Chapter I: Preface

It is believed that the present work occupies a unique field in the extensive literature of magic. There are already a large number of treatises on natural magic and legerdemain, but in most of them very little attention has been given to the _exposé_ of stage illusions, which are of great interest as they are so largely based on ingenious applications of scientific principles. Optics, mechanics, sound, and electricity have all been pressed into service by the _fin de siècle_ prestidigitateur. In the present work great attention has been paid to elaborate tricks of this nature, and in many cases the _exposés_ have been obtained from the prestidigitateurs themselves. In the first few chapters many of the best illusions of Robert-Houdin, Dr. Lynn, Professor Pepper, Bautier de Kolta, Heller, Herrmann, Maskelyne and Cooke, and Kellar will be found clearly explained.

Conjuring tricks have been by no means neglected, but the number of them which are given has been limited, owing to the fact that many of the books on magic have gone into this subject quite extensively. Ventriloquism, shadowgraphy, mental magic, etc., will also be found treated in the present work.

The chapters relating to “Ancient Magic” take up the temple tricks of the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman thaumaturgists, as well as a number of automata which are very interesting in view of their very early epoch. It is believed this will be found a particularly entertaining feature of the book.

There is always a great charm about the stage, and the methods of producing the effects which give realism to the drama. The chapters devoted to “Theatrical Science” will be found to contain a very large number of effects and illusions, many of which are here presented for the first time. Thus an entire opera, “Siegfried,” is taken up, and the methods by which the wonderful effects are obtained are fully illustrated and described. Such amusements as cycloramas, the nautical arena, and fireworks with dramatic accessories are not neglected.

The chapters on “Automata” and “Curious Toys” describe many interesting tricks and mechanisms of an amusing nature.

The last few chapters of the book deal with “Photographic Diversions,” and here will be found some of the most curious and interesting tricks and deceptions which may be performed by the aid of photography. The practical side of scientific photography will also be found represented. The chapter on “Chronophotography” describes the photography of moving objects of all kinds, and shows how the results obtained are of value to the savant. The projection of moving pictures upon a screen is thoroughly treated, a number of different forms of the apparatus being described.

The introduction is a unique feature of the work, being written by Mr. Henry Ridgely Evans, of Washington, D. C., author of “Hours with the Ghosts; or, Nineteenth Century Witchcraft.” It contains a brief but remarkably complete history of magic art from the earliest times to the present date, especial attention being given to amusing incidents in the careers of celebrated necromancers. This Introduction will be found one of the most entertaining parts of the present book. Mr. Evans has also contributed two chapters--one on “Shadowgraphy,” or “Treweyism,” as it has been called, in honor of M. Félician Trewey, the classic exponent of the art; the other on “Mental Magic,” or second-sight experiments. The chapter on “Shadowgraphy” is not only interesting because of the _exposé_ of the art of theatrical silhouette-making, but on account of the sketch of the life and adventures of M. Trewey, who is a personal friend of the writer. Mr. Evans is also the compiler of the excellent Bibliography which concludes the book. Though this Bibliography makes no pretense to absolute completeness, it is believed to be more extensive than any other bibliography of the subject, and it will be found of great value to the student of psychology, as well as to the student of modern magic. Other acknowledgments are due to Mr. William E. Robinson, the well-known prestidigitateur, for many suggestions and favors and for important help in connection with the Bibliography; Mr. Robinson having a very remarkable collection of books upon magic, which he has gathered at home and abroad during a long period. We are also indebted to Mr. H. J. Burlingame, of Chicago, for permission to use extracts from his writings and for assistance in the Bibliography.

The matter for the present work is very largely compiled from articles which have appeared in the “Scientific American” and the “Scientific American Supplement,” with the addition of much material hitherto unpublished. Especial acknowledgments are due to our French and German contemporaries, particularly “_La Nature_.” The section on “Ancient Magic” is taken almost wholly from the articles of Colonel A. de Rochas in “_La Nature_.” These articles were afterwards amplified by him and published in a most interesting book entitled “_Les Origines de la Science_.” It is hoped that the present work will prove entertaining to those who are fond of the _art magique_.

NEW YORK, _September, 1897_.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

_THE MYSTERIES OF MODERN MAGIC._

PAGE

Ancient Magic--Division of Magic--Cagliostro--Robertson--Comte de
Grisi--Robert-Houdin--Carl Herrmann--Signor Blitz--Robert Heller
--Alexander Herrmann--Bautier de Kolta--Harry Kellar, 1

BOOK I.

