tTHITE

The

MAGIC
Story of Maskelynes

By

JASPER

MASKELTNE

Treasure

Library

LONDON

STANLEY

PAUL

"f

CO.,

LTD.

IN

PRINTED

BRITAIN,

GREAT

ANCHOR

THE

AT

TIPTREE,

PRESS,

ESSEX
::

CONTENTS
CHAPTER

I
PACK

is

What

magic

The

"

the Devil

Black

and

Arts

the White

"

farming family goes

to

Did Nevil Maskelyne practisewitchcraft ?

The
Maskelyne
watchmaker
a
"J. N." becomes
Friendship with Cooke
Advent
of the Davenports
seances
Attending spiritualistic
tradition

I
"

"

"

"

"

"

CHAPTER
in

Davenport

Gemini"

Cooke

"

tour

on

go

II

Cheltenham

performance
exposed
Juggling

lynchingattempt

Cheltenham

at

the

London

CHAPTER

birthdayshow

Cooke

Mr.

"

"

Fan-fair

commerical

N.'s

J.

"

"

Zoe

"

"

"

the Watchman

and

How

"

Royal

and

Labial

3J

"

Command
"

Royal

inventions

44

monkey goes to sleep Maskelynes in

J. N.'s crusade againstcard-sharps
Some
U.S. magicians
sharpers work
"

grand-pianosensation

of Havana

Bianco

"

days
Egyptian

CHAPTER

Will, the Witch

Australia

partnership

exposed

Slade

of those
the

IV

spiritsoffer

The

"

Dr.

At

"

Psycho

"

"

"

"

shows

Freak

"

"

establishments

slipped "The
Maskelyne and

III

CrystalPalace

and levitation
decapitation,
Plate-spinning,
vanish
would
Hall
The
who
not
Magician

Performance

"

21

"

Rival

that

sensation

.........

Success

"

blind

The

"

CHAPTER
A

"

56

"

CHAPTER

Maskelynes
to

the

Courts

tour

on

"

Egyptian
Devant

"

Maskelynes

Park
murders
Famous
magicians come
vanishing ring ! Magicians at the Sultan's
balloons
"Movies"
at
J. N.'s war
joins the show
The
Devil
in
"1000 challenge
Piccadilly
The

Hall

Phoenix

"

The

"

"

"

"

VI

"

...

CHAPTER

Opening
"

at

St.

George's

wizard

challenge
"

71

"

curate

Into

Hall

"

Faced

I make

"

the

Courts

VII

bow

my

"A

"

failure

with

Devant

"

Archdeacon

"

Side

becomes

Colleyoffers

partner

"1000

Issue"

88

.....

CHAPTER
The

Circle

Magic
Turning

the Thames

"

A
"A

over
"

My

dead

hand

New

playsdominoes

Page"

first Command

"

"

Indian

The

Performance

Spiesin

St.

George's Hall
A magician in
Rope
Ancient temple magic
Trick

"

"

"

CHAPTER
Slow-motion

100

IX

shells in
photography experiments Photographing artillery
flight Nearly a tragedy Maskelynes held the Admiralty during the War
of Arabia
Magicians help Lawrence
My first ghost
.114
"

"

"

"

"

vii

2047117

CONTENTS

V1U

CHAPTER

X
PAGE

Mr.

Devant

"

tries to get through from

from sconces
When
die
great men
the farm
I leave school
Down
on

of J. N.

Death

retires

Why I am banned
experiments with radio
grave

He

"

"

"

CHAPTER

My

and

"

part

stage

Experiments

"

Behind

"

the

Playing before

spectre

"

"

St.

at

Lamas

CHAPTER

Why
Lightning at

with

use

magic

Rope
Hall

Tricking the

"

Indian

an

Trick

theories

Maharajah
Secrets

"

General

Strike

"The

"

Two

of my

magic

in Beer

CHAPTER

London

"

sensation

I attend
at

St.

by

George's

with

Three

"

tons

witch-doctor

"

neck

twelve
from

escapes

puts

magic
a

curse

the Zulu's

plague-pitMy
"

children's

176

"

on

summer
Mid-

the stage

"

in trouble
.

.189

in
Devil-worship

"

committee
and

member

magic

creates

Nature

"

on

curse

"

me

a rival magic
python round my
poltergeist

I meet

show

on

my

own
"

"

"

"

"

CHAPTER
Private party magic
table"
The
"

sand

The
romance

traveller

on

of

vanishing spectre

CHAPTER

"

"

meet

new

Mr.

Theatrical

"

Maskelynes'Theatre
Morton

"

The

valuable

trick
a

229

XIX

unrehearsed

An

"

films of the future

Magic
body

215

XVIII

first Royal Command

"

"

202

puts up
"

garden party I am dismissed from St. George's Hall

St. George's Hall shuts
Appearing before the Queen
Startingalone
Adventures
down
on
tour
"Jasper,the husband's fear"
"

the

Indian

"

George's

XVQ

of

CHAPTER

ghosts from

The

"

CHAPTER
Off to South Africa
show
A Zulu

St.

colleagues

my

Children

"

Committees

"

Limit"
at

....

tragicsuicide

"

Sabbath"

Hall

165

XVI

Film work

"Witches'

Maskelyne
George's Hall

XV

"

"

wouldn't
"

of St.

Dizzy

marriage Nearly
magic competition at "Maskelynes" Magicians

whitewasher"

that

canary
Nevil

sensations

Attacked

"

drowned

"

amateur

"

XIV

Sword-walking

C.I.D.

of

Director

Managing

"

"

"

Death

"

CHAPTER

Dispatch-ridingin the

"The

"

Xin

animals

I become

"

139

153

CHAPTER
Western

Vampires
Magical evolution

"

Co-Optimist

rubber

his burial

before

my

and

Rasputin

"

CHAPTER

"

effective

assistant

"

wrestling match

vanish

An

"

XII

"

all-in

to

Werewolves

"

An

Hall

George's

I propose

"

"

"

XI

scenes

Tibetan

electricity
"Lighting by Maskelyne"

in

Magic in the past Black Magic stilllives

historyof wizardry Tests for Satanists
Cagliostro Pinetti De Grisi Houdini
"

127

"

"

steam-roller

"

beyond the
My father

Persian

trick with

"

two

carpet

The

"

case

ing
"levitat-

of the disappearing

note-books
.

241

XX

production illusions Puzzle : find the

An old name
disappearsfrom magic

author

"

"

vanishes

for the last time

.

-251

MAGIC

WHITE
CHAPTER

What

is

magic
the

to

goes
The

The

"

Black

Devil

Arts

Did

"

with

Cooke

Friendship
the Davenports.

and

Nevil

tradition

Maskelyne

White

Maskelyne

farming family
practisewitchcraft ?
"

"

becomes

N."

"J.

"

the

watchmaker

Attending spiritualistic
seances

"

"

Advent

"

of

THERE

are

magic
faro

of

number

Doubtless

?".

with

highballpoker

or

their

still

openly

ideas.

own

strangers
trick

People who,

believe

question "What

readers

my

of the three-card

Victims
have

of

some

the

to

answers

can

the

or

in these

explain yet another

explain it away.
believe
in only one
sort

myself, I

and

that

is White

towards

the

myself,
which

but

the

played

tion.
definigive one
manipulated dice

enlightenedtimes,
and

Arts,

not

result

of

because

of

of

magic,

mystification,

respectfulreservation
I can
practise them

rather

some

form

eerie

experiences

I shall detail later.

In the

Magic

as

I grant

Magic.

Black

have

ghosts, spirit manifestations,

in

wart-charming, can
though they cannot
For

who

is

main, however,
of

House

illusion

only,

generations of

this

deals

Maskelyne,

and

the

adventures

who

us

have

history of

the

the

gentle art

of

book, being

made

with
that
a

have

befallen

three

livingby deluding

the

public.
Other
of

our

wizards
times

"

successful, and
we

Maskelynes,

"

share-pushersand
even
perhaps been

the

have
had
from

more

my

gold-bricksellers
financially
more

exciting lives. But I

grandfather,"J. N.",

claim
to

that

myself,

MAGIC

WHITE

10

have won
the youngest of his grandchildren,
and more
happinessthan even these

ment
greater amuse-

"big shots"

of

of illusion.

this world

family connection with

magic had a black beginning,if legendspeakstrue. For
there is an ancient story,laughedat as such tales are bound
of Maskelynes(though
to be by each succeeding
generation
one's fingers
touches wood
crosses
or
one
apologetically
effect that a certain farmer of our
at the time),
to the general
the next
sold himself,with entail rightsover
once
name
of us, to the Devil. From
that day, so the
ten generations
of magic powers.
chronicle runs, we have allbeen possessed
farmer,respected
burlysixteenth-century
John Maskelyne,
and Justice
of the Peace, was called to pass sentence
squire,
one
day on a littletwisted black man, in a black silk suit,
of the Drummer
known
of
only by the queer appellation
The littleperson was
Tedworth.
most
clearly
proved guilty
of witchcraft,
and was
sent to the plantations.
after he had left these shores in the prison-ship
A month
began to get abroad concerningFarmer
queer rumours
seen
was
Maskelyne.A littleblack man
limpingabout his
farm. He himself,morose
and fearful,
hardlyever stirred
from the sprawling
farmhouse
under the wood.
His red cattledied of a murrain. A firedriven by a strange
Yet, curiouslyenough,

wind

down

burned

black

his corn-ricks after harvest,and

figurewas seen
beganto gamble,and
And

then

his

our

dancingin
lost

more

the flames. The

money

than he

prosperityreturned

The empty
rapidity.

Wiltshire fields were

with

cattle

twice

as

many

as

he had

little

farmer

possessed.

with

unnatural

suddenlystocked
formerlyowned. One

morning in February,duringa local famine, he said that his

barns were
the corn
that had been
burstingwith corn
burned six months
clinked with gold.
earlier.His pockets
Then he died or some
said he disappeared
one
night,
"

"

STORY

THE

OF

MASKELYNES

flyingon

great black wings athwart

while the

figureof

the littletwisted

II

racingstorm-clouds,
man
gambolledabout

him.
for the

legend.Accordingto its sequel,John

Maskelyne had bought,by the sale of his soul,Black Magic
of his
not
only for himself but for ten generations
powers
So much

descendants.
of the family
modern
Although we
representatives
take the tale lightly,
the ranks of the credulous seem
hardly
thinned
since good King Charles's golden reign. For
Maskelynesever since have been accused of dark and dirty
with the Little Black Man.
dealings
Nevil Maskelyne,Royal Astronomer
to King George HI,
found
his early career
seriouslyhampered by gossipledge
who
spreadthe libel that his knowpersistently
mongers
of the stars in their
of

black-coated

the star-ways
Westminster.

as

sprang from

courses

familiar who

Nevil himself

was

as

with

was

the ings
promptwith
conversant

the

of old

byways

Throughout allthe latter part of his career, itis true that

them
had only one
assistant. Between
this Nevil
they
Almanack
world-famous
Nautical
originatedthe now
followinga voyage on which Nevil had determined the
and other astral calculations.

transit of Venus

to

prismaticmicrometer, measured time

second, ascertained the weight of the earth,

invented

He

tenths of

the

taughtus much of what we

And, followingeach
longitude.
and

there

came

the

know

of his

of those who

murmur

about
new

latitude and

discoveries,

remembered

with
legendsconcerningJohn Maskelyne'sdealings
all these things
were
gentlemanin black to whom
nursery knowledge.
The

astronomer's

be the Little Gentleman

one

assistant
in Black 1

was

sometimes

the old
a

ing
limpmere

said to

WHITEMAGIC

12

escaped
Devil legend,though there
attributed her amazing marriageto superthose who
natural
agencies,was
Margaret Maskelyne, sister of the

of mine
lady ancestress
the evil effects of the
entirely
were

Lord
and

Give

fell in love with

if that isn't

to

seems

have

of India.

and wife of Give

astronomer

who

her before

is ? The

magic, what

stern

he

her

saw

martinet

"

and

day into the apartments

of a brother officer,
CaptainMaskelyne,and saw hanging
there a miniature of a lovelydark girlwith downcast
eyes
and a merry, roguishmouth.
and studied it
The General went
to the portrait
over
it represented.
before askingwhom
The Captain
attentively
divine and
that it was
his littlesister Margaret,most
replied
of females,and
a spinster.
bewitching
Then and there,Lord Clive expressed
a desire to marry
her. Love at firstsight,
magic call it what you will,but it
powerful ruler

of India went

one

"

"

is true.
A

formal

studied the

offer of his hand

of
portrait

followed

the famous

dark

Margaret

soldier submitted

for her

approval; and a few weeks later she was on her way in a

full-rigged
shipto India,since publicopinionat home was
then dangerously
highagainstClive,and he deemed it more
prudent not to leave his adopted land. In 1753 they were
married at Madras, and Macaulay tells us that they were
devoted to each other and lived happilyever after.
line was
Another
West-CountryMaskelyne of the same
born in 1839. Astronomy had by this time been given up
for the greater attractions of the old farm under the wood,
whence
the original
naughty John was said to have flown
his great black wings two
greatest ambition in life to
on

hundred
return

years before. It is my
I retire to that
when

walls and stone-tiled

farm, with its dry-stone
grey Cotswold
roof ; I am
even
preparedto risk meeting the Little Black

THE

Man

STORY

there,when

OF

MASKELYNES

13

tricks too
perhapsshow him some
modern
repertoire.
yet to have reached his own
Before I commence
the more
authentic historyof the
modern
of Maskelyne with the story of my grandHouse
father,
John Nevil, born in 1839, ^ must say a brief word
about the Devil legendas it has impinged on his life,
and
and my own.
my father's,
accused, often by people who
"J. N." was constantly
should have had more
of having the power
intelligence,
and similar trickery,
demonstrated
to expose
as
spiritualist
by the Davenports and others,simply because he was in
leaguewith the Father of Tricks.
The same
levelled
accusation,the Gospels tell us, was
againsta certain Divine Teacher nearlytwenty centuries
ago, and

His

I could

has sufficed for all time

answer

"

divided

stand,and how
againstitself cannot
devils be cast out by the Prince of Devils ?
In my own
I have received
experience,
many

of

them

scurrilous

and

offensive

that

house

therefore

endless

in the

can

letters,

extreme,

of

obtainingmy stage effects by the aid of

the Black Arts, telling
that I must
be in leaguewith the
me
Evil One, and
in different vein, though still apparently
intended seriouslytelling
the head of a magic
that I am
me
accusingme

"

"

London

crime gang.

Sometimes,
resist

cannot

I should

these

I
ill-spelt
epistles,

often

little sigh of envy.

illusionist
What
an
be if I were
these unconscious
as great as
phants
sycoa

claim for
To

I read

as

me

the founder of Maskelyne

grandfather,
and Cooke's, and to my
mind
incomparablythe greatest
magicianof modern or any other times with the possible
exceptionof Moses. Unlike myself,he did not take kindly
for
to a farmingatmosphere,
showing a very earlyaptitude
return

to

my

"

mechanics

which

was

later

to

make

his fame

and

fortune.

WHITEMAGIC

14

For his tricks

were

almost

all of them

tions
beautiful demonstra-

of

appliedmechanics.
It is said that he began his career
by takingto pieces
a wonderful
"turnip"watch belongingto his father. That
stern
vowed, with a certain grim humour,
parent immediately
watch was
his beloved
probablyin
consideringthe mess
ham
be apprenticed
to a Cheltenat the time, that J. N. should
watchmaker, and learn how

to

correct

the harm

he had

innocentlydone.
And
so
Early
J. N., a budding dandy of the leisurely
Victorian era, no doubt longingfor the time when he could
bound
like his master, was
apprentice
sport Dundrearies
and first really
takes the
to the watchmaking profession,
is concerned, swinginghis cane
stage, as far as this history
and swaggering
alongthe Cheltenham sidewalks,no doubt
most
rolling
devastating
eyes at the crinolined damsels who
Mammas
while he strode on his
minced
past beside stately
where he was
to
predestined
way towards the street-corner
collide with another young
West-Countryman of the name
so

of Cooke.
talk of that accidental
often heard my grandfather
meeting.They seem to have stared at each other and begun
I have

the formal

of the age
and then,
high-flown
apologies
broken
down
unconventional
in most
simultaneously,
and so
They shook hands, exchanged names
laughter.
later to spreadinto the
whose fame was
began a partnership
and

"

"

four

corners

of the earth.

oped
started seems
to have develso
friendship
strangely
for some
time.
Both lads were
spasmodically
idly
interested in conjuring,
and this passedfrom an amusement
for leisure moments
into a real hobby. With J. N. it commenced
the grandpassionof his life.
In company
with half a dozen acquaintances
in Cheltenham,
these two
started a sort of conjuring
club.
men
young
The

STORY

THE

They

used

meet

to

at

MASKELYNES

OF

the house

of

one

or

15

other of the

bers,
mem-

of their latest acquirementsin

give demonstrations
the way of tricks,
studybooks whose subjects
ranged from
and developsimplemechanisms
witchcraft to legerdemain,
illusions.
that helpedto providevarious startling
J. N. took the lead among them from the first.He had
the personality
of a Barnum
or
a C. B. Cochran, and
was
even

then

born

showman

with

true

sense

of dramatic

enabled
Moreover, his work as a watchmaker
possibilities.
delicate and
him to attain a surprising
over
proficiency
be adapted
of which could easily
minute machinery,some
to the purposes of magic.
illusions was
interest in mechanical
My grandfather's
he saw
aroused when
he was
at a
a boy of twelve, when
exhibition a wonderful
London
"pipingbullfinch". I have

heard him

ordinary
extrasay in his later years that,above allhis own
marvel of 1851,
inventions,he set this forgotten

and that it directly

prompted him

to

commence

his

ments
experi-

began,when he was
sixteen,with an elaborate apparatus for optical
illusions,
and culminated
with "Psycho" and its contemporaries.
In 1848, nine years after my grandfather
born, a
was
in New
York
Mr. and Mrs. Fox and their daughters
began
what appears to have been the world's biggest
hoax, which
of spiritualism.
almost immediatelygainedthe name
When
doinghis duty by the
J.N. was a young man, stillfaithfully
was
timepiecesof Cheltenham, his interest in spiritualism

magic mechanisms

with

aroused

in

which

curious way.

day there walked a strange-looking

ant
assistand beard,who gave the young
with
man,
bit of apparatus. He explained
at some
a curious
length
that it had a broken spring,
and that he wanted the spring
renewed, but he deftlyturned aside a tentative inquiryas
Into his

shop one
long hair

to

its purpose.

l6

WHITEMAGIC

J.N.

mended

it satisfactorily,
and might have

the incident but for the strange behaviour

when
he came
He
to pay for the repair.

of the

tested the instrument

carefully,
waggled his beard, and put
the counter.
The cost of
on
half-sovereign
only a matter of a coupleof shillings.
"I'm
to

do

return

sure

with
"

useful young
the change,"he
a

man

said

that you'veseen
justforget

Which, of

forgotten
gentleman

like you

down
the

golden
repairwas
a

will know

what

"And
confidentially.

in

me."

astounded

J. N., who got the idea

of housebreaker,and that
that the visitor was
sort
some
outfit. So he politely
the apparatus was
part of his burglar's
refused the bribe and thoughtthe more.
Two
Cheltenham
at a meeting of the young
days later,
magicians it might have been called the originof the
tioned
menpresent-day
Magic Circle,that meeting a member
of the^
casuallythat one
new-fangledAmerican
was
"spiritualists"
givinga magic-showat Devizes,and that
in it invisiblehands, said to be those of the dead,rappedon
the table,thus answeringquestionsput to them
by the
bearded old professor
who acted as medium.
In a moment
J. N. thoughtof the instrument he had
It was
automatic table-tapper
an
ingenious
repaired.
; a most
little instrument, invisible from
the audience,but easily
operatedby anyone standingnear the table.
Before the meeting broke up that nightits members
themselves
had vowed
to
a
campaign of exposure of all
fraudulent
mediums
using mechanical
table-tappers
Devizes
a
was
long way from Cheltenham, but there
some
was
hope that the bearded gentlemanmight come
when
the young
nearer,
magicianspromised themselves
course,

"

"

some

fun.

However,
distance of the

no

town

seances

where

were

held

within

the tapper had

been

reasonable

repaired
;

STORY

THE

doubtless

the

MASKELYNES

OF

medium

was

wise

in

IJ

his

generation.The

died down
for a while.
conjurers
the other idea for a time, there
And then, superseding
of giving some
the brightsuggestion
amateur
tainments
entercame
I suspect that the lure
of magic in Cheltenham.
of the bright eyes that shone
so
roguishlywhen their
owners
curtseyeddown into their crinolines may have had
something to do with this decision. I like to think of the
another : "Oh,
of that day whispering
to one
excitedly
girls
Mr. Maskelyne is givinga legerdemain
that dreadful
formance
peron
Wednesday evening.I'm going to try so hard
ardour

to

of the young

get Aunt

Louisa

to

take

me.

Mr.

theyare goingto do the most

Cooke
At least,Maskelyne and
sort
magic circle began to gainsome

too

; and

young fellows who

and might be pretty well relied upon
that was
going.
their

townsmen

And

as

Cooke

will be there,

appalling
thingsI"
and

their

amateur

of

recognition
among
knew a thingor two,
to detect any trickery

buzzed with
happened that when the town
chaste
one
day, followingthe displayof some
comment,
little announcements
that the Davenport Brothers
were
graves
coming to Cheltenham, the citizens,
burgessesand landin posseto young
Messrs. Cooke
and Maskelyne
went
and asked them to uphold the burgh'sreputation
for sharpness
by joiningthe committee that was to watch, at close
quarters, the amazing tricks of these said Davenports,and
that the spirits
with whom
ensure
were
they communed
and, in fact,that there was nothingup the
reallyspirits,
Davenport sleeve.
these Davenports had alreadygaineda very great
Now
not
only in England, but abroad as well.
reputation,
Immediatelyafter the world got to hear of the mysterious
happeningsat the Fox mtnagein New York, two American
of a Buffalo policemannamed
brothers,sons
Davenport,
so

it

18

WHITE

found

MA

I C

that

with the
they too could hold communication
of the vasty deep.
spirits
Tied hand and foot,as a sop to scoffers who feared that
theydid it themselves,they called upon furniture to jump
about, musical instruments to play,tables to rap and bells
to ring; and, since they were
so
obviouslytied and could
assist well,it must
of the dead
have been the spirits
not
who performedthese miracles.
Dr. J. B. Ferguson, a Presbyterian
minister,joined
forces with them, and together
the trio toured the United
and subsequently
States,
gaininggreat kudos (andfortune),
came
to London, where
they gave their first seance, on
September28th, 1864, at the house of Dion Boucicault.
The MorningPost reported
the marvels that ensued in the
followingwords :
"

At the upper end of the apartment was

placeda skeleton wardrobe,
fitted with a seat.
The doors consisted of three panels,
which
shut

inside with
The

end
a

brass bolt.

brothers

bench, their

tambourine,
the

placedon

bow, a
inside,and the doors shut.

seat

through

gentlemanpresent
and it was

wardrobe
room

thrust

with
the brothers

or

the ropes

being

were

the

trumpet
.

their feet.

at

be

to

After

an

interval of
with

fastened behind

their backs.
his

passed
instruments
lyingon
were

beat time

over

on

the knees

were

minutes,

two

the
take

to
to

be

Davenports,whose

instant the door

face,his hair

his knees

his head.

of the

The

unbound
sitting

same

cords,

...

to

the

their hands.
.

tied

opening,

into

out

found

were

of the company
then invited
present was
cabinet.
A gentleman having volunteered
were

One

his hands

door.

thrown

was

bound
securely

distance from

some

wardrobe

to

the carpet.
later,the Davenports

found

were

"hands"
Instantly,

bells commenced

open,

two

guitar,

making all sorts of

heard, when
suddenly the
distinctly

and

fell heavily
on

moment

the ends

by

of airs

door

and

...

coupleof bells were

the

the

vis-a-vison

pass his hand throughthis

the "hands"
several times.

instruments

noises,snatches

in

opening

an

invited

was

"touched"

Musical

brass horn, and

violin and

observed

were

Davenport,having seated themselves

hands and feet were
tied.
securely

was

seat

in the

imprisoned,
hands

were

closed,hands

gentlypulled,and musical
playedupon, while a tambourine
was

Later, several persons in the audience

STORY

THE

touched

were

that

which

broke

gentleman received

one

the

skin

Fay

sat in a chair

on

extinguished whizzingnoise
a

candle

middle

of the

And
a

to

so

room.

on

caused

occasion

one

knock

few

on

became
the

drops of

so

nasal

blood

to

so

moment

on.

his

coat

found

was

lyingin

the

Someone

else's coat

of darkness

was

laid

on

it transferred itself

of the coatless Mr.

assistant of the
fled from

the stage,and the instant the light

was
heard.
off
1"
exclaimed
"It's
Mr.
was

."

and

the shoulders
an

and

and
lighted,

was

table,and in

was

on

19

Mr.

Fay.

MASKELTNES

by flyinginstruments,which

demonstrative
organ
flow.

OF

Fay,who, by the way,

Davenports.A goldwatch ously
mysteri-

the hand

of its

owner

to

the feet of Dr.

Ferguson.
The

invited
audience,after a two hours' seance, were
the cabinet,
the coats, the musical instruments
to examine
and so on, and professed
themselves absolutely
satisfiedthat
these

thingscontained no apparatus that could help in

the phenomena. In passing,
I should say that
obtaining
reporters, of whom
been

there

were

many

in those daysthan theyare

simpler

have

present, must
now.

the reputation
of the
Well, of course, after this seance
Davenportswas made, as far as sleepyold England was
concerned.
They toured with great honour and profit,
after a
Fate

longLondon
broughtthem

Cheltenham, where
kelynewas destined

engagement, and in the fullness of time

the Town

Hall,in St. James'sSquare,

twenty-six-year-old
John Nevil Masto expose their trickery
to an astounded

to

world.

alreadyenough of a magicianhimself to have

refused utterly
the tricks of a brother in
to explain
away
the craft. But these Davenports definitely
claimed that
theywere not illusionistsbut media, and that not they but
had so
the spirits
of the dead created the effects which
of the MorningPost and his
impressedthe representative
J.N.

was

WHITEMAGIC

20

friends

show

to

As
to

act

to

me

that

I have

the

countenance

lost

their

credulous

friend

Presbyterian
for

are

is

here,

is

ready

Mr.

Maskelyne,

and

see

In
historic
on

the
of

fair

to

and

of

dead

the

was

too

to

could
then

even

had

who

ready

be

to

smooth

ex-

in

bell-ringings

admittance.
from
the

the

pared
pre-

himself

their
and

Cheltenham,

with

was

people

only

were

eloquence

he

Dundrearies
Great

departed,

conjurer,

is

to

Davenports

and
sit

to

that

young

the

on

stage

play.
chapter

Cheltenham

history
whom

who

amateur

he

unhappy

in

prepared

not

was

said

often

curiosity
;

spiritualism

excitement

speak

the

next

my

with

agog

so

chosen

with

works

since

tickets

all

than
mind

he

whose

offered

set

he

as

communication

Davenports

expensive

stage

petticoats,

the

those

was,

open

But

and

ones,

when

The

that

quarters,

among

more

an

innumerable

itself

to

loved

exchange

had

particularly

more

attracting

He

chicanery

any

expose,

nothing

established.

been

really

was

He

by

convinced

be

to

honour.

close

at

to

used.

was

Cheltenham.

of

eyes

visited

they

towns

them

grandfather

my

later, actuated

accepting

had

trickery

no

the

watch

to

said,

the

as

asked

They

committees

empanel
as

London.

in

will

stage,

of

three

am

the

and

ring
at

generations
last.

up

the
of

the
same

curtain
time

on

ring

professional

that
it

up

ists
illusion-

WHITEMAGIC

22

remained

to

all the time ; but, by communing

of the dead, they enabled the latter
with the spirits
bound

and

motionless

manifest,for the gloryof God

of weak
To

prove
employed,Dr.

humanity.
that no
human
conclusively
Ferguson asked that here,as

elsewhere,a chosen quorum

platformand
trickery
by the Brothers
sit on

A
on

to

them

and the greater enlightenment

the

of

if

agency
in London

should

townsmen

to

small posseof frock-coated

the platformand seated

detect any
declare it.

Cheltenham
themselves

men

and his friend,

my grandfather
young
the Davenports,clad in black,with
Finally,

his usual attitude with

one

his heart,walked
veiling
and sat down.
applause,
to

their bench, the

black

and
hand
on

to

They

townsmen

fraud

and
and
or

advanced

there.

were

hair, heavy moustaches

come

they could

there

was

Among

Cooke.

long dark

goatee beards, Ira in

inside his

coat

and

the stage amid

bound
hand
were
in
assisting

the

modestly
enormous

and foot

tying and

knots ; the skeleton wardrobe

the stage and examined
; and the musical

thoroughlyexaminingallthe
was

wheeled

instruments

on

to

placedin position.
turned
Almost
Then
the lightswere
ately
immediout.
bells began to ring,music was
played,hands were
about the wardrobe, and frightened
seen
apparently
floating
and excited exclamations,
wise,
some
piousand some
quiteotherfrom the packed audience.
were
surprised
As a small boy it was
constant
delightto persuade
my
what followed. As nearly
to recount
to me
my grandfather
words.
recallhis own
I will now
as possible,
"I was
at the side of the stage, watching hard,
sitting
I had planned
and waitingfor the advent of a littlesurprise
with the aid of another member
of our
conjuringclub.
I judged that the centre
of the wardrobe
due to
When
was
open I tapped with my foot on the floor.

"At

STORY

that

signal,
my

23

arrangedthat the blind at

drawn aside a little,
admitting

friend

should

of the windows

one

MASKELYNES

OF

THE

be

sunshine just as the wardrobe

spear of afternoon
opened and instruments began to flyout of it.
a

door

Ira Davenport
I clearly
saw
throwingthe
light,
instruments out ofthe wardrobe.
the window,
startled glance towards
"He
cast
one
jumped back to his bench, wriggledhis shoulders with
feet to
I jumped to
incredible quickness and
as
my
the swindle,the lights
went
announce
up, and there were
the ropes that bound
in their places,
both brothers,
sitting
into the
tied that they actually
cut
them still so tightly
the

"In

"

flesh.

Ferguson,who had been watchingus like a lynx

before I could speak,
allthe time, padded swiftly
up to me
to say anythingtill I
and whisperedurgentlyto me
not
I refused.
with him.
had discussed the matter
privately
the
'Ladies and Gentlemen/ I called loudlyabove
the
din of clappingand exclamation,'I have discovered
method
by which these tricks are performed/
"Dr.

"

audience

"The

stricken into silence

Gorgon'shead.
'I challengethat statement

as

if I had shown

the

them
'

Town

was

1* called the lessee of the

Hall.

good my words/
'The tricks
I shouted above the uproar that was
gathering.
Within three months
and practice.
are
performedby dexterity
of these tricks myself,
I guarantee to reproduceevery one
aid
without
here in this place,and absolutely
any spirit
"

*I

am

whatsoever/

preparedto
perfectly

make

'

statement
produced
grandfather's
first-classsensation. One of the Davenports started
a really
an
harangue,but was draggedoff the stage by his brother
and Ferguson.The latter came
runningback,pantingsorely,

Well, of

course,

my

MAGIC

WHITE

24

and tried to shout

somethingabout

"this

misguidedyoung

gentleman"and "his preposterous claims".

attended by the shades,
But the meeting,as a seance
was
reallypretty well ruined. The audience emerged into
the daylightof the Cheltenham
streets, buzzinglike bees
from

overturned

an

I should

hive. Rumour

ran

pubs did good business

tittle-tattleprobablyre-echoed
even
over

and

think the local

hot-foot before them.

exclusive

of Cheltenham's

that
the

night,
most

tea-tables.

Davenports,they had survived attempts at

sorrow,
on, in dignified
exposure before. They justmoved
as
they could while the
going to as many Englishtowns
going was good.
after their historic meeting,
months
Less than two
Cheltenham
with the firstplaybill
ever
was
placarded
duced
proby Maskelyne and Cooke.
It announced
that on Monday evening,June i9th,1865,
these two
gentlemenwould givea grand exposition
young
of the entire publicseance
of the
at the Aviary Gardens
scheduled
to
Davenport Brothers. The performancewas
take placein open daylight,
and
without the aid of spirits,
it offered to duplicate
all the Davenport tricks,and to
exhibit many
others even
more
astonishing.
It was
character that
alwaysa trait in my grandfather's
unless he gave his publicreally
he was
not
content
good
As

for the

measure

The

Town

Hall had been

filledto

dens
crowded, but the Aviary Gar-

! Among the audience there

overflowing
several bewhiskered
were
gentlemen from the London
not
to be duped any more.
papers, grimlydetermined
A cabinet like the Davenport wardrobe
was
brought
and was
to the platform
first,
on
tapped,measured,felt and
shaken by everyone
present who wished to test it.Two of
the reporters,with the aid of a tarry sailor importedfor the
were

THE

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

25

inside the
grandfatherand Cooke
them
cabinet,which was
big enough to accommodate
comfortably.The sailor expressedhimself brieflyand
of the ropes, and he was
a critical
vividlyabout the strength

occasion, tied

my

man.

closed,this
Immediatelythe doors of the cabinet were
time in full daylight,
thrown
they were
open againfrom
the inside,
and the sailor,
runningforward with the reporters
and some
Cheltenham
the two
at his heels,found
men
tied as ever, in their original
"magicians"as securely
places.
doors were
The
shut again,bells rang, tambourines
playedwildly,and naked hands appearedin the aperture
of the doors, which had opened immediatelyto admit them.
A man
forward and flungthe doors wide, but Messrs.
ran
Cooke
and Maskelyne stillsat bound
in their places.
A man
from the audience,beingcritical,
invited to
was
where he was
ascend to the platform,
blindfolded and seated
inside the cabinet. His hands

operators, and

tied

to

the knees

of the

again shut. A Bedlam

of music was
heard from inside,
the doors opened of their
still
own
accord, and the blindfolded gentleman was
seen
bound as before,with my grandfather
and his assistant tied
hand and foot beside him, the only change being that a
tambourine
had percheditself rakishly
the head of the
on
two

the doors

were
were

newcomer.

retired among
the audience
had received a technical knock-out.
He

that
feeling

his doubts

performersthen had a few more

ropes tied round
them
of the audience
who
wanted
the job
by members
done thoroughly
the suggestion
of a cynic,
all the
; and, on
knots were
sealed with heavy wax
seals,
bearingthe signet
imprintof one of the onlookers. Another helpful
gentleman
suggestedthat the hands of the magiciansshould be filled
The

with

flour. This

was

done.

z6

WHITE

The

doors

Home
an

of the cabinet

inside

cornets

MAGIC

closed,whereupon

were

instantly
began

1" about the choice of which

duet

of "Home,

there

seems

to

two

Sweet

have been

impishappropriateness.
As

doors

the last chord

died away, eager hands

wide open, but Messrs.

of the cabinet

Maskelyne stillsat, bound,

unflurried. No

flour

be

to

was

sealed and
seen

on

pluckedthe
Cooke

and

floured,and quite
the ropes

spilled

or

in the cabinet.
At
acted
he

point in the performance the sailor who had

knotter had to be led outside because
professional
paying audible tribute in the languagethe Senior

this
as

was

Service felt that the occasion

demanded.

After
to

of the audience
many
that they had not
been

see

sealed ropes
within.
Four

minutes

later

and
unfettered,
totally
hands.

the seals,

examined

tampered with, the doors

stillin their
again,while the two performers,
and with the flour in their hands, sat silently

closed

were

had

The

I can
smiling.

theyboth emerged from the cabinet,

with the flour stillunspilled
in their
reports next day said that theywere

newspaper
well believe it.

After this

sensational 1
they began to get really
Grandfather
announced
that he would
permit himself
feet
to be shut in a heavy deal box, three feet long by two
wide and eighteen
inches deep.The box was
dulyproduced,
inspected
by a dozen or two of the audience,and passedas
free of tricks.
It
he

must

have

managed

been

it. The

bit of

box

was

squash to get into it,but

then locked, and the key

tossed among
the audience. Another
from
man
then roped up the box so that the woodwork

covered, and sealed the ropes.

this part of the

job.

He

took

seven

the audience
was

almost

minutes

over

THE

The

STORY

MASKELYNES

OF

27

placedin the big cabinet used for the

previoustricks,and a careful gentlemanin the audience
it seems
have been composed mainly of such cynical
to
of several bells on top of the
people suggestedthe placing
box

then

was

"

"

box. The

of

cabinet doors

closed and bolted.

were

bells

Immediatelythe
minutes they came

began to ring; within a couple

flying
through the gradually
opening

doors

of the cabinet ; and

last Grandfather
was
seen

when

those doors

flew wide

at

on
sitting
top of the box, which
found to be stilllocked,roped and sealed as before.
was
The man
in the audience who
stillheld the key of the
box told this one, later in the evening,to the sailor knottingI am
unable
to
print his reply,but it was
specialist.
of the few comments
did justice
the
that really
to
one
performance.
And
what had begun as a dare in the interests of
now
That
truth developedinto a theatrical touringcompany.
show, with the wine of the
night after the Cheltenham
applausestillin their heads, Cooke and my grandfather
decided to throw up their steadyemployment in the town
and take their magic on tour.

It

was

decision for two

venturesome

men
young
in the main looked

reach in those staid

days.Victorians
Devil's playground.
Even

the stage as the

tolerant era fortune
without
entirely

is

to

frown

their own, without a penny

novel turn to show.
entirely
For

own

our

lads who

on

on

more

propose,

ment
go into manageback them, and with

to
previousexperience,

on

an

apt

in

to

the young

interludes,
patter

men

and

to

proposed,by

means

brilliant mechanical

of

amusing

illusions,to

something quite different from the well-worn

in their day. They set out
to
conjuringdevices current
revolutionize professional
magic. The wonder is that they
did it,equippedwith nothingelse than their own
courage,

attempt

28

WHITE

and

did it

on

MAGIC

scale that has

changed conjuring

now

methods

throughoutthe world.
An
epic could have been written about the early
adventures of this initialMaskelyneand Cooke tour. At first,
great audiences
But

flocked

to

the

the exposers of the Davenports.

seven-daywonder ; without the
see

thingwas a
morbid
sensational appealthat
monopolizedin this connection
moved

Events
not

afford

money
which

to

in

themselves
spiritualists

it soon

ceased

to

attract.

circle. Grandfather

could

advertise ; he could not afford to givetime and

tricks with ideas for
the invention of mechanical
to

his brain

teemed

ignominiousreturn
the onlythingleft to
The

vicious

the

manager

of

it

looked

soon

Cheltenham

to

and

though an
watchmaking was
as

do.
a

hall in Bold

Street,Liverpool,
was

approachedas a last resource, and he agreed,reluctantly

enough, to "farm" the show for a month as an experiment.
He admitted himself vastlyimpressedwith the entertainment,
but was
uncertain if it would
appealto his public.
It didn't I Perhapsit was
clever. Anyway, at the end
too
the manager
declined to back
further. Matters became
desperate.
of the month

It was

at

this criticaljuncture
that

in his card

Mr.

the show

William

any

Morton

day,and asked to see my grandfather.

Mr. Morton, who
was
only twenty-seven at the time,had
solicitor's clerk,compositorand
alreadybeen a journalist,
in his last role,and having
bookseller,
coming badlyto grief
this time as a concert
to start again,
agent.
He
saw
Maskelyne and Cooke's show, and offered to
finance a tour
for them
through Lancashire,on fifty-fift
It was
terms.
a godsendto them, and theyaccepted.
At the end of the firstmonth, no profits
had been made
Mr.
at all. But
Morton, who is still alive,and who, at
adventure
ninety-five,
recently
began yet another new
by
sent

one

WHITE

30

and

Cooke
Even

in

on

their
the

In

gave
now,
own

summer

MAGIC

their firstpublicperformanceat Cheltenham.

though engagements

to come
starting
at times.
accord, matters
were
precarious
of 1866, during a spellof wonderful

weather, audiences

shrank

almost

to

were

2ero.

The

show

was

tering
at the end of a swelplayingin Lancashire,and the receipts
not
Julyweek were
nearlyenough to cover the rent
due on the Saturdaynightto the lessees of the hall.
On that Saturdaymorning, Morton, Cooke, and J. N.
it with startling
red bills.
round the town
went
placarding
A

GIFT

FREE

!!

Maskelyne and Cooke, the famous illusionists and exposers

of so-called Spiritualists,
Hall.
are
now
performingat the Town
Tonight,every person paying for admission will be given
HALF
Come

In

earlyto

case

ever

CROWN

avoid the crush

need

to

try the

!!

same

to
myself,I mean
But it was done, and

one

done.
preserve the secret of how it was
done to the entire satisfaction of the hard-headed

trian
Lancas-

audience.
The

justunder one
night accommodated
thousand
paying patrons, and a coupleof hundred more
turned away
when
it had been packed so that the
were
doors would
hardlyshut.
Enormous
applauselasted for several minutes after the
curtain had finally
As for the takings,
they
rung down.
paidthe expenses for the week and left a margin of profit.
in trouble again.
A coupleof weeks later the show
was
of the advertised turns
A lady takingpart in one
was
substitute could be found. Mr.
and no
suddenlytaken ill,
Morton
He

hall that

himself had

to

act

got into skirts and

in her stead.

bustles,and J. N.

announced

STORY

THE

MASKELYNES

OF

31

from

the stage that,his assistant having fallen ill,

a wellknown
local lady amateur
was
helpinghim in the trick.
Mr.

then put on his feathered

to hide his moustache, and

Morton

well down

hat, pulledhis veil

trippedon

to

the

stage amid

welcoming applause.
he had nothingto
Fortunately,

affected with
Before

way.

whisperedto

a stammer.

he had
him

Morton.

Mr.

a little
say, for he was
But fate tried to interfere in another

been

in

Keep

an

the stage two

minutes, J. N.
aside : "Don't turn round,
agitated

your

on

face

to

the audience.

Somethings

bustr
The

scene

was

only justgot

Morton

Better business

down

cut

was

as

much

as

but
possible,

Mr.

off the stage in time !

done in the winter of 1866, but the

followingsummer
began to empty the houses once more.
J.N. prayedfor rain,sleet and thunder,but even he could
not
producemagic of that calibre.
When
thingswere at their worst, a hall was booked in
northern
a
town, and despitethe greatest efforts of the
disaster

company

ahead

loomed

when

the

week-end

obvious
that receipts
It was
would nowhere
approached.
near
equalexpenses ; after a frenzied whip-round it was
found impossible
to collect enough to pay for the rent
even
of the hall.

Morton, faced with

completeblank in bookings,
had not enough money
and knowing that his company
in
with a
their pocketsto keep them together
went
any longer,
heavy heart to see the lessee of the hall.
Mr.

It had

been

decided

that,after their

effort,Maskelyne and
down.

Cooke

two

would

years of agonizing
have to close

worth anypiano,the only bit of the properties

thing
in ready money,
to be left if the lessee would
was
generouslyaccept it in lieu of rent.
He proved to be a Quaker solicitor,
of precise
demeanThe

"

"

WHITE

32

businesslike

and

our

and

listened

few

moments.

do

thy
attend

not

told

are

William

thee,
and

Cooke,

and

When

Mr.

letter

Palace

in

weeks

there

awaiting

for

the

God

him

offering

use

him

of

in

jubilation

the

an

manager

engagement

and
about

more

hall.

Go

to

the

and

all."

and

one

their

of

credulous

the

thee,

we

fraudulent

no

bless

saying

from

the

trouble

But

Maskelyne

certain

protect

"I

accounts

men

young

and

already

were

London,

to

piano,

and

the

last.

at

beliefs.

excellent

exposing

returned

Morton

who

company,

in

owest

of

much

thy

Good-bye

prosper.

do

to

heard

said

my

for

silent

sat

he

of

civilly,

Morton

he

friend,"

have

work

Mr.

Then

because

myself

Morton,

thou

greeted

He

thee,

GI

story.

tolerant.

Take

moneys

found

with

whose

afflicted.

the

piano

seemeth

persons
the

unhappy

theatres
be

to

speech.
his

to

"Take

MA

saddened

good-byes,
of

the

of

he

Crystal
several

CHAPTER

III

Success
Freak
the Crystal Palace
at
lynching attempt
those
days Plate-spinning,decapitationand levitation
At the Egyptian Hall
The
not
magician who would
Psycho.
"

"

fortune

and

Mr.

never

Morton

vanish

were

and

in

week.

It

offered

the London
I don't

made

sparingly.While J. N., Cooke

still rejoicingin their reprieve from
of a hall in a neighbouring town
them

useful

most

was

the

next

then
bridge the gap between
but it nearlyended
in tragedy.

to

whether

for

engagement

an

engagement,

know

"

comes

dissolution,the manager
walked

of

London

"

"

GOOD

and

shows

"

"

the

exhilaration

of

the

future

performances the following week a little too good.

But by the Wednesday
rumours
were
humming through the
that the conjurers were
illusionists merely, but
not
town
magicians in league with the Evil One.
On
that Wednesday
evening a fieryold chapel preacher
of the localitysat in the stalls. Grandfather
took this as an
did not
enormous
compliment, for chapels in the main
the

then

encourage

possibleshow

the theatre
was

the old

When

of its branches.

in any

The

best

offered.
man

took

his

place in

the stalls

again

the

pipe
was
followingnight everyone
delighted.He set his stovehat fiercely
beneath
his seat, and seemed
to settle down
to enjoy the performance.
He
came
again on the Friday, accompanied by a couple

of elders

of the

some
as

as

houses

matter

since

cadaverous

as

himself.

congregationmight
of fact, they had
midweek.
33

Grandfather

turn

been

up

on

the

playing

hoped that
Saturday
"

to

crowded

WHITEMAGIC

34

Long before the Saturdayevening show was due to

beginit was obvious that the congregationhad turned up.
and swaying outside the
They were crowding and yelling
doors, hundreds strong ; and their tone left very littleto
be explained.
They were out for blood.
In the forefront of the mob was the old preacher,
waving
stick and urging them on.
a most
unpleasant-looking
in about a quarter of an
The manager
of the placecame
due to start. He
hour before the performance was
was
bloodstained
collarless,
"Get

out

of here ! Get

"They'll
pullyou
old fool

torn.
out

of here 1" he

bits,and

to

my

there says
with the devil. He's telling
'em now

you.

