S ft

dlochmaher^Electrician

The State Library of Victoria A LM A CONJURING C O LLEC TIO N

To Our Professional Friends.

I t m ay in terest m any of you to know how we ga ined po ssession of the lit tle book en t i t led R e c o l l e c t i o n s o f Ro- b e r t - H o u d i n , by W i l l i a m M a n n in g .

A cousin of ours, Mr. Ralph Meriman, a well-known artis t, resides in Paris, where he has a very ex tensive acquaintance. W e req uested him to call on th e widow of E m il Robert- H oud in and obtain particulars from her abou t this little brochure. Mr. M erim an succeeded in p rocuring a copy of the book, th rough the k indness of Mr. M anning, th e author, and as the m eans by which it all cam e abou t are very in te resting, we publish herew ith the en tire correspondence re la t ing there to .

W e are under special obligations to Mr. W illiam Manning, for his k ind permission to republish his lit tle work, and we have no doub t it will prove of g rea t in terest to the conjuring fra te rn ity a t large. W e republish herewith the entire book e x cep t in g th e part devo ted to th e m inute exp lana t ion of H o u d in s E lec tr ica l Clock, which would not be of m uch inte res t to our readers now, the re being so m any th ings in tha t line th a t are m ore m odern in these days of rap id im p ro v em ents in electricity. T he following is a copy of a le t te r to Mr. R alph M erim an from M adam e Em ile R ober t-H oud in :

P a r i s , Jeudi, 21 Avril, 1898.M o n s i e u r M e r im a n Selon votre dsir je vous envoie une

pe t i te b rochure faite par un ami, e t qui vous donnera tous le rense ignem ents que vous desirez avoir sur R o b e r t -H o u d in .

Veuillez en avoir le plus g rand soir, et me le retourner le plus tot possible ap res en avoir pris connaissance. Vous trouverez les oeuvres de R ober t-H oud in , 18 B oulevard des I ta liens a la L ibraire Nouvelle.

1

Veuillez agrder Monsieur, mes salu ta tions les plus d is t in - gu.

(S igned) V e . E m i l e R o b e r t - H o u d i n .T R A N S L A T IO N O F A B O V E L E T T E R .

P a r i s , A pri l 21, 1898.M r . M e r im a n : A ccord ing to yo u r wish I send you a

lit tle book, written by a friend, and which will give you all the inform ation you desire.

Please be very careful with i t and return it as soon as possible after no t ing its contents.

Y ou will find the works of R obert H o u d in a t 18 Boulevard des I ta liens in the New Library.

A ccep t dear sir, m y best regards,Yours,

Ve E m i l e R o b e r t - H o u d i n .

Firs t le tte r to Mr. R alph M erim an from Mr. W. M anning:

W o r t h i n g , April 30, t8r,8.D e a r S i r Your le tte r was w rongly addressed to me.I fear you will have difficulty in p rocuring a c o p y of m y

booklet, as only a l im ited num ber were prin ted . I saw one in a booksellers list la te ly for 21 shillings. W ou ld you like m e to t ry and procure one? Being out of prin t it has fe tched as m uch as 42 shillings, an d un fortuna te ly b y th e rules of m y Club, no reprin t is permissible, o r th e re w ould have been a la rge sale; and no profit has ever been m ad e by the publica tion excep t w hat the second-hand bookseller m ay make.

I am m uch p leased th a t you liked the b rochure and regre t th a t I canno t myself supply your wants.

Yours faithfully,(S ig n e d ) W . M a n n in g .

Copy of postal card to Mr. Ralph Meriman, Paris:L o n d o n , M ay 13, 1898.

T h e lit tle book is unique and the illustrations would be difficult to reproduce. The work is private ly prin ted by the

Sette of O d d V olum es and is no t copyrigh t. E x trac ts , or the whole discourse, w ith an acknow ledgem ent of the sourcc of origin would no t be ob jec ted to.

(S igned) W. M a n n in g .C o p y of postal card to Mr. R a lph M erim an:

L o n d o n , June 7, 98.I have th o u g h t it bes t to secure th e book.

Yours,(S igned) W. M an n in g .

C opy of last le t te r from Mr. W. M anning to Mr. Ralph M erim an in Paris:

L o n d o n , Jun e 9, 1898.D e a r S ir O ur letters seem ed to have crossed and you

had not, w hen w riting yes terday , received m y card say ing th a t I th o u g h t it best to buy the book before hear ing from you.

T h e difficulty with such a l im ited issue is to find one a t all, and I to ld you I could have procured one at 42 shillings, bu t I tr ied and succeeded in doing b e t te r for you.

O n ly to d ay I was ask ed three guineas for one of these opusctila, on ly two years o lder than m y own! I t has no t halfth e m atte r , has no illustrations, and as a sm aller num ber wereissued th an of m y own, th e price has risen, for book co l lec tors are no t satisfied w ithout g e t t ing a perfect sette of all the issues.

I shall g rea tly value the book you speak of, and in the future to see zvhat use has been made of m y m o d es t l i t tle volume! I f you please.

I have sent the book to C ity as you suggested , and I am glad, indeed, to have been of any service to a fr iend of M adam e Veuve Em ile R ober l-H oud in .

Yours sincerely,(S ig n ed ) W . M a n n in g .

C opy of le t te r to Messrs. Longsdorf, M erim an & Co.:L o n d o n , Jun e 9, 1898.

G e n t l e m e n Mr. M erim an, o f Paris, has ask ed m e to

forward the accom pany ing book le t to you, and says he has

instructed you to pay the cost incurred, 28 sh illings .

Yours fa ith fu lly ,

(S ig n ed ) W . M a n n i n g .(Rece ived 28 sh illings th is date .)

Copy of letter to M r. H . J. B urlingam e , C h icago :

L o n d o n , Ju ly 22, 1898.D e a r S i r Y ou have g iven me m uch pleasure in send ing

me so large a parcel o f con ju ring literature , for I s till reta in

m y o ld interest in the art. I t m ay interest you to know

that at one period o f m y life the great m aster Robert-

H o u d in find ing me an ap t im ita to r and inventor, p roposed

to m y guard ian to take me as a p up il, and ad o p t me as his

successor!

I shall hope to get a s igh t o f m y litt le brochure , the

R eco llections, in its new form , if you incorporate it in any

future work.

Believe me yours sincerely,

(S ig n ed ) W . M a n n i n g .

The litt le book is 4)4 by 5 ^ inches in size, p r in ted on

hand la id paper w ith deckel edges, and conta ins 81 pages.

The last 14 pages consist of a b iog raphy o f the p r iva te ly

prin ied Opuscula , issued to the m em bers o f the Sette o f

O d d V olum nes, a list o f m em bers o f Y e Sette o f O d d Vol-

um nes, and of Supp lem en ta l O d d V o lu m ne s .

O n the outside of fron t cover is the v is it in g card of

as written by h im se lf. O n the outside o f back cover is R obert- H oud in s Seal.

R o b e r t - H o u d i n s S e a l .

T he first p r in ted page inside is as follows:

P riva te ly P rin ted O puscu la

Issued to the M em bers of the Sette of O d d V o lum es

No. X X IV .

R E C O L L E C T IO N S

OFR O B E R T - H O U D IN .

C lockm ake r E le c tr ic ian C on ju ro r .

T hen on one of the fo llow ing pages is a m agn ificen t,

though sm all po rtra it o f R obert-H oud in , a reproduc tion of

u h ich we show on nex t page.

IM

R o b e r t - H o u u i n .

O pposi te this i llustra tion is the t it le-page, as follows: R E C O L L E C T I O N S

OF

R O B E R T -H O U D IN .BY

W i l l i a m M a n n in g ,Seer

T o the Sette of O dd Volumes.D elivered at a M eeting of the Se t te he ld a t L i in m ers

H o te l , on F riday, D ecem ber 7,1890.

" Im p r in te d at T h e C h i s w i c k P r e s s , T o o k s C o u r t ,

C hancery Lane,London.

M D C C C X C I .

O n the second following page is the dedication: d e d i c a t e d

TO T H E P R E S ID E N T

AND T H E S E T T E O F ODD V O L U M E S .

On the second nex t page appears the following: T H IS E D IT IO N IS L IM IT E D TO 205 C O P IE S AND IS

IM P R IN T E D F O R P R IV A T E C IR C U L A T IO N O N LY .

No. 103.Presen ted Unto

ByW . M a n n in g .

T here being a blank for the receivers nam e and th e autc g raph of Mr. W. Manning. !

O n the second next page appears: !

910

L I S T O F IL L U S T R A T IO N S .

Portra it of R ober t-H oud in .T he Inexhaust ib le Bottle .T h e Suspension b y E the r .T he Chinese Tum bler .T he W rit ing A u to m a to n (30 inches in he igh t) .* T h e M ysterious Clock.Rober t H o u d in s E lec tr ic Clock.Cigarette Sm oker.R o b e r t-H o u d in s O wn Alarum .R ober t-H o u d in s Visiting Card (on Cover).

On the second nex t page appears the in troduction proper,! as follows:

T o t h e E v e r C o u r t e o u s R e a d e r .I have to th an k the President and b re th ren for inviting

me to prin t this address, and I reg a rd it as a g re a t honour tha t m y own little volum e will t ak e its p lace am o n g the more famous ones which have p receded it.

I owe especial thanks to our d istinguished art critic (B ro the r G. C. H a it6 ) for suggest ing th a t m y son, W. W. Manning, should execu te som e illustra tions for th is opus- ctiltim, and I shall be deem ed w anting in personal reg a rd if I om it to th a n k him also for the willing h e lp he has given me in p lacing before our b re th ren and guests som e real rec-

' ollectior.s of the D ecem ber meeting. W i l l i a m M a n n i n g , .

