREMISES AT 29, LUDGATE HILL, E. C. AT BOTH BRANCHES, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY MADE TO ENABLE THE BEST & PROMPTEST ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN TO CALLERS AND ALSO TO MAIL ORDERS.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING An Entirely New Method

THIMBLE

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on •his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to the corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing It plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand t'ie thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracles. We can moreover positively assert that two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5 /4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND

This wand is quite new and is made on hitherto unused principle so far as magic is concerned. The effect 3 coins and ct is wonderful in the extreme. The trick is worked as follows: The perrormer performer borrows born throws them up in the air and they vanish. He now takes the wand, which is quite a'thin one about 2 feet In length, made of brass handsomely nickled. This is first of all given for examination, he then waves it about in the air, the audience sees a coin adhering to the top of the wand. This coin he takes off and gives it to audience to examine. He proceeds again in this way, and produces another coin and then another, both of which are handed immediately to the audience. The marvellous part about this wand Is that it can at any moment be handed for examination. It is impossible to overrate the value of the wand, because it can be used for any ordinary purpose, and yet this astonishing trick can be performed at any time by its aid. The price is no indication of its value which is very considerably more, but as w« anticipate selling a large number we are enabled to offer them at this price. We have only a limited number of these in stock at present, so orders should be sent early in order to secure one. Price 5/6, post free 5/11. Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents. Kiivlly mention Conjurers" Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

THF. CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

279

Professional Card Column

In the future we intend to hnve a professional card olumn, for which we will charge a very low rate. Cards II will only be accepted for at least a six months' run. Cost to be $3 semi-anmiallv and $,"> annually, payable in advance for space of one inch. The rate for this column has nothing to do with our usual advertising rates, being simply a special inducement f >r our regular subscribers.

CLINTON BURGESS

T. ROY BARNES

Champion Stage Card Manipulator of Jfmerica

Open for engagements for clubs, parties and parlor entertainments.

That Funny Mysterious Boy

In his neat Comedy Creation "I'll explain it again " Booked solid and always leaves them laughingPer. Address, Conjurers' Magazine .'

163 St. Nicholas Ave., N. Y. City

278 West 113th Street, New York.

BERT KILBY

Prof. NATHU MANCHACHAND The Great Indian Magician

The Mysterious

Entertainer

Care D R . HuAC.WAxno

Presenting the latest of the newest tricks

New Britain, Conn.

Old Hannman Lane, Kalbadevie Road, Bombay, India

CHAFALO

HARVEY EMMETT

The Italian necromancer a:s:sted by the beauty Mite Cr pretto

Italian

In his mysterious novelty magicial performance " Tee=ta=talk." Permanent Address : Conjurers' Magazine

Clean, Clever Comedy Conjurer

South 1122 Hatch Street, Spokane, Wash.

278 West 113th St., N. Y. City

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W. L. HICKS

The Honk=honk Mystifier. JUso Lightning Crayon Sketch Jlrtist.

Hope Manipulator,

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and Packing

Permanent Address, Conjurers' Magazine :

Western Representative of the Conjurers' Magazine.

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Saratoga Hotel, Chicago, 111.

Advertising is "PIE" for us! We create, write and place

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Per Year £1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cer.ts Advertising rales payable in advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright :ind must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without |ic rThe magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues tan be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, \ \ \ ; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Telurun, Persia, James Leahman. Contributions on all topics of interest to magiduns are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the price imist be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped • nil addressed envelope.

Voi,. I.

MAY 19U7

No. 9

"Magic is dead!" So, it is reported, Elw. Bloom announced a few years ago. This was immediately after the death of Alexander Herrmann, and Bloom had been managing magicians, including Bancroft and Dixey. The remark mav have been precipitated by the public's reception of Dixey as a magician, for when he came on the stage in St. Joseph, .Mo., to give his imitations, the latter were received with more appreciation than his efforts at magic. Death or life in the show business is proven by the salaries paid. A "dead" act is used as a supper chaser, not as a headliner. Compare the salaries paid magicians to-day and those paid twenty years ago. In 1883 D'Alvini, the great

magician and juggler, received about $125 a week for his monthly engagements. * * * The first man to obtain an enormous salarv for presenting magic, was the Chinaman, Ching Ling Foo. Mr. E. F. Albee, who arranged his tour eventually managed to obtain $r,000.00 a week for his services, and now there are a number of other men of mystery receiving this salary. We have some verv clever conjurers who do not draw big salaries, but this is generally due to poor management. It pays lo be a clever magician, but it 1 ays much better to combine with talent good business management. The clever performer eventually secures recognition, so no matter what you do, do it to the best of your ability and employ every possible means to improve yourself. * * * Don't be afraid to show your ability to people. Years ago it was thought amateurish to show tricks to people you met. Tom Downs, the original "Koin King," would stand on the street corners and show the newsboys and bootblacks of Chicago how well he did coin tricks ; and this was the very thing that obtained for him his big name while abroad. The only reason he is not recognized as the great performer that he is, is because he continues to do the same thing over and over again, instead of using time and energy to embellish and improve his performance so as to attain the coveted position. * * * Magicians, make the most of your opportunities. Don't lag. Remember that the obscure conjurer of today may be the sensation of tomorrow.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

In this scries of arlieles, it is my intention to correct many errors regarding the history of niagic wh : rli h:ive existed in tile public inini] since "The Life of Robert Houdin" \v:is issued. In such endeav. r, necessarily, I have introduced references to Houdins contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a c IUprrhensive history of magic from 1GS0 to the present day. In order to prove my statements, it is also necessary to wander frequently from the central figure, Hfiidln. but though some instalments may n t present the nr.me of Houdin, the facts presented will, tn the course of the history's development, l>e found to have direct bearing on It i s life and work. In taking issue with tluse generally accepted as mithoritifs, I am i.etuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained by me during years of earnest investigation at home and abroad, and to do justice to those who preceded Nnudin and to whom he owed a greater debt than he set firth in his autobiography. Copyright, 1900. By Harry II- udini. All rights reserved.

INSTALLMENT

NO. 9

AUTOMATA. C ('•'/tinned.

The Real Inventors of Automata. "Rnhert-llnudin's claim to the honor of having- invented the writing and drawing automaton is completely destroyed by the overwhelming proof of newspaper articles, cuts and programs used by his predecessors. These indisputable proofs form a part nf my private collection of programs, rare rid newspapers and lithographs, and many of (hem will be reproduced in the course of this article.

281

Accepting these programs as evidence for a mas'.cr mechanic who wrought well and thoroughly b.'fure Rudin was born, the real inventor of the writing' and drawing automaton was Pierre Jacquet 1 )roz, who in addition to winning fame as a builder of automata, was noted as a dock and watch maker, and one of the inventors of the watches which show the passing of seconds, minutes, months and years, as well as the changes of the seasons. Pierre Jacquet Drasle to study theology. Here the youth's natural talent for mechanics overbalanced his interest in isms and ologies. and he spent every spare moment inventing articles. During this time he cons' ructed a marvelous clock

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

282

with two peculiar hands which, in passing each other, touched the dial and rewound the clock. Also, he invented the watch still made in Geneva, from which a small bird springs and sings. Droz's fame spread to such an extent that he received from the King of Spain an order to construct a clock of most complicated pattern. This time-piece was a perpetual calendar. For hands, he utilized artificial sun-beams shootingout from the sun's face which formed the dial, to denote the hours, days, etc. \\ ilh the money received from the Spanish muiarch, he returned to Switzerland and there constructed the greatest mechanical figure of the age, the figure which Rohert-IToudin undoubtedly managed to secure long years after Droz's death, which occurred September 27, 1790. I am reproducing Droz's advertisement, taken from the London Post of 177C), when Droz was evidently exhibiting the automata in London. ^

, No. 6, Ki

CcentCatilefi. to bs !j:.iThi» Day,

CTACLE

MECHANIQ

EGHANtC'AU EXHIBITION- F-OIP

^

«_«i tS»cs Exb;birfu3 U riizixj by Ariz osr '••:{,-,.. writ'* whatever is ciiiztd tote, jtuorjirr'4frty«, aa>i tinifhe* i;v 2 rusflerly Maamr /even! curlou? Uc j.fen» ; another piavs divers Air» on the Harpfebori' ! ^Thcre is alfc a PifiMjJ S en«, in whi-.h Is incroduc*;* a guat Nunibw of Figures; the T n « bioffjiia ssr«' bear Fruit, the SJssep bleat, the Dog barks, un4 ike Birds fing; tad fo fiirtinfliy imitating Mature that they exceed t«rv Account that san be gi»»r> of tbets, not only for the Yarkly but for the E*gt£W* of thei*fteret!t Op»ia!:ii>r>3. Thair Mecbanifm fur^ITa everThing chut has ever appeared, infrrourh tiiat it mai te ftiia.jr f?.5d Eh• Clipping from Hie Londnii "Post." 1770, showing thik advertisement of Mr. Jatinet Droz, the inventor, exhiliitiiifr bis vnriciis automata; note the mention of the writing ;ind ili'awiny: n^'vires. From the Harry K'oudini eollecl inn.

In support of this advertisement, note what the same paper says in what is probably a criticism of current amusements : "This entertainment consists of three capital mechanical figures and a pastoral scene, with figures of an inferior size. The figure on the left hand side, a beautiful boy as large as life, writes anything that is dictated to him, in a very fine hand. The second 0:1 the right hand, of the same size, draws various landscapes, etc., etc., which he finishes in a most accurate and masterly style. The third figure is a beautiful young lady who plays several elegant "airs on the harpsichord, with all the bass accompaniments; her head gracefully moving to the tune, and her bosom discovering a delicate respiration; during her performance, the pastoral scene in the center discovers a variety of mechanical figures admirablv grouped, all of which seem endued, as it were, with animal life, to the admiration of the spectator. The last curiosity is a Canary bird in a cage, that hops to and fro upon its perch, and then whistles two or three airs in the most natural manner imaginable. Tpon the whole, the united collection strikes .us as the most wonderful exertion of art, which never trod before so close on the heels of nature. The ingenious artist is a young man, a native of Switzerland." Tierre Jacqucl Dn'z left a son, Henry Louis lacquet Droz, who proved a worthy descendant of the great inventor. As the Post refers to the exhibitor as a "voung man from Switzerland," it is more than likely that the son, Henry Louis, was the party referred to. His father at this date was fully 55 years of age. The gifted younger Droz claimed the invention of the harpsichord player, also improvements on the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

28;

drawing figure. In a German encyclo- r c j . K ( h c i d 111 t h e I M U ' I H o f t h i s a r t i c l e . paedia from which 1 took notes at the All evidence goes to prove however, King's library, Muenchcn, it is stated that Me Philipstahl did not control the that when Yaucanson, celebrated as th-1 writing arul drawing figure exclusively, inventor of the automata, "The Flute Player," "The Mechanical Duck," "The Talking Machine," etc., saw the youth-* ful 1 )roz's work, he cried loudly: "Why, that boy commences where I left off!" After many vicissitudes, young Dro/. undertook a trip to Spain with an EngJL V h i c J t i?.'T ov.ly i i i u f a t e hutn.i:i a - i i o n s , b u t tp jirif.scsa t\tif.-' •iiil p6 i ^1\ ; i of first, lish manager, and it is said that this Tit" •' A.U • i hoy of four j f i ' j manager proved the undoing of the in•'will..he .bron . urn! *ut to write :•)• \V;.-,:,d,.j • v,'(irdi, or fi, ventor, for he announced the automata :-i;T > ; Y ; as being of supernatural existence which brought them under the ban >i the Inquisition. Droz managed eventually to obtain his freedom, and, or ! breathing free air, like the proverbial Al ' " * " " " as railed f o r \ s t h e I'mif^ ; i . u i / . . . < , : . < ! • • . : ' - ••- > * ' Arab, lie silently packed his lent and Uie H o u s e , a n d on a m pev >oiv Ut Jvt !»f> .vvvay or ion..hnigr fled, leaving the automata to their fate. th'Mn will tie-in i;o.t»ark, arid contitnu* to do so urUil they ai e returned. Tin: n e \ ( I-'ig^(re h.: !o!i--;in;^ to thi^; Piece is Droz died in Switzerland in \"j\)\. (;•'•• J.i:'!e (•[iimiiOv--s\veejK*i' which '.-. i-i.' fee se<;n oouiin^ from fciijinil (I'.r- H o u s e , will eiie.r the O'Ar, npjnzit-<\t.ihr The English manager, however, tartop oi'the ( hiniDcy, KM-.*>-ejj 1" s.t\t-r;jj liinesy di--.eentl the C i i i n n e v , and come out svsth ried in Spain. The automata were its Ha','full of S o o t . — T h i r d , . T h e L r O U O R V H C R C H A N T and W.A ! i : i ; S E R V K T l . "tried," but as they proved motionless, T h c i e a r e on a Phuform of ;i!iont r»\o <-.! ^'jnare, w h i r h ^ the case was dropped. The Englishi>it;uor 51erc|.!atit ^t.ii'uj • -1 a WM.-.I '.i: k. lYwiu \.hjc ! it man apparently returned to his native "'lii dtn\r e.\ery K'ind 01' Spiittii. W K,C. <-:r. rc^oir-f).— T I R Vv*ateT-;iener 5.t*-iiids at a PUOIJJ. a n d vvul riii a< land, as the next trace i find of thT u m h l e r nitli \ V a t t T , 33ertten ss e-.'.Hed for—t-'ourih, •nil-: IU(.;.UL.\.\.-> O U A I I..;. writing master is in an advertisement A Vi^'ireiM I)K- n i ^ h i a n d Dn.s.^ ?t.i:uU 101 ;i 'I tn;e-l:ii;te, aiul ;/i\ r$ t!i.. Hotir .'ind Miuuie:-w !ieue\ cr ;i-!:ed, bv s t r i k clipped from the London Telegraph ot ing i ' s Ku-nrd on a Tarjjc ; it J*IVLVS a r.itionu! Aiif.>i*t*-r' f hy^iiof ion) U>»-ty £>«?...i:-.i;u:;i-. '.I ..«-. X ufniS'fv of 1'oiuwJs, Y a r d s , &c" i t iiny rriwn I ' n u • ; bea... as it tells bevond question the history "I":r:it- to M u s i c , J'.c. T h e Table the different Piece" v.-.'il be <-i!.u-,-,i o n , < o n of certain automata long afterwards tai.-.s an <Jl?O'\N , (;n u-liirh t!;c !': opi'iet*. !- int ro:i'.n ;-s a fe-.v > . . : . .i!-.i, T h e M A C H i N E , • : « . ' i S e l f •., .\-. •.-.•. ; claimed l>v others as original invenO K U A X , v.:!i pi.i'. occisifJinOly several P l e e o o! S h i . . . tions. A i r - , C o u n i r . Knnces, & r . 1

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PHILIPSTAHL'S PHANTASMAGORIA. The writing- and drawing figure does not re-appear 011 amusement programs until 181 _>, when it was featured by De Philipstahl, the inventor of "Phantasmagoria." The nature of the inventions grouped under this title can best be judged from the reproduction of a De Philipstahl program, dated 1803-4. and

M r . H A D l > O C K fiat tecs himself T/Tl". A>; I V . i o n i r . S will he fottiui m o r e turiou-, ih.in any I'lii.^ "!' the kind e . c r !),M rt olloi-od to i',e I'uhiic, .'i-..the ftitfciples of H;I, .tiid fiefs tiling rali.i.il First Pari.-,:Half P n c C ....» I'l-t- l''..*.-iul-iiio;i last', ju-jirlv tivo h»u<"-- ;

Repiv.clnclinn 1 f :i flipping from t h e "London Teleg r a p h . " .Tan. 17!M), sh:.\ving Mr. H a d d o c k ' s advertisement .nid t h e very first f.:: litre a d v e r t i s t i l is tl:e " W r i t i n g A u t o m a t o n . " 11 will he noted t h a t In- m:ikes use of t h e word Andivides in iii-esentiii:; his viirious automata. Clipi-ing from the Ilnri-y I l n i d i n i collection.

284

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

lut that it \\a> the joint property of himself and his partner. Maillardets, who must have obtained the figure from Haddock. One of their joint programs is also reproduced. Wherever De Phil-

or it would have been handed down :o his estate. Cbeatrc," 'SHafttftfH).

Mr. Louts.s M

L and d OPTICAL OPTIC ROYAL, MECHANICAL, TWAi.ES rG-RTAINWEMTS during Uot..-PH1-T uii-al'Al. ami ftiAlLI,AKD-ET's AUTOMATICAL

T H E A T R E , . C2theiiii4.--$ii\er, Strand, jvilj open ivery Evening. The ^eiliHifiancea coniist of 3 gtcat ;;t.iay io^^«:oos pieces of Mc-cliaiiUm ami Upiical Kccrcattoiii) which have been ijnetioued with the highest m-irks of .T.'jpntbijtion. For further psrticularj see hand bill. Ttiti wto!e Jiimkr the direction of Alt. LOUIS, Assistant Engineer, wbo jivtil ttss^io utirost exer>ioti8 ?o promola the wish a! iiic tPraprieiors. i l u l of ctTcrir.g to an euUgiiiened Public a I Count cl CotcrniiinKntioCa superior i.aturc. j il&Xis Ji, f i t j j . C i l l e r y is.—B«is op«i ar7 o'clock,! j.jnd'b;i>s;in urccMeiy j t $. Places for Ihe lioxes may os taken;;

Motidai, Ai-nl 3. 1S13. U'cdiiKuiav. ThnrNiJay and Friday f.»!lu«uii;, the 5ih, 6th. and 7U«Ar
A SUPERB MECHANICAL

^Peacock AS LARGE AS LIFE,

Clipping from tlio London " T e l e g r a p h . " March 11.'. 1812. showing the co-partnership of Phllipstahl ami Mailiardt's Automatical Theatre. On this clipping win lip nf Mr. Louis, the assistant engineer. This Mr. Louis eventually obtained IRJSM ^ I I I I I nf the wril ing ligure. as will lie seen on the reproduced programme of his enti-Ttainnu-iit of 1S15. Clipping from tlie enlli ctiou of Harry ITnudini.

ipstahl appears as an independent entertainer, the writing and drawing figure is missing from his billing;. Later the writing and drawing automaton came into the possession of a Mr. Louis who, as it will be seen from the billing, acted as assistant engineer to De Phi 1ipstahl and Maillardet. Louis evidently controlled the wonderful little automaton in the years 1814-15, as the programs prove. The last De Philipsthal program in mv possession is dated Summer Theatre, Null, September 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, 1828, when he advertises only "rope dancers and mechanical peacock." and features ''special uniting fire and water" and "fire work experiments." He must have died between that date and April, 1829, for a program dated at the latter time announces a benefit at the Theatre Wakeficld, for the widow and children of De Philipstahl "the late proprietor of the royal mechanical and optical museum." This benefit program contains no allusion to the writing and drawing figure, which goes to prove that it had not been his property,

In its Natural Phnnage! Whidi im.iiu.-'. «o clruply, tht- CRIES, ACTIONS. . in d A T I H'UMl.S <.( ibat -t-.i-U- nmi bcaunful Bird, ihtt il' is not uurrrquentlv *U|>po"-d tu \»! in nlrolnte I11113 Amniot, proper)) trained to act as «n Amuim- Dccopti»n.

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i< i!,utr d . m g u e i b l t i r n u i i D m " t j r h u m

Iron

'"\"ASuperb 'MUSICAL TAD Y, IH< Kfr bf i j . cyit, *ad t y r li^t. n dir vrlpc4 w i^r kc\t — jtlc t e m p i d tod HCIJ (irufiartioiird torm. u r t n b l r III*

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1CM of l)cti£D ArLq j^iflf'Ujmim, *L>C^ p r o d i K f t A\ 1hB

THK

MECHANICAL

DRAWING AND WRITING MASTER, A J l VEM1LE AP7I-T

Thr t^r.

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(.irrk M,it- l -l l - f ,. W »tiro •priLin<E of 'figu'n "lufmwj u»r of - r J . J cljy. * b " h ! ' *og" l™ri l.y H w , i h , , ., ••irtcd His lif. . 4nd. rjnuordiojr. ; i ibr fibl* i j j p . i n . a •> r^»allr J. il sot mrpuwd. bt ib.« » uoJr'Inl

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NECROMANCER,

Wh«L m>) Uirlf br dtauT.iniTcJ Ihr llni.iL Embinifr f'>r IV" nf i b ' fj^lpd itlci rnDrfrD'fl^ 'N* t r u of itifu wo-.ltr rutk.gn •"(«•*. m i l " " r.iitic p j i o ..f I>m.diul m*. " b i r r qigpr ip»H» imi^iiJ f i * n eier> boM((h. tsuld fo hrjunil i h . utonitbinf; rcilmcl al ihn i l l l - H i i ( Auloouion, « ho i t u l i r i Ihr qun-

Che 1IHIE< ^ p m n a r t : TbLi m-Kit»H DiBio, » 1 * a-^'rorn1 # -,,. l r K U i , , r j 0. n.uv. i., -t.. L t, h* l/.«pt ug» *.ih crilicil ind K»utf inmli, &c. MTF fafmrd i"ilb

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f«r d i ^ - u ; of Wurkn.uh.p. n u d i M

^ t K n A ^ ^ ' i r , I Dill

*%«.•( PfiL T/l£

of the ELY'S.AN FIELDS, And othtr VfL'VS Xhi tffecL produfvd. o if [tg\,\ijn6 hv Eht Moov proJiKe Iht f i m w i irfrottUB>-«. * ( . TTn KBOI* 'e Isiab *>lb 1 * n u of tmltiiBt MtcbiHiol (oJ (Ipi.c*

Fire- Works, Mr. L. the EogiDccr, is a Native ut'Switzerland.

* . * Daon «.;| Op*a u Hc'f-nui Six, led i-Vf pirfarmuc* t- bfjia u HiJi-(a« 3rr*n. prpriMlj.

&ni,

Si^-P«, «*

Celery,

]».—Ab Half Price.

Programme* from Ilio collection of Harry Houdini. used by Mr. Louis, dated Holiday. April 3, 1815. On this it will be seen that the mechanical drawing and writing master is advertised as a juvenile artist. The figure is lliat of a boy. Houdin's automaton was this self same hoy. On same programme is given a full description of ti bird of paradise, which Robert Iloudin in his book informs you in a self-satisfied style, caused him to sleep all night in tlie woods so that he could get the real sound of the birds for his invention, which was at that time the singing bird. This was not Iloudin's invention, as the singing bird can be traced back in many programmes to a time long before lloiidhi was born.

THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

During- this interim, that is between 1821 and 1828, the famous little figure seems to have been in the possession of one Schmidt, who according to the programs in my collection, exhibited it regularly. Evidently he then let it pass into the hands of strangers, for there is

285

no reference to it in his later p r o g r a m s , which though undated appear from contemporai y amusement events to have been used about 1832. Tn AI ay, 1820, an automaton was exhibited at 161 Strand street, a bill r e g a n l i n g which is reproduced. This

Under the Sanction ofHis Majejlfs Royal Letters Patent.

PHANT A SM A G THIS and every EVENING till further Notice, AT THE

LYCEUM,

STRAND.

As the Advertifement of various Exhibitions under the above Title, may poflibiy miflead the unfufpe&ing Part of the Public (and particularly Strangers'from the Country) in their Opinion of thcORiciNAL PHANTASMACORIA, M. D E P H I L I P S T H A L , the Inventor, begs Leave to ftate that rhey have no Connexion whatever with his Performances. T h e utmoft Efforts of Imitators have not been able to produce the EftecT: intended; and he is too grateful for the liberal Encouragement, he has received in the Metropolis, not to caution the Public againft thole /purioui Cffpits, which, failing of the Perfection tl.c> .illume, QM3 only difguft and Jifappoir.t the Spectators.

M. DE

PHILIPSTHAL

Will have the Honour to EXHIBIT (as ufual) his

Optical Illujions and Mechanical Pieces of sirt. At »he LYCEUM, and at no other Place of Exhibition in London. SELECT PARTIES may be accommodated with a MORNING REPRESENTATION at any appointed Hour, on fending timely Notice. t ^ " To prevent MilUkes, the Public arertpiled to Notice, that the PHANTASMAGORIA is on the Left-hand, on the Ground Floor, and tke &OYPFIAWA on the Right-hand, up Stairs.

The OPTICAL PAR™of the EXHIBITION WaiTntreJici-the PHANTOMS or AfrAnn IONS of the DEAD or ABSENT, in a way more completely illufive than has ever been offered to the Eye. Ika public Theatre, as the Objefls freely originate in the Air, and unfold themfelvcs under various Forms and Size;, fuch as ; lrfiaginatig».aWe &as hitherto painted them, occafionaily alTuming the Figure and mod pfrfeft llefemblance of the Heroes and other diflingtiifhed CharaA^s of part and prefent Times. MI

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rtn

ry /-* TIT^

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f\s^

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hkArjL.

* *

The MECHANICAL

PIECES of ART

Include the following principal Obj,g,, a men Jitailid Account of whith wi.I be given during their Exhibition: viz. Two elegant ROPE DANCERS, the one, representing a Spaniard nearly Six feet high, will difplay feveral Vtonilhuig Feat! on the Rope, I mark the Time of the Mufic wilh a fmall Wrbltle, fmoke his Pipe, &c.—The othet, called Pajazze, being the Fi6 u 'e of a young (prightly Boy. will furpafs the former in Skill ard Agility. The INGENIOUS SELF-DEFENDING CHEST—The fuperior Excellence M d Utility of this Piece of M«hmifm i«, that the Proprietor has always a Safe-guard againft Depredators; for the concealed Battery of Four Pirtti if jfrlillir? on]f appears ind difcharges itfelf when a Stranger tries to force open the Chert.—This has been acknowledged by feveral ProftHional Men to be a Maflrr-fitct of Micbaiu/m, and may with equal Advantage be applied to the Protection of Property irj Counting-houfes, Pod Chaifes, &c. 'The- MECHANICAL PEACOCK, which fo extflly lojtates the Aflions of ihat ftately Bird, that it has frequently beea'thouglit Alive. It
*l* Doors to be opened at SEVEN

o'Clock, the Commencement at EIGHT.

BOXES, 4 s.~PIT, as. , Printti, Brv • " s""'f Cov«r.t Garden.

A Philipstabl

handbill userl by him in 1803. Tliis was fcpfnre be liad tlie d r a w i n ? and w r i i i n s in his programme. From t h e collection of Harry Houdini.

master

llii-; CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

2S6

mechanical figure, however, should not be confounded with the original and genuine writing and drawing figure, It seems to have lacked legitimacy and ADMISSION REDUCED, " norcK,2*.-~pu,u.—(iaUer!t,Gd. TI,.Nob.i.i,,c™i7,,.oiini, a i,iuni.or

HUn .«d . u v i c i J i , . n m . t i r r . p ^ i

MECHANICAL AND ™

,,,r.,.,,T,UC,,,,,.

I ...M.,,K,T.I..,M,O>.,

IS NOW OVEN EVERY DAY AND EVENING,

from what 1 can learn from newspaper clippings was worked like "Zoe" with a concealed confederate, or like the famous "Psycho" featured by Maskclvr.e, it was worked bv compressed air. - , . . , . . . • ' , / , 7 lms fo'H is interesting solely because J bclicve tllat this fak ^ automaton exhibited at i C) r Strand was the first figure of the s o r t foisted on t h e public after *"nc c ^ l e s s plover, which is described in Halle's w o r k on magic. i

T

The •Juvenile Jtrti.St! THE MUSICAL LADY,

? i :r,r i i,s 1 ,-r-:^i'Xv,-"-~'" I> " THE MAGICIAN,

WALKING FIGURE, Jl MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC VASE I TWO SIHI-HUN MICK -AN H i v i i i . ^ LIZARD *£n Ethiopian Caterpillar. .7 Tarantula Spider. A BEAUTIFUL HUMMING BIRD! SLLF^ACTI^G IMAM; FORTE. THB STAGE PLKFOIO! A?TCE %MLh COMMENCE WITH

The Eneha nted Dutch Coffcc-Homc, TUB (:ABI>KT'OF SAFETY,

tee

BAR?,

The Borile of Sobriety nnd Inebriety, TBE

VMIOAL TEA CAD DVB,

^

AN

EXPERIMENTS Tk* EnglUA Anill^ri'l.

^

IN

trhn Kill dutlui^t

ELECTRICITY.

a Conn", rrxl/unt (he iut of (^ipim^r

'

AD entertaining Experiment witb Two Klerirical Vases; THE ri opn\ at Hat/patl

v

'

Oevim, pet fvnnancr (<> rommnm prtittelu at Eight o'CUck.

rrogramiin; (if Mr. SthmicU. in 1827. Tins is thp next trace found of the juvenile artist. Several progranjines of Mr. Schmidt of earlier date are in the Karry Houdini collection, but they do not sliuw tbe juvenile artist. This prosraiuuie was markei] 1S27, which certainly is the correct date, as one bill in the Ilarrv Ilimdini collection bears that date while iilnyiiiK in Hull. Knjilaud. Mr. Schmidt's name appears only once on this programme; at the extreme left hand corner at the bottom.

-i

T

In 1901 while in Germany, 1 saw a m llher " o f ^ e s e automaton'artists, all frauds. The figure sat in a small chair before an easel, ready to draw portraits in short order. The figure was shown *" the audience, then replaced on the c'.iair, whereupon a man under the platform would thrust his arms through the figure and draw all that was required of the automaton. The fake was shortlived, even at the vearlv fairs and now has sunk too low for them, although sometimes you do see a really good show at these fairs for ten pfennings (two cents). From the last program mentioned I have traced the genuine automaton up to 1842, when it must have gone to St. Petersburg, Russia, thence to Paris. Here in 1843, it was probably seen and purchased by Robert-I Ioudin. Aery likely he did repair it and put it in thoroughlv good order, possibly adding a few drawings but I am firm in my be\[Q{ that llC (lid Hot invent tllC flrawlllg «i"(l writing master so long credited 1o his skill. As he sold the automaton to the late p T llarnum, it nun- have been burned when the latter's American ]\Iuseum W a s U t S t l O \ U l l)\ nrC. I e r i l d p s , MO« „,.„,. ctiii rbist-rovnlQV e\ el , :,. It lllia\ Still nvi^r LXlSt, Ivincr lMllg UUSILOV em.l lar

a n d WOl Ill-eaten Sad

finish

veiltioll.

Carl

111 s o m e

Ullll e U "

t o r SO WOlKlrOUS ail 111Wlllmail

Ot

hlambUrg

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. claims that it may lie in the possession of a mechanic in Dresden, Germany, and during- mv next tr.ur of Germany, 1 shall make every effort to locate it.

287

Cablegram from London*

Special Cable to The Conjurers' Monthly M aga.ziue. Archdeacon Colley has won hi-* libel suit against J. X- Maskelyne, the magician. The Royal Law Courts awarded %\)t CriuraptJ of fAu\>anittm. the clergyman - damages announcing to £j$, and dismissed Mr. Maskelyne's NEW EXHIBITION counter claim for £I,OOD for which IN THE WESTERN EXCHANGE. * amount the Archdeacon challenged Maskelyne in The Express, to reproduce the "Monck Ghosts." Back of this verdict lies one of the most remarkable disputes and most in! cresting trials since Maskelyne appeared against Slade in 1876. Old Bond Street $ in Burlington Arcade ; Eight months ago, Colley challenged Maskelyne to reproduce the noted 111aOpen from Ten o'Clock till Dusk. terilizations of Dr. Monck, and MaskeAdmittance to see the Performance\ 1 Shilling, lyne produced, during his performances Profile Likenesses, \s.6d. in addition. at St. George's Hall, among other The Proprietors conceive thjt an Automatical Figure, accurately effect"spirits," the female figure issuing from ing that winch IMS hitherto itqimcH a powerful merit il eiertion, and a correct «je, nvedt no further iiiUudiiciion «f its extraordinary quality, than the side of a man. This was done by an luLiauuun *.•( the Jmt, thai it is means of an illusion, but. Colley claimed T H E ONLY AUTOMATON that other materilizations had failed to IN THE WORLD materialize and therefore withheld payTHAT TAKES LIKENESSES. ment of the award. Maskelyne then Without furtiirr comment, the Pinprietora merely add the information, that thil Flgme . NU. ulo a Profile Liltnos, ill m , inliuile, from any person who sued for £1,000 and issued a pamphlet choox'S I" >n. ' H e AiiiomnL/n will, i( n qunnl, l a l n h e Piofiles of UUBIS o( Public Chu.acterj, «Inch an; placed in th> Ko..ni,aud which will enable stating that Colley had nn right to the person*, who may douut the possibility of any metliaiucal contrivance Ia4ing Jn accurate likenets, tu compare them with (be ongloals. title of Archdeacon, that "he is not an Innc», Printer, 61, W«JU-jt. O»fordit. archdeacon and never was one." Colley then retaliated by bringing his suit for Handbill used on the exhibition of this automaton. libel and won. The affair attracted "This was a fake automaton, and was also exhibited at 101 Strand, May 7, 1820. much attention all over England because of the prominence of Colley and. conIn the next issue, I will describe the sidering his standing as churchman, beinventions of that master of the craft, cause of his profound interest in spiritPinchbeck, who made the wonderful ualism. automata for Fawkes, the greatest Hard em Editorial note:—If this legal warfare magician of his day. This article, like was on the level and had occurred in its predecessors, will be illustrated proAmerica, Colley would have had no fusely with exclusive and rare engravchance to win : but if it was all done in ings, programs, bills and photographs the interest of publicity, then we take irom my private collection. off our hat to Maskelyne as the cleverest (To he continued.) • press agent of them all-

AUTOMA TON ARTIST.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

2SS

London, ling., The (Jlasgmv police have arrested a man named William Currier belonging to kilmaniDck on suspicion of being concerned in a robbery at Braehca 1 Farm, Riccarton, Scotland, when a sum of £100. ($500.) in gold and silver was stolen. Currier is known by the sobriquet of the I-finnan Pin-Cushion. He has been with the Barnum & Ilailey Circus where lie stuck pins, knife blades and awK into his body and arms without drawing blood. He was apprehended at Paisley and had more than £20 on his person. He was examined before Sheriff Mackenzie and committed to jail. £

: :

;

:

!"

In March issue of the CONJURER'S Joe Haynian mentions the Cee Mee troupe as a Chinese troupe. This is a mistake. They are a family of trapeze performers and all English born. We worked on same bill a.t Shrewsbury ("Jala last August. * * * There are four different sets of Mysterious Howards working England at the present moment. The genuine ones are at the Palace Theatre. MACAZINI:,

The latest thought reading act on the market exploited by Anger & Bauer, is the horse '"Daika." The manager claims to be able to duplicate all of the tests done by the human thought readers. * * * While playing in Newcastle. I met Mr. Snelling, and had a long chat with the gentleman. He saws that he would like to get more than a postal card from his daughter who is Minerva, the wife of \ ano, now touring America. * * *

My attention has been called to a monthly catalogue published here. It misleads readers bv making circulars read as if it were the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Have received several complaints. Hut this is only another unprofessional act of the perpetrator. That is one of his ways of doing business. *

*

*

Picitt & Lizett are in Paris. Picitt was once a handcuff king, but has reformed. T think that is where from he managed to get his name—Pick-itThev are making excellent progress.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Debicre has made such a hit at the Alhambra that the management has seen fit to retain him two weeks more. *

*

:;:

Henri Bekker, a rising young magician, whose hands are like feet, can certainly palm playing cards; he contemplates visiting America on trial or "spec ' as it is known, and should he obtain an opening I predict a huge success. Sheffield, the citv that has seen so iranv handicap races, was treated to a most daring race by George Herbert, a manacled prisoner, who made a dash for freedom from the courtroom where a warder had brought him from Wakefiekl iail. He had jarred the cuffs open, divested himself of his coat and vest and ran through the streets, knocking people down right and left. Talk about your cries of stop thief ! Pandemonium reigned in the city, until after a race of twelve minutes he was captured out of breath, and holding the open handcuffs up with a grin on his face. Some time ago, a prisoner escaped from the police cells in Birmingham police headquarters, and the jailor states that he mu-t have squeezed through the food hole in the door. During mv engagement at the Liverpool Empire. I met Edward Viola, who works with his wife as The Violas. He has had only one opportunity for showing his act in London, and that, alas, was during the strike. Thev were bille 1 at the Oxford, London, and were the star attraction on the bill; but the strike being on, they did not work, although it meant the event of their lives. . They have not had a chance since to appear, and credit must be given them for their loyalty; big acts can learn from this little act to be constant and true. How

289

different to the manner in which William E. Robinson, known as Chung Lung Soo who, during the strike, when asked by Mr. (Iswald Stoll if he would work, wired and wrote letters to the effect that he would give a two and a half hours' show to act as a strike breaker. Mr. Stoll did not even ask this of Robinson, but then I presume Robinson never thought that his letters would become public property. I am sorry that it is an American that is held up to us men of mystery as a good strike breaker. Mr. Ernest Wighton, the acting-manager of the < Hvmpia, Liverpool, is the brother of David Devant, of Egyptian 1 fall fame. This is the first time I was aware of this fact. ;

i-

-i*

-! ;

Reports have it that the Zancigs are not a howling success in their provincial tour. * * * \Yhat will Charlie Carter say about his Chinaman when he reads the following item that I ha\e clipped with the scissors from the London Daily Mail, April 15, 1907? Mee Fee Lung, a Chinaman. well known on the music-hall stage as "1'rice Fee Lung, t lie Chinese magician." was summonded at Wlllcsdon for deserting his wife. Jennie Fee Lung, an Kuglishwoinau living at Sandringham-road, Wilit'sdrt'ii (Jreeu. Mrs. Fee Lung said1 that six years ago she assisted the defendant in his work on the stage, and they wire married at Soho. The defendant had since refused to taUe her on tour with him. He was earning frmn £12 to £10 a week. The defendant gave evidence on his own behalf, and took the Chinese oath by kneeling down and dn>ppiiig a saucer. It was perfectly true, he said, that he did not take his wife on tour, because she. had now got too stout to perform the vanishing-lady trick. It was impossible for her to disappear ilow n the tutie under the stage, and as for the trick where she had to turn into a duck—there! The defendant could not finish his sentence, but lifted up his eyes in despair. He denied he was earning anything like £1G a week. Tlie public taste had altered of late and magicians were no longer in favour. The magistrate, in granting a separation order with an allowance of ::0s. a week, said. "These marriages between Asiatics and Europeans could never come to any good, the tastes and temperaments of the two people being so different."

The Great Roland, while at the Brighton Hippodrome, presented an illusion in which he is supposed to be dreaming.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

290

It is reversing the order of the Bridal Chamber. He makes things disappear, whereas in the Hridal Chamber they appear. It is an interesting and mysterious illusion. #

>;;

:£

Horace Goldin tried to enjoin Fasola from producing the Cannon and Trunk trick in Glasgow, and Goldin had to expose his mystery in order to prove that Fasola was infringing on his (Goldin's) patent. # * * I regret to state that Goldin lost again, but there cught to be some law for magicians that when one brings out a new illusion of his own brain work, he would be protected. ]t seems that the illusion as performed by Goldin was proven to have been produced twenty years ago. * * * Goldin, by the way, is going along merrily, and hopes to save money some time. He is a source of delight to the railroads on account of his excess baggage. * * * Managers are waiting for the verdict of the Arbitrator in England, and are not booking any acts. I shall soon be in London for a six months' run and will be able to send all the news of England, as London is known to all the Provincial folk as "The City." Lots of scandal about. Must lock it up. , Mrs. Thomas Barresford is making an appeal for the widow of the conjurer Heno, who died some time ago, aged fifty-five. Heno at one time appeared before Queen Victoria, but of late years has not been able to keep up with the running of the younger generation. Magicians wishing to send their mite can mail it to Mrs. Iiarresford, Hippodrome House, Brighton, England. Conjurers, save Your monev.

Happenings from fiayman Just landed in London after an awful stormy voyage across the Atlantic. The good (?) ship Cedric rolled like a log sometimes, and then again like two logs. Xever again will f take a trip in mid month of. April, unless I am a fugitive from justice. But now that I have set my feet on English soil, I'll stay over for some time. One of the stewards, at the usual concert, gave a wonderful exhibition of sleight of hand. He held out his hand, showed back and front empty, when lo and behold, a coin would appear in it. He did this feat with his hands several times, but one passenger, displeased with his service, suddenly became afflicted with astigmatism and could not see the trick, so the steward had to pass on to the next passenger. ;|<

:fc

^

The benefit for the widow of Charles Basset Bertram was held at the Palace Theatre, and I am pleased to state th:;t it netted the tidy sum of £i,ooo ($5,000). Datas is advertising that his act cannot be imitated. It seems to me that Felix Berol might hand Datas quite a few dates. I would like to see Felix challenge D;itns in all around work. Tt would he an interesting match, and why not have it take place at the meeting of the Magic Circle, or at some newspaper office? T know the Mirror would gladlv allow the match to take place. Felix honestly is a self-acting-rapid-fire international encyclopaedia. ;!; ;!; -','

Sydney Lee is working all the time, and gives a very good show. He is the son of Edgar Lee, the editor of the London lincore. Joseph Harm an ofHavman & Franklin

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Notes from

Tt will surprise many conjurers to hear that the manager's son of the bavarian Circus Building in Muenchen, Hcrr Neiderhofer, has been arrested for the murder of a merchant named Hendschel. The dead body was found buried in the center of the circus ring bank, and was only discovered by the information of the missing man's sweetheart. She informed the police that Neiderhofer did business with Hendschel and had borrowed a large stun of money to run a "Loop-the-Loop" show. The act was a failure, and the money-man Hendsche 1 disappeared. Xeiderbofcr claimed that Hendschel went to Kngland with a German artist, but after his arrest, the circus ground was dug up, and a skeleton of a man that was identified as Hendschel was found. It had been buried over two years. The police found the artist in England, whom Xeiderhofer claimed was with Hendschel. and on being brought to Muencheii, he confronted the allege 1 murderer, and denied ever having seen Hendschel. The papers state Xeiderhofer is in a state of collapse.

Herr Director Albert Schuman, uf Berlin, launched a letter of protect with all the newspapers, wishing tu inform the public that Xeiderhcfer is not a circus director, and asks them not to mention that such is the case. Circus managers as a rule in Germain' are all well educated me:i and their associates men of refine-

291

ment, while from America it is reported in this country the associates of some of the circuses are in a polite form known as grafters, strong arm men, and police bribers. It is further reported that politics are such that he who has the best pull, gets the most out of politics. Hut your American circuses have undoubtedly found out that Germany ami Austria are free from all graft. Tn I Wide Pest a circus of the Geb. \ iolain brought a vcrv poor man of mystery, who calls himself "jean Marty."

Richard Paunnwitz, the Berlin amateur, has been working on a trick for some time which, when finished, will startle the world. He refuses to inform me what it is like, but makes use of two full grown cows in the trick. 1 believe he is working on a new black art principle ! Renk, who calls himself the American Illusionist, has enlarged bis show by five people. Will see his performance and, report on same. Frosso, a palpable and poor imitation of Phroso, is at the Wilhelm Theatre, Danzig, and is not making good. F. Herrmann is in Constantinople. \ letter addressed there to German Post will reach him. He has taken Aga along, but will find that Bernardo, the quick change artist, has forestalled him.

Ali Sidra, the mysterious Turk, is in Berlin looking for work. So are a ! Jt of others.

Dealers in Magic—Past and Present 1. F. W. Conradi-Horster, born in Crossen, Prussia, 1S70. manufacturer and also Kditor of the 'Zauber spiegel." Located at Fredriche Sti'asse 61, Berlin, Germany. 2. Car! Wilmann, manufacturer, 3 Neue A. B. C. Strasse, Hamburg, Germany. 3. Mons. J. Caroly. Manufacturer and Editor of "L'lllusionniste," the French Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, located at 11 rue Cardinal-Lemoine, Paris, France. 4. C. De Vere. Old time Magician, for many years engaged in making apparatus lor prominent mystifiers. Address 17 Rue Saulnier, Paris, France. 5. Mons. Voisin. The once famous, but now forgotten great French mechanic who was awarded a gold medal in 1855 at the Paris exhibitions for some of his conjuring tricks, and who, it is known for a positive fact, repaired and made many of Robert-Houdin's mechanical effects. The above photo is very rare, possibly the only one in existence 6. Otto Maurer. Born October 28, 1S41>, in Gemeisheim. Germany. Died in New York. May 15, 1900. Located 2S years at 321 Bowery, N. Y. City. 7. George McKenzie Munro, senior member of the Ornum Manufacturing Co.. 4 Duke Street, Charing Cross, London, England. Publisher of the I/jndon "Wizard" 8. Augustavus Roterberg, born in Hamburg, Germany, 1S67. manufacturer. Author of several clever books on magic. Factory and salesroom, 178 Ontario Street Chicago, 111. 9 & 10. Antonio Martinka. Francis Martinka. Antonio is the master-mechanic and Francis is the business manager. Located 493 Sixth Ave., New York City. 11. Oscar Lischke. Old-time Hamburg dealer. Died several years ago. 12. W. D. Leroy. Born August 5, 1S62, in La Salle, 111. Located for last fourteen years at 101- Court Street, Boston, Mass. 13. Ernest Basch. One of the celebrated, four Basch brothers Today the richest manufacturer in the world. Now making only large apparatus and illusions. Located in Hannover, Germany, 11 Neimburgerstrasse. 14. C. Milton Chase. Present establishment, 6% Staniford Street, Boston, Mass. 15. Thomas Yost. Established 1870, in Philadelphia, Penn. Business at 900 Filbert Street, now conducted under firm name of Yost <& Collins. 16. John Hamley, manager of Hamley's Magical Salons, High Holborn Lcndon, England. This is the first photographic symposium of dealers, second series will appear later.

I

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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Our Mail Bag In this department it is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated b y such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

POLICK SU'EkJXTENI) (JuARTEUS, . TUMKUR,

MYPERE,

PROVINCE,

INDIA.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir : Your first six numbers of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE to hand. 1 studied them thoroughly and find that they are very good. I thank you very much, and wish you a mighty success. Yours ever sincerely, R. Scnua. * * * PARIS,

ERAXCE.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: The following is some magic news from Paris. At Barresfonl's Alhambra last month there was Satsuma. a Japanese magician, and this month they have Picitt and Lizett; their scene is laid in a kitchen and various tricks are clone with tin pans and other paraphernelia such as producing guinea pigs, fowls, etc. ; their show finishes with the vanish of Lizett from a table when covered by screens. On the same bill with them is Fasoli, a c")inic juggler and acrobat, who is quite clever. At llie Etoile Palace is Miss Oria, a lady illusionist whose show however I have not seen. Legris has a new program at the Theatre Robert Houdin where, by the way, there is going to be a Conference of Spiritualism on April 2=;th. Also one at a later date. ()n May 3 at the same theater there is to be a competition for conjurers on "patter." new program,

new tricks, improvement on old tricks, etc. A diploma will be given for the solution of the two following tricks: (1) The invisible passing of a number of five franc pieces from one hat to another. ( >) The old dial clock trick. T. P. C. Smell. ANDOVER, X.

H.

* * * Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: I have made arrangements with a photographer to take the picture of R. Potter's grave. The grave has been covered with snow all winter, so deep it was useless to try for a negative. There is a fence that surrounds it and that causes it to drift bad. Hope you didn't think 1 had forgotten you, for I hadn t. 1 have been away and didn't get my MAGAZINE until my return, so didn't write. 1 will *end two photos as soon ?.s they are finished. This time I hope they will lie all right as the photographer knows his business. Am sorry to keep you waiiing so long. I will try and get Potter's picture as soon as possible. Have learned more facts concerning Potter's life, and will tell you all I know of him and his various tricks as soon i s 1 hear from a certain party. I feel sure that he was a very clever performer, as the tricks he did were different from any 1 ever saw or heard of. He made hisappearance on the stage riding in a cart drawn by two ganders and driven by his wife. He had a son, Charles Potter, who died doing a bullet trick. I believe he

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. tried to catch it on the point of a sword, missed it and was shot. I will send von more later on. I have not secured his books yet, or even seen them, but I shall try to get them some way if they don't ask too much, as I think there is some valuable information in them. If I do I'll let you know about them. Do you want tricks for the Magazine? T have invented a few which I think will be all right, for I have worked them with success. I did the crawling through the log trick, and was successful in deceiving my friends, although I don't know if it is the wav Potter did it. 1 have taken a great interest in magic, and intend to make that my study. I remain, sincerely yours, C. Dana Tu\lor. *

=< : *

April 17, 1927. Social meeting of Magic Circle, held at Tudor Hotel, .April 10th, chairman Ernest E. Xoakes, M. I. M\ C- I. should think this meeting was a record one for both attendance and the number of artists showing. Meeting was called for 7 p. M., an hour before usual time owing to length of program to be gotten through, and by 7:30 time of show starting, some sixtv members had assembled, although it was a verv wet evening. 7:30. Pianoforte solo, bv Arthur Glvnn. J :^. Wilfred C". Zclka, Chinese magic. 7145. Cecil Cooke, chapeaugraphy. 7:55. Harrv Selwyn, magic with coins, introducing the black velvet board and the new coin wand. 8:00. Percv Stanhope, ventriloquial sketch. 8:10. Ernest H. Adams, who introduced a trick, in which he called on a gentleman to draw a design, on a small book, using onlv his right hand, he then tore the dcsijrn from the book and burnt LONDOX, EXOLAXD,

295

it, when the gentleman was asked to look at his left hand and found the imprint of the same design thereon. 8:20. Alan MacFarlane, euphonium solo. 8:25. Ten minutes general patter. 8:35. Chas. \ erney, in a miscellaneous magical show, introducing card and handkerchief magic. X:_|5. Chas. Conway, the well-known Dickens impersonator, who gave character sketches from Chas. Dickens' works. 8:55. Arthur ( ilvnn. in a trick ; n which he passed an alarm clock, which was ringing the whole time, from under one hat into another at the other side of the stage. 9:5. 1'ercv Stanhope, in musical sketch. 9:15. Ernest E. Xoakes read a paper in which be told what various magicians would say of the Magic Circle, giving" imitation of their voice and mannerisms. 9 125. Which was to have been devoted to ten minutes of personal stunts, was given up to Harry Hall, the well-known London concert comedian, who gave an extra turn which was appreciated all around. 9:35. Henry Hull, in an exhibition of juggling; he throws things about in a marvellous manner, with the exception of himself, as personally he is a very modest young man (for a conjurer). 9:45. Stanley II. Hell gave a card trick in which the spots oft a card were printed on a post card. 10:5. H. J- Collings, with a new card trick in which tire spots off a card were found on a strip of ribbon. This artist does a new effect every time. 10:10. Alan MacFarlane, euphonium solo, concluded what cvervone agreed was a very enjoyable evening. Wilfred C. Zelka.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Brindemour fails to make good. Police Officer C. Kiersteed of the Waterbury Police Department put a pair of regulation handcuffs on Brindenmur. who not having a key to fit the cuff, and not knowing how to pick a lock, was compelled to rush off the stage, into his dressing room, and have an assistant cut off the cuffs with a hack saw. The man then returned to the stage after-forty minutes' absence, and returned a different pair of cuffs to Officer Kiersteed. lie had the officer lock the cuffs on him again, this time getting out in three minutes. The next day on returning the cuff to Supt. Feeley of the Mattatuck Mfg. Co., who make the Maltby handcuffs, the fraud was discovered. The officer went to Brindemour and demanded the cuffs back that were locked on his wrists the night before; Brindemour brazenly denied the accusation but when the evidence against him was proven, he was finally reluctantly forced to admit that he had had the cuffs cut off, and substituted for them a pair of his own. Tie was compelled to go to Attorney Guilfoile's office and settle for the cuffs which he had destroyed and "the incident was closed." So was Brindemour's reputation in that town as a jail breaker. * * * Raymond, the Man of Mystery, is going to take out a huge mystery performance next season, lli.s new lithographs arc well worthy of being put on any wall. He is making money, and that means success. # * * Chefalo & Capretto have signed with a burlesque show for the coming season. The

male member lias cut out his patter, and the show has been greatly improved. * * * We wish to impress on your minds that we will not publish names, unless desired of those sending in news items or clippings. * * * Marshall P. Wilder is back in vaudeville. He is quite an expert in conjuring, and combined with his wit, his tricks are exceptionally well presented. '•fc

Az

%

Howard Thurston is on his way back to America, and is reported due in New York City May 16. * * * T. Nelson Downs is going to play a few dates. Rumor has it that Downs contemplates going into the hotel business. * * * Adrian Plate has recently been playing club dates. He has a very fine collection of magic books, and his magical catalogue is indexed in a perfect manner. Even Dr. Ellison admits that Plate's manner of indexing his material is clever; and when Dr. Ellison makes a statement, it generally is worthy of publication. * * * At the Orpheum Theatre. Grand Forks, N. D., a man calling himself The Original Frederick is exposing a trunk trick. From what we can learn this is mean petty spite on his part, and he is under the impression that he is injuring some one, who is working in his vicinity, and who is more sue-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. cessful than himself. Frederick, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Why don't you use better judgment? You are killing your own game. But then perhaps you do not know any better. * * * Something new- in magic. Frank P>. Lane and his mystic lecture. A peculiar method of doing magic. Wherever a conjurer is not wanted, this man cleverly brings magic into his lecture course. Hornmann informs us that the act is original. * * * Hnrnmann has again signed to return to his did luve, the John Robinson Circus, opening April 23d. * * * Otto Maurer, Jr., smi of Maurer the oldtime Bowery magical dealer, is now employed in Newark in the musical department "f the largest department store. * * * Francis J. Werner, President of the Society of American Magicians, has not been very well of late, and we are pleased to hear that he is now <>n the mad to recovery. * * * Who. knows what has become of Frank Stanselle? When last heard of he was touring through New Mexico with a magical show. Will some one shed light on his whereabouts and send information to the Editor of this magazine? * * * Mysterious Frank C.xsar is busily engaged playing dates, and has added a few novel feats to his already clever performance. He is out West, and making good.

Chicago J\[otes

BY .Iv.HICKS

Magic is very quiet in the Windy City at the time of writing. "Alexander" the Great (not the historical one), gave a very poor exhibition as a handcuff kin£ week of April "th with Al. Reeves Burlesque show. Strange that an old manager like Mr. Reeves shoull permit an act in his employ to use another man's name on the bill in trying to draw houses. What is the matter, Mr. Reeves? Can't your show draw on its merits? * * * Paul, the Mystifier, who was closed some time ago by a local manager in Oakland, Cal.,

297

nas managed to borrow a lot of ideas, and is now at large in the woods. The longer he takes to the forest the better for theatre goers. * * * De Hollis and Val'ira, the originators of the boa trick, were at the Haymarket Theatre week of April 29th. * * * Mons. Clivette, assisted by Madame Clivette, introduced a few mysterious stunts in his act, principally flag tricks, and the knight's tour. He finishes his performance with shadowgraphs. * * * Sears recently p-isscd through Chicagowith his big act. He carries live assistants, Mid a car load of baggage. Lock out, Goldin, or this fellow will break your baggage record. •

*

*

*

Roterberg, the busy dealer, is now stocking up for next winter.

May jd, Gang's much advertised show came oil. lie was introduced by a man named Ouiglcv, now an aspiring theatrical agent, hut once a member of some quintet. "I he less said about Gaus's performance the kinder. * * * Chinkci, the English boy juggler, played at the Orpheiim Theatre recently. He is very good. * * * Society of Boston Magicians will hold itsfirst annual dinner at the American House, May 13th. • : * * * Hindoo Sam is at Austin and. Stone's museum with his bas'--<*t ''-'"K. * * * Martini and Maximilian, exposers of magic, billed as the World's Worst Wizards fa title they borrowed from the English team of Walton and Lester) appeared at a Sunday concert and made good their tille.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

29S

NSWER.ED

Percy Hill, Reading, Pa. The only way you can l)uy a lot of handcuffs is to send for a police equipment catalogue, and buy whatever they may have for sale. Use our Barter and Exchange column, which is free of charge. Elmer Applegit, Morristown. The trick that you are inquiring about will be explained, with illustrations, in our next issue. Brentmi Jennings, Wellesley Farms. You are not the only deaf mute who is interested in magic. We know of several in England. In Leeds there is a handcuff king who challenges everyone to cope with him in getting out of handcuffs. It is better to do a good silent act of magic, because it will allow you to visit any country in the world, and you can do your performance without learning the language of the country. '•\'

*

*

Remaske, Pittsburg. The firm of Rankin & Co. is still in Philadelphia. They do not make handcuffs any more, but are in the machine business. We think a letter adressed Rankin & Co., Eighth street, will reach them. Wm. Schneider, Vailsburg. Mislaid 3'our letter, but have mailed you material requested. * * * W. Burrill. There is a Henri Herrmann 'alive in England. He was last employed by David Devant. This Herrmann claims and shows old papers to prove that Alexander Herrmann was brought into court for using the name Herrmann. But then that was a personal affair.

Jesper J. Don't be angry. It was an oversight. You are not as dense as we thought you were—you are denser. # * * Luther Walls, 5017 Gre?mvay Ave., West Philadtlphia.—As you live in Philadelphia, you will be able to turn your misfortune to an advantage. As you have lost one of your fingers, go to Yost, 901 Filbert Street, and purchase a false finger, on the style as described in CONJURERS' MAGAZINE, Number 1, and by making use of this you can produce a s:lk handkerchief. Other Conjurers when using a false finger have to move their hands quickly so that it will not be noticed that they have six fingers, but as you will only have five, the deception will be all the greater. What we saw of your performance was all right, but get in front of a looking glass and go through your act several times a day. •

• •

Prof. Lorenz. Reg your pardon, old chap, but we mislaid your manuscript. Will publish the illusion as soon as space permits. Don't worry. Worry brings wrinkles. But not the kind we use in mystery acts. • • • A. H., Los Angeles. You seem to sign your name as if you were ashamed of it. Don't know what A. H. may really mean, but we should judge Archibald Hot Air. If you think so much of the person in question borrow money from him if you can. Thco. M. Williams, Albany, N. Y.—Answer to first question : Harry Houdini. Second : If you wish to buy the books mentioned you can buy them from any of the magical firms that you will find in our advertising columns. Tf you wish to buy the books second hand, we will publish your advertisement to that effect free of charge. * •!: *

Wm. Brunell, New Bedford, Mass.—Your letter was funny; it made the editor hawhaw. * * * Chicago, West Division street.—When we get to be his age, let us hope we will have more sense than the party mentioned. Why, he is old enough to have voted for "the prevention of allowing railroads to be built across the desert." The man is in his second childhood, so let us respect his gray hair. • * * Amateur.—Yes, we gave Kid Hermann the straightjacket in" which he trained; what of it?

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

299

Will exchange Mephisto head for cards and watches, nickle producing bird cage no covering, umbrella and handkerchief case, roller card frame, double ink and water bottle fine, fcr anything in magic. Want a good Aga cr Dida or trunks; must be cheap for cash. C. C. LeBcy, 710 Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida.

Barter and Exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted tree of charge; there is no after graft and you bind .yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in cur paper. Please Inform us of all unfair dealings as we wish to protect our readers. Make your advertisement brief and condensed, omitlng unnecessary words.

Billiard balls (large) pull, etc., for Koschitz's Manual of Useful Information. John C. Sprone, Sta. M., Chicago, III. * # # Will trade a talking skull for any good trick, latest method rice bowls (large size) and billiard balls preferred; 1 have other stuff. Robert Madison, 1619 14th Street, Oakland, Calif. * * * Wish to exchange the following; cither separate or together, for magical apparatus, or side tables. One fine orchestra Stewart banjo with patent keys, pearl set keyboard, in first class condition, originally cost $50. One Roterberg's flying bird cage, slightly used, cost $5. One brand new double production wand for hankerchiefs, cost $2. George A. Coleman, 1300 High Street, Alameda, California. * * * Books on magic in exchange for books on anti-spiritualism and card sharping. L. Peters, 331 East 43rd Street, Chicago, 111. * * * Will exchange for best offer a lot of small tricks for parlor use. Will Simms, Dobbs Ferry on Hudson, New York. * * • What is wanted in exchange or cash for the~ following articles: Two nickel plated bases with rod; coffee and milk trick with shallow metal covers; the trick handcuff as spld by all dealers; and other good apparatus not requiring assistance. Ray C. Hayden, Cumberland, Md.

* * * Have a lot of magical apparatus which I would like to exchange. Send a list of what you have for mine. Chas. J. Hagen, 1431 Ave. A., New York Citv. What am Serials No. glove boxes Rcstell, Qnai

I offered for (1) Stanyon's 1, 3, 5, 8, 15; (2) for twelve from hat, as good as new ? G. St. Georges 10, Ghent, Belgium.

* * * Will exchange magician's letter heads, cards, etc. Ed. Kardell, 272 West 117th St., New York City. Will exchange sword through body, cost $6. What have you? Make offer. L. Edelson, 451 S. Union St., Chicago, 111. *

•-!--

*

Will exchange a new method of performing Herbert Brook's card from the pocket trick or any other card trick I possess for any rope tie. A. Heilmann, 1265 45th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. * * * Will exchange for best offer, pair of rice bowls and mystic sieve, Martinka make, good as new. Arthur J. Moose, 626 Garden Street, Hoboken, N. J. * * * What is best offer for first class Aga Illusion which originally cost $200. Latest make with sofa and lobby painting. J. B. Wood, care Fred Cosgrove, 128 Ino Street, West Hoboken, N. J. * * * I have a trade side table with trap and nickle tripod legs ; several hand fekes, Valadon's latest cards on glass plate ; special three panel screens with trap panel ; two complete and very fine card tricks never publishsd ; also 42 pieces of general apparatus. Will send photo and list. Carl Anderson, P. O. Box 477, Rochester, N. Y /

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

BISH

FROM THE PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

THE

SECRET OF THE CASE.

PACKING

I he April Strand li;is an article from the pen of the son of Dr. Lynn, and this son dues not do credit to the memory of his father. He describes a very bad method of doing the packing ca*e trick, and if that is the way he presents it, he ought to be ashamed to take salary for the same. lie takes credit for every thing that he does, and will not give credit to whom credit is due. The method as described by him ; s the way several dealers in England sell the secret and we therefore claim lie bought the method he explains. As the trick in his form is very bad, he is entitled to whatever credit is due to such a form of mystery. We wonder if this learned, writer knows who is the originator of the packing case trick ?

In the March edition of The Strand Magazine, Lynn describes the canvas covered box trick, and does it well; but as well as he describes the one, so badly does be describe the other. Dr. Lynn, the one known to fame, was one of the bright magicians of the world. At one time he was at Cooper Insti-

tute in New York when the Davenport Ill-others were at the zenith of their glorv. A gentleman by name of Iray informed the audience that he would pay ^500 to any one who 'would' duplicate the performance of bis "Spiritualistic I'.rothers.1' l)r. Lvnn arose and accepted the challenge. ( )n learning who their opponent «;b the challenge was retracted and Dr. Lvnn was not allowed to comThe original Dr. Lynn had quite a pete. serious controversy with J. N. Maskelyne, relative to a box trick; and pamphlets were circulated to prove the origin of the trick. Maskelyne also issued a i i o o public challenge (a large poster of wh'ch is in the Harry Homlini collection) for Dr. Lynn to come upon the s^age with Maskelyne and Cook, and prove that his expose of their box trick was correct. In the above mentioned pamphlet which Maskelyne circulated in 1873, he claims to have constructed a box in 1858, into which the audience could place coins, etc., tie the box with tape and seal the knots and he would remove the contents apparently without disturbing the bonds. From this idea J. N. Maskelyne claims to have originated the famous box trick.

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301

magicians and ibcir friends feast Third Annual Dinner of the Society of American Magicians What a nighi! What night? Why. the uighl of May 1 ith at the I Intel .Marlborough in Xew "N*<>rl<. The S. A. M. held its annual dinner and everybody of any account who could he present was there. 111. Pres. Werner addressed the assemblage and made the guests welcome. A sigh of relief went around when he said that in the speechmaking iiu •one would be permitted to talk more than •three minutes. Too bad he did not limit the performers in the same way. One hundred and seven persons attended, amongst whom were several •spiritualists. Aery prominmt was Mr. Spangler, who made himself qui'.e a favorite by his jocose manner, lie was everybody's friend, and when 111. Bro. Teale called for a committee of men who were not magicians, our friend Spangler joyously sprang upon the stage to find out whether Teale's spirits could overcome his (Spangler's) spirits. Eventually he fell asleep, for Teale tediously dragged out his performance and pleased everybody—when he was finished. Ikduplicated (after a manner) the bandage test of Cazeneuve, which is known in America as the Anna Eva Fay test- 111. Bro. Teale would make his work far more interesting if he hurried it along. He performed a spirit slate writing test •&nd received a message from a dead one In Kansas City. Among the other performers that participated in the entertainment were Roltc.ire, who handled the clock trick in excellent style. His pleasing personality in time ought to bring him into the front

rank of the conjurers. Prof. I'.aker, the ventriloquist, was good. M.ons. Linnett sang a coon song and made a hit. Miss Sargent was in excellent voice and sang a lullaby. Karlcmann presented Selbit's blocks, then A. J. Rehbein vocalized snme, whereupon T. Francis Fritz showed a few novel pictures; his comedy was clean and good. 111. Pres. Francis Werner made more than good by working in a quick snappy manner. Adrian Plate presented a number of perplexing i uzzles with coins. He is exceptionally clever in thi> line. G. Tipson, F. Kline, A- G. Waring, T P. Cannon, Harry Hay wood and Kardell also entertained and so completed a most enjoyable night. Harry Rouclere must possess some perpetual youth charm, for an old baldheaded man walked up to him, and shaking hands as if he were his long lost brother, said "Why, Harry, old man glad io see you a'.rain after all these years. Why, von and i went to school together." It took five minutes for Rouclere to pull himself together again, and act human. Pres. Werner handed the ladies appropriate souvenirs, and W. D- Leroy of Boston handed some to the men. Wilson Bailey and F. Martinka entered into a short conversation and some thought they were going on the stage to do a dealers' daiue, but alas, they were deterred by the nresence of Hawkeye Lerov. The ladies, with their company smiles and evening gowns, looked charming and things went along smoothly because evcrybodv was happy.

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THE CONJUREKS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE

^) 1.11 will recall that in the January issue 1 mentioned an eccentric handcuff performer who calls himself Kleppini. This man. widi the French letter lock, interrupted my engagement with the Circus Corty Althoff in June, 1902, and hn light about one of the most interesting contests that ever fell to mv lot.

HOUDINI. iii;iii-i-i::l f. ]• iln-se articles was gathered during the author's first tour of Groat Britain, and was prepai't d for publication in book form. This was d<.ne in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After the manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will new be printed for the iirst time in monthly installments in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must be:ir in mind that the far-t of its being prepared fc r publication in b o k form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but, in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the mest complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and enterfninment. Copyright. lO^i. By Harry H'uudini. All rights reserved.

—

To ripen the French letter luck (see figure L. page 268, in April issue) get a strong spring, insert it between the two ends of the cuff at 111 5 in illustration Xo. r, which will keep both ends on a tension all thi' time and gradually move the letters until you hear a slight click. This you continue to do, until all the letters forming the word or cipher have been found, and then the lock is automatically opened by the pressure of the spring. The finer the workmanship, the hanLr is the lock to open ; but I have never seen anv with five or six letters that 1 have failed to open. This mention of the French letter cuff reminds me of one of the most exci'.ing and amusing incidents of my continental tour, which I trust will interest mv readers.

', tr

\^\

F Gr -H_

INSTALMENT, NO. 9 FRENCH LETTER CUFF.

H

—

:u s ; B : v fE :

A

\ C ;W \F

; ..11,

H.I.USTIiAl'lU.N

NO. 1.

Mi'lluid of op.-niiipc die French letter lnek. strong rii-.j; A. in plr.ce between Imth ends c.f entT nt BB.

We were touring Holland, when a friend sent me a bill and newspaper clipping, announcing in huge, fat type that Kleppini wa^ al> mt to appear at Circus Sifloli in Dortmund, Germany, after returning from Holland, where he had defeated the American, IToudini, at his own game. Klenpini further claimed

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. that I had handcuffed him, only to see him escape, while I had met with defeat when handcuffed by him. This was more than pride could endure. I had a heated argument with my Herr Director., AltholT, who at first refused to allow me to follow up Kleppini and force him to retract; but when I said it was leave of absence or quit for good, he yielded, granted me five days' leave, and I left at once for Dortmund.

Sections AA.

I'llils

of

o[

lock

tin- F r e n r l i which

ill

Idler

eiilT.

i 1 I l i ^ l n i I ii ill N o .

1.

are

alluded In as Bli; I!, the shackle; (_', the barrel portion; D. the spimlle which fits inside the barrel in a movable position; E, one of the five rings; l'l". side view and enlarged section of rings; G, one of the outside rings lettered; H. inside view of rin^r G, showing grooves eurresiioniling to the letters on the outside.

Arriving at Essen a few miles distant from Dortmund, and a town where I had manv good friends, T first visited a barber and had him glue a false mustache on my lip and so fix mv hair that I looked like an old man. Then with my small grip filled with "handcuffking-defeaters," I was off to Dortmund and the circus, where I found the attendance very light. Klcppini appeared, making his spcecli in which he claimed to have defeated

303

me. Instantly 1 was on my feet, crying "Nicht wahr," meaning "Xot true." He a^ked how I knew this, and I said I was in the know, whereupon he finally offered to wager that he was right. With that, I took a Hying leap of twenty-two feet downwards to the center of the ring or menage, as it is called in German v, and cried, "You say 1 am not telling the truth. Well, look! I am Houdini!" During the controversy which followed 1 told Kleppini and his manager what honest folk thought of performers and managers who employed misleading and untruthful advertising matter; and I offered 5,000 marks if Kleppini would let me handcuff him. Also I offered to escape from his Chinese pillory. He tried to evade the issue, saying he would look me up la'.er, but 1 in>i-4ed that he deposit the money before he started, as I had mine with me. 1 I err Director Sidoli refused to make good his advertisements and to back Kleppini for the sum mentioned, so I returned to my seat and the audience left the circus building in droves, disgusted, by the misrepresentations. The next morning, June 18th, Herr Rcu'er, business manager of the circus, came t> my hotel with a proposition that I should engage myself one night for a duel with Klcppini, which I refused. Herr Keutter then asked me whether I would handcuff kleppini if the latter challenged me, and I replied that this I would certainly do. So he begged me to remain one day longer, not allowing any one to know of my presence in town, however. As I had been working steadily since leaving Xew York, I was in sad need of rest, so I waited all day in my room, having all meals sent to me. ( )n the morning of June iQth I arose with the lark—to face huge bills an-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

nonncing : "Hoiidini challenged and will appear at the (.'irons Ceasur Sidoli this •evening. Klep|)ini will allow himself to he handonffed and will immediately fr?e himself." I was more amused than angry. I simply polished my various handeuffs, oilul the mechanism and waited. Kleppini sent for me. I refused to go to him. He called at the hotel. I would n
I perceived his trick at once and securing his promise that he would not tell Kleppini, I replied "Clefs," which means kevs. At the same time I showed him just how to work them. He fell into the trap and asked me whither lie might take these cuffs for I lerr Director Sidoli to examine them before the performance, and I told him he was quite at liberty to do so, provided they were not shown in Kieppini. This promise also was given, and he departed, keeping the cuffs in his possession four hours. ( )f course I knew that during this time, Kleppini was familiarizing himself with the cuffs, but I still had a trick up niv own sleeve. That night at the circus, [ occupied a tox seat and when Kleppini threw out his daring challenge I entered the ring with my bag of cuffs. I said that I had no objection to his advertising his willingness to let me handcuff him, but

There was one pair of French letter cuffs that caught his fancv. and I permitted him to examine them closelv. Rentier then inquired in a peculiar tone as if feigning indifference: "What letters or word opens this cuff?"

1 did object to hi s stating he could get out until he had made good. The audience was with me, and ] told him to ;ake his choice of the twelve cuffs. As 1 anticipated, he sprang like a tiger on the French letter cuff. He had taken them closed, and ran with feverish haste into his cabinet. He remained within about three minu'es, whereupon ] cried : '"Ladies and gentlemen, do not let him tell you that the cuffs have been locked. They are open. lie will return and say he opened them." This brought him out of his cabinet, waving the cuffs like a crazy man and ciying "I will open these cuffs. I dial-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. lengc ll.nidini to lock them on me. I'll show him that it is us Germans who lead the world." As he had tried the cuffs in the cabinet, he was posi ive that he could beat tliem. And 1 was just as positive that the opposite conditions would prevail. rie now staited to goad me into locking them on quickly, pressing me all over the circus. So violent were my efforts that mv heart beat like a trip hammer and my face turned pale, from exertion. From this kleppini gathered, that I thought myself even then defeated. So he walked to the center of the ring, with the handcuffs locked upon him and cried: "After I open these handcuffs, 1 will allow Aladamc Kleppini to open them. She is very clever in this branch of work, and she will open them in five seconds."' I smiled grimly and took the floor. "Ladies and gentlemen, you can all go home. I do not lock a cuff on a man, merely to» let him escape. If he tries this cuff until doom's day, he cannot open it. To prove this, though the regular closing time of the circus is 10:30, I will allow him to remain here until 2:30." He went into his cabinet at 9 o'clock. When the big ballet feature came on at 9:30, he was not ready. At 11, almost the entire audience had gone, and Kleppini was still in his cabinet. Herr Director Sidoli became enraged and instructed his servants to "out with Kleppini," and they lifted the cabinet up bodily and threw it over. Kleppini ran like a hunted animal into the mana-

305

ger's dressing room. The rc>t of the show might have gone on, but the audience rose as a man and went uut. * * * At midnight, by which time T had left my place in the box and was standing guard over the dressing room door, I permitted Madame Kleppini to join her husband at his request. About 1 o'clock, the manager asked Kleppini if he would give IT) and Kleppini begged me to enter the ruiiii ;jid release him, which I refused to do without witnesses. We then sent for the 1 Ierr Director Sidoli, Herr Reut.er and a reporter. At last Kleppini said he had the word "Clefs,"' and 1 laughed. 'A on are wrong. If you want to know the word which opens the lock, it is just what you are—fraud.'' And with this I grabbed his hands,, quickly turned the letters till they spelled fraud, and as they fell into their respective places, he was freed. The locks, you see, were changeable, and it required only a short moment for me to change the word. When he went into the cabinet, he tried the cuff and it responded to the word "Clefs." While locking them on him, T changed the word to fraud, and he, even with his eagle eye, failed to recognize that he had been trapped. The next day, however, being a boastful man and unwilling to acknowledge defeat, he actually circulated bills stating that he had defeated Iloudini and won 5,000 marks; but the newspapers guyed him unmercifully and published the true facts. (To be continued.)

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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takes notice of the plodder, and as a reward smiles on him. * * * A reputation is not made over nigh! ! So, when you meet some poor lone magician, struggling up the rough road, don't pass him by with a quick nod, or ignore him entirely, but give him a glad handshake, and cheer him up. If he ever becomes successful he will remember your manly greeting, and may in some way or other show you that he has not forgotten the oldtime days. * * * We wish to call our readeis' attention to our Baiter and Exchange Column. It has been a big success and a source of benefit to all who have utilized it.

We are now commencing to work o'T our first anniversary number. Have you thought of advertising? This will Contributions on all topics of interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, tbe be the best opportunity of having your price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise It will be regarded as complimentary. No advertisement placed in such a position manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped aud addressed envelope. that it will be kept for future reference. JUNE 1907 VOL. I. No. 10 * * * In soliciting your advertisement, we William Smith, known as Carl Lebert, a conjurer, committed suicide in Lon- respectfully call your attention to the don because he wa-1 unable to pave his fact that we do not seek your money way along the strenuous pathway of life. without giving you full value for it. Just think of it! This seems to be about Our monthly circulation is now greater the first record we have of a magician than all the other conjurer's monthlies making his life disappear. We heard ol combined and then some more. Our a magician murderer who killed his anniversary edition will be the largest sweetheart and then shot himself, hue edition so far printed and it will be an for a conjurer to deliberate!v make 'way edition that will long be remembered, with himself is something new. There and forever referred to. For that issue is always room on top for conjurers, we will have a special rate for your but you must have a good stout heart. half-tone and business advertisement. and never know the word fail. But Think it over, and do yourself a favor then we are not all constituted alike, and by advertising with us. whilst some of us fall by the wayside, failures, others go right ahead for the Always bear in mind that we are a simple reason they do not know that paper for thecraft and not for the they are defeated, and fate eventually graft. Foreign representatives—London. England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia. T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahuian.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

In this series of articles, it is my intention to correct many errors regarding the history of magic which have existed in the public mind since "The Life of Robert Houdin" was issued. In such endeavor, necessarily, I hnve introduced references to Houdin's contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a comprehensive history of magic from 1GH0 to the present day. In order to prove my statements, it is also neoessary to wander frequently from the central figure, Houdin, but though some instalments may not present the name of Houdin, the facts presented will. In the course of the history's development, be found to have direct bearing on his life and work. In taking issue with those generally accepted as authorities, I am actuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained by me during years of earnest investigation at home and abroad, and to do justice to those who preceded Houdin and to whom he owed a greater debt than he set forth in his autobiography. Copyright, 1900. By Harry Houdini. All rights reserved.

INSTALLMENT NO. X. AUTOMATA. Continued. Fawkes and Pinchbeck, Real Inventors of the Orange.Tree. Fawkes and Pinchbeck are unquestionably two of the most brilliant and picturesque figures in the history of magic. As a "team," if the current theatrical term may be so applied to their eighteenth century partnership, they were perhaps the most, important workers in magic old and new. While these two men presented one of the finest repertoires of tricks ever of-

313

fered on the stage, they are particularly worthy of extended space in this series of articles, because they presented during their partnership a marvelous apple tree, which grew and bore fruit before the very eyes of their audiences, which trick Kobert-Houdin 115 years later, calmly claimed as his own invention, under the title of "The Orange Tree." Very little of the personal history of Fawkes can be traced. He was a sleight-of-hand worker, the magician of the team, and probably snrang from obscure parentage, but Pinchbeck was a man of par'.s, a noted inventor and mechanician whose life-history is more easily followed. The two men probably met at the Bartholomew Fair, and once they joined forces, they became the premier entertainers of their time, each supplying what the other lacked. They died within a year of each other, Fawkes in 1731 and Pinchbeck in 1732, leaving magic the richer for their clever contributions. The following brief biographical sketch of Christopher Pinchbeck is taken from the Dictionary of National Biog-

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THB CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

raphy, Vol. XLV , edited by Sidney Lee and published in 1896 by Smith, Elder & Co., 15 Waterloo Place, -London.

This is I)•<• oldest

and inventor of the copper and zinc alloy called after his name. The family probably sprang from Pinchbeck, a town in

Christopher Pinchbeck. Sr. Brrn 1070—died 17:!2. timl rarest authentic mezzotint in the world, pertaining to the history of (From the Harry Houdini collection).

"Christopher Pinchbeck was born about 1670, possibly in Clerkenvvell, London. Died 1732. He was a clockmaker

magic.

Lincolnshire. He invented and made the famous astronomico-musical clock. In Appleby's Weekly Journal of July 8th,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY .MAGAZINE.

315

172T, it was announced that 'Christopher Pinchbeck, inventor and maker of the astronomico-nmsical clock is removed from St. George's Court, (now Albion's Place) to the sign of the "Astronomico-

plain, for the exact indication of the time only, as astronomical, for showing the various motions and phenomena of planets and fixed stars.' Mention is also made of musical automata in imita-

Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr. This mezzotint besides being very rare is regarded outcome of the combined efforts of Cunningham, the portrait etcher. (From the

Born as a pr- at Harry

Musical Clock" in Fleet Street, near the Leg Tavern. Pie maketh and selleth watches of all sorts and clocks, as well

tion of singing birds and barrel organs for churches, as among Pinchbeck's manufactures. The advertisement is sur-

about 1710?—died 17S3. valuable addition to tlie world of art. being the designer and William Humphrey, the famous Houdini collection).

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

mounted by a woodcut, representing an astronomical clock of elaborate construction with several dials. "Pinchbeck was in the habit of exhibiting collections of his automata at fairs, sometimes in conjunction with a juggler named Fawkes and he entitled his stall 'The Temple of the Muses,' 'Grand Theatre of the Muses,' or 'Multum in Parvo.' The Daily Journal of August 27th, 1729, announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales went to the JJarthoiomew Fair to see his exhibition and there are brief advertisements in The Daily Post of June 12th, 1729, and the Daily Journal of August 22nd, and 23rd, 1729. There is still a large broadside in the P>ri'ish Museum ( 1850 c. 10-17) headed 'Multum in Parvo,' relating to Pinchbeck's exhibition, with a blank left for place and date, evidently intended for use as a poster. He died November 18th, 1732; was buried November 21st, in St. Dunstan's Church, Meet Street.

beck's long advertisements appears in the Daily Post of July n t h , 1733. Both indicate the great variety of articles in which he dealt. He was baptized at St. Dunstan's church on April 7th, 1738, when his age was 25. Xn date of his death is recorded. "Christopher, second son of Christopher Pinchbeck the elder, was born about 1 710 ? and possessed great mechanical ingenuity. He was a member, and at one time president, of the Smeatonian Society, the precursor of the Institu'ion of Civil Engineers. In 1762 he devised a self-acting pneumatic brake for preventing accidents to the men employed in

"In a copy of the Gen'.lemen's Magazine, printed in 1732, page 10S3, there is an engraved portrait by T. Faber, after a painting by Isaac Wood, a reproduction of which appears in 'I'ritten's Clock and Watch Maker,' page 122. His will, dated Nov. 10th, 1732, was proved in London on November 18th. "Edward Pinchbeck, eldest son of

;•<>; -...i ';i Motions LikzwXe aocitht-rbfaur:ft4l Pifture, ?c^EK-'.'tting OMMIFUJ in aroreftpiajing among the Beaftj. r F t r e the veiy T ees, as well u Eruies, mefeea 10 move as if anmaied and coinpslIM by the Hatroony of his Haip' It alfo performs on feveral Iciftrumentt great v-aticty of moft exccilenc Pieces of Mufick compos'd b j Mr. HAKDEI, CORELLI, ALBIKOHI, Bor.-ONCiHi.ar.d oiherce)ebt4tcdM»fterf, • withfuch wondrrfiil Kxaflnefs, that (carce any Hand can equal. It li^twifeimitates the fwcet Hitmony of any Avi! ary of Rirds,.»herein therefpeitivc Notes of thi-Nii>htinf;a!e, Woodlatk,Cuckoo, &c. ate ptttormed to fo gieat a Vctk&ion, ai not to be diiiiu^uift'd from Nature it felf, Wiih Ic.etal othcrgrand Peiform.mce> tojtfdious tomeution. Fticcs f s . j s . «rl. snd i i, To be feeti from to in ;he Morning till 10 Night, by two, or more, without \ i lufs
Christopher, was born in 1713 and succeeded to his father's business, as appears by an advertisement in the Daily Pos", Nov. 27th, 1732, in which it is announced that 'the toys made of the late ingenious Mr. Pinchbeck's curious metal are now sold only by his son and sole executor, Mr. Edward Pinchbeck.' This settles the question as to this invention of Pinchbeck the elder which is sometimes attributed to Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr. Another of Edw. Pinch-

\Ai Y O U N G \ i Grtat-Rccm, lie Cnrr.er of ..,if[ M a l l , facing the H a y - M a i k e r , is to be fee: T h e ••• 1

GRAND

jini-VAby r

THEA-THU

of

the

MUStS,

ju/i

Mr. V1 N C H B H C K:,

I

:

J_'HIi wonderful Machine is (he Aftonifli-

'

m m ot aH that fee it. the Magnificence of iisStn.cttne, tht Delicacy of the Painiing «-..) Sculpture, and the gttat vaiiety of moving Figuscs m^k-j u ihe molt Iu t prilinj! Piece cf Art that has e v e ye. appeared in Europe, It icprelcMt 31.jadfcape, with a view of ihe Sea, termina-

' i ;

l' '

Clipping frimi tho IJOIHIIHI Daily ' T o s t " (if Nov. 10, 1728, about Christopher Pinchbeck before lie bad joined Fawkes, in which he is advertised us giving the entire performance. (Krotn the Harry Iloudini collection).

working wheel cranes. In the Gentlemen's Magazine of June, 1765, page 296, it is recorded that Messrs. Pinchbeck and Norton had made a complicated astronomical clock for the Queen's House, some of the calculations of the wheel having been made by James Ferguson, the astronomer. There is no proof that

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Pinchbeck and N o r t o n were ever in partnership and there are now two clocks answering to the description a t Buckingham Palace, one by Pinchbeck, with four dials and of a very complicated construction and another by Norton. "Pinchbeck took out three patents, the first (No. 892) granted in 1768, was for an improved candlestick with a spring socket for holding the candle firmly, and an arrangement whereby the candle always occupied an upright position, how•ever the candlestick might be held. In 1768 (patent No. 899) he patented his nocturnal remembrancer, a series of tablets with notches, to serve as guides for writing in the dark. Ilis snuffers (No. 1,119) patented in 1770, continued to be made in Birmingham until the last forty years or so, when snuffers began to go •out of use. In 1774 he presented to the Society of Arts, a model of a plough for mending roads. Pinchbeck's name first appears in the London directory in 1778 when it replaced that of Richard Pinchbeck, toyman, of whom nothing is recorded. "Christopher Pinchbeck, jr., was held in considerable esteem by (ieorge III., and he figures in YVilkes' London Museum (ii-33) in 1770 in the list of the party who called themselves the King's friends. He died March 17, 1783, aged J2>- and was buried in St. Martin's-in•the-Fields. His will, which was very •curious, is printed in full in The Horo>logical Journal of November, 1895. ^ n e of his daughters married William Ilebb, who was described as 'son-in-law and successor of the late Mr. Pinchbeck at his shop in Cockspur Street' (imprinted •on Pinchbeck's portrait) whose son, Christopher Henry Ilebb (1772-1861) practised as a surgeon in Worcester. There is in existence a portrait of Christopher Pinchbeck, the younger, by Cun-

317

ningham, engraved by \Y. Humphrey. The Pinchbecks, father and son, were bv no means the inventors of the astronomical clocks, though they introduced many improvements and novelties. Writing in 1803, Charles Huttoii, in Vol. II of his translations of Ozanam and Alontucla, savs, in regard to the famous clockmakers, that in the fourteenth century James Dondi constructed for the city of Padua a clock which was regarded as the wonder of its day. It represented the motion of the sun, moon and planets, and pointed out the different festivals of the year. ^ At __ F A W K E S's THE A TR E, In JiinuJ-flrect, near ihc Hay-market, ivM hi prejiniid Iks following B-nierUiinnunU : Firft. T-TIS Diverting and Incomparable N. !'. In p?.t :tc:il.u Jjr cau!*\ 3 Tree Co £ro\v lip T;> & FIo:v(.'r-" IV-: U,T>R il\i T-u>! winch r,-iif bio-.v iui;l b t i r rite pi-mc i a . a Mi'uuc's Time. SccmuJ, His Famous J'ttic P n ^ r v n t - M A s T E a ^ litclt iraAt hi Mr. Pinchbeck , l:ourrK; T k V E I ^ T U M M.VCH1X5, beingt'nc fui?-^ Piece el VVnjkmiufllip i» ti'= VV'orW, for moving f i&iues a i

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Advertisement cut from the London Daily " P ^ t " ' of 17.10. before the ilenlh of tlie senior Tinvkos. which sliows tlial he hurt on liis progrmn. " H e causes a 'J'rce lo »iuw up in a Flower-pot upon the Table which will lilmv and I.ear ripe Fruit, ill a M i n u t e ' s Time." (From the Ilan-y Umidini collection.)

For this he secured the surname of "Horologio," which was handed down to his posterity. Some time later William Zaladin constructed a clock for the same city that was still more complex. It was repaired in the sixteenth century

318

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

by Janellus Turrianus, the noted mechanician of Charles V. Doubtless the most celebrated works of this kind are the clocks in the cathedrals of Strasburgh and Lyons. The Strasburgh clock was made by Conrad Dasypodius, a mathematician of that city, who finished it about the year 1573. It is considered as the most wonderful clock in all Europe. The only one that can dispute its pre-eminence, or that can lie compared to it in the variety of effects, is the one in Lyons. Another famous clockmaker was Martinot, who flourished in the seventeenth century, and made a wonderful clock for the royal apartments in Versailles. This also had all kinds of complicated figures, animals, etc. At the hour King Louis XIV. would appear, two guards entered and struck the hour. However much their contemporaries may have admired the work of the two Pinchbecks as patentees of utilitarian inventions, it is with their work as inventors and builders of magical apparatus that we must deal, and certainly they had no equals in that line. The elder Pinchbeck's automata showed the most delicate mechanism, and included entire landscapes with figures of rare grace in motion. The mezzo-tints, showing Pinchbeck, father and son, I unearthed in Berlin, Germany. Both are now very rare, and I consider myself most fortunate in having been able to secure them. The •dealer from whom they were purchased informed me that he had picked them up during a tour in England, thinking them one and the same person, but a careful study will show they are father and son, this fact being confirmed by the account of the two portraits set forth in the biography published at the opening of this instalment.

Fawkes, sleight-of-hand marvel and conjurer, was evidently of the same age and shared the interests of the elder Pinchbeck, but it is practically impossible to trace his early history. His Christian

The best portrait of Isaac Fawkes, the great BurMiolnmcw Kair Sl'-ight of Hand and I'osture Master. Supposed to be an engraving by *Sutton Nichols. Mr. Alfred Vaughan of Brighton. Eng.. allowed 11 photograph to be taken of his copy, but some time later Mr. Houdini managed to purchase one of his collection from Henry Evans Evauiun. These seem to be the only two copies in existence. It is stated that the above engraving appears in the early edition of Canfli'lds Book of Wonderful Characters.

name was never used on his billing, nor published in papers or magazines, and only after repeated failures, deep research and infinite pains did I find a record of his death and burial, and thereby his first name, Isaac. He died May 25 or 29, 1731, and was buried in St. Martin'sin-the-Fields Parish Church, Trafalgar Square, London, Eng. This record was

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. unearthed in 1904 by R. Bennett, the church clerk and myself, after days of search through musty, faded burial records. The records further show that he was buried in the church vault, the coffin being carried by six men. Prayers were said in the church, candles were used and the great bell was tolled. As the fees amounted to £6.12.0, a goodly sum for those days, all signs indicate that the funeral was on a scale more costly and impressive than the ordinary. Fawkes was worth at his death fio,000, which was considered an enormous sum in those days. Every dollar of this Tie made performing at the fairs. The earliest advertisements of Fawkes' performances in my collection are dated 1702, and include advertisements headed "Fawkes and Powel ," "Fawkes and Phillips" and "Fawkes and Pinchbeck.'" Powel was the famous puppet man, Phillips a famous posture master (known today as contortionist), and Pinchbeck was the greatest of mechanicians. Fawkes seems to have possessed a singular gift for picking out desirable partners.

319

England. There is just now some controversy as to who originated showing twice a night in England. In my collection are a number of other clippings from the press of the same year, in April and May 1728, but none of them say "twice a night," therefore I judge that the custom of giving two performances in a night was tried previously to April, 1728, and then abandoned, or after the first of May. In the London Post of Feb. 7th, 1724, Fawkes announced an exhibition "in the Long Room over the piazza at the (• TN tht Long Room, over the Vhi?j:?\ at the -forms M'- molt uj.p; ]< Ven iiyy a»r,ya"> o " e n iiK\vn r*wn B ny/j.net

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IRST his Famous Pofture-Mafter, that

for his wonderful Dexterity of'Bnilj exceeds all Enript. !.Tbe ! Mufical Temple pf Arts, with two moving PiSmes, the ones •'•Concert of Mufick, the ether the Siege and Bay of Gibraltar, ( fceinc the fincft Piece of Glcck-iverk in rhe World. J<1, Another - Machine with three moving Pictures, the firft reprercnts the Hi!l x>T Pirnaflus, with A(H>11O andthc Nine Mufes ptayjn£on various lnftrdmcuts of Mu/Tclt, the next a beautiful View of i River, vsich '. Swms ami other Fowls and Fifli, fjwrting as thn' Alive. The lift ; gives 3 ProfpeS of the N/w Palace Yard, with the whole Pro| jcefiktn of the late Coronation of their prefcat Majcftfts inarch- : : ing from the Hall cp the Abbey, ' Note, Half the Pcrtbrma»« can't he cxprefsM in thii Aiivc;• tifement. -.' Nivc, We(lKnv_twicc{vcry E?CRthg,thcFir(tbe£inriJn£itHve, , the others: Seven. <'/t& ; • ClippinE from the London Daily " P o s t " of 1728. Hereon is t h e first and oldest evidence procurable of the origin of the twice nightly performance. (l'"roin (he H a r r y Houdini collect" n.)

From this mass of evidence, I am producing various clippings and by a peculiar coincidence, one of which I believe offers the most authentic and earliest record of "two a night" performances in

jnis

jiuvertisement

proves

tnat

HoRiirth s

engraving

was correct as stating that he was in the long room over the piazza. Thinking it may interest the reader, on the lower part of this cut the advertisement of Clench, famous as an imitator and instrumental man, is reproduced. (Frcm tin1 Harry Houdini collectioni.

Opera House in the Haymarket." At this time he also advertised the fact that he was about to retire and was exposing all his tricks. The clipping of that date from my collection has the following foot-note: "Likewise he designs to follow this business no longer than this season ; so he promises to learn any lady or gentleman his fancies in dexterity of hand for their own diversion." (To be continued.)

320

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

London, Eng. After my provincial tcur, I have eventually arrived in London, and am pleased to state that I shall have a six months' run in town. T am playing "turns," which means that I shall play two or three halls each and every night, but not Sunday, for Sunday is a real day of rest here. * * * Howard Thurston was in London on a brief visit, but left for America. He looks, acts and speaks as if prosperous. By a strange coincidence, on his arrival in London, he found, to his great surprise, another magician billed as Howard Thurston. * * * Miss Jene Jacobs, the wide-awake lady agent, leaves Britain's shores for good. She has associated herself with Ashton's Royal Agency and will hav; her offices in the Knickerbocker Theatre Building in New York. This Ashton's Royal Agency is the firm that does almost all the booking for performances in Buckingham Palace, the place where magicians are booked to appear before King Edward.

Germaine is still at St. George's Hall, London, and making a fiiK- reputation. Cleveland, ( )hio, can well be proud of her native son. •Arnold De Biere's engagement has again been prolonged at the Alhambra. This makes it his third prolongation. His latest offering is a mysterious mummy illusion which creates a lot of comment. His assistant left him, as he wanted too big a portion of his salary; but Arnold quietly let him go, and the new assistant is better than his predecessor. * * * Horace Goldin is back at the Palace Theatre, but not offering anything new. I think Goldin has played more weeks at the Palace than people seem aware of. This is his last date on his original contract, made for him by T. Nelson Downs. Am pleased to hear that Carl Hertz and Horace Goldin have just been elected members of the executive committee of the Variety Artists' Association. * * * Chung Lung Soo's name does not appear among the candidates. A lot of

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

the conjurers would like to see Soo in the V. A. F. So, go ahead, Rob, and become a fellow-artist. The Ycnturinis are featuring "Dida" in a nice manner, and are securing good contracts. The act opens with a few conjuring tricks of the Germany type, using apparatus entirely. >;:

;|;

;J;

P. C. James Morfitt, the Bradford constable, is working on a new handcuff which he hopes will make the old English cuff take a back seat." Morfitt is quite an adept in the handcuff line. Jf!

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•:<

Another handcuff king in trouble. This time it is young Leo Selwyn. When at home, Selwyn's name is Herbert Smith. He was charged and remanded by the Liverpool stipendiary with Lottie Roberts, on suspicion of having caused the death of a fourteenyear-old boy who had been entrusted to their care by the boy's mother, Lily Kitchen of Great Grimsby. Both were also charged with receiving fii ($55) on false pretences. The prisoners deny all charges, and claim that the child is alive and well. * * * During one of my pilgrimages through Leicester Square, in the space of five minutes I met the following conjurers, all of whom are playing one hall or another in London : Horace Goldin, Carl Hertz, Carl Germain, Henri Bekker, Zelka, Marsona, De Biere and Fasola. * * * Horace Goldin has just sent a letter to Carl Hertz requesting him to omit the bridal chamber illusion from his performance. Goldin must have some reason for doing these things, or else he is being advised by some one who thinks

321

he knows what ought to be done. Lc Diable Rouge is a new mystery act on the bi-11 of Stoke on Trent. It is a mysterious ventriloquial show. The Zanzigs are sti'l on tour, and were well billed for two days at Swansea, Wales. But when you are in the English provinces you are seldom heard of. Chung Lung Soo (Win. E. Robinson) is out with his own shew and was last heard of playing Wigan. Robinson generally does very well with his own combination. * * * Starting with May 27, there will be given a special magic week at the Crystal Palace, London. Zelka has promised to personally write up the affair. * * * G. W. Hunter has dropped magic, so he says, but still the love of magic can never be dropped. Whenever I meet him he is always talking magic and mystery. * * *

On the Stoll tour, at the present time, I note the following mystery entertainers : The Howards, Empire, Birmingham; Sylvesta, at Palace, Leicester; Mile. Etta (lady illusionist), at Empire, Swansea; Dida, at Empire, Stratford; Mystera, at Richmond Theatre; Carl Howard, at Emoire. Dublin, (he, by the way, is one of the few conjurers that acted as strike breaker during the Music Hall strike) ; the Davs, mind readers, at the Royal, Worcester, and Simbra, a new man, or an old man with a new name, has anneared on the horizon as a Burmese magician. * * * Dr. Walford Bodie has just concluded a two weeks' engagement at the Alex-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ander 1 heatre, Sheffield, to an enormous business. This man, no doubt, ought to be one of the great sensations of America when he opens. He is rated as one of England's best showmen. Now that I am having a run in London, all conjurers wishing to impart any information to me, or seeking light on any rational subject in the realm of magic, will do well to call on me. Will be pleased to grant all an interview, as I want to become acquainted and make new friends with those interested in the conjuring fraternity.

Mr. J. N. Maskelyne has given us in his latest offering " S p e c t r e s of the Sanctum," a magical sketch with a t h e o s ophical and spiritualistic background- It is really an answer to Archdeacon Colley's challenge, and strange to say on the eve of the first performance a letter was received from the Archdeacon's solicitors, withdrawing his challenge. . The plot, in brief, concerns a certain Dr. and Mine. Cunningham, two alleged spiritualistic mediums, who have designs on a certain American millionaire's money. The millionaire has recently lost his wife, and his appearance is shortly expected. A piano tuner happens to enter the room, is mistaken for the millionaire, and is treated to spirit lapping and other manifestations. Then the doctor arrives, and undertakes to •produce the piano tuner's wife from .spiritland. The doctor then goes into

a trance, and from his side a cloud of vapor or smoke appears, which gradually takes on the form of a living woman; the piano tuner, in order to make sure it is his wife, takes the lady from spiritland into his arms, and is finally satisfied. The doctor then comes cut of his trance and becomes earthly once more, and demands a fee of ten guineas, and the piano tuner makes a hasty exit. Karl Germaine still remains at St. George's Hall, with great success. One of his best efforts consists in producing steaming hot coffee, which he passes out to the ladies of the audience. * + * Joad Heteb, the Egyptian necromancer, is still retained, and does well. :\i

>;;

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Mr. G. Adney Payne, the managing director of the London Syndicate halls, passed away on the 15th of May, the result of a motor accident. Mr. W. P>. Broadhead, the owner of seven halls in Manchester, died last month from pneumonia, and Mr. II. J. Curry of Grimsby, proprietor of four halls, died April 21. Three veteran showmen gone but not forgotten. * * * Fred Lindsay, an Australian whip expert, opened at the London Hippodrome last Monday, and scored an instantaneous success. His trick of cutting in half a cigarette in the mouth of his assistant, at a distance of 25 feet, is great. At a similar distance, with the same whip, he fleckes the ashes from the assistant's cigar, then extinguishes a lighted candle, and with another crack cuts the candle in half. Another trick is to flog a man without doing him any bodily injury. He then ties his whip into a knot around the man's arm,

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

whicn irick, if clumsily performed, would cut the man's arm off. To prove this, with the same whip, he cuts a wine bottle in two, as cleanly as if it were done with a glass-cutter. Here is a novelty for America. Two lady tight rope walkers at the Appollo Theatre, Paris, had a narrow escape from death, recently; the feature trick of the pair was to walk the tight rope, under which was placed a cage of lions. The top of the cage was left open so that the lions could see the ladies performing, and as tight ropes sometimes do, this one broke, and the two ladies were thrown rather 'unceremoniously into the lions' cage. One lady had the presence of mind to remain prostrate as she fell, and the other attempted to arise, and was badly torn and clawed by the astonished brutes' before their keeper arrived.. The lady was removed ,t.o a hospital. , -

,

•

*

*

*

The London .Coliseum (nicknamed the"lemon") was placed on public auction recently, and not one single bid was made for the white elephant. It is still lying idle?, eating up the shareholders' : money.: • *

*

*

•

•

•

•

•

-

'

A humorous incident occurred -''one night last week at the Cambridge Music Hall, London. Something happened to the fire sprinkler, and there was an awful downpour of water from the flies to the stage. The act which was on the stage at the time was literally1 drenched; the next turn, with quick wit,'took an umbrella onto the stage 'with them, and used it when the downpour occurred, creating screams of laughter. Jo's. Hayman(of

Hay man & Franklin.)

323

, HerrOfckiir

kckit Vienna, Austria.

The "dead season" lias occupied our city. All music halls,—except Ronachcr's—are closed for repose for four months. The passed season was very abundant in point of magic. Before leaving Vienna Devant surprised us with quite a new illusion, which he named "Giant's Breakfast," Devant will in August produce the illusion in London. '' Some days ago our summer establishment, "Englischer Garten," better known as "Venedig in Wien," opened its doors. I was very glad to see that in the opening program a magician was advertised, namely a man calling himself "Willini It masque." Unfortunately, I was not able to witness "his show on the first and the second day, and when I attended on the third day, Willini le masque" was already "passe!"; after his second appearance, he stopped his magical activity. Nobody could tell me why. But I was told that this man, who is imitating the world-famed "L'homme masque," Jose Gago y Zavala, Marquis d' Orughiella. but without possessing the abilities of this great magician, was as tasteless as to bear the mask before his face not only during his show, but also before' and 'after, when he was walking among the public. I heard the Willini is a German conjurer. From Okito there arrived an exceedingly large letter, dated Soerabaya, Java, April 13, The most interesting part of it is that, concerning the Indian wonder-

324

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

workers. Okitu- is highly disappointed about the Indian colleagues in magic. Their tricks are everywhere, and always the same, and of such simplicity, that in the European magical-boxes for children, there are better tricks to be found. When in Java, ()kito was t">!d that in Sumatra there were better conjurers. Arriving in Medan, Sumatra, he invited such a "Fakir" to call upon him, but what a surprise! The man performed quite the same things like the conjurers of Java. Okito now asked the man, if all Indian magicians did the same tricks, and the man said yes! Okito told the man, he heard that in India there were conjurers or fakirs who performed a trick whereby a rope is thrown in the air, the rope stays invisibly fixed and a boy now climbs up and down and suddenly all disappears. The man after that began heartily to laugh and said such people are nowhere in India in existence. Okito could not refrain from showing the man some of our modern tricks. The black, or better the brown magician was as puzzled as he had no other acknowledgment but the exclamation: "Oh toewan, sir; you can get your living as well with it!" Okito had kept secret that he was a magician himself. Of course, now, Okito was laughing about this fellow. On March 27, Okito arrived in Palembang, Sumatra, and in the hotel a gentleman told the old stories about the Indian fakirs, and especially about the mentioned miraculous ropetrick. Okito's father asked the gentleman: "Sir, did you see this trick?" "No," he replied, "but I am sure that it really exists." "Well," said Papa Bamberg, "I'll give you or any other gentleman instantly 1,000 gulden if anyone is able to show me such a fakir." The next day, in one of the papers, an adv. was published stating that Mr. Bamberg was

ready to pay 1,000 gulden to that fakir 7i7;o can perform the mentioned ropetrick. The adv. was printed in four languages. Hollandese, Malaiese, Chinese and Javanese. Besides this adv., Mr. Bamberg published a second 6ne r challenging all fakirs and conjurers of India to produce the rope-trick. But no one announced himself. Mr. Bamberg'sconviction is that neither the fakirs nor the rope-trick are in existence. According to Mr. Dittmar's experiences in the point of Indian magic, about which I reported in my last letter, I must affirm that a rope-trick exists, but not in such miraculous version as is everywhere described; but in a form perfectly natural, but for the layman remains nevertheless quite inexplicable. The rope lias, of course connection, but not with the heaven, but with the earth, and the "climbing boy" is no human being, but a —monkey. Also the disappearance of the fabulous boy has a real background, but this happens not with the rope-trick, but with another one that immediately follows the rope-trick, and the boy is again a monkey only. Mr. Dittmar has informed me that the Indian fakirs or conjurers don't like to travel in India, but prefer to visit Egypt, because here the business goes by far better than in their native countries. In June next Okito and his father return to Europe again. Business was always the best. Okito had the great honor to appear an April 13 before his Majesty the Emperor of Solo with tremendous success. The Emperor of Solo is the mightiest prince of Java. Ottokar Fischer.

THE

325

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

BISH

FROM THE

PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE monico's some time ago by preachingagainst the doctrine of spiritualism. The learned doctor certainly attacks spirits and spiritualism with bare SUSPEND JUDGMENT, MONS. RAYknuckles, and we think lie honestly beNALY. lieves all he says. The May issue of The Illusionist of The Evening Mail of Friday, May \J, Paris has an article from the pen of our 1907, devotes a double-column article to esteemed friend, Mons. E. Raynaly, in the doctor's statement that all spirits which he loyally defends the reputation are bad. of his countryman, Robert Houdin. For many years we have been lookWith the usual French politeness we ing for a real proof of spiritualism, a are informed that Robert Houdin was, is and always will be a great man. Yes! real ghost, or a real test which would But what about the other great men convince us. We always took a sharp from whom Robert Houdin took credit pair of scissors along to the various for his "inventions"'—-the men of materializations and seances we atbrain who invented things that Robert tended, and the only "proof" we secured Houdin, the romancing magician, bor- was when we managed to cut a piece from the ghost's wardrobe, and so came rowed ? We ask in justice to fair play that away a greater scoffer than ever. Some time ago, whilst touring Great Mons. Raynaly should wait until the entire series is finished and then attack Britain, we were invited to a seance by the well-known spiritualist and learned the author in full detail. His argument is weak and his shots bookseller, Mr. Robinson of Newcastlefall short simply because he is not aware on-Tyne, and managed to cut a piece of the many facts and proofs which will from the gown of one of the ghosts. be published, showing the existence of When shaking hands with the great methe real inventors and the real great dium, we left the piece of his shawl in magicians before Robert Houdin even his hand, remarking, "We enjoyed the seance very much." was born. We wonder hew Dr. Raupert obtained "All Spirits Are Bad." Says Dr. Raupert. his information, and would he be willThe New York daily newspapers have ing to produce spirits as he claims he given considerable space to Dr. Raupert can by simply rapping on the wall ? of the London Society of Psychical Re- We doubt it, but are willing to be consearch, who created a sensation at Del- vinced.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

326

It is reported that the Zanzigs will return to America to play a short engagement at Hammerstein's Roof Garden this summer. * * * Howard Thurston is hack in New York. His future plans are not known. Perhaps he .will work for Klaw & Erlanger. * * * Courtland and Company are in 'Frisco, but do not seem to create favorable talk with their second-sight performance. * * =* Hanson the conjurer appeared at the Howard in Boston. Hanson, where do you bail ff cirri? * * * Prof. Seymour, the old-time mind reader, is at the Washington in Buffalo. On the same bill appeared a man calling himself The Great Harrington. He was a nearmagician. ' *

;|t

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Laurent, the, man of mystery, is playing on the Hoeffler circuit. , * * * Ahrensmeyer, the hypnotist, who was ' abroad for 'four years as the cowboy mesmeriser, gave a trial show at 'the 23rd Street Theatre and managed to obtain a week's work on trial at Keith &, Proctor's Union Square Theatre. This is the man who went to London, Eng., five years ago, and with his finding-thc-hidden-article-test,' secured 'more space' in the London'papers than any ••act that appeared in Great Britain. AU the London .papers opened their columns to, the public, and thousands of letters ' were published, some claiming it was fake, and others

giving" their version as to why it was genuine. Ahrensmejer hails from Beloit, Wis. * * * It is reputed that T. Francis Fritz will shortly be seen on the vaudeville stage in an original act entitled "Ragging the Rags." He is a clever palmer of large coins, and ought to introduce them, as they can be seen from all parts of the house. * * * Max Berol and Madame Konorah have sailed for Germany, and there is no telling when they will return. * * * Leroy, Talma and Bosco are booked on the Klaw & Erlanger tour and are certain of being a big hit. * * * Madame Adelaide Herrmann has been in Canada. The local press critics only give "fair" as her due as an entertainer. * * * Caeser The Great has been working steadily for a number of years,- and this summer contemplates taking a few weeks' vacation. Augustus Rapp is still in the wilds of Michigan, and will be heard from soon. He gives an entire magic show of two and onehalf hours. If a good manager ever manages to get Rapp under contract, the larger cities will witness a clever entertainer. Don Thurloy. the-Kansas City Wonder, it is reported, w-jll shortly .present a brand new illusion, in which lip will be assisted by his charming better half. Good boy, Don.*

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Sargent, the merry wizard, was seen on Third avenue palming coins as he walked along the thoroughfare. No wonder he is clever. * * * The New York American of Sunday, May 26, 1907, has a half-page article about a Frenchman named Mons. Georgia Knap, who lias a villa that makes the one-time home of Robert Houdin sink into insignificance. This man has his home so fully equipped with electrical service that bath tubs appear and disappear with hot water. There are marvelous clothes cleaners, and musical entertainments, also a phonographic door, which, when you push the button, opens and bids you welcome and tells you the time of day. If half of what this man claims for his villa is true, Robert Houdin must rest uneasy. This electrical wizard's villa is situated at Troyes, France, and is called "La Villa Feria Electra." * * * Hornmann writes from Freeport, 111., that he is doing finely. * * * Mclntosh, the necromancer, is booked for the entire season with his illusion and magical performance at Luna Park, Pittsburg, Pa. ^ ^ * Olivette is the magician featured with Levitt's Vaudeville Company. *

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•' Lloyd's AVtcr, of London, May 12, 1907, states : ^^^^^^^^^^^^ The ups and downs of an entertainer's life were illustrated at a St. Pancras inquest yesterday, when the death of William Smith, otherwise "Carl Lebert," a professional conjurer, of Gray's-inn-road, was inquired into. The widow said that her husband was in CARI, I.EBERT business as an agent, but he also fulfilled engagements as a professional conjurer. Latterly he had seemed .very depressed through worry over, bad business. As. soon as he got any money from his professional engagements he- paid it away in taxes. About a fortnight ago he had an engagement for which he had not been paid,

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and that seemed to have worried him. On Thursday he seemed depressed, and said business was very bad. After tea he went upstairs to his bedroom, and a little later she heard a thud. She took no notice, thinking lie was practising a new trick. Later the servant found him with an injury to his throat. He had some bills—about £50 or £60 to meet—and could not meet them. He was an honorable man, always wanting to pay his way, and the inability to do so worried him. Mr. George Barrett said that Lebert, whom lie saw on the day of the tragedy, remarked to him, "As soon as I get a bit of money from my conjuring I have to pay it away in rates and taxes." In the room in which the suicide took place Lebert had all his conjuring articles and appliances spread out. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity." * * * Lebert had been fulfilling private engagements in London since 1894. His program consisted of chapeaugraphy, troublewit, juggling and magic. " * * * Salvail, the card manipulator, is still in the ring, and making good. He is working on the Lnbelski & Harris circuit, and claims to present the only act of its kind on the vaudeville stage at the present moment. He can get more out of a stripper pack of cards than any man in the business. But then he sold them for years as an act. * * * Mysterious Fontinelle broke all records at the Family Theatre, Elmira, N. Y. Magic is still booming. * * * Chicago boasts of a firm, S. Schwartz and C. L. Thorne, who deal in magicians' devices and gambling tricks. A good combination, perhaps. * * * Ca-pt. Join? Holtum, the famous cannon king, who catches cannon balls fired from his cannon, is still at the game, and now resides in North Oakland, Cal. In his time, Holtum was the talk of every country he visited. *-, * * It is rumored that Chester D'Amon, the mind reader, who created quite a sensation on the various tours from which he has just

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emerged, has leased the Girard Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa., and will present a series of mystery performances in which he will feature his mind reading abilities. They say he is very clever. * * * Si Stehhins was in Pittsburg several weeks. Pily that he does not understand how to manage himself, especially as he handles his cards so well. It seems to be better to be a bad conjurer and a good manager, than a good conjurer and a bad manager. Frederick Andrews, who went to Australia with the magic kettle act, has leased the Queens Hall, Sydney, Australia and is running a moving picture show. He writes that he is making money. *

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Harry Kellar, The Dean of American Conjurers, visited New York, playing at the Lincoln Square Theatre. We note with pleasure that he did a very large business. Paul Valadon made good. Kellar was advertised as on his "Farewell appearance," but we trust that he will make many more tours. Into the "Witch, Sailor and Enchanted Monkey," which is a borrowed edition of Maskelyne and Cook's "Egyptian Will, the Witch and Watchman," Kellar has injected a lot of good American showmanship. These series of illusions have just been sold by Kellar (through the agency of Martenka & Co.) to a Kalamazoo conjurer. The night we were there $100 reward was offered to any amateur or professional magician who could escape from the box made use of in the performance. Frank Bowman appeared at Keith's Union Square Theatre, and introduced some interesting patter with the tricks he presented. *

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Sears, The Great Necromancer, appeared as top-liner at the Keith-Proctor Harlem Theatre. The feature of his act was the three trunks suspended in mid-air, which De Biere introduced in America, and which Goldin is trying to prevent others from presenting. At the present moment, Goldin has a lawsuit in England, trying to prevent G. Fasola from introducing the trick. Who

knows the origin of this trick? The cannon part of the trick was used by E. Powell years ago, as lie shot a lady from the cannon to the gallery. *

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Who has a photograph of Judd, the magical dealer? We could use it in the 'second instalment of our dealers' symposium. • * * * At the meeting of the Society of American Magicians, held on Saturday, June i, 1907, the following members were elected to hold office by unanimous vote : President Francis J. Werner; vice-president, Elmer P. Ranson; second vice-president, Charles Roltare; treasurer, Dr. Saram R. Ellison; secretary, Oscar S. Teale. Herr Valadon was billed at Atlantic City to introduce the mysterious cross. We have no report on the mystery as yet, but it appears to be something like the cross trick, which Carlton the long-legged conjurer owns in Great Britain. T. Howell the well-known English mechanic made the cross for Valadon. * * * It is rumored that Valadon has received some excellent offers to play vaudeville dates, so he will not go with Kellar next season, but will play dates. *

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We expect to hear that Howard Thufston will be with Kellar. The Boston Daily Globe of May 31, 1907 gives the following account of an almost fatal handcuff performance : LAWRENCE, May 30.—The attraction scheduled for the opening of Canobie lake park this afternoon was the mysterious work of Dick Gauss, who was to be handcuffed, placed in a box and thrown into the lake from a raft. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people had assembled to witness the exhibition, and Gauss with his assistants had gone out from shore on the raft when great excitement was caused by the overturning of the float. On the raft

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINEwere Gauss, John Quigley, the Boston newsboy tenor, Joseph Holland and R. H. Derrah. Gauss had been handcuffed and was about to be placed in the box when the raft was unbalanced and all were precipitated into the water. Gauss did not appear able to free himself, and was consequently helpless. He was finally rescued by Holland, and the other two members of the party, Quigley and Derrah, were rescued after some difficulty. The shore of the lake was thronged with people, and the crowding to get a view of the struggling" men in the water nearly forced many of the witnesses in the lake. It was some time before the people could be satisfied that Gauss and one of his attendants had not been drowned. The men were cared for at the private lake building. * * * It was stated that Gauss intended to gull the public by crawling out of the box by means of a trap door, before it was thrown into the water. * * * Martinka & Co. report a large sale of a new coin producing wand, whoso main feature is that it can be thoroughly examined. It is no thicker llian a lead pencil and the coins are actually removed from the end. * * * Professor and Mrs. Kellar have booked passage to sail on the Augusta Victoria on a tour of England and the continent. *

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BREEZES FROM THE WINDY CITY. By W. I - Hicks. All the Summer parks are now open for business, and each has its usual illusionist and conjurer. * * * Frederick Frevoli, the novel magician, shadowgraphist and entertainer, has been resting a few weeks at his Newport, Ky., home. He starts to work the parks, opening at Lagoon Ludlow, Ky., week of May 26. + * * Madame Herrmann passed through our beautiful city on her way to Canada, where :.she has bookings. * * * Allen Shaw, the erstwhile pride of Kansas

City, (Don Turley, take notice) the King of Koins, accompanied by Mrs. Shaw, is making Chicago his headquarters for the present. They are booked at the parks; their opening being at Ramona Park, Grand Rapids, Mich. * * * Mr. Harry S. Thompson, the western representative of the S. A. M., was a welcome caller before leaving for Minneapolis, where he is going to seek some new members. * * * Chenworth and Ferrari, who bill themselves as men of mystery, are laying off here on their way to New York, where I hey expect bookings. And if they get booked, there will be a boom in the' vegetable market. * * * Nada and Natchez are appearing at the London dime museum in a smart mind reading act. *

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Ever since Anna Eva Fay has appeared here, we seem to have an endless chain of mind readers; not one week having elapsed without one or more making their appearance. * * * Mr. David Stifft, western representative of the 111. Casing Co., Chicago, has gone on a two months' trip. He is considered one of the cleverest amateur magicians, and also rejoices in the reputation of being a good hypnotist. * * * Miller, a near handcuff king, was billed with the Fay Foster Burlesque show at the Empire Theatre as added attraction. This sad event occurred May 19. He makes his appearance on the stage, by first of all acting as his own property man, setting his props, walking off the stage, and then comes out and makes his bow. His speech, (it must be called by that name, as none other will answer for the jumbling of words that he tries to make use of,) is very bad. He invites a committee, but does not call for handcuffs, and then exposes his method getting out of the Bean giant. He takes them off behind his back, with some kind of a steel rod, and then makes his exit. As regards being a drawing feature, this fellow would have great difficulty in drawing his breath. He was pronounced the worst apology for a mysterious man that we have ever seen in Chicago.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

And if Miller d<-cx not believe it in print, let him call at the hotel, and I'll tell it to him personally, where he will find me near the big chair in the lobby. He will be able to recognize me by the club and gun on my knee. * * * Ali Zadi appeared at the Columbia Theatre. He pleased his audience. Ihis Ali is Logrcnia, the son of the original Logrina, who traveled with Sam Sharpley's gift show years ago. * * * Mons. Clivette made a hit in Ferry Park, Louisville, Ky. * * * Alexander the Great, skipped from Al. Reeves show while playing Indianapolis, and, it is alleged, took along a week's salary in advance. He must have been compelled to make two trips to carry such an enormous amount. We know it must have been a large amount, as we all know Al. Reeves' limit, and have witnessed Alexander's show. * * * Old man Paul, known as the mystifier, contemplates putting nn a new act, week of June 3-

NSWERED

Gyngell, Sydney, Australia.—You have taken the name of an old English Bartholomew Fair magician and fire works exhibitor. Take our advice and use your own name. We know several men, in high standing, who now wish they had handed down their own names to posterity, instead of a name that would die when their services were over. Your own name is worth double that of an assumed one. If you are ashamed of your calling, leave it. Paul Perkins, Troy, N. Y.—Try our Barter and Exchange column, use of which will cost you nothing.

Le Roy, Washington.—Your clipping received. We have repeatedly warned our readers that the party in question is an unscrupulous fakir. You should only do business with legitimate dealers, and shun such grafters. The illusion you mention is exposed in a monthly magazine. Will send you the material as soon as we get to New York City. * • * J. Hammond.—You may be right. We have heard that the firm in Syracuse trading under the name of Williams & Co. is the B-irlingame of Chicago who moved to Syracuse, Ind., and was supposed to have gone into farming. *

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Ercole, Jamestown.—Sid MacCaire is manager of a theatre in Bristol, England. He is making a comfortable living, but is far from being on easy street. He is well versed in mind reading, and we advise you to visit him when you play Bristol. * * * Elmer Applegit, Morristown, N. J.—Your information regarding Macallister is interesting, and important if true. If the elder Macallister perished on a ship on his way to Brazil, could you find some means of proving it? Perhaps Zamlock, whose letter we publish in our Mail Bag Columns, could supply us with fuller details. * * * C. W. Kinney, Buffalo, N. Y.—If you will inform us from whom you received the enclosed circular, we will be better able to tell you if the party is a reliable dealer. You simply sent the description of the mystery, but you have cut off the address from the circular. Deal openly with us, as we deal fairly and fearlessly with all of our readers. We have nothing to sell, and no graft to compound. The paper looks as if sent out by some one who is• not a dealer. * * Seeker of Light, Fort Wayne.—You are wrong. The description of the "spirit-cuff" is clearly explained in the December issue. Instead of having a regulation rivet, you use a screw that does not taper. By taking the illustration to any first-class mechanic, he will for a few cents make you the false rivet in question. The rivet simply screws into the hinge, which is threaded. If this does not fully explain, send stamped envelope, and we will send you a small model free of charge.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Robert Madison, Oakland, Cal.— You must not take Herbert Albini seriously. He has always been arrogant, and he simply can't help it. If he had been more diplomatic in his time, he would rank among the celebrated magicians. But his own actions have kept him back. We must give him credit for being a clever performer with the egg bag, which he brought to this country in its present form. In introducing the glass box, Larry Crane also gets fresh, but then that is the way those conjurers have; so let us overlook their talk, and look at their work. 4c

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H. Wertz.—We advise you to join the Society of American Magicians. Better become acquainted with some member who will vouch for you, and if you are eligible and of age you can become a member. *

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Harry R. Allport, Liverpool, Eng.—The automaton you mention that played draughts was very common ten years ago, and has been dressed as a Turk, Indian, Arab, etc., etc. It was a clever deception. A human being worked the various movements, being cleverly concealed by a series of drawers, .which were shown open, one after the other, to prove that no one was concealed. But when the upper part was shown empty, the confederate was in the lower part, and when the lower part was exposed he would move to the top, and only one part at a time was shown open. Generally, expert players are used, and as the concealed player can resort to tables and various books he always has the advantage of his opponent. The earliest automaton: chess player originated with Von Kemplin in the eighteenth century. It is described in a number of books. Allen Shaw is now in America. So is Henry Lee. Both are playing dates. A letter addressed to this magazine will positively be placed in their hands. * * * L. Pause, Trenton.—Sample mailed. * * * George Francis, Providence, R. I.—Thanks for your interest. Have mailed the cutting to party mentioned in your letter. The party using the advertisement is what is known among the Indians as "wally-walley." Or in plain king's English, "the bull-con," and hardly worthy of mention.

331

Vasco, Pittsburgh—First of all do you think it was very nice for you to even try to queer the master of them all? We don't think so. You cannot buy the Romer cuffs, unless you run across them in a pawn shop or some place where they sell second-hand equipments. The Marlin fire arms cuffs are not made any more. * * * Pickler, G., Wheeling, W. Va.—If you have a good trade, stick to it. You can seek for engagements after work hours, but don't burn your bridges. * * * John J. Allen, Washington, D. C.—Yes. Send them along. Will be pleased to receive the material you mention. * * * W. D. Leroy.—Write full particulars of the matter mentioned when you are ready. W J are acquainted with the article in question. * * * Gustave Fasola, London, Eng.—Will look up the data on returning to New York. In case anything is discovered will let you know. * * * A. A. Gildemeister, East Toledo, Ohio.— You can buy cuffs from The Detective Publishing Co., 6249 Cottage Grove avenue, Chicago, 111.

Barter and Exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there is no after gnift and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper. Please Inform us of all unfair dealings as we wish to protect our readers. Make your advertisement brief and condensed, omltlng unnecessary words.

Will exchange Hoffman's Modern Magic for Roterberg's Modern Wizard, Later Day Tricks, Secrets of Stage Conjuring or a Magnetic Number Box. Have standard works of

TflE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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magic which I will exchange for anything of equal value. W. F. Baker, 1802 Wood St., Wheeling, W. Va. * * * What have you to offer for brand new •trunk and sack mystery with ties, and waterproof covering for trunk? Can be worked single or double. Also have spirit post. Vasco, 1418 Beaver Ave., Allegheny, Pa. * * * Wanted.—Clock dial card star; card candlestick; nest of boxes for ring trick card raising pack of cards; the skeleton stand: box and cage; watch and card target, and other aonaratus. J have some good new things to offer in exchange. Let me hear from you. John N. Hilliard, 542 Blossom Road, Rochester, N. Y. * * * Wanted.—A copy of "Plincy Miles' American Mneumonics." Adrian Plate, T43 Liberty St., New York. * * * Wanted.—Best offer for my complete outfit of magic; am retiring; trunk trick; vanishing lady; duck box; fine center table; complete stage outfit. Will exchange part for a large Rnhmkorff coil. C. O. Lorenz, Port Arthur, Texas. *

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Will trade Kellar's milk and coffee trick and Karlemann's cubes and other magical apparatus for books and good parlor tricks. E. D. Williams, 29 Seymour Ave., Utica, N. Y. *

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Have a lot of magical apparatus which I would like to exchange. Also a gramaphone with one hundred records and five-foot brass horn. CfTas. J. Hagan, 1431 Avenue A, New York City. *

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What have you to offer for a lot of good magical apparatus and books? The Great Talley, 280 Mott St., New York City. *

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What am I offered for following: Kellar's ring trick (nest of boxes) ; growth of flowers; six-foot brass throw-out flag staff; two side tables; one glass top table; lot of handcuff keys? Arthur Mosher, Little Valley,

N. Y.

HOVDINI. The icutrriiil fur those articles was gathered during the authors first Tour of Groat Britain, and was prepari'd for publication in book form. This was dine in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After the manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now be printed for the first time in monthly instalments in the Conjurors' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but, in its entirety, this treatise on I'nndcuff secrets will be the most complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. Copyright, 100C. By Harry K'oudini. All rights reserved. * * *

INSTALMENT NO. X.

Instrument for Removing Plug from Plug Eight English Handcuff. Since writing Instalment No. 3, in the November issue o£ this magazine, I have received a number of letters asking for the best method for removing the plug from the plug eight English handcuff. Sometimes it is very essential to remove the plug, for with the plug in the cuff the regular lock opener cannot be inserted, so herewith are presented two instruments which will be of valuable assistance to the embyro handcuff king-, when the cuffs are firmly fastened, so as to allow absolutely no movements of the wrist. The instrument depicted in illustration No. 1 is used for removing the plug when the handcuffs are fastened in front, and the plug cannot be reached with something in the mouth, i. e., when the keyhole is facing downward, for it is

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. easy enough to remove the plug when the keyhole faces upwards without this instrumeut.

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with the thumb turn the side wheel C, which, being firmly fastened to the cylindcr 1!, causes the two end points in the 0

bt)

1 1

ILLUSTRATION NO. 2. Instrument used fcr removing the plug from Hug eight Knglish handeuff when the hands fastened behind the baek.

the are

holes on top of the plug of the cuff to revolve in any desired direction, thus making it possible to remove the plug.

It— V

ILLUSTRATION NO. 1. Instrument used for removing the plug from the •plug eight English handcuff when hands are fnsteneil in front.

Modus operandi : l'lace the instrument into the month so that the teeth liold the wooden wheel A; the part marked H is now placed into the two -small holes on top of the plug of the cuff, and with the tongue turn the cog wheel B; by turning I! the brass rod C Is caused to revolve inside of the cylinder D, which in turn causes the two cog "wheels E at the end to revolve, thereby revolving H (which is fastened on rod "G inside of cylinder D) and turning the plug in any desired direction. When the handcuff is locked on the "hands behind the back, the instrument depicted in illustration No. 2 is used. Modus operandi: As you have use of •only one hand, take hold of the instrument and guide the two points on the end into the respective holes on the to]) of the plug of the handcuff; holding the index finger at the stationary point A,

Lock. Pickers. In my many years of travel all over the world I have met and had lengthy talks with the world's best lock pickers. By this I do not mean men who have a second key, but simon-pure lock openers ; so I am in a position to describe just what can be done with lock pickers. America has had and still possesses the best lock pickers in the world. For thirty years (from 1821 to 1851) Messrs. Bramah & Co. exhibited a padlock in their shop in Piccadilly street, London, to which was appended a sign as follows: "The artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock will receive two hundred guineas (about $1,000.00) the moment it is produced." Mr. A. C. Hobbs, of America, having obtained permission from Messrs. Bramah & Co. to try his skill in opening said lock, all arrangements were made, on July 23, 1851. The lock was enclosed in a block of wood and screwed to a door; the screws were sealed, leaving only the keyhole and hasp accessible to Mr. Hobbs. When he was not operating, the keyhole was covered with a band of iron and sealed by Mr. Hobbs,

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so that no other person should have access to the keyhole. After spending more than sixteen days in preparation and fifty hours in the room with the lock, on Saturday, August 30, 1851, Hohbs rairly opened and locked the lock for the committee and received the reward of two hundred

by James S. Sargent, the inventor of the present day time locks. Sargent took nine hours to pick the Yale double dial hank lock on October 13, 1869, and it had been agreed that he was to be allowed forty-eight working hours to accomplish this. He received $1,200.00 for the task and the New York Times of October 14, 1869, had a very good account of this match. Mr. Sargent's photo is published in this article as lie is the grand master of nil the historical lock pickers. He is now a resident of Rochester, X. Y., and nil hough a very old man possesses all his faculties which were brought into piny in several long chats we had together. He presented me with several of bis lock pickers, and I shall djscribe the original and only method he used for opening the safes of his rivals and ro winning the various sums of money which were wagered against his skill. At the Sargent & Greenleaf factory in Rochester, N. Y., there is a man named Valentine Sanders, who is a verv clever lock opener, and from my acquaintance with him, T can honestly pronounce him the most expert safe opener in the world to-day. But bear in mind we have lots of other good men, although I have not met them all. When in Wolverhampton, England, I met Mr. A. E. Price (the son of George Price), who is manufacturing fireproof JAMES SARGEKT. safes. To Mr. Price, Sr., belongs the The Rochester Edison who picked Y'nle's lock after Hdlilis (wlin was considered the greatest lock picker credit of inventing really fireproof safes. Hint ever lived), failed to accept Yale's challenge to pick this lock. Yale had previously picked Uoblj's Mr. Price, Jr., treated me handsomely lock. ?nd presented me with an autographed Hobbs also picked Chuhh's lock in copy of his father's work, "Price on London at the Crystal Palace in 1851, Thief and Fireproof Depositories and and previous to this he picked Newell's Locks and Keys. Wolverhampton, 1855." lock in Boston, Mass. He now in turn This is the only book in the world constructed a lock which was picked by Linus Yale, also an American, and Yale known to treat exhaustively of the subin turn, years after, had his lock opened ject of locks and lock picking.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Remember it takes time to pick a lock, so when giving a public performance it is wise to protect yourself by limiting your abilities to regulation handcuffs, as these usually only take a few seconds to open. The majority of my imiiators advertise that they can open anything and everything in the way of locks and bolts, but after careful investigation I find that they work with confederates, and that their advertisements are misleading, for were they able to do half what they advertise their achievements would place them on a level with a supernatural be(To be continued.)

SIMPLE METHOD OF EXCHANGING A MARKED COIN. In case you have to exchange a genuinely marked coin in the course of your performance, the reader can try the follow ing method once, and be will find that it is most effective, and no false movements are required. There are lots of methods of exchanging coins, but this is the cleanest and simplest we know. First of all take two ordinary playing cards, and place them face to face; now place them in this position on a table or chair, with the coin that you are going to exchange for the borrowed one underneath, in such a position that you can easily pick it up. Advance to the audience, ask for (let us say) a half dollar, as that is the magician's favorite coin size.

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When you have been offered the coin, say "I have no wish to touch the coin, as I wish it marked before it leaves the loaner's hands." You look

about for a plate, and not seeing one, (for the simple reason you have no wish for one) accidentally on purpose spy the playing card: walk deliberately up to it, pick it. up and say that you will ask the gentlemen to place the coin on the card, and a^k them to watch it very carefully. W hen the marked coin is placed on the card simply bold it on its place by using only your thumb. The concealed coin you are now holding with only your index finger, as you show the audience the coin on top. "With a slight movement turn the card around

and show the coin under your index finger. You can now go ahead with your trick, as it is hardly possible that it is suspected you are deliberately and boldly deceiving them right in front of their eyes. America at Last for Robinson Chung Ling Soo ( W. E. Robinson) has signed contracts for the Klaw & Erlanger tour to open in September.

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MAGAZINE.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! The serials now running in this magazine will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established ; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kindly fill out the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

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HENRY HARDIN <& CO. Specializers in Advanced Magical Effects and Hodern Spirit Secrets = We are in constant receipt of the most valuable Foreign and American ideas and many of our productions are now being used by the toremost mystifiers of the world. Send t w o cent stamp for " Memorandum of Magic " t o

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Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anvwhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co, MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

CITY

for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

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The City Magical Company

(Opposite Madison Square Garden)

magical apparatus

FOURTH AVE. AND 26th STREET

NEW YORK CITY

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338

WARREN

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THE DIAL OF ETERNITY The Always Working Magician, introducThis wonderful dial answers correctly ing the newest of the best illusions.' 50,000 Historical, Dates and Events. Prolonged three times at the London 100,000 Geographical and Statistical facts, & c Alhambra.

Hamley Brothers.

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WE BEG TO NOTIFY O U 3 HTJMEROUS CLIENTS OP OTTK REMOVAL FROM OUR LATE PREMISES 231 HIGH HOLBORN, W. C. TO OUR BRANCH AT 35 NEW OXFORD STREET, "W. C , WHICH NOW EECOMES OUR HEAD DEPOT FOB CONJURIING TRICKS &c. FOB THE CONVENlENnF OF CITY CUSTOMERS AND THOSE ARRIVING I N TOWN" AT CITY STATIONS, WE HAVE OPENED NEW PREMISES AT 29, LUDGATE HILL, E. C. AT BOTH BRANCHES, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY MADE TO ENABLE THE BEST & PROMPTEST ATTENTION T O EE GIVEN TO CALLERS AND ALSO TO MAIL ORDERS.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL TRAVELLING THIMBLE An Entirely New Method

Just one of the many brilliant effects is as follows: The performer shows an ordinary thimble on his finger. He removes it and hands it to be examined. One of the audience places thimble on forefinger of left hand. Thimble is invisibly transferred to t h e corresponding finger of the right hand. Showing it plainly performer places finger against the left palm and quite slowly closes his fingers over the thimble and finger. The latter he withdraws, leaving thimble behind. He then shows his right hand back and front thoroughly, but upon his opening his left hand the thimble has entirely vanished. This and many other beautiful effects which may be obtained are, if nicely shown, apparently miracle*. We can moreover positive! v assert th.it two thimbles are not used. Price 5/- post free. United Kingdom 5/1. British Empire 5 /4. Any foreign Country 5/10, or 1 Dollar, 40 cents.

HAMLEY'S NOVEL COIN WAND

This wand is quite new and is made on hitherto unused principle so far as magic Is concerned. The effect is wonderful in the extreme. The trick is worked as follows: The performer borrows 3 coins and throws them up in the air and they vanish. He now takes the wand, which is quite a thin one about t feet in length, made of brass handsomely nickled. This is first of all given for examination, he then waves it about in the air, the audience sees a coin adhering to the top of the wand. This coin he takes off and gives it to audience to examine. He proceeds again in this way, and produces another coin and then another, both of which are handed immediately to the audience. The marvellous part about this wand Is that it can at any nn.ment !>'•• handed for examination. It is impossible to overrate the value of the wand, because it can be used for any ordinary purpose and yet this astonishing trick can be performed at any time by its aid. The price is no indication of its value which Is very considerably more, but as w« anticipate selling a large number- we are enabled to offer them at this price. We have only a limited number of those in stock at present, so orders should be sent early in order to secure one. Price 5/6, post free 5/11. Abroad 7/6, or 1 Dollar, 80 cents.

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Theodore Hardeeri The King of all Handcuff Kings and the Mighty Potentate of all the Monarchs and Jail Breakers (bar Houdini). The official European representative of the Conjurers' MngazAne, and to whom all business communications can be addressed. £

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A. ROTERBERG 176 Ontario Street

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The RightWay to do Wrong BY Ihirrv Houdini exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great crin.inals, Male and Female. London Mail, Boston Herald and Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. Best of its kind ever presented." Price Tvventyfive cents. Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 278 West 113th Street or THHO. HARUEEN 50 Rnpert St "W. Care of Anger & Bauer, London, Hngland

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Manhattan Detective Agency, OPPOSITE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE 141O Broadway, Corner 39tH Street Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. Suite 414. Telephone 468O Bryant

Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World, as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

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Professional Card Column

In the future we intend t o have a professional card column, for which vve will charge a very low rate. Cards I will only he accepted for at least fi six months' run. Cost to be $3 seini-aiinually and $5 annually, payable m advance for space of one inch. The rate for this column has nothing to do with our usual advertising rates, being simplv a special inducement I >r our regular subscribers.

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JAILBREAKER EXPOSED! WILLIAM H. CRAIG, Sheriff

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JOH.\ J. BIRDSALL Jailer

Monroe County Jail State of New York, } County of Monroe, . S. S. Citv of Rochester, )

ROCHESTER, N. Y., July 2nd, 1907.

JOHN J. BIRDSALL, being DULY SWORN, deposes and says that he is the JAILER OF MONROE COUNTY JAIL at R o c h e s t e r , N e w Y o r R State, and that on this date there personally appeared at the above Jail the manager of Brindaniour, the Jail Breaker, who is showing at the Lyceum Theatre this week, and stated that Brindaniour had advertised to give an exhibiton before the representatives of the daily press at the Jail at eleven o'clock, A. 'M., but that IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE 1;()R HIM TO GO ON and do so s u c c e s s f u l l y without first "ARRANGING T H I N G S " with me. I told him that I would permit him to give the exhibition and would lock him in a cell, but would not be a party to any "ARRANGING." If he could beat the cells I wanted to know it. At 11:30 A M. BRINDAMOUR CAME AND I offered t o locK h i m i n a c e l l , c h a l l e n g i n g h i m to get o u t u n a i d e d , 1 «ut HE D E CLINED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE R E P O R T E R S to make the attempt. Sworn and subscribed to (Signed) JOHN J. BIRDSALL before me, this 2& day of July 1907, At Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y. State (Signed) JOS. J. LEGLER, Com. of Deeds. K i n d l y m e n t i o n C o n j u r o r s ' M o n t h l y M a g a z i n e in a n s w e r i n g a l l A d v e r t i s e m e n t s

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344

CONJURERS' MONTHLY

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Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Advertising rates payable hi advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Uagazlne are protected by copyright and must not he reproduced either wholly or in part without permission.

vented, in this way hoping to prevent the presentation of them by others. If the illusions belong to him, either bv origination or by purchase of brain work from some one else, we would like to see him win and become entitled to the sole exploitation of the illusions in question. *

*

*

It obviously is only fair that the man who originates a performance should derive the benefits therefrom; and, if the laws will properly protect the originator, much good will have been accomplished. * * *

We again call our readers' attention to the tact that in September, 1907, we celebrate our first anniversary. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo On this occasion we are going to Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. T»0 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Hussia. T. Rolin: Vienna. Austria, Ottokar place an anniversary number before the Fischer; Teheran. Persia, James Leabiuan. publ;c that you will all be proud of; the Contributions on oil topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the edition being the largest one printed up price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No to that time. manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped mod addressed envelope. As we want to have the CONJURERS' MA<;.\ZI.\JC profusely illustrated, we will VOL. I. JULY 1907 No. 11 make a special reduced rate to every conjurer who wishes to have his photoMagicians have no protection whUso- graph in our first anniversary number. ever for any idea which they present. For one dollar and a half ($1.50) we Net even a patent gives the sought for will make a half-tone cut of your phoprotection intended by law, for the sim- tograph, print your picture in the magple reason that the drawings can be pur- azine, and after the magazine comes chased for a few cents making it easier from the press, we will make you a for those so inclined, to steal the ideas present of your cut so you can have it of others. for your private use. This is a serious matter and we perAll cuts will be of uniform size, and sonally hope to see the time when a none specially displayed. First come magician will be protected from actually will be first placed on the pages allotted to this matter. With the dollar and a having his performance copied. From various news notes we have half be sure to send a good photograph, drawing or sketch of yourself, name published from time to time, it will be and a few lines for reading matter to observed that Horace Goldin has been go underneath your picture. very busy of late patenting several ilKindly bear in mind that the half tone lusions which he claims to have in- cut belongs to you after publication. The magazine Is for sale by nil reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten routs each, by addressing the publication office, as above.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

In 1h:s series of articles, it is my intention to C- rrect many errors regarding the history of "Jiapie which nave existed in the public mind since " T h e Life of Robert Ilondin" was issued. In such endeavor, necessarily. I have introduced references to Houdin's contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a Comprehensive history of magic from 1GKO to the present day. ID order to prove my s t a t e m e n t s , it is also necessary to wander frequently from the central figure, Iloudin. but though some instalments may not present the name of Hnudin. the f a d s presented will, in the course of the history's development, be found to have direct bearing: on his life and work. In inking issue with these generally accepted as authorities, I am actuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained by me during years of earnest investigation at home rnd abroad, and to do justice to those who preceded Iloudin and to whom he owed a g r e a t e r debt than he set f< rth in bis autobiography. Copyright, 1000. By Il.irrv H. udini. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT

NO.