That

and

out

hall

kepton repeating.
bits

to

on

top of

you've been contracting

he's watched

last three

you these
man."

and it isn't the magic of mortal

nights,
inclined to stay and let the matter
was
My grandfather
but in the company
settle itself,
his wife,and nothing
was
earth would have induced him to run a risk of her being
on
harmed.
when
They had married in Cheltenham
theywere
both very young
justbefore the first tour commenced,
for she preferred
with him rather than
to take her chance
"

wait for him

become

first contract

His

should

to

receive

"4

rich and famous.

with

week

on

Mr.

Morton

that
specified

he

behalf of himself and his wife

and all his apparatus, while Mr. Cooke

received "z
After some
the manager
and
went
consultation,
the bolts of the front doors of the

while
hall,

the

IQS.

rattled

performers

slipped
away at the back.
Everyone,the manager
there is

no

doubt

of the old

that

included,retreated safely
; but
the mob, inflamed by the superstitions

were
preacher,

night.
the receipts
were
Fortunately,
days that not only was the rent

out

such

for

lynchingthat

for the

of that hall

preceding
paid,but the

STORY

THE

had

generous Quaker who

found

his

step forward

wonderful

engaged them

35

the

previousweek

full also.

chargespaidin

1867 ! London ! Or,

hardlyaccounted as

was

MASKELYNES

OF

Palace
the Crystal
least,
London
in those days.But

at

for the two

lads who

had

for it
stilla

started

boldlyout of Cheltenham to givemagic to the world.

Conjuringat this time was regardedrather in the light
exhibition at a freak show ! The Crystal
of a supplementary
famous for itsfreak shows, as was
the Egyptian
Palace was
Hall,where Maskelyneslater gaineda real foothold in
so

London.

amazing exhibitions
! They have gone out of

And
were

from

you

fashion now, but I will quote

few of the old handbills of the time.

Valuable curiosities and

late of

creatures
living

include

They
Islington.

resemblance

near

of these freak shows

some

the Human

to

decencyforbids

collected by Mons.

Boyle,

strange livingCreature that bears a

shapein every part of his body but

of it ; likewise an Oriental
size ; likewise the Philosopher's
Stone, the
Oyster Shell of prodigious
size of a poulet's
stolen from the Great
clandestinely
egg, which was

where

us

make

to

mention

loss having so great an

Mogul's closet,this irreparable
that he pinedhimself to death.
.

To
New

effect

on

at the Dial, near

Boverick's,Watchmaker
each Person.
Exchange in the Strand,at One Shilling

be

Or

Mr.

at

seen

him
the

again:

A crane-necked

the
carriage,
and

wheels

turningon

their

axles,of ivory,

the box,
furniture,
a
on
his feet,the reins in one
a dog between
hand, the whip in the other,
the leading
footmen
two
on
behind, a postillion
horse, all in proper
drawn
and
the
whole
be
small
to
so
as
liveries,
alongat a good pace

togetherwith

by

flea.

six horses

It has been

and
the Nobility
Also

Gentry.
by a

flea chained

all wrought,the

part of

one-third

shown

their

to

coachman

the

chain of

Royal Family,and

200

links,with

chain,flea,padlock,and
a

to

several of

padlockand key,
key weighingtogetherbut
a

grain.

that passes throughthe eye of a needle ; and

steel scissors,
but six pairs
be
able to cut a large
can
horsehair,
Also

in the

camel

wing of

fly.
.

pairof
wrapped
a

36

MAGIC

WHITE

It

was

such

among

curiosities

Twins, dwarfs,mechanical

Siamese

and

with
these,together

as

marvels,queerly
shaped

that the conjurer

thrown
was
figures
in as a make-weightto a sophisticated
public.
show, therefore,unsupported by
My grandfather's
freaks of nature
or
art, dependingfor its effect on illusions
divert bored
and conjuringwith nothing extraneous
to
in the nature
of an experiment
attention,was
very much
Palace.
when a daringmanager gave it a trialat the Crystal
instant and unqualified
The trial was
an
success.
J. N.
trick there for the
produced his wonderful plate-spinning
of ordinary
firsttime. In it he spun about a coupleof score
after the other, with
inconceivable
one
dinner-plates,
and away they went, spinningdown
a four-inchrapidity,
stones

automatic

inclined gangway,
and then
mounting the sides of a
spiral,

round

wide

Tower

Cooke

of the

sat

in

chair

backcloth,sides

J. N. then
proceededto
there

sat

or

was

famous

now

covered
cut

caused

by the first performance

trick. Mr.
decapitation

facingthe audience,well
any "properties".
him

his head

with

shawl

off,removed

away

from

up to the
the shawl

the

neck,
"

and

the headless trunk 1

the
Subsequently,
its head

of miniature

set out.

great sensation

this show

at

up a
Eiffel

beingeightor
the plates,
after another,climbingto a
one
three feet above that of the table-top
from

heighttwo or
which they had
A

round

the end, the total distance travelled

at

feet,and

ten

sort

and

toocked

"trunk"

oonderneath

walked
its arm"

off the stage "with

1

wonderful,J.N/s wife,smiling
demurely
gapingspectators,stood free of scenery and curtains,

Last and most

at

the

and
the

magicianwaved his wand she rose slowlyinto

visible means
of support.
no
air,with absolutely
Since he was
alwayswillingto give thoroughlygood
as

the

38

WHITEMAGIC

the end

of that first Crystal

Palace engagement
of the show
into the
puttingback all the profits

Before
he

was

construction of

ever-improving
apparatus for

the

production

magicaltricks.
that lived up to its name,
He made a walking-stick
and
about
the stage unaccompanied. He
walked
performed
trick that rendered onlookers
variations of his decapitation
of

breathless.
The

ovation

which

caused innumerable

requests from

there. Mr.
welcome

London

gave to the new

for
the provinces

found

Morton

the

show

performances
ready to

big towns

the

Certain managers who had refused

magicians.
him with open contempt only a few weeks before when
he
anxious to engage the
needed bookingswere
now
servilely
company.
To one,

who

answer
following

My

excelled his fellows in

was

sent

rudeness,the

dear Sir,
.

We
"

had

have received
your

to engage Messrs. Maskelyne

offer

Cooke's companyfortwo weeks. Oh, my dear Sir !

Yours

incredulously
.

They playedin that town, but at a rival establishment.

in
shown
Considerable judgment was
by Mr. Morton
keepingthe show touringthe provincesfor several years
available. He
had seen
that steadybookings were
now
before they
good performancesput on in London
many
were
sufficiently
experiencedand mature, and after
fade out again into
there for a year or two
on
struggling
insignificance.
provincial
He and J.N. meant
to go to London
to stay when
next
theyinvaded the capital.
For no less than six years they increased their reputation
in the big cities up and down
England.New tricks were

STORY

THE

added
steadily

OF

MASKELYNES

39

that the spiriturepertoire,

everything
alists
did was
faithfully
reproducedwithout supernatural
and more
and J. N. experimented
more
assistance,
among
that could be presentedby the aid of his
the wonders
ingeniousmachines and devices,hundreds of which he
patentedat this time.
made
In 1873 another appearance
at the Crystal
was
from
Palace. Stimulated by the long absence of the show
flocked to see the wonderful new
London, Society
magicians.
In addition to the tricks alreadyfamous, J.N. produced
for the occasion. His wife,radiant with the
new
ones
some
of former successes
ant.
there,acted againas his assistmemory
She

rose

to

the

into the air at his command,

and floated there,

turningon her side and regainingan uprightstance at will.

A bouquet was
passedup to the stage in appreciation
of her turn.
J. N. passedhis wand over it,and it floated
amid
and rose
into her hand
the stage by itself,
across
thunderous
applause.
from
littleEarlyVictorian as she was, the roses
Demure
ended.
the performance
the audience almost hid her when
of all.Early
for the greatestventure
The time had come
Palace into
from the Crystal
in 1873 the company
moved
London
proper, appearingat the St. James'sGreat Hall in
for one
month.
Piccadilly
London
took Maskelyne and Cooke
to itself.Famous
and the hoi polloi
came
people,gossips,Societyornaments
in their thousands,and went
away marvellingand anxious
about it.
to telltheir neighbours
time previously,
A coupleof engagements, booked some
fulfilledat Croydon and Islington.
were
Then, on May 26th,
1873, a three months'

tenancy

was

commenced

of the small

hall of the

EgyptianHall in Piccadilly.
The Maskelyne show
different
was
so
hitherto attemptedin the conjuringline

from

anything

that rivals of

MAGIC

WHITE

40

various sorts tried hard,duringthat initialthree

months, to

drive the invaders back to the

provinces.
A tremendous
reception
duringthe firstweek sharpened
the jealousy
that was
already
beginningto be openlyshown.
J. N. was branchingout, engagingassistants outside the
his rivals
trio of himself,his wife and Mr. Cooke
; and
started their campaign by making friends with a minor
magicianwho had obtained a jobin the new company.
This man
had to appear
rather disappear in the
or
celebrated Box Trick. One nightthe oppositionpliedhim
well with liquor
before he went
the stage.
on
later. In
He
seemed
sober enough, but trouble came
all disappearing
ing
tricks there is a cue to show that the vanishTill this cue is heard
has been successfully
completed.
dare not proceedwith the trick.
the illusionist naturally
No cue
came.
J. N. extemporizedlines to fillthe gap,
but stillthere was
he had to open the box
no
cue.
Finally
and the man
was
lyinginside in a drunken sleep.
vanish two
J. N. told the audience that he would now
"

"

"

men

at

once,

since

one

alone seemed

got into the box, and

difficult.Mr.

sealed and

Cooke

roped up.
The
drunken
magician,whom
J. N. pretendedto have
for his stupor, was
to account
placedin a chair
hypnotized
him.
in the middle of the stage, and a sheet draped over
At a wave
of the wand he vanished (witha bump, through
from the box.
a trap-door
!)and Mr. Cooke disappeared
"Dr. Lynn", a famous
magicianthen performingin
the new
show
another part of the EgyptianHall, found
his receipts.
He brought an action sayingthat the
affecting
new-comers
were
giving"dramatic performances".
The Hall was
and it
not licensed for such performances,
But
true that J.N. was
was
already
presenting
magicplaylets.
the attack failed ; all it did was
to bringvaluable publicity.
The EgyptianHall ceased,in publicparlance,
to be the
came

on,

was

THE

STORY

EgyptianHall.
J.N.'s new name
months'

there into
That
the

It became

41

"England'sHome

for his

tenancy

MASKELTNES

OF

own

of

section. Within

Maskelyne's
Magic

had

Mystery"
"

the firstthree

dwarfed

all rivals

side-shows.

mere

three months'

tenancy

It

extended.

was

in
lasted,

then only abandoned

in
thirty
years, and was
order that Maskelyne'smight move
its own
to
theatre,
St. George'sHall in Regent Street.
But J. N. would
his laurels. He meant
the
rest on
not
each more
ing
astoundnovelties,
publicto have ever-changing

end, over

than
show

the last. And

in the

of 1873, when

summer

the

to
hardlybeen in London six weeks, there came
him
Lincolnshire
see
one
farmer, slow in
day a typical
speechand quietin manner, who said he had somethingto
show that might interest a conjurer.
After an
hour
plans,
spent studyingroughly drawn
and listening
rather inconclusive
to
explanations,
J. N.

had

offered
the

to

go

farmer,a
On

his

Lincolnshire

to

Mr.

return

to

see

John Clarke,had
from

mechanical

man

which

invented.

the country

J. N.

to
straight

went

Cooke.
"I've discovered
made
a

ourselves

mechanical

"

man

so

biggermarvel

far,"he
that

can

than

anythingwe've

said in great excitement.

do arithmetic,spelland

"It's

play

than
guaranteeda very big pricefor it more
we
can
spend at present, but we must raise the money.
This thingis going to create a great sensation."
That was
how the world-famous
Psychowas born.
In order to perfect
the farmer's invention,which
was
by my grandfather
nothinglike the Psycho afterwards presented
astounded
to an
London, J. N. opened a very large
workshop at the Egyptian Hall. This workshop was the
since providedabout
parent of the shops which have ever
sixtyper cent of the vital essentialsof all Maskelyne shows
cards. I've

"

42-

WHITE

rightdown

MAGIC

the present day.We have alwaysbeen

mechanical illusioniststhan conjurers
proper.
to

Psycho was
Hindu

to
figure

later added.

was

seated

was

dwarf

on

had

He

the face of

which

more

mild

and
entrails,

clockwork

cylinder.
transparent glass

J.N. worked

for two
that littlefigure
on
steadily
years,
and before that Mr. Clarke,the inventor,had put in years
of spare time on its construction. When
Psycho made his
bow
to the publicon
January i3th,1875, he could nod,
intricate sums
give the masonic grip,work extraordinarily
in addition,multiplication
and division,perform minor
smoke
and playwhist.
tricks,
conjuring
spell,
cigarettes,
He sat there,in the middle of the stage, without wires
him to anything
or tubes connecting
extraneous,
supported
his transparent pedestal,
detached
on
apparently
perfectly
from

whatsoever
any connection
mechanical assistance.
It

his whist that made

was

played
"

he

of thousands

won

1 In the

him

with

human

famous.

of many
he lost less than
course

or

He

outside

not

merely

thousands

"

tens

of games,
times !
a dozen
He played
with most
of the celebrated whist exponents of

his

"

Mr. Cavendish,Dr. Pole,and "Trumps"

time,including

of the Field newspaper.

Kings and Princes,as well as endless thousands of the

Other
examined
him and wondered
at him.
generalpublic,
The
tried to duplicate
him, and failed hopelessly.
conjurers
exhibited at Sadler's Wells
nearest
approach was Cynthia,
Theatre by Dr. Pepper,but it broke down, though it was
less skilful than Psycho.
infinitely
Psycho created a furore when he appearedin London.
endless

other

performancesin public,J. N.

drew
with-

Racehorses,music-hall turns,

thingswere

named

overcoats

and

after him.

After innumerable

him, mainly because

it

was

feared that his delicate

THE

could

He

rest.

playa

game

MASKELYNES

OF

might be

mechanism
without

STORY

affected

43

by havingworked

is in the London
of whist

at

for

Museum
moment.

any

so

long

now,

and

Even

to

he
this

day his construction remains a familysecret.

Although J. N. paida very good pricefor the original
at its enormous
conceptionof Psycho,he was so delighted
in publicthat he persuaded
Mr. Clarke subsequently
success
to accept a very fine present as
some
acknowledgment of
the littlewhist-player's
of
triumphs.The action was typical
the

man.

I have

But

ahead

gone

though J. N. began work

years later.
London
Meanwhile

of my story somewhat.
him in 1873, did not
on

Psycho,
appear

tilltwo

flocked

Egyptian Hall to
the box trick,
the decapitation
of
the mysteries
see
illusion,
and all the other surprises
that Maskelyne and
levitation,
could offer.

Cooke
Mr.

William

Morton, who

itsprovincial
days,and made

had

still manager,

and

Mr.

Morton, who

later became

as

most

know,
Mr.

now

the show
in

in

London,

for many
years. But
famous
throughout England
so

sponsored many of
our
time,will forgiveme,
J. N. was emergingas the big
already
who

and is known, I
is stillalive,
Morton, incidentally,

think,to
has

remained

and
theatre manager,
celebrated figures
of

if I say that
of the company.
figure
I

"fathered"

itsadvent
possible

was

the

the

to

every man,
settled. He

and

woman
came

to

see

child in
show

Hull, where

of my

he

only the
which
I
congratulation
own

day and sent me a letter of

shall alwaystreasure.
from that letter.It reads : "I
I will quote just
sentence
one
bench in your dressing-room."
was
gladto notice a carpenter's
The Maskelyne tradition,
you see, stillsurvives,and we

other

are

mechanics

yet.

CHAPTER

establishments

Rival

Command
Labial

The

"

Performance
A

"

IV

spirits offer
Slade

Dr.

"

show

birthday

Royal

partnership A
Royal
and
Fanfair
exposed Zoe
Mr.
Cooke
N.'s
mercial
comJ.
a

"

"

"

"

"

inventions.

Maskelyne and
Egyptian Hall nearly a
set

of

person

business

up

claimed

Miss

earliest real
After

been
him

the

first

supernaturalaid
about
incidentally,

no

was,

based.

was

trade

by

nail

into

she

She

advertised

the

of

was

fact

"Sweet

was

the

that

his

on

that William

had

earthly life,and

wood

to

William"

chair-movements

announced

during
piece of

of course,

doubters, which,

the

record.

on

pleasant name
table-knocking and

carpenter

drive

At

rather

the

her fame

which

blonde

at

rival establishment
spiritualist
Hanover
Square Rooms, in the

lady, who

time, however,

of

produced

the

been

had

year,

Fay.

platinum

familiar

Eva

this

by

at

show

Cooke's

WHEN

convince

had
any

proof positive.

an
Surprisinglyenough, J. N. still remained
agnostic.
Cooke
He
and
reproduced preciselyon the stage at the
\j7illiam and his little
Egyptian Hall every detail which
blonde
medium
by her husband) could accomplish.
(assisted

J. N. explained the workings

But
This

gave

Fay's

the

business

human,

wrote

complaining

Square spooks

Hanover

agent,
to

who

to

seems

the

to

expose

that his

the whole

as

bit of

have

he

did it.

jolt.Miss

been

almost

i2th, 1875,
grandfather on
May
not
principalwas
properly supported

my

and offering,
for
Spiritualists,

by

trick

of each

affair.

His
44

modest

letter read

consideration,
:

46

MAGIC

WHITE

1 The

Davenport Box Trick,

with all its latest additions,
was
father
performed by my grandelaborate and
and Mr. Cooke. They wished a really
performanceto result,so they went to the
satisfactory
trouble of takingmovable
ties
scenery in considerable quantiwith them, which was erected before the trick was given.
When
it had ended the Royal party were
so
delighted
But by this
with it that an encore
was
specially
requested.
scene-shifters had
time, in readiness for the next illusion,
backed
from
the Royal presence
carryingthe
carefully
It was

an

enormous

success

scenery and apparatus with them 1

Of course
everythinghad to come

and

back

be

set

quicklyinto place.The Box Trick was then performed

more
again,after which the scene-shifters once
pickedup
their unwieldy loads and backed, loyalbut perspiring,
out
of the

room.

Grandfather
and

to

often

to

tell us

children

this story,

allthe details of this firstmagic performance

recount

before the

used

man

who

later became

Edward

VII. Of

all the

turns, the Prince and Princess

applaudedhis plate-spinning
trick most.
And
trulyit looks big magic,for I have often
watched
Grandfather
I
when
performit for our amusement
a small boy.
was
The
of the time commented
the
on
Daily Telegraph
be educated,as
to which
can
extraordinary
dexterity
fingers
demonstrated by this trick. When
J. N. showed it to me, I
remember, be presentedthe other side of the picture.
He

told

me

he had

smashed

dozens

and

hundreds

of

the turn, and created a heap of broken

platesin perfecting
crockerythat looked like a young mountain 1 He also said
that itwould be quitepossible
for a business man
to educate
his fingers
and brains in his own
affairsso that he could write
with each hand.
two
one
importantletters simultaneously,
American
business hustlers,
pleasecopy if theycan !
"

STORY

THE

At

MASKELYNES

OF

47

for the rest of his life up to within

of his decease,J.N. worked
twenty hours

this time, and

less than

month

four hours.
day,and slept
but I know
This sounds impossible,
it to be true. He
died "in harness" as a result,
but I think he would
rather
have had it that way. I have never
such an indefatigable
met
worker anywhere else.
He
in his workshops, experimenting
with
the
was
illusions or whittling
of his
apparatus for new
away at one
a

innumerable

non-theatrical

inventions, at six o'clock

in

the

He worked
all throughthe
morning,winter or summer.
day,with brief stops for meals, either in the shops or on
the stage rehearsing
illusions. He playedin the theatre
new
and stayedup tilltwo
o'clock
every afternoon and evening,
next
morning dealing with business correspondence,
his affairsor puzzling
out
turns.
new
arranging
But he was
too
never
busy to accept a Spiritualis
When
Daniel Home
practiseda rather feeble
challenge.
sort of levitation at a stance,J. N. respondedby floating
a
the heads of the audience
at the Egyptian
woman
over
Hall. When
Charles Williams
raised "the ghost of John
King", J. N. exorcised a second and identical John King,
who
walked
in spirit
form the boards of the illusionist's

stage.
Slade
July 1876, "Doctor"
Place,Bloomsbury, and began to

Then,
Bedford

in

a
purpose. Dr. Slade introduced
persuadinghis ghostlyfriends to write

some

to

Dr. Slade

that

no

obvious

coupleof

slates so

bound

new
on

up in Upper
raise the dead to

set

trick,that of
slates.J.N.

and sealed

human

sent

together
leaving

agency could unfasten them without

the inner
and asked the spirits
marks
to write on
"

facesofthe slates.
This
slates to

impious request
this day.

was

refused.
rightly

I have

the

48
In due

Dr.

course

Slade

notable

that
Flowers,the magistrate,

Mr.

sleeve.

J. N.

how

court

called

was

it was

to
possible

words, and make

largeas
There

as

there

certain

to

police

convince

nothingup

was

witness,and demonstrated

write

on

them

Street

unsuccess

slate,
sponge

reappear there
lifeand twice as natural.

was

Bow

appearedat

he tried with

court, where

as

MAGIC

WHITE

amount

of

laughterin

in

out

short time

his

the

later,

the court

worked
that this trick was
J. N. gravelyexplained
but by employinga
slate pencil,
not
by usinga common
special
stylowhich he nominated a Slade pencil.
when

Dr. Slade

committed

was

for three months'

hard labour

reduced
was
vagabond,but his sentence
did not operate in London
on
appeal.However, the spirits
after that,apparently
at the vulgarrecepfeeling
disgusted
tion
of
the
of their marvels offered by learned exponents
as

rogue

and

British law.

Psychohad been such an enormous

success, J.N.
had worked
the production
of other automata.
on
steadily
what he felt then was
his
In 1877 he proudlyannounced
masterpiece Zoe, the charminglittlemechanical lady,who
could sketch the profile
of any celebrity
chosen
by the
Since

"

audience,and

sketch

it with

the hand

of

master

of the

pencil.
of
in the centre
mahogany pedestal
A sheet of paper, on a drawingthe stage and held a pencil.
board, was suspendedin front of her. Before each performance,
of inspection
from
the audience was
committee
a
invited to come
and examine the littlelady,and discover,if
the secret of her powers. Needless to say, no one
possible,
succeeded in doingthat 1
ever
The MorningPost,welcoming the advent of Zoe, wrote
:
Zoe

Mr.
a

sat

on

slender

Maskelyne,more

Titania for his Oberon.

complacentthan Frankenstein, has created

Psycho is to be envied. A lovelycompanion,

THE

STORY

MASKELTNES

OF

49

him, never
never
always smiling,
contradicting
troublinghim about
in bonnets 1 As graceful
bills,or talkingof the last sweet^thing
as
her
is
the
the
of
Kauffman,
Angelica]
being ^enhancedby
mystery
sheet of glass
under the stand upon which she sits.A marvellous
piece
of

mechanism, and

does

great honour

is whollywithout
ingenuity

When

Zoe

Alas for human

far

bore

work,

maker, whose
to

seems

she could

endeavour

superiorto

sketches

her

defyrivalry.

the

be made

more

even

rated

by her creator
Psycho,was a comparativefailure. Her
of Whistler
but
impudent perfection
Zoe,

"

elements
of suspense.
Psycho'swhist held more
withdrawn,
ruthlessly
year or two of work, Zoe was
was
always "The publicknows
J. N.'s motto
wants

creative

ready to "come out", J. N.

originally
a minor
improvement for her, and her
was
delayedsix months in order that,

was

suddenlyhit upon
publicappearance
by infinite meticulous
perfectthan before.
as

to

and
precedent,

After

because
what

it

of

St.

I"

What

difference between

this future

holder

George'sHall and the B.B.C. who rule there at present 1

The Maskelyne tradition of automaton
wonders
did not
with Zoe. Fanfair
and Labial made their bow in 1878.
wane
The former playedthe cornet, the latter the euphonium.
little men,
with the long locks and
They were
scholarly
dreamy eyes of true musicians. One sat on a chair,the
other on a music-stool. They were
of the
set in the middle
stage, free from

any

connection

the

with

sides,roof

or

"

apparently the floor,and they performed sweetly and

asked for by the
accurately
any popularpiece of music
"

audience.

Highbrow
audience

could

side. No

works

or

low,
come
were

it
up

was

and

all the
examine

apparent,

no

same

to

them

clockwork

them.
from

The
every

tickingor

whirringwas audible,there were no electric wires or airpipe connections. There they sat, mysterious,
complacent

WHITEMAGIC

JO

and earnest, and

I have

musicians

J. N.

than

human

more

modern

some

met.

all these various

only created

not

self;
him-

automata

their faces,their hair,their realistic hands

he made

superintended
feet,inserted their teeth and eyelashes,

and

the very
were

as

good deal

cut

my

But

of their clothes.

They

were

his children

much

as

father and uncle.

should

why

I pay

tribute

the musical

to

twins

and

confreres ? A.

J.Phasey,solo-euphonium
in
playerto that exactingladyQueen Victoria,published
the Musical World of January4th, 1879,a letter from which
I might venture
to quote :
their mechanical

The

is as
lip-action

strict attention

the

to

artists.
professional
the

was
fingering

nuances,

he

close

...

sat

or

were

slurs and

as
appogiaturas
equally

of

year,
Royal Command

treat
on

same

on

well

as

the

any

to

of
professor

received

the instrument.

the

honour
signal
to appear at Sandringhamas a special
of our late King'sfourteenth birthday,

EgyptianHall

great attractions of London

taken

to

very far superior to many

the stage, to notice whether

found,

1879,J. N.

the occasion

June 3rd.
By this time

not.

passages

The

was

my astonishment,that the
but that Labial introduced
only correctly
fingered,

correct

not

lightand shade filled me with wonder.

perfectas with a human being; and, in his

of

Labial's observance

it ; a famous

town.

churchman

show

was

Country

one

cousins

of the time said

of the
were

publicly
that no child's education was
complete
until he had been to England'sHome
of Mystery.
I wonder
what the members
of the original
littleMagic
Circle at Cheltenham
thoughtof it all? They would have
been family
of them, and doubtless
men
by this time,some
theytook their children or their nephews and nieces to see
in London, and
Maskelyne and Cooke's when they were
told them
marvellous
tales of the Davenport stance at
to see

that he considered

THE

STORY

Cheltenham

MASKELYNES

OF

Hall, and

Town

how

5!

had really
everything

startedfrom that.
In 1880,

was
playlet
producedat the Egyptian
of Cleopatra's
Needle. In
name
Hall,under the appropriate
small reproduction
of the famous
obelisk
this illusion,
a
appearedon the stage, raised from the floor and free of all
The temptationsof St. Anthony
curtains and trappings.
then represented
in dramatic form, all sorts of figures
were
the Devil himself;
emergingfrom the Needle, including
less
but the good Saint found that the last of them, none
than Royal Egypt herself,
she who
conqueredthat other
and even
famous
more
Antony from Rome, was the worst
of them all.
temptation
a

Mr. Cooke

new

was

in allthese

of course,
activities,

and

was

throughouthis career in the firm an invaluable and loyal

But he was
by nature a
magician.
partner and a splendid
littleman, of small stature
and apparently
shy and retiring
elastic bones,since his part was
to be fittedinto
constantly
small boxes,roped and sealed and nailed inside,
incredibly
his
and then spirited
therefrom,answeringfrom the gallery
call from the stage.
colleague's
him somewhat
J.N.'s more
powerfulpresence eclipsed
at times
to have been a sort of general
indeed,there seems
"

idea if Mr. Cooke

was

for in the

box 1 But

nearest

encouragement
have

come

An

into

and

wanted

that he had better be looked

without

his

silent,
unswerving
assistance,Maskelyne'scould never

its own.

illusion that caused

sensation

at

about this time

that of

was

making a man out of his components. J.N. appeared

the stage carrying
what looked like a bundle of arms,
on
These he dumped
assortments.
legsand generalhuman
down on the floor,
ing
pickingthem up one by one and exhibitthem to show that each was genuinely
separatefrom the
rest.
D

WHITEMAGIC

52

Then

he would

take the

hey presto, the leg stuck

of

anatomy

! Then

was

garment. The

would

to
an

come

and,

it
"

clad

arm,

since each portionof

jacket,
portionof
alreadydressed in the appropriate
was
arm
pushed againstthe trunk, and stayed

in the sleeve of

course

trunk,clapa leg on
a

in its

place.
Another
legfollowed ; then
and
its eyes open and intelligent
was

raised and stuck

on

to

the second
its hair

arm.

The

head,

glossyand curling,

the neck of the trunk.

and the figure

point J. N. waved his wand
began to speakin a human voice,to laugh,to slapits creator
after adjusting
its tie,it walked
the back ; and finally,
on
solemnlyoff the stage.It was obviouslyreal.
of a rather earlier
what the body-snatchers
One wonders
At

this

date would

"

have

said

to

this

one

having been
in London,
ensured
began to turn his
grandfather
my
able
of the innumersome
amazinglyactive brain to perfecting
inventions
which, had he been lucky as well as
times
ingenious,should have brought him a thousand
During

greater fame
His

these

than

years,

theatrical

success

the best of his stage shows.

first masterpiecewas
for which
a
typewriter,

devised,after much

even

careful

he

thought,the keyboard that has

since been adoptedas universal. It was
then the onlymachine
in existence with differential spacingof the letters from one
another, so that a singleline could hold, for instance,an
words, or of twentyaverage of twelve words, or of eighteen
four words, the change being effected by a simplelever
movement
takingonly a second to operate.
It had visible writing,could produce ninety-six
characters,
and was
noiseless.
practically
A publiccompany
formed with a capital
of "50,000
was
after this machine had finally
been perfected.
It was
patented
all over
the world. It was, to my mind, as good as most
of

54

ITE

matic bus-ticket checker, there

and
existence,
The
the

I C

nothingat

was

all like it in

it supplied
a very real need.

of

consisted

first checker

buses, and

of

entrance

it

kept

done

by

detailed record of all the business

how

It showed
question.
how
long the bus

complete and
the vehicle in

passengers had been carried ;

each stage of its journey;

many

took

apparatus fitted over

an

over

each
much
; how
got on and alighted
passengers
and
from over-charge,
the public
paidin fare ; it protected

where

if anyone
registered
without payinga fare.
even

fitthis device would

To
but

got

the buses

build,and

would

there

"

the wrong

on

have
had

have

and

left

"i 5 per bus ;

in
changed slightly

about

cost

be

to

bus

nothingdoing!

was

J. N. took the advice of the bus companies to try a

cheaperdevice. He produced a wonderful littlemachine,
and, over-persuaded
by certain business men, sold the
formed
The purchasers
patent for "500 down and a royalty.
with a capital
of "50,000,and sold their
a publiccompany
shares like hot cakes on the strength
of J.N.'s name.
had refused to jointhe company
He
himself. But on
findingthat the publichad invested so heavilyin it,and
he came
in eventually,
to try to
fearingthat it would fail,
make
it pay by giving
it the best work
of his marvellous
brain.

invented

He

patents at his
commercial

one

The

bus

checker, took

cost, and worked

success.

the conductor's

over

by

own

another

It

was

device

shoulder

on

2
a

out

all the

it a
to make
tirelessly
in. by 6 in.,was
worn

strap,and

was

worked

hand.
fare taken

in a glazed
the
registered
aperture facing
the amount
of each fare registered,
passenger. Bells chimed
for each penny paid.A plainticket was
once
used
striking
for all values,the amount
being perforatedon it by the

THE

checker.

The

the

back

carried

and

at

STORY

All

issued

fares

these

setting

was

and

the

registered on
number

index

an

of

passengers

another

index

at

automatically

by

registered on

was

and

anything

of the

it failed

All

in
and

public's

slaughter
Big
In

burning

money

when

he

"

as

on

now

to

than

better

was

No

of

the

he

successful.
of

atmosphere

that

did

he

detail

made

public
to

earmarked
into

him

the

for

paint
grease-

with

the

the

ment
Govern-

later.

him

the
as

supremely

so

entertainer

give

my

them.

pursue

conspicuously,

I shall

use

undermined

that

enormously

work

would

one

failed, despite

efforts

were

desire

ventured

It

notice.

fiercelydid

certain

work

his

child.

"

failed

qualities

same

successful

of

sented
repre-

simple, cheap

company

out

he

that

is done

as

was

its behalf

Office, which

War

The

the

The

in

figure

since.

patent.

footlights

and

by

public

ventured

exception

honesty

worked

stage inventions

he

and

checker

seriously, so

very

time

notable

The

achieve

efforts

J. N.'s

Every

to

the

to

paid, just

pence

invented

sort

the

grandfather's
his health

be

could

purchase

or

machine

ticket-punch.

produce,
Yet

of

produced

were

the

on

number

latest

the

operations

pointer

the

of

checker,

the

fare

55

side.

the

it

of the

amount

of

MASKELYNES

OF

"

sincerity,

fullest

value

for

lamb

for

the

intricate

more

realms

Business.
the

gained.

end, I think

Big

Business

lost

lot

more

than

it

CHAPTER

and the Watchman

Will, the Witch

in

Australia

"

"

U.S.

IT

of

Havana

about

was

chieflyas

the Box

the

his first years

Trick

rather

lecture

solemn

the

though
But

rather

short

But

Trick

about

space

beneath

built

foot

so

entertained

to

days

audiences

than

to

his sensitive

be

sketch

went

educated,
yet.

even

touch

his lecture

scrap

already

was

entertainingthan

wholly accepted

not

present

spiritualismand

on

and

in those

to

the

on

and

with

pulse

build

up

laughs and

to

represent
to

on

from

the

the

old-fashioned

an

village
lock-up was

stage. This

floor

that there

so

was
a

clear

trap-door

in the stage below.

big box
length of rope,
examine

used

it, excluding the possibilityof

committee

lecture

little magic

wheeled

was

raised

concealed

had

that

complete.

cabinet

lock-up

intended

was

public opinion

even

be

to

principleis

the Box

his famous

Trick

J. N.

dramatic

public desire, decided

thrills all

and

London

with
grandfather,

my

This

for the Box

in

following

the theatre

Some

"

Davenports.

conjuring supporters.
demanding something more

round

against

work

first produced

J. N.

vehicle

its

of

"

crusade

N.'s

sharpers

and the Watchman.

Witch

amusing

an

During

that

this time

confounded

to

J.

"

How

"

sleep Maskelynes

to

goes

magicians.

playlet,Will, the

monkey
sensation

grand piano

Bianco

card-sharps

"

from

both

with
were

the

the

lock-up were

canvas

also

brought

audience

lock-up

fittingover

cover

the

clearlyshown

to

56

to

invited

was

and

on

box

and

the

and

stage
to

on

it, and

the

stage

accessories.

be empty.

to

Box

THE

STORY

of the committees

Some

working of
deputedone

the

amazing

under

another

would

sit on

chair

the back. But

at

were

57

anxious

so

detect the

to

tricks that followed

of their members

his head

with

MASKELYNES

OF

that

they

liefull lengthon

the stage
the lock-up,
upwards, while
staring
to

top of the

and
lock-up,

of them

none

noticed

third

any

on

trickery,

thoughtheywere often so eager to do so that theyremained

in their placesquiteoblivious to the playthat was
ing
proceedthe stage around them.
The
of the committee
rest
on

stage wherever
behind

wished

they

it,at the sides

took
in

"

up
front

positionson the
of the lock-up,

anywhere else selected.

Then
entered in the guiseof
Daddy Gnarl (my father)
old squire,
and a village
Watchman
an
accompaniedhim.
There followed on to the stage a pairof young
lovers,Will
arrested for
the Sailor and his sweetheart Dolly.Will was
the Watchman, and thrust into the lock-up,
and his
jollying
off to celebrate the arrest in
captor and Daddy Gnarl went
or

the usual fashion.

Meanwhile, the distracted Dolly

sees

an

old

woman

(J.N. himself)
creepingpast, generously
givesher a golden
guinea,and is told that she is a Witch, who proposes in
return

to

The

liberate Will.
Witch

causes

black

monkey

to

and
materialize,

this animal goes off and annoys the Watchman, who

both Witch and
to the stage in full chase,capturing
both of whom
escape from
Watchman's

J.N.) on

to

returns

monkey,

lock-up.But both the latter

and return
to the lock-up
as theywish, and the
shouts for assistance bring a butcher
(also
the stage, who, in an effort to stab the monkey,
he

placesin

the

slicesoff a bit of its tail.

This

jumps

astonishment
back

to

about

the stage

of the Watchman,

help him. Meanwhile,

its own,
who
calls

on

the butcher

much

Daddy

to

the

Gnarl

shuts himself

58
and the

monkey

that the butcher

and the

is

MAGI

WHITE

monkey
The monkey
capturedand

from
the

into the

cover

seal it,put
that. The

box

Opening
lock-up.

is safe,Gnarl

finds that

the latter to

is now

is there.

hidingbehind the lock-up,and

into the big box. The committee
lock the box, keep the key,place

seen

forced
then

over

see

Will,the butcher,

have all vanished,but the Witch

the audience
canvas

the

box, lace

it up, knot the lace and

the lot,and knot and seal

rope round
and the
is then placedinside the lock-up,

stout

latter closed and locked.

Gnarl, the butcher,and

the Watchman

are

discussing

their

triumph when a hairyarm emerges and touches them

from the lock-up.
They fling
open the door and liftout the
that obviously
box, stillsealed,
roped and laced,but so light
the monkey is no longerwithin !
The
Witch
appears again with Dolly, and opens the
door of the lock-up,which
the audience had seen
only a
before quiteempty. Will the Sailor is now
moment
standing
inside it.

Under
dare

the influence of the Witch, whose

powers
reunited

further,the

coupleare
young
of the entire party.
giventhe blessing
to

This
11,000

cross

none

and

sketch,which my grandfather
performed over
and was
times,was immensely successful,
keptin

the programme
at intervals for over
fortyyears ! I have
often seen it performed.And though I know
how it is done
and have
wonder

playedin

it myself,
I

each time I witness

am

stillstricken afresh with

it.

The

raised from the floor,and with committee

lock-up,
members
all round
it intent on
"the
sitting
discovering
after figure
with bewildering
works", producesfigure
ease
and incredible speed,yet it can
only justhold two persons
at a

time.

Once,

in its early
days,this trick caused

bit of

sen-

THE

STORY

sation. The

action

captured,and the
He was
duly shut
laced

was

committee
in the

lock-up.
The playlet
ran
have

shown

box.

But

cue

to

monkey was
imprisonhim.

the

box

canvas

was

the

actors
never

was

until the

box, locked in, the

to

on

59

asked

were

roped,and

the other
the

MASKELYNES

smoothly

ran

and

up

OF

pointwhere a
that the monkey
delivered.

With

cover

put in the
cue

should

had

left the

increasing

lines to cover
the actors extemporized
anxietyand difficulty,
the situation,
waitingall the time for the missingcue.
As it did not come,
to open
theywere forced eventually
the lock-up
and liftout the box. By its weighttheyinstantly
realized that the monkey was
stillwithin.
had happened,in fact,was
What
that the monkey,
before
it,and then
takingthe stage
flask,
emptied
', had founda whisky
in the box.
gone to sleep
Without
turning a hair, J. N. extemporizedfurther
lines

to

the situation ; the other

meet

actors

followed

his

was
lengtheneda bit,to allow of the
playlet
what
monkey beingbroughtback on to the stage after a somerude awakening and then the rest of the act was
1
to programme
playedout perfectly
according

lead ; the

"

The

audience

never

Will, the Witch

realized that there had been

and

the

Watchman

received

hitch.

great

England,where it was the first long magic

But this was
ever
to be presented.
playlet
nothingto the
furore it created in Australia,
when
a Maskelynecompany

welcome

was

sent

Such

in

out
a

that country
sensation did it cause
to

tour

of the programmes
include it at each

for the

tour

few years later.

there that the whole
out

had

to

be

modified

to

ahead
went
performance.Its reputation
of it,and at a mining camp in Western
Australia,where by
accident the bills originally
some
printedappearedwith no
inclusion on the programme,
reference to the new
a depu-

60

MAGIC

WHITE

tation of prospectors turned up and made

the openingnight.
on
A

coupleof

the curtain

dozen

of them

up, and

went

flourished

We

"Don't

the

togetherinto

the floor

still eddied

smoke

They were
they shouted

if you

move

shoot up the stage."

There followed the crash of
all fired

as

soon

value your lives.

and the Watchman, or else we'll

any of you

Will, the Witch

want

as

revolvers.

the hall,and

placedat strategic
pointsall over
in unison

ance
serious disturb-

their feet

to

rose

about

at

revolver

volleyas they

their feet. Then, while

them, they all shouted

in

going to let us have it ?"

The brilliant young
magicianwho was in chargeof the
illusionistside of the tour courageously
steppedto the front
of the stage,where he made a perfect
target.
shall have
"You
a
it, boys !" he shouted ; and
chorus

"Are

tremendous

you

cheer answered

him.

The

first in the programme,

since
in the mood
not
to wait. A

playletwas put on
impatientminers were

the

committee

invited from

was

tramped up

to

on

the audience

as

usual,and

the stage, revolvers,bowie-knives

it

and

all.
The

closed on
this
lock-up was
fashioned padlock,
the key of which

prospector among
"We'll

occasion
was

by
givento

an

old-

burly

the committee.

there's

damned

yellow teeth

hanky-panky,fellars!"
gentleman,waving the key at the audience ;
calmly put the key between his powerful
and bit the end clean off,nippingthrough a

quarter of

inch of cold iron

shouted
and

see

this

then

The
course,

he

an

act

when

in accordance
This

did

not

no

to

do

so.

greetedwith a howl of delight

; but of
the door of the lock-uphad later to be opened
with the action of the play,
a quandaryarose.
deter the prospector, however.
He
simply

was

62

WHITEMAGIC

sleep,"he shouted. "We'll

be ?"
have one
more
song, and then pack up. What's it to
from various
All sorts of suggestions
came
crackling
voices
and more
parts of the hall,but suddenly more
blended demanding "Abide with me". The hymn was
sung,
shut the piano.
and then Gammon
and splendidly,
reverently
and stretched his cramped legs,meaning to
He
rose
leave the stage ; but the next
moment
bags of gold-dust,
the stage like
on
coins,ringsand money-notes were
falling
"These

boys

want

some

violent hailstorm.
After

lasted for five

the

Watchman

months

out,

six hours

at

stretch. The

of the tour, and

star

took

crowded

or

had

tour

to

be

Australia
after camp
in Western
camp
turned into a sing-song
that sometimes

changed again.At
the magic show was
became

for the

that,the arrangements

close second

though they had

grand piano

Will,the Witch and

the

place.Other illusions were

rehearsed for
been carefully

beforehand.

nent,
Slowlypassingon its way throughthe southern contiand on
Maskelyne'sshow travelled by ox waggon

horseback

over

thousands

and

thousands

given in gambling saloons

was
only available lighting
usuallyby
were

Contractors

with

dozens

and

hundreds

of miles. Performances
and
means

in

tents

the

of candles-

of empty
used
explosives,

boxes,

to hire
or
formerlycontaining
bully-beef
their primitive
out
sometimes
at prices
to "3
seating
rising
and "4 a box.
Often
enough, a good part of the audience was
coloured ; not only Australian Blackfellows but Chinese,
negroes and half-breeds of every shade and description.
marked
Applause was generally
by revolver salvos ;
and had the entertainers displeased
their audiences
the
is that the revolvers would
have been turned
probability
them. However, amazing offerings
of gold-dust
on
and

STORY

THE

other

such

tokens

OF

of

63

MASKELYNES

followed
appreciation

nearlyevery

in the back-blocks.
performance
The pianoand Will,the Witch and the Watchman
remained
firm favourites ; and nearlyall the shows were
ended with
It was
in which everyone joined.
an
sing-songs
astonishing
and tremendouslysuccessful tour.
It was
shortlyafter the conclusion of this tour that my
his short and startling
conducted
campaign
grandfather
and gambling swindlers in Great
againstcard-sharpers
Britain.

to

At that time the country was

been
a degreethat has never

since. The

generalpublicwas

with these gentry

overrun
even

remotelyapproached
then

not

aware

"

indeed,I

day how ridiculously

easy
card games from
it is for a skilled operator to changemost
inherent
chance to certainty
J. N., with the same
; and
that inspired
him against
the Davenhatred of swindling
ports,
Miss Fay and others,rushed into a single-handed
the "sharps"of his day.
campaignagainst
holds good
time he inaugurated
At the same
a rule which
of us shall
all Maskelynes to this day that none
among
is that our
ever
magic
playcards for money. The reason
engendersuspicion
against
knowledgewould automatically
doubt

whether

it is

so

to

this

"

"

us.

If you gave me, for instance,any selected card from

pack whose seals you had justbroken, and let me examine

only a coupleof minutes, and then

examine the backs of the rest of the pack,I would
defyyou
and I would then draw out
to shuffle that pack as you liked,
the rest,
it might be among
your selected card, wherever
within ten seconds or so, onlyexaminingthe backs of the
the back of the card for

cards the while.