Seer to the Se t te of O dd V olum es.February 6th, 1891.On nex t page appears

R o b e r t - H o u d i n ,

Born at Blois, Dec. 6, 1805.Died at Blois, June 13, 1871.

Reproduced from the original sketch, kindly lont by Mdmc, Veuve Em ile Robert- Houdin.

T h en com m ences the body of the work: R E C O L L E C T IO N S O F

R O B E R T -H O U D IN .Your Oddship, my Brethren o f the Sette of Odd Volumes, and

Guests;W h en I prom ised the President in obedience to his invi

ta t ion to read a paper, th a t I would give som e R ecollections of R o ber t-H oud in , I had no idea th a t I had m ater ia ls sufficient for a b iography.

A n d w hen I th o u g h t of i llustra ting my rem iniscences with a few experim ents , m ost of which are personal m em orials of the arch-conjuror, I feared th a t exh ib it ion of o ld tricks m ight fall flat, or be d eem ed an im pertinence.

I hope to su rm ount these two difficulties by condensing m y rem arks into the sm allest possib le space, and b y craving the indulgence of B re th ren and Guests for p ro duc in g any exper im en t with which th e y m ay be familiar.

I fu r ther ask for your generous forbearance if I ap p ea r to speak undu ly of myself, for I do assure you th a t m y only aim to-night is to glorify m y hero.

W ell then , to begin qu ite a t th e beginning, I m ade the acqua in tance of R ober t-H o u d in and his in te res t ing fam ily when I was a school boy.

D uring his s tay in L on d o n in 1849, I w as an a lm os t daily visitor a t his house, and m y in tim acy and correspondence with him con tinued to nearly the last m on th of his life.

In those early days I was th e playfellow of his two sons, Em ile and E ugene , and som etim es assis ted th e fam ily in m ak ing up the freshly-cut flowers from C ovent G arden into the small button-holes, which were to p lay the ir p a r t in the evenings perform ance. I rea lly m ust in troduce you to the family circle when I first en te red the m agic r ing at 35, Bury Street, St. J a m e s s.

T he r ing consis ted ofMonsieur,M a d a m e ,Em ile ,Eugene.

T hese com fortab le apa r tm en ts had been secured by m y

valued friend, the late Jo h n Mitchell, whose keen sense of business had led him to m ake handsom e overtures to the Parisian prestidigitateur, and as the F re n ch plays were then running a t St. Jam ess T hea tre th ree n igh ts in th e week, to fill up the o ther three nights with the Soirees Fantast iques of R obert-H oudin .

1 rem em ber the first occasion of m y dining with the fam ily, th a t Mdme. R ober t-H oud in , whose know ledge of the E nglish language was ex trem ely limited, bu t w hose solic itude for he r guest was unbounded , m ade an a t te m p t to draw me out upon the subject of a dish, which she h o p e d might be congenial to m y taste. A t th a t t im e she was mistress of about four sentences in English , which she rep ea ted with the precision ( I speak with all re spec t ) of th e parro t . To the intense am usem ent of he r husband she looked inquiringly in m y face, and said with g rea t de libera tion and ex cellent pronunciation I love you! She was a very pre tty woman, and I apprec ia ted th a t m ark of he r favor; bu t I was a very small boy, and scarcely unders tood the m errim ent of Monsieur, when roaring with laughte r, he e x plained to me th a t she d id n t rea lly love me, bu t had em ployed one of her four sentences, and th a t w hat she really m eant to ask was, D o you like i t? N o ill feeling arose from this mistake, and as I was no t on ly sm all bu t unsophisticated, m y visits to th is h a p p y fam ily were no t interrup ted by the incident.

I t was on this occasion th a t I saw the first drawing-room trick, as p layed by the m aster-hand , and if space allowed, I would exhibit it to you. H e would take a handkerchief thus, and thus, m ak ing kno ts and failing to m ake them , to the bew ilderm ent of the specta tor, and th ough as you perceive it is still perfectly em pty , I tak e it up, and by simply shak ing it thus, I fo r tunate ly am enabled to p ro duce this shower of goodies, which I have m uch pleasure in sending around for the gratification of the O dd Councillors.

If your O ddship , always so par t icu la r on th e sub ject of language, bu t always so forgiv ing to an err ing brother, would perm it me to m utila te a famous proverb , a n d blend three tongues into one, I would say of this shower of sweetmeats:

" D e M o r t u i s N i l N ic e y bon bons!"10

W ith reg ard to th e sons, E m ile and Eugene, I was only too ready to be the friend and confrere of two individuals, who a t th a t t im e were p lay ing the ir respective p a r ts in e x c iting the w onder and adm ira tion of the L o n d o n public at St. J a m e s T heater.

Em ile , the o lder of the two sons, assis ted his fa ther on the s tage w ith a m anner and quickness peculiarly F rench . H e to o k p a r t in the w onderful vanishing trick , in which lie was p laced upon a tab le on the stage, and being covered w ith a huge ex t ingu isher , his father, on firing a pistol a t the table, over th rew the ex t ingu isher; while in a few seconds ano the r p is to l-sho t from an unoccupied box at the back of the th ea te r a t t ra c te d all eyes, when was seen the form of the boy E m ile , bow ing to the audience.

E m ile also took par t in the perform ance of the In e x h a u s t ible B ott le trick , which a t th a t t im e p roduced a g re a t d istu rbance in the public mind, bu t which, as you will see by m y m odel, is very simple, its action being pneum atic .

In add i t ion to the bo t t le itself, from which a hundred glasses of l iquor were handed to his c lam oring audience, I m ay tell you confidentially th a t the glasses were infinitesi- inally small, and for noyeau or o th e r liquors which are white, m any of those glasses were a lready p ro perly and fully charged, and the filling was sheer m ake-believe on the p a r t of th e conjuror .

T h is will be a convenient o p por tun ity for say ing th a t in la te r years, and after his fa ther re t ired from a profession for which E m ile had no real love, the la t te r becam e a w a tch m aker in the house of M. Breguet, w here he g re a t ly d ist ingu ished him self as a w orkm an of the first rank, and on his m arriage to one of the m ost charm ing of women, was established as a w atch and ch ronom ete r m aker in Paris, tu rn ing ou t instrum ents of precision of the very first order. H e was afterw ards induced to tak e up the old theater , where his fa ther had m ade so much fame and so m uch m oney, and he he ld th is p ro perty until his death, which occurred a f te r a few d ay s illness in 1883.

H e was a m an full of good nature and bonhomie, and his nam e will ever be associated with tha t of his fa ther as his grea t he lpm a te in th a t m asterp iece of m odern magic with

11

which most of you are familiar from the frequent publication of its details, Second S igh t, in which performance, with bandaged eyes, he gave the audience, with unfad ing accuracy, the name and full description of any artic les which his father m ight take from the hand of a visitor.

E m ile R ober t-H oud in published a treatise on clock and watch-making, to which his fa ther w ro te the following p re face:On m a souvent dem an d s pourquoi m on fils au lieu de suivre la carriere que je lui avais ouverte dans la presdigita- tation, avait pr^fcre se livrer a l

Nicolas H oudin , was a w a tch m aker of g rea t m erit in the last century . J. F . H oudin , his son, has gained, as is well-known, a p rom inen t p lace am ong the m ost d istinguished Watchm akers of his time. A certain m odesty , which you will u n derstand , p reven ts m e from praising m y father as h igh ly ; I shall only say th a t he was a very skillful and ingenious w atch-m aker. Before devoting myself to the a r t of con ju ring, based on m echanism , I, too, was for a long t im e a w a tch m aker and achieved som e success.

W ith such a genea logy, should one no t be predes t ined to horo logy? Therefo re m y son was irresistibly draw n to his vocation and he took up the a r t which B erthoud and Briguet have m ade famous. I t was from the la tte r of th e two ce lebra ted m asters th a t he learned the e lem ents of the p ro fes sion of his forefathers.

R o b e r t - H o u d in .

E ugene was a young er son, and ap p ea red at St. Jam es T h ea tre in the tr ick know n as the Suspension by E th e r , the la tte r d rug being th en only recen tly in vogue as an an esthetic. H oud in led his handsom e boy by the hand to the foo tl igh ts to m ake the m ost m echanical of bows to his a u dience. T h e two slowly ret ired backwards, when the fa ther fixed an upr igh t rod under each arm of the son, who had ascended th ree s teps for th e purpose of ra ising h im self from the stage. T h e fa ther then e x p a t ia ted g ravely upon the marvels of ether, and p re tend ing to adm in is te r it to the youth, a s im ula ted slum ber followed, and th e steps be ing suddenly rem oved, the boy rem ained sup por ted by the two rods only, his bod y re tain ing its vertical position, the feet e ighteen inches from the stage. H oud in th en very c a re fully raised the body to the horizontal line w ithout d is tu rb ing the s lum ber of the boy ,and to the te rro r of m any a spec ta tor, the fa ther sudden ly k ick ed aw ay rod num ber two, leaving E ugenes ou ts t re tch ed bod y ap p a ren t ly w ithout a support , his right elbow only just in con tac t w ith rod num ber one. M y 'llustration represen ts a fu r the r deve lopm en t of th e ex p er i ment which ap p ea red to defy the laws of nature. T h is was ilways th e final t r ick of a perform ance, and when the cur- :ain fell, and was raised again in obedience to the recall,

13

father and son came walking most g ravely forward, and the effect of this slow m ovem ent was to m ake half Ur- world believe tha t the boy was not flesh and b lood at all, bu t a m arvellous automaton!

This same Eugene p layed an im portan t par t in his coun t ry s history.

A most in teresting letter, the last I received from his father, narrates his death so g raphically th a t I insert it further on in this discourse.

This m ay be a convenient m o m en t to show you one or two of the smaller souvenirs of m y hero, and, as I a l luded to flower-cutting, perhaps this box, a well used one a t the theatre in the Palais Royal, as also at St. J a m e s T hea tre in K ing street, m ay be p resen ted for your inspection.

