Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography

CHAPTER IX.

344 words | Chapter 57

MENTAL MAGIC. BY HENRY RIDGELY EVANS. The most sphinx-like problem ever presented to the public for solution was the “second-sight” mystery. As has been stated in the Introduction, the idea was an old one, having originated with the Chevalier Pinetti, a conjurer of the eighteenth century. On this subject the “Encyclopædia Britannica” says: “In 1783 Pinetti had an automatic figure about eighteen inches in height, named the Grand Sultan or Wise Little Turk, which answered questions as to chosen cards and many other things by striking upon a bell, intelligence being communicated to a confederate by an ingenious ordering of the words, syllables, or vowels in the questions put. The teaching of Mesmer and feats of alleged clairvoyance suggested to Pinetti a more remarkable performance in 1785, when Signora Pinetti, sitting blindfold in a front box of a theater, replied to questions and displayed her knowledge of articles in the possession of the audience.” Robert-Houdin invented a “second-sight” system under the following circumstances: “My two children,” he says, in his memoirs, “were playing one day in the drawing-room at a game they had invented for their own amusement. The younger had bandaged his elder brother’s eyes, and made him guess the objects he touched, and when the latter happened to guess right, they changed places. This simple game suggested to me the most complicated idea that ever crossed my mind--‘second sight.’ “On the 12th of February, 1846, I printed in the center of my bill the following singular announcement: “_In this programme M. Robert-Houdin’s son, who is gifted with a marvelous second sight, after his eyes have been covered with a thick bandage, will designate every object presented to him by the audience._” Houdin never revealed the secret of this remarkable trick, but plainly indicated in his autobiography that it was the result of an ingenious combination of questions that gave the clue to the supposed clairvoyant on the stage. One of the first to come forward with an _exposé_ was F. A. Gandon, who wrote a work entitled _La Seconde vue dévoilée_, Paris,

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. INTRODUCTION. 3. BOOK I. 4. CHAPTER I. 5. CHAPTER II. 6. CHAPTER III. 7. CHAPTER IV. 8. CHAPTER V. 9. CHAPTER VI. 10. CHAPTER VII. 11. CHAPTER VIII. 12. CHAPTER IX. 13. BOOK II. 14. CHAPTER I. 15. CHAPTER II. 16. CHAPTER III. 17. CHAPTER IV. 18. BOOK III. 19. CHAPTER I. 20. CHAPTER II. 21. CHAPTER III. 22. CHAPTER IV. 23. CHAPTER V. 24. CHAPTER VI. 25. CHAPTER VII. 26. CHAPTER VIII. 27. BOOK IV. 28. CHAPTER I. 29. CHAPTER II. 30. CHAPTER III. 31. BOOK V. 32. CHAPTER I. 33. CHAPTER II. 34. CHAPTER III. 35. INTRODUCTION. 36. 1. FEATS OF DEXTERITY. The hands and tongue being the only means used 37. 2. EXPERIMENTS IN NATURAL MAGIC. Expedients derived from the sciences, 38. 3. MENTAL CONJURING. A control acquired over the will of the 39. 4. PRETENDED MESMERISM. Imitation of mesmeric phenomena, second-sight, 40. 5. MEDIUMSHIP. Spiritualism or pretended evocation of spirits, 41. 1871. His son-in-law, M. Hamilton, continued to carry on the Temple of 42. BOOK I. 43. CHAPTER I. 44. 1. It will be noticed by the observant spectator that the back lid is 45. 3. The opening in the end of the post is now carefully closed and all 46. CHAPTER II. 47. CHAPTER III. 48. CHAPTER IV. 49. 1. Your assistant’s two hands being thus occupied, you will have no sort 50. 1. There is no need of explanation in regard to the apple that comes out 51. CHAPTER V. 52. CHAPTER VI. 53. introduction of the end of the tube into the pharynx is extremely 54. introduction of flat-bladed sabers, among other things, and of the 55. CHAPTER VII. 56. CHAPTER VIII. 57. CHAPTER IX. 58. 1849. Robert Heller saw Houdin give an exhibition of “second sight” in 59. 9. Steel. 60. 10. Topaz. 61. 9. Sketch. 62. 10. Mexico. 63. 10. China. 64. 8. Lace. 65. 7. Swiss. 66. 10. Fan. 67. 10. Charm. 68. 10. Mucilage. 69. 10. Cigar-lighter. 70. 10. Corkscrew. 71. 10. Looking-glass. 72. 10. Envelope. 73. 10. Postage stamp. 74. 10. Stud. 75. 10. Check. 76. 10. Wax. 77. 10. Key. 78. 10. Tuning fork. 79. 10. Doll. 80. 10. Cup. 81. 10. Cork. 82. 10. Strap. 83. 4. Spades. 84. 5. Musical. 85. 1820. The question is: 86. BOOK II. 87. CHAPTER I. 88. CHAPTER II. 89. CHAPTER III. 90. CHAPTER IV. 91. BOOK III. 92. CHAPTER I. 93. CHAPTER II. 94. CHAPTER III. 95. CHAPTER IV. 96. CHAPTER V. 97. CHAPTER VI. 98. CHAPTER VII. 99. CHAPTER VIII. 100. BOOK IV. 101. CHAPTER I. 102. 5. The box L having been put back in place, as well as the curtain R, 103. CHAPTER II. 104. CHAPTER III. 105. BOOK V. 106. CHAPTER I. 107. 1896. The Scovill & Adams Co., publishers. 108. CHAPTER II. 109. CHAPTER III. 110. 2. Arrangement for stopping the strip of film.]

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