It is not

even

of cards used

known
that very many packs
generally
almost
England are so printedthat some

now

in

64

MAGIC

WHITE

variation
imperceptible
of each card

to

of scroll-work

trained eye. It may be that

turns
rightto indicate a

Queen, uprightfor

glazeof

in the

in

difference
are

Ace, and

an

the

the

so

back

or

portion

minute

King, left for a

ation
on.
Perhapsit is a variperhaps a hairbreadth
which

with

squareness

the face-value

marks

the back

on

the

corners

cut.

always, the

Almost

detected. After
what

cards

are

held

the

name

can

playerknows

be

just

his opponents, since suits are often

staked on
then, of course, the money

years ago,
known
has ever

sharperof

there, and

by

is his for the

Many
world

is

that,the well-informed

indicated also. And

the game

difference

taking.
of the most

one

undertaken

was

colossal frauds

by

the

brilliant card-

of Bianco.

gambling-groundof the
Havana
that Bianco went.
to
world, and it was
Having
purchasedin Spain about thirtythousand packs of unused
he opened every pack, marked
playing-cards,
every single
card in a manner
only detectable to himself,and resealed
the packsin such a way that theyseemed perfectly
intact.
He
had marked
the cards not
only in values,but in
he set himself to learn the complicated
suits. Then
system
of markingshe had employed so that he could use
it fast
the quickest
of card-games,
enough to control by its means
and so that he could detect by casual glances
what
exactly
cards others were
holdingwithout arousingsuspicion.
This training
took him over
a year of intensive
study
and practice
associate to his plans.
no
; and he admitted
During this period,too, he "cornered" the entire playingcard trade of Havana
his marked
by offering
packs which
were
good and expensivecards at less than half the price
usuallycharged.
So successful was
he that Havana
dealers bought from
At

the time, Havana

was

the

"

"

THE

OF

STORY

65

MASKELYNES

else could offer them good

since no one
exclusively,
cards at anythingapproachingBianco's price.
The sharphimself followed his cards to the island,and
make
fortune. His amazing memory
settled down
to
a
enabled him to carry out his scheme to perfection.
Wherever
he had marked ; he allowed
he played,the cards were
ones
but vast sums
of money
himself to lose occasionally,
went
of chosen ill-fortune.
his way between these spells
Alas for Bianco ! The best-laid plansare not alwaysfoolproof,
and it was
with the reputation
of a fool who
a man
found him out. Alys de Laforcade,ci-devant Count of the
old French regime,was
considered in Havana
a charming
but lacking
in shrewd common-sense.
man
This young
so
however, became
friendlywith
man,
that he accompanied him
and fro about the
Bianco
to
island ; and presently,
having studied his methods, gently
broke the news
his Spanish friend that the secret
to
by
had
which
Dame
Fortune
was
so
successfully
propitiated
him

his property also.

Bianco asked him what

become

ci-devant

The

he looked, for

proposed to do
Count could hardlyhave been such
he suggested
Bianco to
introducing

clubs and

exclusive

he

households

of

the island

"

about
a

it.

fool

the

as

most

placesto

turned ever
since the
Spaniard's
eyes had eagerly
opening of his goldencampaign.
Laforcade
De
professedhimself delightedto aid his
charming acquaintance for a price.Such a simplelittle
of
with none
price.Merely fifty
per cent of the proceeds,

which

the

"

and

the work

without

terms

And
career.

of the risks.

somethingfor

It says

the

none

much

so

the adventurer

The

oldest and

greetedhim,

and

Bianco's

takingsthat

he

accepted

demur.

phaseof his meteoric

exclusive societyof Havana
high stakes with him.

begana
most

playedfor

new

66

WHITEMAGIC

impoverished,
nobleman, hitherto genteelly

The French

simper,to allwho would listen,

delightful
that his dear maternal grandfather,
a Spanishnobleman, had
passedaway, yet had had the forethought
justregrettably

with
explained

to

his

leave his worthless

Laforcade

De

(andplayedcards
was

the envy

scion his entire fortune.

house, entertained royally

splendid
a stables that
occasionally),
got together

took

of the

and established
island,

an

wide
almost world-

and pleasure.
as a dilettante in wine, women
reputation
At the heightof his fame, Bianco vanished (havingfor
over

year "cooked

the books"

of the infamous

ship
partner-

de Laforcade
amazing degree,since naturally
left
and the Frenchman
could not check the takings),
was
enormouslyin debt.
This his sensitive soul might have
borne, but in
addition irrefutable evidence reached the society
of Havana
and that his fortune had been
that he was
a card-sharper,
amassed
by his playrather than from his Spanishrelative.
He was
broughtbefore the Tribunal,the whole story of the
marked
cards came
to light
(butwith de Laforcade playing
role and Bianco not even
the principal
mentioned),and after
the Frenchman
because it could
a long case
was
acquitted,
be proved that he had importedthe cards himself. He
not
dared not mention
Bianco for fear of thus admitting
his
own
guilt.
fame and fortune were
However, his name,
broken,
and he died miserablynot long afterwards,
while Bianco
last heard of as a great and piouspatron of the Church
was
beloved Spain.
in his own
to

I do

an

think that anyone

of the skill and energy of
the late-lamented Mr. Bianco has ever operatedin England,
not

here at times,as is
though there have been queer dealings
testifiedby the fact that King Edward
VII, when Prince of
Wales, went into the witness-box to defend the reputation

THE

of

STORY

friend of his who

OF

67

MASKELTNES

had

been

accused

of

cheatingat

grandfather's
jime,
sharps,and his brief

the country
but decisive

cards.
But
was

in
certainly,

riddled with

my
clever

campaignto expose them must have done them enormous

their activitiesfor many years.
harm, and crippled
in newspapers, at lectures and in a fascinHe explained
ating
book entitled Sharps
and Flats,
allthe principal
methods
of swindling,
and dealt in full with the mysteries
of marked
cards,hold-outs,reflectors,
dice,collusion,
race-gangs and
several other kinds of swindle.
He

made

it abundantly
clear

though the fact has since

been forgotten
by the public that several big firms,both
in England and America, exist largely
of their
by reason
sales of the complicated
apparatus used by card-sharpers.
This includes clips
and wrist-bands for holdinghigh
cards secretly
removed
from the pack ; machines for marking,
squeezing,
clippingand rougheningvaluable cards ;
ready-markedpacks,weighteddice,clippedcoins guaranteed
to fall alwaysthe same
way up on beingspun, faked
"

"

shadingthe

cards ; acid for

for card manipulation,

and

undoingof the

roulette outfits; secret

mirrors

for

backs ; coat machines

hundred
other devices for the

use

at

unwary.
of
the
secrets
way in
to
playingin combination

J.N. also exposedthe innermost

which

sharpinggangs work,
rob innocents and sharing
out proceeds
afterwards,
spending
and manipulation,
having
years studyinglegerdemain
their agents at the Universities,
in the Gty, on the Riviera,
all long-distance
liners and trains,and often going
on
which makes them as skilful
of training
througha course
in conjuringand illusion as most
of the professional
magicianswho appear on the stage.
of
and
Even
similar methods
today card-sharping
are highly
pluckingthe down from the unfledged
organized

68

WHITEMAGIC

ramifications. Any retired

professionswith world-wide
the
that work
tell you
that the gangs
liner skippercan
fabulous
fortunes, and are
Atlantic,for instance,make
well-known
on

both

to

one

another,and

to

stewards and detectives

sides,
though theyare mostlytoo sharpto be caught

doinganythingillegitimate.
space in this book
of what one
might call
subject
I have

not

to

go

all fullyinto the

at

but at least I
card-magic,
readers against
that elementaryand yet immensely
can
warn
lucrative hoax, the three-card trick,commonly known
as
"Find the Lady".
and other
A stranger comes
into a railwaycarriage,
members
of his gang drift in later,
none
being
apparently
known
to any other. The
sharpergets out a pack of cards
selects three,one
of which is a
"to while away the journey",

Queen, shuffles them face-down,and invites anyone

the Queen.
to pickout
First

confederate

one

and then another

present

selects the

Queen
one
finally

after repeatedshufflings
quitesuccessfully,
; and
of them puts a shilling
his choice,and wins. The dealer
on
loses about nine times out of ten until some
greenhornsare
drawn into the game by the apparent ease with which money
can

be made

at

it.

the dealer varies

by a simplebit of legerdemain,
his handlingof the cards,and the Queen is never
the card
selected by the greenhorns.
Stakes are raised as high as
possiblebefore the innocents enter the game ; after that
changeshands with tremendous
celerity.
money

Now,

The
the

great attraction of the trick is that

no

one

not

in

believe that his eye has deceived him until

the selected card is turned face-up
as if the eye has
; it seems
never

must

secret

can

left it since it was

be the
That

turned

up

and
previously,

that it

Queen.

it is not, in the event,

thousands

of astonished

WHITEMAGIC

70

magician.

forces

joined

He

with

built

and

Kellar,

up

with

reputation

infinite

great

an

tricks,

later

and

with

fine
some

In

American

book

magic

recent

Thurston

of

illusions.

startling

referred

myself

I
saw

on

"The

England".

do

hardly

less

than

can

as

this

accomplished

the

magician

return

pay

call

and

very

to

card

brilliant

of

variety

him

the

Maskelyne

of

America.

compliment,

and

CHAPTER

Maskelynes
at

the

to

come

balloons
in

"

The

"

Courts

"Movies"

Park

Phoenix

"

at

murders

Famous

magicians
vanishing ring I Magicians
Devant
joins the show
J. N.'s war
Maskelynes A "1000 challenge The

Hall

Egyptian

Sultans'

the

Devil

tour

on

VI

"

The

"

"

"

"

"

Piccadilly.

only a few years between

and
their strugglingprovincialdays, took
them
the bold
of sending touring companies of
this time
step at about
magicians round the big towns' of Great Britain. One of the
the
first places visited was
doubtless
Cheltenham, where
created a good deal of sentimental
show
interest.
with his first touring company
in person
to
J. N. went
He
visit Ireland.
ground
always preferred to break new
this occasion
his fancy nearly involved
himself; and on
MASKELYNE

him

AND

in serious

COOKE'S, with

trouble.

the company
opening night in Dublin, where
was
by Messrs. Guinness,
engaged for a five weeks' season
the brewers, who
then running a big exhibition in the
were
member
of the audience
Irish capital,
a
objectedpointedly
to J. N.'s opening speech.
"Shut
bloody preaching and get on with the
up your
the gallery.
a yellfrom
magic 1" came
back the answer
: "I'm
Instantlycame
getting on with
it 1 I'm trying to make
disappear for the benefit of
you
neighbours 1"
your immediate
During this Irish visit,feeling ran very high against
England and all thingsEnglish.On the evening of May 6th,
Street on
1882, as J. N. was
strollingthrough Dominion
his way
he saw
theatre
to the
roughs
a
couple of young
On

the

"

71

WHITEMAGIC

72

ahead.
down
a
side-turning
disappear
back as they
They carried revolvers,and glancedfearfully
ran.
always believed that these two men
My grandfather
and

past him

race

of Lord

the murderers

were

shot that

Park, and

Frederick

Cavendish,who

was

eveningwhile walking in the adjacentPhoenix

of their
that theywere
then runningfrom the scene

crime.
in the

Later

same

visit,
J. N.

in

was

street

somewhere

prisonvans passedhim
A great mob
followed,jeering
guardedby mounted police.
and yelling
and throwing bottles and stones
at the police,
who turned and chargedthem two
or three times.
The magic show, however, did not suffer at all from the
demonstrations.
Every night the seats were
anti-English
crude chaff and shoutingthe
packed,and despitesome
satisfiedwith the performances.
audience seemed thoroughly
in
By this time Maskelyne had become a great name
the world of magic.Illusionistsfamous not onlyin England,
but abroad, commenced
to
approach J. N., seekingthe
honour
of appearing
under his management.
he acceptedas an assistant was
One of the firstwhom
near

the Four

Charles
appear

Bertram,
on

He

went.

Courts

the

one

when

some

of the

stage. Bertram

appearedno

handsome

most

ever

popular wherever

was

less than

men

twenty-two

times

to

he

before

King Edward VII, and also gave innumerable performances

of magic at the houses of celebrities and nobilities.
He may be said to have initiated the practice
of giving
illusionist shows
at private
partiesat Christmas and other
times
of magic demonstration
which keepsme
a form
very
to
me
busy nowadays, and which sometimes causes
give
three or four shows a day in addition to my stage performances.
"

Bautier
who

ever

de

Kolta

was

one

of the cleverest

joinedMaskelynes.He

was

very

magicians

famous

when

THE

he
to

to

came

STORY

the

OF

EgyptianHall

Grandfather

and Mr.

Cooke.

MASKELTNES

73

in 1875, in direct
Eleven

years

competition
later he joined

bringingwith him a very pretty illusion

company,
he entitled "The VanishingLady".

J. N/s
which

In this trick

small

the stage and on

ordinarysmall chair. The mat precluded

mat

placedon

was

ladysat in an
of a trap-door
beneath her being used for
any possibility
her subsequentdisappearance,
she did the
yet disappear
cloth was
moment
a
draped over her. De Kolta whipped
the cloth almost as soon
it ; but
as he had arranged
away
the ladywas
gone.
J. N. bought this illusion from de Kolta, and also
purchasedthe chair in which it was first performed.That
chair was
used recently
same
by Miss Gracie Fields
original
in making her charming talkie,"Sing As We
Go", and
Gracie vanished
in that film
as
suddenlyand surprisingly
as did the original
disappearing
ladyfifty
years ago.
de
Kolta
and
Bertram
For some
were
years
very popular
all their tricks,
at the EgyptianHall. Not
however,
figures
it a

off without

went

hitch.

performinga clever bit

the
of conjuringwhen
with
"something went
wrong
works", and the result cost my grandfather
nearly"1000.
A bigdiamond
ringhad been borrowed by the magician
from a lady in the audience. Bertram
put the ring in an
of the
ordinaryenvelope,sealed it, set fire to a corner
and
to ashes
paper, allowed the envelopeto burn away
the ringhad disappeared.
He then made
a
big paper cone, showed it empty to
On

occasion

one

Bertram

was

"

the end, and lo 1 the paper cone

Bertram
opened it up, and
convulsively.

the audience,doubled

began to

move

there inside

was

itsneck

by means
According

live

dove, with the ringfastened about

pieceof blue ribbon.

theory,the dove should

of
to

over

have

circled

MAGIC

WHITE

74

round

the heads

above

of the

audience,returned

to

tram's
Ber-

hand, and allowed the ringto be detached from the

ever,
On this occasion,howribbon and returned to the owner.
had

someone

left
foolishly

of the theatre

one

open

ventilators.
dove

The

it,and flew
round

flew
out

its neck

Of

to this ventilator,
through
slipped
straight
into the world, with the "iooo-ringstill

!
there

course

was

from the
hue and cry, particularly
that her wonderful ringhad vanished
a

ladywhen she found

so
realistically.
Stagehands
to

streets

try

locate the dove.

to

rushingout

sent

were

Inside

the

into the

theatre mild

But the dove was

never
seen
again
pandemonium reigned.
at least,
not
pense
owners.
J. N. had to recomby its rightful
advertisement
the loser of the ring,
and get as much
"

as

he could out

of the affair as it stood.

Morritt, Edward

Charles

Longstaffe,
James Stuart,
Sidney Oldridgeand many other clever magiciansbecame
famous
of them appearedat
at about this time, and
most
one
periodor another under J.N.'s triumphantbanner.
A most
member
of the conjuring
interesting
fraternity
who
joinedMaskelynes in the last decade of last century
was
Douglas Beaufort. In addition to being one of the
finest illusionistsof his age, Beaufort

was

and great gifts.

personality
During his career he was selected by the
Office

to

Mission
Mulai

el Hassan, the Sultan of Morocco.

of
to

vital to

us

coming trouble
head in Egypt,the
at

the time

France, which
was

of remarkable

British

Foreign

Smith and the British

Sir Charles Ewan
accompany
to Fez,there to givea series of performances
before

murmurs
came

man

said at

had

to

secure

Alreadythere were

in North

Africa,which

later

Soudan

and elsewhere. It was

the

of Morocco.
friendship

rival interests in Africa,had, so it

the time, added
beauties to the Sultan of

STORY

THE

MASKELYNES

OF

harem, and had given him

Morocco's

that showed

apparatus

Paris

In

Great

littlehand-movie

at
night-life

by sendingout
Englandreplied
charm
the royalheart into
to
towards

75

Mr.
an

its gayest. So
Beaufort and his magic

even

greater sympathy

Britain.

from
travelling

the coast

to

Fez, the Sultan's capital,

the illusionist gave some

impromptu
Arabs had never
seen
magic of this

performances.The
sort
before,and so

snakegreatlydid it outshine the efforts of their own

that an
charmers, jugglersand marabouts
enormous
reputation precededMr. Beaufort to the Royal Court.
almost
defeated its own
Indeed, too much
success
ends I For sick and maimed
carried
peopleen route were
"Devil Man", as he was
to see the new
called,
respectfully
of these growing better because Nature and their
and, some
faith willed it so, the illusionist suddenlydeveloped
the proportions
of an almost national figure.
As a result,when
he reached
the Sultan was
Fez
him at all !
to see
too
altogether
frightened
For eightweeks
the dusky royaltylurked furtively
within the Palace confines lest the visiting
magicianshould
cast
a
however, curiosity
spellover him. Finally,
got the

better of his fear.

A

had
on

galaperformancewas

been

never

tamed, and

would

arrangedto

take

place
before the Sultan and his whole Court within the precincts
of the Palace. The placechosen adjoined
the royalharem,
and was
which
at nightby three powerfullions,
patrolled
great

have attacked

an

intruder

sight.
While

three

or

four

porticointo
But

Beaufort

Mr.

of the

hidden

for his performance,

preparing
royalladies slippedswiftlyround a
the proceedto try to watch
ings.
corner,

black eunuch

beatingthem

was

saw

savagelyabout

them

and

advanced

the shoulders

with

on
a

them,

heavy

76

WHITEMAGIC

stick,and drivingthem

back

the seclusion of their

to

own

quarters.

by over a score of his sons and

took his placeon the throne
all his chief Ministers,finally
and nervouslyindicated that Mr. Beaufort should begin.
that he
ruler was
the dark-skinned
At first,
nervous
so
showed
each trick approachedits climax.
as
signsof fright
fascinated by the performance,
he was
But soon
absolutely
ment.
in sheer astonishand watched
with his mouth
half-open
Sultan,surrounded

The

the illusionist advanced

Once
that he

could

for

if to ward

of escape, and

avenue

an

Sultan

the

so

closelythe performanceof a rather

Majestyshuffled to his feet,looked

watch

intricate trick. His

round

towards

held

out

his hands

as

off the

conjurer's
approach.
Later, however, gaining courage, he suddenly swept
down
from
his place,advanced
Mr.
to
Beaufort, and
him to produce a handful of living
hoarselycommanded
snakes from
For

his mouth.
the

moment

not
reputation
only of

the

but
visitor,

of

England,was at stake.
"Englishmendespisesnakes,Your Majesty,"was the
with them, and
quick-witted
reply."We have no dealings
consider them unclean. But I will do somethingeven
more
wonderful
I will produce a great number
of eggs from
the mouth
!"
of your own
interpreter
"

The

Sultan

was

neatlyfrom the
Majestysteppednearer

came

ti2ed voice
The

climax

illusionist gave
was

work

master.

of

"More

satisfied.As

than

more

mouth
and

of

nearer

! More

egg after egg

the official named
His

and

! More

repeatedin

hypno-

I"

of the
an

So

performancewas reached when

exhibition of ventriloquism,
of which

the

certain

the

confederates

was

the Sultan that this

that he

had

the

Palace

was

he

precincts

78

WHITE

After

his

MAGIC

from

return

and
grandfather
got together
of the events

some

stagedat

and

devised

for

and

my

porating
incormagicplaylet,

of the African

Egyptian Hall, where

the

Beaufort

Morocco, Mr.

it

was

which
visit,

was

enormous

an

hundred

performances.
To my mind, the most
amazingthingabout this journey
to Morocco
which, by the way, had most
satisfactory
and made the Sultan the friend
later,
political
repercussions
success,

ran

over

two

"

of Britain for the

have

been
In

of his life

rest

"

was

the

that must

nerve

requiredto produce illusions under

those days,it was
a very wild country

Sultan's whims

were

law and his word

such

ditions.
con-

where

the

carried the power

of

lifeand death.
It is not

at

allunlikely
that the

hitch
slightest

or

hesitation

in any of the tricks performedin the Sultan's presence might

have resulted in frightening
the dusky ruler,and causing
the

be

or
even
perhaps put to
imprisonerd,
death in an access
of royalterror.
A comparatively
unknown
magician who started his
astoundingcareer at the EgyptianHall under J.N.'s banner

magicianto

Irishman

was

an

of

John
This

who

worked

at

the time under

the

name

Malone.

idea of abandoning
enterprising
the Englishstage, where he might well have made
a great
and touringas a free-lance performer through the
name,
home
of magic.
East,the legitimate
He travelled through India with amazing success, and
there took the name
of Prester John,because of its associations
with the famous
legendaryEastern King, who was
also supposedto have been a white man.
Malone
said he was
of this ruler ; and that claim,togetherwith
a reincarnation
his geniusfor magic,gainedhim a colossal reputation.
Later he toured
and
through Arabia, Asia Minor
Turkey.
man

conceived

the

OF

STORY

THE

MASKELYNES

79

In the latter country he came

by a strange adventure
but concluded
that came
to ending his life,
near
doubling
by rehis fame.
incurred

enmity of a holy Marabout, who was

himself a famous magician,
and this man
caused "Prester
John" to be haled before the Sultan of Turkey, where that
august potentate ordered a "trial by miracles" between the
He

the

two.

The

firsttrick

Marabout's

hypnotizea snake (as

did before Pharaoh)tillit grew straight
and rigid,
Moses
and cast it on the ground, when
the shock "broughtit to
life" and it wriggledaway. The Irishman,beingno hypnotist,
could not equalhis rival's magic in that particular.
could

Nor

he

presentedbefore
Court

in

stone

palm which

now

"Prester

minutes, and

great

Turkish

superstitiously
muttering
date-palmfrom a date
pluckingfruit from the

menacingtone.
John" craved permissionto
a

would

teat that

to

from

follow. He

he had cured

had since served him

have

brought to

he said contained

prevent him

was

youth,whom

and who

illusion he

there before the beholders' very eyes.

will see your magic,white man
1" said

we

that
preparation
in the

dwarf

of his trunks,which

one

next

had grown

the Sultan in

him

of

matter

"And

growing

in the

him

the Sultan and

that of

"

with

compete

to

was

as

from

potent

being harmed

also asked that

fever

valet,should

long before
be brought

before the Sultan,

The

box

yardsfrom the throne,and

the courtiers drew back, fearing
of
close an experience
too
the coming magic.The Turkish boy then laydown
his
on
face on the box, and "Prester John" solemnlycovered his
was

set

assistant'shead with
minute

or

the cloth.

two,

down

some

felt under

the cloth for

and
mutteringincantations,

then withdrew

cloth. He

80

MAGIC

WHITE

stained
box, with a bloodIrishman's hand, held by the
the

boy'sheadless body layon

The

knife beside it ; in the

and
horribly
longhair,its eyes staring
head

Turk's
the young
of horror
exclamation

blood, was
An

Marabout

began
murder

wild accusation

in the

into

the

and
place,

that his rival had

sacred

Sultan's

him

commanded
fiercely

Irishman
blasted

round

ran

stilldripping

itsneck

to

the

mitted
com-

presence. But the

be silent lest he be

dust.

Then, after walkingto and fro holdingup the dripping

head, "Prester John" strode back to the corpse, covered
the neck
head

and

shoulders

with

beneath
the

for
it,worked
cloth,whereupon

stood
rightful
place,
that he

was

whole

minute

or

two"

the

and

lad, his head now

spoke,walked about,and

up,
and undamaged.

who had
priest
cast by the Sultan

The

cloth,thrust the decapitated

dared

such

dread

drew
within its

showed

magician
into a dungeon beneath the Bosphorwas
us, there to await his ruler's pleasure. "Prester John",
offered an importantposition
the
to
near
however, was
of gold,jewels
Sultan's person, and a great gift
and women,
all of which he is said to have acceptedwithout demur.
After that,this amazing Irish magicianvanished in a
whirlingmist of legend.
His illusion of the decapitated
youth was
performed
in the box on which the
by the aid of an invisible trap-door
lad lay.
He thrust his head down
after
through this trap-door
"Prester John" had withdrawn
from inside the box a dummy
duplicatehead previouslyprepared againstjustsuch an
On
the back of the boy's neck, the magician
emergency.
of red ink,to
applieda littlewet dough paste, and a smear
of a severed neck. The dummy head
give the impression
ornamented.
the dummy was returned
was
Finally,
similarly
to accuse

THE

to

STORY

OF

its place
in the box, the

8l

MASKELYNES

boy withdrew

his

head, "Prester
drew
neck, and with-

the paste and ink from his

the trap-door.
the cloth after closing
cleaned

John"

dread of the Sultan's Court kept them

superstitious
coming near the great white magician; and, except

The
from
at

very close quarters,the trick is undetectable.

In 1893,that distinguished
magicianMr. David

Devant

and inaugurated
a new
phase
joinedMaskelyne's
company,
in the history
of the family.
with a three months'
Starting
he subsequently
became
much
contract
at a small salary,
so
and
a
given a partnership,
part of the firm that he was
Maskelyne and Cooke's became Maskelyneand Devant's,
under

which

owed

to

latter title it flourished

the

much

new-comer

for many
years and
of the fame it achieved in

subsequenttimes.
Towards

the end

of last century, the workshopswhere

his associates preparedthe apparatus

and
my grandfather
for their ever-increasing
list of illusions became
as

devoted

almost
to

so

sive
exten-

that part of the Egyptian Hall

publicperformancesof magic.Some amazing
to

dwarf

and intricate apparatus was

devoted to the
this solely

Nor was
producedand patented.
art of conjuring.
J.N. became interested in a device which held promise
of beingable to fillballoons with gas much
more
quickly
than had been done up to that date. Together with Professor
this
Bacon, he worked for over two years perfecting
that
for his work
apparatus, and obtained such recognition
the War Office approachedhim to undertake
some
ments
experiobservation
of military
in connection with the filling

balloons.
useful
and much
successful,
experimentswere
work
was
done, the results being utilized by the British
mented
Army during the South African War. J. N. also experithe speedof sound
with apparatus for ascertaining
These

82

WHITEMAGIC

in connection

with

the

of big guns,
firing

successful in these researches

he

as

was

but

was

not

so

with his balloons.

By this time, his son Nevil was helpinghim, both in the

had two
workshops and on the stage. My grandfather
Nevil (my father)and Archie. Nevil took to the
sons,
followed tradition
and even
illusion business as if born to it,
Mr.
by marrying a lady connected with the profession.
with
worked
did likewise,marryinga lady who
Devant
of the prettiest
him in some
illusions ever invented ; and in
road by marrying
I myselffollowed the same
due course
later. Surelythere
lady",as I shall recount
my "vanishing
for such a
be strong magic somewhere
to account
must
succession of coincidences.
It

was

Mr.

Devant

who

for obtaining
responsible
shows
the firstmovie-picture

was

EgyptianHall some of
in England.Little did anyone guess then that the
ever
seen
novelty to which a few minutes of the Maskelyne programme
devoted
each evening was
to
was
subsequently
oust
to a very great degreefrom
conjuring
publicinterest,
and to contribute largely
towards
the condition of things
which eventually
Theatre to be taken
caused Maskelynes*
by the B.B.C.
In 1 896,Lumiere broughtan "animated picture"
show
with
to the Polytechnic
Theatre,and after some
negotiation
show
these
to
grandfatheroffered him a machine
my
at the Egyptian Hall at a hire priceof "100 a week
pictures
in those days. The demand
in
a
very largesum
was,
fact,too high.
But an English
inventor of the name
of Paul had simultaneously
produced a similar machine, and Mr. Devant,
Mr. Paul eventually
in the midst of negotiations
with
finding
a rival manager,
bought the invention for "100, which he
paidout of his own pocket,in order to secure the marvel
for Maskelynes'
show.
Two
days after Lumiere started
for the

"

STORY

THE

OF

83

MASKELYNES

showing his "movies" at the Empire Theatre, where the

generalpublicsaw them for the first time (theprevious
show havingbeen for theatrical managers only),
Maskelynes
the EgyptianHall for shows with Mr. Paul's
were
filling
invention.

Meanwhile, the workshopsbehind

the stage were

busier

for

taken up
J.N. and his son Nevil were now
with the problemof devising
an
apparatus that would run
movie films continuously
and smoothly.The two
of them
the difficultiesthat faced
to overcome
spent months trying
than

ever,

them

in this

Films

task,but
taken

succeeded

never

to

their

faction.
satis-

own

publicevents, such as Queen

claim
and so I think Maskelynescan
Victoria's Jubilee,
the credit of producing
the firstnews-reels on record. They
also filmed the first pictures
made
of theatrical perever
formance
the
hit on
though they did not unfortunately
them to
goldenidea of filming
completeplaysand offering
the public
as movies
or talkies.
several films were
made of J.N., Nevil Maskelyne
Still,
and Mr. Devant, together
with my aunt Cassie Maskelyne,
and others,performinglittlemagic playlets
or
producing
illusions.These pictures
"shot" on the roof of the
were
EgyptianHall in the closing
years of last century, and were
sold all over
extensively
England and America, where
ambition in the mind of
perhapstheystirreda germinating
were

Laemmle

some

or

of

Korda

whose

fame

was

yet unborn.

of the
Queen Alexandra sent a special
request for some
of the Royal
taken of herself and other members
pictures
tinguish
Family at a Chelsea Hospitalfete,and many other dispeoplein Englandbegan to take an interest in
the

new

art.

England
challenge
throughout
he offered "1000 to
great sensation. Briefly,

At this time,J.N. issued a

that created

84

WHITEMAGIC

the first person who

could do the two
followingthings:
(i)prove that he had discovered the secret of the famous

MaskelyneBox Trick,and (2)producea box and duplicate

with it the tricks J. N. himself would do with his box at a
publicperformance.
In 1898 this challenge
No agreement was
was
accepted.
imitated my
reached as to whether
the challenger
correctly
and eventually
into Court.
the case came
trick,
grandfather's
The jurydisagreed,
after examiningJ.N.'s original
mystery
box and its rival in the presence of the Judge,and the case
doubt that the
before a fresh jury.There seems
came
no
claimant never
box,
explainedthe secrets of the original
the
whatever he may have done in the way of reproducing
trick himself,
and so failed to comply with the firstcondition
of the challenge
; but the case, after draggingright
up to
of Lords, was
the House
awarded against
father,
finally
my grandwho had to pay the "1000 he had offered.
With a pugnacity
of him, he immediatelyrevived
typical
the Davenport box trick on the stage at the EgyptianHall,
and engaged some
notabilia to performin it.In this
topical
way

he made
It was

far

than he lost over

the case.
money
of J.N.'s gifts
that he alwaysknew when
the

one

more

publicwere interested in
to
persuade that person
and Devant's

alwaysseemed able
perform under Maskelyne

anyone,
to

and

Several years earlier,

when one of
the periodical
revivals of interest in the notorious Tichborne
Claimant

management.

capturingthe universal fancy,J. N.

engaged Orton, the claimant,to do a disappearingtrick
he was
at the EgyptianHall,where
greetedwith enormous
interest and attracted very largecrowds.
that Roger Charles Tichborne,
It will be remembered
of a Hampshire millionaire,
lost at sea, and an
son
was
Australian

Case

was

butcher

missingheir. A

named

Orton

claimed

that he

was

the

valet of Tichborne's,brother officersof his

86

WHITE

MAGIC

the stage at the EgyptianHall,Grandfather

he
strong smell of burning.Looking up quickly,

under
erecting
noticed
saw

small

in black silk clothes

man

not
standing

far from

him, lookingon.

J.N. had engaged

and who
for a magical
in which the Devil appeared,
playlet
had actually
performed the previoustwo nightson the
had no business there
EgyptianHall stage.But he certainly
that
it to be expected
at that time in the morning,nor
was
he would
and make-up.
be in costume
When
J.N. asked him what he was doingthere,he did
took a step towards
not
reply; and when my grandfather
than any magicianever
him, he vanished more
surprisingly
This

vanished

man

from

looked

like the actor

whom

stage.

had chosen this dramatic way

Supposingthat the man
of introducing
to his notice a new
trick,my
disappearing
called to him, and eventually,
no
grandfather
receiving
behind the stage into his private
where
went
office,
reply,
he expected
to find the actor
sort of explanation.
ready with some
The

which
door of this office,

shut, and J. N. heard

movements

had been

open,

inside. He

was

now

strode

in,

meeting a stench of sulphur,but the placewas empty.

Also, a pileof books on the Black Arts which had been
about. One of them was
flunghastily
open on the table were
It was
found.
never
missing.
The sequel
more
was
even
amazing.That morning,still
that the actor who
took the Devil in the playlet
believing
had contrived some
trick on him, J. N. went
inexplicable
of that description
to his address,
one
no
onlyto find^that
had ever
seen
stayedthere. The man was never
again,and
had to be hastily
rehearsed in the part for that
an understudy
performance.
evening's
What
it ? Elaborate practical
was
joke? Insane terror

THE

at

than

J.

either

N.

In

would

the

of

present,
this

at

of

guide

and

branched

to

theatrical
that

ceased

to

in

the

J.
his

out

has
be

took

ruled

N.

"

his

on

after

the

how

stage,
N.

was

he

felt

discovering

financial

Devant.

interest
he

as

had

in

My
the

always

Mr.

finest
Cooke

Nevil
but

;
no

as

department

father,

done,

concern

the

this

concern

manager

famous

stage.

leaving

Street.

the

of

some

to

move

long

very

British

the

to

left

show,

successful

Regent

so

becoming

own,

Mr.

in

for

his

participant,
of

hands

Hall

Hall,

been

and

adorned

active

an

brilliantly

Masover

matter

all
what

position.
the

was

through

him

had

being

their

him

Egyptian

had

and

since

the

George's

who

supreme,

nominal
He

taken

ask

and

long

grandfather

my

capable

kelyne,

could

christening. J.
to

but

again.

have

to

own

omitted

St.

own

manager,

talent

he

as

witchcraft

first

my

quitted

Morton,

and

after

later,

their

William

Mr.

but

Maskelynes

theatre

at

man

soon

solved

performance.

years

tenancy,

said

mysterious

more

been

as

with

be

may

leading

course,

great

Three

myself

of

part

dabble

and

never

off

playlets

never

1902,

blacker
has

problem
Art

87

MASKELYNES

something

The

Black

and

OF

? Or

took

that,

in

theft

petty

STORY

type

of

who

man

Maskelynes'
;

and

his

must

Mysteries

always

supreme

conceived

were

spirit still inspires

rule

me

today.

and

CHAPTER

Opening

St.

at

partner

"

offers

Colley

Hall

George's
wizard

Faced

"

curate

"

failure

with
I

make
"

becomes

Devant

"

bow

my
the

Into

challenge

"1000

VH

Archdeacon

"

Courts

Side

"A

"

Issue".

TAKING

over

End

West

Theatre

Egyptian Hall,
periods,and quite another
and

magic.
lack

not

heading
1904,

the

as

commissioned

from
famous

matter

for

no

take

to

other

been

never

renewed

tenancy

in London

root

than

purpose

done

short

over

before

play
dis-

the

and

there

that he

was

latter end

of

completed
that

to

was

ever,

David
write

decided

do

to

and

Murray

the

thing

in

style.

father, Nevil

my

and

produce a special magic play

Lord
Lytton's novel, The Coming Race, and a very
by Vera Beringer, was
caste, headed
engaged.

As

for

ruinous
doubtful

to

St.

George's Hall, which

condition
structurallyand
reputation, J. N. almost

stage and
auditorium

lavish

move.

fearless

Maskelyne,

the

negotiationsfor St. George's Hall were

rehearsals
began for the gala performance

J. N.,

The

It had

on

to tell J. N.
pessimistsand doubters
the Bankruptcy Courts
when, in the

for

celebrate

He

great theatre

open
of

and

taking.
under-

stupendous

very

the

at

did

is

of money
is inevitablyinvolved
large sum
the test.
a reputation is put to
It was
one
ful
thing for Maskelynes' Mysteries to be successA

and

its

lightingand

was

not

was

marred

effects

reconstructed

scale.
88

at

the

by

time
more

in

than

completely rebuilt it.

were
magnificent, but
on
quite the same

THE

The

STORY

OF

floor of the outer

with linoleum

89

MASKELYNES

for instance,
vestibule,
was

covered

left bare ; there was

said
no
proper bar in the theatre (and in those days it was
that theatres were
built around
their bars !); the cheaper
the stone

uncomfortable

seats were
ones

were

none

the furniture and

stairs were

wooden

luxurious

too

were
fittings

On

January znd,
distinguished
company
welcome

forms, and
; there

of the
And

almost

no

almost inclined

to

the better

boxes, and
shabbiness.

theatre opened,and a
1905, the new
of guests and patrons gave a tremendous

the company
and
first performanceof The Coming Race.
one

were

even

to

triumphsof

producersafter the
J. N. preparedfor

his life.

then,so fickle is publicfancy,bookingsdwindled

within a coupleof weeks. The

vanishing-point
of St. George'sHall reared its ugly head and
"hoodoo"
menaced
not
only with theatrical failure
grandfather
my
and an ignominiousdismissal back to the provinces,
but
with the very bankruptcythat the Doubting Thomases
had foretold.
his acquaintances
among
For eightblack weeks he kept The Coming Race playing
to almost empty houses, while he paidits losses out of his
own
pocket.Two shows a day were
given,and the new
of which my grandfather
styleof "matinee" performances,
attracted a good deal of notice.
the originator,
was
had been one
of the warmest
Sir Henry Irving,
who
noon
afterinto J.N.'s office one
admirers of the new
play,came
and asked if there was
to his borrowing
any objection
the idea of matinee performances
for his own
theatrical
of regular
From
this beginningthe presentation
ventures.
to

matinees in London
Towards

sprang.

the end

The

ComingRace must
pressinghim ; like
enemies,and these

were

Februaryit became
be taken off. J. N.'s

obvious

of

all famous

men,

he

creditors

had

made

that
were

many

avidlyprophesyinghis forthcoming

WHITEMAGIC

90
ruin ;

the

theatre

new

less than

was

half full,even

on

Saturdayevenings.
this crisis of his career, J. N. remained
from
undismayed. He recalled Mr. Devant

absolutely

At

talk with

him

so

in
as

He

rumoured

between

endeavour

an

to

the

meet

had

to

an

would

find backers who

unceasingdemands

now

anxious

finance

of his creditors.

direction. It was
openly
every
that only a matter
of daysintervened

failed in

in London
him

had

successful

tried everyone
had already
My grandfather

him.

he knew

closed doors

behind

and

provincial
tour,

and the

of
filing

his

bankruptcypetition.
And
astounded
then the theatrical world was
by the
ately
immedithat a huge new
show was
announcement
to open
branch
at St. George'sHall, and
a
simultaneously
theatre was
in Paris ! Mr. Devant, after a flying
to open
visit

to

returned

the Continent
to

in time

London
take

to
as

for the necessary credits,

cern,
full-fledged
partner in the con-

arrange
a

leadingpart in "A Feast of Magic",

the new
productionfor St. George's Hall. J. N., his son
Nevil,and J.B. Hansard were also to appear.
novel
Tremendous
advertising
alonglines then entirely
in the theatrical profession
titillatedLondon's
interest so
that the advance bookingsfor the new
show already
ised
prombefore it was
success
even
opened.
It included some
astoundingJapanese jugglingacts,
hair-raising
knife-throwing
among which was an absolutely
trick ; movie-pictures
; a trick in which J.N. vanished while
actually
beingheld by members of the audience ; a magical
act.
playlet
; and a sensational fire-swallowing
The latter looks extraordinary,
for in it the performer
licks genuinely
red-hot pokers,puts flamingballs of tow
to

into his mouth, and submits his tongue to tests with

metal which would sear the horniest hand.
The

secret

is

simple,and

is

now

very

molten

widely known.

THE

The

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

91

tongue is coated with

powdered sugar and soap before

the performance,
when
it becomes
insensible to
perfectly
heat. At the same
serious warning to
time, I offer a most
feel inclined to try any such trick
who
amateur
conjurers
in their repertoire.
These fire tricks need the most
skilful,
liable to
personaltuition,and endless practice
; they are
have serious or even
fatal results if rashlyattemptedby
novices.
On

the

opening night of

"A

Feast

of

Magic", St.
nightqueues

George'sHall was pretty well filled.Next

formed
long before the show opened,and the theatre was
filledto capacity.
After that,it was
of turningthe
a matter
publicaway. Straight
magic had done what the actor's art
had

failed
For

to

do.

four months

this state

of

thingscontinued. Then,
of its success, J.N. withdrew
the show, for he
at the height
knew
the value of leaving
off at the psychological
moment
before receipts
began to show any decline,and while the
performancewas stillthe talk of the town.
of the
one
Meanwhile, Mr. Devant had been perfecting
wonderful
illusions ever
shown
the publicstage.
most
on
This was
nothingless than a trick in which he walked up
in the middle of a fullylighted
to a woman,
stage, away
from curtains and trap-doors,
attemptedto embrace her
from his arms, in
and, hey presto ! she vanished instantly
"

full view

of the entire audience.

Mr. Devant

himself has since

of
the origin
explained

this

amazingtrick. He says that his wife saw him rise from bed
one
night,and go through all the actions of the illusion,
his eyes being wide open at the time, and then return
to
bed again without ever
walking.
having waked up. He was sleepNext

morning, he

made, and

found

tried

out

that it worked

the trick,had

an

in every
perfectly

apparatus
detail.

MAGIC

WHITE

92
The

trick

in
presented

was

ladyin questionfluttered on
of

great moth.

Mr.

candle and she vanished.

with

of

one

as

great

Gaul
that

successes

flocked
were

the firm
as

illusion

was

put into

playlet
was

staged.
branch of Maskelyneand Devant
now
was
called,
just
registering
ever

its London

in his thousands

for
presented

was

the Indian Frontier hills and

Meanwhile, the Parisian

as
Mysteries,

up
the stage wearing the makeDevant
approachedher with a
to

The

in
mysticalsetting
the biggest
successes

The

artistic form.

most

counterpart. The
to

see

the

volatile

amazing

tricks

his amusement.

amusing interlude there justat this

time. J. N. had engageda very clever magician,
an
English
who was
in time while waitingfor a living
curate
by
filling
doing brilliant little magic shows, and this reverend
gentlemanperformedin Paris under a nom de theatre.
The Bishop of his diocese happened to be spendinga
short holidayin the French
and was
scandalized
capital,
his
to see, on
a big Maskelyne poster, a photographwhich
incredulous eyes told him was
of one
of his most
promising
young acolytes.
To convince himself even
againsthis will,the Bishop,
and distinctive top-hatornamented
with
completein gaiters
There

was

rather

the littleaerials that marked

it

out

from

others of its class

solemnlyup to the box office of the Parisian theatre,

took a single
and sat in righteous
stall,
indignation
out
throughthe performance,
duringwhich he doubtless received
shocks which afterwards made him offer up special
invocations
againstnecromancy.
clerical magicianwas
Later still,
invited
our
young
commanded
the Bishop'shotel, where
to
he was
or
by bell,book and candle for having
solemnlycondemned
performedunholy tricks in such an abandoned den of vice
hall.
as a Parisian variety
marched

"

"

MAGIC

WHITE

94
The
Irish

scene

mountains,

that of a rocky cell in the

the stage was
effective natural phenoand some
most
mena

beingreproducedto givethe rightatmosphere.

were

It

on

this dramatic

at

was

that the old hermit

moment

in

and most
of the peoplein the theatre also,
meditations,
heard my clear,
childish treble inquiring
: "Daddy, is that
his

Dod's

thunder

The
to

or

?"

twitched,the "effects" redoubled

titter from the audience,and I was
perceptible

hermit's

hide

Grandpa'sthunder
mouth

obscurity.
painful
notable for his realistic
As a matter
of fact,J. N. was
of thunder, rain and wind. At a time
stage reproductions
when
these things
were
produced
generally
very artificially
the legitimate
on
stage, and when clouds,suns and moons
were
usually
paintedon wrinkled and dustybackcloths,he
and my father were
experimentingwith an apparatus
already
withdrawn

which

into

was

horizon"

more
now

or

less the forerunner

used in London's

theatres.
biggest

In its improved form, this is

canvas

tightlystretched

over

of the "artificial

expanse of plainwhite
semi-circular rails behind
an

the stage,like the inside of a cylinder.

It acts as a reflector
of light
of cloudscapes
it playmoving pictures
actually
; on

photographedfrom the sky.