_CONJURERS’ TRICKS AND STAGE ILLUSIONS._

CHAPTER I.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCES.

“Vanity Fair”--“After the Flood”--“The Magic Palanquin”--
“Cassadaga Propaganda”--“The Appearing Lady”--“The Disappearing
Lady”--“The Mysterious Trunk”--“The Indian Basket Trick”--
“Decapitation”--“Spiritualistic Ties,” 27

CHAPTER II.

OPTICAL TRICKS.

The “Cabaret du Neant”--The Three-Headed Woman--“Amphitrite”--
“The Mystery of Dr. Lynn”--“Black Art”--The Talking Head--The
Living Half-Woman--“She”--“The Queen of Flowers”--The
“Decapitated Princess”--“Stella”--Houdin’s Magic Cabinet--A
Mystic Maze--Platinized Glass--Statue giving a Double Image, 55

CHAPTER III.

MISCELLANEOUS STAGE TRICKS.

“Trilby”--The “Haunted Swing”--The “Scurimobile”--The
Neoöccultism--“The Mask of Balsamo”--The Invisible Woman--Magic
Harps, 89

CHAPTER IV.

CONJURING TRICKS.

Trick with an Egg and a Handkerchief--The Cone of Flowers--The
Magic Rosebush--“Magic Flowers”--The “Birth of Flowers”--Tricks
with a Hat--A Cake Baked in a Hat--The Egg and Hat Trick--
Multiplication of Coins--Magic Coins--The Dissolving Coin--The
Spirit Slates--Second Sight--Magic Cabinets--The Traveling Bottle
and Glass--Disappearance of an Apple and a Ninepin--A Goblet of
Ink Converted into an Aquarium--The Invisible Journey of a Glass
of Wine--The Wine Changed to Water--The Animated Mouse--The Sand
Frame Trick--Houdin’s Magic Ball, 105

CHAPTER V.

JUGGLERS AND ACROBATIC PERFORMANCES.

Jugglers--The Leamy Revolving Trapeze--Walking on the Ceiling
Head Down--The Mysterious Ball, 139

CHAPTER VI.

FIRE EATERS AND SWORD TRICKS.

Fire Eaters, Tricks with Fire--A Stab through the Abdomen--The
Human Target--Sword Swallowers--Sword Walker--Dancers on Glass, 149

CHAPTER VII.

VENTRILOQUISM AND ANIMATED PUPPETS, 164

CHAPTER VIII.

SHADOWGRAPHY.

Shadowgraphy--French Shadows, 173

CHAPTER IX.

MENTAL MAGIC.

Robert Heller--Second Sight--The Baldwins and Second Sight--
Silent Thought Transference, 184

BOOK II.

_ANCIENT MAGIC._

CHAPTER I.

TEMPLE TRICKS OF THE GREEKS.

Puppet Shows among the Greeks--The Shrine of Bacchus--The First
Automobile Vehicle--The Statue of Cybele--Marvelous Altars--The
Machinery of the Temples--Sounding of Trumpets when a Door was
Opened--Opening and Closing Doors when a Fire was Lighted on the
Altar--Invention in 1889 A.D. vs. Invention B.C.--An Egyptian
Lustral Water Vessel, 203

CHAPTER II.

MIRACULOUS VESSELS OF THE GREEKS.

The Dicaiometer--Miraculous Vessels--Magical Pitchers--Apparatus
for Permitting the Mixing of Wine and Water in Definite
Proportions--The Magical Bottle--Ancient Organs, 221

CHAPTER III.

THE ORIGIN OF THE STEAM ENGINE.

The Eolipile of Heron--Heron’s Marvelous Altar--Heron’s Tubular
Boiler, 234

CHAPTER IV.

GREEK LAMPS, TOYS, ETC.

Perpetual Lamps--An Ancient Automaton--A Greek Toy--The
Decapitated Drinking Horse--Odometers, 239

BOOK III.

_SCIENCE IN THE THEATER._

CHAPTER I.

Behind the Scenes of an Opera House--The Ordinary Stage--The
English Stage--The Stage Floor--The Cellars--The Flies--The
Gridiron--Traps-Sliders--Bridges--The Metropolitan Opera House
Stage--Wing Posts--Curtain Calls--The Electric Lighting--Paint
Bridge--The Property Man--Striking a Scene--The Dressing-Rooms--
The Production of a New Opera, 251

CHAPTER II.

SOME REMARKABLE STAGES, ANCIENT AND MODERN.