X

Continued Isaac Fawkes, Original presenter of the Orange Tree Trick When Fawkes was not in partnership with some puppet show man, he always advertised his own puppets as a "court of the richest and largest figures ever shown in England, being as big as men and women." His admission charges varied, but 12 pence seemed his favorite figure. About six years before his death, he had his own theatre in James Street, near the Haymarket, in which he exhibited for months at a time before

345

and after the fairs. I reproduce a clipping from my collection, showing Fawkes' last program. Here will be seen that his first trick was causing a tree to grow up in a flower pot on the table and bear ripe fruit in a minute's time. In this trick Pinnetti later created much comment, and 115 years later Robert-Houdin claimed it as his own invention, "The Orange Tree." The singing birds, featured by Fawkes and Pinchbeck, were included in Pinetti's repertoire during his English tour in 1784, so, though Robert-Houdin also claimed the invention of these automata, it will be seen that three men possessed the secret before his time and handed it down to future magicians. As to the orange tree trick , claimed nlso by Robert-Houdin, both Halle and Weiglcb, in their books (1786-7) exposed this trick completely. In tlie Gentlemen's Magazine, that oft-quoted and m^st reliable periodical, on February 15th, 1731, readers are informed that the Algerian Ambassadors witnessed Fawkes' performance. At their request he showed them a pro'spect

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY

346

of Algiers and "raised up an apple .tree which bore ripe fruit in less than a minute's time, which several of the company tasted of."
the Cock mi Half Afron Tavern in Cha-nceiy-tnnt Me.™ Temple-Bar.

T"HE famous Mr.FAWKS ' fti form hn mod fiirprizinp Tricks by Dexterity of Hard, with hi-, Ctf-d,, Eses canom fndw Birds, Mice and Montf." Montf. WlKhCii f In I theK WliKhCurioltties no Itrfon Kmc<Jom on pretend t.i fhnw 1*<; hlrnfclf. Topttker witii the won«rful AOivfty of Body performs by h\'. Pcfturt Mafter, brine s Soy abouc Ten Years of Ai(e h & -d in Kuropc. fcurnpe Who Transform his Body cwdsall tkat ever Oww'd who Transforms into fuch various Shapes at fu-parfc, human Faith ro beU.ew wtthout feeing. Lftwifc hie Italian Scatarr,...uch Dance, with two H M * . •fcur-US*, and but one Body, to the Admiration of all SpeOstor*; Now, Wchave had the-JIoneorto pertono before Ms preftnt Majefty wirgc, thcPniiM, ro ail the Quality nt the whole Kit.*. JCng Owrgc, thcPmiM, rod '•*"' " " ' » " " " " " < - ' • "--• ning S o y 'Evening pceifely at

MAGAZINE.

Pinchbeck the elder, and Fawkes the younger were in a boo'h together and Pinchbeck was advertised as doing the "Dexterity of Hand" performances. We hear that young Fawktt anJ Pinchbeck are now arrlwJin Town from (He Bath and SaJiib&ry f where they hjvc,-ln the molt agreeable MJimcr, emertaincd the Nob titty and Quality with their very furyriz'njl rerforroancts ; and 10 whom the Lite httuout 3lTr. Fawke*, in hi* Lire-time, had communicated all thofe wondcr5xJ Sccreti which Rave fuch underfill S3tisfoition to all h» Sj:eitatort: And we are.likewile jffured, that every Particular i» pvererv'3 in i« utraoft Perfection, viz. Hii Artitictal View of the World j -his furpriting Dexterity ol Wand, in which he caulls a Tree to" grow out of a Flower-Pat on the Table, which M ifTbmi ajid Ifejrs ripe Fruit in a Minute'* Time ; his famous littte rorizing Entertainments we hear will be ptif-tm'd ncxi Week "at-the late Mr. Faukts'i Theatre, at ihe old TeiinisCoun Jnjafnc»-fli'cet near the Hay-market. ,t f/32- •-

p r f f frcm the London "Post" of 1732 (after the death of Isaac Fawkes). which shows the collaberation of youn^ Fawkes and Pinchbeck, and proves the existence of the fruit ^rowinjr on a tree trick, long before Iv.nidin's time. Pinchbeck invented this exP riment. which Hmidin borrowed and claimed as his own. Clipping, from 172C), of one of the earliest advertisements of Fawkes. (From the Harry Houdini collection.)

Fawkes, too, had a son, and thus the partnership and friendship which had existed between the elder Fawkes and the elder Pinchbeck were carried on by the secend generation. All of the marvelous apparatus made by Pinchbeck the elder, for Fawkes may have been passed on by the latter to his son, but in 1732

tDAY, J a n u a r y a t , ' 7 2 6 . 'A:be lea-.

Perhaps he was only teaching the younger Fawkes the tricks. At any rate Pinchbeck died November 15th, 1732, and young Fawkes started out on his own

inWcJlSmrtbhsW.Ji-.car.g the White Hurt Ahhonjs MM Co-tx.~hi.ii End, U R I N G the fhort Time of iinitholomcw-

D

F^ir, which tiegins rotMoi^.xy jictr.-tfct 15.-I fn(hinr, and ends tlie Tl.urfJ.iy M b w i n g , ,lv: 1'ul.jitk \vi)l br diverted wiili rise fniiniviiig K:Hert;u:;nai-.r:, '••l.kli b.dvc gaLi'u I'uch gre;«£ Ajijiia-j^c, vi'.. Firlt, Fawkes's u:OT»ip:iral.!e Dcjcoiry o " HAIK'. V.-]O jwrfonnc fererjl lbr;:rii!i:g Trie!.; envirsiy ncvl' , :ui'J • Very ciiriousSecondly. T h i am..?J)!g Muij-ai d o r i . w i i b t w ct'.-'n'iMnvjii<; 1'iitorei. 'he• famom ynmn; .'•"f!or»-Tvlaft-r, «,-l)6

SV anJ TOWEVi Theatre, ii: >.. -y •njames-fheet, nejr tin Hj}-Mtri-:t, a u vi^Entertaitiments, viz. /^i6

F

I R S T , his furprizing'l)ex-

tcrifj of Hio-' ig ihc fn!cnlaj. N. E. The jWrs \)\V be * f M every Day at Five o* Clock. And in Kirpsrti that, Gentfan;:n md J^a* wlt not be (ii&ppoiawd, we becfai exactly a: Six, and JKMIC to be ji* auet. ,Pjri«**«. i s . and*d7 This clip'iliijr shows ( h a t Fawkes joined hands with the fiiuioiis Hiirtholouicw Fair I'ui>iH't-ui.'ni, Powcl. They must h;ivc piv n ;i lonj; iMTfonnniK-c as the Advertisement r;ills nttentuni to the fact that no one will lie admit ted after six o'clock, \vhei\ as other ndviTtiseinents of otln r dates s t a t e with rare ex<'opti(»ns, tintt Fawkes gives performances every other hour.

of cable Cnriofiaeis. FiftJ;!y, Tliat fine Piece of M i c r ' r f - ; / . tli'j Anific'iH!. View ni L\V. V/oi'W, «v'.i«rc:i »rr (Lien n V^ri-.-!1,' of d;'tf;ent I i'j'olpe'tfs: parfjCtiJ.irly <:',.'•: iliree iol'.iwin^^ viz. 1- AK-pr.'fenniriuii of Wiiultor Caltw, wii). n '-"jew.of tlie River of T k i n : s . 1. Tlie C'ty of Grind Ciiro-in Egy;.". 3. A IVoficct ofrhc Town, F o n a;:'tl IJaj of G'SrAlrar. N. B. I'n k s i j •M-'-ry Day it'Xcu in LI.E MojjU'ij; auJ . ^End at TJD. *. Wiv,!;;. . ... • - ; i

Clipping from tin- Lmiilun IlMily "F'nst" of Alls. 16. 17.'{(t. I-"rcini this it will bo socn t h a t ynunp: Fawkes tried it alone, but as he again joined young I'inchheek, it seems t h a t one could not get along without the othrr. I'prhaps they curtailed their performances, mid gave only half of each of their .respective exhiliitlons. In this way they could easily give a s many performances as they wished without the fatigue n ccssarily produce
THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. account. In 1746, according to an advertisement in my collection, Fawkes and "Pinchbeck" were together again, so the son of Pinchbeck must have joined the younger Fawkes for exhibition purposes. The accompaning clipping from contemporary publications show the unwritten history of young Fawkes, and the tree which bore fruit in a minute's time is still on his program.

347

istence, but it now seems three were made. I publish them all—something that no one has ever before been able to do. I believe that my collection is the only one in the world which can boast of these three pictures. One was taken from a Setchels fan, published about 1728, although some authorities say 1721. It appeared in Hone's "Every Day Book," page 1,226. Another, I be-

MASSUERADES AND OPERAS, BURLINGTON GATE A Fnc-Simile of Hogarth's own Engraving. (From the Harry H- udlni collection I. This reproduction ot an engraving l>y Hogarth, the celebrated English artist is entitled "Taste." In it Hogarth belittles Bnrlington Gate and considers Fawkes so important that he has placed him above the opera house. The sign outside of the window is lettered with the words "The L<mg Itoom, Faux's Dexterity of Hand." To support this picture and to make it absolutely impossible to refute my chain of evidence, elsewhere in this article is reproduced a clipping from the London Post, of Feb. 7, 1724 which is headed, "In the Long ttoom Over the Piazza at the Opera House."

At no time during the joint history oi lieve, was engraved by Sutton Nicols, as the elder Pinchbeck and Fawkes did Hone mentions it in his description of Pinchbeck pose as a conjurer or sleight- Fawkes. In the fan engraving it will be noticed of-hand artist. His work was purely that there appears a man wearing a mechanical, but his inventions were marvelously exploited by his deft-fingered star on his left breast. It is said that this is Sir Robert Walpole, who was partner, Fawkes. For many years it was supposed that prime minister while Fawkes was at his only one portrait of Fawkes was in ex- prime and who was one of the conjurer's

348

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

great admirers. Hogarth also placed Fav;kes in one of his engravings, as the frontispiece of a very funny tract on "Taste," in which he belittles Burlington Gate. This makes the third of my collection, herewith reproduced. (To be continued.} Editorial Note. In the May issue of this magazine we traced the history of the writing and drawing figure, claimed by Robert-Houdin as his original invention, and proved that the two original figures, one a writing and one a drawing figure, were built by Pierre Jacquet Droz, a Swiss clockmaker, in the first half of the eighteenth century. Later his son, Henry Louis Jacquet Droz, combined the two figures in one, and the history of this particular figure was traced almost without a breakto the time it entered into the posses-

Museum. We also stated that Carl Willman, of Hamburg, Germany, claimed that this or a similar figure, was in the possession of a mechanic in Dresden, it was not the combination figure made by younger Droz and improved and exhibited by Robert-Houdin, but the two distinct figures made earlier by the elder Droz. We are in receipt of the following letter confirming these statements, which, we feel sure, will be read by every magician with great interest.

T H IS is to give Notice, That the famons

1 Mr. PAWR& at m* &xnh in WVft-Str.ithtieirf,perform* tht follo*ios moft fbrprirna Trick'. iftrrjimpM thxf, vii. Het.kei ao empty B*w. lays iron tSc Tsfel?, wd turns it fevera! Time* infwJe «ut, zhrn tnnmv*nJ« loo E&y outcf It, and itversi Shower? of real • Gold mi 5i!»he T«f>fe He ihrovai up i Pack of Cards, and aaktthem tobc living Bird* fljtag ahodt the ROMTU He caufo living Peatb. 8irds, »nj other Creatures «>'appear opon the T*. > hie. He Wows th;;Spoisof the Cards off or on, anj cHaages eheaj to ' any Picture!. Ukewif- iHe fjmoui L«tfc Poftarc M^ftcr, a French • Boy* abot rr Vcars of Age, who pi.TR>rms above ioo furprfzitis' A£tfo(w, far <-»ceuiioi ail that rver fbow'd in Euro??. Heftandsupon » ; Scatfeld 9Footliii?i, ind bends hackwjrd till hU whole Body n»m(» ^ Wow hit Lcp, atid rifa again wllhoot my help ai his Hand*. He fttfts htmftif 6 Fo n b«v/een t*o Cfaifrs, while he phys tipoi> the Violin, Vaulting as if h« was upon "a Slack Rope. Wiih above 1«> i ^tiio i s Tricks bete ttq tptTH ck byy b^rfi brf the Performer^,, too ceaioiM e i th. h Mording i till il 9 at Nighr, Thtir Hours. t*7ery Dijf, iirom 9 in laft Show* bc-^iraiinR at ?, 5. «id 7, in the Evraing, With » g

SiMh#J&&M

d ;

Clipping from the London Daily " P o s t " of Aug. ]~:!o. in which Fawkes advertises his admission price ;is twelve pence. (From the H a r r y Houdini collection. )

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, May

Reproduction of page 112(3 of K'ones Every Day BCMII; (from the library of Harry Houdini). This portrait of Fawkes was engraved on a fan by Setchels In 172S (some authorities claim 1721). and the fan was distributed among the sight seers of the Fair.

sion of Robert-Houdin and was by him sold to the late P. T. Barnum. Presumably it was destroyed in the fire which laid waste the latter's American

31,

1907.

.Air. Harry Houdini— Dear Sir: Have just read your highly interesting article in number 9 of the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE, and trust that the following information added to your collection of data may prove interesting. The three automata (The writer of Jacquet Droz, the elder, the drawing master, and the Harmonium incidently the Piano player of the second Droz) were for a long time in the possession of Mechanician Martin in Dresden, Saxony, who exhibited them in all the large cities, and in 1883 advertised to sell them all for 15,000 Marks. (About $3,800.00.) according to an advert, in the Muenchener Fliegende Blaetter May 13. 1883.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

After Mechanician Martin's death his widow sold the automata to a Herr Marfels in Berlin who had them thoroughly repaired and with such good effect that in the fall of 1905 he sold them for 75,000 francs (about $15ooo.oo) to the "Societe d'histoire et d'archeolegie" of the city of Neuchatel, Switzerland. (The family Droz originate from the Kanton Neuchatel.) The three Automata, which even at the present time work admirably, were 'on exhibition last month (April) in Le Locle Chaux de Fonds, Neuchatel, Bern and Geneva and I had the extreme pleasure of seeing fhe various figures go through their performances or exhibitions, whilst they were here in Geneva. Trusting that this information will be of interest to you, with highest regards and esteem I beg to sign myself Adolph Blind.

349

Jaquet Droz's Writing Automation

2) Sample of writing by the figure in 1796

reucir [eur Sample of writing in 1906 ] \Ql

i I DI

f)/

King George III. and Queen Charlotte, as sketched by the drawing automation in their Portrait and autograph of Pr. Jaquet Droz presence in 1774. The above sketches are published by courtesy of the New York Scientific American

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London, Eng., If tlie weather in America is anything like it is over here in England, it must mean good business for the theatres. The weather lias been very cold, and we have had a lot of rain. Magic and magicians abound all over. I met I.eRoy one day out in his motor, and had a pleasant ride and chat with him. He informs me that he had a fine engagement offered him to go to America in September, but as he had a month booked at the Apollo in Vienna, and as Ben Teiber, the manager, would not let him off, he had to postpone his intended trip to America. -,i

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I saw DeHiere standing outside of the Alhambra, with his chest prominently protruding. When I asked of him the wherefore of this pose he simply said, "The management wanted me to play one night (Monday I and I told them that it was to be a whole week or nothing, so they did not let me work, and I went over to the Palace to see the Great Goldin work. Today. Tuesday, the management of the Alhambra again sent for me. and told me to go to work, and stay on for the rest of the week."

This makeo the fourth time his engagement has been prolonged. * * * Karl Edward 1'ollack was in London, and told me he li£-s some fine illusions for sale which his wife had owned. She is not working any more. * * * The other day half the village of Turkeley, Essex, England, turned out in pursuit of a young man named John Cunn, of a neighboring parish. He walked into the garden of a private house, plucked the choicest flowers, divested himself of every stitch of clothing, cleared the garden hedge with a bound, and started to run along the high road as naked as H. G. Well's invisible man except that his body was tattoed in all the colors of the rainbow. The \illage constable mounted a bicvcle and eventually caught Gunn. He was declared insane and ordered to be removed to 1'rentwood asylum. It was stated that Gunn at one time traveled in the dime museums of America, as the tattooed man. * * * Hayman and I attended the English Derby and while we were on Epsom

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Downs we saw a very clever magician doing a turn and passing the hat. [ recognized him as a very well known music hall artist who has heen out of work because he worked during the late strike. He was getting plenty of pennies, and I think he prefers busking. *

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351

Horace (ioldin has again appeared in court, this time as a defendant. The London Daily Telegraph of June 14th

states that the Judge gave Judgement to the plaintive for the amount claimed (£10 17s Id).

*

Mahatma, Mind Readers, and Carl Herrmann arc on the McXaughton tour.

M. Emilie Lazern, in conjunction with Sid Doody, have what they call a ii.ooo lightning change magical scene, entitled "Mysteria," in four acts. Scene 1 is a coal mine; 2, is a drawing room; 3, is a garden; 4, is a drawing room with an elaborate tableau. Exact time of each change is three seconds.

Whilst at the Grand, Clapham Junction, I had the pleasure of meeting Prof. Don, secretary of the Magic Circle and had a half hour chat with him. He is more than three score years of age and has had over 35 years of experience in the world of mystery. 1 le has had a lot of bad luck lately. On one occasion he was booked to give a show for Maskelyne. and on his return home he found to his horror that his wife had committed suicide, after she had first cut the throat and so caused the death of their ten year old son. This occurred after thirty year's of wedded life and without a solitary quarrel. A few weeks ago. fire destroyed his house which he had just purchased. IJut still he. does not complain. His duties to the Magic Circle keep him quite busy, as it h growing all the time. • • • Carl Hertz is at the (Irand Clapham featuring the bridal chamber. He sails for South Africa on July 6.

Mr, Hymack, the chameleon comedian, scored heavily at the Empire, Bristol. He makes his appearance in a high hat, light frock coat, etc., being dressed like a fashion plate. He staggers like an intoxicated man and has a lengthy altercation with a pump. He wears green gloves which, however, he discards and throws on the stage, when suddenly a cane appears in his hand ; this he hurls from him only to find that another has appeared; and as he throws this one away a red pair of gloves appear on his hands. All the time arguing nonsensically with the pump, he now is amazed to find the second pair of gloves on his hands and finding that his cuffs irritate him, he tears them off only to find, however, another pair appears in their place ; off they come, and yet another pair are seen, which he proceeds to also remove.

I wish to inform all foreign subscribers, that in case they fail to receive their magazines, they might drop me a postal card, so that I can forward an extra copy.

352

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Now another cane is seen in his hand, which he breaks in two and throws away. But again he holds another cane up to view. He becomes exasperated and tears off his collar, tie and flower from his button hole and immediately others seem to grow on him ; he thereon appears to become crazed with anger and, removing his coat, seizes a bucket and pumps it full of water from the pump; he starts to carry the bucket across the stage, when suddenly a yellow pair of gloves appear on his hands and the bucket thereon falls to pieces. He now rushes to the pump, wrenches off the handle and lashes the pump with it, and then removes the yellow gloves and while so doing the pump moves off the stage. As a climax he rapidly removes his vest and now appears in full view wearing a black frock coat, silk hat, walking cane, collar, tie and black gloves; in fact, dressed immaculately, and all is done in full view of the audience.

During the recent tour of the Zanzigs in Wales, Madame was nearly upset several times, when the audience would ask the names of some of the Welsh towns. Imagine "second-sightcrs," having a name like this hurled at you quick, "Llanfairchan"; or, tell me, please, "Llanbrymnair"; or can you mention "Llandrindod." Madame came through the ordeal unhurt. The Zanzigs' tour ended Saturday, June 15, and they opened the following Monday at the Alhambra, London, the scene of their former triumphs. The company goes out again in the autumn, -i-

*

*

The strong man who allows motor cars to run across his chest, came to grief last month in Madrid and was nearly killed. Befoie going on the stage Mr. Strong Man forgot to place on his body "the fake" which supports the motor car, and as the car started to pass over his body, loud yells were heard from underneath the car. It was backed away, and the would-be Samson was found, badly bumped and bruised, as also was his contract when the gentleThis man does not call himself a manly directors finished with it. magician. He told me it took him five * * * years to perfect the act. The recent general meeting of the Variety Artistes Federation, looked more like a gathering of conjurers; near me sat Prof. Dunning, Walton and Lester, Young Marco, Henri Levine, Anthony, and at my right sat Hardeen, who spoke mightily and learnedly on the A new Midget has various questions under discussion. -;. b ! e \ . d l s : covered in beotlana who will outrival the late Tom Thumb. He is advertised as weighing 24 pounds, and being 23 inches in height.

The long expected award was received by the artistes on Saturday, June 15th amid a wailing and gnashing of teeth ; the only thing they gained was that they would be paid for matinees on "future" contracts. The barring clause, if anything, is worse than it was before.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. What the managers gained in this arbitration would fill this entire magazine, so I will not dwell longer on this painful subject. * * * A collection is being made for the widow and orphans of the late Karl Lebert who committed suicide last month, a? they were left in straightened circumstances. !jt

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In my letter' of the April issue, I made mention of Dr. M. E. Bandman's discovery, Signor Carlo Grossi, the mind reader, and telepathic expert. Grossi opened at the London Hippodrome on June ioth and has made quite a sensation. I think the most unique part of his act, is when he unravels a supposed murder mystery. He is securely blindfolded, and two members of the committee, chosen from the audience, are asked to enact a crime. Several knives are laid upon a table, the supposed murderer grabs one of these, and pretends to stab somebody. After supposedly killing his victim, he take^ several articles from the murdered one's pocket, which with the knife he hides in any place he chooses to select. The blindfolded Grossi acting as the detective picks the murderer out of about a dozen men, finds the victim, the knife, and last of all the hidden stolen articles. The committee seems to take real delight in killing one another. Dr. Joseph Gregorowitz the Russian spiritualist made quite a feature of this test when in Milwaukee in 1893. The doctor, by the way is now in Muenchen healing by laying on of the hands. He has had several combats with the police and so far has come out second best. Nate Leipsig informs me that after exhibiting before the King of England

353

and King of Denmark, he was paid a compliment by His Majesty King Edward. On being sent for by the King, he was asked amongst other questions, "What is your nationality, Mr. Leipsig/"' "I am an American,'' promptly answered Xate. "I thought so," said the King "you Americans are so clever and that is why I admire you as a nation." I wonder what the King would say if he ever saw Roger Dolan. * * * Prof. Wingard is alive and still in the ring. If this should meet the eye of Herbert Albini, will he kindly drop the professor a few lines. A letter addressed Winter Villa, Southsea, will be sure to reach him. * * * Roland the Great is booked America. 3-'

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in

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Dr. Bodie is in the north of England, with his own company, "packing them iii." The doctor is looking forward to his American tour, which commences in October with Al. H. Woods. I met the doctor at the office of a prominent steamship agency, where he was booking the royal suite, on the big boat. De Biere has signed for the Stoll tour. Daredevil Schreyer has established a record for sensationalism at the Pontypool Whitsuntide fetes. He rode down an appalling incline on a bicycle, leaped into the air, turned a somersault and dove into a tank of water 6 feet in depth, covering some 150 feet in his dive, for which he received $1,000 and his fares to and from America. TOSEPII HAYMAN,

(of Hayman & Franklin).

351

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

BISH

FROM THE PRESS \A/ISE, AND

OTHERWISE

A CLEVER CONJURER'S TALE

The pathos of the love making of Ben Cobb in conjunction with the adventures of the characters in foreign countries make the book interesting reading from start to finish. The perils, particularly of the itinerant conjurer make you feel as if you were dealing with living, human beings instead of simple figures in fiction. The book is published by S. O. Beeton, 248 Strand, London, England. (Xo date.)

During the many years we have sought for magical literature, no book has come to our notice that could in any way compete with Dumas' "I>alsann>," until l.y mere accident we happened to pass a book shop and beheld a greencovered bock, entitled "Silas, the Conjurer." Something in the New York Sun Thinking that, like the majority of ''Not So." books we had purchased in this way, it Hy an accident we overlooked the Sunwas some idle story, or did not at all day Sim of May 12, 1907, even though appertain to a conjurer, we started to scan the book, when lo, to our surprise, we are "constant readers," and have been we "found ourselves unable to stop read- subscribers since the great flood, or ing the contents. Of all the interesting rather we mean the great blizzard, of books we had taken hold of, this one 1888. But on this above-mentioned Sunday we passed up an article which reigned supreme. Mr. James Greenwood, the author, honestly requires talking about. One colwho also wrote "The Adventures' of umn and one-half of matter were devoted Reuben Davidger." certainly handles his to ridiculing the Society of American conjurer in a masterful manner. He has Magicians. Changing all the names of the mema style not unlike that of Charles Dickens, the greatly beloved writer of our bers, the Sim states that the meeting occurred on Third avenue, when it really English cousins. The book is crammed full of interest- took place at Martinka's Palace of Mysing material, and the characters well teries at 493 Sixth avenue. worth close study. In fact, everything t h . i t took place .Silas Horner is the conjurer, who has was disguised with fictitious namesan intimate friend in Benjamin Cobb, a Whoever wrote t h a t article possesses great big hearted fellow whose sense of a good fund of humor, but why not perception is dulled by his love for give the struggling S. A. M. a lift by Adelaide Horner, mentioning real names and places?

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

355

Our Mail Bag In this department it is the | rivllege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns nre thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may he bettered or evils abatt-d by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself reBponsible for opinions expressed in this department.

(Ed. Note). Will subscribers failing to receive their magazines, kindly inform us? We shall only be too pleased to forward other copies. We cannot explain why the papers do not reach their destination, as all magazines are properly and carefully addressed and mailed each month. Editor COXH'RKKS' MACAZINK : Sir.—The half-tone of the Fakir of Ava, which you sent me is an excellent likeness of the dear old Fakir as 1 first knew him. J was for a number of years assistant to the Fakir, and afterwards took his place on the stage and gave the show under his direction, in conjunction with John W. Winston, the humorist. The Fakir retired from the stage in '69, settled in Huffalo, and married the daughter of Mr. F'red Stanfield, the scenic artist. He had two sons bv this union, Harry, who lives in Detroit, and Frank, who is in the hardware business in St. Louis. The Fakir died in Olean, N. Y., about ten years ago and his widow married Mr. Smith, the scenic artist, in Buffalo. The other boys witli me with the Fakir of Avon were I'"rank Ewens of Buffalo, now a traveling salesman, James Ewen, now proprietor of a hotel ii. this city, and another boy who afterward became, the Fakir of Vishnn. The Fakir's name was I. Harris Hughes, and he originally came from Liverpool, England.

He was the first to introduce the gift business in conjunction with a magic show and made a big fortune, as he had tlie reputation of being an honest man who always gave a square deal. As

The Fakir of Ava.

(I. Harris Hughes)

soon as I get to my storehouse I shall send you a later photo of the Fakir and myself taken together. Sincerely yours, Harry Kdlar.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

356

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE: Sir.—On looking over your magazine of October, 1906, issue, I find an article by Francis J. Werner regarding Macallistcr. The Macallister who died in San Francisco was J. M. Macallister, a nephew of the original Macallister. He ran a gift show, but did nothing for many years previous to his death. I was well acquainted with him and obtained the above facts personally from him. When he billed his show he had lithographs of his uncle and himself displayed side by side. Very respectfully yours, Zamloch, Magician. •

•

•

LONDON, ENGLAND.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE: Sir. — In the April CONJURERS' MONTHLY you suggest that my mysterious talking head, Dou-Ban, is worked by concealing a boy in the box and having him talk through the head to the audience. This is not correct. Dou-Ban is a life-size head which stands on a box measuring 8 inches by 8 inches by 10 inches, which is obviously much too small to permit the concealment of a boy.

which a long box containing a lady is pulled into the air, when both box and lady disappear, and lady is found in a suspended trunk, which is not covered in any way, and is worked quite differently from the cannon and box trick. In case it should be copied, I should like to say that this is the same illusion which I made and worked at the London Hippodrome for Mile. Von Etta last February. The magical attractions at the Crystal Palace are Ernest E. Noakes with his illusions "Illia" and "Greenwich Observatory," also the magical sketch, "Julius Caesar's Father-in-Law," introducing levitation; the girl floats above his head, and he walks underneath her, while he passes a hoop all around her. Whit Monday, Chas. Morritt was here with his old show of the "Man in a Trance." He is billed as the greatest hypnotist that has ever lived. When in London, Howard Thurston bought a number of illusions.

The whole affair is carried abo>ut the

auditorium and there continues to talk and answer all questions, xvhile in the midst of the audience. With best wishes, Yours faithfully, Julian IVylie. * * * LONDON, ENGLAND.

Gustave Fasola appeared at the Palace, East Ham, with his spectacular act of Hindoo magic. He is still working the cannon and boxes, having on a law case brought by Goldin regarding same. Goldin has appealed to a higher court. Fasola also worked a new illusion in

London Cameron, the Scottish magician, appeared for the first time in London last week, playing the Empire, Camberwell. His act consists of the growth of flowers from a hat; the novel combination with a canary, card, hat and gas cylinder; card manipulating; the die-box; the production of a large quantity of silk stuff, from which he in turn produces livestock and a number of umbrellas. He finishes with two large flags on staffs.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Magic Circle meeting last night, Hotel Tudor. Among visitors present was De Biere. Arthur Glynn presented an original number with a cage, an ostrich egg and a candle. Various methods of card rising wero exploited by H. J. Collings, the most novel being with a large bird which dipped his beak into a receptacle in which the pack of cards was placed, and found the selected cards. Effect good. H. Hull worked the sun and moon trick, which he worked up to a spectacular finish, producing a large blue flag, representing the sky, with the sun and moon on it, with the two borrowed handkerchiefs hooked onto the sun and moon. A burlesque lecture on wild beasts (nothing to do with, conjurers) by Mr. Geo. M. Munro, was greatly appreciated. Mr. Ebert D'Egcrton read a paper, which contained some excellent material, and if some performers I know were to take heed of same, they would improve their show. Hon. Sec'y H. Donn gave the watch in nest of boxes, assisted by De Biere. The man who was supposed to 'have the watch, had a pocket full of billiard balls, with which De Biere had fun, when he found them. Ernest E. Noakes completed the program with one of his original card tricks. A card passed from inside of a glass of water into the smallest of a nest of envelopes. The new illusion "It" is a board on which a Tan is su ripped and his place taken by a woman. The board is set upright on stage. Effect is same as Carlton's Cross. Yours faithfully, Wilfred C. Zelka.

357

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: Before going any further allow me right here to congratulate you on the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. It was sent to me as soon as published by our fraternal friend, W. D. Leroy, of Boston, who never lets me miss a good thing if he can help it. I must compliment you on the stand you have taken in regard to Robert-Houdin. To myself it has been a revelation, and my idol has been shattered, but I don't care so long as I get at the truth. Why should Houdin get any credit whfch he does not deserve, and why in the name of all that is magic should you withhold the information which you have taken the trouble to possess and which will put things right and give credit to those who so richly deserve it? We have been humbugged too long by several persons in the world of magic posing as authorities, and it is about time that a little weeding should take place. By the look of things—even from this distance—I should say that the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE will do that—it certainly has already again allowed several fine old flowers to bloom, and take a prominent place in the garden. Yes. let us have the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, even about maeic and magicians. Why, I notice that Maskelyne just lately has endorsed something that you said about Robert-Houdin when he speaks about second sight and the Zancigs in the London papers. Thanks to the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE, giving the dates of the various London papers, I have been able to procure them, and followed the various phases of exposure in all details. Wre are going to have a lot of Zanciging in Australia shortly. The Svengalis

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

will appear under special contract for Wednesday, June 19, many of his Harry Rickards. friends and associates accompanying the Carlton, the comedy card conjurer, has body to its last resting place. made a decided hit in Melbourne. (irosi, a clever Italian conjurer and Chevalier Thorn, as usual, is a big hit mind reader, who was here in 1905, is in Germany. The month of April he likely to appear in London. played in Xurnberg, May in Dusseldorf, The best entertainment ever gotten up and this month he is at Reischallen Theb\ a native necromancer, Oscar Kell- atre, in Coin. niann ( jean Hagarde), was given a Thorn had a disagreeable thing hapshort time ago, and he will be heard of pen to him lately. On June 1 he paid very soon. He is exceptionally clever all his assistants and the next day when in all he undertakes. he was about to play the matinee perI send you a fac-simile copy of the first formance he found three of his assisissue of the Auckland Observer, Septem- tants absent. He searched for them in ber 18, 1880; in it you will note that vain, and it seems that all three eloped Thorn, Darwin, Miss Haidee Heller together. Thorn was unable to give his and Maskelyne are given prominent entire performance at the matinee and space. I shall always look forward to onlv produced the first part, which conyour magazine with pleasure, and repeat sists of small magical tricks, the big what the beloved American writer, Oli- illusions he was compelled to eliminate. ver W'endel Holmes, once said: "I After the matinee the 11 err Director can't help it, whether J gain or lose by a placed ten people at the disposal of truth. T must accept it," and 1 think Thorn and therefrom he selected substithat every lover of truth and fair plav tutes and at once started to rehearse will say the same of the Coxj TRICKS' them, with the result that the evening MACAZIXT.. In conclusion, I wish you performance went as well as ever. well, and may your magazine prosper. The three runaways are: Jack Yates, Yours fraternally, an Englishman, and his wife, and a man Robert Kudar.:: by name of Hanns Zentes who hails from Munich. Artists, beware of these fellow>. 1 am also informed that one of •Joland's assistants deserted him some time ago, and this fellow is building a new act, being supported by a Bohemian brewer. This act will come out, provided I am informed correctly, next season. 1 assume that perhaps Thorn's erstVienna, Austria. while nice triplet will associate together. On June 16, the director of the Es* * * tablishment Roanacher, Herr L. M. The Berlinese magician, Air. Eugen W'aldmann, died in Reichenau, near Vienna, after a long illness. Air. Wald- Schroder, and his charming wife, famann managed this theatre since its vored me with a visit this week and we opening and was beloved by all the spent several pleasant hours together. artists and his friends. The funeral was Air. Schroder gives two-hour perform-

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359

ances, possessing a large and select program, composed of the best and most modern tricks of the finest workmanship.

Berndt used to pride himself, like his contemporary the original Belachini, that he resorted only to pure sleight-ofhand in the majority of his experiments.

Saturday next, the world famed BenAli-Bey, whose right name is Max Auzinger, opens a short engagement at Lustspiel Theatre. Ben-Ali-Bey is the inventor of the Black-Art-Magic and is really unequalled in this line. This is not his first visit to this city, for he has puzzled us for the past twenty years with his black marvels. Ottokar Fischer.

At the Salamander Theatre, in Elberfeld, for the month of June and half of July, the feature is a melodrama called "Morris, the Criminal King," and is presented by the German-American Detective Agency.

Our special "

I

Of all impertinent and arrogant artists, the team of i'ipafax and Parlo certainly take the bakeryshop and bun. First of all, they deliberately copy the entire act of Rice and 1'revost; then they call themselves Rece and Privost; and now they are going to have anyone nit in court who will infringe on their new name. For cool, unadulterated nerve they certainly ought to be awarded a leather medal. I regret to report the death of the well-known parlor conjurer, Friedrich Berndt. Fie was born in Austria, bat for the last twenty-five years resided in Berlin. In the winter time he accepted engagements in Berlin, and also gave lessons in the higher magic and sleightof-hand. In the summer season he traveled through all the health-curebathing resorts and had earned quite a good reputation as a finished entertainer.

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An American Indian calling himself Black Hawk, who has resided in Europe for the last 22 years, being employed in circuses, is lying in a hospital in Muenchen, in a dying condition, caused by the kick of a trick horse. Black Hawk will be compelled to undergo an operation for relief, although the physicians give no hope for his ultimate recovery. *

:\:

-As

Ten Ici, the Japanese magician and water manipulator, is at the Wintergartt-n, Berlin. Ji^

-;i

-i :

Prital and Fay, mind readers and spiritualists, are still in Russia, making this their second consecutive year. They are now with Circus Devigne, Grodno. *

*

*

Hartman, the Gorman necromancer, is at the Zoologischer Garten, St. Petersburg, Russia. This man is a clever entertainer and seems to be able to work all the time. * * * I must apologize to Herr Richard Paunnwitz for reporting what was supposed to be a new mystery he was about tr- present. A friend of the above mentioned gentleman gave me the information in question.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Preparation: Heat a small needle in a candle, match or gas flame, so that it can be bent without breaking. Bend pointed end of needle into the shape of a hook as is shown at A in the accompanying illustration. Place the other end of the needle into the rubber at the end of the pencil.

THE MAGNETIC PENCIL. One day in 1893 a man became mucli interested in some card shifts which Hondini presented on the platform of Kohl and Middleton's museum in Chicago. He engaged IToudini in conversation and said he had a trick which surely would fool him and the secret of which he agreed to exchange for the secret of the card shifts. He took an ordinary lead pencil from his pocket and laying it on the palm of his hand, caused it to rise and lie down and move about at the word of command. The effect seemed so marvelous that that same afternoon Houdini hurried to see A. Roterberg to show him the trick. Roterberg at once became interested and acknowledge that he was unable to explain how it was done. He thereupon exchanged the secret of obtaining a handkerchief from under the vest without being discovered, for the magnetic pencil secret. As Roterberg was just going on his first business trip to Europe he took this quiet looking trick with him and in New York gave it to Martinka ; in Germany to Wilmann, and later on gave it to the English dealers. So to this date the originator of the trick remains unknown; perhaps it has some relationship to the old time trick of causing the soldier to rise and fall at command, which is worked on the same principle.

Execution : Holding th^ palm of the hand upward, with the fingers slightly bent, casually lay the pencil on the palm, and while doing so manage to stick the point A into the skin of the palm. Now straighten out the fingers and this motion causes the skin to become tense and the pencil of its own accord rises. I>y again bending the fingers the pencil lies down. Attention to the movement of the fingers can be eliminated by making mesmeric passes over the palm with the other hand. After performing the trick slowly put the pencil into your pocket and if anyone wishes to examine it, why you can show a duplicate unprepared pencil which you have previously placed in the same pocket

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Madame A. Herrmann has added the mystic cross to her performance. This is the same trick presented by Valaden, and originated with lanky Carletcn. * * * Carleton by the way has arrived in Melbourne, Australia, and is reported to have met with instant success. * * * Sloan and Sousa who some time ago were on the Keith circuit arc now in San Francisco with their komikal magic act. * * * Salvail the card manipulator is at the Empire in San Francisco. * * * Rajan the Hindoo who appeared at various theatres in Germany, as the iron-skinned man, will find to his consternation that a man calling himself Caroll imitates his entire performance. He jumps on sharp nails, slides on razor-edged swords, climbs ladders made of pin-cushions, and dances on the points of tacks spread on a dancing mat. He was the feature act at Austin and Stone's Museum, Boston, Mass. * * * Van der Koos appeared at (he Zoo Gardens, Cincinnati. * # * Sandusky, Ohio, has been honored by the appearance of Rismor the Yogi and Madame Aza the astral wonder. * * * Feterer the magician ventriloquist has a few novel experiments. He was last heard of at the Orpheum, Leavenworth, Kansas. * * * Anna Eva Fa}' had a two weeks' run at the Grand Opera House in Pittsburg, Perm. It is stated that John T. and Mrs. Fay are booked at the Nixon. * * * The Valpos, musicians and magicians, are on the Parlor Theatre circuit out West.

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Chefalo and Madame Capretta are in Canada. A reception was tendered to Chefalo by the Ancient Order of Sons' of Italy. They presented him with a large wreath, entwined with the Mag of his country. * * * The Variety has a paragraph which states that Max Million of the team Max Million and Martini, and once of Maxmillioir and Sheilds, has formed a partnership with Henry Clive anil will appear in a new act of magicial comedy. Clive states that there will be no exposure of tricks; if such is the case we predict that this will be a magic act that will last a long time * * * Ziska and King are renovating their act, and planning their future <m a large scale proposition. * * * D'Amon the thought-transmission entertainer, lias improved his performances to such an extent that he answers all questions whilst walking up and down the stage. He certainly made good in Philadelphia, at the Girard Avenue Opera House. * * * When the John Robinson circus visited Waterloo, la., Hornmann was greeted by the two managers, T. Nelson Downs (who operates a theatre in Marshalltown, la.), and Vic Hugh (who rejoices in the theatrical management of a house in Cedar Rapids) ; the trio had a feast of magical chat. * * * T. N. Downs writes he is coming to Xew York July 17th. * * * Larry Crane is booked with a burlesque show for the coming season. He will present his big illusion act. He plays Boston and then returns to the Twenty-third Street Theatre. Larry is proprietor of an hotel, which nets him a tidy income. * * * The mysterious Renschling intends to have the largest mystery act in the business. He has ordered new scenery and has added several big illusions to his already extensive performance. * * * Horace Goldin has been booked for a return date with Percy Williams and will be seen in America this fall with several new

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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illusions. Goldin has signed new contracts with the Moss-Stoll tour in England and has been making more than good lately. The new material he is exhibiting is mysteriously and splendidly presented. * * * Searle, the illusionist, states that he will shortly sail for Europe to fulfil the contracts in his possession. * * * Edward Vernello and Madame Inez (Mrs. Vernello) have joined the Campbell Brothers Vaudeville Annex, and are billed to do Punch and Judy, magic and mind reading. Vernello is quite a seller of books, and gives more than five cents worth to the "visitors." * * * It may be of interest to know that Flossie La Blanche, the strong lady, is also with this show. She at one time went to Europe with Manager Adams to duplicate the magneticlady act. * * * Frank Lindsley, of Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio, has perfected the Mena Tekle illusion or mystery and is on record as selling it only to professional magicians. *

•

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The Sa Heras were the feature extraordinary at the Lyceum in Cleveland, and created quite a sensation. There are several novel tests introduced into this act, which are properly presented and seldom fail to make good. * * * S. S. Baldwin has returned from Richmond and seems to have recovered from his operation. He will rest this summer, in the vicinity of New York, so that he can arrange his plans for the coming season. * * * Bert Wiggins the comedy sketch artist and conjurer, is working on a novel juggling act, which when completed will be a combination of juggling, music and magic. He is the father of a bouncing boy. Mother and son doing well. (We congratulate them heartily). * * * John Hilliar of Rochester contemplates writing a card trick book this summer. Abe Spitz of Providence, R. 1., manager of several theatres has been trying for

the past two seasons to place a handcuff king in a "blood and thunder" drama. It appears from all indications that Chas. E. Blaney will feature a handcuff king in a melodrama next season entitled "From Sing Sing to Liberty." * * * Leon Hermann is due to arrive in New \ ork for his opening date, September 2. At present, he is negotiating for a summer run for next season in Paris, France. * * * Herbert Alhini is on the Sullivan-Considine circuit. * * * Tom-Jack, the only albino handcuff king, is booked for America with one of the circuses for the next summer season. This man has pink eyes and white hair, and claims to be able to see in the dark. He is touring Sweden at the present time. * * *' Dr. S. R. Ellison, one of the celebrated collectors of magic, has a model of almost every known illusion in his office. The colored "cleaning-lady" accidentally opened one of the doors of the secret apartment, in which the doctor stores his models, and innocently asked the doctor "Am these de toyses yo' used to play with as a boy?" Th< doctor seren'y answered "Mammy dem air. de toys that George Washington used to play with." All the astonished colored woman could say was "for dc land's sake!" * * * Howard Thurston has brought to this country a clever Hindoo conjurer whom he intends to book exclusively in the lyceum field. The magician is one of the better class of performers and well educated. * * * P. Richards, the well-known cartoonist of the Neiv York Clipper has gone abroad and is sending home every week a full page cartoon of "Patsy-Boliver." Richards has drawn more magicians and men of mystery in his sketches than any other artist that we have ever heard of. ^ * * The Nelson Brothers, 218 La Salle street, Chicago, are selling "The Hindu Spirit Writer." They claim it to be the best money maker ever presented in which mystery is the predominating feature. It is a sort of a "graft" for fairs and arcades.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Air. and Mrs. Harry Kellar have arrived in Hamburg, Germany, after a pleasant voyage. Kellar intends to visit Herr Ernest Basch in Hanover, then go to Berlin, and wind up his European trip in London, sailing from English shores back to America. In all probabilities this forthcoming season will really be Kellar's last appearance before the public. * * * It is rumored that Roltaire, the Illusion's:, who is presenting the mysterious automobile at Coney Isl.i'-d will soon find himself in the law courts fnr infringing on :i patent granted to R. H. Smith. This gentleman is also the inventor of the revolving "Aga." i.

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In our April mr.nber in the "Your Questions Answered Here" columns, we published an item stating that "Will Goldstone was running a busking pierrot show at West Kirby." We received the information from one of our English correspondents, and if the information is wrong, we regret having published same, and apologize, as it is positively not our policy to intentionally publish false facts. BY Chicago J\[otes W.L.HICKS The Great Straub and his wife were among the many welcome callers this month. Mr. Straub has been living in Pittsburg for the past few years, and just recently came to Chicago. He is a very clever magician and claims to hold world's record for the billiard ball trick. * * * Chief of Police George M. Shippy attended the annual convention of the National Police Chiefs' Association at Jamestown, Va. The Chief is not a member of the association, but received a personal invitation to attend the convention from William A. Pinkerton. * * * Mr P. C. Holland, the busy editor of the "Detective," informs me that Mrs. Holland has just returned from a tour of Europe, and is now at the Jamestown Exposition, in charge of the Detective Publishing Co.'s great line of police equipments.

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It would not be wise for any dub handcuff kings to be around Jamestown just now. * * * Mr. David E. Stifft has just returned from' his western trip. He handed me a three-column clipping from the Oregon "Daily Journal," headed "Chicago Traveling Man Performs Wonderful Eeat in Legerdemain;" he gave one of his marvelous exhibitions at the Portland Hotel, Sunday, June 9, and received rounds of applause. Mr. Stifft informs me that magicians are rather scarce on the Pacific Coast just at present, Powell being the only one of any importance, and he is holding forth at the Wigwam, San Francisco. * * * On unlucky Friday, June 14, the Olympic Theatre was destroyed by fire. It was operated by the Kohl & Castle circuit. Loss, about $200,000. * * * Roterberg, the Martinka of the West, is enjoying a much needed vacation around the lakes of Wisconsin. * * * The Marvelous Volta gave a wonderful performance at the Majestic week June 17. Volta lets 75,000 volts of electricity pass through his body as though it were only ten, he ignites pieces of doth from the sole of his shoe, the top of his head and arm, and mystifies in many other wonderful things. After his performance Sunday night he left immediately for New York, where he is to join the future Mrs. Yolta. who just came over from London, by Jove! After the strong knot has been tied, they will iourney back to Chicago where Mr. Volta is booked for the Chicago Opera House. * * * Tune marriages seem to be quite popular this year among the mysterious folks. Ziska, of Ziska and King, and Miss Florence Saunders have been united. * * * McWntters and Tyson Company appeared at the Majestic, introducing Hermann's basket trick; Mr. McWattcrs makes up as the "Great," and performs with all the grace of Hermann himself. They will shortly try out their new spectacular act. said to be the

364

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

most sumptuous, scenically, ever offered in vaudeville. * * * June 26th was the initial number of Warren A. Patrick's new theatrical paper called "The Show World." Mr. Patrick is a well-known theatrical newspaper man, and for some time was Western representative of the "Billboard." "The Show World" will cover all branches of the amusement field. * * * Yuma and Co. are preparing a new scenic . act for next season, employing three people, including a Hindoo. * * * Andre, the magician, is now on the Western States Vaudeville Association Circuit, and doing nicely. * * * . Fred Gay is playing with the Emerson Boat Show this summer. * * * Mr. Burns, of the Atlas.Trick and Novelty Co., is the busy man taking pare of mail orders. ., • * * * The Mysterious R e g a i s at Rivcrview Park introducing as his feature stunt a large hood with chains and sealed locks, which . is very good. , '' • M ; .

*

*•

*

The Do Motts are also' appearing at Rivervievv in their jail-breaking act. De Mott must have witnessed Miller's performance with the Bean Giant, as he does exactly the same with his steelrod. * * * Lovell pleased in a mind-reading act at the London Dime Museum. * * * The National Union of Chicago gave their annual meeting June 4th and 5th at the People's Theatre; several good vaudeville acts were presented, among them being the Mysterious Caesar & Co., in magic and illusions. Besides being the main attraction, Mr. Caesar had full charge of all the acts, and everything came off without a hitch. *- * * Mr. Bories, brot-her of the late Dr. E. Bories of Seattle, will be passing through Chicago in a few days on his way East.

Dr. Bories possessed the largest 'collection of handcuffs of any man in the West. •

*

*

Bernar is billed at the Majestic with his funny manikins; he shows remarkable cleverness in his magical performing manikins.

NSWERED

H. Benson Lees, Australia. Have attended to your request. * * * J. C. Turner, Cumberland, Md. See answer in June issue to A. A. Geildemcistcr. * * * W. Watkins, Hamilton, Canada. As you play only for church affairs, you can easily program your handcuff tricks. You could have en program Acts xii. 7., "When Peter was cast into prison by Herod an angel came to him and ,h,is chains fell from his hands." *..' * * * Otto F. Walton, Chicago, 111. Thanks for program. However it was received too late for use. * * * S. Jenkins, Mt. Carmel, Pa. Prof. Benzon was last heard of in San Francisco, Cal. We do not know what he is doing at present. * * * Hornmaiin. En route. Send your rov.te to us. * * * T. Roy Barnes. Kindly send your address. We have letter here for you. * * * Francis Milton, Prague. Write to our Vienna correspondent. He can give you information about that gentleman. Francis King died in a madhouse. His widow resides in Berlin. Carl Wilmann can give you her address. Wilmann's address is 3 Neu A. B. C. Strasse, Hamburg, Germany. * * * Chafelo. Please send your address. We have a letter for vou.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Al. Burton. The sieve trick is not very new, but is effective. You will find it described in Roterberg's Modern Wizard, page in. Any of the dealers advertising in this magazine can supply you with the book. The effect of the trick is as follows: Introduce a glass pitcher full of water and a sieve. Pour a quantity of water through the sieve to prove that it is unprepared. You allow it to examined. After it is handed back, yon pour water into the sieve, and the water will not run through. You now spill the water /jack into the pitcher, and hand the sieve out for examination, and it will bo found unprepared. The real secret of this experiment, is to obtain a sieve with sloping sides, and with a very fine mesh, such as is used to strain milk. Before exhibiting the trick, you take some white beeswax (don't use the yellow wax as that can easily be sten) and after "heating the sieve rub the wax well over the meshes, taking care to remove all superfluous wax with a silk handkerchief. This must be done while the sieve is still hot. You now have it prepared, so that it has covered the wires with a very thin coating. When spilling the water in the first time, to show that it is unprepared, you must allow the water from the pitcher to fall some distance so that it will dash through the waxed wires ; but when you wish the water to remain in "the sieve you must pour the water against -the sides of the sieve so as to allow it to run slowly and spread itself over the bottom, remaining in the sieve. You had better try ihis several times before exhibiting it.

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Barter and Exchange Advert iseinents under this heading are accepted free of charge; there is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

I have a number of rope ties and card tricks which I would like to exchange. The excelsior rope tie preferred. A. Heilman, 1265 45th St., Brooklyn, New York. * * * I have a fine nickle plated flying lamp and pedestal and some tables which I would like to exchange for a coin ladder or aga or any other good illusion. J. Hoffmann, 2836 Highland Ave., Cincinnati, 0 . * **

Would like to exchange Devant's vanishing cane, Yost's automatic fire bowl to produce from handkerchief, set of eight Chinese linking rings and watch mortar for a set of rice bowls. W. R. Richardson, 33 Elm St., Hartford, Conn. *

*

S

Have fifty-six inch tripod, two sections; drying rack for twenty-four plates; vest servantc, fine for billiard balls; set of large blue willow ware rice bowls as used by Ching Ling Fun. WiM exchange for handcuffs or good tricks. Walter M. Jackson, * ** 10 Harvard St., Dorchester, Mass. James Coyle, Allentown. Thurston is in * * * America at present writing, and a letter Will trade Roterberg's invisible servante .addressed to Hotel Navarre, New York City, (good as new) cost $1.50 and a metal ball will reach him. trail cost $1.25 for a good vest servante that * ** folds close to the body when not in use. C D. Albright, 5T71 McPherson Avc., St. Louis, Adolph Askew, Cincinnati. Yes, we reMo. member you as the man thai came on * * * the stage one Sunday matinee, looking as it What is wanted for two side tallies and you needed a shave. We cannot give you one centre table that r.re in good condition? the trick in question, as that is an invention of Kellar, but if you wish the price of a Have books of magic for exchange. Roy Jordan, Box 129, Mexia, Texas. shave we will gladly send it along. While * * * it may not improve your nerve, it will at Wanted best offer for moving picture outleast improve your appearance. Unless you fit. I have three reels films, machine, slides, have lots of money your style will never be trunk and all accessories; will exchange for called "eccentricity." magic and illusions. Send me your list. J C. Turner, 88 Tnd. St., Cumberland, Md.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

366

NOVMNL TLo niat<-ri:il fur these articles was gathered (luring the author's first tour of Grout Britain, and was prepared for publication in hook form. This was done in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used liy the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After tlie manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now lie printed for the first time in monthly i n s t a l m e n t s in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Headerinust hear in mind that the fact of its being lirepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but. in its entirety, this treatise on handcunr secrets will be the most complete and re liable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. Copyright, lOOfi. By Harry E'oudinl. All rights reserved. *

*

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Continued. INSTALLMENT NO. XI HISTORICAL LOCK PICKING CONTESTS WITH JAMES SARGENT AS THE CENTER FIGuRE. On September 2J, i860,, |ames Sargent caused an open letter to be published challenging the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company to a lock picking contest and specifying conditions as follows : To the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company, No. i Barclay St., Xew York. Gentlemen: Believing as I do that throughout this country the bank lock-; made by you and those made by Sargent & Greenleaf, of Rochester, X. Y., are more generally depended upon" than any others, and having been engaged for many years in trying to raise the standard of burglar-proof security, pointing

out and condemning that which is faulty, and more firmly establishing that which is good, 1 believe it is no more than fair and right that we should show our confidence in the work we are making by taking a small portion of such risks as we are asking capitalists to assume every day. I have, therefore, drawn up, at the suggestion of several moneyed men, the following proposition, which I trust will meet your approbation and be satisfactory "fo the public. What I propose is a test of cur respective locks on terms as follows: We will choose a committee of five responsible bankers or brokers, two to be chosen by you and two by myself and the fifth by these four, and provide two suitable rooms for the trial. You place in one of the rooms two safes, one secured by your best Double Dial Combination Bank Lock, the other by your Double Treasury Permutation Lock. In the other room 1 will place two safes, the door of one secured by my No. I Magnetic Combination Lock and the other by my No. i Automatic Combination Bank Lock, recently adopted by the L'nited States Treasury Department. The locks for the test shall be those already on safes heretofore sold to customers, or now in the salesrooms of parties using our locks. Each party shall place in the hands of the committee the sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000), making eight thousand dollars ($8,000), cne-half ($4,000) to be paid to the party first opening both of competitor's locks without injury to lock or safe, and the remaining half ($4,000) to be paid to the party first opening both of competitor's locks without injury to locks or safes. Each party to lock his own lock on a. combination of his own choosing handing the same, sealed, to the chairman of said committee, to be unsealed in the presence of both parties, and only when the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. trial is concluded. The locks shall be set on true combinations, so that the committee can open them on those combinations after the trial and (without knowing the combination) the committee, and both parties concerned shall see all the locks opened and closed when the trial commences, to know that they are in good working condition. And there shall be a report of the arrangements given by the committee at the commence ment of the trial in the New York daily papers, and at the close a full report, including the result; and should there be any unfairness on either side, the committee shall report it. The time for each to operate on his competitor's lacks shall be limited to forty-eight hours, or eight hours per day for six successive days. Each party to have the privilege of choosing assistants, but only two persons shall have access to each room at the same time during the trial. As soon as any one of the locks is opened, the numbers on which it was opened shall be written and handed in a sealed envelope to the committee, who shall note the time of receiving it, and report this time immediately to the party whose lock is picked, and to this party only. All other information in regard to the test, received by the committee after the trial commences, shall be kept secret by them till it has ended. This proposition will remain open five days for your acceptance or rejection, then, if accepted, the trial will commence the following week. I would respectfully ask that an answer to the above be made through New York daily papers. (Signed) JAMES SARGENT. To the foregoing letter the Yale Lock Manufacturing Co. made the following reply:

To

367

JAMES SARGENT, ESQUIRE, N E W YORK.

Sir: — Newspaper publications of yours of recent date, having evidently been intended to shake the confidence of the business community in bank locks of our manufacture, we will willingly afford you an opportunity to demonstrate your ability as an expert in lock picking, although we beg leave to take exception to those parts of the article referred to, in which, perhaps inadvertently, you seem desirous of conveying the impression that your locks and ours stand upon an equality in the market. If you will accommodate us with a trial, we will select from the business community of this city two responsible gentlemen, you may select two others and the four thus chosen shall select a fifth, the whole five to constitute a committee to see that the following conditions and arrangements are properly carried out: We will deposit with the Committee the sum of $5,000, you to do the same, and the whole amount ($10,000) shall be paid over to you if you succeed in picking our lock without injury to it or to the safe to which it may be attached. We will provide for the trial a safe now in use or in stock, having on it one of our Xo. 1 Double Dial Combination Locks, which safe shall be placed in a room to be selected by the Committee. After the lock has been inspected by yourself, and you are satisfied that it is in its normal condition, we will set each of its two dials on a combination of our own choosing, and hand to the Committee, in a sealed letter, the numbers of the combinations, which letter shall be opened in the presence of both parties after you shall have completed your attempt. If you shall have been unsuccessful, the lock shall then be opened by

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

one of lhe Committee, in accordance with our ordinary printed directions for the same, and by means of the combinations named in the above mentioned letter. Prior to commencing the trial, and in the presence of the Committee (who shall be acquainted with the combinations on which the lock is set) we will lock and unlock the lock, to demonstrate to the Committee that it is in working order, and that it yields readily to the combinations. These preliminaries having all been complied with, we will place the lock at your disposition fur the space of one week, making no restrictions as to the number of hours in which you may operate on it. only requiring that the test shall be strictly a picking one, and that no violence shall be used either with the safe or the lock; the latter to remain uninjured at the close of the trial. We will allow yon to choose your own assistants, only one of whom shall be with you at any one time. It is further f> be understood that at the expiration of the allotted time, should our lick have proved superior to all your attempts and still remains unopened, the deposit of $10,000 ill the hands of the Committee shall be declared forfeited to us and to be paid over to us by the Committee. Thus far, our challenge 'has had reference only to our Xu. i Double Dial Lock. We now offer to submit our No. 2 Single Dial Lock to the same test, should you fail of success with the No. i. It is notorious fact, though you avoid its mention, that a lock may be proof against picking while it is ridiculously weak in other respects. Few bankers would feel it much of a consolation to be told, after having been robbed, that

the lock they relied upon could not have been picked, though it was easily forced. We therefore offer further to submit a challenge for a competitive trial between our lock and yours. Each lock to be subjected to the ultimate test of a burglar's tools and a burglar's privileges. To this end we propose that the Committee shall provide a suitable room for each trial, and each party furnish a lock of his own manufacture and such as he has been selling for at least three months, and see that it is properly attached to the door of a safe to be provided for the purpose. The locks then tc be inspected by the Committee, and each to be locked by its maker and tho combinations handed, under seal, to the Committee, as specified above for the [licking trial of our No. i lock. When all is ready, we propose that each party with two assistants only shall have access to his competitor's lock, with such tools as he may select and be allowed ten consecutive hours in which to operate upon the lock, using any means he may please, to force or break it open; his efforts being strictly confined, however, to the lock and not to be directed against the door or the safe. As a pecuniary inducement for your acceptance of this challenge, and as a guarantee of our good faith in it, we propose that each party stake a sum of $2,500 upon the result; depositing that amount with the Committee, and that the total ($5,000) be paid over to the part}' who first succeeds in breaking his competitor's lock. We will hold the above proposition open for your acceptance or rejection for five d a y s from d a t e , and a w a i t y o u r a n s w e r t h r o u g h the daily press of this city. (Signed) YALE LOCK MANUFACTURING CO.

October 2, 1869.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

3h9

Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

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Henry Hardin & Co., Box 1413, New Haven, Conn.7 U. S. A. Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

THK CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZIVF

370

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DE BIERE

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N. J. WEISS Manager

35, New Oxford Street, T. W. G. London, Eng. LIMITED

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We have actually in stock (almost without exception) every article we list and many others. We guarantee the finest quality and finish at the same or in most cases lower prices than elsewhere. A trial order will convince you of this.

A NEW WAND MYSTERY The wand which the performer has used during the evening is shown to be quite solid and wrapped up under the eyes of the audience. It is then deliberately- torn up and reproduced at will. No shells, threads, elastics or collapsible wand used. This will puzzle t h o s e t h a t " k n o w . "

3|G p o s t free 3 | 9 . U . S . A . $ 1 . 3 5

A GREAT VANISHING CARD ILLUSION A card is selected by a member of the audience who himself covers it with his own handkerchief, and drops it (still covered) into a glass of water allowing the handkerchief to fall on and over the glass. Performer commands card to vanish and on handkerchief being removed it is found to have done so. Quite inexplicable but so simple to work, lj post free lj 1. U. S. A. 25 cents, post free 30 cents.

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New Magical Sleights and Fakes by R. A. Morrell. Price 2|-, post free 2|2 New Dialogue for Punch and Judy. Price Gd post free 7d. Modern Costal Gazing. Price 6d, post free 7d. Some New Magic by J . F . Burrows. Price 1|-, post free 1|1.

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371

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During the ensuing year we will produce novel tricks, expose many illas.ons, MONTHLY and will use our best endeavors to give MAGAZINE you as good and better a magazine as PUBLISHED BY we have in the past. The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, We wish that our readers would take 278 WEST 113TH STREET advantage of all the offers we make NEW YORK CITY them. The Barter and Exchange columns are free to everyone with the exTELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE ception of dealers. When an advertisement is sent we place it in once. If you Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents wish it repeated please write. In fact, write freely and let us know your wants. Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. We are publishing this paper to please The entire contents of tne Conjurers' Monthly you and hope you will derive much beneMagazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without per- fit therefrom. mission. If you want questions answered, we The magazine Is for sale hy all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back shall be only too pleased to answer them. issues can be secured at ten cents eacb, by addressing the publication office, as above. [f you want to air things, just send in Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo your letter and it will appear in our Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bclin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Mail Bag columns. Be sociable and help Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leabman. us make the Conjurers' Monthly a huge Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expprted. the continued success. price must be marked pla inly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No * * * manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. More illusions than ever are being built, which shows that the pure sleightVoi,. I. AUGUST 1907 No. 12 of-hand performer will be able to rest a while and give the big show fraternity With this issue our first year ends, a chance. and we trust you will favor us with a As managers judge a performer by prompt renewal of your patronage for the showing he can make on the stage, by so doing you will each month and as this generation has never seen a promptly receive the largest and best stage setting with dazzling apparatus, magical magazine in existence; a magathe first magician who will imitate the zine which from its initial issue had a stage setting of John Henry Anderson, larger circulation than all the other ma- the Great Wizard of the North, or gical papers combined; a magazine in Phillippe, or, in fact, any of the old-time which neither time, labor nor expense magicians, will undoubtedly be a sucwere ever saved in order to make it the cess. publication for you. Some of you ambitious young conjurWe are recognized by all the foreign ers think this over. We have photoand American newspapers, and are graphs and engravings of these old-time quoted by men of standing who could settings, and if any of you are sufficiently not afford to associate their names but interested to write, we shall be only too with matters and men of authority and pleased to reproduce them in some forthposition. coming issue of this magazine.

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n\

felllSTORY/

377

o:

MAGIC In this series of articles, it is my Intention to eorreiv nany errors regarding the history of iiaglc which fl;tve existed In the public mind since "The Life of Robert Houdin" was issued. In such endeavor, necessarily. I have introduced references to Houdin's contemporaries and to magicians who preceded him which will make the series, when finished, a comprehensive history of magic from 16S0 to the present day. In order to prove my statements, it is also necessary to wander frenucntly from the central figure, Houdin. bnt though some instalments may not present the name of Hnudin, the facts presented will. In the course of the history's development, he found to h::ve direct bearing on his life and work. In taking issue with those generally accepted as authorities. I am actuated only by a desire to set before the world of magic, the true facts as ascertained hy me during years of earnest investigation at home ,-i'nd iibrniitl. and to do justice to those who preluded Houdin and to whom he owed a greater debt than h" set forth in his autobiography. ( o , . v ht. 100G. By Harry Houdlni. All rights reserved.

beck, having seen it at the Bartholomew Fair in England. He featured the orange tree as follows: "He has a Philosophical Flower Pot, in which he causes to grow on a table in the presence of the spectators trees which flower, and then the flowers fall, and fruit appears absolutely ripe and ready to be eaten." His posters are dated 1746-47 and

Instalment No. XII. AUTOMATA (continued) THE ORANGE TREE AS FEATURED BY PINETTI AND CORNILLOT. According to an article contributed by Mons. E. Raynaly in the "Illusionniste" of June, 1903, the orange tree next appears in the repertoire of a remarkable peasant conjurer, whose billing Mons. Raynaly found among "Affiches de Paris." This performer was billed as the Peasant of North Holland, and gave hourly performances at the yearly fairs at Saint-Germain. It is more than possible that he purchased this trick from Fawkes or Pinch-

The next program on which the mysterious tree appears is a Pinetti handbill, dated in London, 1784, when the following announcement was made: "Signore Pinetti will afterwards present the assembly with a Tree called 'le Bouquet-Philosophiqu,' composed of small branches of an orange tree, the leaves appearing green and natural. He will put it under a bottle and at some distance, by throwing some drops of water of his own composition, the leaves will begin to change and the bouquet will produce natural flowers and various fruits." Pinetti is one of the most fascinacing and picturesque figures in the his-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

tory of magic. His full name was Joseph Pinetti dc Willedal, and, like Pinchbeck and Favvkes, he was a man of parts and readily made friends with the nobility. In fact, there is some question as to whether he did not come of noble family. He was born in 1750 in (Jrbitelle, a fortified town once claimed by Tuscany. What can be gleamed regarding his

E T T ! * >lrU X „•„„

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globe, while in the rear of the picture is a stack of books. This would establish nis claim that he was once a professor of physics and geography. In fact, the legend beneath the portrait, being translated from the French, runs: I. I. Pinetti Willedal de iVierci, Professor and Demonstrator of Physics. Chevalier of the Order of St. Philipe. Geographical Engineer. Financial Counselor of J.1. R. H. Prince of Linbourg Holstein. Born in Orbitelle in 1750. As it has so often happened in the history of savants and students, there ran in Pinetti's blood a love of the mysterious with that peculiar strain of charletanism which went to make up the clever performer in old-time magic. Evidently he resigned his duties as a professor for the more picturesque life of the traveling magician, and he is first heard from in this capacity in the French province in 1783. His fame quickly carried him to Paris, where in 1784 he appeared before the court of Louis XVI. His arrival wras most opportune, for just then all Paris, and for that matter all Europe, had been aroused to a new interest in magic by the brilliant Cagliostro.

From Paris he went to London, playing at the Haymarket and creating a sensation equal to that which he had made in France. Later he toured Germany, playing Berlin and Hamburg. Next he went back to his native land, The above engraving is 11 the present time the Italy, but later returned to Germany for only known authentic picture of Pinetti the celebrated conjurer. It seems to have been used by Pinetti before he had adopted the professional career as a second engagement. In 1789 he apitinerant magician. (From the Harry Houdini colli-i-timi.) peared in Russia and never left that early history goes to prove that his fam- country. There he married a Russian ily connections were excellent and his girl, daughter of a carriage manufaceducation of the best. One of his por- turer. They had two children. Pinetti traits, reproduced herewith, shows a would have left enormous wealth, but in half-crown of laurel decorating the his later years he became interested in frame, and on one side of the bust is a ballooning, the sensation of the hour,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. and spent his entire fortune on balloon experiments. He died in Bartitchoff, Yolhinic, at the age of fifty years. Pinetti was a man of rare inventive genius and almost reconstructed the art of conjuring, so numerous were his inventions. For half a century after his death his successors drew upon Pinetti's inventions and repertoire for their programs. Naturally such ability aroused bitter jealousies, especially as Pinetti made no attempt to conciliate his contemporaries, either magicians or writers on magic, lie issued one book, whose title page reads: "Amusements Physiques et Differentes Experiences Divertissants, Composees and Executees, taut a Paris que dans les diverses Courts de l'Europe. Par M. Joseph Pinetti de Willedal, Romain, Chevalier de l'Ordre Merite de Saint Phillipe, Professor de Mathematiques and de Physiques, Protege par taute la Maison Royale de France, Pensionnaire de la Cour de Prusse, &c, 1785." The work, however, was not a cle : and lucid explanation of his methods and tricks. In fact, some of his contemporaries claimed that he deliberately misrepresented his methods of performing tricks. Among these writers was Henri Decremps, a brilliant professor of mathematics and physics in Paris, who proceeded to expose all of Pinetti's tricks in the book referred to in the preceding chapter, "Le Magic Blanche Devoilee." This work was in five volumes and was so popular in its day that it was translated into nearly every modern language. The following explanation of the trick is from page 56 of the English translation, entitled "The Conjurer Unmasked'" : "The branches of the tree may be made of tin or paper, so as to be hollow

379

from one end to the other in order that the air which enters at the bottom may find its exit at the top of the branch. These branches are so adjusted that at intervals there appear twigs made from brass wire, but the whole so decorated with leaves made from parchment that the ensemble closely resembles nature. "The end of each branch is dilated to contain small pieces of gummed silk or very fine gold-beater's skin, which are to catch the figures of the flowers and fruit when the latter expand by the air driven through the branches to which they were fastened by a silk thread. "The tree or nosegay is then placed on a table, through which runs a glass tube to supply air from beneath the stage, where a confederate works this end of the trick and causes the tree to 'grow' at the pre-arranged signal." Later, it was described as being accomplished entirely by springs, and real oranges were first stuck on the tree by means of pegs or pins, and the leaves were so secured around them that at first appearance they could not be seen. Then a piston was used to spread all the leaves, another that forced the blossoms up through the hollow branches, etc. Pinetti's personality was almost as extraordinary as his talents. A handsome man who knew how to carry himself, acquiring the graces and the dress of the nobility, he became rather haughty if not arrogant in his bearing. He so antagonized his contemporaries in the fields of magic and literature that he was advertised as much by his bitter enemies as by his loving friends. Many of his methods of attracting attention to himself are singularly like those employed by modern press agents of theatrical stars. He never trusted to his performances in theatres and drawing rooms to adver-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

tise his abilities, but demonstrated his art wherever he appeared, from barber shops to cafes. Perhaps the best pen pictures of Pmetti and his methods are furnished by E. C. Robertson in his "Memoirs." Robertson was a contemporary of Pinetti, and, like him, a pioneer in ballooning. His "Memoirs," written in the French language, were published in 1831. The following extracts from this interesting book tell much of Pinetti's life in Russia and of his professional history as tradition and actual acquaintance had presented it to M. Robertson: "Pinetti had traveled a great deal and for a long time had enjoyed a great European reputation. He had done everything to attain it. There was never a man that carried further the art of the 'charlatisme.' When he arrived in a town where he intended to give a show, he took good care to prepare his public by speeches, which would keep it in suspense. In St. Petersburg great and incredible examples of mystification and of prestidigitation were told about him. "One day he went to a barber shop to get shaved, sat down in the chair, had the towel tied around his neck, and laid his head back ready for the lather. The barber left him in this position to get hot water, and when he returned, guided by force of habit, he applied the lather where the chin should be, but he found feet, arms, hands, and body in a coat, but no head ! Such lamentations ! No more head! What could it mean? He opened the door and, frightened to death, ran away. Pinetti then went to the window and called the barber back. He had put his head in his coat in such a clever way, covering it with his handkerchief, that the surprise and the fright of the barber were quite natural. Of course this barber did not fail to spread over

the whole town that he had shaved a man who could take his head off and on to his wish. "Pinetti met in a summer garden a young Russian who sold small cakes. He bought a few cakes, bit into them and complained of finding a hard substance. The youth protested, but Pinetti opened the cake before him and found inside a gold piece. The magician pocketed the gold piece, bought another cake, then a third cake, and in each case found a new gold piece inside. He tried to buy the rest of the cakes. The passersby had in the meantime come round the seller, and everybody wanted to buy as well. The market seemed to be all right, a ducat for a copeck! Twelve francs for a cent! The young man refused to sell any more, hurried away and when alone opened the cakes that were left. He found only the substances of which the cakes were made—nothing else. He had two left, so he hurried back to offer these to Pinetti. Pinetti bought them from him, opened them and showed in each one the gold piece, which the young man could not find in the two dozen cakes which he had spoilt. The poor boy bit his lips and looked at Pinetti with wondering, frightened eyes. This little adventure was advertised here, there and everywhere, and was told in the clubs and in the society gatherings, and very soon the name of Pinetti gave the key to the enigma and Pinetti was in demand by everybody. "When Pinetti came on the stage, he had the knack of attracting members of the nobility around his table, by letting them learn some small secrets. This would render them confederates in working his tricks. He would appear in rich suits, embroidered in gold, which he changed three and four times in the evening. He would not hesitate to deck him-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

!•.•.!. .11 a quantity of foreign decorations. In iJerlin, it was told how I'inetti would go .hrough the streets, in a carriage d/avvn by four white horses. He was clad in fine embroidery and decorated ..itli medals of all nations. Several times it Happened that, as he passed by, the soldiers would call arms and salute, taking him for a prince. One day the King of Prussia rode out in his' modest carriage drawn by two horses. Ahead of him drove the supposed prince. When the king witnessed the mistake made by his soldiers, he made inquiries as to the rank of this man to whom his men were paying such honor, then gave Cavalier Pinetti de Merci 24 hours to get beyond Prussia's borders." Extraordinary Chemical Illustrations, AND

FEATS OF LEGERBEisAnr,

M. CORlVIjLLOT At the Paul s Head Lateaton Street, Aud every MONDAY, THURSDAY, and SATURDAY, At t/te Great Koom, in Spring Garden*.

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PHILOSOPHY AND CHEMISTRY, And FEATS OF LEGERDEMAIN, Which htm eicileil lh« idmmlloD of Lba Cconouiaon b «li tht pnaapil T t m i of tin f~*-n*r*_

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381

niilot, appeared in London in 1822, he announced himself as the pupil and successor of Pinetti. This was when Robcrt-Houdin was seventeen years of age, twenty-three years before he made h:s professional debut, and on Cornillot's program we find another version of the now famous and almost familiar treetrick. As will be seen from the accompanying reproduction of a Cornillot handbill, the tree now appears as "An Enchanted Garden," and if the wording of the bill is to be believed, Cornillot had improved the trick and was using more than one tree or plant. Cornillot remained in England for some time and is classed among the conjurers of good repute. Another bill in mv collection shows that, he plaved at the 1 heatre of Variety, Catherine street, Strand, in October, 1823. He was then assisted by several singers and dancers, including the famous Misses Hamilton and Howe, DUpils of M. Com. Ill his company was also an Anglo-Chinese iiio-o-ler who in addition to feats nf Jll£>te1Lr> '

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public performances before Robert-Houcliti knew aiicl operated the oranee tree trick. Ihree eminent writers exposed it clearly and accurately. Robert-Houdin, as an indefatigable student of the Reproduction of a hand-bill distributed on the history of magic, must have known of streets of London in September 1S22. The orange tree trick is on the bill under the name "Enthe trick and its modus Operaildi. He chanted Garden." (From the Harry Houdini collection.) may have purchased it from Cornillot Whatever may be said of Pinetti's or, as a clever mechanician, he had only •charletanism, it must be admitted that t o reproduce the trick invented by his he gave to the art of conjuring a great predecessors, train his confederate in its impetus which was felt for several gen- operation, and—by his cleverly written erations. It is not remarkable, therefore, autobiography—attempt to establish his that when the French magician, Cor- claims to its invention. (To be continued.) Brtatai lu jwrfuclloo by « CO&N1LLOT,

AMAZING PERFORMANCE OVCAUSINQ A LiviNo PERSON To ba fwotl in • piu* *bor* be or tbn hn) ch,l b « a bofrtofor*.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

382

r BY

THEO

HARDEEN

As this is my fourth week as headliner at ••• t h e " O x f i o r d

Music Hall (one of the finest West End Music Halls), I have been in a better position to gather news. During my first week's engagement a man named Beet W ickham appeared, who was advertised as being able to stop any 8 hp. motor car and also as being able to break any horse shoe. Despite the fact that he used only his own horse shoes, he failed twice during the week to break them. The strongest man in Europe to-day is the Luxembourger, John Grun Marx. He breaks any horse shoe brought, lifts 25 men on a platform by use of his hands, and breaks chains with a downward blow of his fist. His style of lifting the 25 men is copied from the great old timer Thomas Topham, who used to lift a platform of men, and performed strong man feats in 1741 in Spa-Fields. The only difference was that Topham lifted his platform with shoulder straps, while Marx uses his hands. * * * Some American manager ought to bring John to the United States before

he grows too old to perform his various feats. * * * I had the pleasure of meeting Heineinann, who one time was the manager of the Passage Panopticon, and he proved to be a right capable manager. He seemed to be displeased because I stated in one of my letters that he copied everything that came a'ong. He says he is the originator of Aga, Dida and Buddas Blackboard. Regarding this blackboard mystery, he says he is going to appeal to the English Courts to prevent Carl Hertz from producing this act, for "How can 1 get £35 weekly for it, when Hertz simply puts it in his act as a single trick." As a reply to the rumor that he was going to produce something elegant in the near future, he winked his off eye and said: "Too many people copy things." If I am not mistaken he has recently purchased the illusion "IT," which was produced at the Pavillion some time ago by magician Preston. * * * Nate Leipzig's act is the first mystery act that has worked in the circus ring, since Houdini appeared there three years ago. Leipzig is billed as having appeared before the King cf England. . ~e is making good. * *•

Federation Day at the. Crystal Palace, although a huge success artistically was not a financial success. Noaks the illussive who has the Electrical Theatre at the Crystal, contributed 10 per cent of his gross receipts to the V. A. F. This entertainer is connected with the City Magical Co. •

•

*

It seems strange that Federation Day should be a financial and artistic succe 3 all over England, but not in London!

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Chung Ling Soo is running his ow.i show. From all accounts last week in Eastbourne, he made a lot of money. Robinson has developed to be quits a showman, and can advertise himself with the best of them. The house of the great English jail breaker, Jack Sheppard, who has been immortalized by Harrison Ainsworth, is now being pulled down by the Southwark Guardians, so they can build a pauper workhouse on the site. 1 he old house of this clime novel hero was used for a store house by the Guardians, and was at least two hundred years old. Strange to say the workmen found a huge vault and a subterranean passage under the house. * * * •Cul-pitt, the clever magician, has been engaged by Mr. Maskelyne to give private performances as there is more money in it for him than playing halls. We shall, therefore, miss Cul-pitt from the stage a few weeks. He holds two years of contracts, opening in September. He has been booked by Anger & Bauer. :>

*

*

Zelka, who lately appeared at the Crystal Palace, is rapidly coming to the front as a popular performer. At the present time he is building several new illusions for Fasola. * * * Sylvesta, who is now on the books of Harry Day (which means you have to be good), will soon find steady work, for he presents a creditable performance. I hear he was a school teacher in Liverpool before he became a magician, so his grammar will not be derelict, as is the case with many of our entertainers.

383

Carl Germaine has taken a three weeks' vacation and is now in Germany looking for novelties. He will find lots of them on Friedrichstrasse, in Berlin. * * * A young man named Phillip Levard gave a trial show at Bedford Music Hall and, it is stated, that he was so bad a performer that the management did not dare engage him. When last heard from he was advertising for acts, as he intended to take a company on the road. He ought to do well—if he makes money ! * * M-. Anthony, the swanker, who lately appeared at the Canterbury Music Hall, they say, is going to be called Anthony, the flirter. Anthony, old chap, some one wil' ' and you something some bright

Living statues are a thing of the past now in London, as the London County Council passed a resolution that after July 27 no more naked women will be allowed to appear. This is something that I thought would happen long ago, as the women would appear naked, barring a paint of enamel which would be put on them before appearing on the stage. But they have had a good inning, so they cannot complain. The Seldoms were at the Pavilion for a run of six months. * * * Hackensmidt, the wrestler, is not having such an easy time of it. While he was appearing at the Theatre Ro\al Dublin, at the iimpire, Dublin, they had a man by the name of Constant Le Marin who deposited £300 ($1,500) for Hackensmidt to come and get it if he could throw him at the Empire or Le Marin would go over to the Theatre

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Melville has sailed for New York Royal and wrestle Hack, in his ov.n theatre. But Hack had the sign, "Only with his Indian fakirs. British wrestlers allowed." The papers in Ireland went after Hack, but he was not having any, and I think when he threw off the dust of Ireland, he was pleased, 'i his week he is appearing at the Palace Blackburn. In England wrestling is a thing of has p a t e n t e d a the past, as there have been so many .. ... fake matches that the British public arc valise which can on to them. I hear that Hack has r. i be opened like a engagement at the Alhambra, only to table. Ted Marks, give exhibitions, and not challenges. the great TransAtlantic traveler is Harry Rickards, the Australian mangoing to boom it ager, has again popped up in England. in America. I don't know how strong He is booking all acts suitable for his this patent is, as I have seen musical houses. All artists who are engaged teams utilize the idea years ago. The can be sure of a very pleasant engage- comedian would pick up a table, and it ment. would snap up into the shape of a * # * valise. John Clempert, the one time ''man * * * who could not be hung," then wrestler, Chas. N. Steen is out with a challenge then handcuff king, is now running a of $500 (£100) to prove that he is the sketch called "Jedovke." It has some- champion second sight artist of the thing to do with Russia and he intro- world. Steen makes claims of being the duces a handcuff escape in it. He was originator. He calb all others pirates, at Hull a few weeks back. imitators and other agreeable things * ^ * Having read the history of second Morimura, the Jap illusionist, apsight in Houdini's article, we magicians peared at the Theatre Royal Chester. of England would like to know what This is how the "Era" described his act: '"Morimura, the Japanese illusionist, "Steen invented and where he did it. * * * presents the usual run of conjuring At last it has come! Miss Alice tricks." Norton, a German alchemist at the London Hippodrome, in full view of the Marco, the boy magician, was at the audience, is submitting certain chemAlhambra Brighton ; he has added some icals to an intense heat, and manufacvery nice tricks to his act and is doing turing therefrom real rubies and sapwell. phires, which she gives away to the public, I might add that a rubie is about The Zancigs have returned to the Al- twice as valuable as a diamond and I hambra. Result, packed houses. am very sorry I am away in the provinces rt this writing, as I would like

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. Horac,e f

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. a handful. In America recently, a man was discovered making gold coins by a similar process, but the Government stopped him. Carl Hertz sailed to play the Hyman halls in South Africa for 12 weeks; on his return to England he promises us an entirely' new production, "The Garden of Eden." I have not heard as yet, whether Adam and Eve will appear in their traditional costumes. *

* *

A new law has recently gone into effect in this country, whereby Chief Constables are ordered to notify Music Hall proprietors that no one shall wear His Majesty's uniform on the stage, to make fun in it, or of it. In past years it has always been a sure fire hit for a comic singer to make up as a soldier, and sing about great deeds he had (not) performed. *

*

*

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3S5

At Liwrp'iu! Assizes yesterday, before Mr. Justice ChannHl. Herbert Smith (21). a conjurer, and Lottie Roberts (20). actress, pleaded guilty to having unlawfully obtained money by false pretences on April .15, and other dates. Mr. Rigby Swift, who prosecuted, said the system adopted was that prisoners advertised to take children with a premium. Having got a child they put it out to nurse, paying a small weekly instalment, and then no more. In connection with five bibies they adopted in April this year they obtained £66. In regard to nine other babies they adopted in February and March they received £inn, making £166 in all. Out of that they only paid away £2 or £3 in sums of 4s or 5s per week in getting rid of the children again. The scheme was carried out with a great deil of foresight, and showed great duplicity on the part of the male prisoner. Detective-Sergeant Moore said the male prisoner was a native of London, and was trained as a pawnbroker's assistant. He went to a restaurant in South Wales, which he managed for twelve months. He was beHeved to have met the female prisoner at Shrewsbury eighteen months ftgo. and they had cohabited since. Eventually Smith took to conjuring, and went about the country appearing on the music-hall stage. The female prisoner became a mother, and they advertised for a home for the child. Undoubtedly the number of replies they received to the advertisement encouraged them to embark on the traffic in children. In addition to the children mentioned in the charges before the court they had fifteen others, with which they received premiums varying from £1(J to £15. The male prisoner stated that they had only received fifteen, and not twenty, children. He said Roberts was quite innocent, only doing what he told her. He trusted, therefore, that the Court would deal leniently with her. His lordship said Smith must go to gaol for fifteen months and Roberts for eight months, with hard labor.

Joseph Haymaii, of Haytnan & Franklin,

otes from Our special

In a recent issue of the "Encore," the following sentence was quoted: "Since the days of Pinchbeck (circa, 1695), from whom everybody, including Houdin, the Prince of Pinchers, has borrowed, but no one has ever beaten." It appears to me that Robert Houdin is Ilerr J. Deutsch, who once was a wellat last receiving his just dues. known Music Hall agent in Buda Pest, Hungaria, but for reasons best known * * * The Jam-Jigs, a lady and gentleman to 'himself, and a few others, quit it, has are doing a burlesque second sight act for a number of years been managing which is very funny, it is really a bur- a lot of Chinese magicians. Deutsch is lesque on the Zancigs, as the name im- about the best bombastic advertiser and press man we have in Germany. His plies and is one loud laugh. troupe he sees fit to call "The Great High * * * Priest Tschin-Maa And His Seven Holy The London "Daily Telegraph" gives Grave Watchers And Npcroinqncers." the following account of the cause for They are really clever. He advertises the long prison sentence of Leo Selwyn, extensively that "we are real Chinamen, the erstwhile handcuff kincr. not pretenders." He is going after W.

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E. Robinson, your American, who travels as Chung Ling Soo. * * * Another Chinese troupe, The Tan Kwai Troupe, is at the present moment playing at the Colosseum Theatre, Essen Ruhr. * * * Chevalier Thorn is featured among the big acts at the Dusseldorf Apollo Theatre. He has a very clever mystery act. >|:

>;: ^

Clement de Lion, the billiard ball conjurer, intends to place his wife in his act, possibly enlarging his performance. * .* * Prital-Fay are making their fifth tour through Russia. They are presenting their mind reading performance in the Russian language, and as very few mind readers have visited that country, they are certain of making a success. They have added living pictures to their entertainment. * * * Lane and Fey are also traveling through Russia, but I cannot speak well of this team. The lady member is fat, fair and fifty, and her speeches to the audiences are anarchistic and if any one happens to cross her path or rouse her anger, she forgets her position and tells them her innermost thoughts. * * * Alex Weyer, the flag king, is at the Theatre-Variete Linz. This man makes a specialty of working with flags. He at one time would produce thousands of flowers in one load, toss them on the stage and had an arrangement made so that wherever the flowers would fall they would stick. When he had produced the entire load, an assistant would pull a cord, and the flowers would rise in air, and form a summer house, all lit with

electric lights. But Alex went to Paris, got a few bad habits, and became lazy. He has cut out all his flower work, because it would take all morning to fold them, and now resorts to flag tricfts, as they are easier to fold and fix for the next performance. He is an exceptionally clever man with his hands, which are like great big hams. At one time Weyer traveled through America as a strong man, mixing his feats of strength with his magical tricks, and the audience would imagine that his strength feats were fakes, so he eliminated the hard work, and resorted to magic alone. * * * At the Bluemensaale, in Muenchen, we have Adolph Ernest, who does a neat little act. He makes a fair attempt at sleight of hand tricks. * * * Some of us would like to hear a report once in a while of the Berliner Amateur Magician's Verein ? Why does not the secretary write a few lines so as to keep the Yerein in view. Perhaps this friendly hint may cause the circulation of a regular monthly letter. *

*

*

Well, here they are. Two Germans have adopted the name of Les Rob;n, and hail from that city of factories Elberfeldt. They present mind reading and liquid air, and work once in a while. * * * Svengali & Trilby, mysterious musical act, are at the Apollo Theatre in Paris. Their secret code is well worked. * * * Ali Sidra, the mysterious Turk from Berlin, is looking for work, and so is Redmondy Ernest, who does a very interesting electrical ghost show. * * * George Hartman, who is one of the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. best known conjurers playing dates in Germany, goes along in his own quiet way and seems to make more friends than any other magician in the business. He has bought a little villa in Furth in Bayern and has made all preparations for his old age. It seems to be the aim of the German conjurer for his declining days, to possess a small villa in some village or suburb and there rest his weary bones. Houdin, Doebler, Frikell, Bosco, Alexander and others had small villas. It is better to provide for your old age than to lounge about the cafe houses all day, and gossip with your colleagues and lose a great deal of valuable time. Christopher Affenbacb from I'lm Mild his barber shop and invested the proceeds in an illusion act. Not obtaining engagements for his untried act he obtained permission from the authorities and built a platform on an open space and presented his great Egyptian mystery show. His Aga is very sad, and the traps in his table can be seen by all the onlookers. I told him to raise his platform, but he told me to mind my own business, and I did. Good boy Affenbach, in my opinion you ought to omit the last four letters of your name. 'Twill suit vour actions better.

I3EGINNERS SPIRIT TABLE LIFTING. A Clever Little Trick Which Can Be Dene With Great Success. Preparation:—Cut a slot in a ring which you can place on one of your

387

fingers as is depicted in the accompanying illustration. Then drive a common pin into a small, light weight table, (as per illustration), which you intend to

•5?

lift. By slipping the slot of the ring behind the head of the pin you are abb to get quite a firm hold on the table and so can lift it from the floor. Execution :—Place your hand on the table and casually slip the slot of the ring behind the head of the pin and slowly and carefully raise the table, which will make it appear to the audience as if you lifted it with your finger tips. To add effect to this, von can now spread a silk handkerchief over the top of the table to show there is no preparation, for it will not prevent you from slipping the slot of the ring over the head of the pin. You can now lift the table and move it about to the accompaniment of music, and with the last movement remove the pin and hand the table around for examination.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

FROM THE PRESS

REVIEWING BOOKS ANDTHINGS^.

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

Dr. Joseph Lapponi, the late chief physician to Pope Leo XIII, and consulting physician to the present Pontiff, Pius X, was a great believer in spiritualism. He wrote a book on the subject which he named "Hypnotism and Spiritism," which has been published by Longmans, Green & Co. Dr. Lapponi died December 7, 1906, and was buried at the personal expense of His Holiness •Pius X. The book is very deep and deals only with genuine cases as the worthy and learned physician found them. * * * Dr. S. R. Ellison has called our attention to a new story from the pen of Anna Katlierine Green, who has gained such wide reputation as a writer of detective stories, "The Mayor's Wife," published by the Bobbs-Merrill Co. of Indianapolis, 1907. The story is woven about a cipher and written in the usual interesting style of the author. * * * There is a good story in the July issue of the People's Magazine, although the idea was used in a story in the Black Cat. The Society of American Magicians receives a splendid notice from the writer of the story, Mr. Campbell MacCuIloch. In fact he even goes

so far as to say that the meeting place is on Sixth avenue, near Thirtieth street. The S. A. M. ought to give him a vote of thanks for the clever manner in which lie uses the name. •

*

*

A shilling booklet sent to us by Fred Sinclair entitled, "Can you Zancig," arrived some time ago. It is written by Fant Abbot. He claims the Morning Leader speaks of him as "A wizard of remarkable powers," but he fails to say what the Zancigs say about him. After reading his code we can say without any hesitation t h a t it is the worst we have ever seen or heard. To transmit the numbers 2456, you have to say "Go and look quick, please, and tell this number." Another bright question is, "Can you tell what is wrong with the lady's husband?" Answer: "Yes, he is ill." (So will be the reader of the booklet if he reads all of it.) Imagine a line addressed to your assistant as "I go, favor me, go next and I tell him now, how many minutes." And to add to it all, before you are allowed to cut open the booklet from its envelope-like enclosure you will find the following warning: "As the contents of this pamphlet are of such • a valuable and secret nature, it must not be opened until one shilling (25 cents) is paid for it. It seems just like the seventh book of Moses that one sees advertised so much and which is positively worthless.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

H O CV S P O C V S

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pleasure; and when you would have them go up to the top, take your hand a\va\, nnd they will walk up.

I V N I O RThe Jnatomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. o s,

'.The Art of Iugiing ftt forth in his proper colours, folly, plainly, andexaftly, Co that an ignorant petfon may thereby learn die full perfe&ion ofthe Umcafter a little praflife. Vnto each Tricke is added thefigure,where it is needful! f

flai

The feeend Edith*, with m*«j additions. Prtfl«t oihili quira LJ

-

10

N D O N,

Printed by T. 11. foTR.M.

i 6 3 j.

Continued. HOW TO MAKE T H R E E LITTLE CHILDREN DANCE IN GLASS UPON A TABLE. Take little figures of glass that are made hollow, of an inch and a half high, representing lit'le boys, which may be had at the glassblowers; these little images have a small hole in one of their legs, and are lighter than water; immerge them into the water contained in the glass, A. B. this glass is about a foot or 15 inches high, and covered with a bladder which is tied fast over the top; a small quantity of air is to be left between the bladder and surface of the water; so when you command them to walk down, press your hand hard upon the top, and they will immediately come dowti. and so you may make them dance in the middle of the glass, at yom

I hope this is sufficient for your understanding; if not, you may have the glass and figures of me. BONUS GENIUS: OR, HICCIUS DOCTIUS. You must have the figure of a man made of wood, about the bigness of your little finger, the head whereof, must be made to take off and put on at pleasure, by means of a wire that is in the neck; also you must have a cloth cap with a little bag within to convey the head into, the bag must be neatly made that it may not easily be perceived: shew your man to the company, "Gentlemen, this I call my Bonus Genius:'' then shew the cap, saying, "This is his coat;" say moreover, "Look now as stedfast as you can, nevertheless I will cozen you, for therefor am I come;" then hold your cap above your face, and take your man in your right hand, and put his head through the hole of the cap, saying, "Now he is ready to go on any message

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

I have to send him to Spain or to Italy, or whither I will, but he must have somehat to bear his charges," with that pull \v . , , , . , , out your right hand from under the cap, and therewith the body, put privately putting your right hand into your pocket, as if you felt for money, where you ma\ hide the body, and take out your hand and say, "There is three crowns for you, now be gone," then turn the head and sav, "But he will look about him before

and hold it up again, throwing the head out of the little bag and say, "Hie mecus Genius," and in the mean time thrust the head through the hole of the cap, • and holding the head by the wire, turn ^ a]xn]t presentl>. a m , p u t the h e a d in. t o , , o u r p Oc ket. Note, Any person that is desirous to learn any part of this art, they may be taught by me. H. Dean. Of conveyance of Money. The conveyance of money is not much inferior to the balls, but much easier to do; the principal place to hold a piece of money is the palm of your hand, the best piece to keep is a tester, but with exercise all will be alike: except the money be very small, and then it is to be between the fingers almost at the finger ends, whereas the ball is to be kept below near to the palm, the money must not be of too large a circumference.

To convey money out of one of your Iia

he goes;" then say. setting your forefinger upon his crown, "Just as I thrust mv finger clown so he shall vanish ;" and therewith by the assistance of your left hand that is under the cap, convey his head into the little bag within the cap,

then turn your cap about, and say, "See here he is gone;" then take up your cap

"<{*

>"u> thc

<>thcr h

Legerdemain.

First, you must hold open your right han(1

- all<1 la-V t h ^ i n a t t s t e r o r s o » i e S piece of money, then lay thereupon

h{

t h e tn

P o f - v " llr l l ) n - l e f t fi"&er- a n d « s e words, and upon a sudden slip your right hand from your finger, wherewith you hold down the tester still therein, and suddenly, I say, drawing your right hand through your left, you will seem to have the left the tester there, especially when you shut in due time your left hand, which that it may more plainly appear to be truly done, you may take a knife and seem to knock against it, so as it may make a great sound: this is pretty if it is cunningly done, for both the ear and the eye are deceived by this device. (To be continued.)

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Our Mail Bag In this department 1t is the privilege of o u r readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correipondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

Mr. Harry Houdini, You may remember me from Oldham, England, where I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Empire Theatre. Have received the Conjurers' Magazine, and think it is a most reliable paper for the craft. I note that on page 86 of No. 3, mention is made of E. J. Dexter as being manager of a Music Hall in Oldham. He has left this place and is now manager of the Palace, Dundee, Scotland. I mail you a booklet being sold by Fant Abbot, the man who went to the various newspapers in Manchester and professed to expose the Zancigs. When Leroy Thalma and Bosco played at the Empire Theatre, the manager of the theatre introduced me to the trio, and I spent three nights in their company, which I shall always remember as being very happy ones. During a visit at the Arhton Empire I saw a very interesting troupe of conjurers, "The Simbra Troupe." Their illusions were well introduced and handsomely staged. Did you know that Bert Powell is now seeking engagements under the name of Moriumura, the Japanese illusionist? I note that Dermotti has written an article on cuffs. I once witnessed an incident in which Dermotti made a fiasco, and will write it in my next letter. It was too funny for words, and on his cards he lias the audacity to say

"The man who mystified the Czar." Yours in magic, Fred Sinclair. Editor Conjurers' Magazine: Sir:—I note that you mention Tommy Howell in your columns, and I know him well. His son, by the way, is with De Biere as assistant, and I hear he is very smart. Mr. Howell has just completed a new creation that will be a hummer. He has had offers for it from Chung Ling Soo, Hertz, Fasola and several others. He has lately made several extra fine cases for the locked and corded inside of canvas case or Indian box trick as it is known in America. Saw Hardeen do the packing case stunt at the Islington last week, and noted in the audience all the handcuff kings in London. We ought to start a handcuff king club, as there are so many. Perhaps there would not be so much jealousy. Regards, sincerely yours, "Monti." AUSTRALIAN ATOMS. By Carl Howarde. A practical effort for the promotion of harmony and concord among magicians and the elevation of the wizard's art was inaugurated by the formation of the "Australian Society of Magicians'' on January TO, 1907. At the first meeting, held at the Whitefields institute, the following officers were elected : President, Ernest Hoskings; treasurer,

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

C. II. Irving; secretary, C. Orton Williams. Since its inception the society has had several meetings, business and social, and is steadily increasing in membership. The one predominating note of the society's gatherings has been the extension and reciprocation of everything conducive to the individual magician's professional and social advancement. At the last meeting, after the preliminary business discussions, the president, Mr. ii. Hoskings, read an interesting and entertaining paper on his experiences and adventures in occult research, interspersed with explanatory notes of the methods adopted by mediums in their tests. In his peroration he urged the members to particularly study the medium branch of magic, for he considered that the medium moulded the plastic audience like potter's clay, trading upon their credulity to the extent of well nigh hypnotizing them into believing anything and so perfecting the illusion. Mr. G. Ritchie then presented a few new coin moves; Mr. C. H. Irving, a new card trick ; Yandn, ball and card manipulation ; Messrs. A. Williams and Tattersall presiding at the piano. The most interesting item of the evening was the exhibition of old magical programs by Mr. H. Benson Lees. He has a most wonderful and interesting collection. The chief magical event this month was the first appearance of Carlton, the comedv card king, who opened at the opera house, Melbourne. He was an immediate success on his makeup, before he had produced a card or fired off a gag. He is so astonishingly thin, that it would take two of him to make a shadow. He captured the audience and was greeted with a hearty laugh in rec

ord time. He is called the human clothes-pin. A word must be here spoken of the public performances of the psuedo-magician Larenzy, lately appearing at the Queen's Hall. This performer works his tricks in such a puerile and barefaced manner that the humblest devotee of the wizard's art cannot but feel ashamed th:-'.f the magic art should be denuded of al1 its mystery and exposed by the clumsy exhibition of one whose chief aim apparently is to cause its degradation. In his second sight illusion the direct cue was given so repeatedly, that one feels to be under a debt of gratitude to Larenzy's manager in dismissing him after the first performance. *

*

'M

Something new for Australia was found in the appearance of The Svengalis who opened at the Opera House, Melbourne. As this is the performance that made such a hit at Hammerstein's Roof Garden in New York several years ago, also at the London Hippodrome, all that I need record is, that they did the same at the first appearance in Australia. TO PRODUCE A LIGHTED CANDLE FROM YOUR POCKET. Take an ordinary candle and remove about an inch of the wick from the end which is to be lighted, and carefully insert a wax match in the space formerly occupied by the wick. Next sew a strip of emery cloth or sandpaper in the pocket from which you wish to produce the lighted candle. Then place the prepared candle in the prepared pocket, resting the head of the match against the emery cloth or sandpaper. When you wish to produce the lighted candle all you have to do is to reach into the pocket and while taking out the can-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. die rub the match head against tluemery cloth or sandpaper, thereby igniting the match and so producing a lighted candle. You can produce candles from a number of pockets if you prepare them ;b you did the one described above. Comedians modify this trick by placing the emery cloth or sandpaper with matches in a number of pockets, and attempt to light a cigar that stubbornly refuses to allow itself to be lighted even though matches are applied to it which are produced lighted from an innumerable number of pockets.

Eugene Powell, the well-known mystic, has been doing exceptionally well out West. He is seen due in the East. * * * Hilliar, the Englishman, who is also a conjurer, is traveling with the street fairs. He has added a few clever stunts to his entertainment. * * * T. Nelson Downs has been doing so well with his theatre in Marshalltown, la., that he has leased the largest place in town for the forthcoming season. He will have a swell penny arcade in the front, and will have the theatre occupy the rest of the building. He is becoming a large landowner in his town, and things look brighter for him than ever before. Although he is working harder than ever, he is getting corpulent, weighing 180 pounds; when he first went to Europe he weighed 130 pounds. His stage presence must be better than before. Some day, when the public least expects it, Downs will appear with a large illusion act. * * • Secretary Oscar Teale and Houdini have buried the hatchet. They are now busy explaining how the mistake happened.

393

Shekla, the Hindoo magician, appeared at the 1 lammerstein Roof Garden, lie brought along a novelty, cooking an omelette on his wife's head. While he does nothing startling, he does his act with a peculiar cleverness. The old Hindoo basket trick is gone through, and some people were fouled. * * * It may not be known, but Mr. William I Iammet'slcin i-> a great admirer of mystery, and if you have a mystery or illusion that you would like to have featured for a New York audience, let him know what it is, and if reasonable terms are asked you are liable to obtain a contract. * * * Morris Mansfield may some day write a book on the style of P. T. Barnum's history. He was arrested on the charge of obtaining money under false pretence, from C. W. Solomon, who is a cigar manufacturer living at 20 West 107th street, New York. Mansfield had an automatic checker player, in which he had his son concealed, and, it is alleged, that he • represented-to Solomon that if he would pay him $600 for electrical wiring he would receive half interest in the automaton. He parted with his money and one bright day in July (20th), to his consternation, he beheld the young son of Mansfield crawl out of the - automaton checker player and .stretch his cramped limbs. Mansfield refused to. give back the $600, and Solomon had him arrested. The boy is only ten years of age, and has defeated some of the cleverest checker players in New York. * * * P. Richards, the clever Clipper cartoonist and father of Patsy Boliver, the trainer of the almost human cat and dog, was in Paris, France, looking over the ground, and reports that the French language is so simple that the very children on the streets speak it fluently. * * * Orestes A. B. Senter, the well-known magical and mysterious entertainer of Columbus, Ohio, is one of the good old timers who remembers some of our past conjurers. We spent a very interesting day in his society. When in Columbus be sure and look up this savant of mystery.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

They say in the New York papers that a country hoy," Stub" Griffen, with the aid of a pocket knife whittled a key out of wood, and opened all the locks of a $200,000 Dutchess County jail in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The jail may have cost that much money, but if the boy actually whittled a key from a piece of wood and made it fit the lock, we think the locks were not locks, but simply spring catches, or else the boy was handed a key by some one "in the know." Some time ago in Toledo a boy was heralded as a jail breaker, he having picked the lock w th his suspender buckle. It was accepted as general news, but on investigating this escape, it was learned that the jailer left the key of the cell in the cell lock, and all the boy had to do was to reach out his hand and unlock the door. He was captured and taken to the county jail, and on being searched the jailer found the original key in the boy's pocket. You will find that all these marvelous escapes from jail by boys result solely from the carelessness or absent-mindedness of some one in charge. * * * Dr. W. Golden Mortimer has given us some very interesting unpublished information about Robert Heller, which will appear in one of our forthcoming issues. * * * Mr. E. M. Vernelo, the well known magician, died Saturday August 3, 1907, at the Francis Williard Hospital, Chicago, 111, His body was sent home to Baraboo, Wis., for burial. * * * Dr. S. R. Ellison has some of the best models of illusions ever made or collected by anyone. He certainly could give a very creditable performance on the stage if he ever became tired of being a medico, as his knowledge of illusions in general is as good as any illusionist in the profession. * * * T. F. Fritz was in Philadelphia during the gathering of the Elks. * * * Elmer P. Ransom is reported to be doing a great deal of uncalled-for knocking. He had better let the conjurers alone, who are not working as steadily as he is, and mind his own business. Ransom , you bet-

ter stop and think over some of the things you have said. * * * James S. Harto is out with a circus again. * * * Anna Adelia Dis Bar, a spiritualist, has bobbed up serenely in Detroit, posing as Mother Elinor L. Mason, and is alleged to have tried to swindle Col. Louis Newman out of $50,000. Her plan being to palm off bogus cobalt stock. Col. Newman was not the only proposed victim, for a number of letters came to Detroit for her, addressed to Miss Morgan, indicating that she was trying to work an extensive game. * * * It was reported about Copenhagen that Clement de Lion died at the Oresunds hospital, but to the consternation of all the good folks, last week Clemont walked into the Cafe National as big as life. Like Mark Twain, he can say the report of his death is greatly exaggerated. * * * T. Roy Barnes, the sleight-of-hand performer, was married at Kankakee, 111., to Miss Bessie Crawford, who starred last year in "The Tenderfoot." If things go as planned she will come East to star in an act in which both will appear. * * * We hear that Lazern has been engaged by Manager Rice, of the Theatre Majestic in Del Mar, to expose a lot of magic tricks on the "bally-hoo" stand. Lazern, don't you do it! Don't belittle your profession. * * * A prisoner has actually escaped from the New York Tombs. He was assisted by some friend, who simply threw a rope over the wall, upon which the prisoner, Frank Snyder, 25 years of age, of 622 East 16th street, New York, drew himself up to the wall, then slid down and jumped on a truck, covered with burlap bags, and vanished. * * * From Lafayette, W. Va., comes the report that Albert Shay, who had been convicted for burglary, was detected making a key to his cell from a slot in his bed. If these fellows keep on breaking jail, they will have to be riveted in a boiler.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kellar are back in America. For the coming season Kellar has brought from Europe a new cabinet transformation illusion. His trip lias done him a lot of good, as he looks as bright and sound as a dollar. * * *

Madame Konorah, assisted by the genial Max Berol will soon appear on the Klaw and Erlanger tour, with their silent mathematical act. *

+

•

Felix Berol, brother of Max, has gone to Berlin to join his brother William. * * • It is stated that W. E. Robinson (Cltung Ling Soo) will appear at the New York Hippodrome this coming season instead of appearing on the Klaw & Erlanger circuit. * * * Herbert Albini is billed at the Trocadero in Fort George, New York City.

favor at the Majestic *

*

395

Theatre. *

The Great Eldredge who is now playing Indiana has been booked by the Western Vaudeville Association. * + * Jas. M. Hathaway has gone out with the Great Cosmopolitian Shows. * * * Fred. Gay was in town recently. *

*

*

Miss Julia, the psychic wonder, is with the Buffalo Bill Show. *

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Dida has closed at the Riverview, and Cremation has made its appearance. The latter illusion is owned by Cass A. Andress, son of the Famous Barnum & Bailey Andress. ±

*

*

McWater & Tyson were at the Chicago Opera House the week of July 15th, but not with their new act. FROM THE

INDY CITY B

WIH

McEwen, the clever hypnotist created quite a sensation at Benton Harbor. * * * Mr. Harry Thompson has just returned from a flying trip to the "Twin Cities." *

*

*

Sears the Great and company startled the natives in Detroit. * * * A. Roterberg has returned from his vacation, and looks fat. * * * B. G. Straub of Oakmont, Pa., is Introducing a very clever device for the producing handkerchief trick. T have seen it and can recommend it to magicians. * * * Allen Shaw is in the Northwest. He contemplates a trip to the old country. * * * The Great Cseser & Co. are in Chicago taking a vacation. This aggregation of mysterious folks hold return dates for the next two seasons. *

*

*

Yuma, a remarkable contortionist, won

*

*

*

Miss Edith Sirronje (the name spells E. J. Norris backwards, which is the name of her husband) appeared at the White City Vaudeville Theatre and created some talk by not accepting a common pair of handcuffs Thursday night July 25th. She refused them although in the opening address she invited regulation cuffs to be placed on her. * * * Chinko the clever young English juggler is billed for the Majestic Theatre the second week in August.

NSWERED

Berstan, Philadelphia.—Sig. Blitz first came to Philadelphia about 1836. He was brought there by Herr Maezel, the proprietor of the automaton chess player, and who also had a lot of mechanical figures and scenes. Blitz's book, "Fifty Years in the Magic Circle,"

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

396

states that the chess player who played the we are right; the gambler's pocket is done games while concealed inside of the figure as we wrote; to prove this ask your friend was a German named Schlomberg. Both to take a pack of cards which you have Maezel and Schlomberg were master chess brought along; do not give him a chance to players, and would play the game all the arrange them in any way or form, and place time, between meals, and would dream of the them in his pocket; then ask him to produce game at night. Anyone playing a game with one of your cards,.and not the duplicate cards the automaton was really playing with both in the secret pocket. Don't show him up men. Maezel on the outside would watch the before an audience, but do it privately, and opponent, and like all experts could tell how with good feeling, and you will find that he the game would result. If he saw defeat, he will own up and be friendly. * ** would signal to Schlomberg, and the figure would "get out of order" and the game would James F., Hartford, Conn.—Why not write not be finished. to Henry Hardin.and make arrangements for Schlomberg eventually died of a fever in a personal interview. He lives in New Cuba, and Maezel died on board a steamer Haven, near your town. A personal interwhile on his return to Philadelphia and his view would be better for you. We are sure body was thrown overboard. The automaton he can supply you with the material you rewas destroyed by fire when the Chinese Mu- quire. seum burnt down on July 5, 1854. This seems to be the original figure which was built by M. de Kempelen in 1709. * ** Arthur Kramer, Bcston.—The best books for a beginner to possess are "Modern Magic" and "More Magic." These are compiled by Professor Hoffman ' (Angelo Lewis;, and it is almost impossible for any book to be written on the subject which can be better for the amateur. There are quite a number of books Barter and Exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted free on that subject in the French language. Any of charge; there is no after graft and you bind dealer in our advertising pages sells the yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in cur pabooks. per. * ** What is best offer for following two magic Oliver King.—Call pn the gentleman per- books, entitled "More Magic" and "Modern sonally. His address is 1 Amersham Road, Magic" ? Address Barney Edelman, care H. New Cross. He will not try to fleece you. S. Saltzman, 66 Essex street, New York City. * ** A. Heilman, Brooklyn.—You can buy siliWanted.—Several pair of American regucate slates in almost any hrst-ciass stationery lation handcuffs. Offer in exchange my own shop. It is best to buy the silicate slates first, original escape from a box nailed, nail for and then the regulation slates. Cut the sili- nail and board for board on the stage, or any cate slates to fit the regulation ones. The other escape or extrication act. E. Ruisselle, trick you mention will be found fully de- 701 Clay avenue, Jeannette, Pa. scribed by Hal Merton in Evan's book, "Magic and Its Professors/' page 135. You What have you to exchange or offer for a can buy the book from any dealer whose ad- living talking head illusion which cost $40? dress will be found in our advertising col- Also some small things. Mystic Marvel, 145 umns. High street, Brooklyn, N. Y. * ** * ** W. E., Chicago.—You say that we ex- To exchange, a lot of apparatus of which plained the trick wrong. You will find that I have duplicates, for double parlor and stage *

*

f

*

*

*

•

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY .apparatus. State what you have. Isadore Edelson, 451 S. Union street, Chicago, III. * * * What have you to offer for a photo of Kellar, some rope ties, and other magical apparatus? Burling G. Hull, 1216 47th street, Brooklyn, N. Y. * * * What have you to offer for handcuffs and leg irons? Will exchange for pair of bean giant cuffs. R. W. Strong, 508 Juanita Bldg., Dallas, Tex. * * * Wanted.—A copy of "Secrets of Stage Conjuring." Will exchange cash for same. Z. S. Moss, Altonia, Tex. * * * Will exchange a thumb screw, as illustrated and explained on page 202 of No. 6, as used in the Bastile of Paris, and a French cabriolet (chain), for any easy opening American handcuffs, or any good tricks. Photo of handcuffs required, or full description. Houry, Rue Anguignis, Orleans, France. * * * What have you to offer for a modern medicine outfit valued at $175? Outfit consists of three good remedies, suitable for agents or mail order business. Two U. S. copyrights, electroplates, medicines, formulas, booklets, folders, circulars, labels, directions, boxes, etc. Would like good magical books or apparatus or anything of equal value. Wm. E. Brodersen, 3720 Grove St., Oakland, Cal. * * * Will exchange magical apparatus for the Kellar rope tie, Ten Ichi thumb tie, or ventriloquial knee figure with moving mouth and head. Joe Knapp, 807 York street, Cincinnati, O. * * * Wanted.—Chinese, Hindoo and character wigs; also any good flashy costumes. I have three good illusions, billiard ball set, growth of roses, aga, flying lamp and fifty small tricks. Arthur Moser, Little Valley, N. Y. * * * What am I offered for (1) Stanyon's Serials, No. i, 3, 5, 8, 15; (2) for 12 glove boxes from hat, as good as new? G. Restell, Quai St. Georges 10, Ghent, Belgium.

397

MAGAZINE.

HOUDINI. The material for these articles was gathered during the author's first tour of Great Britain, and was prepared for publication in hook form. This was done in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After ttie manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now be printed for the first time In monthly instalments in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages It is peculiarly appropriate. Reader;, must bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various Instalments, but. in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. Copyright, 1900. By Harry K'oudinl. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT NO.

XII

Resuming the account of Sargent's famous contest with safe and lockmakers, I present a clipping from the New York Times of October' 14, 1869. The Bank Lock contest which has been carried on in the New York papers for some weeks past culminated yesterday in Sargent's picking the Yale Double Dial Bank Lock and winning thereby the $1,200 staked upon the result of the trial. After Mr. Sargent published the statement that the Yale locks could be picked, parties interested in the sale and in the use of these locks desired to have the matter settled by actual demonstration. Accordingly, Mr. John B. Yale, treasurer of the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company, and Mr. Sargent, arranged for a test. Mr. Yale selected on the commit-

39S

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

tec to superintend the trial Air. John Farrel, of the firm of Herring, Farrel & Sherman, safe makers, using the Yale locks, and Mr. Sargent selected Mr. R. A. Ballon, general manager of the American Steam Safe Company, using the Sargent locks, and they two selected as the third member of the committee, and umpire, Geo. H. Wyckoff, Esq., cashier of the New York Co. National Bank. The committee took care to see that everything was fairly done and with the view of determining the facts in regard to the lock. The result appears in the following: REPORT OF COMMITTEE We, the undersigned, having been appointed a committee to superintend a test of the Yale Double Dial Bank Lock against picking, and to report the result, hereby report as follows : In accordance with the provision of an agreement between Mr. John B. Yale, of the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company, and Mr. James Sargent, proprietor of the Sargent Bank Lock, signed and witnessed, on the 13th inst. a Yale Double Dial liank Lock taken from the stock 011 hand for use, was fitted at the Herring Manufactory to a fine burglar-proof safe, and placed in a room on 14th St., in this city and, after Mr. Yale had himself set the lock on a combination of his own choosing, one thousand dollars ($1,000) furnished by Mr. Yale, and two hundred dollars ($200) furnished by Mr. Sargent, with the understanding that the $1,200 was to be Mr. Sargent's if he should pick the lock within forty-eight working hours, and Mr. Yale's if he should not do it, was placed in the safe by the committee, and the door was then closed and locked by Mr. Yale in the

presence of the committee and others. The operation upon the lock was commenced at 12 o'clock noon, yesterday, and continued till 5 o'clock p. m., when the operators (Mr. Sargent and one assistant) left for the night, and the safe was placed in the care of the watchman till 8 o'clock this morning, when the operators returned and resumed their work. At 11 o'clock this morning they had completed their undertaking, having in about Sl/2 hours picked the lock and opened the safe without the slightest injury to either the lock or the safe. The picking was fairly done and the money was awarded to Mr. Sargent. (Signed) JOHN FARREL, of Herring, Farrel & Sherman; R. A. BALLOU, General Manager Am. Steam Safe Co.; GEO. H. WYCKOFF, Cashier New York County National Bank. TO THE PUBLIC OFFICE HALL'S SAFE & LOCK CO.,

Chicago, Jan. 28, 1870. Having exhausted all fair means to induce Mr. James Sargent to attempt to open our "Victor Lock" and having, through permission of A. Vance Brown Esq., president National Bank of Commerce, sent him a challenge on the 20th inst., to operate on either of our locks on safe furnished said Bank on terms which all disinterested parties will consider perfectly fair and honorable, and to which he failed to respond, he waits until the bank has withdrawn permission to have the locks tested, and then comes out in flaming style, proposing to try his skill on these identical locks. In order not to leave him another hole through which he might wriggle, we

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. again made application to National Bank of Commerce, and also the Fifth National Bank of Chicago, for permission for him to try their locks. The iv suit of our application will be seen i] the subjoined letters: National Bank of Commerce. • Chicago, January 28, 1870. To Joseph L. Hall, Esq., of Hall's Safe and Lock Co. Dear Sir: I must beg to decline your request to allow the locks on safe of this bank to be subjected to a trial of picking The controversy between yourself anj Mr. Sargent can be conducted and concluded in some manner that will not in volve inconvenience to anyone. As before indicated to you, I have no reason to question the security of your Safe or Locks. Respectfully, A. VANCE BROWN, President. Fifth National Bank, Chicago,. Jan. 2.J, 1870 Joseph L. Hall, Esq., President Hall's Safe and Lock Co., Chicago. Dear Sir:—Your request that we silow the test of an expert upon the Hall Victor Lock upon the safe purchased of you by this bank, we feel obliged to decline. We have no reason to question the entire safety of the safe with the locks thereon. Yours respectfully, ISAAC G. LOMBARD, Cashier. In his windy article which appears in the morning dailies, he makes no allusion to our acceptance of his challenge in which we proposed to submit an exact duplicate of the locks on safes referred to, on which he might operate for thirty hours, subject to the same conditions and arrangements as pro-

399

posed by himself. Xor does lie in any way allude to the fact that we accepted his proposition to put our locks, either our 4th class "Victor" or our "Four Wheel Chroiio>mctcr" up against his best "Automatic," in a mutual test on the precise conditions as named by him, save that the trial should not come off until after the 22A of February next. We have meant business in this matter from the beginning, and make the foregoing statement that the public may not be misled by false impressions, or by his LOUD BUGLING, after the coast is clear. ( hir President (Mr. Hall) having returned to Cincinnati last night, Mr. Sargent's communication will receive his attention in due time. HALL'S SAFE & LOCK CO.

Chicago, Jan. 28, 1870. A. Vance Brown, Esq., President National Bank of Commerce : SARGENT TO BROWN. Dear Sir: It was my intention to say nothing to the public about the treatment I have received from you from the beginning of this Lock controversy, nor should I have done so but for the letter you gave to Hall, and which was published in the Post of today. Now for the facts. On the 21st you accepted my proposition, in the presence of one of your directors, and others, to allow me to test the Hall VICTOR Bank Lock on the vault door of your bank, by picking, and if I succeeded in so doing, you to give me the picked lock and to purchase from me one of my best Bank Locks, to take the place of the one picked. This test was to take place on Monday, 24th, at which time I appeared at your bank prepared for the trial; when l.o! 1 wa; shown a telegram from Hall to you dated at Cincinnati, request-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ing a postponement of the test until his arrival. You also, on the 20th inst., offered to put up $500 that said lock could not be picked, and when asked by one of your directors if you would put up your own money, or Hall's, you said, "MY OWN, whether Hall will back me or not, and if the lock can be picked i won't pay Hall for the safe." Now, sir, on the arrival of Hall, why this sudden change of base, this going back on all your previous statements? I am still ready to test the lock according to either of the previous agreements. Respectfully yours, JAMES SARGENT.

Chicago, February 2, 1870. SARGENT TO THE WORLD.

I have deposited with the First National Rank of this city, as the subjoined receipt will show. One Thousand Dollars, which I hereby offer as a reward to Joseph L. Hall, or any other man who will pick, in thirty hours, without injury to the lock or safe, any one of the nine locks on the following safes: Four locks on the National Bank of Commerce. Three locks on the Illinois State Savings Institution. Two locks on the Fourth National Bank; or Three to be put on safe in Manufacturers' National Bank, or one to be put on the vault door of the First National Bank. Should the party desire it, I will take any one of the locks chosen apart, and let them examine it, and take measurements of every piece before trial, and then put it together in his presence and the presence of the committee, three of which may be chosen—one by myself,

one by Hall or any other man, and the two so chosen to choose the third party; the one chosen by me shall set the combination of the lock, lock and unlock it in the presence of the committee, to show it is in good working order, they not knowing the combination on which it is set. First National Bank, Chicago, Feb. 2, 1870. Received of James Sargent one thousand dollars, to be paid to any person who may pick his bank lock according to the terms of his above published offer, or, if not used, to be returned to him in five days from date hereof. (Signed) L. J. GAGE, Cashier. As bankers who are now using Hall's best twelve-wheel double-dial Victor bank lock on their safes dare not give me a trial, for fear I will pick them, I now offer to the National Bank of Commerce, or the Fifth National Bank of Chicago, one hundred dollars to allow me the privilege of a trial by picking either one of the Hall locks on their safes, and, if I succeed, they to give me a certificate of the fact. I will furnish them with a good fire and burglarproof safe during the trial so their business will not be interrupted. If this will not satisfy bankers and the public, what will? Any communications, for the next five days, may be addressed to the care of Pratt & Covert, 86 Washington street. JAMES SARGENT.

(To he continued.) * * * NOTE:—In our next issue we will describe and illustrate the instrument which Sargent used to open the safes of his adversaries.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

401

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INDEX FOR VOLUME I OF THE

Conjurers' Monthly Magazine From September 1906 to August 1907 inclusive ADVERTISEMENTS. Ava, The Fakir of

^^__ loo

Anger & Bauer..140, 178, 211, 242, 278, 310, 342, 374 Automatic Razor Strop C o 1O0 Austin, Prof. J. H 100, 147 Bailey & Tripp Co., 03, 143, 175, 207, 239, 275, 307 339, 371,403 143 British Magical Co Dasch, Ernst 3, 33, 07,107 30 Bysack, Kristna 404 Bodie, Dr. Walford. 179. 211, 276, 308, 340, 372,

Columbia Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio, 101, 141, 173,

272

City Magical Co., 141, 173, 205, 237, 272, 306, 337, 401

Day, Harry, 2, 34, 06, 106 146, 178, 211, 242, 310, 342. 374 De Bieve Arnold 274, 338, 370, 402 374 Downs, Magical Co., T. Xelson 343 Exposed Jail Breaker Fischer, Ottokar 30, 62 Grand Opera House, Pittsburg, 102, 142, 174. 206, 238, 273, 300337 Hardeen, Theodore, 31, 03, 103, 143, 175. 207, 239, 275, 307, 339, 371 4(i2 Hamley Bros. 172. 204, 239, 270, 27S, 338, 370. 401 Hardin & Co., Henry 336, 369, 375 Hayman & Franklin Jacobs, Jennie. 31, 63, 103, 143, 175, 207, 239, 275, 307, 339, 371, 403 176 Jergens Co., Andrew 104, 144, 236 Keith, B. F 32, 64, 100, 140, Keene, J. Warren 274, 338 179 Klein, Erwin A Le Roy, W. I)., 31, 03, 103, 143. 175, 207, 239, 275, 307, 339. 371, 403 L'lllusionniste 35. (17.107 Martinka & Co., 2, 62, 102, 142, 174, 200, 238, 273, 401 306, 337. 360, Manhattan Detective Agency, 2, 34, 00, 107, 140, 178, 210, 242, 310, 342,374 ( Maliatma 3, 02 Morrison & Co -35, 67 New York Magical Co.. 31, 63, 103, 143, 175, 207, 230, 275, 339, 371 Otto Magic Co.. H 142, 174, 200, 238.273 311 Osgood Publishing Co 243, 270. Professional Cards 243, 279, 311, 343, 375 Putnam Hotel 174, 206, 238, 274, 306,337 Preston Hotel 370, 402 Roterherg, A., 31, 63. 103, 106, 143, 147, 175, 179, 207, 211, 239, 275, 307, 339, 371, 403 Rough, James D 30 Right Way to Do Wrong, 103, 143, 175, 207; 239. 275. 307. 339, 371, 403 Straub, B. J 40.3 Scholder, M 31 Sutcliffe Sisters. Four 62, 102. 142 Society of American Magicians 35 Stadium The 2, 34, 66, 106,147 Verne & Co 147, 170. 211 Wizard, The 62, 175, 207, 230, 360. 401 Zam Buk 171, 208 Zauberspiegel Der 403 A Australian Xotes, by Carl Howarde 301 Australian Letters 155 Archdeacon Colley against J. N. Maskelyne 287 Alexander Article 37, 38, 40, 41
201 6 11 18, 252. 320 18, 44 21

362 Baldwin, S. S • 13, 2 4 , 320 Berol, Herr Max 15 Belloni, Kic-hard Bernardi 15, 46 51 Butler 91 Bardelle, J. D SO Burroughs, J. F 45 Bra a tz Biros 114 Barclay, Prof. W. A 114 Burns & Burns 114 Burlocks, The 115 Brown. Will Butt, Alfred 115 Biographical: Max Ressner 16 Chas. Bertram 219, 244. 245 Harry X. Stork 223, 254 229 Henry Steel Olcott 322 U. Adney Payne 322 \V. B. Broadhead 322 H. J. Curry 327 Carl Lebel't 359 Frederick Berndt 358 L. M. Walilmunu 394 E. M. Vernello Bosco. The Right Wronged by Hilliar 49 Barter & Exchange, 234, 270, 299, 331, 332, 365, 306, 307 Boston Notes. B[y Frederick Roche 223, 204, 207 Barnuin. P. T 39, 124 Baldwin, S. S., Article 51 Bodie, l)v. Walford. 21, 24, 54, 78, 157, 191, 192, 218, 251, 321,353 Bertram. ('. C 121 Buddah's Blackboard 152 Burgess. Clinton 101 217 Bran in. Widow 218 Billy, Marco 228 Burkhardt 251 Brooks. Herbert 253 Baschik, Kratky 262 Berol, Felix 203 Bordeverry. Col. Gastou 264 Birehrner, Carl 264 Blitzen, Herr Wm Bekker, Henri 289. 321 328 Bowman. Frank 359 Ben Ali Bey 359 Black Hawk 362 Blaney, Chas. E 364 Bories, Mr 364 Bories. Dr. E 364 Bernar 394 Barnes. T. Roy 296 Brlndemour

Clayton. Sir William Comnte's Cagliastro 155 Card Tricks '. 305 Chicago Xotes By W. L. Hicks, ..207, 329, 363, Correspondence: 51 From John M. Hickey 91 " N. C. Higgins 92 " H. S. Burkett 117 " J. H. Moore 117 " Montague R. Fitzwilliams 119 " Prof. Otto Hornmann 119 " Edwin Joyce 120 " Oswald Williams 224 A. Windecker 225 " Ernst Thorn 225 W. E. Floyd 225 Welsh Miller 226 Chas. Oswald Williams 261 W. D. Le Roy 261 T. C. Ardoek 261 R. H. Gysel 261 " Harvey Emmet 355 " Harry Kellar 350 " Zainlocb 356 " Julian Wylie 357 Wilfred C". Zelka 261, 295, 358 " Robert Kudarz 391 Fred Sinclair 391 Monti 204 R. Senna 204 T. P. C. Sewell C. Dana Taylor 118, 205 Correspondence 50, 51, 224, 225, 294,295 Carlton 21. 121, 187, 218, 252,361 43 Colby & May 188 Carpet, The Magic 188 Cumberlands. The 288 ('IT Me Troupe. The Great 218. 219 Chandrick, Prince 219 Cross The Mysterious 219 Cooke, Cecil 219 Clifford. Xat 228 Canfield & Hilderra 228 Courtland, Grace 220 Coffey, J. W 263 Cotton, Little Lola •

264 Circle, The Magic Crane Lawrence 204, 3U1 Currier, Win 2S8 Courtlnnd & Co 326 Coesur The Great 2!)7, 320, 384, 395 Chenwortb & Ferrari 329 Clivelte, Mons 297, 330 enroll 301 Crein:itiou 395 Clunko 297. 393 Chefalo 88, 203, 361 Carter & Co., Chas '. 88, 289 Cleiupert 91, 384 CliQUOt 78 Cameron, Louden 78, 187 356 Cul, P i t t 78, 251, 383 114 Crooke, Win 115 Cree, Wm Chung, Ling Soo, 21, 45, 152, 154, 164 186, 188, 193, 220. 229. 251, 289, 320, 321, 335,383 Day's Agency 20, De Blere, Arnold, lu, 21, 45. 81, 105, 194, 250, 203, 289, 320, 321, 350, Datus 11, Davies, Harrison L De Courtray Downs, T. Nelson 43, 52, 296, 301, Du Bois, The Great Darwiu Days, The 186, De Wierd The Great Daika Derant. David Dida .321, Daredevil Schreyer Dou, Prof D'Amon De Motts, The Deutscli, Herr .1. De Hollis & Valvia.

333 290 89 7S 393 161 165 321 229 288* 289 395 353 351 361 364 385 297

Evanion, Henry Evans Editorials, 30, 08, 108, 148, ISO, 280, 312, 344. Evans. Henry Itidgely 17, 41, Ellison, Dr. S. It 24, 362, 388, Edna & Wood Elliott, Dr Empress Etta Mile Ernest, Adolph Eldredge The Great

6 37li 123 394 23 43 115 321 3S6 395

F French Society of Magicians Ferralrs, J Frikell .22, 23, 50, Fays, The Feiber, H. H Fox, Imro 12, 21, 46, 165, Floyds, The 88, Fasola 77, 289, 321, Frame1, W. F Fra nko Bros Fay. Anna Eva 262, 329, Fresso Fritz T. Francis 326, Fontinelle, Mysterious Filvoli, Frederick Feterer Fay Prital Frederick. The Original IFischer, Ottokar, Notes . . . .81, 165, 220, 253, 323, Fakir of Ava Frosts Suspension

7 7, 8 18 88 11 251 229 356 78 79 361 291 394 327 329 361 386 296 35S 161 216

193

5 Greek Proverb •••• Gay, Fred 364, 395 Grault & Herbert ", Goldln, Horace. 10, 21. 45. 47, 81. 114, 154, 100, * 218, 220, 251, 2S9. 320, 321, 350, 351, 361,3S4 11 Godfrey 88 Griffen, Chas. E 383 Germaine, Carl, ..43, 77, 152, 264, 320, 321, 322, 252 Griff 264 Goss The Great Gawes, Dick - 9 " - 328 353 Grossi, Signor Carlo 353 Gregorwitz. Dr. Joseph 363 Goldston, Will H 155 Hughes, I. Harris. Fakir of Ava 5 Hospital, St. Bartbolemew 1 21 T-Till A F 321, Hertz. Carl. 1 1 , ' 152, 157, 1S6. 196, 218, 251, 351, 385 Howard Bros 89. 218.251. 288, 321 192 H u m a n Brake, The 45 H a r t l e y Wonders .115. 252 202, 3<12

361 44 185 18J Hcrrmiunr Mini.; Adelaide' 7.7.'.'.'.V..229; 320.329. 361 2J1, 351 Herrmann. Carl 251 Hanvarr & Lee 351 Hymack Holmes, Heneau

Alfred

Hayman, Joseph, 263 Robert Iloudin Article: Itobert Houdin, 6, 7, 8, 37, 69, 109, 149 181, 182, 183, 213, 214, 215, 216, 245, 281, 282 Robert Houdin, 313, 314, 315, 310, 317. 318, 31U, 345, 340, 347, 348, 349, 377, 37S, 379, 380, 381 lloudin's Second Sight 213, 214 Houdiu's Suspension Trick 215, 210, 245 C'hing Lau Lauro's Suspension 245 Maskelyne's Suspension 246 Houdin's Automaton 246 Barnuni's Dealings with Houdin 247 Barnuni's Talking Machine 248 Automata j . . 281 De Pbillipstahl's Phantasmagoria 283 Fawkes & Pinchbeck, Real Inventors of the Orange Tree 313, 345 Mezzotint of Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr 315 Mezzotent of Christopher Pinchbeck, Jr 315 Clipping from the Daily Post of November 3U, 172S, about Christopher Pinchbeck 316 Advertisement Cut From the Daily Post of 1730, Before the Death of the Senior Fawkes 317 Portrait of Isaac Fawkes 318 Clipping from the London Daily Post of 1728.. 319 Clipping Froin the London Daily Post of February 7, 1724. In Which Fawkes Advertises His Retirement 319 Clipping From 1725, of One of the Earliest Advertisements of Fuwkcs 346 Several Clippings of Fawkes 346, 348 Fac-Simile of Hogarth's Own Engraving, Masquerades and Operas, Burlington Gate 347 Reproduction of Page 1126 of Hone's Every Day Book 348 Portrait and Autograph of Pr. Jaiiuet Druz 349 Portrait of Jaquet Droz's Writing Machine.... 349 Samples of Writing by the Figure in 1790; Samples of Writing by the Figure in 1900; King George 111. and Queen Charlotte, as Sketched by the Drawing Automaton in Their presence in 1774 349 The Orange Tree as Featured by Pinetti and Cornielot 377 Engraving of Pinetti 378 Reproduction of Hand Bill 381 Hand Cuff Tricks; Hand CuEf Secrets Exposed, 25. 27. 50, 57, 58, 90, 97, 98, 9'J, 130, 108, 109, 170, 201, 202, 203, 230 231, 208, 269, 302, 332, 366, 397 Hocus Pocus, 17, 59, 76, 13S, 139, 166, 107 199, 200, 235, 271, 389, 390 107 Hellers, Robert, Grave Heller, Robert, Article 133, 134, 135, 137 Historical Lock Picking Contest, 366, 367, 368, 399, 400 397, 398, """ Hardeen Notes, 10, 43, 77, 114, 152, 1S5, 186, 187, 188, 217, 218, 250, 2S7, 288, 320, 350, 382 Hayman's Notes, 21, 22. 53, 54, 82, 120. 150, 157, 158, 191, 218, 219, 251, 232, 290, 322, 352, 384 Hicks, W. L 264, 329, 363, 395 Human, The, Pin Cushion 288 289 Ileno Herrmann. F 291 321 Hunter, U. W 322 Heteb, Joad 320 Hanson 327 Holtum, Capt. John Hartuiann 359, 386 361 Hugh. Vic llillicr. John 302, 393 363 Holland. P. C 382 Itelnemann 383 Ilackenschniidt 391 Howarde. Carl 394 Harth. Jas. S 395 Hathaway, Jas. M 297 Hindoo, Sam Isola Frers Illustrations: Boston Bean Prison Cuff The Bean Prison Leg Irons The1 Bean Giant Hand Cuff American Army Hand Cuff American Prison Adjustable Leg Irons The Guitean Hand Cufl0 The Jersey Cuff The Lilly Iron r German Cuff The Berliner Hand Cuff Wonderful Talking Machine Howard Thurston's Pastime In India French Cuff, Figure L Russian Leg Irons, Figure M Egyptian Hand and I/eg Iron, Figure \ ' The Latest Russian Manacle. Figure O The German Transport Chain and Illustrations How to Escape 268, Illustration of French Letter Cuff Illustration of Sections of French Letter Cuff... Illustrations and Diagrams: Extraordinary Spirit Slate Writing Position Taken by Disappearing Hindoo Before He Is Covered With the Sheet Showing How the Basket Appears After Disappearance of Hindoo Position of Boy in Basket A Hindoo and Wife Troupe of Hindoos

230 230 230 231 231 231 231 231 231 231 249 207 208 208 208 268 269 302 303 48 69 70

71 72 73

Maskelyne Materializes a £1000 Ghost Taschenspieler .84 Okito OS Cuff From Which Hllmar Failed to Escape 99 Scotland Yard Adjustables 131 Illustration of Neck Cuff or Collar 100 The Fake or Spoof Manacle 2l 10 Look to Put I'pon a Man's Mouth 2112 Thumb Cuff Thumb Screw Cuff • • •202 American Mauaeles 202, 203 214 The Mysterious Lady Reproduction of an Engraving Credits the Chinese with the Trick of Climbing Into the Air and Having the Body Fall Down Piecemeal 215 and Heine Set Together Again Of Instrument for Removing I'lug From the 333 Figure Eight English Hand Cuff IS Inavdi, Jacques 231 Ioua, Clias. Frazers

Mene-Tekel MeAskell, Allan . . .. Melrose, The Mystic Mint & Mart Macaire, Sid Melich, Albertine .. . Maske Willini C. Melleiu Melville, Frederick . Morton & Elliott Molini, Antonio Mosher. Arthur H. . Uartenu, O. F Miller Marcus Marty. Jean Murtitt, P. C. James Martina Mystcra Mclntosh

Jottings

Nassaus. The Nada & Matchez Nelson Bros Nonks Norton, Miss Alice Nickle, Robert

.89, 19G . . . . 77 80 80 18S .77, 44 '.4b' 105 121 190 217 220 228 253 .229, 329 202 291 321 321 .321, 331 327 N

and Jumblings,

125,

1G1, 195, 228, 229, 262, 296, 320, 301. 393 J a i l Breaking, Light on the Subject of, as Done by My Imitators 256, 257, 23S Johnson. J i m m y 114 J a c k , Tom 133, .362 Johnson, John 262 Jacobs, Miss Jennie 320 J a m J i g s . The 385 Julia, Miss 305 K Kle|>piiii's Experience in Getting Cuffs P u t On From Which He Failed to Release Himself, 303, 304, 304. Khalilah's Second Sight Kudarz, I'rof 233, K r a t k y , Bascliik Kardells, The Kalhas Knop, Mons. Georgia Ktmorah, Madame Kennedy. T Kramer, Arthur E Kleppini 13, 170. 303, 304, Kulferti, The, Bros Kaber & Kaber 78, Kuroki 21, Kellar, H a r r y 44, 161, 229, 328, 355, 303, Kokin, Prince K r a t e r n , Paul Klerigh, R Keeue. W a r r e n 229, Lemoine, Henry Lemaitre, Mons. H Leipsig, N a t e Lubian Lee, Sydney Lazerne Lucie, Miss Lion, Clement de La F a y e t t e , The Great Lorra Leischner Lione Latona, Frank L e Roy, Sevais Lynn J. W Lilly. M. C Lorraine, Effle Lung Me Fee Lindsay. Fred Lock, Pickers La F a y e t t e Laurent La Blanche. Flossie Lindsley, Frank Lovell Levard, Phillip Lane & Fey *Les Robins Laffoni. Dr. Joseph Ljine. Frank B

303 305 *5 358 253 262 262 327 393 23 9 3i>5 13 188 77 395 188 219 220 262

S 251, 232, 333, 382 36 21, 44, 186, 290 44, 351, 394 43 133. 194, 220, 386, 394 33. 161 1S6 217 219 231, 350 251 263 204 2S9 322 333

.192,

326 362 362 364 383 386 386 388 297

M Museum and Magical Magazine Martinka & Co 329 Mahatma 351 Max Milian & Shields 361 MoWaters & Tyson 363, 393 Marx. John Grun 382 Morimura 384 Marco 384 Monti 391 McEwen 395 Maurpr. J r . . Otto 297 Martini & M a i Milean 297 Mail Bag, 117, 191, 224. 225. 2R0, 294, 295, 355. 391 Medringtons Brochures 2(16 Macallister, John 50 MeNaughtoli, Mr 19 Maskelyne & Devant. 22, 43, 79, 93, 120. 153. 195, 322 Mortimer, Dr. W. Golden 24, 394 Moritt 11, 114, 356 Marconis. The 11 Melot, H e r m a n 11, 80 Moran, R. V 34 Mildred & Rouelere

Osey. N., Notes, Okito Orniiru Olivette Packing PilH't I L Pollard

Case

1S7 329 302 382 384 94 . ...12, . . .15

0 45. 46

3 32, 193, 165 220

Trick

291, 253

350, 3S3 323, 44 327

300 17 19 40 51, 363, 393 36, 52, 297, 330 78 78, 1S6, 252, 288 80 133, 3511 .18,

Petrofsky, The Mysterious Powell ." Paul. Prof Pawson. H Picitt & Lizette Playfair & Mikola Pollak Madame' Carl Edward Pollak, Max Pharos, Phantom & Palais t Passport, Willy Pettits, The Pauline Penstone, Ormonde Pierce, Alburtus Paumnwitz, Richard 291, Pipafax & Parlo Prital & Fay Plate, Adrian Programmes Reproduced: Used by Mr. Louis, Dated April 3, 1815, Advertising the Mechanical Drawing and Writing Master A Philllpstahl Hand-Bill Used by Him in 1803.. Programme of Mr. Schmidt in 1827 Hand-Hill Used on the Exhibition of this Automaton, May 7, 1826 Robert Houdin's Lithograph of Stage Setting Used by Him In Paris, 1847 and London 1848 Robert Houdin's Poster Used During His Various Engagements In England Fac-Simile of Kare Copper Engraving, Showing a Conjurer Swallowing a Man Alive Robert Iloudin's Poster Used at the Old Sadlers Wells Theatre, London 47, 149, 150, Robert Heller 01, 134, Indian Jugglers Ramo. Samee Kia Khan Khruse Robert Iloudin's Poster Used i London. 184S.. Houilin Programme, Very Rare Oriental Troupe Celebrated Indians Vcrii Breda Sic P i n e t t i Poster Young Master McKean Poster Mvsterions Lady Ching Lau Lauro

P. rtriits: Anderson. .Tfhn Henry Anderson. Mrs. Leona A Alexander Parnum. P. T Bean, Capt. B. D Bertram, Charles Fischer, Ottokar .81, Houdin, Robert ..6, Houdin, Robert. Grave Hmidin. Robert, Tomb Stone, Bas Relief. Macallister Heller, Robert, Grave Stork. Harry Rossner, Max Hondini. Harry. Showing Two Positions of the Sealed Hand Cuffs Fnc Simile of Cuffs Cuff Mfgd. by A. Stotz Hocus Pocus 59_ Taschenspieler Okito Pinchbeck. Sr Pinchbeck, Jr Fawkes, I

133 187 217

22S 251 203 359 339 359 296

284 285 286 2S7 40 42 42

151 130 72 73 74 75 76 110 111 112 183 184 213 240 159 162 38 248 201 255 165 182 9 9 53 167 254 19

58 60 82 84 314 315 318

James Sargent 334 Pinetti 378 Carl Lobert 327 The Fakir of Ava, I Harris Hugbi s 355 Of Dealers in Magic. Past and P r e s e n t . . . .292, 293 1. F. W. Conrniii-IIorstor 2!)2 2. Carl Willmnnn 202 3. Muns. .1. Caroly 2112 4. 5.