J. N. could not perfect
Owing to technical difficulties,
this idea, but he managed to evolve some
very natural
effects with cloud, rain and so on, and gaineda good deal
of appreciation
for them.
In 1906, there arose
the first murmurings of a storm
that was
in fiiry
St. George's Hall.
to break
over
shortly
Some
aroused J. N.
correspondencein the Daily Telegraph
he expressed
his usual strong views
to write a letterin which
about spiritualism
and media.
This brought a replyfrom a gentlemancalled Archdeacon
Colley,Rector of Stockton, Warwickshire. He

THE

OF

STORY

MASKELTNES

95

publicly
challenged
J.N. to bringany machineryhe wished
to Stockton
Rectory,and there reproducecertain spiritualistic
said that he had deposited
phenomena. The Archdeacon
"1000 with his bankers,to be paidto J. N. if the
latter succeeded in doingwhat was
asked of him.
The chief phenomenon mentioned
to cause
a mist
was
to

come

forth from

the side of

man,

which

mist

as

it

able to speak and

figure,
emerged turned into a human
from its originator.
about separately
move
claimed that a famous spiritualis
For the Archdeacon
medium
from
had, in his presence, conjured
up such a spirit
his side,and that the spirit
walked
talked,wrote
letters,
and ate a baked apple.
Who
baked the apple,
or
why the
reincarnated dead should prefer
this form of diet to a nice
dish of banana frittersit seems
to say with
now
impossible
any certainty.
It appears that though the spirit
the skin
ate the apple,
and core
wards
remained in the mouth
ofthe medium^ who afterdeacon
mundanely spat them out, whereupon the Archreverently
preservedthem as proof to all doubters
that the spirit
had been real or at least as real as such
visitants can be.
extraordinary
To the original
challengefrom the rural depths of
with a certain good-natured
Stockton Rectory,J.N. replied
that he himself did not believe in spirits
out
levity,
pointing
"

of that sort, and that he wished

agnosticism,
justas,
to

remain

no

to

be leftin his comfortable

doubt, the Archdeacon

would

like

believer.

grandfather
thoughtat the
time that Archdeacon
tain
Colleyhad been deceived by a cerof the period.
famous
fraudulent medium
ever,
howThe reverend gentlemanwould not be appeased,
and began writingto various newspapers
sayingthat
the famous
Maskelyne was hedging in face of a public
I

happen

to

know

that my

96

WHITEMAGIC

that he could
and that his frequent
statements
challenge,
were
merely
produceany phenomena claimed by spiritualists
the wild claims of a self-advertising
windbag.
anxious
With the intolerance of youth, my father was
cussion
distake the invitation upon himself,and after some
him and Mr. Devant to reply
to the
J.N. permitted

to

Archdeacon
Rector

offeringto

of Stockton

was

accept the

But
challenge.

avid for the blood

the

of the Arch-

Disbeliever himself.
In the
a
a

nuisance

became
end, the cleric'srepeatedchallenges
that

J.N. was
what
pamphlettelling

forced in his

own

he considered

to

such

defence to issue
be the

true

facts

pamphlet,he claimed that Mr.

Archdeacon
at all,
an
Colleywas not, in reality,
havinghad
bury,
the degreerefused him by the then Archbishopof Canterthe hood of an
and that,though he commonly wore
of the whole

Oxford

story. In this

M.A., he

was

not

entitled to do

so.

pamphlet,the Rector of Stockton took such

that he sued J.N. for libel.My grandfather's
strong exception
and fair comment
instant replywas
a pleaof justification
;
he
and at the same
time
reproducedat St. George'sHall the
illusion of a spirit
form emerging from the side of a man,
and then claimed in Court payment of the "1000 offered by
the Archdeacon
for the performance
of this trick.
As a matter
of fact,
the chief reason
why J.N. had been
reluctant hitherto to accept the Archdeacon's
so
challenge
because the latter gentlemancould by no
be
was
means
induced to formulate it in what his opponent thoughtwere
To

this

reasonable
he

terms

thoughtto

medium

should

"

to

wit, that he should engage

be the finest medium

raise the

The

of the

day,that this
publicplacebefore an

in a
spirits
that J. N. should

audience,and
impartial
to reproducethe tricks exact

whoever

then

endeavour

in every detail.

Archdeacon, while obviouslywroth, preferred

to

THE

adhere

STORY

the

to

OF

much

very

MASKELYNES

vaguer

97
of his

terms

original

challenge.
The

tried before

Mr.

JusticeRidley and a
Jury in the King's Bench Division,and created a
Special
tremendous
sensation. Before theycould decide the question
to whether
as
J. N. had earned his "1000, the juryhad to
of the trick
go to St. George'sHall to see a performance
in question,which
had been
"The
Side
aptlynamed
case

was

Issue".
In

it,J. N.

and

frock-coats and

both
assistant,

his

long black
stood in the
"dog-collars,"

semi-clerical

clad in

of the stage,well away from curtains,

and
trap-doors
chairs as
on, and with only a coupleof ordinarycane

centre
so

The
assistant "hypnotized" J. N., made
"properties".
and J. N.
magicalpasses over him, muttered mysticspells,
his eyes shut and a rapt expression
to his full height,
rose
on

his face.
At

this moment,

usuallyto

of horror
a

white

mist

and

began to

thickened tillit formed

hand
a

issue from
a

followed

accompanimentof

astonishment

from

the

clamations
ex-

audience,

his left side. This

hand, growing from

by an arm
form.
spirit
golden-haired
was

the

mist

his side. The

there
gradually,

materialized

while J.N.
horizontally,
himself stood with shut eyes and white face,apparently
in
The
trance.
a
spiritthen turned her feet to the ground,
spoke to the audience in a clear and intelligent
way, ate a
desired to do so, and then, at a
baked appleif particularly
She floated forth from

sudden

pass from

the

audience's very eyes,

eyes and
The

his side

"medium",
while J. N.

vanished
uttered

from

before the

cry,

opened his

appearedto emerge from a dream.

dramatic and realistic
thingwas an extraordinarily
and the Press and onlookers universally
illusion,
agreedthat
it fulfilledevery detail of Archdeacon
Colley'schallenge.

98

WHITE

MA

GIG

jurythoughtcould not, of course, be immediately

but theylooked very impressed.
disclosed,
I remember, as a very small boy,watchingthis illusion
from the wings of the theatre,and greetingmy aunt
(the
form) as she vanished from human ken
spirit
golden-haired
her
side. I also remember
and materialized againby my
pointingout the juryto me, as they sat solemnlylooking
the

What

on

the front

from
The

he had

returned

case

known

the

wrecked

This has

but

we

As

the

alwaysseemed

and admitted

that

he had

once

and that the Prophet

the vasty deeps,
"like Hell let loose".
and behaved
to

to

me

be rather

slur on

Samuel,

will let it pass.

to

the

up that
and
of

medium,

room

Colleyagreedthat

the Courts. Mr.

to

from

raised "Samuel"
had

of the stalls.

row

Mr. Justice
libel,
Ridleysaid in
alleged
"the words that the plaintiff
not
was
an

never

fact",and

had

been

that "the

an

rest

archdeacon

of the

were

ming
sum-

deacon
arch-

statements

pamphlet was

not

libellous".

by J.N. for the "1000 offered

of the spirit-raisin
by Mr. Colley for the reproduction
it appearedthat,though the ghostappeared
manifestation,
the claim failed on a technical point
satisfactorily,
perfectly
had not returned into J.N.'s side the
because the apparition
but had suddenlyvanished
while still
way it had come,
As

some

to

the counter-claim

distance from

him.

then adjudgedby the juryto have

was
My grandfather
libelled Mr. Colley,
and to have failed to earn
the "1000
offered 1 Damages of "75 were
him in respect
givenagainst
of the libel,
and he had to pay the very high costs of the
case.
long-drawn-out
Of course, the matter
of returning
apparently
my aunt
into his side was
justas simpleas her emergence had been.
had Mr. Colleystated exactly
what he wished done
In fact,

when
to

he
doubt

J.
at

N.

THE

STORY

offered

his

that

he

was

the

losing

there

challenge

would

have

his

billed

little

very

room

"1000.

Far

man.

he

99

seems

lost

marvellous

case,

MASKELTNES

OF

from

"The

Side

being

downcast

Issue"

all

over

London.

People
had

interest
had

Hall,

from
been

appeared
and

Maskelynes
deliriously

the

of

"The

excited
the
Side

had

ever

delighted

and

length

by

case,

known.
audiences

of
the

reading

came

Issue"

breadth

long

crowding

proved
It
for

to

ran

to

be

the

before

nearly

whose

England,

reports
St.

George's

biggest
packed
year.

that

draw
and

CHAPTER

The

Circle

Magic

"

hand

dead

"A
Turning over
the
Thames
A
in
magician
Ancient
temple magic.
Hall"

IT

about

was

1905

all the

as

It will

can

magicisns

end

the
the

of the

of

dency
Presi-

its

into

gathered

since

Eastern

seen

in the

case

done.

There

For

how

seen

difficult this

of

are

trick

worked

of average

notable

instance, J. N.'s
that

for

on

many

Once

the

he

concern

illusion,

an

skilful
can

intricacy,deduce

Trick

years

stage, he

exceptions,of
Box

latter

produce

to

patent apparatus

illusion

an

inventor.

patent the illusion.

cannot

you

who

at

"

formed

was

of the

easily be

be. You

might
has

has

Trick"

Performance

under

formed,

was

George's

Rope

I believe

exact,

St.

largely to prevent the

of magic from
being publiclyexposed, and also as
magical
possibleto protect the presentation of new

effects in favour

but

be

famous

most

world,

Western

secrets

far

"

which

association,

membership
and

Page"" The
My first Command

New

to

"

Spies in

"

Indian

the

of my

This

plays dominoes

Maigc Circle
grandfather.

that

"

this time

VIII

magician
usually,
how

it is

course.

defied
offered

imitation

"1000

to

so

cessfully
suc-

anyone

could

of automata,
reproduce it. In the invention
too,
he was
unequalled, and Zoe, Psycho, Labial and the rest
been
have
never
copied to this day. Nor have
successfully
of the Maskelyne vanishing tricks.
some
But
admittedly the greatest magician of his
J. N. was

time,
Others

if

not

the

might

greatest
suffer

ever

from

known
imitation
IOO

in the world's
where

he

went

history.
free.

Therefore

the

Magic

closes its doors

spy

MAGIC

WHITE

102

for

concealed

has

every member

makes

Qrcle

very

that
conferences,

of its annual

one

himself

present is a

within

and
precincts,

the

of honour

man

before it

sure,

no

that

and discretion.

exhibited
trick ever
new
astonishing
of the Magic Circle was
devised by that
to the members
Mr. Devant, and displayed
master
at the annual
magician,
meetingin 1909.
the company
He passedround among
a
glasscase in
which
reposed a withered yellow hand. This hand had
of the sixteenth century,
belongedto a Japanesephilosopher
because of certain magicalproperand had been preserved
ties
said to have passedinto it on his
which the owner
was

Perhaps the

most

death.
At

the

the hand

Magic

removed

was

hand
trolley,

Circle

and

meetingfour

from

behind

screen,

The

and

weird

years later
and placedon a small

returned

number

independentmembers
a

case

trolley
beingthen

of the closed case, in which

been scattered.
Three

the

hundred

the inside

to

of dominoes

of the audience
game

of

had first

then

dominoes

hid

menced.
com-

three

magiciansplayedtheir best,but the

without any human
hand, runningto and fro on its trolley
its own
tion
selecagency and picking
up in its withered fingers
of
had

dominoes, won

never

been

known

each game.
to

Devant

said that it

lose.

this time, my father,

Nevil
of the Circle. He was
present on

By

Mr.

Mr.

was
Maskelyne,

President

this

tinguish
occasion,other disguests beingHerr Stackemann, Mr. Carl Hertz,
Jack Merlin, Dr. Wilmar, Mr. Herbert Collings,
and,

of course,

Mr.

remember

the occasion

Mr.

Devant

as a
reputation

Devant

was

master

himself. Doubtless

some

of them

will

still.

by

this time

illusionist.
He

making a world-wide
had recently
invented

STORY

THE

he entitled "The

trick which
a

great sensation

when

Hall. I think it one

MASKELTNES

OF

of

103

New

Page",and which created

it was
presentedat St. George's
the cleverest thingsof its kind ever

staged.
box

carried in

was

put togetherafter each

by

the audience.

the stage, and there

held up for examination

pieceson to
piecehad been

When

erected,it was

small coffin,
exactly
bigenough

fitone

to

found

be

to

of the diminutive

page-boysof the theatre. The coffin was stood on end ;

the page squeezedinto it,and was
there securely
strapped
iron bar runningthe full lengthof the inside of the
to an
coffin. The

slowlyof

lid

then

was

its own

screwed

accord,and

on,

when

remained

the coffin

suspendedin

rose

air
mid-

about six feet from

Devant

Mr.
to

the stage.
then took a doll in his

the audience

page-boymust
with the
spell
With

that whatever
also

he

hand, and explained

did with the doll,the

do, because

he

was

under

the

doll

sympathetic

littlefigure.

sudden

dramatic

motion,

then

was

unscrewed
upsidedown. The coffin-lidwas swiftly
also found to be upsidedown, though
and the page-boywas
stillstrapped
It was
to the iron bar as firmly
as ever.
quite
for the boy, or the bar,to move
side
inobviouslyimpossible
turned

"

the closed

coffin. How

was

it done ? I dare

say the

would

surprise
you !
that they
The
trick that Maskelynes admitted
one
could not performwas
the Indian Rope Trick. In fact,my
broadcast not
which
issued a challenge,
was
grandfather
only all over Europe and America, but throughoutthe
lengthand breadth of India,that he would pay "10,000
down, or "1000 down and a salaryof "250 a week, to any
and show
fakir who
could do this trick to his satisfaction,
answer

him

how
So

to

many

do it himself.
incorrect versions

of the Indian

Rope

Trick

MAGIC

WHITE

104

that I should perhapsoutline this illusion

printed
in the original
form of the legend.
The fakir must
performthe trick in an open field,
away
from trees or any other obstacles. He must
producea rope,
let it be examined
by an independentaudience who must
throw
the rope about
and then he must
pass it as genuine,
been

have

it should

fifteen feet in the air,where

vertical and

remain

of support.
any visible means
climb the rope to its top, and vanish.
and slashes about
fakir follows with a knife in his teeth,

rigid,
though without
A boy must
then
The

in the air
of flesh

at

the top, whereupon limbs,a

from the boy'sbody fall to the

head, and pieces

ground.
and
the fakir descends the rope, pullsit down
Finally,
coils it up, throws the limbs and pieces
of body into a bag,
been examined
placesthe bag in a box which has previously
and within a minute the box opens and
by the audience
the boy jumps out, alive and whole.
This trick has never been performed.
cut

"

I
have
end

well

am

seen

that hundreds

aware

it.I

also

am

of travellers claim

that India

aware

was

searched

to

from

end, duringthe occasion of the late King George's

visit there in 1902, when
Prince of Wales, and that
he was
no

to

could find

one

could

fakir who

performthe

trick before

him.
I believe the

of Windsor's
This
in which

ground
has

and

must

not

be confounded

with

of support.
I myself can
get farther than that. I can
but I cannot
stand up rigid,
in an
at least not

him.

similar

one

means

"

make

performerplacesa long bamboo

pole on the
to the top of it,though the pole
a boy climbs

apparent

no

Duke

visit to India.

trick
the

thing happened during the

same

from
boy disappear

make

rope

open field
"

the top of it while alleyes watch

THE

them

to

in

an

open

IOJ

bits,throw
a

bag, and

minute, but for this

do it all in

I cannot
to

within

MASKELYNES

boy

remains, throw

whole

able

OF

cut
apparently

can

mutilated
him

STORY

as
field,

down

his

reincarnate

I need

the fakirs claim

stage.
to

be

do.

But I have

to repeating,
on
account,
objection
my own
issued by my
and
the challenge
originally
grandfather,
been
has never
repeatedlater by my father. That challenge

answered.

It

no

never

will be.

illusionist's business is

The
best-laid

so

far like life that "the

I remember
oft gang agley".
an
sion
occaplans
trick
Maskelynes'Theatre when a disappearing
...

at
went

very wrong

indeed.

magicianwe had engagedthere to filla gap caused by

illness had apparently
looked upon
it was
the bottle when
red
and left it plainglass-coloured
! Anyway, he walked
he meant
to vanish,
to the stage with a donkey which
on
and vanished
trod on
the trap-door
himself, leavingthe
donkey lookingrather pleased.
My father walked on, improviseda few words of banter
of "vanishing"
the difficulty
both a donkey and itsdriver
on
realized that
and the donkey followed its master.
No one
anythinghad gone wrong with the trick.
the
It was
illusion nearlyended
Once
on
an
fatally.
of magic at a Teddington
occasion of a big outdoor display
of his cleverest
gardenparty, attended by my father and some
magicians.Many famous peoplewere present to watch
A

"

"

the illusions.
in which
trick of the day was
one
spectacular
tern,
to be shut inside an iron cisa clever Englishillusionistwas
riveted in there by professional
riveters not connected
inside
with Maskelynes,and then the cistern with the man
into the Thames.
to be flungbodily
was
The thinghit the water
with a terrific plop,and sank
The

most

106

WHITE

amid
instantly,
The

gasps from

dressed
fashionably

the

by the disturbance subsided

stillno magicianappeared.

created

waves

ripplesbut
"

No

MAGIC

one

in the audience

except my

into

father and

long overdue

realized that the illusionistwas

audience.

at

agitated
myself

the surface.

somethinggone wrong ? If so, then the show looked

be a poor chance
for there would
like endingin a fatality,
bottom if anything
of escape for a magicianon the Thames
faultyoccurred in "the works".
the performer's
And
relief,
then, to our extraordinary
head broke the surface of the water, and he swam
slowly
tremendous
As soon
and painfully
to shore,amid
applause.
of his
taken aside,and the explanation
he was
as possible,
longimprisonmentunder the Thames was explained.
Something had gone wrong. Only the consummate
and skill of the young
nerve
magicianhad saved his life
and our
and preventedthat sunny afternoon's
reputation,
from beingturned into a ghastly
amusement
tragedy.
It was
mand
in July,1912, that I gave my first Royal ComHad

Performance.

then

was

nine

I was
surmise,therefore,
rightly

list of artistes submitted

The

as

you
the

on

Buckingham Palace for

when
appearedall the same
to

approval.But
Majesty's
great day came.

not

old ;
named
actually
years

His
the

givenat the Palace Theatre,and

the firstvariety
before
was
by Royal Command
performance
King George V. What a state of excitement I was in when I
learned that I was to playmy small part on the chosen evening
show

was

to

be

!
The

bunches

whole
of

roses

theatre
were

was

used

in
to

turmoil.

Over

decorate it in honour

million
of the

Royal visit.In fact,so powerfulwas the scent from

that several peoplefainted while the Command
roses
in progress, and it was
learned
was
actually

these

formance
Perfrom

THE

that

OF

STORY

nightthat

MASKELYNES

artificialroses

were

107

advisable in the future.

flowers have
I believe that artificial

usuallybeen used,except
in the RoyalBox, at galaperformancessince that date.
The theatre,however, looked
beautiful,
indescribably
and I ran several times to the littlepeep-holein the curtain
watch
the auditorium
to
filling
up with a fashionable
when every seat was
taken and peoplewere
throng.Finally,
in largenumbers
at the back,the National Anthem
standing
and the curtain rose on the firstturn of the show.
was
played,
talent been
Never since has such a collection of variety
brought togetherunder one roof. Barclay Gammon, of
St. George'sHall fame, was
there ; Chirgwin,the Whiteeyed Kaffir ; Fanny Fields,in her Dutch clogs; Cinquethe human
billiard-table ; Harry Tate ; Vesta Tilley
valli,
;
Little Tich ; Clarice Mayne ; George Robey,completewith
eyebrows and umbrella ; Cissie Loftus ; Harry Lauder?
graspinga curlystick ; Anna Pavlova, then glad of the
chance of such an appearance on
the varietystage ; and
Mr.

David

My

Devant.

excitement

rose

to

climax

as

the time

for Mr.

approached.For the time being,I was his

Vida.
with his littledaughter,
assistant,
together
The preceding
turn
ended, amid vociferous clapping
;
the audience waited expectantly,
probablyhoping that the
izing
entrance
by materialmagicianwould make an appropriate
suddenlyin the centre of the stage ; Mr. Devant
walked on, and Vida and I held hands in the wings,awaiting
Devant's

our

turn

cue.

after
Finally,

suspense,

our

another

time

came.

minute
We

or

walked

two
on

of intolerable

together
;

and

speakingfor myself,I instantly

forgotall about the trick I
had to helpto perform.
I simplystared up at the Royal Box, where I could see
several ladies and gentlemensitting.
I stared againwith all

108

MAGIC

WHITE

the frank unembarrassment

my

brows

in

"Where
Mr.

of

childhood,and

then I knitted

frown.

the

are

Devant, who

was

King and Queen?"

his trick.
preparing

whisperedto

of
Royal Box," he answered, from the corner
his mouth, and added a warning,"Ssh 1"
But nothingcould make me Ssh now.
?" I asked in woeful
"Well, where are their crowns
disappointment.
be wearing crowns
I had been so certain they would
and robes
it seemed
that Kings and Queens were
to me
real without these appurtenances, and probablynever
not
partedfrom them for a moment,
night or day ! In my
"In the

"

I must

sorrow,

raised my voice more

than I realized.
the Queen smile suddenlyat me.

have

At any rate, I saw

I must
have been
with

Devant

deft

needed

All

the

an

same,

thrilled than

the absence

So

was

preparedto help Mr.

an

egg

illusion that

egg.
the

myselfa special
clapas
more

as

Also, I was so self-conscious at the

handling.
unintentional raising
of the voice that I nearly

effect of my

swallowed

the

very red
trick,which

of the

ever
crowns

and
gave Vida
left the stage, and then I felt

King
we

I had

and

Queen

done

in my

didn't

seem

to

life before. Even

matter

then.

with Mr.
Devant's
Their Majesties
pleasedwere
asked for his name
to be included
magic that they specially
the following
to be given in their
display
year in a variety
presence at Knowsley Hall,on the occasion of Lord Derby's
heir's coming-of-age
party.
At about
the same
time, St. George's Hall gained
further laurels when
asked to givea magic
Mr. Devant
was
performanceat the opening of the theatre in the new and
I believe she was
wonderful Atlantic liner Aquitania.
the
and the
very firstshipto be fittedwith a full-sizedtheatre,

MAGIC

WHITE

110

Ordeal

have

under

come
recently

and
magicians,

have

been

scrutinyof modern
capableof very simple

the

found

solutions.
the secret of the handlingor
alreadyexplained
even
touchingwith the tongue of red-hot irons,and the
"swallowing"of fire. On the site of a Greek temple at
few years ago discovered
a
a
Athens, excavators
magic
pitcherwhich was famous in Greek legendin trials for
I have

witchcraft.
holes all
with innumerable
perforated
round
half-filled the pitcher,
its upper half. The
priests
and asked him to
passedit to the suspectednecromancer,
innocent ;
drink from it.If he succeeded in doing so, he was
if not, theyburned him alive.
If the unfortunate
tilted the pitcher
to bringthe
man
it poured out of the holes in the upper
water
to his lips,
This

was
pitcher

half of the vessel,and

not

taste

reached

Then

his mouth.

of the

would
take the pitcher
and with grave
priests
and deliberate enjoymentdrink its contents
to the dregs
without spilling
the concourse
a drop.At which, of course,
roared approbation,
and stacked up the faggotsthat were
one

the funeral pyre of the miserable

failed in the ordeal.

to

form

The
of the

is simplein the extreme.

explanation
pitcherwas hollow, and channels led

of the handle
suction
handle

wretch

on

and

inside the rim

the spout, the

into the mouth

in the sides of the

Another

to

the

who

The
from

handle
the top

spout. By exerting

liquidcould

be

without

passingthe

ever

had

drawn

up

the

holes

pitcher.

illusion which

gained great kudos for its

demonstrators among
the Greek templevirgins,
and which
offered a convenient way of getting
rid of unwanted
people,
the ordeal in which
had a sword
a
was
girlapparently
from her
passedthroughher stomach, the end projecting

STORY

THE

back,yet

suffered

with
similarly
trick

the

wound.

no

MASKELYNES

OF

When

sword, death

same

III

the victim

was

resulted.

very simplyperformed,and
the stage to this day,so that I cannot
use
on
workings without breakingthe unwritten laws
This

stabbed

was

is stillin

explainits
of magic.
But
I could
perform it upon any of my assistants,
employinga real sword, not one whose blade telescopes.
Most famous of all the tricks of ancient templemagic
which was
the Delphicoracle,
was
simplyworked by means
of an ordinary
speaking-tube.
Another

ordeal

common

red-hot irons,or

was

to

make

victim walk

on

broken

In the case of the irons,

glass.
the possibility
of performing
the priest
who demonstrated
the god's approvaland without
the act with
damage
anointed his feet with sugar and fat as in the fire-eating
on

trick.
If broken

chosen for the ordeal,two

glasswere
trays
identical broken
were
prepared,each apparently
containing
in the
But in the priest's
glass.
tray,each pieceof the glass
smooth
middle was
filed fairly
at the edges,though that
which

ornamented

the

outer

parts of the tray

nearest

the

stuff.However, the
was
genuinesharp-edged
congregation
in the middle only.
walked carefully
priest
In addition,
feet were
usuallypreparedby preliminary
soakingin strong alum water, and rosin in powdered form
rubbed
afterwards. Thus
the priest
well into them
was
demonstrated how valuable it was
more
once
triumphantly
while the victim,after havinghad his
to have a pure heart,
of his tray,was
feet cut to bits on the sharperglass
usually
sacrificedin some
to appease
manner
peculiarly
"unpleasant
the spirits
he had angered.
The only genuine trick used by the Ancients in their
and this,it is significant
to
templeswas sword-swallowing,
ordeal.
never
as an
note, was
permitted

WHITEMAGIC

112

bit of magic in the whole

interesting
because it is actually
and really
of the legendary
collection,
blade or any
There
is no
telescopic
sword-swallowing.
like that.
hocus-pocus
The art of the thinglies simplyin this,that the throat
of a human
rubbed and pressed
the
on
being,if constantly
It is about the most

inside,becomes
without
anything,
a

normal

or

calloused

so

almost

the

throat will

sensation of disgust,
slightest
though
"invert" merelyat the touch of a spoon

finger.

Once

the sword-swallower

is to throw
orifices are

mouth, tap

to

be

of

the hilt

stomach, where

"

and the blade slides down

the

the outside of the

Medical

has trained his throat

however, all he has to do

steel,
back his head, so that his throat and internal
in a straight
line,put the pointof the sword in

insensible to the touch

his

that it will swallow

men

and

pointmay
belly.

will confirm

be felt by manual
that there is

into his

pressure

on

that

space all the

need
prevent

the effects of the stomach

action

nothing but nausea

this amazingtrick.
anyone from performing
Indeed, medicine has to acknowledgea great debt to
the sword-swallowing
For in 1777 a doctor of
profession.
the first practical
the name
of Stevens conducted
studies
carried out concerninghuman
ever
gastricjuicesby the
aid of one
of the conjuring
fraternity.
small steel
He
swallow some
to
persuadedhis man
filled with meat, the capsules
capsules,
being drilled with
holes to permit the juices
After a set
to attack the meat.
number
of hours,the swallower disgorged
them again,
and
down,

way

the doctor

noted

on

the

meat.

These

continued on various occasions,

were
experiments
since the swallower
the rare faculty
possessed
(sometimes
still found
magiciansof this sort)of returning
among

THE

stomach

STORY

by

contents

muscles, without

introduce
used

much
and

also

stomach

so

stomach

when

as

when
as

it

to

carry

food

the

stomach

how
a

"

to

method

surgeons

nowadays

the

into

the

out

the

down

there

digestive

discovered

was

and

tubes

the

himself.

to

doctors

introduce

of

movement

lightinto

to

113

direct,or

throat
to

wash

desired.
all this

is old

doctors,
to
knowledge now
general public today is justas much
impressed as ever
it sees
sword-swallowing carried out cleverly; just

Although
the

electric

modern

by

how

simple

experiments

small

MASKELYNES

inconvenience

similar

From

OF

astonished, in fact, as

the

Ancients

undoubtedly

were

when

sword-swallowing priestsclaimed to be performing

magic by the direct assistance of the gods themselves.
uninitiated
be as impossible for an
Certainly it would

modern

swallow

to

who,

failingin

death

with

marked
be in

somebody's
I

should
old

days

satisfied
not
to

to

all

of

to

and

tricks

death

for those

poor

thereupon

those

who

because

had

pagans
done

to

formerly

they happened

to

to

this

professionalmagician,

good chance,
High Priest,
A

quieter era.

; but

at

of the trade

least

one

without

I suppose,

much

am

in

and
the

more

conjurer'slife
has

rival

is

fair chance

being dragged

off

to
practitionerand submitted
fiture
discominevitablyending in one's own
of one's rival.
and the great glorification

of

ordeal

am

very

nowadays

temple

swindling

myself

belong

roses

was

way.

becoming

acquire the
the

for extinction

stood

have

it

rejoicing by

down

Although

as

rituals, were

other

much

them

sword

CHAPTER

IX

shells
photography experiments Photographing artillery
in flight Nearly a
tragedy Maskelynes help the Admiralty
the
of Arabia
war
My first
during
Magicians help Lawrence
ghost.

Slow-motion

"

"

"

"

"

AFTER

began to loose the

Having pilotedthe

Hall.

and

difficulties into

tiller into

though
of his

Devant's

was

justas

he

and

own

seas,

interested

ever

as

the

At
in

father, Nevil

the

over

time,

same

inventions, both

slackened

people's,he

my

life,my

handed

he

capable hands.

other

this direction,and
the

prosperous

Mr.

eventful

and

grandfather
reins of authorityat St. George's
venture
new
past doubts, dangers

extraordinarily
busy

an

his efforts in
carried

Maskelyne,

on

family tradition.
I have

and

cameras,

long

said

before

formed

intended
follow

gave
the

many
to

the

J.

experimented

N.

movie

shows

earliest

in America.

slow-motion
For

that

at

the Theatre

of

Mysteries

cinematograph companies
this,the

From

early movie

with

next

step

had

towards

was

photography.
years

produce
movements

my

father

movies
of

experimented

that

would

with

enable

the

cameras

eye

to

birds'

wings in flight.He was

various
problems of aviation,

academicallyinterested in the
then in its infancy at Hendon
and elsewhere, and he made
researches
various
into the possibility
of buildinga machine
beat like a bird's or a bee's,attaining
whose
if
wings would
relative speed and
possible the same
climbing-power in
relation to weight that the latter insect
possesses.
he
cameras
By photographing birds with slow-motion
tried to tackle the question of human
by
flightunaided
"4

STORY

THE

mechanical
on

the

could
flight
be

aeronaut

His firstidea

115

the

of wings
fitting
and legsof the flyer,
as he held a theorythat
be accomplished
in this way if onlythe wouldpractised
enough. Swimming indeed, even

power.

arms

MASKELYNES

OF

was

"

walking cannot be mastered at the firstor second attempt ;

he thought flying
and legswould
with wings on
arms
directed by a thorough
similarly
yieldto continued effort,
of birds in flight.
knowledgeof the movements
of building
Later,he turned to the possibility
gliders,
and actually
of sustained flight
constructed models capable
if started by fast towing,in justthe same
way that gliders
work
today.His models, I remember, were built on very
similar lines to the modern
"Kondor"
which
German
glider,
has attained a gliding
heightrecord of some
20,000 feet.
It was
with their corollary
duringthese experiments,
work
slow-motion
photographyof birds in flight,
upon
"

that my father was

asked
for the War Office at the

to

conduct

certain research work

station at Shoeburyness.
artillery
An argument had developedin distinguished
quarters in
the Army about the flight
of shells from bigguns, and this,
it was
shells
suggested,
might be settled by photographing
in flight.
The pointat issue was
whether
shells travelled noseforward all the time,or whether they rolled over
and over
so

that sometimes

shell

was

sometimes

the butt of the

in conthe enemy. It became

nection
essential,
of shells that failed to explode
the number

towards
with

properlywhen
whether

the side and

these

fall broadside

sandy ground, to discover

shells landed nose-first,
or whether
theycould
of their
lose some
to the sand, and
on
so
fired

on

to

effectiveness.
and we took a
accompaniedmy father to Shoeburyness,
whose
number
of big and rather clumsy cameras,
over
safetyhe watched jealously
throughoutthe journey.At
I

Il6

MAGIC

WHITE

the camp,
and I soon

were

we

made

received

pleasantly
by officers and men,
with the good-natured
artillery

friends

who
the guns whose
detailed to serve
shells
were
privates
had to be photographed.
They talked freelybefore me, as I was quitesmall at
the time, and I remember
they were
very mirthful about
it had been
the chance of photographing
a big shell once
remember
that slow-motion
fired. One must
photography
was
publicin those pre-war
quiteunheard of by the general
days,and far less was known even about moving pictures
than

On
I went

know

now

we

the

as

television.
the

morning when
with

out

selected

about

Father

was
experiment

the

to

to

be

made,

of the field he had

corner

suitable placein which

to

set

up his

camera.

the parts together,

watchinghim fitting
off alongthe hedge towards the biggun, round
I wandered
which a group of artillerymen
were
already
moving.
I loitered along the hedge, lookingfor birds' nests,
arrived within a few yards of the gun.
and eventually
the far side of it,I strolled
I knew
on
Then, seeinga man
the line in which it was
across
out directly
pointing.
time I heard an officer counting "EIGHT
At the same

Gettingtired

of

"

WAIT,

NINE"

He

had

glancedup

his eye ; and I

luck had saved

was
me

and

as

it was

At

the

addressed

the gun
to

me

only the sheerest

to bits by walking

fired. The

my father
time, though from the

friends round

and

by

the
the

of

corner

that

justabout

fire the shell for which

of the

out

me

being blown

from

in front of the gun

watch in his hand, and was

two

seen

told afterwards

across

to

I"

WAIT

MEN,

"

to
was

officer held

givethe command
waiting.

shocked

faces of my

word
unparliamentary

officer I understood

somethinghad gone wrong, I did not realize how

had been to departing
suddenlyfrom this life.

or

that
near

Il8

MAGIC

WHITE

But

times.

were

we

to

soon

come

into closer contact

with

hostilities.

morning my father found beside his plateat the

breakfast table an official-looking
letter bearingthe stamp
of the Admiralty and marked
"Highly Confidential".
This letter explained
how
it had become
necessary, for
connected with His Majesty's
certain reasons
Navy, to make
into methods used to protect the skin against
investigations
and asked Father to call at the Admiralty
at a givendate
fire,
One

and time.

kept the appointment,and was met

members
of the Admiralty.These
by some
very important
which had
that at the Battle of Jutland,
to him
explained
taken place,
numbers
then recently
of British gunners had
been badly burned
by the back-flash from the big naval
ships.
guns duringthe conflict with the German
It appearedthat the guns were
served by crews
who,
in battle,
of duty,and then about
had a fifteen-minute spell
the same
period of rest while another team took on the
working of the great sixteen-inch weapons.
But it was
discovered at Jutlandthat the gun-teams
were
so
badlyburned, in some
cases, after fifteen minutes
at a gun, that they could not carry on
againafter their spell
of rest. So it happened that,with the German
Fleet more
In due

or

less at

he

course

unable to achieve the comwere

plete
mercy, we
victorywhich should have rewarded Earl Jellicoe's
our

tactics.

This
have

is the

been

Admiral

more

advanced

after Admiral

that their Fleet

into

make
back

because so many
theories
interesting
for our incomplete
at Jutland.
victory

out,

was

was

on

the German

allowed

to

escape, after

The
position.
hopeless
simplythis,that our

half-blinded and

side has marvelled

oeuvred
being man-

secret, as far

as

can

gunners, staggering
smoke-blackened
from the guns, as

THE

STORY

the weapons

MASKELYNES

OF

119

slid like

snakes to and fro on

their
striking
flesh to layand
mountings,could not force their scorching
fire the guns adequately
what
was
perhapsan
; and so
opportunityto end the war in half the time it subsequently
took

wasted.

was

with

Someone

initiative

Admiralty,unafraid to
departfrom tradition after this disaster,
approachedmy
father and asked him for the Maskelynesecret of playing
at

the

with fire.
It was,
into

of course,

well known

our

quently
magiciansfre-

appearedto eat fire on the stage, thrust their hands

leapingflames,licked red-hot pokers,and put burning
in their mouths.

tow

that

must
preparation

It

be used

obvious

was

to

render

that

secret

some

the skin insensitive

to

heat.
If this

could be served out to the gunners

preparation
of the Grand
Fleet,then they would be able to serve their
guns tillthe shipsbelched forth the very fires of Hell,and
stillremain
from

I say, there
the Admiralty
seekingthe secret of our

The

unhurt.

formula

we

And

so,

is

use

as

one

whose

came

request

fire-immunity.

details have

never

been

divulgedto the world, so I cannot publishit now.

I have already
a simple
mentioned, in an earlier chapter,
formula
but I would
for fire-protection,
againemphasize
that I do not advise amateurs
to attempt these dangerous
tricks without most
careful practice
and preparation.
When
my father told our secret formula to the Admiralty
astounded at
chemists,they tested it thoroughlyand were
its efficacy.
It was
served out to the naval gunners.
finally
When
these men
had pastedup their hands and faces with
the preparation,
they found they could fire the great guns
incredibly
quickly,
undamaged either by the flames from
the breech
That

or
was

the almost
one

of

red-hot metal itself.

the

ways

in which

magic helped

MAGIC

WHITE

I2O

England duringthe dark hours of the war. There

other ways, too, though I am
to mention
only at liberty
other that came
within my knowledge at the time.
Colonel

request

to

Lawrence

here,at

the

Arabia"

most

the tribes

on

Sea, to pose

the borders
as

Men, performbig magic,gain a

one

sent

"

criticalperiod

campaign,askingfor magiciansto

travel among
and Red

and power

of

"Lawrence

the Government

of his desert
to

"

were

be sent

out

ranean
of the Mediter-

wandering native Holy

reputationfor prophecy

prophesythe defeat of the Turks.

He
that the magicians,
if it were
humanly
specified
should be Arabs themselves,and that in no case
possible,
familiar with
should anyone be sent who was
not
entirely
and the very thoughtsof the natives
the habits and customs
It was obvious,of course,
theywere to move.
among whom
that widespread
follow the detection
disastrous results would
and exposure of these "Holy Men"
as impostorsdoing
propagandawork for England !
Five magicianswere
sent
Arabs,
out, three of them
who
had spent a largepart of his life in
one
a Frenchman
the latter trained till
Arabia,and one an Englishmanwhom
he was
in his part.
letter-perfect
and one
The Frenchman
of the Arabs disappeared.
The
desert swallowed
them
one
knows, even
today,
up. No
whether
detected and tortured to death, or
they were
sands and died
whether
they lost their way in the shifting
of thirstbeside their dead riding-camels,
or whether
horribly
they turned native after the war and stayedin the East.
They joinedthe silent army of the "Missing".
The

"

and

other three carried

out

their work

with

success

himself.
by Lawrence
probably hardly foreseen even
Moving to and fro over the sand-hills,
gaininggreat reputations,
all rewards,ascetic Marabouts
whose least
refusing
word
was
gatheredup and treasured,they foretold the

THE

STORY

MASKELYNES

OF

121

defeat of

Turkey, and gainedcredence for this greater fact

all sorts and varieties of minor
by industriously
prophesying
which invariably
"according
affairs,
happened exactly
military
Cocker".
The
of course,
that
to
was
explanation,
and his Intelligence
Lawrence
Departmentsaw to it that the
that was
in advance
of everything
"Holy Men" got news
going to happen.
Graduallythe Turks found their native alliesdeserting
them. Trouble
who
prophesiedfor certain waverers
sisted
perin supportingthe Turkish Armies alwayscame
down
in the end on
Allah (or
the waverers'
devoted heads
since it grew so painLawrence) saw to that. Eventually,
fully
clear that the "Holy Men"
and that Allah
were
right,
fought on the side of the Allies,the Turks lost all their
native support, and Lawrence
gainedwhat theylost.
"

have

We

lost touch

with

the two

magicianssince the war, but

on
bees, and
great authority
farm

in Gloucestershire. Native

he will

Secret Service

Englishman is

the

has

Arab

prosperous
memories
are

now

littlebee-

long,and

but one
two
or
published,
of his intimate acquaintances
in the local Beekeepers'
ation
Assocican
verifymy story with more details than I have given
becomes quite
here;for the gentlemanin question
loquacious
of
about his desert adventures on the eveningswhen
some
his exhibits have gainedprizes
in local honey shows.
Let me
to my
return
schoolboymemories of my father.
One of the most
vivid to me, which also took placeduring
the war, though it had nothingto do with the struggle,
with ghosts.
also my firstacquaintance
concerns
I was
in my father's dressing-room
one
evening
sitting
duringa show at St. George'sHall,when a message arrived
for Father,who had just
off the stage,and was
ing
removcome
his make-up there before a mirror. Presently
a
girlof
not

allow his

about twenty

was

name

shown

to

in.

be

WHITE

122

She

had

MAGIC

the

show, includinga very spectacular

trick,in which Father first made a mist
"ghost-raising"
seen

appear on the stage, and from it materialized a white

behaved
which
spoke, moaned, and generally

good phantoms do,

The girl,
who
was
wanted

to

could also

know

in

whether,

that she

in Kent.

The

years been
the wood

very ill.
climax had been

driven mad

almost
behind

his house.

close quarters

at
seeingthis apparition

three occasions,he had

was

ghosts,we

owner
daughterof a small landalwaysrather prone to superstition,

old man,

for the past two

ghost which haunted

After

raise

the

was

had

all

laythem.

It seemed

by

could

we

as

as

of earnestness,

patheticstate

tom
phan-

suffered

two

on

or

breakdown,

nervous

and

now

the affairwhen

the

daughter
herself saw
the ghost,as she returned one
evening from
the village.
It "jumped at her", glidingthrough the air,
and she described it as a "white, shapeless
figurethat
moaned".
Being only very young myself at the time, the
phrasesank into my mind.
of questions,
and then, to
My father asked a number
down
and "lay the
amazement,
promised to come
my
implicitly
believingin his
ghost".The girlwent
away
comforted.
barded
bomI naturally
to do so, and greatly
power
but he preserved
him with inquiries,
a grim silence.
"You
shall come
with me
and see it all in good time,"
he said finally.
I was
but must
confess to certain
delighted,
put

to

tremors.

It

justafter

was

Christmas

that the

girlhad

called

on

Year's Eve as the time when

my father,and he chose New
he would
endeavour
to tackle the apparition,
presumably
because
On

that is a famous
New

Year's

time for

ghoststo

Eve, therefore,
we

"walk".

arrived

at

little

STORY

THE

MASKELYNES

OF

123

station,and travelled thence,by

Kentish

of

means

ponythree miles

we
sought,which was about
trap,to the village
from
Biddenden. Dismissingthe trap, we
proceededon

foot into the haunted

wood.

Father had
to

arrangedwith the girlwho told us the story

at about
through the wood, past the haunted glade,

walk

o'clock. She

ten

let the

servants

At about
in

also

was

at

home

and he

"

know

was

insistent

this

on

"

to

of her intention.

Father and I took up a position

thick clump of hazels just
beside the path,
commanding

quarter to

ten

good view of that section where the ghost had always

Father carried in the crook of his arm
previously
appeared.
loaded with specially
a
sporting-gun
preparedcartridges
filledwith saltpetre
instead of shot.
a

The
cold

darkness

that

it felt

and
fingercrouched
illumined
As

in the wood
as

if thorns

toe-nails. Yet

motionless

in

was
were

Father

intense,and it was
thrust

under

insisted that

we

so

one's
both

places,
watching the faintly
patchesof moonlighton the path.
our

land
the silence grew, it became
filledwith littlewoodnoises of the night flittering
of leaves,tiny sighs,
"

and the echoes of elvish chattering.

ghostlymovements
Suddenly,without warning, a great white form sailed
and I realized that a huntingowl had
over
us, soundlessly,
gone by, seekingfood. It cried mournfullya second later,
like the plaint
of a lost soul.
From
far away
in the stillness,
sounding little and
musical like the horns of elfland,
clock
I heard the village
strike ten.
As if the sound

had rung up the curtain on

evident to the
there became

drama,
occasional crackle,
which

land
wood-

some
ear

distant

rapidlygrew into the sound of

the leaves far alongthe path.Then
lightfootsteps
among
had broughtus here came
into view, walking
the girlwho

WHITE

124

with rapid,
nervous
quickly,

MAGIC

turns

of the head

to

rightand

left.
At

the

several

thingshappened.I saw
Father throw up his gun and heard the deafening
crash of it
burstingthe night silence. The blaze of the explosion
momentarilydazzled my eyes, but,justbefore,I had seen a
white, impalpablemonster,
shapeless,but dreadfully
a corpse in grave-clothes,
resembling
sweep alongthe path,
three or four feet from the ground,in a tremendous
some
inhuman
taneously
leap towards the shrinkinggirlahead. Simulwith the report of the gun
there rose
a
sharp,
horrible scream, and the apparition
vanished.
Father ran to the girl,
ahead of
who
was
half-fainting,
She was
us.
tremblingall over when I arrived,but I could
hear her still
murmuring : "Did you see it? Oh, did you see it?"
action in venturinginto the haunted
Her courageous
that night,however, helped to lay the Biddenden
wood
ghostfor ever.
Next day,Father went
alongto the local doctor,and I
allowed

was

moment

same

to

accompany

him.

this morning who

you any patients
swollen legs?" Father asked.