An Electric Curtain--The Fan-Drop Curtain--An Elevator Theater
Stage--Some Remarkable American Stage Inventions--A Revolving
Stage--The “Asphaleia” Stage--A Theater with Two Auditoriums--
Curio’s Pivoted Theater--The Olympian Theater of Palladio at
Vicenza, 268

CHAPTER III.

STAGE EFFECTS.

Scene Painting--Sunrise Effect--Sun Effect--Change from Day to
Night--Stars--Moon Effects--Rainbow Effect--Wind Effect--Thunder
Effect--Lightning--Snow Effect--Wave Effect--Crash Effect--Rain
Effect--Gradual Transformation--Fire and Smoke Effect--Battle
Scenes--Theatrical Firearms--The Imitation of Odors, 293

CHAPTER IV.

THEATER SECRETS.

Traps--The Swan in “Lohengrin”--The Floating Rhine Daughters in
“Rheingold”--The “Sun Robe”--The Ship on the Stage--Miscellaneous
Stage Effects--The Destruction of the Temple of Dagon--The Horse
Race on the Stage--The Effects in “Siegfried”--Siegfried’s Forge
--Siegfried’s Anvil--The Dragon Fafner--Wotan’s Spear--The Bed of
Tulips and the Electric Firefly--The Electric Torch and Electric
Jewels--An Electrical Duel--The Skirt Dance, 311

CHAPTER V.

THE NAUTICAL ARENA, 345

CHAPTER VI.

A TRIP TO THE MOON, 348

CHAPTER VII.

CYCLORAMAS.

The Electric Cyclorama--The Painted Cyclorama, 354

CHAPTER VIII.

FIREWORKS WITH DRAMATIC ACCESSORIES, 362

BOOK IV.

_AUTOMATA AND CURIOUS TOYS._

CHAPTER I.

AUTOMATA.

Automaton Chess Players--The Automaton Chess Player--A Curious
Automaton--The Toy Artist--A Steam Man, 367

CHAPTER II.

CURIOUS TOYS.

An Optical Illusion--The Money Maker--Experiments in Centrifugal
Force and Gravity--The Magic Rose--Electrical Toys--The Electric
Race Course--Magnetic Oracle--The Dancers--An Ancient Counterpart
of a Modern Toy--Unbalanced Toy Acrobats--Columbus’s Egg--Jacob’s
Ladder--The Mikado--A Toy Cart--The Phonographic Doll, 380

CHAPTER III.

MISCELLANEOUS TRICKS OF AN AMUSING NATURE.

Interesting Tricks in Elasticity--Novel Puzzle--Simple Match
Trick--Crystallized Ornaments--Magical Apparition on White Paper
--Magic Portraits--A Trick Opera Glass--A Toy Bird that Flies--
The Planchette Table--Japanese Magic Mirrors--Magic Mirrors, 406

BOOK V.

_PHOTOGRAPHIC DIVERSIONS._

CHAPTER I.

TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY.

Lavater’s Apparatus for Taking Silhouettes--Photography upon a
Black Ground--Spirit Photography--Artificial Mirage--Duplex
Photography--Illusive Photography--Photographing a Catastrophe--
New Type of Photographic Portrait--Photographing a Human Head
upon a Table--Photographing a Head on a Platter--A Multiple
Portrait--Multiphotography--Pinhole Camera--A Photographic
Necktie--Magic Photographs--Electro-Photo Detective Thief Catcher
--Composite Photography, 423

CHAPTER II.

CHRONOPHOTOGRAPHY.

Chronophotography--The Registration and Analysis of the Movements
of Men, Animals, Birds, Fishes, Insects, etc.--Amateur
Chronophotographic Apparatus, 462

CHAPTER III.

THE PROJECTION OF MOVING PICTURES.

The Edison Kinetograph--Reynaud’s Optical Theater--Electric
Tachyscope--Apparatus for Projecting Moving Pictures by the
Demeny, Jenkins, Lumière, and Other Forms of Apparatus--The
Kinetoscope Stereopticon--The Mutoscope and the Mutograph, with
Illustrations of Moving Objects--“Cinematograph” Camera--Camera
for Ribbon Photography--The Micromotoscope, 488

APPENDIX.

_ADDITIONAL TRICKS._

The Magic Table--“Gone”--The Spider and the Fly--The Trunk Trick
--“La Strobeika Persane”--“Metempsychosis,” 519

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS ON NATURAL MAGIC, 539

INDEX, 553

MAGIC:
STAGE ILLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC DIVERSIONS,
INCLUDING TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY.