. Modern magic. : A practical treatise on the art of any time fromthe simple breaking ofa wire, or some evenslighter cause. This, itappears to us, is a seri-ous drawback to electri-cal tricks, though whetethey are exhibited attheir best no illusionsare more beautiful, orhave more of genuinemagic about them. We should mention,before quitting the sub-ject of these tricks, thatin order to avoid thetrouble and expense offixing the necessary con-ducting wires in a build-ing not specially appro-priated to magical per-formances, an uprightbrass rod (which may bedetached at pleasure) issom
. Modern magic. : A practical treatise on the art of any time fromthe simple breaking ofa wire, or some evenslighter cause. This, itappears to us, is a seri-ous drawback to electri-cal tricks, though whetethey are exhibited attheir best no illusionsare more beautiful, orhave more of genuinemagic about them. We should mention,before quitting the sub-ject of these tricks, thatin order to avoid thetrouble and expense offixing the necessary con-ducting wires in a build-ing not specially appro-priated to magical per-formances, an uprightbrass rod (which may bedetached at pleasure) issometimes fitted on each side of the performers table (see Fig. 311),and the apparatus in use (drum, bell, cash-box, etc.) is suspended byappropriate cords between these rods. The conducting wires areconnected within the table with the lower ends of the brass uprights,and thence pass down its hinder legs to the battery behind the scenesThere are many considerations of convenience in favour of thisarrangement, but the tricks performed are less effective than where. Fig. 311. MODERN MAGIC. 4>;5 the apparatus is hung fairly from the ceiling, and apparently out ofall possible reach of mechanical influence. Tite Aerial Suspension.—This is a very old trick, performedorigin; lly by the Indian jugglers, who kept the modus operandi a pro-found secret. The ingenuity, however, of Robert-Houdin penetratedthe mystery, and in 1849 ne maa*e it a special feature of his seances fan-tastiques. At that time the public mind was much interested in theanaesth( iic qualities of ether, which had then red. ntly b^en ::-Houdin manipulated this fact into a valuable gave out that he had discovered in the popular anaesthetic a stillmore marvellous property, viz., that when inhaled under certain con-ditions, it neutralized the attiaction of gravitation in the person inhal-ing it, who beeame, for the time being, light as air. In [>roof of this,he brought forward his young
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