C. D e V e r e MODS. Voisin

203 2!)2

6. Otto Manrer 7. Geo. MY'Kenzie Munro 8. Augustavus Roterberg 9. Antonio Mnrtinku 10. Francis Martinka 11. Oscar Lischke 12. W. D. LeRoy 13. Ernst Basch 14. C. Milton Chase 15. Thomas Yost 16. John Hamley Programmes of Magicians: By J. I". Burrows, Assisted l>y II. .T. Ilnlland..

203 202 292 21.13 203 203 202 203 202 203 203 lOn

a Questions Answered. 53. 86, 127, 128, 129. 163, 197, 198, 226, 227, 264, 265, 298, 330, 364, 305 Quo Vadis 251

13 Kudolphi. Cant 13 Rothig. Francis Raymond 51 197. 206 Roltaire 51, 161, 363 80 Roberto 47 Rasschonin, Madame Kink 16. 165. 104. 201 43 Raynor, Carl Roland The Great . .45. 133, 185, 102. 220, 280, 353 45 Roberts. Prof 152 Roberts. R. A 1G1 Reiialdo, Prof. H 185 Ritsell. Myrn 103 Kusson. Ilarry 217 RudinnfC 218 Ronnachers 264 Kiissii. Tlic Great 264 Rose. The GiTiuun 321 Rouge. La Diable 325 Raynally, Mons. E 325 Ranfert, Dr 320 Raff. Augustus 359 Rice & I'rcvost 350 Rece & Privost 361 Rajiin. tlie Hindoo 301 Risinor. tlie Yogi 361 Renschling Richards. V 3G2, 393 364 Rego. The Mysterious 384 Riekards. Harry 394 Ransom. Elmer P Reproduction of Clippings: Dross's Advertisement Taken From the London Post. 1776 282 Mr. Haddock's Advertisement Featuring the' Writing Automaton from the London Telegraph. Jan. 1706 2S3 Clipping from the London Telegraph, March 12. 1812. Showing the Co-Partnership of Phillipstahl & Mai-Hard 284 •Reading and Rubbish, 17. 49, 85, 123, IGu, ISO, 222. 266. 300, 325, 354, 388 Russian Notes by MOMS. T. Bolin 46 Raynally,

MODS." E

189

S Secret of the Packing Case 300 Salutatory 4. 5 Selbits the Magic Art 266 Spiritualistic Seance, By Monti 232 Serious Accidents to Hondini's Imitators 197 S. Schwartz & C. L. Thorne 327 Stebbins, Si 328 Sears 297. 328, 395 Stifft. David 329, 363 Schroder, Eugen 358 Searle 362 Spitz. Abe 362 Straub. The Great 363. 395 Show World. The 364 Steen. Chas. N 384 Svengali & Trilby 386 Sinclair, Fred 388, 391 Shekla 393 Segall. Alexander 47 Stanselle, Frank 207 Steens. The 23 Sato, O. K 11 Succo 16. 78 Sirronje 51, 196, 305 Shaw 51, 329, 395 Siebert. Henry 8.8 Sa-Hera '. 88. 263. 362 Suel Jean 78

Sloan Snelling. \V. A. Sampson Stihvell Schwartz Ere Sylvesta . . . . Stoll. Oswald Spinge Svengalis, The Original Stevens, F,du in St. Armande Scnter, Orestes A Society of American Magicians. Society of Boston Magicians Sidra, Ali Selwyn, Leo Simlira Sp.'Ctres of the Sanctum Sargent Salvail

.47. 361 114 1154S 18ti.188, 251, 321, 383 21S 220 220 229. 252T .2C2, 3»a 300, 328 .264. 264 .291, 36S .321, 385 321 322 327 .327, 361

T Thorn Chevelair . . 1 3 , 15, 132. 161. 165. 220, 358, Thurston, Howard 36, 03, 164. 263, 267. 296, 320, 326, 32S. 356, Therese Bros.. The Le Roy. Talma and Bosco 21. 252, Tsohiu Man's Seven Holy Chunchusen Magicians.. Turng. E. 1 Toinlin Thurley, Don Thorne. C. L. & S. Schwartz Thompson. Harry S Ten lei Tan Kwai Troupe. The Tichy, Herr Director Tricks: r Card Sliding Box 21, Spirit Bell Cointiiiiiitii.il Card In Egg Trick New Bllllaril Ball Manipulation. By W. F. Alder The Magnetic Hat The Balancing Magic Wand A New Wrinkle to Catch a Wise T'n, By Edward C. Conklin Balancing a Borrowed Cigar on a Borrowed Hat Simple Method of Exchanging a Marked C o i n . . . . The Magnetic Pencil Spirit Table Lifting To Produce a Lighted Candle From Your Pocket Tricks for Beginners 335. 360. Taschenspieler 12. Thurston, Howard, Pastime In India with Illustration

Vano Velvoe Vonetta. Mile Valadon, Herr Violas Von Etta Van Porn. H. Win Venturiuis. The Van der Koos Valpos Vernello. Edward Volta. Marvelous

155 22 S» 116 164 188 221 221 269335 360 387 392 387 82 267

114 115219229, 328 251, 289 251 264 321 361 361 362, 394 363'

•

W Wilson's Wonderful Characters Wonderful Magazine Widow of Emile Houdin Williams, Oswald Werneke Mrs Eugenie Walton & Lester Weyer, Alex Warren, John Windecker Wilda. B Werner. Francis. J Walton. Otto F Widniiiyer. Frank B Wighton. Ernest Wingard. Prof Wvlie. Julian Wiggins Bert Wilder Marshall P Wizard Wanders, The

38* 362 47 326 45 262 263 326 327 329 359" 3S6 46

5 56 11. SI. 188.250 12 78, 252" 17, 217. 386 186, 219 196' 219 229, 297 262 263 289353 356 362" 296 123

Yank Hoe Yettanah Yum a & Co

Zanzigs 20, 52, 89. 120. 183, 184. 185. 321. Ziska & King 88. 161, 186, 195, 220. ZelUa. Wilfred C 115, 187, Zadi. Ali Za luloch

.364,

252. 320, 264, 321,

13 80395

289. 352. 384' 361. 363 357,383 330 356'

Ludwig Leopold Dobler

eptemtjer, 1907

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

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I ^"V IVI 1"^ ^N IVI ^™ IVI f* L U I V VJKJ I N J C I N VJI

Harry Day THE AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Manhattan Detective Agency, OPPOSITE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE 141O Broadway, Corner 3OtK Street Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. Suite 414. Telephone 468O Bryant

IMPORTANT Those who have already made application for, or those who wish to suscribe for the GREATEST BOOK EVER ON MAGIC (500 pages) by T. Nelson Downs and J. Northern Hilliard, send the price $5.00 at once to T. Nelson Downs Publishing Co. J. N. Hilliard, Mgr. 542 Blossom Road, Rochester, N. Y. Book ready for delivery October 1st, 1907, and will be mailed free to all who get their orders in immediately, as only a limited number will be issued. Get busy if you want to be in. T. NELSON DOWN'S PALMING COINS ARE BEST $1.00 EOZ.

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35, New Oxford Street, T. W. G. London, Eng. LIMITED

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We have actually in stock (almost without exception) every article we list and many others. We guarantee the finest quality and finish at the same or in most cases lower prices than elsewhere. A trial order will convince you of this.

A NEW WAND MYSTERY The wand which the performer has used during the evening is shown to be quite •solid and wrapped up under the eyes of the audience. It is then deliberately torn up and reproduced at will. No shells', threads, elastics or collapsible wand used. This will puzzle those that "know." 3|6 post free 3|9. U. S. A. $1.35

A GREAT VANISHING CARD ILLUSION A card is selected by a member of the audience who himself covers it with his own handkerchief, and drop's it (still covered) into a glass of water allowing the handkerchief to fall on and over the glass. Performer commands card to vanish and on handkerchief being removed it is found to have done so. Quite inexplicable but so simple to work. 1| post free li 1. U. S. A. 25 cents, post free 30 cents.

Latest BooKs No. No. No. No.

1. 2. 3. 4.

New Magical Sleights and Fakes by R. A. Morrell. Price 2|-, post free 2|2 New Dialogue for Punch and Judy. Price 6d post free 7d. Modern Crystal Gazing. Price 6d, post free 7d. Some New'Magic by J.F- Burrows. Price 1|-, post free 1|1.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Look over the twelve issues which constitute our first volume, and, without prejudice, compare our record with that MONTHLY or any other hona fide magazine on magic durMAGAZINE ing the same period, and what do you PUBLISHED BY find ? The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, That the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAG278 WEST 113TH STREET AZINE has given more real news about N E W YORK CITY magic and magicians than all the other periodicals of similar character comTELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE bined. Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents That we have more correspondents ail over the globe who really write. Advertising rates payable in advance, made known That we have published more illustraon application to above address. tions in one month than some of our conThe entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be temporaries have published during the reproduced either wholly or in part without perentire year. mission. That we have broken all records for The magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents eacb, by ad- cablegrams announcing news of special dressing the publication office, as above. interest to magicians. This includes the Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo cable chronicling the abrupt cancellation Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar of the Fay engagement in London, the Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman. news that Archdeacon Colley had won Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, the his libel suit against J. N. Maskelyne, price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No and the engagement of Chung Ling Soo manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped •nd addressed envelope. (W. E. Robinson) by Klaw & Erlanger for an American tour. Vot. II. SEPTEMBER IS, 1907 No. 1 That though not blessed with the gift of prophecy we announced on reliable With this issue, T H E CONJURERS' authority amid the scoffings of our conMONTHLY MAGAZINE enters upon the temporaries that Harry Kellar was about second year of its existence. We realize to retire, naming Howard Thurston as that at twelve months our publication is his successor. This prophecy has been a decidedly lusty infant. Looking for- fulfilled. ward to the new year, we see it a youngThat we have published with complete ster even more healthy, stout of heart diagrams, many tricks, old and new, and arm, and strong of lung. The CON- some of which, dug up from old-time and JURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE has a lot forgotten works on magic, have furof work cut out for it, and we do not nished ideas for young, struggling and propose to attack certain evils, nor work ambitious magicians. for good results in a spirit that is puerile That we have published the first auor vacillating. We may be young in thentic and practical articles on handyears, but we are rich in experience. I f cuff tricks. you question these statements, take, with That, in the Robert-Houdin articles, us, a look backward and then glance we fairly revolutionized the history of forward. magic. Robert-Houdin has been un-

CONJURERS'

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. crowned as the king of conjuring and automata, and the crown has been distributed, bit by bit, among the earlier magicians to whom it rightfully belonged. Men on two continents who once proclaimed Robert-Houdin as magic's hero now refer to him as the Prince of Pilferers.

readers not only a continuation of this clean, fair, editorial policy, but that the present mechanical, illustrative and news standard will be maintained. We propose to advance, not to remain stationary or to fall behind. As evidence, we call your attention to our new cover, which has been especially designed for T H E

Owing to the fact that both the book and remaining serial rights of "RobertHoudin's Proper Place in the History of Magic" have been purchased from their author, Harry Houdini, by a prominent publishing firm, no further instalments of this notable work will appear in T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The entire series will appear eventually in book form, when it is hoped that the interest which it has aroused as a feature of this magazine will be even more general and wide-spread. In the place of these articles, the management of the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE announces a new and vitally interesting series of sketches, devoted to eminent magicians and showmen, by Harry Houdini, author of 'Robert-Houdin's Proper Place in the History of Magic." These sketches will contain much in formation about old-time conjurers and showmen, never before published, and they will be embellished by reproductions of rare and exclusive por traits, handbills and programs. We feel sure that they will be received as cordially as the Robert-Houdin articles and will prove a full compensation for the withdrawal of the first named series.

Editorially we have maintained a policy that has been fair and impartial, with malice toward none and an optimistic attitude toward all. If we have criticised managers, it has been as employers of our craft. If we have aimed our penshafts at magicians, it has been as artists, not as men. We have not stooped to the personalities which have besmirched the pages of certain contemporaries, and we honestly believe that we have earned what we now possess, the confidence of •our readers, the moral and financial support of the conjuring world. Looking forward, we promise our

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE by

M.

Harney, the well-known sculptor, who has been awarded various medals in Paris for modeling in clay. We are securing more correspondents. We are arranging for more and better tricks that will meet the needs of amateur and professional magicians, and we propose, if such a thing is possible, to give you more and better illustrations. With these promises and ample backing to fulfill them, Volume II. of T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE doffs its hat, or rather its brand new cover, and asks for a continuance of your good will and support.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

6

HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC him to appear before his household and guests. ()n the Prince's recommendaLudwig L e o p o l d tion, Dobler was commanded to appear Dobler. Born in Vien- before Emperor Franz Josef of Austria na, 1801. Died at in i8-'8. "Klafterbrunn," near Thus encouraged by royal favor, Dob%£"\ Vienna, in 1864. By ler laid aside the engraving tools to pick nature, a nobleman up the magic wand which was destined who reflected, credit to earn him an almost princely revenue. rn his Creator; by His first public performance in Vienna profession a conjurer who reflected followed close upon the royal command. glory unon his art. Next he played a number of minor Austrian cities, and a return engagement at Dobler was the son of an expert ena prominent Vienna play house. A prograver who determined that the lad should learn the same trade. To this end. longed tour of the continent brought r a n en ~ young Dobler was not only apprenticed him back to Vienna in 1839, f° to a master-engraver, but was given gagement which might be described as a special oporlnnities to study at the Im- triumphal re-entrv of his native city, for perial-Royal Academy. While he readily he packed the theatre, whose Herr Dimastered the trade chosen for him and rector pronounced this engagement as bade fair to prosper therein, in secret the most successful in the history of the he studied magic, as well as chemistry, house. physics and mechanics, then considered In 1841 he left Austria again, starta part of a magician's training. Once ing upon his most brilliant foreign tour, when young Dobler was engrossed in which led him to Holland, France and reading Klenker's "Magicon," he was Great Britain. From Paris he wrote to discovered by his master, who used the his Viennese director, under date of precious book as a weapon with which to March 15, 1842, that he regretted having box the youthful artisan's ears, exclaim- shipped his luggage direct from Aming: "Look, here is an experiment that sterdam, Holland, to London, because always succeeds!" he was visiting in Paris, which city he Such trifles did not weaken Dobler's found much to his liking. Also he passion, however, and in a short time might have played many important enhe was presenting his tricks and experi- gagements had his apparatus been at ments before a choice circle of friends. hand. As it was, he had various drawHis fame spread until it reached the ing room engagements, including one • ears of Prince Metternich, who invited with Rothschild and another with Count

LUDWIG LEOPOLD DOBLER

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Montaliset, "Minister of the King's Mansions." He added two interesting facts: First, that he expected to return to Paris the following season and play in a thea-

Queen Victoria and H. R. H. Prince Albert. Among the tricks with which Dobler created a sensation in London, was the one now known as "The Inexhaustible Bottle," as will be seen from the following excerpt from the London Chronicle, April, I 8 4 2 : "Doebler—St. James Theatre. Among the illusions that more particularly

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tre especially built for his engagement; Program used by Diibler on his first visit to 1842. On back of this program is m a r k second, that he had rented the wSt. James London, ed "Tuesday evening, July 12th 1842." (From the Harry Houdini collection.) Theatre, London, for 2,000 francs ($400) per night, or more than $2,400 per week. struck our fancy was one entitled 'The These epistles now form a part of Traveling Bottle,' where Herr Doebler, my collection of letters from eminent filling a common bottle with water, transformed this water into a collect ion old-time magicians. In the next month, we find him in Lon- of wines of all countries, amicably asdon, playing to enormous business at sembled together in one receptacle, and the St. James. So large were his receipts he fills out first a glass of sherry, then that he refused to consider any requests one of port, then one of champagne and for private performances, breaking this so on." The critic then proceeds to derule only when he appeared before scribe how the bottle was broken and a

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. borrowed handkerchief found inside the bottle. From London, Dobler struck out into the English provinces, Ireland and Scotland, and in Dublin in particular, though he could not speak English, he scored a notable triumph.

gium and France. Everywhere he was received with marks of distinction. Frederich Wilhelm III. appointed him as his royal artist and the Royal Prussian Academy made him an academical artist. In Vienna a street was named in his honor, "Dobler-Gasse". Composers dedicated their music to him, and decorations of various sorts were pinned upon his coat. Then, just as he seemed St. James's Theatre, Stag St. to have reached the very pinnacle of success, he retired. LAST NIGHT BUT FOUR OF "The public love me. I want them EIERR DOMF/RI always lo love me. I might return to l'KU F O R M «A JOTCY \ < i ; S . 8, TUESDAY, be a falure. It is well to know just SATOKBAY, JTTfcY 9 . when to stop." S SXS3K1S. JLO0I3 The following year he purchased a 'v long neglected estate near Vienna, known as "Klafterbrunn," and turned v! gentleman-farmer. So ablv and artistiIff *.!
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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

influence. He grasped the graver and chisel to model, engrave, emboss and finish a sword of honor for the Duke of Gotha and a second for the King of Prussia. He was at work on a still finer example of his art for his own monarch, when grim Death gripped his deft hand in relentless clasp. On April 18, 1864, Ludwig Leopold Dobler laid down his tools and closed his eyes in eternal repose.

he could not fulfil. His stage presence was most elegantHis p a t t e r was always gently humorous, his manners fascinating and his personal ap-

WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY, FRIDAY. & SATTTRDAY,. : April 30th, ami 3Iay 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 18f>8. :y

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pearance most fastidious. He chose his tricks for the same elegance that marked his dress, and never presented an experiOut- of the latest photographs of Diibler. ment which would offend the most fas, In his death, the world ui magic lost tidious. Though at that time decapitaone of its most gifted artists, and Austion, real or simulated, of birds, and tria, one of its grandest characters. small animals was much in vogue, Dobj The secret of his success as a magiler never admitted such tricks to his cian lay in the fact that his tricks were repertoire. His most popular trick was based on scientific principles, each so "the creation of flowers," during which perfected that it not only entertained he produced boutonnieres apparently "but educated the public. Theory and from space. As he passed through the practice were combined happily and audience, bowing graciously from right •every invention which he adopted was to left and tossing out flowers, with improved and excellently dressed. Dob"Iiier ein Strausschen-Noch ein Strausler would not stoop to faking of any schen" or exquisite verselets of his own sort, to deceiving his audience or to composition, instead of the usual patter, making promises which as a performer

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

10

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the audience often rose to receive him, and plaudits for the man as well as the

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trick echoed through the house. And, as innate refinement and sin-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

cerity marked the work of the magician, so did it reflect the character of the man. He was a man and a magician not admired but beloved, and remembered long after the hands which had wrought so well for "Klafterbrunn," for Vienna and for all Austria had turned to dust and ashes. For much of the material used in this sketch the writer is indebted to Herr Ottokar Fischer, the very able Viennese correspondent for Tin: CONJURERS'

WAM HOTEf

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In whirl! lie will !ntn«J»ci ^ K"ul V<m.'> of

MAGICAL DELUSIONS, injf «> * K M o n Itw iwh»l "I ^ « . . . } r r a n d n m . . ^ M , - w ..<. » * H I . - w l w l r K..mnm-.il w i l l !«• ifivcii «;iH dv-j.l iv r,l ApprunlM*. ( h titi f th ft1 <»• l « » n llv ( V " " " "

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: ArctnchflBto cnaitt wonder andftntonfohtn«nt,blending Instruction with nina*»Mtv«t, H •Kodclfudf pro«in); lliBI wliirt h UnnnJ jlajfit in bu! a coinWuatiiin.jr Phyrinlati3 Artificial prodiH-tion*, In tbf 3DQIJ>-;
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r W. G. Smitli bill, January

11

19, 1807;

Considering Dobler's great popularity in England, it is not remarkable that an imitator should have appeared on his trail. This man's name was William George Smith (Buck), known among old-time magicians as "Smith of Bristol." He assumed the name of Herr Dobler and slyly gave out the impression that he was related to the mastermagician. "Smith of Bristol" was born in Newark, Nottinghamshire, Fn in 1836, and made for himself so excellent a reputation as a necromancer, that it was not necessary for him to assume the counterfeit title of "Flerr Dobler." He was assistant to the well-nigh forgotten Dr. Shaw, and I am producing a number of rare bills to trace his history. These include a Dr. Shaw bill when Smith was his assistant, a W. O. Smith bill before he assumed the title of "Herr Dobler,'' and a rare lithograph when he was using the title. It was also said that \Y. G. Smith was the son of the original Buck, a magician well-known in London about 1840. Smith, alias Herr Dobler, died at Aberdeen, Scotland, March 21, 1904, aged C)8 year?.

12

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

By Theo. Hardeen. S c v c ral days before sailing I strolled into the Artisten Cafe in Lisle street, Lond o n, an d met quite a host of magicians, and the most of chem looked prosperous. * * * I met Zancig, who looked well groomed, and reported that he has cleared 1.1,100 over his guaranteed salary, and that as soon as his Alhambra engagement was ended, he was going to tour with Mrs. Zancig in one-night stands, and had already booked 75 such places. He denied the report that he was 'coming to America, and stated that it would be next to impossible for them to come to America inside of 12 months. It has been rumored that they will play Copenhagen, their native town. Both are to be seen any nice day rushing about London in a great big motor car. * ** Do you know that Nate Leipzig has taken unto himself a wife? The young lady hails from Birmingham, and Nate is busily honeymooning1 while he is

being featured on the Stoll tour. lie has been lucky during his Hippodrome engagement, for his act was seen by many managers. He will open at the \\ intergarten, Berlin, in January, after which he will sail for America, opening on the Urpheum circuit. ; * * * Horace Goldin is busy in Paris, France, getting on very well at the Folies Marigney. It is positively stated that Maskelyne and Devant are going to send a mystery show to Australia. From the various chats I have had with people who ought to know, Gcrmaine has been asked to go and Selbit may also have the honor of going. Our friend Chung Ling Soo has finally fallen into the way.-* of the V. A. F., having paid his company for a ll extra matinees at Gloucester. I received a very nice letter from Charles Fraser, who owns the illusion entitled ''The Enchanted Iona," which act is to be soon presented in America. Pharos, who bills himself as the Egyptian magician, is booked at Earl's Court until October. * ** Prince Bendon, a Scotch ventriloquist, is touring Scotland with his own company and is doing well. * ** The King's Theatre at Walthamstow has reopened under the proprietorship of the Messrs. Raymond as the Victoria Hall. The opening program includes the Days in their thought reading act.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Satsuma, who has undoubtedly taken his name from the Satsuma who recently died in America, appeared at the Palace, Bath, week of August 19th. * * * The Howes, a mind-reading act, appeared at the Hippodrome, at Poplar. Picitt and Lizette were at the Hippodrome in Liverpool. They have made good in their new act and are working steadily.

land after a month's tour of France and Switzerland. They have again settled down to work, and have not a single open date until well into 1908. Stanley Collins has just finished a most successful engagement of four weeks at the Opera House. Clactonon-Sea. His patter is very smart and scores many a laugh. -j:

:!=

£

Tricado, who was on the London halls some six years ago, was at the -!- ! ^ Lillian Warren, widow of Harcourt, Canterbury the first week in August. the magician, is still presenting the He did dyeing handkerchief tricks, a illusion called Lilith. She was at the new form of target cage, livestock productions and flag tricks. His properTivoli Theatre in Dublin last week. ties are very smart and he should . *i Morimura appeared at the King's make good. * * * Theatre at Kirkcaldy. I think he is a One often sees two magical acts on Jap from Lane. the same bill in England. Tust now .The Great Roland was at the Al- we have Cull-Pitt and Hymack playhambra in Morecambe. This is one of ing together on Stoll's London houses. Von Etta, the lady illusionist, and the most beautiful seashore resorts in Casey's Court (in which George De England. Franklin appears as a Chinese ma:|: Jf : i : gician), were together at NewcastleArthur Preston and company, with the illusion called "It," appeared at on-Tyne and elsewhere. * * * the Hippodrome at Wigan the week of Marco, the boy conjurer, opened on August 19th. the Stoll tour at Neport on August 5th. By Wilfred C. Zelka. * ** St. George's Hall has reopened The popular Mr. and Mrs. Ernest E. after the summer vacation with Karl Noakes are still at the Crystal Palace, Germaine, Joab Heteb and the £1,000 making this their tenth month there. ghost sketch still on the program. In their performance Mrs. Xoakes fills a glass with water and hands it to x David Devant is in town, but not the magician, who mesmerizes it; on working, as he is busy preparing some being handed back to her she demesnew illusions which he will soon pro- merizes it. A large wooden ball now duce at the Home of Mystery. floats about in the air from one to the other. They work the number blocks Ormonde Pcnstone and his charm- on a small stand without any cover ing wife have just returned to Eng- and conclude with "Illia," for which :;

14

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Mrs. Noakes makes a veiy graceful subject. The lady appears to take as much delight in doing the tricks as her husband does in doing the audience. * ** Prof. De Ville is busy getting new tricks for the coming season. * ** Zelo, of Ashford, Kent, is kept busy filling numerous engagements. * ** The Zancigs finished their second visit to the London Alhambra and are again touring. * ** De Biere has been astonishing folks with his illusions at the Pier Pavilion, Southport. * * *

The following appears in the current week's "Encore": A wonderful man is Houdini; Yes, king of the handcuffs, I mean he ; Who's daring and bold, Whom no fetters can hold, Whose tricks beat Aladdin's famed genii. * ** There will be no more meetings of the Magic Circle until October, when the society will hold technical meetings once each fortnight in addition to the regular socials. Magicians who have not already joined should hasten to do so, as a new year is just commencing and only members will be admitted to the closed meetings.

At Lowestoft, Aubrey Elkington. the resident magician, is always busy. * * *

Robert Tattersall played there and was immediately followed by Nikola, who has some novel effects. * ** Bontoft appeared at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, and interested everyone with his showy tricks. * ** Gustave Fasola, Cull-Pitt, Hymack, Henry Bekker and Kahn and Kahn are working in London just now. * ** In the provinces we have Herr Fritz at Belfast, LeRoy Talma and Bosco at Bolton, De Lil at Norwich, Jean Seul at Preston, Sylvesta at Wigan, Melot Herrmann at Newcas•tle-on-Tyne and Chung Ling Soo and Lieut. Travis (the ventriloquist) on the same bill at Coventry. Dr. Bodie is at the Albert Hall, Swansea, with a new sensation, "The Cage of Death."

The past month nothing was to be reported in magic, for magic itself is asleep and its professors are reposing on their laurels during the summer season. * ** Only the Chinese troupe, Tan Kways (I remember having seen this troupe under another firm), has conjured at our summer establishment... "Dreher Park." Of course the least part was magic, which consisted in producing the large waterbowl and then another water trick ; then disappearing a smaller waterbowl and causing its reappearance.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Thorn and his family are in Bad Kissingen, where Mrs. Thorn had to go to convalesce from her illness. * ** Roland was at his native town, Prague, some weeks, but returned to England again. -i:

- i - '•'

Clement de Lion, too, was at his home in Copenhagen.

15

HARRY DAY Had the Bank of England been offered for sale ten years ago, for ten dollars to the 3'outh Harry Day, he would not have had sufficient funds to purchase it Today, this same youth, by indomitable will, sheer pluck and indefatigable work, has placed himself in the same category with the largest booking agents of the world, and controls and manages numerous music halls distributed throughout the I British Empire.

Okito is is England, preparing foi his coming great American tour. * ** Schafer-Cumberland, one of our best mind-readers and a clever showman. has visited me this past week. :•?

*

:|:

So did Mr. Karl Bucka, an assistant of your Kellar the Great. * * * Mr. Alexandre Haas, from S. Paulo, Brazil, sent me some nice lines, requesting information regarding the famed magician, Frizzo, and his friend Molini. Best answer was forwarded, of course. * * * After an absence of 19 months, Mr. John Dittmar sailed to his native country, San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Dittmar, being an enthusiastic amateur in magic, devoted his whole voyage to the study and exploration of the magic art. He crossed the whole of Europe and Asia, and visited every magician and every place of importance in magic. His experiences and impressions will be published by him. I have advised him to do so in our CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE and hope he will do so. Ottokar Fischer

He has booked all the big successful and sensational acts at some of the highest salaries ever paid to artists, and is notably of interest to our readers as having booked more mystifiers and mystery acts than even the great French agent Forbee, who has now retired. He is the exclusive agent of Harry Houdini, and was the man who obtained the first contract for an engagement for a weekly salary of $1000, for him. Day recently spent $6000 for a fifty horse power Daimler automobile, and uses it to dash all over England beating express trains and also his competitors.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

PRESS

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

MORE NOVEL NOTIONS. By Robertson Keene. Once more have the reading public, and more particularly the ever-growing circle of professional and amateur magicians, been misled by a promising title. No word will catch the eye of a conjurer so quickly as that single adjective "novel,"—and the author of this latest contribution to the literature of magic is perfectly aware of the fact. Unfortunately this work, published in England and just recently placed on sale in American shops, is novel only in the unheard-of audacity of its author, in laying claim to the title of originality or novelty for any of his tricks. Evidently this is the second book in a series, for Mr. Keene informs us in the preface that congratulatory letters received relative to his first book, entitled "Novel Notions," stated that the introduction of that book alone was worth the price of the entire volume. Perhaps the same may be said of the book under consideration, provided the reader has a keen sense of humor and does not need the price paid for "More Novel Notions" which are hopelessly lacking in novelty and utterly useless to either the amateur or professional conjurer.

In the preface of "More Novel Notions," the author says: "I have attempted therefore to embody in my writings, ideas original with me and to treat them in an original manner." Whereupon he promptly proceeds to dig up tricks so old that they can be found in every encyclopedia of magic ever complied. To be sure he has condescended to rehash and redress the old tricks, but even in their new guise they will deceive neither experienced nor inexperienced workers who will look in vain for the "originality" which is promised in the preface. So long as Mr. Keene sticks to tricks intelligently described by other writers or working magicians who invented them, he is useful to his readers, but directly he strikes out on original lines and presents what he claims as his own inventions, he becomes hopelessly impractical. Witness his "Presto Box Illusion," which he concludes thus: "The sack used in the first instance may be worked on many different principles and need not be gone into here." Can any more lucid explanation be imagined than this? And how much would an inexperienced conjurer gain from such an explanation ? Several tricks he modestly names "Robertson Keene" tricks or methods. For instance, his vanishing eggs placed on a board is simply a new version of

1. Kriifst E. Noakes. inventor anil m a n u f a c t u r e r . He has formed a p a r t n e r s h i p with Wilfred C. Zelka as " T h e City Magical Co." ^. David I levant, president of the British Magic Circle. :i. Herbert .1. CollinKs. an oiiginal performer who a l w a y s m a k e s good at the meetings of the Magic Circle. 4. Fred Yallance, Bristol's versatile e n t e r t a i n e r in modern magic and ventriloquism. f>. S a - H e r a , materialize] 1 of unusual m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , who is booked on t h e Klaw and E r l a n g e r Circuit, li. T. Nelson Downs, president of the M. A. A. and t h e first Koin King. 7. J o h n Ramsey, t h e Wizard of Ayr. UN E l m b a n k St., Scotland. S. W. Ijeonard Hicks, an expert handcuff king, who is also t h e Western r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e Conjurers' Magazine. Call on him at t h e S a r a t o g a Hotel in Dearborn St.. Chicago, 111. 9. Robert H e r r m a n n W a g n e r of 3190 West 4Sth St., Cleveland. O. The m a s t e r of l i g h t n i n g calculations and sleight of h a n d performer.

11

10 and 11. Jules Jordan and Lew Harvey, the well known Hebrew comedians, who have been head liners in England, and used the magic wand to obtain for themselves an engagement on the Klaw and Erlanger circuit in America. 1:!. Oscar O. Vasco. the magician and handcuff manipulator, who has been abroad to finish his studies. 13 and 14. Reid Miller and Lillian Lee, the White Zerda who have played in every city of note in the X'nitetl States and Canada, presenting twentieth century oriental mystery. ] r>. A. Lachance of Quebec, Canada, a magical entertainer and member of the Society of American Magicians. ]f>. Nate Leipzig, the magician who twice appeared before H. M. King Ed w a id of England, and possesses the reputation of being the absolute best, all-round sleight of hand performer in the world. 17. Sid. Macaire. traveler, conjurer and author of "A Rap at the Rappers." an expose of table rapping and mind and muscle reading. He was the traveling secretary for Harry Houdini in Great Britain. IS. Chas. J. Ha gen, who makes a specialty of handkerchief tricks, although card and coin tricks form part of his program.

Ill

through19. Harrison I.. Davies of Detroit, Mich., who us acquainted with all the leader* nf s magic. 2 in only t h e finest t h e a t r e s and presenting the illusionary fantasy "The Flight of Princess I r i s . " They c a r r y seventeen people and a c a r - l o a d of scenery. 24. Chev. Ernest Thorn whose magical performance is undoubtedly the most elegant and most surprising before the public. 2fi. Wm. G. Weiss, a magical enthusiast and a member of the oflice staff of the Conjurers* Magazine. 5fi. Howard Thurston, the successor to Kellar. He is an American and has just returned from a trip around the world. 27. Horace Go 1 din, the

first among modern magicians to present an act of rapid illusion presentations.

IV

US. John Win, Thornton of the police
M7 Francis M. Jacksie. the Austrian illusionist, whose home is now in Cleveland. Ohio. 38. Henri Bekker, the Englishman who started life as a blacksmith and worked himself to the fore until he became rated as an extraordinary clever sleight of hand performer. 39. Wm. H. Traphagen of Ossining, New York, whose press book teems with most excellent notices i>f his magical performances. 40. Delbert C. Craig of Freedom, Pa., well known in vaudeville as a magician, and in his home town as proprietor of the Electric Theatre. 41. Walter "Williams of Jersey City, N. .7., a clever amateur magician who prefers rapid hand work to apparatus, performing only for his friends in church and social circles. 41. Fred. Albert Hall, a young magician well known about his home town, Cambridgeport. Mass. 43. L,. C. Duff, the mysterious magician, who is still on his vacation in the White Mountains. 44. Hayden. the Mystic, of Cumberland, Md., who is well known for the high class mysterious and pleasing performances he presents, 45. Leon Houry, a prestidigitateus from Orleans, France.

I

VI

4i;. Win. Ernest Baker of <'ambridgcport, Mass., owner of the "Amateur Dunban" coll<'Ction of apparatus, rated as one of the finest private collections in the country. 47. Charles T. Hiestantl of 2639 Iowa Ave., St. Louis. Mo. Headliner with his original feature "The Resurrection of Maee." 48. Fred. Leighton, the present managing director of the Hippodrome. Sheerness. and the first manager to make it a financial success. He is an exceptionally clever conjurer and entertains his friends with impromptu tricks. 49. Bert Kilby, the magician who is the pride of Great Britain, Conn. An exceptionally clever conjurer. 50. Chas. O. Bagent and Ray C Hayden, two young magicians, introducing mysterious marvels in modern magic. Open time, Sept. 30. Address, Cumberland, Md. 51. Julius Dresbach, a promising amateur magician. 52. Leopold Keller, the young magician of Evansville, lnd. 53. Z. A. Cadieux of Red Lake Falls, Minn., the amateur magician who appears only at club and parlor entertainments. 54. The Great Kriss, the American magician of 188 Wachesett St., Boston, Mass.

Vll

55. The Great Maxlom, the magician who with clever sleight of hand tricks always mystifies his audiences. 56. Arihur-Mosher of Little Valley. N. Y. President of Money Back Razor Co., who devotes all his spare time to magic. Formerly was a professional magician. 57. Geo. J. Kalb of Baltimore Co., Md. An amateur who has found it quite profitable to present a comedy magic act. 5S. Presto, a sleight of hand performer pure and simple but recognized as Ireland's premier entertainer. f>!K Yolande, the Mystique, who presents a second sight and handcuff performance. 60. Chas. Delvos. A. I. M. C. of London, E n s . A popular and prominent professional magician. fil. Prince Bendon the Scotch ventriloquist. He makes all of his figures. At present touring with his own show and meeting with unusual success. fi2. Elliott A. Holcomb, a stock hroker of South Framingham. Mass.. who is so partial to magic that he recently made a tour to Cape Cod with his own show. ti.'J. O. K. Sato, a juggler. The only man in the world who baffled Mme. 'U'olf.

Vlll

til. Hanvarr and I.ee. A dun wlio int:. John .]. Gridna of Selho, the Kins of (Hubs. His dexCleveland, O., professional magician and illusionist. (Hi. terity and skill combined with his silent humor stamp him as a performer of the first class. \ . Carl ton, the long legged card conjurer. He wins his audiences by his en trace on the stage. (>S. James P. Skelly of San Francisco, Cal.. who is a clever drawing-room entertainer. 69. Max V. Marcus, the Koumanian magician and shadow graphist, 5;!7 Betts St., Cincinnati, O. 70. E. C Adams of 1 ;iof> Majestic Bui hi ing, Detroit, Mich. A business man whose pastime consists of digital entertaining. He does not do the usual routine of tricks, and never uses apparatus. His press book contains most complimentary material. 71. Alex. Bertram, the Scotch necromancer, and friend of Ornum of Duke St. 7 2. Culpitt, the magician who possesses a pleasing1 address and wonderful hands. Booked by Anger and Bauer.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

the ancient vanishing billiard ball trick, or catching the ball on top of a wand known as the ball-cup. In his paper-tearing trick, he uses what he calmly dubs as the Robertson Keene method, including the old, old thumb feke. If this author should ever happen to meet a young magician of Chicago, who calls himself Windecker, and who has a trick or two worth seeing in the paper tearing line, Mr. Keene will throw away his thumb feke and stop claiming his method of pleating the paper as original. Any amateur working in a sort of professional ecstacy, far from public performers or recent critics of magical performances, can imagine that he has invented a new trick because it is new to him; but when he places himself in competition with professional workers he finds also, that his trick belongs in the dark ages of magic. The author of "More Novel Notions" belongs in this class. Like the ostrich, he has had his head in the sand while writing, and he does not know that most of his precious ideas have appeared in the past. Like the amateur performer, he should find out what his contemporaries and predecessors have written. It seems hardly necessary to add that as a compendium of information for ambitious young conjurers, this work is positively worthless. His advice as to the presentation of tricks is as impractical as his comedy patter is silly and in places almost nauseating to one who knows the temper of the modern audience. In fact, this author reminds us strongly of a certain character in the familiar iEsop fable. None would have known that an ass was hidden behind the lion skin, if

17

the foolish animal had refrained from braying.

SPIRITS AND GHOSTS The Chicago Inter-Ocean of August 18, 1907, has quite a number of spiritualistic and ghost articles, and some of them, even if not true, make interesting reading. It states that at the present moment the Czar of Russia is besieged with spiritualists and table burners. This is nothing new, as the spiritualists have for years been firmly established in Russia, and we think will remain there for years to come. The ignorance of the masses as to the doings of the outside world (on account of the strict censure of the press), gives the spiritualists wonderful opportunities, and beginning with Home (the spiritualist who married several ladies of the royal court) up to the present date all mediums have had excellent chances for making money, and incidentally hobnobbing with the nobility. "When Cagliostro was in Russia he made the usual sensation, until he was exposed by a little girl, whom he had trained to act the part of an entranced medium. * ** At the present time the Grand Duke Peter's villa, near Petershof, supports a swarm of manifestation producers. The latest arrival in Russia is a medium called "The Holy Mitya," who hails from Crimea, and is regarded as a supernatural being. He possesses a fine voice and sings entrancingly the melancholy ballads of his country. It is said he is a soft singer, but a hard drinker.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Mile. Helen Smith is another medium whom the papers extol as being a wonderful spirit picture painter. She is a native of Geneva, Switzerland, and at present is the mystery of that •country. At one time she was a milliner, but "her spiritualistic power gained for her the friendship of two Chicago ladies, who agreed to pay her a monthly pension for life, and all Mile. Smith has to •do is to paint pictures while in a trance. Although she claims never to have received instructions in painting, nevertheless she turns out creditable paintIngs. They are not produced like those of the notorious medium, Anna Odelia Dis Debar, who simply substituted a painting for an empty canvas, for Mile. Smith really paints about twenty miniites each day or when she is instructed, as she claims, by divine guidance, and so far has refused to sell any of her paintings. Whatever purpose she may have in view is not yet apparent, but perhaps she is simply doing it for the notoriety it is bringing her. * ** Perhaps our friend, Mons. Magicus Blind, who resides in Geneva, can give our readers light on this subject. * * *

A rather remarkable ghost case is reported from Munich, Germany. A family named Wolf hired a farmliouse from an aged widow living near Ammersee. The house suited them, "but the presence of the aged woman in the house did not, and they began to supply the premises with a number of •ghosts, as they knew she was most superstitious, and in daily and nightly terror of supernatural beings.

The spirit injured the cows, killed cocks and hens, stole eggs and butter, and made unearthly noises at midnight. Then Wolf offered help to cleanse the house of spirits for a consideration, and in process of time these cleansing operations cost over $3,500. The widow was robbed of all she had and was in addition suffering from brain fever, when the police began to take notice. The result was that Wolf was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, to pay a heavy fine and to suffer ten years' loss of civil rights, his wife and one of his daughters to two years' and the other daughter to eighteen months' imprisonment.

Our Mall Bag In this department It Is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice anj topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open In the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon corre•pondents, the editor does not hold himself reiponsible for opinions expressed In this department.

Muenster Westf., Germany, Aug. 17, 1907. My Dear Mr. Houdini: Have been regularly receiving the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE and read it with great pleasure. I have read many a magazine in my time, for I think I am the oldest conjurer alive today. Hope to see you in February, 1908, as I have a lot to tell you about Herr Faber, whom you mention in an article on Houdin. I knew Faber person-

19 THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ally and will relate facts to you about etc., appear on point of star target said to have been made by Robert Houdin. him that have never been published. I know all details of his speaking (Was it?) Part II. automaton. 1. Miser's dream with back palm. Aged as I am, I feel rejuvenated when I see with what masterly man- (Onlv reallv modern touch in the ner you describe the old-time ma- whole program.) 2. Crystal Clock suspended from gicians, and it affords me great pleasure to think you have made it your huge glass bars. "To prevent eleclife's ambition to make the old and for- tricity." (Of which there was no need, gotten magicians interesting to the a thread being visible the whole time!) 3. Organ pipes. present generation. It is a worthy un4. Doll gymnast on trapeze; also dertaking and I trust that your labor said to have been made or to have be•of love will be rewarded. longed to Robert-Houdin. Sincerely yours, Part IH. Alexander Hcimlmrgcr. Aerial Suspension. (Practically on * ** back scene.) Editor Conjurers' Magazine. Part IV. Sir: Whilst reading your extremely Cinematograph. In this I was very interesting magazine I noticed in "L'nmuch disappointed, having heard so known Facts About Robert-Houdin" that you say on Saturdays at the The- much of Mons. Melies films, for they atre Robert-Houdin they give magical were very indistinct. With very good wishes for yourself •entertainments. This is wrong, as and your excellent magazine, I remain they give magical matinees on Thursan enthusiastic amateur magician. days and Sundays. /. P. C. SaeU. I went there quite recently and was much amused by the performance, of IT Avenue Rugeaud, Paris, France. * ** "which I enclose a program and hope it may interest your readers. Editor CONJURERS' MACAZINE: Mons. Legris, who performed, is an Sir: Reading in your magazine that able and amusing performer, though some one in England is seeking for all his tricks were old-fashioned. information about the cannon trick, I T will give, with apologies for so think 1 can enlighten him on the sublong a letter, a note on each item of ject. I saw the cannon trick 30 years the performance. ago performed by Herr Hartwig SeePart I. man in London, England. 1. Color blindness, handkerchiefs The cannon was first introduced for 'change color when covered and placed firing borrowed handkerchiefs into a •on those nice but suspicious looking box suspended from the ceiling. Next side tables. it was called the Great Cannon of 2. Coffee, milk and sugar made Strasburg, and was used for firing a 'from paper and bran. young girl into another box. 3. Skeleton stand and bird cage. Do you know the trick of the watch 4. Destroying handkerchief, watch, and handkerchief appearing in the last

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

of six boxes, the third box having no bottom ? That is where the cannon and box trick originated from. Trusting that this will give the required information, I remain yours sincerely. C. Dc Vcrc.

and such ornate effects. No Pinetti, Robert-Houdin or Anderson, in his wildest dreams, ever conceived a setting for a conjurer so brilliant and compelling as this. In a room of ordinary size, perhaps 12x15 feet, not an

]/ Rue Saulnier, Paris, France. * **

Hamley's Palace of Magic It is not strange that London, city of million marvels, should be able to boast of the most remarkable reception room in the history of conjuring. As admission to this unique apartment is granted only to magicians, writers on magic and laymen who, by their libraries and collections, have proven themselves worthy disciples of the mysterious art, a description of the place is most appropriate in this magazine. "The Palace of Magic," as it is called, is located at 35 New Oxford street, W. C, in the very heart of busy, bustling London. Across the street is Mudie's Library, while on the floor below is a veritable beehive of trade and industry, the magic emporium of Hamley Brothers, Limited. Once the visitor passes the modest entrance to the upper floor, however, the prosaic atmosphere of the neighborhood vanishes as if at the touch of a fairy wand. The hand he places on the balustrade running on either side of the staircase comes in contact with quaint inlayings of German silver in mystic symbols. At the very entrance, devil-faces with amethyst eyes, leer a welcome quite symbolic of the conjurer's art. Once within the door, amusement changes to wonder that the hand of man could devise so many

CECIL HAMLEY inch of wall or floor space has been neglected. The flooring of parquetry in seven varieties of wood shows mystical designs, while the two-foot dado and cornice to match display alternate panels of dull gold and hand painted' flowers. The doors and windows are paneled in hand-painted bloom, while the ceiling shows a softly clouded sky. The white marble of an imposing mantel is hidden by more hand painting, and yet from end to end of thisroom, not once is a pattern repeated. Flowers from every point of the compass contribute to the display, withhere and there a bee, a beetle, a hum-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ming bird or some small but marvelously tinted insect drawing honey from what the visitor can scarce believe to be artificial flowers. Above the mantel rises a huge mirror framed in carved Spanish mahogany, and just opposite is a rare old cabinet in similar design. But, beautiful as are the mural decorations, it is in the furnishing of the room that the conjurer is most interested. Such marvelous possibilities in stage settings as these suggest!

Exterior

of

Bland's

magical

the place of the regulation palm or fern in a jardiniere, while in the place of stools and ottomans, there are tripods of gilt wood and rare upholsteries woven in cabalistic design. And the cabinet of Spanish mahogany ! What a treasury of magical apparatus, far beyond the dreams of amateur or professional magician! Each and every bit of mechanism, every article, however simple and utilitarian, is calculated to make more impressive the setting and stage work

palace,

Here is a richly ornamented trick trunk, there a trick table in rare old wood and faded bu, rich gold, while near at hand is one of many oddly designed chairs in dull gold and black damask. A "prop" skeleton grins cheerfully from one corner and a stage devil •of realistic mien nods with equal cheerfulness from another. A reproduction of the famous orange tree trick takes

21

which

is

owned by

Hamley Bros.

of the magician. This marvel of interior decoration and eccentricity in furnishing was gathered and arranged by the late Mr. Bland, who for many years was proprietor and manager of this establishment. During his life, only the favored few had access to this unique apartment, which was the pride and hobby of its owner. On Mr. Bland's death

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

the room passed into the care of the Hamley Brothers, and they realized that here was a feature of their enor-

pilgrimage, and it is seldom empty. Mr. Cecil Hamley is especially interested in this storehouse of the mvste-

The above drawing of the interior of Hamley's magical palace was specially made for the time, for publication in the Conjurers" Magazine.

first

mous establishment to which every magician or person sincerely interested in magic should be made welcome. As a result it has become to magicians journeying to England what Mecca is to the Mohammedan, a place of

nous craft, and, by his companionship, P to the room both pleasant and profitable. When in London readers of the M ( ) X T H L V ,AIA(;AZINE should not fail to s e e " T h e p a i a c e o f Magic" and meet its courteous host.

Walton and Lester, the World's Worst Wizards. England's representative comedy conjurers, with a unique method of work.

The Davenports, lightning' magician^ and illusionists. They are hooked with W. F. Frame on the Scotch tour for the coming" season.

n c v o r fai!s t o m a k e a tri

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

FOR.

BEGINNERS A PARLOR ROPE TIE. Impromptu tricks as a rule arc not rcadilv performed, although if unexpectedly called upon you can readily entertain with a pack of cards or a handkerchief. The effect of a trick is always heightened if the paraphernalia is borrowed from your audience. The following trick is about as good as any you can wish for in a parlor or any small place when called upon to do something mysterious. In olden times prisoners were compelled to change their clothing while handcuffs were fastened on their wrists, and undoubtedly the principle of this trick originated from this custom.

23-

cause him to pull the rope right through the handkerchief without injuring the handkerchief, rope, himself, or yourself. This really seems impossible, but is accomplished by the following procedure :— While pulling against your opponent, move your hands backward and forward, thereby loosening the handkerchief and so allowing you to separate your wrists. Xow bend one of your hands so that the fingers touch the palm of the same hand (consult A

m the accompanying illustrations), and reach back until you catch hold of the rope and gradually pull on it until you manage to get the rope up over the back of your hand (consult 1! in the

Method of procedure:— First, borrow a handkerchief, preferably one made of silk, and also ask for a few yards of clothes line or rope. Cause your wrists to be tied together with the handkerchief, palm to palm, and fingers outstretched straight. Now ask someone to place the rope between your wrists, behind the handkerchief (that is, between you and the handkerchief), as depicted at A in the accompanying illustration. Have someone grasp the ends of the rope and command him to pull as hard as he can, and explain to your audience that if your tug-of-\var opponent "will draw strong and steady, you will

accompanying illustrations), which, when accomplished, releases you from the rope. The best way to practise this at the start is to get into a room by yourself, tie the ends of the rope to a stationary object, make a loop out of a handkerchief, and place your hands into this. You will at once see how to manipulate the rope.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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Kreiger, lie of the long hair, deft fingers and huge progeny (good boy Kreiger keep it up), has been making money in the Adirondack Mountains. * * * Meilini was also seen in the mountains "working in conjunction with Kreiger. Alexander, a deft legerdemain artist, has made quite a hit at the summer resorts and they are still talking about him at the Hotel Saranac at Saranac Lake. * * * A spiritualistic meeting is the feature of a play named ''Shadowed by Three" under management of W. F. Mann, and is reported to lie a huge success. The villain of the play is discovered at the meeting of the spiriK The play is well staged. * * * Prof. Karland has signed with the Aubrey stock company as the big feature. * * * Prof. W. A. Barclay, the hypnotist, is at Huber's museum for a run. He is seeking subjects. Address him at 142 East 15th street, New York City. * * * Edna Wood, the Shamokin, Penn. magician, •who is the great necromancer in South America, has been reported as being dangerously ill in Panama. Mrs. Wood is no longer with a show, having retired, and their youngest daughter has taken the place so ably filled by her mother. :•:

£

%

Leon Herrmann has returned from his European trip. He has seen every magician of note while abroad, and wound up by purchasing from Herr Ernest Basch the illusion, "Bridal Chamber." It will interest the readers of this magazine to know that Herr Basch is the inventor of this illusion and sold it to Carl Hertz and Goldin.

The Shuberts are having a lot of tricks made by Martinka & Co. for their new play "On Top of the World," which will be tried out in September in Canada. * # * Raymond, the Mystifier has opened lvs show in the Catskill Mountains and with his circus billing and big attractive lithographs is bound to be a success. He is an exceptionally clever all around performer, and will be in the front ranks of American magicians. His show consists of three parts of mystery and one part of vaudeville. * * * Prince Albene and La Brandt are in Chicago. * * * Arthur Kramer, the Boston wonder, gave an entertaining performance for a few chosen friends. He excels in memory card tricks. Mr. Edward Kramer, his father, says he is the best magician they have ever had in the family. * * * W. D. Leroy's new catalogue promises" to be a highly interesting one, and one that will be much sought for. * * * Roche, our erstwhile Boston correspondent, has lost his pen. We shall have to send him a good one. * * * Hornmann the original and only "Otto" is still out with the John Robinson circus, and making money. * * * Altus was a caller some time ago, and reports that he has added a disappearing club in his juggling act. This Altus is of the original team Bertram and Alburtus. Claude Bertram now is the editor of the "Performer" in London, England, having retired from the stage to enter the more strenuous newspaper life. He has made an excellent reputation as editor, and we are pleased to hear it, as he was a good fellow, and to-day undoubtedly is still in that category. * * * Sears, the illusionist, is plodding along, and making good. When last heard from, he was on the Keith circuit. * * * Clinton Burgess, the versatile conjurer, is at Midland Beach for the summer season.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Mr. J. H. Percival informs us that ;i new magical society has been formed in Rhode Island, called the Providence Society of Magicians, which meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at their club rooms •at 35 Westminster street in Providence, R. I. The present officers are: Byron C. TillingJiast, president; S. Bradford Sherman, secretary, and Leonard Wilson, treasurer. * * * We wish to hereby acknowledge and thank our many readers for the souvenir post cards and pleasant letters sent us from time to time. We appreciate receiving your route and shall mention your whereabouts whenever •space permits. * * * The well-known dime museum at 150 Clark street, Chicago, 111., is now closed for repairs, so it is said, but it seems that the real cause for being closed is that the present lessees of the property are trying to obtain a ten years' lease as they intend to spend a large sum of money in renovating the place, if they procure the new lease. It does not "belong to Kohl & Middleton any more, as three years ago it passed into the hands of Jack Root (of prize ring fame), Joe Kelly and H. Rhynn. * * * Vic Hugh, the conjurer, who now is manager and proprietor of the People's Theatre in Cedar Rapids, has been unusually successful with his theatre, and is now remodelling it •so as to provide for a much larger seating •capacity. Here is a magician who is a successful manager, and is always willing to book a magician. But he says: "I want a magician that is a magician.'' * * * "The Cat and the Fiddle." a shi.w that has appeared with big success in Chicago has more trick effects in the different acts, than the "biggest pantomime that ever toured America. * *& Henri French has cut h s act way down, •and is now only doing a few juggling tricks, one magic trick, and his imitations of vaTious composers. * * * The Floyds, magicians and mind readers, were appearing at the Steel Pier Theatre in Old Orchard, Me., at the tinu- of the million

25

dollar lire, but were among the fortunate ones to escape with their lives and valuables, with the exception of one trunk which contained street attire. As the theatre was not destroyed their theatrical trunks containing stage apparatus and costume.--, valued at about $1,000 were spared. * * * Charlie Carter and his company will sail for Honolulu on October 2, and after playing this engagement the company will sail for Australia for an extended tour dur*ng a period of seven months, opening at Sydney on November i->. They will then continue their tour until a complete trip is made around the world. Allan Shaw, the coin conjurer, accompanied by his wife, one of the attractions of Carter's company, has already sailed for Australia to attend to things in general before Carter's arrival. Carter now bills himself as the Mysterious Carter, and will personally present magic and illusions, particularly featuring "Somnancy." He is under the management of Mr. Geacli, who, it is said, so successfully exploited Thr.rston.

FROM THE

INDY CITY BWtH Prof. Carl E. Reltick and company, in mystic creations, and the entrancing illusion "Asleep in Mid-Air" are topping the bill at Miles Theatre, Hibbing, Minn. ^ ^ ~%Mr.. and Mrs. Franklin Colby presented their own and original electrical musical comedy lilack Art, at the- Chicago Opera House, and scored tremendously. Jas. Hathaway has succeeded in getting charge of the privilege car with the Great Cosmopolitan show. They are booked until December. * * * The Silvers presented a brilliant pantomime diversion at the Chicago Opera House, weekAugust 26.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Frederick Frcvoli, the novel magician and sliadowgrapliist, has been playing all the principal parks this summer and his performance pleases everywhere he goes. He owns a beautiful home at Newport, Ky. * * * Since Anna Eva Fay's visit to Chicago the mind-readers have increased about ninetynine per cent. * * * The Franciscos were in Chicago recently with their original burlesque on magic, and gave a creditable performance. * * * Warren Patrick's "Show World" although started but a short time ago, is now ranked as good a seller as the old established show papers. * * * Jas. Sherman, a young man of Appleton, Wis., is planning to make his debut in vaudeville in the near future. Mr. Sherman, Sr., visits the old country several times each year, and keeps his son well posted on magical do'ngs there. * * * Frank Kennedy ,another handcuff king, has been giving exhibitions at. several of the Michigan summer resorts. Can you beat the way these fellows turn up? * * * Burkctt, a very clever magician, who recently had an operation performed on his ears, may lose his hearing. * * * Harry Russell will shortly return to Plover, Wis., where he does hotel duty during the winter months. * * * Carl Herbert, formerly known as Herbert Powell, with Zazell and Vernon company. stopped over a few days in Chicago on his way West. He has just finished a successful run on the Keith circuit. * * * Miss Grace Kennedy, formerly with Roltaire, the illusionist, is booking from this city and will shortly make her appearance in recherche magic. * * * Zenda is appearing at Euson's Theatre with the Parisian Widows in his "Crushed Alive" act. He allows a 3,000 pound, AO horse power automobile to run over his body without the slightest injury to himself.

Mr. E. M. Holland of the Detective Publishing Co. of this city, is combining business with pleasure at the Jamestown Fair. He has one of the finest exhibits of police equipments ever before witnessed. He will return to Chicago about Sept. 15. * * * Mrs. A. Roterberg, wife of the famous magical dealer, is spending a few weeks' vacation with her relatives. * * * Yolande, la mystique, has joined the Path Show, and in connection with her Anna Eva Fay work is doing the hand-cuff act. % % ^ Sampson, not the strong man, but one who poses as a "handcuff king," and who is said to have boasted that he could break his way out of any kind of locks, met his match when he encountered the bolts and bars of the Central Station, Aug. 29. The policeman placed Sampson in the murderers cell, and there he remained unable to release himself. Still he boasts he is a "hand-cuff king." * * * Nelson Morris (the millionaire packer) died August 27, with heart failure. His son, who is known to have never worn a hat, appeared in Chicago as a handcuff expert some time ago and with his personality, made a decided hit with the audience. *

*

•

Welsh Miller, the King of Dollars, expects to visit the United States in the near future. The wonderful dexterity displayed by this great artist in palming any number of United States silver dollars, from one to thirty, and causing them to appear and disappear at will, has excited the wonder and admiration of Europe. * * • Herbert Brooks and company are offering a comedy illusion sketch entitled "Mr. Mystery," written by Sam Ehrlich. Special scenic and electrical effects arc used. • * *

Harry Beaumont, the expert coin and card manipulator, appeared at the Majestic the week of August 19, and pleased his audience. *

•

•

Chinko, the world famed English comedyjuggler, was billed at the Haymarket, August 26. He is very small but loud. His wife. Minnie Kaufman, the celebrated and daring lady cyclist, also occupies a position amongf the headliners at the Havmarket.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Chris. Richards, the clever London music hall entertainer, finished a successful week at the Majestic and left for Frisco, where he opens Sept. 2, at the Orpheum. * * * Mexican Herman, the clever exponent of black art, was at the Majestic, September 2. * * * Dr. Douglas Binnis of New Holland, Ohio, an old time magician, was in Chicago the past few days, and stated that he enjoys magic just as much now as in his younger days. * * * Aryanne, an illusion show, owned and operated by Cass A. Andress, is holding forth at Riverview Park. Mr. Andress contemplates going on the road with a levitation act in October. * * * The New Orpheum on State street will open ils doors to the public early in September. Six shows are to be given daily starting at 11 A. M. and closing at 10 :y> P- M. * * * Vaudeville will be plentiful in Chicago this season. Kohl & Castle will operate four houses; Klaw and Erlanger one and maybe two; and the New Orpheum; so a good magician should have no difficulty in finding bookings around here. * * * Victor Hugo, the magician, was a welcome caller. Hugo is now owner of a very fine theatre. * * * The old Middleton dime museum has been closed during August. It is to be fitted up at a cost of $12,000, and opens in September. Mr. Hedges is taking a much needed rest. * * * Veno will shortly play a return engagement at the London Musee. He is now filling dates through Illinois. * * * S. Wilson Bailey, the magic dealer from Cambridge, is home again from his summer vacation. Hansome, the Swedish magician, played at the Norumberga Park recently and presented a creditable flag production.

27

NSWERED

James Whittaker, Jamestown. We can readily believe you when you say that you have been in the backwoods for ten years. The firm of llartz Brothers has been out of existence for more than twenty years. * * * E. Elmer. Youngstown, O. If you will allow us to publish your letter it may make the party come to time. We do not know him under that name. Perhaps he is a new small dealer, and the quicker he turns honest in his dealings, the better for all concerned. * * * A. Chassino, Paris. Henri Robin's family name was Dunkell. * * * Wm. Slahl, Omaha, Neb. We have been compelled to write to Mons. C. De Vere of Paris, for the information. He informs us that E. Voisin the Parisian dealer in conjuring apparatus and automata started about 1848. It is stated that Robert Houdin received medals only for clocks at the 1844 exposition. Perhaps some of our Parisian subscribers will have time to verify this fact. The Robert-Houdin Theatre is leased to Mons. G. M.elies, the manufacturer of fine Cinematograph films and gives cinematograph exhibitions twice daily at the theatre. He has a brother representing him in New York City. % * * William Stuart. We were informed by Charles Logrenia that Macallister's right name was John Mawr, and that his birthplace was Ayrc, Scotland. On our next tripabroad we will look this up to verify its authenticity. * * * Jack Savage. Your magic books are for sale on Fourth avenue, in the old book shop. You can buy them for a penny a pound. * * * Hugo Bernstein, Girard, Pa. When you get to New York consult Mr. J. Marfinka.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

28

Miss C. Larkins, Halifax. It is perfectly safe for any lady to undertake the handcuff mystery. We know of several. The party in Leeds is known as Carrette Jeans. :•;

:J;

:•:

Percy Hill, Reading. We mailed you an •envelope with the proper address. Affix a five-cent stamp, which is the necessary amount for foreign letter post. * ** Alex Weyer, Paris. If you have already signed contracts it is too late to ask for advice. In signing contracts for Harry Rickards, you will observe a clause which states that your round trip fare will only be paid if y-ou do not play elsewhere. If you play for any one beside Harry Rickards, you forfeit your return trip expenses. The only thing to do is to scratch that clause out of your contract, which I think is known as the barring New Zealand clause. * ** Wm. Chamberlain, Brookline. Kellar will tour next season. Handcuffs can be obtained from the Detective Publishing Co., of Chicago. , ; £ , •'

Barter and Exchange Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our pa
Would like to exchange some magical apparatus for a crystal clock, spirit bell, or talking head or hand. C. J. Hagen, 433 East 75th street, New York City. *

* *

What have you to offer for a lot of magical apparatus, including six jjood tables ? Ray C. Hayden, Cumberland, Md. * ** I have one hundred pieces of apparatus, •some of which belonged to the late Harry

Stork, which 1 would like to trade. Carl Anderson, Box 477, Rochester, New York. * ** Mahogany card box, disappearing pack of cards, Roterberg's excelsior billiard ball trick and nonpareil card trick, best make and i;i best condition, in exchange for a copy of Hoffman's Modern Magic, or Later Magic. H. J. Slocum, Box 40, Eagle Station, Ky. * ** Wanted; magical apparatus, dress coat and vest, fancy or plain, books, photos and programs. G. H. Thompsen, Denmark, Wis. * ** Wanted American and foreign handcuffs. What will you take in exchange? Ruisselle, 701 Clay avenue, Jeannette, Pa. * * % Wanted a list of some second-hand magical apparatus, also some bills or circulars which can be used for advertisements in playing clubs, societies, etc. L. C. Duff, Mt. Washington, Bretton Woods, N. H. * ** What have you to offer for a lot of handcuff keys, six pair of American regulation handcuffs, one great harness escape (my own invention), one spirit bag (Roterberg make), and some other tricks? Percy Hill, 6135/2 Chestnut St., Reading, Pa. * ** What have you to offer for two fine Heller and De Vere black art tables and a fine small illusion?1 Anyone looking for a novelty, writ?. Also, have some small things. No secrets wanted or given. Robert Madison, 1619 14th St., Oakland, Cal. * * '-\Will exchange parlor apparatus for Herbert Brook's pocket card trick or handcuffs, rope ties, etc. Wm. E. Chamberlain. 72 Cypress St., Brookline, Mass. * ** What am T offered for six pair of handcuffs in good condition? Am in the market for new, up-to-date illusions and tricks; no junk wanted. Chas. E. Hiestand, 2639 Iowa Ave., St. Louis, Mo. * * * Wanted, sliding die box and die and orange trick. What have you to offer for my levitation ? I have photos of it. Arthur Mosher, Little Valley, N. Y.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The m:i1i>ri:il for these articles was gathered during (lit1 author's first lour ui' Groat Britain, am! was prepared for publication in book form. This was done in response to the thousands of requests for 1if;lif upon the methods used by the horde of I mi tntors who sprang up at lhat time. After the inanusr-ript bad been cum pie ted. tin1 pressure of professional engagements prevented immedia to publication. Tintext will now lie printed for the first time in monilily instalments in the Conjurers' Monthly Ma jj;i zinc to whoso pilot's it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the fact of its be ins prepared for publication in book form necessitates .1 somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but. in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and re liable volume ever published on this unique form of mysterv and entertainment. Copyright, lOfiO. By Harry H'oudinJ. All rights reserved.

INSTALLMENT XIII. THE SAFE OPENING MICROMETER. As Sargent utterly failed to make Hall accept his various open challengers, and as Hall resorted to unfair and sharp practices, Sargent now determined to retaliate and prove his ability to the world by making public his method of opening safes, and we herewith reproduce his letter which was published at the time of this bitter controversy, and so allow Mr. Sargent to speak for himself. "Having failed to induce Joseph L. Hall & Co., of Cincinatti, to submit their Victor Combination Locks, as sold to and used by bankers, to a fair public test as to whether I could pick them or not, I appealed with no better success to such bankers in the North-

west as were using these locks, to give me an opportunity of demonstrating their utter worthlessness, which the maker of the locks would not extend. The two banks in this city using the Victor Lock have declared that it would interfere with their business to have their locks tested (perhaps it would not interfere with their business to have their locks picked by some professional burglar), and the county banks using this lock evidently thinking that if the city bank- regarded these locks safe, they were good enough for them, and so have failed to secure the trial desired. As soon as Hall & Co. were satisfied that I could not induce any of the banks using their locks to allow me to pick them in public, they made llaming boasts in the papers that I cannot pick their A ictor combination lock. As I cannot prevail upon any bank using this Victor lock to let me pick it, for the satisfaction of the public, I have no alternative left in order to convince the public that my repeated declarations of ability to pick this Victor lock were made in good faith, but to divulge the secret of how this lock can be picked.. I can pick it by using the "micrometer," or an instrument made from a common watch, by removing the mainspring and some of the superfluous wheels, and attaching a short arm tothe main wheel. When so arranged, the slightest movement of this arm will cause the second-hand to vibratewidely. The micrometer I secure in an immovable position, and attach a long lever to the knob or handle, by which the bolt is thrown backward and forward when the lock is locked and unlocked, in such a manner that one end of the lever will rest upon the-

30

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

arm of the micrometer. In order to render a description of the mode of picking the lock more intelligible, I introduce the following diagram which represents, in its essential features, the inside of a Hall Victor combination lock, as it would appear if the dial and front of the safe were removed when the lock is locked. In the diagram, 4 represents the hub around which the combination wheels revolve in which the spindle of the •dial enters. 3 represents the combination wheels. 2 represents the bolt with what is technically called the fence behind it, extending toward the centre of the lock. 5 represents a cog-wheel,

against the combination wheel, and hold it in that position. I then adjust the micrometer (8) in such a position that the end of the lever (6) will rest upon the arm of the micrometer. I then have a perfect telegraph from the edge of the wheel-, via the point of the fence, through the cog-wheel and handle, along the lever and down through the wheels of the micrometer to the second hand, by which I make the Victor disclose to me the secret numbers to which it is set. As I turn the combination wheels from the spindle of the dial, any inequalities in their surface will cause the fence to move either backward or forward and

This instrument was used by Mr. James Sargent, the inventor of time locks, to open all the combination locks of his competitors. In the hands of the average person any safe lock can be opened which is not doubly protected by counterweights or magnetically loaded. Even false notches seem to be no safeguard against this instrument.

connected with a knob or handle on the outside of the safe, by which the bolt is thrown backward and forward. 1 represents the case containing the lock. When proceeding to pick the lock, I attach the lever (6) to the knob or handle on the safe which is connected with the cog-wheel. I then attach a Aveight (7) to this lever of sufficient size to turn the handle as far as it will go, and draw the "fence" firmly

this will turn the cog-wheel, and the turning of the cog-wheel will cause the lever (6) to rise or fall, and the slightest movement of the lever will be registered by the micrometer. These combination wheels vary in number in the different locks, one of Hall's locks having twelve. Now it is a fact that human ingenuity has never been able to construct a machine which will make two of these wheels exactly alike. {To be continued.}

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

For Sale or Exchange In my library there are a lot of duplicate magical books, which I procured in my various trips abroad. These I would like to exchange for books not in •my library, What have you to trade ? Send self addressed stamped envelope for list, New Yorh City

Just Out! 19O7 Supplimentary

Catalogue

Containing description of latest tricks, all the new books on magic etc. Also List No. 43 of bigger bargains than ever. Am closing out all odds and ends that have accumu lated at any price they will bring. Both lists sent upon receipt of two cent stamp. Catalogue of tricks free. Professional catalogue of 750 tricks, 170 pages 20 cents.

A.

ROTERBERG

176 Ontario Street

Zauberspieg'el"

An Illustrated nonthly Jonrnal in German Language, by F. W. CONRAD1, Editor (Contents: Modern Parlor Magic. Card Tricks, Illusions, Mnemotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, etc., etc.) Vol. IV. Subscription of ^ months post free $1.25 Single Copies, post free 25c

Horsterscher Verlag,

Harry Houdini, •278 West 113th Street

"Der

31

Chicago, 111.

PUBLISHERS Berlin, S. W. 68, Fredrichstrasse 2O2

JENNIE JACOBS

R

epresenting some of the largest Stars in the Music Halls. Can use good Magic Acts, Illusionists and all Novelty Shows. Write full particulars in first letter.

307 WEST 45th STREET New York City

Magic Catalogue Just Out, New 19c Large Must. BooK Catalogue in Preparation. We keep every Trick, Magic Book or Paper for Sale. Selbits ""Magic Bricks," Stage Size, $7.00

Important Notice Full page half-tone cuts of leading professionals and amateurs of the world inserted in my mammoth 200 page illustrated book catalogue (Now in preparation.) Send Photo and$20.00

W. D. Lcroy, 103 Courrst., Boston, Mass.

THE VERY BEST YET.

Performer, with arms bare, shows hands back and front, fingers wide apart, places hands together and produces a handkerchief. No loops, wire thread, elastic or finger fakes used. Remember this is no change over or back hand palm fake. Very useful for close work. Apparatus complete, with instructions. $i.oo. B. G. Straub, Oakmont, Pa.

AN EXPOSE OF GRIME

JUST OUT

The RightWay to do Wrong By Harry Houdini exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great criminals, Male and Female. London Mail, Boston Herald airl Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. Best of its kind ever presented. " Price Twentyfive cents.

New Lists will be sent

P

R

E

E

targe catalogue listing Ihc latest and best trichs 15 cents.

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\etv York

Box 4lo

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Kindlv mentkn Conju,ei>' Monthly I^agazine when answering advertisements

Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Go. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

CITY

Agents for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

The

W i z a rd

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Magazine

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:

LONDON, W. C.

L'lLLUSIONNISTE Le Seul Journai Francais devonne aux Magicians Paraissant tous les Mois-fonde en 1901 abounenient 8 frs. ($1.60) par an. Speciman Number, 0.75 Editeur : C A R O L Y , fabricant apparatus 11 Rue Cardinal Lerooine Paris

The City Magical Company MANUFACTURERS OF

magical Apparatus 1, Amersham Read, New Cross, London, S. E. Eng. Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for Lists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We have the Latest European Novelties Manager : Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

HENRY HARDIN <& CO. Specializers in Advanced Magical Effects and riodern Spirit Secrets = We are in constant receipt of the most valuable Foreign and American ideas and many of our productions are now being used by the loremost mystifiers of the world. Send two cent stamp for " Memorandum of Magic " to

Henry Hardin & £5.; Box 1413, New Haven, Conn., U. S. A. Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisenitnts

CONTENTS The Davenport Brothe Ejropean Notei Mail Bag Qjestions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Hocus Pocus" Reading and Rubbish Spirit Slate Writing Lock Picking Methods

OCTOBER,

1907

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. V. and C. A. A.

ANGER & BAUER AGENTS FOR

English, American and Continental lDariet\> Hrtistes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. English and Continental Representatives for Messrs. A. Bonamici and Frank E. Fillis'sEnterprises in South Africa.

I ^ ^ |VI |~N ^ N IVI |J" IVI ^^ L \ J I Y \—)\J 1^1 » C 111 \ J i

Harry Day THE AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effingham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England

Jennie Jacob's Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Room 735

New York City

PHONE 4395 38th

Booking for every Music Hall in America, England and the Continent Traveling Representatives : MISS PAULINE COOK and THEO. HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice

Manhattan Detective Agency, OPPOSITE METROPOLITAN OPERJl HOUSE 1416 Broadway, Corner 3QtK Street Thirty-five (35) years' experience has qualified this agency to undertake all legitimate lines of detective work, where absolute reliability and secrecy are imperative. Obtaining evidence in criminal and civil matters, confidential work for Railroads, Banks, Mercantile Houses, Factories, Corporations, Lawyers and Private Individuals. References furnished upon request. Suite 414. Telephone 4<38O Bryant

Kin iIv m e n t i in C o n j u r e r s ' vl niiiiy v l a ^ a j m e wheii a n s w e r i n g a d v e r t i s e m e n t s

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35

Hotel Preston (Opposite Madison Square Garden)

FOURTH AVE. AND 26th STREET

NEW YORK CITY

A New Hotel with all modern improvements, centrally located. European Plan. :: :: :: Rooms $1.00 per day. With Bath $1.50 per day and upwards

Cafe and Restaurant Unsurpassed Reasonable Prices Orchestra Music Special Rates to the Profession h e Always Working' Magician, introducing the newest of the best, illusions. Prolonged four times at the London Alhambra.

Hamley Brothers.

SAMUEL GLANTZ

N. J. WEISS

Proprietor

Manager

35, New Oxford Street, T. W. C. London, Eng. LIMITED

also (City Branch) 29, LudgateHill, E. C,

We have actually in stock (almost without exception) every article we list and many others. We guarantee the finest quality and finish at the same or in most oases lower prices than elsewhere. A trial order will convince you of this.

A NEW WAND MYSTERY The wand which the performer has used during the evening is shown to be quite solid and wrapped up under the eyes of the audience. It is then deliberately torn up and reproduced at will. No shells, threads, elastics or collapsible wand used. This will puzzle t h o s e t h a t " k n o w . "

3 | 6 p o s t free 3 | 9 . U . S . A . $ 1 . 3 5

A GREAT VANISHING CARD ILLUSION A card is selected by a member of the audience who himself covers it with his own handkerchief, and drops it (still covered) into a glass of water allowing the handkerhief to fall on and over the glass. Performer commands card to vanish and on handkerchief being removed it is found to have done so. Quite inexplicable but so simple to work. 1| post free 1| I. U.S. A. 25 cents, post free 30 cents.

Latest Boohs No. 1. New Magical Sleights and Fakes by R. A. Morrell. Price 2|-, post free 2|2 M ) 2. New Dialogue for Punch and Jdy. Price 6d post free 7d. No. 3. Modern Crystal Gazing. Price 6d ,post free 7d. No. 4. Some New Magic by j . F . Burrows. Price 1|-, postfree1|1.

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CONJURERS' MONTHLY

MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY

Tbe Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, 278 WEST 113TH

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N E W YORK CITY TELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE

Proper billing matter, including an assortment of good photographs and fine lithographs is a great aid in procuring good engagements. One wellknown conjurer obtained his opening engagement in Europe on account of the clever lithograph he sent abroad, for the managers on seeing it, recognized the novelty and engaged him. : • :

Per Year fl.00

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Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright mid must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without perminion. The magazine Is for sale by all reputable dealers • f conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London. England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leauman. Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise It will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped mnd addressed envelope.

II

OLTOBER 15, 1907

No. 2

The competition between the KeithProctor-William circuit and the wealthy Klaw and Erlanger forces has created a keen demand for acts, almost all receiving larger salaries than ever, and magicians rcceivirg contracts for steady work. * * * Conjurers and illusionists who have any sort cf a novelty ought to be able to obtain lucrative engagements; but as managers are waiting for an illusion act: or larFe production which can b : piesented in stage setting known as "one," the magician who can present his ret in this rra'iner has the best chance of getting go<~d work and one of the best petitions on any bill.

; • :

: | c

The origin of almost all good tricks and illusions can be indirectly traced back to the oldtime magicians, so it is not always the conjurer who originates that succeeds, but it is the one who does not allow himself to become discouraged, who will not acknowledge defeat, and manfully trudges along singing, "And never say fail, and never say fail,. In life's earnest battle those only prevail Who daily march onward and never say fail." * * * Make your plans, stick to them and time will improve your appearance,, speech and personality. Personality itself alone has been the cause of many successes. Charlie Carter is a man who can walk out on thestage and with his personality and the use of a small red apple, win almost any audience that understands the English language. He has time and time again walked on the stage with a few penny tricks, and before he had made his final bow the audience said he was great! *

*

*

It is not what you do but the way you do it. Don't say you have had no opportunity, but like Napoleon say, "I do not ivait for opportunities, I makemine f"

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

37

HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS. So long as spiritualistic seances are permitted by the law, so long as cabinet effects are tolerated by the public, so long as rope-tying tricks divert theatre-goers, just so long will the name of Davenport be held in high esteem among conjurers and magicians. These clever men were pioneers in cabinet tricks, and in rope-tying. Since their day several generations have been entertained by performers who copied and improved their methods, and thousands of dollars have been made by conjurers and vaudeville performers who drew upon the programs of the retired Davenports for inspiration and ideas. The Davenports stand forth in nineteenth century history of magic as its most dramatic figures. Other men may have invented or presented more ingenious tricks or illusions, but it remained for the Davenports to stir up two continents and to create wherever they appeared riots of disapproval or tempests of applause. Societies wrangled over them, scientists gave them profound consideration and the press devoted not columns but whole pages to exposing their tricks or the tirades of their champions. All of this advertisement was not entirely desirable or welltimed, but it served to make them the most talked of performers of their day.

According to the late P. T. Barnum, the Davenport brothers commenced their careers as spiritualistic mediums at a very tender age. They were born in Buffalo, N. Y.—Ira Erastus, the elder, on September 17, 1839, and William Henry, the younger, on February 1. 1841. They made something of a reputation as mediums in their native city and there were met and interviewed by many prominent persons. In 1855 John F. Coles, a prominent spiritualist of New York City, induced them to visit the metropolis, and under his management they held "circles" every afternoon and evening at 195 Bowery. The "manifestations" consisted mostly of horrible music on guitars and banjos, with which often the men and women seated in the circle were rapped sharply over the head. Skeptics and the press made it so lively for the boys that the suspicion of their patron, Mr. Coles, was aroused, and he set a trap for them. Having discovered that it was all trickery and not spiritualistic communications, he sent them back to Buffalo in disgrace. There they worked out a more elaborate program, including their now famous cabinet trick. When they had exhibited with much success all over the northern part of the United States and Canada, they went to England in September, 1864, under the management of William Fay, with Dr. Fergu-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY .MAGAZINE

38

son as their lecturer or introducer. They remained abroad for about five years and on both the continent and on the British Isles met with a series of most exciting adventures. They were good looking men of impressive presence and a strong physical resemblance. They had a fine repertoire of tricks and had they been willing to pose as mere entertainers, jugglers, etc., their career both at home and abroad would have been less strenuous, but either because they hoped to deceive

The

Davenport

Brothers

as

they

eppeared

in

the public or because they were illy advised, they allowed the impression to go forth that they possessed supernatural power, and this antagonized the press and a large portion of the thinking public from the very start. In England, they waged a bitter theatrical warfare with John Henry Anderson, Prof. Redmond and Tolmaque, to say nothing of many lesser lights, who either copied or exposed their tricks.

Wherever they appeared, the city or town was promptly divided into Davenportites and Anti-Davenportites, and many a clash was the result of their meeting in. the public hall where the brothers appeared. I am quoting The London Telegraph of February, 1856, which will give a very good idea of a typical Davenport stage riot, when the audience was not favorably disposed: "The Davenport Brothers, equipped with a new cabinet and other necessary paraphernalia, made their appearance at

their prime.

(.From

the

Harry

Houiiini

collection.)

Huddersfield on Tuesday evening, according to announcement, and the Philosophical Hall was filled by their audience. Messrs. Hulley & Cummins, of Liverpool, had previously come to Huddersfield in answer to an invitation, and had instructed Mr. Dow, surgeon of Lockwood, and president of the Huddersfield Athletic Society, and Mr. Alexander Walker, manufacturer of Mirfield, in mysteries of the 'torn fool' knot. Messrs. Dow and Walker were

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

elected to tie up the Davenports and soon after operations commenced, one of the brothers complained he was being hurt. Dr. Ferguson cut the rope, and soon after, the other brother made a similar complaint and Dr. Ferguson cut that rope, too; and then he and the brothers disappeared from the platform. Then Messrs. Hullev and Cum-

39

the whole of which was in his possession. This called forth loud expressions of satisfaction. Three cheers were given for the Liverpool gentlemen and for Messrs. Dow and Walker. Driven from Huddersfield they proceeded to Hull, where they were announced to give the first two seances on Wednesday night. In the course of the after-

The cabinet trick offered by the Davenport Brothers, showing a spectator in the center of the cabinet cro\vne:l with the tambourine. This was placed on the man's head when the doors of the cabinet were closed and the Davenport Brothers presumably were bound hand and foot with ropes, (From the Harry Houd ini collection.) p

mins were introduced and cheered and the people demanded their money. The superintendent of police announced that he had sent a detective after the Davenports to secure the money, but Mr. John Wood, through whose agency the Davenports had visited Huddersfield promised that all who had paid for entrance should receive back their money,

noon, however, it was reported that Mr. Hulley and Mr. Cummins of Liverpool —a couple of evil spirits who would appear to be something more than a match for the good angels who hover about the Davenports—had arrived in Hull, and a notice was issued that it had been found expedient to postpone the performance."

40

THE CONJURERS" MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Quite frequently, however, the very exposure and excitement of one engagement led to crowded houses in the next town where tilings went better, and on the whole the exchequer of the Davenports and their manager grew steadily. In the fall of 1865 they went to Paris where despite their ignorance of the French language and the prejudice of the volatile Parisians, they scored a brilliant financial success. Their opening performance at the Salle Herz, Paris, is still regarded as a memorable event in theatrical history. Henri de Pene thus described it in the Gazette des Etrangers: "The hall was lighted up, and evenseat was filled. But the performance was lost in a tumult worthy of a meeting of infuriated shareholders. There was a great deal of noise and a good deal of spite displayed. The darkseance, the more interesting of the two. and poetically entitled, 'An Hour of Darkness," and _ which was only to be witnessed by a small number of spectators at a high price, never took place at all. '"The first portion alone, of the socalled public seance, to be seen at comparatively low prices raised such a tumult that after about three-quarters of an hour's row, the spectators had to be cleared out of the hall with the police at their backs. It should be mentioned, by the way. that the money was honestly returned at the doors; indeed, we are informed that more money was paid out of the treasury than had actually been paid into it." This excitement was due to the fact that a young engineer who had attempted to tie the Davenports so that they could not escape was so incensed by the quickness with which they made their escape that, springing upon the >tage, he broke the planks on which the

LroLiKih were seated in their cabinet, whereupon the entire audience rushed upon the stage to investigate the operation of the cabinet. Jt has often been asserted that this riot was incited by followers of Henri Robin, then playing in opposition to the Davenports but the statement has never been proven.

ST.

GEORGE'S LANQHAM

HALL,

PLACE.

RETURN OV THX

BROTHERS DAVENPORT FAY.

MR.

THE BROTHERS DAVENPORT and Mr. FAY have the honour to announce that, after a tour of three years over the greater part of the Continent of Europe, they have returned once more, and probably for the last time, to this Metropolis, where they will give a few Siancti previous to their departure for the United States. During their European tour they have given Seances in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, St. Petersburgh, and nearly every great Continental Capital; and have had the honour of appearing before their Majesties the Emperors of France and Rusaia, the Royal Family of Prussia, and great numbers of the most Distinguished Personages in Europe. Many thousands of personB of the highest rani and intelligence have witnessed the astonishing experiments given in their presence. Throughout the Northern American States, from 1853 until their first visit to England in 1864, they were seen by hundred* of thousands of persons. In England, their first Seane4 was given in private, to a mort distinguished party of men of science ^ d lettere, who gave their most unequivocal testimony to the excellence and perfection of their experiments. Two Seanes* of the BBOTHZBB DAVEHFOBT and Mr. FAT will be

given at

ST. GEORGE'S HALL, LANGHAM PLACE, On THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 23rd, And SATURDAY EVENING. APRIL 26th, 1868, at Eight o'olook. STALLS, - 3s. BALCONY, - 2s. ADMISSION, ONE SHILLING. Announcement of the Davenport Brothe 's' return to London after their tour of the continent. April 1868. (From the Harry Houdini collection.)

The Davenports refused to be driven out of Paris and by giving a private seance to the press, they won over these skeptics who helped to restore confidence in the two Americans. Their Paris failure was thus turned into success. Tra Davenport married a French girl, Mile. Lcuise Toulet, and William

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Henry married a Polish beauty, Matilda Mag. At the conclusion of their European engagements the Davenports returned to America, retired, purchased a farm and enjoyed the profits of their someFrom -Wilfred C. Zelka. what stormy career. One of them, it is 1 )n the same prosaid, frankly admitted after their retirtgram with the clever ment that their work was all skillful , Fasola at the Empress manipulations without any spiritualistic 'Brixton was Yeotha in manifestations. Indian pastimes. This The trick offered by the Davenports act is new to London, consisted of being tied hand and foot at but must not be conopposite ends of a cabinet, which was hung with musical instruments, bells, founded with Ara Zebra & Yola, the etc. The two men slipped in and outacrobats, who also call their act "Indian of the ropes with marvelous dexterity Pastimes." and who are now doing the and without apparent damage to their Indian basket trick. The Yeotha's act consists of a combonds, and musical instruments were played with arms presumably tied bv bination of balancing and archery, and complicated knots of ropes. The trick the finish is very pretty. The gentlehas been duplicated by many perform- man balances on his head a long staff, ers since that time and by various meth- at the top of which are some air balods but none has ever created the sen- loons. The lady shoots these away sation which greeted the appearance of with arrows, and as the last bursts, a these pioneers in this particular form of huge trophy of flags opens up from the entertainment. Upon their tricks have staff. been built scores of so-called novelties, * * * but to these much reviled perfoimers, The "Marricotts" in a new thought modern entertainers owe much. reading act, appeared at the HippoUnquestionably they would not have drome, Crouch End. The lady is won such large financial returns had they been advertised as mere conjurers blindfolded and remains on the stage, or entertainers and they certainly paid while the gentleman goes about dearly for their fortunes in revilings and amongst the audience. They name any riotings such as few men of today would article given to them, the gentleman not speaking a word after his opening adhave the courage to face. dress. The evening I saw the show, they named every article correctly, even to a piece of coal. For clean work, this act is way ahead of most acts of the Don t go about belittling a performer kind we have seen here. * * * who is either your superior or even your inferior, but buckle up your courWill Avis appeared at the Bedford age and start in the race with him ; if Music Hall in a very smart act, but he you persistently stick to your work, you was under the disadvantage of playing will soon have the grim, satisfaction of as the first turn, while he deserved a passing by him. better place.

mcfonl

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

lie opens his act with the production of a number of silks, a la the Thompson act, changes these in color, then puts them in a canister, and again changes them to a bird cage containing live canaries. He next produces a lady assistant from a cabinet in the centre of tht stage, puts canaries in a paper bag and shoots them into an empty cage, giving the empty paper bag to the audience to aid them to try and solve the problem. This is followed with billiard ball tricks worked with golf balls, flower production on glass top table, large throw out streamers, and production of two huge flags on staffs. The act takes well and he has had some good offers. + * * I called at Maskelyne & Devant's one afternoon and found the hall packed from stalls to gallery. Devant is not yet appearing in the show, but was very busy in his office, looking after the business end of the concern and the large attendance speaks well for his energetic management. I was too late to see Joad Heteb's act but was told he has some new effects Germaine has a very pretty effect with four white silks, which instantly change to four colored ones, without being covered in the least; the colored silks then change to a large butterfly which flies across the stage. * * * Mr. Maskelyne's new sketch, "The Sceptres of the Sanctum," keeps them all guessing. * * * Chas. Delvos, A. I. M. C , appeared at the Crystal Palace. He comes- on without his wand, and produces a brilliant flame between his hands; when this dies away the wand is seen. He then proceeds with some novel combina-

tion tricks and finishes with a production in which he covers the stage with silk goods. * * * Ormonde Penstone, assisted by TsaouNgo, topped the bill at the Palace, Tynemouth. He was followed in by Fred Vallance, which shows they like magic in the coal village. * * * The Davenports have been touring Scotland with W. F. Frame the Scotch comedian, appearing in a different town each day. * * * The Marvelous Howards, with Dr. Thos. Howard as director, have been playing in the Isle of Wight with their own combination. * * * Imro Fox has returned to London after a long absence. He is playing at the London Music Hall, Shoreditch. * * * In the July number I wrote the EFFECT of the illusion " I t " was the same as Charlton's Cross. I wish to state that I did not mean that the illusion was the same, but that inasmuch as a lady and gent change places, the effect to the audience was the same. * * * From Other Sources.

A curious incident occurred while Chung Ling Soo was performing at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne. In his performance he changes beans and bran into coffee which is handed to the audience. Although very tasteful, the aristocratic portion of the stalls and fauteuils resented the offer of the newly made coffee and indignantly refused the beverage. * * * At the Empress, Brixton, the week of August 19, a conjuring specialty by Gustave Fasola went remarkably well,

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Thomas JJarrasford, the well-known considering that so many of his tricks have been seen and explained on many English manager, will soon open the Alprevious occasions. In one he employs hambra Theatre in Brussels. Any a lady who bobs into all sorts of odd readers wishing to communicate with boxes, but appears and disappears at Air. Barrasford can address him at 11 command, the culminating feat being Leicester Place, London. the descent from the roof of a huge corded box containing other boxes, the last one containing the lady. Horace Goldin has been presenting a similar trick for some time past: During the intervals, Gustave Fasola, a weird, voiceless creature, in oriental garb, jumps down amongst the audience and -discovers quite an amount of money in peoples' caps and headdress. It is an A host of managers were invited re•old time trick, but performed neatly and cently to witness a private performance in an interesting manner. of two acts combined, "Alenetekel" and * * * '"Askme." Both acts are novel in this Alan McAskell, the conjurer, is at country, despite the fact that Alenetekel present managing the Hippodrome, is the creation of a Merlin mechanic. It Spennymoor, for Air. Leoni Clarke, the was introduced by a Aliss Nora Sanden, well-known cat king, and takes up a who was very witty in some of her resimilar position at the Temperance Hall, plies. Bolton, the week of Sept. 2. Askme, announced as the invention of * * * Felix Berol, brother of Maxamillion It is stated that Signorina Fatima Berol, who at the present season is on Miris, who was secured in Italy in June the Klaw & Erlanger tour in America, by Air. Fred Trussel, acting as the emis- is a glass clock which answers all sorts sary for Air. Oswald Stoll, will shortly of questions pertaining to dates and figappear at the London Hippodrome. The ures. I could not find out if the act young lady is just over 24 years of age, was booked. But Alenetekel, returning is termed a protean prodigy, and is said with a reputation from America, was to lie able to present the whole of the booked at the Apollo. characters of "The Geisha" in a very This illusion is probably known to few minutes. This female Frigoli, who many of my confreres, but for the benerenders 15 parts and changes 175 cos- fit of those who do not know it, I will tumes can sing soprano, alto, tenor and give a short description. When the baritone. curtain rises a large wooden frame is * * * seen hanging from two ropes. On this Arrangements are being made for the frame are fastened 5 to 6 sheets of •appearance of Johann Floettum, the boy white paper. The manipulating lady clairvoyant, who has lately aroused ex- turns the frame towards the public, traordinary interest throughout Norway. showing both sides and proving that He will shortly be seen in some of the nobody is hidden behind it. The attendant then brings an inked ball and "West End London programs.

gseher.

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44

by means of a sort of spoon places it en the first sheet of paper, where it mystically remains, without falling down. The lady recalls to the audience the i. iLlical story of King f'.e'shazzar. when suddenly the ball begins to roll over the paper, writing the word "Menetekel." When this is done, the assistant removes the ball with a kind of tongs. In this manner the ball, being renewed after each word, writes any words which are called loudly or whispered secretly to the assistant's ear, rolling forwards or backwards, quite how anyone likes. During the time the brill is rolling over the paper, the frame swings to and fro, to show that no magical influence comes from behind the stage. *

*

At the Coliseum "She" is doing very well. The funny little Pich amuses the public on this stage. * * * At Ronachers there is a very fine progrr.m to be seen, but without magic.

times before the Emperor of Germany, is touring the German watering places and is a success everywhere. Joachim & Clara Belleachini, demonstrating physical and chemical experiments, are touring and also meeting with success. : • :

: ) :

; • ;

Some weeks ago I was visited by Mr. Beyerbock. This gentleman is an extremely clever Japanese Fantasist, performing under the name Xakamura. He has good contracts for France. : • :

:

;

:

^

A short time ago there was an exhibition in Berlin of new inventions, and many things were shown of value to magicians and side-show entertainers. * * * Bennisch, the magician, died in Vienna last week. He was one of the oldtimers and played about 30 years ago together with the celebrated Charles Arlire. Ottokar Fischer.

Thorn opened with great success in Stettin-Reichshallen Theater. I hear that he is booked for South America for a long time. Probably he will also visit the United States. Ben-Ali-Bey is touring Austria with remarkable success. * * * Leroy, Talma & Bosco are expected here. At present they are in Berlin, and doing exceedingly well. A new magical paper has made its ar>pearance. It is published in the Italian language and is called II Mago Italiano. * * * Mr. Alfred Fredmar, a clever sleight of hand conjurer, who played several

All the theatres are open and many mystery acts are on the tours. Leroy, Thalma and Bosco are at the Wintergarten, Berlin. Their work is too well known for comment. *

*

*

De Bierre is at the Circus' Carre, Amsterdam, Holland. This is the theatre where he first played his opening date on arriving in Europe. Hymach, the

45 THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. man with the mysterious gloves, is on advertising a wonderful salve which has cured him. the same bill. * * * # £ :!-' Lora, the second sight parrot, is at Chester H. Dieck, America's wonthe Scala Theatre, The Hague, Hol- derful and sensational cyclist has added land. a few tricks to his act. These he claims as original, but what will A. D. Prof. Hartman, the conjurer, has Robbins say when he observes Herr branched out as a manager. lie has Dicck perform them? spent some of hi? easy money in putting Dicck has taken every one of Roban act together cilk-d the "Living Pos- bins' ideas, even making up as a cowtal Cards" and is playing a tew date* boy. On account of this pilfering Rodin Russia. bins resigned from the Internationale For the months of September and Arlisten Lodge, as both were members. October he will be at the Aquarium, in * * * St. Petersburg. Bryant Cheebert has brought to Ger* * * many a new Chinese troupe of magiStackleman, a new magician was given a month's contract and closed at • cians, jugglers and singers. For adthe Buflfc after a successful season of vertising" purposes he has his troupe one night. He must have been very haul him through the streets in a 'riksja. He is competing with J. . clever? Deutsch who has several troupes. The Ben AH Bey, the originator of Black- latest importation is called Lijen-chaisan-Troupe. I am glad I don't have Art, is in Windau. to pronounce the name. Rochclli, the ventriloquist, is now * * * billing himself as "Der Witzkonig." • Carl Edward Pollak, the Berlin But if he means he is king of wit, he agent, was seen hustling about with a must mean "bad wit." bunch of lithos of some new mystifier. * * * He seems to have a liking for conjurRenk keeps on improving his illu- ers and illusionists, and has the repusions, and no doubt some American tation of being the first in the field in manager will send him contracts. He Germany to book such big mystery is now billed as the great American acts as Houdini, Madame Konorah, Leillusionist, but cannot speak one word roy, Thalma and Bosco, Downs, Meneof English. tekel, De Biere, etc. * * * At one time it was planned that W. Passpart is open to book any ma- Madame Pollak should become the gician or illusionist who has a novelty. foremost lady illusionist in the world, His office address is Muenchnerstrasse and Carl was rapidly pushing the ad16, Berlin W., Germany. vertising matter, when suddenly, be* :|: £ Willi Augoston, a relative of Augos- fore you could say Kocu-Hccus, or ton, the old time magician who starved Hocus-pocus, the entire matter was to death in the streets of Berlin, is busy dropped. '•'.'•

~'fi

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46

Ike Rose lias not been connected with

Cluing' Ling Soo for several seasons. Although it lias not been generally known, Ike is the man who made Chung Ling Soo (\Y. E. Robinson) a success, and let us hope that Robinson will not forget it. There has been some talk of Ike Rose separating from Madame Saharet, but it seems to be only an idle rumor. :J:

: j : :|:

Ernest Basch is busy working on a new illusion that promises to be superior (o his invention "The Bridal Chamber." * * * Carl Hertz is still in South Africa. This necromancer must have more illusions in storage than any man in the mystery business. For years he has built many tricks and bought up everything available, and now has a store bouse full of illusions in San Francisco, Berlin and London.

Our Mall Bag In this department It is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may lie bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correipondents, the editor does not hold himself re• ponslble for opinions expressed in this department.

Buffalo, N. Y. Editor Conjurers' Magazine, Sir: Thanks for your personal letter. So far I have not seen one item about our city, so wanted to know if

you had a representative here. But there is one item which appeared that, small as it may be, requires coirection. It was stated "That Harrington was a near magician." I am acquainted with Mr. Harrington and meeting him on the street, I asked him when he Had entered the mysterv business. He said that it was a misprint, and that he had called your attention to the mistake, but you had paid no attention to his letter. (We have received no such communication from Mr. Harrington Ed.) Harrington is a musician and a good one, but lacks ambition. He has played some of the big circuits. There appeared at the Washington Theatre a team calling themselves The Kelleys and they were billed as great handcuff kings who had baffled the great detectives of the world. I saw their act and wonder who were the baffled parties? I don't wish to knock, but must tell the truth about this horrid act, which belongs to the same category as the act of the Cherry Sisters. They have a bungling home-made trunk, whose secret hinges on the back panel could almost be seen by a blind man. They ask for cuffs from the audience, but before you have a chance to move, the imle member of the team makes a marl rush for his own cuffs, using only that one pair. We have another great handcuff man here in Buffalo, who is really wonderful. T know, because he told me so, and at the present time he is working the saloons. Now that Klaw and Frlanger have opened the Teck Theatre, perhaps we shall see more of mystery presenters. Respectfully yours, C. W. Kinney.

47

THF CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. En route. Editor Conjurers' Magazine, Sir: I read with interest your material regarding Lazern. and know him to be a man whom I would not trust as far as I could throw a bull by the tail. He is an ungrateful man. and I know of one magcian who loaned him money and fed him, and then Lazern deliberately tried to steal his act so that he could expose it. He makes use of different names, and so far has called himself, Walter J. Hansen, alias Nesnah (which is Hansen reversed), Gregals, Hornman and Lazern. I have heard that he is being proposed bv a Mr. Hiestand for membership into the S. A. M. If they elect such men. I certainly do not care to join any such organization. (We have received a letter from Mr. Hiestand, denying this st i;emcnt. He had proposed Lazern. but then crossed off his name from the bhnk. Ed.) A peculiar thing about this man, is that he belongs to several different societies, and displays on his table covers the letters T. M. A. (Theatrical Mechanics Assn.) Trusting that you will have space in your magazine to show magicians who this Lazern is, I beg to remain. Sincerely yours, Socrates. (We have received several letters of complaint against Lazern and have room only for the above. We would like to hear from Lazern on this subject. Ed.)

H O CV S P OCV S I V N I O RThe Jnttomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. O R, R, O The Art of Iugling fet forth in his proper colours, folly, plainly, andexaftly, Co that an ignorant pet Con may thereby letradKn^ perfection oftheU»e,arter a little praftife. Vnto each Tricke is tdici the Spin, where it is needfidJ forinflrudioQ

Thefectni Editiin, with mitt] tuUiti Prtflic nibili quim uhflftcne.

"*•

X>0 K D O N,

Printed by T. II. for R.M,

i 6 j y.

C 0'iitinucd.

To convert money into counters, and counters into money. Another way to deceive the lookers on, is to do as before with a tester, and keeping a counter in the palm of your left hand secretly, to put the tester secretly thereinto, which being retained still in the right hand, when the left hand : s opened, the tester will seem to be turned into a counter. To put one tester into one hand, another into the other hand, and icith zeords to brin^ them together. He that hath once attained to the faculty of retaining one piece of money in his right hand, may shew a hundred pleasant conceits by that means, and may reserve two or three as well as one ; and so then you may seem to put one piece into your left hand, and retaining it still in your right hand, you may together

43

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

therewith take up another like piece, and so with words seem to bring both pieces together. Variety of tricks may be shewn in juggling with money. To put one tester into a stranger's hand, and another into your ozvn, and to convey both into the stranger's hand with zvords. ' • Also you may take two testers evenly set together, and put the same instead of one tester into a stranger's han.l, and then making as though you did put one tester into your left hand with words, you shall make it seem that you convey the tester in your hand into the stranger's hand, for when you open your said left hand, there shall be nothing seen, and he opening his hand shall find two testers, which he thought was but one. Bv this device, I say a hundred conceits may be shewed. How to shczv the same, or the like feat othcrii'ise. To keep a tester betwixt your fingers, serveth especially for this and such like purposes ; hold out your hand, and cause one lay a tester upon the palm thereof, then shake the same up almost to your fingers' end, and putting your thumb upon it, you shall easily with a little practice, convey the edge betwixt the middle or fore-finger; whilst you proffer to put it into the other hand, provided always that the edge appears not through the fingers on the backside, which being done, take up another tester, which you may cause another stander-by to lay down and put them both together, either closely, instead of one into a stranger's hand, or keep them still in your own hand, and after some words spoken open your hands, and there being nothing in one hand, and both pieces in the other, the beholders will wonder how they came together.

To throw a piece of money azvay, and to find it again where you left it. You may with the middle or ringfinger of the right hand convey a tester into the palm with the same hand, and seem to cast it away, keeping it still, which with confederacy will seem strange : to wit, when you find it again, where another have bestowed the like piece, but these things without exercise cannot be done, therefore I will proceed to shew how things may be brought to pass with less difficulty, and yet as strange as the rest, being unknown are marvellously commended, but being known are derided and nothing at cdl regarded. Hoic to make a groat or tester to leap out of a pot, or run along upon a table. You shall see a juggler take a tester and throw it into a pot, or lay it in the midst of a table, and with enchanting words cause the same to leap out of the pot, or run towards him, or from him along the table,-which will seem miraculous until you know how it is done; which is thus, take a long black hair of a woman's head fastened to the rim of a tester, by the means of a little hole driven through the same with a Spanish needle, in like sort yon may use a knife, or any small thing, but if you would have it go from you, you must have a confederate, by which means all juggling is graced and amended; this feat is the stranger if it be done by night, a candle placed between the spectators and the juggler, for by that means their eyes are hindered from discerning the conceit. (To be continued.)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

NSWERED

Oscar Wilson, Nyack. We cannot encourage you to take up that kind of an act. Eating poison his been done by. many human beings, and Monte Cristo even was a hero who was immune to the effects of certain poisons. Capt. Vetrio is about the best known poison eater America has ever had. He has exhibited himself all over the world and we think he resides at the present time in Chicago. Dr. Senaca D. Powell (no relation to E. Powell, the magician) frequently swallowed what would have been a fatal dose of carbolic acid, and then took alcohol to demonstrate that it was a reliable antidote for that terrible' acid. It is believed that taking the many doses of carbolic acid was indirecly the cause of his death. He died a few months ago in Greenwich. It was in 189,9 n e announced to the medical profession his belief in ithe efficiency of alcohol as an antidote in carbolic acid poison. He demonstrated at the time before the medical society of New York that pure carbolic acid could be rubbed on the hands freely and allowed to remain several secojids without injury to the skin, if alcohol was then at once applied. Dr. Powell was 60 years of age at the time of his death. He was Vice-President of the Pan-American Medical Congress in icSg5. Generally a quick emetic used by poison •eaters has been their secret, but as there is not much money in exhibitions of this description, we advise you to seek other fields. At any rate if you wish Capt. Vetrio's address, a letter addressed to us, will be forwarded. * * * Magicus, Altoona, Pa. There is a Mons. Blind in Geneva who is now using the name "Magicus" so you had better adopt another 'nom-de-thcatre. From personal conversation

and experience, we advise you to simply make use of your own family name. Plenty of nrmt-q wish they had taken their real name, as you become identified wilh a name. and it is almost impossible to change it after you have once used it. * * * Bert Kilby. New Birtain, Conn. Letter and contents received. Been too busy for a personal reply. Keep the good work up. Don't let little things discourage you. * * * J. V. Englehardt, Hastings, Ind. In buying goods abroad you must always pay the duty on same. That is done to protect home industries. On our last trip abroad we were not allowed to bring playing cards into Russia or Austria, not even if revenue was paid. The government makes all cards used in the above mentioned countries, and a tidy sum they must make. There is no complaint to make on your part, but if you wish a letter published to that effect, k'ndly send it along and it will appear in due time. * * * A. Roterberg, Chicago, 111. Received the last letter in San Francisco. Will attend to matter referred to. * * * George Kleinert, Berlin. Better jo:n the Berlin Society for Amateur Magicians. They exchange secrets and tricks at all their meetings. * * * G. Frolicch, Stuttgart, William's Zauberwelt is not in existence any more. The only conjurers' magazine published in the German language is advert'sed in our columns. * * * H. Ayscough, Middlesboro. The best way to obtain addresses of all the prominent theatres ;>rd rraragers on the continent is to purchase a current edition of "Das Programme," a theatrical weekly newspaper, published in Berlin, their London office is 49 Rupert Street, W. This is the only Music Hall publication which is published in four languages, German, English, French and Russian. * * * Dr. Holden. Letter arrived too late for this issue.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The Society of American Magic:ans held their regular meeting at Martinka's magical palace on October fifth. Plans are under way for a special ladies' night in social session, which will commence at 9.30 P. M., immediately after the regular November session. * * * The Fays played a short engagement at the New York Theatre. * * * Manekshah, the magician, played Ins opening New York engagement at Tony Pastor's '1 heatre. * * * Mellini, the dexterous society sle'ght of hand performer, was specially engaged by Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish to entertain Prince Will'am "f Sweden on his visit to Newport. * * * Warren Keene is having a melodrama written in which he takes the part of the hero. A number of magical effects are woven into the plot, thereby enabling the hero to display his skill as a magician. * * * De Lang of Philadelphia, an inventor of card effects, came to New York to be married at the Little Church Around The Cor-

Maskelyne and Devant are expected to revive at St. George's Hall, London, the automatons Psycho, Echo, Phono, and Clyo. These were used by Kellar in America and will undoubtedly be a novelty to our present English cousins. * * * On his American tour, Leon Herrmann is presenting a new illusion which he acquired during his recent trip to Europe. * * * The Great Lafayette sailed for Berlin on Oct. i, carrying his full company and a band of forty musicians. He will open at the Circus Schuman for a run and will play other time before his return in the Spring. While

abroad Lafayette will produce a new illusion which he claims to be based upon an entirely new principle. * * * Mine. Sa-Hera in her clever mind reading performan.ee is a headline feature on the Klaw and Erlanger tour. * * * Hiestand of St. Louis is getting some big new effects ready in the magical line with wlrch he ought to make a decided success. +

*

*

VV. J. Allen, an old time ventriloquist, is now running a lunch room in St. Louis and doing very well. * * * Madame Konorah, presented by Max Bcrol, our genial man of mystery, opened for the Klaw and Erlanger circuit with their old act of mental mystery in such a form (consisting mainly of figures and dates) that it seems impossible to beat them at this work. Max is a man who seeks for problems morning, noon and night, and there is nothing in this line that he will not go after. He has been elected president of the German Artist Loge at a salary of 6000 marks yearly, and will no doubt return to Germany after this Klaw and Erlanger contract, as the duties of president are of such a nature as to confine him w'thin the traveling limits of Berlin, which make train connections after the show. He intends to start a weekly Tid-bits, and if ever a man was fitted for editor of such a publication, that man is Max Berol Belmont Konorah. He has been around the world several times, and is as well known in the principal cities of the Orient as he is in Germany,. England or Amerca. * * * The Variety speaking of the opening date of Theo. Hardeen says: "Hardeen, billed asthe 'European Mystifier,' made his debut at the Garrick Theatre, St. Louis, Mo. He is a brother of Harry Houdini. The act was a hit. and should score all along the theatrical line." * * * Frederick Mellville is the gentleman who brought Shekla, the Hindoo magician, to America. Mellville is now out with his original Moto-Girl, an act which has enabled him to travel over the world, and make money. We would like to know if Mr. Mellville is.

51

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ashamed of being connected with Shekla, for when Air. Mcllville went to Australia, he went as the representative of this magazine. He has returned to America, but failed to make a report to us. Mr. Mellville, what is the matter? * * * Madame Herrmann has signed with Klaw & Erlanger and made quite a hit in Milwaukee, Wis., on the opening bill at Shubert's Theatre. * * * Massius A. Connor, coin king, was on the bill at the Columbia Theatre, St. Louis. He fhrshed the week. * * * The Two Francois are on the Jack Hoefler circuit with their comedy conjuring. * * * An Italian magician has appeared at the Dominion Theatre in Winnipeg. He calls himself Doedato. Will Chefalo inform us who this man is? * * * Hymack, the chameleon comedian, whose act we described several months ago, has been preceded in America by Mysticus. Haymack is booked to appear for Percy Williams, and Mysticus appears for Klaw & Erlanger. As there is no law to prohibit one man stealing another's act, except manhood and honor, and as an appeal has been made to the White Rats Association, we await the result of the action of the White Rats against the copy act. * * * We do not uphold copy acts, but on account of the present situation in the show business, managers actually encourage these acts, and that is the only thing that allows them to live. * * * . Paul Valadon gave a trial show at the Coloival Theatre before the present season, opened, and now that he is working on the Keith tour, it shows that his trial show was a success. * * * Hornmann sends us his route with the circus, but it is too long for publication. He is still separating the good folk from their irckels and dimes. * * * James J. Morton, the boy comedian, who is now amongst the most popular men on or off the stage, was once a magician. Years

ago he was lecturer for Harry Davis in Allentown, Pa., and had to do magic to entertain the audiences in the curio hall. One day he was doing the wine and water tr;ck, and the smoke trick, both requiring the use of chemicals. As museums in those days gave performances every hour Jim gave a show, rushed to his supper and was delayed. He arrived back in time to hear the lecturer, who had taken his place while he dined, introducing the various freaks. Jim jumped on his platform, and in the excitement forgot that he had failed to prepare his various tricks. When he started to do the wine and water trick, not having the chemicals prepared he poured out water, saying it was wine, and went through his whole speech but made a failure of the trick; the audience, however, thinking he was doing coined}', laughed "right out loud." The idea of a man showing them tricks, and pretending to do them, was so absurd that it made quite a hit. Jim, quick to see his chance, kept up the farce, and gradually embeH'shed his material, until today he tells stories that cannot be told by anyone else for they are of such a nature that they fit him and him alone. The idea of a great big handsome brute telling such nonsensical tales, makes the audience first of all think he is a big boy; then he tells the story to himself, laughs at himself, and asks and answers his own quest'ons. He will start in to tell a story, then says "I feel like singing." He answers himself, "Oh, do you?" "Yes, I do." "Well let us hear you sing." Too bad he did not stick to the magic business, for we are sadly in need of clean comedy in the conjuring 1 ne. Good comedians are scarce in the mystery business. We have plenty of sad comedians,, and a good one will be hailed wth delight. Amongst the best ones we have had are Walton & Lester, and Rundth & Rudd. Phil Landsberger, the San Francisco magician, is qtrte an adept in egtr-palming, and" has several novel tricks, in which he shows exceptional cleverness. *

*

*

Herr Janson made quite a hit at the Wigwam Theatre San Francisco, on his last visit.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Capt. E. E. Henry is on the Sullivan-Considine circuit with his wireless telegraphy act. He does quite a number of tricks with his apparatus, such as blowing a fog horn, shooting cannons, bluwing up mines, sounding alarms and ringing bulls in all parts of the theatre. * * * An amateur gave a trial show at the Orpheum in San Francisco but not having his act in proper shape was not engaged. He seemed to have had enough electrical apparatus to furnish a 20-story elevator with electric power.

All the summer parks have closed and the illusion and magical shows have been stored away until next summer. * * * Carter, the clever magician, appeared at the Lyric theatre, Salt Lake City, week of Sept. 15 and received several good newspaper notices. * * * The Great Powell played at the Burwood theatre, Omaha, week of September 23, on his way East. * * * Crio. a very clever mystic act, held forth at the Bijou week of September 23, Kalamazoo, Michigan. * * * •Yunia created quite a sensation at the Lyric, Mob:le, Alabama, with his marvelous feats as a contortionist. * * * The "Globe of Death," a novel and sensational act appeared at the Orpheum, St. Paul, September 16, and was well received. * * * Harry Robinson, illusionist, played at the Odeon theatre, Seattle, the week of September 16, and met with favor.

Norton, with an entertaining specialty in magic appeared at the Majestic, the week of September" 16. * * * Howard's theatre, on the West side, is playing all that is best in vaudeville, and doing nicely. * * * Hanlon's Superba appeared at the Great Northern in new and clever illusions and scored the usual success. * * * Charles Crar.jn appeared at the Bijou, Kalamazoo, liie week of September 9, and at the Majestic, in Chicago, September 30. * * * T. Roy Barnes and wife have joined one of Whitney's shows; both are playing leading parts. * * * Abigail Price, second sight-seer, appeared at the People's theatre, Los Angeles, September 2. Charles Carter was also on the bill. * * * Bernar's Marionettes were billed at the Orpheum, Minneapolis, September 8. * * * Adelaide Herrmann, in her marvelous creation, "The Sleeping Beauty," scored tremendously in St. Louis, and Kansas City. * * * Miss Lillian Ashley, the clever little actress who is playing at the Orpheum Circuit is a great admirer of magic and wlrles away many of her spare moments in its companionship. * * * The Great Santell Co., was stranded in Paducah, Ky. * * * The Great Henri French is playing at the Orpheum Circuit and meeting with great success. * * * The Majestic, a new theatre in Indianapolis, Ind., has opened its doors to vaudeville. * * * Ah Ling Foo, magician, appeared at the Grand theatre, Hamilton, Ohio, week of September 23. * * * Sirronje, the "Handcuff Lady," who appeared at the White City this summer was

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. biiled at the Olympic the .week of September 22.

It is really a remarkable thing how t'ne public stands for such an act. The announcement is made that Sirrc.'je will accept any handcuff, bar none, and when she is presented with something outside of her Bean giant and a Tower cuff, the announcer states that Sirronje can get out, but it will take her too long. * * * Zano, a very clever magician, was in Schenectady, N. Y., week of September 16. * * * The Mysterious Paul must have made enough money to settle down in peace and quiet, as I never hear anything of him nowa-days. * * * Prof. Hague and wife, a hypnotic and mindreading act, appeared at the New Musee on Clark St., September 2. * * * Miss Alba, the lady cannon ball juggler, appeared at the Haymarket, September 22, and gave a remarkable performance of skill and strength. , * * * Marvelous Neola was billed at the Chicago Opera House, week of September 2. * * * Martynne gave a clever performance at Eusons, on September 2. , - * * * Deodato, the Italian magician, was the first magician to enjoy the honors of the New Orpheum. He gave a splendid performance. * * * Arthur McjWatters and Grace Tyson the clever vaudeville team, are playing in Klaw and Erlanger's. "The Girl Rangers," and meeting with great success. * * * The mysterious Rago played the North Avenue theatre and gave a pleasing exhibition. He also received several newspaper notices from Anderson, Ind., where he played the following week. * * * Massias O'Connor, the European coin manipulator and prestidigitateur gave a remarkable performance at all of the Kohle and Castle houses.

53

Henry Roethig appeared at the Chicago Opera House, week of September 9. * * * Harry Beaumont, coin and card manipulator, appeared at the Haymarket, on September g, and gave a creditable performance. * * * Mexican Herman, after playing the Kohle and Castle circuit, is filling time through Illinois and Indiana. * * * AH Zada, Oriental necromancer, is being booked by the Western Vaudeville Assoc'ation. * * * The Great Wilburg appeared at the People's theatre, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. * * * Harry F. Hayes has been appointed assistant treasurer at the Bijou theatre in Minneapolis, Minn. * * * Dare Devil Doherty was the featured attraction at the Minnesota State Fair on September 2. * * * Svengali, the hypnotist, was featured at the Wigwam, in Frisco. * * * The Bellclaire Bros, were in Denver the week of September 9. * * * Dolph and Susie Levino in a clever little sketch "Hypnotizing a Wife,'1 appeared at the Gaiety in Galesburg, 111., on September 16. * * * Ned Wayburn's Fantastic Phantoms are meeting with great success. They were at the Majestic the week of September 23. * * * The Great Caiietta, the human dragon, played Shea's, in Buffalo, on his way West. * * * S. E. Richards with his novel magic is playing in the Southern States. * * * The Singards, clever illusionists, have in preparation a new act which they intend to introduce while on their Southern tour. * # * Marbini, a very clever foreigner is playing the Inter-States circuit.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Haslam who was billed here as a jailbreaker, is not one. He gives exhibitions with strait jackets only. * * * S. Suntera, illusionist, is playing the Sullivan-Considine circuit. * * * Cecil May, a "mind reader" closed with the Great Santell show none to soon. She is playing in the southern states. * * * Sallie Randall closed with Hanlon's Superbas while in Chicago and will join her husband, the Great Eldridge, in vaudeville for the rest of the season. * * * The Cat and The Fiddle, the great trick and spectacular play, met with well filled houses while here. * * * Van Hoven, in a clever talking and magical act was the featured attraction at the Majestic, in Sandusky, Ohio, week of September 10. * * * Albene and May La Brant, illusion'sts and second sight readers, were at the Orpheum in Springfield, 111., on September 21. * * * Mile. Majeska, in mental telepathy, is playing in the Temple theatre, Youngstown, Ohio.

sior billiard balls, two brass canisters and, apparatus for changing color of three handkerchiefs in passing through hand. De La Ronde, 66-97 St. James St., Montreal, Canada. * * * What have you to offer for the spirit clock of Martinka's catalogue A 628? Theo. Rebla, 828 Carnegie Hall, New York City. * * * What am 1 offered for two side tables, two side stands, handkerchief stand for Stilwell act, and some books on magx? J. Louis Domitz, 411 West 35th St., New York. * * * What have you to offer for a center table, cones and flower pots for Kellar growth of roses, flying cage, bowl and gold fish production ( no cover used), breakaway flag pagoda to suspend from ceiling and flying lamp without table? I would like to have a clock dial. Wm. S. Brown, 41 Harlem St., Rochester, New York. * * * Four side tables and a lot of magical apparatus for exchange. Olivette, 225 Pacific St., Brooklyn, New York. * * * Wanted.—Spring flowers, rabbit pan, handcuffs, and Kellar rope tie. What do you wish in exchange ? Burling Hull, 1216 49th St., Brooklyn, New York. * * * Wanted.—Two tables in good condition, complete with trap, servante and drape; knocks down for traveling. Also any tricks in which boxes, vases, flags and handkerchiefs are used. James Z. Campbell, High Bridge, N. J. Box 258. • * *

Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of chnrge; tnere is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Will exchange Kellar's coffee, milk and sugar trick, flying handkerchief, decanter trick, and a coffin mystery for handcuffs or other magical effects. Vasco 524 Park Building, Pittsburg, Pa. # * * Wanted, Later Magic, milk and coffee trick or magic bricks; I have More Magic, excel-

Will exchange magical apparatus for handkerchief vanisher as invented by B. G. Straub, Ching Ling Foo's magic fan, Roterberg's upto-date egg and handkerchief trick, and DeKolta's improved flag trick. Brenton Jennings, Wellesley Farms, Mass. * • • What have you to offer in exchange for the Ten Ichi thumb tie? John H Percival, 44 * • * Warren Ave.,Electric E. Providence, R. I. Wanted. lamp and rheostat for stereopticon. Also two nickle side tables. Prof. Griffin, P. O. Box 277, Lawrence, Mass. • • * Wanted.—Large flag vase, some flags and silk handkerchiefs. What do you want for same? Russell, Magician, Batavia, New York.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

REVIEWING BooK.s AND THINGS

55

BISH

r Ron THE PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

More trash}- magic literature has been foisted on the public in the past fifty years than in any other epoch of magic, which we presume antedates the Bible. So many of these trashy books and pamphlets have been sent to us for review, containing hopeless and worthless exposes of secrets and tricks that it would be a waste of valuable space, and an injustice to our readers even to mention them. We want to familiarize our readers with books and pamphlets which contain any merit at all, and shall only be too pleased to review any hooks which are sent to us for this purpose by our readers if we consider it of merit enough to do so. * * * England particularly boasts of innumerable writers on the art of magic and some have written exceptionally clever books. It is almost impossible for any book to appear that will overshadow Prof. Hoffman's or Angelo Lewis's various works, which for the past twenty-five years have been to the tyro of magic what Gray's Anatomy has been to the medical student, for barring the very latest innovations, the various Hoffman publications contain almost the entire anatomy of magic.

Sach's book on sleight of hand is another splendid work of its kind. * * * When you look about and consider the various monthly catalogues and magazines devoted to magic, you readily see why the circulation of most of them is so limited. As you hastily glance through the pages and instead of an explanation, you find that the trick can be bought from the manly editor, or you find as an editorial comment that Mr. Blutz has a wonderful tin horn for sale, which you are advised to buy, you suddenly become cured from reading the publications. * * * We have been promised new books by some of our better known authors. Henry R. Evans has written a novel whose plot is interspersed with mystical effects; T. Nelson Downs in collaboration with John N. Hilliard. of the Rochester Post Dispatch, will shortly put a book on the market; and Howard Thurston, it is said, will again make a bid for honors in the field of magical literature. * * * At one time when a man could put the magical word "author" behind his name, he was considered a clever man; but nowadays when you inform the public that you have written a magical book, on account of so many trashy publications of this class, they are in-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

clined to look upon your abilities with suspicion. * ** Still we cannot all be wonders, but let us hope that some clay there will arise some unknown who will publish a book on magic that will startle the world.

the false set into the sitter's hands and then also guides the medium's hands to. the same set of false slates which are now held by b,oth the sitter and the medium. - The confederate then goes below where he has all kinds of rivets, nails, seals, wire, etc., etc., and carefully opening the slates, reads the question the sitter has asked, writes an answer on the slates which he again fastens together as they were when he originally received them, returns to the trap door and gives the medium the cue that all is ready.

BEGINNERS SPIRIT SLATE WRITING EXTRAORDINARY. A Test Known to Professional Mediums Only. The greatest test in the worl:3, as the subject's question is answered, after he brings his own slates, riveted, nailed and sealed together, the question having been written inside of the slates previous to coming to the medium.

The sitter enters the room, seats himself at one end of the table opposite to the end at which the medium is seated. The sitter has brought along two of his slates, which he has previously riveted, nailed and sealed together. He is requested to hold them under the table, so that the medium can also take hold of them. While the sitter is putting the slates under the table, a concealed confederate opens a trap door in the floor under the table, holding a set of dummy slates in his hands; as the medium takes holds of the sitter's slates, his hands commence to quiver, showing that the spirits are commencing to work; this quivering affords an excuse for the medium to accidentally ( ?) jerk the slates out of the sitter's hands for a moment, and the confederate watching for this moment, immediately slips

The medium again is overcome with violet tremblings and jerks the false slates from the sitter's hands and the confederate hurriedly slips the real slates containing the answer into the sitter's hands and again guides the medium's hands to the slates. When he sees that both again have hold of the slates he goes below through the trap door. When all is in readiness the medium allows the sitter to take the slates from under the table and open them at once or at home, and to his amazement, finds spirit writing. Mediums who have used this test for a long time, claim that it appears so marvelous that it has caused more people to believe in spirit slate writing than any other test employed.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HOUDINI. The material for these articles was gathered during the author's first tour of Great Britain, and was prepared for publication in book form. This was done in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After the manu•scrlpt had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now he printed for the first time in monthly instalments in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readermust bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates :i somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the vnri ous instalments, but. in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and re liable volume ever published on this unique form •of mysterv and entertainment. Copyright, 1906. By Harry JToudtnl. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT XIV. THE SAFE OPENING MICROMETER (Continued) Now we will suppose a dozen of these wheels in the lock, each one of a different diameter. The weight drawing the fence back against the wheels, it is evident that the fence would be resting against the wheel Tiaving the greatest diameter. The first thing to be done, therefore, is to find out which one of the wheels the fence is resting against. This is an •easy matter. Any person familiar with combination locks can turn the first "wheel, or the last of any of the intermediate ones, at pleasure. Turning first one and then another, always "bearing in mind which one I am turning, I finally come to the wheel against

57

which the fence is resting, and the moment I turn the slot in that wheel opposite the fence, the fence, which is constantly under the influence of the weight, except when setting the combination, is drawn into the slot. It will not go in far, of course, before catching on the next highest wheel, for they are all very nearly alike. It may not drop the thousandth part of an inch, or the tenth part of the thickness of a piece of writing paper, but that little allows the cog-wheel to be drawn over by the weight correspondingly, and the lever, of course, falls in proportion, and the indicating hand on the micrometer tells the tale. I care not how small the distance which the fence is drawn into this slot, for the distance is multiplied by the length of the lever, and multiplied again by the wheels of the micrometer until its indicating hand will vibrate perceptibly. I then know that one wheel is in the position it will have to be in, when the lock is unlocked, and turning to the dial, I read the number to which that one wheel is set, and make a minute in my book and proceed. The fence is now resting upon the next highest wheel and I keep turning one wheel after another as before, until I find out which one that is, and its combination, keeping the slots of the ascertained wheels toward the fence at each trial, so that the fence will rest on the other wheels. In this way I proceed, picking up the several combination wheels in the order of their diameters, until I have ascertained the number to which every wheel in the lock is set, and then I unlock the lock in the same manner as the man who locked it up. It is not necessary to do the work at one sitting, for the com-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

bination of one wheel may be ascertained one day, another the next, and so on, and in the meantime the lever and micrometer can be, removed without leaving a scratch to show that they had been attached. Octagonal or irregular shaped wheels, of course, render the work no more tedious and require no more skill. The results of the micrometer are certain and its indications unerring. I first brought it into use in Philadelphia in i860, for the purpose of testing the security of various locks, and by experiments with it and other appliances I have strengthened my lock when I found weakness in others. I may say in conclusion that I am able and am willing to pick one of Hall's Victor combination bank locks, before any committee of bankers who will give me a trial on one of these locks already in use, which has not been altered ior-the purpose, or different in construction from those now or heretofore sold by Joseph L. Hall & Co. I have come among you after twelve years' constant experimenting with bank locks and safes, and am willing to demonstrate to you their weak points, that you may guard against them, and enjoy the largest degree of security possible. It is certainly a poor policy for you to deny me the opportunity of demonstrating to you the worthlessness of these Victor locks, behind which you place your money and the money of your depositors, for by encouraging and facilitating trials of locks and safes, discarding such as are shown to be worthless, you stimulate manufacturers to improve and perfect their work. The progress which safe manufacturers are making is such that the lock Is, or

soon will be-, the only point at which the integrity of the safe can be assailed. How foolish then to secure the safe : with a lock which can be picked with a machine which any operator can carry in his vest pocket. The skill of professional burglars has so far proved equal to the skill of lock and safe makers, and it requires no gift of prophecy to predict that the time is not far distant when every cracksman in the land will be as familiar and expert in the employment of the micrometer as they now are in the use of the jimmy and slungshot. More anon. Respectfully yours, James Sargent. Rochester, N. Y. * * * INSTRUCTIONS FOR PICKING ORDINARY LOCKS.

It is sometimes very hard to judge a lock, from the outside, and one can almost judge a book from the covers, as he can judge the intricate works of some locks from their encasements. In France almost all locks are extra secure, and in Germany I have seen some very intricate looking locks that were positive misrepresentations, for anything inserted into the key hole would lift the catch or bolt, and you could open the lock. At times I would see a very fine looking Bramah lock, on some cell, 'and upon closer examination, it would turn out to be a clever imitation, "Made in Germany." Skeleton Keys Sometimes Called Master Keys for Ward Locks.

Such keys are made for opening a set or series of locks each of which has a different make of key so that one key will not open another lock in the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

59

set, yet, the holder of the master or skeleton key will open all. In old locks with fixed wards, this was done by making the wards of a slightly different form and yet such that the skeleton would pass them all. It was always possible to find the shape of the wards by merely putting in a blank key covered with wax and pressing it against them. When this was done it was by no means necessary to cut out the key in the complicated form of ward as in Fig. i, because no

can regulate them to whatever size you require for the lock you wish to open. Illustration No. 4 shows some simple yet very useful lock pickers, and while a number of them look very much like each other, they are of different sizes so as to lift the tumblers and throw back the bolt. The four marked X are the ones I used in my celebrated lawsuit at Cologne, and with which I picked hundreds of three and four lever locks almost as quick as they could be opened with a key, for I practiced ever}- day and night for three months on these particular locks. The locks used in Germany on the regulation transportation chain, as described in Magazine No. 10, Vol. 1. is of a peculiar 3 or 4 lever pattern. The post in the key hole prohibits a strong pick from entering, so I made several different shaped lock pickers, from piano wire.

Illustration Numbers 1 and 2. Pig. 1 shows the original key as used by the purchaser of the lock. Pig. 2 shows the skeleton key required to open the same lock.

This was thin, and very stiff, for I knew in order to win my lawsuit I would' have to open any lock that was placed before me, and started in to practice. The best practice I could obtain was toprocure a position as a repair locksmith in a some small shop. In Berlin I knew a locksmith. Mueller, who lias a shop on Mittle Strasse. and he was more than willing that I should work for nothing, and commenced repairing locks for him. He soon discovered that his 35 years of experience as a locksmith was nothing as compared to my trick in opening locks, and he soon had a thriving trade for his young man to open locks. In order that I should know the exact heights of the various locks used on the police chains, he ordered a great gross, and soon exchanged them for another great gross of other patterns, etc. In this way I would pass 6 to 10 hours daily picking locks, and soon with the assistance of

part of that key does any work except the edge B C farthest from the pipe A, and so a key the shape of Fig. 2 would do just as well; and a small collection of skeleton keys, as they are called, of a few different patterns were all the stock in trade that a lock picked required. In the accompanying illustrations some 'wardlock pickers most in use are shown. There is one which is adjustable, shown in illustration No. 3. The

Illustration Number 3.

bits fit in holes in the shank of the key and are secured by screws so that you

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. An assort rm-nt

nf

lock - pickers of

Illustration Numoer 4. usi- for opening simpl.- two and three lever locks.

the four marked picks, 1 could open any lock that contained the 5 or f> Chubb levers. The "gate ways" were never

Illustration

Number 5.

made close, as is the case in the very fine lever locks, so it became a very simple matter for me to open each and every lock which was made on that principle, and very handy that experience was in court. 1 found 1 could facilitate matters by taking an ordinary elastic garter and fastening it to the clasp of the padlock and looping the other end to my foot as is shown at Fig. 5, (see illustration Xo. 5), so that by stretching the elastic and holding the lock in the left hand, I would have a pull on the clasp. Xow by inserting the lockpicker, I could lift one lever after the other until all were of the prooer height, when the elastic, like a faithful servant at the proper time pulled the clasp back, which freed from the bolt, therebv caused the lock open. (To he continued.)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

IMPORTANT

61

NOTICE!

The serials now running in this magazine will be continued from month to month until the entire field in the handcuff mystery is exhausted and other facts established; we will always describe spiritualistic and illusionary effects and show how to do magical tricks in general; so if you are not a subscriber kind yfillout the subscription blank below and send it to us with one dollar and have the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sent to you regularly and promptly each month. Back numbers can be purchased at 10c. a copy.

RILL OUT THIS FORM

NOW

And mail it, together with One Dollar, to T h e C o n *

iurers' Magazine Publishing Co., 278 W. 113th Street, New York, IT. Y. GENTXEMSN :

Please send me C O N J U R E R S ' MONTHLY MAGAZINE for twelve months, commencing with the issue, for which I enclose One Dollar. Very truly yours,

Dated

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190

•WANTED; Information regarding the old-time Magicians, Foreign or American, that will enlighten the Magicians of the World,- as to the real facts of the old-timers. Up to the present date no one has been in a position to speak with authority of exact dates, and it is the desire of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine to give credit to whom credit is due. Old programmes, Lithos and Photos of magicians are always solicited. Whenever sending photos or material kindly send note with same, with all information possible.

We want a photo of every magician zo as to be able to eventually compile a Magicians' Encyclopedia. Address: C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y M k ^ ' a z i n e ^

273 W. llCtli

St., New YorK

J[OTE: Jlny one sending information will be given full credit in. our columns.

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62

Professional Card Column

In the future we intend t o have a professional card column, for which we will charge a very low rate. Cards . ._.-—.—-.-- ——— will only be accepted for at least a six months' run. Cost to be $3 semi-annuallv and $:"> annuallv, payable in advance for space of one inch. The rate for this column fias nothing to do with our usual advertising rates, being simply a special inducement for our regular subscribers.

CLINTON BURGESS Champion Stage Card Manipulator

Prof. NATHU MANCHACHAND

of Jtmerica

The Great Indian Magician

Open for engagements for clubs, parties and parlor entertainments

Care

Magical Apparatus, Juwlinn Goods, Etc. Bought, Sold and Exchanged

Old Hanuman Lane, Kalbadevie Road, Bombay, India

163 St. N i c o l a s A.ve., N. Y. City

CHAFALO

BERT KILBY The Mysterious

D R . BHAGWANDO

The Italian necromancer assisted by the Italian beauty Mile Capretto

Entertainer

Presenting the latest of the newest tricks

In

New Britain, Conn.

"Tee-Ta-Tea Talk" his mysterous novelty magical performance Permanent Address : Conjurers' Magaznie

278 West 113th St., N. Y. City

BERT WIGGIN

W. L. HICKS

The Honk'honk Mystifier. Also Lightning Crayon Sketch Strtist.

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CONTENTS The Four Basch Brothers European Notes Mail Bag A Rare Cingalese Trick Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Reading and Rubbish Lock Picking Methods

NOVEMBER

1907

66

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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in Berlin, before the original illusionist even arrived in Berlin to fulfill his conMONTHLY tract. MAGAZINE At one time, when the once famous PUBLISHED BY Augoust Family of jugglers were The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Go, booked at the Ermitage Gardens, in 278 WEST 113TH STREET Russia, Manager Aumont, of the oppoN E W YORK CITY sition house, Aumont Theatre, imported a troupe of jugglers into Russia, had TELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE them copy the act of the Augoust Family, paid them half salary and had them Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents perform at his theatre under the name of the Rambler Troupe. He managed Advertising rates payable In advance, made known on application to above address. to also procure for them other bookings in Russia, but when they arrived in AmThe entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without pererica they were a dismal failure, as the mission. newspapers announced that their act The magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers was one simply copied from the of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by adAugoust Family. dressing the publication office, as above. With an illusion it is somewhat difForeign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar ferent. If you can keep the secret to Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman. yourself, you are protected; but, of Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicourse, the main protection lies with the cians are welcomed. When payment is expected, tbe price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; managers. If they refuse to counteotherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped nance a copy act, then, such an act could and addressed envelope. not get work, and it has been the custom NOVEMBER 15, 1907 No. 3 of the more prominent managers to VOL. II. make every endeavor to engage the origIt has only been of late years that inator of an act, and have nothing to the stealing of another magician's do with a copy act. tricks, patter or dress has come into If your act is going to be copied,, vogue in America; but that state of af- there is no law that will really prevent fairs has existed for years in Germany. this from occurring, and time and time The German managers, and even many again it has happened that a poor strugof them on the continent, countenance gling- magician has hit upon a good,, original idea, and just as he has been and encourage this practice. making advancement with it, some one * * * We know of one case in particular has come along and stolen the idea, and where a magician was loaned a large embodied it in his own act. This, indeed, is unfair competition sum of money and sent to London to copy all the feats of an illusionist who and magicians should get together to was working in that city, and who was stop this, and use whatever pressure booked for a later date, in Berlin. This they can upon managers to aid them. first mentioned magician copied the act In this way have the originator of an in every way possible and had his man- idea reap the benefits to which he is ager book him at the opposition house justly entitled.

CONJURERS'

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

69

HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC THE FOUR BASCH BROTHERS Conspicuous in the Dutch annals of magic is the name of Basch. Four brothers there were, who, born in Holland, traveled all over continental Europe, a quartet of most successful entertainers. Eventually they settled in Germany. For years they have not appeared in public, but lovers of magic in their native land still speak of them with pride, while Ernest Basch is today not only

FRIDRICH JOSEPH BASCH

one of the most successful builders of illusions but a delightful host to all members of his craft who find their way to his home and workshop in Hanover, Germany.

The Brothers Basch were Friederich Joseph (commonly called Wilhelm). Heinrich, Jacob and Ernest. Friederich, the eldest, was born at Hildesheim, Holland, March 24th, 1833. He married a sister of Herman Mellini, conjurer of some IK te who became identified in a professional way with the Basch Brothers, and often traveled with them. Friederich was perhaps the most traveled member of the quartet, for he appeared in England, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Turkey. He made his home

HEINRICH BASCH

in Dresden, Germany, for many years, but his death occurred in Breslau, March 23rd, 1877. His remains were interred in that city, but a fortnight later the body was removed at the re-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

quest of Ernest Basch, and, in care of the widow's father, was taken to Hanover for interment in the family vault. Heinrich or Henry Basch was born October ioth, 1841, in Bovenden, Holland. He was an inventor of more than ordinary ability and made his home at Windschoten, where on June 1st, 1876, he died ere he had fulfilled the promise of his young manhood. His body was interred at Windschoten, but three weeks later, at the behest of his brother Ernest, the remains were removed to the family vault at Hanover, Germany.

the year i860, and by a remarkable coincidence he made his farewell appearance in the same hall on October 31st, 1887. On August 23rd, 1861, he married a Danish girl in Copenhagen. She is still living, but no children were born to them. In 1866 he brought out The Ghost Show. Ernest Basch not only gave an entire show of his own invention and building, but he offered it in a portable

JACOIl IiASCH

Jacob Basch, the youngest of the quartet, was born at Bovenden, October 15th, 1858. He now lives in Antwerp, having retired from the field of magic to engage in the jewelry trade. He is said to have invented some remarkable timepieces. Ernest Basch, second son in point of age, but foremost in the annals of magic, was born in Bovenden, November 21st, 1838. He gave his first public performance as a magician in a hall known as Kuntsler Verein, in Bremen during

MELLIXI AND BASCH

theatre of his own design. It required twenty-one cars to transport his belongings. Fifteen of these were necessary for carrying the theatre alone. The remaining six were filled with conjuring

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

71

paraphernalia, which will give some idea of the pretentiousness of his show. For a' time this portable theatre was in the possession of Herman Mellini, related professionally and by marriage to the Basch Brothers, but eventually it revert-

ber, now in the repertoire of Goldin and others. And here he receives the many conjurers who, passing through Germany, never fail to look up the mastermagician and mechanic. He has a number of interesting' historical articles in

ed to Ernest Basch, who set it up in the rear of his fine home at Nuembnrger Strasse n , Hanover. Here he builds the illusions for which he is still famous in the conjuring world. Here he built that masterpiece, The Bridal Cham-

his collection, including the original "Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal." As a host he has no equal, whether you anjoy tea with Herr and Fran Basch in their town house, or a hunt with the former on his private estate.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Among those who have visited him during the past year were Harry Kcllar and Carl Hertz, and their reports

Ernest Basch during the course of a most delightful interview. One shows him in the costume affected by conjurers

THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF ERNEST BASCH IS THE ONLY ONE IN EXISTANCE. IT SHOWS THE SI^YUS OF COSTUME CONJURERS WORE AT THE TIME HE GAVE HIS PERFORMANCES

show that the retired magician is hale and hearty, working contentedly in the atmosphere of his old profession and enjoying well-earned prosperity. The photographs used in connection with this article were given to me by

when the Basch Brothers were in their prime and is an extremely interesting relic,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

From Wilfred C. Zelka

Jmro Fox, Fasola and Oswald Williams are [the more prominent maicians who have appeared in London during the past month. Fox the London Music Hall, opened Shoreditch, Fasola at Collin's Music Hall and Oswald Williams at the London Hippodrome. Williams' appearance and mannerisms are somewhat similar to those of Valadon, but he works silently and quickly on the style of Goldin. His act is well arranged and goes with a dash. Henri Bekker made an unusual hit at the Hippodrome, Darlington. Fatima Miris, quick change lady artiste, is the latest addition at the Flippodrome ; she presents her act in Italian. Chanti, the quick change artist, has returned from Australia, and is now doing well on the Syndicate Halls. At a concert in the Balham Town Hall, there appeared a magician by name of Fred E. Wilton, whose act contains some very novel combination tricks. London magicians would profit by seeing his performance. S. R. Wilson, who is arranging a series of magical concerts at Letchworth, (Garden City,) Eng., personally presented magic, which went very well, and the

73

concert itself proved a gigantic financial success. * =<; * G. W. Hunter and Fred Cullpitt will be in Australia next summer. I understand that Maskelyne and Devant will also send a company there at about that time. * * * The meeting place of The Magic Circle has been changed to The Dramatic Conservatore, Westminster, where the first meeting of the present season was held. The meeting was a record one, and a large number of country members were present. Mr. Neil Weaver made an excellent chairman. The program was opened by Mr. J. N. Maskelyne, Jr. (grandson of Mr. J. N. Maskelyne), with a very appropriate pianoforte selection. The participants in the magical portion of the program were Messrs. Lea, Lambert, Verney, Delvos, Bell and Collings. Mr. Nevil Maskelyne read a very interesting paper and Prof. Hoffmann said a few words relative to the great improvement that can at times be brought about in a trick by asking a fellow magician to criticise one's performance. He also made mention of the honor that had been conferred upon him by the Society of American Magicians. *

*

*

In the future the meetings of The Magic Circle will be held fortnightly; the first meeting of each month will be devoted to technical matters and only members will be admitted. From Other Sources

I have just received a letter from a Continental conjurer by the name of

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

J. Morie. On the back of his letterhead he calls himself "J. Morie, the Creatcur of the Classic Greek-Idyl, and the comic arising of a Jew by JugglingAbility." The explanation which he gives of his act on his letter-head is as follows: EXPLANATION. The curtain discovers a southern scenery. Morie in. light summer-dress geething in trubel whit some frogs and also whit a big serpent and makes fany and good tricks by juggling thous animals and otherwise with a large palme. Fighting the serpent Morie jumpes with here in his trunk to kill here and to change the dress. He carries out again as a classik Greek as which he makes some great and difficult tricks. More caths a schooting arow in a apple in the neck and another a row on his vorehead in bal an sing-position from a hight of six meter and also whit Diskusses like the Photos schows. At once Morie caths a nose and pincer on his own nose, a wig and hat on the head and a long over-cout right-dressing on the body and so in a few seconder a merchant-jew presents himself bevor the public which juggles his buissenes articels an also amus the audiens hy a trubel and juggling-recompense whit the stagehands. J. Morie's transformation and variation-act includes something for every different kind of audiens, if thei do like fun, elegance, great tricks or trastik comic and it is an absolutely novelty. *

*

* s

then handed to the spokesman's confederate, who, without looking at the face of the cards, kept his eyes on the back of the cards, and picked out the exact card I had selected. For the guidance of your readers I may mention I hat the spokesman did not know in any way what card I had selected in my own mind, and did not in any way touch the cards, nor did his confederate in any way see the face of the cards; also I had taken special precaution to see that no marks of identity be distinguished on any of the cards, or that the cards could be selected by means of the pattern. :|: * ;|;

MUe. Yon Etta is producing her new spectacular illusion this week at the Palace Theatre, Grimsby. She has added several new effects to her show.

Perhaps it would puzzle many of your * :!; * readers to give an explanation of a The old Battersea Empire, which has card trick that I witnessed the other been closed for about two years, has evening. There were two performers; been redecorated and opened on Monone gentleman asked me to select a card day last by Humphrey E. Brammall and handed me the pack. While select- who has re-named it "The Crystal E m ing this card I had the full right to take pire." Mr. Brammall was formerly in any one from the pack. (I may here charge of the Cafe Chantant at the mention that the pack was one of my Crystal Palace. own which I have used on many oc* * * casions myself.) I selected a card and was then asked to place it on the top It has now been definitely settled that of the pack. He thereupon asked his the Standard Theatre, Bishopsgate, colleague not to touch the pack, but to which has, for many years past, been look at the back of the card and look one of the best known dramatic houses, until he saw his (meaning the spokes- in conjunction with Terris Theatre, man's) photograph on same. I was Rotherhithe, will be shortly converted then asked to shuffle the cards as well as into a variety theatre, respectively called I knew how. (I might mention that the Shoreditch Hippodrome, and the for the purpose of baffling the per- Hippodrome Rotherhithe, under the formers I turned my back upon them management of Mr. Walter Gibbons. I and picked out the card that I had first may mention that the new Willesden chosen and placed it in an entirely dif- Hippodrome opened on Monday evenferent position in the pack before I ing, Sept. 16th is a very large and started to shuffle them.) The pack was beautiful building; I think one of the

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. finest on the Gibbons Circuit. Air. Gibbons can now give his artistes 13 weeks —an unlucky number (?), but still those artistes who are not superstitious will find this engagement a very comfortable one. *

* =!=

Air. Jack Wilson, an American performer of well-known repute, of Wilson & Waring, has happily recovered from the injury to his knee while dancing on the stage. Air. Wilson has had to cancel many of his engagements for some time past, but I am pleased to state, resumes engagements on Monday next at the Hippodrome, Belfast. *

*

:|:

*

*

*

Raglus, who made such an enormous hit at the Holborn Empire, London, informs me that he will sail shortly for the Continent, after which he opens in America for a period of 20 weeks at an enormous salary. This artist's act is one of the finest comedy specialties we have ever had the pleasure of witness-

*

Mr. Frank Macnaughten opened his new Hall at Warrington on Monday last. Mr. .Macnaughten is also building a new Hippodrome in Burnley which he proposes to open on Dec. 16th. Ibis will be almost a record undertaking, as six months only will have expired on letting the contracts for the building to the day the hall will be opened to the public. * * * Henry Fletcher Gordon (formerly known as Gordon Fletcher Hewett) who will be remembered as having paid America a visit some three or four years ago, new practising as a financial agent, was charged at Clerkenwell with obtaining money on false pretences. He will also be remembered as the husband of Miss Alice Pierce, the talented actress. £

neither an illusionist or conjurer, but simply presents a singing act. I will not divulge his identity.

;'{

The Mysterious Mr. "C" is appearr.g on one bill or another every week. Why he should call himself the "mysterious" is as big a conundrum to me as it is to the public. There is nothing "mysterious" about his act in any way. He is

Yienna, Austria. This month we have an abundance of magic all over. *

*

*

At the Apollo Theatre we have the pleasure of admiring the world famed company, Le Roy, Talma and Bosco. Nothing more need be said about this great trio, for the Viennese public likes their merry magical tricks and all the newspapers are full of flattering criticisms. I should further like to mention that Mr. Servais Le Roy's first visit to Vienna was about fifteen years ago, when he appeared at Roanacher's Theatre. His act now is quite another one ; only one illusion has been retained from the old act, and at that it seems to be a new illusion, puzzling all Vienna; namely, the levilation, then disappearance of the floating lady. This is doubtless one of the best illusions we ever had here.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Airs. Talma interweaves a very good "Miser's Dream" and Bosco has the laughers on his side. I had the pleasure of personally meetting Mr. Le Roy and Mme. Bosco, spending a very pleasant time in the company of both. !•:

*|<

ij;

At the Colosseum we have Mr. Hymack's "The Victim of Hypnotism." This well-known act is the headline act on the present program, which I think is the best testimonial I can give it. :|; >;: *

Iii the Grand Circus Liliput, which is giving performances in the GartenbauSale, one of the best halls here for magicians, there is to be seen, or better still, to be heard, Miss Nydia, the dreaming and piano playing lady. After being hypnotized (!), Miss Nydia's eyes are doubly bandaged with a white and black cloth; nevertheless she is able to play each piece of music which is selected from more than one hundred selections. More than this, in case any composers are present, they are invited to compose music—ad hoc—which is without hesitation played as soon as it is placed on the piano board. Surely, this is quite a new version of silent thought transmission, and in this form very interesting. :;: *

Alex Weyer, who had been in Vienna since June, is fulfilling some private engagements. He has contracts for Germany. * * * This month Chevalier Ernst Thorn is meeting with big success at Varietie Flora in Amsterdam. He is again building some new illusions. On October eighth, Okito sailed to the United States on the steamer Caronia, having contracts to open at the Orpheum in St. Paul, Minn. * * * E. Chambly is touring Holland with his own company and doing well. For the month of November we expect De Biere at Roanachers and John Weil at the Colosseum. At Hones and Fay Theatre there was a conjuring lady, Madame Mnemosina. * * * This month closes the season of the Kratky-Baschik's Zaubertheatre for the present year. It will reopen in March of next year. Ottokar Fischer.

otesfroip^.,,.

*

In the same place, there is something further mysterious, Captain Bruce, Doll or Human Being? ;j;

;[:

*

A week ago a Russian conjurer played here, who usurped the name with such a good reputation, Ben Ali Bey. As the man was not first class, the business was bad. He is an old style magician, comme il faut. His right name he claims to be B. Woranow, but I am informed it is Weinstein.

I regret to write that the manager of the Battenberg Theatre, Herr Henrich Louis Kaiser, died September 28th, aged 65. He was one of the most popular managers in Germany, and was a manager who had a special table in his theatre reserved for the artists.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. In fact, artists working at the opposition theatre, The Krystal Palast, would always take their after-the-show lunch at the Battenberg, knowing that they would have a hearty welcome. * * * Paul Schultze, the well-known agent, manager of several big magicians and the man who furnished Horace Goldin with his first contract in Germany, has been celebrating his 25th anniversary as a theatrical agent, having been established in Berlin all these years. * * * At the Circus Busch, in Berlin, a man gives performances on the style of an "Unwoundable-fakir" of India, and jumps on sharp nails and gets rolled about in a barrel into which sharp spikes have been driven. A butcher named Caufmann being called upon as a committee, thought that the spikes that Caroli jumped upon were not genuine, and struck them a blow with his clenched fist with such force that it was only with assistance that his hand was disengaged from the sharp spikes. He bled profusely and was taken away to the hospital. In the future Mr. Butcher will believe in some of the things he is called upon to examine. It is said he had been trying to drink up all the beer on Fredcrichstrasse the da\ before, but as all the cafes are still open and doing business, Mr. Caufmann must have failed in his attempt. * * * Elli and Henry Prio'.a are introducing a mystery act under the name of "In the Studio of a Sleight of Hand Performer." They mr.de quite a hit at Chemnitz-Schoenau. * # * Chas. Cherber and the Tankway Troupe of Chinese magicians were at the Victoria Saloon, in Dresden.

77

Cherber had a hard time following the Chinese troupe, but he cheerfully accepted his salary at the end of his engagement, and said "In fifty years no one will know the difference." Miss Merry is presenting a magical act, and is exposing several good tricks. She spent fifteen days at the Reicheshallen Theatre, in Gorlitz. ;•<

;|; ;|;

Alfred von Hendler has taken his bag of tricks to the Kaiserkrone, in Kiel. * * * Arturo Bernardi, who "borrowed" his brother's entire act, is topping the bill at the Apollo Theatre in Mannheim. He says that his brother "borrowed" the act from Fregoli, so he has all the right in the world to take the act. At any rate he is making good, and may visit American shores very soon. •* * * Bim-Bom, eccentric clowns, with the Ciniselli Circus in St. Petersburg, have been making quite a reputation lately by their clever comedy illusions, and contemplate putting on an act of mystery, each trick being prepared for laughs only. They are clever musicians and acrobats, and ought to be able to present a good melange performance. * * * Georg Hartmann is playing his usual 15-day "gastspeil" at the Odean Theatre, in Wurzburg. This is the town where the Wurzberger flows. * * * Ike Rose is in town exploiting the famous Saharet. Business packed every night. Puzzle, is it Hartmann or Saharet ? Answer: Ask Ike Rose. * * * Mourdini. once known as Alfredi, the magician, and who is generally stage manager in Dehrers Park in Vienna, is

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

78

on the road again with his chain and lock act. He was fair as a magician, but as a lock expert—he is nil.

sional men only are admitted, and if you are a member that at once stamps you as a gentleman.

August Arnheim, a clever necromancer, is being sought for by his better half. She claims that he has eloped with her sister, aged seventeen and only just graduated from school. Arnheim is the magician who claims to have first presented black art, after Ben AH Bev, who is the inventor. Constatine Bernardi, the original, is touring France. He is not only a clever singer and dancer, but also a great magician, and can give a complete performance of illusions and necromancy. This man is worthy of being brought to America, and will make as big a hit as Fregoli did in his time.

Our Mall Bag In this department It is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

We have received several letters from English conjurers informing us of the Prital & Fay are still in Russia. This destitute condition of the old-time conmakes their second year in the land of jurer, Dr. John Watkins Holden, and the Czar, and as they are buying prop- below is printed a pathetic extract from erty, they must be making money. a letter which we trust will appeal to every American magician's manhood * * * Robert Lenz is still hanging about St. and cause him to rally at the call of the Petersburg trying to obtain engage- necromancer in want and send a little ments. He is rapidly joining the ranks mite to relieve his distress, as he actually of the "has-been" magicians. Although lacks the bare necessities of life. Remember even if a small ten-cent never a high salaried performer, at one time he was rated a good entertainer, silver piece is sent by a number of us, but as soon as he started walking about it will amount to a sum that will help. the streets in Persian dress, being a born His address is 2 Coldbath square, LonGerman, and the public knowing it, he don, E. C, England. gradually fell into disfavor. Editor Conjurers' Magazine. He was originally the assistant of Sir :—Your kind letter with check has Rhode, the well-known manager of the only just reached me and / am most St. Petersburg Aquirium. truly grateful to you for your kindness. It came as a perfect God-send—believe * * * The Berlin Society of Magicians are me—I was at my last gasp—as it were. still holding their meetings. It is quite Every mortal thing I had of any value an honor to belong to that society, as has gone, even from my evening dress the better class of business and profes- down to my shirts. But I mean to try i|i

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T H E CONTJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

and peg along for the sake of my little ones * * * Etc., etc. John ll'atkins

Holden.

Chicago, 111. Editor Conjurers' Magazine. Sir:—I would like to warn your readers against a conjurer calling himself The Great Cardoezo, who, through the mail, offered to sell me the following three secrets: ( i ) jail breaking, (2) how to escape from a packing case, (3) how to escape from all handcuffs without the aid of keys. I mailed him $5 for the secrets and though this was sent to him two months ago, up to the present time I have not heard from him. I have sent several mail order dealers money at different times, and all so far have sent me impossible methods of doing the tricks. But when a man does not even answer, then I think it is time to call a halt. There is too much of this worthless secret selling going on, and I think that the United States Government ought to be notified, as they are obtaining money under false pretenses. Cardoezo's address was Sheboygan, Wis., but evidently he has successfully performed the disappearing act. Very truly yours,

Alexander Winters. * * * Dear Sir. I noticed on the 3ird Page of the September issue of the Conjurers Magazine that you have the Poratrait of Annold. De Biere. The Picture is an Exact reproduction of Myself, and if you still have the Halftone Cut in your Possesion Let me know and I will remit money For the Cut (send Price Wanted) and it Will Save me a great deal of trouble in Haveing a New one Made. Am all Book Solid With my own Co. Am known Professionally as Zartolo The Sensational Magician. I

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carry the Best of Everthing that money can Procure. And Would We Pleased to have you put the folloing add in your Barter & Exchange Department. Hopeing to hear From you Soon in regards to the Halftone Cut I Beg to renain Yours as Ever, Zartolo % Show) The Mystic Glasco Ulster County. N. Y. Ed. Note.—If Mr. Debiere will give his consent, we will forward the cut, but otherwise we cannot do so. * * * Tumkur, India. Editor Conjurers' Magazine. Sir:—I note by some of the other trade journals, if they can be so called, that they object to the fearless manner in which your magazine calls a spade a spade. They say it is not good for us to bring to light facts, whether true or false, to expose a person, no matter how famous he may be. Some say it is not worth while to change our beliefs. Whoever may make or publish a statement to that effect cannot have Jelved very deep into the subject of ,nagic. I for one really appreciate the way in which your magazine is being conducted, and it shows how thoroughly you must have studied the art of magic and all the great masters thereof. Up to the present epoch there is no author or student of magic wdio has handled the subject of magic so well and has laid it before the public with such evidence like yourself so as to pull aside the veil of mystery to show the world who the real inventors were and are, to show the true state of affairs, to give credit to whom it belongs, and to lay bare the selfish and vain boasting man. It is time that truth should prevail. Let

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

us give the devil his clue and let us know the true facts so that the forgotten magician who was deprived of his just dessert should eventually gain his reward. I am surprised to see, in these days of enlightenment that there are yet many who do not wish real facts, and have no desire to admit that they are wrong. I voice the sentiments of many when I say "Let us have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," in spite of all consequences. R. Serma, Police Superintendent Headquarters.

A very strong piece of silk twine (reaching below the knees) is fastened to each artificial eye and a small strong hook is secured to the lower end of each

LIFTING A HUMAN BEING WITH THE POWER FROM THE EYES. A Rare Trick of the Cingalese Effect. A child is taken, tied up in a small net and placed toward the front part of the stage. A Cingalese comes in, bows, and slowly walks toward the place where the child is lying on the floor tied up in the net. He stoops over, gazes intently at the child, and as he straightens up the child's body is actually lifted from the floor and follows him as he walks several steps backward. He again stoops forward and slowly allows the child to sink to the floor. To all appearances he has lifted the child from the floor with power from his eyes. Explanation. The child and net are unprepared, but the Cingalese is prepared with a pair of false eyes which he wears over his natural eyes. They are made of silver and painted to resemble the human eye. These artificial eyes have apertures which permit a perfect range of vision, and are held in place by being inserted underneath the eyelids.

piece of silk twine. As the Cingalese bends over and gazes intently at the child, he bends his knees and secretly inserts the hooks into the net entwining the child. After the hooks are made fast he slowly straightens up and bends backwards, and so causes the twine to rest upon his chest, thereby taking the actual strain from his eyes, and thus raises the child from the floor.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

NSWERED

Ruisselle.—The Bean-giant is not made any more, but a new Bean-giant will soon appear on the market. The Marlin cuff is also extinct, and the Marlin Fire Arms Co. refuse to shed any light on the subject. It is stated that Tower & Lyons have purchased the patent and are holding the cuffs back from the market, as they vv'-h to promote the sales of their own handcuffs. Advertise for the cuffs. N. W. James, Somerfield, La. We Jo not sell any secrets, but if you write to G. Dana Taylor he may sell you the secret. There is another man in Chicago who is working on the "Crawling through the log" feat and the best thing for you to do is to advertise in our columns that voii wish to buy the secret. But be careful with whom you do business. The article you mention in T. N. Down's book is the truth. Your other question cannot be answered, for various reasons. *

*

*

Ray H. Simonton, Freeport, Me. Thanks for your compliments. v Hope we deserve them. * * * H. Hopkins, Altoona, Pa. We do not believe that the party mentioned would stoop to such means of obtaining money. We have known him for many years, and he has a clean reputation. If you will allow us to publish your entire letter we would be pleased to bring the facts to his attention. * * * A. H. Provost, Fall River, Mass. As you have asked for our advice in that matter, we certainly do not advise you to do anything of the sort.

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In the first place, if you do not think so much of the act, why not try to obtain work with it, to show that you really know how the act is done? If you possess any ability at all you could obtain much more money by doing it straight than by a feeble attempt at showing how it is done. * * * H. J. Slocum, Eagle Station, Ky. You are very much in the right. The majority of books on magic now on sale are simply rehashes, and the man who wishes to purchase good books must do a lot of buying before he really gets a practical one. Hoffman's books can be obtained in any book shop. If you have access to a public library, you can easily look over the list of staple books on the subject. If you will inform us in what particular branch you seek information, we will gladly give you more definite information. State whether you wish card tricks, spiritualistic work, sleight of hand, stage illusions, or parlor tricks. * * * Michaels K., Centralia, Penn. The party mentioned is not a reliable dealer. He belongs to the class known as "graftingmagicians." We advise you to deal with dealers who have a genuine reputation, and we can recommend conscientiously any of the firms whose advertisements will be found in our columns. * * * W. Wilson, Chester. We seldom answer by means of personal letters, and then only on matters that are of vital interest. Always enclose stamp for a reply, and write only on one side of the paper. * * * A. Mertens, New York. We last heard of Stanselle from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and since have lost all trace of him. He ran a small boarding house, and gave mystery shows between times. He had quite a reputation in South America. * * * Geo. Munro, London. Letter and money order received. Excuse your haste but—on the condition that you write soon. * * * W. C. Zelka. Too rushed to answer personally. Keep up the good work.

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Old-Timer. You are right, if (lit- Theatre Magazine of September, 1907, claims that that method of advertising is new it is greviously in error. John Henry Anderson advertised in the same manner before either Mr. E. JI. Sothern or Miss Julia Marlowe were born. Even Robert Houdin, rarely as he gives credit to His contemporaries, gives Anderson the credit of that method of advertising, but then only to ridicule him. * * * Edward C. Conklin, Hereford, Te\-as. Received confetti trick. Will publish it at an early date. * * * Nelson Morris. If you will send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Houdini, care of the Conjurers' Magazine you will receive the article asked for. * * * James Kennedy, Grand Rapids, Midi. The trick is for sale in England, but we believe that Martinka or Roterberg, whose addresses you will find in our advertising columns, will favor you with a reply. Any dealer whose advertisement you find in our Magazine, is credited as being reliable, or we would not accept his advertisements. * * * Albert C. Dicks, Cairns, Queensland. Letter received too late for this issue. Thanks for the information. * * * Chas. F. Hiestand, St. Louis. Your letter received, but as it is a personal one it will not be published. We, however, have received several letters sending us information. Thanks for the trouble. The facts you mention are really funny. * * * Chas. Carter. When you arrive in Australia, kindly look up our traveling correspondent Joseph Hayman of Hayman & Franklin. * * * Frederickson, Huddersfield. Write to 111. Oscar Teale, 35 Broadway, New York. He is Secretary of the Society of American Magicians. * * * Mons. Blind (Magicus), Geneva. Will call on you on our next trip abroad. Send us any information you wish published.

BRINDAMOUR, "HANDCUFF KING," MEETS HIS WATERLOO AGAIN. The following item was sent to various newspapers throughout the country: Sacramento, Oct. 15.—Brindamour, a handcuff king, has met his Waterloo again. T. J. Coonky of this city Sunday night secured a pair of leg-irons from the County Jail and attended the farewell performance of the handcuff king. Another man attached a pair of handcuffs while Coonky fastened on the leg-irons. For a long time Brindamour wrestled with his manacles. The audience grew more and more impatient, and the tattoo of canes upon the floor was succeeded by a medley of cat calls. In a half-hour he emerged seemingly free, but an examination of the legirons showed that they had been sazved through with a steel saw. * * * Vic Hugo now has a vaudeville house in Cedar Rapids, la., called the People's Theatre, and is doing very well with it. * * * George Robert, a self-confessed diamond thief, picked the lock of the Marion City prison and escaped. .He broke the teeth out of the end of a comb and is supposed to have picked the lock of the cell door with it. * * * Kellar and Thurston are now in full swing. Reports have it that they are playing to full capacity. Show is excellent. * * * Howard Thurston has finally entered suit for divorce against his wife Grace Thurston. They have been separated over four years. When Thurston first went abroad, he would book his wife to do her single turn (singing and dancing) but they drifted apart, both going their separate paths in life. So far there has been no defense from Mrs. Thurston.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Frederick Mcllville and his "Motorgirl" lias been pleasing the folks at Hammerstein's Roof Garden. Wayne, the wizard, is one of the features at the Chutes Park in Los Angeles, California. Whenever the neighboring small cities wish a necromancer, they wire to Wayne and he comes a-running, bringing along his trunk mystery. He presents it fairly well, but lacks amTaition, or he would be oftener heard from, as he has a pleasing manner and address. * * * Chauncy Herbert and Louis M. Granat separated some time ago. Granat has joined "The Strollers," a burlesque show belonging to M. M. Theise, and is now playing on what is known as the Western Wheel. Herbert has decided to go right on with the mind reading act, but this time will not expose it, simply presenting it as a mysterious entertainment. To expose his act kills the goose that lays the golden egg, and we predict that Herbert and Mile. Gertrude will make more money and win more friends than when they played their exposing tour. * * * Mrs. Kitty Baldwin ( wife of Prof. Samri Baldwin) appeared in New York at the Lincoln Square Theatre, presenting a mind reading act, on the style of her old -Somnolency, but not nearly as sensational. * * * The Tanakas are on the Sullivan-Con•sidine circuit. Madame introduces the sand and water trick, making it the feature of the show. * * * Hardeen has made more than good for "Klaw and Erlanger. * * * Chfis Richards, the eccentric. English •comedian, now on the Orpheum circuit, lias a very funny back and front card trick "which brings him roars of laughter. * * * Leon Herrmann, assisted by Mme. Marie Herrmann, appeared at the Duquesne Theatre, Pittsburg, and made a bigger hit than

83

ever. Some of the tricks he brought along on his last trip abroad are new and very showy. His stage now resembles the oldtimer's, and makes the act look much brighter and better. * * * Jewett, the one-time Hartford, Conn., magician, who in his prime boasted rightfully of having the finest set of magical apparatus and den in the world, lost everything" in the San Francisco earthquake, and n<>\v lives in Los Angeles. The fates have been unkind to him and he seems to be having a hard time getting along. In case his old-time friends meet him, give him a hearty welcome and don't pass him by. He was a good fellow, when he had it. * • • Now that John T. and Eva Fay have won their battle in the courts restraining anyone from using any name that sounds like theirs, their performance has a new lease of life and there is no doubt that they will meet with their usual success. * * * Richard F. Staley, the originator of the Staley & Birbeck's musical transformation blacksmiths, has retired from the stage and when not busy digging silver in his mine out West, allows his fertile brain to get up new mysterious acts. His latest act, with six people, called "Staley's Nightmare," has caused much talk ( n account of their manner of disappearing and appearing at will, without any covering and without showing the method made use of. Staley now has three acts on the road. He has shaved off his King Edward beard and looks younger than when he used to do a clog dance, in his palmy days. He must have found a fountain of youth on his Western ranch. * * * The Three Olifans, the mysterious figures and comedians, are now again heard of, playing the Western houses. * * * Bundth and Rudd, Komedy Konjurers, are back in America. The original Bundth died in Moscow, Russia, in 1903, after they had just made a trip around the world. He was buried in that city.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

It is rumored that George \V. Little and Hewes, the White Yogi, have combined to create and sell illusions. Both are clever in their respective lines, and they ought to be able to give full value for money received. * ** The Sa-Heras are on the Klaw & Erlanger advanced vaudeville circuit, and, as usual, making good. * * * The one-time well-known Zarrows, who introduced a clever decapitation act "atclose-range," and who had vanished several years ago, arc now located in Cincinnati, Ohio, selling slow property and mechanical devices. * * * A well known theatrical weekly haa quite a number of advertisers who sell swindling and cheating apparatus for use in gambling houses and Fair grounds. It Collier's Weekly would seek information regarding the various devices used to cheat the public, they could cull enough information from the various advertisements to obtain material to run one year. And good reading it would make, as such apparatus has been used for years to dishonestly separate the people from their hard earned coin. * * * In a recent interview Harry Kellar said that Howard Thurston will be the greatest magician who ever lived. Under management of Dudley McAdow (Kcllar's manager for the past 16 years), Thurston will assume full charge of the Kellar show next season. • ** Who is the oldest living magician? Can any of our readers inform us? Herr Heimburger must be at least 8g years of age, and Herr Mulock comes close to 90. Have we any old-time magicians alive in America? * * * Chefalo and Capretta, the magicians in white, have completed an entirely new magical act with fine scenery and accessories for which they are asking a big salary. * * • Two new illusions are being built by Martinka and Co. which will soon be placed on the market.

At the last social session of the New York Lodge, No. 1, B. V. O. Elks, Charles Roltarc formed part of the entertaining 1 rogram. * * * Allen and Olivette write that they have secured a seven-months' engagement with the Tatahi circus in Cuba.

nous iources. By Frederick Roche. So far as magic is concerned in this city, the past season has been dreadfullyslow. Of course, at the beaches, the speilers- used sleight of hand to attract attention to their wares, and at the summer theatres a few magicians labored toamuse the "vast crowds" which frequented, these places. * * * At the beginning of the summer a fewhandcuff kings were billed, but soon disappeared. *

•

*

So far the fall season has been as bad, for, although the city has a new vaudeville house, we have not heard of a single magician showing at any of the three houseshere. * * * The S. B, M. has been holding meetings regularly in September, and has added several new members. Last year's plan of having members give a show at each meeting is followed, and the time after the business session is passed enjoyably by all. Plans for a public show are being formulated in which all the members will have a part. It is contemplated to devote the proceeds to a fund for the society's work. Two of the officers of the society visited New York last summer, and brought back new ideas for the use of the members.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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The Great Bedoin & Co. appeared at the Iola Theatre. ^ :J:

*

Mr. and Mrs. Jack J'ureh were among the jentertainers at the HayImarket the week of Oct. 28th, and gave a very pleasing magical performance. Mr. liurch shows remarkable cleverness with liis handkerchief and card tricks and ends his performance with his "Levitation." * * * Mr. Fredric Melville, the gentleman who has been everywhere and then some more, was in Chicago, at the Majestic, with his European Novelty "Motogirl." Motogirl is a wonderful little piece of nerve and muscle and has her audience guessing until she makes her dainty little bow, with her, "I thank you, ladies and gentlemen." Motogirl received several worthy press notices during her stay in the Windy City. * * * Kohl and Castle opened their new vaudeville house at Mihvaukee Avenue and Robey Street on Oct. 28th; it has a seating capacity of 1,600, and will offer the same bills as are to be seen at their downtown theatres, with the exception of the big headliners. Harry Sears, illusionist, is playing dates in Canada. Yuma is making a hit on his Southern tour; he played the Majestic, Houston, Texas, on Oct. 21st. * * * Jay C. Hamil of this city, a dealer in mining stocks, is very fond of magic and devotes a great deal of his time to making things disappear and reappear after office hours.

Dedato is playing time through Illinois; he played the Main Street Theatre, Peoria. and was well received. * * * Maxie, the needle eater, is delighting his audience at the old Clark Street Musee; any lady who does not believe it has a perfect right to bring her own needles. *

*

*

Prof. Rarnar's marionettes were billed at the Columbia. St. Louis, on Oct. 21st. * * * The Two Franciscoes appeared at the Lyric, Ottawa, 111.; they were in Chicago a few weeks ago and pleased at all of the big houses with their burlesque magic. * * * Anna Eva Fay is still breaking records at the Orpheum in New Orleans; she is certainly a good drawing card. * * * The Great Ernests appeared at the Grand, Portland, Oregon, on Oct. 14th. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Konorah, rapid calculators, gave a very mystifying performance the week of Oct. 2ist at the blmbert Theatre, Mihvaukee. *

•

*

Yolta appeared at Bennett's Theatre, Quebec, Canada, on Oct. 19th and scored his usual hit. : • :

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Mysticus proved quite a mystery at the Empire, Des Moines, the week of Oct. 28th. » * *

Jewell's manikins were billed at the Auditorium on Oct. 28th and scored tremendously, pleasing particularly the little folks. This act played the White City, Chicago, one entire season and did a remarkable business. * * * AI Barnes, the clever magician and juggler, appeared at the Orpheum in Springfield, 111., on Oct. 21st and from all reports is welcome for a return engagement any time. * * * The Mysterious Sa Heras were billed at the Weller Theatre, Zanesville, O., on Oct. 21st.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Ashidatc Co., a Japanese novelty act with clever illusions, appeared at the Bijou, Wheeling, W. Va., on Oct. 21st. * * * The Globe of Death played the Majestic and was well received. Looping the loop in the parks is not in it with this act; the rider on his motorcycle goes at the rate of thirty miles an hour, making complete revolutions faster than the eye can follow. * * * Deodato. the clever Italian magician, was the first and last magician to appear at the Orpheum. * * * The Great Eldridge, the man who, out of sand, makes things that almost look real, was billed at the Majestic the week of Oct. 21st and will i lay a return engagement in the near future. * * * Coram, the clever English ventriloquist scored well at the Majestic on Oct 28th. * * * Jake Sternad and Homer Howard are at last real handcuff kings. At a dinner party given at the Sherman House on Oct. 23rd, Jake and Homer gave a burlesque on Houdini. Jake said he had to escape several times before they would believe him. He has already mapped out some time for himself. * * * Charles F. Hiestand, magician, illusionist and hypnotist, was among the many caller^ last month. Mr. Hiestand's permanent address is 2639 Iowa Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. * %* Another new vaudeville house, The Virginia, on Halsted Street, has opened. Mr. J. V. Ritchey is resident manager. * * * Resisto, a new electrical act, claims that he can have an electrical current of 1,000,000 voltage pass through him by personal contact without damage. M. S. Bentham, the agent, has charge of the act. It may be so, but voltage without mentioning amperage, does not signify much to the electrician!

The Okito family of magicians a'pj eared at the Orpheum, Minneapolis, on Oct. 27th; this is their first American appearance. * * * Karno's Pantomime Company, with the clever Billie Reeves, gave "A Night in a. London Music Hall" at the Auditorium the opening week and the one following. * * * Paul Cinquevalli carried off next to the stellar honors at the Auditorium on the opening week; he is one of the cleverest jugglers in this country today. * * * The Marconis, another electrical act, much on the order of Volta, appeared at the Princess, San Francisco, on Oct. 7th. * * * Bunth and Rudd, in burlesque magic, appeared at the Wigwam, San Francisco, on Oct. 7th. • * *

Mysterious Caesar & Co. opened on the Majestic Circuit on Oct. 21st. Cassar has fattened up so of late I am afraid he will find difficulties in getting into the trunk. * * * Mr. David E. Stifft was in town before starting on his Western trip. The evening of October 18th found him busily engaged entertaining at a birthday party in honor of his little niece. He spent several hours doing his magical tricks and playing pranks on the little ones, and when he bid them all good-night Uncle Dave was about the whole birthday cake. * * * The wife of Dr. Cook of New Mexico, formerly of Atlanta, Ga., and lately in the theatrical profession, is visiting Mrs. Dr. Steward at the Saratoga Hotel in Chicago. * * * La Triska, a funny mechanical doll, won favor at the Lyric, Cleveland, on Oct. 10th. * * * Miss Louise Augoust, after returning from her home in France, is playing theOrpheum Circuit and meeting with great success. She ranks among the top-notchers as a lady juggler. *

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•

Le Noir's marionettes appeared at the Lyric Airdome, San Antonio, Texas. * * * The Great Tacins was billed at Schindler's Theatre and pleased his audience.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Franklin Colby and wife appeared at the Lyric and scored well. * * * . Norma Bell and her magical ponies are with the Trans-Atlantic Burlesqucrs this season. *

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For exchange.—A rare collection of Japanese stamps, consisting of 115 differently dated, from 1871 to 1896. Prefer books on magic or conjuring apparatus. John H. Percival, 44 Warren St., East Providence, R. T.

+

The Great Bernard is playing the Orpheum Circuit and meeting with success everywhere. * * * The Marvelous Russell appeared at the Grand Opera House, Grand Rapids, and scored heavily. * * * Lee, a hypnotist, is playing dates in Old Virginia and doing nicely. * * * The Great LaVarre & Co,, magician and illusionist, gave a very pleasing performance at the Majestic. * * * Prof. Hixon was billed at the "Odeon," Seattle, Wash., on Oct. -th. Veno, the magician, is playing a return engagement at the London Dime Musee. * * * Pamplin, the juggler, is also holding forth at the above theatre.

Wanted.—A copy of Latest Conjuring; silk flags and other magical things. Burling G. Hall, 1216 47th St., Brooklyn, New York. sfc

tfr

^

Will exchange for magical things, one white broadcloth evening dress suit and one black, both size 38, and one pair of white oxford shoes, size 8. No secrets or information wanted. Frank Caesar and Co., St. Charles Hotel, Chicago, 111. * * * Wanted.—A complete magical act suitable for high class vaudeville houses, including stage setting and all other necessary properties. State full particulars in first letter. Zartolo, Box 183, New Albany, Pa. I have a number of books which I would like to exchange for a Hindoo clock. Ralph L. Arnheim, 3744 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. * * * Wanted.—'Flying bird cages, both square and round styles. Win. B. Caulk, 2032 North Tenth St., Terre Haute, Ind. * # #

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

Wanted.—Parlor tricks or those suitable for a den. What do you wish in exchange? E. D. Williams, 23 Seymour, Ave., Utica, N. V. % * * Wanted.—A copy each of Modern and More Magic. Ray C. Hayden, Cumberand, Md. I!ox 225.

What am I offered for inexhaustible box, drum-head handkerchief tube, two twentieth century brass tables and other magical effects? M. U. Marcus, 537 Bctts St., Cincinnati, O. What have you to offer for a Levitation (same effect as Kellar's) in fine condition? Also have a Galatea illusion (Weston make) ; and lot of other magical goods. J. Darst, P. O. Box 97, Sutersville, Pa. * * * Wanted.—A set of multiplying billiard balls. Will give apparatus or magic books in exchange. A. G. Heilmann, 1265 45th St., Brooklyn, New York.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

AND

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

FROM THE PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

THE MEDIUM GAME. This expose by Will Irwin appeared in four instalments in Collier's IVcckly, commencing in the September 15th issue and continuing in the three following issues. We have never before heard of Mr. Will Irwin, as a writer on magic, but we must with grace take off our hats to him for having written a really lucid explanation of the various artifices and tricks made use of by the many fraudulent spiritualists and mediums, who solely for gain trade on the most sacred feelings of human beings. Mr. Irwin must have gone to an unusual lot of trouble to compile his material. There is very little he does not drag into the limelight, and for a man who has not followed it as a profession, certainly has made every effort to present real facts. He exposes almost the entire usual routine, excepting the wire tests and trumpet speaking, taking in the various slate-writing tests, breaking away after hands or fingers are held, and materializing spirits. It is a good thing for Mr. Burlingame that Mr. Irwin does not know the many names under which the firm of Sylvester of Syracuse, Ind., has traded, or he

would have received the h'nest roast that was ever directed to him, which would have acquainted him with the feeling he instilled into other spiritualists when in his halcyon days he directed articles against them. W. D. Leroy is also mentioned in the exposure, and in a facetious manner Irwin dubs our genial Leroy, Captain Leroy. We wonder if Irwin thought Leroy belonged to the Salvation Army ? For what else could he mean by calling him Captain? In another part of the article a Chicago dealer is mentioned. Can it be possible that the wax maker to whom he alludes is Alphabetic Shaw ? For he is known as a maker of wax figures. Then, again, it may be possible that the man may be one of Shaw's erstwhile workmen ? It hardly seems possible that Mr. Irwin has not been in the game some time or other and can it be that he is one of our conjurers, cleverly writing and disclosing the secrets of the mediums? The exposure is perfectly justified and though it will momentarily do some good, the real effect will be that the mediums, who are now so far advanced in their fraud practises, will profit by the Collier's Weekly exposure, for at an early date they will have new tests to offer to their dupes. Taken as a whole the material offered bv Mr. Irwin is excellent, although some

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. has appeared in almost every "Medium Unmasked" publication, and some in "Bottom Facts of Spiritualism," by Truesdale, who, we have been told, out •of spite exposed the various tricks. Relative to Prof. Zollncr, who believed in Dr. Slade, we wish to say that without a knowledge of German and without reading Wilmann's book, a -writer cannot become possessed of the real facts relative to Dr. Slade and his adventures in Germany. In London in 1878, Dr. Lankaster -and Mr. Maskelyne exposed Dr. Slade in open court, and he had to flee from the country. Even today spiritualists •consult back numbers of newspapers of that period containing accounts of the trial, and so gain possession of Slade's most cherished secrets. The pencil sold by Leroy to Mr. IrAvin is the invention of Dr. Gregorowitz, •of St. Petersburg, Russia, and is one of the many small tricks that mediums keep as secret as possible. We wish that Mr. Irwin would consult the Chicago, Cincinnati or Los Angeles newspapers and read the many and many advertisements, extolling the virtues of the various mediums and seers that are published by representative newspapers. We advise every magician who wishes to know as much as possible of the tricks of the mediums, to purchase the four copies of Collier's Weekly containing the article, "Behind the Scenes with Spiritualists." * * *

An interesting illustrated article on Harry Iloudini and his career is published in the November number of New Age, the Scottish Rite magazine issued by the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, A. A. S. R., at Washington, D. C. It is by the well-known

89

author, Henry Ridgely Evans, and is entitled "A Twentieth Century Baron Trenck." Baron Trenck, the prototype of Houdini, made a number of marvelous escapes from Prussian dungeons in the 18th century. Mr. Evans gives considerable space to his subject, and speaks in laudable terms of Houdini's famous collections of books and programmes. Last summer he spent one afternoon looking over the material, and pronounced it to be the most perfect of its kind he had ever seen. * * * Mr. Henry Ridgely Evans will shortly issue a novel of magic and mystery, to be called. "The House of the Sphinx." It is a romance with a necromantic background. It develops a love story, with the unveiling of a charlatan. The scenes are laid in modern England and Egypt- The hero is an American, the heroine an English girl, and the villain an Egyptian pretender to the occult. The book contains a preface which gives a brief history of the so-called art of sorcery from the earliest times to the present. Though not a treatise on sleight-of-hand, or natural magic, yet it will interest all lovers of the mystic and mysterious. It is dedicated to Kellar and Thurston, the illusionists. • • • Harry Kellar has an interesting article on "Easy Magic Tricks" of a famous magician in the Ladies' Home Journal for October. He also has an article advertised for the November number. The articles are well illustrated, lucidly explained, and any boy will do well to try them. • • *

Everybody's Magazine has an article regarding the high salaried vaudeville acts, and Harry Houdini rejoices in the fact of being mentioned among the acts that draw $1,500 weekly salary.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

90

JlQUDINI. The rn:iti>ri;il fur these articles was gathered during tin- author's lirst tour of Great Britain, and was prepaivd for publication in book form. This was done in response to the thousands of revests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up :it that time. After the manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now be printed for the first time in monthly instalments in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but, in its entirely, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mysterv and entertainment. Copyright, 190G. By Harry H'oudlnl. All rights reserved.

INSTALMENT XV THE

COLOGNE

POLICE LIBEL.

SUED

FOR

For the benefit of the reader who may be interested in my lawsuit, against the Cologne police department, I republish certain facts and details, that now belong to the handcuff history. * * * The police of Germany are very strict in matters of false billing or misrepresentating exhibitions to the public, and so when the Cologne police claimed that I was traveling about misrepresenting, and that my performance was "swindle," and when Schutzman Werner Graff published a false story in the Rhcinischc Zcitung, which put me in a very bad light, as a man of honor, I could not overlook the insult. Claiming that I had been slandered, I asked for an apology, and a retraction of the false stories, which all the press

of Germany had copied, but was sim-' ply laughed at for my trouble. I engaged the best lawyer of Cologne, Herr Rechtsanwalt Dr. Schreiber, Louisenstrasse 17, and commenced suit. The first trial occurred in Coiogne, February. 19, 1902. I charged that Schutzman Werner Graff had publicly slandered me, whereupon, as answer, Herr .Graff told the judge and jury that he was willing to prove that I was misrepresenting, and that he could chain me so that I could not release myself. I permitted myself to be chained by Herr Transport Police Lott, and to show how easy it was, in the presence of the judge and jury released myself. After a four days' trial, I won the lawsuit, and the Cologne police were fined, and were to publicly apologize to me, ''In the Name of the Kaiser." Instead of so doing, they took it to the higher court, "Strafkammer." At this trial they had specially manufactured a lock, which was made by Master Mechanic Kroch, winch when once locked could not be opened, not even with the use of the key. The police asked that I show my ability to open this lock after it had been locked. I accepted the challenge, and walked into the room selected by the jury where I could work unhindered, and in four minutes, reentered the court room, and handed the judges the prepared lock opened.

Again I won the lawsuit, and again it was appealed, but this time to the highest court in Germany "Oberlandesgericht," and there the learned judges again gave me the verdict from which there was no appeal. Below is a free translation of the apology as printed in the Germanpapers :

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. In the Name of the King.

BE it known that the artiste, known as HARRY HOUDINI, of America, New York City, against the Cologne Police Schutzman Werner Graff, for slandering. The Royal Schoffengericht, the third "Ferienstrafkammer," found 'Werner Graff guilty of slandering Houdini, and

91

sum fined, he will serve a day in prison for every 5 marks; and is also fined to pay all costs of the three trials. Houdini has the right to publish the verdict one time in the Cologne newspapers at the cost of Schutzman Werner Graff. For the rightful writing of this verdict, we sign as responsibilities,Koln, Oct. 24, 1902. Stock Sekretar. Gerichtsschreiber des Kgl. Amstgericht Abtlg VI.—9. Signed for Houdini Rechtsanwalt Dr. Schreiber, Koln. In illustration number 6 you see a very useful appliance. It is a set of lock-pickers, which fold into a handle as do the blades of an ordinary pocket knife. With this I have opened thousands of ward locks on doors in Gcr-

Illustration Number 6.

the Oberlandesgericht also finds that the Royal Schoffengericht was justified in finding Graff guilty of the charges. Werner Graff is guilty of "Openly Slandering" Houdini, for being the chief instigator of the article which he caused to be inserted in the Rheinische Zcitung July 25, 1901, number of edition 170, and the head-lines which read "Houdini, Illustration Number 7. the world famous Handcuff Releaser." Being found guilty of the above charge, many. Such an implement if in the Werner Graff is fined 30 marks in possession of a burglar in that country money, and should he fail to pay the would be a very dangerous thing.

92

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

.Illustration number 7 represents a set of eight steel blades which also fold up into a handle. This can be of use to make keys as required, or carry a number of keys in a compact form. Illustration number 8 reveals three methods of using what I call a multiple key or universal lock picker. It is composed of two pieces of steel suitably shaped and secured together by a brass tube ( A ) , inside of which the two

is now serving twenty years for housebreaking. 1 was in Berlin at the time of his trial and had many interviews with him. When he was searched they could find nothing concealed on him. His method of concealment was to tie a strong piece of silk thread around his neck, and at the other end of the thread he secured the key and let it hang down his back. After I had given my police perform-

Illustration Number S. B shows the form of the universal lock-picke: for opening ordinary latch lock fastenings. C shows the universal lock-picker adjusted for open ing rim locks. D shows the universal lock-picker adjusted fur opening ward locks.

pieces of steel slide so that by adjustment it can be made to fit a great many styles of locks. When the sliders are turned sideways, they can easily be moved, but when turned into the positions shown in the illustration, they lock firmly. This picker is a very interesting one, as it was originally the property of a criminal in Germany who

ance I was brought to him, as he had a notorious reputation as a lockpicker. I had the opportunity of conversing- with him on several occasions afterward, and finally he gave me the lockpicker and told me how he concealed it. I handed it to the police, who allowed me to keep it. ( T o be Continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

93

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exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great criminals, Male and Female. London Mail, Boston Herald a n ! Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. Best of its kind ever presented. " Price Twentyfive cents.

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A NEW WAND MYSTERY The wand which the performer has used during the evening is shown to be quite solid and wrapped up under the eyes of the audience. It is then deliberately torn up and reproduced at will. No shells, threads, elastics or collapsible wand used. This will puzzle t h o s e t h a t " k n o w . "

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••m NO. 4.

VOL. II.

m m m m

m

CONTENTS Ben-Ali-Bey European Notes Australian Notes Our Mail Bag Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange

m B m

Hocus Pocus Reading and Rubbish The Hindoo Boiling and Disappearing Water Trick More Lock Picking Implements

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VOL.

II

DECEMBER 15, 1907

No. 5

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All! If ever the members of our craft have reason to feel merry, it is during this particular holiday season. To the professional magician of experience it brings extra engagements at liberal recompense, and to the new-comer in our craft and to the amateur it often brings much-needed work. Many family circles do not consider Christmas complete without a visit from Santa Claus and a parlor entertainment by a conjurer. In England, we know of several conjurers who offer their holiday performance in the make-up of Santa Claus, and bring forth gifts provided by the

hostess and this idea may be helpful to ambitious young conjurers in America. * * * Before another issue of the. Conjurers' Monthly reaches yon, 1908 will be in harness, so it is a good time to make some good resolutions. Ours is easily expressed. "We mean to make this periodical better than ever and more worthy the support it has gained. A good many inquiries reacli us regarding our growth and circulation and we want to say right here that our Anniversary Number circulation was double that of any previous issue, and we expect to run off a second edition to fill the orders of special advertisers. We would like to make this our regular edition—and we mean to do it, if merit counts at all. * * * There is food for thought in this statement for some of our contemporaries who have never gotten beyond the point of publishing a price list of their wares and dubbing it a professional or trade paper. They imagine that because they have never passed the one-thousand mailing list, no one else can. But the history of the Conjurers' Magazine goes to show that in any craft, a fearless paper, conducted along honest, clean lines is bound to succeed and find an ever-increasing support among legitimate advertisers and subscribers. • * * And that brings us to a good resolution for editors and readers alike. Stop knocking and get into the give-ahand-wagon. Elevate your craft and don't drag it in the dust and grime through petty jealousy. You don't earn success yourself by hitting at your neighbor. The man who spends all his time knocking has no hours left for the work that will put him in the front ranks of his chosen craft.

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u 101

HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC THE INVENTOR OF BLACK ART. Ben-Ali-Bey (Max Auzinger). Like a great many other inventions, Black Art is the result of an accident. Many of our readers will be surprised to hear that the real creator of Black Art is still alive and exhibiting his mystery —a mystery which can safely be said to be one that has created the.most profound sensation of any of the modern mysteries during the last decade. The inventor of Black Art, Max Auzinger, once trod the stage as an actor. He was born July 26, 1839,' in Munich (Bavaria). His father was an official to the court of Greece, and his brother Peter (who is still alive) is a wellknown poet, writing his poetry in the dialect of the Bavarian. The principle of Black Art came to existence under the following circumstances. During an engagement at the National Theatre in Berlin, Germany, which theatre was burnt down April 4, 1883, Max Auzinger was playing character parts and at the same time was the "Herr Regisseur" (stage manager). He was cast for a role in a drama called "Donatin Morlay," in which a scene occurs where a farmer repudiates his daughter, Lucy, and throws her into a dark prison. To obtain the dark effect of the interior of a dismal dungeon, Auzinger draped the dungeon with black velvet. In the course of the drama a negro slave, who is greatly attached to Lucy, wishes to secretly save the girl from

her ignominious fate and as is the natural result ( in dramas) he manages to enter the girl's dungeon, with the aid of a rope ladder.

BEN-AU-BEY (MAX AUZINGER)

The negro is supposed to throw down the rope ladder, and to descend, and his appearance at the window is supposed to meet with a roar of applause from the audience. The stage manager,

102

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Herr Auzinger, during this part of the act was waiting for the applause to come from the audience, but he waited in vain, and on close scrutiny, instead of the negro he just managed to see a row of shining teeth, belonging to the negro, and if ever a German had a brain storm, that man was Auzinger. Lucy being saved by the invisible negro, created a great deal of talk, and our Herr Regisseur thought about the singular effect of that prison scene. Little by little the ideas accumulated in his brain until he had completed that excellent Black Art act. At last, after a great many trials, the now famous I Slack Art mystery was ready, and on June 28, 1885, for the first time was shown by Auzinger, on the stage of Castens Panoptikum in Berlin. Choosing a Persian nom de guerre, he called himself Maxistan A-Uzin-Ger. To his great astonishment, his opening did not cause the Berlin public to tear up their seats and cheer; neither did the Kaiser order flags to be hoisted in honor of the occasion, nor cause cannons to roar greetings to our modest Herr Auzinger. Alas for his day dreams, his Black Art mystery was a dismal failure! But our erstwhile actor was not to be downed so easily. He looked about for fresh fields and pastures new, and took his Indian wonders and Egyptian mysteries to the Borsen-Saal Viehof-Berlin. Here he met and became a friend of the /"celebrated Charles Aubre ( Edward Bau'm), who at this period was at the pinnacle of his professional career as a necromancer. Aubre being a clever showman saw the possibilities of the Black Art mystery and signed Auzinger for two years with his own traveling show at a salary of 40 marks (about $10.) per evening. It was during this

engagement that the Persian name was laid aside, and Auzinger adopted the somewhat euphonious name of "BenxA.li-Bey." Again the mystery did not come up to the expectations of Aubre or Auzinger, and after a few months their contract was mutually declared null and void.

Charles Arbre (Edward Baum), who on is uv einber 4th, 1907, died in Almutz, Moravia, at the age of sixty-oner He was also born in Almutz on January 17th, 1S46.

Ben-.Mi-Bey by this time had adopted certain business methods and his reputation grew. He now actually started on an unparalleled . triumphant ; march through Europe, was a huge success and managed to earn large sums of money. No sooner had the fame of Ben-AliBey startled Europe, when as usual a host of imitators started. First and foremost was Charles Aubre, who appeared as opposition in Hamburg in 1886, using the name of Ben Azra El Muz.

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As soon as he imitated the mystery, and he looked and acted perfectly the the "Bens" sprang out of the very part of a magician. ground like mushrooms, but meeting the Ben-Ali-Bey has been assisted for a fate of almost all imitators, they dis- number of years in his performance by appeared as rapidly as they appeared, his daughter Leopoldine, who in her never to return, while Ben-Ali-Bey has childhood days was one of the childkept right on, and now after 30 years wonders, when it came to portray a he is still up to date, without a competi- child part. In 1888 she appeared as a tor worthy of mention. child magician, and gave a clever performance. ()f course she did not palm a pack of playing cards behind her hands, neither did she take fifty half-dollars and do the back and front palm with them, but as a child her equal has not been seen. She calls herself Sulamith, and has been ever since then a faithful attendant and assistant to her father. Lack of the English language has prevented Auzinger from going to English speaking countries—but some day, unless he retires, he may make his bow to an American audience. Several years ago he purchased a villa in Lichterfelte, near Berlin, to which he retires whenever he wishes a rest from the strenuous task of touring and giving the entire performance. Ottokar Fischer.

r From Wilfred C. Zelka

Sulamith,

the

daughter (Leopoldine) Ali-Bey.

of

Ben-

From the very start Auzinger was able to make his performance a success, for liis passion for conjuring, his ability as an actor, his varied experience as stage manager, his personality, his snow white beard, and his splendid Oriental wardrobe created a lasting impression,

( >wen Clark is now at Maskclyne & Dev1 ants e s t a b 1 i s h ment, h a v i n g t a k e n Germaine's place in the program. He has some very smart tricks, one of which consists of the vanishing of a pot of flowers t'rom a glass topped. table. which appear beneath a handkerchief, in the place of a real banjo, which

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was held there, the banjo returning to its case. * * * Carl Hertz has returned from South Africa after a very successful tour. He arrived at Southampton on a Saturday, and on the following Monday he appeared at the Palace, Hull. Roland appeared at Camberwell Palace, and also at the Bedford. He presents a rapidly worked act of illusions, including fire bowl production, handkerchief fired off rifle into decanter, gold fish catching, wet duck tub, vanish from cage, cabinet with musical conductors, and an illusion which he calls "A Bachelor's Dream," which is a curtain illusion, in which a lady appears and disappears. Percy Henri, the man who plays the concertina, has produced a great act, which he calls "Concordia." In the course of this act he vanishes from an enormous concertina, which is hung in the air. There are some six changes of scenery and costumes in the act, and it is now on the Stoll tour. Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant have today produced at St. George's Hall a new and surprising absurdity entitled "The Magical Master," in which Mr. Devant reappears and produces an effect similar to that described in the legends of the famous Indian rope trick. *

*

*

As a rule, when a magician borrows a watch, the owner is very anxious to get it back as quickly as possible. Prof. Donn, the secretary of the "Magic Circle" recently borrowed a

watch at one of his entertainments, and when he had finished with it, much to his surprise, the owner asked him if he would accept it as a memento. The watch was a new silver one, and is still in good order. The gentleman who gave it to the magician was a representative of the English paper, Tit Bits, the cover of which the magician had used to wrap the watch in, prior to vanishing it. All English magicians are now using Tit Bits in the hope of getting a watch presented to them. * * * While performing at the Hippodrome, Brighton, Mori Mura was specially engaged to give his entertainment at a big church bazaar in the town. When he finishes his present contracts he will present a magical act on entirely new lines. Ormonde Penstone has just engaged to work in his act a real Japanese performer, who has some really original tricks. His act now consists of three people. #

:|: :<;

Prof. Fuller is still on the road with Astarte. He made good at Lincoln recently, playing there immediately after Anthony.

Kahn & Kahn have been appearing at the Argyle, Birkenhead. The house was full all the time. Chung Ling Soo made things hum at Barrow-in-Furness recently. When the inhabitants heard he had a special train to bring him in, they thought he must be some member of royalty. Wilfred C. Zelka.

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ekar

tsekn Vienna, Austria 1 regret to have to report the death of one of our best magicians, who had a world-wide reputation. The younger generation of magicians will probably not be familiar with his name, but the older magicians will surely remember Charles Arbre (whose right name was Edward Baum) as one of the brightest exponents of magic art. He died on November 4th, 1907. at the age of sixtyone, in Almutz, Moravia, after a very long illness. He was also born in Almiitz in January 17, 1X4(1. I'egan conjuring in 1870, and played uninterruptedly till 1891 in all the countries of Europe. This past year he turned hotel keeper in his native town and remained there until his death. At the theatres this month magic is more in vogue than ever. "!'

"ii

$i

I.eRoy, Talma and Bosco have been prolonged another four weeks at the Apollo theatre, as their success has been a tremendous one. They changed their program for this month, leaving only the great levitation number, and it seems yet more interesting than the one rendered during the past month. This levitation fascinated me so much that I felt like offering one thousand dollars for the correct explanation of the working of same; but LcRoy informed me that he would not part with the secret even for one thousand and one dollars.

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At Roanacher's theatre we have Mr. De lliere,' the American with the French name. Of course "great" is the only word necessary as comment on his act. lie presents many tricks and illusions (jiiite different from those-other-resembling-his-act acts. * * * At the Coliseum we have two magical acts appearing on the same bill. First, "The Seven Holy Chunguses," to which today, right here in Vienna, was added the eighth. Mother and daughter both are doing well. The second magic act is that of Mr. John Weil. It is rather a nice show', as Mr. Weil knows how to amuse the public, which is really the principal thing. * * * Xot alone at the Coliseum, but at the Grand Circus Liliput also two magic acts are on the one bill. First, the "Petit Cagliostro," who surely is the smallest conjurer in the world, as he is a dwarf about thirty to forty inches in height. He does some nice magic tricks, but chiefly with apparatus. The other is the act presented by Mr. John, the merry conjurer. Fie is an adult and does some very clever sleight of hand tricks. * * * Chevalier Ernest Thorn is this month at the Mellini theatre in Hanover. He is meeting with his usual great success. *

*

••>••

Clement de Lion is in Graz Orpheum. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife as they were passing through Vienna. * * * Mr. De Costo Brito, of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, has presented me with a copy of his interesting magical book, "Revelacaes da Magia Moderna." He has another magical work entitled

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"Maravaillas da Magia no Seculo XX," which is about ready for the press. * * * Mr. Alexander Haas, of St. Paulo, has offered to give me full information about magical doings in Brazil. * * * The great Roland is in England, fulfilling his advantageous contracts. Ottokar Fischer.

AUSTRALIAN NOTES. Prom Hayman Sydney, N. S. W., Australia. We left London via P. & O. Liner Victoria on August 2 for Australia. After an uneventful trip we arrived at Gilbraltar August 6, where we viewed the Big Rock that made England famous for its fortifications. Nothing can be said of the natives, a motley lot, Spaniards, Italians, Moors, Englishmen, and Germans ; in fact all the nations of the earth are represented there. Three days later we arrived at Marseilles, France, and as the good ship steamed slowly into the dock, our ears were assailed by the din of some half-hundred hurdy-gurdys, a dozen Neapolitan string orchestras, dancing girls, acrobats, trained dogs, jugglers, and one lone conjurer, with two assistants. The above-mentioned mob was lined up on the pier, all working at one time, and pandemonium seemed to reign supreme. We stood on the deck, which commanded a view •of the pier, and I shall not forget that crowd of mountebanks, etc., as long as I live. It was a sight. As soon as the boat was made fast, I picked my way on shore through the mob and sought the conjurer, whom I gave my undivided attention. As I neared the man of mystery, the following words greeted my ears: "Messieurs, mesdames (addressing the passengers on the ship), si vous

plais, one leetle trick wid ze bag and ze egg." If I had not seen the fellow, I should have wagered my life it was De Biere exploiting the egg-bag. The conjurer went rapidly through a program of the usual little things in a very capable manner, and as he stopped to bow, he was rewarded with a shower of silver and copper from my fellow passengers. He then announced, by way of an encore, an illusion with a steamer chair. A small boy, about 15 years of age, was placed in a chair and covered with a sheet; his feet were always in sight; the cover was immediately removed, showing that the boy had disappeared. Everybody was astounded, and allow me to confess I was also thoroughly fooled. Here on a dock, with no traps, in full view, right under my very nose the professor had successfully disappeared the Loy. The professor then announced that he would have the boy appear again. At this point, the gendarmes received orders to clear the dock of the mountebanks. They did, and much to my disappointment the trick was not completed. I immediately singled out the professor, and engaged him in conversation, and discovered that he spoke an excellent English. In the course of our conversation, he assured me, among other things, that he was a nephew of the elder Guibal; his card bore the name of Pierre Guibal. He told me he made an excellent living by working on the quay. Two and sometimes three steamers stopped there each week, and he always cleared from four to five pounds each time. I can bear out his statement, as I watched him count his loose change. As we were conversing a boy came to us, dirty, grimy and covered with oil and soot, crying as if his heart would break. I discovered at once the subject of the steamer chair mystery.

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I glanced at the chair as it stood against the wall, and discovered that the seat of same was held in place by a catch; the seat evidently revolved; the quay was a modern one, and covered with iron; at intervals, iron covers were placed to allow workmen -to go under the wharf, and into one of these the lad had disappeared. It then dawned on me, that the poJice in compelling the professor to make a hasty exit before the trick was completed, caused the poor little chap to be left under the dock, from which he later escaped. In the evening we visited the Eldorado Music Hall, and saw a rather mediocre performance; among other turns we saw, was that of Prof. Henri Fan•chette. 1 Ie was rather versatile ; opening with a ventriloquial act; he next played musical glasses, and then for a finale he attempted about four tricks in legerdemain. 1 do not wish to be severe, but Prof. II. Fanchette ought to be sentenced to six months practice in magic twice a year ere he again be allowed to give a public demonstration in legerdemain. We sailed the following morning, and on August 13 arrived at Port Said, Egypt. This being my first visit to Egypt, I was anxious to see a native •conjurer, and as we stopped at Port Said nearly 24 hours, to take on coal and receive the European mails, which were sent via Italy, I looked about the "town. Summed up in very few words, it can thank its existence and importance to the fact that it is the entrance to the Suez Canal, and without a doubt the greatest coaling station in the world. In my search to be mystified we visited the native quarter of the town, and I must say a word about the "dear" natives. The lower classes are rated as the greatest all-around liars and thieves in the

107

world; they prey upon tourists, and as all the big liners put up here for a stay of a day or more, woe betide any tourist who falls into the hands of these natives. The Chief of Police, whom I met and found to be a very fine gentleman, advised us strongly not to spend the evengin ashore, as it was dangerous, and we took his advice. What struck me most was the attempt of the natives to speak English. Their knowledge was small enough of the language, but they managed to make themselves understood. When they met any of the tourists, they would address them as follows; if a gentleman, they would say, "Helloo, Mr. MacKenzie, you give me liacksheesh"; or if a lady, "Good day Mrs. Langtry." These two names were the extent of their knowledge of Saxon surnames, and it became very monotonous to hear this greeting 50 times or more in as many minutes, more so to me, from the fact that I am a Hebrew comedian, and when I heard myself being called Mr. MacKenzie, 1 thought they were kidding me at first,. We returned to the ship, after being separated from some of our money, and I was disappointed, for I had not seen one conjurer. Next morning we awoke about (), and upon going on deck imagine my joy and surprise to discover a full Hedged Egyptian conjurer at work! His knees were under his body (tailor fashion). I intently watched his work, and followed his every movement. He was without a doubt the greatest conjuring comedian I ever had the good fortune of seeing. His magic was very very ordinary, but his patter, great! In America or England this man's fortune would be made with his talk alone. At times he became very personal in his remarks, but his insults ( ?) were worded so quaintly, that you could not

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possibly take offense at them. He would keep, up an incessant mumbling sound caused by blowing his Lreath through his closed teeth, and would only stop this noise long enough to shoot some remark at the crowd that stood around him, as he squatted on the deck, and then go right ahead again with the same noise, and his magic. As a sample of his patter, 1 might state that a very stout. lady of the dowager type stood quite close, watching him; he was half way through a trick with two little chicks, when upon looking up at her, he noticed that the lady had her mouth open in wonderment, as it were. He said, "Close your mouth fat lady. You swallow up my chicken. You watch me close, madam." We all laughed; he spied me and said, "Don't laugh, Air. Long Nose. Just look. By-bye maybe you tell me how it is done." He borrowed various shillings and half crowns to perform his tricks, and invariably would not return them to their owners, but put the money in his pocket, and that would be the finish of it. For an hour or more we watched this chap, and he collected a goodly sum, as he would send a little monkey around with a cup after each trick or two, and the monk would never leave you until you placed some money in the little cup. We were honestly " sorry to see him leave. We passed through the Suez Canal; a wonderful piece of engineering, and, on August 17, arrived at Aden, Arabia, a very quaint place, and another strong fortification of Great Britain. On August 24th we stopped at Colombo, Ceylon. This beautiful place is- called the "Garden Spot of the World," and it is a veritable paradise. Ten days later we made our first stop in Australia at Freemantlc, and after a stop of six hours we were on our way

again, arriving at Sydney, New South\\ ales, on Friday, September 15th, and opened to a matinee on the same day. Joseph Hayman, of Hayman and Frauklxn.

Our Mall Bag In this department -It Is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthj of discussion or descrying of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity- As no restrictions are imposed upon curre• poudents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

Sant Spiritus, Cuba, Nov. 30, '07. Editor Conjurers' Magazine: SIR:—Just thought I would drop yon a few lines from this country, as it is awful lonesome. We are down here with a show and doing fairly well. Raymond, the handcuff king, was in Havana about a week ago, and refused toallow a pair of cuffs to be locked on his wrists, and on account of his boasts in billing it has created a lot of bad talk for him. In case any friend wishes to write tons, please publish our address. Olivette, of Allen and Olivette, c/oTatali Circus, Sant Spiritus, Cuba. * * * Madison, Wis. Editor Conjurers' Magazine: SIR:—Albini and his old egg bag were in town at the Grand sometime ago, with Powell's cremation act, and a trunk mystery. The mystery consisted of how the young woman employed could keep from laughing herself to death as she passed from the inside of the trunk to its back while the performer lied about its-

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being empty. 1 told him 1 saw his name mentioned in your magazine and that an old friend desired to hear from him. lie asked to see it and said "He didn't think Houdini knew enough to publish a magazine." From that I took him to be a knocker. 1 knew Powell fifteen or twenty years ago, when he, firgt started in the business; met him at Stoughton,.. Wis., where I played the piano with a medicine company, which exhibited in halls. He was their entertainer and was a •fine worker and "a gentleman. I told Mr. Albini it was Powell's illusion, and he tried to crawl out of acknowledging it. I should like to hear from Powell regarding this, if what T write sin mid meet his eye. Ever since T met him I have made a study and hobby of magic. I think Albini's magic is rotten—a burlesque of the art. He thinks nothing of turning his back on his audience, walking to a table and deliberately laying down an article of which he wishes to rid himself. The trouble seems to be that he thinks the H E is his show, and makes no endeavor to play the actor magician. When he would vanish something from the hand, he would n< t look at the hand, but impudently would stare at the audience, until the hand was opened, waiting for applause. He makes a farce of it, and it is so received. I was certainly surprised to see a man so long in the business, so outrage his act. His sealed mind reading test by means of envelopes left with the audience, would go, if the audience did net observe that he took part of the envelope onto the stage, to be read behind the scenes, and take them down again, when he was ready to close his mind reading performance. Very truly yorrs, I oirs C. Haley.

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Alixio. Bradford, Yorkshire, England. The editor of The Wizard is George Munro, and when you get to London you will find him doing business at 4 Duke Street, Charing Cross. We have known him for years and found him to be legitimate in all respects. * * * Mons. Cerviase, Paris. If 5'ou will inquire of Mons. Caroly he will inform you of the exact date, as we were in his office at the time and held a very interesting conversation with him regarding the trick. Caroly is a clever manipulator of billiard balls. His full beard adds dignity and charm to his manner. * * * Watkins, Erstport. The trick you mention is not original with De Biere. Furthermore, he never claims to have indented it. He simply presents it in an original manner, i.e., using broken English and knee pants. The trick was performed by Moses in front of the celebrated Pharonh. * * * Burtine, Allentown. The skull trick is worked with the aid of a long thread which is stretched across the stage; after the skull has been examined two assistants, one on each side of the stage, take hold of each end of thread and lift it up to the level of the skull's jaw and here insert the thread. By holding thread taut, they can at will cause the skull to answer., either by moving the jaws or by causing the skull to rock. As the magician asks the questions in a loud tone of voice, the concealed assistants hear everything, and move the skull's jaws or rock the skull accordingly. Prof. S. S. Baldwin made use of a common piece of board. Dclprade used a borrowed high hat. And both entertainers obtained satisfactory results.

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James Marco. You are at liberty to take advantage of the Barter and Exchange column, if you so desire. There is no graft or small fee charged. It is as free as the air you breathe. *

*

*

W. Gerloch, Sydney. Kindly call on Joseph Hayman, who is in your country at the present time, and he will give you any information you desire. Hayman is a clever magician and worked for years as a mystilier before entering the easier game of "making fun" in the Music Halls. * * * George Tafts, Zanesville, Ohio. If you wish our candid opinion, we will inform you that you are rated as a cheap grafter. The money you obtained from young Elkins, he claims, was falsely secured and we advise you to return same before he tells the police. As for your threats as to what you will do to us, we are used to that kind of talk from your ilk. * * * Frank Ercole. You are right. They don't consider Harry Helms a recognized dealer and never did. Like a great many others he is looking to make an honest living. Colored Magician. There is a field for a colored magician, and you can always obtain work if your act is up to the standard. Several years ago Jackson of the Jackson Family, the man who wrote "When a Coon Sits in the Presidential Chair," was rated the best colored magician living, and at his death no one seemed to take his place. Black Carl once was frequently heard of; but at the present date a colored magician is an actual novelty. It doesn't make any difference who made the trick ; it generally is "Who presents it." Stage setting in one, means the space on the stage between the first drop scene, and the footlights. Generally it is a street scene. This allows the stage to be set behind it for some heavy act, while the act in one is work-

The Mysterious Howells, Kansas City, Mo. We rarely answer personal letters, unless it is very important. You ought to have called on Houdini personally, and no doubt you would have been

treated courteously, and been given the advice you sought. * * * Alvarez H., Mexico. We think Hugo Biondi has retired or is manager of some Music Hall in England. Yes, it does seem strange that almost all change artists of the Fregoli class hail from Italy. The best known at the present time are C. Barnardi, Little Fregolina, Mons. Ghezzi, Sig. Pepi and Mile. Fatima Miris.

Cunning, the jailbreaker (?), tried to give a free exhibition at the Parish prison in New Orleans, and wanted the jailer to hang on his (Cunning's) own locks. But the jailer would have none of it. R. H. Gysel of 2224 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio, sends us information to the effect that Cunning advertised the fact that he would escape from the police station cells in Toledo, but failed to do so. Cunning seems to be about as good an actor as he is jailbreaker, and they say he talks like a genuine Hicky on the stage. For the benefit of readers who do not know what a hick actor is, we would say that it is conceded to mean a man who says "dis," "dat" or "dem." and struts about like a mixed-ale prizefighter. * * * The Orpheum Theatre rejoices in employing two men as front door representatives who are magicians. Old Cocky in Denver is an old-timer in the sleight of hand profession, and Capt. Tremble has invented an illusion which he has copyrighted and will very likely soon present in the East during vacation time. He has named it "Roller, The Mysterious" ; it involves the vanishing of a human being by means of three principles. It is handsomely mounted, and is an act that has never been seen on any stage. * * * Jack Chaffe, the comedy magician, gave a delightful exhibition of sleight of hand at the dining table of the Chess Club in New

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Orleans. He has been voted a staple performer, and every year when the Chess Club gives performances, Chaffe will appear. He has long fingers and claims to equal Downs in vanishing coins. * * * "Willette, the Wizard, King of Kards and Koins," is traveling with his own show through the South. ' * * * It is rumored that Herbert Albini tried to make a £ood fellow out of himself in several cities where he has been engaged on the Sullivan-Considine ten-cent houses, by attempting to buy all the wine in town. "Good fellows" ought to read 'the railroad signs, "Stop, Look and Listen," and revise them for themselves to read, "Ponder, Stop and Save Your Money!" * * * Don Thurley, the Kansas City marvel, is liable soon to startle the mystery loving world by introducing a novel illusion entitled, "Disappearing Dyspeptic Diner." If Thurley presents it, it will certainly make good. * * * Will Prof. S. S. Baldwin please send us his address? * * * The MacLallens have a mysterious dull that does a roller skating act in the rinks. They have named their doll Phrozo. * * * The Okito troupe of mysterious entertainers are on the Orpheum Circuit and are presenting a pleasant performance. * * * Anna Eva Fay, exploited by Mr. Pingrec, is also on the Orpheum Circuit, playing two and three week stands. Tn Xew Orleans during her first week Miss Fay packed them in, but during the second week business fell away off. * * * Archibald Page, a young collier of Croft, in Leicestershire, England, has been arrested for murdering his sweetheart by strangling her. He claims to be a handcuff king and jailbreaker, and defied the police to catch him. The following letter was found on the murdered girl's body: "A lover's crime. May heaven forgive me for what I have done; but we are both ready to die together; our lives are not worth living for, but now that T have killed mv own sweetheart T cannot die myself,

Ill

but will give the police a bit of work to catch the handcuff king. By the time this letter is found I will be over a hundred miles away in Somersetshire, but I am well known for my clever work, but my medals I have given away. Farewell. A. E. Page, The Handcuff King." Page has signed a written confession, according to the London News of the World, and things look black for him, as it is said that having been an ambulance assistant, he knew the human frame, and so had no difficulty in strangling his sweetheart. * * * Madame Eusapia Paladino is being pronounced in Italy the greatest genuine spiritualistic medium that ever lived, simply because she fooled several of the world's greatest scientists. She has never been detected, and her great test is getting spirit faces on putty. She must be "putty" good (joke) to have deceived the investigators so well. * * * L. H. Graves of Leadville, Col., one of the oldest mining men in the district, died a short time ago. He was once considered a very wealthy man. In 1879 he became interested in spiritualism and claimed to be able to locate ore bodies with the aid of spirits. He was unsuccessful in all his searches, and soon his money disappeared. He refused to divulge the whereabouts of his three children and claimed that his wife died sixteen years ago, he having been informed of the fact through the aid of spirits. * * * The Mildred & Rouclcre Company, being ably exploited by John Hickey, are meeting with their usual huge success. Besides Mildred and Rouclere the company consists of Flatow and Dunn, Richard Legctt. Griff Williams and Vanola Melbourne, George Watson, Andy McClure and A. Hardy. * * * Balhroma, the well-known fire king, lost his daughter Beatrice, who died in Tampa, Florida, last month, as the result of a surgical operation. Her body was sent to New York to be interred in the family plot in Hempstead, L. I. Deceased was born in Boston, Mass., Her name, in private life, was Rose Beatrice Harding. Balhorma is one of the very well known old-time magicians and fire kings, and

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was among the first to show fine stage settings. * * * W. D. Leroy of Boston is spending a great dtal cf time and money on his new catalogue. Hornmann's mail order business is. improving, and it will not be a big surprise if, ere long, it will compel him to quit the road to devote his entire attention to it. He has been working, very hard the past ten years, and it is time Otto thought of the future. It is not well-known that about 20 years ago Hornm.inn had a magical repository in Newark, N. J. After he lost all his money, he gained a lot of experience and now ought to know how to use this experience to conduct his business to advantage and regain his money. His motto is to satisfy his patrons. * * * James Marco, of the Marco Twins, was seen in St. Louis, Mo., talking very secretly to Max Berol Konorah. It is rumored that James gave Max a few points in mental thought reading. * * * Bert Kilby, the New Britain conjurer, is rapidly adding new material to his act, and ought soon to be in the head line class in vaudeville, if he keeps on improving. He was the special feature at the Rockville, Conn., fair. * * * Mrs. Vano, handcuff queen, was in Hartford at the moving picture machine theatre. It seems she was not accompanied by her husband, as she worked alone during her engagement. * * * The book, "The Unmasking of Robert Houdin," by Harry Houdini, which has taken about a score of years for completion and publication, will be on sale in a few weeks. * * * Once again Selbit has produced an actual novelty which is very easy to perform. It is called Fairy Pictures and is suitable for every parlor magician's repertoire. * * * The Mimis Bust is playing the Klaw and Erlanger tour. * * * Sears, the magician, has again accepted contracts for Europe.

Dr. S. R. Ellison is still busy making models, and rumor has it that he has completed Robinson's crystal revolving illusion. * * * 111. Oscar Teale is still busy on his material for the suspension trick, and we trust it will soon be ready for publication, as many are anxious to read what is expected to be a valuable contribution to magical literature. * * * The Georgia Magnet was recently complainant in a West Side New York court against a Greek musician, William Yulius, who, she claimed, tried to kiss her, and who was only frustrated in the attempt by her using her magnetic powers on him. She let up on him only after he cried for mercy. * * * The Variety of Nov. 30 gives an account of Henry Clive, the illusionist, saving a child from burning to death in the hotel at which he was stopping in Scranton, Pa., where he was playing an engagement at Poli's theatre. It seems that the boy having lost one of his playthings had lighted a match to look for it, and accidentally set fire to the window curtains which communicated the flames to his clothing. Clive, hearing his cries, ran to him and extinguished the flames. * # * Oswald Williams, who has had the honor of appearing before the King and Queen of Spain during their visit to the London Hippodrome, is busy advertising the fact, and also incidentally stating that he is the inventor of an illusion which he calls 'The Flying Chest." To refute this statement we call attention to an advertisement which we have received from the City Magical Company, and which will be found among the advertising pages of this issue of the Conjurers' Magazine. * * * Eli Spruckins, of Kenosha Valley, near Racine, Wis., visited our worthy representative in Chicago at the Saratoga Hotel. After a long chat on magic he was shown to his room. Imagine Mr. W. L. Hicks's astonishment in the morning, to receive a call from our rural friend who with his towels slung across his neck, asked in a mild mannered tone, "Would you tell me where the pump

Gustavus Rapp is down South, still giving the entire performance: if he does not soon

MAGAZINE. come to a large city, he will also be asking -at the first class hotels, "Where is the pump,?" JRapp gives a clever performance, and deserves a better fate than to be only working in little .bergs. Still, he is content, and contentment is better than hard labor and money. *

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Larry Crane, the Irish comedy magician, lias added several illusions to his act andr is •out' with^ a burlesque show. Several seasons ago hi*'was with a burlesque show in which "he played a mean part in which the comedians •make a fool put of him. They say this season Larry'is' making a fool out of himself telling the audience how much more wonderful a man he is than his rivals at the theatres in opposition, or calling down magicians who may have preceded him. Some day it may happen that one" of the men he is trying to belittle will be seated in the audience, and will show him up and Larry will possibly regret his foolish stultilcqnence. * * * Chinese Johnny Williams, the exposer of magic, at last met a manager in New Orleans who candidly told him what his real thoughts were. It is said Williams made a pest of himself with the newspapers. * * * Raymond, the magician, is in Havana with "his own show and reports success. * * * Roltare is becoming in great demand with his mysterious performance and no big affair is complete unless the name Roltare is on the program. He concludes his performance T)y literally covering the stage with flags oi all nations. * * * Theodore Francis Fritz has been heard "from again. * * * Hornmann, the magician, informs us that Duke De Laska, the magician, died Novem"ber 7th, in Colchester, Conn., from consumption. He had been ill over two years and tiad in vain sought good health in Colorado, t u t not succeeding in finding a cure, he returned home to his family to die. He leaves a wife and two children, the oldest being a toy nine years of age. . * * * . Salvail, the card conjurer, has made quite a hit with his minute card act in one, and has b"?n re-engaged on the Majestic circuit

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FROM THE

INDY CITY Cunning, the near jailbreaker, appeared as the1 hero in a blood and thunder drama (which I witnessed), which was entitled, "From Sing Sing to Liberty." As usual, he handed the audience a full grown, well matured lemon, for he announced that an officer, Hixson, from Kansas City, Mo., was present and had informed the management that he wished to test Cunning. The last time Cunning played Chicago, Hixson, who, by the way, is a corn plaster doctor, played the same game. It worked the first time but at this performance the audience got wise, and shouted, "soup," and I sat back in my seat and ordered chicken consomme.

The same evening, Sunday, December I, I witnessed the great event of the season, (at least to all magicians in C h i c a g o ) —t h e Great Kellar and Thurston performance. It was lucky that my seat was reserved, for I found a great mob clamoring for seats, but none to be had! As I entered, imagine my astonishHarry Kellar, the dean of , , , .. magic, who is now on his fare- m e n t O n ' beholding well tour, having been forty corn plaster H i x seven seasons tefor the public, son seated in the

third row and holding in his hand a halfdcllar. I wondered what he was going to do with same, and was soon enlightened, for he began, a series of really good -moves making the coin pass from one knuckle to another, and soon had a small crowd all to himself.

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But, be it as it may, it certainly • allows The curtain arose, and our grand dean of magic, Harry Kellar, entered. It goes with- them to earn a living, and who knows but out of the numerous Nickel theatre magiout saying that he soon won his audience cians we may some day find a representative with his bewildering display of magic. He presented the suspension, Princess American magician, for at the present time our really great magicians can be counted on Karnac, which he terms his masterpiece, and your one hand. it certainly is a wonderful achievement. * * * He also introduced the spectre cabinet, and gave Mr. Maskelyne full credit for same. In my boyhood days the Police Gazette Kellar intersperses some clever patter and was a newspaper that only extolled real anecdotes in his hugely interesting perform- champions, but, alas, in the last few years ances. it has been going much below the standard. When he retires, next May, America will Outside of the champion bootblack, and some lose the best mysterious entertainer she scrub fighters, all who look as if they needed possesses. real clothes and food, the funniest picture I The second half of the performance was have seen in some time is the alleged chamgiven by Howard Thurston, who has mapion handcuff king, who is announced as tured into quite a manly looking chap since "The Great Champion Metro, Handcuff Kinghe was last seen in Chicago, and as this of the World." was his first appearance with Kellar he was I have never heard of Metro, and I should closely watched. He opened his act with really like to hear of someone who has heard his card work, and caused an uproar of of him before. laughter by loading the goose np the back * * * of his volunteer assistant. He presented an James Sherman, the Appleton, Wis., necillusion in which he shows a miniature romancer, visited our Windy City in search trunk, which he covers w'th a silken cabinet, for novelties to add to his act. He spent a and in a few seconds he opens the curtains week in town, also a lot of money. and we find the trunk full grown, and inside * * * his capable assistant, Miss Beatrice Foster. The Great Armond appeared at the North An interesting problem, which he termed Avenue Theatre the week of Nov. 4. Prisoner of Canton, consists in strapping a * * * young man to an iron arrangement, hung The Great Booth (no relation to Edwin inside of a small, narrow wooden cabinet. Booth) appeared for a week at the Empire The doors are closed for the smallest fracTheatre, Bakersfield, Cal. tion of a second's time and instantly opened * * * and the prisoner is seen hanging by his heels. The Bridal Chamber, Princess Kiyo and a Frederick Melville certainly deserves credit triple trunk mystery closed his efforts. The for having brought Shekla, the East Indian entire performance was well received, and magician and maharajah, to this country, for •on passing out I heard all over expressions Shekla has made good in every sense of the of approval; intimating that the Kellar show word. was always alright, and that Thurston was He leaves early in December for his native a well selected successor. land. During his stay in Chicago, he hon* * * ~~ ored me with a private exhibition of his A new generation of magicians has sprung marvelous skill as a sleight of hand perup since the advent of the numerous five-cent former and I can state from personal obmoving picture theatres, and you can hardly servation that the feats displayed at close run into one of these greatly patronized range eclipse anything I have ever seen beNickolets, Faudetts, etc., without having to fore. <witness some magician presenting some feat * * * of alleged dexterity, like the dove pan, the Eugene Bcdini, the juggler of the team of bran and glass, or the wit e and water trick. Bedini and Arthur, who raised such a muss There are always exceptions to all cases, and I have witnessed a few good ones, but by imitating the act of Karno, is now trouping with the Colonial Bells Burlesque aggreseveral ought to be reported to the Society gation. for Prevention of Crueltv to Children.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. He is branching out as a good spokesman, being the introloquer in the first part, which represents an up-to-date minstrel show. This Bedini is the juggler who held a fork in his mouth, stood beneath the Masonic building here in Chicago, and on the prongs of the fork held in his mouth he caught a potato, which was dropped from the roof of the building, which is about 22 stories high. * * * The Aramonds, in their mental telepathy act, appeared at the Clark Street Museum. The act is good. * * * The Franciscos, who do a burlesque magic act, do a lot of exposing, but as none of their material includes important tricks, they go right along and draw their salary. They have played every house in Chicago that plays vaudeville. The team consists of two men, one being the professor, and the other the comedian; he dresses in the most outlandish costume I have ever seen. * * * Santell, the modern Hercules, must have made a magician out of himself in Paducah, Ky. Having been stranded in that beautiful city, he bv some mysterious means managed to get to Chicago, how, he does not say, but it is thought he may have followed the example of Edward Payson Weston. He finally managed to secure an engagement at Schindler's Theatre, where he filled the week of November n with great -satisfaction to the managers and himself. * * * Vic Hugo, the one time magician (who is still a magician), was in town booking stellar attractions for Christmas week for his theatre in Cedar Rapids, Ta. Hugo is always willing to book mystery acts and magicians, so if you reach his neighborhood, write in for work. * * * McDorgh and Sherwood, sensational shooting act, appeared at the North Avenue Theatre, November 18. No one was hurt. * * * Charles F. Hiestand of St. Louis, Mo., has been presenting his wife, who is called Tarpica, as a handcuff queen. She has been playing a two-weeks' engagement at Winnipeg, Canada. In conjunction with her performance Hiestand presents his magical performance.

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The Three Renards, an European act, are a genuine sensation. They perform the most daredevil feats in a manner never before seen in this country, and are now on the Orpheum Circuit. * * * Kalhass and Company, magician and mysterious entertainer, and Herbert Brooks, with a trunk trick and cards from the pockets, were on the same bill at the ChicagoOpera Mouse, the week of Nov. 25. * * * Herr Janson and Company are touring the far Northwest. Reports are good. *

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Lavarrc and Company, illusionists and general wonder workers, appeared at the Olympic Theatre, Chicago, the week of Nov. 25. This is not the team that invented fire works. * * * Madame Konorah appeared at the Auditorium and created much talk with her rapid silent calculation act. In this act she is assisted by a young man, who is evidently a German, but who also possesses a clean sense of humor. The act was well received, an^ left a favorable impression, as it was not over done. * * * Hugo, the heavy juggler, is in Mexico and will return to the United States in January. *

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Masias Occonor, now on the Orpheum Circuit, is the first German T have ever seen with an Irish ( ?) name. He goes very well, his shadowgraphs being exceptionally clever, and the fact that a man with an Irish name appears with a broad Milwaukee accent, brings him into favor at once with the audience. He made quite a hit at the Majestic. * * * Ziska and King were at the Temple Theatre, and when last seen Ziska was looking for King, who tried to buy some gold fish, but as the clearing house only issued checks, I think the gold fish proposition was a difficult one. * * * Edwin Rood received quite a lengthy write-up in the Sunday Examiner on Nov. 24, informing the public in general that he was the Great I Am among the various Hindoos who visit America.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Dressed up in the garb of an East Indian fakir, Rood gave a creditable performance of several of the Hindoo feats at the Press Club and mystified the members thoroughly. * * * Captain Henry is playing the Majestic Circuit presenting his now well known wireless telegraphy demonstrations. * * * La Delles, mystic manipulators, played at the Star Theatre, Muncie, Ind., on November II. * * * Sladek, a prisoner awaiting trial at the county jail, nearly effected a jail break with the aid of saws that were handed to him, either in a pie (lemon pie) or in some other food, sent in from the outside. He had succeeded in sawing one bar com' pletely through, and was caught while hanging to an outer bar, merrily sawing away at the last bar which would have given him freedom and Illinois street. * * * One of the feature attractions of Chicago's Riverview Park, for the season of 1908, will "be an absolutely new illusion now under construction by Cass Andress, the clever young showman, who conducted Aryanne so successfully last season. This grand production carries you back to ancient history covering the ruins of Rome and the reign of Henry Third of England. The principal feature being a scene where the spectre of the floating maiden shadows the cross. The title of this spectacular production is "The Holy Cross." I know that all conjurers will join me in wishing him all the success that he w'shes himself. * * * Paul, the Mystifier, is busily advertising the fact that he wishes to sell his handcuff outfit. He claims his reason for so doing is that there is no money in the handcuff business—lie is telling the truth, so far as it applies only to himself. * * * Mrs. E. M. Bergeron, who claims to duplicate all the various tests of Anna Eva Fay, is being presented by Mr. A. Bergeron, who modestly substantiates all the Mrs. claims to do. * * * - The Hazardous Globe played the Majestic Theatre, Des Moines, la., the week of No

vember 24. Arrangements arc now being made to entertain Dr. and Mrs.. Clarke, who present the above sensation, when they next appear in Chicago, 111. * * * Henry Roethig, a card and coin manipulator, sent to us from Germany, is now playing Western time, and was last heard of at the Lyric Theatre, in Lincoln, Nebraska. • ;i:

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Mexican Herman, magician, appeared at the Bijou, Dubuque, la. We saw his show when he honored our Windy City by visiting same. He is all right, only he walks too near the ground. * * * The Great Elverton was heavily billed at the Grand Theatre, Portland, Oregon. * * * - There is a man billed in Canton, Ohio, under the name of Ching Ling Foo. This cannot be the Great and Original Ching Ling Foo, for Leon Mooser, the manager of the genuine Chinaman, has personally informed me that the real man is closer to Canton, China, than to Canton, Ohio. * * * The Great Nello at the Bijou Theatre in Duluth, Minn., is a juggler of exceptionally clever ability. At one time he wore the name of Zardo, The Hero of Niagara Falls, being christened by Dr. Thomas B. Hill. * * * Bundth and Rudd are playing the Northwestern circuit. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Jack Burch won considerable favor at the Majestic Theatre. Jack's combination "Trooping of Colors," combined with the "Lirrhted candle taken from pocket," was well worked. The best part of the performance to me, was his original method of telling fortunes with the chosen cards. The Aga went well, in fact was the hit of his show. * * * Edward Payson Weston, the 69-year-old pedestrian, arrived here Wednesday, November 27, at T2.14 p. in. Over 100,000 people greeted this wonderful old man, who walked 1,237 miles in 41 hours less than the record he created forty years ago. I, as representative of the Conjurer's Monthly Magazine, was in the crowd to meet him.

T H E CONJURERS''MONTHLY 1 was the man with the brown derby hat! >.(

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La Auto Girl,,, an imitation act of Melville's Moto Girl, appeared at the Bijou Theatre, Decatur, 111. ' ' * * * Paul Conchas had a lengthy write-up in the Evening Examiner of Nov. 28. It was a press agent story and was a beautiful dream about the German Kaiser backing Paul.

MAGAZINE;

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H O CVS P O C VS I V N I O RThe Anrtomie of LEGERDEMAIN. O R,

The Art of Iugling f« forth in his proper colours, folly, plainly, andexaftly,
Tbcfecixd Edititn, with maty additions, Prtflit

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading: are accepted free of charge; there Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

I have some rope tie> which I would like to exchange for some new tricks. Win. E. Chamberlain, 72 Cypress street, Brookline, Mass. * * * What have you to offer for Aga illusion and Hindoo stage setting, with eight nickel plated candlesticks? Prof. Leo., 218 West 135th street, New York. * * * Wanted.—Good, cheap illusion and handcuffs for my mysterious act. Olivette, care Circus Tatali, Sant Spiritus, Cuba. * * * Wanted.—Magician's tables and other magical effects and illusions, in exchange for magic books and apparatus. Burk, 526 Chandles avenue, Evansville, Ind. * * * Wanted.—A copy of "Lightning Artiste" and some good original tricks or parlor effects. Xo trash, but things manufactured by Hardin preferred. Burling Hall, 1216 47th street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

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tO H B O N,

P r i n t e d b y r . H. for R.M. 1 6 % ^ .

Continued. To make a groat or a tester to sink through a table, and to vanish out of a handkerchief strangely. A juggler also will sometimes borrow a tester and mark it before you, and seem to put the same into the midst of a handkerchief, and wind it so as you may the better see and feel it; then will he take the handkerchief and bid you feel whether the tester be there or not, and he will also require you to put the same under a candlestick, or some such like thing; then he will send for a bason of water, and holding the same under the table right against the candlestick, he will use certain words of enchantment, and in short you will hear the tester fall into a bason; this done, let one take off the candlestick, and the

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

juggler take the handkerchief by a tossel and shake it, but the money is gone, which seemeth as strange a feat as any whatsoever, but being known, the miracle is turned to a bauble, for it is nothing else but to sew a tester into a corner of a handkerchief, finely covered with a piece of linen a little bigger than your tester, which corner you must convey instead of the tester delivered to you into the middle of your handkerchief, leaving the other in your hand or lap, which afterwards you seem to pull through the table, letting it fall into the bason.

down the counter, wringing the same hard, so as you may leave the glewed counter with the groat apparently in the palm of your left-hand, and the smooth side of the waxed counter will stick fast upon your thumb, by reason of the wax wherewith it is smeared, and so you may hide it at vour pleasure always, that you lay the waxed side downward and the glewed side upward, then close youi hand, and in, or after the closing thereof, turn the piece, and so instead of a counter, which they suppose to be in your hand, you shall seem to have a groat, to the astonishment of the beholders, if it be well handled. The juggler must not have any of his tricks wanting.

A notable trick to transform a counter to a groat. Take a groat, or some lesser piece of money, and grind it very thin at one An excellent feat to make a two penny side, and take two counters and grind piece be plain in the palm of your them, the one at one side, glew the hand, and be passed from thence smooth side of the groat to the smooth where you list. side of the counter, joining them so Put a little red wax, not. too mticii, close together as may be, especially at the edges, which may be so filled as upon the nail of your longest finger, they shall seem to be but one piece, to then let a stranger put a two-penny wit, one side a counter and the other piece into the palm of your hand, and side a groat, then take a little green shut your fist suddenly, and convey the wax, for that is softest, and therefore two-penny piece upon the wax, which best, and lay it so upon the smooth side with use you may so accomplish as no of the counter as if it do not much dis- man shall perceive it; then, and in the color the groat, and so will that counter mean time use words of course, and sudwith the groat cleave together as though denly open your hand, hold the tips of they were glewed, and being filled even your fingers rather lower than higher with the groat and the other counter, it than the palm of your hand, and the bewill seem so perfect like an entire coun- holders will wonder where it is gone; ter, that though a stranger handle it he then shut your hand suddenly again, cannot betray it; then having a little and lay a wager whether it be there or touched your fore-finger and the thumb not, and you may either leave it there, of your right-hand with soft wax, take or take it away at pleasure; this, if it be therewith this counterfeit counter, and well handled, hath more admiration than lay it openly upon the palm of your left- any other feat of the hand. hand, in such sort as if you were to lay (To be continued.)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

REMING REVIEWING BooK.5 AND THINGS

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BISH FROM THE PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE a medium under control," the more do we become convinced that the writer means that he was under the control of the warden of an asylum. MEDIUMSHIP The book was published to sell for Written by a Professional Under Control. one dollar, and if attempts are made to "Constant Reader" has sent us this small book, which was published some sell it through the United States mail, time ago by The Psychic Research Co. we feel sure that the Government's of Chicago, and asks "What do you sleuths will be sent out after the publishers. think of the book?" • • • After a careful perusal of the conOur esteemed contemporary, The tents, without any fear of contradiction, London Wizard, asserts that a certain we can say that of all the books on this writer received an ungenerous review subject of which we have ever heard or from us. We would like to have him read, this reaches the pinnacle of abso- know that whatever review emanates lute imbecilic rot. from our pen, is our honest and candid How any sane person can sit down opinion, and we think we handled him and write such stuff is beyond our com- easier than he deserved. prehension ; and to cap the climax the At any rate, let him remember that finishing paragraph states: "Avoid argu- an opinion or criticism is only one man's ments with those adverse to the belief idea, and his idea should be judged only in spiritual phenomena; you seek the worthy of such consideration in proTruth and have nothing to gain by portion to the amount of sincerity and hearing the weightless words of disbe- honestly expressed therein. lievers." * ** Just think of that! We would like In a letter addressed to The Wizard, to meet the writer of this rot, so as to and printed in the November issue, E. give him a few arguments that would Lazern complains of a correspondent's not be weightless. He even claims that letter printed in one of our recent issues, mediums have been known to mater- derogatory to a man who has pilfered ialize and dematerialize themselves his name. from one room to another by melting If Mr. E. Original Lazern will have themselves through the walls of the the kindness to write us a letter statrooms! ing facts, we shall be only too pleased The more we look over the book, and to extend the courtesy of space in our the more we see the line, "Written by columns to him.

THE CONTURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

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7

to how the wards are placed in The French locks.

HOUDINI. The material for these articles was gathered diiring the author's first tour of Great Britain, am] was prepared for publication in book form. This was done in response to the thousands of requests for light upon the methods used by the horde of imitators who sprang up at that time. After the manuscript had been completed, the pressure of professional engagements prevented immediate publication. The text will now be printed for the first time in monthly instalments in the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, to whose pages it is peculiarly appropriate. Readers must bear in mind that the fact of its being prepared for publication in book form necessitates a somewhat arbitrary and unusual division of the various instalments, but. in its entirety, this treatise on handcuff secrets will be the most complete and reliable volume ever published on this unique form of mystery and entertainment. Copyright, 190G. By Harry KYjudinl. All rights reserved. *

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More Lock Picking Implements

Illustration Number 1).

In v.o country have I found so many expensive locks in use as in France;

Instalment XVI

In illustration number 9 I show sundry little pieces of wire pekes, also a powerful combination pliers and wire cutter ( C). When opening or closing this pair of pliers the lower pins or rivets, as shown in the illustration, travel in slots in two planes of steel in the upper part of the handle, and so enable a person to cut very thick wire as easily as paper. In this illustration there is also a piece of malleable steel wire (D), which witli the aid of the pliers can be twisted
Illustration Number 10.

almost every door is equipped with a six-lever Chubbs or Bramah lock.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Crooks would have an exceptionally hard time to pick such locks, so they resort to the quicker and easier method of forcing the doors with heavy chisels. The lockpickers or keys marked xx and x were taken from a French murderer, whose specialty was robbing churches. He was a daring criminal, and was caught by the merest accident. He had laid plans for a cool and premeditated murder of one of the Geld-brief trager in Berlin, which class of postmen only carry money, sent by mail, and sometimes are entrusted with large sums. This man, Olschansky, sent through the mail to himself ioo marks (about $25), having previously hired a small room in a street where the house was almost empty of lodgers. The room was on the top floor, and when the postman arrived Monday morning he found Olschansky awaiting him, and to all intents and purposes, Olschansky was just seated at his morning lunch (which all Germany partakes of about 10 o'clock), consisting of bottled beer and sandwiches. Olschansky offered the postman a bottle of beer, but gave him no glass. He was then compelled to drink out of the bottle, and as the bottle was raised to his lips, Olschansky raised a heavy board and drove the bottle down the postman's throat, stifling him, and then immediately struck him over the temple, and kept on hitting the stunned man until he had beaten the life out of his body. He took all the money from the leather bag carried by the postman, locked the door, and left the building. But he forgot to pay the beer man, and instead of going about his business, he went to pay his bill, as he was an

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honest man. This man noticed blood stains on Olschansky's shirt cuff. Olschansky paid him with a 20-mark gold piece, and this was his undoing. In tHe afternoon the murdered postman was discovered, and the beer man, Gastschenkwirth, reported to the police that 20 marks were paid to him by the man who had not enough money the day before to pay for his food and drink, and had asked for credit. A search was at once instituted for Olschansky, and with the system of registering each lodger with the police, by all hotel and boarding house keepers, Olschansky was found, and in his possession were the two keys herewith illustrated. I happened to be at the Police Presidium next morning, and spoke to Olschansky, who looked more like a caged wolf than a man, and had very little to say. But two weeks later, when found guilty, he had plenty to say, and informed the police of the various churches he had robbed, how he obtained keys for the doors, and showed he was a far more dangerous criminal than was at first suspected. After he had been executed I asked for the keys found in his possession, and obtained them. I have found that they will open almost every church door in Germany where they do not use padlocks, and the key marked X seems to be a kind of a master key to the spurious Bramah safe locks. Illustration number 11 shows a set of master keys useful on the English Rim lock. Previous to the year 1778, when Baron invented the now well-known tumbler lock, the majority of locks used in England were of such a nature that at the present date they would be called "jokes."

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With the above illustrated three sets of pickers, there are thousands, yes, tens of thousands, of locks in England that

would be impregnable. The handcuff manipulator who imagines that he can go abroad with a few false handcuff keys, and make a success, has only to give it a trial, and he will find out to his sorrow that an unskilled performer will not be tolerated very long. The Germans, particularly, are like a flame in the pan, a quick flash and then oblivion !

Illustration Number 11.

can easily be opened. Naturally it will take some practice, which when once acquired is seldom lost.

Illustration

,.":j -_f-. ..^Illustration Number 12.

-. Illustration number 12 shows some master keys for an American lock greatly in use in Great Britain. A majority of office doors are fitted with this master-fitting key. Illustration number 12.V shows different size master keys for the common ward locks. Note how they vary in size, and with the seven illustrated, few locks of the ward lock construction

Number 12 A.

Once in Dortmund, Germany, the landlord of the hotel at which I was stopping came and asked if I would do him a great favor. A guest who had hired a room by the year was gone for a business trip to Nurmberg and would not be back for several months. " :~*.~A This guest had taken the key of the room with him. and as there happened to be a rush at the hotel, Mr. ThriftyLandlord wished to make double reve-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. nue by letting this room to a transient guest. Of course I was not aware of the fact, and to oblige the landlord at his request I opened the lock of the door, and as he wanted a key to the door I went to the hardware store and purchased a blank key, which I intended to cut to fit this lock. Being an old-fashioned hotel they had no master keys, and I really went to a lot of trouble to oblige my host. The next morning I read a threecolumn article headed, "Houdini Exposed. Buys up all the keys in town, and no wonder he opens all doors."' Then the bright editor tolcl a very interesting story of how he happened to be in the shop and saw Houdini looking over all the blanks, and buying several thousands of them; when in reality I bought one blank, for which I paid 5 cents (about 20 pfennings). Ever since that time I shun hardware shops as I would a pest house. (To he continued.)

FOR.

BEGINNERS* THE HINDOO BOILING AND DISAPPEARING WATER TRICK , Effect. A vase is shown, some water is poured into it and then the vase containing the water is set on a small table or stool. At command the water starts to boil, and increases until it boils violently. Finally the Hindoo immerses his finger into the water and shows the audi-

123

ence that it has been scalded. The water is then commanded to disappear and the vase is shown perfectly empty. Explanation. The vase is prepared by making a small hole in the bottom and attaching thereto a small sized pipe. While pouring in the water the Hindoo keeps his finger on the end of this pipe, until he sets the vase on the table or stool.

The table or stool is prepared by running a pipe through the centre of the leg, which pipe in turn is attached to a long rubber tube which, covered with dirt, runs along the ground and terminates at a convenient point where a confederate can be concealed. The Hindoo when placing the vase on the table or stool, is careful that the pipe of the vase is inserted into the hole on the table or stool, so that the confederate can prevent the water from flowing out by blowing into the tube. When he blows very hard the water appears to boil. To prove that the water does boil the Hindoo places his finger into the vase, and pretends to scald himself. When the water is commanded to disappear, the concealed confederate stops blowing and allows the water to flow out through the pipe and tubing, and when the vase is empty it is shown to the audience. L

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CHAFALO AND CAPRETTO

The Wizards in WHite Permanent Address : Conjurer's

Magazine

278 West 113th Street, New York City TO ILLUSIONISTS. RE VANISH OF MAN & BOX IN MID AIR. We hereby give notice that this illusion was the original invention, manufacture, and production of ourselves, and that it was first worked in public, as part of Mdlle. Von Etta's Act in the Arena, at the London Hippodrome, on the 26th of February, 1907, by a member of our firm. The illusion was witnessed by Oswald Stoll, Esq., Frank Allen, Esq., and Frank Parker, Esq. The actual Apparatus as used on this occasion was removed to our place of business at 1, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E., and whilst there was inspected by Chung Ling Soo and Horace Goldin, Esq., both of whom can testify as to its being in existence prior to 18th March, 1907. On the 2nd of May, 1907, the complete Illusion was purchased by Mr. Gustave Fasola, who produced it at the Palace, East Ham, where it was witnessed by Howard Thurston, Esq. (The King of Cards). We have all the necessary details to prove each and every fact. Although the nvention has been claimed by other persons, we are the ORIGINATORS, MANUFACTURERS, and PRODUCERS of this Illusion, wherein a person is placed into a box, and the box hoisted in mid air, and both the box and person in it are vanished. In our method of presenting the Illusion we are enabled to show the box after it has been hoisted up. We are, yours faithfully, THE CITY MAGICAL CO. 1, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E., England.

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Selbif s Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

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Entered a. second-class matter September 1* JOOB. _ at

^VM

at New York. N. Y.. UDder the

CONTENTS Wiljalba Frickell European Notes Australian Notes Our Mail Bag Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Reading and Rubbish How to Ring Church Bells The Strait Jacket Release

JANUARY

1908

130

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

CONJURERS MAGAZINE PARLOR TRICK COMPETITION. . Amatuers Take Notice. To cause interest in parli.r tricks, we arc starting this competition, to which all are admitted, and offer to pay the sum of ten dollars for the best, and five dollars for the second best parlor trick sent to us. You can send us your favorite trick, and remember it is not essential that the trick be an original one. Write in plain letters, on one side of your paper, and if possible have your trick typewritten. Any stenographer will typewrite it for you and charge only a few cents for each typewritten page. Conjurers' Magazine Parlor Trick , Competition, 278 W. 113th St., New York City. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

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JANUARY 15, 1908

No. 5

Since the first issue of this magazine, we have come in personal contact with a few real magicians and a number who think they are magicians. These men alike have criticized unfavorably certain features of this publication. Apparently their idea is that we should praise the deserving and undeserving alike. * * H= Making public reply to these criticisms, we desire to state that THE CONJURERS' MAGAZINE was started with an object—that of righting certain wrongs and giving credit where it was deserved. It was not founded as an advertising sheet or catalogue. To live up to this policy it has been necessary to be pains-

taking, fearless, truthful and free from all malice. * * * We challenge any reader to point to a discussion in these columns which was not started either to right a wrong or to set ourselves right when we had been attacked first. We have never permitted advertising1 matter to influence these pages. We reiterate now what we said in our first issue, that this publication was not started for pecuniary gain, but to give magicians and the world at large a magazine which would reflect true insight into magic and elevate our craft. =i=

*

#

If you take issue with our policy, don't knock us to every one else and then extend a friendly personal greeting when we meet, lie manly enough to tell us straight from the shoulder how we can improve our magazine which we want to make your magazine. We are grateful for suggestions which do not conflict with our policy, but we have no use for the man who knocks behind our back and protests friendship in personal meetings. * * * When you see a performer lauded in these columns, rest assured he deserved it. If the item is derogatory, be equally sure that it was because he was weighed in the balance as man or performer, and was found wanting, not because he failed to subscribe or advertise in the magazine. We want this to be the best magazine of which our craft has ever boasted, and to this end we are not sparing money. Neither do we propose to "crawl" to either advertisers or subscribers. Win or lose, we stand by our original policy, and we are winning hands down.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

133

HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC Wiljalba Frikell. 1'iorn in Sagan, Schlesien, I'ru^ia, )uly 27, 1X16. Died in Kotchenlinu'a, October 10, 1903. amed in the history of magic for having given the first simon-pure sleight-of-hand performance without cumbersome stage draperies and apparatus. Herr Frikell. in all probability, held the record for the number of public appearances as a magician, lie spent 62 years in the magic circle, and next to him in years of service to his craft, stands Signor Blitz. The material used in this article was furnished by Frau Frikell, on several occasions when she received me personally. Many of the facts she gave me on the day when we first met, at the deathbed of her husband. This is the first authentic biographical sketch of Wiljalba Frikell ever published ; and the information offered by Mr. Thomas Frost and his successors, concerning Frikell, is, in the main, entirely incorrect and unreliable. Wiljalba Frikell was the son of a physician and the youngest of nineteen •children. When a mere boy he traveled over the continent as assistant to a professional magician, and at the age of sixteen he was able to give a complete performance on his own account. About this time he returned to his native town, not knowing that his family had re-

moved from the house in which he had been born. As lie neared the door of his old home lie saw issuing from it a christening procession. A baby girl was being carried to the church for baptism all swathed in white lawns and laces. "\ oung Frikell watched the procession wend its way down the quaint street, niurmiirintr to himself:

Wilj:ilha

FriliHl

in

his

youth.

"Some day 1 will marry that girl. 1 hen 1 will have mv revenge on the family for moving into my old home.'' And marry her he did, after watching her grow up as a charming young girl. At seventeen she became his bride, but the revenge never materialized, for

134

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

they were a most happy and united couple to the day of his death. Not that their wedded life was one long path of roses, for Frikell, like all magicians, had his ups and downs, particularly as his career as a public performer ran almost uninterruptedly from 1831 to 1896. For instance, in America he had most unpleasant experiences. In Cincinnati, O., he played to packed houses for fotir performances, and then his manager disappeared with the receipts. At the conclusion of his engagement at Stcinway I [all, in New York City, another manager played him the same scurvy trick, and perhaps for this reason he held America in poor esteem. During his numerous continental tours, he made friends with crowned heads and members of the nobility. Particularly was he honored by the King of Greece, who, after meeting him at Weisbaden, invited the unpretentious magician to visit him at his palace in Athens. The King of Denmark and the Viceroy of Egypt conferred medals upon him, and of gorgeous rings, pins and other jeweled trinkets from the hands of nobility he had a remarkable collection.

because Herr Frikell was in no wise proud of the occurrence. When he appeared by royal command before the Czar of Russia, that monarch was so pleased with Frikell's performance that lie commanded a high court official to express this appreciation by presenting to the magician a handTHF. ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS raorBssos rairwi.

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!»•• TUT vdoftSCa diuaaad rv Th.

I'r^feuor, wbu I.M U a

Uniil

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tcr him gnU «l*bntj LB lb* aA<*->Utu cir

WILJAUSA FRIKEL,I, IN HIS PRIME. (From the IUush cited London At?vs)

some diamond ring. In later years, when in less affluent circumstances, Frikell endeavored to dispose of the stone, which was a large and apparently brilHis income varied, as that of all old- liant one, and found that he had been time magicians did. Once in a little the victim of Russian graft, as the court German village his receipts were only 1 official had presented him, not a genmark, 70 pfennings, or about 40 cents uine diamond as ordered by the Czar, in coin of the United States. On the but a clever imitation paste affair. other hand, one night in St. Petersburg, This ring I saw framed among other Russia, after paying all expenses he souvenirs at the Villa Frikell in Kotchcleared 2,500 rubles, or $1,250 for a enbroda. single performance. Another time he was handed a counIt was in Russia also that he met with terfeit note by a clever but unscrupua very curious adventure, which was lous German auditor. Frikell was dorelated to me personally by Frau Frikell, ing a trick which entailed borrowing a and which has never appeared in print, thousand mark ($250) note, burning it

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. and later finding it in a candle. In those days the trick was simply worked. One note was borrowed, and, after the trick, another note was returned to the lender, a counterfeit note being used for the burning. The next day on looking over his apparatus and properties, Frikell discovered that the obliging man in the audience had handed him a counterfeit note, and received in exchange a genuine one. Through a mere accident he succeeded in tracing the man and under threat of arrest secured the return of his good bill. Today magicians employ sleight-of-hand and take a little more trouble and return the same bill borrowed, not a duplicate bill. Frikell claimed to have invented a very clever trick which he performed in public places to advertise his show. He would go to market to purchase rabbits or hares and carry under his coat a live hare. After making his purchase, he would apparently bring the dead hare to life, for a live animal would dart from his hands into the crowd, scurrying for an avenue of escape. Of course, this tale would travel throughout the town and help his attendance in the evening. But he disclaims all personal credit for having made the greatest innovation in magical performances of his time and that was discarding flowing draperies and cumbersome stage apparatus. This revolution is claimed by Robert-Houdin, but the fact remains that years before the French magician appeared before the public, Frikell had introduced the innovation, not with malice aforethought, but because of a singular mishap. He was booked to appear in Hamburg, but his entire apparatus, most of which was in sterling silver, his costume trunks, etc., were burned, and Frikell decided to abandon his performance.

135

Enter then the famous German poet, Heinrich Heine, who insisted that Frikell should give the show with whatever properties he could scrape up. The result was a sleight-of-hand performance, pure and simple. The audience went wild over the innovation, the mere absence of draperies and flowing sleeves by which the performer could so easily deceive the eye. From that day Frikell was famous for the simplicity of his performance and on this he built his large fortune. At the age of 59 he retired, apparently in affluence. A year later the bank in which his funds were invested failed, and Frikell, almost penniless, resumed his profession. A remarkably well-preserved man and one who believed in careful grooming and immaculate dressing, he readily deceived the public as to his years. When I saw him at 87, he could easily have passed for 50, and, indeed, when he appeared before the King of Denmark in Weisbaden, that monarch could hardly believe that this was the same magician who had appeared before him in the heyday of his youth. In 1884 he celebrated his fiftieth or golden anniversary as a magician. In 1896 he gave his last performance at Weisbaden and never again appeared in public. His farewell trick was the one which had closed his performance for years, that of the demon hat. He borrowed a hat from a man in the audience, drew from it a miscellaneous collection of articles, and then handed it to his assistant to be returned. The assistant awkwardly crushed the hat, and Frikell, taking the shreds, shoved them into a cannon, and then after the shot, a perfectly restored hat soared to the ceiling and was brought back to the owner at another pistol shot.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

136

After his second and final retirement, Frikell seldom left his home in Kotchenbroda, known as Villa Frikell. He had

self that the world of magic thought him dead, but during the course of my continental tour, in the early nineties, I

I-

^ o

tl i OQ

c p

j

serious differences with relatives and determined to lead an almost hermit-like life. So completely did he isolate him-

heard that he was still alive, though most inaccessible, at his Kotchenbroda home. (To be Continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

137

ered with a green handkerchief. The orange appears on the point of a fruit knife, and an apple is discovered under the handkerchief. The green handkerchief is shaken, when instantly it becomes white. The apple is covered with From Wilfrad C. Zelka a white handkerchief, which process As Mr. David Devant changes it to an egg. Rubbing the handhas not appeared in ILondon for some'"time, kerchief in the hand changes it into the ibis reappearance in his apple. A handkerchief is reproduced latest sketch, "The Mag- from inside a sleeve and is next put into the decanter and becomes changed into ical Master," is hailed a yellow one. with delight by lovers of magic, who are The egg is again placed on the dewell repaid for a visit to the home of canter and is' covered with the yellow mystery. handkerchief. It changes into a ball of The curtain rises on a darkened stage, wool. Benson holds up a wineglass and the scene being set to represent a secret the egg appears in it. room in an old house. Light is seen Benson wraps the wool up in his coming through a trap door in the cen- handkerchief and I'aget takes up a perter of the room, and through this trap fectly plain handkerchief, shows both door Arthur Paget and his manservant, sides, at the same time telling Benson Benson, enter. to shake out his handkerchief, which on Paget, who is a devoted student of examination, shows that the wool has conjuring, explains to his man that he vanished, and that a pattern appears keeps this secret chamber to practice his worked in wool on Paget's handkerchief. mystic spells in it. Paget next instructs Benson to hold a By way of explaining what magic will small tea tray on hi* head, and stands do, Paget claps his bands, when the beneath a sort of trapeze, over which black bow which his man was wearing is Paget throws a couple of pieces of silk seen on his own neck and on the man's ribbon. An egg is then laid on the tray, neck is seen the green tie his master and suddenly 'expands into one of enorwore. Beth remove the neckwear and mous size, having the ribbon tied around the servant ties his own on again. Paget it. Upon opening the large egg it is explains that he has a much better found to contain a lady dressed to remethod of putting on a tie, and giving semble a bird. the green tie to his man to hold, he tells Paget places a small hamper on a him to throw it at him, when it at once bamboo table, aild proceeds to take from again appears in its proper place around it the arms, legs, head, etc., of an InPaget's collar. dian. Replacing these gruesome objects in the basket, he throws a table cover Paget next takes up an empty decanter, when instantly a green handkerchief over them. The table cover rises, and appears in it. The decanter is stood on under it is found a tall Indian, who the top of a tumbler and an orange on steps down from the basket to the comic top of the decanter; the orange is cov- terror of Benson.

138

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

A large folding screen is placed on necromancer, Omen Clark, in his magitop of the dining-room table, and a cur- cal problems, and Barclay Gammon, in tain hung across the front. When the musical sketches. * * * curtain is removed, a large seashell is discovered on the table, and reclining The Magic Circle held its second anupon it, a lady who says she is a nymph nual dinner on December 7. About 100 of the sea. covers were set, which shows the Circle's The sea nymph can only be induced to growth. President Nevil Maskelyne was in the remain, when Paget promises to show her the latest fashions, for which pur- chair and after the Toast of the King, pose he makes Benson stand on a square gave a toast to the other magical soof carpet, and in rapid succession throws cieties, especially mentioning the S. A. a number of paper hoops over his head, M., in behalf of which Mr. Karl Gerand each time as he passes through a maine replied. hoop, he is seen to be wearing a different After dinner Mr. Maskelyne had to lady's costume -surmounted by a large leave in order to take his father's place picture hat. at St. George's Hall, the elder Mr. MasThe Indian now climbs up a rope kelyne being unexpectedly called away. which hangs in the centre of a clear Vice-President Ernest E. Noakes then stage, Paget takes a revolver and hands occupied the chair for the remainder of one to Benson, who, becoming scared, the evening. fires at the sea nymph, who immediately Participants in the entertainment were disappears from her stool in a flash of Messrs. Arthur Prince, with his venflame. triloquial act; Wm. Marriott, in a numPaget shoots at the Indian, who also ber of very interesting spiritualistic and disappears, leaving the rope hanging un- slate tricks; C. O. Williams, who had disturbed. A moment or two after, traveled up from Wales in order to be arms, legs, head and body come tumb- present, in some original and pretty effects with silk handkerchiefs, cards, ling down from above. etc.; Chas. Verney, in an original trick The above effects have written around them an amusing sketch, which is splen- with a card on a ribbon, and Karl Gerdidly acted by Mr. David Devant, as maine, who undertook to work the folArthur Paget, who works the illusions lowing trick which he had never seen and magic and Mr. Wm. Mayne as the before. A frame was put together with two pieces of glass and between them butler. They are supported by Miss Dora De- was placed a sheet of plain paper. A vant, Miss Florence Eaton and Mr. A. piece of white tissue paper was pinned Booth, as the sea nymph, the bird and on the front of the frame, while a length of white wool was pinned to the paper the Indian. ' In addition to this sketch Mr. Nevil and led away. Maskelyne presents the Spectres of the Upon the wool being lighted, both Sanctum, which includes the £1,000 it and the sheet of paper in front of the ghost illusion. frame disappeared, and on the paper unMessrs. Maskelyne and Devant are der the glass was a message from the spir.supported by Joad Heteb, the Egyptian its, wishing the Magic Circle and other

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

magical societies a Merry Christmas, etc. The trick had been devised and brought by Mr. E. E. Noakes, who being in the chair was unable to present it himself, and it speaks well for Germaine's skill when he was able to take and present it with perfect patter. He obtained much fun and laughter by pretending he did not know what was going to happen. Dr. Herschell also presented some _good card tricks, and the program concluded with songs by Messrs. C. d'Eger•don and J. Chilcott, and some exceedingly funny stories by comedian-magician G. W. Hunter.

Lady magicians, beware! We have a Miss Lutzi Jorden who is presenting a neat little magic act, and if she keeps on improving she will soon become one of •our celebrities. * * * George Hartmann is getting along as well as usual, and that is saying a great deal. He manages to work almost all the year round, and is perpetually changing his performance. * * * Herr Director Gluck of the Apollo Theatre, Dusseldorf, is a clever card manipulator and whenever he books a magician he generally indulges in magic talk—if the magician is a magician. * * * Carl Wolff has not been heard of lately and his bag of tricks has not

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been mentioned in any of the lost and found advertisements of the German newspapers. * * * There is no truth in the report that Ike Rose is going to present an illusion act. He knows too much to do anything like that. * * * J. Deutsch, with his Chinese troupe of magicians, is trying to obtain engagements in America, but the outlook does not seem promising on account of your American laws. * * * Madame Eleonore Orlowa and Mons. Alfred Kendler are presenting a few new original tricks, and as they are entitled to the "Hofkunstler" advertising material, it always brings them into good society. * * * Bruno Schenk is still giving the entire performance, and is now among the very few traveling magicians in Germany who carry an entire magical outfit. His entertainment would be well received in America, for many of his effects, while old to us, would be new to many of the present generation in the United States. *

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A man named Morton, who travels as a chain and lock expert, wants to be very careful what he does with his lady assistants. It is rumored that he left one of them without a penny and with no place to which to turn. He has been working steadily, and ought to be man enough to take care of his assistants, and not forsake them in such a condition. During his engagement at the Dierpalast in Osnabruck, he got into a wrangle, but

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with his brazen effrontery escaped without a scratch. If he is not very careful the German police may put him where he will not have to seek engagements for some time to come. * * * Clemont De Lion played a return date for Herr Director Tichy, in Prag, Austria. Clemont has been looking about himself lately and has been asking the managers if they will increase4iis salary if he allows Madame De Lion to assist him in his act. Get all you can, Clemont, for the hardest part of winter is still to come. • AUSTRALIAN NOTES FROM HAYMAN.

I have labored under the mistaken impression that Australia was a little behind the times in magic. Imagine my surprise to mid here in Sydney a society, called the Australian Society of' Magicians, with a membership of one hundred active members and a library containing twelve hundred volumes. I had the pleasure of attending the regular monthly meeting of this society on October 6. The president, Mr. Ernest Hosking, occupied the chair and a very enjoyable evening was afforded me. The main topic for discussion was the magical entertainment which was shortly to be given by the society at one of the local theatres, and at the close of same a few of the members entertained in a capable manner. There are about forty conjurers here who depend on magic for a livelihood. This is not a bad average when you consider that all of Australasia has only 4,000,000 inhabitants. Of course the question most argued is "Who is the cleverest conjurer?" And

it is conceded that for big illusions, a la Kellar, a gentleman named Czerny is the best. I hope to have the pleasure of witnessing his performance in Melbourne, where he opens with his own company at a local theatre after he completes his present successful tour of Victoria. The best parlor magician is conceded to be the full-blooded Maori conjurer Tairo, and I have been assured that as a sleight-of-hand conjurer he has never been surpassed. ' * * * I am in receipt of a lengthy letter from a young man named Carl Coro of Coolgardie, W. A., in which he informs me that-he has invented a new suspension illusion, which he has named Floto. He claims he can flcat about the stage at will at a height of about thirteen feet, and I almost forgot to add, with the lights full up. He naively adds.- that as yet he has not performed this trick in public, but only before a few select friends, who said the trick was great. Yes, Coro, it is a good trick if you do it, and it is a good trick •// you don't do it! * * * I am also in receipt of a letter from Mr. Robert Kudarz, from Wellington, New Zealand, extending his hand to me in friendship, and a right friendly letter it was indeed. I wish right here to thank all the conjurers of this country for the cordial reception and hearty good fellowship shown me. * * * Charles J. Carter opened to a crowded house in Sydney. He is accompanied by Mr. Allen Shaw, the famous coin manipulator, and Miss Abigail Price. Their tour in Australasia will embrace New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and New Zea-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

land. This will consume eleven months, after which they will go to the Philippines, Japan, China, India, Egypt, France, England and then back to America. This is Mr. Shaw's third trip to Australia, and he lias gained a host of friends. Carter, if my memory serves me right, not s;> many years ago was called Master Ketrae, the boy magician. Later he became an agent in Chicago. Victcr, a ventriloquist and conjurer. is on Fuller's Xew Zealand Circuit. The ventriloquial act combined with conjuring is here looked upon as a new idea, althor- '1 it was exploited as quite the thin;- I :_v years ago. Professor Scott, anoti.^r gentleman who combines the two arts at the Tivoli Theatre for Mr. Harry Rickards, is meeting with great success. *

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Another wizard, named Wallace, is touring Australia with his own company. * * * The Svengalis, after an unsuccessful tour under Mr. Rickards' management at Sydncv and Melbourne, were sent to Western Australia, and there made a big hit. They recently sailed for South Africa to open on the Hyman Halls for a three months' engagement. *_ * * At the King's Hall, N. S. W., a new suspension illusion is being exploited, which is well worth describing. Instead of the usual suspended sleeping leaning lady, we are introduced to a well-lighted stage, where a lady is seen to rapidly mount a bicycle which is suspended on two poles. After she has seated herself on the bicycle, the poles are taken away, which leaves the lady on the bicycle sus-

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pended in mid-air. The lady now begins pedaling and rides about the stage presumably at will. The illusion is causing a lot of talk and the theatre is packed nightly. While looking up some patent papers, I accidentally discovered that a young man by name of Duval patented the handcuff act in Australasia in July, 1905. For unmitigated nerve this really is the limit, and on looking up Mr. Duval's standing I am told he is an amateur conjurer, and a very bad one at that. I have also tvicil to find this young man so as to have him enlighten me when he discovered the handcuff act. On investigation I find that the patent is not worth the paper upon which it is written, as all patents registered in England apply to the English colonies, and a young man named Harry Houdini, the originator of this act, patented it in England in June, 1900. The action of Duval is astonishing, especially as the whole world knows that Houdini is the originator, and Duval himself claims to be a friend of Houdini and has corresponded with him. .What have you, Mr. Duval, to say on the subject? •

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I wish to especially acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. C. Howard Irving, the dental surgeon, but a conjurer at heart, for the many favors shown me. He will furnish Australian notes for the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE from time to time. *

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We are just having summer down here and it lasts until April. The climate, without doubt, is the grandest on earth, and this place seems to be a veritable paradise. Joseph Haxnian, Of Haxman and Franklin.

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READING

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

BISH

FROM THE

PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

ERRATUM. Through a typographical error in the September issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE, it was stated in the Ludwig Leopold Dobler article that Dobler performed before Emperor Franz Joseph, when it should have read that he performed before Emperor Franz, the uncle of the present Emperor Franz Joseph. * * * A two-page article from the August issue of The Lone Star, a magazine published in Australia, has been sent to us. This article on Thimble Rigging is interestingly written and illustrated by M. P. Adams. While Mr. Adams knows how to write and juggle with the English language, his knowledge regarding the origin of thimble rigging is far from correct. In its original form, as cups and balls, it was a pastime of the Egyptian necromancer, and gradually drifting into the Hindoo program, they now almost excel in this feat of mystery. The cups and balls, old as they are. are without an equal for magicians to exhibit in parlors, for they require very little preparation, and can be presented even when surrounded on all sides by spectators.

The November issue of Pearson's Magazine contains an exceptionally clever story by Rafael Sabatim, who gives a very good expose of a trick which is actually practical. The story is well illustrated by I. R. Skelton. The plot is woven around a traveling genuine spiritualist, Mons. Delemort, who, with the help of a secret assistant wins wagers by his ability of producing spirits. The method employed for working the trick is sensational and reminds us of the celebrated old Doctor Hairgrower, who, in order to help the sale of his hair restorer, would send to precede himself a confederate whose head had been shaved bald. Upon the arrival of old Doctor Hairgrower, this baldheaded ( ?) confederate would challenge the doctor to restore his hair, which challenge would at once be accepted and, of course, hair would, in a short time, actually grow on the shaven bald head of the confederate. The spiritualist iruthe above story is somewhat on this order, but rather more scientific. * * * It is rumored that we shall soon have another magical monthly, and that it will be published to sell for five cents a copy. As there is always room for a good magazine we hope to see it make its appearance at an early date.

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TIONS NSWERED

David Clifford Dunnico, Los Angeles, Calif. Price will be $1.75 per inch; but before we will accept any advertising from you, it will be necessary for you to send us references, as you seem to wish to sell peculiar material, and we must know that you are all right. * * * Prof. J. W. Micheal, New Orleans, La. You ask for advice, and fail to mention what for. One bit of advice we can give you and that is when writing to anybody try to use ink, and write only on one side of the paper. *

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Frank Mitchell, Melbourne. We have no interest in the party mentioned. Joseph Hayman will be only too willing to answer your questions, and is also authorized to accept subscription and advertising money for this magazine. * * * R. H. Gysel, Toledo. Thanks for clipping. Kindly keep us posted. * * * A. Arschelst, Montreal, Can. Madame Herrmann is the widow of Alexander Herrmann the Great. We think she has been the most successful female magician in the history of magic. * * * Joseph Wolf, Peru, 111. The card trick you mention is one that caused so much talk with Howard Thurston. It is explained in several books, also partially in Thurston's book. The cards rise, owing to a thread which runs across the full length of the stage, and one end adhering to a small clip on the back of the cards. Thurston can throw a card into almost any gallery, and has a method of his own.

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Wallace E. Dubble, Springfield, Mass. You can purchase what you wish from any dealer whose advertisement you will find in this magazine. If you visit any book shop you will be sure to find books on the parties mentioned. The best books on the subject are, Robert Houdin's Memoirs and Harry Kellar's book, published some time ago. * * * N. W. James, Randolph, La. You are asking a personal question, so you had better address him personally. You may obtain the information you seek, but we know" that he does not do the tricks in the "Sympathetic Manner" mentioned. * * * Prof. Mitchell, Vicksburg, Miss. You can only obtain the foreign handcuffs by hard work, and money. We cannot tell you where you can get the various things mentioned in your letter. Thanks for good wishes. Jos. J. Kolar, Maywood, III. Photo received. Thanks. * * * Russell, Batavia. Your last advertisement cannot be accepted as Barter and Exchange. For an advertisement of that description you must pay our regular rates. * * * Ruisselle, Jeanette, Pa. Same answer to your letter as for Russell of Batavia. Kindly read heading over Barter and Exchange column. Roterberg of Chicago .now has the Bean Giant for sale. * * * William Fresh, Monsullo, Montana. Your name appears to be just what you are. Be careful how you write those seriocomic letters, for some day or night, you will wonder what happened you. Politeness costs nothing. * * * Brenton Jennings, Wellesley Farms, Mass. As soon as men start in for handcuff work, they invariably say they want them for a collection in their room. Any other information you seek, which we can furnish, will be promptly answered. Soak the rusty irons that you have in kerosene oil.

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Albert C. Dicks, Cairns, Queensland. Thanks for your interesting letter; it is a little too long for publication. Received material in good condition. Let us hear from you again. * * * Chas. F. Heistand. You wrote that you would call and we waited. * * * James White, Wilmington. E. Powell resides in Chester, Pa. He is home at the present time. Yes, he is a property owner in Syracuse, Ind. * * * Austro, Jersey City. We are still waiting to hear from you, as per your last letter. * * * Harry Helms, Milwaukee, Wis. All right, Helms. Personal letter has been received and answered. Hope to see you in Chicago, 111. * * * H. J. Slocum, Eagle Station, Ky. No. i. Mediums Unmasked. No. 2. Roterberg's Card Tricks. No. 3 Sach's Sleight of Hand. Any dealer advertising in this magazine can furnish same to you. There are also quite a number of new books on sleight of hand. Sach in his reprint did not give credit to several American performers for the most important sleight mentioned in his book. He simply dismissed the subject by saying it was now being greatly used. * * * Charles Frankstone, Providence. The best book for a beginner is Hoffman's Modern Magic. It can be purchased in any book shop. * * * Raymond H. Simonton, Woodsford Station. Will answer your letter personally as soon as we get the proper time. Your suggestions are good. *

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A. J. Moose, Hoboken, N. J. Trick received. We are going to wait until a number are sent in, and then publish same. * * * Alfred Boehm, New York City. Horace Goldin was the first to work the rapid fire illusion act. Whoever told you different is not familiar with the true state of affairs.