W ait a moment! I had in tended th a t it should have contained natural instead of the artificial flowers with w hich you see it is cramm ed. You will pa rdon the error, for these are worthless as gifts, the ir perfum e being lost. I e m p ty them upon m y desk, and close the b o x t igh t ly thus, and open it instantly thus; and I invite you to observe tha t it is full to overflowing with real roses and sweetly scented violets, to which you are tru ly welcome. Stay!

Theres rosemary, thats for remembrance! or ra ther for the Remembrancer, in ack no w ledgm en t of his gracious gift of tonight*, and forget-m e-nots for all!

Those am ong m y audience who have read the M em oirs oi R ober t-H oud in f m ay rem em ber tha t the acciden ta l purchase of the w rong book handed to him by an oblivious bookseller ( the L ondon bookseller is neyer oblivious), who gave the young boy a treatise on magic, when he was paying lor one on bo tany,this accident, I say, tu rned th e whole current of his mind in the d irection of tr ick-m aking, his first effort being devoted to the m anufacture of toys in endless variety.

H e gave me one which a t th a t t im e could be purchased from the Paris toy-m akers , and which I will endeavor to show to you. I t is in good preservation , th o u g h it has been in m y possession since*i84g, re ligiously taken care of as you

Neglected Frescoes in Northern Ita ly ," O. V . Opuscula, No. X X III , by Brother D cu )^-rs H. Gordon.

fCliaptnan & Hall, London, 1S59.14

perceive, and its delicate limbs have rem ained unbroken, for it was exhib ited to m y children on sta te occasions only. As I take it from its little box, by a reversal of the lid I build up a p la tform with th ree stages, and p lac ing m y old friend on the top of the h ighest p latform I gen tly blow in his face, and as you see he turns som ersault a f te r som ersau lt until he reaches m y desk, when he obliges us with a final fling e x pressive of ind igna tion th a t there are no m ore steps left! I pass this fantastic ac robat round. I t appears to be of eas tern descent. Y our O d dsh ip will observe th a t the dress is scan ty , bu t p icturesque; bu t as your experience is vas t in these m atters , you will, perhaps, de te rm ine the nationality , with fur ther par ticulars for the benefit o t inquisitive bre thren .

A n o th e r of his gifts and of his inventions also lies a t m y han d a n eg ro s head, a gen tlem an from D arkes t Africa, which, as you see, will no t perm it i tself to be severed from its b o d y by m y knife. H ow useful such a h ead w ould have been to m any a notabil ity in our own dear history, for as your O ddsh ip perceives, this head will not com e off, cut which way I please.

N o k n ife ran cut th is th roat in twain,N o ju g g le r rend this ju g la r vein !

I m uch regre t tha t I have no illustration for this popu la r person, bu t d u r ing the m onth a t m y disposal the days were as dark as the n igh ts and the backg rounds were too b lack for his sable skin.

D uring his stay in London, R o ber t-H oud in enjoyed a long series of of t rium phs, and was the sensation of the season, producing novelty after novelty . H e m ade a tour of the provinces, and visited Ire land and Scotland before his final re tu rn to London, and with a dar ing qu ite charac ter is tic of his de term ina tion to su rm ount difficulties, he addressed all his country audiences in English , p roducing m any an encouraging checr and roar of laugh te r by some of his m istakes in the choice of words.

On his provincial tour, he paid me a visit at m y school in Birm ingham , and I m ust here give you an exam ple of his k indness and m anner of d isp lay ing it.

N ever can I forget a certa in S und ay during m y fr iends stay in Birm ingham . H e was then perform ing at D e e s H otel ,

IE

and had com fortable quarters in the im m edia te ne ighborhood. A fter dinner m any friends d ro pped in, and af te r a general conversation, it was de te rm ined to p lay a t cards, and am ong other guests, I was invited to sit a t th e round i table. ' 1

I had been brough t up as a strict observer of the Sabbath, and I took m y seat with a sort of ho ly dread! Scarcely were the cards dealt out, and while I was still in the throes of horror a t m y new position, w hen the sound of evening bells from the neighboring church of St. Philip ad d ed to my feelings of rem orse tha t I should be engaged in such un holy pastime. Bells! bells! bells! bells! This gam e in which I was engaged and the language of m y h os t and his friends were alike foreign to me.

In addition to the rem onstra ting clanging of the deep- toned bells, I was also conscious of ge t t ing deeper into the m ental mire by the adverse run of luck. Bells! bells! were ringing in m y ears, and Losing! losing! was m ak ing itself audible in the innerm ost recesses of m y heart . M y coun ters a t every m om en t were ge t t ing sensib ly fewer, and, in ad dition to feeling tha t I had unexpec ted ly , and w ithout malice prepense, dived into the vor tex of dissipation, I was conscious of being unable to m eet m y engagem en ts when should come the m om en t for final se t t lem ent, as we were p laying for m oney, and I had no th ing in m y schoolboy pockets bu t the proverbial knife and piece o f string.

T h e suspense was m ore awful than I can describe. T he end cam e all too soon. Ill luck pursued me with a continuity th a t was relentless, and when m y despair was a t its greatest, and m y exchequer a t its lowest, the gam e su d denly term inated , and I was all b u t ba n k ru p t in counters, and absolu te ly so in pocket. M y host and friend was m y vis-a- vis, and p robably had observed m y distress, for, as if by very magic, with a face full of fun, he took a handfu l of his winnings, and s tre tch ing across the tab le p laced a good pile of pearl fishes before me, which ex ac t ly enabled m e to pay tw enty shillings in the pound, and to rise up from m y seat blessed with those finest of hum an em otions Peace with H o n o u r!

A fte r his re turn to Paris, a few years enab led h im to16

timass a handsom e fortune, and seek re t irem ent in his native town of Blois. But even there he was ever a t work. A m o n g m any wonders, he m ade a watch with a p ed o m ete r m ovem ent which was always w inding itself up, th a t is to say, w hen the wearer m oved abou t all day, it received sufficient w inding im petus to go on th rough the n igh t; so long as the owner w alked up, the watch would never run down.

In his la te r years he devoted h im self to the sub tle r sciences, and read m any original artic les before the learned societies, copies of which I possess. H e was a m as te r of the science of optics, and he p resen ted me with an opthalm o- scope which he invented for the exam ination of his own retina .

A U TO M A TA .

I have by me a list of the chief of his au tom ata , m ost of which I have seen, but which it is tan taliz ing to describe, as I canno t show them . T h e g rea te r num ber were m ade d u ring those early strugg les to which so m any fam ous men have been born. ( In d eed , it occurs to me tha t , w ithou t them , one m ay scarcely hope to becom e grea t!)

I t a lk a t random , m erely to m ention them :T h e Chinese Juggler.A urio l and D ebureau.T h e M ysterious O range Tree.A tum bler who perfo rm ed dar ing tr icks upon the tra

pezeT h e Pastry C ook who d is tr ibu ted cakes and wine to the

specta tors .T h e W rit ing A utom aton .Ju s t a word abou t his writing au tom aton , pe rhaps the

m ost m arvellous of his works, which answ ered questions p roposed b y specta tors , and even drew e legan t em blem atic designs in reply to som e questions.

T h e a r t is t had m any d isappo in tm en ts in p rocuring a su itable h ead for his new au tom aton , for the scu lp to r h ad p ro d u c e d him an adm irab le m odel for th e bo d y of his figure- but, being a m aker of saints, had p u t ra th e r too m uch sanc

t i t y into the face to give satisfaction. So afte r m any fru it less efforts to obtain w hat he required , H o u d in se t to w ork fo r himself, and, with a ball of m odeling w ax and a looking-

17

glass, ac tua lly succeeded after m any d isappo in tm en ts in

m ak ing an excellent m ode l o f his own good face.

H o u d in showed this, his first m arvel of m echan ism , to one

of his servants, and used to te ll the tale aga in and agair

tha t the m an was h ig h ly com p lim en tary , sta ting tha t he, too

knew som eth ing of m echan ics, as he always h ad to grease:

the vane on the church steeple.

H e chose a residence in the country for the constructioi

of his nex t great tr ium ph , a n igh tinga le , whose delicate

p ip ings were reproduced w ith m arvellous fide lity , and whose

beak opened and closed in tim e w ith the notes it was pro*

d u c in g , and whose body lep t from branch to branch o f th

trees by which it was surrounded. !

M y space is so lim ite d or I shou ld have show n you wit!

w hat dexterity he produced innum erab le p lum es from i sm all square of velvet, s im ila r to th is th a t I h o ld beforf

you. A s I have no p lum es I cannot produce them . He

w ou ld throw the velvet thus, across his shou lder, and, in!

s tantly w ithdraw ing his hand , w ou ld h o ld a lo ft a large bow

of g o ld fish, as, h app ily , I am able to do now !

Bow l, fish and water, a ll real.

L oo k at his M y s t e r i o u s C l o c k . N o th in g c o u l d b e sira,18

pier in appearance , ye t few problem s are m ore difficult of solution. T h e small base is su rm o un ted by glass, t ran sparent. T h e face is of glass also, and equally t ransp aren t with the cylinders which sup p o r t it. T h e dial has b u t one |hand. T here is no connection but glass between base and dial, and y e t th e c lock is a perfec t t im ekeeper .

D o you no t agree with me th a t the m an who conceived this m asterpiece of decep tion m ust have had an im agination of no com m on order, and to have execu ted it wi*h his own h ands in a m anner which defied detection , m ust have had brains a lm ost a t his fingers ends? In the p reced ing p a ra g raph I have given you one letter which m ay be a key to the clock m ystery. D O N O T G IV E I T UP!

G H O ST IL L U S IO N , E T C .

In the m idst of the pleasures of his re t irem en t he was ever tak in g the liveliest interest, no t only in his own par ticu lar inventions, bu t in the tricks, illusions and decep tions which were being p roduced in E ng land , and I had m any com m u nications with him on these subjects, furnishing h im with drawings o r m odels, m any of which he rep roduced with s ta r t l ing im provem ents and additions in his g rounds a t St. Gervais. T h e G host I l lusion was a secre t well k e p t by the people a t th e Polytechnic , as well as the famous S ph inx by S todare a t th e E g y p t ia n H all ; bu t I give you m y w ord tha t m y friend received full particulars a t the earliest m om en t ipossible, and I carried m y regard to this ex ten t, th a t I not o n ly investiga ted the so-called supernatura l powers of the ichild know n as the In fan t M agnet, but, on a public stage, d u r ing the perform ance of certa in m ysterious ph en o m en a b y a young lady who shall be nameless, I consented to be locked up in a dark cabinet with th a t in terest ing m aiden, whose to ile tte was superb.

I was search ing for T ru th in the in terests of Science. I Was a t tached to th a t y o ung person with tapes. I rem em berpn m y re tu rn hom e ra the r late to our ap a r tm en ts a t W ------ ,S O M E O N E said to me:

W here have you b een?I d issem bled and said, N owhere.She said, But w hat is this w hite stuff upon your s leeve?

Again I d issem bled and said:19

Oh, it rubs off!Said she, I believe it is pow der . G unpow der? said I."Isgunpowder white? said she. (She had never been sar,

castic before.)So I had to m ake a clean breast of it, and to ld he r exactlj

what I have to ld you.I never be tray Cabinet secrets, bu t m y rep o r t to m y cor

respondent was tha t the phenom ena which had taken place in the dark cabinet, bells, tam bourines and all, were accounted for by natural laws and tha t the so-called spiritual ist was no spirit at all.

E L E C T R I C I T Y , E T C . -

R ober t-H oud in s em p loy m en t of electricity, no t o n ly ass m oving power for the perform ance of his illusions, b u t foi domestic purposes, was long in advance of his time.

T h e electric bell, so com m on to us now, was in every-day use for years in his own house, before its value was recognized by the public.

W hen he fitted up his first call-bell, which he h ad done w ithout the know ledge of his family, he fixed th e s tud beneath his table, tha t he m igh t press i t with his foot; and calling his children he said, H e re is a new trick. W hen 1 put m y finger in this tum bler of water, A d e le will en te r the room !

A nd so it happened , for A d e le was in the secret, and sc on with his o ther servants.

A s I have said, electric ity was a force of h ighest value tc him, and was an unknown fac tor am ong his professional brethren. H is inventions of m ysteriously-m oving clocki are numberless, and 1 lack t im e to describe them , bu t hi: applica tion of e lectro-m agnetism, long afte r he h ad quitte< public life, dem ands a brief notice.

H is dwelling-house in his re t irem ent a t St. Gervais, nea Blois, s tood abou t a quarter of a mile from the entrance gate, and when the t raveler reached it, and used the knocker gen t ly or forcibly, an im m edia te loud ringing becam e audi ble in the house, though so far away, which con t inued am would no t cease its warning sound, until a servan t p r e s s e d ; stud p laced in the hall, which im m edia te ly un locked thi

20

gate, and an enam eled p late appeared on it, b idd ing the visitor "walk in.This gate, in opening and closing ( th e la tte r be ing done

by the aid of a sp r ing), set in m otion a t different angles of such opening and closing, a bell which rung in a particu lar m anner, and the peculiar and quickly-ceasing sound o f th a t bell indicated, with a little observation, w he th e r the visitors were one or several in num ber, o r a friend of the family, or callers for the first time, or a tram p.

H is le tte r box, too, a t the ga te was a very ingenious con trivance. I t c losed by a small flap, which, d irectly the p o s t m an opened , set in m otion an electric bell a t the Priory. T he pos tm an had orders to pu t in, first, all new spapers and circulars, so as no t to create unfounded expec ta tions ; after which he pu t in letters, one by one, so th a t in the house, if not inclined for ear ly rising, he could, even in bed, reckon up the d ifferent items of the m orn ing post-bag.

Then, to save the t rouble of pos ting his letters in the village post-office (for R o ber t-H oud in wrote all his co rrespo ndence at n igh t) , by tu rn ing an appara tus called a com m u ta tor, th e w orking of the signals was reversed, and the nex t m orn ing th e postm an, on pu t t in g his parcel in the box, ins tead of causing a r ing in the house, was warned by the sound of a bell close beside him, to go up to the house and fetch som e letters, and he announced himself according ly .: H e h ad a favorite horse, nam ed Fanny , for whom he en terta ined g re a t affection, and chris tened her " the friend of the fam ily .I She was of gen t le disposition, and was grow ing old in his service; so he was anxious to allow her every indulgence, especially punctua l i ty a t meals, and full allowance of fodder.: Such being the case, it was a m a tte r of g rea t surprise tha t F an n y grew daily th inner and thinner, till it was discovered th a t he r g ro om had a g rea t fancy for th e a r t fo rm erly p rac ticed by her m aster, and converted her hay into five-franc pieces. So R ober t-H o u d in dism issed the groom , secured a more honest lad, bu t to provide against fu r the r con t ingencies and neglect of duty, he had a c lock placed in his study, which, with the aid of an electrical conduc ting wire, w orked gi food supply to the stable, a distance of fifty yards from

21

the house. The d istr ibu ting appara tus was a square, funn shaped box, which d ischarged the p ro vender in prearrang quantities. No one could steal the oats from th e horse ail they had fallen, as the electric tr igger could not ac t unk the stable doors were locked. T h e lock was outside, and anyone entered before the horse had finished ea t ing its oa; a bell would im m edia tely r ing in the house.

This sam e clock in his s tudy also transm itted the t ime two large clock faces, placed one on the front of the hous the o ther on the ga rd en ers lodge, the former for the bene of the villagers.

In his bell-tower he had a c lockwork a rrangem en t of su ficient power to lift the ham m er a t the p ro per m om ent. Tf daily winding of th e clock was perform ed au tom atica lly t com munication with a swing door in his k itchen , and tl winding up appara tus of the c lock in th e clock-tower wass arranged, th a t th e servants in passing backw ards and fo wards on the ir dom estic duties, unconsciously w ound up tl s trik ing m ovem ent of the clock. ;

H e had a marvellous contrivance for arousing his servan! and com pelling them to get up in the m orning. T h e alarr sounded, and continued r inging until th ey g o t ou t of bed t press a stud a t the fu r thest end of rooms.

In addition to the foregoing, w hen for any reason h wanted to advance or re ta rd the ho u r of a meal, by his mod of regulating the clock in the tower, h e could, by secretl p ressing a certain electric bu t ton in his s tudy, p u t forwar or backw ard all the clocks as well as s tr ik ing appara tus . 1 mystified the cook, and he had ga ined his purpose withou losing his charac ter for punc tua l i ty a t meals.

F o r a fuller account of these wonders see R ober t-H oud in own description in L e Prieure and Les Secrets de 1 M agie-

H is grounds, very extensive and always m ain ta ined i s tric test order, were so full of m arvellous a rrangem en ts tha in the coun try round he had th e rep u ta t ion o f possessin supernatural powers, which in th e days of th e Sco tch witche recen tly spoken of before this b ro therhood , m igh t have cos him a good cremation! B ut du ring the Franco-Prussia war, and at the period when a descen t upon Blois was b

22

(no means impossible, he was en t ru s ted with every descript i o n of p ro p e r ty by his confiding neighbors and friends; and ihe constructed in an ad jacen t wood a cave, unknow n to all :the world, where he sec re ted these valuables until the crisis was happ ily a t an end.

I I t was a t abou t this period th a t he susta ined the severest loss tha t had ever over taken him, by the dea th of his young- test son, C aptain E u g en e R o b e r t-H o u d in . H is le t te r a n n o u n c in g th a t even t m ay be of interest, so I rep roduce it vcr- \batim.

S t . G e r v a i s , pres Blois, le n 7bre 1S70.\ C h e r M o n s i e u r : Je vous rem erc ie bien, vous et votrc famille, des m arques de sy m p a th ie que vous m avez a d dressees au sujet du m alheu r qui m a frappe.

I Depuis la m ort de mon pauvre enfant, je suis m alade, decourage et tou t abso rbs p a r m a douleur; e est ce qui vous explique le re ta rd que j ai mis a vous repondre .

Vous pourrez, m on cher ami, juger de l e tendue de mes iregrets pa r les details que je vais vous donner: M on fils avait 33 ans, il e ta it cap ita ine depuis 1866: il avait done quatre ans de ce g rade ; il faisait par tie du i e r Zouaves et il etait cite com m es un des braves parm i ce brave corps. Vous allez en juger par le rec it su ivant que j ex tra is d un artic le An Figaro du 3-ybre, sous le t i t re de U?i episode de Reichshoffen extrait d'une leitre particuliere. C e tte le ttre revient sans dou te d un so lda t de la com pagn ie de m on fils; elle est s ignee d un X.Je passe les details navran ts qui on t precede ce tte malheu-reuse retraite. ........................................................................

_ . . L a ligne avait recu l o rd re de ro m p re etnous etions vaincus, 35,000 con tre 140,000! O n fit m on ter de nouveau m a com pagn ie ( i e r Z ouaves) sur le cham p de bataille, et Ton nous dep lo y a en tira illeurs ; seuls, sans artil- lerie, nous devions sou ten ir la re tra ite .

Ici com m ence un ep isode de W aterloo .Sur l o rd re du capita ine R o b e r t-H o u d in le l ieu tenan t

Girard savance avec d e u x hornm es p o u r re c o n n a i t r e l ennemi.II fait trois pas e t to m b e en d isan t 'n abandonnez pas le Coucou' expression tam iliere par laqvtelle nous des ignons le drapeau. Nous lem p o rto n s e t le Capita ine crie Feu!