"Have
from

"Swollen

legs1

Good

heavens, how

are

do

suffering

you

know

anythingabout it,sir?" asked the doctor apoplectically

"Swollen legs! Why, Blank, up at the Farm, has got legs
like pillow-cases.
He says he shot himself in the legswith
stuff he was
some
stupidNew Year
preparingfor some
Year party indeed ! He'll be luckyif he
party joke.New
walk by the week-end.
Put him on his back for a week,
can
that will 1 I suppose
in the joke? It's saltpetre
you were
that he's shot himself with, of course, though the fool
won't
It

admit
was

Father's

it I"

that had been

saltpetre
gun the nightbefore.

used

in the

of
cartridges

126

MAGlJC

WHITE

ghosts
but

of

over

and

sort

again

never

crept

one

me

have

as

I have

learned

horrible

Biddenden

the

presentlytell,

I shall

as

experienced the

saw

the woodland

through

another,

thrill that

"ghost" swing

glade that night.

that

there

such

things as
has any apparitionswhich
require
ghosts ; and if anyone
laying,a note, care of my publishers,will bring me along
at the earliest possiblemoment
to perform the interesting
since

are

no

little ceremony.
If the
corridors
Sir

Hugh

moated

Pale

Lady

with

her

goes

grange,

is
head

tucked
his

clanking
or

round

getting busy

the

underneath

chains

Cavalier

up

tosses

stingo

simply don't exist,and

Several

times

that

you
to

"

of

the

down

recounts

line. I think

in the real

ghosts

rid you

miser

or

arm,

his

"

to

her

stairs

in your best dining-chair,

the
or
sitting
shadowy gold at your table
drop me a

shall be able to prove

ancestral

the

while
his

the

of their worry

sense

for

I
"

ever.

impostors who
cruel and wicked
were
enough to try to reproduce ghostly
others. But I have
phenomena for the purpose of terrifying
the real thing in apparitions,and never
shall.
met
never
To the unfortunates
who
been frightenedby such
have
things I say in all sincerity write to me I You
are
being
victimized
either by your
nerves
or
by some
criminally
minded
hopes to benefit by frighteningyou.
person who
I have
laid ghosts of both
occasion.
So don't
sorts
on
let yourself be worried
and ill any more
and made
nervous
justwrite and tell me all about it. I will treat the letter in
in my

career

I have

met

"

"

confidence, and
I

can.

help

you

if I

can.

And

am

perfectlysure

CHAPTER

Mr.

retires

Devant

the

beyond
die

men

Down

THE

grave

He

"

tries

to

through

get

from

banned
from
When
Why I am
seances
great
with
radio
I
leave
school
experiments

"

"

"

"

the farm.

on

which

war,

N.

J.

father

My

"

of

Death

"

caused

notable

such

bodies

as

the

Admiralty

and

Military Intelligenceto call in the assistance of

Maskelynes' Mysteries, also brought great trouble to
St. George's Hall.
Mr.
Devant, who had gone from triumph to triumph in
the years immediately preceding 1914, began to show
signs
of

breakdown

nervous

months.

many

partedwith
of

which

the

On

advice

his interests in
reverted

despitehis
The

before

once

advanced

war

of his

had been

in progress

doctors, he eventually

Maskelynes' Theatre, the control

to
more
grandfather,who,
my
was

years,

retirement

the

of Mr.

as

Devant

indomitable
at

the very

as

ever.

climax

of his

he had
because
regrettable
done
the
much
so
on
during his lifetime to bring honour
before
whole
professionof magic. Only a few short months
he left us
America,
a
great gathering of magicians from
France, Germany, England and elsewhere had presentedhim

wonderful

with
to

an

career

and

of

over

of

accompanied

silver-plate.
The presentationwas
presence

more

address

illuminated

wizardry,

the

was

four

made

it with

at

of

hundred

his services

appreciationof
a

service

fine

of

George's Hall, in the

the leading conjurersof

St.

the world.

J. N. carried on
assist him, and for

at
a

St.

time

George's Hall, with

the programme
127

ran

my
as

father

to

sparklingly

128
as

MAGIC

WHITE

But

ever.

the work

of

managing

the theatre and

multitudinous inside and outside interestswas

who
grandfather,

too

much

its
for

had

alreadylong passed the three

score-and-ten years allotted by the psalmist.
Justas active as ever both in the workshopswhere our
J.N. stillworked
apparatus was built and on the stage itself,
hours and slept
about eighteen
only six out of the twentymy

four. In
of

addition,he
the war,

inventions, some

took

and

intense interest in the gress

prohimself
busied
with
continually
an

of which

might

have

the battlefieldhad he lived

made

his

name

them.
perfect
But in 1917, without showing any preliminary
signsof
he called my father to him one
coming collapse,
day.
"I think my work
is nearly
"Nevil," he said quietly,
life the work
of it,the
finished. I have enjoyedmy
triumphsof it,even the troubles and the defeats. There is
which puzzlesme.
only one thingnow
know
I have alwaysopposed spiritualism,
"You
and
have
exposed a good many fraudulent mediums. But
and learned men
like Conan
famous
men
Doyle and
been convinced that there is something
Lodge have apparently
genuinein the belief. It is,I suppose, possiblethat
I intend to try to find out.
they may be right.
I die,I shall make
When
"Listen, now.
a
very great
f
or
dead
ifitis permitted
effort,
peopleto do so, to establish
of spiritualisti
with you, and assure
contact
you of the reality
teachings.
"I want
for a few nights
you, after I have died,to sleep
in my bed,surrounded by my most intimate personal
effects.
have a trumpet there, or anything else that
You
can
commonly use.
spiritualists
at allforconverse
to take place
between the
"Ifit ispossible
I mil establish
such contact with you. Listen
dead and the living,
for it ; wait for it ; try your hardest to pickup any messages
famous

on

"

"

"

to

STORY

THE

be able

I may

to

OF

MASKELYNES

will prove

send. We

or

129

this
disprove

matter

and for all."

once

Two

days later,J. N. Maskelyne,Father of Modem

existence awaits
to whatever
on
Magic, passedpeacefully
us
beyond the greatest Curtain of all.
as he had been commanded.
My father did exactly
Every
in J.N.'s bed, surrounded himself
nightfor a week he slept
and by the
by personalobjectsdear to my grandfather,
various impedimentaof the earnest
spiritualist.
During the
for the promisedmessage to
nightshe layawake listening
tremble

into his consciousness.

the end of the

Towards

time,after eatingvery

his whole mind on

concentrating
broadcast from "the
impression
a

keen,nervous

state

the task of
other

receiving
any
side",he developed

which, I think,could

the faintest "vibrations"

even

to

receive

not

directed towards

beyond the veil of death.

But nothinghappened.There were
no
were
no
inexplicable
phenomena.
In fact,despitehis resolute wish,
readiness of his

shake

to

have

"

knowledge of
my

own

him

messages.

and

the

from

There

perfect

I should
my grandmother,
died shortly
before her husband.
in this world

The

have missed

unable
message, J.N. was
intimate with
with the person then most

son

communicate

him

littleand

had
explain,

to
experimenthas done more
than anythingelse I
spiritualism

this

belief in

known. Since then I have carried

or
experienced
the challenge
and father that I will
of my grandfather
on
reproduceexactlyany spiritualistic
phenomena that any
medium
audience.
show to an unprejudiced
can
I have soughtfor many years to be admitted to a se'ance.
Always I have been refused this request. Yet I, too, am
sincerely
readyto be convinced.
Once I wrote
to a very famous
pointingthis
spiritualist
ever

MAGIC

WHITE

130

He

out.

that
replied

I should

"spoilthe atmosphere of

seance".
I sent to this celebrated
be present myself,
had submitted to
gentlemanthe two slates my grandfather
As I could

Slade. These

"Doctor"

on

slates

such

and

sealed

having first partedthe

slates. But

this,since the fourth dimension

The

bound

were

agency could have

way that no human
the inner faces of them without leaving
signsof

togetherin
written

not

returned

slates were

could do
surelyspirits
is admittedlytheir playground.
blank

they went.
I am, as I say, stillwilling
to be convinced
by spiritualism
I am
admitted to a seance, and persuadedby what
when
I see there. Should this happen,I will publicly
recant
anything
I have said against
phenomena.
spiritualistic
But, in view of my grandfather's
attempts to "get
I shall require
and their utter failure,
through" to my father,
convince
than table-turning,
to
or
me
something more
that trumpet !" or vague
voices shouting
"Put down
:
phantasms such as I can better on any stage.
innumerable
I have said that my
to
challenges
open
have met with no response. I must
that
spiritualists
qualify
to

me

as

as

"

statement.

wrote
ago a man
had communicated
grandfather's
spirit

him

year

or

message for
He
stated that
a

him

me.

at a
throughto
J. N.'s appearance,

tricks and

to

two

had

J. N.
number
and

this

saw

of

me

with
at

man

my

sayingthat my
him, and given
London

struggledvery
recent

mentioned

characteristics that I

seances.
a

number

home.

hard
He

of

to

get

described

personal

known
not
thoughtwere
outside the family,
save
by intimate acquaintances.
Then he said that J.N. had explained
to him the workings
trick that he used to produceon the stage,
of a conjuring
died with him. The explanation
and whose
of this
secret

THE

trick,I

STORY

was

MASKELYNES

offered

told,was

was

communication
on

OF

as

proof positivethat
and

genuineone,

13!

not

the part of my informer.

I listened to the story until ithad ended. Then

that the trick in

by J.N., and

questionwas

that the

been

by another

famous

that, I showed

After

vanishingtrick down
and he
most
apt pupil,

solved

faked effort

I explained

not
by my father,

had died with the

secret

but that it had

the latter,
conversation

invented

one

the

former,not

year before

our

magician.

visitor the way

my
stairs into the street.

my
vanished

to

He

do
was

'the
a

for

good.
die
and I claim that J.N. was
When
a great
great men
in his own
man
sphere there isalmost alwaysa spiritualisti
spirits.
attempt to produce"messages"from the departed
of these "messages"1
I challenge
the authenticity
seldom or never
It is significant
that theyare apparently
received direct by any relative or dear one
who
might
reasonablybe expectedto remain in the consciousness of
the departed
No ; the messages come
to professional
spirit.
mediums, whose names
thereby.
gainnotoriety
There is another side to the question.Often, when
"

"

claim

mediums
dead
girls'

only

to

look

Do

from

widow's

dead

changeshands

sons

or

before

finished.

are

this accusation

of

have
You
spite.
records of our
through the police-court
past few years to find innumerable examples
out

mean.

the

of
spirits

messages
At least,
my

our

?I

beloved

cannot

dead

was

never
grandfather
a

magic
connected.
time inextricably

selltheir postreally
mortem

believe it 1
did that 1

and to
family,
our
name
was
by this
St. George'sHall was
draped

very great blow

performanceswith which

His death
the

heard

lovers,money

or

make

not

country for the

of what

have

mothers

the revelations
I do

to

to

our

WHITE

132

MAGIC

in black ; magicianssent condolences

almost every country in the world.
For indeed
The

Master

Wizard

and

regrets from

had left us.

character of

J. N. Maskelyne is alreadywritten in
more
enduringcharacters than I can hope to form. This
Caesar of the stage.
man
a
was
a Napoleon of Illusion,
irresistiblepersonality,
he
Sheerlyby the force of his own
form of publicentertainment.
created an entirely
new
into the gap that J. N.'s
My father steppedpluckily
death had created. Despitewar-time difficulties,
he carried
of no
at St. George's Hall,givingmagic programmes
on
and sparkle
than of old. New
tricks were
less variety
stantly
conwere
beinginvented ; new magicians
employed; the
literature and

invention

illusions old and

But from

of the world

were

searched

for

new.

the very

daywhen my grandfather's
personality
ceased to pervadeMaskelynes'
Theatre,the magic of the old
to fade. Somethingwas
name
began almost imperceptibly
missing.
Where is the sequelthat is as powerful as the masterpiece
that begatit ? What great man's son was
as great as he ?
it only in the theatre that J. N. was
Nor was
missed.
been
For
supervisingexperiments
years he had
many
carried out
by my father in connection with wireless
It is correct
the
to say that long before even
telegraphy.
world of science had brought such a thingto any sort of
and father had conceived
practical
pitchmy grandfather
the idea of radio stations which should broadcast popular
and were
to the general
public,
working on
programmes
hoped would bring this dream into
apparatus that it was
reality.
that might
J.N., with his lightning
grasp of any subject
be used to entertain his patrons, financed a
subsequently
whose objectwas
to perfect
a
long series of experiments

MAGIC

WHITE

134

highmagic,was the son of a long line of yeomen farmers,

of the same
and that my grandfather,
J. N., came
farming
I retire from the stage, I am
strain. When
going to buy
and settledown
back the old farm again for it stillstands
"

"

if the Little Gentleman

there, even

in

Black, familiar of

sixteenth-century
John,should stillhaunt the place.
When
I left school at last,
to him
my father called me
and asked me
what I proposed doing for a living.
I said
that I supposed I would
have to be a wizard like
hesitantly
himself.

"My
never

be

dear
a

appearance
Performance

boy,"he

wizard
on

at

his trick ; and

said

like

me.

"I
solemnly,
Don't

the stage, with

the Palace Theatre
if you
could

could

afraid you
remember
our
am

you
Mr.
Devant
? You

will
last

in the

Royal
nearlyspoiled

very
Royal Command

formance,
Perspoila
spoilanything.Now forgetall about
you
the familybeingmagicians,
and tell me
what you would
like to be."
really
"A farmer 1" I respondedpromptly.
not
Well, it staggeredhim a bit,I fancy,but he was
going to admit it. Indeed, he gave me a chance at the
thing above all others which I would have chosen as a
profession.
farm near
I was
down
sent
to
a
Cheltenham, which
belongedto an old friend of the family.Alas ! I proved to
be justlike lots of other youngsters who
have found that
a
job in dreams is quite different from the same
job in
reality.
To tell you the truth,I had fancied myselfswaggering
about the ploughland,
wearinghe-man's corduroys,
directing
the labours of cattlemen and carters, perhapsgivinga hand
myself on glorioussunny mornings in the fresh fields,
drinkingwarm
creamy milk offered by the freckled comely
hands of milkmaids,quaffing
nutty ale in the longevenings

STORY

THE

round

great

in
leading

the

OF

MASKELYNES

135

log-fires,
judging the ploughing contests,
harvest-home,and cuttinga gallant
figureat

the barn-dance

that followed.

thought,I would take unto myselfsome

jolly,
buxom
farmer's daughter,
who should look after my sturdy
while I rode true and hard to hounds,
littlefamilyat home
and grumbled to my neighbours,
as
we
guided our tired
beasts back after the kill,
about the priceof sheep-dip
and
In time, I

the

state

of the

corn.

all so different 1 In reality

it was
reality
ploughing
different kinds of aches in the back,
givesyou forty-three
milked by machinerythat goes wrong
and creates
cows
are
In

blue murder

if you

take your eye off it for half a second,

huntingbut mucking out innumerable

days are spent not

cow-byres,and evenings not drinkingbut in a state of
exhausted
the barn-dances exist only by
stupor. In reality,
all try to marry out
radio,the farmers' daughters
squalling
of their class and get away to the towns, and ploughmen and
evince an unconquerable
aversion to any overseeing
carters
of giving noisy and
by novices by the simple method
sanguinarynotice on the spot.
All these tilings
I discovered for myself before I had
been farmingin Wiltshire for a week. Picture me, then,
town
'teens,far too
a
raw
youth in his most awkward
built and tenderly
nurtured
to
slenderly
compete against
the local huskies,tryingto do incredible thingswith bulls
and milk-carts and agricultural
machinery,and suffering
from the heavy wit of my companionsin arms, from farmer
half-wit who looked after
himself rightdown
to the village
of all,because
in fact,was
the worst
the pigs.The latter,
he
I thoughtout a really
whenever
good replyto his sallies,
lost.
justwent all gibbery,and the pointwas entirely
It is

not

adventures

necessary

"down

on

here

to

in detail all my
Suffice it to say that I

recount

the farm".

136

MAGIC

WHITE

a bull for
beganby mistaking
a

cow,

and ended

by upsetting

milk-float.

a field in
boldlycrossing
which a quiet-looking
red animal was
browsing.I had to
who
was
working in
go with a message to my employer,
the Four-Acre
Field on the far side of the pasture.Curiously
round the edge of
enough,I could see, walkingcautiously
this same
I have already
pasture, the half-wit to whom

In the firstadventure,I started

referred.

boy looked after the pigs on the farm, but he was

afraid of cows, and had been allhis life.I determined
mortally
his fears were,
to show
him, that morning, how groundless
to him, and called a greeting,
as I
so I waved
nonchalantly
He shouted something back to
walked across
the meadow.
I was
properly,
me, but as he could not articulate words
unable to make head or tailof his yells.
This

At

the sound

thirty
yardsfrom

about
of my voice, the red animal,now
me, raised its head. I reflected that it wore

its curls rather close for

cow,

but

then

was

only a

with country fashions. Then I saw

unacquainted
it stare down at its forefeet,
and begina funny littleprance
with them. I thoughtit was
perhapstryingto scratch up a
beetle. Then it bellowed,and started at a swift ambling run
townsman

towards
Then
And

me.

I realized that it was

that

was

bull.

I learned to do the

how

the conventional
Not, perhaps,

vanishingtrick.
trick as performed
vanishing

effective and valuable substitute.

upon the stage,but a most
I streaked across
the field and vanished through the hedge.

(thebull) well,he assisted me !

When
I pickedmyselfup, I found the pig-boystanding
beside me. At firstI thoughthe was in a fit he did occasionally
suffer from fits.But on this occasion it was
nothingof
the sort. He was
justlaughing.
My

assistant

"

"

THE

STORY

After I had
of

been

about

"

handed

in my notice.
five miles away.
.

been

I had

month

tribulation

and

terror
trial,

MASKELYNES

OF

137

the farm

on

be

I may

it was
Actually,

"

said

month

have

to

postedfrom

town

the task of

takingmilk round to
chain of distant cottaSes which
a
bought direct from the
farm. For this purpose
I was
givenchargeof a lightmilkfloat,between the shafts of which pranced a skittish pony.
I strove with that pony as Jacob strove with the angel,
but
it was

to

on

skittish after than before.

more

One

put

misty red

skittish pony

milkingto

down

our

paper that was

He then tried to
milk-float acted

one

reins and

was

deep lane,conveyingthe afternoon

a bit of
customers, when
my Pegasus met
blowinggentlyalongthe lane towards us.
but the
imitate his classicforebear by flying,
as

sort

of anchor.

him to
sorry. I would have preferred
and bounced
it was, the float jolted

side of the lane to the other. I

prayed to

part and let me

drivingthat

I was
Personally,
As
flyuntrammelled.

from

afternoon

autumn

gods that

all my

down

on

the road

on

lay back

on

the leather would

the back

of my

the
not

head,

of a
spirited
representation
puttinga sector of roadway under a
cargo of Mills bombs
devastating
barrage.
The runaway
outside a village
pub
stoppedeventually
whatever.
By
facingthe local station. I cast no aspersions
that time, though the land was
flowingwith milk (I am
empty.
sorry I cannot
say "and honey"),the trap itselfwas
Empty even of me, for,with my present bruises and past
to my
record,I did not feel equalto the strain of returning
its
and explaining
master
to him. The
matters
pony knew
unaided
(itwas that sort of pony I),and, after
way home
the use of my going on working on a farm
all,where was
?
where all the animals were
me
so
against
very much
and

the

milk-bottles

gave

138

WHITE

I
waited

for

half-hour

the

of

discussed

up

job

on

with

miles

it

per

hour

few

extra-large

he

straight

had
to

had

previously

to

We

me.

career.

me

can

week

put

can

sure

to

young

farming

my

said

pretty

hour

an

including
I

of

ending

I'm

miles

whom

and

carriage

get

you
a

you

road."

that

with

age

and

the

was

friends,

it, Jasper,"

two,

fifteen

usual

its

was

into

got

or

I had

"come

on

me,

positively
an

do

or

ten

dramatic

such

night

good

and

ticket,

fortunately

arrived,

own

previously,

for

bought

station,

which

There

my

ever

you

Thus
for

at

about

some

"If

it

City.

Big

nearest

so

When

away

the

train,

day's

late.

fellow

or

the

whirled

was

into

smartly

stepped

MAGIC

ceased

to

appearances
steam-roller

along

the

leafy

be

farmer,

only

became
"

the

attendant

imp

"

cruising
Wiltshire

and

Jove-like
lanes.

at

two

CHAPTER

and

steam-roller

My

Maskelyne"
Hall

An

"

to

to

seem

part

Behind

"

spectre

"

on

the farm.

on

the

had

have

useful

downhill

Tibetan

Lamas

"

Wiltshire

might have
writinga treatise
I

an

at

actor,

it lasted.

roads, made

heavy

born

Sittingup on
such passing traffic as one
post-war days, I helped to
abstruse

of the

studies

gravel,chipped flints,sand
how

materials, and learned

under

shorter

even

aptitudefor anything else.

while
of

was

not

was

natural

no

propertiesof macadam,
other

before

Playing

If I

enjoyed it very much

high, in Olympian oblivion
might see in those immediate
out

"

steam-roller

roll

electricity"Lighting by
the scenes
St. George's
at

assistant.

service

that spent

least I

stage

my

of

period

than

"

in

Experiments

"

effective

propose

MY

XI

road-surfaces

and

"flow"

traffic.
on

gone

and

prospered

and

today

been

English roads, but a kindly or unkindly

Fate intervened.
One
on
foggy evening, returning home
clean off the road into a patch
mighty steed,I wandered
my
marshland.

of unfenced
that

the

on

The

of the business

first I knew

steam-roller, despite snorts

and

pantings

was

and

forward, and
revolving of wheels, refused to move
began settlingsteadilyand overpoweringly into a deep
of its own
creation.
muddy wallow
A week
to me
while
meanlater,it having been demonstrated

great

that
found
mine.

myself
This
my

other

I should

root

in

time

never

Essex, running
I had

nothing

genius being
crops

make

of

devoted

to

first-class rollerman,

farm

do
to

with

with
the

of

dairy department,

turnips,mangolds

unpleasanthabits.
peculiarly
139

friend

and

WHITE

140

MAGIC

To

ments
lightenmy labours,I carried out extensive experiI was
in electricity,
in which
becoming extremely
I am
interested. Had
I been apprenticed
to an
electrician,
certain I should never
have made
fairly
my debut on the
of thingsthis very hobby
stage, but by the perversity
broughtme my firsttheatrical success.
Just before my first Christmas in Essex, an amateur
dramatic societydecided to give a performanceof Babes
hall where
in the Wood, at Roydon. They viewed the village
the show was
to be given,and were
to discover
disgusted
facilities.
that it was
not
equippedwith any proper lighting
fitted
but the placewas
Main electricity
not
was
available,
for it ;

and, as any stage-person will

assure

you, the finest

performancecan be ruined by improper lighting.

possible
experience,
Boldlyenough, consideringmy very slight
I offered to bridgethe gap. I volunteered
to wire the hall
in time for the
for electricity,
and get everything
ship-shape
entrusted
final rehearsals. The amazing thingis that I was
with the job.
the tap of hammers
and the
gratingsong of the saw ; wire cables whirled within like
cuttle-fish ; but gradually
chaos was
the feelers of a mad
The

hall resounded

reduced

to

order. A

with

full week
litter and

sweep

up

the

Below

me,

in mufti, the

before Christmas

sawdust, and

was

able

then

proudly
conduct
the panto-producer
rightthrough the brilliantly
equippedwith
lightedhall to the stage, which was now
and everything
dimmers, spotlights
footlights,
necessary to
a first-classdramatic
performance.
Imagine me, on the occasion of the rehearsal that
high up in the fliesabove the heads of the
evening,sitting
the stage, crawlingprecariously
to and
on
fro,
company
certain
checking this and tighteningthat, making finally
in order.
that the "lighting
by Maskelyne"was perfectly
to

actors

and

actresses

rehearsed

MAGIC

WHITE

142

I asked for

chance,so

copy
started in there and then.

of the "sides" of the part,and

and
the part of
word-perfect,
"Robin
Hood"
handed
to me.
was
over
politely
The
and
great occasion of the opening night came,
else I did wrong,
I flattermyselfthat I managed
whatever
indeed.
to kiss the heroine very realistically
Next
surprisedto see that the local
morning I was
a personal
papers, in writingup the show, had all given me
effects but for the way
mention, not only for my lighting
I had played my
of the reports were
quite
part. Some
! Indeed,I have keptthem to this day,so favourable
eulogistic
were
they.
I was
since
pleasedat my success, the more
naturally
the part in the very short time at my disposal
had
learning
been a difficultmatter.
On
the second nightof the show I
made
and really
put allthat was in me into my performance,
rather a good job of it.
Afterwards, an astonishing
thinghappened.I was told
that a gentlemanwanted
but would
to see me,
not
givehis

By

Christmas

was

name.

"It's my

belief he's

one

of the London

theatre

managers,"

producer,who had broughtthe message to

"He's got a top-haton, anyway
1"
me.
theatre manager
And a London
he proved.For my mysterious
visitor was
less a person than Nevil Maskelyne,
no
Managing Director of St. George'sHall,and
my father !
"I saw
the Press notices about your performance last
didn't know
the Morning
night,Jasper,"he said. "You
Post had a word about you, did you 1 So I ran down tonight
the show, justto get an idea what you were
to see
really

whisperedour

"

like."
"And
for my

was

most

I all right?" I asked

severe

critic.

knowing
anxiously,

him

THE

STORY

MASKELTNES

OF

143

"In fact well,if you

"Prettygood !" he said musingly.
back and joinme
at
come
like,Jasper,
my boy, you can
St. George'sHall."
!
If I liked ! Shades of the turnipsand mangold-wurzels
I came
how
this was
And
to
"go on the stage"as a
I have never
it.
regretted
profession.
Let me
deviate for a moment.
I did not
Emphatically
I was
like farmingwhen
had to do it for a
a youth and
termed
Yet the old hankeringto be what is loosely
living.
survived and grew within me, and it
a "gentlemanfarmer"
"

is there yet.
As soon
afford
as I could
my
a

stage duties and

rest.

entered

It wasn't
a

much

of

rest, but

holidayfrom
a change and
during the time I

six-counties

of second-best
I have

went

do so, I took a
back to farmingfor
to

won

the
ploughing contest and won
ploughman there. I shall not be content

such

contest,

and, later,tillI have

cut

title

out

till
a

niche for

myselfin West-Country farm life.

To return
to the story of Maskelynes.
At St. George'sHall I found the apprenticeship
less
no
and lengthythan that which farminghad offered
fatiguing
I returned to London
me.
big with ambition, promising
which
should
myself all sorts of successes
eclipsemy
amateur
beginning.
provincial
"This brilliant young
actor", and "a worthy grandson
of the founder of Maskelynes",
were
phrasesthat I thought
alreadyas good as in print.But the path to fame proved a
long and arduous one after all.
allowed
the
not
to
set foot on
years I was
St. George'sHall stage,save in the capacity
of scene-shifter,
For

two

assistant behind

the scenes, and generalman-of-all-work.

the firstyear, I spent almost all my time in the

During
bench
The carpenter's
vast
workshops behind the scenes.
and the lathe temporarily
ousted the masks of comedy and

WHITE

144

MAGIC

of our
I was
made familiar with the "mechanics"
tragedy.
and
magic ; learned justhow the levitation and decapitation
lessly
other wonderful
illusions were
performed,worked endof it as big as a small house and
at apparatus, some
some

so

that itcould be hidden

minute

behind

wrist-watch.

interesting.
machinery of magic is extraordinarily
Tricks which
to
seem
perform become
quiteimpossible
elementaryonce you have mastered the construction of the
apparatus used. Every illusion has its own
apparatus.
You can apparently
cut off a man's
head, in full view of
The

the audience,make

the head

with

converse

the trunk, raise

body into the air merelyat a word of command, pass

that it is
steel hoop round
the levitated body to show
a
while actually
quiteunsupported,cause persons to disappear
beingheld by onlookers,make dead hands write and skulls
a lamp to
flylighted
speak,cause
throughthe air,make a
watch
disappearfrom one man's pocket and appear tied
round the neck of a rabbit in the lapof another man, permit

the

member

of the audience

bullet from
your

real revolver

but

teeth
.

I could

to

you with a marked

catch the bullet between

fire

and

at

go on ?
all the tricks in the

why

magic calendar,
some
so astoundingas to be disbelieved until actually
seen.
And in each case the apparatus does the trick,
and the more
the more
the illusion,
simpleas a rule is the
complicated
enumerate

apparatus.
After

the works", I was

permittedto
year "learning
go up into the fliesabove the St. George'sHall stage,night
after night,
and watch the tricks actually
being performed
a

by master wizards. From above, the machineryof illusions

is usuallyclearly
visible.
To all would-be
a few
magiciansI would recommend
in the flies,
months
at all
as I did,before anything
learning
ambitious is attemptedon the stage itself.

THE

STORY

At this time the world

discoveries

Valleyof
For
for

in

the

some

month

OF

MASKELYNES

was

thrilled

Tut-ankh-amen's

145

by

tomb

at

the

news

of the

Luxor, in the

Kings.
reason,
or

that fickle

two

in

wild

jadepublicfancyindulged
flirtation with elementary
discoverywas avidlyread,

Egyptology.Every detail of the

photographsshowing the tomb and the finds filled our
"news"
in a biggersense
papers, and King Tut became
than could ever
have happened duringhis august life.
A very largepart of the public interest was
aroused
through an idle tale that a legendhad been found in the
tomb roughlyequivalent
in his
to that left by Shakespeare
epitaph: "Curst be he that moves
my bones 1"
Lord

Carnarvon's
and when

it was

death

lent fuel

followed

"

the fire of stition,

superof
mainlyin the course
to

relatives of the
by several other deaths among
why, then that became "news" too !
investigators,
Egyptiantombs and tomb-robbers were the topicof the
day ; and St. George's Hall,always readyto reflect public
written by my
opinion,instantly
stageda magic playlet,
nature

"

father and entitled The

made

this

Scarab,in which

direct reference

was

fascinating
subject.
In the sketch,an archaeologist
discusses with a dealer
of King Ra-Thur
the sale of a mummy
of Egypt, but proceedings
are
complicatedby the appearance of Joe Billiboy,
who
tries to steal the valuable mummy,
and the
a burglar,
of the 8ooo-year-old
royaltywho is the
coming-to-life
in these affairs.
principal
I was
given my first professional
stage part as Joe
it.
Billiboy,and earned "3 a week for playing
It was
in
simpleand easy enough, and consisted chiefly
making a dramatic appearance in the Egyptologist's
my
study,clad in a Bill Sikes cap and muffler. I took very
little part in the numerous
magic transformations and
to

146

WHITE

MAGIC

illusions that

providedthe

for

it was

me

I
earnest

with

great occasion
an

and

playlet
;

but

the less.

none

in real
facingthe footlights
subsequentexcitement quite compares
; I

actor

no

was

this !

For
I

now

was

real thrills of the

month

life

two

or

ran

now

smoothly for

me.

in my
immersed
absolutely
stage work ; at last I
had found the one
job in the world for which I was fitted
and in which I had a deep and abidinginterest. My performance
I
not
consistent,though
were
was
as
yet
entrusted with anythingvery important.
Then, one night,I ran up againstthe sort of mishap
would
which
have made
somethingof a sensation if the
publichad ever got to know of it ; my job was to prevent
outside the theatre.
such knowledge from spreading
We
were
presentinga trick with a donkey, but the
before its time. My father was
the
on
donkey disappeared
waitingto go on, when
stage, and I was behind the scenes
an
agitated
magiciancame
running up.
1" he gasped."Some
fool's
"My donkey'sdisappeared
beast has
left the door open at the back, and the damned
was

vanished.
we

We're

due

to

on

go

in five minutes.

What

shall

do ?"
I

dashed
hastily

the stage-manager,
of the programme,

off

note

to

my

with
arranging

and,

assisted

father,said
him

by

to
two

word

to

alter the order

clowns

in full

make-up, raced out into Langham Place to try to trace

the lost quadruped.
of the missing brother,I was
Urgentlyseekingnews
presently
joinedby no fewer than five policemen,and we
him to ground nearlyhalf a mile away, in
ran
presently
he was
Berners
Street,where
walking sedatelyalong,
wondering whether Oxford Street itselfwould
apparently
of city
life.
be too hectic for one so unused to the exigencies

OF

STORY

THE

MASKELYNES

147

donkey, escorted back to the theatre by the five

clowns and myself,arrived in time to be
two
constables,
of the evening.He "did
included as the penultimate
turn
his stuff" perfectly,
quiteunaffected by his taste
apparently
The

of urban

excitements.
of the earliest thingsI learned about

One

magic was
that one must
be justas careful while rehearsing
it as when
producingit on the stage. This lesson was broughthome
rather sharply
to me
by a curious happening.
Shortlybefore Christmas, 1924, we decided to introduce
sketch in
into the St. George'sHall programme
a topical
raised and laid. The familyhas always
which ghostswere
been rather good at producingghosts,and we
practised
methods
whereby,at a word of command, grey vapour
appearedand materialized into a transparentdrapedfigure,
candles and lamps were
if at the touch of
as
extinguished
the spectre talked in the cona cold phantom hand, and
ventional
hollow voice and uttered dreadful warnings to
all and sundry.
I was
tryingout this trick one morning in the workshops
by myself,and had raised a very creditable Pale Lady to
whom
when
sudden shrill scream
I was
a
conversing,
with such suddenness
that I almost fell off
me
interrupted
bench on which I was
The scream
the carpenter's
sitting.
feet and the
followed
was
by the sound of retreating
slam of
The
floor
I
of

an

distant door.

whoever
he was,
intruder,
good silk hat.
perfectly
and

went

old and

pickedit up,
valued

had

and found

friend of the

left behind

on

inside it the

family,who

the

name

lived in

for a little
the country but occasionally
ran
up to town
I knew the hotel where he alwaysstayed,
so I took
holiday.
a

taxi there
"Fve

at once,

never

had

carryingthe hat with me.

shock in my life,
such a ghastly
Jasper,
K

148

MAGIC

WHITE

when
I was
shown
in to
my boy 1" my friend exclaimed
him. "I know
and I can only
you fellows do amazing tricks,
the tilingI saw
of
to was
one
you talking
suppose the
"

"

your illusions.
"But the fact is,I had

dropped in to see you, and I

and to see that
was
thinkingof something quitedifferent,
dreadful shape standingthere listening
to
well, I
you
was
half-wayto Oxford Circus before I realized that I had
taken to my heels. It's uncanny, my boy hardlyChristian,
"

"

in fact."
He

stillquitewhite

was

in the

face,and

fancy the

of meeting a ghost like that in broad

unexpectedness
of a shock to him than he would
more
was
even
daylight
him
confess,though probablyhad I been able to warn
before he saw it he would have laughed at it justas I did
myself.
This

Christmas

same

was

notable

in

the

annals

of

St.

George'sHall for the visit there of a party of Lamas

who
were
England from Tibet with the objectof
visiting
checkingup their wide book-knowledgeof the Western
world.
Since

these

Lamas, in their

own

about

way, are
of Rome

as

or
importantas Cardinals in the Church
Bishops
for us
in our own
a great occasion
Church, it was naturally
like to attend a
when
they indicated that they would
privateperformanceof English magic at our theatre.

Tibet is famous
credited

for its wizards, and the Lamas

reliable authorities

themselves

with

being able to
"die" and be buried for many
months, coming to lifeagain
when
dug up, and also with being able to raise the dead,
food or drink,and with other apparently
to exist without
magicalpowers.
are

Behind

by

the

curtain

we

were

on

our

toes

filed gravely
into
eighteenqueerlyrobed figures

when

the

the stalls

MAGIC

WHITE

150

apparentlydrawn through a two-inch hole in a steel

invited up on to the stage to watch
the Lamas
were
plate,
for me
from close quarters. It was
an
impressivemoment
when
the whole
eighteenof them wordlesslytroopedup,
with a swish and rustle of robes, and arrangedthemselves
in a circle about
myself and my assistant,leavingthe

is

auditorium

vacant.

widelyknown as "Through the Eye of

end, was placed
barrel,
6o-gallon
open at one

This illusion is
a

Needle".

Lamas
examined
the
the stage. The
rug on
stage,rug and barrel. On the open top of the barrel,which
and a half
one
was
upright,a riveted steel boiler-plate,
on

small

inches
hole

thick,was
inches

two

the Lamas.

This

rested. In the
in diameter.

of this

centre

The

examined

platewas

plateweighed about

platewas

90 Ibs. and

by

contained

rivets.

240

Then

assistant stood on
top of
my
the Lamas
examined
the belt round

while

belt had

the

boiler-plate

her waist. This

interlocking
ringsinstead of the usual buckle ;
these ringswere
tied with rope by the Lamas, who
sealed
the knots with strange heavy seals of their own.
On each
ringtheytied a lengthof strong sash-cord twenty feet long,
and againsealed the knots that held the cord to the rings.
cord was
One
now
passeddown through the hole in
the steel plate
and out of the bung-hole
of the barrel below.
Another
examined, this one
barrel,previously
6o-gallon
now
having neither top nor bottom, was
placedby the
two

Chief Lama
steel

over

plate,which

second

sash-cord

of the upper

the head

of my
itself rested
then

was

barrel.

and rested
assistant,
on

drawn

the lower

on

barrel.

The

through the bung-hole

handkerchief

was

now

tied

on

tightagainstthe lower bung-hole,and another

pinnedto my assistant's collar and left hangingloose
the top edge of the upper barrel.
rope

the

the
was
over

THE

The

STORY

Lamas

OF

peeped into

now

stillthere ; a
each blind-cord.

cord

the

Y N

who

He

holding the

one

"

IJI

the top barrel to see that

lid was
her ;
placedover

my assistant was
and a Lama
took

pulled,and

S K

held the lower

cord

upper

slacked

it out.
the
Instantly

handkerchiefs

two

on

in the massive
When

cord

move

the

"

away from the bung-hole

and the other sliding
down
of sight
into the top barrel.
out
The girlwas
being pulledthrough the two-inch hole
one

the lower

began to

coming

!
boiler-plate

the lower

could

rope

be

pulledno

the

more,

Lamas

forgottheir dignityand ran to the apparatus. You

remember
that they had been sitting
round in a circle
must
meanwhile.
They lifted off the lid and looked in the top
barrel.
Guttural

told that it was

ejaculations
empty !
it recklessly
They lifted it off,flinging
along the cord,
whose
other end could be seen
passingdown throughthe
barrel. They strained at the
into the lower
boiler-plate
steel plate
and set it down
the stage.
on
itself,
There

was

stillpassing
"

through the
obviously,since
on

barrel,the cords

through the lower bung, the other

and the upper
bung. Quite
boiler-plate
out

one

up

untouched

assistant in the lower

my

still
seals were
Eastern
queer
she had been drawn down
her girdle,
through
their

that steel plate.

The
among

They muttered
quiteovercome.
drew
uneasilyaway from me.

were
grave priests
themselves
and

asked
the interpreter
Finally,
We
believe

did

it three

they would

times
have

me

repeat the trick.

to

before

liked the

satisfied I
they were
performanceto go on
"

all day !
Before

we

left the

warning similar

to

stage the

interpreter
gave

that later offered

to

my

father.

me

Tibet,"

"In
you

in

barrel,

into

the

land.

our

But

perhaps

I admitted

Evelyn

and

roll

you

devils

in
O

monastery,

in

impulse

follow

illusion

this

who

might

in

go

This

tradition

of

old

her

but

the

show

Alistair

for

and

(and

and

and

critic

in

to

bless

down

the

all business
the

adviser,

day
and

so

only
her

times,
wizard

else

she

become

so

near.

followed

just,

for

left

she

Cecil

sister

the

married

and

Devant),

after

looking
designs

all

helped

the
me

and

matters.

Many

provided
a

youngsters,

our

settings

stage

my

country,

that
such

as

suddenly

magic,
Mr.

few

wherever

or

was

of

years.

to

she

career

she

though

five

over

Jasmine,

see

business

real

as

addition

you

cause

when

plate

my

had

that

gay

married,

in

up

so

family

we

Now,

world

hole,

profession, though

when

the

the

recognized

the

stage

through

in

me

recently joined

very

steel

the

named

lady

young

only

through
to

was

had

new

this

without

within

her

quite

her

I would.

perhaps

"passing"

an

to

in

enter

put

we

mighty

treat

we

so

would

you

Home-Douglas,

After

I felt

that

assistant

My

dull

river, for

great

monastery,

therein,

spikes

many

think

1"

Master

us.

drive

enter

no

you

should

"we

ingratiatingly,
! If

Master

great

down

said

he

very

you

"

MAGIC

WHITE

152

ultimate

is my
a

me

time
with

loyal, splendid

pal.

guide

have

such

that

had
a

fine

CHAPTER

in the past

XII

Black

and Vampires
Werewolves
Magic still lives
A historyof wizardry
Tests for Satanists
Rasputin
Magical
evolution
Pinetti
Grisi
De
Houdini.
Cagliostro

Magic

"

"

"

"

"

IN

about
and

"

earlier

an

"

chapter

"

"

"

of this book

promised

Black

Magic, both within my

it. During the two
years I spent

outside

in

the

nether

seems

the

and

promise

ancient

art

of Black

But

do

not

world
doubt
home

an

as

rich

think,

but

caused

something

it is

black

undeniable
a

reasons

by

heart
and

circle in which

millionaire
usual

because

in the

or

necessarily"shop"
be

tell you

stage

both

which

account

career,

to

keep

of

the

my
very

an

old

belief,that

the

Black

outgrown

magic
to

in

subjectof

my

own

flies

Magic.

societyleaders

In the

is

to

of my

story

the

between

hiatus

in the

or

of
Magic. There is no shadow
that it is still practisedtoday, not
only in its original
terrified
in Madagascar or by a few primitivenegroes
has

by Voodoo,

by

the

appropriate place

an

earlier

and

Maskelynes

experience

apprentice
George's Hall, all

This, therefore, being

of past

thing
some-

say

own

regions of St.
time not
actuallyspent in the workshops
my
above
the stage was
employed in reading up
wizardry, black and white.
Magic,

to

to

his

year
of
own

of

fashionable

powerful
I

white

by

move

business
reason

and

men.

of

my

sion,
profes-

all its latest manifestations

and

talk. And

London,

was

told, on

what

seemed

authority,that the death of a famous

two
or
ago, unexplained by any of the
financial
ill-health,was
insecurity or
terror

at

certain
153

devilish

manifestations

154

MAGIC

WHITE

he had

pathsof
The
and

raised after
modern

of

into the black

and

horrible

Diabolism.

worship of

others

being led

the

the Goat
Devil's

of

Mendes, Baal,Pan,

accredited

henchmen

Kali

is still

carried on, behind closed doors and to the accompaniment

of unspeakableorgiesand atrocities,
by persons who, in

benevolent
and respectable.
lightof day,are apparently
England is a land of scoffers,
yet it is not free of the
taint. On the Continent,Diabolism
is a recognized
menace.
A trial for witchcraft took placein France as recently
as
Catholic Church
1926,at which high officers of the Roman
attended ; and the accused was
found guilty.
and Vampires come
to
us
Reports of Werewolves
the

the older lands,such as Russia and the

year from
for in every particular.
to be vouched
East, and they seem
is a highlyplacedofficer in
to me
Personallyknown

every

policeservice in British North Borneo who not merely

believes in Vampires that suck human
blood, but claims to
have seen one
at work, and to have performedthe necessary
horrible rites on the native corpse to which
this Vampire
could rest.
so that the soul of the dead man
belonged,
of
man
practical
My informant is a steady-nerved,
Eastern experience.
believes that
immense
Yet he implicitly
he dug up a corpse that had been buried nearlya year,
and found it fresh and undecayed,with red lips
partedand
brighteyes open ; and that when he cut off its head and
thrust a stake through its chest it screamed like a lost soul,
the

and

writhed, and that

open grave beside it.

I know, too, a French

great black bat fell dead

into the

who
now
retired,
policeofficer,
introduced to me
French conjurer.
was
by a distinguished
This officer solemnlyassured me
that,in France, England
and elsewhere, tinychildren are kidnappedevery year, to
with foul and unspeakable
be offered as human
sacrifices,

THE

to the Devil, to
rites,

who

in

enlargeon

my

of modern

the

to

problem

the

attempt

thumb-nail

magic down the ages, of which it is the

White
manifestation,justas my own
present-day
is the civilized child of the wizardry of Merlin
sketch of

Good

people

secret.

here to
purpose
Satanism, but rather

not

155

his alliance towards

ensure

stillworship him
It is

MASKELYNES

OF

STORY

diabolic

Magic
and

the

Fairies.

Belief in

magic is as old as humanityitself.Buried with

mummies
seven
or
eight thousand years old, modern
discover charms
and rituals placedbeside
archaeologists
the corpse to save
the soul from the clutching
hands of
fiends on its last journeyfrom earth into the Unknown.
I have

no

doubt

amulet, though he may

that

the

have

Piltdown

Man

wore

an

nothingelse. Relics

worn

of

age, in Africa,Australia,America, Asia and

all testify
of wizards,
the dreaded
to
powers

incredible

Europe
human

and inhuman.
Africa

In

and

men

grown

today, and
women

in many
other
take the most

placesas well,
extraordinary

the Evil
and to avert
the spirits,
to propitiate
precautions
Eye. After all,how many of my readers would walk under
a
salt,cross
ladder,spill
knives, or fail to experiencea
discomfort
of spiritual
at the smashing of a
sense
slight
mirror

Charms
Great

or

mascots

are

worn

by

Britain,and by nine-tenths of

half

our

in
population

our

cars

! When

was

schoolboy,
fullyhalf the juniorswho were at school with
and dainties to a slightly
me
willingly
gave up halfpence
deformed boy of our
own
simplystated that he
age who

was

In
was

sorcerer,

settingfor the conjurer

is
the theatre but the temple.The Old Testament
and wizards.
stories of soothsayers
and wise men

primitivetimes

not

full of

and left it at that !

the

correct

156

MAGIC

WHITE

From

Pharaoh's

magiciansto
the meaning of
Joseph telling
the Revelation,
have almost
we

of

sort

one

Christ

Witch

dreams

to

unbroken

of Endor, from

John writing
records of magic
St.

another.

or

Indeed, we

have

only

not

the

the

in

Himself

tions
manifestauncanny
but in the New.
Testament

of
proof positive

cast

Old

devils ;

out

diabolic

possession,
merely what

not
was
accordingto all modern authorities,
call epilepsy
we
or
madness, but real control of the soul
by certain non-human
agencies.
There do not lack modern
and
both of our own
clergy,
other Churches, who
is stillto
say that this "possession"
be met
with today,and that certain rare individuals even
of hands.
have the power to cure
it by the laying
now
on
Contemporarywith Old Testament records, we have
in ancient
of magic beingpractised
accounts
indisputable
the Aztecs, in the
Egypt,in the Maya civilization,
among

Bantu

civilization of Africa,in Greece, Rome,

the Hun

onlya

hordes

of northern

and

eastern

and

among

Europe, to

name

few

places.
The
Oracle
at
Delphi is perhaps the most famous
of a magic templeof olden times.
to us
example known
of
But it seems
certain that almost all the false religions
the early
world were
founded
tricks,
on
legerdemain
conjuring
and illusion.