Leon Herrmann and Harry Houdini were 011 the same bill in Chicago, 111., at the Majestic theatre, week of December 17. Herrmann showed several new feats in magic and illusions. Among his notable exhibits were The Bridal Chamber and La Esperanze, in which he vanishes Madame Maria Herrmann and a large glass box at one and the same time. The finishing deception consisted of a series of disappearances and exchanges and was masterfully presented. Madame Herrmann's various gowns, though gorgeous, were tastefully selected. Houdini in his act, as usual, presented different challenges, the principal new one being an escape from a galvanized iron liquid air can. This challenge is the first he has ever presented that was mechanical, and the audience was informed that it was a "mechanical problem." * * * Don V. Smyth, a clever necromancer who delights the good folks of Indianapolis, is not only a clever public entertainer but holds a responsible position with the New York dry goods store in that city. Should he ever play vaudeville, he cannot help but be a success. * * * Harry Helms of Milwaukee, Wis., and Harry Houdini, have had an understanding, and "all is forgotten and forgiven." The entire misunderstanding arose from a slight error in "write"; but, "All's well that ends well." Who is next? Howard Thurston has informed us that he will keep on inserting new material into his part of the Kellar-Thurston performance until he has as many of the good and latest illusions that can possibly be obtained for love or money. The revolving glass

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. casket in which a human being disappears in mid air, and the mysterious drum are the latest additions. * * * The Polish Herrmann, who deals exclusively with the Polish families in Chicago, and Schlikus, another representative of the Polish race, are competitors and many a lengthy debate they have. It makes good hearing to have the two dealers appear together in Roterberg's shop and tell each other how it happened. Both men are making money. " * * * Barney Ives was booked for one week in Minneapolis, and was re-engaged for six more weeks on the same tour. Barney has a pleasing, quiet manner of addressing his audience, and is sure of making good with the numerous changes he can place into his act. * * * Dr. Elliott, the champion card manipulator, is busy writing his friends that he intends to retire from the medical profession, and adhere strictly to magic. He will leave Springfield, Mass, in the early month of 1908. We wish him success, and hope his ability will be properly presented, as Dr. Elliott certainly can handle playing casds. * * * American press agents had better look to their laurels. The latest piece of news that has startled the theatrical world is that an actress has ordered a pink silk lined submarine craft to tour along the French coast. •

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We herewith reprint a newspaper item of a jail breaker who broke into jail. "Philip Bradshaw, who lives at No. 101 Pioneer street, Brooklyn, and gives exhibitions of how to break jail, had a chance to show his prowess in the Adams street station today, but didn't. He occupied a cell there after he had taken a deal more jailbreaking fluid than was good for him. "Bradshaw was passing the exclusive Brooklyn Club at Pierrepont and Clinton streets early today and was in hilarious mood. He entered the club and would not be persuaded to leave. He was beating up his sixth butler when Detectives Minnerly and Graybau reached the club in response to a hurry call.

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'Graybau is an ex-bag puncher and tackled the jail-breaker. There was a sharp set-to, of which Graybau showed the effects today, but Bradshaw was finally subdued. When arraigned in the Adams Street Court today he was more docile. Sentence was suspended." * * * , It is not generally known that a magician was the cause of starting Marconi on wireless telegraphy experiments. It is nevertheless the truth, because in 1888 a magician visited the county fair near Bologono, Italy, which young Marconi attended and beheld a magician for the first time in his life. He marvelled at the wonderful things that this necromancer presented, and especially at some crude and trivial experiments in electricity. On returning home he improvised his apparatus out of old pickle jars, and whatever other material he could find about the house, and attempted to duplicate the tricks he saw the magician perform. From this starting point, the result of magic, this genius, Marconi, developed wireless telegraphy and undoubtedly eventually the world will telegraph and telephone without using wires. * * * There is a man traveling about America under several aliases, who claims that he was manager and worked for Harry Houdini in Europe. The party in question is an imposter, as Harry Houdini is his own manager, and has always been under his own management, with but three exceptions First exception was when he was under the management of Mr. Martin Beck of the Orpheum Circuit, second when under the management of Mr. E. F. Albee, General Manager of Keith-Proctor-Williams Circuit, and third when under the management of Mr. Whitman Osgood of Washington, D. C. *

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Professor Ambrose of Rangoon, India, a well-known hypnotist and conjurer, expects to commence a tour around the world this coming season. *

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Ardie Wiecher sent us a list of clubs at which he is booked to appear this season which would almost fill a column. Among

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those mentioned are the Explorer's Club of New York, the Washington Drum Corps of Tarrytown and the Riverside Social of Richmond Hill, L. I. * * * Charles J. Carter must have made more than good on his opening in Australia, judging from the newspaper item in the Sunday Australian Truth of November n, 1907, which states: "We have had in Australia, from time to time, exponents galore of the Black Art, Jacobs, Heller, Kellar, Anderson, Hertz, Dante, The Fakir of Oolo, Thurston, etc., but we do not overstep the mark when we say at once that •Carter eclipses them all." *

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It is stated that Edward Shea of Mont-clair, N. J., is in a peculiar trance-like state, in which he frequently sings, even though he is unconscious. Before the trance came on Shea was known as a vocalist of some ability, but friends who have heard him sing in the trance say that his voice possesses more sweetness and that he sings with more expression than he did before. While his singing would lead one to believe that the songs he sings had been diligently practiced, none of his friends have heard him sing any of them before. Shea is fed artificially and, while he takes little nourishment, he remains in good physical condition. * * • The Indian Rope trick which Maskelyne and Devant have produced in London is an approach to the effect of the fabulous Indian Rope trick, the complete history with illustrations of which will be found in The Unmasking of Robert Houdin by Harry Houdini, a book that can now be ordered -from every reliable magical dealer. The commonly accepted version of the Indian Rope trick is as follows: The necromancer, standing in the open air, and surrounded by spectators, throws up one end of a rope, the other end of which rests •on the ground. The rope becomes stiffened and stands without support. A boy climbs up the rope and disappears into space. Later, portions of the body fall from the sky, which grow together again when they reach the ground, to form the body of the "boy.

The advertising management of St. George's Hall is to be commended on the ability which is shown for gaining for it world-wide publicity which no one else seems to be able to duplicate. * * * Max Berol-Konorah has been re-elected president of the German Artisten Loge by a very large majority. His duties of office will compel him to remain within hailing distance of Berlin, as he is now a paid officer receiving a yearly salary of 6,000 marks. The term of office is the same as that of the President of the United States, four years. While this may appear to be a large salary for the Germans, we think Max will be worth his salary many times over, for he is sure to work up special affairs from which the lodge will make money. There is no man in Germany today that is as fit for the position as Max Berol, who is a world-wide traveler, and speaks, reads and writes three languages, and is a man honest to the core. We wish you good luck, Max. * * * Horace Goldin recently worked two weeks at the Colonial theatre in New York, for Percy Wlilliams. We were the only ones to have the exclusive information, at the time of signing, that Goldin would be back for a run in America. He has returned with a lot of new material, has redressed his old effects, and is doing the best act of his life. Miss Jean Fransioli still assists Goldin as ably as ever, and with her superb costumes helps to dress up the act very much. The Planiquin trick opens and closes the act. If Goldin ever had a carload of trunks, he must have two or three this time. Judging from the show he is presenting, he must spend more money in getting his material, than a good many illusionists earn. * * * Zamloch & Company, who appeared at Pastor's New York theatre, had a unique combination of spiritualistic effects in the shape of a drum, a hat and a'wooden disk. These articles answer questions by taps and raps.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The wooden disk is well worked, and Zamlock shows daring nerve by working it in the aisle, within a few feet of his audience. The comedy assistant works clean. In fact the act, as a whole, is bright and entertaining as well as mysterious. * * * Ancollitti's mind reading dog is on the Keith tour, and as mind reading dogs are scarce at the present moment, is meeting with much success. *

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Mildred and Rouclere are doing excellent business, despite the hard times throughout the country. * * * Hal Merton has been unusually busy the past season, in the Southern States and has been re-engaged all over with the exception of the historical Jamestown exhibition, as that is closed for repairs. Merton has quite a line of good tricks, all of which are well presented.

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Hardeen was the headline attraction Christmas week at the New York theatre, this being his first appearance in our largest city. From all indications it seems that he will remain in America longer than his original contract calls for. * * * Orestes A. B. Senter, of Columbus, is busy writing an article for the Conjurers' Magazine which he has named, "Reminiscences of Some Magicians I Have Seen." Having been interested in magic many years we know that his pen will be guided to make some interesting reading to those that would like to hear facts about the oldtime necromancers. Mr. Senter visited the performance of the elder Anderson and has a vivid recollection of the many feats presented. * * * The Floyds are touring old Mexico, and are meeting with great success. They are playing college, and Y. M. C. A. concerts, and as they are engaged at a -guaranteed salary, their season is a success both financially and artistically. Mrs. Floyd's mind reading is the feature of the performance and has created a great deal of favorable comment. * * * The officer who handcuffed Brindemour in Waterbury, Conn., so that he had to sneak off the stage and cut off the cuffs -with a hack saw, is now looking for more "worlds to conquer. He came on the stage when the Kilbys worked his town, and tried to make them put on his cuffs. Bert Kilby simply reminded the officer that he does not do a challenge handcuff act, and saw no need of allowing himself to be handcuffed.

ources. BY FREDERICK ROCHE. Madame Herrmann with her pleasing act, "Cleopatra, the Egyptian Sorceress," appeared at the Orpheum recently. Chefalo and Capretta played Keith's and the Palace. * * * Fredericks, the veteran illusionist, has been playing local dates at many clubs and societies. * * * Hardeen played at the Tremont the early part of this mimth, to large audiences. His rapid work caused much comment. * * * Hendrickson and Rosini, the well-known New York magical team, played at the Somerville Y. M. C. A., about the middle of the month. Their show was witnessed by several Boston magicians who enjoyed the performance, but came away with the impression that the juggiing was dune better than the ma^ic. Lawrence Brignati, one of the local magicians, with 18 years of success behind him, has been one of the busiest men hereabouts during the holiday season. He di-

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vitlcs his time between business and his professional engagements. A new rule was adopted at the last meeting of the Society of Boston Magicians, which ought to give future meetings plenty of life. It was voted that every member perform at least one trick at each meeting, and the committee in charge will see to it that no one shall repeat the same trick twice. There was quite a spirited debate at the last meeting of the society, relative to the difference between an amateur and a professional magician. Some of the members contended that an amateur did not become a professional by taking money for his work as long as he did not make his living by it. Others, who had unhappy experiences with so-called amateurs, contended, with more warmth, that they belonged to a class whose name is not printable, and who spoiled the business by their clumsy performances, disgusting people, and giving all a poor reputation. Some, too modest to call themselves professionals, and not wishing to be classed with the undesirable "amateurs," invented a new class, and asked to be called "semi-amateurs." The designation did not take with the members, and they were given a name even less desirable than the amateurs, so the debate was cut short by the president. * * * W. D. Leroy is still as busy as he was before the holidays. He has a certain clientele, who always keep him busy. Prof. S. Wilson Bailey, who is not a giant in size, was giving a show at one of the public schools last week, and as the children in the back of the hall could not see well, the principal brought out a stepladder, and made the genial "Sam" mount it. It was a new thing for him, but he did his stunts well and got much applause. It was another proof that he is able to adapt himself to circumstances however unusual and unforeseen.

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iNDyCrry Since my last letter,, magic has slumbered, and the only men of mystery of note who assailed our Windy City have been Houdini and Leon Herrmann. Sailvail, the Kard Konjurer, is contemplating a trip to London this coming season. • * • I have had an enjoyable visit from Mr. and Mrs. David E. Stifft of Minneapolis, Minn., and the very first thing David did on his arrival was to visit one of the numerousChop Suey restaurants. After giving his order to the meek slant-eyed Chinese, David produced three fresh goose eggs from the Chinaman's eye, and ordered them to be "inserted" into his dish. The Chinaman had grim satisfaction, for Mysterious Stifft was thunderstruck to find on paying his bill that he was charged extra for three fresh laid eggs. * ** Volta had better look out for his laurels, for he has a rival who gets 3,200 volts and still lives, as is shown by the following newspaper item: RUSHVILLE, Ind., Dec. 23.—Gash Ross, a motorman on the Indianapolis & Cincinnati traction line, is in a serious condition from receiving 3,200 volts of electricity yesterday, while adjusting the "fiddle bow" of his car. One of his hands and possibly both will have to be amputated. The hand through which he received the shock most strongly is practically burned off. His face is also burned. He was formerly a member of the Rushville police force and was doorkeeper in the Indiana house of representatives in 1905. • • * Norton, the magician, was seen rushing up State street during the holidays I guess he was seeking for new tricks.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Hellman, the magicinn, gave his mystical •entertainment for the good and vvellfare of the newboys of Chicago and received a lot of newspaper work for his kind hearted efforts. How would it be for the Society of American Magicians to have some of their most prominent members give a few moments of their time at some large hall in New York, and devote the proceeds for a dinner for some of those youths of that city? * * * Nelson Morris, "he of the never wear a hat fame," invested in a new brand of handcuffs and made his appearance in the Majestic theatre during Houdini's act. * * * The following clipping from the Indianapolis Star of December 20th, may interest some of the readers, as it shows how a novice repeated Cunning's feat ut escaping from a vault. "Thirteen minutes after Cunning, the jailbreaker, had been locked in the vault in the Star business office, his wrists in two pairs of handcuffs, last evening, he came out. The handcuffs were grasped carelessly in his hands, still locked, and the big door of the iron vault was open. About thirty witnesses of the feat breathed freely again and Cunning, panting a little from his exertions inside the vault, remarked: " 'Thought I wasn't coming out for a minute.' "A few minutes afterward business office employees removed the metal shield of the combination mechanism on the inside of the vault to change the combination numbers. In doing so they discovered that the shield had been removed a few moments before. "Curious and wishing to prove their theory, an employee in the office was locked inside and came out in three minutes. lie had a screwdriver and didn't take time to replace the shield." * * * Khaldah, supposed to be Egyptian mind reader who claims to be connected with the Pittsburgh Leader, was featured with the Avenue Girls Burlesque show at the Empire theatre, Indianapolis, Ind., for the week of December 9, and after an engag-

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ment of one performance was closed and did not again appear. It was reported to me that he did the worst act that ever was seen. * * * I have heard that a certain Sid Morlcy, a handcuff man playing the Northwest, broke his arm, trying to knock open an ordinary cuff. He struck the cuff against the chair with remarkable force, but his vision must have been astigmatized, for instead of striking what he though was the cuff, he struck his wrist, and so broke his arm. I hear after he recovers he will return to his erstwhile profession. * * * Valazzi, the British juggler, met with much success at the. Majestic theatre, with his rolling a cannon ball up and down an incline. He also had a quasi-comic assistant. * * * Chinese Johnnie Williams is still at it on the Orphetim tour. Last information came from Minneapolis, Minn., at which place he still has his friend the dog. * * * Senor Barnngton appeared at the Lyric theatre, Hot Springs, Ark., the week of December 2, with his ventriloquism and necromancy. That "Senor" gag has not been worked for some time; it ought to go well down yonder among the Southern folks. * * * Volta collected a week's salary from the Temple theatre in Detroit. Bravo, old chap. Ship it 'omc. * * * Caesar & Company are touring Texas, and made quite a hit in Houston. They are playing the Majestic tour. * * * Madame Konorah has been transferred from the Klaw and Erlanger time, direct to the Keith tour. * * * Ah Ling Foo & Co. headed the bill at the Bijou, Wheeling, West Va. Those small circuits are a great thing for acts that never were heard of before.

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Bush and Elliott, comedy acrobats, are actually making the hit of their performance, by presenting burlesque mind reading. With the aid of a clever dialogue and a well-constructed slap stick, they leave the stage with the audience screaming with laughter. * * * The Okito Family are playing their finishing weeks on the Orpheum circuit. * * * The latest novelty in the show business is Ling Maribini, who is playing the Majestic Circuit, and whose specialty consists of "Sculping images out of cakes of ice." *

•

•

Bert Wiggins, the very clever juggler and cartoonist, is steadily improving his act, and will rank with the top notchers in the very near future. * * • Fred Gay is advertising the fact that he has more open time than some performers have work. At least he does tell the truth. * * * The Oriettas, lightning-like mind readers, boast of the proud fact that they allow the audience to ask their own questions, which the madame will answer. They are now saving money on the Sullivan-Considine circuit. * * * * The Great Marconis are making their first appearance in America with great "eclat." * * * Their electrical feats are really well presented. * * * Miss Henriette Roterberg, accompanied by Frederick Roterberg, were seated in a box at the Majestic theatre, discussing stamps and magic, during the holiday week. ~~~

*

*

*

I n f o r m a t i o n w a n t e d . W h y did you not speak to us at t h a t benefit at the S h e r m a n

House? * * * Marvellous Mells appeared at the Tola theatre, Chicago, week of December 23. * * * The really mysterious Sa Heras appeared at Keith's theatre, Columbus, the week of

December 23, and made more than good. Their act is one that can play a return date,, and do as well the second time as the first. * * * Sancedo, calling himself a Hindoo necromancer, was billed at the Novelty theatre,. Oakland, Cal. His name appeared on the bill the week of December 16. * * * Mr. George Ebey, who at one time was the press representative of the Orpheum,. Los Angeles, Cal., is now the resident manager of the Orpheum, Oakland. *

*

*

Chris Richards, the English Comique, is gradually adding card sleights to his performance, and if he keeps on he will soon be doing a card comedy act. * * * George Davis, a member of the Manhatten Comedy Quartet, has now signed with a regular show, and will soon appear as a legitimate actor. *

•

*

King, calling himself, "King of Sleight of Hand Performers," was booked at the Rhinestone theatre, Nashville, Tenn. H e was not the feature act. I visited the Yankee Doodle Girls at the Empire theatre, Indianapolis, and beheld the act of Martini and Maxmillion, who are announced as the World's Worst Wizards(a title they have taken from Walton and Lester), and witnessed them expose a lot of minor tricks. They did not expose the "Catching Gold Fish in the Air," nor several other little tricks and these went much better than any trick they exposed. They have a burlesque on jail breaking,, and informed the audience that they would1 perform this marvellous feat in their next performance. Their prison consisted of a cell with r u b ber bars, an idea which belongs to Baron,, who escapes from a tiger's cage, which is also constructed out of rope and rubber bars. Baron is the German who presents a burlesque circus performance with his trained dogs who have on their shoulders miniature heads of beasts of prey.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

What am I offered in exchange for a good copy of the New York Herald of April 15, 1865, containing the full account of the assassination of President Lincoln. Also have some United States stamps and magical apparatus. Good tricks preferred. Gylleck, 81 Madison Ave., Dixon, 111. *

•

*

I have a set of china rice bowls and some other magical apparatus and books which I offer for exchange. A. G. Heilmann, 1265 45th street, Brooklyn, New York. * * * Wanted: A copy of each of the following books on magic: "Modern Magic" by Hoffman, "Later Day Tricks" by Roterberg, "New Era Card Tricks" by Roterberg, "The Magic Art of Entertaining" by Selbit. Ray C. Hayden, Cumberland, Md. * * * Wanted: Books, magazines and programs on magic. Will exchange magical apparatus for same. Herbert R. Richardson, Bradford, Mass. *

*

•

Wanted: Books on magic, newspaper clippings, etc., in exchange for second-hand magical apparatus. A. M. Mignon, 1412 Pacific street, Philadelphia, Pa. * * * Will exchange a copy of "Later Magic" for "Modern Conjurer," "Behind the Scenes with Mediums," for "Evan's Spirit World Unmasked"; the following tricks for a set of eight, six or eight-inch mysterious linking rings, or best offer; Kellar's rope tie,

Wizard's rope tie, Ten Ichi thumb tie, Merlin's Wonder, the mysterious port wine, ink and water trick, cards from the pocket, La Kato's cards and De Kolta's rising cards. H. J. Slocum, P. O. Box 40, Eagle Rock, Ky. * * * What have you to offer for Aga, in fine condition with painting 9x12, Hindoo basket and card star. Karl Morgenwek, Everett House, Union Square, New York. *

*

•

What am I offered for handcuffs and legirons? R. W. Strong, 505 Juanitz Building, Dallas, Texas. * * * What have you to exchange for goose neck soprano saxaphone, in perfect condition? Prefer M. P. manikins or good illusions. A. H. Little Valley, New York. * * *

a Conncase, inmachine,, Mosher,

Wanted: Books on magic, for which I will trade good magical apparatus. Le Roy, care of Y. M. C. A., Washington, D. C. * * * Wanted: Medium size nest of boxes,, rabbit and dove pan, and foreign silk flags. Have some good tricks to exchange for same. Wm. E. Simms, P. O. Box 369,. Dobbs Ferry, New York. * * * I have for exchange some brand newside tables, rope ties and other magical' effects. Burling Hall, I2i6-47th street,. Brooklyn, New York. * * * What am I offered for a harness escape, packing case mystery and other things which would be of service to handcuff experts. Percy Hill, 613 1-2 Chestnut street,. Reading, Pa. * * * What have you to offer for my cage and* box act? Huegood, 402 Westminster street,. Providence, R. I. *

*

•

What have you to offer for two sidetables, a pillory, a Cuban strait-jacket, a packing box escape and some other thingsmanufactured by H. Hardin. Olivette, 225, Pacific street, Brooklyn, New York.

152

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Our Mall Bag In this department It is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in tbe hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, tbe ^editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

A MODERN GENIUS IN MAGIC. One of the causes which led us to commence the publication nf this magazine was our intention to give credit, to whom it was due, and with the following letter we wish to bring to the attention of our readers Mr. M. M. Wood, who, without a question of doubt, is the greatest inventor and originator of magical apparatus living today. Besides being the inventor of the articles mentioned in his letter, Mr. Wood is the inventor of "The Disappearing Handkerchief from the Side of the Gun," "Vanishing Cards on top of a Gun," "Coin Dropper" (T. N. Downs in his book on coin tiicks. gives him full credit for this invention), a "Second Sight System" (in which the medium's shirt is used as a receiver and manages to obtain connections from all over the house), and "The Permanent Soap Bubble," his very latest creation. In addition, Mr. Wood holds more than fifty patents on various electrical devices, from many of which he is receiving royalties, and has just succeeded in completing- an electric chiming clock, which is the only one of its kind in existence that can be sold for $100 a t - a profit. Some time ago there appeared in a Western contemporary a lengthy article of a wonderful man, who called himself ".Teseffy," who laid claim to the invention of a marvelous rapping hand, and moving skull, but, as is hereafter shown, this "Joseffy" traveled under false colors, and in order to prove the same, and also to show our readers who is the real inventor of many of the things presented by numerous magicians, we will allow Mr. Wood to speak for himself in the following letter.

Editor CONJURERS' MACAZIXE. Sir:—There is nothing' quite so gratifying as to know that credit is placed where it is due. I remember in '88, when I was doing some work for Harry Kellar in Erie, Pa., I thought he was a wonder, and I still think so, as he had no hesitancy in giving me credit for suggestions in his line. In later years I have brought out some magical work and have trusted to my friends' advice as to their value; but I now find that it does not pay. I wish to call attention in particular to one instance, when I invented, made and operated the mechanical rapping hand

in 1900, and some time later, through my friend Mr. IJurlingame of Chicago, I exhibited this hand to a mechanic by name of Joseph Freud, who, by the way,

M. M. Wood.

with my permission, exhibited this hand to Mr. Kellar and took an order for one from him, and used my original model to work from in fulfilling the order. Mr. Burlingame sent me my share of the profits, and later sent the original model of the hand back to me at Schenectady, New York.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

153

relationship and at the same time help the poor amateur along. Let some one give his method of working the "Billiard Balls," "The Camelion Handkerchief Trick," and the "Cards from the Pocket." I do not mean that these tricks alone should be under discussion, but any trick is welcome that the majority of us present. This would help correspondence and a live paper ought to be willing to accept any good preposition for the subscribers C. Porter Morton played a week at the IJijnu, and managed to please. The New Majestic Theatre will open shortly, and then we may be able to enjoy morf mystery artists. Walter G. Harris. 324 East Walnut street. • • • 60 Ralph St., Providence, R. I. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE: Sir: T write to ask if you can inform me whether or not there is any treatise published relative to fancy and expert shuffling of playing cards, or whether there is any work published on card manipulation which also contains information relative to shuffling. My brother and I have quite ex^ ^ ^ hausted your advertising columns of the Kalamazoo, Mich. CONJURERS' MAGAZINE with a view to ^Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE: finding something relative to the above Perhaps you have never heard of me ? mentioned art, but up to the present There are a good many people living to- time of writing our efforts have been day who never have and probably never unavailing. Very truly yours, will. But as I am a "Constant Reader" I. GarficJd Milncs. of your magazine, I am kept up-to-date on what is going on in the World of HOW SIGNOR A. BLITZ WOULD Magic. MAKE CHURCH BELLS RING. I would like to see a column devoted This is an old trick which at one time to "Different Methods of Common was used with great success by the oldTricks," i. e., an amateur's column, or time magicians and featured by Signor something that will bring us into closer Blitz. I now hold in my possession the original letters from my friend Mr. Burlingame which show (i) that he offers me a certain profit if he sells the hand to Harry Kellar; (2) that I .'.cut him my original model from which his mechanic, Joseph Freud, made a duplicate (the same mechanical apparatus or cylinder will also cause a skeleton's head to move its jaws) ; (3) that the original hand was returned to me after it had been •copied by Freud; (4) that I was paid my share of the profits made from the hand which was furnished to Kellar by Burlingame. Not very long ago, however, while giving an evening's performance, I was a's'ked by a professional how I liked "Joseffy's" hand. I, of course, was surprised and immediately took steps to look up this man "Joseffy," and found that he had gained considerable notoriety by posing as the originator of the hand and also a mechanical skull. You can, perhaps, also imagine my surprise when I learned that Joseffy was none other than Joseph Freud, Burlingame's .mechanic! Very truly yours, M. M. Wood.

154

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Although Blitz had played the large cities of the world he generally played small towns and for these places he reserved this trick, as there it was easy to present. His advertisements stated that he would make any church bell in the town ring as many times as asked for by the audience. EFFECT.

On the evening of the performance a committee would be selected who would choose the church and state how many times the bell should ring. Blitz would wave his wand and at every stroke of his wand the bell of the selected church would ring, until it had pealed forth the number of rings agreed upon by the committee. Blitz used two confederates, sometimes three. His first one, supplied with matches and a candle, was concealed on the roof of the theatre. The second with a hammer in his possession was stationed near the door of the theatre, and when the committee announced to the audience the name of the selected church, he ran with all haste to the church (and arrangements having previously been made with all the various janitors to loan him a key so he could gain access at any hour) up to the belfry tower, stationed himself in such a place so that he could see the signals of the first confederate, who was stationed on the roof of the theatre. The confederate concealed on top of the theatre would watch Signor Blitz, who was killing time informing the audience how impossible it was for a prearranged church to have been selected; -and when he had received the cue that the men were in their proper places, he started to slowly wave his wand and

eventually struck it against an imaginary bell. This was the cue for the manon top of the theatre to cue the man in the church belfry to strike the bell with, his hammer, and was transmitted by the man on the theatre raising a lighted', candle above his head and lowering it.. At every stroke of the wand the man with the candle would raise and lower it, and the confederate in the church belfryseeing the ascending and descending' candle would strike the bell with the hammer every time he perceived the signal, and continued until he had received his cue that all was well. At the present time this trick is moreeasily accomplished by making use of trie telephone, but in the early days of Blitz when the uses of electricity were not sowell known in small towns, this was considered a wonderful feat.

HOVNNL THE STRAIT-JACKET RELEASE. The word strait-jacket alone conjures to mind pictures of violent maniacs and thoughts that trend to gruesome channels. The origin of the presentation of this release on the stage occurred to me dur-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ing the season of 1894-5, while touring the Canadian provinces, where I went to fulfill an engagement with Marco, the magician (now James Dooley of Hartford, Conn.), but the company fared disastrously because a man had assumed the name of Markos and the preceding season toured through the same territory and gave so poor a show that the audiences went away complaining, and when the real Marco Company arrived they sparingly patronized us, but as they left we could hear remarks all over to the effect that "This is not the same Marco we had here last time." The name of the bogus Markos was, I believe, Skinner, and the people said it was actually one well earned and appropriate for the kind of a show he presented to them. Our show closed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I thereon determined to proceed by myself, and give the whole show. While in St. Johns I met a Dr. Steeves, who then was in charge of a large insane asylum, and received an invitation from him to visit his institution, which I accepted. After showing me the various wards, he eventually showed me the padded cells, in one of which, through the small bars of the cell door, I saw a maniac struggling on the canvas padded floor, rolling about and straining each and every muscle in a vain attempt to get his hands over his head and striving in every conceivable manner to free himself from his canvas restraint, which I later on learned was called a strait-jacket. Entranced, I watched the efforts of this man, whose struggles caused the beads of perspiration to roll off from him, and from where I stood, I noted that were he able to dislocate his arms

155

at the shoulder joint, he would have been able to cause his restraint to .become slack in certain parts, and so allow him to free his arms. But as it was that the straps were drawn tight, the more lie struggled, the tighter his restraint encircled him, and eventually he lay exhausted, panting and powerless to move. Previous to this incident I had seen and used various restraints such as insane restraint muffs, belts, bed-straps, etc., but this was the first time I saw a strait-jacket and it left so vivid an impression on my mind that I hardly slept that night, and in such moments as J slept I saw nothing but strait-jackets, maniacs and padded cells! In the wakeful part of the night I wondered what the effect would be to an audience to have them hec a man placed in a straitjacket and watch him force himself free therefrom. The very next morning I obtained permission to try to escape from one and during one entire week I practised steadily and then presented it on the stage, and made my escape therefrom behind a curtain. I pursued this method for some time, but as it was so often repeated to me that people seeing me emerge from the cabinet after my release, with hair disheveled, countenance covered with perspiration, trousers covered with dust and ofttimes even my clothes being torn, remarked, "Oh, he is faking, it did not take all that effort to make his escape," that eventually I determined to show to the audience exactly what means I resorted to, to effect my release, and so did the strait-jacket release in full view of everybody. (To be completed in the February issue.)

156

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A NEW WAND MYSTERY The wand which the performer has used during the evening is shown to be quite solid and wrapped up under the eyes of the audience. It is then deliberately torn up and reproduced at will. No shells, threads, elastics or collapsible wand used. This will puzzle t h o s e t h a t " k n o w . "

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A GREAT VANISHING CARD ILLUSION A card is selected by a member of the audience who himself covers it with his own handkerchief, and drops it (still covered) into a glass of water allowing the handkerhief to fall on and over the glass. Performer commands card to vanish and on handkerchief being removed it is found to have done so. Quite inexplicable but so simple to work. 1| post free 1| L. U. S. A. 25 cents, post free 30 cents. No. No. No. No.

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Entered as second-class matter September 12. 1fl
CONTENTS Wiljalba Frikell European Notes Australian Notes Our Mail Bag The'Strait Jacket Release Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Reading and Rubbish

FEBRUARY

1908

162

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINECONJURERS MAGAZINE PARLOR TRICK COMPETITION.

.Amatuers Take Notice. To cause interest in parlor tricks, we are starting this competition, to which all are admitted, and offer to pay the sum of ten dollars for the best, and five dollars for the second best parlor trick sent to us. You can send us your favorite trick, and remember it is not essential that the trick be an original one. Write in plain letters, on one side of your paper, and if possible have your trick typewritten. Any stenographer will typewrite it for you and charge only a few cents for each typewritten page. Conjurers' Magazine Parlor Trick Competition, 278 W. 113th St., New York City. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

.

Members T. V. and C. A. A.

ANGER &, BAUER ACENTS FOR

English, Hmetican anb Continental IDartet^ Hrttetes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. Continental Representatives for and Continental for _ Messrs. A. Bon unici an.I Kr.intc E. Fillis's Enterprises in South Africa.

| ^"\ IVJ T~\ f \ IVI

Fj" IV1 ^^

Harry Day THE. AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking ell Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased to grant unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want fur doing it. Zfflr.-hcm Hcus:, Arjr.db Street, Strand, London, England

Jennie Jacobs Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Suite 735

New York City

'PHONE 1055-38th

Booking for every Music Hall in America, Kngland and the Continent Traveling Representatives: MISS PAULINE COOK and TIIEO. HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice Kin lly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

5|

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

ARNOLD De BIERE

Hotel Preston (Opposite Madison Square Garden)

FOURTH AVE. AND 26th STREET

NEW YORK CITY

A New Hotel with all modern improvements, centrally located. European Plan. :: :: :: Rooms $1.00 per day. With Bath $1.50 per day and upwards

Cafe and Restaurant Unsurpassed Reasonable Prices Orchestra Music Special Rates to the Profession The Always Working Magician, introducing the newest of the best illusions. Prolonged four times at the London Al ham lira.

SAMUEL QLANTZ Proprietor

N. J. WEISS Manager

Theo Weiss Hardeen —*•*TsW^' «* miiWM k

Hayman He Franklyn Mr. Joseph Hayman the official stall rercsentative of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine sailed from I y ondon August 2d, on the P. & O. S. S. Victoria, and will remain on the Harry Rickard's Tour sixteen weeks. Magicians ate invited to call on him whenever possible. We will appreciate any courtesy extended to him.

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The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co,

American Magicians was the nucleus and inspiration of similar organizations the world over, extending as far as Australia, as reference to our Australian correspondence from time to time will prove.

278 WEST 113TH STREET

* **

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY

The influence of the society is always for good, and it has created a spirit of TELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDE free masonry among magicians that was sorely needed. Men who were once enPer Year $ 1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents vious, or unwarrantably and unjustly critical of each other are now on terms Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. of professional and personal friendship. So far has the reform extended that a The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Uagazlne are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without per- man will now exhibit a trick or illusion million. with pleasure to a brother magician—• The magazine Is for sale by all reputable dealers secure in the thought that it will not be of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by ad- stolen by the other and exhibited as the 4resslng the publication office, as above. output of the latter's inventive genius. Foreign representatives—London, England, Ttaeo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; It has brought into existence a new code Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia. James Leahman. of honor among magicians. • * * Contributions on all topics of interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the Inasmuch as we are not the official price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped organ of this society we feel that our and addressed envelope. utterances will be accepted as disinterFEBRUARY 15, 1908 No. 6 ested. We are not inspired by any perVOL. II. sonal interest in the association, for this Of the hundreds of queries sent to is an independent publication, not a this office by magicians and those inter- party or official organ. It is in nowise ested in magic, the most common is: connected with the society, wherefore "Why join the Society of American Ma- our advice may be accepted as offered gicians, and what benefits can be derived without any object or prospect of mafrom such an affiliation?" terial gain. We say again that the SoGenerally these questions are answer- ciety of American Magicians needs every ed in personal letters from the editor, magician and lover of magic enrolled on but this particular query is of such gen- its membership books, and every magiceral and such vital interest that we are ian needs the society, its protection and making public reply, hoping thereby that its companionship. So if any of our we can interest those magicians too correspondents are wavering, let us add' apathetic to write or to seek membership "By all means join the society and join in the organization. it now. Send your name and address • * * to Mr. Oscar Teale, 35 Broadway, New Magicians and all lovers of magic York City, and receive in return applishould join this society because its basic cation blanks and full particulars as to principle is to create brotherly feeling requirements for admission to memberamong its members. The Society of ship. NEW YORK CITY

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HISTORY MAKERS IN THE WORLD OF MAGIC WILJALBA FRIKELL (Continued) While playing in Cologne I wrote to him, requesting an interview. I received in reply a curt note, "Herr verreist, ' meaning, "The master is on tour." This, I knew, from his age, could not be true. so I took a week off for personal investigation. I arrived at Kotchenbroda on the morning of April 8, 1903, at 4 o'clock, and was directed to his home, known as "Villa Frikell." Having found my bearings and studied well the exterior of the house, I returned to the depot to await daylight. At 8.30 I reappeared at his door, and was told by his wife that Herr Frikell had gone away. I then sought the police department, from which I secured the following information : "Dr." Wiljalba Frikell was indeed the retired magician whom T was so anxious to meet. Living in the same town was an adopted daughter, but she could not or would not assist me. Armed with this information, I employed a photographer, giving him instructions to post himself opposite the house and make a snap shot of the magician, should he appear in the doorway. But I had counted without my host. All morning the photographer lounged across the street and all morning I stood bareheaded before the door of Herr Frikell pleading with his wife, who leaned from the window overhead.

With that peculiar fervency which comes only when the heart's desire is r.t stake, I begged that the past master of magic would lend a helping hand to one ready to sit at his feet and learn. I urged the debt which he owed to the literature of magic and which he could pay by giving me such direct information as I needed for my historical work on magic.

Another reproduction of a photograph or 1 rikell in his prime.

Frau Frikell heard my pleadings with tears running down her cheeks, and later I learned that Herr Frikell also listened to them, lying grimly on the other side of the shuttered window. At length, yielding to physical exhaus-

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tion, I went away, but 1 was still undaunted. I continued to bombard Herr Frikell with letters, press clippings regarding my work, etc., and finally in Russia I received a letter from him. I might send him a package containing a certain brand of Russian tea of which he was particularly fond. You may be

PROFESSOR

WILJALBA FRIKELL, PlijticU* l,i (tar MajeUut Tlu Emptror and Empn'i ••/Russia.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL MAGIC, (SUUboul Ibt ^.iii of ang ^ppatatns,) ENTITLED,

(DIP

1

J «,

THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF RUSSIA, THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA. THE SULTAN MAHOMET, THE KINGS OF PRUSSIA, HANOVER, BAVARIA, SAXONY, DENMARK, SWEDEN, and GREECE, MEHOMET ALL VICEROY OF EGYPT, AND ALL THE DUCA1, COURTS OF GERMANY. TO COMMENCE AT EIGHT AND TERMINATE AT TEN O'CLOCK.

Stalls, 5s.

Boxes, 3s.

Pit, 2s.

Gallery, Is.

Private Boiea, Two Guineas; One Guinea ODd-a-Half; and One Guinea. Tickets aud Places may !><.• secured at i\fr. MITCHELL'S Royal Library. !i3, 01,1 Buu.t Sufet.

A reproduction of one of Frikell's programs on which is mentioned " Physical and natural magic without the aid of any apparatus."

sure that I lost no time in shipping the little gift, and shortly after I was rewarded by the letter for which I longed. Having decided that I cared more for him than did some of his relatives, he would receive me when next I played near Kotchenbroda.

With this interview in prospect, I made the earliest engagement obtainable in Dresden, intending to give every possible moment to my hardly won acquaintance. But Fate interfered. One business problem after another arose concerning my forthcoming engagement in England, and 1 had to postpone my visit to Herr Frikell until the latter part of the week. In the meantime, he had agreed to visit a Dresden photographer, as I wanted an up-to-date photograph of him and he had only pictures taken in his more youthful days. On the day when he came to Dresden for his sitting, he called at the theatre, h'.it the attaches, without informing me. refused to give him the name of the hotel where I was stopping. After the performance I dropped into the Konig Kaffe and was much annoyed by the staring and gesticulations of an elderly couple at a distant table. It was Frikell and his wife, but I did not recognize them and. not being certain on his side, he failed to make himself known. That was mid-week, and for Saturday, which fell on October 8, 1903, 1 had an engagement to call at the Villa Frikell. On Thursday, the Central Theatre being sold out to Cleo de Merode, who was playing special engagements in Germany with her own company, I made a flying business trip to Berlin, and on my return I passed through Kotchenbroda. As the train pulled into the station I hesitated. Should I drop off and see Herr Frikell, or wait for my appointment on the morrow? Fate turned the wheel by a mere thread and I went on to Dresden. So does she often dash our fondest hopes! My appointment for Saturday was at 2 p. m., and as my train landed me in Kotchenbroda a trifle too early I walked

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slowly from the depot to the Villa Frikell, not wishing to disturb my aged host by arriving ahead of time.

meeting the great magician. A lady opened the door and greeted me with the words: "You are being waited for."

I rang the bell. It echoed through the house with peculiar shrillness. The air seemed charged with a quality which I presumed was the intense pleasure of realizing my long cherished hope of

I entered. He was waiting for me indeed, this man who had consented to meet me, after vowing that he would never again look into the face of a stranger. And Fate had forced him to

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keep that vow. Wiljalba Frikell was dead. The body, clad in the best his wardrobe afforded, all of which was donned in honor of his expected guest, was not yet cold. Heart failure had come suddenly and unannounced. The day before he had cleaned up his souvenirs in readiness for my coming and arranged a quantity of data for me. On the wall above the silent form were all of his gold medals, photographs taken P O L Y G RA P H I C

HALL;

KISO WILLIAM HTKEBT. CHABIKO CROSS. F 0 I S T II 1 1 1 I, 1 S I s 1 I s H i

I

II

fTJR

A Kt W » t 6 h S 0 N I T

There we stood together, the woman who had loved the dear old wizard for years and the young magician who had been so willing to love him had he been allowed to know him. His face was still wet from the cologne she had thrown over him in vain hope of reviving the fading soul. On the floor lay the cloths, used so ineffectually to bathe the pulseless face and now laughing mockingly at one who saw himself defeated after weary months, of writing and pleading for the much-desired meeting.

I

From Wilfred C. Zelka CHEAT atCX'iSB

Tilt: MM

THICKS.

* "

EVERY EVENING

S l ^ ^

- AT 8.

WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY Afternoons at 3. AJH»h!the&tre, Is.

Area, 2s.

itsJls, 3s.

PrlvsU Boies, One OulDes-

A Poster used by Frikell for his engagement at the Polygraph Hall.

at various stages of his life, orders presented to him by royalty—all the outward and visible signs of a vigorous, active, and successful life, the life of which he would have told me had I arrived ahead of Death. And when all these were arranged he had forgotten his dislike of strangers. The old instincts of hospitality tugged at his heartstrings, and his wife said he was almost young and happy once more, when suddenly he grasped at his heart, crying, "My heart! What is the matter with my heart ? Oh—" That was all!

As far as the halls are concerned this has been the most quiet period for magicians in London in some years. * * * But, if magicians are not to be found on the halls, those who cater to children's parties and private entertainments are making good, and, though there are hundreds of conjurers in London, those who can give a good children's show have no open dates. * * * On Saturday evening, December 21, all of Mr. Maskelyne's employees (amounting now to nearly 100 people) attended an elaborate banquet, given on the stage of the St. George's Hall, after the show.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE

The occasion was that of Mr. Maskelyne's birthday, whose custom has been to celebrate it in this way, every year since he established his entertainments in London, now over 40 years ago. *

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*

Fred Cull-Pitt, the magician, has been specially engaged to play one of the leading parts in the production at the London Hippodrome. He is not presenting magic, but appears as Mr. Phisto Flies (Mephisto). *

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Ormonde Penstone has gone to the Alhambra in Paris for six weeks. Yettmah, assisted by Sasa San in Japanese magic, are at the Hippo, Hastings. Japanese magic seems to be fashionable just now. *

*

*

I hear from South Africa that an illusionist named "Melsophora" is at the Standard, Johannesburg, while at the Empire Palace they have the Svengalis in their thought reading act. *

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*

Lieut. Albini is playing return dates on the Payne and Gibbons Halls. Sydney Lee is on the Gibbons circuit; he causes a great deal of excitement with his method of throwing the pasteboards. Prof. Dunning and Kalm have been on the London, Stoll Halls. Marco, the boy magician, has not altered much in the last ten years. He is at the Hippo, Putney.

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Leipzig is still going round comfortably with his billiard balls, thimbles and cards. * * * The Davenports (they don't do rope tricks) were at the Palace, Warrington. * * * Carl Hertz topped the bill at the Hippo, Birmingham, with his usual success. * * * Liverpoolites like Chung Ling Soo's show, and while he was appearing at the Olympia they did not neglect the opportunity of seeing him. * * * Roland presents his regular show at the Empire, Middlesboro. * * * Charlton (not Carlton) presented an all around niagic act at City Varieties, Leeds. * * * FROM OTHER SOURCES. A judgment has been handed down in the case of Rosen and Bliss versus Hardeen, against the latter for breaking a contract and failing to appear at Aberdeen and Dundee in February, 1907. The case came to trial during Harde'en's absence and had he been here to defend himself, undoubtedly would not have lost. On his return to England, when he appeals he should easily win. * * * Severus Schaffer is back in England again playing the Stoll tour, being billed this week at Birmingham. * * * Kahn and Kahn are again on the Stoll tour. They have acquired the habit of playing this tour every season. * * * Will H. Fox, the wizard of the piano, is at Sheffield on the same bill with Morton and Elliott.

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Henri Bekker, the man with the big hands, is still working steadily and making good everywhere. Last week he went to South Shields for Mr. Harry Burns, the hustling agent of the North. :|s

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*

Wishart, the bottle king, is doing fairly well. He advertises that he is the only bottle king and the originator of the double box trick. Does he know that years ago there appeared a legless man who presented a Bass's Ale bottle trick in the clime museums? And further, is he interested in being informed that Houdini staged a double box trick be.fore Wishart trod the stage? ,-;<

=js

^

Since Henry Lee has placed the booking of his act in the hands of Harry Da)', he has very few open dates. * * * Dr. Walford liodie, the man who ought to have appeared in America, is doing better than ever in Wales, and making a lot of money. Still by not exhibiting himself in the States, he has disappointed many people. * * * Rudinoff, the man who has retired more often than a prize fighter, has again bobbed up, just as good as ever, at the Alhambra, Paris. * * * Cussic Talma has again appeared in England with his same old act. Why does he not try to attempt to present something new? * * * Prince Bendon, the Scotch ventriloquist, is doing very well with his own company in Scotland. This man should go to America, where good ventriloquists are well paid and always meet with favor.

It seems but natural that magical acts should now be scarce, after being favored with so liberal a number in the past two months. *

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At the Colosseum we have the versatile artist Mr. Sylvester SchafTer, who commences his performance with a magical number. *

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•

At the Apollo, the Bernard Company with their burlesque act entitled, "An Evening in an American Tingel-Tangel," are retained for the second month. The act certainly is droll and causes roars of laughter time and time again. This company was seen here two years ago when under the management of Mr. Billie Reeves. * * * O. K. Sato, the comic juggler, occupies the second stellar position on the same bill. He has elaborated his act and added many funny ideas since his last engagement in Vienna. *

-Y-

*

Alexander Canaris reports that he is successfully touring South America. H=

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I was favored with a pleasant letter from Okito, who at the present time is on his American tour. I shall refrain from comments, as many of my American readers will undoubtedly have seen his act.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Chevalier Ernest Thorn, the present European sensation, after fulfilling" an engagement in .Magdeburg, went to Liege, Belgium, where the critics spoke most enthusiastically of his performance. His next engagement will be at Crefeld, which will be followed by Leipzig, where he will appear at the Crystal Palast, fulfilling his fourth engagement there. * * * I regret to have to report the death of one of the many Bellachinis, namely Ruchay Bellachini, at Kronigsburg, Germany. He was no relative of the original Bellachini. * * * On the completion of their contract in Vienna, Le Roy, Talma and Bosco returned to England. * * * Melot Herrmann, the French conjurer, is at the Wintergarten in Berlin, and meeting with much success. ;!:

*

:lc

In one of the suburban theatres of Berlin a droll magical sketch entitled, Hocus Pocus, is being presented. Unfortunately a number of good magical secrets are exposed, amongst them being the Black Art. * * * Clement de Lion sailed to America to fulfill engagements. ; • :

: • :

: • :

Arnold De J'.iere is now again in England meeting with his usual success. He has ordered me to. answer Xo to Mr. Zartolo, who claims to be the most sensational magician in the world and all the villages bordering thereon, in answer to his request in the November issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE, for permission to use De Biere's half-tone •cut for himself. And also advises Mr. Zartolo, the most sensational magician

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in the world, etc.. to have a out made from his own photograph and he would soon find that there was a difference between De Biere and Mr. Zartolo. # * * Undoubtedly the next real novelty in Germany will be Mr. Eugen Schroeder's magical theatre. He is preparing for his new tour, and it seems to me that it will be the greatest undertaking in magical art. *

*

1 wish to publicly acknowledge receipt of hundreds of Xew Year wishes from all parts of the world, and assure those of my correspondents that I appreciate the honor and extend to them my many and best thanks. AUSTRALIAN NOTES. From Hayman. Melbourne is justly described as the hotbed of conjurers in Australasia, and also has the distinction of possessing two magical dealers, Air. Claude Guest and Mons. Anclrae. I called on both gentlemen, but found them out. Air. Guest's absence being attributed to an engagement he was fulfilling at Broken Hill, W. A., while Mons. Andrae's absence was due to a business trip he had taken to Sydney. The idea occurred to me that there was a good field for a reliable, clever builder of magical apparatus here, and such a man settling or establishing a branch in Sydney would be sure of making a fortune, for the majority of the conjurers in search for new material are compelled to send to England or America for their supplies, which necessitates a lapse of about four months ere their wants can be fulfilled. H:

: :

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i'

Maskelyne and Devant have made all arrangements to send a company next April to play all the principal cities in

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Australasia, under the guidance of Mr. David Devant. The tour will include all the legitimate theatres controlled by J. F. Williamson, who is considered the Frohman of Australia. It may interest Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant to know that every magical play which they have produced in recent years in their London playhouse has been patented and copyrighted in Australia by unscrupulous thieves, which seems to be quite the proper thing to do amongst a certain class of amateurs and even professionals. Their mode of procedure is simple: After having read the full details of an illusion or magical performance presented in America or England, they rush at once to the office to have same patented and copyrighted in their own names. Not content with the theft, they boast of the copyright and the manner by which it came to them and even threaten to institute legal proceedings to prevent the rightful originator from presenting his act in Australasia, should he evince any desire to do so. Maskelyne and Devant will now perhaps have to prove whether or not these unjust copyrights are legal. This matter seemed to be of such importance to me that for the protection of many of my readers, I thought it necessary to consult a prominent patent solicitor, who advised me that copyrights or patents obtained by fraudulent means were worthless and would be annulled by the Commonwealth Government if the originator would show the priority of his claim. Could not the Society of American Magicians take some action, for several of their members are the most flagrant offenders ?

There is a sort of "theatrical newspaper" in Sydney which, without the artist's consent or permission places an advertisement in its columns and then sends a bill requesting that it be paid at once. If the money is not forthcoming" the "paper" in question publishes a series of articles, denouncing the artist and his performance until it practically blackmails him into paying for something he never bargained for. *

*

Mr. Harry Rickards, the founder of real live vaudeville in Australia, just returned from England, after engaging about eighty acts to come here within the next eighteen months. Mr. Rickards and every one under his management have done everything in their power to make our engagement most pleasant and agreeable, and they succeeded in making it a veritable Paradise. They delight in causing the artist to feel entirely at home, and making his engagement a prolonged holiday. *

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Mr. T. Lorimer, a magician who iswalking around the world on a wager,, attended the November meeting of the Australian Society of Magicians and entertainingly presented some remarkable card sleights. Charles J. Carter was the guest of honor at the December meeting of theabove mentioned society, where he was lionized by the boys, and after the usual entertainment the president presented him with a photograph of Dante the Great. On the night of his farewell performance at the Palace Theatre in Sydney, the members of the society attended in a body, and presented a wand of Australian ebony to him.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. These incidents show that he was a huge success both on and off the stage. Breton, who is considered one of the best of Australian conjurers, opened at the Gayety Theatre, here in Melbourne. His turn, while interesting, was but coldly received by his audience. He was attired in Georgian costume, with powdered wig, etc., and made quite an imposing figure; his bald-headed assistant was really funny and helped considerably to brighten up the act. It contained nothing new, and concluded with the Astarte suspension. If Breton gathered some new and original material he might do well to attempt an engagement in the old world. * * * Rudini is traveling through Queensland with his own company, and reports that he is doing well. * * * I was recently informed that Roberto and Raymond originated an act in which a piano was moved about the stage without any visible means of propulsion. But Mr. Mark Bland from Temora now protests, and says he originated this particular act and presented it for the first time at a benefit given to Roberto, who with the true Robert-Houdin-like-instincts, is said to have stolen the idea. Verily, the path of the originator is not a merry one, neither is it strewn with roses! * * * Signor Ferrarri recently died in this city and I endeavored to get into communication with his wife, but so far have been unsuccessful. I was informed that the Signor had to give up conjuring as a living in his later years. * * *

Prof. Alfred Sylvester, the eldest son of the Fakir of Oolu, also died several months ago in Adelaide.

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The present summer here is a very hot one, but as the atmosphere seems dry, a person can stand the heat better than he can in England or America. We will leave for England via the Orient Liner, Oruba, and I hope to send my next contribution from dear old London. Joscpli Hay man, Of Hayman and Franklin. AN

INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter was sent to Dr. Wilson, editor of The Sphinx, by our correspondent, Mr. W. Leonard Hicks, in answer to a letter of attack, written by a Mr. Hixson and printed in the last issue of the above mentioned publication : Dr. A. M. Wilson, Kansas City, Mo. Dear Sir:—As you have published a rather forcible letter, I would like to know if you will publish my answer to same, for which I enclose you my version. I know Houdini would have had published any letter Hixson might have sent. Trusting you will grant me space in your magazine, I beg to remain, Very truly yours, IV. L. Hicks. To this Dr. Wilson graciously replied that he would cheerfully publish the letter, as he wished to be fair to all parties concerned, and that he would find space for- it in his February issue. The letter in question herewith follows: Sir:—In the January issue of the Sphinx you give considerable space to a letter' signed by one B. E. Hixson, in which he questions the veracity of an article appearing in the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE, which mentioned magazine I have the honor to represent in Chicago, in the capacity of Special Correspondent.

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Having personally witnessed the actions, as described in my monthly letter, and having had two reliable witnesses with me, I can prove every statement appearing above my signature. We heard the boys call "Supe" in a very loud tone. "Staller" is what Mr. Hixson calls himself. By that he boasts that he can act as an honest man and lead the public to believe that he a genuine officer when he is a seller of corn salve. Frojn his definition of having the manager tell him that he is the best staller he has ever seen, he actually lowers his manhood by putting in writing that he has misrepresented himself to the audience and only strengthened the old Greek adage: "If you wish to know who you are—look at your companions." Dirt fits on the shovel and a staller is just what Mr. Hixson is. As for his statement that he makes more money in one week than I do in one year, 'tis true that I have heard said that street fakirs and corn salve sellers earn quite a sum of money when not molested by the police department. In answer to this I must say that he appears to be acting under an injection of the dope from which he manufactures his corn plasters and salve, or probably the mixture being very strong (and he having possibly received a large order), he may have inhaled too much of the fumes, which caused him to put his remarks or hallucinations on paper. If the knowledge possessed by Mr. Hixson concerning handcuff work was obtained by having it poured into his skull through an auger hole the sum total is that the plug has rotted away and he has not yet become cognizant of this fact. Yours truly, W. L. Hicks.

Our Mail Bag In this department It is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice anj topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself re• ponsible for opinions expressed in this department.

London, England. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir:—I am much surprised to read in your last issue of the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE that Max Auzinger, who is an absolute stranger to me, is the originator of what is known in America as Black Art. I have always been under the impression that the late Buatier de Kolta originated this class of illusion, and I believe that is the general opinion of persons interested in matters magical. As one of the chief features of your magazine is to give to the inventors of magical effects the credit of their inventions, I am sure you will agree wit1 me that Max Auzinger should at once establish beyond cavil, his claim to so important a principle, which has caused quite a revolution in the art of illusion. At the same time, I should like to clear the memory of a great artist of the serious charge of purloining other persons' inventions and passing them off as his own. In the autumn of 1886 Buatier de Kolta suggested to me the possibility of destroying shadow, and consequently form, by special lighting and the use of light absorbing drapery. I saw great

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

possibilities in the suggestion and de Kolta patented the principle. Together, we worked out several startling illusions upon the principle and introduced them in my Christmas programme of 1886 at the Egyptian Hall. I adver'.ised them as "Modern Black Magic" illusions upon an entirely new principle. The performance was most successful and the idea was immediately seized upon by conjurers all over the world. Until

then 1 had never heard of any illusion upon that principle. If Max Anzinger can prove that before that date he introduced any black art illusion he can, of course, claim to be the originator of "Black Art." At the same time, [ an1 convinced that de Koita was not cognizant of the fact. It is well known that inventors often hit upon the sam? ideas almost simultaneously and in different parts of the world, and I know de Kolta

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was not an imitator. I was associated with him from the commencement of his career and I worked out for him some of bis most beautiful effects, and I know that he took no interest in the work of other magicians, lr.it was always endeavoring to create mysteries. They were not always new in principle—the "Cocoon" to wit—but they could always be described as new. De Kolta's explanation as to how Black Art suggested itself to him was as follows: He was looking out of his window on a bright day, and the fronts of the houses opposite were brilliantly sunlit, but the interior of the rooms appeared quite dark. Through one of the open windows a" lady in a white dress mysteriously appeared. Hoping that yon will consider this letter nf sufficient importance to justify you in publishing it, and with every good wish for the New Year, I remain, Yours sincerely, /. N. Maskdyne. [As Mr. T. X. Maskelyne is one of our best known magicians and inventors, whose word is of much weight in magical affairs, we take great pleasure in giving space to his letter for which we also thank him. Still, for the benefit of our readers, we would like to state that on careful personal investigation we have found that the German authorities concede to Ben-Ali-Bey, the origination of black art. We have also called upon our Viennese correspondent, Herr Ottokar Fischer, to personally interview Herr Auzinger, which interview we hope to publish in detail at an early date.—Ed.] Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. I receive the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE every month, and always await it with pleasure. I was greatly interested in

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your article on Dobler (the Bristol one), as I have seen him perform on many occasions. As a lad he worked with an old man (whom I knew well), whose business was that of lending flags and deBy Harry Houdini vices for decorations. Am endeavor(Continued) ing to obtain one of his pictorial posters METHOD OF ESCAPE. for you. His name was very popular in the The two accompanying illustrations show a front view and a back view of West of England thirty years ago. strapping on a strait-jacket, such as is Carlton came here for a "week, at one used on the murderous insane. It is of the largest halls in Bristol. Brought made of strong brown canvas or sail his own excellent company, but owing cloth and has a deep leather collar and to other great attractions at the opposition houses, he "burnt his fingers." Faithfully yours,

The Strait-Jacket Release

E. I. Burt.

PARIS, FRANCE.

Editor CONJURERS' MAG-^T^R. Sir :—I am sending you a few Parisian notes for publication in your Magazine. At the Alhambra we h^ve had •Cleland, the mad magician, and this month are being treated to a performance by Ormonde Penstone and his assistant, Tsaon-ngo, in an act beautifully staged and excellently executed. At the Etnile Palace there is a French illusionist, Fournier, who works moderately well. At the Theatre Robert-Houdin, LeIllustration No. 1. Front view of strait-jacket. gris is presenting about the same tricks, including "Osiris." an Egyptian mystery. leather cuffs; these cuffs are sewn up 1 wish also to state that I had the at the ends, making a sort of bag into pleasure of recently visiting Mons. Car- which each arm is placed ; the seams are ol}', the editor of the Illusionist, and was covered with leather bands, attached to which are leather straps and steel buckler afforded a most welcome reception. which, when strapped upon a person, fit Very truly yours, and buckle up in back (see illustration No. 2). The sleeves of this jacket are T. Percy C. Savcll.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. made so long that when the arms of the wearer are placed in them and folded -across the chest (see illustration No. i ) , the leather cuffs of the sleeves, to which are attached straps and buckles, meet at the back of the body, one overlapping the other (see. illustration No. 2). The •opening of the strait-jacket is at the back, where several straps and buckles are sewn, which are fastened at the back as is shuwu in illustration No. 2.

Illustration No. 2. Back view of strait-jacket.

The first step necessary to free yourself is to place the elbow, which has the continuous hand under the opposite elbow, on some solid foundation, and by ^heer strength, exert sufficient force at •.his elbow so as to gradually force it up toward the head, and by further persistant straining you eventually force the head under the lozvcr arm, which results in bringing both of the encased arms in front of the body. (It is very im-

177

portant that these instructions be followed closely step by step, and when placing the arms across the chest sufficient care must be observed to simply place one arm on top of the other, and IT>t have them interlocked.) Once having freed your arms to such an extent as to get them in front of >our b'idy, you can now undo the buckles of the straps of the cuffs with your teeth, after which you open the buckles at the back with your hands, which are still encased in the canvas sleeves, and then you remove the strait-jacket from your body. There are various different kinds of strait-jackets, made from different materials, some being entirely made of leather, and, of course, the more inflexible the material the more difficult and longer the time necessary for making ynur release. In 1901, Count Schwerin, then chief 1 if 1 olice of Hanover, Germany, had his warders place me in a strait-jacket from which it took me one hour and twentynine minutes to effect my release. The pain, torture, agony and misery of that struggle will forever live in my mind. There is a peregrinating imposter in (iermany, who escapes from a straita jacket from which any child could make its escape. He has it made of pliable white canvas, with very long sleeves and short body, though when strapped on him, it seems as if he were firmly secured, and in making his escape he goes through fantastic gyrations and eventually wriggles out of his fastenings. , The American imitators, as a rule, improvise a strait-jacket that they can pull over their heads. Of course, these latter two are trick strait-jackets and should not be confounded with the genuine ones.

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READING

AND

FRonTHE PRESS

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THINGS

WISE , AND

OTHERWISE

THE UNMASKING OF ROBERTHOUDIN. To our readers who have been waiting patiently for the appearance of the book, "The Unmasking of Robert Houdin," wherein it is shown that Houdin claims being the inventor of all his tricks, when in reality they were invented by other magicians, may be surprised to hear that this is not the first expose of a celebrated personage. Even Rameses the Great, is now being exposed and shown to be a gross misrepresenter and falsifier. In a full page article of the New York American and Examiner, facts are quoted that will cause a great deal of astonishment, for Rameses is called the greatest faker in history, and, if everything is true that is being published, he certainly was a bad scamp. After 3,000 years it is being shown that he had his name stamped on the great temples of Egypt-Karnak, Luxor, Bubustis and Abu Simbel, so that the future generations would think that ne had erected them when, in fact, they had been built over 1,000 years before he was born. It is said he deceived posterity to advertise himself. Professor Edouard Naville, a Frenchman, recognized by Americans as the greatest living authority on the reign

of that monarch, stamps Rameses as themost vainglorious fraud that was ever passed down to posterity. Robert-Houdin's endeavors were but: infantile when compared to what Rameses did to obtain a free reputation. THE HOUSE OF THE SPHINX. Henry Ridgly Evans' novel "TheHouse of the Sphinx," is now for sale at all book shops, price $1.00. Martinka & Co. of 493 Sixth Ave. are the special: New York agents. >fi

ifi

ifi

The Romance of Jail Breaking. The Sunday supplement of the Chicago Record Herald on January 19 had' quite an interesting chapter on Romanceof Prison Breaking and gave an expose of the manner with which celebrated criminals have escaped or attempted to> escape from prison. The article iswritten by William G. Fitz Gerald, who,, although he may have his dates and tales correct, greviously errs when he claims that in European countries we hear of more jail escapes among the criminals than in America. We have more jail escapes amongprisoners in America in one year than all the other countries combined havein five years, for almost every day you can pick up some paper and read wherethere has occurred the escape of a prisoner or where a wholesale jail deliveryhas taken place.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 0OGK3X5OQ

ESTIONS NSWERED

Gilbert Greup, Easton, Pa. Read answer to Mr. Campbell. Tbere are dozens of the same ilk as the party mentioned. Win. Jones, Penny Blaenan, Festiniog, England. You are making use of good judgment by being careful. A split key as patented by Harry Houdini in 1900 in London, will answer your purpose. * * * Alexander Heimburger, Muenster, I. W. Postals received. The Unmasking of Robert Houdin is now on the press. A copy of it will be sent to you with our compliments. Hope you keep your good health. When we visit Germany this coming season, we trust to have the pleasure again of meeting you.

Walter Anderson, San Francisco, Cal. James Sargent, the inventor and patentee of the Time Lock, opened not only the Yale Safe Lock, but also picked the Government Department Treasury Lock, in Washington, Dodds Lock in Cincinnati, and was the first to discover how Mullet, the architect, opened the Treasury Lock, which he accomplished by removing the outer plate and placing a piece of tin foil inside of the lock, so that when the lock was opened an impression was made on the foil of the manner in which the various combinations had to be moved in order to open the lock.

F. James, Racine, Wis. It has been stated that Alexander Davis, the old-time ventriloquist and magician, invented the sliding dice trick, and A. Roterberg, the Chicago manufacturer, informed us that he thinks that Davis originated the trick. We have no idea where Davis is, and if alive he must be a very old man.

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Le Professeur Magicus, Geneva. The book did not contain the portraits of the original edition. Have written you personally. Many thanks for your trouble. Kindly send bill. * * * R. W. Read, Chicago, 111. Everyone can make use of the Barter and Exchange column, excepting those that wish to use it as a trade advertisement. * * * James Campbell, Highbridge, N. J. You sign your letter "Amateur" and you are one to the fullest extent of the word. Relative to the party in question, we know that he is a jail breaker of the lowest type, only escaping from cells by collusion, bribery or misrepresentation. Whatever he has accomplished has been done by fraud pure and simple. If you will carefully follow the man in question you will find that he is not what you think he is. Should he at any time do anything original that he has not stolen from a performer, we will be only too pleased to give him credit." * * * Bert Kilby, New Britain, Conn. Received clipping. Kindly send all the news notes you can. Keep up your good work. * * * Gustavo Testa, Napoli. Yes, send the material. Regards. * * * F. Wilker, Scranton, Pa. Imro Fox is booked in America, and will stay a long time this trip, as this is the first time in years that he is not the attraction of some English or Scottish pantomime. He generally plays the magician in Aladdin or some other play of that description. •

•

•

Percy Hill, Reading, Pa. There is no certain size of lock pickers to be used. You must regulate them yourself for the lock to be opened. The smaller the keyhole the smaller your pick must be. Before you start to pick locks, purchase a few cheap ones, break them open and see what you must do to pull back the bolt. That is the A. B. C. of lock picking. • • • Olivette, Brooklyn. We did not ask for your opinion of the party mentioned and would like to know what your object was in sending the information contained in your letter.

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I'ruf. J. W. Michel, New Orleans, La. You fail to understand what the Unmasking of Robert Houdin book is. It is not a handcuff book, but is a book which shows who are the real inventors of many tricks wrongly attributed to and claimed by Robert Houdin. So don't send any money for the book if you think that it explains handcuffs.

Kennedy, the Mystifier, Grand Rapids, Mich. Your letter of recommendation to hand; it is all right as far it goes, but—• who are you? Before we can accept your recommendation kindly give us your references. P. W. Banning, Chicago, 111. The index has been taking up a lot of time, but all subscribers will obtain one free of charge as soon as it comes from the press.

Will they ever stop those sensational, impossible stories about spiritualistic mediums in the daily papers? In Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 7, a Mrs. Mary Harrison disappeared from her home. A spirit medium was found in the same building and the local press became busy informing the public that the medium would be called upon to find the missing woman.

Prof. Ncuman, the mind reader, handcuff king, tenor singer and manager, met with failure in his mind reading test at Keeney's Theatre in Brooklyn, during his engagement. To make matters worse he also met with defeat at the local newspaper offices. Neuman once was known as a very clever mind reader, but sold his secret or his manner of performing his tests to the New York World for a few dollars and ever since he has been wandering about in an aimless fashion making a precarious living.

Mrs. Albina Warren, a leading member of the Manchester (N. H.) Progressive Spiritualistic Society and Mrs. Lenora Marsh were sentenced to jail for sixty days without the option of a fine by Judge Heath in the Municipal Court after they were convicted of telling fortunes for money. Both have appealed and their cases will, come up in the Supreme Court soon. These cases are the first under a law passed' some time ago but not enforced. * * * Lola Cotton, the clever little second sight artist and mind reader, is creating considerable talk on the Keith-Proctor Tour. * * * Mr. E. J. Dooley has written two magical' sketches which will shortly be produced—if the proper people can be found to stage the material. Dooley is the original Marco, and. resides in Hartford, Conn. * * * Kin Hubbard of Indianapolis possesses a, very rare scrap book of old show bills, and has allowed us to make notes from same,, which we hope to publish in a forthcoming issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. We havetraced some of the oldtime magicians in their tour of America in the early theatrical daysof the gift show regime. * * * The many stories of handcuff kings and jail breakers, in their attempts to gam publicity by gross misrepresentation, are commencing to drag that line of work into themire. The majority of the jail breakers use the same routine of trying to bribe the policeofficials to loan them a key to the cells, and hoodwinking the public as to their methods. There are now more would-be jail breakersin America tnan there ever were in England, when Houdini was the reigning sensation. * * * Anna Eva Fay is still on the Orpheum Circuit. She is interested in a marble mine speculation, which she possesses, and should this ever become a success it will make her a millionairess, and make Mr. Pingree do nothing but count money all day. * *- * Dr. Samri R. Ellison is busier than ever enlarging his collection of books and his magazine articles, which are growing so-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. numerous, that he will very likely have to enlarge his bookcase. It would pay all magicians to see the doctor's manner of cataloguing his material and with the exception of Adrian Plate, we know of no one who takes so much pains with magical literature. * * * There is a society in Troy, New York, of which we hear very little. But George Closson seems to be the leading factor, and if we are not mistaken all members receive all the latest secrets of the magical world free of charge. Who will enlighten our readers in this matter? *

*

*

The latest letter-box thief, a female, adopted a uni<|iie manner of stealing letters. She made a wire frame, just the size of the opening of the mail box and closed door of the box into which letters were dropped. When the letter carrier dropped the letter into the mail box, it would drop into the wire frame and the woman would return, withdraw the frame and so obtained the letters. Upon her detection in Los Angeles, Cal., she fought and screamed for help to several young men who happened to be close at hand, but the detective disclosed his shield and so saved himself from molestation in the performance of his duty. * * * We are receiving quite a number of complaints from our readers, relative to the nonappearance of the T. Nelson Downs book. We would like to hear from either Mr. T. N. Downs or Mr. J. N. Hilliard, his collaborator, who is a prominent professional newspaper man in Rochester, N. Y. * * * Henry Hardin & Co., whose advertisements will be found in our pages, sell only secrets. When you deal with them you deal with a reliable firm. * * * Mohs. Caroly, the editor of L'lllusioniste, in Paris, France, is an exceptionally clever manipulator of billiard balls, handling them with the ease born of long practice. * * * Hamley Brothers of London, England, are presenting new mystical bargains, which are up-to-date in every respect. Their treatment of customers is creditable to their business management, as they make every effort to satisfy and please all concerned.

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It is rumored that A. Roterberg of Chicago has the rarest collection of postage stamps ever possessed by a dealer in magic. What has W. D. Leroy of Boston to say about this, as he has been a stamp collector a long time? King of Ziska and King is planning to enter into the moving picture business.

CINCINNATI NOTES. From Frank W. Lindsley. "RICHARD BLY'S GET-AWAY." "Medium decamps with wad he had obtained by selling tickets for a seance that he didn't give," are the flaring headlines of a half column article on the first page of Monday's Enquirer. When Mr. Alexander, of this city, appeared at police headquarters complaining that Richard Bly had obtained money of him under false pretense, the details of a sensational scene at the Auditorium Theatre Sunday night were brought to light. Alexander was one of a good sized crowd standing about the door of the Auditorium last night when the janitor of the theatre appeared and announced that the Richard Bly Company would not give its seances and medium stunts. A wave of indignation swept' through the crowd and instantly dozens of hands, in which were tickets which had cost from 50 to 75 cents, shot into the air,. Then many people at the same time tried to tell the same story, which was to the effect that they had purchased tickets during the week with the understanding that there was to be a performance Sunday night. "The box office is closed," said the janitor sententiously, "and there will be nothing doing in the theatre tonight." Plied with questions from all sides he said that Bly had failed to give an afternoon performance, but had appeared about the time the curtain was to go up and refunded money on all tickets presented at the door. He failed, however, to make any provision for refunding money on tickets purchased for the evening performance. The janitor stated further that the company's property had been loaded into a wagon and hauled away. He had no idea where Bly could be seen. This magical parasite was first inflicted upon our community last season when he played a

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week at the Olympic Theatre (which was running in opposition to, and was eventually purchased by, the Columbia Theatre). His act consisted of an alleged expose of the Anna Eva Fay act, which was at that time playing at the Columbia. The expose was a frost: it served a purpose, however, as it caused the Fay act to be re-engaged for a second week. After this Mr. Bly passed beyond our "ken" and remained a minus quantity until recently, when he copiously billed the city, advertising a special engagement of one week at the Auditorium Theatre of Prof. Richard Bly, the Great and Mysterious, in his Eastern sensation entitled, "Somnolency." He also endeavored' to engage Mr. Stock (one of our best local performers), to rill out his program. After all his elaborate preparations he took . "French leave." It was really very impolite of him to leave so abruptly, as I hear there were a lithographer, printer, a theatre manager and several vaudeville acts very anxious to see him. Should he ever appear in this section again he would surely draw a crowd—of creditors. The Cincinnati magicians had their Christmas dinner, so to speak, during the last week, when every one from the merest tyro to the ones with "Prof." in front of their names had his fill of good things magical. I refer to the visit of Kellar and Thurston, who played the week at the Walnut Street Theatre. Mr. Gustave Schwendler was host of a box party, composed of six of the city's foremost performers, among whom were Mr. Munford Platt, Mr. Geo. Stock, Mr. Frank P. Shopper, Sr., Mr. Frank P. Shopper, Jr., and Mr. Gustave Schwendler, and }-our humble correspondent, upon whom devolved the duty of writing a souvenir of greeting to the "Dean of Magic" and his successor, which was answered in person by Mr. Kellar, who was simply bubbling over with good humor. Mr. Kellar has nothing but words of praise for Mr. Thurston's work, and says that he is sure that the public will extend to him its patronage and support in the future as it has to himself in the past. In an interview with Mr. Thurston in his rooms the question was asked, "Do you think that magic is on a decline or is a dead issue?" To which he diplomatically answered, "The time was when I thought so, but now as I see the intelligent

gentlemen who are interested in the art I am happy to say that my first impression was incorrect." * * * Two exposers, billing themselves as "The World's Worst Wizards," played the week at the People's Theatre with a burlesque show. They exposed some really important magical devices. The only thing that can be said in their favor is that they speak the truth relative to their ability. * * * Mr. Henry Seibert, the magician who retired from the stage and started the finest hotel in Elmwood Place, Ohio, still clings to his first love. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform magic as it should be performed at St. Bernard, Ohio, the evening of January 18. * * * Houdini, the Handcuff King, played the Columbia Theatre as the feature act and scored such a success as to have his engagement prolonged a second week. It is interesting to note that his was the first act of any kind to play consecutive weeks at the Columbia. Richards, the monologue • artist, was taken sick while playing at the Columbia Theatre and upon special request of the management Houdini filled his time, performing the needle trick in his own particular style. It was a decided hit if you can judge from the enthusiastic applause. * * * The woods are full of handcuff kings in Cincinnati at the present time, and several of them have had the courage to venture out of the tall timbers, one versatile artist giving an entire show, including jailbreaking, magic, monologue, singing and lecturing to stereoscopic slides. He also had a novel method of attracting an audience': each ticket was a kind of raffle ticket which entitled the holder to a chance on a gold watch or a lady's diamond ring. * * * Cunning, the jailbreaker, visited Cincinnati as hero in a melodrama at Heucks Opera House; the name of the show tells the entire tale, "From Sing Sing to' Liberty." * * * Mr. John Schneider of Norwood is billed heavily for a two-night stand at Elmwood, Ohio; he will do magic, rope releasing and the challenge handcuff act.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Mr. Max Marcus, the Roumanian magician, made quite a hit with liis clever shadow pictures at the People's Theatre. * * * Mr. Mini ford Platt, the ventriloquist, is simply cimvulsing his audience with his really •comical and excellently executed work at •clubs and suppers. * * * The Shoppers made a hit with their neat magical program, even under difficulties at the Stamina League. * * * Mr. Gustave Schwcndler is featuring the rising cards in a manner that tickles the lovers of good magic. * * * Mr. Geo. Stock has played some very desirable dates lately7; his spiritualistic work is par excellence. * * * Mr. Joseph Knapp has added sand pictures to his magic; he is rapidly developing into •one of the best known of the city's performers. * % % Mr. Julius Addler, our master magician, is spending a short vacation in Cuba. * * * The second reunion of Cincinnati magicians was held Saturday evening at the residence of Mr. Schwendler in Corryville. There were about twelve performers present. After a social session the idea of forming a Cincinnati Society of Magicians was discussed with interest. After discussions on the subj e c t by Messrs. Stock, Marcus, Shopper, Weistnann, Schwendler and others, the Cincinnati Society of Magicians was formed and the following officers elected: Mr. Frank W. Lindsley was unanimously elected president, Mr. George Stock, vice-president; Mr. Gustave Schwendler, secretary, and Mr. Weismann, treasurer. After pledging the health of the new society and its officers in a befitting manner the members dispersed to meet again on Saturday, February I.

PACIFIC COAST NOTES. From Robert Madison. The Okito troupe of European conjurers made more than good with their unique and original Chinese act of mystery. The Okitos have the finest act of this kind that I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing, and It gives one pleasure to look at the curious

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stage setting and know that the performer was the manufacturer of the entire outfit; for Okito, Sr., is a very clever mechanic as well as a performer. Every one who has seen it agrees that his lamp trick is the finest one ever presented to the public. • • • "Emar the.Great'' lost his entire outfit of stage settings and illusions in a fire on January 15, 1908. Among the larger illusions lost are the triple trunk mystery, the vanishing lady illusion, an Aga, and a self-rising and turning suspension. In all he estimates his loss at about $1,000. He informs me that this does not discourage him and that he intends to go right along with magic, and is now working on a new outfit which will include some ideas of his own. • • * Carl Herbert is now playing here, and this brings him toward the end of his engagement for Sullivan and Considine. After he has finished he will return to San Francisco, which will be his permanent home, his parents having come to that city from New York. • * • I have heard from a reliable source that Albini appeared one afternoon with a blackeye at the Coliseum, Seattle, causing much merriment to the audience, who at once noticed it. « * * I also am informed: that Valadon is booked on the Orpheum Circuit. He carries 4,500 pounds of excess baggage and five assistants. • * * Andre is working in and about Oakland in some of the smaller theatres. He told me that there are at least five thousand amateurs and professionals in Chicago. •

*

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Mr. Robert Craker of Oakland is now the proud possessor of his own drug store. He reports that business is good. Mr. Craker is a student and admirer of magic, and states he cannot rid himself of his love for the art. He at one time made preparations for taking out his own show, but other business prevented him from doing so. He showed me one of the illusions which he made ready for the occasion, the production of a bowl of water about the size used by the Chinese impersonators, only he produced his in full dress; it was very neat and involves a new principle.

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Minerva, a handcuff queen, recently played at the Park Theatre in Johnstown, Pa. * * * Maud Minerva, not the above mentioned FROM THE handcuff queen, but one who seems to have the iron in her jaw, instead of around her wrists and ankles, played a week at the MaBWLH jestic Theatre, Lafayette, Indiana. * * * The big Klaw and ErSoto Sunataro, with his magic and illulanger Auditorium closed sions, startled the natives of Cedar Rapids, I its doors to vaudeville on la., at Vic Hugo's Theatre during the week Saturday, January 18, of January 13. I thus ending the long and * * * bitter vaudeville fight and Mile. Annassia gave a globe rolling exhileaving us one house jess bition at the People's Theatre, Leavensworth, Kansas. for the presentation of mysterious acts. * * * Hardeen played a successful engagement in Bert Wiggins, the clever cartoonist and this house a short time before the end of the juggler, delighted his audiences at the Hayfight. market Theatre, the week of January 13. Mr. Wiggins's comedy is very good and he keeps * * * the audiences in an uproar of laughter during It seems as though this year commenced a his act. rush for magicians seeking contracts for * * * forty weeks' work and expecting salaries from Professor Merritt, with his hypnotic act $500 to $1,000 per week, and I have personally met with much success during his engagement come in contact with at least one every day at the Unique Theatre, Sheboygan, Wis. He carries four subjects with him as he finds since the beginning of the year. it difficult to obtain subjects from the audiences of the ten and twenty-cent theatres at * * * which he appears. Miss Virginia Neal, the clever little actress, * * •:= to whom the Chicago Inter-Ocean devoted a I have heard from several sources that full half page about her card sleights and Miller, the handcuff worker, claims I tried palming, left for New York, where she con- to handcuff him with what he terms a lemon templates joining Wm. Faversham's company, cuff. I wish to publicly state that such is not the case, for had I any desire to handto play one of the leading parts in The cuff him, I could easily hold him until he Squaw Man. cried "quits." * * * * * * James Thompson, a one-time comedy trick Frank Lovelle, the illusionist, appeared at cyclist, is trying to break into the handcuff the New Majestic Theatre, Beaumont, Texas, game. James weighs only about one hundred pounds, so hardly having the requisite amount with good results. of strength, I would suggest that he let it * * * alone, for I hear many of these little handcuff Morris and Morris, the comedy acrobats, workers are not eating regularly. * * * are still burlesquing the act of Houdini. Kalms, a clever young magician and illuThe}' have fastened a very heavy chain to a sionist, recently filled a place in the bill of pair of shirt cuffs and go through some very the Lyric Theatre, Cleveland, O., left vacant funny gyrations in releasing themselves there- on account of the cancellation of an act, and from. easily won his audience. The Cleveland

iNDyCrry

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Clipper speaks highly of his performance and says it easily makes good. * * * The Great Delza made a successful appearance at the Pictorium, Zancsville, O. Massias O'Connor was last heard of at the Orpheum, Kansas City, Mo. * * * Ormond's electrical production, The City of Yesterday, was recently shown at the Lyric Theatre, Cleveland, O. * * * We had the pleasure of again seeing Henri French in Chicago. His act always is well received here, no matter how often he visits us. * * * Cremona Bros., who do a burlesque magic act, fulfilled an engagement at the Virginia. I have noticed that quite a number of magicians doing magic, really burlesque the art, without being cognizant of the fact. * * * The Mysterious Fontenelle, Is it a Man or Machine? appeared on the same bill and scored tremendously. This theatre is getting a reputation for its magical and mysterious entertainments. * * * During the engagement of Salvail in Toledo, one of the leading newspapers wrote a lengthy article about his fingers being insured for thousands of dollars, but in a personal interview, which I had with him, he said the newspapers meant to refer to Kubelik, the violinist, and not himself. His engagement at the Olympic was so successful that the management personally complimented him and prolonged his engagement for another week to show his card and coin manipulations to the Westsiders at the Haymarket. * * * Lowley's box mystery mystified the curio hall patronizers at the London Dime Musee. The box must have been very small, for Manager Sweeney is reported to have become very angry when he could not squeeze himself in. * * * I must again chronicle the defeat of another handcuff king. This time it was Ferrari of Chenworth and Ferrari, and a brother of Edw. Clark of the Runaway Widows, who

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one day behind the scenes bragged to Abe Jacobs, the stage manager, and some of the property boys, that there was no handcuff secure enough to hold him. As Ben, one of the main wings, happened to have a pair of cuffs, which he thought Noah had left behind him when he entered his Ark, King Ferrari was duly handcuffed and allowed to enter one of the dressing rooms to attempt to free himself. After a lapse of ten or fifteen minutes he came out still handcuffed, and complained of the darkness to which he ascribed his failure. They ushered him into a dressing room with more light, but again after a lapse of half an Imur he came out still shackled, and further complained of insufficient light. They placed him in a third dressing room, and after trying another three-quarters of an hour, he admitted his defeat, and it is said never since again mentions handcuffs. * * * Rogo has returned from the Northwest, where he has filled an engagement of several weeks with the Colonial Belles. His barrel and board tricks are very good, but he detracts from their good effects by his poor handcuff work. * * * Upon the completion of his tour on the Majestic Circuit, Caesar and Co. played a few weeks about Chicago, and also secured some time in Iowa. His act, which is neatly dressed, commences with sleight-of-hand pure and simple and closes with the trunk mystery. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Volker and Herbert Brooks when last heard of were on the Orpheum Tour. * * * T. Roy Barnes and Bessie Clifford, The Fakir and the Prima Donna, have entertained successfully in the theatres in and around Chicago. The opening of the act shows Mr. Barnes doing some card sleights, and Miss Clifford then enters and renders a pretty Southern melody followed by a little comedy. They close the act in one. Married life certainly has agreed with this young couple. * * * The Floyds, who are rated as one of the best drawing attractions playing on the Lyceum Circuit, spent a few days in the Windy City. On January 14 they entertained at the College, Lake Forest, 111.

186

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Prof. Floyd showed me one of the most complete diaries I have ever seen, actually recording every performance he gave, from his first to the last. * * * Mr. Louis E. Allard, the clever pianist who travels with the Floyds, has often been compared with Paderewski by competent critics. * * * I just received a very newsy letter from Mr. H. G. Wyinks of New Zealand, which would be worthy of publication, did space but permit. He says magic momentarily is very popular in his country, and that the New Zealanders are preparing a great welcome for Chas. Carter, Allan Shaw and Co. I thank him indeed for his photograph. * * * The list of mysteries into which Air. Augustus Thomas peers in The Witching Hour, which is playing at the Garrick Theatre, is indeed an audacious and fascinating one. The play is like a dramatization of a successful seance, with its suggestion of hypnosis, telepathy, spiritualism and other psychic phenomena, materialized in a strong, direct, masterfully peopled, but whimsical story. * * * Charles B. Wood states that on February 24 the New Strand Theatre at Seattle, Wash., will be opened to the public. In connection with the theatre there will be a Wonder Emporium and Amusement Carnival. Mr. Wood is desirous of obtaining the best acts possible for his continuous vaudeville, and is making special endeavors to secure curios, freaks and illusionists. * * * Silent Tait has managed to win quite a reputation for himself by means of the clever juggling and magic act he has presented in Chicago and the neighboring towns. * * * Mr. Robert Edeson will soon be seen in a new play, The Call of the North, which is founded on Stewart Edward White's story, The Conjurer's House. * # * The Mysterious Ivellevs are now playing in the South, having recently fulfilled an engagement at Meridian, Miss. * * * Mr. Chris. Richards had to cancel his Columbus enaggement, as he was taken sick in Cincinnati.

Frederick the Great reports good business at the Pictorium, Zanesville, O. * * * The Great La Varre and Co. are touring through Illinois. Their work was especially well received in Galesburg, 111. * * * Prof. M. hi. Wood's lecture on electrical experiments met with much success at the Electric Show. * * # King Cole, the magician and ventriloquist, recently closed a successful engagement with the Greater Norris and Row Shows, and intends to play vaudeville for the rest of the season. , * # * Karland, a handcuff worker, recently filled an engagement at the Opera House, St Johns, Canada. It is rumored that he will succeed Cunning at the close of the season in From Sing Sing to Liberty. * * * Frederic Melville just sent me a lot of newspaper clippings from Boston which show that the Moto Girl is making a big hit at the Orpheum Theatre, where she is the star attraction. I have just learned that some time ago, Juan Espinos, a Chilean marksman, while attempting to shoot an apple from the head of a man at a circus in Rio Janerio, missed and killed the man, and barely escaped being lynched by the crowd in attendance. * * * Sahi N. Buchakji, whose card read "Hindu Fakir and Fortune Teller,'' was arrested in St. Louis charged with theft by Prince Ranji, who is a brother of the Ameer of Baluchistan. The Prince, who employed Buchakji in the capacity of a servant, noticing that he had a surprising lot of precious Oriental veils, embroidered with gold, notified the firm of F. P. Bhumgara Co., who had previously employed Buchakji at the Jamestown exposition. The Hindu when arrested told the police so eloquent a story about the Prince owing him wages that they released him. Later on they searched his room and found some fine embroidered veils, with which they confronted him, and he acknowledged that they belonged to the Bhumgara Co., and he had simply borrowed them, intending to return them.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this beading are accepted free •of charge; there Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our pa4>er.

What am. I offered for a lot of silk handkerchiefs and flags of assorted sizes and colors, and two Roterberg side stands in good •condition? Gustave A. Domitz, 858 Union Ave., New York. * * * I have a talking skull, side tables and several other magical tricks of which I wish to •dispose for best offer. B. H. Kilby, 293 South Main St., New Britain, Conn. * * * I want a copy of A. Roterberg's books, ""The Modern Wizard" and "Later Day Tricks," to complete my library. Will purchase them outright if agreeable. R. W. Read, 6516 Ingelside Ave., Chicago, 111. * * * I have quite a number of good tricks that I would like to exchange for a good substitution trunk, duck pan, handkerchief rifle, silk flowers, side tables and stands, handkerchiefs and flag tricks, handkerchief casket, which can be suspended in air,Hmagie kettle act, candle in bouquet or any other good trick. Isadore Edelson, 477 Robey St., •Chicago, 111. * * * What have you to offer in exchange for a fine spirit sack, spirit lock with feke, multiplying billiard balls and egg bag? All in good condition. James Sherman, Appleton, Wis. * * * What have you to offer in exchange for some handcuffs and legirons? R. W. Strong, General Delivery, Dallas, Texas. * * * I offer for exchange fifty tulip flowers, silk handkerchiefs, billiard ball set and some other

187

magical pieces. Can use "Later Magic" or "Stage Magic." Vivian De La Ronde, 66-97 Rue St. Jacques, Montreal, Canada. * * * Wanted.—Magician's apparatus, spiritualistic effects, illusions, etc., which must be in good condition. Suitable for road show. Please give exact description in first letter. John J. Brown, 466 Virginia Ave., St. Paul, Minn. * * * What have you to offer for a trunk mystery built with a special contrivance for a single disappearance or for substitution? Cost $50; iron bound and felt lined. Also have side tables, Valadon's latest duck pan, and a flying bird cage. Manek-Shah, Room D, 1440 Broadway, New York City. * * * I offer for exchange the books "More Magic" and "New Era of Card Tricks"; also the disappearing glass and set of china rice bowls and some other magical effects. Chas. Frey, 6 Merchant Place, Newark, New Jersey. * * * I have Helm's cross, iron box and some other tricks which I would like to exchange for things suitable for my den, such as flag, flower and handkerchief tricks. E. D. Williams, 29 Seymour Ave., Utica, New York. * * * What am I offered in 'exchange for a Japanese transformation box and sofa and a Japanese inexhaustible box? Both are new and in perfect condition. Books and small tricks preferred. Geo. B. Claxton, 551 West 44th St., New York. * * * What is best offer fur a fine center table with brass feet and plush drape; also a few side tables? Robert Madison, :6ig 14th St., Oakland, Cal. * * * What have you to offer for a Levitation (same effect as Kellar's") in fine condition? Also have a Galatea illusion (Western make) ; and lot of other magical goods. J. Darst, P. 0. Box 97, Sutersville, Pa. *

*

*

Wanted.—Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the magazine named Magic. Please state condition of same and what is wanted. Joe Knapp, 807 York St., Cincinnati, Ohio.

188

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HAMLEY'S QRAIND MAGICAL

SALOONS

35 New Oxford Street, W. C (City Depot) 29 Luclgate Hill, E. C.

London, England

A GREAT SUGAR AND MILK TRICK A Novel and Great Effect Certain to "Make Good." Tin' effect (if this excellent euiubiiiiil ion begins with tlie exhibition of a small jug filled with milk, and basinof loaf sugar. There is also an empty slop basin required. The sugar is tipped from the bowl into the slop basin (Fig. 1), and may be examined. The milk is then turned from the jug into the sugar basin, and the jug also may be given for examination (Fig. 2). The sugar is then tipped from the slop basin into the jug, which it fills (Fig. 3). Then the position of affairs is that by means of the empty slop basin the sugar has been transferred from the sugar ba sin Into the jug, whence the milk has been poured into the sugar basin, thus both the commodities have changed plaei s. They are now partially covered (Fig. 4), the sugar bowl by the slop basin, and the jug, after being previously examined, by a serviette or handkerchief. At the word of command the sugar and milk return to their original places. The sugar bowl being full as at first of sugar, aud the jug with milk, which is tipped out into the slop basin to prove its reality (Fig. 5). There is no mess or trouble in connection with this trick. If it is not desired to carry the milk and sugar, both, articles may be borrowed from the' hostess, or the problem can be executed with any other liquid and any small objects such as sweets, beans, or marbles in place of tin- sugar. A child with no previous knowledge of maguc can work thisexperiment. There is nothing to go wrong, anil no possibility of making a iniMake. Price, complete, ready to be worked, 12 6. Post free, (United Kingdom only) 13/3. Canada and U. S. A, $3.10. or mailed free carefully packed for $3.75.

HAMLEY'S NEW BILLIARD BALL AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICK This is the latest form of this popular trick. Than this nothing can be more astonishing and neat. The effect is as follows:—The hands are shown empty, and the handkerchief given for examination. On receiving it back, it i s pushed into the closed fist of the right hand, which is itself held at arm's length, right away from the body, or from anything whatever. At the word of command, "pass," without the slightest movement, the handkerchief instantly vanishes, and in its place is seen a billiard ball. This beautiful effect has been endorsed by all the leading professionals. It is absolutely unlike anything else of its Kind, withal it is extremely easy to work. We can tijr.estly and highly recommend this beautiful trick. N. B.—The handkerchief disappears like a flash. Price, complete. 12 ii. Post free, 12 :). Canada and U. S. A., $3.10, or mailed free, carefully packed for $3.55.

Both the above Tricks are New!

D5"

NEW BOOK

N O W

R E A D Y

TO WIZARDRY BY

EBERT

D'EGERDON

A book of Intense Interest to magicians, both amateurs and professionals. I t contains many new sleights, moves and suggestions, any one of which is worth more than double the price of the book. You cannot afford to be without It. Fully illustrated. Price 2/-, post free 2/X Canada or IT. S. A., 50 cents or mailed free for 60 cents. All of the above are our own specialties and publication. We would respectfully advise customers when purchasing to insist on having Hamley's to avoid disappointment and to ensure success. 1 Grand Illustrated Catalogue, post free 6d. Latest List of Novelties free on receipt of address.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

189

Seibit's Magic Blocks The Litest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

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:

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magical Apparatus I, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. Eng. Everything pertaining to tlie Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for I,ists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We Have the Latest European Novelti« Manager: Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

AN EXPOSE OF CRIME

The Right Way to do Wrong By Harry Houdini exposing the various Tricks, etc. of the great criminals, Male and Female. London Mail, Boston Herald and Baltimore Herald devoted almost a full page extoling this book. Best of its kind ever presented. " Price Twentyfive cents. Conjurers' Monthly Magazine 278 West 113th Street or THEO. HARDEHN so Rupert St W. Care ot Anger 6c Bauer, l,ondou, England

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Before this book was ready for the printer; twenty years were spent m constant search for material and verification of facts. twenty years were spent in constant travel. twenty years were spent in constant spending of money.

The most expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of magic ever placed before the public. The reproduction of the programs form a collection, which it is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world.

No magical library or collection can possibly be complete without this work.

T o anyone who can

bring a book which has taken so much time, energy, travel and money, with such authentic data regarding real magical inventions, the reward of $ 2 5 0 . 0 0 will be paid.

Price $2.00 Orders can now be placed with every reliable magical dealer, or sent direct to

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191

Magical APPARATUS

Supplimentary Catalogue

Containing description of latest tricks, all the new books on magic etc. Also List No. 43 of bigger barOf every descripgains than ever. Am closing out all odds and ends tlu.t tion, best make. have accumu lated at any price they will bring. Large illustrated catalogue No. 24- — 15c. Both lists sent upon receipt of two cent stamp. Catalogue of tricks free. Professional catalogue of 750 Illustrated catalogue No. 25 FREE. tricks, 170 pages 20 cents.

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278 West 113th Street, New York. N . Y . Gentlemen : Please send me C o n j u r e r s ' M o n t h l y

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. A complete outfit of magical apparatus suitable for stage or parlor; some have never been used and some have only been used a few times. Will sell very cheap for cash, or will trade part of it for a motorcycle or a large Rhumkorf coil, having from 6-inch to 12-inch spark. Write for list if you mean business, inclosing a stamp for same. Address, C. O. L., P. O. Call Box z u . Port Arthur, Texas.

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190

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men hesitate about paying only $3.50 for their shoes, supposing that a firs! class shoe cannot be made for this price. They do not realize that with my enormous business, 17,800 pairs of Men's and Boys' fine shoes per day, and my modern methods of manufacturing, that I can make as good a shoe for $3.50 as they have formerly worn, paying from $5.00 to $7.00. T h e fad that W . L. Douglas Shoes are worn by more men in all walks of life than any other make proves that they give better satisfaction than any other shoe on the market. CAUTION.—The genuine have W. L. Douglas name and price slamped on the bottom. Take No Substitute. If not convenient to call at a W . L. Douglas Shoe Store, ask your shoe dealer for them. If he cannot supply you send direct to factory. Shoes sent everywhere by mail. Illustrated Catalog free.

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Mammoth 212 Page Illustrated

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Up-to-date, with over 30 full page half-tone cuts of leading conjurers,past and present just out. Nothing like it ever Free List.

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issued. Send 50c for same. No

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tricks, etc., 10 cents. W. D. LEROY, BOSTON SCHOOL OF MAGIC Eastern Headquarters for Magicians

1O3 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Eastern Representative of the "Society oj American

Magicians"

IMPORTANT Those who have already made application for, or those who wish to suscribe for the GREATEST BOOK EVER ON MAGIC (500 pages) by T. Nelson Downs and J. Northern Hilliard, send the price $5.00 at once to T. Nelson Downs Publishing Co. J. N. Hilliard, Mgr. 542 Blossom Road, Rochester, N. Y. Book ready for delivery October 1st, 1907, and will be mailed free to all who get their orders in immediately, as only a limited number will be issued. Get busy if you want to be in. T. NELSON DOWNS PALMING COINS ARE BEST $1.00 DOZ. T. Nelson Down's Magical Co.

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September

1 2 . 190«. a t t h e p o s t office M N e w of C o n g r e s s of M a i c t i d, 1N79.

York.

N.

Y..

un.l.T

CONTENTS Johann N. Hofzinser Parlor Tricks The Three Trunk Trick Spelling Bee Card Trick Our Mail Bag Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Barter and Exchange Reading and Rubbish Cipher-Writing

MARCH

1908

the

...

162

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. CONJURERS

MAGAZINE

PARLOR

TRICK C O M P E T I T I O N . •

.Amatuers Take Notice.

To cause interest in parlor tricks, we are starting this competition, to which all are admitted, and offer to pay the sum of ten dollars for the best, and five dollars for the second best parlor trick sent to us. You can send us your favorite trick, and remember it is not essential that the trick be an original one. Write in plain letters, on one side of your paper, and if possible have your trick typewritten. Any stenographer will typewrite it for you and charge only a few cents for each typewritten page. Conjurers' Magazine Parlor Trick Competition, 278 W. I13U1 St., New York City. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. V. and C. A. A.

ANGER & BAUER AGENTS FOR

, Hmencan anb Continental IDartet^ Hrttstes 50 RUPERT STREET, English E g and Continental Representatives for for Messrs. A. Bonamici and Frank K. Fillis's Enterprises in South Africa.

I

f~\ IVJ |"N (~\ JVI

f^" IVI f *

Marry Day THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be"pleased to grant unkncnvn acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. EHingham House, Arondle Street, Strand, London, England

Jennie Jacobs Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Suite 735 'PHONE

New York City

10S5-38th

Booking for every Music Hall in America, England and the Continent Traveling Representatives : MISS PAULINE COOK and THEO. HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

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ARNOLD DE BIERE

195

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A New Hotel -with all modern improvements, centrally located. European Plan. :: :: :: Rooms $1.00 per day. vYith Bath $1.59 per day and upwards

Cafe and Restaurant Unsurpassed Reasonable Prices Orchestra Music The Al\va3rs Working Magician, introducing ihe newest of the best illusions. Prolonged four times at the London Alhambra.

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Special Rates to the Profession SAMUEL QLANTZ

Proprietor

N. J. WEISS Manager

3 96

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

CONJURERS' MONTHLY

MAGAZINE PUBLISHED DY

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, 278 WEST 113TH NEW

STREET

YORK CITY

TELEPHONE : 1514 MORNINGSIDH

Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Advertising rates payable in advance, made known on application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without permission. The magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing tbe publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London. England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia. T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman. Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment Is expected, tbe price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise It will be regarded as complimentary. No maBuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope.

VOL. II.

tion of a trick which they have not seen or performed in a long time. Then again, with a secret code magicians can secretly correspond with one another and exchange tricks and secrets without fear of the messages being intercepted by others.

.MARCH 15, 1908

No. 7

We wish to specially commend to our readers for careful study and preservation, the cryptography series of articles, which commence with this issue of .the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE, as they will be found more interesting and complete than any article or series of articles heretofore written on this subject. These articles are of particular value to magicians, as the knowledge of their use will enable them to make note in a' book of how tricks are done without fear of anyone else being able to obtain the secrets. Undoubtedly our readers will agree that such a book is of the utmost value, for if left to one's memory, few indeed are the magicians who can recall to mind the preparation and execu-

With this issue also we commence to publish a series of articles on patented illusions, for which we have received numerous requests from our readers. This we are informed we are legally allowed to do by our esteemed Dr. Sarani R. Ellison, who was so advised by his special patent attorney, Mr. Charles C. Gill of 22(j Broadway, New York.

With the passing away of Maro, the all-around entertainer, the top rung of the ladder of fame for this class of work becomes vacant, and waits to become occupied by one of the younger generation of entertainers. The life and pre-eminence of this entertainer should act as a stimulus to the young and struggling member of the profession to work hard and not become discouraged, for no matter how dark the outlook may be, time works such changes that without the knowledge or premonition of the occurrence, one day he will awake and find he has gained a foothold in the climb for success. Then, ere he is aware of it, the Grim Reaper skirmishes by and selects another one of the shining lights ahead of him, and so depletes the higher rungs of the ladder of fame, which later become occupied by that self-same struggling member who, once having obtained his firm foothold, has not failed to continue with his conscientious work.

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

JOHANN N. HOFZINSER.

197

those interested in magic and its romances. It remained for Ottokar Fischer, the eminent correspondent of the CoxjrR-

"Johann N. Hofzinser. Horn in A ienna, July 6th. i8of>. Died in hi^ native city March i st, iKjS- A genius unheralded and unsung." Such might well be the epitaph written on the tombstone above all that remains of Austria's brilliant necromancer. Dr. Hofzinser. He was a genius, but only his intimates recognized this fact. Conjuring was with him an obsession, yet so long as his government commanded his services in a more practical capacity, he gave to Austria the best of his energies. He enriched magic by his clever inventions and wonderfully built tricks, but this enrichment was only temporary, for in dying he begged that his secrets should die with him and his widow fulfilled his request. And so it happens that while the annals of magic teem with the exploits of Pinchbeck, Kawkes, Pinetti, Philippe, Bosco, and Anderson, and while the litJOHANN N. HOFZINSER (From the Harry Hondini Collection) erature of magic uses the names of Hou
198

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The writer met Herr Fischer while playing an engagement in Vienna in 1901 and found in him one of the most enthusiastic students of magic and its history in all Europe. Though not a traveling entertainer, he knew the secrets of magic and every entertainer worth knowing who came to Vienna. In order that he might broaden his acquaintance with magicians and go to the very fountain heads of magic's history, he mastered both English and French and the latch-string of his Vienna home is always out for the magician of any nationality. He, to-day, is one of Vienna's most brilliant parlor entertainers. Hofzinser was one of the early nineteenth century magicians who particularly appealed to Herr Fischer, and the latter in studying the history of his compatriot has unearthed facts invaluable to students of magic. After compiling this material for the CONJURER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, Herr Fischer writes:

"You know how I love and worship the memory of this great magician. All dates herein given have been collected personally by myself, and it has positively taken me over twelve years to do this. I hope that you will appreciate this fact and that the article will find favor with you as well as with your readers." Johann Hofzinser's early history is unwritten, but it is known that he came of excellent parentage and his education was of the best. While yet very young he betrayed marked musical ability and often appeared as a violinist in both private and public circles. For some time he evidently enjoyed supremacy as a boy virtuoso, for one day while playing before a select circle, he met another youth, also well educated on the violin. This boy was asked to play and either equaled or eclipsed Hofzinser, for the latter's pride was so hurt by his loss of

supremacy that he laid aside his violin, never touched it again and devoted himself exclusively to his school work. Upon his graduation at the Vienna University he was appointed to an excellent position in the Imperial and Royal Treasury Department of the Austrian Government. In that department he remained until he was pensioned, ever a faithful servant of his king. Just when his interest in magic awoke is not known, but his letters indicate that in 1828 he had already occupied himself extensively in performing and inventing card-tricks. He also used the various implements of office work as properties for sleight-of-hand work, and gradually his interest and talent absorbed all branches of magic. It was the passion of a beautiful, exquisite life Hofzinser was a delicate man in phys ique, but a giant in intellectual and in ventive strength. His government work for a time prevented his appearing as b public entertainer, but he gave exclusive performances in his own lodgings. After his connections with the Treasury Department were broken, he occasionally appeared in public. He was the aristocrat to his finger tips and was most acceptable to the nobility and in high social circles. For forty years he was the favorite of the Vienna social world, and no function of note was considered complete without his presence. Occasionally in later years he gave performances in the Eastern Austrian provinces, but he never went beyond the confines of his native country and seldom beyond Vienna. In 1853, he established in his home an exclusive magical parlor, called "Salon Hofzmser," and for many years gave performances patronized by the upper classes because of their exquisite deli-

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In creative ability he was fully fifty cacy; and prices were charged accordingly. He called his performance "( )ne years ahead of his time, and his tricks Hour of Deception," and in this he was. involved principles of importance and assisted by his faithful wife, who was primary value, which, if understood and especially useful in his masterly presen- generally known at the time, might have revolutionized magic. Though regarded tation of second-sight. Yet with all his personal charm, with as an amateur, he came nearer the basic all his social prestige, with all his gov- principles of the art than many profesernment backing and influence, Hofzin- sionals of his own time or later. ser was not able to score financial sucThe old-time technique of magic was cess. He was too much the artiste, too in vogue when Hofzinser became interlittle the charlatan. 1 le would spend ested in the art. In fact, it was at a low hours, days, weeks perfecting some tmy ebb when he touched it with his wondetail of a trick, and begrudge minutes derful revivifying hand. It stuck too needed to boom his business. After a closely to the "double bottom" principles. long and painful illness he died in his Hofzinser was not satisfied to improve unpretentious Vienna home, March i, tricks built upon this principle. He 1875, leaving a widow but no children. reached out for the new, the artistic, the His wife was a most beautiful and brilliant effects. Often after studying fascinating person, and a few years after an old trick, he would cast it aside and Hofzinser's death, she married a Vien- rebuild practically the same effect but nese named Biela. She also survived on entirely unique and individual lines. her second husband, and left her personHerewith is given a long list of Hofal fortune, 250,000 florins, to the Vienna zinser's tricks. Those marked with the University, from which her first husband asterisks show his original inventions. was graduated as a doctor and later was Others were old tricks improved by his elected as professor of Experimentalmaster touch. Physics, thus proving that even in death her love belonged to Johann 1 Iofzinser. "The Rose Mirror. ' "The Crystal Ball Casket. •The Floating Wand. In point of inventive ability and pro•The Dial with Curds. •The Wandering Coins. ductive faculty Hofzinscr is practically *The Ducats (a coin trick). •The Butterflies (quite different from the Japawithout a rival. That the world has not nese method). The Delicate Theme: Ess. known this fact is due to the jealous •The Enchanted Bankbills. •The Ink of the Enamoureds (Ink-Vase). •The Grandfather (fairy ninepins). manner in which he guarded his every The Box of Flowers. •The Corresponding Watches. magical secret and the fact, before men•The Protocol of Knots. •The Dial with Flowers. tioned, that at his behest his wife burned •The Recollection of a Finger. •A Mathematical Example. or buried his tricks with him. So far •The Spiritist. •The Library. •The Word. as lay in human power he wiped out •The Album of Poetry. •The Sympa thotical Inlluence. the record of his work. Whether this The Toast. •The Lantern of Diogenes. was due to disappointment or to the fact •The Bird-Sword. •The Rose-Tree and Card. that he underestimated his own achieve•The Thought of Photograph. The Changement in Onlookers Hands. ments is not known, but he was the typiThe Coffee Trick (his own). The Wre»ith of Flowers in the Hat. The Magical Bell. cal genius, the dreamer of dreams, with •Diabolical Variations with a Ninepin. •The Frame for Cards. all the eccentricities peculiar to such a •The Card-Star with Crystal Dial-Hand. •The Exchange-Speculator. temperament. •The Billard Balls (his own method).

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Jn addition to this he had his own method of presenting second-sight, and llerr Fischer found traces of incomplete tricks lost beyond repair. Besides the complete tricks mentioned above, Hofzinser invented a number of practical contrivances for presenting tricks and worked out many subtle sleight-of-hand moves. He is credited with having invented the clock dial in which use is made of the counterweighted hand, for he found that the magnetical clock dial was limited in its scope. Still his own clock dial was a magnetical one and is now in the possession of an amateur in Vienna. Great as this master was at tricks of magic, far more remarkable \va^ his work as a manipulator of cards. In this •line he has absolutely no rival in the entire history of magic. Xo other performer has ever approached him in dexterity of hand in manipulating cards. He loved his card wcrk passionately and called it the poetry of the magical art. To card work he devoted his very best energies, his finest inventive skill, and he had a repertoire of more than sixty card tricks of exceptional value. More than half of these tricks were buried with him, and the world of magic suffered an indescribable loss. The tricks which Herr Fischer has been able to unearth are as follows: The Sympat retical Number. The Association of Thoughts. The Equal Thoughts (first method). The Four Eights. The Four Aces. The Flying aiid Changing Card. Everywhere and Nowhere (first method). The Sensible Feeling. The Forced Thought. The Might of the Faith. T^es Quatres Rois (The Four Kings). The Forced Thought (second method). Lia Pensee Quand Meme. Think and Forget (first method). Think and Forget (second method). Think and Forget (third method). Omnipotence of the Queens. Do Decept Thy Neighbour! Coeur Mariage (first method). Cn?ur Mariage (second method). The Wonderful Cards.

Think and Forget (fourth method). Everywhere ami Nowhere (second method). Every where and Nowhere (third method). i^qual Thoughts (second method). The Insolvable Impromptu. The Ace of Hearts. Three Like One. The Flying Thought. The Magnetical Cards. The Cards and the Picture. The MugU'al Candlestick.

Hofzinser was opposed to endowing his tricks with bombastic titles, so we find in this list titles almost precisely alike, yet we have evidence that they are worked on different methods and bring forth different results. The above thirty-two tricks are evidently Hofzinser's own inventions and all are complete in Herr Fischer's possession. Besides these experiments, Herr Fischer traced to Hofzinser, but not to his entire satisfaction, the following tricks. They may or may not belong to his credit: The Choice of Colors. The Diminishing Cards (own method). The Changed Ace. Card and Cigar Box. The Mysterious King of Spades. Exposition of Gambler Tricks. The Five Changed Cards. Carte Blanche. The Card and the Ring. The Marvellous Harmony. The Obedient Kings. The Card and the Dankbill. The Mysterious Handkerchief. The Card and the Watch. The Inexplicable Separation. Queen of Hearts and the Flowers. Successive Disappearing of Cards. The Card and the Carrot. Playing Card and Visiting Card. The Lausquents. Watch Your Card!

The combinations used in the above twentv-one tricks are exceedingly fine, so fine, in fact, as to indicate the hand of Flofzmser in their invention. The beauty of all the Hofzinser tricks, and especially of his card tricks, lay in their thorough and logical combinations. To this he added a most poetical and graceful patter. He built up his repertoire as a playwright builds a drama, each trick gaining in interest and intricacy, step by step, scene by scene, until his performance was like a drama of magic in which each trick played a role, leading to a beautiful and artistic climax, (To be continued.)

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Parlor Trick Competition In order to cause interest in parlor tricks we advertised that we would pay ten dollars to the person whose trick was judged the best and five dollars for the trick judged the second best. As the result of this offer many tricks have been submitted to us, of which we will print a few each month in our columns and then we will let our readers say to whom the prize money is to he presented. A UNIQUE CARD TRICK. By James P. Skelley. I have used the following trick to good effect on numerous occasions at private entertainments: EFFECT.

Performer hands a pack of cards to a person in the audience with the request that a card be selected. The balance of the pack is shuffled and placed on a table and the selected card U deposited in a card box the lid of which is then closed. Performer, after handing the pack to the person mentioned above, does not touch them again. He now requests that the pack be thrown in the air toward him. As this is being done the performer thrusts his hand amongst the cards and apparently catches the selected card from the pack. The card box is now opened and found to be empty. PREPARATION.

A mechanical card box and a pack of marked cards previously arranged in the trousers pocket as in "The Cards from the Pocket Trick." and another duplicate pack used, from which the selection is to be made. When the selection is made, the performer ascertains which card was chosen by glancing at its back as it is being drawn from the pack. It requires but an instant to procure the duplicate from the trousers pocket. This is now backpalmed. When the cards are thrown in the air, it is brought to the front and made to appear as though caught from the pack.

Inasmuch as the card caught exactly matches the balance of the pack and as the mechanical card box is shown empty, the person wdio did the selecting declares it to be actually the card he selected. THE THUMB PALM. By Frank J. Klem. To perform the following sleight, use a coin the size of a cent, nickel, dime, quarter cr even half-dollar; but probably the best one to use is one the size of a quarter. The coin is placed in the fleshy part ol the palm of the hand between the thumb and first finger, which enables the performer to show both sides of the hand empty with the thumb straightened out and the fingers wide apart. When turning the hand to show the back empty turn the coin in such a position that wily the milled edge will be toward the observer, which if quickly done will pass unnoticed. Practice taking the coin with the tips of the first and second fingers and thence slipping it to the root of the thumb and first finger. This trick can be used by performers who are unable to master the back and front palm, is easy of execution, but effective to the audience. A MYSTIFYING CARD TRICK. By Prof. Duff. Inasmuch as I usually commence my parlor entertainments with card tricks. ' will describe the above mentioned trick, which forms part of my repertoire and then explain the method used in its execution.

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The performer advances toward his audience with a pack of cards in his hands, which he shuffles and then invites a member of the audience to draw any card from the pack. This having been done, he requests that the card be torn into small pieces and placed into a small mahogany box, which is handed to him, with the remark that by means of it the card can easily be restored to its original condition. The box is now closed and a few passes made over it, and when opened to the amazement of all the card is found whole again. The performer now removes the card from the box and tears it up, giving one corner to someone in the audience, with instructions to wrap it up in a piece of paper, around which also an elastic band is placed. A small frame is now shown and covered, and the card is commanded to leave the paper and go into the frame. The paper is then opened and found empty, and the frame is uncovered and found to contain the card restored to a whole condition, with the exception that a corner is found wanting. On comparison it is found that the corner handed previously to a member of the audience exactly fits the corner of the card which was found missing. Another frame is now shown, and a request is made that the card be torn up and with the missing corner placed into the tube of a pistol where from it is shot into the frame previously shown. On examination the tube of the pistol is found empty, and in the frame the card is found whole. The card and frame are now handed around for examination. EXPLANATION.

The pack of cards employed is known as a forcing pack, in which all

the cards are alike. The mahogany box used is the regular card changing box with the flap, behind which a duplicate card is placed beforehand; but the box as exhibited appears empty. After the card has been selected and torn up and placed into the box, the flap drops and brings to view the intact card, which. was previously placed there unknown to the audience. The performer now places the box on a table, removes the card, and cuts off a corner, which is handed to one member of the audience,, while another member of the audience tears up the remaining part of the card and wraps it up in a piece of paper and places an elastic band around it. In order to make the torn card pass from the paper to the frame, a similar piece of empty paper with an elastic band around it, is palmed and substituted, and the frame used is the one known as the sand frame, which when turned upside down causes the sand to run to the bottom and so exposes the card. So the spectator on opening the paper finds it empty, and on uncovering the frame finds it to contain the card without the corner, which having been previousl}) prepared and placed in the frame, of course matches the corner which the other member of the audience has retained in his possession. As the card is again torn up and shot from the tube of a pistol into a frame, for this purpose a pistol is used whose tube has a trap, which as the pistol is shot turns a spring and makes the tube appear empty. The frame used is a curtain frame, the curtain covering a card which has been placed there beforehand. All that is necessary to bring the card to view is to remove the curtain, and so, of course, both the card and curtain can be passed about for examination.

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Figure 1 is a view of the series of trunks, the outer and intermediate ones of which are shown partly open. Fig. 2 is a section through the series of trunks, the two inner ones being shown Fig.l

Claiming this trick to be his invention, Horace Goldin secured United States Letters Patent No. 865,966 and commenced a suit to enjoin Howard Thurston from presenting the illusion. The gist and drawings of the Letters Patent as issued by the United States Government are herewith reproduced. The effect of this illusion is to place an assistant into the mouth of a cannon and apparently shoot him or her into a nest of three trunks or boxes which has been suspended in mid air in the centre of the theatre at all times in full view of the audience. The audience sees the assistant loaded into the mouth of the cannon; a shot is fired to convey the impression that the assistant has been invisibly shot into the nest of three trunks that has hung suspended in midair. In reality the assistant, after being loaded into the mouth of the cannon, simply crawls down under the stage through a trap situated underneath the cannon. After the shot has been fired, the cannon is moved away, the nest of trunks is lowered to the stage and the assistant crawls through the trap into the trunks. In describing the workings of the trick the Letters Patent read as follows: In order that this invention ma)' be clearly understood and more easily carried into practice reference may be had to the following description and append«d drawings.

--E ta^£

closed and the outer one open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner trunk in open position; Fig. 4 is a sectional

view of the two inner trunks arranged above a trap in the stage. The outermost trunk E is a substantially constructed trunk of ordinary make, which may be examined or tested in any manner without exposing the illusion.

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The trunk E contains two nested trunks E1 E", having bottom doors and in use the trunks all properly nested are brought upon the stage, the outer trunk E being then unbound and opened and the inner trunks raised from within and placed upon the stage and over a trap T in the iloor. The bottom of each of the inner trunks E1 E2 is provided with a flap or sliding doors such as M and by which means the lady or other performer can enter the inside of the inner trunk through the trap in the floor or in some cases the inner trunk E" with the lady •contained therein may be bodily inserted into the trunk E1 through the floor trap during the time the trunk E1 is being unfastened.

THE SPELLING BEE CARO TRICK A clever little trick which will be useful in parlors and small circles is to take thirteen cards and arrange them in such an order as to enable you to spell out the cards in sequence from i (ace) to the king, by simply holding the 13 cards in your hand with face downward and removing one card from the top with each letter you spell. PREPARATION.

Arrange the cards in the following sequence: 3-8-7-1-K-6-4-2-Q-J-10-9-5 which arrangement with face downward makes the 3 the top card and the 5 the bottom card. EXPLANATION.

Commencing at the top you remove one card with each letter you spell, but be careful not to disarrange the sequence of the cards as previously prepared: viz., O-N-E, one; having removed one •card with each letter you turn over the fourth card when you pronounce the word one, and it will be found to be the ace. This you place on the table,

as you have no further use for the card, md if it is returned to the pack it will break up your previously arranged sequence. Xext spell T-W-O, two, and the fourth card will be acain turneu up and discarded upon the table and will be found to be the two, or deuce car'l. Xext, T-H-R-E-E, three, is spelt and with the pronunciation of the word t'nree the card is turned up, discarded upon Hie table and will be found to be the three. Continue ,11 this way to spell, F-O-U-R, four; F-I-Y-E, five; S-I-X, six; S-E-Y-E-N, seven; E-I-G-H-T, eight, N-I-X-E, nine; T-E-X, ten; J-A-C-K, Jack; Q-U-L-E-X, queen, and K-I-X-G, king. '1 he trick affords excellent pastime, and is very simple if you will only remember not to disturb the sequence of the cards, and be sure not to place the card back into the pack when it has once been spelt and discarded. Should you prefer to spell the Jack by its other name, K-X-A-Y-E, the sequence is as follows: Q-4-1-8-K-2-7-5-1 o-J-3-6-9 and it must be remembered that the card to be spelt must be turned up and discarded with the last letter named of the letter spelt, viz., O-XT-E, as the F. is named the card is turned up and will be found to be the ace ; T-\Y-O, as the () is named the card is turned up and will be found to be the two: T-H-R-E-E, as the E is named the card is turned up and will be found to be the three, and so continue to spell each number, turning up the spelt card with the naming of each last letter, and remembering not to break the prearranged sequence and not to return the spelt card to the pack. The first method is the preferable one: still, both are given for the reader's benefit.

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Our Mail Bag In this department -it Is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice -any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abattd by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself re• poiifltile fur opinions expressed in this department.

Editor CONJURER'S MAGAZINE: Sir.—Apropos to Goklin's present American tour with his latest act in which lie presents the bridal chamber illusion, and also vanishes a lamp without the use of a table, I wish to make a few remarks relative to the origin of the same, inasmuch as besides himself and Carl Hertz a number of other magicians and manufacturers claim to have originated both. Surelv no one will accuse me of egotism when I speak the solemn truth and can prove in various ways that the ideas for both the above mentioned tricks originated from mv brain About three years ago Imro Fox and myself were seated chatting m Martinka's Magical Parlors at 493 Sixth Avenue, when Fox suddenly said. "Hornmann, do you know of anything with tvhich I can make a sensation in Europe?" To which 1 made reply as fol/ows: "Build a brass stand in full view of the audience and place thereon a folding bed, which you cover with a bedspread or sheet, and thereby make a beautiful young lady appear in bed in her night dress. You now commence to undress yourself and bid your audience good night, and then the curtain descends." Fox asked me how I could make the lady appear in bed, which I explained to him could be done in various ways. He replied, "Yes, it would be a great trick

in Paris, but in America, no, never." Mr. Martinka's brother and Mr. Darowe who presents sand pictures and paintings, will verify my statements. Although I have not seen Fox since that time, I presume he must have spoken of my idea to a dealer in Germany, with the result that we have the bridal chamber illusion produced. I contend and wish to be placed on record as saying that the man who elaborates the ideas is the inventor, and not the machinist or man who draws the plans or specifications, for the latter only build, under instructions, what their crafts have taught them to do. Relative to the disappearing lamp trick, I wish to say it was rumored throughout the magical world that I was able to cause a burning lamp to disappear from my bare hands without any covering. It seems that this rumor was seriously considered throughout Europe and they started to copy my supposed-tobe trick. The feeble attempt resulted in what may be termed a magical joke, for the vanishing lamp from the hand trick, is made so small that in a real theatre it cannot be seen. As a dealer must earn his living, I cannot blame him for selling it, especially if he finds people who will buy it. My flower growing trick, which is the result of many weary hours of work and thousands of dollars of expense, is a purely mechanical trick and really wonder full v beautiful and mvsterious in

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its effect. No trick ever presented can S. Paulo, Brazil. equal it, and the favored few (Kellar, Editor CONJURER'S MAGAZINE: Houdini, Downs and A. Martinka) to Sir.—Thank you indeed for your inwhom it has been privately shown agreed formation regarding Frikell's book. My that it was the best trick of its kind ever object in trying to secure same is bebrought to its state of perfection. cause of my intense love for pure sleightThe flower growing trick in which a of-hand. glass top table is made use of was built According to my judgment C. Herrabout ten years ago by Hayman and mann was the greatest sleight-of-hand Hayman, who at that time were present- performer that ever lived, and to me he ing a magical act with some good ef- was perfection itself. fects. Their growing flower trick when Is there any way in which you can completed was a feather flower bush, assist me to Wiljalba Frikell's book on concealed in the stem or leg of the table, magic ? and appeared instantly without covering. The three most prominent magicians Can these men be given credit for this in this part of the world are Dr. Augustrick ? to Goldschmidt, Dr. Costa Brito, and Jack Hayman is now starring with a Dr. Gardome. melodrama, and has made quite a sucThere is really nothing new in magic cess in this sphere, while his brother, here except that the necromancer, AlJoseph Hayman, is at the present mo- axandre Canaris, has been appearing for ment presenting his headline sketch in the past two months at the Moulin Australia, also acting as special corre- Rouge in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. spondent to the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE. Sincerely yours, I would advise those magicians who Alcxandrc Haas. have not had the misfortune to buy a lot of truck, attempting to imitate Goldin, to leave their hands off. There are only r.ditor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. a few theatres who can afford to pay Sir:—Just a few lines to acquaint you the salary such a big act as his requires, with the fact that we are now on the and the real profit to the performer of Moss and Stoll tour after having comsuch a big act is very small. I contend pleted a provincial tour in which we that a clever act, closing with one big played one hundred and thirty-six towns, illusion, is far better and more profitable giving two shows a day in each, and in the end. after having traveled more than sevenIn a future issue of the CONJURER'S teen thousand miles. MAGAZINE I hope to give the readers my We gave our first show in Oldham to biggest invention, for I am so engrossed a packed house, seats having sold for with ether business pursuits, outside of is., 6d., 4cl., 2d. my magical performance, that I have Of course, we were a little nervous, not the necessary time to devote to build- but to our astonishment found that during illusions, and so wish to give to the ing our act the audience was so quiet fraternity my ideas, and give anyone that you could hear a pin drop, and, all permission to use them. told, we were treated very nicely. Very truly yours, Sincerely yours, The Zancigs. Hornmann.

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W. J. Merkle, Chicago, 111. The handcuff mentioned is a regulation, but classified ''tampered." We can prove that the bank clerk who informed you that it was not fixed did not speak the truth.

NSWERED

F. Watson, San Francisco. When last heard from Eddie Abbot, the boy magician, had married and was employed in a book stcre in Philadelphia, Pa. * * * Frederick Stanton, Albany, X. Y. John G. Scheidler died Thursday, June 26, 1902, in Cleveland, O. He willed considerable money to his sister, who since then has also expired. Otto Hornmann can give you more facts about this case. * * * Marcus, Cincinnati, O. Your poetry to hand, and trust you will not be offended when we hope your magic is better. Being a foreigner, however, excuses you, but don't let it occur again or else we will publish same. * * * Alfred Stilston, Toronto, Canada. Hydrochloric acid and ammonia are the two necessary chemicals for performing the smoke trick, as when they come into contact they form a dense cloud of smoke. * * * R. H. Gysel, Toledo, O. The article about locks in the Popular Magazine was written by someone who has not the slightest fundamental knowledge of locks. That article was sent to all newspapers in America, and is known only as a space filler. Bramah invented the first slider lock, and Cotterill had one on the same principle, except that the sliders were placed in a position at right angles to that of the key, instead of in a position parallel with the key. You can send to England and obtain the various patent papers for all locks. Hobbs' detector lock may have been picked, but there is no authentic record that the Detector and Protector Lock has ever been picked. In what year did your friend pick the Hobbs locks? He is not mentioned in Price's book on lockpicking.

W. Wilkert, Washington, D. C. The common method of getting out of a bag after being tied and sealed up, is to have a wooden stick, about two inches in diameter in your possession and when you are being tied in the bag shove this stick up into the neck of the bag, so that the string or rope with which the bag is being tied also tics this up. After the bag is tied and sealed, all you have to do is to pull in your stick, which now allows you to have enough slack to pull the top of the bag from the cord, and you can make, your exit and replace the unbroken string. This can be tried on a paper bag, but is not the method used by Houdini. • • • F. Saunders, Oldham. (1) The nephew of the original Blitz resides in Birmingham, England. (2) Read the newspaper extract in this issue of the lawsuit Gamage has just lost and it will prove that we have not been unjust in our criticism of their would-be-magical-expert, Goldston. It is a case of gaining a reputation with others' brains. He was a failure as a professional performer.

WILL GOLDSTON FAILS TO FULF I L L H I S CLAIMS TO BUILD ANY I L L U S I O N . Jury Decides that Gamage's Illusions are Not as Represented and Brings in Verdict of £70 Damages Against Gamage. At Clerkenwell, Hugo LoretTz, a public entertainer of Dresden, sued Messrs. A. W. Gamage, general outfitters, of Holborn, for £100 as damages for alleged breach of contract. Mr. Howard A. Laurance appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Whately for defendants. The case came before a jury.

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In his particulars of claim, plaintiff set forth thai in May, 1906, the defendants, by their manager, verbally agreed to make fur him a "mystery,"' such as plaintiff had seen performed at Maskelyne and Devant's entertainment at St. George's Hall. It was known as "The New Page." The terms were £25 as deposit and £25 on completion of the contract. Plaintiff paid the deposit, but defendants, he alleged, failed to make the "mystery." It was subsequently agreed, in consideration of his paying £35 on completion of the contract, that defendants would make for him an illusion known as the "Burmese Gong." It was also agreed that for the sum of £3 ios defendants would make for him the illusion known as "Wine and Milk." Plaintiff now complained of the workmanship and materials, which rendered the "mysteries" totally unfit and useless for the purpose intended. Mr. Laurance, in opening, said the "Burmese Gong" illusion was in court, and -the jury would presently have an opportunity of seeing it worked. The written contract, in which defendants undertook to make the illusion contained the words "effect as at St. George's Hall." The illusion, however, had not the slightest resemblance to the one performed at Maskelyne and Devant's entertainment. Accompanied by his Honor, several witnesses, including Mr. Maskelyne, and counsel on both sides, the jury proceeded upstairs to the High Bailiff's quarters, and for an hour were engaged in witnessing the working of the illusion. On returning to court, plaintiff said, after visiting Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant's entertainment he went to defendants' establishment, and saw their manager, Mr. Goldston, who said they could make every illusion on the market. He paid a deposit of £25 for "The New Page" illusion, but this was abandoned, and he entered into a written contract for the "Burmese Gong," at £60, to which his previous deposit of £25 was to be applied. He introduced his niece to Air. Goldston as the lady who would perform the trick, but he could not say whether her measurements were taken. He did not know the secret of the trick himself, and Mr. Goldston was to explain it fully to him. In a subsequent letter he asked for full particulars of the working arrangement, showing how the lady disappeared. lie got in reply a sketch,

showing the "Wine and Milk" trick. He tried to work it, but found it impossible with the apparatus supplied. Mr. Laurance: "What happened?" Ans.— "The liquid, which should run into the glass, ran on the floor. It was impossible to get the liquid to run into the glass. When I took it back Mr. Goldston was not able to perform it himself." Continuing, plaintiff said that in a subsequent interview Mr. Goldston refused to show him how the tricks were to be worked. The contract for the "Burmese Gong" said firstclass quality in material. When his assistant stepped into it the bottom of the box gave way. Then the assistant tried the chair, but it was too small and very dangerous, so much so that he would not allow his niece, who was to be the vanishing lady, to attempt the undertaking. After the luncheon interval Mr. Laurance obtained permission to interpose Mr. Maskelyne, who said he had seen and inspected the apparatus supplied by defendants to plaintiff. He should say it was the cheapest apparatus that could be made. It should be made of well-seasoned timber, mahogany being largely used. The wood in this apparatus looked to him like American white wood. Mr. Laurance: "Does this apparatus correspond at all with your illusion at St. George's Hall?" Ans.—"No, the effect is not the same, and I don't think any conjurer of reputation would put such a demonstration on as we saw to-day." Mr. Maskelyne added that he noticed a considerable shrinkage of the wood, which would permit light to enter. "Would that be fatal to the conjurer?"—"It would expose the trick to a certain extent." With regard to the trap at the bottom of the box, he could not see the use of it. He thought the audience on the right-hand side must be able to see the lady coming through. It was not usual for the lady engaged in the illusion to perform in tights. The lady wore skirts. Half his audiences would go out if the lady appeared in tights. An apparatus of this kind of first-class quality would cost between £120 and £130. As to the "Wine and Milk" illusion, he did not recognize it in the sketch (produced). It would be impossible to work it according to the sketch supplied by defendants. Plaintiff, recalled, said that when the ap-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. paratus was tried'at defendants' establishment one of the assistants went through and very nearly broke his neck. (Laughter.) A witness, formerly an assistant at Messrs. damage's, said he took part in the operations connected with the apparatus. He thought that with improvements it could be made to work. He had tried the trick himself. For the defence, Mrs. Avis, who gave her height as 5 feet sVi inches, said she had tried the trick on the apparatus in court, and had no difficulty at all with it. It took 25 seconds to do it. William Goldston, manager of defendants' entertainment department, said he considered1 the apparatus was well and efficiently made, and fully answered the terms of the contract. As to the "Wine and Milk" illusion, it was plaintiff who disclosed the secret to him. They offered plaintiff another method, and he could have had it if he chose. As to the trap in "Burmese Gong," lie considered it was the only safe method to adopt for the assistant to get out. If there were competent performers the apparatus could give the same effect as that produced by Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant. Mir. Laurancc: "Do you say it is a proper thing that the performer should have to hold the shawl at arm's-lcngth while the lady is vanishing?"—"Yes, I do." "Does not that make it obvious to the audience what is going on?"—"You must stand somewhere with the shawl." Mr. Whatelv called a number of professional illusionists, who have examined and tested the apparatus in question. Each gave the opinion that it would work an illusion, producing the same effect as at St. George's Hall. Judge Edge, in summing up to the jury, said the defendants undertook to supply the "Burmese Gong" as performed in St. George's Hall, and with the same effect. The contract meant what it expressed—that the apparatus, if properly worked, w:ould produce the same effect as in St. George's Hall, and they also said the workmanship should be first-class. He could not understand why defendants should have attempted to alter the apparatus after it had been left in their custody, and after this action was commenced, without first obtaining the plaintiff's assent. It went a long way to show that the apparatus did not work properly in the first instance, and plain-

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tiff was not bound to take an apparatus that had been altered. The jury, after a lengthy hearing, found in favor of the plaintiff, with damages £70.— London ( F.ng.) Daily Telegraph, Feb. 7, TQO8. * * * The Appellate Di\ ision of the Supreme Court recently set aside an injunction granted in behalf of John T. Fay and his wife, restraining Herbert Lambourne and his partner from calling themselves "The Fays" in a mysterious performance of alleged occultism. The decision says : "It is no answer to say that the defendants (the original Fays) are themselves guilty of wrong. Equity does not adjust the differences between rogues. Persons who pretend to tell fortunes are defined to. be disorderly persons. The pretense of occult power and the ability to answer confidential questions from spiritual aid is as bad as fortune telling and a species of it, and is a fraud upon the public." * * * In the Supreme Court, before Justice Rlanchard, Wm. G. Weiss brought suit for $10,000 damages against Ben Hurtig of Hurtig & Seamon for arrest without legal cause. The suit was the outcome of a challenge issued by Cunning to release himself from handcuffs. Weiss put a pair on him, but Cunning failed to release himself; after an hour's wait most of the audience shouted "fake" and left the theatre. The jury brought in a verdict in favor of Weiss. Inasmuch as Hurtig & Seamon had Weiss arrested a second time, he instituted a second suit for $10,000 which will also soon be tried. * * * F. A. Wood and his daughter Bertha Wood, were drowned by the foundering of a tugboat about midnight of February 20, while off the coast of Yucatan. Mr. Wood, with a vaudeville company under the management of Hastings Clawson, contemplated touring Mexico, and Mr. Clawson, with the company, had been sent ahead to Progreso, Yucatan. Mr. Wood started out to join them, and not being able to board a steamer, secured passage on a tugboat which was towing a schooner along the coast. On the night of February 20 the tugboat began to leak badly and was cut loose from the schooner and allowed to founder, the captain and crew reaching the shore in safety, but reported the death of the two passengers.

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Inasmuch as Wood was known to have $14,000 in his possession, and as all the crew reached the shore in safety, the American Consul deemed it advisable to start an investigation of these peculiar C'rcumstances. * * * Max Berol Konorah sailed for Germany on March 1 on the S. S. Pretoria, accompanied by his wife, mother and infant daughter, to start on his duties as president of the I. A. L., to which office lie was elected for a period of four years, at a salary of 6,000 marks a year. * * * Then Weiss Hardeen (the brother of Houdini) who was brought to America by Klaw & Krlanger, was prevailed upon to postpone some of his time until the opening of the coming season, for which he was given a contract on the Keith-Proctor-Williams circuit. On February 10, during his engagement at the Colonial Theatre, in Norfolk, Va., Hardeen jumped handcuffed from the Atlantic City bridge into the icy waters of the bay dressed in a light flannel bathing suit, and released himself from the shackles while under water. He was handcuffed by Chief of Police Busch, Captain Ford, Captain Cuthriell and other police officials. * * * Clement De Leon's American tour is attended with more than usual success. On March 2 he played in Boston, Mass. * * * At the Special Social Session of the S. A. M., held March 7, which was exceptionally well attended by the members and their wives and friends, the Right Illustrious Secretary, Oscar Teale, presented the interesting subject of "Ancient and Modern Magic." * _* * During his engagement at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York, Horace Golden met with a severe injury while presenting one of his quick change places in his act, for in some manner he was struck on his head by the mechanical arrangement of his mysterious chair. He finished the trick, but on discovering that he was bleeding freely, had the curtain rung down and his wound dressed, after which he proceeded with his act. * * * Marshall P. Wilder, the original prince of entertainers and entertainer of princes, has

some of the best advertising schemes that we have seen in some time. No wonder he is and has been such a successful performer! * * * We regret to chronicle the death on February 20, from typhoid fever, of E. Maro, the foremost Lyceum entertainer. He was a most versatile performer, having been adept in music, magic, shadowgraphy and several other arts. He recently died in a hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., at the age of 40. His body was transported to Leland, Mich., for interment. Kellar being in Philadelphia at the time of his illness frequently visited Maro and was of great assistance to the grief-stricken widow. * * * Chefalo and Capretta, the Italian magicians in white, are now carrying their own scenery. They are booked solid until the summer of 1909. * * * Vasco, the magician, sailed for Europe on March 3 and intends to tour France, Germany and Holland. He hopes to build a new act while abroad and offer same on his return to America next summer.

BY FREDERICK ROCHE At the Park Square skating rink recently a handcuff performer was billed as "Oudini." His work left no doubt that the pilfered name did not fit him. Ziska and King, the comedy magicians, have made several appearances in the theatres of this city within the past two months, and were welcomed with the same enthusiasm the last time as on their first. * * * To have two magicians on one bill at a Keith house is unusual, and it was a strange contrast for the audience to watch Goldin,

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the silent, and Waters, the talkative. One performed without a word, and the other talked all the time he performed. FROM THE

Miraculus and Bowcn, comedy magicians, -were at the Howard for a week recently. Thev have not been heard of since.

Judging from the number of Indian magicians who have shown themselves at Austin •& Stone's recently, one would think that half the population of India had become conjurers.

Justin Kelley, he of the nimble fingers, has "been kept busy lately playing local dates. B. F. Keith has gorgeously refitted the old TBijou theatre and reopened it under the name •of the Bijou Dream, with high class moving pictures and illustrated songs. Perhaps he "will later on add magic, as that has taken •well at the other moving picture houses. In the near future we may lose one of our vaudeville houses, where magic had a prominent part on the program, as Mr. Keith is •said to be contemplating placing a stock company in the Orpheum. We saw a real good show last Cambridge Y. M. C. A., where Hall, pupils of Prof. S. Willson tertained a large audience with •escapes for two hours.

week at Baker Bailey, magic

the and enand

W. D. Leroy reports receiving many more •orders than he ever dared anticipate for his new publication, which includes a gallery of thirty full-page illustrations of the leading conjurers, past and present.

Kellar is booked for the Globe theatre for two weeks, beginning March 23. I can tell you in advance that he will undoubtedly playto big houses, as the name of Kellar is magic itself in drawing power here.