33

L ordre de rd trograder nous arrive, mais nous ne lenten- dons pas et continuons a nous ba t tre co n tre u n m ur de feu qu Sclaircit nos rangs. B ien tot le capitaine tom be a son touten me disant: Dites l e u r ...................................................que je tombe le dernier en faisant face a'-lennem i. . :

Une balle lui avait traverse lap o i t r in e T ra n s p o r t s a l am bulance de Reichshoffen, il y m ourut quatre jours apr^s, de; suites de sa blessure.

E h bien! m on cher M anning, croiriez vous que ce bravi fils, au m om ent m em e ou il venait d etre frapp6 mortellemen^ eu t l h^roique courage, au milieu de la m itraille de t irer di sa poche une carte e t un crayon et d (5crire au dos ces mots cher pere,j> suis blesse; mais rassurc-toi; c'est tin bobo.* S; signature n a pu etre achev6e. L a carte e t l envellope qui 1: contenait son t macul^es de son sang. C ette p rec ieuse rel ique m a dt6 envoySe de Reichshoffen apres la m o r td e m o i fils. i

E n voila bien long, cher monsieur, sur ce sujet, Mais j a pens6 que ces details vous interessaient.

Veuillez me croire toujours,V otre bien devoue,

R o b e r t - H o u d in .T R A N SL A T IO N O F A B O V E L E T T E R .

S a i n t G e r v a i s , near Blois, S e p t . i i , 1870.D e a r S ir I thank you and yo u r family for y ou r token,

of sym pathy in m y bereavem ent. Since the dea th of mi poor child I have been sick, d iscouraged and en tire ly ab sorbed by m y suffering; let th a t be the excuse for m y delaj in answering.

You can judge, m y dear friend, of the in tens ity of m y re grets by the following details.

M y son was th ir ty - th ree years o ld; he was cap ta in sincj 1866; he belonged to the 1st Zouaves and was considered one of the bravest in th a t brave corps. You can judge of il by the following ex trac t from an artic le in the F igaro , ol Sept. 3rd, en t i t led An episode of Reichshoffen , an extract from a private letter. This le t te r was u n d o u b ted ly writter by a soldier in m y sons com pany; it is signed with an X

Expression qui designe en francais le inoindredes maux que Ton puisse souffrir.

24

I omit the harrowing incidents which preceded this sad retreat. * * * *

The line had received orders to break up and we were defeated, 35,000 against 140,000! M y company (1s t Zouaves) was drawn up on the battle-field, to be used as sharp-shooters, alone, without artillery; we were to resist the retreat."

Here begins an episode of W aterloo. Upon the order of Capt. Robert-Houdin, Lieut. Girard

advanced with two men to reconnoitre the enemy. He took three steps and fell, crying: Do not give up theCoucou (a familiar expression applied to the flag). We carried him away and the Captain shouted F I R E ! '

"The order to retreat came, but we did not hear it, and continued to beat against a wall of fire which illuminated our ranks. Soon our captain fell, saying: Tell them * ** * that I fell facing the enemy. A bullet had pierced his breast. H e was taken in the ambulance to Reichshoffen where he died, four days later, from his wound.

M y dear Manning, would you believe it, my brave son, mortally wounded as he was, had the heroic courage amidst flying shot to take from his pocket a pencil and a card and to write these words:

Dear father, la m wounded, but be reassured, it is only a. trifle !' H e could not sign this. The card and the envelope are stained with his blood. This precious relic was sent to me from Reichshoffen after m y sons death.

I have written much on this subject, but I thought these details would interest you.

Believe me, your devoted,R o b e r t - H o u d in .

Once more I feel that I must throw m yself on your clem ency, as I am about to show two articles of quite recent construction, and which, although exciting the admiration of all lovers of the marvellous, are in themselves mere toys com pared with the minute and elaborate handiwork of the greatest of modern mechanicians. Two apologies would seem superfluous on the same subject; but I forgot to state that, when debating with m yself whether I should produce any experiments at all in illustration of my discourse, the idea possessed me that there are three sorts of men (there are

many other sorts, of course) of whom 1 had to think in d ciding this problem,

1. The men who know nothing. (Very few!)2. The men who know something. ( Happily, numerous3. The men who think they know something. (No:

present to-night!) >Well, after a not angry discussion with m yself, I dete

mined that if peradventure there were only ten innoce ones among us to-night, ( I know five among the Brethre m yself being one),/:;r the sake o f those ten I would show n manifestations and demonstrations, and risk the con; quences.

So here is a daintily modeled Guitar-Player. I exhit this moving figure in order to make a comparison which w not be odious exactly, but which may enable me to expla the wonderful difference between the minute work of n friend (whose sole aim was to imitate most closely the worl of nature) and the limited movements of my Ethiopian S( enader now playing before you. Houdins Guitar-Play not only moved its head, eyes and body in keeping with tl air it was playing, but each of the tiny fingers touched tl strings at the identical moment that the notes sounded fro the concealed musical box at the base of the automaton.

M y second modern figure I exhibit, as it is an excelle: exam ple of Houdins Debureau, a French clown, who m only came out of his own box and went through m any pe formances, but played an air on a small whistle placed inh mouth, and finally smokes a pipe.

With his Oddships kind permission, m y French clow will not only survey this distinguished assem bly through h glasses, but will, as you see, puff his cigarette after the mo: approved fashion, and eject his long wreaths and rings 0 perfumed smoke across the room till, so to speak, all i blue.

Robert-Houdin's untiring industry manifested itself at a early age, but the feat that established his indomitable wi! in overcoming difficulties, which to most enthusiasts woul have appeared insuperable, was the successful imitation, bi by bit, of a most delicate piece of mechanism, consisting c a musical snuff-box (sent to his father for repair), froc

20

whose top a tiny bird sprang forth, singing its one sweet song, and then retreating to its hidden nest. This success, accomplished out of his regular business hours, gave him courage for further attempts o f a still more ambitious nature, and during his brilliant career he was the inventor of numberless marvels of creative skill, all of them mysterious, all of them beautiful, and some of them absolutely poetic.

M y last souvenir consist of this clock, one of his earliest inventions, which brought his name as a watchmaker into prominent notice, and which was com m ercially a great success. He was very anxious to be an early riser, but with the best resolutions he wanted (like otherw ellm eaning people we might mention) a good deal of awaking, and notwithstanding his loudest alarm, he was prone to turn round on the other side and go to sleep again, especially in dark weather. So this exam ple of his own handiwork helped to cure him of his weakness, by supplying him with a lighted match, and as the last tinklings of the alarm were dying away, the match was staring him in the face, he lighted his candle by it, got up, and went to his workshop or his study. You will perceivc that at the proper moment the match, which had been previously placed in its receptacle horizontally, is rapidly drawn through two pieces of rough glass-paper, is lighted by the friction, jumps up to the vertical position, and insists upon being used for lighting the neighboring candle.

I intentionally omit, as being too long for this address, his adventures in A lgeria, although they are intensely interesting, and I content m yself by-saying that in 1856 he accepted an engagement from the French Government to put an end to the belief among the A rabs in the miraculous power of their wizards and marabouts, whom he met on their own grounds, fought with their own weapons, and demonstrated under the public eye that he was more than a match for the best of them, though denying that he possessed any supernatural gift whatever.

And now I feel that my task is approaching completion a pleasant task, but which I must not for your sakes make unduly long. I have not troubled you with many dates cr facts with regard to birth or history of my hero, one of the most remarkable artists of his time".

27

Had he lived till tomorrow, he would have been eigh five years of age, and heaven only knows what new marv of invention he would have given to the world!

I have endeavored, very rapidly, to give a sketch of i good friend, who was one of the most interesting of m He had an individuality peculiarly his own. He had ageni ity of manner positively magnetic, and exerting his inf ence upon all who knew him.

His figure upon the stage was never to be forgotten. } animation, his gesture, his ready wit, his quick transitic from fun to serious earnest, would havre fitted him for t. highest forms of actingC O M E D Y and T R A G E D Y won both have claimed him as their own!

He never played twice alike, and never flagged for a m ment; but an interruption from a member of his audien invariably drew forth some brilliant but good-natured repa tee, which was crushing, for he was a fellow of infinite jes H e was no common entertainer surrounded with showy staj properties, for as Carlyle said of Dickens readings, "I

face was the scenery!But, alas! the time came when the final trick was playe

and the final bow was made, and the inevitable curtain can rolling down, and forever shut out thebrilliant conjuror froi a wondering and m ystery-loving world.

The dead send no ambassadors to speak for them; but tfc illustrious dead leave disciples behind to tell again the stoi and the glory of their lives. So tonight, as his humble di: ciple and reverent admirer, I offer to my Brother Odd Vo. umes this tribute to the memory and the genius of RO I ER T -H O U D IN .

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The State Library of Victoria ALMA CONJURING COLLECTION'

B IB L IO G R A P H Y .

Robert-Houdin published the following works connected /ith the arts and sciences, viz.:

Les Confidences d un Prestidigitateur. J. Hetzel. Paris. 858. 2 vols.

Les Tricheries des Grecs Devoilees. J. Hetzel. Paris.863.

Le Prieure. M ichel L e v y freres. Paris. 1867.

Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magie. Paris. 868.

Les Radiations Lumineuses. Blois. 1869.

Exploration de la Retine. Blois. 1869.

Magie et Physique amusante (oeuvre posthume). Paris. 877-

Most of the above works have been republished in English y Messrs. Routledge and Sons.

20

The W orld 's Acraze for Som ething New.

Ehas. l i . Barlingame & . 0 s

OF

Entirely New and Superior WondersIN THE ART OF

gh cic prestidigitation.

* ANTI-SPIRITUALISTIC ILLUSIONS,GOKdUf^IflG ^OVELtTIES, SEHSRTIOfslflb FE A T U R E S.

C h a s . L. Bu r l in g a m e & C c5800 La Sal!e Street,

(New Number 5766)

P. O, A D D R E S S BOX 8 51 . CHICAGO, ILL .Established in 1872.

C O P Y R I G H T 1 0 0 8 B Y C H A S . L . B U R L I N G A M E &. C O .

30

Li. Burlingame a

To the Profession:In presenting you with our la test catalogu e, w ould ca ll your a t

tention to the trite sa y in g : "Im itation is the sin cerest fla tte ry ." In tending purchasers are th erefore resp ectfu lly requested to b ear in m ind the fact that it is possib le to cop y an ap p aratu s so th at it has the ap p earance o f genuineness, and offer it a t a low er p rice th an the o rig inal; and unless the custom er is acq u ainted with a ll the d e ta ils o f construction and knows what the essen tia ls are , he cannot detect th at the w ork is m ade to ag ree w ith the p rice . E v e r y care is bestow ed on a ll apparatu s lea v in g our hands, and each p iece is first tried and proven to be perfect before it leaves us. C om plete an d exp lic it d irection s with each trick or illusion. S tan d ard goods h a v e a stan d ard p rice . L o o k out for people that h ave som ething ju st a s good for a good d ea l less.

W hile we m ake a n y trick or a p p aratu s not m entioned in this list, we hold in reserve at a l l tim es a num ber o f sensational e ffects su itab le for artists in a ll b ran ch es of the profession .

P erfect instruction in the h igh er b ran ch es o f m odern P a r lo r and Stage M agic on reason ab le term s. W heri outfits are furn ished instructions are gratis.

T his entire cata logu e is cop yrigh ted an d a n y in fringem ents on the sam e will b e prosecuted to the fu ll extent b y our attorn eys, the H on. A . S . B rad ley , an d M essrs. A rth u r and B o lan d , o f the A sh lan d B lo ck . Chicago.

Solic iting your favo rs w h ich shall h a v e prom pt attention, w e are F ra te rn a lly yours,

CHAS. L. B U R L IN G A M E & CO.,Studio and Address for Telegrams, Box 851 CHICAGO, ILL.

5766 La Sa lle S t ., Chicago.

T E R M S :On sm all orders, one-quarter cash with order, b a lan ce C. O. D.

On la rge orders, one-half cash . O rd ers und er five d o llars not sentC. O. D m ust b e fu lly p rep a id . T e le g ra p h orders ignored unless a deposit is m ade.

Extract from the N ew York Clipper o f A p r il 21st, 188S."C . L . B urlingam e is a resp on sib le m ak er o f C onjurin g A p p a ra tu s ."

31

B O O K S ." 0 1 all those arts in which the wise excel,Natures chicf masterpiece is writing well.

M ODE RN MAGIC.A practical treatise on the art of Conjuring. By Professor Hoffmann, 528 pages................................................................................ $\ 5:

DRAWING ROOM A M U S E M E N T Sand evening party entertainm ents. By Professor Hoffmann, 512

p ag e s........................................... ....................................................... 15THE S E C R E T S OF CONJURING AND MAGIC,

Or how to become a wizard. By Robert Houdin. Translated and edited with notes by Professor Hoffmann, 354 pages......... 25THE S E C R E T S OF S T AGE C O NJ U RI NG .

By Robert Houdin. Translated and edited with notes by Professor Hoffmann; 252 pages................................................................. 1 1DRAWING ROOM CO NJ URI NG.

Translated and edited with notes by Professor Hoffmann, 192 p a g e s . . . . ..................................................................... ................. ...... 1MORE MAGIC

By Professor Hoffmann, 457 pages, 140 engravings......................... 3SLEIGHT OF HAND.

A practical manual of Legerdemain for amateurs and others. Illustrated, by Edwin Sachs........................................................... 2LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC,

by Sir David Brewster. Illustrated. Contains full explanation of the automatic chess player....................................................... 1THE ART OF MODERN CO NJ URI NG, MAGIC A ND ILLUSI ON S,Thought Reading, Mesmerism, etc., etc. Illustrated, by Henri Garenne (Professor Lind.).............................................................. 11

S H A R P S AND F LA TS , "a complete revelation of the secrets of cheating at games ofchance and skill. Illustrated, by John Nevil M askelyne......... 1

LEAVES FROM C O N J U R E R S ' S C R A P B O O K S , Or Modern Magicians and Their Work, by H. J. Burlingame.Contains all about Hypnotism, Mind Reading, Second Sight,

82

Instantaneous Memorization, Foreign and American Conjurers, Prominent Amateurs, The Herrm anns and Harry Kellar.Anna Eva Fays Chicago Experience. Interesting Rem iniscences. Explanations of the Cocoon, Growth of Flowers, Several Crem itions, Amphitrite, Spirit Bell, Mystery of She," and many other tricks and illusions. Cloth and Gold, 274 pages, fully illustrated. A standard work. P rice ................... $2 ea"AROUND THE WORLD WITH A MAGICIAN AND A J U G GL ER."Unique Experiences in Many Lands. By H. J. Burlingame. From the papers of the late Baron Hartwig Seeman, "The Em peror of Magicians, and William DAlvini, Juggler, jap of Japs." Contains valuable and rare information for the profession, contracts and programmes, giving the renowned DAlvinis entire programme, also life sketch of the celebrated Bella- chini and the trick that made him famous, together with the celebrated essay of Dr. Max Dessoir on The Psychology of the Art of Conjuring. Cloth and Gold, 172 pages, fully illustrated. Price................................................................................. I 00

"HERRMANN; HIS LIFE; HIS S E C R E T S . By H. J. Burlingame. This handsome volume is just such a book as will delight and instruct the professional and am ateur. One-half of the book is devoted to the history of Herrm ann the Magician, his family and the career of his famous brother, Carl Herrmann.Then follow full descriptions of over fifty of the tricks that have made the name of Herrm ann famous, and the equal of that king of conjurors, Robert-Houdin, with forty-three illustrations, portraits and halftones. The author of the work has devoted twenty-five years to inventing, m anufacturing and selling many of the most popular magical apparatus made in this country, and is consequently able to write upon these subjects with peculiar interest. Among many of the most curious revelations in the book is a complete elucidation given for the first time of the New Marvelous Lightning Thought Transference, recently performed here by Kennedy and Lorenz. Beautifully bound in Holliston cloth, rough edges, polished red top, fancy designs. 300 pages.Price...................................................................................................... 1 00

See Table of Contents on next two pages.

33

TABLE OF CONTENTSPage

Preface, . ..................................................... 5Introduction: Psychology of the Art o f Conjuring, . 7

"T h e Conjuring H usband a poem. (Illustrated.) . . 42"T h e M agician's Art a poem................................................... 40

ChapterI. Herrmann the M agician; H is B irth p lace ; H is F a m ily ;

His E arly Y ears ; T he Career o f H is Fam ous Brother,Carl Herrmann. (Illustrated.) . . . . . . 4 7

II. The L ife and Career o f Alexander Herrmann, . . 70I i l , Herrm ann's S e c r e t s , ...............................................................118

1 . H errm ann's Best H andkerchief Trick, . . . 1192. Handkerchief Produced From B are Hands and Caused

to V a n i s h , ......................................................................... 12.13. The Vanishing H andkerchief. (Illustrated.) . . 1264. The Color-Ctianging H andkerchief. (Illustrated.) . 1295. Another Method of Making Silk H andkerchiefs Change

Color........................................................................................13 10. Changing a H andkerchief Into a B illiard B all, . . 1337. Making a Solid B illiard B a ll Vanish Through a G lass

of W ater. (Illustrated.) , . 1358. T he M ultiplying B illiard B a ll.................................................. 1389. The Chameleon B illiard B a l l , .....................................139

10. Samuels' Improved Chameleon B illiard B all, . . 1411 1 . Rising Cards. (Illustrated.) , . . . . 14312. The Bouquet and the R ising Cards. (Illustrated,). . . 14613 . The Magic Card Bottle.......................................................14914. Card Printed on a Handkerchief by a Pistol Shot, . 15015. Any Card Thought o f Disappears to Reappear Elsewhere, 15116. The Bottle and the F l a g s , ......................................... 15217. Herrmann's Ring and Bottle T rick........................................15118 . The Famous Rabbit Trick, . . . . . 15119. The Multiplying Coins. (Illustrated.) . . . . 161

34

20. H errm ann's F low er Production, . . . .2 1 . Flow er Production on au Em pty Plate,22. The Great Shooting Trick, . . . . > .23. H errm ann's Rice, Cone and Orange Trick. (Illustrated.)24. H errm ann's K ling Klang Trick. (Illustrated.)25. H errm ann's F ish B ow l Production, . . . .20. Cazeneuve's Card in an O range......................................27. T he F ly in g Cage. (Illu strated .) . . . .28. Chronological Catastrophe and Candle o f Mephisto,29. Mind Reading by I m p r e s s io n , ..........................................30. Mind Reading Cards and Questions, . . . .3 1 . Spirit Calculator, . . . . . . .32. H eavy Weight From a Hat. (Illustrated.) .33. How to L ift a Bow l F u ll o f W ater-with a Hand in

the Bowl, . . . . . . . .34. The M agi's Wand. (Illustrated,) .35. T h e Floating Hat, W and and Table. (Illustrated.) .36. T h e Artists Dream, . . . . . .37. The Vanishing Lady. (Illustrated.) . . . .38. T h e Spiritualistic S a c k , .....................................................39. Decapitation, by V a n e c k , ..........................................40. Decapitation, by H e r r m a n n , ..........................................41. The Indian M ail. (Illustrated.) . . . .42. Modern B lack Art. (IHustrated.) . . . .43. The Escape From Sing S i n g , ..........................................14. The Enchanted O rgan; or the Unexpected Supper.

(Illustrated.) . . . . . . . .45. The M ystery of "S h e , ....................................................46. Modern Metempsychosis. (Illustrated.)47. The Great F light of Objects, . . . . .48. The Cocoon. (Illustrated.) .49. Silent Thought Transmission, . . . . .50. A Comedy of Errors, . . . . . . .

The Last Program of Herrmann the Great in Chicago, January 15, 1896.

PaRe16310B1 071761 811841 891 801 941 97200202204

207208210215218221224227230234243

24524925025G201

264292

35

" TR IC KS IN MAGIC, I LL USI ONS AND MENTAL PHENOIE NA . Volume I. Compiled by H. J. Burlingame. Containing explanations of the following: Thought Transference and Clairvoyance, as used by Kellar, Morritt, Berol & Belmonte and others; Tachypsychography or Long Distance Second Sight,: Psychognotism as used by Guibal and others, Hypnognotism, Second Sight Through Brick Walls, Spirit Thinkephone, New Silent Second Sight, Head of Ibykus, Sing Sing Mystery, Mango Tree, Great Shooting Act, Noahs Ark, Oriental Barrel Mystery, Great Mahatma Miracles, Spirit Circles under Test Conditions, Bank Note Tests, Rope Tying Feats, Many Illusions, Edgar Poes Raven in the Garland of Thebes, Samuels Mystic Percolator, Samuels Magic Squeezers, W onder Kraut, Wine Tassels, etc., etc. Sixty-three effects in all. Price.................................................................................................... $o: TRICKS IN MAGIC, I LLUSI ONS A ND MENTAL PHENONE N A . "Volume II. Compiled by H .J. Burlingame. Containing explana- tionsof the following: Eglintons Famous Slate Trick; Sealed Letter Reading; the Spirit Rapping Decanter; the Reading of Folded Papers; Blood W riting on the Arm; Reading Cards Blindfolded; Thought Reading in Cards; Samuels Vanished Mirror and Spectral Demon; the Latest Slate Mystery; the Winged Numbers; Yank Hoes Cigarette and Card Trick; Yank Hoes Paper Trick; Verbecks New Dictionary T rick ;' Ornithological Labyrinth of Perplexity; Tambourine and Paper Trick; Candle and Rings; Transmigration of Smoke; Indian Illusion with Rings; New Vanishing Pocket Knife; Instantaneous Bouquet Production; the Blackboard Feat; the Celebrated Bank Note Test; the Maid of Athens; Vivisection and all those tricks known as Valensins Tricks or Inventions. Price..................................................................................................... o i TRICKS IN MAGIC, I LL US I ON S AND MENTAL PHENONE N A . Volume III. By H.J. Burlingame. A very important volume, just off the press. Contains explanations of the following three tricks by the well-known writer, Prof. Hoffmann. The Magic Tambourine, The Great Dictionary Trick, and The Climbing Ring. Also Maskelynes Spiritualistic Couch, The Revolving Bust Illusion, Buatiers Human Cage, "Buatier in a F ix ,"Morritts Cabinet, Denstones Metempsychosis, David Devants Flying Thimble, "M cLaughlins Patented Thought Reading Trick, and Euclid Outdone, or The Spirit Mathematician. All fully illustrated with from one to five illustrations to each trick or illusion. In all twenty-eight illustrations.

30

These illusions are thoroughly described for the first time, and nearly all of them entirely new to American Conjurers.A sketch of the career of Frederick Bancroft, the American Conjurer, with reason for his non-success is given.The book contains also a complete Bibliography of Magic, Conjuring and Amusements, in English, German and French, being the most thorough work on this subject ever published.The Bibliography alone makes this a work of inestimable value to the professor, am ateur and general reader. 378 works listed. P rice ........................................................................... go 25HYPNOTISM AS IT IS-A Book for Everybody. By X. La Motte Sage, A. M., Ph. 1)., LL. D. Formerly P rofessor in Pierce College, Philadelphia,Pa., and Professor in Central College, Se- dalia, Mo. Richly illustrated by 20 full page Photo-engravings. Dr. Sage has personally hypnotized over 10,000 people.He tells the public what experience has told him. Universally pronounced the best and most attractive book of the kind that has ever been published. Paper 8vo., 116 pages. P rice ..................................................... o 3cTHE REVELATIONS OF LULU HURST, THE GEORGIA WONDER.W ritten by herself. Explains and demonstrates the Great Secret of her Marvelous Powers. A newand unparalleled revelation of the Forcesthat puzzled and mystified the entire continent. Every test illus

trated with fu ll page halftone engravings, and every one who reads the book can acquire the power. Paper, 267 pages.Price,................... ................................................................................ o 50

ISIS VERY MUCH UNVEILED.A story of the Great Mahatma Hoax. By Edmund Garrett. Contents: P a r t i . The story of the Great Mahatma Hoax. Introduction. No Mahatma, No members. Mystification under Madame Blavatsky. The Psychical Research Exposure. Mystification under Mrs. Besant. E nter the Mahatma. Every Man his own Mahatma. The Adventures of a Seal. The Climax of Theosophic Brotherhood. The Mahatma Tries Threais. Mrs. Besants coup de main. A meeting of the (Theosophical) Pickwick Club. Questions and Challenges.Part 2. From Officials. From Prominent Theosophists.From Private Members. P art 3. A General Rejoinder.Last shreds of the Veil of Isis. Postscript. Mr. Judges M ahatma at Bay. LEnvoi, "T he Society upon the Himalay."A reply from Mr. W. O. Judge. An Appreciation of Mr. Judges Reply. Illustrations and Fac-Similes. Frontispiece

37

Portrait of Madame Blavatsky. Portrait of Mrs. Besant. Portrait of Colonel Olcott. The "Mahatma S eal. The E nvelope Trick. Fac-similes of Mahatmas Missives, of Mr. Judges Handwriting, etc. Portrait Cartoon. W hen Augur meets Augur. Paper..................................................................... )

THE DEATH BLOW TO S P I R I T U A L I S M . Being the true story of the Fox sisters as revealed by authority of Margaret Fox Kane and Catherine Fox Jencken. By Reuben Briggs Davenport. This book is, in fact, what its title sets forth. The Death-Blow to Spiritualism. Paper, 274 pages, wiih vignette half-tone cuts ol M argaret Fox Kane and Katie Fox Jencken. Rare and interesting work. P rice,................ o ;"CONJU RI NG FOR AMAT EURS A N D P RO F ES SI O NA LS . 'A Practical Treatise on How to Perform Modern Tricks, by Ellis Stanyon, F. O. S. The latest book on Magic by a popular and well-known professional. Contains many new, original and highly interesting tricks, including lull directions and sketches for the famous "Paper Folding Act. Paper, 122 pages, illustrated. Price................................................................ 0 5:

CONJURING WITH C A R D S .By Prof. Ellis Stanyon, F. O. S. A practical treatise on how to -perform Modern Card Tricks. The latest English work. London, 1898. Paper 8/0. Illustrated, an excellent manual.Price..................................................................................................... 0 j

"REVELATIONS OF A SPI RI T MEDIUM:Or, Spiritualistic Mysteries Exposed." W ritten by a prominent medium of twenty years' experience. This is a rare and valuable work, and should be in the hands of every conjuror, medium or investigator, It is intensely interesting to the general reader. Paper, 324 pages, illustrated. Former price,Si 50; now ,...................................................................................... 07:

LETTERS ON DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT.By Sir Walter Scott, Bart. With an introduction by Henry Mor- ley, LL. D., Professor of English Literature at University Col- ' lege, London. Third Edition, Cloth, 8vo, 320 pp., scarce.

P rice ...................................................................................................................... 0 7;

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ATTENTION.By Th. Ribot, Professor of comparative and experimental Psychology at the College De France, Editor of the Revue Philosophique. Interesting only to students of Psychology. Price..................................................................................................... 07:"T HE MODERN WI ZARD."

By A. Roterberg. Contains eighty-four modern tricks. Cloth,117 pages. Illustrated. Price..................................................... 1 138

PRACTICAL. P A LfVIISTRY,Or H and Reading Made Easy. By Comte C. De Saint-Germain. Issued a few months ago, this volume has met with immediate recognition and very large sales. The press has declared it a standard. Illustrated with 55 pictures of hands. Special edition (with several additional half tones), bound in extra cloth, rough edges, polished red top, stamped with special design...................................... $1 00

"LATTER DAY T R I C K S . Uniform with -'The Modern W izard. By A. Roterberg. 104pages, containing seventy-five modern tricks. Cloth. Price 1 00

NEW ERA CARD T R I C K S . By A. Roterberg. Devoted solely to Card Tricks, with and without apparatus. The most complete book on Card Tricks in the English language. Cloth, 284 pages, 203 illustrations.Price.................................................................................................... . 2 00

HOURS WITH THE GH OS TS,Or, XlXth Century W itchcraft. By H. R. Evans. The pretensions of the so-called Clairvoyants, Mind Readers, Slate Writers, etc., graphically exposed. T he true story of Madame Blavatsky given to the world, with new and exhaustive evidence. A most conscientious, extraordinary work, convincing to a degree, and readable throughout. Exposes Slade, Keeler and others. Fancy cloth, 302 pages. Finely illustrated. Price............................................................................... 1 00

HYPNOTISM, MES MER ISM , AND THE NEW WITCHCRAFT.By Dr. Ernest Hart, of W . London Hospital. A new enlarged edition, with chapters on The E ternal Gullible, the Confessions of a Professional Hypnotist,and notes on the Hypnotism

o f Trilby. Cloth, 2 5 2 pages, illustrated. Very interesting.Price...................................................................................................... t 50 THE BOTTOM FACTS CONCERNING THE SCIENCE OF SPIR ITUAL ISM.

By John W. Truesdell. Derived from careful investigations covering a period of twenty-five years, with many descriptive illustrations. This is the famous work on Bottom Facts,1 out of print for the last ten years. It is one of the most valuable books for mediums or conjurers ever issued. Among other effects, it contains the complete spiritual work or programme of the Eddy Brothers, Dr. Henry Slade and Anna Eva Fay. Cloth, 331 pages, fully illustrated. Price............... 2 0 039

A T HOUG H T -R EA D ER 'S t h o u g h t s .Being the Impressions and Confessions of Stuart Cumberland. Contains the travels and experiences of the celebrated Mind Reader. Large 8vo, 326 pp. Fancy cloth and gilt, with photographic portrait. Out of print and scarce. Original price, $2 75. Our price.................................................................. $2 50 .

FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAGIC CIRCLE.Prof. Blitz original work. Being an account of the authors professional life, his wonderful tricks and feats, with laughable incidents and adventures as a magician, necromancer and ventriloquist. By Signor Blitz. Illustrated with numerous engravings and portrait of the author on steel. Large 8vo,432 pages. Very scarce and interesting. Price......................... 3 00"T HE PRACTICE OF PALMISTRY FOR PROFESSIONAL P U R P O S E S . By Comte C. De Saint-Germain, A. B., LL. M. (of the University of France), President of the American Chirological Society (incorporated), and of the National School of Palmistry. With an introduction by the late Adrien Desbarrolles. Over 1,100 original illustrations and complete Palmistic Dictionary. As a bread-winner orthodox palmistry is proving a great success, and The Practice of Palmistry for Professional Purposes is the only work of its kind that places in the students hands a money making instrument of incontestable value. For the first time, real, useful palmistry can be learned without a teacher, for every word contained in this great book has been tested upon class after class of intelligent pupils and produced the most complete and satisfactory results. With this

a successful business can be commenced at once. For the standing of the Art we need only cite you the career and success of Heron Allen in this country and abroad, and Cheiro the Palmist (Count Leigh de Hamong), now holding receptions and readings at the Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. Owing to our cordial business relations with the author and proprietor of this monument of patience and learning, we have been ap pointed special sales agent for a limited number of'copies only, each one numbered by hand and with the authors autograph signature. There are but few copies issued, and only one copy will be sold in one toivn or city. The binding is 01 dark red silk cloth, with back and corners in Russia leather and edges full gilt, a superb and most practical makeup for a work of exceptional value to the student. We cannot commend the above too highly. Volume I, with portrait of Emma Calve, price, S3 5- Volume II. $4 00. Both volumes in neat box, 7 50

The following article over the signature of the well-known scientific writer Frederick Boyd Stevenson, appeared in The Journalist40

("Devoted to All Who Make or Read Newspapers) of New York City, Vol. X X I I I , No. 16, August 6, 1898."Magic, in its original sense, meant light and knowledge. Then the term was looked upon with suspicion, and magicians, although still deemed wise men, were regarded as sorcerers. The word magic, in the modern acceptation, is a synonym for legerdemain, and thus we confound the terms magician, conjurer and prestidigitator. There is always a certain fascination about that word magic, whether we use it in the sense that it was originally used or apply it in the common understanding of the termthat is, an amusing trick performed for spectators. The modern magician is not the ancient alchemist searching patiently for the philosophers stone, nor the meditative astrologer, nor yet the supernaturally wise physician. H e is up-to-date. He knows all the latest tricks with cards and can give the Hindu conjurer, with his growing shrubs and headless boys, inside information. T he Pres3 Club of Chicago happens to have among its members just such a magician as this. Mr. H. J. Burlingame can do any of the astonishing things that all these other wonderful magicians have done. He, however, has looked into the practical side of magic, and not desiring to hide his light under a bushel has given his knowledge to the world.Mr. Burlingame was formerly a newspaper man. He became interested in legerdemain, made the acquaintance of the most celebrated men in that profession, and was himself an expert. He has written several books on the subject that have been very popular and have 'had a large sale. In his book, 'Around the W orld with a Magician and a Juggler, he tells the story of the life of Baron Hartwig Seeman, and gives an exceedingly interesting sketch of D'Alvini, whose real name was the unromantic Peppercorn. His book, H errm ann the Magician, is full of good stories concerning the two who, in recent times, have borne that name Carl and A lexander and whose ancestor was almost equally as famous. He also has something to say of Cazeneuve, Kellar, Vanek, Heller, Samuels and Robert-Houdin, with whose works he was perfectly familiar and many *of whose tricks he has plainly explained. Mr. Burlingame hates shams, and he scores unmercifully the clairvoyant, the mind reader and spiritualistic miracle workers who pretend to invoke the aid of the supernatural in their exhibitions. One of his most entertaining books, Leaves from a Conjurers Scrap Book/ deals with these subjects in a way that shows what the author thinks of such people without any room for misunderstanding. As mind reading had its origin in Chicago, the chapter on that subject is especially interesting to residents of this city. J. Randall Brown was the first person who made a display of his so-called power. He had made a wager with an old resident of Chicago that he could find a pin, no matter where it was concealed, if it were placed in walking distance. The pin was placed beneath a rug in front of the Sherman House. Broivn was blindfolded and led his friend there, winning his wager and becoming famous. H e made a tour of the states and afterwards went to Europe. W ashington Irving Bishop, whose death, while presumably laboring under the mental strain that attends mind readers, occasioned such a stir a few years ago, was an assistant of Brown.Mr. Burlingame was born in Manitowoc, Wis., June 14, 1852. His fa-41

tiier and mother were amotig the earliest settlers of Chicago. From here they went to Manitowoc in a wagon. After living in Madison for some time they removed back to Chicago. When he was about twenty Burlingame went to Rotterdam, Holland, and entered the commercial business, subsequently traveling through Germany and Switzerland, on foot, as correspondent for American papers. He remained abroad for a number of years, living for a time with his uncle, Pere Hyacinthe. After having lived in Chicago for some years he returned to Europe and made a professional tour as a conjurer. Then he came back to America, residing in Baltimore and Cincinnati, finally locating in his old home, Chicago. Mr. Burlingame now occupies himself almost entirely with magic. That he has not forgotten his old cunning as a prestidigitator the members of the Press Club can attest.

WITH CARDS." T h e B e s t f o r t h e G a m e , King John, V: 2.

1M ESM ER IZED CARDS.They cling to the palm of your hand and will not fall off, excellentimpromptu trick ................................................................................$ 10

2 -C H A N G IN G FA CE CARDS.Price............................................................................................................. 25

3F IN E FORCING CARDS.Per pack of 28............................................................................................ 25

4F IN E FORCING CARDS.Per pack of 52............................................................................................ 50

5 TO RN CO RN ER CARD.Price............................................................................................................. 4o

6 MOVING P IP CARD.Pi ice ............................................................................................................ 40

7CARD CHANGING TO A ROSE.P rice ............................................................................................................ 40

8CARD T H A T RISES IN PACK AND TU R N S AROUND.Price................................................ ........................................................... 50

9T H E CRCESIAN CARDS.A new feature in cards, as they produce, multiply or vanish coins.Very useful. Per p a ir ..................................................................... 5

10IM PR O V ED N A ILED CARD SHOT.The trick of throwing a pack of cards against the ceiling or a door, and the card previously selected rem aining nailed there, is well known. This improvement consists in borrowing a ring which is found fastened by a ribbon to the nail, through the card, although the lady from whom the ring is borrowed believes she holds the ring all the tim e............................................. 25

11REA D IN G CARDS BLIN DFOLDED.Performer is blindfolded, and on any pack of cards being placed in his hands, he at once proceeds to name each one in regular order, and allows cards to be shuffled at any time. Amost excellent trick. Not to be had elsewhere........................... 25

43

12LA HO U LETTE, a la Buatier.Buatier uses no frame or case, but merely places cards in a tum

bler, and by blowing through a paper cone the chosen cards jump out of the tumbler, and finally miniature card's of the same suite as selected ones appear inside cases of watches previously borrowed, but not opened; splendid effect; no ap paratus required for this deception; secret................................... $13N EW CARD AND C IG A R ETTE TRICK.

A selected card is torn in pieces, and pieces placed in an envelope, minus a corner of the card which is held by person who drew it, and who can also hold the envelope. Artist then borrows a cigarette, and finding it will not light, scrapes the paper off, and discovers in it the card, restored, except missing corner piece, which fits exactly, and on opening envelope the tobacco is found in place of the pieces of torn card ..........14-CLA IRV O Y A N T CARD TRICK .

Three persons think of a card each, and performer by clairvoyance, writes down their names on three slips of paper and puts them in a glass; they are then asked to remove their cards from the pack, which is counted and of course the three cards are missing. Pack is placed on another glass, and the three selected cards in a card box from which they vanish, and on recounting the pack it is found that the three cards have gone into it, and on opening the papers the names written threon are found correct. (No t e These cards are not forced, for the persons are only asked to think of them.) A splendid trick; the only apparatus required is a card box, which performer can easily make. New. Secret......................................15DEMON CARD TR IC K .

A very effective trick. Three cards are selected by audience, previous to which three pieces of blank paper are given for inspection, and placed on a slate in full view. Cards returned to pack, and papers opened, when names of cards are found written on the papers. This is a first-rate deception, and new. No apparatus required. Very easy..................................16OUR SPELLING BEE.

To spell or lay out names, numbers and suites of cards, and days of the week, with names of months. Entirely new and first time offered for sale. As introduced by us with great success in England, Holland and Germany. Any pack of cards is used (the puzzling eight-card "lay out" included).......................17T H E DEMON CHANGING CARD.

Genuinely changes three times in the very midst of audience. There are cards made to change four and six times, but this44

is ab so lu te ly the v e ry best, for the reason that the card is g iven fo r inspection. N e w ........................................................................

I 8 - T O C H A N G E A H A N D K E R C H I E F IN T O