Temple
wept
hand

or

doors

nodded,

opened

of

bells and

bled

themselves, statues
sistrums

sounded

when

or
no

them, mysticvoices spoke of the future (in

suitablyambiguous terms) out of the thin air, scoffers
touched

vanished

from

human

ken, plaguesand droughtsdescended

but all went

well with those who
upon their cattle,
the gods by contributing
to the
offerings
generous

pleased
temple

staff.
In the midst of this

organized
robberyby the conjuring

158

MAGIC

WHITE

Then

the witch or
away went
horse-pond,and after a trialwhich

magicianto

the

consisted of

nearest

lengthy

jabbingwith pins and knives to see if an insensitive spot

could be found
(true mark of the touch of the Devil's
!),the offender was flunginto the water and kept
fingers
until
there by the gentleaid of long polesand pitchforks
such time as the rustics had decided whether
drowning
or
was
impossible.
possible
This was,
a

common

drowned.

of course,
belief that

Of

course,

was
supposition

after all. But

rather hard

was

of
disciple

the accused. It

not

lot

be

did drown,

the

unjustlyaccused
of use
after the drowning
the swimmer
kepton the
times obviouslyin
a few

she had

or

could

was

not

Satan

if the unfortunate

that he

that

on

been

place; and as long as

or
surface,
merely popped below
order to hold privateconverse
with the Father of Lies
the poles and pitchforks
well,so long were
busilyplied,
and the test went
merrilyon.
I have, among
collection of books
on
magic, an
my
little volume
extraordinarily
interesting
publishedearly
in the seventeenth century by one, Joseph Glanvil,entitled
Witches and Apparitions.
Plain Evidence Concerning
This book consists simplyof an account
of Dr. Glanvil,
had

taken

"

who
Duke

was

an

educated

of Richmond

man,

and

and Lennox, of

great friend of Charles,

cases

of so-called witchcraft,

of
and superhuman possession,
most
Devil-raising
which had come
within his own
his friends' experience.
or
It is an amazing list.
The book
contains some
intensely
tions
descripinteresting
of "Witches'
Sabbaths",in which hags and wizards
dance naked about old stone altars,
lighted
by black candles.
The

"

and

Lord's

munion
Prayer is chanted backwards, stolen Comand orgiestake place
wafers are defiled,
feasting
in
then, at the climax of the affair,
a littlegentleman

THE

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

black silk appears in the midst of the

their faces about him.
After

for power
images of enemies are melted

wax

and

this,prayers

forward.

are
petitions
put

who

wish

to

haunt

who
revellers,

wealth

or
or

Those

are

fall on

uttered,

piercedwith pins,
of the unholy worshippers

have

to

or

159

other
over
power
broomsticks
and

permittedto fly thence on

wands
touched
by the Devil, and, passingthrough solid
obstacles and travelling
distances in the winking
immense
of an eye, achieve their desires and return
to the
instantly
bodies still lying in worship before the black-clothed
Adversary.

people are

I should
book

add that in all the

the witches

educated

and

wizards

tried by
subsequently

were

and judgesof
magistrates

guiltyof witchcraft,and
I have
by the water-test

that

the times, and

of them

most

described

in GlanviTs

mentioned

cases

above

or

found

perishedeither
by ordeals still

horrible.

more

Of

in Black Magic, the modernexperimentalists

descendants.
Diabolism is
day Satanists are the spiritual
in an endeavour
said to be practised
to attain money
now
and power
to
; and, so long as the adeptskeep themselves
themselves, and do not let the policehear of their soul
less danger than were
they are in considerably
practices,
their predecessors
of less civilized eras.
DevilYet resentment
to the dark habits of suspected
telling
worshippersdies hard. I remember
my grandfather
these

me

of

he

mentions

case

which
in

came

one

within

his

own

notice,and which

of his books, wherein

Frenchman

villageof Sible Hedingham

to
death, after having been kicked
because he
beaten for an hour by men
and women,
believed to be in leaguewith Satan.
of this nature
Occasional lynchings
now
occur
even

livingin the
swum
literally

Essex

was

and
was

in

l6o

WHITE

rural

MAGIC

not
England,though they are naturally
reportedas

such in the Press,since the killers take

of the so-called
work

of

shall

sorcerer

untraceable

some

that the death

else the
or
accidental,

seem

murderer.
have

least,we

In Russia, at

care

modern

instance

of

an

because
Satanist,Rasputin,being slaughtered

accredited

leaguewith the Devil. Anyone

has read the amazing book
who
Rasputin,by William
find chapterand verse
for the accusation,
le Queux, can
and a most
vivid description
of the superhuman amount
old monk
that the rascally
of killing
required,though
whether
this proved his diabolism
the author
not
or
does not say.
naturally
While the followers of Black Magic were
on
carrying
their dangerousexperimentsin this way, the alchemists,
and others were
the studyof magic
astrologers
developing
decent lines. Broadlyspeaking,
their researches
alongmore
he

believed

was

be
may
discover

be in

to

subdivided
a

method

into

main

two

heads, the effort

to

transmutingbase metals into gold

youth,and a serious studyof prophecy
of

and age into eternal

by the aid of the stars.

Astrologydevelopedinto astronomy, in which department

famous
in
ancestor, Nevil Maskelyne, became
my
the time of George III. The
alchemists,after a time,
cabal.
subdivided againwithin their own
became

Some
chemists
now

whose

know

doctors
studies

about

generally
; and
line of descent

a
"

few

of

medicine

some

the basis of much

were

food, metals, materials

"

turned

and

I claim these

and

became
that

we

matter

the purest
illusionists,
exchangingthe dream
as

were

Stone, that was to turn lead into gold,

Philosopher's
of the Mystery Theatre which derives gold
for the reality
and entertainment.
from publicamusement
father of all modern
The spiritual
illusionistsand white
of the

l6l

MASKELYNES

OF

STORY

THE

the
magicianswas undoubtedlyCagliostro,
Son of an
book, The Memoirs ofa Physician.
this remarkable

to

rose

man

immense

hero of Dumas's

Italian peasant,
and riches
fame

shortlybefore the French Revolution. It was said of him

that he wore
of his celebrity
a King'sransom
at the height
his magic robe.
in diamonds
on
as ornaments
I gained notoriety
At about the same
time Comus
throughoutFrance for his "writinghand". This man later
he created a sensation.
to London, where
came
London
A little later Pinetti came
with a really
to
had with him a littlefigure
clever thought-reading
act. He
about two
feet high,which he called the Wise Little Turk,
answered questions
and this figure
concerningarticlesoffered
of the audience.
to Pinetti by members
and Heller later developed
Robert Houdin
this thoughtreadingtrick to a pitchthat borders on the uncanny. In
the "seer" sat blindfold on
the stage
their presentations,
while

the assistant took

an

article from

Supposethe article was a

of what
to questions,
answer
was

made,

seal. The

the audience.

"seer"

metal and what

it,how they were

the seal,
the type of

the initials on

would

in
tell,

stone

the seal

engraved,the

chain on which
approximateweightof
it was
hung, the sex and approximateage of the owner, the
colour and cut of his clothes,and all without
receiving
of a "pointer"
from the questions
any apparent suggestion
asked by the assistant.
The whole
before
is that such thought-readers,
secret
plicated
they appear on the stage, learn a very lengthyand comcode. In this code,the lettersin such stock questions
as

"What

is that ?"

prearrangedwords
by the assistant.

"The

givingthe

maker's
clues

to

name

the

?" stand
answers

for

desired

three years of intensive study to learn

be guessed,since the objects
of these codes, as may

It takes
one

or

two

or

l6z

WHITE

MAGIC

offered for identification

and the "seer"
restricted,
or

the

heightof

answer

swift

founder
his fame, Pinetti,

readingtricks,gave
French

must

are

in
as

no

way

lightning

thrillof the trick is lost.

the whole
At

the audience

by

exile,the Comte

several
repeated

of

thought-

performance in Naples. A young

de Grisi,an amateur
later
conjurer,

of Pinetti's tricks

at a

party for the

ment
amuse-

of his friends.
Pinetti heard

of this and

was

furious. He

developeda

with de Grisi, persuadedthe latter one

friendship
eveningto take his placeon the stage in Naples,and then
in introducing
of a sleight-of-hand,
succeeded, by means
a
pack of marked cards into the impedimenta with which the
amateur
was
going to perform.
de Grisi went
Presently
up to the box of the King of
Naples,who was present at the show, and asked him to
draw a card from the pack,as part of a trick he was
ing.
performThe King drew out a card at random, but found that
with an obscene lampoon concerning
it was
across
pencilled
left the theatre,causinga great
himself. He immediately
sham

sensation.
De

Grisi

heirlooms

and

under

most

the

ruined and exiled. He

was

then sold his

family

and with the proceeds

took lessons
jewellery,
famous
of the day.At the end of
conjurers
readyfor his revenge on Pinetti.

year he was
followed
He

his enemy
round
from
town
to
town,
better performancesin each place.Pinetti

giving much
became
lost his reputation,

and
laughing-stock,

died of

starvation.
De

Grisi,however,

find final

happinessin
great reputationafter giving a

was

not

to

magic. He attained a
performancebefore an audience of Cardinals in Rome, but
shortlyafterwards his only son was shot while appearing
sham
the stage, a real bullet beingplacedamong
some
on

used in

ones

him

with

his father

trick in which

It was

matchlock.

163

MASKELYNES

OF

STORY

THE

said that

appearedto fire at
nephew of Pinetti's

for the substitution that resulted in the

responsible
tragedy.
The wounded
youth died almost at once, and de Grisi,
broken up by his part in the affair,
never
appeared
utterly
afterwards he also
before the publicagain,and very soon

was

died of

broken

passedaway, however, he had handed on

direct by training
a French
lad,Robert Houdin,

Before

he

the torch
who

heart.

later to become

was

of the greatestillusionistsof

one

all time.

By
to

him

of

means

by

de

robbinghim

French

became

two

it was

Houdin,

forerunner

of what

who

nobleman

been

to

systematically

had

man

explained

was

French

had

years. This
the money
was

loaned it to

secret

stolen

some

recovered,and
used it to

start

the

in Paris

Maskelynes'Theatre

later

in London.

Houdin
as

for

who

servant

francs, but

nobleman

enabled

Grisi,Houdin

catch in the act

20,000

apparatus whose

an

used

for a
electricity

then almost unknown

number

to

the

of his

he
public,

and
tricks,
was

ally
natur-

illusions.He reproduced
astonishing
from
the Fakirs' tricks of making a date-palmgrow
a
under the eyes of the audience ; he producedtalking
stone
tricks with
skulls and spirit
cashboxes,and some
exquisite
able

animals

to

create

some

and birds.

After Houdin
of the

Ghost",

North"
a

"Wizard
Anderson, the self-styled
for "Pepper's
immortal
Pepper now

came

"

clever illusion worked

with

mirrors ; and

then

J. N. Maskelyne.
Before

my

Magic, I spent

own

innumerable

these past-masters.

mysteriesof White
studyingthe works of

initiation into the

My

hours

researches took

me

as

far afield
L

as

164
British

the

before

the

the

To

to

this

do

so.

For

of

his

just produce

or

in

iota,

his

dark

credulity,
his

peers

be

supernatural
in

lifetime,
of

spots
he
in

the

wizardry.

if

is

if

and

his

world.

to

than

more

for

succeeds,

light

be

personal

far

search

the

abreast

footlights.

the

he

of

always

really

minute
do

must

superstition

fairly hope

bit

shall

keep

to

world-wide

throwing

magic

he

before

human

may

past

magic,

illusions

must

then

of

and

necromancy

out-of-the-way

forward

carry

study

pretty

work

natural

to

world

the

His

magician,

and

famous

still.

any

or

practised
successfully

men

of

life-study

pursue

tricks
since

of

places

present

and

work,

of

part

still

stage

queerer

about

knowledge

collections

many

day

of
have

translations

papyri

secrets

which

made

have

and

illusion,

and

private

who

obscure

Egyptian
the

with

me

Pharaohs

revived),

by

(whose

Museum

furnished

have

the

MAGIC

WHITE

mystery,

by

even

of
and

accounted

reason

one

on

misguided
a

success

to

l66

MAGIC

WHITE

system, the

company
the success

salaries on

riskingtheir savingsand
of their work

with

"

for courage the whole world

I placedmy committee
here and

reward

what

their

golden

knows.

now

there about

the stage,
a certain

choice of positionup to
givingthem their own
The trick I proposed doingwas
Miss Hometo place
point.
the stage, fire the cannon
at a
on
Douglas inside a cannon
of boxes which
nest
high
hung from the theatre ceiling,
above the heads of the audience ; and then, hey presto !
found
in the
the cannon
was
empty and the lady was

middle of the
Mr.

of boxes.

nest

Burnaby suggestedthat

he would

of the cannon,
be struck aside by my

the mouth

hand

on

hand

would

she

hurtled

through the

like

I fired it,so

as

"human

muzzle

put his

to

cannon-ball"

her

on

that his

into

way

as

the

suspendedboxes.
with

member, I might
ordinarycommittee
this course,
have had no
to offer to
objection
except to
that his hand might be badly hurt.
the daring one
warn
But
Mr.
guished
Burnaby is, as I happened to know, a distinillusionist himself. An ordinarymember
amateur
of the publiccould have stood there and been no wiser
though probablysadder at the end. But I was afraid that
Mr.
Burnaby, with his shrewd knowledge of illusion
of the "works"
of the
apparatus, might guess rather more
trick than I was
preparedto show, since it was one of our
Now,

an

"

"

best feats
Mr.

his
so

own

at

the time.

Burnaby, however, was

placeon the stage as I

! In the end,

we

had

sort

wrestlinga la
struggle(all-in
being much biggerand heavier

determined

as

not

was

of
mode

to

choose

to

allow him

to

do

friendlyhand-to-hand
!),and Mr. Burnaby,

than I am,

beat

hands

me

down.
But

then

he

was

too

much

of

sportsman

to

take

THE

STORY

advantageof
cannon

assistant
nest,
hand

some

Such

my

smoke

trick

the

our

auditorium.

were
reputation

littledifficultiesas

proceeded;

cleared

sixtyfeet above
above

167

MASKELYNES

The
victory.
the

when

high
and

his

OF

away

I fired the

there

was

my
in
the
basketheads,
And

Mr.

Burnaby's

stillintact.
this

are

the pepper

of

stage

life.
magician's
I had

another

pinch of pepper within a coupleof days

of this incident. I was
cage
birdproducingthe disappearing
first invented
illusion,
by Bautier de Kolta in my
time.
grandfather's
To perform this trick I came
to the stage carrying
on
an
ordinarywire bird-cage
containinga canary. It was a
rubber canary ; this does not affect the trick,as it is just
as
easy to performwith a live bird. I will explainmy choice
later. Anyway, even
the rubber bird could hop about and
twitter.

Passingdown

of the
bird-cageto any member
audience who wished to examine it thoroughly
for himself,
I then took it in my hands again,
and offered to throw it to
cricketer enough to catch it. Selecting
who
was
anyone
from the half-dozen replies
I received,I swung
the cage
through the air three times,and, on the third swing,it left
my

hand

and

the

flew towards

the patron who

had

offered

to

catch it.
But

the

when

I asked

if he had

received

in
it,he replied

negative.
Apparentlyastounded, I steppeddown

walked
the stalls,

to

his seat, and

looked

about

into

for the

Then
I asked him
if he
though without success.
thought I had the cage hidden under my coat.
the answer
to this question
was
a laughing
one
Usually,
that a magicianmight have anythingunder his coat 1 So I
took off my coat, passedit round among
the audience for
returned to me
with the
examination, and it was
finally
cage,

168

WHITE

guarantee that there

lining.
over
negligently
my

Tossingit
was

cage

the canary

concealed
bird-cage

nor

or

arm,

I noticed

diately
imme-

lie flat; in fact,that the outline

of
visible under it,and that the twittering

that it would
a

neither bird

was

within its folds

of

MAGIC

not

could

againbe heard.
the jacketin astonishment
I revealed the
Lifting
with bird inside all completewithin it.
is how
the trick goes when it goes
That, at least,
this nightin particular
it went, but went
1
wrong

cage,
! On

the cage to the audience, received it back

again,and stood before the footlights
swingingthe cage
towards
the selected patron who
had offered to catch it.
I showed

On

the third

contrary
There

to

cage left my
I had intended.

swingthe

what

was

need

no

had

caught it or not
cricketer after all,
and
into the back

he could

not

in

my
have

quite

manner

assistant

amateur

been

much

of

he did not catch it.Instead,it crashed

narrowly missing an old lady's

bonnet, and fellin a crumpledheap to the floor.
live birds ;
Because of such possibilities,
I do not use
there is also another reason, as I shall explainpresently.
I ran down
the bent and broken cage
to the placewhere
was
lying,and picked it up. Everyone was tremendously
and unkindlyanxious to see a magiciancaught
interested,
out

at

seat,

last 1

"Ladies
are

of

ask whether

to

hand

all

and

that I did

aware

clumsilyas
shape."
I called

I announced, "of
gentlemen,"

that. As

you

not

see, it is bent

stage-handdown,
him to take them
him, telling
he did. Then

"Of

I turned

to

throw

to

mean

cannot

the

twisted

you

cage
out

as

of

and

gave the remains to

behind the scenes, which

the audience

course," I said,"I

and

course

again.

offer you

such

ruinous

STORY

THE

169

MASKELTNES

OF

final inspection.
But, beinga real
as that for your
bird-cage
I don't see what is to prevent me
from producing
magician,
in its place,
of the air."
a perfect
one
out
I took off my jacket
and passedit round. It was
returned
with the usual guarantee that it had "nothingup its
to me
sleeve". I then cast it over
when
the bird-cage
my arm
shapeappearedunderneath it,and lo and behold ! (asMoses,
that Master Magician,
used to say),
there was
an
undamaged
and a perfect
rubber canary chirpingaway as if
bird-cage
it could not get its notes out fast enough.
The audience was
rather pleased
with that !
"

Now
birds

or

this affairof rubber

to

as

beasts

hurt

This is
Some
accused

not

can

live

the case

their sudden

publicity.
illusion.
in the disappearing
bird-cage
and clever magicianwas
very famous

time ago a
of hurtingthe canaries he used

that
replied

use

the stage unless the conditions

be clearly
proved that they are neither

by
frightened

nor

never

fishes on

or

such that it

are

animals. I

he did

not

hurt

them,

in this trick. He

and that he could

prove

his words.
I believe the
ended

case

in the House

breathless

oldest house

of Lords.

There

to

Court, and that it

followed

the rather

conjurerperformingan illusion before

in England's
assembly of peers and bishops,

curious incident of
a

went
eventually

of government.

trick
magicianperformedthe vanishingbird-cage
afterwards examined
and the canary he used was
perfectly,
and found to be quiteuninjured.
I do not see how
But
and it is a big but in my mind
the
could perform this illusion without terrifying
anyone
of
bird used. I am
preparedto admit that it is a matter
but it is my opinion,
and I stick to it.
opinion,
cessful
Moreover, althoughthe magicianin questionwas sucin not hurtingthe canary, I could not guarantee to
The

"

"

MAGIC

WHITE

170

perform that illusion half a

bird I used. And

dozen

hurtingthe

times without

myselfas quick and skilful a

magicianas most of my contemporaries.
It is a significant
that when
fact,perfectly
easy of proof,
this trick was
wards
first performed,and for many
years afterin fact,until rubber

"

use

I consider

canaries

into

came

time

legs got broken and rebroken

of this illusion.
presentation

canaries'

"

time in the
De
method
trick

of the trick,himself

Kolta, inventor
so

as

to

use

rubber

common

after

changed his

bird, because, he said,the

without
impossibleto perform swiftly
breakingthe canary's
legs.
For years, in fact, the birds' legs were
broken, and
mended
with match-sticks for the next performance,
when
match-sticks and legswould
be broken again.
In such cases,
it

almost

was

usual

was

for the

at which
performances,

bird

to

die after about

its legswere

rebroken

of

score

almost

every

time.
I

his

cannot

case

this

to

doubt
the Lords

had

trick,and
particular

used. It does sometimes

one

took
illusionist who
particular
for
unique and splendidaptitude

that the
a

that he

happen

never

that

one

trick better than

else with

anyone

hurt

the birds he

man

else. But I have

anyone
this ability,
and I do not

can

perform

never

met

possess

it

myself.

engaged to Miss
Home-Douglas that my father,Nevil Maskelyne,died.
He did not, perhaps,
achieve as wide a fame as a magician
as that attained by my
But, then,J. N. was as
grandfather.
in his own
sphereas Lord Northcliffe
especial
great a man
in journalism
Marconi
in wireless telegraphy.
or
was
Nevil Maskelyne was
wonderful
tied by
a
electrician,
tradition to the bricks and mortar
of St. George'sHall.
and well he taughthimself to be a master
Painstakingly
It

was

very

soon

after I became

THE

STORY

but his heart

illusionist,
or the
footlights

that of Marconi

one
one

my

whose
grandfather,
son

one

his mind
one

magic was

himself off from

cut

such

imagine.Yet

name

was

in

would
life,

have

George'sHall

might have

course

famous

as

as

for the
everything
he kept
set. Instead,
the laboratory.
What

his
St.

the

of his convictions,

the courage
did, thrown over

foot in the theatre and

had his

made

at

had he had

as

the

of
glitter
appreciative
applause.

might have

J. N. himself
which
on
profession

and,

thrilled

never

clatter of

I believe that he

MASKELTNES

OF

been

said

I cannot

the

happier

in the end.
Before

father died, he

my

to
repeated

me,

for word, the last instruction of his father

that he wished

about

him.

said

He

whether
spiritualism
it was
He asked me
to
a great delusion
or
a strange reality.
and to
sleepin his bed for a day or two after his passing,
from him, if he
be ready to receive the slightest
message
could by any chance get into communication
with me.
It was
an
sensation,restingthere, with him
uncanny
lyingdead in the house, and waitingfor a message from the
who
had been
and stillis so
departedsoul of the man
dear to me, and so wonderfullyand sympathetically
my
to

convince

to

almost word

me

"

"

"

friend.
No

through.
stated in a leading spiritualist
magazine
that my grandfather,
J. N. Maskelyne,confessed to a wellknown
surgeon, just before his death : "It is all true.
is all true, but I dare not tellthe public."
Spiritualism
The same
has been attributed in printto my
statement
message
It has been

came

father.
I would

abominable

like

say here that it is

in both cases.
No one
libel,
to

foul lie,and
outside

an

lunatic

with
would
credit my grandfather
asylum or a seance-room
beingafraid to tell the public anything.
"

WHITE

172

believed

He

of artists who

He

Its
public.

in the

his life.He

entertainment

cheek

MAGIC

not

was

wishes

one

of the modern

believe that it is clever

servingthe publicwho

while

earned his money.

Had
he been on

his

were

to

school

keep tongue

in

their paymasters.

are

his death-bed, and

law, its

been

convinced

of

have risen and proclaimedthe truth

he would
spiritualism,
of deceit ; his whole
from the housetops.He was
incapable
shows it.
life-story
promising.
equallyuncomMy father,while less forceful,was
I knew

Mother
a

and

better,I think,than anyone

him

I know

that he would

had he
spiritualist,

been

ever

have

except

self
proclaimedhim-

convinced, even

had the

George'sHall in twain.
I have seen
It is like the spiritualists,
as
them, to put
into the mouth
of a dead man.
yet another bogus statement
there are sincere peopleamong
I know
them, and probably
I have no axe to grindagainst
them ;
also sincere mediums.
be convinced
I would
myselfif I could be admitted to a
se"ance at which
anythinghappened that I could not
reproduceby conjuring
of
But they do their case
no
one
good by permitting
of the legal
axiom :
their chief periodicals
to take advantage
"You

cannot

When

my

It
Nature
As

vault

St.

rent

announcement

was

seems

libel a dead
father

man."
buried

was

very

dull,cool day, one

strange
of those

pened.
thinghapdays when

drowse.

to

the coffin

lowered

into the grave, in the family

there came
a
singleterrific peal of

was

Wandsworth,
seemed
thunder, and a ghastlyflash of lightning
at

the skies and

the tombstones
There

was

strike like
at our
no

split

among

feet.

thunder

Englandthat day ; nor

heavenlyscorpiondown

to

was

or

the

anywhere else in
lightning
flash and roll repeated.
single

MAGIC

WHITE

174

down

towards

front

the

stalls I

hemmed

was

in

and

crowded.
.

of the stalls,
in one
sitting
my grandfather
reserved for me
father,and an empty seat was

Then
and

my

between

saw

them.

both looked

They

well and

jokebetween

some

between

both

evening dress,and
happy ; indeed, theywere laughingat
were

in full

themselves.

performanceon
the stage. It was
of a magic play,but it seemed
sort
some
real than make-believe.
Witches
more
were
dancing an
obscene measure
round a great steamingcauldron,their elflocks flying,
their red eyes gleaminglike malevolent rubies.
from the boiling
In the steam
that rose
pot I saw strange
faces appear
of nightmareshape,headless babies,
monsters
the head and shoulders of a girlof
great bats,and once
evil beauty.
absolutely
unearthly,
that I was
The face of this girl
awoke
me, and I found
stillin my
bed, sweating with fear and excitement. The
rulingpassionis strong, and beside my bed laya big diary,
I
when
to me
alwayskept there to record ideas that come
of my
I made
notes
am
a few
vision,and then
sleepless.
turned over
and went
to sleep.
the same
Next night I dreamed
exactly
thing; but the
dream lasted longer.
While I was
watchingthe figures
appear
leaned over
in the smoke, my grandfather
to me.
"I'll justtell you how
that's done," he whispered.
And
then he and my father between
them explainedto
how
identical illusion.
to produce an
me
I woke
were
being spoken,
up againas the last words
note-book
and there was
ready at my side. In it I
my
I

sat

them

and

watched

the

"

entered

the

details of

illusion ; and the very next

almost too impatientto wait for

the

morning indeed, I was

the apparatus necessary.
daylight I set to work constructing
When
it was
ready,I tried it out ; and it produced by
"

"

STORY

THE

far the
seen

"

most
or

MASKELYNES

life-like effects of this

should

It has

OF

that I have

ever

I say witch-like ?

since been

ever

sort

175

effectsfor the Witches'

my

Scene

ambition

produce these

to

in Macbeth. I

was

asked

to

do

but he and I did

by a leadingproducer,
not
see
eye to eye about the questionof my secret methods.
That is to say, I wanted
the
to keep them
a secret, while
he ought to "see the works".
producerfelt that,as producer,
So I withdrew
; but I stillhope to gratify
my ambition
one
day,and I believe the effect will create something of a
so

on

one

occasion

sensation when

it firstappears

the stage.
father's death in 1926,I was
left with
on

After my
of St.
real responsibility

all the

George'sHall on my shoulders.
of my generation
I was
the onlyone
who had been appearing
and I had a pretty good idea both of what
there regularly,
our
publicwanted and how to give it to them.
But I was
only twenty-fouryears of age probablythe
in London.
I had not had enough
youngest theatre-manager
of myselfin my new
role ; and
to make
me
sure
experience
though I later became Managing Director,it was with very
considerable qualms.
the destinies
Presenting
magic is one thing; controlling
of a placewith such a tradition as that of St. George'sHall
"

is another.
I combed

the world

for talent ; I

sought out artistesand

I worked
about twenty
illusions in the most
unlikely
places.
hours a day,in the workshopsmaking apparatus, on the stage
r actually
givingor superintending
rehearsing,o
performances
I think I did pretty well. We
keptreceipts
up to about
reasonable
normal
to
levels,and kept expenses down
a
carried on.
I think that J. N. himself,in my
We
figure.
could have tried no
harder, though perhaps he
position,
But then
might have done more.
though I repeat myself
J.N. was a genius.
.

"

"

CHAPTER

Indian
St.

at

IN

before

magic

Western

the

George's

who

has

ever

than

the

Maharajah

and

of

an

area

of

descendant

"

"

"

"

of

1926

before
me

seen

"

"

Hall

early months
of magic

Ruler

Maharajah "The
Dizzy Limit"
Two
sensations
theories
Sword-walking
Secrets of my
Tricking the C.I.D.
magic.
Indian

an

Trick

Rope

XIV

of

one

invited

was

of the

perform. This
Jodhpur.

of India

to

critical

most
no

was

that is almost

as

give
less

formance
per-

judges
person

big as England,

its direct
ruling family that traces
line for nearly a thousand
ancestry in an unbroken
years
is one
of the most
into the past, the Maharajah's Court
of magic in all the East. From
famous
homes
a child,he had
native jugglersand fakirs perform their miracles
for
seen
his amusement
he wanted
to watch
a representative
; and now
of Western
magic produce something in competition.
A giantmarquee
erected for my special
benefit on the
was
lawn
of the Maharajah's Wimbledon
home, and a fine stage
built inside it, complete down
the last detail of
to
was
lightingand curtaining.
the stage was
another
Near
tent, with a very heavy black
veil down
side of it. Just before
show
due to
one
was
my
of Jodhpur and her sister were
carried,
begin,the Maharanee
in heavily curtained
palanquins,into this small tent, and
thereafter they watched
illusions through tinyeye-holes
my
in the black
It

was

magic

under

And

"on

an

my

curtain.
eerie
the

I can
assure
feeling,
you, making Western
ever-present spellof watching Eastern
eyes.

I had

another

toes"

that

incentive, if

night. This
176

was

one

the

was

needed,

first occasion

to

be
for

THE

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

177

of my familyhad given a
fifty
years that a member
magic show outside St. George'sHall. What an astounding
from the old tradition that firststep was
to herald !
departure
The
of disMaharajah,his doctor, and a number
the performance
guishedguests sat in the stallswhen, at last,
all readyto begin.
was
I produced the very best illusions I could stage, of
over

and

course,

of them

two

interested

the

Indian

potentate

particularly.
In the firstof

stage clad in
sides and

that the audience

was

no

The
called
she

could

formerlyheld
that it was

see

about
trickery

up the hammock

so

transparent,and that

it.

adjustedher hair,and
up in the hammock,
the audience,to show that she was
real,and that

to

in
actually
was

no

Then

the hammock
mirror

mere

I fired

the check

wrapper

It

can

at

scream

be

in

fact,that her presence

her, the hammock

floated down

the report of my pistol.

This trick is called "The
own.

"

illusion.

revolver

vanished,though her

of my

the

girlsat

was

there

on

check

the boards. I had

there

a
assistant,
came
girl,

She climbed into a strong

wrapper.
that was
about eightfeet away from the
swung
back-cloth of the stage, and about five feet up

hammock

from

them, my

was

collapsed,
and the girl
to the floor
heard simultaneously
with
"

Dizzy Limit", and

very

is a

effective indeed

speciality

when

well

performed.
The
a

other trick that took the laurels that

sarcophagusfor

stone

from

This ancient coffin

its performance.

the stage and examined

by a committee
the audience. It was
then lifted on to trestles to clear

wheeled

was

eveningneeded

on

to

allow free space

there.
trap-door

it of the stage and

the chance
The

of

sarcophagushad

beneath

holes in the

it,to exclude

sides,and

was

just

178

MAGIC

WHITE

who
climbed into it
largeenough to contain my assistant,
The lid was
fitted on, and the whole roped
and lay down.
and sealed. My assistant then called to us from inside the
coffin ; and indeed
she could
in there,
clearlybe seen
through the holes,during the whole of the illusion.
I handed
down
the Maharajah a bundle
of
Then
to
ship.
spears, swords and long knives,of native Indian workmanThese he tested in every way possible,
whether
to see
the blades telescopedinto the handles, or whether
they
were
on

faked in any other way. He was, of course, an expert

Indian weapons,
and he passedthese as beingabsolutely

genuine,sharpand dangerous.
I then took back the knives,
swords and spears, and thrust
in at one
side and out at the other ;
them through the coffin,
assistant within gave a
and as each passedthrough, my
fainter as more
realistic shriek,the cries getting
and more
passedapparentlythrough her body ; for there
weapons
for her to avoid them in the narrow
no
room
was
obviously
confines of the coffin.
When

the

sarcophaguswas

bristling
weapons,
from

these

the audience

were

broke

hedgehog

withdrawn

and

the seals and

about

the coffin. I then raised the

from

within, as

fresh and

veritable

lid,and my

undamaged

as

the

of

mittee
com-

the ropes
assistant rose

cut

when

she

had

entered.
I heard
was

reminded

gasp from

behind

of the Maharanee

the black curtain

who

sat

at

that,and

there.

fifty
pounds you wouldn't get into that
do it to you," the Indian ruler challenged
him.
his native doctor, who was
next
sitting
sir,"was the instant reply.
"My priceis five millions,
There was
not
some
was
laughter,but the challenge
eventuallyaccepted,though the doctor later assisted me
tricks I wanted
to
disappearing-card
very ably in some
"Fll bet you
coffin and let him

THE

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

179

perform.He would have been quitesafe in earninghis

it !
fifty
pounds by lyingin the coffin,
too, had he onlyknown
"You
made
the girldisappearmiraculously in fact,
than I have seen
fakir make
more
even
a
marvellously
anythingvanish before/*said the Maharajahto me after
the performance,
when
we
were
chattingon magic. "Can
?"
you do the Indian Rope Trick for me
"

here I had

But
nor

as

"

this trick

to

admit

firmlybelieve
conform

to

that I

was

beaten. Neither

anyone else in the world

with the old legend,which
"

can

I
do

I have

described fullyin

ChapterVIII of this book.

I asked my questioner
whether he himself
this trick performedin India or elsewhere.
"No,"
I have

the

was

searched

my

it for

me.

form

of the Indian

that

thingis
we

dominions

certain it has

am

Well, there
the

"I have

answer.

an

shall

one

you

for

never

never
man

had

been done

seen

it,though

seen

who

ever

produce
the original

can

in

legend."
are

1 I think that is

Yet,
impossibility.
day see the Rope

proofenough

that

the stage, I believe

Trick illusion perfectly

on

and I expect to be the man

who presents it.You
presented,
will readily
that doing it on
the stage, where
appreciate
work many seeming
can
apparatus and black velvet together
from effecting
the same
miracles,is quitea different matter
illusion in the open air,away from draperies
and unassisted
by mechanics.
I have my plansperfected
to give a big Indian
now
Rope Trick show, as soon as I can find a suitable theatre
I
and an opportunity
to rehearse the illusion thoroughly.
for an obvious
shall never
givethis trick in the provinces,
There stage-hands
and others who
reason.
see
necessarily
illusion are always
something of the works of a big new
from rival magicians
who
and persuasion
to bribery
subject
wish

to

learn the

secret

of

new

trick.
M

l8o

WHITE

I have
I do

not

lost

exclusive

some

propose

to

risk what

MAGIC

and
magic that way already,
be
will,I believe,
eventually

biggest"scoops" of my career.
After the performance
before the Maharajahof Jodhpur,
I repeatedin the Press my
challengethat I would pay a
who
to anyone
huge fee,and a very largeweekly salary,
would
producethe Indian Rope Trick for me in the open,
accordingto the terms of the legend.
This challenge
brought me a curious response. One
eveningas I was returningabout midnightto my home,
after a visit to some
I found a wizened
littlefigure
friends,
crouched in a blanket on my doorstep.
So small was
it that
I thoughtit was
child ; but it proved to be a littleold
a
one

of the

Indian.

indoors,and he
and, though he could
challenge,
I took

him

wanted, he had

told
not

me

he had

seen

my
perform the trick I

illusions in his

that
repertoire
that he had actually
might interest me. He said,incidentally,
the Rope Trick performed in a templedevoted to the
seen
worship of Kali, in Eastern Bengal.His explanationwas
that the fakir who producedit was
of hypnotism,
a master
of the congregation
and that he hypnotizedthe whole
present, who had previouslybeen got into a sympathetic
that spreadheavy opium
state
by the swinging censers
fumes through the temple,
and also clouded the atmosphere
to a foggy density.
More
he told me
that he had seen
a
still,
interesting
taken
photographobtained by a Bengalimerchant, actually
duringa performanceof the Rope Trick. The photograph
showed
the ground in the midst of a
the fakir sitting
on
circle of onlookers. Of rope or boy there was
no
sign; yet
the merchant
that he had taken the picture
at the
swore
that the boy was
moment
climbingthe rope. The idea was
that the fakir had simplywilled the audience to see things
other

Eastern

182

MAGIC

WHITE

of phantom and levitation tricks. I discovered,

possibilities
for instance,
how to producea ghostof myself,and talk to

it,and

make

it hold

This caused

with

conversations

somewhat

of

I first presentedit ; and

me.

sensation

other

on

phantom

the stage when

illusions did the

same.

The

best levitation

of

study
patient
and experiment,continued
invented by my
to be the one
father,in which a girlwalks on to the stage, is apparently
and
lies down
in a stone coffin,
hypnotizedby the magician,
then rises from it horizontally,
without any
and absolutely
means

of

support,

at

trick,
despite
years

of

word

command

"hypnotist".
I was
doing this trick one day at
when
small girl
in the audience
a very
have

been

about

the

George's Hall
I think she might
merely "stole my

St.
"

five years old

not
thunder",but took the attention of the audience
"

from

to

such

an

trick,that
extent, and this at the very climax of this thrilling
it was
worth my while to finish it.
not

the stage, been apparently

on
My assistant had come
and had risen into the
hypnotized,lain down in the coffin,
air from it,a long sash hangingmeanwhile
from her waist
the audience thoughtthat the
to the ground. Of
course,
sash concealed a pillar
such apparatus to raise her,
or
some
and I obtained a little extra
the sash
effect by twitching
away while she laysuspendedabout five feet from the stage,
and showing that nothinghad been hidden beneath it.
Then I advanced
towards her motionless sleeping
figure
with a big steel hoop in my hand. This hoop had previously
been examined
by the audience,and passedas an unbroken
ringof steel. My idea was to pass the steel hoop round the
and move
it alongfrom her
body of my levitated assistant,
feet to her head, to show the audience that she was
definitely
not
supportedin any way whatever.

THE

OF

STORY

As I did this,
in order
which

to

183

MASKELYNES

increase the effect,

the

orchestra,
music, suddenly

had been

mysteriousEastern
playing
I was
a periodof absolute silence in which
stopped,leaving
to developthe climax of
my illusion.
I began to pass the hoop along,slowlyand effectively.
Then
the silence,
which felt almost a solid thingafter the
previousmusic, was cut as if by a knife.
tinctly
"Mummy 1" wailed an innocent childish voice, dis! I cartt wait
audible all over
the theatre. "Mummy
do want
! I really
I can't really
to go this time 1"
any longer.
I am
despitethe fact that
sorry to say that my assistant,
she was
suspendedin mid-air in an hypnotictrance, giggled
afraid I laughed
But itdid not matter
audibly.
; indeed,I am
myself.
in a roll of
drowned
Any sounds from the stage were
that ran all over
the theatre,from the floor to the
laughter
roof. My illusion was
forgotten; in fact,we finished it off
the curtain,while
and broughtdown
as
as swiftly
possible
the orchestra,at a nod from me, crashed into a triumphal
and her mummy
march, to the strains of which the littlegirl
"went"
like warriors walkingto receive their laurels !
after this affair,
A night or two
again while we had a
I was
show in full swing but at a time when
not
on
actually
the head fly-mancame
the stage myself,
rushingto me where
I stood in the wings.
"My God, Mr. Jasper1" he gasped."Your grandfather's
standingup in the fliesthere !"
since my
It was
a
naturally,
announcement,
startling
had been dead nearly
ten
grandfather
years. Yet the man's
white face showed
I asked
the

him

to

that he had received

take

me

up

to

the

some

placewhere

sort

of shock.

he had

refused to do so.
but he point-blank
figure,
and myself due
With a performancegoing on

stage in about five minutes, I

was

in

no

mood

to

on

seen

the

stand for

Besides,I needed the man

imagination.
up there,
the curtain changes during the rest
of the
to
to
see
performance.
"Come
on
upstairsand show me what you saw, or else
for good I" I snapped at
go and get your pay and clear out
much

too

needn't

"You

him.

do that.

The

an

was

man

whatever

near

the

Justpoint out

never
grandfather

my

too

go

placeto

me,

it is you saw.
I'll
that's all. Anyway,

did anyone
any harm."
old hand who
had known

J. N., and,

worshippedthe very ground he trod on.

He muttered
something,and ran ahead of me up the ladders
into the flies,
fortyfeet or so above the stage.
"There
I" he quivered,
pointinga shakingfinger.
of my life. We
I got the shock
were
standingdirectly
The fly-rails
round
the outside of
above the footlights.
ran
like all his servants,

dome, above

the

back.

Standingat

the sides of the stage and round

at the
the point opposite us, againstthe back

theatre,about

fortyfeet above the stage, his

the fly-rail,
and apparently
arm
on
intentlywatching the
the boards far below, was
the figure
unconscious
actors
on
in full evening dress
of a man
undoubtedlythe figureof
! Through the forest of ropes that intervened,
grandfather
my
wall

of the

"

I could

see

his characteristic pose

and

his absorbed

face.
"Wait
be heard
is

here and tell me

in the theatre

standing,"I

sort

had
The

"

muttered.

to
signal

"

when

"I'm

me

if your

voice

might

the

placewhere he
positivethe thing'ssome

get

near

of

illusion."
optical
I
I walked
to the spot where
swiftlyround the fly-rails
the figurestanding,but there was
seen
nothingthere.
fly-mangesturedme to one side,and I took a coupleof

paces that way. Then he nodded, and his amazed

face told its own
story.
I

went

back

to

him

and

asked

him

what

and shocked

he had

seen.

STORY

THE

185

MASKELYNES

OF

he jabbeda thumb
towards
the placeI
speaking,
had just
left.Standingthere,
stillintently
watchingthe stage,
in eveningdress.
the figure
was
"You
rightthrough him, Mr. JasperI"
you walked
the flymanwhispered.
That figure
here is a strange thing.
Now
appearedthere
the house-lights
turned up
were
always at the moment
precedinga performanceon the stage below. It stayedtill
the end of the performance
the lights
went
out, it
; when
Without

"

"

vanished.
It was

some
pretty obviously

illusion
extraordinary
"

amazing than anythingwe did on

by the lights
shining
throughthe network
more

far

the stage caused

of ropes up there
"

in the flies.
If

one

the figure
the spot where
stood,
lights
visible. Yet a watcher stationed over
the foot-

went

nothingwas

round

to

brooding figure,and from that

passinground the
positionit looked as if any investigator,
back of the fly-rails,
walked straight
through the phantom
down
at the stage.
as it leaned there staring
remained
in its place,
That curious impression
quietly
until Maskewatching rightthrough every performance,
sold to the B.B.C. Then theydid all sorts
Theatre was
lyne's
the parof alterations and improvements,and apparently
ticular
and shadow
of lighting
combination
was
spoiled.
months
I was
broadcastingfrom St. George'sHall some
figure
up into the fliesto see if the ghostly
ago, and I went
of J. N. Maskelynestillkept his quietward. But he was
could

still see

the

gone.

to

and

of the fly-mencared
Perhapsit was justas well,for none
after
discovery,
go up alongthe back of the fly-rails our
for the

matter

of that few

of the artistes would

firstyear

the

do

so

either.

Throughoutmy

as

force
controlling

on

the

86

WHITE

MAGIC

George'sHall,after my father's death,I was

littlesituations and having
into awkward
constantly
getting
all the snags
and generally
out
to extricate myself,
finding
of managing a magic show.
I remember
awkward
that occurred
moment
a particularly
one
performance
eveningwhen I was givingan extra-special
then !)before some
C.I.D. inspectors,
(theyalwaysdo occur
who
had been sent tickets in acknowledgmentof a little
cash
mystery they had cleared up in connection with some
of ours
which was
nightlyfrom
doing the vanishing-trick
the theatre takings.
stage

St.

at

Now,

of all onlookers,I dread

leads
training

the way my
on
logical
speculation
tricks are
done ; they rejectthe obvious impossibilitie
which
the magician flaunts as red herringsbefore the
audience, and are very apt to puzzleout the works
general
of a trick if they are giventhe slightest
clue.
You can judgemy exasperation,
when, in one
therefore,
of the big illusions that evening,I failed to get the cue
which should have told me that my girl
assistanthad successfully
secreted herself inside a complicated
bit of apparatus
readyfor the climax of my trick.
off-stage,
I made
not

them

Their

detectives most.

come.

had

the event, it ran

but

at

lines and waited

some

up
We

to

for the cue, but it did

that trick for six months
practised
; in

onlyfour weeks, and

the time

I did

not

possiblyhave gone wrong

that my
Finally,
finding
an

excuse

to

near

move

girlstandingbeside
"Why aren't you
my

mouth,

suppose

cue

anythingcould

that

stilldid

not

I made

come,

the side-curtains where

saw

the

the apparatus, lookingfrightened.

of
inside ?" I asked,out of the corner

apparently
busyingmyself with
on

with it.

while stillkeepingmy

other material

then withdrawn

was

the stage.

face
the

to

the audience

preparationof

and
some

THE

STORY

187

MASKELYNES

OF

"I've

forgottenhow," she answered tearfully.

I murmured
and next moment
she
some
key directions,
inside,I got my cue, and the trick proceededsmoothlyto

was

its conclusion.
After the show
the "works"

of my
tricks. But, thank
as allthe rest of the audience,and that
mystified

does, of

"3 5 o

deal !

often been

costs

stage

me

course.

whether
to

my

construct.

apparatus

of it

Well, some

apparatus that

one

cost

the

on

me

over

build and patent, and yet the trick it performsonly

to

the stage.But it is a good trick.

I was
the onlyperformerof this trick

on

For

three years
in the world. Then
American

an

reproducedit,or
one

asked

very much
I have

takes four minutes

see

spotted
goodness,

of any

theywere as
is sayinga good
I have

I asked the detectives if theyhad

I heard

who

even

that
was

certain famous

then

porary,
contem-

England,had
visiting

improved upon

it a little.I went

to

of his shows.

and obtained just

as good
Yes, he had produced my trick,

spending"350 on his
effect by employingthree
apparatus, he achieved the same
to pullsimultaneously
on
placedat different angles,
men,
littlebits of string.
effect

an

as

I did. But

instead of

live and learn !

We

illusions I
good number of my most spectacular
electric apparatus, as everyone
not
use
complicated
poses
supbut the good old gramophone motor.
I have some
of these motors
in my workshops.
hundreds
break down
They have amazingstrength
;
; they never
and they are silent.
Black velvet,
and to a lesser degreemirrors,playa very
illusions.
of some
of my biggest
importantpart in the staging
Long before the art of camouflageby colours sprang into
prominence during the Great War, we magicianshad
For

"

"

188

WHITE

it

exploited

to

MAGIC

degree

would

that

fill

layman

with

wonder.
Cobbler's

little

wax,

of

knowledge
the

force

further
But

of
items

of

most

the

gravity
in

all

steel

can

modern

springs

persuaded

magician's

it is

clips,

out-of-the-way

more

be

and

the

blarney

perform,

of

fine

art

see

no

the

think

wrong

world-famous

the

thing,

wrong

thing.
Irish

hear

wonder,

now,

illusionists

the

of

wrong

just

found
prothat

are

tricks.

"

onlooker

tricks

to

box

and

why

making
thing
there

the
and

are

WHITE

190

MAGIC

Somethingin that story made me see red. If that was

throw myself
the spirit
of the strikers,
then I for one would
into the struggle
to break their power.
to have
By a bit of luck,we happened justpreviously
show
at the Hall to some
given some
passes to a special
C.I.D. men,
and one
of these was
able to get me
a job as
Green
motor-cycledispatchrider attached to Walham
Police Station. This promised excitement,and I got it,
though hardlyof the type I had expected.
They gave me a very old, very crotchetymotor-bike,
called Jezebel for obvious
which I learned was
popularly
in the corner
reasons.
They also gave me a straw paliasse
of a garage as sleeping
tated
accommodation, for my job necessithat I should be available for dutytwenty-four
hours
of the twenty-four.
out
Most
in plain
daysI was givena hundred or so letters,
and told to deliver them to a list of addresses
envelopes,
that was
rendered
The envelopeswere
to me
separately.
identified onlyby numbers
marked
them. They bore no
on
"

and their
addresses,
case

contents

were

as

often

as

not

in code, in

I suppose.
they fellinto the hands of strikers,
I delivered them, according
to instructions,
at

queer assortment
Yard ; some
went

of

addresses. Some
other

went

to

the

most

Scotland

and to the
police-stations,
such as Hyde Park. But a
temporary policeheadquarters
good many were for obscure addresses rangingfrom Putney
Tottenham
back-streets and
pubs to Belgrave Square
mansions
and Thames
Ditton bungalows.
I have alwayswondered
what was
the secret behind the
immense
network
of communications
that the policeand
detective services kept up during the strike. Were
they
information ? Were
obtaining
they layingplansin case the
strike developed
into civil war
?
tell.But obviously
I cannot
there was
somethingpretty
to

THE

bigin

STORY

the way

OF

MASKELYNES

19!

of

trolling
going on, and onlythe conorganization
brains knew enough about itto be able to co-ordinate
the whole into a logical
plan of campaign.
As for me, I was
justone of the units whose lot was "not
to reason
why". Often I used to bestride Jezebelat midnight,
and roar up to some
stutter
address,steering
by my mount's
and blinking
deliver a letter,
ride off to a
inadequate
lights,
placeten miles distant and deliver another,and then find
that a third should have been handed in only a few hundred
yardsfrom the placewhere I had left the first.I was never
and, of course, street-names
givenany guideas to districts,
in unknown
neighbourhoodsconveyed very littleto me.
Anyway, we muddled through1
Once
journeyingstook me along the Kingston
my
By-Pass Road. I was warned by the detectives at Walham
trouble in that direction,
Green that there was
so I strapped
of
to my
on
a huge service revolver
belt,outside my jacket,

my

brother's. I had

no

ammunition

either,for that matter, but it looked

for

it,and

really
good

no

licence

stuff !

call an
I had no uniform, unless you can
Incidentally,
official armlet a uniform, and my
were
policeweapons
bidden
comprised solelyof a stout truncheon, which I was foralmost on pain of death,ever
to
by my superiors,
draw or even
to display.
Near KingstonI found the road blocked by a crowd of
who
in the act of burninga big black
excited men,
were
stood by in the gripof a
of which
saloon car, the owner
coupleof roughs.I rode up to them, pulledJezebelup on
which
her haunches
to
indignityshe repliedwith a
deafeningsquealof brakes and told the men to let their
prisonergo.
and complied.
They took one look at my artillery,
and we roared
The gentleman
then jumped on my pillion
before the main body of the destroyers
quiteknew
away
"

"

MAGIC

WHITE

192

happened.For a coupleof miles I could hear the

behind me
man
sayingto himself : "Why couldn't theyhave
left me
Dolly'sletters 1 1 don't care about the car, but why
couldn't theyhave left me
my letters !"
his wife or sweetheart
I have no idea whether Dolly was
but the car was
in the thousand-pound class,
or
daughter,
by the look of it.When I set him down and said good-bye,
absorbed in his lost letters that he almost forgot
he was
so
had

what

to

thank

for the lift.

me

road an hour later,and the car

by the same
twisted ruin.
a gutted,
I was
three days before the strike ended
About
sent
I returned

was

with

from

urgent message

an

Walham

Green

Yard, in the earlyhours of the morning.I

alongas usual at
a fast hussywhen
exhilarated
voice

so

me

she

miles
fifty

much

hour, for
mulish, and the empty

not

was

thundering
Jezebelwas

was

that I

was

an

singingat

streets

the top of my

I rode.

as

Victoria Station I

Near

when, without

turning,loomed
on

about

Scotland

to

across

was

going over

warning,a big Daimler

over
gigantic
me, and

its radiator. It executed

shot

cross-roads

out

crashed
skid like

of
me
an

side-

side
broadoutsize

and hit a street-islandwith my hip.

I went
ballet-girl,
flying,
bounced
The island preserved
a stolid demeanour, Jezebel
off and roared her tale of woe
and the
to the night skies,
next
thingI knew was that a number of men were solicitously
bendingover me and askingeach other if I was dead. I soon
convinced
What

them

about

annoyed

me

that 1
most

was

that I had

been

knocked

in such
by a car-load of detectives\ Why they were
flying
hard to be knocked
hurry I have no idea ; but it did seem
after bravingthe worst
out
terrors
by one's own colleagues

of the strikers.

Not

that the strikers were

really
very

terrible.Indeed,

THE

STORY

whenever

I lost

pavement

near

OF

MASKELYNES

193

I did half
as
myselfdelivering
dispatches,
times a day, I had to depend on them entirely
a dozen
to
find myselffor me.
And
occasion a kindlygroup
on
one
black tea and bread
a factory
picketing
scalding
gave me
and cheese because they said I looked cold.
After my accident I ceased working for the mechanized
section of our
detective organization,
largelybecause
the
a good portionof her entrails on
Jezebelhad deposited

famous
I

of
predecessor
say, but doubt

cannot

old and
As

Victoria.
the

Whether,
same

as

name,

it because

my

in the

case

of her

dogs ate them,

Jezebelwas so very
the

tough.
a

interest,I supervisedfor

new

formation

of

local branch

short time

the

Constables.
Special
I had suggestedthis idea on my enrolment,as I was
a good
rider myself,but it was
postponed,like a great many other
before it was
useful proposals,
tillthe strike was
over
put
a

of mounted

into effect.
An

bitter instance of this sort

of

thing,to
was
that,though I had besought
my fevered imagination,
all throughthe
the authorities,
both local and headquarters,
strike,for relief dispatchriders,and for something better
heard of any
than mouldy straw
to sleep
on, nothing was
result to my appeals
until the day the strike ended.
and
On that very morning, some
proper hair mattresses
blankets arrived,
warm
togetherwith a squadronof half a
who
had been told to put
dozen fresh-faced motor-cyclists
themselves at my disposal.
Think of it ! Had I been luckier,I could have reposed
lings.
orders to the underall day and issued lordly
on
my mattress
tillthere was
no
As it was, I worked
single-handed
with all I had
work
to do, and then theyinsulted me
more
!
previously
sought.Who'd be a patriot
My hip was not permanentlydamaged by my accident,
even

more

MAGIC

WHITE

194
but

I found

that it gave

trouble

me

afterwards

at

odd

times.
married
Miss
to
Day, 1926,I was
Midsummer
Home-Douglas. According to all authorities,
had true
Day is an occasion of great magic,and I certainly
who has ever
since
luck in the choice of the girl
magician's
I
and to whom
been my greatest inspiration,
any success
may since have achieved has been mainlydue.
We spent our
honeymoon at Beer, on the Devon coast.
I was
out
summer
swimming there,one glorious
morning,
wellwhen
my damaged hip,which had been treacherously
behaved
for the past weeks, suddenlygave way. The pain
intense,and I sank down
was
through the water, despite
convulsive efforts to keep my head above the surface.
summer
It justshows
lucky I was to marry on Midyou how
Day, for my wife was watchingme from the shore,
the water
in my struggles.
She became
and saw me threshing
old fisherman who was
to an
alarmed,and shouted urgently
in his boat attending
out
to some
a hundred
crab-pots
yards
Midsummer

On

to

left.

my

old

looked

head disappear,
my
up, saw
drove his boat to the spot with a few powerfulstrokes,
and
plungedoverside to search for me. It was luckyfor me ; I
The

ceased

had

green
to the

mariner

to

and
struggle,

depthsin

sort

surface,got

me

about
floating

was

of contented
into his

torpor. He

boat, and took

in the cold

draggedme
me

to

the

shore.
I

rather

inside and

out, but

serious

damage
had been done. The amazing thingwas
that,though I made
what very inadequate
acknowledgment I could, since the
had probablysaved my
man
life,he was infinitely
more
I gave later to amuse
with the littlemagic show
delighted
his children and some
other youngsters who
had gathered
was

for the occasion.

wet

no

THE

Children

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

195

best audience.
undoubtedlythe magician's
They accept him so very whole-heartedly
planations
; they have exfor a good many of his tricks (quite
wrong ones),
but they stillgivehim full marks if he amuses
them. They
free from the blase.
are
so
delightfully
I once
had fifty
children on the stage with me
at once,
at a children's matinee we
were
givingat St. George'sHall.
I had to "do my stuff" under their
they
eyes, and of course
when
are
they choose.
very sharp-eyed
One of the small girls a ladyof perhapsseven
or eight
wanted to talk to me about weddings.
desperately
years old
She asked me
if I had ever
been to a wedding,and was
thrilled to learn that I had recently
attended my own.
We
are

"

"

talked and talked while I got

would not be satisfied.
I had
Eventually

to

with my

on

sit down

on

but
illusions,

she

the stage with her,the

of the youngsters squatting

round in an admiring
circle,
and get this weddingpalaver
settledbefore I could
properly
rest

finish my
One
children

tricks.
of the

I ever
experiences
exciting

most

occurred

at

about

this time. We

held

had
a

with

wide
nation-

at St. George'sHall for young

competition
conjurers,
tricks actually
and although
to me
were
no
new
given,some
of them
of the presentations
were
quite novel and
attractive.
exceedingly
could not have been
who
A "Miss Paula" of Hastings,
with a clever trick.
than thirteen,
more
openedproceedings
She laid three handkerchiefs
looselyon a table ; and on
knotted end
another table she placedthree handkerchiefs
to

end. The

tables

were

about

feet apart,and both

the whole time.

ten

the eyes of the audience

of the hand, the knotted
At a wave

under

themselves and the others became

When

I add that the

handkerchiefs

were

undid

knotted.

audience,which

was

an

"invitation"
N

196

MAGIC

WHITE

of them
of famous
most
entirely
magicians,
members
of the Magic Circle itself,
and that they could not
how this trick was
see
though probably
actually
performed,
theyguessed,it says volumes for the young conjurer.
consisted

one,

Lawrence

Lewis

from

between

appear
billiard balls appear and disand anyone who
his outspread
fingers,
made

has tried tricks with ivories will bear

a

pretty difficultmedium

vanished

from

though he did
at all.
digits
Robin

the
not

Hood,

me

out

they are
appearedand

magic.Thimbles
of command,
at a word
tipsof his fingers
his hands or bend the
move
apparently
a

boy

for

that

of under

twelve, materialized

laurel

for himself out of thin air while bowing to

chaplet
the applause
that greetedhis appearance
the stage a
on
and effective illusion. Then he held up a
most
appropriate
shook it,and it became
size smaller,and
a
playing-card,
repeatedthis trick tillthe card had diminished to the size of
while never
a
actuallydisappearingfor one
finger-nail
"

from

the gaze of the onlookers.

This boy was
with exceptional
hands,and
gifted

moment

already

good knowledgeof how to use them, making them do

much
the entertaining
instead of using his voice too
a
usual fault with beginners.
Since those days,Robin, and his father and mother, have
had

"

become

three of

I have

to

thank

friends
splendid
Robin

now

our

dearest friends.
me
magic for introducing

up and down
has his own

to

many

the country.
little stage fitted up

such

in the

drawing-roomat home, with footlights,

spotlights,
scenery
in fact,
to helphim to present a perpossible
everything
fect
performance.
Despitehis youth,he is one of the best
magiciansI have ever seen, and it is a great shame that
there is really
need for him to become
no
a professional.
Magic is simplyhis hobby.
"

198

MAGIC

WHITE

second ; and
magician,with Robin Hood
side. She received a huge box of magic
Paula led the girls'
givena ten-pound
apparatus from Hamleys,and Barrs was
and Robin
note
a
cheque.In addition,the two winners
performance
by special
appeared,
arrangement, for a single
the St. George'sHall stage on the following
on
Saturday
afternoon,at one of our publicshows.
of these very
As
was
perhaps only natural,some
fumbled
trick or two
a
during the
promisingamateurs
but the show on the whole was
a marvellous
competition,
and gave great enjoymentto all us old hands who
success
male
juvenile

looked

on.

those

Even
downcast.

Real

committed

the

what

do when

to

An

was

mistakes

make
magicians

I well remember

Hall,when

made

who

the stage with a

the
as a clock on

not

mistakes,too,

have

been

sometimes.

substitute

performerat St. George's

but
not
a small boy,who
only made a slip,
very much
graver crime of not knowing
a

he had

made

it.

illusion called the Phantom

in which

need

Dancer

was

beingpresented,

the

magicianwas supposedto waltz round

girlassistant who vanished from his arms
stage struck midnight rather untruthfully,
"

I fear !

On

the occasion

wrong,

of which

am

the illusionistlost his head

started

writing,
somethingwent
instead of the lady,
and

with her
in the absurd
or
so it seemed
wrestling
calls
hope of forcingthe apparatus to work. Boos, hisses,catand advice brought the curtain down
with a run, not
but on the magician's
only on that disastrous performance,
reputation.
another occasion,a clever disappearing
trick was
On
being carried out with a hen. An obstinate,cluckingold

fowl is

"

not

an

"

easy "assistant"

which
usuallythis illusion,

at

the best of times, and

consisted of

"vanishing"the

STORY

THE

hen from
in

covered

hitherto

on

coop

empty

MASKELYNES

OF

coop

a
on

199

table,and making her appear

distant table,was
a
a
very

popularone.
This

time

hardlyin the
hen, withdrew
coop,

walked

it

was

popularthan ever before,but

intended. The conjurer
"vanished"
his
more

way
the cloth with
over

the

to

flourish from

second

lo 1
when
the coop there
stretched himself within and crowed
"

the empty

covered
untable,confidently
a

fine young

cockerel

lustily.
Hardlyhad the audience ceased to gigglethan the young
for this
behind the scenes
who
had been responsible
man
remarkable transformation was
his way to the stage-door
on
in lieu of notice.
with, in his pocket,a week's salary
father I knew, asked me
Last year, a small boy,whose
minor
to teach him
some
conjuringtricks with which to
impresshis schoolmates on his return to durance after the
holidays.
small tricks,and he proved a
I showed
him
some
remarkablyapt pupil.A week later I received a pained
letter from

the lad's mother.

appearedthat he had been to church paradewith the

familythe previousSunday, and when a solemn sidesman
round with the bag,my pupilhad created a local
had come
sensation by holdingout his penny, making it vanish from
ally
before the very eyes of the onlookers,slowlyand dramaticproducing it from the sidesman's beard, and then
the coin in the bag.The effect on the youth'ssmall
placing
sister had, I was
told,been peculiarly
demoralizing.
he had
where
had stoutlyrefused to tell anyone
He
and my regretlearned the trick,but my fame as a conjurer
table
his parents, and
well known
to
were
good nature
they drew the cruel conclusion that I had not only taught
him the trick,but suggested the idea for stagingit so
notably.Which was, of course, a sheer libel.
It

MAGIC

WHITE

200

being a magician! Not long

friends at home
by showing them
amusing some
ago I was
of water
to the brim, put a
a trick whereby I filled a glass
sheet of cardboard
over
it, turned the lot upsidedown
and withdrew
the cardboard,
the oak dining-table,
on
finally
slidingthe glass to the edge of the table and
into a jug there without
a
spilling
pouring the water
drop.
but oak is capable
This trick,of course, marks the table,
of beingwell polished
that the blemish can be removed
so
entirely.
not

While

in the middle

son

to

all fun

Indeed, it is

in

came

see
was

was

to

say

of this littletrick,
my

finish my effort before he went

weak with him and said yes.

One

be allowed

good night,and begged to

me

morning later,he

came

to

me

bed. As

to

in

small

great

usual,
state

of

excitement.

"Daddy

1" he announced

"I've
triumphantly,

been

doing
it upsydown,

of water. I've turned

your trick with the glass
but now
I'm 'fraid to get it off. Will you come

and finish it

forme?"

How,

it,I

short of

an

absolute miracle,the child had

done

but he had got as far as

pretendto explain,
the glassand withdrawingthe cardboard, and
reversing
onlya drop or two of water had escaped.
But the trouble was
that he had operatedon
little
a
Queen Anne inlaid walnut table of considerable value ; the
of course, will take years of patient
stain,
to remove
polishing
from

cannot

the veneer,
inlaid work.

and

I think that the

will leave

of all my

mark

permanent
trials as

on

the

professional
magicianoccurred a year or two ago. I was "vanishing"
a
lady from a box, before a packed and distinguished
audience. They did not see her go, but I watched
the lady
worst

disappear
still

was

I
to

there

the

watched

showing
threw

as

if I

lady

go

was

the

lid

of

she

And

again.

she

There

had

she

and
"

run

still

of

the

mistake

no

was

for

waited
and

way,

promised
;

cue,

my

dramatically

within
!

up

fast

there

wings,

out

and

seats,

box.

the

I woke

time

the

into

their

keep

This

safely

was,

then

to

over

that

up

box

the

opened

wings,

audience

the

trick

the

2OI

begged

do

the

into

safely

MASKELTNES

OF

STORY

THE

race

It

and

time

about

was

! I

been

had

sweating

was

gnawing

my

lip

hard.
about

For
I
It

could

hardly

made

do

silly thing

One

day,

arranging

dream

never

in

on

the

my

could

returned.

assistant
not

by

hag-ridden

was

right

though

that

dream.
it.

without

night

lest

worried

and

desperation,

with
and

laughed,

sleep

ever

uncomfortable

me

this

months

six

should

really

stage.
I did

it

to

stay

help

deliberately
in

joining

the
in.

box.
After

at

rehearsal,

Everyone
that,

the

CHAPTER

"The

whitewasher"

amateur

worship

in

London

member

and

AFTER

twelve

creates

attend

"

tragic suicide
Sabbath"

"Witches'

sensation

at

St.

"

Hall

George's

accustoming myself to my new

St. George's Hall, I managed

months

controllingforce
things running on
adequately control.
with

met

work

Devil-

"

mittee
com-

mittees
Com-

"

magic.

at

as

Film

"

"

XVI

many

routine

that

I understood

difficulties and

made

work
to

and

few

get

could

mistakes.

of the work, even

though it
enjoyed every minute
almost
made
time.
on
superhuman demands
my
In order to keep the profitsup to a standard
level,I had
do a good many
to
things besides making magic on the
in the
the task of superintending the work
stage. There was
made
our
shops where
; the arranging and
apparatus was
of new
artistes ;
changing of programmes
; the engagement
But

the
odd

jobs were
For

to

of advertisements

matter

meet

The

waiting for

instance, in 1928,
an

; and
to

me

1 turned

even

do

hundreds

then

of

them.

decorator

on

big scale,

emergency.

fact

George's Hall terriblyneeded

painting.It was
thoroughly dirtyinside, and in places the
from
walls and
plasterhad broken
ceiling,leaving
away
hideous
The
rents.
trouble, from
our
point of view, was
that redecoratingat that time was
a very
expensive job.
We
decoratingfirms.
got several estimates from London
best one
The
asked
a price of "282, and
proposed to keep
the theatre
closed
down
Nor
this
only three weeks.
was
unreasonable
a
particularly
big one, for the
; the job was
was

that

St.

20?

THE

theatre

STORY

deal

good

203

feet internally
from
fifty-nine

measures

the top of the dome.

But three weeks' loss of

to

MASKELTNES

OF

more

than

we

rather

directors'
agitated
suggestion.

business,plus "282, meant

1"

I did

not

unkindly.
do it by magic.On

to

propose

I had
I

won

all my planscut and

the rest of the meeting over

"I don't

see

how

we

pride.
thought

rather

repliedsomeone

But

preparedto spend. At
meetingI put forward a counterwere

"I'lldo it for you !" I announced, with some

"You
be a better magicianeven
than
must
you

the floor

he

can

of my
now," laughed one
better,with a bit of luck."

the

trary,
con-

dried ; and, in the end,

to my
way of thinking.

make

it any worse
than it is
critics. "And
he may make
it

a 5 5 -foot ladder,
straight
away and borrowed
carried through the streets to the theatre with
which was
myselfproudlymarchingalongin front.
volunteer
I engaged two
assistants,
bought about
fifteen gallonsof grey paint,one
gallonof gold paint,
three or four dozen brushes of all shapesand sizes,some
overalls,and a very doggish-looking
cap. I hired a big
and then
electric spray, laid in several hundred
cigarettes,
really
got going.

went

off

Slap-dab,
slap-dab,
up
all
Slap-dab day long

and
.

down

the

brickwork,

the classic says. And, after it,a lightning

change out of
became
overalls and cap (which soon
armour-plated
my
the
to
with paint!)into faultless evening dress, and on
as

stage for my

two

asleepfrom sheer
the morning, and
task.
my slap-dab

after which I fell

performances,
only to be up with the lark in
fatigue,
away up my long ladder to beginafresh

or

three

204

MAGIC

WHITE

We

keptthe theatre open the whole time ; the jobtook

us
only twelve days instead of the three weeks dubiously
considered
the cost
sufficient by the professionals
; and
between
was
"30 and "40 instead of over "280.
It makes
look
"man's
time"
a
pretty big item in
doesn't it ?
decorating
charges,
did

We
were

so

make

very

making

mistakes,of course, because we

and the record time we
were
enthusiastic,

the

over

few

job went

to

heads.

our

looked

had
we
very creditable when
Nor is this merely the opinionof

to

consider

own

goose
St. George'sHall

in

was

his

with interest that it had

job.There
to

my

were

my

not

artistinclined
For

stillvisible
mistakes,as largeas life,

critical eyes ; and, what

of the B.B.C., I think

that I made

my

ago, I noticed
since I did the
repainted

been

was

beautiful greyappointmentshad been

more,

words

mere

! Ses you, Twins !

superfluous
It was
justafter joiningthe
Union

when

months

some

and-goldupholsteredseatingand
fitted throughoutthe theatre.
Since my work had thus obviously
received
the
approval of those arbiters of elegance,
Aunties

place

done.

proud
swan.
spotless

the

But

was

austere

Uncles

of mine

Painters' and

firstfilm. It

the

and

become

Decorators'

rather

astounding

effort.
In

it I

discovered
abandoned

played the part

of

thief among
some
allthe best Scotland
a

the

detective

guests
Yard

at

an

hero

who

hotel. I then

and Sherlock

Holmes

the jewels
methods, and, instead,made the robber return
him with various terrifying
illusions.
by frightening
The picturewas
called "Room
19", but it was never
shown. I have stillgot a completereel of it,and I am
saving
I shall show it at his
it up tillmy boy is twenty-one, when
birthdayparty.I think it should prove one of the best turns

206

WHITE

MAGIC

faces of the
Sometimes, indeed, the yellow-painted
in the sweep of the arclights,
showingghastly
give
quitea good impressionof another world altogether.
Nor is magic easy to reproducefor film work. On the
stage the magicianblarneyshis way to fame. He contrives,
by a word or a gesture,to take the attention of the audience
from the things
they shouldn't see. You can't do that with
actors,

the

camera.

It

duringthe

was

film that I received

this modern

world

time when
a

horrible

and

curious

of talkies and

my second
reminder
that

making

was

and
electricity

radio and

aeroplaneshas not yet shaken off all the terrors that beset
forefathers of primitive
times.
our
superstitious
of our
One
magiciansat St. George's Hall,a veteran
who
had appearedthere in my grandfather's
day,but had
been working on
his own
for many
years and had later
returned

to

us, had

breakdown

illusion before

performingan

the stage while

the audience.

stated in the newspapers

health had given way, and that he
It

rest.
was

was

later his suicide

fortnight
reported.
Everyone thoughtthat it was
A

breakdown.

nervous

to
frightened

On

the

he

on

at
was

"while

case

that his

the time
to

take

was

spellof

of unsound

mind"

and

of overwork

contrary, that

man

was

death.

the inside story at the time, but I would

not
tellit,partly
because its publication
might have had serious
I knew

had

then, and partlybecause the dead man

consequences
stillone
relative. That lady has since died, and
living
there is

familyleft to grieve,even
could identify
the principal
of my tale.
the illusionist failed to perform his trick
When
no

stage, and

down,

and

one

then

of the

broke

down

I interviewed

in tears, the
him
behind
the

now

if

they

on

the

curtain
scenes.

came

was

THE

shocked

STORY

to

OF

MASKELTNES

that his hands

see

207

shaking,and

were

that the

that the whites had

so
pupilsof his eyes were
enormous,
disappeared,
givinghim a dreadful appearance.
I thoughthe had been takingdrugs,but he pouredout
his whole story, and it was
I had expected.
not
at all what
He said that,some
months
he had been introduced
earlier,
of Devil-worshippers
in London.
He had
to a sect
always scoffed at such things,and had supposed that they
were
simply a band of highlystrung peoplewho dabbled
had persuadedthemselves into
in ancient magic, and who
it of supernatural
origin.He joinedthe sect in
believing
the hope of learning
tricks to use on the stage.
new
some
If
was

ever

the

few

the Devil"

He then attended

before

but

feet from
In

drank

in

power

some

he could

would

to

have

be

to

had

he
as

the
long ago abandoned
childish superstition,
he had

Witches'

decent

the

be initiated into the

Sabbath

at

which, according

took placewhich
filthy
blasphemies

his account,

be described

quitenew

were

Since
deeper mysteries.
idea of a personalDevil
no
objection.

to

less,
ceremonies, at which, neverthe-

produced that were

explainedto him that he

novice, it was
to

his art, that illusionist

to

martyr

innocuous

tricks

some

"sealed

was

one

After

man

book.

had

He

greater than his

wanted

cannot

to

escape,
simplypreventedhis

own

moving.

the end, in
warm

opened,he

blood
was

climax
and

"sealed

of abomination

permittedone
to

which

at

of his veins

to

he
be

the Devil".

explainedto him that he

become
would
now
swiftlyrich and powerful,so long as
he sustained his allegiance
to his evil Master, and so
long
He

as

he

said that the Satanists had

never

uttered

Devil-worshipand

word

to

its devotees.

any
He

outsider

had

about

been

the

warned,

208

MAGIC

WHITE

would

however, that the breakingof either commandment

his

mean

his story he whimpered that he wanted

suicide,but was terrified of what would happen

At this
to

death.

own

pointin

commit

his soul

to

afterwards.

also said that he

He

been

had

dabblingon the Stock Exchange, though he had no

knowledge whatever of markets, and that he had become
rich through amazing rises in stock he had bought.This
attributed

he

to

occult

that he had acted

was
explanation

banker

very famous

influence,but

who

was

the advice of

on

certain

of the evil circle.

member

mundane

more

Naturallyenough, I thoughtthat the whole story was

simplythe phantasmof a fevered mind. I told the magician
of absolute rest, and asked him
have a spell
that he must
if he would

abroad

go

for

few

weeks,

at

the theatre's

expense.
But
he had
a

the

man

societyleader

that it was

more

it. However,
to

On
my

full of his Diabolism

attend another

to

woman

and

was

he

Witches'
in

Sabbath

Mayfairin

than his life was

worth

promised to try

to

said

story. He
at

the house

week's
to

of

time, and

be absent from

get leave of absence,

go abroad if he succeeded in doing so.

the morning after this Satanist meetingI called at

unhappy

up to his

friend's address

in Camden

and

Town

went

rooms.

door, but received no reply; so, as I

had often been there before,I walked
in, meaning to wait
I

the

tappedon

for him.
The

got

shock.

himself

man

laytaut

and outstretched

his eyes wide

open, his face
he were
in a cataleptic
fit.
I

on

the floor,

looking as
paper-white,

if

splashedcold
from the bathroom
his face. Suddenlyhe sat up
water
onto
but for some
minutes he could not speak.
stiffly,
ran

to

him, loosened

his

collar,and

THE

Then
had

OF

he stammered

attended

people of
the

STORY

the

banker,a famous

an

film actress

closed

doors

209

incredible story. He said he

in Mayfair,and that several

out

meeting
reputationhad

national

Behind

MASKELYNES

they

and
had

been
two

there, including
financiers.
leading

repeated the

Lord's

doves
and
Prayer backwards, cut the throats of some
dabbled in the blood, repeatedArabic charms and chants,
and committed
all sorts of abominations.
at some
Finally,
of a littleblack
more
spell
potent than the rest, the figure
in a black silk cloak had suddenlyappeared among
man
them. He emitted a stench like a decayingcorpse ; and he
touched each worshipperin turn.
he touched
When
magicianfriend,the latter lost
my
consciousness. When
he recovered I was
bendingover him
in his
The
him

to

asked
him

own

flat.

man

was

accompany
to examine

that he

must

so
me

to

own

my

illthat I

simplyforced
I privately
doctor,whom

obviouslyvery

signsof narcotics,and to
for
get rightaway from London

him

for

and

warn
a

rest

change.
while the patient
in
was
"Well," said the doctor later,
another room
gettinghis thingson again,"I warned him
been doing? There's
for you, Jasper.But what's the man
of drugs or alcohol ; he's had some
whatever
trace
no
that unless he
out
ghastlyshock. I've told him straight
I won't be responsible
goes into a nursing-homeat once
for him. He's sane
enough, but something's
gone pretty
him."
badlywrong with
the illusionist rejoined
When
us, the doctor and I both
knew
into a
tried all we
to persuadehim
to
go straight
refused to do until a week
nursing-home.This he flatly
make
him
could
later. Nothing we
change
say would
his mind.

Later,in

taxi,he told

me

his

reasons.

MAGIC

WHITE

210

meeting that I must attend,"

he stammered.
"We're
meeting at a house on Barnes
Common
next
Fridaynight.After that,I'll go abroad if
you like. He has said I shall be released after this meeting."
"There

Is

justone

more

The

poor fellow was

of these infernal seances.

in

fit state

no

I could

not

attend any more

persuadehim to stay
to

away, but in the end, after cruel badgering,I forced the

of him, and decided to
address of the meeting-place
out

myself,to try to protect him.

I went
the ground beforehand,and on the Friday
over
it was
a
as
dark, I slippedswiftlyover
night,as soon
fence into the groundsof a big house on the edge of Barnes
Common.
I made
my way to the side of a largedouble
and hid in
to take place,
was
garage, where the ceremony
the wall.
a clump of laurels against
Then, with great care, and usinga hammer
padded with
between
the
cloth, I drove a nail through the cement
it,thus giving myself a peephole
bricks,and withdrew
attend it

commanded

which

One

restricted view

of the interior.

midnight a party of a dozen

into the garage and locked
came
furtively
black candles at the far end.
lightedsome

Just
women

In

before

the faint

the doors.

first view

I got my
illumination,

and

men

of the

A black-marble block stood at the end of the interior.

place.
with
worked
It was
draped with black curtains,beautifully
embroideryshowing various beastlymanifestations of the
such that,in their uncanny
Devil, and the designswere
the work
of a mad
artist.
power, they suggested
On
the walls nearby were
paintingsof an abominable
and children in the grasp of
nature
showing men, women
a

horrible littledeformed
The

firstthingI

black

get

view,

was

in

black suit.

after a lot of twisting

about
ascertained,

that my
for which I was
worshippers,
to

man

friend

was

not

thankful.
heartily

among

the

STORY

THE

They
on

all clad in white

were

them.

One, who

seemed

block and fished

the marble

MASKELYNES

OF

to

cloaks

with

be the

leader,went

from

out

211

black

behind

it a

crosses

up

to

pig's-head

mask, which

he put on.
they all joinedin

Then

languageI could

of hushed

sort

understand.

The

masked

chorus

in

repeated
responses, and uttered charms, and danced about. Presently
he beganfoamingat the mouth. Then he draggedup from
behind the marble altar a black cockerel,
which screeched
for a moment,
tillhe cut short its protest by slashing
open
not

man

its throat.
At this

pointall the worshippers

flungoff their cloaks,
the
at the blood from
steppingforward naked, and licking
bird.
still-flapping
than enough.As my friend was
I had seen
not
more
mission

there my
I reached

about

abortive. I returned

was

in the

two

that
fullydetermining
rather that

morning,and

I would

home, which
went

bed,

to

visit my friend firstthing

a
bullyhim into entering

day,and
I
good nursing-home,or takinga continental holiday.
thought my task would be easier because he had not
attended the Devil's Mass
at Barnes, since his absenting
that he stillpossessed
himself showed
of courage.
a remnant
I had an early
breakfast,
meaning to go round to Camden
Town
immediatelyI had finished. But while I was eating

next

"

or

"

I read in my newspaper
found, in the small hours of that
my

that my

bacon

dead, with

in
gas-tube

suicide
taken

wonder

was

have

recorded

place while

morning,in

onlyexperience
but what
police,

been told

to

in the usual

the

his

lodging,

his mouth.

That is the story of my

I wanted
to go to the
had I ? I should

friend had been

victim

was

of Black
sort

Magic.

of

story

go and

sleepit off. The

kindlyway, as having
unsound

of

mind.

!
o

WHITE

212

There

is

MAGIC

nothingmuch

to

add

the story, except

soul,to all who ever

to

plea,from the very bottom of my

feel tempted to dabble with Black Magic,to abstain from
believe
to scoff at it myself; I do not
touchingit.I profess
that the Devil can
be raised by human
agency.
from my own
That minds
But this I know
experience.
be unhinged and misery untold let loose by playing
can
the fire of Diabolism.

with

since with

the doctor

before
shortly
and prisonsare
who

persons
madness

or

Not

talked this story over

examined
my poor friend so

who

his death, and

he tells me

that

asylums

our

fed every year with a shockingnumber

dabbled
have
in Satanism
and
ended

of
in

worse.

in
detective,the last man
very famous
let his imagination
run
riot,stated in print

long ago

the world

I have

to

for a largeproportion
Devil-worshipwas responsible
of the crimes againstvery small children that take place
the subject
will conon
firm
Certainly,
annually.
any old book
creed.
that child-murder
is a vital tenet of the filthy
that

Leave

again
"

The

it alone ! To

allthose who

value their

reason

I say

leave it alone 1
trick which

the illusionist

was

performingwhen

and so began my connection

with this Satanism
collapsed,
I have often givenmyself.
It is
which
one
was
affair,
had a spontaneous and
rather a good trick,and I once
unintended
suggestionfor improving it.
A plate-glass
is wheeled
to the stage. The
on
case
case
with a glass
is steel-bound,
lid,kept down by four padlocks.
It moves
and is raised by a framework
nine
castors
on
he

clear of the

inches
beneath
A
the

stage,

so

that the

audience

can

see

it.

committee

is invited up on
to the stage to examine
Then
and pass it as empty and trick-proof.

glasscase
theypadlockthe

lid down

and

keep the keys.At

this

point

I
a

uttered

simply

loud

had

in

but

declared
Of

But

plate class

cost

panel

when

of

we

whether

to
at

she

panel

it, and

even

it would

performance.

every

per

iys.

proposition

case.

glass inside

and

success,
as

"4

us

damaged

girl

work.

scenes

the

the

couldn't

we

had

abandon

to

idea.
in

Committees
members

try

the

the

till afterwards,

huge

1" and

that

bit of fallen

day's

was

break

to

commercial

on

discover

not

behind

while

this

as

wrist

trick

the

inside

instant

all in the

was

discussion

make
the

it

course,

be worth

not

I did

that

that

her

cut

announced

committee

that

"Abracadabra

word

magic

the

materialized

there

the

from

shout

Incidentally, she

had

MAGIC

WHITE

214

to

who

want

the

catch

obvious

get

decent

are

laughs

for

out,

learn

to

trickery, as
of

sense

to

of all

are

illusionist

conjurers trying
majority

conjuring

themselves,
who

some

trick

the

helping along

two

or

people, only
it is their

right

find

You

sorts.

to

amateur

but

anxious

the

to

do, and

vast

prevent

with

and

performance

who

some

are

"

some

keen

adding

to

everyone's enjoyment.
I have
and

I still

had

lot

prefer

because
I

owe

my

who

have

of
do

to

it is

sincerest

helped

experience
a

trick

almost

thanks
me

in this

of

all the

which

necessitates

always
to

way

fun

more

all the
up

various

thousands
and

down

kinds,
a

that
of
the

mittee,
com-

way.

people
British

Isles.
But
but

too

please

"

well

I do

bar

those

who

have

dined

not

wisely

CHAPTER

Off

to

South

magic

IN
to

Africa
show

with

"

twelve

Zulu

my

neck

python

round

meet

poltergeist.

of

tons

The

decision

was

Nature

"

puts
from
escapes

Three

"

having received
full-sized magic show

magic

witch-doctor

after

1930,
take

XVII

several

momentous

curse

the

on

Zulu's

a
me

rival
A

"

curse

"

invitations, I decided

tour

on

puts up

South

to

for

one

Africa.
the first

In

me.

place, about

forty years had elapsed since a Maskelyne

show
had left England. More
that
the tour
important still,
I planned necessitated
carrying twelve tons of magic along
with

me

For

necessarilytake
travel. This
and

know

must

you

their

that

from

apparatus

is difficult

in

enough

first-class motor-services

of

the

illusionists

place to place as they

England,

reach

and where
a
village,
journey
between
performances is about

of

company

out

to

railways
and

town

every

of hundred

couple
worst

where

miles

week-end

that any

threaten.

can

In South

the

Africa, where

hundred

two

miles

is turned

multiplied,and where
transport
problems often have to be solved by bullock-waggons, or
their heads, twelve
native porters who
carry everything on
somewhat
of a nightmare.
of fragile
tons
machinery becomes
of the
To
difficultyof transporting it all
say nothing
and

thousands

into

England

from

want

place.
to
give

reallyfirst-class show,

apparatus,
selected

in the first
I did

However,
Union

then

which
crack

was

company

packed
to

so

in

go with
215

the

inhabitants

in addition

to

the

the illusion

forty-four vast
me,

of

crates,

including Ling Foo,

2l6

MAGIC

WHITE

magician,Ben Said,a fine Egyptian illusionist,

with a splendidpiano and burlesqueturn,
FinlayDunn
my sister Mary, my wife's sister Miss Cecil Home-Douglas,
and Walter
Glen Grafton, Alfred Barber as my manager
Howell
as
father's
stage-manager. Howell's father was
my granda

Chinese

master-carpenter for many

Our
over

crates

hundred

years.
contained, in addition to the apparatus for
fifteenhundred
some
bigillusions and tricks,

costumes.
piecesof music and a huge varietyof special
We
opened at the Empire, Johannesburg,before a
publicas enthusiastic as any to which I have ever played.
dramatic
tricks ; I
We
performed some
disappearing
changed a jewelleddecoration into a girlbefore the eyes
of the audience ; an "anti-gravity"
globeslid up and down
of support ; a
a steel rod, though with
no
apparent means
from
the stage, suddenly became
fishing-line,
swung
while in full view of the
weighted with a largegoldfish

onlookers
hat trick

and

I gave

variant of the old ribbon-from-a-

by coming on the stage dressed as an American

salesman
and
producing from my small attache-case
everythingnecessary to stock a reasonable-sized general
includinga charming girlassistant.
store, even
The most
of the lot,I thiak,was
turn
one
appreciated
ark on the stage, showing
in which I built a small canvas
each piece to the audience
that they should see that
so
I was
the ark was
them ! Then, when
not
placed
deceiving
in such a position
that they could see above it,behind it,
beneath it and all round it,I gave a dramatic representation
of Noah
coming into port, and produced from my ark
sufficient animals to crowd the big stage.
While I was
at JohannesburgI obtained
permissionto
descend the world-famous
Robinson
Deep gold-mine.
in the great mining area
Conditions
south, east and
of the citymore
resemble those of a barracks than
west

THE

of

of

centre

strict;

no

STORY

one

OF

MASKELTNES

ZIJ

industry.Regulationsare

is allowed

to

enter

or

leave

extraordinaril
the placewithout

whose
obtaininga countersignedpass ; and the district,
extend for over
buildings
fiftymiles,is heavilyguarded
by police.
Everythingis covered with thick white dust from the
and the din of the stamps is so
ore-crushing
operations,
hear
that, after leavingthe place,one
cannot
deafening
anythingfor half an hour or so.
The very greatest precautions
taken to prevent the
are
Kaffir labourers from secreting
about their
any gold-dust
of the neighbourhood.It
persons and smuggling it out
is said that much loss was
caused formerlyby their swallowing
the dust in quantity,
and later reproducing
it by the
aid of

an

On

emetic, but I
the

whole

cannot

say if this is true

or

not.

surprisedthat the authorities

allowed a magicianinto such a place.At one
periodthey
handed
me
a coupleof gold bricks,worth
"4000 apiece,
which I managed to heave on to my shoulders and painfully
balance

was

there for the few

moments

necessary
really
wealthyman".

to

have

my

photographtaken "as a
If theyhad not been so terribly
heavy,I should perhaps
have been temptedto "vanish" those gold bricks !
From
Johannesburgwe passedon to Pretoria,Pieterand Ladysmith.In the latter town
maritzburg
my company
with
met
a
disconcertingreception.The audience, as
but Dame
Nature, evidently
delightful
always, was
;
magicianswere
becoming prefeelingthat these human
sumptuou
be
like.
showed
real
what
us
magic can
I did not enjoy the experience
!
Personally,
Our show was
nearingits close,after a very successful
evening,when a sudden terrificcrash of thunder sounded
outside,and
without

veritable

warning on

to

cloudburst

the tin roof

of

hail descended

of the Town

Hall

2l8

WHITE

where

This
appearing.

were

we

in the Boer
Hail

MAGIC

hall

was

used

as

hospital

War.

in

England is one thing; in South Africa it is

sometimes
quiteanother ! Almost before I realized what it
clatter and rattle,
that was
was
a glass
causingthe deafening
above my head had been smashed
directly
by the
skylight
came
storm, and lumps of ice fullyas big as golf-balls
down
and bouncingas much
as
a foot high from
crashing
told next
the boards of the stage. I was
day that several
were
pasturingwhen the storm broke out and
oxen, which
unable to find shelter,
beaten to death by the
were
were
ice.
falling
At the time I was
in the very midst of a decapitation
trick. My assistant had been laid face downwards
an
on
oak chest ; I had covered his head with a cloth,apparently
off the

cut

head,

removed

the

cloth,walked round
audience,and was
justabout

the

to
showing it to the
the decapitated
shoulders
to
return
were
body, whose
stillbleeding,
when
the storm
commenced.
This trick necessitates the assistant keepingabsolutely

stage

motionless

while

audience.

his

headless

trunk

which

one

hit
I

me

on

the side of the head

knocked

me

out,

of
figure

the

victim.
"decapitated"

Faster than
and
trick,

with

the

the

But

there,and

I felt

to

jaggedice-lumpspouring through the

were
skylight
crashingon to his back as he lay

broken

the

is shown

as

my

frantic with

was

I have

if I had

ever

done

assistant and I
been

clubbed

ran

on

Several

my

crates

of

the passage outside

our

the

the still

in my life,
I completed
off the stage.Personally

the head

on

trickle of blood

left eye from

cut
a
the edge of my forehead.