INDYClTy eWLH The handcuff dealers, who at one time only sold to policemen and detectives, claim that during the past year the handcuff kings and queens have become such a rage that they sell more manacles to them than they do to all the police forces of the United States: * * * Albini, the old card king, is at present on the Pacific Coast and reports that he is doing well. * * * The original Cherry Sisters, as they billed themselves, appeared once more in Chicago at the Empire with a burlesque company. They were interviewed by one of the Journal reporters who wrote quite a lengthy article about them. * * * The Great Omar appeared at the North Avenue theatre and took away his usual salary besides being complimented by the manager for his nice work during the engagement. * * * The Star and Garter Theatre opened its doors to the public on February 9. This house is 'owned and managed by Hyde and Behman, who contemplate placing similar houses all throughout the West. Mile. Lalla Salbina, with her daring bicycle feats, was one of the stellar Olio attractions. The Mysterious Crucible filled a week's engagement at the Schindlers Theatre. * * * The Great Baker, hypnotist, and Mme. Tangley, mind reader, are playing time in Iowa. The reports are that they are pleasing the people and packing the houses. * * * Donnar, who is billed as a jailbreaker and who is appearing in Ohio, is new to me. I wonder if he is the milk man from New York ? * * * I received word from our friend Air. David E. Stifft, who was in Winnepeg, Canada, during a 30-degree-below-zero session, that it

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was so cold that magic was put aside for a warmer game during the cold period. He also informed me that he is just recovering from an attack of pneumonia. * * * Will Fischer Alder is now a full-fledged memher uf the S. A. M., and if you don't believe me ask Will yourself and he will give you some siuns that you never saw at a baseball game. * * * Mr. Dan. S. Fishell, late of the Klaw & Erlangcr forces, is in town and will take charge of the Sullivan-Considine offices. * * * The Great Windecker held the stellar honors at the Virginia Theatre and scored tremendously at each performance. He opens his entertainment with a few card sleights and with the assistance of a small boy from the audience creates quite a hit of laughter trying to make him a prestidigitator. Mr. Windecker also gives imitations of the great Chinese magician Ching Ling Foo, and finishes his performance with some clever illusions and impersonations of Sousa and Creatore. He is assisted by a beautiful young lady, who plays her part amiably. * # * James Murphy, who was convicted of the murder of George L. Seeberger, attempted to break jail by knocking down a few guards, but was overpowered and is now in solitary confinement awaiting transportation to the Joliet penitentiary. James evidently was reading how to break jail as written by some of these claim-to-be jailbreakers. * * * Latimore and Leigh are playing dates through Illinois and although quite near Chicago, they have not yet played in our big city itself. * * * Mathews, Drees & Co., in the great trunk and cross mystery, as he terms it, appeared at the North Avenue Theatre the week of February TO. He makes a rather poor appearance, entering in a costume which places you at sea to know wtiether he is the assistant or the main works. By practicing to talk and adding a little more vim to his movements he could work the act up to a good standing, but as it is at present it has the morgue sign upon it.

.Mr. Iniro Fox, the old-time conjurer and illusionist, held forth at the Hippodrome, Cleveland, the week of February 17 and presented a brilliant assortment of illusions and legerdemain. This season he is presenting a lot of new tricks and some of his best old ones. His best offering, and the one with which he has achieved international success,, is entitled "The Box of Cagliostro." Mr. Fox is an old Clevelander and his many friends were at the Hippodrome to greet him.. * * ^ Hanson, one of the new additions to the magical field, is around Chicago, playing dates whenever the opportunity affords. He informs me that he is very clever, so I'll takehis word for it. * * * » Have just received word from Sears, thegreat, who at present is touring England and Ireland, that he is meeting with wonderfuL success. * * * LeCompt, the fire wizard, appeared at theNorth Avenue Theatre and gave a creditable performance week of February 10. He opened his performance by eating a stick of hot sealing wax, then the usual routine of fire eaters tricks; he finished his act by biting into a stick of carbon at its highest heated temperature. Wit 11 all his qualitiesfor eating hot things I wonder if he was ever burnt with a cup of coffee. Barnello, the fire king, used to complain very ofterr. that his soup was too hot. * * * It is rumored that Fred Gay has at last given up the handcuff business and gone inter the dramatic work and is at present playing a very heavy part. • • * At one of the amateur performances given at the Virginia Theatre, a young magician tried to entertain, but the crowd yelled so violently that the poor fellow soon got the hook. I don't know who you are; but whoever you may be, don't let that discourage you; try again, but take my advice and do not try around Halsted street; you are liable to disappear yourself with that mob against you. • • • Sirronje filled the week of February 17 at the Virginia. During the early part of the week her manager announced that she would

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. .give to the handsomest man in the house, at the closing of her engagement, a souvenir medal with her name on it. Sirronje was to do the picking herself. I tried hard for the prize, but it was all m vain. It was rumored that during her llakted .and u t h street engagement, she was placed in her own strait-jacket and could n.>l free

herself. * * * Okito, the Chinese magician, appeared at the Olympic and Haymarket Theatres. His stage settings alone caused an unusual amount of comment, as they seemed to he the most gorgeous thai have ever been seen in this country. Having traveled through China lor a number of seasons, he has been able to gather some very handsome material, and he is able to change his costume for every big trick he presents. His inexhaustible mat trick, suspended in midair, is one of the finest producing' tricks that has ever been placed into a magical act, and is a new offering in the world of magic. The method is not new, but the method of making use of an old method is wonderfully well disguised, and is one of the most talked of things in the act. Okito's charming wife is a clever assistant and not only looks well but dresses elegantly. * * * All magicians sit up and take notice that Madame Tanakas desires the world to know that she is the first one to make use of a large Teddy bear in a magical performance, using him to produce a large silken flag on which is painted the figure of George Washington seated on a horse. Pirates beware, as Madame Tanakas will scold if you choose her trick. * * -s A young Englishman, calling himself Kruger, has been seen in Chicago trying to obtain bookings by representing himself as •"Champion Rope Escaper of the World." Up to the present moment of writing he has not been booked, although it is not because he has not asked for work. Wonder if he is related to Oom Paul? * * * - A. Roterberg has been seen in the vicinity of the Morrison Hotel, on Clark Street, and rumor has it that he is going to open up a retail store on the stvle of the London houses.

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Chicago can easily stand a shop of that description. * * * Veno, the White's London Museum magician, is busy publishing a book ior magicians lo sell with the circuses. Dr. \V. J. Slocum, the one-time well-known Llark Street Museum lecturer, is very ill. He hopes to be able to go to St. Louis to live with his folks in retirement the rest of his days. * * * M. M. Wood, the Berwyn, 111., magician, is •vorking" on a mono-rail car, and hopes to put it on exhibition at the St. Louis electrical exhibition. * * * Isidore Silvers, the Irish magician and Punch and Judy exponent, is on the permanent list at the Clark Street Museum. * * * Any one wishing to dispose of an Aga act or illusion of a larger description can confer with \Y. IT. Sithm, 700 X. Franklin street, Philadelphia, as 1 have been informed that he is desirous of obtaining" same. * * * Anna Eva Fay is siill playing the Orpheum time and is at present in the Northwest.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading: are accepted free of chiirge; there 1s no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper. WARNING. These columns were placed in the Conjurer's Magazine for the sole use of our readers who were not dealers, and infinite pains were taken to let everyone know that the advertisements of dealers were barred. From time to time we have noticed that some small dealers have misrepresented and under the guise of magicians secured the insertion of their advertisements.

Wanted—Regulation handcuffs and keys. Please state what you will take in exchange.

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C. A. Miller, 4713 Chestnut St., New Orleans, La. * * * I have for exchange a Hindoo clock, set of rice bowls, and a number of other tricks. Would like fire bowl, Chinese rings or flower tricks (no spring). Ralph N._ Arnheim, Chicago, 111. * * * Will exchange a moving picture outfit, consisting of five reels, films, machine, trunk, slides, two tanks, calcium and electric burners and all other accessories, for cuffs, ties, cage, illusions or magic tricks. J. C. Turner, Cumberland, Md. * * * Wanted—A flag vase, some flags and any tricks suitable for club entertainments. R. McCammon, Rutland, Vt. * * * What am I offered in exchange for nine volumes of Mahatma, six volumes of Sphinx, two volumes of Magician, and one volume of Magic? Thos. J. Peters, 3511 W. 45th St., Cleveland, O. * * * What is wanted in exchange for a fire bowl, sliding die box, passe passe bottle, Selbit's magic bricks and drawer box? Hayden, I h e Mystic, Box 225, Cumberland, Md. * * * Who can furnish me with the Wiljalba Frikel Book on Magic, and what is wanted for it? Alexandre Haas, Rua do Triumpho 14 S., Paulo, Brazil, South America. * * * I have a Lilly iron, two British handcuffs and one pair of leg-irons which I would like to exchange for some Edison phonograph records. What have you to offer? Please reply only by letter. G. Stromer, 310 W. 115th St., New York. * * * I have a five guinea gold piece of 1753, reign of George II. and a spade gold guinea of 1790, reign of George III. What have you to offer in exchange for each or both? W. Weiss, 796 East 163d St., New York. What have you to offer in exchange for East Indian mango growth (Yost make), brand new, rising ball apparatus in good condition, washwoman's bottle, coffin mystery, full sized, satin lined, covered and all com-

plete? Harry J. Cater, 1418 Beaver Ave.,. Allegheny, Pa. * * # For tables and magical apparatus I wilt exchange the following: One complete Black Art outfit, never used and still in the original case in which it was shipped to me; one Enterprise stereopticon, Bausch and Lomb lens,thirty-five slides; acetylene gas generator,, four jet burner; one tripod stand, one No. I Optigraph motion picture head. James B. Campbell, Jr., Highbridge, N. J., Box 258. * * * For exchange.—A rare collection of Japanese stamps, consisting of 115 differentlydated, from 1871 to 1896/ Prefer books on> magic or conjuring apparatus. John H. Percival, 44 Warren St., East Providence,. R. I. * * * Wanted.—A copy of Latest Conjuring;: silk flags and other magical things. Burling G. Hall, 1216 47th St., Brooklyn, NewYork. * * * Will exchange for magical things, one white broadcloth evening dress suit and one black, both size 38, and one pair of white oxford shoes, size 8. No secrets or information wanted. Frank Caesar and Co., St. Charles Hotel, Chicago, 111. * * * Wanted.—A complete magical act suitable for high class vaudeville houses, including stage setting and all other necessary properties. State full particulars in first letter. Zartolo, Box 183, New Albany, Pa. * * * I have a number of books which I would' like to exchange for a Hindoo clock. Ralph L. Arnheim, 3744 Michigan Ave.,Chicago, 111. * * * Wanted.-—Flying bird cages, both squareand round styles. Wrm. B. Caulk, 2032North Tenth St., Terre Haute, Ind. What am I offered for inexhaustiblebox, drum-head handkerchief tube, two twentieth century brass tables and other magical effects? M. U. Marcus, 537 BettsSt., Cincinnati, O.

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CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING REVIEWING BOOKS AND

TM ING

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BISH

FROM THE

PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

THE ART OF MODERN JUGGLING. This book, written by Angelo, edited by James F. . Middleton and published by Ilamley Bros, of London, Eng., to whose courtesy we are indebted for a copy, is the first ever written on this subject. The book prominently features the juggling feats of Salerno, Cinquevalle, Cincinnati, Trewey, Dewee and others, but the author signally fails to give credit to the originators of the feats. He has mixed some magical tricks in with his juggling tricks. In explaining the trick of balancing the three billiard balls on the cue, the author is evidently unaware of the fact that this feat can be done without trickery, for Salerno actually hands the billiard balls out to be inspected by his audience, and displays a large card stating "The billiard balls made use of are unprepared and members of the audience are invited to bring along their own billiard balls to show there is no deception in the trick." Angelo passes the ball tossing trick by as a fill in trick, when in fact a great deal could have been said relative to this subject.

Although the book as a whole cannot be regarded as an authority on juggling, still it can be recommended as a simple A B C introduction to the art of juggling, and as it is sold for but a few cents it will repay anyone to purchase a copy, even if but one trick is copied from it. AIDS TO WIZARDRY. By Ebert D'Egerdon, is another book which Hamley Bros, publish, and really it is cleverly written, exposing in a clear, concise manner some good secrets. It ought to be in the library of every magician and every magician who purchases it cannot but further his own interests. Price is but 2 shillings, or fifty cents. MIRACLES OF THE HINDOO FAKIRS EXPLAINED. Is the title to a double-page article in the New York Sunday American of February 23, 1908, which gives the explanations of the eminent scientist, Prof. Schmidt of Berlin, about the miracles of the Hindoo fakirs. This article is well illustrated, highly instructive and makes good reading, as it gives the best explanations of these miracles which we have ever read. Every magician should make an effort to read the article in question.

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CYPHER-WRITING

OR THE ART OF

BY HARRY HOUDINI

My first introduction to the world of "cryptography" occurred about twenty years ago, when not having enough money to wire home for my return fare, I was stranded with a small touring company in Chetopa, Kansas. I wished to leave that beautiful city as fast as the inventions of mankind would permit me. lint alas! I lacked sufficient money with which to buy a postage stamp, let alone railroad fare; so I went to the telegraph office to send a message "collect at other end." After a long conversation with one of the clerks or operators, lie accepted my wire, and I sat down to wait for an answer from "Home, Sweet Home."

CRYPTOGRAPHY

clever hint to look out for myself. The message that I studied in that grim telegraph station was written as follows: XXTOLZCXHM FOKDZRDODS TOMZRJGDO SXEX GFHXDF ZSCiDO. I managed, after some worry, to solve the message, and very few things in after life gave me as much pleasure as did the unraveling of that code. I noticed that by putting one letter for another I eventually spelled the entire message, which read as follows: "Your ma dying; please return; ask her to forgive. Father." The telegraph operator seemed to tli ink that this was a great feat, and even while we still talked about it the answer arrived: "BZTFGSDWOQ DRZQHUWhile I was waiting an old man walked into the office and handed in a DMNN MXNTOKHSKD ZKHBD." message, paid for it and left the office. Which reads "Caught express; arrive No sooner had he gone than the opera- r.oon. Your little Alice." This is a tor called me to him and said. "Here, very simple cypher, and all there is to it you magician, tell me what this means?" is to alter the alphabet, and instead of I shall never forget the message; it writing the letter required, simply write was of such a nature that it is almost the letter in front of it. For instance, if the word "yes," according to impossible to forget it. The operator writing your code you will have to write looked at me with a smile, and said that "XDR." Note—It is necessary to use he would send the message and then al- "Z" for the letter "A." low me to study it while I waited for my This was my debut as a cypher-ist. answer. Since then I have picked up the newsI was in that office at least five hours, papers and have never failed to read and to that wait I am indebted for any and all cyphers printed in the permy ability to-day to read almost any sonal columns. Sometimes I have in a cipher or secret writing that is handed joking manner answered their cypher to me. I have made quite a study of and signed myself "Roger Bacon," as he this art, and often it has been the means was the first to make use of this method of giving me a friendly warning or of varying the alphabet.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Before giving the various methods and exposures, a brief narrative of •cryptography may not be out of place The word cryptography is derived from the Greek. There seems to be two words used, kryptos and grapho, the first meaning "something that is concealed or hidden," the second means in plain English "written description." Both naturally mean to be able to communicate with others in a secret manner, which to the uninitiated means nothing, but to the initiated has all kinds of meanings. Our second sight artists were the first to utilize the code or cypher for exhibitions. They had secret signs, movements and questions in which they conveyed their answers or information to the medium. Horse, dog and animal trainers train their troupes with signs that to the public are almost imperceptible. 1 know of several cases where the animal is so well trained that no one has ever been able to catch them in their movements. Mazeppa, an American horse, while in England was supposed to be a wonderful mathematician, and it is published that the horse was once known to have studied arithmetic. Maguire, the trainer, was formerly an expert accountant, and had several pe•culiar signs for his horse that he could give either behind the animal or at the side. From what 1 can learn a horse has •wonderful eyesight; he can see in back of himself quite a distance. I don't mean to look backward, but from the position of his eyes he manages to see quite a good deal of what is going on behind him. Der Kluge Hans, a horse trained in 'Germany by some very well known gentlemen, fooled the learned professors a long time, and it was only through a certain Baumeister who was a friend of

217

Herr Dir- - of the Circus in Berlin that the horse was exposed. This man Lad the horse trained in such an acute manner that his method was never discovered. He must have had his groom in the secret, for the horse would answer all questions correctly, but I think the groom gave the Kluge Hans the signals. It created the biggest sensation that has ever taken place in Germany in the animal world. This is how the trick was exposed:— l'>aumeister came to the exhibition and wanted the horse to tell him the time. Now as it was claimed that the horse could tell it himself, the owner would look to see if the horse was correct, lint this time the owner was not allowed to look at the watch, nor was any one else, and Der Kluge Hans stood there Der Dame 1 lans. This led to an argument and llaumcister was a^ked in a manner more forcible than elegant, to vacate the building, which he did. The incident proved the Waterloo of the horse as well as the c iwner.

Dogs are trained to obey at the snapping of the finger nails one against the other, and 1 have an old bill where a goose and pig play a game of cards together, and the goose always beats the PigSCYTALA LACONIAS But I wander from my subject. Roger Bacon tliought so much.of cryptography that he classed it under the name of cyphers as part of grammar. The Lacedemonians, according to Plutarch, had a method in which a round stick is made use of. John l.aptiste Porta (1658) also described this method, so I will show the reader just what there is in it.

218

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

This method is sometimes attributed to Archimedes, but as to that I am in no position to argue one way or the other. For this system you must obtain two round sticks, one being in your possession and the other in the possession of

SEY

make this clear I shall give you an example of message sent, and will box the real message, so that it can be readilyseen why this is such a clever and simple method.

TALA LACONIAS CYPHER

the person to whom you wish to send your message. A long and narrow strip of paper, say ticker tape, must be wrapped or rolled spirally around your stick or cylinder. Now write your message right across the strips as is shown in the accompanying illustration. When unrolled the slips of paper seem to signify nothing. These wooden sticks are known as Scytala Laconias. THE WINDOWED CIPHER. One time I purchased a simple method of secret writing in Germany. It consisted of pasteboard pieces in sets of two. It was "windowed." That is, it had long spaces or squares at different distances. The sets of two were whatever code you wished to use. You would keep one, and send the other to your correspondent. You would take your cardboard, lay it down on your writing paper, and in the spaces you could write your messages. You would have empty spaces between your written words, which you could fill in with words so as to make your orginal message have an entirely different meaning, until the cardboard was resorted to. To

The message sent reads: "Would like to prepare to leave my son at your house Saturday and if you wish for

yyy.

V//, //// t 1

yyy, i

i • A.

him to bring the late copy of the London Times do let me know, as I shall not refuse."

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

When the windowed card is placed on top of this message the boxed in words will show through the open spaces of the windowed card, which will make the message read as follows: "would like to | prepare to leave | my son at | your house Saturday | and if you wish | for | him to bring the late copy of the | London | Times | do | let me know, as I shall | not refuse." | '"prepare to leave your house Saturday for London do not refuse." This cypher is good only for short messages, the shorter the message the more difficult for any one not "in the know" to read between the lines. THE MUSICAL CIPHER. Another cypher, and one that was used a good deal, and is described in al most every book that deals with this art is the "Musical Cypher." I reproduce the cut (from Hooper's Recreations 1787,) and it is very good to send this cypher in an ordinary letter, where it will almost invariably pass as a common piece of music, unless it falls into the hands of some one who knows music thoroughly, but even then it cannot be read unless one has the key or secret. The circle E F G H is to be divided into twenty-six equal parts; in each section you write one of the letters of the alphabet, and on the interior circle LL-M-N. Moveable around the center there is to be the same amount of divisions. The circumference of the inner circle must be ruled in the same manner as a sheet of music; in each division there you place a note different in figure or position. Lastly, inside of the musi-

219

cal lines you place the three keys, and on the outer circle place the figures that are usually used in music to denote time. Now provide yoruself with a ruled paper, place one of the keys, for instance,

t

o r t u. r 0 d, m•• & fv d

that of ge re sol, against the time twofourths at the beginning of the paper,, which will inform your correspondent how to place his circle. You then copy the notes that answer to the various letters of the words you wish to write, as shown at the bottom of the illustration.. (To he continued.)

220

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HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL

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35 New Oxford Street, W. C (City Depot) 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C.

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A GREAT SUGAR AND MILK TRICK A Novel and Great Effect Certain to "Make Gocd." The effect of this excellent combination begins with the exhibition of a small jug filled with milk, and a basin •of loaf sugar. There is also un empty slop b:isin required. The sugar is tipped from the bowl into the slop basin (Fig. 1). and may be examined. The milk is then turned from the jug into the sugar basin, and the .ing also may be given for examination (Fig. 2). The sugar is 1 then tipped from the slop basin into the jug, which it fills (Fig. 3). Then the position of affairs is that by means of the empty slop •basin the sugar has been transferred from the sugar ba sin into the jug, whence the milk has been poured into the sugar basin, thus both the commodities have changed places. They are now partially covered (Fig. 4), the sugar bowl by the slop basin, and the jug, after being previously examined, by a serviette or handkerchief. At the word of •command the sugar mid milk return to their original places. The sugar bnwl being full as at first of sugar, and the jug with milk, which is tipped out into the slop basin to prove its reality (Fig. 5). There is no mess or trouble in connection with this trick. If it is not desired to carry the milk and sugar, both articles may be borrowed from the' hostess, or the problem can be executed with any other liquid and any small objects •such as sweets, beans, or marbles in place of the' sugar. A child with no previous knowledge of magic can work this •experiment. There is nothing to go wrong, and no possibility of nicking a misliike. Price, complete, ready to be worked, 12'6. Post free, (United Kingdom only) 13/3. Canada and U. S. A. $3.10. or mailed free carefully packed fcr $3.75.

HAHLEY'S NEW BILLIARD BALL AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICK This is the latest form of tills popular trick. Tb:m this nothing can be more astonishing and neat. The effect is as follows:—The hands are shown empty, and the handkerchief given for examination. On receiving it back, it is pushed into the closed fist of the right hand, which is itself held at arm's length, right away from the bod.,', or from anything whatever. At the word of command. "|K\.SS," without the slightest movement, the handkerchief instantly vanishes, and in its place is seen a billiard hall. This beautiful effect has been endorsed by all the1 leading professionals. It i? absolutely unlike anything else of its kind, withal it js extremely easy to work. We can honestly iind highly Tecommom! this bountiful' trick. N. B.—The handkerchief disappears like a flash. Price, ccrrp'e'e, 12 '
Both the above Tricks are New!

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221

Selbif s Magsc Blocks

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The First Authentic History of Magic Ever Published. Harry Houdini.

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New! Just Invented! PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 for 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St., New York

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Hof?inser and Heubeck Foreign Notes Our Mail Bag The Vanishing Piano Playe Parlor Tricks Escape from an Iron BDX Questions Answered Barter and Exchange Jotiings and Jumblings Reading and Rubbish Cipher Writing

APRIL

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226

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COMPETITION.

.Amatuers Take Notice. T o cause interest in parlor tricks, we a r e starting this competition, to which all a r e admitted, and offer to pay the sum of ten dollars for t h e best, and five dollars for the second best parlor trick sent to us. You can send us your favorite trick, and rememlxT it is not essential that the trick be an original one. W r i t e in plain letters, on one side of your paper, a n d if possible have your trick typewritten. Any stenographer will typewrite it for you and charge only a few cents for each typewritten page. C o n j u r e r s ' M a g a z i n e P a r l o r T r i c k C o m p e t i t i o n , 278 W . 113th St., N e w Y o r k City. Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

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together to express or attack them in public print; and a man of middle or old ager with the beautiful calling that gives him the knowledge to render succor to the sick, helpless and dying ought not to allow envy and jealousy to stir him to besmirch his conscience and defile manhood and family in a useless endeavor to heap calumny upon the character of those of younger blood whom he sees passing him by with giant strides. He ought to be able to sit back in a big restful, peaceful armchair in his leisure moments and flood his brain with benevolent thoughts of the past and present endeavors of himself and his contemporaries.

The Western Circuit will play any worthy magic act, no matter how many people appear in it, and no false statements should deter any presenter of such Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; an act from endeavoring to secure engageMoscow. Russia. T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia. James Leahman. ments on the above-mentioned circuit. Contributions on all topics of Interest to magiFurthermore, this very Western Circuit cians are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; has already re-engaged solely for the firstotherwise 1t will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped class theatres, the best known presenters and addressed envelope. of the handcuff act, for the seasons of APRIL 15, 1903 No. 8 Vol.. II. 1907-8 and 1909-10, as has already been announced in our columns. In a recent issue of Dr. A. M. Wilson's • «• paper, The Sphinx, it was stated that in America will shortly be more than the future the "Western Circuit would not represented by the give-the-entire-perplay any magician or illusionist unless forinance-magician, and Thurston will there were three people in the act, or unfind opposition in his field with such men less the act finished with an illusion. as Goldin, Valadon and Ziska. Let us Further mention was also made that no hope that when these companies form, more handcuff acts would be played un- their rivalry will be conducted on pointsless it were in their ten cent houses. of ability and merit and not on points The authenticity of these statements is of jealousy, for properly conducted comabout the same as of those which so often petition can only result in giving to the appear in the publication in question, and public good, healthy entertainment, and; is either due to erroneous information to the performer well-earned merit and conveyed to the editor, or is a result of monetary remuneration. the doctor's petty spite, dragging him Xo good comes from one magician exinto the "dog in the manger" class. posing the program of the other, which • A man should make thorough investiga- some of our readers will remember was tion to verify news items, rumors and evidenced in the Kellar-Herrmann contales of others ere lie gathers his energy troversy many years ago. The magazine la for sale by all reputable dealers •f conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above.

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JOHANN N. HOFZINSER. (Continued) Many modern conjurers who were fortunate enough to witness a I lofzinser performance appreciated the charm if his work and copied his method. Compars Herrmann was among his most loyal admirers and painstaking copyists. Most of his card tricks can be performed with an ordinary pack of cards. Others require prepared cards or cards in combination, which bring about results surprising even to those thoroughly versed in the secrets of magic. To handle these tricks requires great dexterity of hand, hence many dealers in magic as well as unskilled magicians have tried in vain to copy the Hofzinser tricks. Mechanical contrivances are not sufficient to gain Hofzinser results. Dexterity is all-essential. Many of these tricks Herr Fischer, himself most dexterous, has performed before the writer and such eminent manipulators as Downs, Devant, Clement de Lion, etc., and all acknowledged the beauty and the difficulty of the tricks. While after years of work Herr Fischer has now

229

ready for the press an exhaustive work on the Hofzinser Card Tricks, he admits that no mere phrases can do justice to

A rare signed portrait of Johann N. Hofzinser, loaned for publication in this article by Ottokar Fischer.

their beauty. appreciated.

They must be seen to be

230

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The tracing of eacli trick represents prodigies of labor. So much of the apparatus, so many of the cards, and all writings connected therewith, ITofzin-

A Rare Hofzinser Program

ser's widow burned after his death, that Herr Fischer had to search far and near for scraps of correspondence from Hofzinser to friends, bearing on his tricks. In his research he was aided also by George Heubeck, a Vienna magician, who was Hofzinser's one and only pupil. GEORGE HEUBECK. Tn mentioning the name of this poor past grand master of magic, it must be mentioned that it was that staunch friend of magic, our Viennese correspondent, Herr Ottokar Fischer, who drafted his historv. "FT err Fischer obtained the 111 ini!(i• details in person from him, for Hen beck died in poverty, forgotten, unheralded and unsung. It happened that one summer it was reported that Heubeck had died and the newspapers, wishing a brief account of the magician's demise, Fischer started out to get the desired information. Imagine

his surprise on reaching the magician's humble hut to find the dead man alive and attending to the chores of the household. 11 en heck claimed that his enemies reported him as dead, so that they could obtain such of bis engagements as still were periodically allotted to him in the provinces of Austria. Heubeck was for many years a picturesque figure in Austrian fields of magic, occupying the unique position of being Hofzinser's only pupil. He was born in Vienna, August .10. 18?!). and died March 8, 1899, at the age of 71, in his native city. His father, who lived at l!> Mariahilfcrstrasse, was a rich jeweler, but in 1841 robbers broke open his safe, and not being a believer in banks, lie lost all of his worldly possessions, never afterward was . able to recoup his losses, ami 1 here fore was obliged to send his son George to work for a silk dyer, named Lorenz Olauser. Tn 1844 George Heubeck for the first time saw the performance of a magician, by the name of Ilernianutz. who was engaged at that time by the elder Zobel, in Magdalcnestrasse. The young dyer's apprentice evinced so profound *an interest in magic that after the performance he called upon the magician and asked to be initiated into the secrets of his tricks. Hermanutz at once took a fancy to the boy, consented, and gave him lessons in magic every Sunday, with the result that in a year's time TTeubeck surpassed his teacher. In 184fi, while ordering a pack of cards to be made by a well-known mechanic. Graf, who made all mechanical cards at that time for the Viennese magicians, he became acquainted with Hofzinser. through having shown bis sleight of band tricks to Graf, and the latter in turn having called Hofzinser's attention to the then unknown but skilled magician.

T H E C O N J U R E R S ' M O N T H L Y MAGAZINE. llofzinser invited Heiil>ei-k to call on h i m to show him his ability in detail. A Tier Ileulicck had shown what dexterity he possessed llofzinsor. with a miiet smile, took a pack of cards and m a n i p u l a t e d thorn with such ellVet that H e u b e c k at once recognized that he had a long j o u r ney- to travel ere he could reach t h e goal a t t a i n e d by t h e m a s t e r who stood liofore him.

231

performance as a professional magician, in the (Jrosseii Elysium bei Damn in .lohannisstrasse. where he was engaged for foilr months at a salary of 150 florins a mon I h. With themunev saved from this cngageinenl, he purchased a horse and carriage, with which he \\tict\ lo Inn el ihioiigh the Austrian provinces, giving performances in halls and theatres and saved a considerable sum of money. Alter an absence of three years he returned to Vienna, married, and continued relationship with Iinfzinser, who conly taught him new tricks. Later in 18(>U he was engaged in the Ifappo Theatre in I>• -i1]in. where he performed for three months, following which he was engaged for four years at the K r o t t Theatre, Alhainhra Knnigsberger Theatre, i hen in Danzig, Hamburg, Breslau. Flensburg, Stettin, Leipzig, Dessau, Dresden, and returned to Vienna in 1870. Here he met Compars H e r m a n n , who engaged him for two years at a monthly salary of 200 florins, lodgings and all traveling expenses.

Mr. and Mrs. George Heubeck (From the Harry Houdini Collection.)

ITofzinser took a liking to the young man. who now became a frequent visitor, and tinder his guidance, by persistent practice, became exceptionally clever, so that at Hofzinser's death (in later years), was recognized as his onlv possible successor. Owing to the Austrian war, in 184S Heubeck enlisted in the second Steierische Schutzenbataillon ; he was wounded in the foot in one of the battles, but remained •until the soldiers were discharged on J a n u a r y 10, 1850, and returned to Vienna, where he worked at his trade, as a dyer until 1S5'2, when he gave his first public

In lSi.'j he was engaged by KratkyBaschik. with whom he remained until 1881, when lie was engaged by Bergheer with whom he went to Hungary and Roumania, remaining with him for three years. Heuhcek during this time had shown frc<|iientlv before the royal families and the nobility. I n 1800 he underwent several operations which with prolonged ssvere illness exhausted his savings. For nine years he suffered in want and penurv and was assisted by Ottokar Fischer, who did all that was in his power, until the day of his death. His destitute widow had to lie provided for by the city authorities.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Very few people attended the funeral of this man, who at one time numbered his friends by the thousand?, and his sad end was similar to that of many magicians, who, in their prime have been cheered and fawned upon by multitudes but at their graves forgotten!

At the Apollo there appeared MarcoBelly, the paradists and exposers of magical tricks. I am pleased to state that their performance was a disappointment to the public, who did not take to this sort of magical exposure, and failed to applaud these two "artists" on the completion of the presentation of their act. I personally made no endeavor to cultivate the acquaintanceship of these gentlemen. * * * At the Circus Sarrasani, which has played Vienna with great success since December, 190T, Le Mystere appears; it implies an escape of a gentleman from a trunk, into which he is placed after having previously had handcuffs and leg-irons placed on him. a lady being substituter. in his place in the trunk, and the same gentleman ( ?) appearing in the gallery among the audience. * * * Tn his article on "Wiljalba Frikell, Mr. Houdini fails to mention the existence of a booklet entitled "Professor Wiljalba Frikell's Lessons in Magic, or Two Hours of Illusions without the Aid of Apparatus." It was published in the English language by Duncan Davison iv Co., 2-14

L'egcnt street, London, England; price, sixpence. It consists of twenty-eight pages and is divided into five chapters: (1). the preface; (2), a short biography of Herr Frikell : (3). school of magic, and hints when producing tricks: (4), lessons in magic, explaining seventeen different tricks; (5), opinions of the English press, chiefly from the years of 1857-8. I am in funned that there is only one copy in existence, and that is in the British Museum, but I am pleased to state that a second copy is in my possession. Mr. H. F. C. Suhr of Hamburg-Altona, the well-known and prolific writer of magic, lias presented me with a collection of his works which I wish specially to recommend amateurs to read. >|:

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The Kratky-Baschik Magical Theatre just opened for its thirty-sixth season with an entire new program. Mr. 0. F. Marteau is now performing here in his ninth year. %

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Chevalier Thorn surprised the managers and the magical world with no less than five new illusions, which he presented at the Apollo Theatre in Xiirnberg. He will soil for South America in a short time to ful (ill engagements there. * * * I have just received a letter from Max Auzinger. Ben-Ali-Bey, which permanently puts to rest all controversy as to who is the inventor of Black Art. I shall forward it to you in time for publication in the next issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE.

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Undoubtedly quite a surprise will be afforded to a lot of magicians to learn that the conjurer, John "Weil, who last month appeared in front of the King of YVurtenberg, was known for fourteen years

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in America as Yitrio. He traveled for a number of years willi the Harnuin and Bailev Circus. John "Weil's family name is Lifscutz, and his brother Leon is world-famous as Bogee, the principal mimic of Austria. Rogee at present is playing Keith time in America. * * * Sacco, the Hungarian starvation-artist, was exposed as a fnud in KlbeiTehl by one of the guards of the "Waeh mui Schleissgesellschaft," who caught him in the act of accepting chocolate and almonds from one of his attendants. He was arrested for obtaining money under false pretenses, found guilty and fined 500 marks ($125). The prosecution demanded that he be fined and serve three months in prison. Tp to the time of the exposure 2,500 marks ($(!20) had been taken in at the door. It was shown that the first presiding justice had been one of the victims, having paid thirty pfennigs admission, and for this reason it was claimed that he was prejudiced, so another judge was called, who went over the entire proceedings a second time. Sacco, whose real name is Gustav Xaujok, was formerly a clerk in the courts of Elberfeld. •

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NOTES FROM NEW ZEALAND. By Robert Kudarz. Clias. J. Carter, the magician, can truly congratulate himself on his success in Australia, for he has been greeted by large and demonstrative audiences, both in Sydney and Brisbane, and received l-udos from the entire press of each city. He interests and amuses his audience as well a? mystifies and surprises them. * * * Allan Shaw would appear to be as elusive and ubiquitous as are the coins he so

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fully manipulates, as llr. Ben. Fulform-; me he has engaged him for his Xew Zealand circuit. Although this is Shaw's third trip l<> Australia, it will be his first effort"to "make some money" in. Xew Zealand, ami the miser will again have a vision. * * * Geo. Callender writes from Zeehan, Tasmania, to say that the Hellers have just returned from a trip to England with a number of mystic novelties. They will tour Xew Zealand earlv in the vear, and should do well, for their former visits are favorably remembered. * * * Frank Dante, brother of the late Dante the Great, is still in the East, and doing exceedingly well. Dante's great forte is "making good" in every place, and the public does the rest. JiT

Here are a few of the magicians at present in the East: Karl Rozelle, in Singapore ; Prof. West, with the Hippodrome (Abel's old circus) in Java: Selwvn, Upper Burmah; Robinson, "The Great American "Wizard" (about as much American as King Bioly) ; Lavante, De Blanche, Bamberger, and quite a number of half-caste and native performers. Selwvn was supposed to lie walking round the world on a wager, giving entertainments on the way to pay expenses. Don't think he did much walking, but he can talk enough to make up for what he don't walk. Jean Hugarde. the clever Australian •prestidigitator and illusionist (well worthy of both titles) is creating a sensation throughout Queensland. He is the best hand-worker in Australia, and with cards a past-master. He played a fine season in Brisbane, Q., and is now working towards Svdnev. Bv the way, Brisbane had two magic shows in its midst at

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the same time—Carter the American, and Hugarde the Australian. * * * I t seems to be definitely settled that Maskelyne and Devant-will open an Australian tour in Sydney, shortly before Easter, under the direction of H. Hayward, who, associated with T. J. West, reaped a harvest of success with West Pictures and the Brescians. He should do the same with Maskelyne's Magic and Devant's Diableire. %

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Breton, an Adelaide hanky-pankyist, now claims to be "Australia's Premier Illusionist"; Victor, the "Emperor of Magic"; Dr. Eowe, "The Soul of Honor"; Alberto, a "Popular Pattering Prestidigitator"; while Boberts and Raymond have a piano that "talks," and they are going to "move" it into Sydney shortly, before Maskelyne comes along. * # * Victor and his good lady, Mme. Clothilda, have been with the Fullers, in New Zealand, for about twelve months and shortly return to Sydney. This I think is a record on the Fuller circuit, and Victor must be complimented. But he ought to put a little water into his "Noah's Ark." The one he presented in Wellington, N". Z., was shown "high and dry." and was a queer-looking craft to a nautical eye. * * * Stillwell, the handkerchief manipulator, and Claude Guest, of Melbourne, have combined, and are presenting an "extravaganza" act in South Australia. * * * E. T. Tregaski, who has gone to South Africa in advance of the Steele-Payne Musicians and Bellringers, is an old-time conjurer, and as such traveled all over Australia. He ran gifts in connection with his magic, and got the idea of it, I

fancy, from old Ben Allah. "Tregy" is a real good fellow anyhow, and he won't be long in South Africa before he makes a host of friends. * * * The genial old veteran, Harry Lyons, will pilot Carter the Magician through New Zealand. He managed Howard Thurston in the East, and years ago gave colonials the original Blondin. * * # Wm. Anderson, the Australian manager, who gave us Czerny, appears to have picked up another one, for I notice Larenzy is at his Wonderland, and advertising "The Birth of Springtime" and "The Levitation of Princess Astra," both of which illusions and titles were in Czerny's program. Larenzy created a frenzy among the magicians of Sydney, when he appeared at the Queen's Hall, and, with the old sailor's parrot, "I wonder what he will do next!"' * * * Joseph Hayman can well exclaim, "Veni, vidi, vici," over his Australian engagement with Harry Eickards. Didn't know he was a coin manipulator? Oh, yes. He has been collecting sovereigns— old and new (five dollars in each)—and he assures me it has been a most "interesting experiment." He should have come to New Zealand. • • • In reviewing the Brothers Davenport and Prof. Fay in the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE no mention is made of their visit to the Australasian Colonies, in 1876-7, in conjunction with the well-known ventriloquist. Prof. E. D. Davis, whose daughter was pianist, and eventually became Mrs. W. H. Davenport. Prof. Fay after separating from the brothers, settled down in Hay, New South Wales, where he ran a large general store. He afterward retired from that business and settled in Melbourne. Wm. Davenport died I be-

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Carl Hertz is now playing a West End engagement at the Oxford. He has a new illusion in which both himself and a lady assistant disappear at the same time. The disappearance is instantaneous and no cover is used. * * * The first afler-\acati<>n social seance of the Magic Circle, under the chairmanship of Councillor Ernest H. Adams, was a gnat success, and a large number of members and friends were in attendance. The program of entertainment as presented was as follows : IWr. Arthur Glynn, who officiated at the piano all the evenBy Wilfred C. Zelka. ing, opened up with some suitable mystiChung Ling Soo this month is pack- cal airs. ing Stoll's London Halls. His is a si Jen t. Mr. Max Templeton showed what a lot act which makes the audience talk. of effect could be obtained from the old * * * card tricks, and showed his own particuCollins & Bretma are this week making lar method of working cards out of an good at the Palace, Stoke Xewington. envelope into a frame. * * * Mr. H. J. Collings, always a popular Sears, Uoland and TIerr Fritz, in suc- contributor to the Circle shows, presented cessive weeks, followed each other at the what was probably the most ingenious of the many surprises lie has given to the Bedford. Circle. * * * A piece of red ribbon was wrapped in a Roland has been playing to good busiplain white handkerchief and the bundle ness at the London Coliseum. was placed in a gla~s tumbler with a * * * lemon. Eesti with card, coin and handkerchief The gla<s was handed to a volunteer asmanipulations did a very nice little act sistant with instructions to concentrate at the Palace, (ireenwich. his thoughts upon the lemon. * * * Cards were chosen by a number of genManager Bert Dent, of the Palace, tlemen, who were asked to remember the Greenwich, had his annual benefit on the number of pips on each card. 26th when he had quite a hit of magiThe handkerchief was now removed cians on the bill. He formerly was a very from the glass, the performer explaining popular magician himself. that the thoughts of the gentleman who * * * had been holding the glass would be found Zelo, who is a popular young magician, upon the handkerchief, and when opened is busy getting ready a new stage act. the handkerchief bore the word lemon, * * * traced in red ribbon. The handkerchief was refolded and Harry Selwyn, M.I.M.C. gave a concert at Lady well Town Hall, at which placed into the glass, special attention being drawn to the fact that no exchange of magic was much in evidence.

lieve in Sydney, and eventually Fay found his way hack to America. Prof. Davis was sharcbroking in Adelaide for a considerable time, and left that city to commit suicide in Western Australia in 1899. Herr Tolmaquo, who is also mentioned in the article, was also in Australia, in which country I am told he died.

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handkerchiefs was made. The minilier of pips mi the cards when multiplied to- Vanishing Piano Player gether proved to he 3?. Mr. Collings then shook out the handkerchief, and assured Traps in the Stage Unnecessary for the Presentation of this Illusion. Inthe company that the inscription was vented by M. M. Wood in 1908. X 0 AY 3 7. By turning this page upside Effvrl. down a better idea of the effect will be The magician makes his appearance, obtained. and orders a large piano rolled onto the All1. W. If. Minus gave a very clever stage and placed near the footlights. A mimetic sketch, a story without words, in piano stool is now placed in its proper which he contrived to illustrate by facial position before the piano, a young lady gesture alone, an incident in the daily life assistant is introduced, seats herself on of a seaside photographer—how the photo- the piano stool and commences to play grapher sought, obtained and executed an some popular selection. AYhile playing order for a group—the subsequent dissat- the fair musician is covered bv the magiisfactien of the latter—disputed payment cian with a large sheet or throw, and the and linal arbitration by a passing police- performer walks to a table for his magical man. pistol which he fires several times, whereMr. A. AATinter very cleverly worked the upon. In and behold! the throw falls single-handed billiard belli passes and a down and the lady has completely vantorn card trick and nest of envelopes. ished, as it' swallowed by the air. Mr. G. M. Munro introduced his cele- Explanation. brated lecture on Wild Beasts and thereby The piano used must be a mechanical caused a great deal of fun. Afterward, self-playing piano, provided with a slidlie worked the illusion known as Selbit's ing panel depicted at A in the accompanyFairy pictures. ing illustration, which opens a compartMr. E. d'Egerton worked the waleii ment. I), into which the lady crawls in glass and handkerchief, borrowing all the order to make her disappearance. apparatus, thus proving the trick to be The piano stool used must be so preunprepared in any way. pared with a hollow shaft, G, and upper Dr. Herschell presented some most mys- plate. E, which is part of the seat proper terious effects with a pack of cards and of the piano stool and can be raised to some figures on a blackboard. the same height as the player's head. Mr. G. Gordon Powell under the title AYhile the performer is covering the lady of ISTew Lamps for Old. gave some very with the throw as she is seated at the humorous magical effects. piano, she quickly raises the center of the AYith the aid of a folding fire-screen stool, E, so that the throw drops on this and a painted dial, he formed a kind of instead of her head, and conceals herself automatic department store, and any ar- in compartment, B, in the lower part of ticle chosen came out of the screen, ac- the piano, and shuts the sliding panel, A. companied by some dry. humorous reAt the shot of the performer's pistol, marks. The whole constituted a clever she pulls the string, D, which has prebit of mysterious bunkum, which was well viously been led under the piano, and received. which is attached to a trip. F . which is released and causes the seat, E, to slide Baron C. Yon Buch worked some of the down on shaft, G, to assume its original old-time tricks with
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6OE5 UNDER PIANO

BEFORE 5ILK THROW 15 PULLED OVER OPERATOR.

AFTER THROW IS ADJUSTED.

position mi the piano stoo], thereby cansin"1 the throw to collapse, and on being

pulled away shows the lady to have vanished.

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Our Mail Bag In this department it Is the privilege of our readers to bring to public notice any topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or erils abated by such publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE : SIR.—In reply to your query in the February issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE, I wish to state that there is a society of magicians in Troy, N. Y., known as the Brotherhood of Magicians. I t is a co-operative society, formed for the protection and advancement of the magical fraternity. By same'mail I am Fending you some literature, among which you will find some half-tone cuts of the leading members. Any other information that you may wish will be cheerfully furnished on re-' quest. Sincerely yours, George E. Closson. * * * Hamburg (i, Merkurstrasse 34, Germany. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE: SIR.—I regret exceedingly that I was unable to reply to a query which appeared in an issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE in the latter part of 1907, wherein one of your correspondents asks for information pertaining to the Hamburger Society of Magicians, known as "Der Hamburger Yereiuigung und Vertreter der Magischen Kiinste." I am pleased to state that the above society now has a membership of 130, and

that we are quietly making progress,, working along practical lines, without loud or noisy public demonstrations. I wish further to correct your correspondent and state that the Berliner ATereinigung has been dissolved and is no longer in existence. My tardy answer is mainly due to lack of time, for since I have enlarged my business my orders have kept me so rushed that, even though ably assisted by my son, I have been afforded but very few spare moments for private affairs. Under separate cover I am sending you my latest catalogue, which will show you that the cause of my increasing business is due to my ability to supply magicians with the higher grade of mysteries and illusions, which are turned out of my factory under my personal supervision. Sincerely yours, Carl WiUmann.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE : SIR.—I have been advised by J. X. Hilliar of Eochester, X. Y., that a disastrous lire occurred there on February 6, which destroyed the printing house of B. J. Wegman & Co., which firm was printing our book, "The Art of Magic," the publishing of which was in the hands of Mr. Hilliar. On account of this fire, which completely destroyed the printing plant, the publication of the book will be delayed indefinitely. I would suggest to those subscribers, who have sent money to the various magical dealers, to request that their money be returned to them; but I would like to ask them to remain subscribers for the book. It seems the fates have been against me,, but we intend to make good our promiseas soon a* possible, in publishing the book. T. Nelson Downs.

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Parlor Trick Competition In order to cause interest in parlor tricks we advertised that we would pay ten dollars to the person whose trick was judged the best and five dollars for the trick judged the second best. As the result of this offer many tricks have been submitted to us, of which we will print a few each month in our columns and then we will let our readers say to whom the prize money is to be presented. THE CIGARETTE-PAPER TRICK.

NAMING A SELECTED ARTICLE.

By Frank Lohmer.

By Ardie Wiechers. The following trick must be worked with two persons, and although very simple (which I have found to be the case with most of the best tricks), my method has never been detected except by those who have known the secret. Effect and secret. One of ilie two persons performing the trick is sent out of the room and the door is locked after him, while the other performer goes among the company and asks each person to touch some article in the room different from that touched by another member of the company. The performer or confederate who had previously left the room, enters, after about fifteen or twenty articles have been touched, and specifies each article that has been touched. The secret is for the performer (wha has remained in the room) to begin totouch various things as his confederatere-enters, and eventually touch some object whose color is black, and following that some other objects, it having been previously agreed upon that the object touched immediately after the black ob{ect i s t o nbo a ^ object touched by a certain member of the company. For example, a Mr. ,T has touched a ring on a certain lady's finger. The performer then asks his assistant. "What has Mr. .T touched?" and continues

Effect. A cigarette-paper is torn into small pieces in full view of the spectators. Then the pieces arc rolled into a small ball, using only the thumbs and forefingers, and on unfolding the paper it is found to have been restored to its original form and shape. The sleeves can be rolled up during the time of the entire trick. Preparation. Roll a cigarette-paper into a small ball and place it on your thumb nail by means of a small piece of wax.

Execution. When you wish to present the trick, after first having prepared and placed the cigarette-paper on your thumb nail as described above, take a piece of cigarettepaper and tear it into small pieces, and make sure that the spectators see that it is really torn up. Next, rising only the thumbs and forefingers, roll the torn pieces into, a ball and while doing this, slip the ball (made from the previously prepared whole piece of cigarette-paper) into your fingers, and place the other "ball, rolled from the torn pieces of cigarettepaper, on the piece of wax on vour thumb nail. Then unroll the ball of paper you t o t o u e h h a ] f a d o z e n a r t i d e s a n d t h e n have in your hand, and show the piece of s o m o black object, following which he paper restored to its original form. touches the ring on the lady's finger, and This is a neat trick if well performed. then touches a few more objects, until

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the assistant names "Eing on the lady's JillglT."

A MIND READING EFFECT. Without the Use of Confederacy and with the Use of Confederacy.

Effect Lay two cards, coins or any two small objects on a table, and instruct a member of the assemblage to place a hand on one of the objects, while yon are blindfolded and while your back is turned to the table, and ask him to raise the object in his hand to the level of his forehead, and intently think of it while he slowly counts twenty. Then'he is' to lay it back on the table, and you will turn around, gaze intently into his eyes, and announce the particular card, coin or object he has selected, and is at present thinking of.

Explanation. When performing the trick, make the selected member of the assemblage place both hands on the table at the same time, ere you commence the trick. Then instruct him to select the card, coin or object while your back is turned, and hold it up on a level with his forehead; this causes the blood to flow from the hand and makes it appear whiter than the hand which has not been used and which remains on a low level on the table, retaining its natural color. Naturally when you turn around and look into the eyes of the committee, you manage to look for the paler hand, and select the coin, card or object located on the same side of the table with the paler hand. If. you wish to use a confederate all that is necessary is for him to hold a toothpick in his mouth, and move it either to the left or right side, to correspond with the object that has been selected. In fact, it adds a little to the effect if three objects are placed on the table, and if the middle one is selected he moves the toothpick to the center of his month.

Wrinkles for Wonder Workers By Will Edwards. This is the first of a series of original Escapes, Eeleases, Illusions, etc., which will appear from time to time in the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. I do not claim them to be beyond improvement, but know them to be thoroughly practical—I simply offer the nucleus—exercise your own brain for additional effects. ESCAPE FROM AN IRON BOX. Using Borrowed Locks.

Effect. An iron trunk or box is thoroughly examined by a. committee from the audience ; the performer enters, and a cover is fastened to the trunk with four borrowed locks. The box is then placed in a cabinet, or a screen is placed around it, and in three minutes the performer appears, shows the box locked, which the committee once more inspects.

Secret. A glance at Fig. 1 shows the design or style of the box used. It may be constructed of iron or steel of any weight,

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riveted together and made to stand every test. The cover consists of a single plate flanged on all sides to lit down over the sides of the box. Tn the center of each side of the cover is a hinged hasp which falls over a ringbolt on the side of the box, through which the padlocks arc placed. The hasps are fastened to the cover by means of a single rivet in each, through the top of the cover. Three of these rivets are feked, and by means of these the escape is effected. Fig. 2 shows a section of Fig. 1, where the feked rivet is placed through the

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the loose ••keys" (E) and the trick is done. If anv further information is needed write to me in care of the CoifJUBEBS' MAGAZTXK. and I will try to make clearer any little point not thoroughly grasped by the reader.

NSWERED

Monti, England. Pleased to hear from you. Every reputable magical dealer throughout the whole world sells the Conjurers' Magazine. * * * Prof. Karland. Mr. Closson, having written tis personally, enables us to give the Brotherhood of Magicians proper publicity, as it seems to be worthy of the same. * * *

cover and hasp. A is the rivet threads into head B, and held in place by shoulder C. Head B has a flange ( D ) , which extends through the plate of the hasp. When, the rivet is unscrewed the head is kept from turning by ;1 loose "key" (E) between the flange on 11 and the hasp plate. The head on A is made slightly elongated or eliptical, so that the key (F) will bind tightly when the performer unscrews the rivet from inside of the box. As soon as the box is in the cabinet, the performer gets possession of the key, unscrews the three feked rivets, and makes his exit. The heads B are replaced mums

Duf. Amerdy, England. Your signature is rather illegible. Your query regarding the act is highly proper. There is positively nothing known at the present time which can be called genuine transmission of thought. The Zancigs, Albene and La Brandt, Lola Cotton and Mildred and Rouclere are the most prominent presenters of mind reading acts. * * * Frank B. Nightingale, Schenectady, N. Y. Thank you for your letter with information. * * * Stapleton, Boonton, N. J. E. Maro's family name was Walter Trueman Best. He was born in 18G8, and had earned for himself the reputation of being a most versatile performer in the Lyceum field. That field is in a class by itself, and you will have to apply personally to the various lyceum bureaus for further information. The Slayton bureau is located in the Steinway Building, Chicago, and another bureau is situated in the Auditorium Building in the same city.

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Jules F. Bistes, New Orleans. Clipping received. Many thanks. * * * Michael Abdon, Fort William, Ont. We have never seen or heard of the trick as described by you. Who has it for sale? Always deal with reliable dealers, and you will obtain things as advertised. * * * Perkins, Omaha, Neb. Don't mind the man, he is an egotist. Geo. Ornum, London. Thanks for your suggestions. We will try and remedy same as soon as possible. * * * Chas. F. Berkey, Tobyhanna, Pa. We have had a personal letter of explanation from T. N. Downs relative to his book. You will find it printed in the Mail Bag columns. * * * Raymeen Stone, Cucamonga, Cal. The trick as worked by you cannot be much improved upon; still, we will publish -your letter in our next issue, and perhaps some of our readers may offer suggestions. * * * Frantz Williamson, Elberfeld, Germany. The packing case trick with the boards studded with sharp nails was introduced by Houdini while with the Corty-Althoff Circus in Dortmund. The idea was taken from the Spanish Inquisition torture instrument known in history as "The Maiden." * * * Every reader of the Conjurers' Magazine who is not a dealer is permitted to place an advertisement each month in the Barter and Exchange columns. * * * Jack Wilson, Detroit, Mich. The Society of American Magicians meets in Martinka's establishment at 493 Sixth Ave. Write to Mr. Oscar Teale, 35 Broadway, New York. * * * Albert Martenz. We cannot accept your advertisement unless you will have some reliable performer recommend you. * * * Edward W. Robinson, New York. Have written you personally. If W. E. Robinson, (Chung Lung Soo) reads this paragraph, or if any of our readers should know of his

address, kindly advise him to communicatewith 461 East 144th St., New York City.. The folks are anxious. * * * Mons. Thorne, Chicago. Yes, Henry Hardin's firm is reliable. We have never heard, of a single complaint against him. You. are certain to receive good treatment. * * * Orestes B. Senter, Auburndale, Fla. All material arrived. It will be shaped and submitted to you before it goes to press. Lack of space prevents its immediate publication. * * * Ira D. Parks, Chicago. Yes, it is a true story. Roterberg sent a false finger to one of your race, and it was returned with. a note stating that the finger was too light, as purchaser was a colored man. You ought to obtain plenty of work. ^

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Bert Kilby, Moncton, N. B. Hope you will fare better this trip than you did on your original tour. The man deliberately misinformed you about his lock. * * * Gyurcsany Bela, Debreczen, Hungaria. We do not sell apparatus. Write to any of the dealers whose advertisements you will find in this magazine. * * * Pittsburgh, Pa. We pay no attention to anonymous letters. * * * F. Widmayer, New York. The handcuff articles will appear from time to time with new material and descriptions. We have simply temporarily stopped them so as to give our readers a change. Many of them are not interested in handcuffs. * * * Ruisselle, Jeanette, Pa. The bell cuff can be obtained from the inventor. The thumb cuff is now recognized as a regulation restraint. The cuff marked "C" on. page 203 is a Cobb cuff, and was invented by Mayman H. Cobb, of South Portland,. Maine, and was patented May, 1899. Capt.. Bean personally informed us that he had: nothing whatsoever to do with this cuff,. even though it is called a Bean cuff. * * * Blacwell, Richmond, Va. We will shortly print a complete index.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Charles Milnes, Providence. We will publish the address as soon as we find out the firm's present place of business. * * * Lawrence E. Orr. Thanks for your suggestion. We intend to have a binder made, and sell it to our readers at cost. * * * Alexander (The Great) Windecker. Letter to hand. And don't you forget it. All's well. * * * William Kirby. Write to Roterberg, 178 Ontario St., Chicago, Ill.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; tnere Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.WARNING. These columns were placed in the Conjurer's Magazine for the sole use of our readers who were not dealers, and infinite pains were taken to let everyone know that the advertisements of dealers were barred. From time to time we have noticed . that some small dealers have misrepresented and under the guise of mapricians secured the insertion of their advertisements.

Wanted.—A copy each of Modern and More Magic. Ray C. Hayden, Cutnberand, Md. Box 225. * * * Wanted.—Good magical apparatus for stage or platform use. I do not wish secrets or anything that has to be repaired. William E. Simms, Dobbs Ferry, New York. P. O. Box 369. * * * What have you to offer in exchange for the enchanted organ pipes (six cylinders, loaf of bread, roast turkey, vase of flowers, eggs, etc.)? Handcuffs or good magical apparatus preferred. Gylleck, 81 Madi son Avc, Dixon, 111. * * * What am I offered in exchange for a 60 ampere hour Wiltierber storage battery

and two brand new eight drop annunciators? Good down-to-date tricks preferred. Kelmar, 16 William St., Ossining, NewYork. * * * Would like some gcod stage tricks or good cabinet and trunk mystery in exchange for a double dissolving stereopticon, two sets of lenses, 2-3 and 4-4, two complete lectures, large screen calcium, acetylene light burners and tank, pressure gauge and everything ready for work. Cost $250. P. O. 277, Lawrence, Mass. * * * What have you to offer for seventeen numbers of the Conjurers' Magazine? Would prefer flag or handkerchief tricks. A. J. McCarthy, 22G West ICth St., New York City. * * * Wanted—Leg-irons and handcuffs. Give full particulars in regard to same in first letter. C. A. Miller, 4713 Chestnut St., New Orleans, La. * * * What am I offered in exchange for 1250 postage stamps? None duplicated. Also some good magical apparatus. Can use a traveling trunk, glass-top tables or magic books. Olivette, 225 Pacific St., Brooklyn, N. Y. * * * I would like to exchange a set of rings, bird cage, die and box, tambourine rings, harness pull, and a vest servante. I want good secrets that can be worked. Thompson, 244 Molyneux Road, Liverpool, Eng. •

*

*

Will give a $200 scholarship with one of the best vocal specialists in New York in exchange for a corresponding amount of lessons in magic or apparatus for parlor work. Theo. Rebla, 14G West C5th Street, New York City. * ** I offer for exchange the following in firstclass condition: 25 copies of Magic, 4S copies of Sphinx, one book on coin tricks, four books on card tricks, one copy of Magic Made Easy, one copy of Latest Conjuring, and several pieces of apparatus intended for close range work. Would prefer any good rope or thumb tie. Walter W. Morton, Box 224, Delphos, Ohio. • * •

What have you to offer in exchange for stage size Pyramids of Egypt, in excellent

244

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

working order, complete with glasses and decanters? Cost $8.00 new. Raymeen Stone, P. O. Box CG, Cucamonga, Cal. * * * I have nine copies of volume C, of Der Zauberspiegel, to exchange for other copies. Joe Knapp, 807 York St., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Paul Valadon has been offered 32 weeks work on Keith's United Circuit, and Klaw & Erlanger have offered to tour him with his own company as a rival to Howard Thurston. He has not yet decided which offer he will accept. * * * Horace Goldin is seriously considering starring himself for a tour with the Great Goldin Company. He has enough material for eleven companies. * * * Cunning, the Provo, Utah, handcuff king has been chosen by Clausen as a possible successor of W. B. Wood, whose death we chronicled in a previous issue of the Conjurers' Magazine. Despite the fact that Clausen has possession of Wood's entire stage effects and paper, Cunning purchased a lot of mechanical tricks and illusions which will be taken to Mexico for a six weeks' trial in an attempt to make good within that space of time, which has been allotted to him to succeed or fail as the successor to Wood. * * * Karl Germaine, fresh from his British triumphs, and Mrs. Kitty Baldwin are completing their plans to go on tour with a high class mystery show. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Clivette will also go on tour with their own company to present "The greatest mind reading act in the world." Clivette once wrote a book "It" and has rested ever since. Howard Thurston is exploiting a penny-in-the-slot machine, showing

five mirror illusions and allowing five persons to look into the machine at one time. It is particularly intended for open air exhibitors. * * * Walters, the seven foot magician, is thimble mad. He has thimbles stuck all over his body and clothes, and if anyone mentions thimble workers to him, he immediately asks, "Have you seen me work?" He is so tall that when he walks out of Beadle's establishment on Broadway he lifts the tongue of the door bell, as it annoys him to hear it ring. Carlton and Walters would make a great team. * * * Dr. Bodie's most formidable rival, Herrmann the Hypnotist, has arrived in America and will shortly be given a trial engagement for one week. * * * Little Donar, the big magician, is still rolling cigarettes and rubbing his heart. * * * Lavette, the Tony Pastor Theatre's favorite magician, is now employed in the office of the Boom circuit, and whenever an act disappoints, Lavette is sent down to fill in the time of the act. Good! * * * L. Warren Keene has 25 weeks' work booked on Keith's United Circuit. * * * Trovollo, the ventriloquist, has introduced a new act which he calls "Not the regular keeper at the Zoo." * * * Capt. Bingham, the old-time ventriloquist, was amongst the first to introduce drinking and smoking while apparently talking to his figures, is playing the Family Theatres for Harry Davis. * * * Lieut. Allen, the ventriloquist, left the show business and opened a lunch room in St. Louis. He boasts of serving the best cup of coffee in the city. The place is called "Allen's Lunch." * * * Karl Germaine has written a lengthy article in the March Lyceumite headed "A Lyceumite's Impression of Things English." Considering the fact that Germaine was steadily employed in two and sometimes three shows daily, he must have kept his

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. eyes open to observe all the facts he writes about. T. Nelson Downs is booked wilh Vie Hugo, the magician manager, at the Cedar Rapids (la.) Theatre. * * * Hornmann is booked with the Hagenbeck & Wallace show. * * * Joseph Hayman, of Hayman & Franklin, our traveling representative, has returned to England, and written a letter, praising the many magicians who extended the hand of friendship to him on his arrival in Australia. * * * There is a letter at this office for Mellini, the magician. * * * Karland and Kilby are handcuffing in the Prince Edward Islands, Canada. * * * Lafayette is making good in Great Britain. This is the first time that he has played the English Provinces, and we think it will not be his last. * * * The Floyds have returned home after a most successful season in which they traveled thousands of miles, and made thousands of friends. Their personality, even without their clever work, makes them well liked. * * * Horace Goldin as usual is adding to his already big act, and will shortly present a few more tricks that have never been seen before. * * * Readers who have sent their $5.00 for subscription for T. N. Down's book, should kindly read Mr. Down's letter, which will be found in our Mail Bag columns, of this month's issue. * * * The Camden Post Telegraph of March 30th states that "Lone Bill" Hickman, the strait jacket and rope expert, while performing at the Electric Theatre, Broadway and Newton Avenue, Saturday night, was severely injured in a fall against the stage, and for a time it looked as if it might result seriously. In response to an invitation to tie him up so that he could not get away and thus

245

earn $10, two sailors put him in a straitjacket and bound him with 120 feet of rope. Wriggling on the stage to free himself "Bill" struck his head against the corner of the stage, inflicting an ugly gash that bled profusely. Whether from the pain or because the rope was tied so tight around his arms and legs that circulation of the blood was stopped Bill, as soon as he got clear of the ropes, became so violent that it took eight men to hold him. For a. time there was considerable excitement. * * * Before sailing for Paris, Leon Herrmann sold a lot of his material to W. C. Weber in Reading, Pa. Weber is the man who prints magicians' photographs on the back cf miniature looking glasses. Perhaps he contemplates traveling with his own show of illusions. * * * John Kret senna has joined Barney Ives in Chicago where they will build illusions which they will offer for sale. * * * On arriving in Jersey City and finding that he was billed to open the show at Keith's theatre, Clement De Lion wanted to quit, but at the eleventh hour decided to remain. Don't quit, Clement, go along without friction, save your money and you will live happier and longer. The American Consul wrote Mrs. Edna Wood that the men who allowed Wood and his daughter to die say that he pleaded to them to come back and at least save his daughter, but they paid no heed to him. This is but another instance of a magician pioving himself to be a hero. * • * Ziska and King, the sure hit entertainers, are still on the United Circuit. The stately and well-gowned soprano singer wrho is always on the same bill with this team and billed as Miss Florence Saunders, in private life is Mrs. Ziska. * • • Salvail, the card king, is obtaining recognition as a club entertainer. During his engagement in Louisville, Ky., he helped to give an entertainment at a benefit of the Red Men. The money thus obtained, a sum of about $100, w7as given to an old-time magician.

246

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

The spiritualists of Cincinnati have filed incorporation papers at Columbus, Ohio, to secure a State Charter for the purpose of erecting The First Spiritualistic Church of Cincinnati. Their purpose is to wage open war on frauds and charlatans, and they hope to use the co-operation of the Society of -Cincinnati Magicians "to detect fraud and recognize true psychic power." * * * The Okito family of Japanese (?) magicians opened the bill at the Columbia last week. They have a rather elaborate stage setting, and pleased the audience immensely. * * * Lorrello, the handcuff king and jail breaker, signed a contract with the ten-cent theatres for ten weeks. After playing one week he broke his contract and advertised his junk for sale. He says the work is not agreeable to him, so he will go into straight magic. * * * King Kole, magician, illusionist, yentrilo•quist and entertainer, is playing the fivecent circuit there. In spite of all his titles he is a right good fellow and does not claim to "have invented all the successful tricks and illusions of the day. * * * Anderson (not the Wizard of the North) "blew from Chicago and lodged in the Vauda Theatre last week. He has a lovely collection of photos of himself disguised as a magician. * * * Lang, the traction magician, has joined forces with Prof. Fred Wahl and is establishing Electric Theatres throughout the suburbs in which he entertains his audiences with motion pictures, music and magic, and charges only ten cents. * * * Prof. Robertson, the lecturer, gave a most excellent travelogue on Imperial India at "the Lyric Theatre last Sunday. He specially

dwelt on the mystic in India, vividly describing the original Mango tree trick as performed by the native priests. His description was outrageously exaggerated, but he did not insist on its being accepted verbatim. * * * Prof. John Schneider has built a private theatre of magic in Norwood, Ohio, where he entertains his friends with his tricks and fancies. * * * George Stock is in the hands of an excellent manager who keeps him busy with excellent public dates for his well-presented show. * * * Max Marcus, the Roumanian magician, is performing among the Jewish societies of the city, and is meeting with success. * * * Prof. Dan Breen, that entertaining entertainer, is not talking much, but when he does speak his audiences either roar or are too surprised to move. * * * Mr. Clifford Maish, traveling representative of Maish and Co., is one of the cleverest card manipulators in the country, and entertains his friends and customers for hours with new and surprising tricks. * * * The Society of Cincinnati Magicians held their regular business and social meeting last Saturday evening at the home of the secretary, Mr. Schwendler. Two new members were enrolled who await the application of "Mysteries." After the usual routine of business many new tricks were exploited by members Knapp, Weismann, Schopper, and others. The next meeting of the S. C. M. will be in their new downtown quarters where they hope to welcome, entertain, and encourage all performers coming to this locality. * * * During his stay in Winnipeg, Mr. David E. Stifft was taken with a severe attack of pneumonia, but has now recovered and is at present on his way to the Pacific coast. For an amateur, Stifft obtains a lot of newspaper work, and professionals should watch this man. who is not only an entertainer but also a clever manager.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

247

their contracts read they were to be paid weekly. Raymond's system, they say, was to lay off several days after arrival in each town while the show was being lavishly FROMIHE billed. One, two or three performances would then be given and a jump made to another stand, where the same routine BW|H would be followed. The players declare that they were paid only for these performThe New Magic Store on Clark Street is ances. From Caracas to Trinidad they say a success. Messrs. Holden & Gardner are they played only nine shows out of five always in, and only too pleased to demonweeks. A member of the company estimatstrate their wares. The store being a noved that Raymond was $17,000 ahead on the elty, attracts huge crowds who try and tour.. In the company were Will Percival, press their noses through the window to Arizona Troupe, Rice and Kemp, Phelps •.scent the secrets. and Cullembine and Luella Cross (Mrs. * * * Raymond)." James Kennedy is in Grand Rapids, Mich., * * * trying to scare up material for a handThe Great Frederick in "Novel Notions in cuff act. James has lots to look for. Magic" appeared at the Bijou Dream in * * * Marion, Ohio, and made a hit. Zarilla, assisted by Wilkensen, created a * * * •sensation with his illusion at the Majestic, Douglass and Douglass, the acrobatic in Sandusky, Ohio. comedy team, have a novel finish in one. * * * They enter with a dog basket, dress suit "Lind," a handcuff king, has press notices case, and a mongrel cur. After a hard task from all over the world. On his letter head they manage to get the dog into the bashe quotes clippings from San Francisco, ket, make a few moves, open the dress Cal.. Independence, Kan., and Kansas City, suit case, and allow the dog to jump out. Mo. If this means the whole world, where On leaving the stage the dog basket acciis Chicago? dently (?) opens, and out jumps another dog. It certainly creates much laughter. * * *

INDyClTY

I am somewhat surprised at the tactics -of Raymond the magician, whose doings are reported in detail in the Variety of March 28th, as follows: "The Great Raymond is still playing in the West Indies, but most of the company with "which he toured South America have returned to the States. They are a very much dissatisfied band of players, and de•clare that after seeking other redress for certain impositions put upon them by Raymond, they haled him into court in Trinidad, but that before a hearing could be had t)n their complaints, the illusionist sailed to •one of the nearby islands under another jurisdiction. One of the acts is declared to have been bent home by the American Consul. A member of the troupe declared that out of a five-months' tour they worked •only nine weeks, and were not paid for time during which they lay off, although

*

:!: *

Vic Hugo's brother Charles left March 28th to join Charlie Carter in Australia, and will act as manager. Mr. Hugo is due to arrive in Manila about May 1st, where he will bill Carter's show before joining" him in Sydney. * * * The Flints are still in the ring and making meney with their hypnotic show. * * * Sherman, the Appleton, Wis., magician, is en tour through the North with a vaudeville company. *

*

*

The White Rats of America now have their headquarters at the Saratoga Hotel, and magicians who are members will notethat the meetings take plac'e every Friday evening.

24S

THL CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

BISH

AND

REVIEWING BOOKS AMD THING

FROM THE PRESS

I WISE, AND

OTHERWISE Behind the Scenes with Mediums

MODERN MAGICAL MARVELS. This publication, recently from the press, will in later years be looked upon with much regret bv the two aspiring authors, Clayton Wyatt and Elmer Whipple. The book contains hut a few pages, is cheaply put together and if circulated for five or ten cents would be nearer the intrinsic value, than the price of seventyfive cents which the publishers have placed upon it. There is. though, one excuse that the authors can offer, and that is that this is their first endeavor, and we trust that if they ever write another book, this first failure will be an example for them to offer magicians something more appropriate to their wants and more consistent with the price they set upon it. # * * W. D. LEROY'S NEW MONSTER CATALOGUE. Magicians seeking for new tricks and hook collectors who have not seen this new catalogue of "W. D. Leroy of Boston, should at once send for it, as it is not only a practical catalogue but is also a 212-page encyclopaedia of magical knowledge. Long after Leroy has gone to the bourne whence no man returneth, this effort of his will remain a monument to his memory.

The Open Court Publishing .Company has published an excellent book, "Behind the Scenes with Mediums," by David P.. Abbott, which contains a lot of material that lias not heretofore been publie property. There is hut one fault we wish to mention and that is that the book has been cheaply put together, and does not contain one single illustration; this is unfortunate, inasmuch as it could have easily been done in this day of cheap methods of illustrating.

I

OBITUARY.

1

John AV. Wliiston, an old-time performer of the act called "The man of many faces" died in Buffalo, on March 22. It is stated that he was once called the Fakir of Ava, but that does not seem possible, as the original Fakir of Ava'sname was I. Harris Hughes, * * * The Illusionist records the death of Mmc. Legris, on February 29, who was the mother of Mons. Legris, the wellknown necromancer of the Theatre Eobert-Houdin in Paris. * * * Mrs. Paul Cinquevalli, the wife of the' celebrated juggler, died in London, Eng., from the effects of an operation, March; 9th.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

CYPHER-WRITING

OR THE ART OF

BY HARRY HOUDINI

(Continued.) IMPERCEPTIBLE INKS. Inks can be made from various materials that will be useful in sending the messages; for instance, a solution of chloride of cobalt. P>y using this as ink the color is so slight that it is almost colorless', and rarely leaves any clue or trace when dry. On applying heat to the paper, by holding over gas jet or lamp, the letters appear in a bluishgreen, which will vanish in a few moments. You can use acetate of cobalt. Many other chemicals might be made use of, but I have found by investigation that it is best to experiment yourself, as the different writers simply cannot stand the test when taken as published, so you can try methods and know just what mixture will suit your purpose. * * * PLAYING CARD CIPHER Playing cards have been used as a sort of cypher. In the Pall Mall Magazine, April, 1896, there is quite a good article written by John Holt Schooling on Secrets in cypher "and although he has his article copyrighted, he does not give credit to W. Hooper, M. D., for the article published in the book of 1787, and Mr. Schooling even uses the exact words and message in illustrating his copyrighted article. Hooper describes his method as follows." First agree upon the manner in which your cards will be arranged, use a piquet pack of 32 cards.

249

CRYPTOGRAPHY

In addition to this arrangement sympathetic ink can be used, which preparation I will give later on. The correspondent settles on the message that he wishes to send to you, then arranges the thirty-two cards in the order as shown in illustration. He should write the first thirty-two letters on the backs of the cards, one letter on each card, consecutively, commencing with column I, then to column II, then ITT, and when reaching the bottom of column IV he starts again in column I, placing the letter under or by the side of the first letter. This is continued until the message is written. The ink is allowed to dry, the cards are shuffled up well and can now be sent to you, when you will arrange them in your pre-arranged order ; have the ink appear with the aid of chemicals or by holding over heat, and you can write down the message at your ease. Although this may not appear very complicated, nevertheless you can, make thousands of various arrangements with the cards, and it certainly is a complicated cypher.

LETTERS READABLE IN SEVERAL WAYS. Letters that can be read more ways than one furnish another well known system, as reading every other line : for example: To break the news to you that I am well and content, fortunately I am not unhappy and wish all the time that

250

THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY

MAGAZINE

the world could witness my joyfulness, By reading the first line and then and like a bird skipping one it will read: '"To break

THE PLAYING CARD CIPHER

I could fly far, far, away from here, etc., etc.

the news to you that I am unhappy and wish all the time that I could flv far,

THE

CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

far, away from here, etc., etc. But this is school-girl method of writing love letters, and turning from the ridiculous to the grave I will describe one of the most difficult means that has ever heen devised for sending messages. It is claimed by some authors that this method was the invention of the Russian prisoners, but be that as it may, we will describe the secret and you can judge for yourself if the method is not very clever. In fact, of all the secret messages, this one will require most brain work to beat. No matter what message you may send, even if you are writing a message for some one else, you can use the same letter to send your secret message. m{pbU.-f

7C{

L&tV tl M

(

I

s

tit, £^ y O7/*V^'^'

?

In illustration—You will read a letter that to all intents and purposes appears of a most innocent nature, but it really is a message that reads "Trust Ivan, he will throw bomb." The letter illustrated is written extra easy to read, and after you have the secret it will be simplicity itself. But had this letter been sent in actual service it would not have been so easily noticed. The secret lies in the words being split up in a certain number of letters, I, 2, 3, 4, 5, each group being denoted with a number, two of which give you the clue. First you must note that certain words are broken, the "darling mother" is separated and below you will find a full explanation of the code:

MAGARINR

251

4 4 4 2 4 5 4 3 darl ingm othe ra tlas tthct imeh asa 4 4 2 4 5 i ii 3 3 rriv edwh en iama Howe d t o wri tey 2 3 1 5 5 2 2 4 3 1 011 afe w lines howsl ow ly thet ime p 3 1 4 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 ass e ssbu tsti 11 myt ennw il lso onbe 5 2 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 overa nd w es hal lbeu nit ed i nh appinessagainyour loving son Ehrichovitz. Xow to show the first steps of deciphering the above letter. Write out the letter a^ in the illustration dividing the letters in separate groups of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It will be noted that when one group is to be counted in with the other, the last stroke is written downward when possible, like the letter "g" in darling or the "r" in over. After you have all the words separated properly, you mark over each group of letters used, as in illustration, you will see No. 4 over Darl, and No. 4 over ingm. All the numbers must be taken in pairs, and this is the way the code is deciphered. 52=W 44=T 24=1 2=R 4 3 i=L 45=U 3 i=L 43=S 44=T

44=T 23=H

24=1 51=v 11=A

4 2=R

34=O C2 = W I2 = B 34=O

23 = H i5=E

I2=B

(To be continued)

252

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HAMLEY'S CJRAIND

MAGICAL

SALOONS

A REAL NOVELTY. A new visible and instantaneous change of water to ink, combined with an invisible and invincible transposition of a glass of ink and a glass of water. The performer shows a tumbler partly filled with ink which is placed upon a stand or table and covered with a handkerchief. He then takes another tumbler in which is a similar quantity of clear water. This latter he gives to any one of the company to hold. Please note that it may be held by anyone—is not covered over in any way whatever and is in full view of both the person holding the glass and every member of the audience. The performer next announces his intention of magically causing a transformation to take place. He gives the word of command, "CHANGE," and instantly the water changes into opaque iiil\ He then proceeds to the other glass and on removing the handkerchief to the astonishment of the audience the ink is seen to have changed to water. This effect is really magnificent and the trick will "electrify" all who see it. It is unbelieveable and has all the appearances of a miracle. Send for it at once. Price 10/6. Post free 11 3. Complete. Canada and U. S. A. $3 (carriage to be paid on receipt). HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS, 35 New Oxford Street. W. C. also (City Depot I 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C, London. NEW FIRM.—NEW IDEAS. With an old, but seldom lived up to business motto. Satisfaction Guaranteed. HEADLINERS. We can add to your act. TAILENDERS. We can improve your act. ASPIRANTS. We can start you to act. AMATEURS. Get some new ones. A pink stamp and your permanent address brings you our list for 1908. It contains a few items that no other dealer in the world can catalog. THE W. G. EDWARDS CO., Mfg. Magicians. Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada.

DE VERE I'abricaut D'Appareils

De Physique Atntisante Trues and Illusions pour Theatres, Etc.

Everyone wake up.

History of the White Rats New Book to be Published The story of the White Rats and Vaudeville written by George Fuller Golden, founder and first president of the White Rats of America. Information respecting advertising space address, John E. Burk, 1553 Broadway, N. Y.

17, RUE SAULNIER, 17 PARIS, FRANCE Call here when in Paris. r French, German and English fluenth spoken.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

253

Sefbif s Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW YORK

CITY

Agents for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

The

Wi x ar d

The Leading British Magic Monthly Magazine

The City Magical Company

WIZARD PUBLISHING CO. 4 St. Alban's Place

:

magical Apparatus

LONDON, W. C

L'lLIAJSIONNISTE Le Seul Journal Francais devonne aux Magicians Paraissant tous les Mois-fonde en 1901 abounement 8 frs. ($1.60) par an. Speciman Number, 0.75 Editeur : C A R O L Y , fabricant apparatus 11 Rue Cardinal Lemoine Paris

HENRY HARDIN & CO. SPEGIALIZERS IN ADVANCED MAGICAL EFFECTS AND MODERN SPIRIT SECRETS We are in constant receipt of the most valuable foreign and American ideas and many of our productions are now being used by the foremost mystifiers of the world. Send two cent stamp for " Memorandum of Magic " to

HENRY HARDIN & CO. BOX 1413,

MANUFACTURERS OF

I, Amersham Road, New Cross, Londoo, S. E. Eng. Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for Lists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We Have the Latest European Novelti* Manager: Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

FOR SALE. For Handcuff Act. Two

Lilly irons, one heavy leg-iron and

one pair of British handcuffs. me $io for the lot?

Who will give

Wm. Schonberger, 1020

Prospect Ave., Bronx, New York.

NEW HAVEN, CONN., U. S. A. Kindly mention Conjurer's Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

THE CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE

Mammoth 212 Page Illustrated Magic Catalogue Up-to-date, with over 30 full page half-tone cuts of leading conjurers, past and present just out. Free

Nothing like it ever

List.

Fifty-six page

issued. Send 50c for same. No appendix

catalogue

of

new

tricks, etc., 10 cents.

W. D. LEROY, BOSTON SCHOOL OF MAGIC /'.".;s/Vr/2 Ht'iuiqtid) Ins foi Magicians

1O3 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Eastern Refiirsentalive of Ike "Society or Amriican

Magicians"

Free! For The Blind! A FIFTY PAGE MONTHLY MAGAZINE Mrs. William Ziegler, one of the greatest philanthropists of New York City, lias brought happiness to the blind of the United States and Canada. She gives free to the blind of this country and Canada a fifty page monthly magazine, containing as much and more than many regulation periodicals in circulation. The Matilda Ziegler Magazine is published in two types, New York Point and American Braille. Should you have any blind frieuds or relatives, who do not know of this liberal donation, send their names and addresses and we will take pleasure in adding them to our list of subscribers. In sending names, kindly state which system is desired. If your friends do not read, a key to the system will be sent them. MATILDA ZIEGLER MAGAZINE. 306 East 53rd St., New York City.

A SPECIALTY! "The Four Change" MAGIC

BRICKS

D'Egerdon's

Version

Striking Innovations. Startling new Features Cover AXD BRICKS Examined. Bricks unstacked after each change and Shown Separate Cover merely placed on bricks and removed. NO REVERSING FIVE COMBINATIONS

FOl'R CHAXCiES

Everything complete, including easel, numbered cards and special instructions and suggestions for ivorking. PRICE $7, mailed free any part U. S. A. 4 Duke St., Adelphi, London, W. C.

OEXUM'S,

FOR SALE CHEAP. Kellar's Swing (out of sight), Animated Costume, The New Trunk Trick, Cremation as done by Alexander Herrmann and D'Alvini, The Dick Hunt, Goldin's Gun trick, and other magical paraphernalia. ZISKA & KING, Room 23, 1193 Broadway N. Y.

WAKE UP! MAGICIANS. Get cat of the OLD groove and put on something NEW. I have written two One Act Magical playlets which will increase your bookings and increase your salary 5000 per cent. Both playlets introducing attractive illusions. Both copyrighted and exclusive use sold only to one person. For terms address "Magician," P. O. Box 643, Hartford, Conn.

255

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Magical APPARATUS

EVER SEEN Lindsey's Thimble Act ? t a Trick, but a complete Act. Kellar said, '"It is the neatest pocket trick I have ever peen." Immaculately boxed with "Patter," sent anywhere for $1.00. Address,

Of every description, best make. Large illustrated catalogue No. 24 — 15c. Illustrated catalogue No. 25 FREE.

BAILEY & TRIPP CO., Box 41O

Cambridg'eport, Mass.

F. W. Lindsley, Winton Place, Cinn. Ohio

BERT W1GGIN The

Honk*honk Mystifier. Sketch

JUso Lightning Crayon

(Contents: Modern Parlor Magic. Card Tricks Illusions' Mnemotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, ttc . etc ) Vol. IV.

Artist.

Permanent Address, Trafalgar Hotel,

115 East 14th Street,

*' Der Zarxberspiegel" An Illustrated Jlonthly Jonrnal in German Language, by F W . CONRADI, Editor

New York.

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J O E KNAPP, Exponent of Scientific Humbug. Permanent Address: Care Billboard, Cincinnati, O.

P R O F E S S O R AMBROSE. The Greatest Living Hypnotist and Wizard of the East. Permanent address, 265 Dalhousin street, Rangoon, India.

New! Just Invented! PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. . Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 for 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St., New York

MAGICIANS AMATEURS AND P R O F E S S I O N A L S "MORA'S" MEMO, just from the press, contains more practical ideas to the square inch than an)' catalogue of similar nature ever issued. Also exposes for the first time the practical secret of the BRIDAL CHA** BER illusion now being presen-'il. by THURSTON and GOLDIN. This book should be read only once—and you will be surprised at the number of really new things there are that you didn't know before. Neither professional nor amateur t,an really afford to do old tricks when there are so many that are really new. - Contains tricks you have never dreamed of; also several new illusions that are marvels. Price, ioc. Stamps accepted. Orders filled as soon as received. L. J. MORA,

112 Charles St., Allegheny, Pa.

W. L DOUGLAS UNION MADE

$

3.1 & 3 . SHOES

BEST IN THE WORLD

C O M E men hesitate about paying only $3.50 for their * shoes, supposing that a firs! class shoe cannot be made for this price. They do not realize that with my enormous business, 17,800 pairs of Men's and Boys' fine shoes per day, and my modern methods of manufacturing, that I can make as good a shoe for $3.50 as they have formerly worn, paying from $5.00 to $7.00. The fad that W . L. Douglas Shoes are worn by more men in all walks of life than any other make proves that they give better satisfaction than any other shoe on the market. CAUTION.—The genuine have W. L. Douglas name and price Stamped on the bottom. T a k e N o Substitute. If not convenient to call at a W . L. Douglas Shoe Store, ask your shoe dealer for them. If he cannot supply you send direct to faclory. Shoes sent everywhere by mail. Illustrated Catalog free.

W. L. DOUGLAS

BROCKTON, MASS.

on

Sale!

The First Authentic History of Magic Ever Published. Written by the World Famous Handcuff King, Harry Houdini. Before this book was ready for the printer twenty years were spent in constant travel and search for material and verification of facts. The most expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of magic ever placed before the public. The reproduction of the programs forms a collection which it is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world. No magical library or collection can possibly be complete without this work. To anyone who can bring a book which has taken so much time, energy, travel and money, with such authentic data regarding real magical inventions, the reward of $250.00 will be paid. Price $2.00. "For sale by all magical dealers or by the Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co., 278 West 113th St., New York City.

Entered as second-class matter September 12, 1900, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879-

Portraits of the J. H. Anderson Family Foreign Notes Our Mail Bag Parlor Tricks Escape from Spiked-lined Cabinet Questions Answered Barter and Exchange Jottings and Jumblings Cipher Writing

MAY,

19O8

258

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY M-\G\ZINF. CONJURERS

MAGAZINE

PARLOR

TRICK C O M P E T I T I O N .

.Amatuers Take Notice.

To cause interest in parlor tricks, we are starting this competition, to which all are admitted, and offer to pay the sum of ten dollars for the best, and five dollars for the second best parlor trick sent to us. You can send us your favorite trick, and remember it is not essential that the trick be an original one. Write in plain letters, on one side of your paper, and if possible have your trick typewritten. Any stenographer will typewrite it for you and charge only a few cents for each typewritten page. Conjurers' Magazine Parlor Trick Competition, 278 W. 113th St., New York City. Cable Address : "Avengmcr.t, London." Teleji m-j .No. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. V. and C. A. A.

E R <&, AGENTS FOR

English, Hmettcan anb Continental IDariet^ Hrtistes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. English and Continental Representatives for Messrs. A. Bonaraici a n j Fr.m.-c K. Killis's Enterprises in South Africa.

| f*v IV 1 1~\ f N IVI f IVI f* L U I V *—P\J I >l » C I N \Jk

THE: AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headiiners, for all Big Tours Can give any pood Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased togra it unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effin^ham House, Arucdle Street, Strand,, London, England

Jennie Jacobs Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Suite 735 'PHONE

New York City

lO55-38tb

Booking for every Music Hall in America, England and the Continent Traveling Representatives : MISS PAULINE COOK and THEO. HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice Kindl mention Con urers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisements

TI1K COXJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

259

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ITT

E9 beachten Sie meine neue /dresse:

CARL WILLMANN Hamburg 6, Germany Merkurstrasse 34 (Zoll-Vereins-Niederlage) M a n u f a c t u r e r of Magical A p p a r a t u s , Illusions a i d M y s t e r i e s . Send for m y latest c a t a l o g u e to my n e w a d d r e s s .

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260

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, 278 WEST 113TH

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Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Advertising rates payable in advance, made known & application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly lfagaxlne are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without perDlMlOQ.

The magazine Is for sale by all reputable dealers • f conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back bines can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia. T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Blacher; Teheran. Persia, James Leahman. Contributions on all topics of Interest to magldana are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope.

Voi,.

II.

MAY 15, 1908

No.

9

A Shinto priest from Japan, by name of Dr. Tomoya Suga, recently gave an exhibition of his miracles before about two hundred cultured Bostonians, claiming the miracles were accomplished by his religious training and that they had never before been seen in America.. This historical event took place in ? rootless enclosure before a select audience, including several Harvard professors. Mr. Percival Lowell, the well-known exponent of occult phenomena (who must have been ignorant of the fact that walking on keenly sbarpened instruments and walking on hot coals with bare feet were oldtime side show tricks) introduced Dr. Fuga. and announced that he would walk up a ladder of eight swords and stroll along an eighteen-foot path of hot coals.

All would be done with naked feet to show there was no deception. Walking up a ladder of sharp swords requires no incantation as was indulged in by the doctor, who remained thirty minutes in silent prayer ere commencing his performance. The secret lies in slowly but firmly placing the foot lengthwise on the sword, in the direction parallel with the cutting edge, and it must not slip or be placed on the edge of the sword or at right angles to the hollow of the sole. So long as you walk slowly and place your foot down with care, resting your weight on the ball of your foot, great toe and heel, you can walk without cutting yourself; but, if you wobble the slightest bit, you are liable to get a severe gash. Walking up the ladder is the real feat and usually the performer walks up eight swords and then steps upon a platform. This is what Dr. Suga did. We doubt whether anyone has ever seen a performer walk down a ladder of swords. After the doctor had commenced to walk up the ladder and as he placed his foot on the fifth sword, in some unaccountable manner his flowing robe caught on the hilt of one of the swords, which retarded his climbing; he winced, started to proceed, and then rested his right foot heavily on one of the hilts outside of the frame. Blood-was seen on the fifth blade and, as he proceeded, was also seen on the sixth blade. It seems his foot had slipped but the fraction of an inch and the blade had entered his flesh ; having reached the seventh blade, the doctor lost his nerve, politely skipped the eighth, and stepped upon the wooden platform. This was a wise procedure, as he might otherwise have deepened the gash in his foot, which he tried to conceal. One of his disciples wiped the blood from the blades and efforts were made to pass off the occurrence as if nothing unusual had happened.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. While preparations were made for walking on hot embers the doctor changed his costume to one of a flowing green on a background of white. A fire was started by igniting a mass of pine sticks and excelsior, and waiting for this to bum up until nothing but the hot embers remained, the disciples smoothed them down and the doctor then first walked over them with his sandals. TTe was followed by one of his disciples, who. in turn, was followed by others until all had walked over the hot embers. It was noticed that the men started in slowly, hutas they proceeded, hastened their footsteps. One assistant even cooled his toes on the cold ground outside of the tent. I t is not our intention to belittle any performer, but we see no need of attributing these tricks to supernatural powers, especially when they have actually been the stock in trade of every side show performance for the past fifty years. Those who sell this secret give the formula as follows: Dissolve as much alum as possible in a pint of water and add thereto as much pink sulphate as a tencent piece will hold. Soak the feet several times in this solution and allow them to drv. This toughens and prepares the skin for the feats performed by this priest of Japan, Dr. Ruga.

I

OBITUARY Marco, the Magician.

I

Prof. Edward J. Dooley, who for four years [occupied the position as [organist and choirmaster of St. Joseph's Cathedral at Hartford, Conn.. died at St. Francis Hospital in that city on April 13, after a short illness with the grip, at the age of 54.

261

H e was the original Marco, the magician," who in lSJHi traveled through Nova Scotia, having Harry Iloudini and Bert Kilbv as his assistants. For years he had planned to have a show on the style of the one presented bv H e r r mann the Great, and had invested quite a sum of money to get together a truly honest and good show. By some miscluin<Se l.e was booked to open in the summer of 1cS!l5 and failed to appear: so the management of one of the Halifax theatres engaged a bogus magician whose name was Skinner, whom they called Markos. H i s mediocre show left so bad an impression in the Canadian provinces tl at when the real Marco arrived in IS!)!! bis business amounted to nothing and he disbanded the company and left all his paraphernalia in Halifax, where it is perhaps now still stored. Marco was a gentleman if ever there was one. H e paid all his old debts, even to the last penny, although .lack McKirean, his partner in this provincial tour, to this day has failed to pay his share of the unpaid salaries of that tour. Marco was born in Halifax, X. S., died unmarried and leaves one sister. l i e bad written several sketches and magical plays which he advertised for sale in our last issue, using his pustoffiee box number as an address. H e was the man who sold Horace Goldin his first illusion, "Madame Sans Gene," which Goldin redressed and presented, making quite a sensation with it. One of Marco's assistants, Bert Ixilby, whom he called Buttons, at the present time is touring Canada with his wife, while the history of the other assistant, Harry TToudini, needs no.mention here, being so well known to all of our readers. Poor Marco! A dear, good fellow, a failure as a magician, a huge success as a man. May his soul rest in peace!

THE

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CONJURERS' MONTHLY

\\ Portraits of || JOHN HENRY ANDERSON || Jj and his Immediate Family IV

MAGAZINE

The original John Hinrv Anderson, the mrst extensively advertised magician who ever lived, was born in the parish of

'urtune to be able to add i

: to my collection thou; sand< of programs, handbills, clippings, etc., tracing the career of John Henry Anderson, 1 have reproduced some of the earliest r.nes in my latest work, THE

FN.M.\SKI.\<;

OF

KOUKKT-HOUDIX,

to defend his reputation from the malicious attacks of Eobert-Houdin and to show the true characters of both men.

l-Tof. John Henry Andersou as Hub ituy. Harry Hcudini Collection.

* ruin the

Kincardine O'X.il. Ahcrcleenshirp, Scotland, on July 15, 1M-I. ard died in Darlington, Durham Counlv. En'/lsind. Here-

John Henry Anderson in H a r r y Houciisii Collection.

bis

prime.

From

the

And as so much material has been presented of this past master magician within the past, few years to the magic loving world. I thought a reproduction of portraits of himself and his immediate family, •with anecdotes, would he of more interest to the reader than the ordinary biography.

ThP nnly hr ther of .1 tin Henry AnUtisou. the Harry Houdini Collection.

l'"rom

TIIK

CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

with a r e . r e p r o d u c e d p o r t r a i t s of himself in his p r i m e a n d i n h i s "Rob "Rov c o s t u m e , •> H ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ W

m

*imr

MAC, \ RI \ K

J o i n i : i i : r , Ar.lei.-on. -ir., lo w h o m i t was p i e -enfed 1 >\ his m o t h e r , M r s . J o h n H e n r y A n d e r s o n , S r . Tlio Bible is i n scribed as f o l l o w s : " T o J . H . A n d e r s o n , from his affectionate

John fclt ury Anderson, J r . , unil his sou. H a r r y Houdini Collection.

26 5

mother."

Frou

For the foilowirg data. T am specially indebted to Mrs. Lcona A. Aiideivon, who permitted nie to make extracts from ihr faniilv Bilile, which remained in her possession after the death of her husband, Mrs. John Henry Anderson, J r . , \\ liu is sLili From the H a r r y Houdini Collection.

Emilm Anderson, the first wife of John Henry Anderson, J r . From t h e H a r r y Houdini Collection.

Jilivr.

-lob 11 Henry Andersun, J r . , was born in Manchester, Knirlaml, on September 21-, 184:5. He was baptized at the old chuivh in Manchester. His po-dfather was Wilia in Hrnshaw and his "'odmother H a r riet Hull, l i e was twic? married. H i s lir-t wife. Fmilie. died February 14, 1870. A son was-born in them on .Iidv •'!!). 1863, whom they named .'John Henry, and who went out west as a boy. H e r mother, whose name is Ivattren, is still alive and living at the Kdwin Forrest; Home in Philadelphia, and signs her name Mrs. M. Hatchett. She is about 84 years of age. (To be continued)

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

64

plause was loud and long. After this a lady dressed in red as Mephisto was covered with a cloak in such a way that her head was in sight all the time. When the cloak was removed, she was dressed in full skirts, shoes, etc., of white, proving, FROM WILFRED C. ZELKA. according to Mr. Devant's patter, that the Tin.- 'J'liird Annual i lev i I could not be recognized when cosGrand Seance of the tumed in that color. * * * |Magic Circle was held at Wallace Galvin, who has just arrived |.Mask-dyne & Devant's esfrom America, presented some unique tablishment this month. magical manipulations with cards, thimThat al] seats were sold out some weeks back shows that the even- bles and coins, which, though greatly aping was a success. The honor of open- preciated by the magicians, I fear when ing proceedings was given over to Ess- tried in public will lose much of their mann (the juggling waiter), w ho lias some effect, through the audiences' lack of knowledge of the subject. very original balancing 1 ricks. Gus Fowler, who is (he honorary librarian of the Birmingham Magical Society, presented a series of expert manipulations with cards, handkerchiefs and watches. He used an elaborate black velvet screen to show up bis hands, and his success proved the necessity of a showy setting for even a sleight-of-hand show. * * * Louis Xikola gave a very interesting series of tricks with handkerchiefs, the new sugar and milk trick and concluded with a production <>l' two large silk flags. His patter was good and be made a greathit. *

*

••'.•

David Devant presented a combination of the rising cards and the slate trick, using a number of monster cards with numbers printed mi them instead of the ordinary pack. .Next lie poured out three glasses of beer from a glass jug. Then he stood them on a tray and vithout using any rover forced them to disappear. They reappeared on another tray held by the magician's mechanic Bales. After the gasp of surprise had subsided, the ap-

* * * Fred Moore worked magic, ancient and modern, in a very dramatic manner, though, as all his tricks were of the modern sleight-of-hand order, ancient magic was out of it. Jlis blindfold card finding was good. * * * Wilfred Zelka concluded with Chinese magic. * * * Sandwiched between the magical items was a much appreciated speech by Mr. Nevil Maskelyne (president); humorous recital by Walter Churcher; musical sketch by Nelson Jackson; lightning sketches by E, T. Mills and characters from Dickens bv Mr. Harry Hewson. * * * The Marriotts (technopathists) presented their silent thought transmission act, and the fact that they are presenting tlii.-, in Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant's regular bill is proof that the act is good. * * * The Zanzigs are at the Alhambra again. Maskelyne and Devant have some talking birds in their Easter program. The

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. rope trick and ghost sketch are still play-

Chung Ling Soo lias been touring Wales with much success. He returns for his annual visit to the London Hippodrome next week. Mersano is coming to London with a new act. He is the magician who appears as Capt. Kettle. * * # Henri Cazmim with his potpourri act, introducing magic, was seen at the Hippodrome, Crouch End. * * * Messrs. Maskelyne and Devant have received a cablegram from Sydney, Australia, saying that their company opened there to a big house.

265

De Biere has returned from Brussels and is at the Hippodrome, Portsmouth, where he will be followed by Carlton, who is working his comedy card act and also presenting the mysterious cross illusion. * * * Anthony is working his solids to liquids, at the Hippodrome, Tunbridge Wells. * * * Von Etta is at the Hippo, Salford. She conies into London next month with a new act. * # * Lcipzic, at the Xew Theatre, Grimsby, is having a great time among the fisherfolk. * * * Dunningarto, the man who won the Encore competition, is at Emoire, Stockport. *

•

#

Carl Hertz is still going strong at the Oxford.

Lafayette left London and opened his provincial tour at the Pavilion, Glasgow. * * *

Sydney Lee, who is known as the Gay Deceiver, recently got a press notice which said: "His song, the 'Gay Deceiver,' was well received." As a matter of fact he does magic and card manipulating, so the reporter must have been somewhat mixed. * * *

'Edinboro saw Prof. De Lil at the Alhambra with his magic and ventriloquil act. * * *

Carl Howard has been around the Stoll tour giving away some magical tricks, as also does Corelli, who is playing Kirkcaldy. Howard was the first turn on the program and got very little applause. "Why don't these men, if they wish to give things away, try to get something on the line of Walton and Lester, who give a funny show which goes well, and as the tricks are only cod, nothing is given away. The public has a feeling that if these men could really do magic well, they would not expose it.

Chanti, the quick change artist, should have been a magician. He gets a lot of new ideas into his act, and would make a great deal better magician than some we see here. * * * The Great Eoland is working his illusions at the Hippodrome, Hamilton. He is coming along nicely, and the general opinion among the agents is that he has a good show. Most people think that he copies Goldin, but this is only so inasmuch as he does the composers, levitation, duck tub and fishing. Many other magicians are doing the same and Goldin has knocked most of them out.

266

THE CONJUEERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Gotch. "'Hack" JS saying nothing; just collecting his salary this week at Southampton; but the English press is raisinar an awful howl over the alleged unfair way "Hack" was treated in the States. They are saying and have said a lot of nasty meleon c o r a e d i a n things about America ; but America haswitli the gloves, lias been roasted before by the English press r just returned from and as we say in the classics, " I t don't his tour oL; America. matter much." Tie claims that .his * * * act was stolen bodily The Variety Artistes' Federation isand is crying aloud again at loggerheads with the managers. over said injustice. Xever mind. Ifvnmck! It recently issued a new edict, viz.: Where Your ideas are not thc first tlial were benefits are given for local charities or ever stolen in America or Eni/huid cillwr! otherwise the A'. A. V. wishes two and * * * one-half per cent, of the gross receipts The Franco-British Imposition, or donated to the Variety Artistes' Benevo^World's Fair, opens at Shepherd's Bush, lent Fund. A good idea. too. but the London, in May and runs to November. managers don't think so much of it. The Fair, it is claimed, will cover more * * * ground than the St. Louis Exposition did, Omquevalli returns to Australia in Deand it will be the big event of 190S. cember of this year for a thirty-six weeks' * * * engagement, with Mr. Harry Eickards. Joad Heteb, the conjurer, formerly with Cimpievalli has been "down under"' twice Maskelyne & Devant, is touring thc before, this making his third trip. They provinces with his own companv and do- swear bv him in Australia. ing well. * * * * * * The "Performer" in a recent issue says: Mr. Thomas Barrisford has joined "Pearl Peggie, a bright petite Scotch forces with Mr. George Dance, one of the dancer, wearing some 200 medals, has largest theatre owners in England. The turned 'handcuff king."'' Peggie is picamalgamated tour now consists of ten tured as "Houdini," showing her wearhalls, with two more building at Nottinging a wealth of iron bracelet* "and initials. ham and Oldham, making twelve in all. "Wonder for what the medals were preThey also control four halls on the contisented to her? nent in the cities of Paris, Brussells, Mar• • • seilles and Barcelona. Just keep your eye Gaudin, the desperate, who has been on this tour and watch it grow. Mr. Bardoing a daring jump, one of those "Here risford's eldest son, George, is the general T go and heaven help me" affairs, lias manager, and I am assured by Mr. Barriscome to grief. His act consisted in jumpford, Sr., that before a year has passed ing from the roof to the floor of the Cirhis firm will control no less than twentycus Busch in Berlin. He misjudged his six halls in England and on the continent. distance and broke his neck. These # * * idiotic performances ought to be prohibHackenschmidt is back in England, ited abroad, as they are in England. Heafter his defeat at the hands of Frank was booked from America for the big fairs.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. This week we are on the same program with Fred Karno's "A Night in an English Music Hall" act, and the comedy conjurer is still the hit of the show. Mr. Karno advises me that lie is at present suing Messrs. Pathe Freres, the film manufacturers of Paris, for infringement 011 his copyright. The last mentioned firm has produced a film which shows all the business comedy, etc., as performed in the Karno sketch. At the present time the judge and jurv are deliberating! Wonder how he likes people to interfere with his performances, just as lie interfered with a certain man's act some lime ago? * * * Last week was Holy Week in England. All the theatres and music halls by law are compelled to close their doors on Good Friday, and in consequence thereof, Mr. Artiste loses one night's salary. An amusing incident in connection with Good Friday is recited by the Blackburn Northern Daily Telegraph, viz.; "An application for a music and singing license was made by the management of the Blackpool Coliseum to give a sacred concert on Good Friday. 'What creed are the artistes?' asked the magistrate. 'They are ladies and gentlemen," was the calm reply, and the license was granted amid silence."' Joseph II ay man (Of Ifai/nian & Franklin).

April, the closing month of the winter season, finds Melot Herrmann, the French magician, performing at Roanachers. Although his program is the same as it was

267

for many years past, on account of his clever acting, the public again accepted it kindly here. *

••',-

*

On April 10 Chevalier Kinest Thorn and I.is company sailed with the steamer Arragou from Cherbourg for Buenos Aires, Brazil, where he opens at the Casino and then proceeds for an extended tour through Brazil. I believe he will receive the largest salary ever paid to a magician in Brazil. He is to receive a salary <>!' Hi.OOO francs a liiciilh. with 400 francs extra for each • matinee he plays, and in addition is to have all traveling expenses paid, even passage from Europe to Brazil and return I'm1 himself, wife and six assistants. He took along a great number of magical tricks and all his best illusions, carrying 7,850 kilograms of excess baggage.

otes fronw ^

Herr Pitrot undoubtedly is now satistied that we Germans can duplicate any trick brought over by anyone. Eesisto was booked in Germany at the various circuses, defying the power of electricity. Ere he had been here three months he had six imitators, and before long Herr Pitrot will be able to shake hands with Pesisto again on your New York Broadway. Just as long as there are no copyright laws to protect the brain work of artists, just so long will acts be pilfered and stolen.

268

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Bomauo, the magician, appealed at the Dortmunder, AYahalla, and after 1 witnessed his first performance 1 became convinced that he was a deception artist. His personality is good and so are his tricks. * * * At the Apollo Theatre in Nuhrenberg we have had the well advertised Gillo, a mysterious automaton artist that draws portraits. It is not a genuine mechanical figure, for it is worked by a secret confederate. * & ^ The Great Bijohr. who claims to be the champion billiard ball manipulator, wishes it to become known that be handles the extra large size balls in his act. [ wonder what Clement De Lion has to say about this? * * * M. Fromm of Hannover claims that he can make a magician out of anyone. He had better start in on himself! * * * The Uferini have been able to turn their theatre in Stuttgart into a money making success. * * Bruno Schenk has been approached for an American tour. The only thing that will keep him from appearing in America is his lack of English. Bruno is certain of making a hit, as he has a great many tricks that would appeal to American audiences. * * * Nordini Esco, the. chain slipper and seller of muscle developers, is back on the continent and still claiming to be the greatest man in the world in his class. He fails, though, to mention, to what class he belongs. * * * Otto Kressman is presenting some new shadowgraphs, using colored glass to give

his shadows life-like appearance. He dresses his shadow women in the latest shades and on account of his cleverness has made quite a reputation for himself. * * * Ernest Basch of Hannover is rather busy for a retired necromancer, shipping away many Bridal Chamber illusions. He is now also working on one in which he will make use of the lop of Hie cahinet for the first concealment of the lady. Horster-Coiiradi's academy is now a recognized icslitution mid Lis wirned a name for itself as having graduated a lot of clever pupils. Ernest iiemoiidy has ;m excellent electrical ghost mystery hut seems not. to have all his time hooked. How is it Niat, as a rule, a good magician is ;> hail liusiness manager ? * * * Maletzky, the trunk trick mystifier, is touring Germany. He is the Russian magician who went to the railroad station one time after his performance, and caught the station master and his son playing a new game, that of getting in and out of the trap of his trunk. I t seems that the trap door had been sprung open during transit, and the two men were having a splendid time until Maletzky arrived. He sued the company, hut failed to obtain judgment. Svengali and Trilby, who call themselves the world's greatest mind-readers in their advertising matter, are touring Italy. Trilby and Lola Cotton are both young and clever girls, and it would he interesting to arrange a match between them to determine who is Ihe brightest child wonder. The match certainly would be the means of drawing good houses.

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A Demand for Fair Play In the Mav number of The Sphinx, its editor, l)r. A. M\ Wilson, devotes nearly two columns t<> an attack upon Harry Hoiulini. So bitter, so unjust, so blindly prejudiced is this attack that it justifies a review of the events which preceded it and which evidently have robbed our contemporary of all ability to take a broadminded, manly view of the situation or anything pertaining thereto. In former days, when The Sphinx was not under the editorial direction of Dr. Wilson, Harry HOudini was not made the subject of its attacks, open and veiled. But with the advent of Dr. Wilson as editor, the policy of the sheet lias changed. A curious connection was established between the editorial and business offices. News items and advertising matter reflected each other. The man who advertised was the successful magician or dealer. His doings were exploited in flowery language, and his comings and goings were faithfully chronicled. In accordance with this policv, I Tarry Houdini was asked to buy advertising space in The Sphinx, but declined to pay tribute. Oddly enough, from the moment he took this position, his work and his personality were slurred at openly or covertly in The Sphinx. AVhencver a false rumor was circulated about his performance and private exhibitions for police departments on either continent, the rumors were carefully reported, but their denials, furnished by Harry Houdini, were as carefully suppressed. In addition to this, Dr. Wilson displayed his spleen and vindictive-

ness in private letters to his personal friends who, knowing bow unjust these letters were, promptly turned them over to Harry Houdini. These writings, editorial and personal, prepared us for trouble when The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine came into existence. Our policy was a fair one from the start. The news, honestly given, about all magicians, whether advertisers or not. Corrections printed without comment when mistakes were made. Advertisements from unscrupulous dealers refused, and fair dealers credited with inventions and ideas whether they advertised or not. It was only natural that such a decent, manly policy should add fuel to the angry flames already distorting the vision of our contemporary, and if, as he says, every knock is a boost, then truly Harry Houdini is debtor to A. M. Wilson, M. D., for the finest boosting he has ever received during his long and strenuous career. We admit that Harry Houdini spent two weeks in Kansas City, home of The Sphinx and Dr. Wilson, and carefully refrained from making the latter's acquaintance. A visitor at the zoological garden may approach a cobra's cage and study the creature, but that is no reason why he should be moved to come into personal contact with it. Nothing in their past relations had led Harry Houdini to think that he and the editor of The Sphinx had any interests in common. The latter had never written one line, never expressed an opinion in

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public or private which indicated a desire to me t Harry Houdini or to do the right, the just, and the manly thing by him. Instead he had republished every ugly story circulated about a successful man by jealous rivals. Several years' ago when a performer in Manchester, England, misused Houdini's name ami scandal resulted therefrom, The Sphinx published the garbled account sent out by its English correspondent and ignored Houdini's letters asking that justice be done him. When our Chicago correspondent. W. Leonard Hicks, asked I'm1 space in The Sphinx to answer a letter in which he was .attacked, Dr. Wilson, who was indebted to our representative for many courtesies, first agreed to publish Mr. Hicks' letter and then refused point blank, because the same letter was to appear in The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, even though Mr. Kicks asked us to insert the fact that The Sphinx had consented to this. When Harry Houdini secured column after column of valuable space in the Xew York daily press through one of the most difficult and the cleverest tricks ever given at a private exhibition, the editor of The Sphinx showed his lack of newspaper training, his ignorance of newspaper ethics by printing the news concerning the performance with one of the bitterest .ind most unjust and most despicable comments ever penned by a man who lays claim to the title of friend to magicians. Dr. Wilson accuses us of having printed in The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine for April an editorial which would have disgraced a yellow journal. The newspapers of America accused of being yellow are responsible for the greatest reforms this country has ever seen. The muckrakers have unearthed the greatest frauds ever perpetrated upon the American public. If the yellow journals had yielded

to bribery in the form of prolitable advertising, insurance, bank and political Irickerv would still-be raking in its illegitimate profits. We are not personal Iv prejudiced against any performer in any class, but we do despise a thief, a man who steals the gocd name and the credit belonging' to anotl.er performer, and that is why we have been so bitter against certain handculf performers. We hold nothing against a performer in that class unless he trades upon tlie work of a man who worked years to perfect tricks, or unless he sails under false colors. Thanks to our campaign against some of these pretenders, this season for the first time they are securing bookings on their own merit and ability, and not by bodily copying, imitating and even impersonating a man who made their act profitable. And when speaking of yellow journalism. Dr. Wilson era It i 1 v refrains from referring to an editorial paragraph aimed against us in The Sphinx of April, 1907, a paragraph so obscene that we would not besmirch our pages by quoting it here, a paragraph which, had he mentioned names instead of carefully veiling his shaft, would have caused the I". S. Government to swoop down upon him, wiping Dr. Wilson and his periodical out of existence. With one statement made by Dr. Wilson in his extraordinary editorial in the May issue if The Sphinx we entirely agree. In no sense is this publication a rival of The Sphinx. Competition or rivalry can exist only between parties of equal ability, between papers of similar scope. The Conjurers" Monthly Magazine does not doctor its new? to m:et the demands of its advertising manager. The Sphinx refrains from printing anything which would not further the interests of the advertising1 !>aine.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Dr. Wilson allinns thai Harry Iloudini has made of money his god—but he fails to add Ihut Houdini has never carried this alleged worship to the point of selling the news-columns of any publication in which he was interested to unscrupulous .advertisers whose dealings with customers would not bear investigation. Houdini may be devoting all his waking hours and laboring far into the nighl to earn his salary, but this is because he hopes that in his old age he will have enough laid .aside to support hinvelf and those dependent upon him. without preying upon his profession and the public by perverting so-called news items into financial gain. We are glad to learn through the editorial in the May issue of The Sphinx t h a t we have done something to increase t h e circulation of that periodical, for only Ijy comparing the two publications can our readers appreciate the enormous superiority of The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, and realize what we are trying t o do in the way of raising the standard of literature for magicians and those interested in magic. Comparisons are always odious and perhaps therein lies the •secret of Dr. Wilson's veiled attacks upon t h i s sheet and bis personal enmity against H a r r y Houdini. The latter may be young in years, but lie can count a few gray hairs, most of which have been acquired through fighting just such attacks, op. u and veiled, as have besmirched the pages •of The Sphinx and filled letter after letter written to the friends ( ?) of Doctor Wilson who have alleged their overwhi lining desire to bring us together, after •showing us the letters in question. We are always ready to fight in the •open. T h a t is wliv we printed the socalled yellow journal editorial in The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine for April. We dared to come out boldlv and mention

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names. Dr. Wilson fought from ambush. If, as Dr. Wilson claims, those significant editorial shafts have been written in an innocence that is almost inconceivable; if, as he claims, we have taken, as personal, remarks that were intended onlv as glittering generalities, lie will have to select a more convincing method of explaining them than the one set forth in the May editorial. II' Dr. Wilson is reallv sincere in his desire to bury the hatcl.el ; if. as he has often remarked in letters to his personal friends, which letters we have read, he is heartily ashamed of at least one editorial referred to above, then let him explain the following facts: Whv did bis eiinntv become evident at the very time that Harry Houdini declined to advertise in The Sphinx? AVIiv has he never published Harrv Hoiidini's refutations of certain statements made concerning the hitter's work? AVhy has he steadfastly failed to publish any accounts of Harry IToudini's performances or private exhibitions save lo reflect discredit upon the performer? AA'hv did thai obscene editorial published in The Sphinx of April, 1!J()T, happen to escape the editorial blue pencil and yet I;e so carefully worded a~ tu keep within t i e law concerning sending obscene literature through the mails? When Dr. Wilson offers these explanations and sh.i ws bv the works which are t i e evidences of good faith, an honest and sincere de?ire to d<> the right thing, the square thing, the nianlv thing, then and not until then aie we willing to run up the flag of truce. We do not ask' for flatlerv. just for a square deal, and when we get it, none will be more willing to admit it than Harrv Houdini and The Conjurers" Monlblv Magazine.

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them both into one hand without bringing them any nearer together; the wager being laid, hold your arms abroad like a rod, and turning about with your body, lay the shilling out of one of your hands upon the table, and turning to the other hand, and so you shall win your wager: The Jlnatomie of a knack more merry than marvellous. LEGERDEMAIN To transform any small thing into any : OR other form by folding paper. The Art of Jugling set forth in his proper colours Take a sheet of paper, and fold ' fully plainly, and exactly, so that an ignorant person may thereby learn the full perfection the same, so as one side be a little of the same after a little practice. longer than the other, then put a counContinued ter between the two sides of the leaves To convey a tester out of one's hand that of the paper, up to the middle of the top of the fold, hold the same so as it holds it fast. Stick a little wax upon your thumb, be not perceived, and lay a groat on the and take a stander-by, by the fingers, outside thereof, right against the counshewing him the tester, and telling him ter, and fold it down to the end of the you will put the same into his hand, then longer side, and when you have unwring it down hard with your waxed folded it again, the groat will be where thumb, and using many words, look him the counter was; so that some will supin the face, and as soon as your per- pose that you have transformed the ceive him to look in your face, or on money into a counter; and with this your hand, suddenly take away your many tricks may be done. thumb and close his hand, and it will Another experiment of the like nature. seem to him that the tester remaineth; Take two papers, three inches square even as if you wring a tester upon one's apiece, divided into two folds, into three forehead, it will seem to stick when it equal parts, at either side, so as each is taken away, especially if it be wet; folded paper remains one inch square; then cause him to hold his hand still, then glue the back side of the two toand with speed put into another man's gether, as they are folded, and not as hand, or into your own, two testers in- they are opened, and so shall both stead of one, and use words of course, papers seem to be but one, and which whereby you shall make the beholders side soever you open, it shall appear to believe, when they open their hands that be the same, if you have handsomely by enchantment you have brought both the bottom, as you may well do with together. your middle finger, so as if you have a To convey a shilling, being in one hand, groat in one hand, and a counter in the into another, holding your hands other, you having shewed but one, may by turning the paper, seem to change it; abroad. It is necessary to mingle some merry this may be best performed by putting pranks among your grave miracles, as it under a candlestick or a hat, and with in this case of money, to take a shilling words seem to do the feat. This is no in each hand, and holding your arms inferior trick. abroad, lay a wager that you will put (To be continued.)

H O C V S P O C VS I VN1OR

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Parlor Trick Competition In order to cause interest in parlor tricks we advertised that we would pay ten dollars to the person whose trick was judged the best and five dollars for the trick judged the second best. As the result of this offer many tricks have been submitted to us, of which we will print a few each month in our columns and then we will let our readers say to whom the prize money is to be presented. THE SMOKE TRICK. By James Morfitt.

Effect. Introduce two ordinary clay pipes, such as bought for can penny, and show two ordinary water glasses, one1 oL' which you invert u[ion the other. Then, covering, them with a handkerchief, both are placed upon a table. Now advance toward your audience with your two clay pipes, showing them to be free from deception, and explain that you have a magical, imperceptible and odorless tobacco, and by simply placing the two bowls of the pipes together you commence to enjoy a comfortable smoke. To show that the stems are free from deception you gradually break off piece after piece from each, and each time }'ou do this you place the iwo bowls of the pipes together and cause clouds of smoke to gather. Finally when only the bowls are left, in order to pn.\e them free from deception you proceed to break them, first crushing one bowl under fho heel of your shoe. Place these pieces into the bowl of the other pipe and you will cause smoke to arise. The other bowl containing the crushed pieces is now crushed under your heel and the pieces gathered in your hands and by simply blowing through them you still cause smoke to ascend. Now inform the audience that you have magically saved all the smoke, and going

to the talilc, uncover the two glasses, which you I ad previously placed there and they will be found to be full of smoke. Explanation. The smoke effect is accomplished by the action of two chemicals (strong ammonia and muriatic acid) upon one another. Special care must be taken in the handling of the muriatic acid, as it is a virulent burning poieon. Preparation. Pour some ammonia into the bowl of one of the pipes and allow it to flow through the stem of the pipe back into the bottle. Then take a few drops of the acid and place it in the bowl of the other pipe and cause it to flow through the stem of the pipe. Caution—Do not use too much of the acid, as a few drops will suffice. By holding the two bowls together the chemicals are brought into contact with the result that a dense cloud of smoke appears, Avhieh at once stops forming when the pipe bowls are separated. The two drinking glasses are prepared in the same way, one containing a little ammonia and the other a few drops ef muriatic acid. By inverting the glasses, the two chemicals are brought into contact with one another, forming the smoke, and by separating the glasses the smoke is liberated. Be sure that the handkerchief is placed about the glasses so as to hold them in exact apposition, in order that the smoke cannot escape before yon wish it to do so, which occurs any time you uncover and separate the glasses, thereby allowing the smoke to escape.

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This is an old card trick, but in my opinion the prettiest effect for close work that I have ever seen. It is, moreover, purely sleight-of-hand.

Effect The performer comes forward with a deck of cards and a large handkerchief. A card is selected and returned, and the pack is handed to the audience to be shuffled. When the cards are returned, the performer wraps them up in the handkerchief and holds the pack suspended at arm's length. As lie gently shakes the handkerchief, the chosen card is seen to slowly drop through the handkerchief and is finally drawn completely through it. Explanation. .No apparatus is used. The pass is made and the chosen card palmed in the right hand. While the pack is being shuffled the handkerchief is shown back and front to prove that there are "no trap doors in it." This affords an excuse for using the right hand in a natural manner. Finally, carelessly drape the handkerchief about the right hand with the card concealed lengthwise in the palni. Place the pack in the right hand so that it lies over the card, and make a sort of swoop downward and to the left. This brings the lower edge of the handkerchief up over the pack, which should be held in the left hand for a moment while you gather the folds of the handkerchief together with the other hand. You will now find that the pack is wrapped securely in the handkerchief, but the chosen card is held against the pack by the folds of the- handkerchief. Now hold the handkerchief in the right hand and shake gently. The card will slowly be shaken down, the effect being -that it comes right through the handkerchief.

AN OLD TRICK REDRESSED. By N. W. James. Effect, Upon a plain or glass top table, devoid of covering, a common glass is placed after it has been examined. A coin is now borrowed, laid upon a playing card and placed under the glass. An apparently unprepared newspaper is picked up from the floor and placed over the glass and coin. A volunteer assistant is next called to see that fair play is maintained cjA takes a position to the left of the performer—close to the table and behind it. The paper is removed,--1 sometimes carrying the glass with it and sometimes leaving the glass covering the coin. All at once by means of a heavy blow upon the table the paper is crushed, thus showing that the glass has disappeared, and upon lifting the paper from the table the coin is also found to have disappeared. The spectator is now asked to place his hand in his pocket and takes therefrom the missing coin. A handkerchief is now waved in the air and suddenly it takes shape, which when examined is found to have been caused by the glass appearing in it. The secret of vanishing the glass is common property, but I have never heard of" vanishing the coin in this way. Preparation and Explanation, (1) A common drinking glass is set upon the table and a duplicate is placed in your left inside coat pocket. (2) Prepare your old flying water glass with ring in the center. (3) Two playing cards are glued together and a duplicate coin of the borrowed one secured. (4) Prepare an ordinary newspaper with some magician's wax, so that a few inches are ccvered in the center. The glass is put upon the table, the newspaper picked up from the floor and snugly placed around the glass to show

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. the outline of its shape. A coin is now borrowed and laid upon one side of the glued cards; the hand is now adroitly turned over, revealing a duplicate coin on the other side of the cards, and is put under the glass and paper by the assistant who steps forward at this moment, and as he then stands to the left, the performer takes the glued cards from 11nleft hand (leaving the coin therein) and puts them into his pocket. The right land in w lifts up the paper from the glass, attention is called to the coin under it. r.nd while tins is beim: done, the coin in tie performer's left hand is secretly dropped into the right outside coat pocket of the assistant. This 1 jind an easy matter to do, as all eves are on the glass and vuin. while the newspaper hides the action from the spectators and assistant. Although I have often dropped the coin on a knife in the assistant's pocket. 1 have not Lien at all worried, as nothing ought to •worry a conjure]-. I now place the paper back upon the glass and lift both several times, and when all eyes are centered upon the bare coin upon the table, I take my left hand {which is not engaged) and place the glass into my own pocket. Then with the right hand I put the glass shaped newspaper over the coin, crush it, and when T lift up the paper again the wax carries the coin along with it. 1 now step away from the table and, holding the paper in my hand, ask the assistant to take the coin from his pocket, which he dees, and I at once take up my ring handkerchief and wave it about. 1 then lay it over my left arm and shoulder, seize the ring with my left hand, and declare it the glas'. J now reach under the handkerchiefwith my right hand, take the glass from my left breast pocket and present it.

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A Two Dollar Book For One Dollar Houdini Pockets the Loss Before "The Vnmasking of Robertlloudin" was published, the price was announced as $'2.00. This price was made bv the publishers. When the book was ready to market, the price was reduced to $1.00. This reduction was ordered by the author, Harry Houdini, who will pocket the loss. For this change in pi ice, there is a remarkable reason ! "The rnmasking of liobert-lloudin" is a book with a mission. After nearly twenty vears' research, and armed with the most convincing literary evidence ever gathered, tl e author felt that it was his sacred duty to revise the history of his craft, to uncrown the Fn nch conjurer, Robert-Houdin, long acclaimed as the king of magicians, and to credit the great triumphs of conjuring to dead and gone magicians whose glorv Kohert-IIoiidin had so unscrupulously pilfered. To reach the favored few, the professional magician, the book-collector, the studtnt, was not the mission of "The Unmasking of Iiohert-Houdin." To place this, the iiiosi authentic, the most superbly humiil mill Musi rated work on magic ever irriltnt. into the hands of the great reading public and to spread broadcast the truth regarding his craft were the author's aim and ambition. The man who blazes a path into an undiscovered countrv must pay the price of privileges which others will enjoy. That is just what the author of this new work on magic has done—blazed a new path in the history of magic, and that is why YOU can buy this great work at price of $1.00.

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Wrinkles for Wonder Workers BY WILL EDWARDS ESCAPE FROM SPIKE LINED CABINET.

Effect. A cahinet or box studded with spikes on the inside is seen standing on the stage. A committee from the audience is invited upon the stage to thoroughly examine everything. The performer then steps inside, the door is closed and made secure with locks supplied by members of the audience, after which a screen is placed about the cabinet for a few minutes. The performer makes his escape, and again allows the committee to examine everything, with the result that no means of egress is discovered.

Secret. Beference to the five accompanying illustrations will facilitate the explanation. Fig. 1 shows the appearance and style of cabinet or box to be used. It is made just large enough to hold a man in such

a position that when the door is closed the points of the spikes come in contact with his body on every side. The feke is so constructed as to involve the two hinges on the door and the inside corresponding spikes marked xx. The cabinet has overlaid panels, the one on the left side being cut into with slots, one of which is depicted in Fig. 2, which the hinge overlaps all the way around for a distance of a quarter of an inch.

Figure 3 shows a cut-away portion of the side of the cabinet and overlay panel, moved apart to facilitate explanation, a. being the spike which is welded into a round steel plate B. The hinge is shown at ('. I). I), are threaded screws running through the hinge and held into position by the round nuts E. E. Figure 4 shows the steel plate itself, previously mentioned in Fig. 3 as B ; it acts as a lock; a. is the spike; G. G. are two small tapered slots cut into the steol plate to allow the insertion of the round nuts mentioned in Fig. 3 as E. E. When the spike is turned to the left these small round nuts retain and lock the plate to the hinge, and the plate being beveled causes it to tighten when turned.

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F. F. are two threaded holes, the same size as the screws D. D. in Fig. 3.

Our Mall Bag To prepare the cabinet for the act, insert the screws and nuts through the hinges, slots in the panel and large end of the tapered slots in the beveled steel plate; turn up tight with the key which is depicted in Fig. 5, which locks the cabinet, as far as the hinges arc concerned. To effect the escape from the cabinet, secure possession of the key, turn the feked spikes to the right (a flat surface on each spike allowing a grip for the key) until the nuts are out; then push outward on the door and it will open as the slots in the cabinet panel permit this, and the hasps on the opposite side of the door on which the locks are hung to lock the cabinet act as hinges on which the door swings. When out of the cabinet unscrew the nuts E. E. in Fig. 3, turn the spikes and plate to the right until the threaded holes F. F. in Fig. 4 are flush with the holes in the hinges, which are now brought back to their original positions. Insert the now ordinary screws and fasten them into the holes in the plate, tightening up with the opposite end of the key which will, in Fig. 5, be seen to be a small screw driver. Everything is now ready for examination. At the bottom of Fig. 5 is shown the style of screw and nut used. This trick can be elaborated by using in addition handcuffs or ropes.

In this department It Is the privilege of onr readers to bring to public notice »nj topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thin thrown open In the hopes that conditions m i j be bettered or evils abated bv iuch publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed In this department.

Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE : Sir.—Through your exchange columns I commenced to exchange with A. G. Heilman of 1265 45th street, Brooklyn, New York, and after a few exchanges with him, he made me an offer which I accepted, and on January 1, 1908, I sent him the articles he wanted, but up to the present time I have not received anything in exchange, nor have I heard from him regarding this matter. On January 20 and February 3 I wrote to him again requesting a reply, which I never received from him. Sincerely yours,

0. T. Gulled: Gross-Lichterfelde, Germany. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE : Sir: In Vol. 2, No. 6, of your esteemed magazine a letter from the pen of Mr. J. X. Maskelyne of London, England, is published, wherein statements are made which show that Mr. Maskelyne is not acquainted with the true facts of the Black Art show and Bautier De Kolta's connection thereto. I first introduced Black Art on June 2S, 1885, at the Passage Panoptikon in Berlin, and during the months of July, Aug-

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ust and September played various engagements in tl\e vicinity "of- Berlin. "' In1 'the early part of December,* 1888, De Kolta visited Hamburg during the Domzeit (which is a sort of yearly fair occasion, at which actors and performers show their material) and saw me present my original Black Art performance while fulfilling an engagement in the KlettoGesellschaft-Garten in Wessenstrasse. On the very next day he visited Mr. Lischke, the manufacturer of magical apparatus, aiid purchased a Black Art'outfit, which he^took to London, actually had the temerity to patent it, and accepted an engagement at the Egyptian Hall. Lischke managed to secure the secret of Black Art through the perfidy of Charles Arbre, who engaged me to work under the name of. Ben Ali Bey at the Passage Panoptikon in Berlin from October to December, 1885. and it was during this engagement that Arbre plundered my secret and entered into a partnership with Lischke to manufacture and sell Black Avt outfits and share profits. Enclosed you will find the 1 ramburger Tribune of December 8, 1888, in which the whole story of Arbre's perfidy is published, long before De Kolta had ever seen the mystery, and it is a fact that this controversy really attracted him to my performance, which impressed him to such an extent that after purchasing the secret he went to England and claimed to have ''invented'' my brainwork. (The Hamburger Tribune of December 8, 1888, which Mr. Auzinger sent us, devotes almost a full column to Herr Auzinger's history of Black Art, and his accusation that Arbre pilfered his invention and sold the secret to magical dealers.—• Ed. Note.) I also enclose a criticism from the Berlin T.okal Anzciger, relative to my opening in October at the Kaisergallerie,

and if Mr. Maskelyne wishes further proof, I will send the original clipping to him direct if he will be convinced that I am the originator of the Black Art performance. I have other original documents 1 could send, but which I do not like to leave out of mv possession unless assured of their safe return to me, as they are the only evidence 1 have of being the originator of an act with which others 1 ave made money.

Ben Ali-Bey, Max Auzinger

There is one further explanation I owe Mr. Maskelyne relative to the name, Auzinger, which he claims never to have beard of. From June 28, 1885, until October, 1885, I appeared under the name of Maxastan A. Unzin Ger, which I formed by simply "Separating the syllables of my family name. In October, 1885, with the commencement of my engagement with Arbre, 1 took the name of Ben Ali Bey, and it is under this nom de plume-that I am better knor.n. But my good name is

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. stolen today as my invent inn was years -ago, and oiilv bitterness is mv lot. As Mr. Maskelyne himself seeks full credit for all his inventions, surely lie •cannot blame me for seeking mv just rights. I kindly ask the courtesy of spare in the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE for the publication of this letter to show to the world that .Mr. Maskelyne does not know the true facts of the case, which may be due "to the fact that he does not read or speak German, while 1. alas, do not read or speak 'English, hut as you speak and write a number of languages, 1 trust you "will translate this letter word for word for which 1 thank you in advance and beg -to remain Sincerelv vours,

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Cryptography and the Art of Cipher Writing (Continued) CHECKER BOARD CIPHER

The method of using the numbered squares is sometimes called the checker board system, and with this method, you can arrange almost any code in the world, also using any article, places or characters, as you simply use the checker board as your guide, and arrange everything accordingly. It is possible to hold a conversation by knocks on the walls of cells, but in America where they seldom have the Max Auziitger, solid walls in prisons or station houses, Named Ben All Bet/. it is sometimes used by holding up fig* * * ures, and spelling out the words, although the deaf and dumb alphabet is Cucamonga, Cali L'ornia. far better, but harder to learn. I mean E d i t o r C O N J U R E R S ' MAGAZINE : by that it can't be learned the first lesS i r : I have a trick which ha? been son while with a chart this checker worked for ages, is not up-to-date, but -still serve's my purpose. I t is the Pyra- board is a very easy matter. Criminals have their own hieroglyphics, in fact you mids of Egypt trick, known also as the will find secret signs and marks in alwine and water pyramids. You, of course, know what i t is, so T most every path in life. Although you can find a great many "will not have to describe it. As you ways and means of deciphering secret know, the usual method of closing the cedes, the most reliable rules, and those holes to the reservoirs to prevent liquid that will enable you to read any of the from escaping is to place pellets of wax common cyphers used in the English •or paste tinfoil over the holes. 1 have had trouble, though, with the wax, as often language, are as follows: First find out which letter, number or character is a plug of it sticks in the hole, thus still keeping the liquid in. T h e tinfoil T do used most frequently, which you can set down as being one of the vowels. The -not like to use. letter " E " is used more than any other "What I would like to know is if there letter. The vowel used the least is the Is any new method of closing the holes letter "U." You can also place " Y " successfully so that no air can enter ami still he made to open readily and let out with your vowels, as that letter will be certain of being used many times, and the liquid 'J. often will denote the end of a word. Very truly yours, In the words of three letters there are Tint/ween Slone.

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most commonly two consonants, such as the, and, not, but, yet, for, how, why, all, you, she, his, her, our who, may, can, did, was, are, has, had, let, one, two, six, ten, etc. The most common words of four letters are, this, that, then, with, when, from, here, some, most, none, they, them, whom, mine, your, must, will, have, been, were, four, five, nine, etc., etc. The most usual words of five letters are, there, these, those, which,, while, since, their, shall, might, could, would, ought, three, seven, eight, etc., etc. Words of two or more syllables frequently begin with double consonants, or with a preposition, that is a vowel joined with one or two consonants, the most common double consonants are bl, br, dr, fl, fr, gl, gr, ph, pi, pr, sh, sp, .st, th, tr, wh, wr, etc., and the most common prepositions are com, con, de, dif, ex, im, in, int, mis, par, pre, pro, re, sub, sup, un, etc. The double consonants most frequent at the end of long words are, ck, Id, If, mn, nd, ng, rl, rm, rn, rp, rt, sm, st, xt, etc., while the commonest terminations are, ed, en, et, es, er, ing, ly, son, sion, tion, able, ence, ent, ment, full, less, ness, etc. The vowels that are used most frequently together are "EA" and "Ou." The most common consonant at the end of words is "s," next in use will be "r" and "t" Any time two similar characters come together they are most likely to be the consonants f, 1, or s, or the vowels e or o. The letter that preceded or follows two similar characters is either a vowel or 1, m, n, or r. In deciphering, begin with the words that consist of a single letter, which will be either a, I, or o. Then take the words of two letters, one of which will be a vowel. Of these words the most frequent are, an, to, be, by, of,

on, or, no, so, as, at, if, in, it, he, me, my, us, we, and am. In making use of a cypher, it must be understood that the longer the message is the easier it is to decipher. And the message should be written without any space, but all the letters close together. This will make it much more difficult to decipher. To give you an idea how important the letter "E" is in all writings, the following inscription over the decalogue in a country church runs as follows: ' PRSRVYPRFCTMNVRKPTHSPRCPTSTN. It is stated that this was not read in over two hundred years, but if you will insert the letter "e" in a good many spaces, you will be able to read "Preserve, ye perfect men; ever keep these precepts ten." Merchants use words of ten letters for their trade or secret mark, but they are very simple to read. All you have to da is to get the worth of their prices for a few of their articles and before you have 6 figures, you can read the rest as easily as the merchant or clerks themselves. Some of the words that I have known to be in actual use are French lady, with lucky, fishmarket, etc., etc. It is as well to say here that the methods shown in this article are not by any means a complete compilation. I have only collected some of the best methods, • and trust that it will repay the reader to study one or the other, as you can never tell what time it may come in handy to give your friend or assistant some secret sign or gesture which your enemy will not understand. Some future day I shall publish all the silent codes that I have met, and those that are being made use of by second sight artists, but for the present moment I trust this effort will suffice.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Raymeen Stone, Cucamonga, Cal. Your letter is worthy of publication. Lack of space this month prevents, but we hope to have it appear in our next issue. * * * William Stone, Liverpool. The pistol you speak about is the result of a combination trick. The watch that is hung on the hook at the end of the pistol is thrown into the hand holding the gun or pistol, while the cards or flag are drawn inside of the barrel. * * * Jack Herhron, Xewcastle-on-Tyne. The liox trick with canvas opens at the end •"inwards," and the lace is unlaced and replaced into the eyelets. It is a good trick for parlors. * * * Alfred Raudnitz, Prag. We cannot publish the answer in German, as we have too many English reading subscribers. It will lie easier for you to have it translated. When you are being tied with rope and cannot untie yourself, the best plan is to have a knife in your possession which must be of the garter variety. Kick off a shoe and use the knife to cut your bonds. Always have a duplicate rope at hand to show to the audience. * * * Sargent Thorton. Your trick is good, but we cannot make use of it, as we only publish material of interest to the conjuring fraternity. * * * William J. Ellingsen, Brooklyn. You must "be a large boy for your size. The trick you sent was published in our last issue. Try for prize with another one. * * * Percy H. Ventriloquism can be practiced, and there are a few books that treat on the -subject The best thing you can do is to

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go to some professional ventriloquist who may play in Reading, and ask his advice. * * * Edwin Morrill, Worcester. Thanks for letter. You are on the right path; keep up your good resolutions. * * * Jack Williams, Cincinnati, O. We don't believe you. For any grievances you have see Lindsley himself. * * * Burling Hull, Brooklyn. We regret to hear your complaint, but as we seldom read the paper in question we overlooked the fact. Why don't you send in a trick and try to obtain one of the prizes? * * * Leon Houry, Orleans, France. Strange you do not know the French letter cuff, as it is a patented article. The lock is patented in France and the cuff is in use by some of the Paris police. We have seen quite a number, and we have two in our possession. As Mr. Houdini will be in Paris in a few months, if you care to call on him when you are in his vicinity he will show you where they can be purchased. * * * J. Bruno Grafstein, Bochum. We do not deal in apparatus. You will find the foremost dealers represented in our columns. Better send to them, and they will send you their price lists. * * * William Penney, Blaenau Festiniog, N. W., Eng. You may find the book in question in some book shop in England. The only copy for sale that we know of is in the possession of Gustav Stromer, who will sell the book, Price's Book on Locks, for $7.50, but you may find one for less money in England. Stromer's address is 310 W. 115th street, New York City. * * * Robert H. M. Gysel, Toledo. Read answer to William Penney; it may be of interest. * * * Jack Terrilsonz, Denver, Col. We have no connection whatsoever with the paper in question—and never will. * * * B. Brown, Chicago, 111. Call on W. L. Hicks at the Saratoga Hotel in your city and he will enlighten you.

27S

THL CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. One of the rings has to be nickel-plated to» keep the joint together, but the other seven, are in good order. A. Peil, 1007 Geyer Ave.,_ St. Louis, Mo.

L

BARTER AND EXCHANGE

Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of churgu; tnere is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper. WARNING. These columns were placed in the Conjurer's Magazine for the sole use of our readers who were not dealers, and infinite pains were taken to let everyone know that the advertisements of dealers were barred. Prom time to time we have noticed that some small dealers have misrepresented and under the (,'uisu of magicians secured the insertion of their advertisements.

Will exchange a new black art outfit, spirit cabinet, breakaway flag pagoda and other magical paraphernalia for reliable magical apparatus. The Might}- Heverly, 201 Desmond St., Sayre, Pa. * * * Wanted—A good theatrical trunk and other magical apparatus in exchange for a collection of postage stamps. Olivette, 225 Pacific St., Brooklyn, N. Y. * * * Wanted—A complete outfit, or magical apparatus and illusions. John J. Brown, 4GG Virginia Ave., St. Paul, Minn. * * * What am I offered for a side table in good condition, similar to Roterberg's "acme"? W. R. Richardson, b'3 Elmer St., Hartford, Conn. * * * What will you take for Sach's Sleight of Hand? Must be in good condition. I have many good books to trade. J. H. Percival, 44 Warren Ave., Providence, R. I. * * * Will exchange for magical things or handcuffs a French transport chain, one pair of Cabriolets and the French Bastile thumbscrew with lock. I.eon Houry, 20 Rue des Anguignis, Orleans, France. * * * What have you to offer for a set of eight Chinese rings, stage size and worth $5?

Wanted—Foreign and United States postage stamps in exchange for magical apparatus, books on magic, three Stevens' rifles, (brand new), a large collection of classical and popular music (new) including selections and songs rroni all the leading musical shows. J. W. Scott, 30S East Ohio St., Chicago, 111. * * * What have you to exchange for Ching Ling Foo's magic can, cotton and coffeevase, mystic ball and bottle of ink, triplechanging flower card which changes to a rose and X-ray pack of cards? Handkerchief tricks preferred. Master S. Robson, 53 WTest 11th St., New York City. * * * What in magic or handcuffs have you to* offer for a first-class packing box escapeapparatus, which cost $20 when new? Thewlis, Brunswick, Maine. * * * I would like to exchange a lot of magicaE tricks and books. Tobias Gilleo, Buchanan^ New York. * * Wanted—Magical apparatus and books itt exchange for other magical apparatus. S. L_ Cook, 97 Lincoln Ave., E. Saugus, Mass. * * * I have the books "More Magic," "Modern. Magicians' Handbook," "Hopkins' Twentieth Century Magic," "Magic Made Easy," and "Expert at Card Table," which I would liketo exchange for other books, tricks or secrets. Elmer M. Applegit, 2 Chestnut St., IViorristown, N. J. I have Helm's cross and other tricks toexchange for magic books, papers or parlortricks. E. D. Williams, 29 Seymour Ave.,. Utica, N. Y. * * * What is wanted in exchange for a flag vase, inexhaustible box, Selbit's magic blocks and other magical apparatus suitablefor a lady magician? Florence M. Ault, 28S. Tyson St., Pittsburg, Pa.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. I have good illusions and secrets which can be worked, that I would like to exchange for a crystal casket, Jap box, candle case, bird cages for producing canaries, and tne Hindoo clock. Ray C. Hayden, Cumberland, Md.

Master Quentin Roosevelt, the son of the President of the United States, made his debut before a Washington audience at the Columbia Theatre, as the assistant to Howard Thurston, on Friday, May 1, 1908. After finishing some of his introductory tricks, Thurston stepped to the footlights and said "For my next trick I want the assistance cf the smallest little girl and the smallest little boy in the house." Soon thei e came a nice little gi:l toddling down the centre aisle, and Thurston said, "Now j still need a little boy." There were signs of consultation in a box occupied by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Miss Ethel and Quentin. It seems Master Quentin evidently wis pleading for something, which finally caused Mrs. Roosevelt to smile and nod her consent, for thereupon Master Quentin scrambled out of the box onto the stage. The two children stood in the center of the stage and gravely shook hands with the conjurer, who bowed to them and upon asking their names, the little girl replied "Florence," and the little boy replied "Quentin." They proceeded to act as his assistants, helped cause a good deal of fun, and as a reward, each received a present of two seats for the following night's performance. * * * Sears, the illusionist, is claiming in England that he did a handcuff and strait-jacket act in America. This claim is false, a fact further substantiated by a notice whieii Variety published when he appeared at Keith's theatre in New York, which described his act from start to finish, but made no mention whatsoever of handcuffs or strait-jackets.

27»

Hardeen, the jail breaker, is out in Spokane, Wash. He will play the Orpheum circuit after this tour, and complete witn the Keith's circuit, playing about 40 weeks before his return to England. * * * Mr. Percy G. \Villiams sails for Europe to book a big mystery act which has been offered to him. * * * Will Arnold De Biere please send his route to our office, as we have important letters for him. * * * Don Turley, the Kansas City necromancer, has received an offer to enter vaudeville, but it seems that Don would rather remain in Kansas City and be near the old folks. * * * Ziska and King are still working and managing to get as many laughs as any comedy act in vaudeville. * * * The New York Mirror mentions the fact that the mother of James M. Harris (of Harris and Merlo) would like to know what has become of her son. He was last heard of on July 11, 19u7. Anyone knowing of his whereabouts please notify her at 3G Twenty-second street, Pittsburg, Pa. * * * Frederick Hall, the Cambridge handcuff conjurer, who combs his hair & la Houdini, has gone all the jail breakers a feat better. He was abed with the measles and has actually broken out! *

•

*

J. Rowen, a Roxbury-defeated-light-weightprize-fighter, has been exploited by Tom Lloyd, a porter at the Westminster Hotel in Boston, as a handcuff king. The prize fighter used the name "Odini." * * * The Society of Boston Magicians will hold its annual banquet on May 18 at the American House. The record for attendance is certain to be broken, on account of the increase in membership and the excellent program promised by some of the prominent members. * * * The home of The Floyds in Chelsea, Mass., had a narrow escape from destruction in the great Chelsea fire, as the flames

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

came within 100 yards of the Floyd home, when tne wind suddenly blew the fire the opposite way. * * * Dr. .1. E. Waitte, the noted Boston dental surgeon, who is known among his friends as a mystifler, has quite a den of handcuffs. * * * Arthur Kramer was official photographer at the Harvard Bridge jump recently made by Houdini in Boston, which was witnessed by 50,000 people, among them being both the mayors of Boston and Cambridge. * * * The Society of Providence Magicians is making quite a name for itself on account of the hospitality shown to the illusionists and magicians who visit Providence. The members have entertained Howard Thurston, Harry Houdini, Horace Goldin and a number of other prominent magicians. A plan like this is out of the question in hew York, but in the smaller towns it would be the means of bringing magicians closer together in pleasant social intercourse. * * * The Okito Family appeared at Keith and Proctor's Fifty-eighth street theatre and made more than good. * * * Hornmann is busy—as usual. He promises to bring out his big act at the earliest possible opportunity. * * * Kellar and Thurston are packing the houses wherever they appear. "Greatest show of its kind ever projected" is the verdict of the press. * * * A press clipping from Pittsburg of April 30 states that Capt. S. F. Gilmore, a river pilot, attempted to give a practical demonstration of walking on water in the Monongahela $iver oy fastening on his feet two boats or shoes, each more than four feet long, with a beam of eight inches and some twelve inches draught. He turned turtle each time he tried to walk, and finally was rescued when his head and body were under water while his feet were sticking up in the air. * * * Ever since the Saviour walked upon the water this feat has been placed before the public in many ways, and the old books on

magic, especially that of Simon Witgeest, contain illustrations of a man walking on water by means of some kind of peculiar shoes.

nous iowrces. r

BY FREDERICK ROCHE Deodato, an Italian magician, who does not speak English, made his first appearance in Boston at Keith's Theatre. He has an Italian assistant who attempts to speak English and by so doing amuses some of the audience and bores others. * * * Maxey, the needle king, recently appeared at Austin and Stone's and mystified his audiences with his act. * * * Chinko, the juggler, who played at Keith's Theatre, made a big hit with the boomerang plates. * * * The Society of Boston Magicians held their third bi-annual meeting this week and elected the following officers: President, Walter Jackson; Vice-President, W. Baker; Treasurer, S. Wilson Bailey; Secretary, Howard E. Morse; Librarian, Vianello. * * * When Adams and Mack played at a moving picture theatre and exposed a lot of good tricks, Mr. John J. Meehan, a member of the S. A. M., and quite a young man, expostulated with the two men and asked their reasons for exposing magic. * * * For answer, they roundly cursed him, called the members of the Society of American Magicians vile names, and so Mr. Meehan made a hasty exit. You want to be careful, gentlemen, as you may call someone bad names and then be stunned when something happens. Manager Lovenberg of Keith's Theatre in Providence once said that it was a shame for them to expose magic, but as long as they called it their act, he had nothing to say. No one ever asked them to expose magic.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE Herman Hanson has an exceedingly fine act, and has a promising future. * * * Frederick Brown has been busy playing dates at the scenic theatres. * * * After 15 years of steady work in one place, W. D. Leroy has at last been compelled to enlarge hi.-; establishment, and now occupies the entire floor of 103 Court street. He has an extra warehouse in which he stores his stock.

FROM THE

INDYClTy BWLH Roland Travel's, illusionist and magician, appeared at the Majestic week of April 13 and created quite a bit of talk. Travers has adopted a quick, snappy way of presenting his tricks and it brings rounds of applause. The paraphernalia used in the act is of the latest kind, and his stage settings harmonize beautifully. Travers gives an impersonation of Ching Ling Poo and produces a tub of ducks with a fountain spurting real water out of the tub. He concludes his performance by presenting what he terms his masterpiece, and that is where he falls down completely and spoils the first part of his act. He makes the announcement that he will introduce a trick to the audience of making a lady disappear before their very eyes, without being covered. She disappeared all right, but anyone who saw the trick can tell how it was done. I think it would be advisable to get another finish or do considerable improving on this one. * * * 1. F. Halton. who is connected with the new magical store down town, has bought •out his partner, E. A. Gardener, and is now by himself, but not lonesome, '.or business is piling in so fast that he can hardly find time to breathe. He has moved from Clark •street, and is new at 148 La Salle street.

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E. A. Balle, one of the new recruits in the magical line, finds quite a bit of pleasure i:i amusing the folks at home with his sleight of hand. * * * Prof, and Madame Chevalier, billing themselves as the great European magicians, appeared at the Colonial Theatre, Sunday, April 27, at a benefit tendered to Mr. Gus Schlesinger, treasurer of tne Colonial. The professor does a few tricks, such as the card in the glass and flowers out of the cone shaped tube, but presents more talking than tricks, and with a little practice and some good patter, could go out as a mcnologuist ami create wonder. * * * Warren A. Cahn, who is connected with a real estate office, is a great lover of magic and spends much of his time after office hours in reading up past and present magic. He is very clever with (he palm. * * * Jarrow is about with his magical stunts, and is obtaining plenty of work. His trick shown in the manager's office, "Find a dollar bill in a lemon," is a very clever one. * * * Robert Sheoman is at present playing dates in the sunny South and pleasing everybody with his novel magical sleights. It comes from good authority that Sheoman made several large, juicy fried chickens disappear at one of the dinner spreads. C. Porter Norton is entertaining with his magic, pure and simple, through Indiana, and the Hoosiers are taking to the gentleman very nicely. i

*

*

Herr Bowman, the English magician, was last heard from in Tennessee, where he is meeting with great success. He filled a week's engagement at the Crescent Theatre, Xashville. * * * The Two Debois are playing in Tennessee. ]t seems that Tennessee also is having its share of the magic folks at present. *

T

*

Henry Roething is back in Chicago and entertaining in the vaudeville houses. * * * A new dramatic show entitled "Illusions/' made its first performance in English at

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

the Grand Opera House, April 18. Miss Viola Allen is using the piece in connection with her late success, "Irene Wycherley." "Illusions" is by Henri Bernstein, author of "The Thief." * * One of our new recruits in the handcuff line interviewed the management of Riverview Park, asking fcr a concession to exhibit his marvelous feats of handcuff escapes. The manager, alter witnessing his exhibition, said, "You are no handcuff king, you aie a lumroy," whatever that is. The young n:an is still out with his field glasses. * * * Edward L. Mahoney, the popular young press nan with Anna Eva Fay, was one of the main figures around the Majestic during Miss Fay's visit. Mr. Mahoney is well known for the clever press wcrk he has placed, as he was fcr three seasons with George M. Cohan. Next season Mr. Mahoney will manage the Gertrude Mansfield Company, now playing advanced vaudeville, and will tour Europe. * * * E. .T. Sncok, a clever young magician, informs me that necessity compels him to dispose of a complete line of magical apparatus at a very reasonable price. He can be reached at the Golden West Hotel, Oakland, Cal. * * * J. B. Reisman, magician and an all-around admirer of magic, was in town during Miss Fay's Majestic engagement. He has just returned frcm the Pacific coast and said that magic was at a standstill here. •'.-

*

*

Chinaman Lawson, as he is billed, is playing a few dates in Wisconsin. He exposes several smail tricks that do not amount to anything and receives no applause for his exposure. It is too bad that some of these maeicians who can't eft work, and have a grievance against seme other fellow, hecause he is working, attempt to expose ,everything. The Society of American Magic;ans should enforce a strict rule against this sort of thing and drive these exposers out of existence, because a trick, no matter how good or how bad, should not he exposed. * * * Vic Hugo, the Cedar Rapids gentleman, was in Chicago the week of April 20. He

appeared at no theatre—simply was there taking his thirty-second degree in Masonry. * * Vera, the Medium, a stoiy, is running in Sciibnei's Magazine. * * * James Sherman, the Appleton magician, and his father left the first of May for Europe, where he is to remain about three or i'our months. %

*,'

%f

T. Xelscn Downs appeared at Vic Hugo's Theatre in Cedar Rapids on April 27 and •cored his old-time success. * * * George Evans, brother to "Honey Boy"" passed through Chicago on his way to New York. Evans will carry the scars that he received from the hands of the house officer of the Novelty Theatre, Denver, where he was playing. It seems that Bert Pittman and Evans had some misunderstanding and Pittman gave orders net to let Evans enter I ne theatre. When Evans came to the theatre for his mail, the officer threw him down stairs through a plate glass door, which cut him about the throat, forehead and hands. He was taken to jail, where he remained tor several hours until Albini, the magician, and Dan McCoy went his bail. * * * Will Ecke, the magician, appeared at theOlympic the week of April 20. I tried' twice to see the gentleman's act, but was a little too late each time. *

*

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The Ellises, a mind reading act, are at present in the South, and reports, from last headquarters, are that they are making the Southern folks sit up and take notice. * * .* An act hilling itself as The Great Fay mind-reading and second sight act, is in the State of Indiana. If a few more of these Fays get scattered around, Anna Eva Fay will have a hard time keeping track of herself. * * * The Great Poole, with his novelty comedymagic, appeared at the Majestic Theatre in Perth Ambo>\ N. J., the same week that Prof. Banyan, the hypnotist, played theBijou. They are both very clever and I am informed that they drew good houses; all the week.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

283

Does the United States Secret Service Sanction Such Schemes? SECRETS (?) SOLD BY R. F. PRATT

THE JAIL BREAKING.

FOR ONE DOLLAR.

Get a box 3 x 5 inches 1 inch place some soft wax in it and conseal it cm your person when you have a chnllance to free yourself from a cell you go to the prison and see the warden tell him you have a challanc? to free yourself from one of the cells and that you wisli to see them with the key try the key in the lock ask him to look the other way for a minute or two then quickly take 5 or 6 good impressions of the key on the wax look out he don't see you doing this you tell him you will be back in 3 or 4 days to escape from the cell then go to a good locksmith have him make 2 keys frnm i lie impression look out that you do not spoil them when you have the keys you go to the prison with your withnesses alow yourself to lie lock in the cell ask to be alone when you are alone you take your keys unlock the rioor come out and lock the door go and find your withnesses be shure the key is conseal.

For the benefit of our readers we herewith publish the secret of e>erping from any jail, handcuff, paper bag, or packingcase, as sold by li. F. Pratt of Haverhill, Mass., for one dollar. In return for our dollar he sent us the following letter, which is devoid of capitalization or punctuation. His method of doing business w^s brought to our attenticn by one of our readers, and we will be pleased to hear from anyone similarly treated by others. R. F. Pratt Teacher of Jail Breaking, Handcuff, Packing Case, Paper Bag Myeteries etc. Offlca 101 High Street P. O Box 155. Haverhill, Mass., 427—1908. Dear Sir : Your order at hand I'm" th" 4 secret is at hand will say t^at I am run out of printed ones. I have in close a set of writen ones a set of printed ones will be sent you as soon as they arrived from the printers. thanking you for your order Yours truly, (signed) Rosaria F. Pratt

The Great Secret of escaping out of Handcuffs.

THE PAPER BAG ESCAPE. You get a small al cohol lamp a small machine oil can fill with water conseal the same with some pase or giue on yovir person alow anzone to make a papper bag large enough tor you to get in or have one already made you get in it you alow anzone to seal the t"P wir.h glue or paste then you are place in your cabinet when you are shure it is close you light the alcohol lamp place the small machine oil can fill with water over the flames until steam then direct the steam towards the top to the parts that are seal it "will soon own conu out and rtsenl the top- as it was before conseal you1" goods let it dry before you show it to th'.' audience.

THE HANDCUFF

THE PACKING CASE

You cannot take off handcuffs unless you have keys you get the loan of as many pairs of handcuffs you can all with keys and as many as you can whenever you get the chance to get the loan of handcuffs do so and take them to a good locksmith and have keys made 2 inches longer than the regular key have orjo key to each pair of cuffs alwas keep your keys conseal when performing you call for handcuff? if there ain't any then 5'ou use your own if there is a few pairs of handcuffs in the audience then send you assistant to get them you take them from him go to your cabinet when it is close by try your key to them if they fit come out and have the assistant place the handcuffs on your wrists and lock them go to your cabinet when it is close you take your keys and unlock them in case your k<:ys don't fit the cuffs then you keep the original key and give, the assistant a fake key you can also do this but look out that no one sees you doing it and that you do not mix tne cuffs or keys you have your cuf?.? on a table when your assistant returneds from the audience with the cuffs have him place them on your table with your cuffs but he must place them separate if you have cuffs like the stramgers then use your own.

You g'-t a small gimmy conseal it on your person you alow anzone to make a bo.c or have one already made you get in it you alow anzone to nail down the cover when they have %" of the last board nail "down" "Not before" place your jimmy ready to pry but don't pry then you are place in your cabinet when you are shure that it is close you pry out space enough for you to come out come out and push the nails back in the same holes if they use sceews then place % tooth pick—the screw holes always be shure that your cabinet is close before you start to work an3 that your goods to work with are always conseal and handy to get at I will answer any questions you may wish to ask in regards to these 4 feats on receipt of stamp wishing you a lot of success irL preparing these 4 feats thanks for yoor order Yours truly, 7.'. /."

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Latest Color Change of Handkerchiefs Two silks tied by corners immediately change color by passing hand over them. No skill required, done anywhere. Hands shown empty before and after, and only two handkerchiefs used. Price complete, $1.50. PREKTOH CHAM.OIL. The new card trick 10c. T H E PHANTOM BILLIARD BALL, $1.00. ECLIPSE CARD RISING TRICK, 75C. ANY CARD CALLED FOR TAKEN PROM POCKET, $1.00. BAIL AND ECC; VANISHER, 80C. HA'XDKFRCHLEF FINCERS. 75C. and $1.50. MAMC WAND, 25c. CAGES FROM HAT, set of three, $4.75. ONE HAND BALL TRICK, $1.00. HANDKERCHIEF VANISHER AND EXCHANI ER, $1.00. T H E ELECTRIC PACK OF CARDS, for fancy shuffling, $1.20 and $1.40. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY SERVANTE, works on a glass top table if necessary, the handiest yet, $1.50. Ching Ling Foo's PAPER TEAHIM; STUNT, complete, $1.00. EVERY PIECE OF APPARATUS FULLY GUARANTEED HINDOO WONDER BOWL, complete with all accessories, $55.00. NEW FLYING CAGES, $25.00. COXRADI'S FLYING LAMP. $75.00. ABSOLUTELY NOVEL CABINET ILLUSION, our own

invention, $87.50. Lists and bargain sheets for stamp. THE W. G. EDWARDS CO., Manufacturing Magicians, Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada. Dept. A. Agents for the. Conjurers' Monthly Magazine.

Handcuff Kings and flagicians!

DE

VERE

Fabricant D'Appareils

De Physique Amusante Trues and Illusions pour Theatres, Etc.

FOR SALE The United States Navy Handcuff. Used in the Civil War by Sergeant of Marines, Lilly, who died with a pair on him. Onl}r a few left. In good working order. Price complete with one key $2. Extra keys 25 cents a piece. WM. SCHONBERGER 1020 Prospect Ave., New York

17, RUE SAULNIER, 17 PARIS, FRANCE Call here when in Paris. French, German and English fluently spoken.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

285

Selbif s Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

CITY

Agents for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

The

Wizard

The Leading British Magic Monthly Magazine

The City Magical Company

WIZARD PUBLISHING CO. 4 St. Alban's Place

:

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History of the White Rats New Book to be Published The story of the White Rats and Vaudeville

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2S7

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" Der Zaviberspiegel" An Illustrated Honthiy Jonrnal in German Language, by F W. COiNRADI, Editor (Contents: Modern l'arlor Magic. Card Tricks, Illusions' Mneinotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, etc., etc ) Vol. IV. Subscription of 6 months post free $1.25 S i n g l e C o p i e s , p o s tf r e e -

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PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 for 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St., New York

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190

HAMLEY'S QRAIND MAGICAL SALOONS A REAL NOVELTY. A new visible and instantaneous change of water to ink, combined with an invisible and invincible transposition of a glass of ink and a glass of water. The performer shows a tumbler partly filled with ink which is placed upon a stand or table and covered with a handkerchief. He then takes another tumbler in which is a similar quantity of clear water. This latter he gives to any one of the company to hold. Please note that it may be held by anyone—is not covered over in any way whatever and is in full view of both the person holding the glass and every member of the audience. The performer next announces his intention of magically causing a transformation to take place. He gives the word of command, "CHANGE," and instantly the water changes into opaque ink. He then proceeds to the other glass and on removing the handkerchief to the astonishment of the audience the ink is seen to have changed to water. This effect is really magnificent and the trick will "electrify" all who see it. It is unbelieveable and has all the appearances of a miracle. Send for it at once. Price 10/6. Post free 11/3. Complete. Canada and U. S. A. $3 (carriage to be paid on receipt). HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS, 35 New Oxford Street, W. C, also (City Depot) 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C , London.

Now on Sale! /WVWROBERTHOUDIN. The First Authentic History of Magic Ever Published. Written by the World Famous Handcuff King, Harry Houdini. Before this book was ready for the printer twenty years were spent in constant travel and search for material and verification of facts. The most expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of magic ever placed before the public. The reproduction of the programs forms a collection which it is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world. No magical library or collection can possibly be complete without this work.

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Entered as second-class matter September 12, 1906, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.

Portraits of the J. H. Anderson Family English Notes A Photograph of a Rare Wood Cut Our Mail Bag Parlor Tricks The Cross Release How to Amputate the Head, Arms or Legs Japanese Butterfly Trick Hocus Pocus Reproduced Dinner of the S. A. M. Etc., Etc.

JUNE,

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The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without permission. The magazine is for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman. Contributions on all topics of interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise it will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope. VOL.

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JUNE 15, 1903

No. l0

Iii this issue of the CONJURER'S MAGAour readers will find a coupon which will entitle them to vote for what they consider the best trick submitted to our ZINE,

PARLOR TRICK COMPETITION.

Every coupon sent in will be entitled to one vote and each reader can send as many coupons as he pleases, each one of which will be counted as a vote. We wish to specially thank all participants, whose contributions have enabled us to make such a success of the competition, especially as the many tricks submitted show how unusually large and varied is the amount of tricks that can be effectively redressed for presentation to an audience. We have selected those for your vote which we judged to be the best submit-

ted, and although we expected to close the competition this month, we feel that perhaps some delinquent readers, who had promised to send tricks, may still do so; therefore, we wish to announce that the time has been -prolonged, until we go to press with next month's issue. * ** Now that the banquet of the Society of American Magicians is over, we wish to suggest that its members get together and organize a movement whose object should be to promote the presentation of an entire magical performance, to which the public shall be charged admission, and the proceeds turned over to the funds of the society, to be used for some worthy cause. Sucli affairs would be assured of success, especially if the more prominent and better known performers would consent to participate in the program. * * * It is certainly gratifying to note the many announcements of the formation of magical shows that will go on the road this coining season. The general scheme seems to be not to present magic from beginning to end, but to intersperse a few other performers throughout the show and so give the public as much and as varied an entertainment as possible. * * * Ynrirlij has taken up the cudgel against exposers of magic, and undoubtedly Yes campaign will bear fruit, as managers already have expressed themselves as willing to give the matter careful consideration ere they engage acts of such descriptions. It seems rather foolish for an amateur or professional to be an exposer, when he is actually killing the goose that lays his golden eggs, making it next to impossible to secure return engagements, and throwing away his means of earning a livelihood and making his mark in this world.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

293

Portraits of John Henry Anderson and his Immediate Family By Harry Houdini John Henry Anderson, Jr., divorced his iirst wife and married Miss Angelina Trumeller in St. Louis, Mo., on November 18,

The cleverness and wit of Mrs. Lcona Anderson are well depicted in the following anecdote.

The nliovc portrait is printed from the original cut liiadu personally for John Ili-tiry Anderson for the frontispiece of bis book entitled "A Shilling's Worth of Magic." hundreds of thousands of which were sold. It was purchased for the Harry Houdiui Collection from the printer in Birmingham, England, who printed Anderson's posters.

1867, calling her Lcona in his advertising matter.

At one time Anderson had to make a trip to a nearby city and was unable to

294

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

return in time to give his announced performance, so Mrs. Anderson prepared the stage, got the tricks in readiness and waited for the time for the curtain to rise. Her husband not coming, she ordered the curtain raised and walked out upon the stage and informed the audience, that inasmuch as it was impossible for her husband to return in time, and as she was familiar with the secrets of his tricks, she

Oscar Longlmrst Anderson. Collection.

From the Harry Iloudinl

would give the best possible performance she was able to give, and asked such as did not eare to remain to step to the box office and receive a return of their paid admission. No one left, but instead a thunder of applause greeted the close of her speech, and she had almost finished the entire performance, when her astonished husband came rushing in hatless and breathless.

Mrs. Anderson said that she joined the show as an assistant in Oil City, Pa. What surprised her most was to learn that the theatre had been transported from some other city and built up in Oil City. Every board and post was numbered, and the theatre had the appearance of being a puzzle of numbers. When presenting an illusion in which she was to appear in the front of the thea-

Helen Elizabeth Anderson. From the Harry Houd'.ui Collection.

tre, as there was no back entrance, she had to climb down a rope and run all around the block in order to get to the front of the theatre. John Henry Anderson, Jr., died at four o'clock Sunday morning, June 23, 1878. He was buried at Odd Fellows' Cemetery on Tuesday, June 25, 1878, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. John Henry Anderson, Sr.'s, other son, Oscar Longhurst Anderson, also was a magician. He was born at Swindon, August 19, 1848. Baptized. Godfather, his own father; godmother, Harriet Hull. John Henry Anderson, Sr., had three daughters, who acted as his assistants. One was named Helen Elizabeth Anderson, and was bom in London, England, April 13, 1845. Baptized at Aldersgate

295

Church, Philadelphia; godfather, Thorley; godmother, Mary Bicket.

rvirinli!:i Ilmilini O

Harriott

Anderson.

From

John

the

Hannah Anderson, the mother of these children, was born in 1815, and died August 22, 180(5, in Xewburgh, New York, where she was buried.

Nellie Amlorson. tion.,

From

the Hurry

Iliiixllni

Collec-

Church. Godfather, T'ichanl Francis; godmother, Elizabeth Walthen. Alice Hannah Anderson was the second daughter. Born, London, England, May 30, 1847; baptized at Swindon Old Church ; godfather, her father; godmother, Martha Longhurst. Columbia Harriett Anderson was the third daughter. Born in New York in October, 1850; baptized at Christ's

Since the publication of the article and portraits of the John Henry Anderson family, Katherinc Hackett, the mother of the first wife of J. H. Anderson, Jr., died at the Edwin Forest Home in Philadelphia on Monday, May 19, 1908, at the age of 84. She 1 ad been living at the Home since 1901.

The above reproduction of an exceptionally fine wood cut, shows an itinerant magician and posture master of the latter part of the eighteenth century, yiviny ln> i>
THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

There is a t present ' a n influx of American vaudeville performers t o this count r y , and the Hotel Provence in Leicester Squarelookslike the Hotel Metropole on 42d. Street. Xew York. Most of the performers have hig reputations. By actual count there are ninety-four American acts working this week in London and in the Provinces, and at least twice that nunilier are laying off. They all tell me the same story, viz., they came over for the trip and a holiday, and of course incidentally are trying to obtain an opening, just to see what the English audiences are like. What a coincidence! Maskelyne & Devant's St. George's Hall on Langham Place was crowded to the doors on the day of my visit. I generally treat myself about twice a month to a visit to this cozy little house of mystery, and I always buy my ticket, so as to be entitled to an opinion. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Marriott, who are termed on the program Teelmopathists, present a silent mind-reading act. The only words spoken emanate from the gentleman, and <>nlv have reference as to whether or not the lady's answer is correct. Hem! On the afternoon when I -was present quite a few mistakes were made, but on the whole it was the best silent mind-reading exhibition I ever witnessed. The second novelty is provided by M. Niblo, who is also playing at the Hippodrome. He introduces two birds, a parrot and a paroquet, who answer various questions put to them by their master, and

2<)7

for the first time demonstrate that two birds can and will talk when you want them to. Mr. Nelson Jackson keeps.the house in good humor with his "Society Snapshots." One verse is particularly satirical and directed good-naturedly against the curates. A reverend gentleman sitting on my left enjoyed it immensely. Essrnan, the juggling waiter, and Mr. David Devant's Spectres of the Sanctum completed the program. Just a word of praise for the little orchestra under the directorship of Mr. F. Cremor; it is one of the best little bands I have had the pleasure of hearing in Great Britain. • • • The Franco-British Exposition has been officially opened by the Prince of Wales, although it was not half completed. Thousands of men are still employed rushing its completion, and it will really be finished by June 8th. Hagenbeck's menagerie, which is one of the big features of this entente-cordiale exposition, jumped direct from Nice to London. During the stop at Marseilles, an attendant who had charge of four elephants was missing, and a search revealed the fact that he had been crushed to death by the elephants in the car. • • • Mr. Wishart has blossomed forth as a full-fledged manager. He has taken a lease on the Pier Pavilion, TJyde, and will run the house on variety lines. * • * Some years ago Prof. Morris achieved considerable fame as a hypnotist in Wales and the north of England. Then the professor retired from the profession, and opened a hotel at Kilburn, where in his spare moments he studied bloodless surgery, and the scientific use of electricity. Eecently he gave up his hotel, and returned to his first love, the Halls, as a full-fledged doctor, in opposition to Dr. Bodie. In Manchester his performance created quite some comment.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

298

Dr. Bodie has just completed a six months' tour through Wales, playing the theatres with his own company. Jfc

^

'£

William Morris, the American agent, has opened a branch agency on the Strand, London, and placed his brother Hugo in charge. Mr. Morris has already booked some G8 American acts on the Syndicate and Stoll tours. ^

Ji'

A decided novelty will be found at the Hippodrome, consisting of a series of tiny machines which generate sea air. A switch is thrown on and, presto! the audience not alone enjoys the performance but is treated to sea breezes. "With a little imagination one can imagine that he is at Brighton or Margate, or if an American enters, he may close his eyes and dream that he is in Coney Island. Joseph Ilaijman, (of Hayman and Franklin).

^

Chung Ling Soo opened at the London Hippodrome, and, as usual, pleased with his new material. His feature this time is an improvement on the trick which John Henry Anderson presented for so many years, The Devil's ('aidrun. Robinson has improved it somewhat, as he produces Mrs. Robinson as a finale. For the benefit of readers who may not be able to see the trick, I will describe it as briefly as possible. A large kettle or caldron is shown, such as is used by gypsies, suspended from a tripod; the conjurer pours in about 20 buckets of water, which is followed bv throwing in a lot •ad animals and birds, such as rabbits, ducks, chickens, etc. A fire is built under the caldron, and the necromancer brings the animals out alive while the birds fly out. without assistance. Robinson deserves a great deal of credit for always bringing new material.. For several years, he has kept a permanent workshop in Manchester where lie employs several workmen all the time. The result of this is that he is always working, and earning his salary. This will be his farewell engagement at the Hippodrome, for he is booked to sail for Australia, where he will be featured by Harry Rickards. On his way home he will play Soulli America.

r FROM WILFRED C. ZELKA. Do Biere, the magi•ian, and The Marconis, hought-readers, are on he De Freece tour. Sydney Lee is paying a visit to Scotland, where he is to be seen at the Ralace, Dundee. * * * Carl Hertz has been working so hard at the Oxford, .that his doctor has ordered him to rest a month. He embarked on a sea voyage for Teneriffe. * * * . Cul Pitt is playing dates on the Barrasford tour. *

*

*

•

Chung Ling Soo, at the head of his own company, played to enormous business at Swindon. -* * * Marco is in London on the Payne Halls. " * * * Henri Bekker is having a good lime at Stockport.

299

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

It' he and all. our friends will direct jMclut Herrmann is at 11 to Hippo, •Wigan. He worked as Herrmann Melot a their missiles at the offenders and work little time back, and seems to be contin- on managers, good will result in time. ually turning l.is name about. Yours in M. U. M., * * * Oscar S. Tealc. Chairman of Committee on Exposures. Yon Etta has just produced at the Paragon a new act of magic and quick * * * changes. Having eliminated all the Cucamonga, California. Black Art, her show now consists of gorEDITOR CONJURER'S MAGAZINE. geous scenic f.nd electrical ell'ects. Sir: Why not form a correspondence :;: >;< :;: elul) for magicians in general and amaCarlton, the mysterious cross and the teurs in particular? die box were seen at the Hippo, SouthThere are many amateurs who are Tinampton. able to belong to magical clubs, as they are too far away from the meeting places, and are unable to form clubs on account of the scarcity of conjurers in their immediate vicinity. Could not a page in your magazine be devoted to "such a correspondence club? In this way the members could get into touch and help one another, and, besides, derive a great deal of benefit and pleasure therefrom. Original thoughts, tricks, combinations of tricks and improvements for working In this department It Is the privilege of oar old tricks could be sent in by the memreaders to trine tn public notice any topic worthy «f discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our bers. Furthermore, the correspondence columns are thus thrown open In the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils nbntt-il by cuch pubmight be carried on in one of the interlicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon correesting ciphers which you are now publishspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed in this department. ing in your magazine. I am sure it would be a success and at. Xew York City. least is worthy of a trial for a few months. EDITOR CONJURER'S MACAZINE. Sir: In your last "Breezes from the Let the subscribers to your magazine de"Windy City" was not your correspondent cide the question. Yours in magic, a bit too breezy when he suggested that 1 Rai/mrvn Stone. the S. A. M . should drive exposures out of

Our Mall Bag

existence? He writes as if the S. A. M. was lax in a duty, whereas he knows, or should know, and you certainly do know, that the S. A. M. has no jurisdiction over persons not in its fold. Perhaps your correspondent, who is himself a member of the S. A. M., will tell us of a plan by which we can terminate the pest.

*

*

* Boston, Mass.

EDITOR CONJURER'S MAGAZINE. Sir:

The

CONJURER'S MAGAZINE

for

January, 1907, contained these lines: "Who knows what has become of Melville, the old-time burlesque magic man, who originated 'Watch the Professor' ?"

300

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

William Alvin Marston (Melville), an old and \ alued friend of mine, long since retired from the variety stage, is now vice-president of the Charter-Eaton Mining and Milling Co., of 42 Broadway, New York City. I enclose one of our old bills which were used in the late '70's. I expect him to attend the forthcoming dinner nf the S. A. M. as my guest. I wish to add that I am very much pleased with the CONJURKK'S MAGAZINE, as it contains much valuable information about old-time wizards and their ways and days. I am rather surprised that the names of these famous magicians of a half century ago no longer seem to be in evidence nowadays. They are Jonathan Harrington, the New England wizard and ventriloquist; John Wyman and William Henry Young. Possibly Wyman may have been spoken of, but the others don't seem to be known. I received my start from Young, who certainly was a line performer. If the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE would like to have a portrait of him, I can furnish one, and I may be able to find one of Prof. Harrington, but am not sure. Harrington and Young I knew well; Wyman I met in Richmond, Ya., in October, 1873. I also met J. H. Anderson, Jr., there. With best wishes, Yours very trulv, Edwin Fay Rice, S. A. M. * * * London, England. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE : Sir: In reference to Mr. E. J. Burt's letter in the February issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE in which the Bristol Dobler was mentioned, I thought it might interest Mr. Burt to be informed that Prof. Wingard of Southsea, England, was a friend of Dobler. •Relative to the Black Art discussion, I note that both Mr. J. 1ST. Maskelvne and

Herr Ottokar Fischer agree that it originated some 22 vears ago. Some time ago while conversing with Chung Ling Soo, he suggested to me that the actual principle of Black Art was much older than that, for his father told 1 im that lie saw the original McAllister work a hat production trick embodying the principle, as follows: McAllister drapeiI bis table in black and at the back of this had some shelves which were also draped with black velvet. The loads for the hat were fixed up in black velvet and stood on this table, where they could not 1)0 seen, owing to the black drapery on the shelves at the back. While placing the article last produced from the hat on the shelves above, he would lower the hat over the load which would be picked up inside the hat. Chung Ling Soo said he himself used a table with a Black Art well for vanishing a glass of water thirty years ago, at which time this was a popular custom among conjurers in America. His father, who preceded him, also had a very old table of the same kind. Tracing the principle of Black Art to these tables we find that they were apparently in use before the Black Art show. In England Messrs. Devere and the late Robert Heller are credited with the invention of these tables. As Heller died in 1878, this brings us back thirty.years from the present time. Furthermore, evidences of this principle can be traced into the illusion, known in this country as the Duchess or Thauma illusion, which was worked by the late Dr. Lynn, and I think it was in existence before either De Kolta or Auzinger presents ed Black Art shows. •• Faithfully yours, Wilfred C. Zeika.

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Parlor Trick Competition In order to cause interest in parlor tricks we advertised that we would pay ten dollars to the person whose trick was judged the best and five dollars for the trick judged the second best. As the result of this offer many tricks have been submitted to us, of which we will print a few each month in our columns and then we will let our readers say to whom the prize money is to be presented. THE SPIRIT PAPER By Ralph L. Arnheim Effect. A person is requested to write throe different names on three separate slips of paper and instructed to liold them so that the writing cannot be seen. The performer picks up one slip at a time, and with a due amount of hesitancy and trembling, reads the name on each slip. Explanation. Before beginning, the performer prepares a slip of paper similar to the ones upon which the names are to be written, by folding it into a small shape and finger palming it between the first and second fingers; the thumb n ow bein placed over it, causes the hand to look as if held in a natural position, so making it impossible for the paper to be seen. The manner in which 1 secure the blank slips is to ask for a sheet of note paper which I cut into four pieces, giving out three and keeping one for my own use, which I secretly fold. After the first name has been written and the slip folded, the performer approaches the writer, saying, ''You have not folded that small enough ; here (he picks up the paper and folds it a number of times and then drops it) is the size to which it ought to be folded." The performer really retained the slip in his hand on which the writing was, and dropped the blank slip which he had previously held palmed between his fingers. This must be naturally done. While the other two slips are being written upon and folded, the performer turns his back-

to the writer, opens, reads and refolds the first slip, thus having secured the first name. When names have been written upon all the slips, the performer turns around, ]licks up a slip, holds it to his forehead and reads the name on it. Then, professing to see if he has read the proper name, he opens the slip, and thereby is enabled to read the second name, anrl puts it on the table. He now has two slips on the table, one blank and the other with a name upon il. The one with the name is picked up, the second name is read, the slip again opened, thereby enabling the performer to get his third name. This third name is now in turn read from the blank slip, which is opened and secretly exchanged for slip Xo. 1. and with the other two slips is now passed about for examination, to show that the three names have been properly read In order (o alwavs know which slip is iho blank one fold it in some easily recognizable way. This trick can be worked, at close range and always has met with much favor and success at my hands. * * * THE CONJURER'S CASTLE A trick first presented by Pinnetti in 1784 By a Professional Effect. Two cards are chosen by two members of the audience, and on being returned are replaced into the pack of cards and shuffled; the whole pack is now dropped down the chimney of the castle, and comes out of the door, while the two chosen

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cards appear in the windows of the castle Explanation. Place two cards behind the windows of the castle. Next force duplicates of these concealed cards on the members of the audience; after they have been returned

by its own weight the pack slides out at the door. Instead of using two cards that are longer than the regular pack, you cau make a shift, bring both cards to the top of the pack, and palm them on your way to the castle.

Wrinkles for Wonder Workers By Will Edwards THE CROSS RELEASE By Will Edwards

Effect I /

A V '

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H. is the opening of the chimney through which the cards are dropped. I1', represents (he chimney. E. platform or lever on which the cards fall: a sort of dumbwaiter, when cards alight in E., it pulls D.D., and up comes window marked C—C. Wlien the window C—C, reach A—A, they are prevented from coming down again. "s A—A are springs. I>.D. is the cord which pulls the window up, and is fastened to E the dumbwaiter. B—B is the groove by means of which the window slides upward. G—G is the door through which the pack of cards fall after pulling E down.

to the pack and shuffled, start toward the castle to drop the pack down the chimney; in doing this your back is turned toward the audience, which allows you to abstract the chosen cards from the pack. This is easily done because the forced cards are a little longer than the rest. As the pack drops down the chimney it falls upon a lever which opens the windows and brings to view the chosen cards, while

I 'pon the stage is seen an opened hollow cross, into which the performer steps. The door is closed and roped and the: knots of same are scaled by a committee which has been selected from the audience. The cross is placed within a cabinet. In a few minutes the performer appears, and the committee is again invited to examine everything to show that the seals are all intact and that nothing has been disarranged since the performer stepped into the cross. Explanation. In the accompanying illustrations Fig. 1 shows the cross open and the ropes in place in the holes in the door of the cross. After the performer has stepped into the cross and the door has been closed, the performer pushes the ropes through the holes of the cross which correspond with the holes in the door and asks the committee to tie same and seal the knots; ere pushing the rope through the holes, he takes two small half-inch dowels about four inches long from his pocket, and takes a half turn around them, so that when he removes the dowelshe has some slack rope with which to work. The bottom rope can be tied without the interposition of an}' dowel. The1

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. next thing to do is to remove the pin from the hinge of the door, which is easily accomplished when you have prepared for this step as follows: Use a common pin hinge, such as is used on any ordinary door; file the pin down a little, so as to allow it to work up and down easily, in and out of the hinge, one side of which is fastened to the cross and the other side of which is fastened to the door. Next remove the pin from the hinge by pushing the hook of the feke depictured as 3 in illustration marked Fig. 2, by slip-

The cross is shown open and the ropes are shown In place in the holes of the door of the cross.

ping this hook under the head of the pin and lifting it from its place in the hinge. Tin's feke is somewhat similar to a common button hook, except that the hook

The dowels are depictured ns 1 and 2. Tlio fvko with which the pin is removed from the hinge is depictured as 3.

portion is filed down fiat so as to easily enable it to be pushed through the slight crack that exists between the cross and

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the door. After the hinge has been removed, the door can be forced far. enough away from the cross to let the performer out, as the slack in the opposite ropes caused by removing the dowels allows this. It is now a simple matter to replace the pin, and then the cross is again ready to lie examined. The trick is inexpensive, and so simple that any carpenter can prepare it from the above description. Furthermore, it can easily be left all day in the lobby of the theatre Vith a strong, well-worded advertising sign \i pi in it. * * * HOW TO AMPUTATE THE HEAD, ARMS OR LEGS By Thomas W. Tobin The description of these effects and accompanying illustrations form part of the United States Letters Patent No. 146,293, dated January G, 1874. Mr. Tobin's invention consists in the arrangement of a recess in the edge of each of two mirrors, which are set against each other at an angle of ninety degrees, more or less, in such a manner that a portion or portions of a living figure may be concealed or exposed to view, and by substituting and removing dummy limbs or parts for the real ones, and by exposing or concealing the real parts, various highly interesting effects may be produced. With the angular mirror are combined two curtains, which extend in curves from the inner edges of the mirror in such a manner that the figure to be exposed will appear well isolated from surroundings. Figure 1 represents a front view of this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. In the drawings the letter A designates

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a stage or platform, on which are set two mirrors, B B, at an angle of ninety degree?, more or less, toward each other, so that the corner formed at the joint of said mirrors will lie situated a little hack of the center of the platform, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of these mirrors is provided with a recess, a, of any convenient -form or shape, and so situated that, when the two mirrors are placed edge to edge, ;as shown in Fig. 2, an opening a n, is formed in the corner at the joint of the

two mirrors, of sufficient size to allow a person standing behind the mirrors to expose such parts of his body as he may desire. The edges of the two mirrors which are to form the joint may be ground off, as shown in Fig. 2, or they limv be concealed by a thick cord, or other material extending down in front of them, as indicated in Fig. 1. From the sides of the platform A rise uprights C, which support the curtains I), and these curtains are so arranged that they extend in curves from the rear edges of the two mirrors. By this arrangement the reflection or image of the curtains produced by the mirrors forms a continuation of the curtains, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

2, and, since the mirrors are invisible from the audience in front of the platform, a person standing in front of the mirrors en said platform will appear perfectly isolated. The effect which may be produced by this apparatus will lie readily understood from the following remarks: A person standing behind the mirror will be entirely concealed from the view of the audience, with the exception of those parts of his body which are visible through the aperture a a. Before the curtain is opened the person passes his right foot, his

right arm. and his head through the aperture a a, the left foot and left arm being represented by dummies. The curtain is raised, and the whole person appears to be in full view. Then the operator cuts oil' the left foot, then the left arm; and, "finally, the person, standing partly behind and partly in front of the mirror, draws his head back behind the mirrors, (the curtain being closed until he has performed this operation,) and all that remains visible is the trunk of his body, with one foot, one arm, and without a head; and if he takes a dummy head in his exposed hand the effect will be still more striking.

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The Japanese Butterfly Trick This trick although not shown in recent years, was originally brought to England by the Japanese and in its time was quite a feature. IT. .1. Burlingaine in his bo;>k "Around the World with a Juggler" claims thai William D'Alvini brought the first troupe of Japanese to Europe. His name

M i s s L i z z i r Aiiili-i'snii p r e s e n t r i l t h e hull
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trait of his daughter, ]\liss Lizzie Anderson, in the costume in which she presented the trick. The trick itself is inexpensive, requires but little skill and is most effective. Effect. The performer walks toward the footlights with two butterflies in his left hand and a fan in his right hand. He commences to fan the butterflies and they start to fly away, but hover about him wherever he goes. Eventually he stops fanning them and they alight on a bouquet of flowers which the performer has taken from a table near at hand. I'rrpiiniliini and Explanation. Take two pieces of silk paper, a little larger than tl rdinary sheet of cigarette paper, fold them as shown in Fig. 1, and cut them as near as possible into the shape of a butterfly, as depictured in Fig. 2. Turn the points, which represent the heads a little, and fasten to each point, or head. ,-III end of a lady's blonde hair about two and one-half to three feel in length.

iii wlik-h s h e

is not found mi anv "f the original newspaper clippings or playbills, either as manager or actor, but these same clippings and playbills credit Ninimo with bringing the first troupe into Europe in February, 18GT. Risley brought the second troupe in 1868. John Henry Anderson, the "Wizard oC the North, introduced the trick into America and herewith is presented a por-

In the center of Ibis hair connecting the two heads of the butterflies, tie an end of another blonde hair, of a longer length if possible than the first, as depictured in Fig. 3, at A, and at the other end, B, place a small piece of wax. Be careful not to entangle the two butterflies, and for this reason it is advisable to fasten them on the wall by means

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of the wax until you are ready to go on the stage to present this trick. When you are readv to present the trick, fasten the waxed end. B, on your forehead under your hair where it will

H O CVS P O C VS IVNIOR. The Anatomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. O R, T h e Art of Iugliiig f « forth in his proper colours, foil; plainly, andexaftly, (6 that an ignorant per fon maytherebj leira At full perfsSion of the f amcarter a little ptafhfe. Vnto each Tricke is aii&cA the Spirt, where it is necdSdJ f ft& ecevi Editiw, with m»«j*ddithnt. Prriln

not be seen, as depictured in Fig. 4, hold the butterflies in your left hand between your thumb and middle finger, take a fan in your right hand, address your audience by words or pantomime, and as you commence to walk backward, release one butterfly at a time and fan them from underneath. The fanning keeps the butterflies in the air, and the hair attached to your forehead causes them to follow you wherever you go. When you wish them to alight, stop fanning and they will fall on whatever object you have prepared for this purpose. You can let them alight on the fan, but the effect is prettier if you have a bouquet of flowers on your table," which you take in your left hand and allow them to alight on this as you stop using the fan. As the hair is imperceptible to the audience this trick has a most pleasing and mysterious effect. Amateurs should carefully practice it in private ere presenting it in public.

O O N, Printed by T. H. for R.M.

i 6 3j.

(Continued) Of cards, njith good caution how to avoid cozenage therein, especially rides to convey and handle the cards, and the manner and order how to accomplish all difficulties and strange things wrought with cards. I having now bestowed some waste money among you, I will set you to cards, by which kind of witchcraft a great number of people have juggled away, not only their money, but also their lands, their health, their time, and their honesty. I dare not as I could, show the lewd juggling that cheats practice, least it minister some offence to the well disposed, to the simple hurt and losses, and to the wicked occasion of evil doing; but I could wish all gamesters to beware, not only of cards, but also of what dice they play withal; but especially with whom, and where

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. they exercise gaming, and to let dice pass as a thing whereby a man must b? inevitably cozened; one that is skilful in making bum cards, may undo hundreds of wealth)' men that arc given t > gaming; for if he hath a confederate present, either of the players or standers-by, the mischief cannot be avoide.l; if you play among strangers, beware of l.im that seems simple < r drunken, for under their habit the most specious cozeners are presented, and while yon think by their simplicity and imperfections to beguile them, and thereby perchance are persuaded by their confederates, which you take to be your friends, you will be then most of all deceived: beware also of the betters and lookers on, and particularly, of them that bet on your side, whilst they look on your game, without suspicion, they discover it by signs to your adversaries, with whom they bet, and yet are their confederates. But in shewing feats and juggling with cards, the principal point consistetli in the shuffling them nimbly, and always keeping one card either at the bottom or in some known place of the stock, four or five cards from it; hereby you shall seem to work wonders, for it will be easy for you to see one card, which though you be perceived to do, it will not be suspected, if you shuffle them well afterwards: and this note I must give you, that in reserving the bottom card, you must always whilst you shuffle, keep him a little before or a little behind all the cards lying underneath him, bestowing him, I say, either a little beyond his fellows before, right over the forefinger or else behind the rest, so as the little finder of the left nand may meet with it, which is the easier, the readier, and better way in the beginning of your shuffling, shuffle as thick

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as you can, and in the end throw upon the stock the nether card, with so many mi re at the least as you would have preserved for any purpose, a little before or a little behind the rest, provided always that your forefinger (if the pack lay behind ) creep up to meet with the bottom card, and when you fell it, you may thin hold it until you have shuffled over the cards again, still leaving your kept card bilow: being perfect herein, yen may do almost what you list with cards by this means, what pack soever you use, though it consistetli of eight, twelve, or twenty cards, you may keep them still together unserved next to the card, and yet shuffle them often to satisfy the curious beholders. As for example, and for brevity sake, to shew divers feats under one. How to deliver out four aces, and to convert them into four knaves. Make a pack of these eight cards, to wit, four knaves and four aces, and although the eight cards must be immediately together, yet must each knave and ace be evenly set together, and the same eight cards must lye also in the lowest place of the bunch, then shuffle them so always at the second shuffling or at leastwise at the end of your shuffling the said pack, one ace may lay undermost, or so as you may know where he goeth and licth always: I say, let your aforesaid pack, with three or four cards more, lye unseparable together; immediately upon, and with that, ace; then using some speck, or other device, and putting your hands with the cards to the edge of the table to hide the action, let out privately a piece of the second card, which is one of the knaves, holding firth the stock in both your hands, and shewing to the standers-by, the nether card, which is the ace or kept card, covering also the head or piece of the

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knave, which is the next card, and with your forefinger draw out the same knave, laying it down on the table ; then shuffle them again, keep your pack whole, and so have your two aces lying together in the bottom; and to reform that disordered card, and also to grace and countenance that action, take off the uppermost card of the bunch, and thrust it into the midst of the cards, and then taken away the nethermost card which is one of your said aces, and bestow him likewise ; then may you being as before, showing another ace, and instead thereof lay down another knave, and so forth, until instead of your aces you have laid down four knaves, the beholders all this while thinking that there lies four aces on the table are greatly amused, and will marvel at the transformation; you must be well advised in shuffling of the bunch lest you over-shoot yourself.

tured his sword swallowing trick and claims to have been able to swallow a blade twenty-eight indies in length. He coughed one day while the blade was inserted, which caused him to have a severe hemorrhage, and laid him up for a long time. The result of this mishap was that lie eliminated from his program the feat

(To be continued.) •\'

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SIGNOR JOSEPH DEODATO The Italian Conjurer As America is seldom favored liy visits from Italian conjurers we thought OUT readers would be interested m becoming acquainted with Signor Deodato, who is now playing time in America, and whose performance ought to be of sufficient interest for those to see who wish to study and become acquainted with a style adopted by those of our continental brethren coming from Italy. Besides being a sleight-of-hand performer, the Italian magician must be a fire king and sword swallower. Joseph Deodato was born on Dec. IS, 1867, in Mesuraca, Province of Catanyaro, Italy, and has been a magician for many years. About twelve months ago, when he first came to America, he fea-

Signor Josciili Deodato.

which the 'magicians in America taboo. The Signor is assisted by his son in his performance, who does the talking, as the father does not feel himself fully familiar with the English language to address his audience. "We hope that those of our American magicians who meet him will favor him with friendly greetings, for many of our own are abroad, and are always received with welcome by the foreign magicians.

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THE FOURTH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE S. A. M. A Sensational Affair at th? Mar borough Hotel in New Yrrk City

Thursday. .June 1. 1!U)8. is a date that marks an epoch in tlie wurld "I' mystery, and will always lie remembered hy magicians throughout the world, as the occasion of the Fourth Annual Dinner and Entertainment of the Society of American Magicians with its assemblage of the largest array of celebrities of magic that has ever gathered under one roof. After spending some time in social intercourse, the members and their guests became seated at the dinner and the affair was officially opened with a very touching ceremony, wherein the Past President, W. J. Sargent, called the names of those members who had departed from this life, and as their names were read Secretary Oscar Tcale read their biographies, whereupon a plate at one of the dinner tables was turned and a lotus flower placed upon it by Mrs. Harry Houdini. Many congratulatory letters, telegrams and cablegrams were received and read during the course of tire dinner, at the completion of which the entertainment proper began with the Dean of Magic, Harry Kellar, opening the program, introducing his table-lifting trick, in which he caused a table to rise from the floor and float in air, by simply laying on his hands. He then performed what he called the Davenport Brothers' rope trick, which he learned in those years when he traveled with the Davenport Brothers. At the completion of his part of the entertainment, he was impressively presented with a diamond-studded medal of the insignia of the society by President Francis J. Werner, for which honor he thanked all in a quivering voice, supple-

menting his thanks with a IVw remarks that all those who are striving to reach the to|i of the ladder of fame as magicians ought to well remember, in speaking of the period before his success in life he related having slept in hay racks, walking from town to town, and having his baggage seized by sheriffs for debt, and showed that success comes only after continued perseverance in spite of all failures. Although retiring from the active field of magic, he bid none Goodhy but simply said .1 u reroir. Howard Thurston, his successor, gave an illustration of deftness in palming cards, which plainly showed the importance of constant practice. Houdini then presented the mysterious Hindoo needle trick, in which he called for a committee of two physicians from the audience. Drs. S. 1?. Elliason and Emil Heuel volunteered, but failed to detect how Houdini apparently swallowed 50 needles and 10 yards of thread, and finally brought up all the needles threaded. Horace Goldin, looking like a successful banker, then appeared and gave a display of juggling the diabalo. He must have spent a great deal of time in practice, as he had the double-headed spool under perfect control, and spun it with such force that it sang all the time, and Goldin actually, after a certain manner, had it play "Hocus Pocus Conjurokus" 1o the tune of "Tammany."

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Signor Joseph Deodato of Turin, Italy, appeared next, and although he could not speak English, his trick of eating a small wagonload of paper shavings, and emitting fire and smoke, pulling out yards and yards of paper, and ejecting a large brass m l from his mouth brought him a great deal of applause. Eoltare next introduced his really obedient clock, and entertained all with his excellent patter. Francis J.'"Werner managed to smuggle two silk handkerchiefs under a soup plate in a most pleasant manner, peculiar to himself, and then presented the tearing up of a ten-dollar bill, and made more than good. C. G. Laurevns was programmed to introduce some novel effects with gyroscopes, but instead showed a few effects with a pack of cards and a glass jar. The alfair was one of note, and all the New York newspapers were represented ; in fact, so many reporters were present as to remind one of a national political convention. Amongst the magical dealers who took advantage to be present were, F. J. Martinka of New York, W. J). Leroy of Boston, S. Wilson Bailey of Cambridgeport, and Capt. Collins of Philadelphia. Several hundred guests were present and the banquet was a success from the start to finish. Much regret was expressed by many at the absence of Dr. W. Golden Mortimer. A few of the notables present were: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ivellar, Mr. and Mrs. IJouelere, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Sargent, Mr. and Mrs. Bansome, Mr. and Mrs. Waring, Mr. and Mrs. "W. D. Leroy, the Misses Beatrice Foster and Annie L. Teale, and Messrs. Klein, Weber, Boache, Fritz, Dealy, Merten, Floyd, Bice, and Melville, the original "Watch the Professor" magician.

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NSWERED

Robert Madison. Party inquired about is reliable. Don't be afraid to deal with him. Reports from all quarters say "Excellent." * * * John Felter, Haverstraw, N. Y. Try our Baiter and Exchange Columns or insert an inch advertisement. There are several such books in America. * * * P. Murphy, Washington. The magician you mean was not Harrington, but Signor Blitz, who for many years resided in Philadelphia. He gave over 132 performances gratis to the soldiers laying in the hospitals and is the best remembered magician of those days. He was born in Deal, England, June 21, 1810, and was not the original of that name, as his father preceded him as a magician. Signor Antonio Blitz died in Philadelphia, Pa., Sunday, January 28, 1877, at his home, 1831 Wallace Street. He made his first appearance in Dover, England, December, 1825, and retired after he had been 50 years before the public. His book, "Fifty Years in the Magic Circle," makes interesting reading. He was the father of the opera singer, Madam Van Zandt, and his granddaughter, of the same name, is still well remembered. Blilz willed all his apparatus to his nephew, Abraham Blitz, who is still alive and resides in Birmingham, England. We have reasons for believing that Signor Blitz is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. * * * William Hopkins, St. Louis, Mo. John Mitchell, who brought Herr Doebler and Robert Houdin to the St. James Theatre, died December 14, 1874, in London, England. * * * Walter M. Peck, Providence, R. I. Will attend to your request with pleasure.

THE

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MAGAZINE

Wanted—Aga illusion and sliding die caddie. What do you want for same? Prof. Elmer Rudd, 464 East 140th Street, Bronx, New York City. * * * Wanted—One sand card frame. Have alsofor exchange a coin wand. Raymeen Stone, P. O. Box 66, Cucamonga, Cal. * * * • What am I offered for six volumes of "The Sphinx," full-dress coat, size 36, Chinese rings, fifty books on magic and sleight of hand and one hundred catalogues of tricks and secrets from all parts of theworld? Thos. J. Peters, 3511 West 45th. Street, Cleveland, O. * * * What have you to offer for a Blickensderfer No. 5 typewriter, one duck pan, almost new, and one side table, ball and three legs. Manek-Shah, 1440 Broadway, care of Billboard, New York City. * * * Will exchange a miraculous casket, asrecommended by Prof. Hoffmann in Modern Magic, cost $8, used once. Would like to> BARTER AND EXCHANGE have the levitation of a rabbit which is= Advertisements under this heading are accepted free sold for $6, or would entertain for exchangeof charge; there 1s no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to magic clocks for hat production. Michaer exclude any advertisement we do not wish In our paAbdou, P. O. Box 130, Fort William, N. Y. per. WARNING. * * * These columns were placed in the Conjurer's Magazine for the sole use of our readers who were Wanted—Good stage tricks for shotgunnot dealers, and infinite pains were taken to let everyone know that the advertisements of dealers and box of shells, Leroy's vanishing card, were barred. From time to time we have noticed that some small dealers have misrepresented and Japanese rice bowls, eight garlands (assortunder the guise of magicians secured the insered) from hat, Modern Magic and Herman's tion of their advertisements. Magic and Card Sharping Exposed. L. C. Duff, 417 Main Street, Haverhill, Mass. What is wanted for a rabbit pan, Hindoo * * * water lota, Chinese rings, or large collapsI have a cross escape which has never ible doll baby (black or white)? Ralph been used, sack mystery, Selbit's chain reArnheim, 3744 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, lease, latest handkerchief box, letter test, 111. and three rope ties which I will exchange * * * for a Ranger bicycle and coaster brake. I have for disposal back numbers of all Must be in good condition, besides being almagical papers. What have you to offer? most new. Hayden, the Mystic, Box 225, G. A. Domitz, 1005 Jackson Avenue, New Cumberland, Md. York City. * * * Joe Knapp, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Carlo Bosco book is not from the original Bosco. His name was Bartholomo, and he died in 1863. * * * R. Alvin, New York. We do not know the addresses you desire, but can furnish you with the names of the makers of the cuffs mentioned, if you wish to know them. * * * Hayden, Pittsburg. Will be pleased 1o have you send any original news or tricks. Full credit will be given to you for same. * * *

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Center table, two side tables, 100 silkhandkerchiefs and Hindoo dial in exchange for magical apparatus. R. Richardson, Bradford, Mass.

Would like to exchange one book of leaves from Conjurers' Scrap Book, by Burlingame, and Kellar's Wizard Manuel for stamps or coins. Sidney Ilyman, 107 Edgecombe Avenue, New York City.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Dr. Carl Herrmann, the hypnotist and healer, has played several engagements in this country but seems not to have obtained contracts, even though he made more than .goo d. *

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Prince Ishmeal, the Hindoo magician, is "back in America playing vaudeville time. Tie has been in England so long that the majority of his tricks are familiar to everyone. His personality is very good, but he has too much American material for a Hindoo magician. 4

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Since writing our editorial of last month we tried walking down a ladder of sharp swords, and found that one could walk up or down with care, without cutting the feet. * * * Horace Goldin has again added new material to his act, in the form of a combination of suspended trunk mystery. He has so much material that, when working at Hammerstein's Roof Garden; he managed to do two different acts, one on the roof, and one in the theatre, saving himself a great deal of trouble by not having to move his apparatus from one place to another. * * * Del Adelphia who was once known as the -Cow Boy magician, (and a right clever magician he was) is now in the real estate business and comfortably situated in Seattle, Washington. * * * Hardeen, the jail breaker, is breaking all records on the Pantages Tour, and creating a great deal of excitement throughout the Coast. His original tour has been extended, and it is hardly likely that he will leave America this season. * * * Mayor Ed. Bealle, of Alton, 111., is quite an entertainer in magic, and often mystifies his friends with impromptu tricks of real sleight of hand.

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Mrs. Martinka sailed for Germany and will remain four weeks at Karlsbad for a vacation. * * * When Frederick Melville sailed to Europe he took along a magician to play the club* in England, and kept the man's name secret. Melville need keep it secret no longer, for we wish to inform our readers that the man he took along is Krieger, and we predict that he will make a big hit. Melville used good judgment as Krieger to-day is about the best manipulator of the cups and balls in the world. * * * The floating piano illusion appeared at a Keith-Proctor theatre in New York and will play dates during the summer. This is an illusion in which a piano is suspended in mid-air, carrying a piano player with it. It turns upside down, revolves, and eventually descends. The piano player who has apparently been hypnotized, wakes up and walks off. The piano is turned around to show that it is not connected. The presenter stands on a platform behind the piano, which ought to explain the secret to those acquainted with Aga or the more modern suspension mysteries. It is called Onaip, which is piano spelled backward. The idea is clever, the act is well received, and is worthy of playing all over. •

a

*

E. Burns, proprietor and manager of the Atlas Trick Novelty Co., of Illinois Street, Chicago, played a date at the old dime museum, selling tickets and doing magic. On Saturday, Jane 6, 1908, the Society of American Magicians held their annual election of officers for the ensueing year. Mr. Oscar S. Teale, who has so effectually filled the office as secretary, was elected president, Harry Houdini, first vice-president; Charles Roltare, second vice-president; Dr. Saram R. Ellison, treasurer, and Francis J. Werner, who has been president for the past two years, was elected secretary. The address of the newly elected secretary, Francis J. Werner, is 258 Washington Ave., Parkville, Brooklyn, N. Y., where all communications should be addressed relative to information about the Society of American Magicians.

314

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

After taking F. J. Martinka home in his automobile from the banquet of the S. A. M., Horace Goldin ordered his chauffeur to speed home, but was intercepted by an officer, who took him to the police station where he was charged with violating the speed ordinance. Horace showed the captain some of his magic tricks and was released without the usual required amount of bail. * * * .-

waited all evening to see his act I did not see him work, as he failed to show up. * * * Hansen, the Swedish-American magician, amused the patrons of the Howard a short time ago. * * * Fredericks, one' of 'our veterans in the magical line, played the Howard last week. He is one of the most interesting men in our profession, both on and off the stage. ;

Goldin's original contract at Hammerstein's Theatre has been- extended three more weeks. •

*

*

*

Preceding their attendance at the banquet of the S. A. M., Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Leroy, of Boston, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rouclere at their palatial hotel in Ridgewood, N. J. * * * . Nate Leipzig and his wife arrived in New York on the S. S. Cedric. He will play the Orpheum Circuit. Mrs. Leipzig went to Philadelphia to visit her relatives, while Nate went to Detroit to spend some time with his relatives.

fources. By Frederick Roche On Monday evening, May 15, 1908, the Society of Boston Magicians held their annual dinner at the American House. A majority of the members and several representatives of the city press were present. After the dinner an interesting entertainment was offered in which Messrs. Cook, Baker, Jackson, Morse, Chamberlain and Kelley participated. * # * Martini and Maximilian played the Columbia lately and it is rumored that they got the hook. * * * Hilliar was in town last week with Barnum and Bailey's Circus and although I

.

FROM THE

iNDyCrry 3WLH J. F. Hambitzer, City Attorney of Iloughtou, Michigan, is a great lover of magic, and when hp cannot be found at the Bar, he is sure to be found in some quiet corner surrounded by his brother attornies, displaying a new trick he has just learned and which he did not get out of some law book. He is always pleased to meet any magician that has the good fortune to play his town. ' "•' -: * * * ' Silverno, the magician and shadowgraphist, was last heard from in the Rocky Mountains. He is playing the Western States vaudeville time and doing very nicely. • Chiquita, the human doll, through the state of Michigan.

is

playing

In the June Blue Book, Nat. Goodwin, the well-known actor, is cartooned as holding a pair of handcuffs. He takes the part pf John Warden in "The Easterner." Mr. Goodwin would make a fine looking handcuff king. • • *

*

*

Yuma was back in Chicago again and played a date at the Star Theatre. He played nearly all winter in the South and pleased everywhere he went. :

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGARI.NE R. E. MacLean, manager of the I. Stephenson Co., of Wells, Michigan, has so complete a line of magical apparatuses that he can give a two-hour entertainment with the greatest of ease. *

*

•

A. Mohammad appeared at the Clark Street Dime Museum and presented a few of his native Hindoo tricks, as water in the bowl, the sticks, the egg in bag and a few others. * * * A. Roterberg, the magic merchant, whiled away a few of the hot weeks during the months of May and June around Milwaukee, where he said he had a most enjoyable time. * * * Silent Tate played a week's engagement at the North Avenue Theatre and pleased both his audience and the manager. * * * Mr. W. II. Andrews, one of the Southern Colonels, who visits Chicago about twice a year, is very clever at palming. It is pleasure for him to get among a lot of traveling men and fool them with his novel slights, and delight them with his typical Southern brogue. .< * * Salvail, the magician, while laying off in Chicago, got together a large magical act which he will put on next season. Three people will be used in the act. * * * Mrs. Bell, who bills herself as the world's greatest palmist, is giving special seances at the Sans Souci Park this season. * * * Count Chilo's Mystic Theatre seems to be getting the money at White City and every one seems to think that they have had their money's worth when they come out. The Ellises are the leading feature, presenting a mental telepathy act. * * * Alice Noiton, the little lady who makes real rubies and sapphires on the stage, appeared at the Majestic for two weeks and pleased with her clever work, although she had a bad place on thexbiil. * * * Mr. J. B. Reisman, who for the past season has been connected with Anna Eva Fay,

315

is spending his vacation in St. Paul, where he has a concession at the Wonderland Park. When he has a dull day you will find him busy perfecting a new illusion act which he intends putting out next season. * * * Zamloch appeared during the week of May 24, at the Majestic Theatre in St. Paul. * » » Anna Eva Fay will open next season at one of the new Orpheum houses on the Pacific Coast. Probably on the 15th of September, in Seattle. *

*

*

Will Eske recently played the Olympic in Chicago. * * * Schcenwerk, the magician with the Atlantic City suit, played all of the vaudeville houses and more than pleased with his performances. He is a very clever talker and, although having a very hard place on the bill at the Majestic, he was easily one oi' the hits of the show, taking two and thres encores at each performance. Schoenweik works in one, and only uses a small table in connection with his act which finally produces a good laugh, by him saying that he will have the table disappear. He claps his hand and one of the stage hands enters and takes the table away. Very foolish, but it produces a good laugh and they are paying good money nowadays for lauglis! * * * Mysticus, the novelty change artist, who is en his way East, played a week's engagement at the Chester Park Theatre in Cincinnati. Reports say he pleased from the very first performance. I am sorry that he did not play Chicago, as they say he is a copy of Hymack, and I want to see the difference. *

*

*

Captnin McCormick, the ventriloquist, is playing dates in the Southern parks. * * * Heir Jansen and Company are showing the folks in Pennsylvania a few things in mysterious illusions. He was last heard of at Williamsport.

THE CONJURERS'

316

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE-

Coupon For Parlor Trick Competition

GOOD FOR ONE VOTE Readers are requested to fill in the blank spaces below.

Mention the

name of the contestant also the name of trick and in what number of the Conjurers' Magazine it appeared.

I hereby vote for.. Name of Trick is. Trick appeared in the issue of..

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Striking Innovations. Startling new Features Cover AXD BIUCKS Examined. Bricks unstacked after each change and Shown Separate Cover merely placed on bricks and removed. NO REVERSING FIVE COMBINATIONS

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Everything complete, including easel, numbered cards and special instructions and suggestions for working. PRICE $7, mailed free any part U. 8. A. OBNUM'S, 4 Duke St., Adelphi, London, W. C.

WANTED A professional experienced lady mindreader to work as partner with undersigned, early October or before coming season; to travel around the world. Apply at once stating passage required. Prof. Ambrose, Burma Pharmacy, Rangoon, India.

FOR SALE CHEAP. Kellar's Swing (out of sight), Animated Costume, The New Trunk Trick, Cremation as done by Alexander Herrmann and D'Alvini, The Dick Hunt, Goldin's Gun trick, and other magical paraphernalia. ZISKA & KING, Room 23, 1193 Broadway N. Y.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

317

Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK CITY

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:

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1, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. Eng. Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for Lists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We have the Latest European Noveltiei Manager : Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

History of the White Rats

SPECIALIZERS IN ADVANCED MAGICAL EFFECTS AND MODERN SPIRIT SECRETS We are in constant eign and American are now being used world. Send two cent

receipt of the most valuable forideas and many of our productions by the foremost mystifiers of the stamp for "Memorandum of Magic'' to

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New Book to be Published The story of the White Rats and Vaudeville

written

by George

Fuller

Golden,

founder and first president of the White Rats of America.

Information

respecting

advertising space address, John E. Burk, 1553 Broadway, N. Y.

NEW H A V E N , C O N N . , U. S. A. Kindly mention Conjurer's Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

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318

Latest Color Change of Handkerchiefs Two silks tied by corners immediately change color by passing hand over them. No skill required, done anywheie. Hands shown empty before and after, and only two handkerchiefs used. Price complete, $1.50. PRESTOII CIIANCOH.

The new card trick 10c. T H E PHANTOM BILLIARD BAIL, $1.00.

ECLIPSE CARD RISING TRICK, 75C. ANY CARD CALLED FOR TAKEN FROM BALL AND EGO VANISHER, 80C. HANDKERCHIEF FINGERS, 75C. and $1.50.

POCKET, $1.00. MAGIC WAND,

25c. CALLS FROM HAT, set of three, $4.75. ONE HAND B U.L TRICK, $1.00. HANDKERCHIEF VANISHER AND ExniAM EJK, $1.00. T H E ELECTRIC PACK OF CARDS, for fancy shuf-

fling, $1.20 and $1.40: T H E TWENTIETH CENTURY SERVANTE. works on a glass top table if necessary, the handiest yet, $1.50. Ching Ling Fco's PAPLR TEARING STUNT, complete, $1.00. EVERY PIECE OF APPARATUS FULLY GUARANTEED HINDGO WONDER BOWL, complete with all accessories, $35.00. $25.00.

CONRADTS FLYING LA.MT. $75.00.

invention, $87.50.

Ni:\v FLYING CAGES,

ABSOLUTELY NOVEL C VHI.NET ILLUSION, our own

Lists and bargain sheets for stamp.

THE W. G. EDWARDS CO., Manufacturing Magicians, Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada. Dept. A. Agents for the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine.

Handcuff Kings and Hagicians!

DE

VERE

Fabricant D'Appareils

De Physique Amusante Trues and Illusions pour Theatres, Etc.

FOR SALE

I The United States Navy Handcuff. Used in the Civil War by Serjeant of Marines, Lilly, who died with a pair on him. Onl}' a few left. In good working order. Price complete with one key $2. Extra keys 25 cents a piece. WM. SCHONBERGER 1020 Prospect Ave., New York

17, ROE SAULNIER. 17 PAHS, FRANCE Call here when in Paris. French, German and English fluently spoken.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

319

Magical APPARATU5

EVER SEEN Lindsley's Thimble Act ?

Of every descripNot a Trick, but a complete Act. tion, best make. Kellar said, "It is the neatest pocket trick Large illustrated catalogue No. 24 — 15c. I have ever seen." Illustrated catalogue No. 25 FREE. Immaculately boxed with "Patter/"' sent anywhere for $1.00. Address, BAILEY &. TRIPP CO., F. W. Lindsley, Box 4^O Cambridg'eport, Mass. Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio

BERT WIGGIN The Honk-honk Mystlfler. Sketch

J}lso Lightning Crayon Artist.

Permanent Address, Trafalgar Hotel,

115 East 14th Street,

New York.

JOE KNAPP, Exponent of Scientific Humbug. Permanent Address: Care Billboard, Cincinnati, O.

** Der

Zaviberspieg'el

An Illustrated Monthly Jonrnal in German Language, by F. W. CONRADI, Editor (Contents: Modern Parlor Magic. Card Tricks, Illusions' Mnemotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, etc., etc.) Vol. IV. Subscription of 6 months post free - - $1.25 Single Copies, post free 25c

Horsterscher Verlag, PUBLISHERS Berlin, S. W. 68, Fredrichstrasse

2O2

FILL OUT THIS FORM NOW! and mail it together with One Dollar to

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co. PROFESSOR AMBROSE. The Greatest Living Hypnotist and Wizard of the East. Permanent address, 265 Dalhousin street, Rangoon, India.

278 West 113th Street, New York, N. Y. Gentlemen : Please send me Conjurers' M o n t h l y

New! Just Invented!

M a g a z i n e for twelve months commencing with

PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 for 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St., New York

the

issue, for which

I enclose One Dollar. Very truly yours,

Dated

190

HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS A REAL NOVELTY. A new visible and instantaneous change of water to ink, combined with an invisible and invincible transposition of a glass of ink and a glass of water. The performer shows a tumbler partly filled with ink which is placed upon a stand or table and covered with a handkerchief. He then takes another tumbler in which is a similar quantity of clear water. This latter he gives to any- one of the company to hold. Please note that it may be held by anyone—is not covered over in any way whatever and is in full vi$,w of both the person holding the glass and every member of the audience. The performer next announces his intention of magically causing a transformation to take place. He 'gives the word of command, "CHANGE," and instantly the water changes into opaque ink He then proceeds to the other glass and on removing the handkerchief to the astonishment V)f the audience the ink is seen to have changed to water. This effect is really magnificent and the trick will "electrify" all who see it. It is unlielieveable and has all the appearances of a miracle. Send for it at once. Price 10/6. Post free 11/3. Complete. Canada and U. S. A. $3 (carriage to.be paid on receipt). HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS, 35 New Oxford Street, W. C, also (City Depot) 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C , London.

Now on Sale!

The First Authentic History of Magic Ever Published. Written by the World Famous Handcuff King, Harry Houdini. Before this book was ready for the printer twenty y(.ar« were spent in constant travel and search for material and verification of facts. I he mest expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of magic ever placed befor* the public. Th« reproduction ef the programs forms a collection which it is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world. No magical library or collection can possibly be complete without this work.

Price $1.OO. Postage 15 Cents Extra For Sale by all Magical Dealers and by

CONJURERS' MAGAZINE PUBLISHING COMPANY 278 West 113th Street, New York City

Entered as second-class matter September 12, 1906, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879-

Washington Irving Bishop Our Mail Bag English Notes A Packing Case Escape Parlor Card and Coin^Tricks Hocus Pocus Reproduced Buatier' s Vanishing Boy Questions Answered Jottings and Jumblings Etc.. Etc.

JULY, 19O8 HARRY

KELLAR

SOUVEINIR

NUMBER

322

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Mammoth 212 Page Illustrated Magic Catalogue Up-to-date, with over 30 full page half-tone cuts of \eading conjurers^past and present just out.

Nothing like it ever

^ ^ ^ ^ k

issued. a

F r e e L i s t . Fifty-six page $KrIwIiSt P P tricks, etc., 10 cents. ^Mi&^

Send 50c for same.

endix

catalogue

of

No

new

W. D. LEROY, BOSTON SCHOOL OF MAGIC /•lastern IIfad<]uarteis foi

Magicians

1O3 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Eastern Representative of the "Society oj American Magicians "

Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. V. and C. A. A.

ANGER <&, BAUER AGENTS FOR

English, Hmencan anb Continental lDariet\> Hrtistes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. English and Continental Representatives for for Messrs. A. Bonamici and Frank H. Fillis's Enterprises in South Africa.

I ^ ^ IVI P \ / " \ (VI

C" | \ J ^ ^

Harry Day THE, AGENT OF ENGLAND Book-ing all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased togra it unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating whal you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effin^ham House, Arucdle Street, Strand, London, England

Jennie Jacobs Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Suite 735

New York City

'PHONE T055-38lb

Booking for every Music Hall in America, England and the Continent Traveling Representatives: MISS PAULINE COOK and THEO. HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine wben aniwering advertisements

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323

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Cafe a n d R e s t a u r a n t Unsurpassert R e a s o n a b l e Prices Orchestra Music Special R a t e s t o t h e Profession The Always Working Magician, introducing the newest of the best illusions. Prolonged four times at the London Alhambra.

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3J4

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CONJURERS*

MAGAZINE.

ii little village near Dresden in Saxony; and Alexander (Heimburger) has lived

MONTHLY

MAGAZINE PUBLISHED EY

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, 278 WEST 113TH

STREET

N E W YORK CITY TELEPHONE: 1514 MORNINGSIDB

Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents Advertising rates payable In advance, made known ©n application to above address. The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or In part without permlMlon. The magazine Is for sale by all reputable dealers ©f conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured nt ten cents each, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen,, care Anger street, W.; g & Bauer. 50 Rupert p M R i T l V i Ottk Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna, Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia, James Leahman.

Harry Kellar in 1ST3. rf o r

nrnnv v p n r 8 in r o l i r o m o n t m a n ) } eai S i n r e t i r e m e n t

in in

\j\ Westf.

Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment Is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise It will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped •od addressed envelope.

/ blurt ungrateful truths, if suck theij be, That none mat/ need to say them after me.

VOL.

II

LOWELL.

JULY 15, 1908

No. 11

Proud indeed must the man feel who can make his final bow to an audience and then retire into private life with a loving wife, health, wealth, happiness and all possible honor that his friends and the public at large can heap upon him. Such is the position in which Harry Kellar now finds liimself, and we feel sure he has retired much happier than any other magician in the history of 'magic.8 ' J-"-;:- •- Compare Herrmann died a wealthy man; Wiljalba Frikell buried himself in

Kellar, Cunard, Ling Look and Yainariova in 187G. Taken in San Francisco, Cal. At that time they were known as the original royal illusionists.

Kellar's life and endeavors should be an example and incentive to every strug-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

325

In the lilooiu of his life, he linds himself withniit. a care, generous almost to a fault and with that uniipie power of speedi and delivery, which animates his whole heing, and makes him again live nver those episodes and vicissitudes of his life which he relates. His recitals nl' the wars he has waged against Alexander Herrmann when M. T>. Levitt was his manager sound like romances from the pen of Balzac.

Mr.

and

Mrs.

Il:u-ry

Kellar

in

the

June

of

190S.

gling magician, and happy is the man who can look forward for such a reward as has been "ranted to him.

Harry Krllar-IIair.v Iloudlnl. Vacation time—Atlantic City, June IS. l'.Mis. Taken by Franz Kukol specially fur the Conjurers' Magazine.

A man with such an active brain will find it a hard lask to sit down and do nothing and we are inclined to • think that it would be rather, a .befitting position for the Dean of American Magicians to . preside over a .permanent home

Ms 1 structor

"

- '•

IIarrls

Hu he3

s

-

May. The, Mighty Mandate spare him to us for many years to come.

326

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Washington Irving Bishop A Master Mind Reader BY HARRY HOUDINI

Althou; the name of Washington Irving Bishop is known to historians as the most fainous mind reader who ever lived, whose ability made him the recipient of many orders and medallions from foreign sovereigns, his death itself added much to make his name immortal as it was accompanied by a weird controversy in which the whole world was interested. I always had a dee]) interest in this man's history and when I read a fewlines in a recent issue of the Xew YorkDramatic Mirror, which stated that the mother of Bishop, Mrs. Eleanor Bishop, was sick and in distress, I determined to call upon her and offer some aid. She had moved from the given address, but after a little work I was able to trace her to her new abode, and as I neared it I saw what, seemed to be a very old lady, bent almost double with age, laboriously make her way up a few stairs and enter her apartments. As T entered her apartments I was invited to a seat, and she herself tottered to a chair and willingly granted me an interview. She absolutely refused to accept my assistance, but eventually accepted it as a loan. She personally related to me the history of his life and death, which I later on verified by billing matter, and press notices in my collection, and by consulting the various files of the newspapers of that period of his existence. Washington Trving Bishop was born in New York City at 991 Broadway, now No. 1147, on March 4, 1856, and died

May 13, 1889. His father was Nathaniel 0. Bishop, and his mother Eleanor Fletcher. He never was a strong child or man, but received a tine school and college education, which stood him in good need in later years and enabled him to associate with the best people in the world and combat his adversaries with a pen which

Washington Irving Hisliop in his thirty-third year. At this epoch (if his life- he was n ISUnd degree Muson.

wrote the English language so that it convinced evervone, to whom it appealed. He had a high-strung, nervous temperament and was subject to cataleptic attacks which were attributed to the strenuous exertions he often employed in fol-

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

327

lowing his calling H . J . Burlingame in liis lunik. "Leaves F r o m the Conjurer's Scrap-Book," published by Donolmc, ITcnneberry & Co.,

of J-irnvn and event nail v ferreted out the secret, and lieeaine so proficient that he duplicated and excelled Brown in this work.

Chicago, III.. 1*1)1, credits .1. Randell Brown with being the originator of the style of mind leading used by Bishop. H e claims that Bishop was the assistant

(Mrs. Kleannr Fletcher Bishop contends that this is untrue and states tbat Bishop never had a teacher and that Brown onlv at one time was an assistant

328

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

of Bishop.) Bishop then went abroad, was the first one to introduce this work in Europe and created such a lasting sensation throughout the Continental cities that his name will always be remembered. Finding it necessary to have an assistant, he engaged a young man by the name of Charles Garner, who after a while solved the mind reading tests and toured the continent under the name of Stuart Cumberland. He wrote a book on this subject entitled, "A Thought Reader's Thoughts," which was published in 1888 by Sampson Low & Co., of London. The events culminating in Bishop's death were briefly as follows: On May 11, 1889, he left Philadelphia for New York for the purpose of transacting some business. He arrived at the Hoffman House about midnight. The Assistant District Attorney invited him to dine with him on the 12th, and at the same time Messrs. Henry E. Dixey and Sidney Drew, the son of Mrs. John Drew, invited him to the Lambs' Club. The latter invitation he accepted. As usual when an artist is invited to the club he was asked to do something, and when called upon Bishop agreed to give a demonstration. >He first performed a mind reading effect which he called, "The Detective Trick." Some one selected a knife, stabbed another person, and then concealed the knife. Bishop was led out of the room, walked to the person who held the knife, picked out the person who was stabbed and found the concealed knife. He then said he would show them a trick that no one had eyer seen before.' He asked Secty. Clay M. Green to think of a name or word in the club's account or records, but Mr. Green not having any particular word in mind, asked Dr. J. A. Irwin (who was an acquaintance of

Bishop and who had dropped in while Bishop was doing his first trick) to go down where the books were kept to look up a name. In the minute book he came across the name of "Margeret Townsend," in some records relative to the Lester Wai lack Benefit. Mr. Green and Dr. Irwin fixed upon the word Townsend and noting the page number of the book, came upstairs. Bishop being blindfolded had Green's hand placed over his own, led the party down stairs, found the book without difficulty, started rapidly to turn over the pages, and at last came to the page on which the name appeared. ''Is that it," he asked eagerly, and, on being told it was, he led the wray back up stairs. Having been blindfolded all the time lie announced that he proposed to tell what the name was, so as.to demonstrate that muscle reading had absolutely nothing to do with the performance. He had become greatly excited as he went on with the trick and this increased as he asked everybody to stand back. Without touching Secretary Green, but insisting that Green should think intensely of the word, he stood motionless, apparently in a state of half consciousness. After a while he called for a piece of paper, which was handed to Dr. Irwin, who, in turn, with a pencil, handed it to Bishop. Bishop wrote the name Townsend in a reverse way which when reflected in a mirror plainly showed the word Townsend in the mirror. "That is it," Bishop cried excitedly •'* and at the exact moment that Mr. Green and Dr. Irwin nodded their heads in assent and as the persons about started to applaud, Bishop stiffened out and sank back unconscious. (To he continued.)

THE

CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

MAGARINE

329

Our Mail Bag In this department It is tbe privilege of oar readers to bring to public notice anjr topic worLhy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thus thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated bj eucta publicity. As no restrictions are Imposed upon correspondents, the editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed In this department.

AN APOLOGY AND ITS ACCEPTANCE. \

Altona (Elbe), German)', June 15, 1908.

.My Dear Mr. ITondini: * * * I would like you to know that I have often and deeply regretted the derogatory statements winch I made concerning you and your methods in my book "Magische Tandelein," and take this means of personally retracting these statements, which were written from hearsay information, for at that time I neither knew you nor was I familiar with youi vork. * * * H. F. C. Suhr. The above extract from Herr Suhr's letter is self explanatory In addition it is an example of the exhibition of the proper manhood, where a man endeavors to right a wrong. During my long and strenuous career I have always endeavored to do what was right, and whenever I made any mistakes I have done all I could to rectify them. Often when I have worked hardest to elevate a principle or help others, my motives and endeavors have been misconstrued. Still, time right* everything! I am glad to extend the hand of friendship to Herr Suhr and hope in my coming tour through Germany to personally meet the man who so bravely acknowledges his convictions.

Harry Houdini.

Chicago, 111. Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: I am glad to note that you continue to devote space in your magazine to the publication of patented illusions, and thought your readers would be further interested to become acquainted with a list of such patents with which Mr. H. It. Evans of Washington so kindly furnished me, the numbers of which are herewith appended, and can be obtained by applying for them at the patent office in Washingtun, D. C : 247,135, 233,540, (112,090, 415,084, 389,198, 256,388, 233,274, 799,499, 221,605, 187,884, 296467, 273,445, 406,271, 420,995, 714,534, 787,589, 787,946, 661,426, 421,493, 462,391, 838,979,. 838,978, 804,637, 537,441, 256,388, 567,352, 500,607, 643,493, 558,413, 495,052,. 642,092, 554,682, 485,277, 829,034, 187,884, 700,381, 146,293, 574,090, 415,085. Relative to secret writing I might add that the following articles would prove interesting reading to such as wish to make a study of this subject: Cryptography, by G. Wilkes, Cosmopolitan; Feb., 1904, Vol. XXXVI., No. 4 ; Cryptography, by G. Wilkes, Cosmopolitan, Mar., 1904, Vol. XXXVI., No. 5; Cryptography, by G. Wilkes, Cosmopolitan, Apr., 1904, Vol. XXXVI., No. 6; E. A. Poe, The Gold Bug; A. C. Doyle, The Dancing Men; Every Boy's Book, page 674, Eoutledge (about 1868). Peter N. Graef.

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Editor CONJURERS' MAGAZINE. Sir: The letter from Mr. Max Auzinger, appearing in a recent issue, by no means fulfills the promise of the statement made by your Vienna correspondent. So far from conclusively settling this question, the letter contains nothing to carry one's knowledge of the subject even a step further. Let me recapitulate briefly, the facts which are clearly provable, and compare them with Mr. Auzingcr's statements. In-the Autumn of 1886, de Kolta suggested to me the utilization of this principle, and we set to work upcn it, in collaboration. , . l a December, 188C, de Ivolta applied for and obtained a patent for the invention. In my Christmas programme of that year we introduced a series of startling effects upon this principle, with great success, at the Egyptian Hall, London. So far as I know, the principle had never been employed before that date. But, if the case be otherwise, it would be interesting to have definite proof of the fact. There can be no doubt about the dates I have given. Copies of the patent specification can be bought by anyone, and toe newspaper files may be inspected. That being so, I cannot understand the point of Mr. Auzinger's letter which, so far as de Kolta is concerned, deals with occurrences of two years later. • His statements are: Max Auzinger was presenting illusions upon this principle at Hamburg in 1888. De Kolta witnessed the Hamburg performances during December, 1888. Immediately afterwards, de Ivolta bought a complete "Black Art" outfit from Mr. Lischke. This he brought to London, and exhibited at the Egyptian Hall.

At the same time he applied for and obtained a patent for the invention. What basis there may be for these statements I cannot tell. But they are not in harmony with what is known and can be proved. De Kolta did not appear at the Egyptian Hall in 1888. He did not patent the invention in that year, but in 188G; and in his patent he claimed the use of material of any color, even white, upon this principle. In this case he could not have learned the method from the Hamburg performances, two year? later. To prove his case against dc Kolta, Mr. Max Auzinger must produce authentic documentary evidence to show that he exhibited illusions on this principle prior to December, 1886. in prosecuting this enquiry I beg to assure Mr. Auzinger that I have no desire whatever to rob him of his rights. He complains bitterly of having his inventions stolen and ruined by imitators. That being so I can sympathize with him deeply, for no illusionist, living or dead, ever suffered more in this respect than myself. My sole object is to establish the truth and, if possible, clear the memory of a great artist and colleague from a serious charge, viz., that of purloining another man's invention, claiming it as his own and patenting it. Yours very truly, J. N. Mashelyne. • • *

AN APPEAL TO OUR READERS Mrs. Eleanor Bishop, the mother of Washington Irving Bishop, is in dire need. Those of our readers who wish to assist her might loan her any small amount until she is able to repay them. She is a worthy old lady and has in her time appeared in many benefits, and has given much to charity. Her son, who was a high Mason and prominent Elk,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. often gave large sums of money to his fellow members. So loan her a mite to help her along a few steps in her old age. Her address is: Mrs. Eleanor Bishop, c|o | LamarSt., New York tigne, 232 West U' City.

tz reork t is

t the Coliseum in London. ]Iis arm >Jias mended and : drier tz is himself again. The .. Z a m i <j s a r e mi

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Allan Shaw has just arrived from hitrip with Charles Carter through Australasia. He does not lose any time, as he appears before H. R. IT. the Prince of Wales to-morrow, and then at the matinee at the Tivoli, London. I predict Shaw'« success in England. Day's Agency is looking after him; that's enough! * * * There is a movement afoot in England, which uses the Variety Artistes Federation as a lever, to stop pirates and copyists ; a bill is being framed to be sent to Parliament, which it is hoped will protect the artist's brains and material. This movement ought to have been started 10 years ago, byt it's never too late to start. ,,. , Dr. Bodie ; • with his-iown company, is doing S. R. 0. business in the North of England. He has a new novelty which he calls, '"The Cage of Death," which is exciting a great deal of comment.

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l.hony, the Swanker, has been conlined to his bed for the past week. He was ordered to take a complete rest by his doctor. I met him last week in court; that's a great place for a rest. Mr. J. L. Sachs, the representative of the Johannesburg Music Hall Company, intends to appoint Miss Jenie Jacobs his American agent. Mr. Will Avis of Avis & DeBane, had the honor to be commanded to appear at Windsor Castle before H. R. H. The Princess Christian, Lord and Lady Churchill, and other distinguished notables. * * * Mine. Yam), the celebrated thought reader, has just recovered from a very severe illness. She hopes soon to be able to return to work and open in London. '* * * The Davies Trio, with their mid-air motoring" sensation, sailed for America. * * * The following clipping from the Music Hall of June 26th, may be of interest: "There was a scene of intense excitement at the London Hippodrome on Saturday afternoon. The challenge issued by Speedy, the high diver, was accepted by Miss- Leah Osborne, a professional swimmer and diver, of Greenwich. Ropes were let down through the open roof and Speedy and Miss Osborne, were hauled up out of sight. A few seconds' suspense followed, then a roll of the drum, a dark object shooting downwards, a whirl of spray—Speedy had accomplished the dive. 'All ready!' once more went the signal, but there was no answer. The audience rose and strained their eyes upwards to where the sunlight shone through the circular opening in the roof. At last a faint voice was heard from above: 'The

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lady says she can't see anything and she feels very dizzy.' A few more seconds passed. Then the order was given to lower away, and Miss Osborne descended as she had ascended—safely tied to the ropes. Turning to the audience she said 'I'm so sorry.' Then she jumped into the water and swam to the exit." Lafayette, the American artist, has recently introduced "The Lion's Bride" illusion. It is creating more talk here than it ever did in America. * * * Valvo, the ventriloquist, is now the father of a bouncing son. % % ^ The Performer of June 25th states that a conjurer, who worked at the Haymarket in Liverpool, had his trunk broken open and his "props" stolen. I wonder who he was? Will this give us a new magician with the vanished apparatus, or did the apparatus disappear from force of 'abit? Joseph IIayman, of Hayman and Franklin.

Wrinkles for Wonder Workers By Will Edwards A PACKING CASE ESCAPE

Effect. The performer, after having allowed a packing case to be thoroughly tested, is handcuffed and steps into it. The lid is then screwed into place and the committee tie the case on every side with a stout rope and place it into a curtained cabinet; they reseat themselves on chairs upon the stage provided for the purpose. A shout "is heard from the back of the theatre and the performer appears^ in the audience, makes his way to the stage and assists the committee to remove the ropes and un-

screw the Jid, when, to everyone's astonishment, a lady appears in the case, from which she is assisted by the performer. Explanation. The case used is an ordinary looking one, the wood being unfinished. Although natural looking, it is feked to allow quick entry or exit; but will stand-the closest, examination, can lie roped any way, and,, last but not least, can be fastened from either the interior or exterior.

Figure 1 depictures the case as it appears on the stage, giving a fair idea of the general outline and construction. I t will be noticed that the lid is fastened, with thumb screws, instead of the usual wood screws or nails; thus adding to the' life of the case. Each thumb screw has a corresponding bush wjth a female thread! in the top of the case. The case is also provided with stout battens on the corners; which strengthen everything. The panel board marked "A" is the one that is feked to allow for exit or entry. The handleplate, which you will notice is placed midway between the top and the bottom boards, is feked in the following manner:The bolt which holds it to the upper board is of the common kind and easily unscrews from the inside, allowing it to bepushed out, thereby causing the handle-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. plate to fall and hang by the bolt which is fastened to the lower board. The lower bolt has a little "play" to allow for this. Figure 2 shows the feked end of the box wilh panel "A" open. "W being the handle plate banging in its reverse position. " C " is the hole in the upper board through which the feked holt connects the handle plate to it. The upper board is also provided with a thin steel bar working loosel}7 up or down into a groove. The arrow marks depicture it.

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plate to fall and hang by the lower bolt. The small palette knives are now used, one at each end, thus raising the steel bar. The hoard now drops inward and the performer steps out of the case. His lady assistant crawls in, pushes up the board and locks it; the performer pushes the upper licit through to her. giving her ample time to fasten and make everything secure. He then quickly makes his way to the front of the theatre and appears amongst the audience. The performer, of course, having removed the handcuffs, leaves them in the case for the lady to put on.

Parlor Trick Competition Figure 3 shows Hie lower hoard " A " clear of the box. It is provided with two small screws which act as a pivot to allow the board to swing inwards; these work in corresponding sockets in the side of the box. The battens, of course, prevent them from . being seen. They are shown at "DD. V The arrow marks in Fig. 3 show the corresponding groove cut in the top of the lower board, into which the steel bar drops thereby acting as a lock. Fig. 4 shows this steel bar, which is made to allow it to travel loosely up or down, the ends being tapered to aid the insertion of a small feke somewhat after the shape of an artist's palette knife, which is used to raise it clear from the groove in the lower board. The working of the act should now be clear. As soon as the box is placed in the curtained cabinet, the performer unscrews the upper bolt in the handle plate and pushes it clear, allowing the handle

In our Parlor Trick Competition, James Morfitt of Bradford, England, is the leading contestant by 78 votes. In our next issue the winners will be announced and the prizes awarded. PASSING A HALF DOLLAR THROUGH A GLASS OF WATER AND TABLE. By W. J. Penny. Intro/Inchon.

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Ask a gentleman in the room to lend you a half dollar piece and from another borrow a handkerchief. Next ask someone else to get you an ordinary tumbler half full of water. Hold the hankerchief in your left hand and the coin in the right and place the glass of water on the table, first spilling some to show that it is water. Put the coin in the left hand underneath the handkerchief, and hold it up covered by the linen. Ask some one of the audience to take hold of the coin and feel if it is there, whereupon the person

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will answer in the affirmative. Next ask him to knock it a little against the glass to show that it is still there. The glass being covered by the handkerchief, you ask him to drop it into the glass and as he does so the coin is heard to fall distinctly to the bottom of the tumbler. Hold your hand underneath the table while the dropping of the coin takes place. Finally ask anyone in the room to take the handkerchief off the glass, and much to the astonishment of all the coin has disappeared, only the water being left. Complete the trick by producing the wet coin from underneath the table. Explanation. To duplicate the coin, you procure a piece of plain glass, cut the same size and thickness as a fifty-cent piece, have it ready in your waistcoat pocket. Palm it in your left hand underneath the handkerchief and substitute it for the coin, thereby giving the impression that the real coin is under the handkerchief. Take hold of same and while proving it to be the coin (by knocking it against the glass) you pass the right hand underneath the table and drop the piece of glass into the tumbler, thereby making a sound as it strikes the bottom. You then ask one of the audience to remove the handkerchief and of course the coin is not to be seen. Then produce the wet coin from underneath the table. The wetting of the coin should be done before placing it under the table, and is accomplished by wetting it with some of the water that has previously been spilled upon the table to prove that water was in the glass.

H O CVS P O C VS 1 V N I O RThe Jnatomie of

LEGERDEMAIN. O R, T h e Art o f Iugliiig fct forth in his proper colours, folij plunly, andexaftly, forfeit an ignorant petfon maythereb) leam dre full perfection of the iame,after a little, praatfe. Vnw each Tricke is added the figure, where it is aecdHdJ Thefectni Hdkitn, wif A m*nj idditiont. Prrftit tuhili qutm iJh

ZO N D O N, . Printed by T. H. for R.M.

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(Continued) Hozv to tell one zvhat card he seeth at the bottoms when the card is shuffled in the stock. When you have seen a card privately, or as though you marked it not, lay the same undermost, and shuffle the cards as before you are taught, till your card be again at the bottom; then show the same to the beholders, bidding them to remember it; then shuffle the cards, or let any other shuffle them, for you know the card already, and therefore may at any time tell them what card they saw, which nevertheless must be done with caution, or shew of difficulty. Another zvay to do the same, having yourself never If you can see pected to have seen to shew, then let

seen the cards. no card, or be susthat which you mean a stander-by shuffle,

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. and afterwards take you the cards into your hands, and having showed them, and not seen the bottom card, shuffle again, and keep the same cards, as before you are taught; and either make shift then to see it when their suspicion is past, which may be done by letting some cards fall, or else lay down all the cards in heaps, remembering where you laid the bottom card; then espy how many cards lie in some one heap, and lap the flap where your bottom card is upon that heap, and all the other heaps upon the same, and so if there were five cards in the heap, whereon you laid your card, then the same must be the sixth card, which now you must throw out or look upon without suspicion, and tell them the card they saw. To tell without confederacy, what card he thinkcth on. Lay three cards at a little distance, and bid a stander-by be true and not waver, but think on one of the three, and by his eye you shall assuredly perceive which he thinketh: and you shall do the like if you cast down a whole pack of cards with the faces upwards, whereof there will be few or none plainly perceived, and they also court cards: but as you cast them down suddenly, so must you take them up presently, marking both his eyes, and the card whereon he looketh. How to make a card jump out of the pack, and run on the table. This is a wonderful fancy if it be well handled: as thus, Take a pack of cards and let any one draw any card that they fancy best, and afterward take and put it into the pack, but so as you know where to find it at pleasure: for by this time, I suppose you know how to shuffle the cards, and

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where to find any card when it is put into the pack; then take a piece of wax, and put it under the thumb nail of your hand, and then fasten a hair to your thumb, and the other end of the hair to the card, then spread the pack of cards open on the table, then say, "If you are a pure virgin the card will jump out of the pack," then by your words or charms seem to make it jump on the table. Hoxv to tell what card any man thinketh on, and how to convey the same into a kcrnal of a nut or cherry stone, and the same again into one's pocket; and how to make him drazv the same or any card you please, and all under one device. Take a nut, or a cherry stone; and burn a hole through the side of the top of the shell, and also through the kernal if you will, with a hot bodkin, or bore it with an awl, and with a needle pull out the kernal, so as the same may be as wide as the hole of the shell: then write the name of the card in a piece of fine paper, and roll it up hard, then put it into the nut or cherry stone, and stop the hole up with wax, and rub the same over with a little dust, and it will not be perceived; then let some stander-by draw a card, saying, "It is no matter what card you draw"; and if your hands so serve you to use the card well, you shall proffer him, and he shall receive the same card that you have rolled up in the nut; then take another nut and fill it up with ink, and then stop the hole up with wax, and then give that nut which is filled with ink to somebody to crack, and when he finds the ink come out of his mouth, it will cause great laughter. By this feat on the cards, great wonders might be done.

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Magicians Obtain No Benefit From Patenting Their Illusions. BY ALLENO.

There are two sides to be considered, and I shall treat first with the benefit obtained by securing Letters Patent. After considerable work and expenditure of money you perfect a clever and baffling illusion. Step by step, from a single idea you have built this up; here a change, there a change, an effect added and so on, until for the feature of your act you have a levitation or cabinet mystery better than those before the public's eye. A trial show is given and everything runs smoothly. Now comes that question which all successful inventors and producers have to solve, namely, "Shall I patent my invention?" We will say you do. Sending your drawings and explanations to a patent attorney, or in all probability, going to see him yourself, you make him understand just what you desire, and depart from his office with the thought in your mind, "Well, when Uncle Sam protects my idea, I'll sue the first one who uses it without written permission." You are satisfied. You smile when you think of the absolute novelty you possess. Engagements will be easy—managers will need your act—and the reputation you have been after is made. But you are mistaken. I shall try to show you how. When the question comes to you, decide against securing Letters Patent, and say, "If I make application for a patent, I will have to divulge the secret to my attorney and his force of clerks; he is liable to pick up the drawing showing all your hard work, experiments, etc., and

say to a friend, "Here is a man who will keep the people guessing." The friend examines the drawing and understanding the invention agrees that it is very clever. Here is the first step to publicity. The friend, will tell a friend of his, one who is probably interested in the art of magic; this man tells another and so on until from Washington, D. C, it has traveled to the Pacific coast and before your protection is in any way assured, some poor professional or amateur in California has built a copy of the illusion, put it on for a week or so at a second rate theatre, and secured a year's booking. It cost him nothing for a trial except the money paid for building it. Not only that, but you acquaint the examiners in the Patent Office, and they are only human. Notwithstanding the fact that they take an oath not to talk to outsiders of official work, they are liable to do so in a case like this, remarking, "Well, you will see a clever illusion at Chase's in a little while," and perhaps go on and tell just what it is and how it is operated. A few months pass by, during which time your application has been presented to the United States Patent Office for examination and consideration. After a search of the official records it is decided that your idea is new and the Government issues to you a certificate of Letters Patent, which is a photolithographed copy of the drawing presented by your attorney together with a specification of the manner of working same and the claims for it as a new device,

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the whole being bound together and en- affair done you? It is true that he is twined with blue ribbon, sealed, signed made to stop using your invention, but by the Commissioner of Patents. You while all this is going on other people now have protection (?). With this in a different part of the country are paper you can go to court and have a producing your illusion and reaping apman prosecuted for infringing or using plause and money. At last you swear at yourself for your invention. When the patent has been recorded it making it public property, also at those is open to the gaze of the all-curious who helped you, and declare that never public; anyone looking through the sub- again will you let an idea slip. Had class of Theatre Appliances, under the you kept it to yourself the chances are main head of Games and Toys, will see that it would have been good for a couple your invention in black and white. Sup- of years before the majority of the posing he is a magician or a follower of theatre going public penetrated the sethe mystic art, interested in all illusions, cret, for stage hands have little interest tricks, etc. Why, for five cents he can in learning how your illusions are per•obtain a copy of the illusion. He does formed. As it is, you have lost time, money so and home it goes with him, to be built into actual use with the hope that and a chance to add to your reputation. it will secure for him an engagement You can gain nothing for this loss but a behind the shining footlights. Does he bitter experience, and it is quite unnec•stop to think that he has no right what- essary for me to say that these affairs soever to the use of this patent he is happen frequently. Until the managers refuse to allow stealing; yes, deliberately stealing the products of another man's brains? No, "copy acts" and "barefaced steals" to he is dreaming of the novelty of the in- play their houses, your precious patent vention and of the fame it will bring is of no more value to you than so much him. As bad as this may seem, these blank paper. people exist and are doing this same thing every day. ANY CARD CALLED FOR INSTANTLY He builds it and presents it and when PRODUCED FROM YOUR POCKET. you arrive at the same house for your By Clinton Burgess. "week, people in the audience turn to one another and remark, ""Why on earth do The trick, in apparatus form, requires all the fellows show the same tricks? the use of two card holders, each containI saw7 that cabinet illusion last month." ing two small pockets or partitions for And there you are! In time you learn the reception of cards. of what is occurring and start looking Over the mouth of each pocket is a for the man who has stolen your idea piece of heavy braid; this is to prevent and dared to place in before the public cutting the fingers on the sharp edges of "without your permission. Locating him. the partitioned boxes. you commence suit. This takes time. You Two packs are, of course, used,, one of may obtain a judgment or you may not. which is thoroughly shuffled by members The thief is poor, he can make no of the audience, and the other is arranged redress. The court will not send him in consecutive order in a box in each front to jail and what good has the whole trouser pocket.

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The pre-arranged pack is fixed as follows : The red cards go in one box and the black cards in the other. The spades and clubs are separated from each other in one box by the partition between them, and in a like manner the'hearts and diamonds are separated in the other box. Arrange the four suits as follows: After separating the red cards from the black—place the spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds in separate piles, and then arrange each pile so as to have the ace of each suit uppermost on the pile of that suit. Arrange each suit as follows: Ace, deuce, trey, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, Queen, King (thirteen cards in all). After you have arranged the cards of each suit as shown (instead of using partitioned boxes, which are not necessary), put a light rubber band around each packet, and then put the hearts and diamonds in one pocket, and the spades and clubs in the other; now you are ready. We will suppose that the faces of the cards are toward the front of the pocket or, in other words, toward the audience when you are facing them. It makes no difference whether you place the spades in front of the clubs or the clubs in front of the spades, as long as you always arrange the cards in the pocket the same way every time so as not to become confused as to the exact position of the cards. We will suppose that you have the two packets, spades and clubs, in the left hand pocket, with the spades in front, and that in your right hand pocket you have the hearts and diamonds, with the hearts in front. Let us further suppose that some one calls for the seven of hearts; you know instantly that you have the red cards in your right hand pocket, and that the seven of hearts is in the front packet, ami

the SEVENTH card in that packet, counting down from the top front card of the packet, which starts with an ace, as do all the rest of the packets. You are now prepared to work the trick as long as the cards last; have the duplicate deck shuffled, and then take it and cut it as near in the centre as possibleand place each half in the pockets whereyour prearranged cards are concealed, but behind the cards .you are going to bring from your pocket, so they will be out of your way. Of course, the easiest cards to take hold of are the ace and king of each suit, as the ace is the top card and the king isthe back or last card. It is not necessary to produce the selected card very quickly; in fact, it has a much better effect if you take your time r as if you were guessing where the card is,. and then eventually find it. This also' gives you more time, and you are less; liable to make mistakes. As you produce each card called for r show it, and then lay each one on thetable, face up, so that you will know what, cards have already been taken out. It is a good idea to Jiave a duplicate(false) pocket, in each of your pockets,. sewed in at the top only to prevent yourself from pulling it out entirely; thisfalse pocket you turn inside out to show that you have nothing in the "pockets' r —of course, the real pockets are still below them, containing the cards ready for the trick. When you place the shuffled" cards in your pockets, after first showingthe pockets empty (?) you will mystify the audience completely when you find thecards they call for. Tt is also well to be provided with a few impossible cards, as some chap who wantsto be smart is liable to ask for the thirteen of clubs, seventeen of diamonds, eleven of hearts, joker (be careful to have this-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ready) and other kinds of cards that are not in pack. You take an extra ten of diamonds and draw another diamond on the center of it with red ink, and you have an eleven of diamonds; you can make spades and clubs, etc., by using the necessary color of ink, and if someone does not call for those cards, have a chap in the audience whom you post to call for the eleven of diamonds, and have the usher of the theatre posted to ask for the thirteen of clubs. It is •well to also have two or three cards alike; say three of four tens of spades, and after it has been produced once your confederate in the audience asks for the ten of spades again and you bring it out once more, which will produce a laugh, as the audience thought you were stuck. Let him ask for it a few more times, and each time he asks for the ten of spades you bring one from your pocket. It would be a good idea to have a flapcard that folds over, and as soon as you hear the name of that card called out you bring it out, but the flap over it makes it look to be a different card, and the audience laughs and thinks you have made a mistake; you say, "What card did the gentleman say?" He will say the name of the card again, and you say, "Well, isn't that your card?" These little points make the trick much more effective. You can also have a "GIANT CARD" ; that is, a card that enlarges to two or three times its original size, and by having the printing on the folded side you show the card in such a manner that it cannot be easily read at a distance and say, "What's that, you can't eee the card ? I'll make it bigger for you."' You now let go of the card, and the rubber sheet inside of it opens the card out quicklv, and the audience sees the card

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clianged from a regular sized card to one of giant proportions. HOW TO BALANCE A COIN ON ITS EDGE ON THE EDGE OF A SWORD. This is a good trick for a parlor, and requires neither skill nor practice. Explanation. Place a small piece of shoemaker's wax on a dime and lay it upon your magic table. Next borrow a half dollar from a member of your audience, return to your table and remark that to prove there is no preparation you will place the coin on the table in full view of everybody, and accompanying your words, you proceed to lay the coin upon the table right on top of the dime which has the piece of shoemaker's wax on it. This causes the two coins to become fastened together. Now pick up the sword which you wish to use in the trick, show that it is not prepared and place the two coins on it so that the groove between them rests on the edge of the sword, which makes it seems to appear that the half dollar is being balanced on its edge on the edge of the sword. By slightly raising or depressing the point of the sword you are able to make the coin move along the sword. After the trick has been shown, detach the half dollar from the wax, hand it back to the person from whom it was borrowed, and hand the sword about to be examined. TO HOLD A HOT TEA KETTLE ON THE BARE HAND. By Olivette. In order to perform this trick you must be sure that the bottom of the kettle is well covered with soot. Simply place the kettle with water on a fire and when the water has boiled, deliberately place it upon the palm of the hand. Absolutely no inconvenience from the heat will be experienced if there is plenty of soot on the bottom of the kettle.

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NSWERED

Carl Schoenbrun, New York. Holding a spelling bee is not original with you. Dr. Lynn during his sojourn in Calcutta, while playing at the Imperial Theatre on Friday, October 27th, 187C, had a spelling bee on his programme. He allowed thirty to compete; if more than thirty applied he announced that then the names were to be written on small pieces of paper and all placed in a hat. The first thirty drawn out were entitled to compete. Webster's dictionary was used as the standard of correctness, and a chairman and referee were selected from the audience. Dr. Lynn offered three prizes: first, a silver watch; second, a magnificent album; and third, a writing desk. We do not say that Dr. Lynn was the first magician who held a spelling bee; we simply mention his programme to show you that you are not the originator. *

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E. W. H., New York. Moon, the English conjurer, died in 1850; his full name was Thomas Moon, and the last living relative of whom we have information is his son-in-law, Robert Williams, whose address in December, 18GC, was West of England Office, East Budleigh, England. An original letter is in the Harry Houdini collection. *

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James Wilfred, Coxachie, N. Y. Escaping from a paper bag is presented by some of the mystiflers by allowing the bag to be tied and sealed and when it is placed inside of the cabinet, they simply cut off the top of the bag. After the escape has been effected, they force the seals back on the bag and conceal the portion of the bag they have cut off. One performer actually destroys the bag into which he is tied, and trings forth another paper bag upon which

he has placed the marked rope and seals. These are not the methods employed by Houdini. * * * Wm. Amerps, Boston. The Herrmann you write about is neither Compars nor Alexander, but is Henri Herrmann, who was born December 24th, 1831, in Posen. His right name is Herman Hepner, but he visited America as Herrmann in 1858-9, and returned in 18G0. He made quite some money, but lost it on an opera company speculation. He claims being the originator of (1) working turns in England, having played in the pantomime at the Alhambra, Canterbury, Oxford and Adelphia in 18C1-2; (2) of the glass bottle for the inexhaustible bottle trick (he had his chemicals on his finger tips); and (3) of the finger through the hat. Sometime ago he was employed by David Devant, and undoubtedly a letter addressed to St. George's Hall, London, will reach him. Savern, the collector and magician, who assisted Adrian, was born about 1829 and died in 1895. His great magical collection went to Henry Evanion, who in turn sold it piecemeal to Maskelyne, Devant, Goldin and Houdini; the latter secured the major portion of it. *

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James Marco, N. Y. The mysterious clock, of which you write, is worked by a mechanism that is concealed in the end of the hands. The mechanism causes a weight to revolve which brings the lightest portion of the hands up in the air, and in this way points to the hour and minutes. This clock is used for advertising purposes. The one in use upon the stage is an entirely different one. *

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Bert Kilby. Letter and news received too late for this issue. *

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W. Siebert, Racine, Wis. The watch, vanishing from the hook of a pistol, does not enter the barrel, but is swung right into the palm of the hand which holds the pistol. Any reliable dealer can supply you with one in good working order. We believe it is a German invention.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Harry Wolf, Bradford. To break the bottom out of a bottle by chipping it gradually was originated either by the Fakir of Ava or Harry Kellar. We shall write Mr. Harry Kellar, and will publish his answer, so that you will receive authentic information as to who originated this method. •

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of charge; there Is no after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do not wish in our paper.

I have for exchange a cross escape with chains and locks, a straitjacket, and a packing case escape. Clifford A. Miller, 4712 Chestnut St., New Orleans, La. * * * Will exchange some fine tricks for a phonograph and records, which must be in A No. 1 condition. Magician, 477 So. Robey St., Chicago 111. * * * Will exchange for anything in the line of magic flag vase, passe passe bottles, feather bouquet, tambourine rings, Skeleton stand and flying cage. William D. Graham, 17 Pleasant St., Bradford, Mass. * * * Wanted—Organ pipes, fish pole, mango growth (small), flag, handkerchief or other easy but effective tricks. Terrence Wagstaff, Gastonia, North Carolina. Wanted—Hercat's book on ventriloquism. Gus Kuapp, 807 York St., Cincinnati, Ohio. * * * What am I offered for "Hill's Practical Reference Library," 4 vols., bound in leather and cloth. Edited by L. Brent Vaugh, Ph. B. Fully illustrated. Never used. Can use foreign and U. S! flags, flag vase, spring flowers and other magical tricks and

books. 111.

341

Gylleck, 81 Madison Ave., Dixon,

* * * Will trade large tent, flying lamp, Hindoo clock, tables and other large and small magical effects for moving picture machine, films, slides, paper or magic. Arthur Mosher, Little Valley, N. Y. * * * What am I offered for an Aga illusion, and a Lubin moving picture machine and stereopticon in good condition with calcium burner, extra lens, large screen and one empty reel. James Z. Campbell, Jr., P. O. Box 258, High Bridge, N. J. * * * Wanted—Tricks and magical apparatus of every description. State condition of apparatus in first letter. Max U. Marcus, 537 Betts St., Cincinnati Ohio. * * * What am I offered for a wonderful canister, cost $7, brass appearing cage, cost $5, inexhaustible box, cost $C, flying cage and box, cost $8, and a fine Aga illusion? Prefer a brass Hindoo water lota, good clock dial or any other good magical apparatus. Russell, Magician, Batavia, New York. * * * What am I offered in exchange for my collection of 300 postage stamps, none duplicated. Would prefer flag or handkerchief tricks. F. Reach, 86 Poplor St., Jersey City, N. J. * * * Will the 111. Brother Magician, who by mistake took my hat at the last meeting of the S. A. M. at Martinka's place in New York, kindly send me his address if he wishes to regain his own hat? I will be more than pleased to make the exchange. Lindsley, Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio. Wanted—All kinds of books on magic. Walter S. Kaye, 1258 Morse St., N. E., Washington, D. C. * * * I have a trunk mystery, pillory and other magical effects which I would like to exchange for a sliding box, or other large showy apparatus. Olivette, 225 Pacific St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

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THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY

MAGAZINE

the colored demon. Charlie Carter who was supposed to have retired, sprang up and made his name historical, by his marvellous work in Australia. The old school magician is gradually disappearing, and the new school is just as gradually appearing. *

Martinka & Co. offer Dr. S. R. Ellison's library for sale, for $3000 cash. The doctor wishes to sell his library as he has no use for it, and intends to build models of illusions on a large scale and exhibit them in a small theatre. David Devant will arrive in America on or about July 20, 1908. * * * If anyone thinks he is good and wishes a chance, look up Maskelyne and Devant, as they can always use really clever people. * * * Mrs. Wood, the widow of ..the late E. Wood, who was drowned off the coast of Mexico has just returned with Wood's former manager, Claussen. They recovered all of Wood's apparatus and baggage, which, on the whole, is in good condition, and is now offered for sale. , *

*

*

Claussen took Cunning, the jail breaker, down to Mexico, but has returned leaving him there, and refuses to say anything on- the subject. Evidently he found him a different man to handle than the mild gentlemanly mannered Wood. We shall look for further news regarding the separation. * * * Mrs. Martinka has just returned from Germany. She brought back all the latest novelties. * * * T. Nelson Downs is collecting weight, while the time flies. Soon the young magicians of 1889 will gather with the 1900 and talk of old times. What changes the last 10 years have brought. Nelson, the fighter, broke all traditions by coming back after he had been defeated and again won the championship by defeating Gans,

*

*

After T. Weiss Hardeen finishes his San Francisco work, he will jump direct to New York to open on the Keith-Proctor circuit. He has been very successful on his last tour and is at work on a new mystery, which he will shortly add to his show. * * * O. K. Sato, our humorous correspondent, has returned from abroad and is resting at his home in Irvington, N. J. During his absence his home Was visited by burglars, who took away almost-all the furnishings T of his house. *

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*

Horace Goldin is still at Hammerstein's Roof Garden in New York. *

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Ziska and King are booked to open in London, England. * * * Prince Albene and Mme. Labrandt, the mind readers, after a most successful season, are back in New York. *

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M. M. Wood will shortly introduce a gyroscopic car which will run on a single track over the heads of the audience. *

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Harry Houdini has resigned from the Society of American Magicians, and is no longer a member. *

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Dr. Golden Mortimer after an extended trip throughout the west, has returned to New York and is preparing for his vacation. *

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*

Magicians visiting Wellington, N. Z., should be sure to call on Robert Kudarz, who is the best friend a magician can find in that far away country. Such good fellows are scarce, but we meet them every once in a while.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

anous Frederick Hall of Cambridge, who aspires to become a second Houdini, is booked for Paragon Park, week of July 6, it is said at a large salary. * * * After several attempts I saw Allan, the handcuffer, at Wonderland to-day. The lecturer introduced him as Prof. "Gondolier," who had just returned from Mexico "where his escape from a pillory so delighted the authorities that they presented him with the one he will now use." * * * Hansen the Swedish magician, appeared with the other motion pictures at the Pastime last week. * * * The Floyds were at Lexington Park recently, and made a hit. * * * Bedini & Arthur, the comedy jugglers, were at Keith's recently, and amused the audiences greatly. * * * Vernon, the ventriloquist, has introduced a new act in which his wife does some magic. " The act did very well here. * * * . At the Crescent Gardens theatre at Revere Beach last week, I witnessed a show given by Josef Yarrick. His act, though short, was so pleasing and his work so well done, that I went'a second time to see him. * * * Olivette, one of your New York magicians, is at Austin & Stones' museum, and making good. * * * The Boston Daily Globe gives the following account of a handcuff king who is accused of burglary: Haverhill, July 5.—George Everett Hubbard, better known as "Fra, the handcuff king," is a prisoner at Police Headquarters,

343

charged with attempted burglary. When the police had locked him up they learned his identity and feared that he would exercise his arts and get away. He was again searched but no implements of escape were found on him. About 1:30 this morning patrolman O'Donnell discovered two men at a rear door leading to Gammon & Broderick's drug store on Merrimac St. When he approached them, one, alleged to have beeu Hubbard, ran away. The officer took the other, Howell H. Brackett, to the police station and from him learned that Hubbard was the one who had escaped. Patrolmen Foster, Goodwin and Broderick found Hubbard in a lodging house on Pecker St. Both youths are held for the district court session in the morning. Hubbard has appeared in many of the smaller theatres, performing feats with handcuffs. Brackett has been employed as an usher at a theatre here, but previous to that had worked in the drug store where the attempt at burglary was made.

FROMIHE

INDYClTy BWLH The Jupiter Brothers or I Twins, as they bill themselves appeared at the | Olympic Theatre, where they presented one of the best magical cabinet acts ever seen at this house. They div.-..-, in cowboy attire; their cabinet is neat, with framework gilded; and they manage quickly to secure a committee. One brother seats himself on a chair, two feet high, and allows the committee to bandage and sew his arms to his leggins so that he cannot loosen them. The chair is then pushed into the cabinet, the curtain drawn, and immediately he has his hands free for they can be seen in all parts of his cabinet as he has holes cut into it especially for this purpose, above his head and to the sides. He moves them about so rapidly that one is bewildered to know where

344

THh. CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

all these hands come from. Their finish is spectacular and pleasing, for bouquets of flowers are produced from nowhere and distributed amongst the ladies. During their performance an usher passes about and distributes their souvenir cards, and this enables them to see how the brothers look at close range. Their act is bound to please any audience. * * * Mr. Harry Mountford, the secretary of the Board of Directors of the White Rats, came from New York to establish a permanent office in Chicago. He was met at the station by a large delegation of members and escorted to the Saratoga Hotel. From there they went sightseeing in automobiles. The following night Mr. Mountford addressed the largest gathering of White Rats ever assembled under one roof at the Colonial Theatre, after which all marched back to the Saratoga Hotel, where a banquet was tendered to his honor. A large number of our mysterious craft, who are members, participated in the festivities. * * * Mr. Frazeer, the mind reader, in connection with Mme. Bell, is playing at San Souci, in her temple of palmistry. * * * Mr. Holton, whose magical shop on La Salle St. is situated amongst the Bulls and Bears often receives calls from them for information and tricks with which to fool their fellow traders. * * * The Gunness farm can now be seen at Riverview for the sum of ten cents, where, formerly it has cost many a man his all to see it. Mr. Cass Andress has the mystery farm on his hands and crowds visit it all the time. Some of the relics shown are the door key, chickens, horses and wagon which. Mrs. Gunness drove to bring her victims to the farm, and a skeleton of one of the bodies taken from the ruins. The sheriff will do the lecturing. * * * A benefit at the International Theatre, in charge of J. F. Miller, was given for Herman Billik, the poisoner, whose execution was halted by Judge Landis, who gained fame in the Standard Oil case. Billik was known as a fortune teller and necromancer.

She, another mystery act for which Mr. Andress is responsible, is meeting with, everybody's approval at Riverview Park. * * * Christopher, who is touring the south, with his magical act, recently played at the Casino, Glendale Park, in Nashville, Tenn. * * * Your Chicago correspondent has opened a billiard and pool parlor at 110-12 E. Madison Street, where magicians who wish to practice with billiard balls will be welcomed at all times. * * * Mr. H. G. Wyinka, the insurance broker of New Zealand, who is deeply interested in magic, writes that lie anticipates visiting the United States. * * * As no mystery acts have appeared at the Majestic for some weeks past it strikes me that it is a good opportunity for someone to apply for work there. * * * Svengali, the hypnotist entertained the northsiders at the Columbia Theatre on Clark St. He appeared three times daily and changed his performance each night. Instead of having trouble in getting a committee, he experienced difficulty in keeping the crowds off the stage who wished to be placed under his wonderful magnetic power. * * * Van Hoven has been entertaining the Clark St. folks at one of the five cent theatres. He dresses as a soldier and does the egg bag, catching fish, billiard balls and some other tricks. His assistant enables him to intersperse much laughter into the act. His work entitles him to better engagements in the larger houses. * * * Under the nom de plume of Prof. Herbert Grant, a prominent Chicago physician is investigating and studying the art of mesmerism. Seems rather strange to employ such disguises for the sake of science. * * * Mr. David E. Stifft, the all-around magician, is quietly resting and practising his new sleights. He tries them on his wife who takes pleasure in being his constant audience.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

345

How to Disappear a Cage and a Person Placed Therein. By Joseph Buatier. The following description and illustrations form part of the inventor's United States Letters Patent, No. 462,391, dated November 3, 1891: "The present invention relates to a theatrical illusion wherein special means -are used by the operator for causing the disappearance of a cage and a person

of the apparatus after the disappearance, and Figs. 3 and 4 are side and plan views of a collapsible frame used in carrying out the trick. "A is a cage, and B is a wooden stool, which seems perfectly solid, but which in reality is composed of two parts, as hereinafter described. The operator having

placed therein without the public being shown tlie stool to the spectators places it able to detect how the disappearance is on a given place on the stage, stands the effected. cage on it, and the person who is to dis"In the accompanying drawings I have appear is made to enter the cage. (See illustrated the illusion and the apparatus Fig. 1.) The cage is then surrounded by •employed therein. a large veil (not shown in the drawings), "Figure 1 shows in elevation the person and shortly afterward, when the veil is . in position within a cage before the dis- taken away, the cage and its contents have appearance. Fig. 2 shows what remains disappeared.

346

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"The following is a description of the means employed to produce this illusion: The stool J5, which the operator has shown to the spectators, and which they suppose to consist <>f a single piece, is in reality composed of an exceedingly thin frame b, into which lits a block of wood V, flush

to permit of the block V being retained therein by a wedge action. "In order that when the cage is covered by the veil its disappearance in the trap C may not be noticed by the displacement

Fig: 3.

uL' the veil, I use a collapsible skeleton frame 1) (see Figs. ;3 and 4), which covers the cage and takes the form of the upper part thereof. This frame, supported in the manner to be presently described, is suspended in the air under the veil while the cage descends through the trap. This skeleton frame D is made of verv thin fine

A rare photograph of Bnuticr d<' Koltn. taken in 1875, and loaned for publication by Harry Kclliir.

with the frame all round. The stool being thus in two pieces, it will be understood that if it be placed upon a trap, such as that shown at C in the drawings, of the exact dimensions of the internal block V, the block and the cage placed upon it may be lowered, leaving the frame in place, which will still appear to the spectators as the complete stool. "In order that the stool thus constructed may be shown and touched by the public without their being able to see that it is in two parts, the inner walls of the frame b are tapered in such a manner as

iron or steel wire, so as to be invisible to the public. It may be previously placed on the cage and brought on the stage at the same time, together with a metallic

347

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. support, which serves to hold the frame, and which may disappear at the last moment. The skeleton frame may also be made of concentric circles of very fine steel wires connected one to the other by cotton thread. This frame, brought onto the stage at the same time as the cage, will be fixed to an invisible wire coming from the flies of the theatre, or, if preferred, it may be supported by the hand of the operator. The whole being thus covered by the veil, when the cage is lowered on the trap the veil continues to hang on the frame, thereby concealing the descent of the cage. On removing the veil tho operator will have to rapidly unhook the frame from the suspending wire, when such is used, and in unfolding the veil will let fall the frame onto the stage, where it will flatten out and thus lie rendered invisible to the spectators."' Josr/ili Buaticr.

Handcuff Kings and Hagicians! FOR.

SALE

The United States Navy Handcuff". Used in the Civil War by Sergeant of Marines, Lillv, who died with a pair on him. Onl}7 a few left. In good working order. Price complete with one key $2. Extra keys 25 cents a piece. WM. SCHONBERGER 1020 Prospect Avc, New York

A SPECIALTY! "The Four Change" MAGIC D ' E g e r d o n ' s

BRICKS V e r s i o n

Striking Innovations. Startling new Features Cover AND BRICKS Examined. Bricks unstacked after each change and Shown Separate Cover merely placed on bricks and removed. NO REVERSING FIVE COMBINATIONS

FOUR CHANGES

Everything complete, including easel, numbered cards and special instructions and suggestions for working.

Win. M. Fay of Kay ami Kellar. rinit
PRICE $7, mailed free any part V. 8. A. 4 Duke St., Adelphi, London, W. C.

OBNUM'S,

348

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Winttiii Place, ('incinnati, O.,

July 15th, 1908. Brother Magicians: I wish-to announce that I am devoting my entire time and energy to the production of Magical ''Feature Acts." My equipment consists of a complete' shop capable of handling either wood or metal in any quantity, a chemical and electrical laboratory, a complete modern printing plant, and a liberal exhibition space; all being under the personal .supervision of a first-class mechanic. It is my intention to construct not only single tricks but complete acts, including all material, apparatus, instructions, and "patter.'' I shall also be in a position to design and execute original designs in Stationery,. Cards, Posters, Dodgers, Programmes, Price Lists and other printing of use to the profession including several copyrighted advertising schemes. In addition to a Trade Catalogue (which ih being compiled) I shall issue monthly sheets covering new features as they are evolved. These sheets will be mailed upon request. Sincerely trusting that my reputation in the profession is sufficient, to gain your patronage, I am pleased to be. Yours Sincerely and Fraternally in M. U. M.,

Member S. A. M. Member Inner Circle. Pies.

FRANK \V. LINDSLEY.

Cineiinui ti

Society

[>f

Magicians

THE FOLLOWING ARE MY SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THIS MONTH. LINDSLEY'S HANDKERCHIEF ACT.—This is the Handkerchief Act designed for my past season. I t has been presented widely enough to .be generally known. Requires a performer of fair ability and runs IS to 20 minutes. This Act will be sent anywhere complete, including all apparatus, paraphernalia, instructions and "patter," for.' $15.00 T H E S P H I N X CARD COMBINATION1".—This Card Act contains the best tricks extant and is furnished complete with all apparatus, instruction's, and "patter," nicely and substantially boxed for $5.00 T H E "GOLDEN" COLOR CHANGE FOR HANDKERCHIEFS.—This color change is instantaneous and requires no skill or practice to work, it is the same trick as that worked by the "Great Goldin" in his "Bridal Chamber" illusion. Arranged for two handkerchiefs."$1.50: for three handkerchiefs, $2.00. LINDSLEY'S THIMBLE ACTS.—These are the acts designed by me and presented for the past 5 years with splendid effect; are the same as were performed by me recently at the social session of The S. A. M. The Acts are beautifully boxed with instructions, apparatus and "patter," Act No. 1, $1.00; Act No. 2, 75 cents. Act No. 2 will be sent only to persons purchasing, or who have already purchased Act No. 1. ' LINDSLEY'S RAINBOW TNIGMA — The'most mystifying, most brilliant, and most pretentious trick offered to magic for several years. The outfit consists of complete stage setting, all apparatus, paraphernalia, instructions, and "patter"; will be shipped F . O. B. Cincinnati, Ohio, securely packed in substajitial traveling case for $25.00 Address all orders or requests for further information concerning these acts and effects—or anV others-, vou may desire,-to FRANK W. LINDSLEY, : Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

349

Selbit's Magic Blocks The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co. MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK

CITY

Agents for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

The

Wizard

The Leading British Magic Monthly Magazine

WIZARD PUBLISHING CO. 4 St. Alban's Place

:

LONDON, W. C.

L'lULUSIONNISTE Le Seul Journal Francais devonne aux Magicians Paraissant tous les Mois-fonde" en 1901 abounement 8 frs. ($1.60) par an. Speciman Number, 0.75 Editeur : C A R O L Y , fabricant apparatus 1 Rue Cardinal Lemoine Paris

HENRY HARDIN & CO. SPECIAUZERS IN ADVANCED MAGICAL EFFECTS AND MODERN SPIRIT SECRETS We are in constant receipt of the most valuable foreign and Americ ideas and many of our productions are now being used by the foremost mystiners of the world. Send two cent stamp for " Memorandum of Magic " to

The City Magical Company MANUFACTURERS OF

magical Apparatus 1, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. En;. Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter &c. Applications for Lists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We Have the Latest European Noveltiei Manager : Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

"The Magician," The Monthly Magazine of Magic, Hypnotism, &c Price 4V2d., post free, Annual Subscription,4[6 EDITED BY WILL GOLDSTON

Modern Magic lucidly explained. PUBLISHERS

A. W. GAMMAGE, Ltd. Holborn, London E. C.

HENRY HARDIN & CO. BOX 1413,

NEW HAVEN, CONN., U. S. A. Kindly mention Conjurer's Monthly Magazine in amwering all Advertisement*

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

350

Latest Color Change of Handkerchiefs Two silks tied by corners immediately change color by passing hand over them. No skill required, done anywhere. Hands shown empty before and after, and only two handkerchiefs used. Price complete, $1.50. PKKSTOII CHANI.OH. The new card trick 10c. T H E PHANTOM BILLIARD BALL, $1.00. ECLIPSE CAKD RISING TRICK, 75C. ANY CARD CALLED FOR TAKEN FROM POCKET, $1.00. BALL AND EUG VANISHER, 80C. HANDKERC IIIKF FINC.ERS. 75C. and $1.50. MAGIC WAND, 25c. CAGES FROM HAT, set of three, $4.75. ONE HAND BALL TRICK, $1.00. HANDKERCHIEF VANISHER AND EXCHANC ER, $1.00. T H E ELECTRIC PACK OF CAKDS. for fancy shuffling, $1.20 and $1.40. T H E TWENTIETH CENTURY SERVANTS, works on a glass top table if necessary, the handiest yet, $1.50. Ching Ling Foo's PAPER TEARING STINT, complete, $1.00. EVERY PIECE OF APPARATUS FULLY GUARANTEED HINDOO WONDER BOWL, complete with all accessories, $-~>5.00. NEW FLYING CAGES, $25.00. CONRAM'S FLYING LAMP, $75.00. ABSOLUTELY NOVEL CABINET ILLUSION, our own

invention, $87.50. Lists and bargain sheets for stamp. THE W. G. EDWARDS CO., Manufacturing Magicians, Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada. Dept. A. Agents for the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine.

Magical

DE VERB Fabrieant I)'Appareils

De PHysique Amusante "De Lands Latest " " PICKITOUT " Best pjcket

Trues and Illusions pour Theatres, Etc.

trick with cards nut. price complete, 25c.

"EDWARD'S DIORAMIC CARDS." Any number of cards selected, placed back in pack and turn completely over where they are discovered face up amongst the backs of the others, cards shown front and back, shuffled, etc., ainither winner, price complete, 75c. OTHER DELAND TRICKS. X Ray card trick 75c. Phantom card trick 50c. Yogi Wonder cards 25c. Devils Own trick. Bicycle back 25c. "The Uuraiisking of ltobert Houdin," IIOIDINI'S new bonk, price $1.00. Lart-e illustrated catalogue, 15c. small cat. FREE. KAILKY & TIM I"I' CO.. Box 410. Carnbridseport. Mass.

Wanted Old magical catalogues and magical dealers' bargain sheets for my collection. Please state what you have and what you want for same. Harry Houdini, 278 W. 113th St., Xew York.

17, RUE SAULNIER, 17 PARIS. FRANCE Call here when in Paris. French , German and English fluently spoken.

351

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Coupon For Parlor Trick Competition

GOOD FOR ONE VOTE Readers are requested to fill in the blank spaces below. Mention the name of the contestant also the name of trick and in what number of the Conjurers' Magazine it appeared. I hereby vote for.. Name of Trick is Trick appeared in the issue of

BERT WIGGIN The Honk-honk Mystifier.

JHso Lightning Crayon

Sketch Mrtist.

Permanent Address, Trnfeilgnr Hotel,

115 East 14th Street,

New York.

JOE KNAPP, Exponent of Scientific Humbug. Permanent Address: Care Billboard, Cincinnati, O.

"Der

Zauberspiegel"

An Illustrated flonthly Jonrnal in German Language, by F W. COINRADI, Editor (Contents: Modern Parlor Magic. Card Tricks, Illusions' Mnemotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, etc., etc.) Vol. IV. Subscription of 6 months post free $1.25 25c Single Copies, post free -

Horsterscher Verlag', PUBLISHER* Berlin, S. W. 68, Fredrichstrasse

2O2

MAGIC Monthly Magazine Eighth successful year of publication. Contains explanations of all the latest tricks .•1 ml stage illusions. We will send i\ sample ropy with a complete table of contents for the whole eight volumes ami our new innmuioth illustrated conjuring catalogue

f o r l."i c - c - n l s .

Stanyon & Co., Dept. 0.. Solvent Road, West Hamstead, London, N. W., England.

PROFESSOR AMBROSE. The Greatest Living Hypnotist and Wizard of the East. Permanent address, 265 Dalhousin street, Rangoon, India.

New! Just Invented! PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 for 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St., New York

For Sale The Famous Ellison Library of Magic and Allied Arts. Over 2000 books, pamphlets, magazine articles, scrapbooks and patents, in all languages. There are (i scrapbooks, 10 books of magazine articles, all the magical magazines ever published. One catalogue of the library. Also 30 working models of all the famous illusions presented in the last fifty years. Harry Kellar offered $2,000.00 in 1902. The whole is contained in 24 Globe-Wernicke bookcases—light oak—just as it stands complete, $3,000.00. All communications must be made to Martinka & Co., 493 Sixth Ave., New York. Headquarters of Magicians in America.

HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS A REAL NOVELTY. A new visible and instantaneous change of water to ink, combined with an invisible and invincible transposition of a glass of ink and a glass of water. The performer shows a tumbler partly filled withjink which is placed upon a stand or table and covered with a handkerchief. He then takes another tumbler in which is a similar quantity of clear water. This latter he gives to any one of the company to hold. Please note that it may be held by anyone—is not covered over in any way whatever and is in full view of both the person holding the glass and every member of the ' audience. The performer next announces his intention of magically causing a transformation to take place. He gives the word of command, "CHANGE," and instantly the water changes into opaque ink. He then proceeds to the other glass and on removing the handkerchief to the astonishment of the audience the ink is seen to have changed to water. This effect is really magnificent and the trick will "electrify" all who see it. It is unbelieveable and has all the appearances of a miracle. Send for it at once. Price 10/6. Post free 11/3. Complete. Canada and U. S. A. $3 (carriage to be paid on receipt). HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS, 35 New Oxford Street; W. C, also (City Depot) 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C, London.

Nowon Sale!

The First Authentic History of Magic Ever Published. Written by the World Famous Handcuff King, Harry Houdini. Before this book was ready for the printer twenty years were spent in constant travel and search for material and verification of facts. The most expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of magic ever placed before the public, , , —The reproduction of the programs forms a collection which it is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world. No magical library or collection can possibly be complete without this work. Price $1.OO. Postage IS Cents Extra For Sale by all Magical Dealers and by

CONJURERS' MAGAZINE PUBLISHING COMPANY 278 West 113th Street, New York City

Entered as second-class matter September 12, 1906, at the Post Office of New York, N. Y., under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879-

Washington Irving Bishop How to Produce a Three Headed Woman. The Mysterious Paper Rings Silent Second Sight Expose of Spiritualistic Manifestations Hall of Fame in Mystery Reading and Rubbish Our Mail Bag Questions Answered Barter and Exchange Jottings and Jumblings Etc.. Etc.

AUGUST, 19O8 FINAL ISSUE OF VOLUME II.

354

T H E CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Mammoth 212 Page Illustrated

Magic Catalogue

Up-to-date, with over 3 3 fall pa^" half-ton > cats of leading conjurers,past and present just out. Nothing like it ever • Free List.

J^SSl^^

issued. Send 50c for same. No

Fifty-six page ^jRI^^SBw appendix

catalogue

of

new

tricks, etc., 10 cents. W. D. LEROY, BOSTON SCHOOL OF MAGIC Jiastem Headquarters for Magicians

1O3 Court Street, Boston, Mass. Eastern Reptrse>itali~,>e of the "Society oj Amctican Magicvins "

Cable Address: "Avengment, London." Telephone No. 1919 Gerrard

Members T. V. and C. A. A. :

ANGER & BAUER . -- V

-

AGENTS FOR

English, Bmerican anb Continental IDaviet^ Ertistes 50 RUPERT STREET, W. English and Continental Representatives for Messrs. A. BonSftUci an.l Frank E. Fillis's Enterprises in South Africa.

I f"V 1VJ l""\ f \ IVJ L_\**/ I X U \ J l l )

Harry Day THE, AGENT OF ENGLAND Booking all Big Headliners, for all Big Tours Can give any good Act, Magic, Illusion, Mystery, etc., contracts for long run in England. Shall be pleased togra it unknown acts trial shows at any of the Music Halls under my control. Write, stating what you do, and how much you want for doing it. Effin^ham House, Arundle Street, Strand, London, England ..

Jennie Jacobs Agency Knickerbocker Theatre Building, Suite 735

New York City

PHONE lO55-38tb

Booking for every Music Hall in America, England and the Continent Traveling Representatives : MISS PAULINE COOK and THEQ. 'HARDEEN Can place good acts, novelties of all kinds at short notice Kindly mention Conjurers' Monthly Magazine when answering advertisement!

0

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

355

Tlieo Weiss Hardeen The Peerless Police Perplexer ** * SOON TO PLAY KEITH TOUR

BITTE,

ARNOLD DE BIERE

beachten meine neue Adresse:

CARL WILLMANN Hamburg 6, Germany Merkurstrasse 34 (Zoll-Vereins-Niederlage) Manufacturer of Magical Apparatus, Illusions and Mysteries. Send for my latest catalogue to my new address.

The always Working Magician, introducing the newest of the best illusians. Prolonged four times at the London Alhainbra.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

356

CONJURERS* MONTHLY

MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY

The Conjurers' Magazine Publishing Co, 278 WEST 113TH NEW

STREET

YORK CITY

TELEPHONE: 1514 MORNINGSIDK

Per Year $1.00 Single Copies, 10 Cents

on

Advertising rates payable in advance, made known application to above address.

The entire contents of the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced either wholly or in part without permission. The magazine la for sale by all reputable dealers of conjuring apparatus. A limited number of back Issues can be secured at ten cents eacb, by addressing the publication office, as above. Foreign representatives—London, England, Theo Hardeen, care Anger & Bauer. 50 Rupert street, W.; Moscow, Russia, T. Bolin; Vienna. Austria, Ottokar Fischer; Teheran, Persia. James Leabman. Contributions on all topics of Interest to magicians are welcomed. When payment is expected, the price must be marked plainly on the manuscript; otherwise It will be regarded as complimentary. No manuscripts returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope.

1 blurt ungrateful truths, if suck they be, That none maij need to say them after me.

VOL.

II.

LOWELL.

AUGUST 15, 1908

No. 12

GENTLE READER. This mode of addressing you is one induced by delving in old books and manuscripts, some of which have been hundreds of years of age. The appellation has often brought to mind the really kind regard and appreciativeness which the author must; have felt for his readers, in those olden times, and we thought it befitting at this moment when circumstances compel us to announce to you that the CONJURERS' MAGAZLXE and our work

of love will have to be discontinued for some time to come. Let us assure you that though sometimes arduous, the publication of thismagazine has afforded us many pleasures, and it certainly has been gratifying to have been the recipient of hundreds of unsolicited letters in which we have received assurances that the pleasures of our readers and ourselves have been mutual. As stated in our salutatory announcement we have been steadfast in our endeavors to always do what was right, and to particularly place before the magicians of the world, the real history of the past and present magicians. The many who have been in accord with our endeavors, will, within a very few years, positively have the pleasure of seeing the others acknowledge that the things we did were not done with ulterior motives. To recapitulate the many things we have done would take too much space, but we want to assure you that the publication of this magazine has enabled us to do many charities which we otherwise would not have been enabled to do. # # * Those who have been successful will find that after all the real pleasures in life consist only in endeavoring to do all you can to elevate mankind and to help others. *

•

•

Harry Houdini finds that he must sail to Europe on Aug. 18, 1908, on the S. S. Kaiser William I I , to fulfill engagements for which he contracted some vears ago, and which can no longer be postponed. The principles and endeavors of this magazine cannot be carried out without his full cooperation, so we thought it best to stop its publication until a more befitting time

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. when he can be permanently established in this country. * * * We wish to add just a few words to our contemporaries, and they are that •"'we admire them all who fought us fair," and hope that they long will be able to continue their useful task (now momentarily denied to us) of editing their respective publications. * * *

357 VOTES

Morfitt Professional Lohmer . . . Ariihci m

. 2442 .2400 . 1320 . .218 . .210 . . 96

..

James Burgess

We especially thank our subscribers for their support and hope they will further aid us by at once writing to us for a return of the money due them for advanced subscriptions. *

H=

*

Oar closing remarks befittingly belong to our numerous contributors to whom we personally'extend our heartfelt thanks and esteem.

Parlor Trick Competition Awards Our Parlor Trick Competition has •ended, and the prize winner is declared to be Mr. James Morfitt of Bradford, England, who had 42 votes more than any •other contestant. The first prize of ten •dollars has been mailed to Mr. Morfitt. Strange to say the second prize was won by an unsigned competitor, "By a Professional." This unknown sent in his trick, but failed £o send his. address. The •envelope bears the post office mark of Norwich, Conn., May 20th, 1908. If he will kindly send his name and address we will forward to him the second prize, which is $5. - Honorable mention is credited to Frank Lohmer, Balph Arnheim, N. W. James and Clinton Burgess, to each of whom we will send a bound volume of 24 magazines of the two past years. The votes are counted and summarized as follows:

JMIIICS Murfitt of Bniilfnril. our Tininr Tri<-k COIUIH'1 it ion.

Tin- winner of

ERRATUM. Tn the May issue of the CONJURERS* MAGAZINE on page 274, through a typographical error in the letter from Ben Ali Bey (Max Auzinger), it was stated that in 1888 De Kolta visited Hamburg. The date should have been 1880. Likewise we quoted the Hamburger Tribune of December 8, 1888, when, in fact, it should have read The Hamburger Tribune of December 8, 188G.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Edward P. Kingston n i s s t y l e nf w r i t i n g slunv b i l l s w a s s o T h e g r e a t e s t a n d Host c a p a b l e m a n a g e r of m e n of m y s t e r y . i e d bj* T o b y H a m i l t o n w h o is s u p p o s e d t o bo t b e b e s t sh<<\v I>;11 w r i t e r in tlie n n n n l ' b r l l l i u n t " t h a t it w a s of c i r r u s h M c r y . l i e :iNn t r a v e l e d w i t h A r I l i u g s t o n c h a p e r o rnod J o h n H e n r y A n d e r s o n t h r o u g h E n g l a n d a n d A u s t r a l i a . t e n m s W a r d . in*. I.y . R o b e r t H e l l e r a n d s e v e r a l of t b e l e s s e r l i g h t s (if tin- m a g i e a l fraternity. The portrait (1 a b u v e is f r u u i tin 1 o r i g i n a l w o o d e u t w h i e h I l i n g s t u u u s e d d u r i n g h i s l i f e t i m e . FTnrry I l o u d i n i o b t a i n e d it f r o m H e n r y E v a n s E v a n i o n , w h o u n e a r t h e d i t f r o m t h e r u i n s <_>r a n o l d p r i n t i n g s h o p in London, E n g i a m l .

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

359

Washington Irving Bishop A Master Mind Reader HARRY HOUDINI Xew Yoik, and when she found out that (Continued) her son was dead and that an autopsy Dr. Irwin stilled the excitement by was performed upi.n him, she became saying it was only a cataleptic lit and greatly upset, for she thought and claimthat Bishop would sunn be well. ed that instead of heing dead, her son Bishop regained consciousness after a had simplv fallen into a cataleptic state, short while and in his weakened state inand that the attending physicians, missisted on repeating the trick as he seemed taking tliis for death, had performed an not to be satisfied with the manner in autopsy. She furthermore claimed that which he had performed it. this was unlawful, inasmuch as no one BY

This they allowed him to do, thinking that it would quiet him. He then was taken up stairs in an unconscious state, undressed and put to bed. At four o'clock he became comatose and Dr. C. C. Lee, who had been called in, left saying that the case was hopeless. He died at noon and his remains were sent to the undertaking establishment of Wm. H. Hawkes on Sixth Ave., where an autopsy was performed in the afternoon by Dr. Ferguson, a noted Xew York pathologist, who found "nothing to indicate the cause of Bishop's death." The brain was intensely congested, the other organs about normal, and the cause of death ascribed to the result of the great nervous strain to which the mind reader had subjected himself in performing his last feat. The brain was a little larger than usual for a man of Bishop's size, weighing 40 ounces. The gray matter was unusually dark in color but there was no malformation or other physical indications to show that the brain was other than that of any ordinary man. A certificate of death from Hysterocatalepsy was made out. *

*

*

•

Having received notice that her son was seriously ill, Mrs. Bishop hastened to

Washington Irving Itishop in his twenty-first year.

had given them. permission to perform such an autopsy, and that the law also prevented the performance of an autopsy until a specified time'after death, which waSTiot observed in- this case. • At the Coroner's inquest evidence was forthcoming which showed that Bishop always carried a letter upon his person, prohibiting the performance of any au-

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

topsv upon Ins IMMIV. This letter, it was claiined, in sunic inyslcrious liiiiniier had disappearcd.

Mr. Washington Irving Bishop, The Thought Reader News. June 23, 188a.

Dr. J. Edwin Briggs testified having attended the mind reader while suffering from cataleptic attacks in which all evi-

deuces of death were unmistakably manifest, and swore to the fact that two practicing physicians of Xcw York. Drs. Ford

at St. J a m e s Hull.

From The

Illustrated

and Leech, had pronounced Bishop dead beyond a doubt. This was in 1873, at which time he lay in a trance for 12 hours.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. "We applied all the dili'ereiit tests, and Drs. Ford and Leech insisted that Bishop was dead. '"I remained with Bishop 12 hours and did nothing for him and at the end of l'-i hours he gave a convulsive shudder and in 40 minutes he had recovered from the attack."' The defence tried to break down Dr. Briggs, but he said lie had written the facts at the time in his book and had the notes with him.

861

Drs. Jrwin. Ferguson and I lance acted in good faith in performing the autopsy upon the body of W. Irving Bishop, we would state that Dr. I ruin through zealousness acted in sume haste respecting the direction of the performance of the autopsy/' Mrs. Eleanor Bishop later on had the men involved indicted fur misdemeanor for having performed an autopsy without permission, hut the men never were brought to trial on this charge. (The End

"I insisted that Bishop was not dead because I had been treating him and knew he was subject to these lits. There was absolutely no sign of life." J)r. 11\\ in said (Sun, May 1711 I , 1S!>!»). "My action in this affair was dictated by the regard I had for Mr. Bishop, and what 1 did I considered rav duty. Bishop was not a fraud and the method of his death proves that he was what he claimed to be. "I did not know Dr. Ferguson personally, he was suggested to me by Dr. Lee as a well-known pathologist, and I summoned him in the interest of science. ''The brain changes more quickly after death than any other portion of the body and had we waited any longer the benefit of the autopsy would have been lost. For the trouble I have taken in this case I have received no thanks and I have been called murderer and vile names. "I think that an examination of the body will clearly show that the man was dead before the post-mortem." The jurv's iinding, which 1 have copied from the Xew York Sun of May 30ih 1889, is as follows: "We, the juiy, agree: "First, that }Y. Irving Bishop died at the Lambs' Club. "Second, cause of death was coma. "Third. "We further find that while

Max Itorol Konorah Tin1 master majneian. traveler, linguist :nnl I'resiili-nt nf Hi'- liermaii Arlistcn Liijie. A I>r 1 Hi :i n t ami honorable mil 11 - Wli'-n a number of .managers otlieially s t a t e d Ihiil li" member of the German Artisteu Lope would si-i'iire engagements iii ..their various t h e a t r e s mill-** ItiTol was removed flop)-'the presidency', lie at mire cnlli'il a specijil ineel FlA&rat which tlr- members voted Hint he retain his selft for they knew it w a s best for the interests of all to be under his guidance.

I.ogrenia Sr.—T,ogreliia Jr. Logrenia s r . . was the original English magician who traveled with Sam Sharpley's show in the seventies. Logrenia Jr., is his son and is now known a s All Zadi, the Oriental magician.

362

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

How to Produce a Three Headed Woman By John F. Blake. The following description and drawings form part of the author's Letters Patent, No. 273,445, dated March G, 1883 : "This invention consists in the combination of two mirrors, which are placed together at an angle of from sixty to ninety degrees and provided at their inner edge with an opening large enough to admit the head of a person and to exhibit a portion of the body.

gether at an angle of from sixty to ninety degrees. If the apparatus is to be used by grown persons, the mirrors must be about six feet high and three feet wide each. The inner edge of each mirror is cut away to such an extent that when the two mirrors are placed together an opening is left large enough to admit the head of a person and to exhibit a portion of the body, as shown in Fig. 2. The front and top edges of the two mirrors are concealed by a curtain, C, or by any other

*£ — • ,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the plane x xt Fig. 2. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. In the drawings, the letters A B designate two mirrors, which are placed to-

means. If a female person, for instance, stands close to the corner formed by the two mirrors and she passes her head through the opening made for this purpose, a three-headed woman is exhibited to the spectators in front, each mirror showing the reflection of the natural head, while that portion of the body which projects through the opening in the inner edges of the two mirrors is also reflected by both mirrors, so as to show a full body to the spectators." John Frggctter

Blair.

T H E CONJURERS MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

363

The Mysterious Paper Rings BY S. WILSON BAILEY Take three different colored pieces of tissue paper (preferably white, red and

end 1! to the opposite side of the end A, thereby forming a ring with one twist of

blue) and cut a strip from each about thirty inches long and one inch wide.

black strip the paper. Finally take of paper, twist the end I> twice and paste

A

B

A

B

For purposes of demonstration, the colors employed in the accompanying illustrations are grey, white and black. After the strips have been cut to the required size take the grey strip of paper and paste the end B to the opposite side of the end A. Then take the white strip of paper and paste the opposite side of the

that end to the opposite end of A, thereby forming a ring with a double twist of the paper. By cutting these rings in two with scissors along their length, the result will be that the grey ring becomes two rings; the white one long ring, and the black two rings linked together.

Wrinkles for Wonder Workers BY WILL EDWARDS SILENT SECOND SIGHT

Effect. The performer introduces his assistant, and at the same time has any number of persons come upon the stage. After subjecting a bag of opaque material to a thorough examination, he places it over the lady assistant's head and completely covers her. The impromptu assistants then walk amongst the audience and collect articles which are brought upon the stage, where they are placed upon a table. A person is requested to

touch any particular object and the lady immediately names the article. This is repeated a.s long as the performer sees fit. Then any word or sentence is written on a blackboard, which is on the stage behind the assistant, who immediately reads the words or message, or solves mathematical problems. A small writing desk is now placed at the side of the stage and a person is requested to write any sentence he wishes on a piece of paper, using his own material. The lady immediately writes an exact copy of his mes-

364

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Very little explanation is needed to make perfectly clear this popular and

are three breaks or small pipes running • off in an upward direction and terminating in small holes in the flooring of the stage. These holes are not noticed, and if necessary can be at the edge of a rug or carpet. A tube is fastened at the back of the assistant's hair in such a manner that it is completely covered, and yet by a slight turn of her head she can connect her ear with this. The tube is carried down the lady's back, inside of her stocking, to a special shoe, which has an extended and hollow heel which is cov-

mystifying act. A glance at the drawing will show practically the whole thing. and it is very doubtful if this particular method has been explained before. ,The lady is really covered with the sack, which is made of some stout and opaque material. A speaking tube is used which is arranged in a novel manner. The mouthpiece is in the wings, and arranged so as to go either beneath the stage or if a carpet is used beneath that. The first method offers the best results. The pipe is continued, along under the stage completely from one side to the other. There

ered on the bottom side- with soft cushion rubber. The connection is made by the lady placing the heel of this feked shoe over the hole in the stage. She can then hear the slightest whisper that is communicated to her by the assistant who is stationed in the wings. This man notes all the articles that are brought on the stage and at the proper moment communicates the necessary information to the medium. The articles touched on being held up are easily discernable to him from his place of concealment. The message is worked by means of the pad sys-

sage upon the blackboard, and also writes an answer to it if it happens to be a question. She tells the suite value of selected cards, throws of dice, and numerous other things that go to make up an act of this description, and the one puzzling point is that she walks about on the stage all the time, and docs not sit in a chair, furthermore she is really and positively klindfolded. Exploit/it ion.

THE CONJURERS1 MONTHLY MAGAZINE. tern. The assistant in the wings secures possession of a carbon copy from beneath the writing table (of course from the rear and communicates it to the medium.) The cards can be forced, or the person selecting same can be placed in such a position that the man at the speaking tube can get a glance at the cards.. The lady occasionally shifts her position from one to the other connection in the floor of the stage. A slight outward movement of the hands allows the sack to be pushed far enough from the hoiiv to allow her to see the floor of the stage and so place the heel on the required spot. This method is an improvement on the one where the tube is fixed to the chair on which the lady sits in one position all the time throughout the act, and should appeal to those who are interested in second sight performances. *

£

:!'-

AN EXPOSE OF SOME SPIRITUALISTIC MANIFESTATIONS. As St. Louis. ]\I<>.. seemed to be a hot bed of clairvoyants and spiritualists, we recently sent a representative of the CoxjURiiii.s' MAGAZINE to investigate some of their methods. On arriving at one of the given addresses, she reported that she was ushered into a small room at the door of which she was received by a suave individual who asked her the nature of her business and then informed her that the great K was busy and "AYmild she not please be seated unt'l he became disengaged." After she became seated he entertained her by plying her with numerous questions and finally advised her not to ask the great K any questions. After waiting a few moments more, she finally was ushered into the presence of the clairvoyant, who received her while he remained seated with his head

365

apparently innocently resting against the back of his chair. This attitude struck her as peculiar, and on closer observation she noticed that his ear was pressed against one of the knobs of his chair,

which undoubtedly was connected to a speak ng tube, through which his confederate imparted to him all the information he obtained from our representative while seated in the outer reception room. .She further learned that if a male subject came for a seance, he was first invited to hang his coat on a rack provided for this purpose, ere he became seated in the reception room, and some one would then search his pockets for additional information. These means of securing information were of advantage in ease the pellet substitution could not be worked upon the unsuspecting subject. i'fi

%

i'fi

Another medium gave her a slate writing manifestation, which was carried out under the following condition: She was

asked to seat herself at a table on the side opposite to the medium. The me-

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

366

dium had a slate concealed in the front part of her dress, and upon this was written something more or less revelent to any question which might be asked. In case the prepared message was too irrevelent, the medium would excuse herself for a few moments and leave the room to write a more appropriate message on her slate. The subject was asked to hand an empty slate underneath the table to the medium, who took the prepared slate from her dress and substituted it for the empty one which the subject had handed to her underneath the table, and placed the empty slate in her dress, from which the prepared slate was secured. Then permission was given to the subject to take the slate from underneath the table and reread the answer or message. *

'-H %

The Hall of Fame in the World of Mystery BY HARRY HOUDINI (The First Authentic Historian of Magic.)

In 1835 Wiljalba Friki'll gave an entire evening's performance without using any apparatus. He therefore was the first magician to discard apparatus. The one-time magician, Belzoni, turned out to be an Egyptian explorer and now is known to fame and history as one of the greatest explorers and travelers. The Bamberg family is the only Euro-

pean family that can trace magicians through four generations of its sons. * * * The Basch family carried the largest portable magical theatre ever built. Among the best known Bartholomew Fair magicians were Flockton, Conus, Boaz, Boulevard, Fawkes, Jonas, Moon, Gyngell, Lane, Palatine, Belzoni, Hoare Comus and Webster. * * * Ivudarz is known as being the best friend a traveling magician can find m Australia. * * * Robert Heller was the most versatile magician that ever lived. * * * Katterfelto was the most bombastic advertiser known to the history of magic. * * * Cagliostro's life and history is the most romantic in the history of magic. == : * * D. D. Home performed a number nt spiritualistic manifestations which have never been exposed. * * * Breslaw, the German magician, for forty years traveled in England and earned for himself the best reputation of any foreign magician in England. * * * ' Baudenbacher was the maker for tricks. * * *

best

cabinet

F. Becker, The High Hat Magician, left a trail of broken and smashed hats in Russia and Siberia. * * * The Davenport Brothers were the originators of the sensational rope-tying tests.

THE CONJURBRS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE Krieger is oiu1 bust present day eiip and ball j u i c i e r .

» »„ Katie King is best known for the m.ysterious act known as the Katie King Mystery. *

*

367

Kobcrt-Jlundin is liest known for takg other magicians' tricks and claiming them as his in\ cut ions.

m

* -.:= * D r E n i ( l t i : i s known as the present day champion card manipulator.

*

. , . >,:

. . . :,-:

j. >,:

Anna Eva Fay is the lest known present day female mystilier.

T. Bolin, of Moscow, Russia, is known as the inventor of the moving pip card.

The Georgia Magnet created the most unheard-of sensatim until the time of her exposure. * * *

Mont. M. Wood is the greatest amateur magician and inventor of modern times. * * *

Signora Giradelli was the best known female fire-eater. ... ... t

A. lloterberg is the only magical dealer wJio published a hook from which a large income was derived. * * *

Ivan Ivanitz I'habert was the king of all lire kings. He actually entered an oven into which steaks, and fowl- were placed and would remain there nntii they were well roasted. t. * * Carl Hcrz was the first king of cards * * * Ching Ling Foo was the best kiiown and most successful C'hrnese magician who visited America. % * * „.

.

'

IIcrr nu

^

^

O1|(

Ernst

Ba

* c h i s t h e wealthiest apl'^atu* manufacturer in the

J-

Joseph Bnatier (de Kolta) was conceded to be the inventor of the most practicaj m a g i p a l tncks_ H e ig c r e d i f e d w j t h having invented the folding flowers. * * * C. DeYere oT Paris is the oldest magical dealer in the world. In the seventies he was a celebrated magician.

.

AV. E. Robinson is the l>e>t kno'Wi'J imitator of ('hing Ling Foo.

-

ical

s*s

*

*

*

The Ingleby family claimed to do more on their programs than any of their contemporaries.

s|s

Melville is the runniest burlesque mao'ician of our present times. H=

To Ben Ali Bey is conceded the invention of Black Art. although J. X. Maskelyne credits the invention to Buatier de

sj:

%

*

Alexander AWver. is the strongest magiw h o evei. live,L H e originally wa3 s t r o n g m a n a n d j n h i g flct w o u l d " d r i v e

cian a

a tenpenny nail into a three inch pine hoard with his bare fist. * * * John Henry Anderson was the greatest advertiser in the history of magic.

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THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Compars Herrmann gave more to charity than any other magician, with perhaps the exception of John Henry Anderson. * * * Max Berol is known as the best letter writer and world-wide traveler in the history of magic.

M. Hartz took more things out of a borrowed hat than any other magician, * * * Bosco was known as the greatest cup and ball juggler of his time.

Prof. Hoffman's books on magic created more magicians than all the other magical books combined. * * * Prof. S. S. Baldwin traveled more extensively and gathered more jewels than any magician of modern times. :!: * * Leipholz was the original seller of the box tricks for which Xurnberg has since become famous. * * * Savren and Kvan ion were the greatest collectors of magical literature of their times. , * * * Herr Alexander Heiinbiirger. who is ninetv-one years of age, is the oldest magician alive to-dav. :: * * Halle and Wiegleib were the greatest writers on magical subjects. * . . Kellar is the first American magician who has retired independently wealthy and without a desire to die in harness. * • * J. N. Maskelyne is the greatest presenter of illusions of modern times. * * * Pinchbeck was the greatest magical mechanician who ever lived.

C'legg was known as the most eccentrie magician of his time. He ordered beer to be drunk and dances to be played at his funeral. * * * T. Xelson Downs is known as the greatcst coin manipulator. * * * Horace Goldin is known as the first magician who presented a two-hour magical performance in thirty minutes. * * -* Doebler was the best beloved magician in the history of magic,

Fawkes is the best known magician in the history of magic. Pinnetti was the greatest magician who •rer lived. _

J. X. Hofzinser was the greatest card trickster that ever lived.

Monhaupt is remembered as the only millionaire magician. * * * Isola Freres, the one-time magicians, are famed as great music hall managers. * * * The Hindoo magician is famed as a cup and ball performer, and for the preposterous tricks he is supposed to perform, * * The English magician is known for his excellent patter and generalship. * * The French magician is known for his polished manners. * * * The German magician is known for surrounding his tricks with poetry and plots. * * * The American magician is known as a epeciaiizer.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

369

PAST MYSTIFIERS OF NOTE

Iyouis Haselmeyer. Born In Vienna Sept. IS, 183n. a t which place lie also d:cd on April 10, 188.">. Francis J . Martinka :it imp time was his partner and business uianiifcr and fnrnislieil him with bis a p p a r a t u s for a tone uf Africa.

Anton Kratky-Baschik. B
in 1S^7 ami dieil in 1.s^7 in tin- eil.v "f liis hirlli. II« earrii d the' cosllicst and (iuest appai-atiis ever seen, slill he n ver pi; yt'tl in Hie larj.re cltii-s, and never had a hisin^ week.

P r o f , l^ittilio z.

r>uin in n < ' u i i i m i.-v.o aiiii d i e i l a l i o u t

1S75. His daughter became the adopted child of Merr Krnst Kaveh of Hi'iin"ver nnd is ruaTi<>d to the son of the r.rmer (Jovernor's brother, Sir Mahse.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

370

PRESENT MYSTIF1ERS OF NOTE

/• I

A iicn-ti-iiil nf t h a t well known U u s s iia

JI

Muns.

A.

cli'VcT

cnhjnr, r

land.

\iina Eva Fay, mystitier during

w h i r l ! w a s t a k p n nf her lirst t r i p t h r o u g h

Klind. jir

ori^innt<>r from Geneva. Switzer-

M m i s . J . C a n d y , e d i t o r of t h e P a r i s I l l u s i o n i s t , a u i o n l l i l y iiiii K az.iif d e v o t e d t ifiie a n d i l l u s i o n s H e is ( "levrr m a g i c i a n w i t h a special l i k i n g lor hllllard ball inaiiiliiilation.

a

\V. I-:. Kt.liinsnn IChmij; lAng Soo). who has had siu-h a success in Europe with his novel act in which he is assisted by Mrs. Dot. P. Robinson.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

371

WONDER of WONDERS! MONSIEUR

BOUVELARD,

THE KING'S CONJURER, in modern Times made mo/e famous every Place ihrough which W HOhe has passed, than Mum its [Circe's mighty Son) or the Witch of Lndor their Habitations of old : He has had the Honour of exhibiting before their Majesties and the Royal Family at Windsor, and the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford: He has also had the Pleasure of performing before His Royal Highness the Prince ot Wales, the Dukes of York and Clarence-, at Lord Bartymore's Masquerade, at Wargrave, in the Year 1789, aaid is now arrived here; the Mother of Wonders, ' the NurbC that gives suck to the Saplings oC*GeniusT to complsto by her Appro•balion' that Fame he is so anxious to immortalize : If Jonas had Merit, Pinein astonished, or Breslaw pleased, what shali be said of him, who, to the Knowledge of all they poscessed, adds the inexhaustible Combinations of his own Genius, assisted •by all the Advantages that Years of Travel, Profundity of Thought, and philosophical Experiments, can give : It was therefore not without Reason that a certairi .Nobleman called him the King of Magic, and a crowned Head supposed that Proserpine had favoured him, and he was appointed Pluto's Deputy on Earth. He visits cveiy Day Friar Bacon's Tomb, and swallows some of the Dust that covers the Bones of that famed Sorcerer. His Performances will be found more numeious and more pleasing than any ever seen in this or any other Country. •To conclude with his astonishing Balances, in an elegant Room, at ,_ "The Doors to be opened at and begin at Monsieur Bouvclard will explain a few of his Deceptions to the Company, in the Course of the Evening. Front Seats, One Shilling; Back Seats, Six-Fence, during the Fair. *»* Peisons taught Deceptions on reasonable Terms.—Ladies and Gentlemen may have a private Exhibition at their own Houses, by giving O n e Etay's Notice :—The Pi ice F I V E G U I N E A S .

JVL B O U V E L A R D will give the most occnlar Demonstralions that he is (he Original of his Profession. Bonnor's Bristol Journal of the 20th of September, 1788, will convince the Public that he fairly beat the famous HIGH MAN P A L A T I N E , at the Bush Tavern, Bristol, without any Lucre or private Advjr.tjri, as the Profits of (he Right were given to Qjt Marine Scdcty. M. Palatine bav:rg challenged M. Bouvelard, their Merits were thenfully investigated; therefore-, he vay respttlfully begs'.hiPatronage of than Ladies and Gentlemen mho woy tlcase to hiwur km.

T h e a b o v e is a r a r e p r o g r a m nf B o u l e v a r d , t h e g r e a t E n g l i s h cnnjurirr. w h o d e f e a t e d H i ^ h i n a n Palatine in a n e x h i b i t i o n of s k i l l . l ' a l i . t i n e ' s g r e a t e s t t r i c k in 1 7 N S WHS i " c u t a ruffle f n n n a n c n t l c i n a n ' s shirt ami r e s t o r e ilie s h i r t ii^ain in live i n i n u U s : h e d i e d ir, 17!'l. :unl in 17M~i HiMih-varil w a s h e r a l d e d a s a sens.ilii n . . | pi rfnr'iH r in I l a n d y ' s X. \v C i r c u s , S t r a n d . Luiiiluii. — i n in tin- H a r r y lloiiilini Ciillection.

372

THfc. CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

READING

AND

REVIEWING BOOKS AND THING

IBISH FROMTHE PRESS

WISE, AND

OTHERWISE

caps and badges and loaded with surprise packages and souvenirs. Their faces denote hilarity and supreme happiness. Our good natured contemporary, "The London Wizard,"' in speaking of the flash light photograph (which was reproduced in a recent issue of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE) of the last annual dinner of the Society of American Magicians, mentions a lack of floral decorations and humorously notes the presence on the tables of our National beverage, ice water. We wish to make a few explanatory remarks about the neat, clean and sober picture which the flashlight disclosed. The committee, which was composed of old and experienced diners, wanted the members to have a photograph as a remembrance of this historical event, so the photograph was ordered to be taken before the viands, wines and temperance drinks were served. Had our worthy Editor of the "Wizard caught a glimpse of the diners an hour after the photograph was taken, he, in conjunction with some of our best friends and most ardent admirers, would have beseeched us not to reproduce the photograph. Knowing the good nature of our New York newspaper men, we are taking the liberty of reproducing a portraval of two of the more prominent ones from The New York "World, which depictures the men going home "behung" with paper

SNAPPERCAPS.

Hoy MeCardell and Artist Mortilm r of the New York World doing the vanishing act after the S. A. M. dinner .

We assure our contemporary that we all had a glorious time and do wish that lie had been with us in our festivities. We further suggest that he acknowledge the praiseworthy foresight of the committee in knowing that the proper time to have the picture taken was before and not after the dinner had been served.

THE CONJURERS'

MCJNTHJLY

MAGAZINE.

373

This, our last issue, also completes volume

II

of

the

CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

We therefore bound a limited number of volumes one and two,' thinking that many of our readers would like to possess them and are now prepared to send them to any address in any part of the world, postage free, for the sum of one dollar or its equivalent in Tinted States or foreign stamps. The volumes with an elaborate index form a readv and absolutely reliable reference book of magical history and tricks. No library can possibly be complete withMAGAZINE.

out the CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINK.

and here is an opportunity to procure them bound neatly in book form at less than it cost* ilic pttbli-sjiers to print and bind them. * * * "The Humorous Magician Unmasked," published in 183G by A. B. Engstrom, Prof, of Drawing and Painting, is considered one of the first books on magic published in America. The object of the book seems to have been to expose Mons. Adrain, an English magician, who honored our shores with a visit. His program started with vanishing a man from a sack from the top of a table and concluded by taking fish, birds, rabbits and other animals from a borrowed hat. His program was copied and performed by many magicians who came after him. On page seventy-four is an explanation of "How to pour wine, vinegar and water from the same bottle." Although the trick is peculiarly explained it shows that the inexhaustible bottle triciv was in the repertoire of every magician of that period and, as is generally the case, was improved upon until Andrew Macallister managed to apparently pour twenty-two liquors from one and the same bottle.

Our Mail Bag In this department It Is the privilege of oar readers to bring to public notice anj topic worthy of discussion or deserving of censure or exposure. Our columns are thu> thrown open in the hopes that conditions may be bettered or evils abated by Bueh publicity. As no restrictions are imposed upon corre• pondents, the editor does not hold himself re•ponslble for opinions expressed in this department.

Hamburg, Germany. Editor Sir:

CONJURERS' MAGAZIM-:.

In your March number of the CONJURERS' MAGAZINE I note a letter from Hornmann, whose claim for having originated the vanishing lamp from the hands, I wish to protest. The lamp vanishing from the hands is an original conception from the German magician, Merelli, who presented the mystery four years ago. It was absolutely impossible for either Herr Merelli or myself to have heard a single statement made by Hornmann. So far, I am the only manufacturer who makes the flying lamp from the hands, and am the one who furnished it to the performers who are now presenting it. I do not doubt but that Hornmann may have had a similar idea, but allow me to state that the flying lamp trick as shown by Goldin is a German invention. Sincerely yours, Carl ]Vilhnann. *

*

*

Liverpool, England. Editor Sir:

CONJURERS' MAGAZINE.

As secretary of the newly formed

374

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

magical society of Liverpool, I have been instructed to send you a report of the meeting with the hopes that you will find space for it in the columns of the Cox- .jritEiis' MAGAZIXE. With the purpose in view of forming a magical society, a dozen magicians from Liverpool and the surrounding country met on Saturday, June 27, 1908. After a social session, the meeting was called to order.and a name suggested for the new society. I t was unanimously decided to call it the Northern Magical Socicty. The constitution and by-laws were next drawn up, discussed and adopted. Permanent officers were elected, Servais Le Eoy, of Le Roy, Thalma and Bosco, being honored with the presidency. A large number of congratulatory letters were received from magicians who could not attend on account of other engagements and a motion was passed thanking them for their good wishes, with the hopes that they would all become mem-

be

is now, if not in actual want, in sore need of assistance, to enable him to obtain proper medical advice, and when recovered to set him on his feet again. We have advised by letter some people who have known him constantly for some time past, but we regret that up to date only the following have resulted: £ s. d. Messrs. Hamley Bros., Ltd., (Stock and) Cash 2 0 0 Mr. Carl Hertz, Cash 1 1 0 Messrs. Maskelyne & Devant, Cash 2 2 0 AYe are sure that many who have known and admired Professor Field would not wish these circumstances to obtain, and we shall therefore be pleased to receive and to hand to him, any kind contributions which may be made, for which we know he will be truly grateful. We are, Sir, _ Your obedient servants, Hamley Bros., Ltd.

L^rrr + Mur \- ^

Helpful Hints For

All felt that the meeting had been a success, and it is hoped that it will -be the nucleus of a large local magical or-

~ I OUllff JV1.3.£flCl
ganization

Under highty

The next regular meeting will be held , , , \,nnn , 411 ,i on August 4, 1908. All those who are . , , - , ' , -, , i n interested are requested to please adn dress, T. Meadows, Hon. Secy. 31 Lunt Eoad, Bootle, Liverpool, Eng. * * *

_ .,. In winning your audience remember i , , „ •, ,. that Manners make fortunes," so don t , . be impertinent, * * * ^ n °ld time trick well done is far better than a new trick with no effect. * * * N e v e r t e l 1t h e a u d i e n c e h o w

London, July 13, 1908. Editor CoxJUBEBS' MAGAZINE.

are

>

th(?

y

w i U soon

find

that

Sood y ° u o u t them "

O p 1 TTrtQ

Sir: Will you kindly permit us to bring to the notice of your readers, the * * * fact that the well known and veteran ma' Nothing can give greater delight to the gician, Professor Field, late of the Eoyal gentler sex than to have some flowers Aquarium, etc., has, through ill health handed to them which you have produced and misfortune fallen on bad times, and from a hat or paper cone.

THE

CONJURERS' MONTHLY

i'laliliit tricks an 1 positive successes. :i:

:!:

An old trick in a new dress is always a pleasant change. * * * When practicing a new trick, try it in front of a looking glass, accompanying your moves with your entire patter. Don't drag vmir tricks, but work as quickly as you can. bearing in mind the Latin proverb, "Make baste slowly." *

*

When your audience is far distant from you pantomine work will be well appreciated. Well chosen remarks on topics of the day are always in order. *

*

375

wxsxsooa

:|i

Xever work to Tool a magician ; always work to your audience. You may think your trick is old but it is always new to members of your audience. * * *

H=

MAGAZINE

H=

The newspapers commented generally more about Heller's wit than his magic. Always have some short sentence ready in case a trick should go wrong. One magician, who has the misfortune to blunder often, says, "Ladies and gentlemen, mistakes will happen and that is one of them." * * * Walk right out on the stage and tell your tale to your audience, and perhaps many will believe it. * * * It is far more difficult to give a trial show to a house full of seats and one manager, than to a packed house and no man-

NSWER.ED

George Hammel, Hartford, Conn. We regret to inform you that Jewett, the magician, has not been very successful of late years. Some time ago he lost his expensive collection of apparatus. We last met him in I.os Angeles, Cal., but do not know his exact address. * * * Harry Hunsinger, Greentown, Iud. The best method of working an exchange on the egg bag, is to allow the audience to examine an unprepared egg bag, and then taking off your coat and keeping hold of the egg bag in your right hand, (as your hand with the bag is inside of your coat sleeve) allow the unprepared bag to remain in the sleeve, draw out another bag with the doable pocket or side, which is prepared for the trick. Goldin has written permission from Albini to do the egg bag trick. * * * Charles Guthrie, Omaha, Neb. The magician Balabrega's name was John M. Miller. He was killed by an explosion of a gasoline tank, in Pernambuco, Brazil, on June 20th, 1900. According to the Mahatma he was born on August 20th, 1857, in Helsingborg, Sweden. * * * W. M. Christie, Wilmington, Del. M. Dockweiler, the old time magician, is very much alive and doing business at 1732 Wylie Street, Philadelphia, Pa. * * * T. Horace Gonyale, St. Joseph, Trinidad. We have not answered you, as we had no time or space to allot to the man you mentioned as an exposer. We thank you for your inl'oimation. * * * Don. Ford, Atlantic City, N. J. By reading the editorial you will find that this month we suspend the publication of our magazine.

THE

376

CONJURERS'

W. J. Penny, Park Square B., Festiniog, Wales. Thank you lor your kind letter. Some readeis thought that the articles you mention were tor tae selt'-exploitation of Houdini, so we cut them out; but by same mail we take the libtity of sending you a full account of that aifair, and as Houdini will shoitly Le in England, you can call on him in person, and he will only be too pleased to let you La\e all tne material you wish regarding those various experiences. * * * B. Nugent, Evansvi.le, Wis. We tent an index for our first volume to every subscriber; if you will senJ a stamped envelope properly addi eased v.e will be pleased to mail you cue. * * * A. Kramer, Boston, Mass. So far we have not heard lrom you about that machine. If it is not working please forward it to us. * * * A. H. Anderson, Chicago, 111. You can have all back numbers by sending postage stamps. * * * Mons Albany, Paris. Postals received. Pleased to hear fiom you at all times. * * * Walter Jenkins, Shenandoah, Pa. Roterberg has discontinued advertising as he only seeks wholesale business. * * * The Razarfs, Philadelphia, Pa. As your letter was delayed in transit, it could not be answered sooner. Hornmann is all right. * * * N. Banmark Egegade, Copenhagen, Denmark. We mailed you a magazine some time ago. * * * James M. Harto. Your magazines remain undelivered at the Post Office in Indianapolis, Ind. 4

*

*

Prank B. Nightingale, Schenectady, N. Y. If you have not received your cut, kindly write at once. * * * H. Benson, Rockdale, Australia. The magazines have always been sent promptly. Others have been mailed to you.

MONTHLY

MAGARINE

Jacque Fragson, Los Angeles, Cal. How can you pi ove to us that you are not misrepresenting? Send proofs and we will return the material to you. We have had two different persons claim the material. * * * William Tompkins, Goldfleld, Nev. We never received any communication from you after Jan. £5, 1908. * * * Richard Heinke, Hamburg. Your request was attended to some time ago. * * * Herr Scheible, Magdeburg. Houdini will answer your letter personally. * * * Louis Hatrey. Paris. Thanks for your letter. If you wish any more copies, simply write and we will be pleased to forward them to you. * * * James Fairbanks, St. Louis, Mo. Wiljalba Frikell would load his first bunch of goblets from under his vest, fill his table, load again from the back of the table, and eventually load from the back of a chair. He would then walk off the stage ostensibly to bring on a common board, (which afforded him an opportunity to again fill his hat and his vest). After bringing the board en the stage, he would start to take out goblets, and gradually fill up the entire board in a pyramidical form, and when the entire board was filled so that all glasses seemed on the verge of toppling down, Frikell would carefully return the hat, pick up the board and walk off the stage with it. * * * B. Kilby, New Britain, Conn. Book sent to France; money received. * * * F. Mellville. Your promised letter will arrive too late for publication. Hope you are doing well. *

*

*

F. Ahlers. Ching Ling Foo is in China and may never return to America. Leo Mooser can give you whatever information you require. *

*

*

Ike Rose, Berlin. A letter addressed to Folies Bergere, Berlin, has been returned. Kindly give us a permanent address.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

377

Wx. LANE will p-rforrn during Bartholomew Fjir iat the K I N G S H i i A D , G R E A T ROOM,.. Hii6J. Back brat', 3d. T o begin each Day it Tweive o"Clo;!; ncnmany nvw performances p. . , m . . . a U « - .will , , . , u,»ke been (een bbe( ffo-e o e ;; all thofepleafir.g, t h o f e p l e g , rational. which have never nevsrbetn TVlien many new k e place: iwliic.h poii(e,andinarucUng£murcihents.in!l Rece.nion 3 of Mr. Lane.firll perfrrircr to the kii'g, whole abilities i s a performer (land unrival'.c.i by all others, natiies and fore;g ers, un-: er th> forfeiture of one hundred cut; represents Read therefore and judge. repreierts (bme iome of ot- the exhibitions. judge
I.

His enchanted Sciatoricon

,

EING the only, one in the known .vt/ld. Tris wonderful machine, (by means of an ir.vifi le sgent) wiM' difcover to the company the exact time of the day or night, by atiy propofed watch, though the w^lch may •' bcin a gentleman's pocket/ or five r.i'lcs diitant if required; it alfo points out the colour of any lady or genll th . r i r s r onlv l touching hi i h his hi finger: fi i further fh ffffJ _ clothes, l y the it with andd is poffeffiJ f inch occult qualities as to difcover the thought? of one perlon to another, evoi at an unlimited dift:mce. . 1 1 . Sagacious S W A N . Mr. Lan£\« fag.1cio.11s Swan, the only one in England for near forty years ; the lad was at Exeter Change, Loodonj this lit'.le inanimate bird is teen a-float on a bafon (f water. A ' oueftions are propofed, or a card drawn, or in hour thought cn t when this bcainiful Swan v,-il leem liefitate for a minute, and the,n fne will fwim to give the anlwer to tejl the card or discover the lUi/Ugius to . the ereat (tuprize of all prefent.

B

HI.

IITs Rolling Cone

1VM machine, quite different from all others, will run uphill, as if performs from (he centre of gravirvr Likewife a new fet of csfkctv, upon a.very curious conftmft'rn, into which .\1r< L ANE \yill conyi-y a guinea, afttV it is marked, in on-- momenr.. Likewife his fympathetic clock. I V . T i l e Operation Falingenefia^ or Regeneration. Ariy perfoTi in company fending for':-, couple of eggs, miy take the choice of them, and the egg being 'broke, oroduces a living biH of the fi.vcies dejired, which in half a mmure receives it3 full p)umMf,c, takes_ wing, and flits away. The other e ^ being put into a gentleman's h r, will, ^t the icqudt of the Company,, (cap from thffncc in!o any oilier perfon's that is pitfent, and will continue to leap fiom one hat to another, to the number of twenty different ones, if rt quired. • . . . . V . • His unparalleled fympathttical Figures.

figures therein in what manner he thinks proper; the fipu . . . . , , ... t willimmtdiarely firm thcmfclves'into fuch order »s e'xatlly to correfpond with the others ; this thty will do, Ifcough altered a hundred different times, to the aftoniOjmcpt of every beholder.

VI.

His M.igical Tea C.iildie

This of all otherCTiriofrtiesvUwelt worthy the attention of the curious, being the firfl that h.is appeared in feublic. Any perfon in compaay msy take a pack of c;id.s. and tr.te a cntti out ever !b privately, an>i yyi it in the chefl in the fight of tho/e prefent, a«d lock The caddie, and -v,hci\ opened again, to their gre.it furpr<.fe,the • eard that was put in will be gone to another part ofthe room ; the curd is ther- put int> the pnek agam.and snjr . perfon.may boU the cards th^t pleafes, whea the'oerforaicr will command tii.- card back into the cadie without touching the ciid or the theft all the time.

—VII.

His Magical CarcTPecepticms,

fe for wJ jirttAot m

t h . . I u u , M , 'Museum

I JT.T. is r,,,rnof Brighton, England, who possesses

378

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

BARTER AND EXCHANGE Advertisements under this heading are accepted free of ehiirge; tnere is im after graft and you bind yourselves to nothing; we only reserve the right to exclude any advertisement we do nut wisn in our paper.

What am I offered for a sliding die box with a metal chimney cover, and a glass ball for handkerchief? E. C. Worns, 230 Springfield Avenue, Rutherford, N. J. * * * What am I offered for a copy of "Price on Fire and Thief-proof Depositories and Locks and Keys?" Robt. I-I. Gysel, 2224 Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio. * * * Would like to dispose of a lot of magical books and apparatus. All new and in good condition. Can use a table lifting apparatus a la Kellar. H. J. Slocum, Eagle Station, Ky. * * * Wanted cne or two dozen spring balls, with or without coverings. Springs must be in good condition. Raymond Stone, Cue amonga, Cal., P. 0. Box 66. * * * : WANTED.—Prof. Kubee's round vanishing cage, De Kolta's improved flag trick, levitation of a rabbit, non plus ultra hat trick, and the handkerchief change. Prof. Elmer L. Rudd, 464 East 140th St., Bronx, N. Y. * =< : * What am I offered for Ankel's group of 58 magicians, thirty monthly magazines with articles about magic and magicians, twenty books on magic and sleight-of-hand, and one hundred programs, letter heads and cards? Thos. J. Peters, 3511 West 45th St., Cleveland, O. What am I offered for cne pair of Pinkerton handcuffs, one pair of Pinkerton legirons, one pair of Bean handcuffs, and one pair of Maltby handcuffs? Barney Edelman. 50 Suffolk St., New York City.

Kreiger, who recently sailed to England, became homesick for his family, and after having given two performances in London, for the Royal Agency, and one for Maskelyne and Devant, returned home. We have always contended that Kreiger was a home man. and recent events have proven it. Had he remained in England and not caught on, he would have lest all of his summer engagements in America. * * * The Clipper chronicles the death of John H. Conran, who was connected with the Quaker Novelty Co. of Philadelphia. Pa. He was exceptionally clever in finishing tricks and redressing old ones. * # * Van Hoven, the mad magician, i.s working alone and wants it known that he is no longer connected with the Barton Sisters. * * * John Salkeld, the old book seller who died in England on June 3d, has been mentipned in many historical finds in the world of literature. He was 81 years of age, and had been in the second-hand book business almost 70 years. His sons have succeeded to his place of business at 306 Clapham Road, London, S. W. i ! *

*

*

i

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kellar have been in Erie, Pa., on their vacation, and are going to finish up their summer vacation in California. Kellar is an ardent fisherman, and may spend some of his time amongst the Canadian lakes. * * * O. M. Mitchell, the ventriloquist, died on May 30th, at the home of his brother in Las Animas, Col. Mitchell had played some important engagements during his strenuous career.

THE CONJURERS'

MONTHLY

T. Nelson Downs write:-; that he will appear this season with a large mystery act in which he will present four illusions. j *

*

*

Charles J. Carter writes from Shanghai, China, and sends newspaper cuttings, which show that he is creating a record for drawing money to the Lyceum Theatre at Hong Kong. His tour will 'last another year, at the completion of which he will have traveled all ever the world. His route includes Shanghai, Tientsin, Pekin, Tsingtau, Vladivostock, Manchuria, Yokohama, Tokio and 1 Singapore. He will be pleased to hear from friends, who can address him care Post Office, Singapore. * * * Mrs. P. Martinka has had a most eventful trip to Europe and remained in Karlsbad four weeks. She was in London three clays, and in this short space of time saw more people and attended to more business than any three average women could attend to. She was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Robinson (Chung Ling Soo), the Zancigs, Howell and a host of other Americans, who are in England at the present time. On her return, she was asked to assist in the concert and gave a most creditable magical performance. Out of an old black skirt she made an egg bag, and fixed up two handkerchiefs for the vanishing eggs, and from an old New York Herald she tore a large paper tree. Mr. Freeman, who was on board the Adriatic, happened to have a few tricks, which he kindly leaned to Mrs. Martinka, who was therefore enabled to give a fifteen minute magical act. She was highly complimented on her ability as sorceress. About £30, ($150.) was collected, which was given to the Sailors' Widow and Orphan Homes.

Herrmann, the Great, is now touring Prance with his own show, playing the principal casinos at the best seasides in Bretagne and Normandie. > He will return in September for his annual American tour. Marie Herrmann-, who-accompanied her husband on this European tour, will bring over some magnificent gowns.

MAGAZINE

379

David Devant, the celebrated English conjurer, partner of J. Nevil Maskelyne, and the inventor o'1 The Artist's Dream, and the Biith of Flora, visited America for five days. Devant is a man who has reached his position of prominence by honest and hard work. He is an ideal conjarer, a brainy and inventive entertainer, who presents each feat as if he were actually astonished at the effect himself. His address is perfect, his patter incomparable and he is a polished gentleman both on and off the stage. J. N. Maskelyne made no mistake in harnessing himself to Devant. His new book "Tricks for Everyone" will be published by Pearson's Magazine. It will first appear in monthly installments, beginning in September.

Another member of the famous Hollandish family of Bamberg has arrived in this country. This time it is Emile Bamberg, who it is said is the most expert billiard ball performer extant. He is working the summer resorts, and •<"hen not giving a performance, it is said he is practising billiard ball tricks all the time.

Any one wishing an index of the book, The Unmasking cf Robert-IToudin, should please send his name to us.

We have just first volume cf and shall gladly who will send a envelope for it.

printed an index to the the CONJURER'S MAGAZINE, send one to any subscriber self-addressed and stamped

Owen Clark, the magician with Maskelyne & Devanfs Australian Company has mads

Henry Ridgely Evans writes that he will sail for France and remain abroad until October. On his return he expects to publish an enlarged edition of his book, Magic, New and Old, with an appendix and notes.

380

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL

SALOONS

A REAL NOVELTY. A new visible ar.d instantaneous change of water to ink, combined with an invisible and invincible transposition of a glass of ink and a glass of water. The performer shows a tumbler partly filled with ink which is placed upon a stand or table and covered with a handkerchief. He then takes another tumbler in which is a similar quantity of clear water. This latter he gives to any one of the company to hold. Please note that it may be held by anyone—is not covered over in any way whatever and is in full view of both the person holding the glass and every member of the audience. The performer next announces his intention of magically causing a transformation to take place. He gives the word of command, "CHANGE," and instantly the water changes into opaque ink. He then proceeds to the other glass and on removing the handkerchief to the astonishment of the audience the ink is seen to have changed to water. This effect is really magnificent and the trick will "electrify" all who see it. It is unbelieveable and has all the appearances of a miracle. Send for it at once. Price 10/6. Post free 11/3. Complete. Canada and U. S. A. $3 (carriage to be paid on receipt). HAMLEY'S GRAND MAGICAL SALOONS, 35 New Oxford Street, W. C, also (City Depot) 29 Ludgate Hill, E. C, London.

J O E KNAPP, Exponent of Scientific Humbug. Permanent Address: Care Billboard, Cincinnati, O.

PROFESSOR AMBROSE. The Greatest Living Hypnotist and Wizard of the East. Permanent address, 265 Dalhousin street, Rangoon, India.

New! Just Invented! PRESTOHCHANGOH A New Era Card Trick. Invented by Prof. Hornmann A card changes four times and is given for examination to show that only one card is used. Will fool the wisest. Price ioc. each, 3 fcr 25c. OTTO SUPPLY 270 West 39th St.. New York

"MAGIC" Monthly Magazine Eighth successful year of publication. Contains explanations of all the latest tricks and stape illusions. We will send a samyjle copy with a complete tahle of contents f*>r the whole eight volumes and our IUW mammoth illustrated conjuring catalnjrue for 15 o«ints. Stanyon & Co., Dept. 0.. Solvent Road, West Hamstead, London, N. W., England,

New Sensational Wonder! SCIENTIFIC FORMATION OF THE ALPHABET New discovery in manic, pocket parlor or stage. It's great. Sent Postpaid for 25 cents. Address American Pub. Co. Delhi. Pel. Co. - - - N. Y. ^

" Der Zaxiberspiegel" An Illustrated rionthly Jonrnal in German Language, by F. W. CONRAD1, Editor (Contents : Modern Parlor Magic. Card Tricks, Illusions' Mnemotechny, Anti-Spiritualism, etc., etc.) Vol. IV. Subscription of 6 months post free $1.25 Single Copies, post free - - 25c

Horsterscher Verlag, PUBLISHERS Berlin, S. W. 68, Fredrichstrasse 2O2

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE. W'inton l'lace, Cincinnati, O., July 15th, TJ08. Brother Magicians: 1 wish to announce that I am devoting my entire time and energy to the production of Magical "Feature Acts."' My equipment consists of a complete shop capable of handling either wood or metal in any quantity, a chemical and electrical laboratory, a complete modern printing plant, and a liberal exhibition space; all being under the personal supervision ol a iirst-class mechanic, i t is my intention to construct not only single tricks but complete acts, including all material, apparatus, instructions, and "patter." 1 shall also be in a position to design and execute original designs in Stationery, Cards, Posters, Dodgers, 1'rogrammes, Price Lists and other printing of use to the profession including several copyrighted advertising schemes. In addition to a Trade Catalogue (which is being compiled) I shall issue monthly sheets covering new features as they are evolved. These sheets will be mailed upon request. Sincerely trusting that my reputation in the profession is sufficient to gain your paMember tronage, I am pleased to be, Member Yours Sincerely and Fraternally in M. U. M., FRANK W.

LINDSLEY.

381

S. A. M. Inuur Circle. Pres. Cincinnati Society of Magician*

THE FOLLOWING ARE MY SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR THIS MONTH. LINDSLEY'S HANDKERCHIEF ACT.—This is the Handkerchief Act designed for my past season. It has been presented widely enough to be generally known. Enquires a performer of fair ability and runs ]8 to 20 minutes. This Act will be sent anywhere complete, including all apparatus, paraphernalia, instructions and "patter," for ,$15 00 T H E S P H I N X CARD COMBINATION.—This Card Act contains the best tricks extant and is furnished complete with all apparatus, instructions, and "patter," nicely and substantially boxed for $5 00 T H E "GOLDEN" COLOR CHANGE FOR HANDKERCHIEFS.—This color change is instantaneous and requires no skill or practice to work, it is the same trick as that worked by the "Great Goldin" in his "Bridal Chamber"' illusion. Arranged for two handkerchiefs, $1.50: for three handkerchiefs, $2.00. LINDSLEY'S THIMBLE ACTS.—These are the acts designed by me and presented for the past 5 years with splendid effect; are the same as were "performed by me recently. at the social session of The S. A. M. The Acts are beautifully boxed with instructions, apparatus and "patter," Act No. 1, $1.00; Act No. 2, 75 cents. Act No. 2 will be sent only to persons purchasing, or -\vho have already purchased Act No. 1. LINDSLEY'S RAINBOW INIGMA.—The "most mystifying, most brilliant, and most pretentious trick offered to magic for several years. The outfit consists of complete stage setting, all apparatus, paraphernalia, instructions, and "patter"; will be shipped F. O. B. Cincinnati, Ohio, securely packed in substantial traveling case for $"25.06 Address all orders or requests for further information concerning these acts and effects—or any others you may desire, to . • FRANK W. LINDSLEY, Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio.

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Seibit's Magic Blocks /

The latest Novelty in Magic. Can be worked anywhere. For description of this trick and other Magical Novelties write to,

Martinka & Co, .^

MAGICIANS' HEADQUARTERS IN AMERICA 493 SIXTH AVE. NEW

YORK CITY

Agents for The Conjurers' Monthly Magazine

The Wizard The Leading British Magic Monthly Magazine

WIZARD PUBLISHING CO. 4 St. Alban's Place

:

LONDON, W. C

L'lLLUSIONNISTE Le Seul Journal Francais devonne aux Magicians Paraissant tous les Mois-fonde en 1901 abounement 8 frs. ($1.60) par an. Speciman Number, 0.75 Editeur : C A R O L Y , fabricant apparatus 1 Rue Cardinal Lemoine Paris

HENRY HARDIN & CO. SPECIAUZERS IN ADVANCED MAGICAL EFFECTS AND MODERN SPIRIT SECRETS We are in constant eign and American are now being used world. Send two cent

receipt of the most valuable forideas and many of our productions by the foremost mystifiers of the stamp for "Memorandum of Magic " to

The City Magical Company MANUFACTURERS OF

magical Apparatus I, Amersham Road, New Cross, London, S. E. Enf. Everything pertaining to the Art of Magic, Tuition, Expert Advice, Patter, &c. Applications for Lists or Particulars or any inquiry will receive prompt attention We have the Latest European Novelties Manager: Mr. Wilfred C. Zelka, M. I. M. C.

"The Magician," The Monthly Magazine of Magic, Hypnotism, &c Price 4%d., post free, Annual Subscription,4[6 EDITED BY WILL GOLDSTON

• Modern Magic lucidly explained. PUBLISHERS

A. W. GAMMAGE, Ltd. Holborn, London E. C.

HENRY HARDIN & CO. BOX 1 4 1 3 ,

NEW H A V E N , C O N N . , U. S. A , Kindly mention Conjurer's Monthly Magazine in answering all Advertisements

THE CONJURERS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

383

Latest Color Change of Handkerchiefs Two silks tied by corners immediately change color by passing hand over them. No skill required, done anywhere. Hands shown empty before and after, and only two handkerchiefs used. Price complete, $1.50. PRESTOH CIIANLOH. T h e new card t r i c k 10c. T H E PHANTOM BILLIARD B A I L . $1.00. E C L I P S E CARD RISING TRICK, 75C. A N Y CARD CALLED Foil TAKEN FROM POCKET, $1.00. BALL AND EGO VANISIIER, 80C. HANDKERCHIEF FIX< EKS, 75C. a n d $1.50. M.uac W A N D , 25c. CAGES FROM H A T , set of t h r e e , $4.75. O N E H A N D BALL TRICK, $1.00. HANDKER-

CHIEF V.VNISHER AND EXCIIANCER. $1.00.

TlIE ELECTRIC PACK OF CARDS, for fallCy Shuf-

fling, $1.20 and $1.40. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY SERVANTE. works on a glass top table if necessary, the handiest yet, $1.50. Ching Ling Foo's PAPER TEARING STUNT, complete, $1.0
Magical APPARATUS

DE

VERE

Fabricant D'Appareils

De Physique Amusante Trues and Illusions pour Theatres, Etc.

"De Lands Latest " " PICKITOUT " Best pnrket trick with cards out, prim complete,"2."ie. "EDWARD'S DIOEAMIC CARDS." Any nunibiT of cards selected, placed back in pack and turn completely over where they are discovered face up amongst the backs of the others, cards shown front and buck, shuttied, etc., another winner, price complete, 7JC. OTHER DELAND TRICKS. '*', X Ray card trick 75c. Phantom card trick ."Oe. Yogi Wonder cards 23c. Devils Own trick, Bicycle back 2oc. "The Unmasking of Hubert Houdin," HOUDINTS new book, price $1.00. I.arjre illustrated catalogue, 1 3 c small cat. FREE. BAILEY & TKII'P CO., Box 41H. Cambridgeport, Mass.

BERT WIGQIN The Honk'honk Mystifler. Sketch

Also Lightning Crayon

17, RUE SAULNIER, 17

Artist.

Permanent Address, Trafalgar Hotel,

115 East 14th Street,

PARIS, FRANCE

New York. Call here when in Paris.

French, German and English fluently spoken.

The first Authentic History ever published. Written by the World Famous Handcuff King Harry Houdini. Before this book was ready for the prinfer twenty years was spent in constant travel and search for material and verification of facts. The most expensive and profusely illustrated book on the subject of Magic ever placed before the public ; . The reproduction of the programs forms a collection which is impossible to duplicate in any library in the world. No Magical library or Collection can possibly be complete without this Work.

Price $UOO.

For Sale by

Conjurors' Magazine Publishing' Company 278 West 113th Street, New York City

INDEX FOR VOLUME 2 OF THE

Conjurers' Monthly Magazine From September 1907 to August 1908 Inclusive ADVERTISEMENTS. American Publishing Co 3S0 Anger & Bauer, 2, 34, 66, 98, 130, 162, 194. 226, 258, 290, 322, 354 Bailey At Tripp Co., 31. 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223, 255, 287, 319, 350, 3S3 Burk, John E 285, 317 Caroly 64, 17(J Chafalo & Capretto 124, 150 City Magical Co., 32, 64, 93, 124, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 285, 317, 349, 382 Conjurers Magazine Publishing Co., 94, 130, 156, 15S, 162, 190, 191, 194, 222, 258, 287, 288, 319, 352, 384 Day, Harry, 2, 34, 66, 98, 130, 162, 194, 226, 258, 290, 322, 354 De Biere, Arnold, 3, 35, 67, 99, 131, 163, 195, 226, 259, 291, 323, 355 Der Zauberspiegel, 31. 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223, 255, 287, 319, 351, 380 Douglas. W. L 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 Edwards Co., W. G 252, 284, 318, 350, 383 Hamley Bros., 3, 35, 95, 128, 160, 181, 188, 220, 252, 288,- 320, 352, 3S0 Hanlin ,V Co., Henry, 32, 64, 93, 125, 157, 181, ISM. 220. 253, 285. 317, 349, 382 Hotel Preston, 3. 35, 67, 99, 131, 163, 195, 227, 259, 291, 323 Jacobs, Jennie, 31, 34, 66, 9S, 130, 162, 194, 226, 258, 290, 322, 354 Le Roy, W. -D., 31. 63, 95, 127, 159, 192, 224, 254, 286, 290, 322, Llllusi.mniste, 64, S3. 125, 157 189, 220, 253, 285, 317, 349, 382 Lindslay, F. VV 255, 348, 381 Manhattan Detective Agency 2, 34, 66 Martinka & Co., 32, 64, 93, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 285, 317, 349, 351, 382 Mora, L. J 223, 255 Ornum's 254, 286, 316, 347 62 Osgood Publishing Co Otto Supply 22J, 255, 2S7, 319, 351, 380 Preston Hotel, 3, 35, 67, 99, 131, 163, 195, 227, 259, 291, 323 Right Way To Do Wrong, 31. 63, 95, 127, 157,189 Roterberg, A 31, 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223 Schonberger, Win 221, 253, 284, 318, 347 Stanyon & Co 351, 3S0 31 Straub, B. G Willman's. Carl, S9, 195, 227, 259, 291, 323, 355,372 Wizard Publishing Co., 32, 64, 93, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 2S5, 317, • 349, 3S2 Zauberspiesel, Der, 31. 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223, 255, 287, 319. 351.380 Ziegler Magazine, Matilda 254, 286 Abbott, David P 248 Abdou, Michael .242, 312 235 Adams, Ernst H Adams. E. C , Portrait . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . .16, viit 142 Adams, M. P 280 Adams & Mack 313 Adelphia, Del . .183 Adler, Julius 373 Adrian. ' Mons 376 Ahlers, F , Ah Ling Foo 52. 149 215 Aids to Wizardry ' 53 Alba, Miss 376 Albany, Mons 145 Albee. Mr. E. F Albene & May La Brandt 54, 241 Albene, Prince 24, 3427 Albert, H. R. H. Prince Albini, 108, 109, 111, 169, 183, 211, 2S2 Alburtus & B e r t r a m 24 212 Alder, Will Fisher 24 Alexander 77 Alfredi Ali Zada 53 24 Altus 243 Allan Allard, Louis E 1S6

244 A 11 en Li eu t 282 Allen, V i o 1 a 50 Allen, W. J 84 Allen & Ollivette Alleno Article. Magicians Obtain no Benefit from Patenting Their Illusions 336, 337 109, Alixio Alvin, R. 312 Ambrose, Prof., 145, 156, 191, 223, 255, 287, 316, 319, 351, 380' 380f American Pub. Co ." 340 Amerps, William 147 Ancollitti 376 Anderson, A. H Portrait 295 Columbia Harriett, 263 Emile, P o r t r a i t Helen Elizabeth, Portrait 294 John Henry, Portrait 262, 293' John Henry, Portrait of Brother. . 263 John Henry, Portrait, and S o n . . . . 263 John Henry. Portrait as Rob Boy. . 262 263 Mrs. John Henry, P o r t r a i t John Henry, 8, 38, 82, 146, 197, 305, 368 John Henry, Article, 262, 263, 293, 294 263, 293 Mrs. Leona A 305 Miss Lizzie, P o r t r a i t 295 Miss Nellie, P o r t r a i t Oscar Longhurst, Portrait : . . 294 28 Carl Walter 179, 246 234 William Andrae, Mons 171 Andre 183 Andress, Cass A 27, 116, 344 Angelo 215 Anger & Bauer, 2, 34, 66, 98, 130, 162, 194, 226, 258, 290, 322, 354 Annassia. Mile 184 Announcement of Davenport Bros 40 Announcement of Robert Houdin's Proper Place in t h e History of Magic 5 Anthony 265, 331 Applegit, Elmer M 27S Aramonds, The 115 Ara Zebra & Vola. 41 Arbre. Charles, P o r t r a i t 102 Arbre, Charles 44 Arizona Troupe 247 Armonci, The Great 114 Arnheim, August 7S Arnheim, Ralph L 87, 214, 214, 301, 312, 357 Arschelst. A 143 Art of Modern Juggling 215 Article, J. H. Anderson 262. 263, 293, 294. The Four Basch Brothers . . . . 6 9 , 70, 36S Ben Ali Bey 101, 102, 1031 Washington Irving Bishop. 326, 327, 328, 359, 360, 3CT. The Davenport Bros., 37, 38, 39, 40, 41: Ludwig Leopold Dobler, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, * IK Wiljalba Frikell, 133, 134. 135i yjr,, llir \ 166, 167, US Johann N. Hofzinser, 1^7, 195^ 109, 200 229 Hofzinser & Heubeck ..229, 230 23l' 23* Aryanne ' 27 Ashidate Co ' gg Ashley. Miss Lillian 52 Askane ' 43 Augoust Family 68 Augoust, Miss Louise .. . 88 Auffoston, Willi 45 Ault. Florence M .... 278 Aumont, Manager 6S Australian Notes from Hayman, loc, 107, 108, 140, 141, 17l[ 172 Australian Society of Magicians 140-172' Austro 144 Auzinger, Max, P o r t r a i t ioi-27-t Auzinger, Max 174, 175, 300 330 357 Avis, Will ' 4li 331 Avis & DeBane 331 Ayscough, H 49'

INDEX It 16, f'lias. O., 1'ortrait Bailey, S. Wilson 27, 148, 211, 280, 311, 363 Bailey & Tripp Co., 31, 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223, 255, 287, 319, 350, 383 Baker, The Great 211 Baker, W 280, 314 Baker, Win. Ernest, Portrait 16, vi Bala, Gyuresany 242 111 Balbroma Baldwin, Prof. S. S S3. 109, 111, 368 Baldwin, Mrs. Kitty S3, 244 281 Balle. E. A 379 Bamberg, Emile 366 Bam berg Family

Washington Irving, Portrait 326, 327 Washington Irving, Portrait, 21st year 35K Washington Irving, Mother, Portrait 327 Washington Irving, from the Illus trated London News of June 23, 1883 . . . . 360 Cinquevalli. Mrs. Paul 248 Conran, John H 378 De Laske. Duke 113 Dooley. Prof. Edward J 261 Ferrarri. Signor 173 Graves. L. H Ill Harding. Rose Beatrice Ill Kaiser. Herr Henrich Louis 76 Legri.s, Mme 248 Marco 261 233 Maro 196, 210 282 Salkeld, John 378 Banyon, Prof 24 Sylvester, Prof. Alfred: 173 Barclay. Prof. W. A. 212 Whiston. John W ' 248 Barnel Wood. Bertha 209 Barnes. AI 85 Wood. E. A 209 Barnes T. Roy 52. 185 Bishop, Mrs. Eleanor 326, 330, 331 Barnum. I'. T 37, 233 Bishop, Nathaniel C 326 Baron . . .1 150 Bistes, J ules 242 Barrasford, ' Thomas 43, 266 Blackwell 242 Barrington, Frederick, Portrait 16, iv Blake. John F 362 Barrington, Senor 14!» Blanchard, Justice 209 B a r t e r and Exchange, 28, 54, 87, 117, 151, 187, 18, 49, 82 213, 214, 243, 27S, 312, 341, 37S Blind, Mons. (Magicus) Blind, Mona., A Portrait 370 Barton Sisters 378 Blitz, Signor 133. 153, 154, 311 Basch, Herr Ernest 24, 46, 69, 26S, 367 Blue Book 314 Basch. Herr Ernest, Portrait 72 Bly's Richard "Getaway" 181, 182 Bascli Bros., The Four 69, 7n, :',6(i Boaz 366 Basch. Friedrleh Joseph. Portrait 6!i Bodie. Dr. Walford . . . . 1 4 , 170, 244, 297, 298, 331 Basch. Heinrich, Portrait 69 Boehm. Alfred 144 Basch, Jacob, Portrait 70 Bontaft 14 Basch and Mellini, Portrait 7o Bontaft, J. H., Portrait 16, iv Baudenbuckcr 366 Booth, A 138 Baum. Edward, Portrait 102 Booth, The great 114 Beille. Mayor ii
llage

INDEX .04, 109, 17C, 181 4*aroly 370 Oaroiy, P o r t r a i t . . 372 Caricature 186, 172, Carter, Charlie, 25, 52, 82, 141), 146, 2 33, 247, 331, 342, 379 13 Casey's Court 54 Cat and The Fiddle, The 214 Cater, Harry J., 77 Caufmann Caulk, Wm. B .87, 214 265 Cazman, Henry 109 Mons Oervais. 367 <"habfit. Ivan Ivanitz 210 124, 147, Chafalo Jt Capretta 51, 62, 84, 124, 156 Chafalo c Capretta, P o r t r a i t 110 Challe, Jack 28, 28, 117 314 Chamberlain, Wm. 76 Chambly. E 73, 265 Chanti .169 Charlton 42 Chai lton's Cross 300 C h a r t e r - R a t o n Mining & Milling Co 27 Chassino, A 45 Cheebert, Bryant .185 Chenworth & Ferrari . .77 Cherber, Charles Cherry Sisters 46, 211 281 Chevalier, Prof, and Madame 13U Chilcott, J 315 Chilo, Count Ching Ling Foo 116, 2S1, 367, 376 Chinko 26, 280 314 Chiquita 375 Christie, W. M 344 Christopher Chung Ling Sou, 4, 12, 14, 42, 46, 104, 169, 235, 242, 265, 298, 300, 379 370 Chung Ling Soo, Portrait 105 Chunguses, The Seven Holy Church Bells Ring, How Signor A. Blitz Would Make 153, 154 264 Churcher, Walter 215 Cincinnati Cincinnati Notes, from Frank W. Lindsley, 181, 182, 1S3, 24G Cincinnati Society of Magicians 183, 246 Cinquevalli, Paul S6, 215, 266 City Magical Co., 32, 64, 93, 124, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 2S5, 317, 349, 382 185 Clark, Edward Clark, Owen 103, 138, 379 43 Clark, Mr. Leoni 116 Clarke, Dr. and Mrs Claussen, Hastings 209. 244, 34a 230 Clauser, Lorenz 187 Claxton, Geo. B 36S Clegg 17 6 Cleland 166 Cleo de Merode 185 Clifford, Bessie 112 Clive, Henry 244 Olivette, Mr. and Mrs Closson, George 1S1, 241 234 Clothilda. Mme 242 Cqbb. Maymann H 110 Cocky, Old 282 Cohan, George M Colby, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin 25, 87 37 Coles, John F 4 Colley, Archdeacon Collier's Weekly 84, SS, 89 235 Collings, H. J Collings, H. J., Portrait 16, i 13 Collins, Stanley 235 Collins & Bretma Cologne Police Sued for Libel 90. 91 Competition, Parlor Trick, 162, 194, 201, 202, 226, 239, 269, 270, 301, 302, 333, 334 357 366 Comus, Hoare 117 Conchas, Paul 104 Concordia Conjurers Magazine Publishing Co., 94, 130, 156, 158, 162,. 190, 194, 222, 258, 287, 288, 319, 352, 384 82 Conklin, E d w a r d C 51 Connor, Massius A Conus 366 Cook, l ) r 86 Cook, S. 1 278, 314 82 Coonkey, T. J 86 Coram Corelli . 265 Coro, Carl 140 Correspondence from: Auzinger, Max 273, 274, 275 Burt, E. J _ 176 Closson. George K 238 De Vere, C 20

Downs, T. Nelson Graef, P e t e r N Gyileck, O. T Haas, Alexandre Hamley Bios Haley, Louis C Harris, Walter G H e i m b u r g e r , Alexander . .18, Hicks, \V. Leonard . . . . .173, Holden. J o h n W a t k i n s Hornmann .205, Kinney, C. W Maskelyne, J. N .'175', Meadows, T Milnes, I. Oarfield Olivette Kice, Edwin F a y Roche, F r e d e r i c k Silell, J. P. C Sei ma, R Sencll, T. P e r c y C Socrates Stone, R a y m e e n .275, Suhr, H. F. C. Teale, Oscar S W h i t h e r s , Alexander W i l l m a n n , Carl 238, Wood, M. M 152, Zancigs, T h e Zartolo Zelka, Wilfred C Cotton, Lola 180, 241, Count Montaliset Coupon for P a r l o r Trick C o m p e t i t i o n . . . . 316, Craig. Delbert C , P o r t r a i t . .16 Crane, L a r r y Cranon, Charles Craker, Robert Creation of Flowers, T h e Cremer, F Cremona Bros Crio Cross, Luella 302, Cross, Release, The C r y p t o g r a p h y , 216, 217,' 21S, 219, 249, 250, 251, 275, Culpitt .13, 14, 73, 16 9, Culpitt, Portrait .16, Cunard, Portrait Cunning Fails to Break Jail Cunning 110, 113, 149, 182, 186, 209, 244, Cypher-Writing, 216, 217, 218, 219, 249. 250, 251, 275, Czar of Russia Czerny 140,

238 329 273 20G 374 109 153 19 174 79 206 46 330 374 153 108 300 84 10 80 176 47 299 329 299 79 373 153 206 79 300 268 7 351 v 113 52 183 9 297 185 52 247 303

D'Alvini, William Dance, George Dante 146, Dante. Frank Dare Devil Doherty . . . . Darrowe Darst. J 87, Davenport Bros., 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 234, 309, Portrait Photo of Cabinet Trick " " Announcement Davenports, The .42. Davenports, The, Portrait Davies, Harrison L., Portrait 16, Davies, Trio Davis, Alexander Davis, Prof. E. D Davis. George Davis, Harry • Day, Harry, Portrait Day, Harry, 2, 34, 66, 98, 130, 162, 170, 194, 226, 258, 290, 322, 331, Days, The De Biere, Arnold, Portrait, 3, 35, 67, 99, 131, 163, 195. 226. 259. 291, 323, De Biere, Arnold, 14, 44, 45, 76, 105, 106, 109, 171, 265, 279, De Blanche Debois, The Two De Franklin, George Do Freece De Kolta, Bautier 273, 300, 346, 357, De Lang De La Ronde 54, Delemort, Mons De Lil Prof 14, De Lion, Clement, 15, 105, 140, 171, 210, 229, Delprade Delvos, Charles, Portrait 16 Delvos, Charles 42, Delza, The Great Demand for Fair Play 26Sa, 269a,

305 266 233 233 53 205 187 366 38 39 40 169 22 iii 331 179 234 150 51 15

276 298 viii 324 110 342 276 17 234

354 12 355 298 233 281 13 298 367 50 187 142 265 245 109 viii 73 185 :70a

INDEX Dent, Bert 235 Deodato 31, 53, S5, 86, 280, 308, 311 Deodato, Signor Joseph, P o r t r a i t 308 Der Zauberspiegel, 31, 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, 223, 255, 2S7, 319, 351, 3S0 Deutseh, ,J 45, 133 Devant. David, l:t. 137, 172, 229, 264, 297, 34u, 342, 379 Devant. David, P o r t r a i t 16, m Devant, Miss Dora De Vert?. C 211, 27, 252, 2S4, 3(1(1, 318, 3 i7 De Vere, C , P o r t r a i t 252, 284, 318, 35U, 3S3 14 De Ville, Prof Devils' Caldron, The 298 215 Dewee 30 Diagram of Micrometer Dicks, Alfred C 82, 144 45 Dieck, Chester H Dis Debar, Anna Odelia 18 15 Dittmar, John Dixey, Henry E 328 Dob'.ei-, Ludwig Leopold, article, 0, 7, 8. 9, 11, \ 142, 3uo, 36S 9 Ludwig Leopold, P o r t r a i t 7, S Ludwig Leopold, P r o g r a m m e 7, Herr. Wizard of t h e W o r l d . . . . 10. 11, 176 S Gasse Does the United States Secret Service Sanction 283 Such Schemes 104 Dom, Prof Domitz, fiustave A 187, 312 54 Domitz. .1. Louis 244 Donar, Little 101 Donatin. Morlay 211 Donnar 327 Doiiohue. Henneberry & Co 261 Dooley, 1^. J a m e s 155, ISO, Douglas, W. L 96, 128, 160. 192, 224, 256 Dow, Mr 38, 39 i Downs. T. Nelson, P o r t r a i t 16, Downs. T. Nelson, 45, 55. 181, 206, 229, 238. 245, 2S2, 282, 312. 368. 379 Downs, T. Nelson Magical Co., 2, 63, 95, 127, 159, 192, 224 326 D r a m a t i c Mirror, Dresbach. Julius. P o r t r a i t 16, vi 3 28 Drew. Mrs. John 328 Drew, Sidney 143 Duhble, Wallace E 312 Duff, L. C 28, v Dull. L. I'.. P o r t r a i t 16, Duff. Prof. Mystifying Card Trick 201, 202 9 Duke of Gotha 143 Dunnico, David Clifford .169 Dunning-. Plof. & K a h n 141 Duval

K

89 Easy Magic Tricks 138 Eaton. Miss Florence 150 Eby, George Ecke. Will 2S2, 315 37S Etlelman, Barney 187 Edelson, lsadore 186 Edeson. Robert Editorial. 4, 5, 36, 68, 100, 132, 164, 196, 228, 260, 292, 324, 325, 356, 357 Edwards, Will, 240, 241, 272, 273, 332, 333, 363, 364, 365 Edwarcls Co., W. G 252, 2S4, :!18, 350, 383 376 Egeja 'e N. Danmark F,gerdon, E. D 139, 215. 236 26 Ehrlicb. Sam S6 Eldridge. The Great 14 Elkington, Aubrey 277 Ellingsen.' William J Elliott, Dr 145, 367 Ellises, The 2S2, 315 Ellison, Dr. S. R 112, ISO, 1S1, 309, 313, 342 Elmer. E -. . 27 116 Elverton. The Great 1S3 Emar. The Great 6 Emperor!" Franz Josef England Notes from Hayman, 266, 267, 297, 29S, 331, 33 2 49 Englehardt. J. V 373 Engstrom. A. Li 110 Ercole. Frank 85 Ernests, The Great 268 Esco, Nordini 1S6 Espenos, Juan 297 Essenan European Notes from Herr. N. Osey. 44. 45, 46, 76, 77, 7S, 139, 140, 267, 26S Evanion. Henry 340, 368 282 Evans. George Evans, Honey Boy 282 Evans. Henry R 55, 89, 178, 379 Evans, Henry R., Portrait 16, viii

Everybody's Magazine Expose of Some Spiritualistic

S9

Manifestations 3()5, 366

F Faber, Herr 18 F a i r Play, Demand for 268a, 269a, 270a Fairbanks, J a m e s , 37 6 F a k i r of Ava, The 325. 341 F a k i r of Oolo. The 146, 173 Fanehette, Prof. Henri Ili7 F.isola, Gustave 14, 41, 42, 43, 7 3 Fawkes 197, 360, 36S Fay, Anna Eva, 26, S5, 111, 116, ISO, 213, 2S2, 315, 367 Fay, Anna Eva, P o r t r a i t 370 Fay. Prof 234 Fay, William 37 Fay, William M., P o r t r a i t 347 2S2 Fay, T h e Great Fays, The 209 .4, 50, S3, 311 Felter, John Ferguson, Dr 37 F e r r a r i , Signor . .173, 185 Field, Prof 374 Fischer, H e r r Ottokar, i i , 17; 197 198. 200, 229. 231, 300Fischer, H e r r Ottokar, Portrait, 14, 43. 75, 105, 170, 232, 267 Fischer, Herr Ottokar, Viennese Notes, 14 15, 43, 44, 75, 76, 105, 106, 170, 171, 232, 233, 267 Fish. Mrs. Stuyvesant 50 Fishell, Dan S 212 111 Flatow & Dunn 247 Flints, The • 3(16 Flockton Floettum, Johann 43 Flowers, Creation of 9 Floyds, The 25, 147, 185, 186, 245, 279, 343 Fontelle. The Mysterious 185 Ford. Don 375 311 Foster. Miss Beatrice 176 Fournier 264 Fowler. Gus Fox, Imro 73, 179 205 212 169 Fox, Will H 343 Fra, The Handcuff King 376 Fragson, Jacques Frame, W. F 42 Francis, Richard 295 Frankstone, Charles 144 Franciscos, The 26, S5, 115 Francois, The Two 51 Fransioli, Jean '. . . 146 Franz, Emperor 142 Fraser, Charles 12 Frazeer, Mi' 344 Frederich Wilhelm III S Frederick The Great 1S6, 247 Fredericks 147, 314 Frederickson 82 Fredmar, Alfred 44 Freeman, Mr 379 Fregoli 1 1 (I Fregolina Little French, Henri 25, 52, is:. Fresh, William 143 Freud, Joseph 152 Frevoli, Frederick 26 Frey, Charles 187 Frikell, Wiljalba Article, 133, 134. 135, 136, 165, 166, 167, 168 232. 324, 36G 133 Portrait In His Youth Portrait In His Prime..134, 165 136 Portrait Villa Programme 166, 16S Fritz, Herr 14, 235 113 Fritz, Theodore Francis Frizzo in Froliech, G 49 Fromm, M 2t,S Fuller, Mr. Ben 233 Fuller, Prof 104 Galvin, Wrallace Gamage, A. W. . , Gammon, Barclay Gans Garner, Charles Gasse. Dobler Gauflin Gay. Fred Geach, Mr Geisha, The Georgia Magnet, The Gerloch. W Oermaine. Karl German Artisten Loge

G

.'

207, 20S. 209. 349, 382 138 342 32S 8 266 150, 212 43

112, 367 110 12. 13. 42. 103, 13S. 244 146

INDEX 110 •Ghezzi, Mons Ghosts and Spirits 17, IS1 74 Gibbons, Walter 27S Gilleo, Tobias 268 •Gillo 280 Gilmore, Capt. S. F 3S7 Giradelli. Signora Globe of Death 52, SG 116 Globe, The Hazardous Giuck. Herr Director 133 235 Glynn. Arthur 8 Golden Cross of Merit With the Crown Goldin, Horace, Portrait 16, iii Goldin. Horace, 12, 43, 71, 73, 77, 144, 146, 203, 205, _'ld, 228. 244, 245, 251, 265. 280, 30!), 313. 314, 340, 342, 36S,37 3 Goldston. Will. Fails to Fulfill His Claim to Build any Illusion 207, 208,20(1 343 Gondolier, prof 375 Gonyale. T. Horace 314 Goodwin, Nat 75 Gordon. Henry Fletcher 260 Gotch. F r a n k Gotha. Duke of Graef, Peter N Grafstein, .7. Bruno 277 Graham, Wm. D 341 Graff. Sehutzman Werner 90 Granat, Louis M S3 344 Grant. Prof. Herbert 145 Graybau, Detective 3 28 Green. Clay M 89 Gregerowitz, Dr 17 9 Greup, Gilbert Gridna, John J., Portrait 16, viii

Hartz, M 368 H a r t z Bros 27 Harvey. Lew, P o r t r a i t 16, ii Hachett, Mrs. M 263 Haselmeyer, Ijouis, P o r t r a i t 369 Haslam 54 Hathaway, James 25 Hatrey, Louis 376 Hayden. P o r t r a i t 16, v Hayden 312 16, Hayden. Ray C Pol-trait Hayden. Ray C. S7, 151, 214. 243, 279, 312

Hayes, Harry F Hayman Notes from Hayman

Notes

Hayman Hayman

& &

from

Franklin Hayman

53 Australia, 106, 107. 140, 141, 171, England, 2^6, 267. 2!)S, P o r t r a i t . . . .67. !)0,

108, 172, 173 297. 331, 332 131, 163

206

206 Hayman. Jack Hayman. Joseph, Portrait 297. 331 Hayman. Joseph 82, 143, 206, 234,245 234 Hayward. H Hedges. Mr 27 Heilman. A. G 87. 151, 27 3 Heimburger, Alexander, Letter 18, 19 Heimburger, Herr Alexander 84, 179, 368 37fi Heinke, Richard Heller. Robert 146. 300,3«6 233 Hellers Mil Heilman Helms. Harry 110, 144 Helpful Hints for Young Magicians Under Eighty 374. 375 77 Hendler, Alfred von 54 147 Griffin. Prof Hendrickson & Rosinl 104 Grossman, Hudolph. Portrait 16, iv H 'ercv . ri. Gstettenhof Henry, Capt. E. E 52, 116 s 263 Guest, Claude 171. 234 Henshaw. William 340 Guibal, Pierre Hepner. Herman 100 183 Gunnes, Mrs Herbert. Carl 20, 344 83 Guthrie. Charles Herbert, Chauncey 3 75 277 Gylleck. O. T 151. 243. 273, Herhron. J a c k 341 230 Gyngell Hermanitz 3 Of. 313 Gysel, R. H 110, 143. 207, 277. Herrmann, Dr. Carl 229,231,324, 368 H Herrmann, Compars 245 Haas, Alexander 15, 106, 206, 214 Herrmann, Leon 24, 50. 83. 144, 14S,147 Hackenschmidt 266 Herrmann, Madame .51, 52. 83. 143.144 Hackett. Katherine 295 Herrmann, Madame Maria . 299 Hagen, Charles J 2S ... .14,' 17l', 267, 145 Herrmann, Melot Hagen. Charles J., Portrait ...16, ii Herrmann, Polish 379 Bagenbecks 297 Herrmann The Great 143. 206, 261, 236 Hagenbeck and Wallace Show 245 Herschell, Dr 139, Hague. Prof 53 Hertz, Carl. 46, 72, 104. 140, 109. 205. 235, 265, Hall. Burling G 87. 117. 151. 214 298, 331, 367 Hall. Frederick 279.3-13 266 Heteb, Joab 13, 42, 138, Hall. Fred Albert, Portrait 16, v Heubeck, George, Article 230. 231 231 Hall & Co.. Joseph 7, 2!i Heubeck. Mr. & Mrs. George. Portrait 309 Hall of F a m e in the World of Mystery, 3<56, Heuel. Dr. Emil 278 367. 36S, 369, 370 Heverly, The Mighty 84 Halle _. 368 Hewes 204 Halton. I. F 281 Hevvsen, H a r r y • 245 H a m bitzer. J. F 314 Hickman. 7_,one Bill Hamil. J a y C S3 Hicks, W. Leonard. P o r t r a i t . 16. i,. 52, 85, 148, Hamley Bros.. 3, 35, 95, 128. 160, 181, 188, 215, 1S4, 343 220. 252, 2SS. 320. 352. 3S0 Hicks, W. T^eonard 62, 112, 269a, 277 Hamley Bros.. Palace of Magic. Descriptive Hicks. W. Tjeonard. Breezes from Windy City. Article .20, 21 25. 20. 27. 52, 53. 54. S5, 86. 87. 14S. 149. Hamley Bros. Magical Palace, Exterior View 21 150. 184, 185, 186, 211, 212. 213. 247, 281, Hamley Bros. Magical Palace, 7nterior View 22 2S2, 314, 315, 343, 344 Hamley. Cecil, Portrait 20 Hiestand. Chas. F., P o r t r a i t 16, vi Hammel. George 375 Hiestand, Chas. F., 28, 47. 50. 82. 86. 115, 144 Handcuff Secrets Exposed. By Harry Houdini Hill, Dr. Thos. B 116 29, 57. 58. 59, 60, 90, 91, !)2, 120, 121, 122, Hill. Percy 28. 28. 151, 179, 277 123, 154. 155 H i l l i i r 314 Kanlon's Superba 5 2 Hilliard. John N 55. 181, 238 Hansome *. 27 VHnKsto", E d w a r d P.. P o r t r a i t 35S Hanson, Herman 212. 231, 324. 368 H. R. H. Prince Albert 7 H a n v a r r & Lee, Portrait 16. viii History Makers in t h e World of Magic. 6. 7. 8, Harcourt 13 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 09, 70. 71. 72. 101. 102. Hardeen, Theodore, London Notes 12. 13 103, 133, 134. 135. 136. 165. 166. 167. 1"S. Hardeen. Theodore Weiss. 50. 83, 131, 147 103, 197, 198. 199, 200, 229, 230, 231 169, 1X4. 195, 210, 227, 259, 279, 291, 313, 113 Hixon 323. 342, 355 Hixon, Prof. B. E 87, 173, 174 Hani eon. Theodore Weiss J u m p s Bridge HandHocus Pocus 'Reproduced'. 47. 48. 117. 118. cuffed • 210 271a, 306, 307, 308. 334, 335 Harrteen. Theodore Weiss. Portrait. 12. 67. 99. 355 Hoefler, J a c k 51 Hardin & Co., Henry. 32. 64. 93. 125, 157. 181. Hoffman. Prof. 55, 73, 308 189. 220, 253. 285, 317, 349, 3S2 Hofzlnser, J o h a n n N., Article. 107, 108. 199, Hardy, A Ill 200, 229, 230, 231 Harney, M 5 Hof^inser. Johann N.. P o r t r a i t 197, 229 Harrington, Jonathan 46, 300 Hof-?inser's Tricks, List of 199, 20(1 Harris, James M 279 Holromb, Elliott A.. P o r t r a i t 10, vli Harris & Merlo 279 Holden & Gardner 247 Harrison, Mrs. Mary 180 Holden, D r .• 49 Hartman. Prof 45 HoMen. J o h n W a t k i n s 7R Hartman, George 77, 139 77ollnnd, Mr. E. M 26 Harto, J a m e s M 376 Holton, Mr 344

INDEX Holy Mitya, The 17 Home, D. D 366 Hooper, M. D. W 249 Hopkins. H 81 Hopkins. William 311 Hornmann, Otto, 24, 51, 112, 113, 205, 206, 245,

2S0, 373

Horster, Conradi 268 Hosking, Ernest 140 Hotel Preston, 3, 35, 67, 99, 131, 163, 195, 227, 259, 291, 323 Houdin, Robert 5, 19, 27, 82, 135, 178, 367 Houdin, Robert. Unmasking- of, 94, 112, 126, 15S, 178, 179, 190, 222, 256, 262, 271, 28S, 320, 352, 379, 3S4 Houdini. Harry. Portrait, 37, 90, 120, 133, 136, 154, 176, 177, 229, 293. 325, 326, 366, 384 Houdini. Harry, 31, 45, 50, S6, 89, 109, 110 141. 144. 148, 149, 170, ISO, 182. 184, 206. 207, 242. 261, 268a, 269a, 270a, 271, 280, 309, 313, 340, 342, 343, 356,366 Houdini. Mrs. Harry 309 Houry, Leon, Portrait 16, Houry, Leon 277, 278 House of the (Sphinx, The 89 How to Amputate the Head, Arms or Legs, 303, 304 How to Ring Church Bells 153, 154 How to Release From Strait-Jacket, 154, 155. 176. 177 Howard, Carl 265 Howard, Homer 86 . Howards, Marvelous 42 ' V 379 Howell Howells, Mysterious 110 Howes, The 13 Hubbnrd, George Everett 343 Hubbard, Kin 180 Huegood 151 233 Hugarde. Jean Hugh. Vic 25. 27, S2, 115, 245, 247, 282 325 Husrhes, I. Harris, Portrait 115 Hugo Hull, Burling 54, 277 Hull. Harriet 263. 295 Hulley & Cummins 38, 39 Humorous Magicians Unmasked 373 Hunsingrr. Harry 375 Hunter. G. W

Hurtig & Seamon Weiss Hymack Hyman, Sidney

Lose Verdict

73. 139

to Wm. G.

209 13, 14, 44, 51. 76. 266 312

I Illustrations: Conjurers Castle. The 302 Cross P,.lease. The 303 Ksrape from an Iron Box 240, 241 Escipp from Spike Lined Cabinet 272, 273 Hindoo Boiling and Disappearing Water Trick 123 How to Amputate the Head, Arms or Legs, 304 How to Disappear a Cage and a Person Placed Therein 345, 346 How to Produce a Three Headed. W o m a n . . 362 Japanese Butterfly Trick 305, 306 Keys for Locks 59 Lifting a Human Being With t h e Power From . the Eyes 80 Lock Pickers ......60, 91, 92, 120, 122 Musical Cypher, The . . . . ~ 219 Mysterious Paper Rings, The 363 Packing Case Escape 332, 333 Parlor Rope Tie 23 Playing Card Cypher, The 250 Soytala. Laconias Cypher 21S Silent Second Sight 364. 365 Skeleton Key 59 Spirit Slate Writing 56 Strait-Jacket. Back View 177 Strait-Jacket, Front View 176 The Three Trunk Trick 203 Vanishing Piano Player 237 Windowed Cypher, The 218 II Mago Italiano 44 Indian Rope Trick 146 Inexhaustible Bottle, The 7 Ineleby Family 367 Internationale Artisten Lodge 45 Inventor of Black A rt, The 1"1 Iona, The Enchanted 12 Irving, Dr. C. Howard Irwin, Dr. J. A 328 Irwin, Will 88 Ishmeal. Prince 313 Isola, Freres 42 It Ivea. Barney 145. 245

J Jacksie, Francis M.. P o r t r a i t 16, Jackson, Family Jackson, Nelson 264, Jackson, W a l t e r 280, Jacobs Jacobs, Jenie, 31, 34, 66, 98, 130, 162, 194, 226, 258, 290, 322, J a m e s . N. W SI, 143, 270, James, F Janson, Herr 51, 115, J a p a n e s e Butterfly Trick 305, Jarrow Jenkins. W a l t e r Jennings. Breton 54, Jewell's Manikins Jewett Joaehin & Clara Belleachini Jonas Jones, Wm Jordan, Jules, P o r t r a i t 16, Jorden, Miss Lutzi Josef, Emperor F r a n z 6, .Toseffy 152. J o t t i n g s and J u m b l i n g s , 24, 50, 51. 52, S2, 83. 84. 110, 111, 112. 113. 144, 145, 146, 147, 180, 181, 207, 20S/ 209, 210, 244, 245, 279. 280. 313, 314, 342, 378,

Jupiter Bros., The

K

Kahn & Kahn Kalb, George J., Portrait Kalhass & Company Kalms

110 29T 314 146 354 357 179 315 30 S

281 376 143 85 83 44

366 179 ii 139 142 153

379 343

14, 104, 169 16, vii

Karland. Prof 24, 1S6, Karno. Fred Karno's P a n t o m i m e Company Katterfelto Kaufman. Minnie Kaye. W a l t e r S. . . . A Keene, W a r r e n Keene, Robertson, Article Keith. B. F Keith & Proctor 36, 51. 210, 244, Kellar. Harry, 4. 15, 28, 50, 72. S2, S4, 89, 114, 140, 140, 152, 182, 206, 210, 211, 280, 311, 324, 325, Kellar, Harry, P o r t r a i t H a r r y , P o r t r a i t in 1873 " Harry, P o r t r a i t in 1876 Harry, P o r t r a i t in 1908 " Harry, Mr. & Mrs., P o r t r a i t H a r r y , Mr. & Mrs Leopold, P o r t r a i t Kelley. Justin Kelleys. The Kelly, Joe Kelmar Kendler. Mons. Alfred Kennedy, F r a n k Miss Grace .Times The Mystifler Kettle. Captain Khaldah. Kilbv. Bert., P o r t r a i t Killiy, Bert, 49, 62, 14", 179, 1S7, 242, 245,

241.

50, 16,

115 184 24 5 267 S6 36 6 2tj 341 244 17 211 342"

280, 113, 309, 341. 36S 113, 325 324 324 325 325 378 vi 16, 211 314 40, 25

2 4::

13") 26 26 S2. 247 lSH 2^5 149 vi 16,

2C1. 340, 376 150, 181. 367 186, 246

Kins King Cole 9 King of Prussia 46 Kinney, C. W., L e t t e r 243 T'irbv.' William Klafterbrunn 6, 8, 11 Klaw and Erlangrer, 4, 27, 36, 43. 46. 50, 51, S4, 210, 212, 244 49 T-'ieinert, George .201 Klem. F r a n k J 6 Knapp,

Joseph,

1S3. 187. 191, 223, 244, 246, 255, 287, 312, 319, 341, 351, 380 Kohl & Cistle 27, 85 25 K o h l
Ko'ta, B m t i e r de. Portrait Koltn. Bnntier rle 174, 175, K o " o n h , M«x Be>-ol. Portrait Ko^o'-oh. Mix Berol 112, 146, Kn»ovoh, Madame 45, 50, 85. 115. Kramer. Arthur 24, 280, Anton, Portrait TTI-P«CT>I -> n .

Otto

V'-ft^rhna, John T-Wp.re'Knss. The Great. Portrait Kroch. Master Mechanic

.231,

3 46 330 361 210 149 376 24 369 232 2«8 245 378

~ 24. 313. 3R7. vt 16, 90

INDEX Kruger Kubelik Kudarz, Robert Kukol, F r a n z

213 185 140, 233, 234, 342, 3l>S 325

La Auto Girl 117 La B r a n d t 24 La Brandt, Mme 342 ii Lachance, A., P o r t r a i t 16, La Delles 116 Ladies Home J o u r n a l 89 Lafayette, The Great 50, 24R, 265, 332 73 Lambei t 2011 Lambourne Herbert 51 Landsberger, Phil 36(i Lane 377 Lane P r o g r a m m e Photographed 246 Lang 89 Lankaster, Dr 234 Larenzy 28 Larkins, Miss C 212 L a t m o r e & Leigh La T r i s k a r. . 86 Laurence, Howard A 207, 20S 311 Laureyns, C. G 23 3 Lavante 1S6 La Varre & Co., The Great 87, 115, 244 Lavette 2S2 Lawson, Chinaman Lazern 47, 119 7S Lea 212 Le Compt Lee 87, 163, 2115, Lee, Henry : Lee. Lillian, P o r t r a i t Hi Lee & H a n v a r r , P o r t r a i t It;. viii Legett, Richard 111 Legris, Mons Leighton, Fred, P o r t r a i t Hi, 3(59 Leipholz, Prof., P o r t r a i t 368 Leipholz, Prof ii Leipzig, Nate, P o r t r a i t lli, Leipzig, Nate 12, 169, 265, 314 232 Le Mystere 86 Le Noir's Marionettes 7S Lenz, Robert 117 Leo, Prof 151 Le Roy Le Roy, Talma & Bosco, 14, 44, 44, 45, 75, 7ii, 105, 171, 374 9, 95, 112, 127, Le Roy, W. D., 24, 31. 63, 14S, 159, 1S1. 192, 211, 224, 24S, 254, 281, 286, 290, 311, 322, 354 311, 314 Le Roy, Mr. & Mrs Lester & Walton, P o r t r a i t L e t t e r from, 20 C. De Vere Alexander Heimburger IS, 19 46 C. W. Kinney 19 J. P. C. Saell 47 Socrates W. L. Hicks to Dr. A. M. Wilson 173, 174 181 Letter Box Thief 53 Levino, Dolph & Susie 55 Lewis, Angelo 233 Lifscutz Lifting a Human Being With t h e Power from 80 the Eyes 105 Liliput 13 Lilith L'lllusionniste, 04, 93, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 2S5. 317, 349, 382 247 Lind Lindsley, F r a n k W., P o r t r a i t 348, 381 Lindsley, Frank W., Cincinnati Notes, 181, 1S2, 183, 277 Lindsley, F r a n k W., 183, 246, 255, 2S7, 319, 341, 348, 381 324 Ling Look, Portrait Lischko, Mr 330 List of Hofzinser's Tricks 199, 200 Lithograph of W. G. Smith 10 84 Little. George W Liiette & Picitt 13 279 Lloyd. Tom Lock Picking Instruments, Illustrated, 60, 91, 92, 1211, 12 2 Logrenia 27 Loar'enK, Sr., P o r t r a i t 301 L~ g r e n i a , J r . , P o r t r a i t 361 Lohmer, F r a n k 23CI, 357 L o n d o n Notes, B y T h e o d o r e H a r d e e n 12, 13 London Notes 169, 170 London Notes, B y W i l f r e d C. Zelka, 13, 14. 41, 42, 73, 103, 104, 137, 13S, 168, 119, 235, 236, 264, 265, 298,299 142 L o n e Star, T h e 295 Longhurst, Martha

Lorn Lorimer, T Lorrello Lott, Herr, Transport Lovelle, Frank Lovenberg, Manager Lowell, Percival Lowleys Lynn, Carl, Portrait Lynn, Dr Lyons, Harry

Police •

45 172 246 90 184 280 260 185 16, iv 300, 340 234

M . Macaire, Sid., Portrait 16, ii Macallister 27, 300 Macallister, Andrew 373 MacLean, R. E 315 MacLellans in Maenaughton, F r a n k 75 Madison, Robert 28. 183, 187, 311 Magic Circle. The 73, 10-1; 138, 235, 264 Magical Master, The 137 Magician, The 349, 382 Magicians Obtain no Ber.eflt From P a t e n t i n g Their Illusions, By Alleno 336, 337 Magicon, Klenkers i; Magieus 49, 179 Mahoney, E d w a r d L 282 Mail Bag, IS, 19, 20, 46, 47, 78, 79, 108, 109, 152, 153, 174, 175, 176, 205, 206, 238, 273, 274, 275, 299, 300, 329, 330, 373, 374 Maish. Clifford 246 Majeska. Mile. 54 Maletzky 268 Manchachand, Prof. Nathu 62 Maneshak . : 50. 187, 312 Manhattan Detective Agency 2, 34, 66 Mann. W. F : 24 Mansfield, Gertrude 282 Marbini ' ' . . 53 Marco 155, ISO, 261, 29S, 340 Marco. J a m e s 110, 112 Marco, Belly 232 Marco, The Boy Conjurer 13, 169 Marco Twins 112 Marconi 145 Marconis. The S6, 150, 29S Marcus, Max U., P o r t r a i t 16, viii Marcus, Max U 87, 183, 207. 214. 246. 341 Maribini Ling 150Markos 155, 261 Marlowe, J u l i a $Z Maro 196, 210, 241. Marricotts, The 41 Marriott, William 13S Marriotts, The 264, 29T Marsh. Mrs. Leonora 180 Marston, William Alvin 300 Marteau. O. F 232 Martenz, Albert 242 Martini & Maximillion 150, 314 Martirka. J 27 Martinka. Mrs. P 313, 342, 379 Martinka & Co., 24, 32, 64, 84, 93, 125, 157. 189, 2(15, 206, 220. 253, 2S5, 311, 314, 317, 342. 349. 351. 382 Martynne 53 Maskelyne, J. N., P o r t r a i t 175 Maskelyne, J. N., 4, 73, 89, 138, 168, 1B9, 175. 264, 273, 300, 367, 368, 379 Maskelyne &- Devant. 12, 42, 50, 73, 103, 104, 138, 146, 171, 172, 208, 234, 264. 265, 206, 297, 340, 342, 378, 379 Master, R e t r a c 141 Mathews, Drees & Co 212 Mawr, John 27 May, Cecil 54 Mayne, William 138 Maxie 85, 2S0 Maxiom. The Great. P o r t r a i t 16, vii McAdow. Dudley 84 McAskell, Alan 43 McCammon, R 214 McCardell. Roy 372 McCarthy, A. J 243 McClure. Andy Ill McCormaek, Capt 315 McCoy. Dan 282' McDorgh & Sherwood 115 McKieran. J a c k 261 McWaters & Tyson 53 Merlium Game. The 88 Mediumship, Written by a Professional Under Control 119 Meehan, John J 280 Melbourne, Vanola HI Mellini 24, 50, 245 TVel'ini nnd Basch, Portrait 70 Mells, Marvelous : 150

8 "M Ivilli-, Frederick,

INDEX 50, S3, Sf>, 114, 117, 186, 313, 3 76 14, 171, 267, 299 169 299, :ir>7 43 44 45 373 2 07 1S4 77

Melot, Hermann Mclsophora Melville Menetekel Merelli, Herr Merkle. W. J Merritt, Prof Merry, Miss Mersano Mertens, A Merton, Hal . 147 Metro 114 Metternich, Prince 6 Mexican, Herman 27, 53, l i t ; Michael, Prof. J. W 143. 180 Michaels. K SI Micrometer. The Safe Opening . . . . . . ..211, 57, 5S Micrometer. Photo 311 Middleton, J a m e s F 21.", Mignon, A. M 1.11 Mildred & Rouclere, P o r t r a i t Hi. iii Mildred & Rouclere I l l , 147. 241 Miller, Clifford A 214, 243. 341 344 Miller, J. F Miller, Reid. Portrait 10, il Miller, Welsh 26 Miller, Handcuff Kins 184 Mills. E. I 264 Milnes, Charles 243 112 Mimis Bust, The 1S4 Minerva 183 Minerva. Maud 145 Minnerly. Detective 236 Minns, W. R 215 Miracles of the Hindoo Fakirs .Explained 211 Miraculus & Bowen 110 Miris, Signorina F a t i m a 43. 73. 279 Mirror. New York 143 Mitchell, Frank 37.S Mitchell, O. M 143 Mitchell. Prof Mnemosina. Madame 76 Modern Genius in Magic. A 152, 153 248 • Modern Magical Marvels 315 Mohammad, A 15 Molini Monhaupt 36S 369 Monhaupt. P o r t r a i t 7 Montaliset, Count 241 Monti Moon, Thomas 340, 366 264 Moore, Fred 144 Moose, A. J Mooser, I/eon 116, 376 Mora, L. J 223. 255 More Novel Notions, By Robertson K e e n e . . l 6 , 17 357 Morfitt, James, Portrait 151 Mopgenwerk, Karl 74 Morie, J Morimura 13, 104 149 Morley. Sid 277 Morriil, Edwin 184 Morris & Morris Morris, Nelson 2G. 8 2. 149 297 Morris, Prof 29S Morris, William Morse, Howard E 2S0, 314 372 Mortimer Mortimer, Dr. W. Golden 311, 342 Morton 139, 140, 243 Morton, J a m e s J 51 153 Morton, C. Porter Mosher, Arthur, P o r t r a i t 16, vi! Mosher. Arthur 2 8, 151. 341 Moto-Girl 50, 83, 85, 117. 186 344 Mountford, Mr. H a r r y Mourdini 77 179 Mullet Mulock. Herr 84 Munro. George SI, 109, 236 212 Murphy, J a m e s 311 Murphy, P 186 Mysterious Kellys 75 Mysterious, Mr. C Mysticus 51, S5, 315 369 Mystifiers of Note, Past 37 0 Mystiflers of Note, Present N 44 Nakamurn. 233 Nan.iok. Gustav 184 Neal. Miss Virginia 116 Nello. The. Great 342 Nelson Neola, Marvelous ISO Neuman. Prof New Ape '117 Niblo, M

Vi

Nightingale. Frank B., Portrait .16, iv Nightingale. Frank B .241, 376 Nikola, Ijouis 264 Nimmn 305 Nonkes, Ernest E., Portrait . . . i . . .16, Noakes. Ernest E 138 Noakes, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest E. . .13', 14 Northern Magical Society 374 Norton 148, 281 315 Norton, Alice Notes from Australia, By H a y m a n . 106, 107, 108. 140. 141, 171, 172,173 Notes from Boston, By F . Roche. 84, 147, 14S. 210, 211, 280, 281. 314.343 Notes from Cincinnati 181, 182. 1S3, 246 Notes from E n g l a n d , By H a y m a n . 266. 267. 297, 29S, 331,332 Notes, E u r o p e a n , from N. Osev. 44. 4.1. 46. 76. 77. 78. 139. 140. 2'w. 2RS Notes, "London, By Theodore H a r d e e n 12, Hi Notes. London, By Wilfred C. IZelka. 13. 14. 41. 42. 73. 103, 104, 137, 138, 168, 169. 170. 23.1, 236. 264. 26.1. 298.299 Notes from New Zealand, By Robert K u d a r z , 233, 234 183 Notes from Pacific Coast Notes, Viennese, By H e r r O t t o k a r Fischer, 14, 15. 43. 44, 75. 76, 105, 1"6. 170. 171. 232. 233.267 Notes from W i n d y Cirv, By W. L. Hicks. 25. 26. 27. 52. 53. 54. 85. 86. 87, 148, 149, 150, 184, 185. 186. 211, 212, 213, 247. 2S1. 282. 314. 31.1. 343.344 17 Novel Notions, By Robertson Keene 16, 376 Nutrent, B 7G Nydia. Miss O O'Connor, Massius 51, .13. 113. 1S.1 87 Ori eo n 279 Odini O k i t o , 1.1. 7 6 , 8 6 , 1 1 1 . 1.10. 1 7 0 , 1 8 3 , 2 1 3 , 2 4 6280 . S3 Olifans, The Three O l i v e t t e . 54, 117. 151. 179. 243. 27S. 339. 341.342 121 Olschapsky" 211 Omar. The Great 313 Onain 150 Oriettas. The 139 Orlowa. Madame Elennore 185 Ormonds 347 Ornums 254 "86, 316, 242 Ornum, George 243 Orr, Lawrence E 332 Osborne. Miss T.eah 331. Osev, H e r r N., E u r o p e a n Note«, 44. 45. 46. 76, 77. 7S, 139, 140, 267, 268 62 Osgood, PubMshing Co 145 Osgood. W h i t m a n 17fl Osiris Otto Supply 223. 25.1. 2S7, 319, 351. 380 210 Oudini

r Pacific Coast Notes from Robert Madison . . . . Packing Case Escape 332, Page. Archibald Paget. Arthur 137, Paladino. Madame Eusapia Palatine Pall Mall Magazine Pamnlin Parks. Tra D Parlor Rone Tie Parlor Trick OmoptiMn". 162. 194. 2 P a r e Wood Cut Photograph of Society of American Magicians Dinner Piano Player, The Vanishing 236, t'icitt & T,i?ette Pierce, Miss Alice

183 333 111 13S 111 366 249 S7 242 23 357 45 2(!7 26 llfi 266 379 311 278 37fi 176 110 278 247 332 242 37S 12 247 107 296 310 237 44 13 75

INDEX "XMnchbeck 1!I7, 36S. Pinetti HIT 36s Titrot 26V Plttman. Bert '' . . . . 2S2 Plate. Adrian, Portrait 16. iii TMatc. Adrian 1st Platt. Mr. Mumford IS-'. IN:: Playing Card Cypher Poliee Gazette 114 Pollak, Carl Edward 4.", I'liiiliv The Great 2X2 Portable Theatre. Portrait. Designed and I'sed by Brnst Basch Portraits: Adams, 12. C 11;. VII I Anderson. Columbia Harriett 2 9." Emile 26 3 Helen Elizahetli 294 John Henry 262. 293 John Henry, Brother 262 John Henry and Son 263 John Henry as Rob Roy 262 Mrs. John I lenry 263 Miss LiZZie 30 5 Miss Nellie 295 294 Oscar Longhurst 10 2 A rbre. d i a r i e s Auzinger, Max Inl. Bagent, f has. O in. vi Baker. Wm. Ernest Hi. Harrington. Frederick Hi. .Basch. Heir Ernest Friedrich Joseph 6 !i Heinrich f,!! Jacob r. and Mellini Tiaiiin. Edward 1(1 Henri 10. Ui'kki v "Ben Ali Bey 101, 271 13endon. Prince 16, vi\ 16, viii TSertram. Alex . I!26, 327 Jiislmii. Washington Irving "Washington Irving, 21st year 35H Washington Irving. Mother 327 "Blind. Mons. A.. "Magicus" 37n "Bontoft. .T. H If,. iv 3uckle. Arthur Hi, iv Cabinet Trick. By Davenport Bros 3x, 3'.1 Cadieux, /.. A 16, \i Carlton Hi, viii Oaroly 370 Oiiafalo & Capretta 124. 1">6 Clnint,r Ling Soo 37II •olIiriKs. H. J Hi. i 'raitr. Delbert C lfi. v 4'ulpitt 16, viii Cunarrl 324 T>a\'enport Bros ;',s Davenport Bros. Cabinet Trick 39 Davenports. The 22 Davies. Harrison L If,. Day. Harry 15 "Dc-Biere, Arnold, 3, 35, 67. 99, 131. 103. 19." 226. 259, 2!)1, 323, Delvos. Charles 16, v i i i Deodato, Signor Joseph 308 Devant. David 16. DeYcre. C 252. 2S4, 31S. 350. 3S:s 9 "Dobler. Ludwig Leopold 7. Downs. T. Nelson 16. Dresb:uh. Julius lfi. Duff. L. C lfi, Evans,' 1 Henry R 16, "Fay. Anna Eva P a y . William M Fischer. Herr Ottokar. 14. 43. 75, 1 or., 170. 2 3 2. -1', 7 13:; "Frikell. Wilialba. In His Youth Wilialbt. In His prime 134. 165 13 6 Wiljalliu. Villa Qoldin. Horace 16. iii firidna. John .1 10. viii Grossman. Rudolph lfi. iv Hagen. Charles J 16, ii Hall. Fred Albert 16, "Ham ley. Cecil Hamley Bros., Magical Palace, Exterior View Hamley Bros. Magical Palace, Interior View H a n v a r r * Lee Hi. viii Hardeen. Theodore Weiss 12, 07, 99, 355 Harvey. Lew lfi, Haselmeyer, Louis 369 Hayden 16, v Hayden, Ray C 16, vi Hayman & Franklin . . . . . 6 7 . 09, 131. 163 •"Hayman, Joseph 297. 331 231 Heubeck. Mr. & Mrs. George "Hicks. W. Leonard. Hi. I. 52, S5. 14S. 1S4. 34 3 "Hlestand, Chas. F 10. vi

9

Hingston, Edward P. . . Hofzinser, Johann N. .197. H o l c o m b , E l l i o t t A. . . . . .16, H o u d i n i . H a r r y , 37.- !P0, 120. 133, 136, 154, 176, 177, 22(1,293, 325, 326, 366, Houry, Leon . .16. Hughes, I. Harris Jacksie, Francis M. . .16. Jordan. Jules .16. Kalb. George J . . . .16, .113, K filar. Harry Harry. - In 1S73 .... Harry. In 1876 ... Harry. In 190S ... Harry. Mr. & Mrs. . .16, Leopold . .10, Kilby. l.iert . Kolta, Bautier d e Konorah, Max Berol Kratky-Basehik, Anton .16, Kriss. The Great LaChance, A .16, Lane Programme . .16, Lee. Lillian Lee & Hanvarr . .16, Leighton, Fred . .16, Leipholz. Prof Leipzig. Nate .16, Lester & Walton Lindslev, Frank W. .34V. Lintr. Look Lock Picking Instruments. 00, 91. 92, 120, Logrenia. Sr Logrenia, J r .16. Lynn. Carl .16, Macaire. Sid .16, Marcus. Max I ' Maskelyne. J. X. . . Maxion, T h e G r e a t . .16. ]VTeilini a n d "Basch . Mildred * R o u c l e r e .10. .16, Miller. "Reid Monhiupt Mortiitt. James . . .16. Mnslicr. Arthur . . MvstitV"s of Note. Past . . . ATvstirters of Nfite. Present. N'isrbtingale, F r a n k B .16. .10, Xo-rikes. Ernest E. Plate. Adriin Portable Theitre, Designed and Used by Ernest

Basch

....

Presto

Prince Bendon .... P q i s t r i e k . Alfred . . . Rainsev. John T?s>-e P h o t o i r r a p h of Ernest P o b i n s o n . W. E. . . R o u c l e r e & Mildred

.lfi, .16. .16,

Basch.

. .16, Si Hera .170, S a t o . O. K. . .lfi. Selbo . .16, Skelly. .las. P Society of American Magicians Dinner s t r a i t - J ' i c k e t Release .176, Sulamith .10. Tliorn. Chevalier Ernest .16, 'I'liornton. John Wm .16. Thurston. Howard .10. Tiiiphage". Win. H .16. Twins, E. Lr .10. Vallance. Fre l .16. V',ceo, Ose-ir O Villa. Frikell ." . . . Waerner, Robert Herrmann .10. Walton *• Lester .10. M'ejss. "WilHim G .16. "vt'iHiims. Walter Wjllman. Carl 195. 227. 259. 291. '323. Woo 1 Cut. Rare Wood. M. M Vamadeva .16. Yolnnde Zelka. Wilfred C . 13. 41. 73. 1(13. 137. Ziska Poster Powell, Powell. Powell. Powell. Presto. Preston Preston

TTseil by Frikell Herbert Dr. Senaca D The Great ft. Gordon Portrait * Co.. Arthur Hotel, 3. 35. 67

IB.

35 X 2 29 vi i 384 v 3 25 v ii vii 325 324 324 325 325 vi vi 346 361 36 9 vi ii 377 ii viii vl 369 ii 22 3: I 122 3fil 361 iv ii viii 175 vli 70 iil Ii 369 357 vil 369 370 iv 1

iii 71 vii vil iv i 72 370 Iii i 342 vii! viii 310 177 103 iii v iil v iii i II 136 i oo iii v

355 296 152 324 vii iv IKS

2fi 41

52, 108, 10 0 236 vii 13 131, 163, 195. 2?7. 99. 259. 291.

Price. Abier-Ml Prince. Arthur Prince, Albrrt, H. R. H. Prince Bendon. Portrait . .

m .16,

7 vil

INDEX

10

Roterberg-, A.. 31, 49, 63, 95, 159, 1S1, 191, 213, Roterberg, Mrs. A Roterberg, Frederick 77 Roterberg, Miss Henriette 7S Rothschild 371 Rouclere & Mildred, Portrait S Rouclere, Mr. Rudinoff SI Ituisselle !) Russell, H a r r y Russell, "Magician" 119 12. 170 6 111

Prince Bendon Prince Metternich Pringree, Mr Priola, EUi and Henry Prital & Fay Programmes Reproduced: Boulevard Dob)er, Ludwig Fiikell, Wiljalba Hofzinser Lane Shaw, Dr Smith, W. G Providence Society of Magicians Provost, A. H Prussia, King o£ Psychic Research Co., The

« Queen Victoria Questions Answered, 27, 2S. 49. SI, S2, 109, •110, 143, 144, 179, ISO, 207, 241, 242, 277, 311, 312, 340, 341, 3 7 f., 376

R

Raglus Rago 53, Raistiick, Alfred, Portrait : 16, R a m b ' e r Troupe Rameses, The Great Ramsey. John, Portrait 16, Ransome, Mr. & Mrs Rapp, Agustavus Rare Photograph of Ernest Basch Raudnitz, Alfred Raymond 24. 108, 113, Raymond Refuses Handcuffs Raymond, Messrs Razai fs. The Reach, F Reading & Rubbish, 16, 17, 18, 55, 56, 88, 89, 119, 142, 17S, 215, 24S, 372, Read, R. W 179, Rebla, Theo 54, Redmond, Prof Reeves, Billie 86, Reismin, J. B 282, Release, Strait-Jacket 154, 155, 176, Remondoy, Ernest Renards, The Three Renk Reproduction of Rare Hofzinser P r o g r a m m e . Reproduction of Frikell Programme Resisto 86, Resti Rettiek & Company, Carl E Rheiiische, Zeitung Rhynn,

H

Rice & Kemp Richards, Chris 27, S3, Richards, S. E Richardson, Herbert R Richardson. W. R Rickards, Harry 28, 141, Right Way To Do Wrong, 31, 63, 95, Ripley, G. S Risley Ritchey, J. V Robbins, A. D Robert, George Roberto & Raymond Robertson. Prof Robi'i, Henri Robinson, Edward W Rob T nson, Harry Robinson, W. E., Portrait Robinson. W. E 4, 46, 242, Robson, Master S Roche Roche, Frederick, "Boston Bits," 84,

150, 182, 278, 172, 234, 127, 157,

• 173,

52, 29S, 367,

185 iv 68 17S i 311 112 72 277 247 HIS 12 37li 241 373 187 243 38 170 315 177

26S 115 45 230 166 267 235 25 90 25 247 186 53 151 312 298 189 270 305 86 45 82 234 246 40 242 233 370 379 278 24

147, 210. 280, 314 45 Rochelli Roethig, Henry 53, 116, 281 233 Rogee Roland, The Great, 13, 15, 104. 106, Ifi9, 235, 265 Roltiire 26, 84, 113, 311, 313 178 Romance of Jail Breaking" 268 Romano Ronqchers 44, 105, 267 US Rood. Edwin 27!! Roosevelt, President 279 Roosevelt, Mrs 279 Roosevelt, Miss Ethel 279 Roosevelt, Ma.ster Quentin 25 Root, Jack 23 Rope Tie, A Parlor 146 ROpe Trick, The Indian 376 Rose. Ike 46, 77, 139, .169 Rosen & Bliss 148 Ross. Gash

127, 143, 1t'vT, 223, 242, 315. 367' 2G. 150 150' C .16, iii. .311, 314. 234 279233. .312, 378 173 170..28, 81, 143, 242 2G '. . .54, 87, 143, 341

142: Sabatim, Rafael 233 Sacco 331 Sachs, Mr. J. L 10 Saell, J. P. C . "Letter" Saharet, Madame 46, 77 i Sa Hera, Portrait 16, Sa Hera . . . . , 50, 84, 85, 150 211 Salbini, Mile. Lala 215Salerno Salvail 113, 148, 185, 245, 315 26 Sampson 32SSampson, Low & Co Sancedo - 150 Santell Co., The Great 52, 54, 115Sargent, Mr. James ..29, 30, 57, 58. 179 309 Sargent, W. J 311 Sargent, Mr. & Mrs. W. J 169 Sasa, San Sato. O. K.. Portrait 16, vii Sato. O. K 170, 342 13 Satsuma 207 Saunders, F 245 Saunders. Miss F 27 Savage, J a c k Savern 340, 368 15Schjief er-Cumberland 169Schaffer, Severns 170 Schaffer, Sylvester 376 Scheibel. Herr . .139, 268: Schenk, Bruno 145 Schlikus 215 Schmidt, Prof 246 Schneider, John 182, 340 Schoenbrun, Carl 315 Schoenwerk 347 Schonberger, Wm 221, 253, 284, 318, ,249Schooling, John Holt 90 Schreiber, Herr Rechtsanwalt, Dr 171 Schroeder, Eugene 77 Schultze, Paul Schwendler, Mr. Gustave 182, 183, 246 177" Schwerin, Count 278Scott, J. W 141 Scott, Prof 279Sears, H a r r y 24, 85, 112, 212, 235, Secrets Exposed, Handcuff, By Harry Houdini, 29, 57, 58, 59, 60, 90, 91, 92, 120, 121, 122, 123, 154, 155285. Secrets ? Sold By R. F. P r a t t 212: Seeberger, George L 19Seeman, Herr Hartwig 182 Seibert, Henry 112 Selbit 12. viii Selbo, Portrait 16, 235 ,233, Selwyn 147, 242 Senter Orestes A. B 14 Seul, Jean 331 Shaw, Allan 25. 140, 1S6, 233 11 Shaw, Dr ft Shaw, Dr. Programme 344 She 44 146 Shea. Edward 114 Shekla 281 Sheoman, Robert 282Sherman, J a m e s 26, 114, 187, 247, 25 Sherman, S. Bradford 246 182, 183, Shopper, Sr., Mr. Frank P. . . . 183: Shopper, Jr., Mr. F r a n k P 182, 26 Show W'orki 24 Shuberts. The 340 Siebert, W 365 Silent Second Sight 363, 3G4, 315 Silent Tait 186, 314 Silver no 21S Silvers, The 25, 24S Simms. Wm. E 151, 144 Simonton, Ray H. 81 53 Singards, The Sirronje 52, 53. 2 1 2 213 21S Sithin, TV. H

INDEX Skelly, Jas. P., Portrait 16, viii Skelly, J a s . P., Unique Card Trick 201 Skelton, I. R 142 Skinner 155, 261 Slade, Dr S9 SI.num. 11. J 28, SI, 144, 151, 3 7 S Sliii-uin, Dr. W. J 213 Sini(h. Mile. Helen IS Smith of Bristol 1 1 Smit li, William George 11 Smith, W. G., "Bill" 1 1 Smith, W. G., "Lithograph" 10 Smoke Trick by James Morfltt 2U9 Smyth, Don. V 14 1 Snook, E. J 282 Society of American Magicians, 50, 149, 104, 172, 210, 212, 242, 2S0, 282, 299, 309, 310, 311, 313, 342 Society of American Magicians, Photo. Dinner 310 Society of Boston M a g i c i a n s . . . . 14S, 279, 280, 314 Society of Ciminnuli Magicians 183, 246 . 280 Society of Providence Magicians 47 Socrates, "Letter" 82 Sothern, E. H Speedy 331, 332 Sjn-lling B e e C a r d T r i c k 204 Sphinx, T h e 2 OS a Spirits and Ghosts 17, IS Spruckins. Eli 112 Stackelman 45 Stall], AVilliam Staley, Richard F S3 Staley & Birbeck 83 Stanton, Frederick 207 Stanyon & Co ;151, 380 Steel, Payne, Musicians and Bell R i n g e r s . . . . . 234 Steeves, Dr 155 Steinvvay, Hall 134 Stephenson Co.. I 315 Sternard, J a k e 86 Stewart, Dr 86 Stifft, David K S6, 148, 211, 212, 246, 344 Stillwell 234 Stilston. Alfred 207 Stock, Mr. George 1S2, 183, 246 Stoll, Mr. Oswald 43 Stone, Raymeen ...242, 244, 275, 277. 299, 312, 378 Stone, William 277 Straf kammer 90 Strait Jacket Release 154, 155, 176, 177 Straub, B. G 31 Stromer, G 241, 277 Strong, R. W 151, 187 Stuart, William 27 Suga, Dr. Tomoya 260 Suhr, H. F. C 232, 329 Sulamith, Portrait 103 Sullivan, Considine I l l , 212 Suntera. S 54, 1S4 Svengali 53, 26S, 344 Svengalis, The 141, 169 Sylvesta 14 Sylvester S8 Sylvester, Alfred 173 Tacins, The Great si; Tafts, George no Tairo 1411 Talma, c 'ussie 170 Tanakas, The S3, 213 211 Tangley, Madame Tan Kways 14, 77 Tarpica 115 Tattersall, Robert 14 Taylor, G. Dana SI Teale, Miss Annie 311 Teale, Oscar 112, 164, 21o, 242, 299, 309, 313 Templeton, Max 235 Terrilsonz, Jack 277 Testa, Gustav 179 17S The House of the Sphinx Theatre Magazine 82 Theise, M. M 83 Thewiis 278 Thomas, Mr. Augustus 186 Thompson, G. H 28 Thompson, J a m e s 184, 243 Thorley, John 295 Thorn, Chevalier Ernest, 15, 44. 7*3, 105, 171, 232, 242,2 H 7 Thorn, Chevalier E r n e s t , P o r t r a i t ... .16, iii T h o r n t o n . J o h n Wm., P o r t r a i t . . . . 16, Thorton, Sargent 277 Thurley, Don I l l , 279 Thurston, Howard, P o r t r a i t 16, iii T h u r s t o n , Howard, 4, 25, 55, 82, S4, 113, 114, 143, 144. 146, 182, 228, 279, 2S0,309 Tichy, H e i r Director 140 Tillinghast, Byron C 25

11

Tit Bits 104 'robin, Thomas W 303 Tolmaque 3S, 235 Tompkins. William 376 T.iwnsend. Margaret 32S Traphagen, Wm. H., Portrait 16 v Traveling -Bottle, The 7 Travels, Roland 2S1 Travis, Lieut 14 Tregaski, R. T 234 Tremble, Capt 110 Trenck, Baron 89 Trewey 215' Tricado 13 Trick Competition, Parlor, 162, 194, 201, 202, 226, 239, 269, 270, ;!«1, 302, 333, 334, 357 Tricks for Beginners 23, 56, 123 Tricks, Hofzinsers List of 199, 200 Tricks: An Old Trick Redressed, By X. W. James. 270 Any Card Called For Instantly Produced from Your Pocket, By Clinton Burgess, 337, 338, 339 Cabinet Trick, By Davenport Bros.. P h o t o . . 39 Card Through the Handkerchief, By G. S. 270 Ripley Coniurers Castle, a Trick Presented by 301 Pinetti in 1784 302 Cross Release, The, By Will Edwards Escape from an Iron Box, By Will Edwards 240, 241 Escape from Spike-lined Cabinet. By N. W. 270 James Cigarette Paper Trick, By Frank Lohmer. . 239 Hindoo Boiling and Disappearing Water 123 Trick How to Amputate the Head, Arms or Legs, 303, 304 How to Balance a Coin on Its Edge on t h e 339 Edge of a Sword How to Disappear a Cage and a Person Placed Therein, By Joseph Buatier ..345, 346 How to Produce a Three Headed Woman, 362 By John F. Blake How Signor A. Blitz Would Make Church Bells Ring 153, 154 Indian Rope Trick 14 S Japanese Butterfly Trick 305, 306 Lifting a Human Body with t h e Power from 80 the Eyes 240 Mind Reading Effect Mysterious Paper Rings. By S. Wilson Bailey 363 Mystifying Card Trick, By Prof. D u f f . . . . 2 0 1 , 202 Naming a Selected Article, By Archie 239 Wiochers ; Packing Case Escape, By Will Edwards, 332, 333 23 Parlor Rope Tie Passing a Half Dollar Through a Glass of Water and Table. By W. J. Penny..333, 334 269 •Smoke Trick, By J a m e s Morfitt 204 Spelling Bee. Card Trick 56 Spirit Slate Writing 301 Spirit Paper. By Ralph L. Arnheim Strait-Jacket Release 154, 155, 17(1,177 'Phi- Threr. Trunk Trick 203, 204 201 The T h u m b P a l m , By F r a n k J. Klem To Hold a Hot Tea K e t t l e on t h e B a r e H a n d . By Olivette 201 Unique Card Trick. By J a s . P. Skelly Vanishing Piano P l a y e r 236, 237 268 Trilby 244 Trovolo 89 Truesdale 293 Trumeller. Miss Angelina 43 Trussel, Mr. F r e d 214 Turner, J. C iii Twing, E. L., P o r t r a i t 16, U 2 6 8 Uferini. The U n m a s k i n g of R o b e r t Houdin, 94, 112, 126, 158, 178, 17!), 190, 222, 256, 262, 271, 288, 320, 352, 379, 3 8 * V Valadon, P a u l > 51, 73, 183, 228,244 149 Valazzi i .16, Vallance, Fred, Portrait . . 42 Yallance, Fred 332 Valvn .54, 344,378 Van Hoven 236, 237 Vanishing Piano Player . . . 331 Yann, Mme 112 A'ano, Mrs 311 Van Zandt, Madame .50, 112,292 Variety, The 266, 331 Variety Artistes Federation 54, 210 Vasco ii 16, Vasco, Oscar O.. Portrait . . 377 Vaughn. Mr. Alfred .27, 213 Veno

12 Vera. The Medium Yerney 73. Vermin Vetrlo, Capt 49, Yianello Victor r. .141. Victoria- Hall Victoria, Queen Viennese Notes, By Hcrr Ottnkar Fischer. 14. If), 43. 4-1, 75, 76, 105, lo«. I'll. 171. 232. 233. Villa, Frikell, P o r t r a i t Voisin, E Volker, Mr. & Mrs. 'Fred A'olta 8"i, 148, Yon Buch, Baron C Yon E t t a la, 74, 265, W Waethen, Elizabeth Wagner. Robert Herrmann. Portrait 16, Wagstaff, Terrence Waite, Dr. .3. E "Walker. Mr. Alexander 3S, Wallace Wallack. J.ester Walters Walton & tester, Portrait Walton & I.ester 51, Waring, Mr. & Mrs Warren, Mrs. Albina Warren, Lillian "Waters Watkina Watson. George Watson. F Wayburns, Ned Wayne. The Wizard Weaver. Neil Weber, W. C Webster Wegman & O>., R. J " .105, Weil, .loliii Wr-isman Weiss, W Weiss, William G., Portrait 16, Weiss. William G., Gets Verdict Against Hurtig & Seamon Werner, Francis J 301), 311, West. Prof "West. T. J Weston, Edward Payson 115, Weyer, Alex 28, 76, Whately. Mr Whipple, Elmer White. .lames White Rats 51, 247, Whittaker. James Widmayer, F ' Wieburg, The Great Wiechers, Archie 145. 239. Wiegieib WigKin. Bert, 62, 127, 150, 159, 1S4, 191. 255. 2S7, 319. 331. Wilder, Marshal P Wilfred. James Wilhelm. Frederich III Wilkensen Wilker. F AVIIkert. W William. Prince Williams Circuit 3C. 51. 146. 210, Williams, Chinese Johnny 113. Williams. E. D 87, 1S7 Williams, Jack Williams, Robert Williams, Oswald 73, Williams. Grift Williams, C. O Williams, Walter. Portrait 16, Williamson. Frantz

INDEX 282 138 343 233 280 234 12

261 136 27 1S5 149 236 299 295 i 341 280 39 141 328 244 22 265 311 180 13 211 109 111 207 53 S3 73 245 366 238 232 246 214 Hi 209 313. 233 234 116 367 207 248 144 344 27 242 53 240 368 383 210 340 S 247 179 207 50 279 149 278 277 340 112 111 13S v

Willitte, The Wizard 111 Willman Carl, S9. 195. 227, 259, 291, 323, 355 373 Willman, Carl, Portrait, 195, 227, 259, 291, 323 355 Wilson, Dr. A. M., 173, 174, 228. 26Sa, 269a, 270a Wilson, Jack 242 Wilson, Leonar 25 ard Wilson, Oscar 49 Wilson, S. R 73 Wilson, W 81 75 Wilson & Waring 73 Wilton, Fred E Windecker. The Great 17, 212 243 Windy City Breezes, By W. L. Hicks, 25, 26, 27, .52. 53, 54. 85, 86. 87. 14S, 149, 150, 184 1S5, 186, 211, 212. 213, 247, 281, 282, 314 315. 3 43 344 Wingard, Prof 300 Winter. A 236 Wishart, Mr 297 280 Witgeest. Simon Wizard, The, Publishing Co., 32. 64. 93 119, 125, 157, 189, 220, 253, 285. 317. 349, 382 Wolf. H a r r y 341 Wolf. Joseph ~ 143 Wolff, Carl 139 296 Wood-Cut. Photograph of a Rare 209 Wood, B e r t h a Wood, E. A 209, 244, 342 Wood, Mrs. E d n a 24, 245, 342 186 Wood, Chas. B 39 Wood, Mr. John 152 Wood. M. M.. P o r t r a i t 342 Wood, M. M 152, 153, 186, 213, 236, 37S Worns. E. C Wrinkles for Wonder Workers, 240, 241. 2i 2. 273, 302, 303, 332, 333, 363, 364, 365 Writing. Cypher. 216. 217, 218, 219, 249, 250, 251, 275, 276 Wyatt. Clayton 248 Wyinka, H, G 186. 344 300 Wyman, John Yamadeon. Portrait . . Yarrick, Josef Yankee Doodle Girls . . Yeotha Yettmah Yolande Yolande, Portrait Young, William Henry

324 343 150 41 169 26 .16, vii 300 112 85. 314

Yulius, William Yuma

Z Zamlock & Company Zano Zanzigs, The 12, 14, Zardo Zarilla Zarrows Zartolo Zauberspiegel, Der, 31, 63. 223, Zazell & Vernon Co Zelka. Wilfred C London 42, 73, 103, 104, 137, 138.

.146, 315

53 379 116 247 84 . . 87 171, 214 ir.9. 191. 95. 12 319, 351, 380 255, 28 26 Notes, 13, 14, 41, 168, 169, 235, 2 36. 264. 265. 298, 299 Zelka. Wilfred C , Portrait, 13. 41, 73, 103, 137. 168, 264, 29S .81, 264 Zelka. Wilfred C .14, 235 Zelo 26 Zenda Ziegler Magazine. Matilda 254, 286 228 Ziska .16, iv Ziska, P o r t r a i t Ziska & King, 115, 181, 210, 245, 254, 279, 286, 316, 342 230 Zobell 89 Zollner. Prof. 206. 241. 264.

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