running into

anxietyfor

several times

sharpinstrument,and

some

hailstone

so

almost

made

by

magic apparatus had been

of the theatre.
stage-door

was

huge
left in
Afraid

THE

lest these

STORY

should

OF

MASKELTNES

219

be

damaged, I ran immediatelyto the

stage-door,
meaning to drag them under cover.
The door seemed
stuck tight,
but I forced it open with
not
close,for the weight had
my shoulder. Then it would
been caused by a veritable torrent, about nine inches deep,
that was
pouringalong the passage outside. Before I could
drag the door shut againthis torrent had diverted a good
the steps into the back regionsof the
part of itself down
and I had to wade back to my dressing-room,
after
theatre,
of
abandoningall hope of savingthe crates outside,some
which
I had seen
the stream
on
floating
duringmy
away
brief glimpseinto the outer
world.
Returned
to the dressing-room
againI found everything
in awful disorder. I suppose the flood water
enteringthe theatre elsewhere as well ; at
had
and

must

have been

least,
my

room

about
an

six inches of scummy

water
coveringthe floor,
absolute plague of little green frogs had taken

residence

there,and

jumping about, in and out of

of illusion apparatus, on
open crates
my dressing-table
the clothes which I had discarded for my stage eveningon
dress
everywhere.
For the firsttime in my life I felt a deep sympathy with
of the Exodus
who
the Pharaoh
was
similarly
plagued1
what apparatus I could on to my dressing-table
Lifting
chairs
anywhere out of the flood I raced off againto
rejoinmy company, who were in sore trouble in the wings
of the theatre. The stage was
untenable,owing
absolutely
down
the hail that still crashed steadily
to
through the
broken skylight.
What
to do ?
were
we
After a hastyconsultation I walked
to a place
gingerly
where the hail could not reach me, though
by the footlights
from
the middle of
at me
malevolently
lumps bounced
were

"

"

"

the stage.
"Ladies

and

gentlemen!"I shouted, making myself

MAGIC

WHITE

220

above

the din of the storm, "as you see, we

cannot
of
to rob you
carry on from the stage. But we do not want
cannot
part of the show, and in any case
you
very well
leave the theatre till the weather
improves a bit. My

heard

in

to
proposes
carry on
theatre itself. It will be rather

company

the gangways
difficult to

more

of the

produce

by the audience in this way, so

for the tricks we
show."
ask your indulgence
must
we
outburst
of clapping greeted this
A
tremendous
announcement.
Willinghands from the audience helped
into the front of the stalls,
to carry the grand piano down
down
and we
continued
our
there, making
programme
could not
to allow for the fact that we
slight
adjustments
use
our
more
bulky magic machinery in such a restricted
our

illusions surrounded

space.
It

fortunate

was

for

changesof programme
them all that night! The

us

that

had

we

Africa with

to

brought so
us, for

we

many
needed

hail and

at
rain,starting
tropical
about half-past
tillhalf an hour
ten, continued
incessantly
Then it ceased as suddenlyas it had begun,
after midnight.
and I for one
had been performing
was
very glad,for we

without
The

break

for four hours.

silence after the crash and

the tin roof

boom

of the storm

on

I took advantageof it to thank

startling.
for their indulgence,and to wish them
the audience
a
cheerful good morning !
I was
not
preparedfor the scene that followed. Cheering
and lasted solidly
for several minutes.
began spontaneously,
Then someone
started singing
"For They Are JollyGood
able
Fellows",and the song went on and on throughinterminverses

was

as

try to get home.

miles

across

I have

the audience
Some

the veldt
not

filed

of them
to

see

often felt at

us
a

out

into the darkness

to

had driven several hundred

perform.

loss

on

the stage,but I could

and

MAGIC

WHITE

222

he

presenteda most impressiveappearance. He was

of which
clad principally
in bones, some
were
certainly
human, and gruesome little"charms", and though he must
have been very old his eyes glittered
as brightly
as a snake's.
He

seemed

he wanted.

lost his voice, so

have

to

he

him

what

rigmaroleabout my
havingstolen his rainstorm ! The old josserwas apparently
accusingme of having stolen his rainstorm,and complained
Then

plungedoff into

I asked

lost great kudos because I had done

I pointedout to him that I hadn't wanted

he had

could

thing,and that he
that onlymade him
and

stared

Government

at

worse.

in

have
He

had

any

the wretched
welcome

thoughtI was

made

wizard.

well-conducted

living
of that
pleasantries

other

essential

to

get

the programme
I had
into
come

Now

but

said that the

which, he said,were

beingflippant,

very nasty way. He

it hard enough for him

me

and
by banningbaby-sacrifices
nature,

it and

so.

to

of
his

with prostituting
the ancient
content
preserves, and, not
into the rainarts before irreverent onlookers,I had gone

making business
I had

let him

in direct

to
rivalry

in

room

himself.

because

alwaysready
to meet
a brother
magician,of whatever colour,class or
creed. But as this one
had onlycomplaintsto offer,I asked
him to say what he wanted
and then
as
as
briefly
possible
get

to

my

am

out.

that I should pay him fifty

calmlysuggested
pounds.
I am
afraid I laughedat that. He began caressing
a little
necklace of human
he was
wearing,and for
finger-bones
the first time I felt something sinister emanate
from the
ugly old ancient. I stopped laughingand ordered him
sharplyto leave my room.
"I leave yo' room,
Massa," he piped in his shrill old
t'ink Kulati silly
voice. "Oh, yes, I leave yo' room.
You
You
old niggerman.
learn,Massa
you learn 1"
He

"

THE

STORY

MASKELTNES

OF

223

He

flungsomethingat me. It hit my chest and fluttered

to the floor as lightly
as a match-stick. I stoopedand picked
it up, and saw
that it was
of the finger-bones
from the
one
necklace. For some
the silly
littlerelic
reason
inexplicable
quitea chill.
gave me
"Get out 1" I said sharply.
The wizened
old man
another snaky look and
gave me
danced in a wild zig-zag
to the door, chanting
something
in a beastly
At the door he turned.
high monotone.
"You

die

Then

the door

Well, of

or

I die in six

course,

slammed
I have

months, Massa," he shrilled.

to

behind

had

too

to think much
my dressing-room
that. Within a coupleof days I had

to

Some

three months

him.

of

like
crazy old man
all about him.
forgotten

later,
however,

England,I narrowlyescapeddeath
down
in Kensingtonand another
me
it and passedwithin six inches of my
was

beingpickedup

and

I suppose that accounts

of the old black
moment

after I had returned

a

taxi knocked

taxi skidded

was

head

as

to

layon

the

stillpretty dazed,

vivid vision I had

witch-doctor

avoid

bending over

for

me

staringinto my closed eyes.

later I was
A month
cyclingin Herne Hill when a lorry
and sent me
into
touched the handlebar of my bicycle
flying
considerable
the road. I sustained
bruising,and was
narrowly missed by the lorry's
huge wheels as it rumbled
vision of the
to a standstill ; and once
or
againa memory
clearness.
old Zulu flashed into my mind with painful
almost to the day after that old and dirty
Six months
in my
dressing-roomin
reprobatehad threatened me
Bloemfontein I was
at Hythe
sea
swimming in a summery
when I was
grippedby the most infernal cramp I have ever
there in the

known.

street

and

for

when

to

greasy road.
While I

strange visitors

many

MAGIC

WHITE

224

and the pain paralysedme.

My legsrefused to move,
I slippeddown
through the green water, and it closed
effort brought me
to
over
softly
my head. A convulsive
the surface,but the pain it caused almost made
me
faint,
and I sank again at once.
Slidingdown to the depthsI
suddenlyrecalled the witch-doctor,and seemed to see him
lyingin a grass hut horriblycontorted in an attitude which
I think only some
grippingalkaloid poison could have
induced.

Rage againstthe old man

swept through my body, and
effort. I struck out violently,
prompted one more
my head
and at the same
broke the surface again,
moment
my feet
I had
bottom.
somehow
touched
struggledback into
shallow

water.

I often

wonder

whether

my

visions

were

mere

cidence
coin-

of the
by pain and a subconscious memory
died within the
old man's prophecy,or whether
he really
his death-chant,justas my
six months, perhaps uttering
for life in
picturedhim, while I was fighting
imagination
For it is a recognized
of the Black Arts
the water.
canon
lifeand death alwayscomes
home
that a curse
to
involving
within the specified
time if it fails to take effect on
roost
caused

the intended
After

victim.

Bloemfontein

we

went

Port Elizabeth. At the lattertown

on

to

East

London

and

I visited the world-famous

and was
fascinated with my
firstview of the
snake-park,
place.
The pythons'enclosure looked interesting,
I entered
so
it and pickedup an eighteen-foot
snake which had a rather
mistaken
about its character; it
not
friendlyface. I was
twined

itself over

my

shoulder

and

round

manner
pleasantest
imaginable.
There was
quitea lot of excitement
neither foolhardynor
brave. As
was

my

at

my

have

neck

in the

act, but it

explained

THE

STORY

elsewhere,
we
entered

into

fear

serpent, or

The

legendis
of

MASKELYNES

legendin

compact

of the contract

terms

that

have

OF

with

was

familythat

our

the

that

be harmed

by

doubtless

all

225

Devil

no

and

forerunner
of the

one

Maskelyne should

ever

one.

moonshine, but it is

fact

is afraid of snakes ; and apparently

wild
no
thing,unless blinded by pain or previousrage, will attack
none

us

obviouslydoes not fear it.

tractable
as
Anyway, I found the pythons perfectly
much
so
as
though in the jungleno
worms,
overgrown
the elephant,
will dispute
the way with
animal, not even
them, and they are said to be able to batter a stone wall
a

who

person

"

down

with

with

their

carry

out

their

heads, or

to

break

the neck

of

buffalo

powerfulcoils.
Later,the native keeper,
Johannes,came
up to me, and
I had to leave the pythons.I asked his permission
to try
by no means
my charms on the cobras,but this he would
permit,at which I was disappointed.
I am
had I been allowed to
actor
an
; this sort of thing,

my
for
publicity
have

We

been

would have been marvellous

programme,
I pretendthat I would
; and why should

own
me

to

averse

spent

our

?
publicity
Christmas
Day

that year

on

train

between
shows. Plum
two
pudding, mince pies,
travelling
roast
turkey,hollyand crackers were allpresent and correct,
from
of the items having been sent
out
most
England
We had a very jolly
time, but the temperature was
specially.
in the shade !
97 degrees
South
African
covered
tour
we
over
During our
of it.I was
miles,and enjoyedevery moment
20,000
very
much
impressedby three thingsabout the country ; the
the opportunities
that the land presents
wonderful bathing,
for pushingyoungsters with courage, and the wonderful
of the people.I have happy
and generosity
hospitality

226

MAGIC

WHITE

of that tour, but it is far

memories

too

hot

out

there

to

at all pleasant.
stage-work
learned a trick while we were
out there.
we
Incidentally,
who
had been
Miss Cecil Home-Douglas,my wife's sister,
of our
member
and never
came
a
disappeared
company,
back to the illusionist stage. This strange vanishing
trick
worked
was
by a littleold magicianwell known in Grecian

make

under

times

I cannot

the stage-name of Eros !

leave this story of my
South

reference

without

to

experienceI
alwaysremember
an

had

African

tour

in Pietermaritz-

the most
curious
as
burg,which I shall
thing that I have witnessed in a life spent inside the
magic.
mysteriouscircle of professional
hotel one
A ladycame
to my
morning and asked to see
She was
that her
me.
obviouslyin trouble,and explained
be
a
to
or
girlof seventeen
granddaughter,
so, seemed
haunted with a familiar spirit.
would
Often, when this girlwas in the room,
objects
to the floor,
or table and float down
flyoff the mantelpiece
hand touchingthem. My informant was
human
no
precise
and that even
able
breakfloated,
upon this pointthat the objects
like a clock or glassware
were
never
damaged
objects
in their falls.
first the

girland

(herfather and
grandparents
had died when
she was
mother
fourteen)had looked on
this phenomenon as somethingclever and amusing,though
the girlcould not
apparently"turn on the power" ; it
At

came

and

went

of its own

her

accord

friend
religious-minded
possessedof devils,and

in

rooms

had

where

she

was.

suggestedthat the
this silly
child was
theoryhad so
preyedon the minds of the three of them that the girlwas
wreck, and her grandparents
becoming a nervous
rapidly
almost illwith anxiety.
were
Could I laythe ghost?
But

THE

Well, of

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

227

professional
ghost-master,
a world-wide
that I am
I
though there seems
superstition
the woman
looked in wretched trouble,
and I thought
Still,
I had better go alongand see what I could do.
I went
of my informant,and met
to the house
straight
her husband and grandchild
there. The girl
looked nervous
and unhappy ; but no ghostlyphenomena exhibited themselves
to the
duringmy visit.My status was not explained
granddaughter
simplyintroduced as a friend.
; I was
I stayedfor about half an hour, and then rose
to take
accompaniedme
my leave. The ladywho had broughtme
out
to the verandah, after I had said good-bye to the
on
for troubling
me.
others,and apologized
"I had expectedto see something happen,"she said
"because Anna's hauntingalwaystakes place
sorrowfully,
when

course,

am

not

we

both

she is nervous."

At
room

the

had

we

time

same

justleft. Without

heard

cry from
apology,I ran back
a

low

the
and

opened the door.

Looking in I saw something reallyuncanny. The big
clock from the mantelpiece
in mid-air at some
was
floating
five feet from the floor ; as I opened the door it glided
and settled on
the rug
swiftlyyet smoothly downwards
before the fire.
stillthe

rightway up, and was

though it was a pendulum clock,and
have stoppedit instantly.
It was

In

moment

I knew

what

was

stillticking
gently,
any

shakingwould

wrong.

With

mured
mur-

gloves,I did an
forgotten
my
elementarylittletrick and made the gloves"appear"on a
I retrieved them, and, sayinggood-bye
whence
side-table,
excuse

once

was

more,

that I had

returned

to

the

verandah, where

my

hostess

stillwaiting.
"I think I have

solved

your

mystery,"I

said

happily.
P

228

MAGIC

WHITE

about

this

devil-possession
is a poltergeist,
grandchild
my dear lady; it
is a disease very well known
to medical
science,though it
be explainedaway. Give the girla change of air
cannot
for six months, and I'llwager my reputation
and scene
as a
magicianthat the clocks will flyno more."
This poltergeist
qualityis a strange and rare disease
in adolescents. No
caused by abnormal
one
nervousness
articles to defy
knows
can
cause
justhow, but a poltergeist
and float about in mid-air,eventually
the laws of gravity,
coming gentlyto the ground,justas I had seen the clock
do. The power
is not a voluntaryone, and seldom
lasts
"Don't

worry
rubbish. Your

than

more

few

more

any

months.

Change of
fails. It did

interests is the usual cure,

fail in the case
of my
not

and

very seldom

Pietermaritzburg
after
friends. I had a letter from the grandmother,
shortly
in far too extravagant
to England,thankingme
my return
languagefor that simple service which my knowledge of
all thingsmagic had enabled me
to perform.
had shown no more
The girl
symptoms of the poltergeist
after they had got her a job in a distant town.
She
state
now
was
racingback,
very happy, her health had come
less engaged.
and there was
a hint that she was
more
or
I was
at her cure.
very delighted
I stillhave that letter,
togetherwith the finger-bone
which

the Zulu

of my

mementoes

magic

wizard

museum.

threw

South

at

me,

African

and

or

one

tour, in
the girlhas found

two

other

Maskelyne
real happiness
good wish for the

hope
nowadays I can

our

since ; and
even
spare a
naughty old witch-doctor,though for the firstsix months
after I

met

him

was

longMay they cool

the placewhere he

inclined

his

toes

has gone

to

curse

him

on
occasionally

and
frequently

my

behalf in

the

MAGIC

WHITE

230

newspapers

became

were

interest,and

the

affair

it seemed, used to
ghosts,
and wail.,
and to cause
to appear and disappear
moan
lights
locked up for the night.
within the building
after it was
These lights
had firstattracted attention to the haunting
when a passingpolicemannoticed gleamsin the windows
at
about two
o'clock in the morning.
On the nightof May izth, 1931, a group of newspaper
Rouge
representatives
spent the nightinside the Moulin
Club. Every room
was
locked,every window
bolted,and
the
where
the keys of the place reposed in the room
main
in complete darkness.
The
watchers
sat waiting,
switch of the building
had been turned off.
electric light
three in the morning all the
At twenty minutes
to
electric lights
in the placesuddenly switched
one
on
by
that
of their own
accord. I should mention
one, apparently
with
in a locked room
the main switch of the building
was
no

national

takingan

concern.

The

window.

which was
alreadysurrounded by waiting
building,
enclosed in a cordon of blue and then thoroughly
was
police,
found ; but about an
searched. Nothing and no
one
was
sailed in through one
of
hour later a glasssandwich-dish
the floor,missing
and smashed
the windows
to atoms
on
of the pressmen
the head of one
by about six inches.
The interesting
thingwas that no one could imagine
The

where

the

dish

had

come

from,

since

the

window

in

questionwas about seventy feet away from the nearest

with
and seventy feet is an amazing throw
thoroughfare,
watchful
when
there are
no
a
heavy glassdish, even
policemenabout.
The next nightI joinedthe posseof watchers inside the
haunted
At ten
minutes
to
three,scratchings,
building.
heard from
different
clicks and unearthlycries were
two
sources.
Lights began to appear and vanish, and the

THE

STORY

OF

ran
waitinginvestigators

sounds

MASKELYNES

231

in the directions from

which

the

came.

Meanwhile

slippedfrom my placeand hurried silently

down into an alleywhich a previoussearch had made
me
in black dance-frocks and
suspect. There I found two girls
in a dark suit. The "ghosts"were
startled
a man
a lot more
than I
A

when

was

I walked

up

to

them.

whistle

broughtan inspectorof policeon my heels.

The whole affairproved to be a practical
joke,the practical
part of it being to attract business to the neighbourhood.
I have

As
I

said

elsewhere,on

stillwaitingto

am

meet

than

more

what

one

might

one

occasion,

call

"real"

ghost.
In May,
asked

I was
1932, 1 received a very happy surprise.
before
appear in a Royal Variety Performance

to

the late

King George

Theatre.
and

It

was

I looked

my

and

Queen Mary,

firstproper

forward

to

at

Command
both

it with

the Palladium

Performance,
exhilaration

and

nervousness.

had
been
splendidcompany
engaged, including
famous
stars
as
CicelyCourtneidge,
Jack Buchanan,
Fyffe,G. S. Melvin, Vesta Victoria and Jack Hylton's

such
Will

Band.

My choice of illusions included four tricks in which the

interested. The
seemed
audience
distinguished
especially
I put some
in a glassbowl,
first was
in which
water
one
added
and

then

drew

out

handful

put my
two

or

of sand, stirred the mixture

hand

in the bowl

three handfuls

under

of

the

into mud,
water

and

dry,powdery
perfectly

sand.
I

produced some

musical
fishermen
I

came

bell

eggs

nowhere, performed a

trick,and finally
gave

friends of mine
on

from

to

the stage

have

often

a
carrying

demonstration

that

openlyenvied.
fisherman's rod and

MAGIC

WHITE

232

line and

of

glassbowl

The
goldfish.

line

was

innocent

as

that of the veriest tyro ; but I cast in the direction

later a goldfish
of the footlights
and a few seconds
was
offish

as

suddenlyseen, apparently
having materialized out
contained
air,on my hook, while the bowl now

of thin
less

one

fish than before.

flipof the rod, and the fish had vanished from

the line and appearedagainin the bowl. I may say that a
rubber fish is used in this illusion,
of a real
since the mouth
would
one
certainly
get damaged.
Another

But
to

make

round
This

fish contains

the rubber
it
the

wriggleand flopabout
bowl

when

delicate littleapparatus
the hook

on

it is returned

apparatus caused

an

me

and

there

swim

afterwards.

embarrassingmoment

at

the

Royal Performance.
It must

there

anyway,

with

my

about
make

been

have

was

up
hectic second

line cast, and

in my

wound

rather
when

the toy fish

sleeve,tryingto emerge

was
on

strongly
;
I was
standing
floppingwildly

to

too

the stage and

independentbow to the audience 1

at ease
FortunatelyI was able to appear perfectly
(at
considerable strain to myself!),
the fish appearedduly in
its placeon the hook, and the trick was
finished without
but myself realizing
I had been to a
how
near
anyone
catastrophe.
show
I was
Only a week or two after this Command
the Hon. Gerald
appearingbefore another Royal person
an

"

son
Lascelles,
a

Children's

Alexandra's
The

of Princess
Garden
former

party was

an

Mary.

The

occasion

that of

was

Partyat Marlborough House, Queen

residence in London.
enormous

success.

There

was

back
switch-

a toboggan run,
railwayof magnificent
proportions,
which
contest
roundabouts, houp-la! a balloon-bursting
attracted much
noisy patronage, a complete circus,a

THE

STORY

MASKELYNES

OF

and
shooting-gallery,

wonderful

233

for

arrangements

refreshments.
The

whole

affair

was

arranged in

support

of

the

Children's

Street, to which
Hospital,Great Ormond
Sir James Barrie had formerly presentedall rightsof
his playPeter Pan.
I enjoyedthis garden-party
indeed ; I always
very much
get great fun when performingbefore children.
Towards
the end of January,1933, an event
occurred
that formed
in my life. It did more
than
a
turning-point
for the
that; it was, I believe,fairly
responsible
largely
from the London
theatre world of the name
disappearance
of Maskelyne,which had shone resplendent
there from the
firststormed into the metropolis
time when
my grandfather
with his magic show.
It was
dismissal from
nothing less than my own
St. George'sHall !
The story is not one
to dwell upon,
tainly
though I am cerashamed

not

how
briefly

of my

own

part in it. I will tell you

it happened.
of my

generationof Maskelynes,I had taken up

before the
professional
magic in my youth and worked
publicat St. George'sHall ever since. I was only twenty
Alone

when

I gave

my

firstshow

there,with

my

father. He

and

togetheruntil his death ; and after that,for

the controlling
influence
up to 193 3, 1 was
years, right
many
in the place.
I carried

on

that I did pretty well. In face of tremendous

and old theatres and hundreds
from dozens of new
rivalry
I claim

of cinemas, I

kept receipts
up

and

managed

to

produce

attractive shows.
trained as a wireless
of whom
was
one
my brothers,
decided in 1933
engineerand the other as an expert on lifts,
about public
entertainment than I did,
that theyknew more
But

MAGIC

WHITE

234

keep at it all my adult life.I disagreed.

I pointedout
for a youngest
perhapsrather too forcibly
brother
that magic was
not
art and a profession,
an
just
a
thingcapableof being understood by a dilettante who
the theatre receipt
spent a few hours a week looking over
who

had earned

my

"

"

books.
I said thingswhich were
Doubtless
hot-tempered.
because
I blame myselfbitterly
not tactful or soothing.
now,
for the break-up
in this way I was
at least partly
responsible
of Maskelyne'sTheatre.
Anyway, I lost the argument. I lost it so completely

am

that I received
that the

notice

my

the placewould
pleasant
of

knock-out

What
and
as

was

these

and

off

as

for

uniform
Let

the

more

left.

were

somethingin
admitting,

I to do ? I had
to

tour
provincial
arrangedmonths

no

be

manager. Worst
magicianthese dayswithout
a

indication with it

the

nature

me.

thingshave

rule. I had

an

those who

to

seem

I don't mind

It was,

well,and

quittedSt. George's Hall

sooner

as

no

printerwithout

of

I had
all,

no

fixed up
in advance
"

apparatus

apparatus is about

press,

or

as

well

soldier without

or

weapons.
it be confessed

"

I did

not

even

have

very

much

buy it,and magic apparatus is very

item occasionally
a single
stuff,
costly
costingtwo or three
hundred
pounds. I was married and had a coupleof small
that Maskelyneswas
children ; I had lived well, expecting
money

an

available to

institution that would

go

on

for

ever.

and terrifying
trulya tragic
for me
one
my good angeland my inspiration.
my wife was
Without her,I might have dropped out of the entertainment
world altogether.
who inspired
She it was
to try,in face
me
of all my difficulties,
in spite
of the stunningsuddenness
with which I found myselfout of a job and unwanted, to
In this situation
"

"

and it was

THE

build up
mantle

of

I will

STORY

OF

reputationon
J.N. on my own
not

bore

you

to
my own
shoulders.
"

with

Suffice it to say that

moves.

I spent

MASKELYNES

"

235

try

to

fit the

giant

the full details of my

next
because of my wife's faith in

magic apparatus allthe money we possessed,

for myselfand enough to keep her and
except half a crown
the children for a week. My lastfive pounds were
expended
on
a return
railwayticket to Glasgow,where I had obtained
a week's
at the Empire.
engagement
For the week
precedingmy tripnorth I was running
non-stop magic from three o'clock to eleven at St. George's
from midnightto four in the morning, and
Hall, sleeping
working from four tillthree in the afternoon puttingmy
and testing
it out.
magic apparatus together
between
and
me
Glasgow, with only half a crown
financial dissolution,looked
it
forbidding.And
very
was
certainly
very cold.
I found a lodgingwhere they would
take me
in on the
chance of my theatre engagement
beingsuccessful.
I have had a very warm
spot in my heart for Glasgow
since that evening! I was
and excited,and it
ever
nervous
seemed
that I did not give the best performanceof
to me
which I was
capable; but Glasgow took me to its heart.
Bless you,
made
a
magician that
Glasgow I You
night1
That was
on
February i3th ; and my week's engagement
that I received offers from other prowas
so
satisfactory
vincial
half over.
theatres before it was
Still,
thingsmight
me

"

have

been

on

difficultbut for the fact that I

was

commanded

February 24th, before Queen Mary, at a

appear, on
the show
matine'e in aid of Queen Mary's Hospital,
special

to

to

be

It is

that I

Majesty'sTheatre in London.
with pride
fact that I have always remembered
the onlyartistewho had appeared
at the Command

stagedat
was

His

236

MAGIC

WHITE

Show

the Queen included in the

previousMay whom
listfor her Hospitalmatinee so soon
afterwards.
This Royal Performance, of course, gave my bookings
I was
wanted
a tremendous
everywhere.In London
fillip.
I was
showing at the Palladium and elsewhere.
very soon
And
Theatre meanwhile
? Well, it justhit
Maskelynes'
to help
a patchof bad luck. I longedto offer my
experience
have been any good
it through,but I knew
it would
not
doingso.
A bigDiamond
Performance
to
was
advertised,
Jubilee
celebrate the passingof sixty
first
years since my grandfather
It was
a wonderful
success,
gave a magic show in London.
and magiciansfrom all over
the world attended,
in addition
to

the

fashionable

audience.

numbers
of grey-bearded
men
Among the latter were
and elderly
ladies who had firstvisited Maskelynes'
Mysteries
Some
perhapsas long as half a century or more
previously.
of them remembered
the firstperformancesat St. George's
Hall,and had followed the fortunes of Maskelyneand Cooke
from the days when
the illusionists first appeared at the
Egyptian Hall.
A good many
were
personalfriends of my grandfather
and father. They littleknew
that the name
of Maskelyne
would vanish from London
entertainment altogether
within
a

few

months.

I have heard since that then and

of patrons whom
I had
eleven years'work
my

wantingto
They were
weeks"
At

know

when

told that I

but of

course

the Diamond

at

other times numbers

know

personally,
during
the theatre,asked after me,
at
I should return
to St. George'sHall.
would
be coming back "in a few

come

to

never

returned.

JubileePerformance, the Davenport

Cabinet Trick was
revived as being appropriate
for the
occasion. My brother Noel and sisterMary seated themselves

238

MAGIC

WHITE

have

assist

to

of

out

our
Consequently,

When

sightin

the

wings or

greatest secrets

are

no

up

in the flies.

secrets

to

them.

I first started

touring,I overlooked this salient

fact. I began to produce the very best tricks that I had
stagedat St. George'sHall,where all our assistants were as
and many of them venerated the memory
loyalas bulldogs,
of my grandfather
as well.
tricks caused a sensation in the theatres I
My new
visited. But alas for human
! Other magicians,
who
nature
wanted
of those tricks,
learn the secrets
to
desperately
marched
on
trail,standingdrinks to good fellows
my
the stage-hands
who
had assisted me, offering
a
among
other inducement
there,
five-poundnote here and some
justfor a couple of words of explanation "to settle a
"

bet"

"

about

the way

of course,

And,

I did this

this and

appear in other

to

that.

or

wards
began immediatelyafterof rival
theatres,under the aegis
that

magicians.
So I learned

restrain my youthfulenthusiasm to offer

the publicthe very best tricks from my magic repertoire.
There

are

one

to

or

two, from

produceonly when I have

problem of leakingsecrets
do

very well
selection.
One

of the

with

what

year

to

my own
should
I

have

year, that I put aside to

theatre again,
the
when
not

arise. Meanwhile, I

available

outside

this

side
amusingthingsthat my venturingoutthe charmed
circle of St. George's Hall caused to
letters I beganto
happen to me was the flood of anonymous
receive accusingme
of usingmy magic powers
for wicked
most

purposes.
after I had had a dozen or two
of these letters,
Candidly,
from placesscattered up and down
the country, I beganto
be quiteafraid to go home
alone on a dark night1
I was
told that I really
possessedoccult powers ; that

THE

I used

STORY

them

robberies"
and that I

OF

for such

(Iquote
was

239

thingsas "carryingout

from

the head

MASKELYNES

old letter before

an

of

me

as

invisible
I

write);

great international crime gang.

It is

of superstition
still
astoundingwhat an amount
exists in this enlightened
land !
The
where
I used
to
proprietorof a restaurant
go
I was
when
in London
one
frequently
day showed me
with a pardonablegrin,I must
admit
a long screed be had
justreceived about me. It warned him not to let me patronize
his hotel any more,
and explained
that I came
there for the
and bendingthem to serve
clients,
purpose of hypnotizing
I wanted
when
crimes committed
my evil purposes
any special
in which I objectedto appearingin person.
From
what the writer said,I was
end of a "husband's
no
'"vf
fear" ; a dashingmixture of Crippen and Sikes and Dr.
Nikola and Roaring Rupe the Hold-up King 1
These curious epistles
have pursued me
throughoutmy
publiclife,ever since I left St. George's Hall. I can only
that my detractors thoughtthat so longas a magician
assume
do much
littlecircle he could not
kept within his own
"

"

harm

but that he should

not

come

outside it.

credited
seriously
of hands. To
of healingby the laying-on
with the power
I habitually
those who believe this,
replythat I have no such
gifts I only wish I had.
Once, at least,a lad was broughtto me by his mother,
I was
at a theatre where
appearingat Leicester. The poor
believed that I could heal her
not
woman
only sincerely
but refused
he had recently
stutter
developed,
boy of a slight
I

might also

mention

that I have been

"

that I could not do so, and almost

accept my statement
insisted that I should try,even
though I did not think myself
to

that it would
It
hands

was
on

do any
dreadful

the lad's

good.
Rather
position.

than

shoulders,stared hard

I put my
refuse,
at

him, and told

WHITE

240

him
that

that
he

his

to

was

only

was

that

imagined

he

Now

stutter

MAGIC

temporary

it would

and

come,

terribly

think

hard

trouble

nervous

"

that

it would

that

did

it

come.

never

come

again.
"All

right,

hesitation

make
he

feel

me

has

hypnotize
Indeed,

these

degrading
words.

only

three

or

of

trace

letters

since

from

the

day.

that
the

which
"

mother

idea

Yet

to

the

that

saying

"

since

suggest

obviously

boy

did

couldn't

sausage
I

two

hypocrite

than

more

without

answered,

stuttered

never

nothing

most

like

he

will,"

received

have

stutter

or

And

sir,

wish

attack

of

could
which

cure

am

myself
suffering

of

'flu, from
even

as

pen

CHAPTER

Private

magic The sand

The
"levitatingtable"
of the disappearing
party

XIX

trick

"

of

traveller

of my

SOME

place at private parties

professionally.
The

of

atmosphere

The

guests

such

"works"

children's
chosen

which

and

I shall

famous

who

they

much

are

ask is

to

my
of

purpose
all

looking
good
rattling

whether

they

called

can

guess

am

the country,

for

do

to

upon

I feel that I

is

something spontaneous
children's applause
appointme
professionaldis-

other

difficulties.

such

forget one
ago,

the

at

is my

party

party,

of

home

favourite

one

audience.

which

of

1 attended

England's most

sporting peers.
host, who

My

is

be

one

grandfatherand,

of

can

those

of both

sexes.

produces "tips"

materialize

believe,

lucky people
His

figure and apparently bottomless

latter he

which

is

pal of youngsters

comfortable

than

; all

up

Christmas

never

two

or

year

friends

are

actual

delightfulabout

makes

than

children's

conducive

rightprofession.There

and

to

The
with

magician have
have
appeared

the

Christmas, when

warm

more

where

for

partiesall over

the

and

"

trick

"

not.

or

Particularlyat
amuse

as

parties is

gathered

are

They
enjoying themselves.
forward
to being entertained
show, without
caring very

have

unrehearsed

adventures

amusing

most

taken

the

carpet

vanishing spectre

An

"

Persian

note-books.

two

art.

valuable

romance

"

case

on

articles

on

241

more

the

who

grandfathe
greatbom

seem

twinklingeye,
pocket, from

expeditiouslyeven
stage, combine

to

give

MAGIC

WHITE

242

him

who

the dozens

great reputation
among

of

boys and girls

with him.
or
relationship
friendship
At this Christmas
writing the
Party of which I am
youthfulaudience was almost delirious with delightlong
before my part of the entertainment
commenced.
Having
been with some
quietedand arrangedin chairs,
difficulty
the curtain rise on
they watched
performance,and
my
were
thoroughlyin the mood to enjoywhatever tricks I
can

chose
I

to
ran

audience

claim

show

them.

and
through my repertoire,
and excited
is a sympathetic

perform my
borrowed

very

best. I ended

with

alwayswhen the
to
inspired
one, was
as

trick in which

top-hatfrom the host, togetherwith a huge

handed
round
cut the hat to bits,
apparently
pairof scissors,
the pieces to be examined
by the screaming children,
received them
back again,shook
them
empty
up in an
a

cardboard

box,

showed

the box

be

to

turned

empty,

it

upside-down,and then shook the borrowed

"topper",
and undamaged, from its interior.
perfect
This concludingillusion was
greetedwith howls of
from which rose the persistent
voice of a young lady
delight,
of about
"You

five years old.

couldn't do

that,Uncle, I'll bet

I Could

you,

Uncle 1"
But Uncle
his

house

own

"I'll show

Cicely1"
up

on

your

to

he

not

was

going to

refuse the dare.

you

whether

responded with

the stage beside

so.

He

in
challenged

and

examined

can

mock

do

this way

in

dear
not, my
and climbed
severity,

"Would

me.

hat,Mr. Maskelyne ?"

I did

be

it

you

or

mind

lendingme

he asked.

my

"topper" a

moment,

tively
reflec-

and asked me
if I minded
him
pickedup the scissors,
tryingto repeat my own trick. I had no objection,
though I
rather doubted

if he could do it.

THE

STORY

OF

MASKELYNES

243

Next
and

the scissors had sheareclthrough

the rim,
moment,
largesection fell to the floor 1

Now

within
standing

was

and, since I knew

to

what

and

another

away

from

did

sliver of hat

was

expected
not
happen. Instead,another
clippedaway ; really
clipped

my hat 1
I looked closer and

but
strips,

tillthe hat was

closer,
with my experience
I could

even

the time,

at

look for in the trick,I

to

somethingwhich

see

three feet of him

into small

cut

detect the

not

illusion.
Then

into my cardboard
box,
my host put the strips
shook them up, and turned to his audience,who
waited
breathless and silent.He turned the box upsidedown, just
as

I had done

but instead of the bits havingvanished,

they

"

all poured out

It

and

comical

was

audience

to

on

unkind
yelled
the

Then
turned

to

to

see

his face. The

with

conjurerpickedup

with

the

carpet at
That

there
our
was

was

bits,and

crestfallen air.

"I'm afraid I can't do it after all1" he said

And

laughter

advice.

amateur

me

the

chagrinon
its feet,
whooped, shouted

to

rose

the floor 1

my

top-hatin segments

sadly.
all

the

over

feet 1

undoubtedlythe

most

successful trick of the

It took five minutes to calm down the shrill-voiced

evening.
who were
the
over
boys and girls,
triumphingdelightedly
and wanting to know
what
failure to imitate my illusion,
"granddad"or "uncle" would do about Mr. Maskelyne's
hat I
When

was

leaving,
my

host took

me

aside.

mind my amusing them, even

you wouldn't
though it was rather at your expense as well as my own,"
of palming
he said,as he shook hands. "I took the liberty
"I knew

your hat into the hall here

"

look I It's no

worse

after all1"
Q

MAGIC

WHITE

244

But
brand

"topper" with

the
new

and

one,

presentedme

it bore, inside,the

hatter in London.

famous

he

which

I need

of the

name

hardlysay

was

most

it fitted

me

perfectly.
and amusinglittle
good many exciting
incidents at this type of private
party.
I was
when
Recently,
givinga show at a big party held
I arrived at the house
in London
by Lord Ellenborough,
fitted and lighted
had been
rostrum
to find that a splendidly
for me.
On the rostrum
built specially
laya beautiful old
value would
have amounted
Persian carpet whose
certainly
to several hundred
pounds.
kind action to have put it there,
It was
an
extraordinarily
I have

but I

met

must

with

that I felt inclined

admit

to

think about

it while

terrified lest any accident in

performingmy illusions,
of them might damage the priceless
one
carpet.
asked
sand
trick the same
I was
Then
to perform my
Performance
which
I had given at the Royal Command
I throw some
sand into a glass
before. In this trick,
shortly
I

was

"

bowl
hand

into mud, and then put my

of water, stirthe contents
and draw forth dry,crumbly sand which
in the mud

neither the
But

certain

no

water
one

amount

nor
can

my

wet

hand

perform this

of mud

has

even

moistened.

trick without

a
splashing
about
that is beyond even
my
risk getting
mud
this
on
possibly
"

magic.And how could I

lovelycarpet ?
the
I begged Lord Ellenborough
to allow me
to remove
told me
to bother. Luckilyfor
not
carpet,but he laughingly
my peace of mind, I had in my "bag of tricks" a mackintosh
the carpet,and then performedthe
sheet. This I spreadover
trick perfectly
satisfactorily.
At a performanceI gave in Ipswichrecently,
at the
country home of Lord Woodbridge,I met with a stranger
still.
I had to givean hour's show on the lawn,and
difficulty

246

WHITE

I must

on

tread

account

no

MAGIC

stage lest the table vanished

on

and

certain

portionof the
exposed somethingsecret
a

in

doing so.
Magic needs enormous
get my performanceover
of stage propertieswhout

concentration
a

"

whole

any

"

hour

thankful

was

without

mishap from

the

to

the

help
"levitating

table".
A

curious

most

performanceat
It

thinghappened when

Grosvenor

House

Christmas-time,and

year

I
or

was

two

givinga
ago.

producinga ghostin which the spectre of a girl

illusion,
appearedand
raising
the stage. Unfortunately
conversed with me
one
on
corner
of the stage was
not
at the time, owing to
very well lighted
a
wiringfailure which happened on Christmas morning,
electricians were
and though usingthis
when
no
available,
corner

at

was

made

our

illusion all the

rather

dangerous,since
altogether.
As bad luck would

one

it was
effective,

more

could

have it,my

was

easily
step

off the

also

edge

usual assistant developed

stitute,
evening,and I had to get a subaccustomed
not
to
who, though very good, was
bit of that particular
about in the less-lighted
steering
stage.
That evening,as the ghost and I were
versation,
holdingconeffective vanishing-trick
my spectre did a more
for years, by disappearing
than anythingI have seen
over
I
the edge of the stage. Owing to the haze with which
surround
and the imperfect
lighting
my stage apparitions,
a

bad

attack of 'flu that

in that corner, no one

her go.
saw
She was
for she laysilentwhere she
a courageous
ghost,
bad bruises. I
had fallen,though she had suffered some

improviseda
on

line

or

two

to

suit the

occasion,and carried

with the trick.

That

night,several peoplecomplimentedme

marvellous

way

my

assistant had

vanished. Most

on

the

eager of

THE

those who

STORY

OF

praisedme

was

MASKELYNES

young
he heard the story of what had
introduced to the plucky girl.

That story had

curious

247

of

man

title,
who, when

happened, begged to

sequel.Within

week

the

be

two

I offered my assistant
engaged to be married. When
she told me
that she had known
her
my congratulations,
fiance two years before,when
theyboth lived in Yorkshire.
She was
the daughter of a poor but well-connected
of a
the rich son
was
familyin the East Riding; her wooer
manufacturer
who
had only recentlygained a tide. The
between
the friendship
on
parents on both sides frowned
the boy and girl
began in both homes ; and the
; squabbles
ran
girl
away to London, where she got a jobas my assistant,
and earned her own
knew where she had
No
one
living.

were

gone.
Some
man's

familiar note

he heard

when

memory

in her voice had echoed

my

the stage. He had no idea where

two
years, but he made an excuse

spectre
she had
to

see

in the young

to
talking

me

on

for the past

if this was
the girl
been

he had lost.
the story ended in wedding-bellsor should
say, that beganthe best part of the story ?
to Derby,
Justbefore Christmas 1935 I was travelling
; and

It was
one

I had

where

short time seemed

was
travelling
compartment was onlyone

and

man

when
performance,
private

affairthat for

an

train in which

The

in

quiteuncanny.

me

one,

for

engagement

involved

I became
to

an

"

in my
who sat ensconced

was

not

corridor

other traveller,

his newspaper
so
securely
glimpseof his face for many miles. Then,
behind

that I did not get a

having been showing very late the previousnight,I fell
and did not wake againtillthe train was
drawinginto
asleep,
a

station.
I knew

that

we

had

not

stoppedanywhere since

I fell

248

WHITE

I woke

asleep
; when
hour

or

so

that it was

not

I looked

the seats, stared

vanished

to

or

"

I have

at

said

the closed doors of the

slowlyrunning and
dreaming.Where could he have
justa figment of my sleepy

the lines were

past which

believe I had been

beganto

vanished.

companion had

an

corridor train.

under

compartment

stilldoing fifteen miles

were

we

yet my

"

MAGIC

he

was

"

?
imagination
Before

station and

was
a

properlyawake we had stoppedat

in grey had jumped into
burly man

the
my

compartment.
"You

haven't

seen

black hair,horn-rimmed

man,

five-foot

glasses,
grey

eleven,slim build,

overcoat,

scar

on

his

left cheek,in the train ?" he rattled off.

What

was

say ?

to

fellow-traveller
My vanishing

had

been in the compartment before I reached it,and had hidden

behind his paper all the time I was
awake ; unless,as I was
than

more

ready to

suppose,

I had

only dreamed

him

! I

shook

my head.
"Couldn't have

are,

sir. Thanks

joinedthe

very

much

train after allthen.

1"

snapped the

Right you

detective and

vanished.
The

drew out. When

it was
gathering
presently
speed,the oppositedoor of my compartment opened,and
been
climbed into the carriage
who
had apparently
a man
holdinghimself on to the footboard outside,out of sight.
He was
of slim build,fairly
and was
tall,
wearing a grey
whose
overcoat
turned-upcollar half-hid a scarred cheek.
"You
did me
a good turn, Mr.
Maskelyne,"he grinned.
"I vanished myselfwhile you were
Take me
on
as
asleep.
an

train

assistant ?"
He

seemed

his paper. At
in the crowd.

to

expect

no

answer,

Derby he slippedout

but hid himself behind

of the train and

was

lost

THE

Only

STORY

OF

MASKELTNES

249

before

in my career
had I any experience
of
the criminal classes,
and that,I think,is the strangeststory
once

of my whole collection.
I had justpreviously
bought a very fast car, of which
I was
very proud, and I proposed to givemyselfa day off

Derby Day and run down to see the race.

I was
roaringalong the road to Epsom when I saw
waving to me ahead a rather dirtylittlefigurein a huge
greatcoat and muffler and a green cloth cap. I pulledup,
and was
asked in a rather impudent Cockney voice for a lift.
amused
Something about the cut of the littleman
me,
and I told him to jump in. He knew
something about cars,
and praisedthe pointsof my new
"steed". Under
the circumstanc
on

it was
her out"

bit

to

no

show

more

than natural that I should

"let

off her paces.

when
we
were

Unhappilyfor me,
thunderingalongat
something over sixtymiles an hour, a policemanjumped
ahead of us, signalled
from a side-turning
to stop, and
me
pulledout his whistle. I was inclined to make a bolt for it,
but discretion proved the better part of valour. The policeman,
could pullup,
whom
had passedby the time we
we
came
pantingalongside.
"I'll'ave

to

take your

name

and

produceda
triumphantly

you

doin' ?"

and number, sir,"he said,

note-book.

"What

speedwas

I replied.
forty,"
"Thirty-eight,
Sergeant1" interpolated
my

"Oh"

er"

about

passenger.
But the
a

blunt

some

not to be mollified.
was
"Sergeant"
and began stabbing
his
pencil-point

purpose.

He

took

down

moistened

note-book

to

and address,the
my name
of my eyes and a few other

of the car, the colour

at
details,and stared very suspiciously
that it was
me
time,as though to assure
number

He

Cockey

me
no

from
use

time

to

of
a-tryin'

of

any

that

his

it

drew

we

for

me

One

the

was

only

can

pick-pocket)
I

full

about

letter-box.

to

keep

well, I

he
his

can

superiors,
he

admits

him,

tell

as

so

out

fat wallets

the

other

my

him

also

had

his

from
own

his

this

his

of

also

years
from

get

from
man

when

from

me,

of

"

his

removed

removed

Law

of

humour

associates,

note-book

to

But

identify

of

lapse
will

own

unflattering

case,

could
sense

he

whether

memoirs.

suppose

reception

bore

remnant

deal

good
my

after

that
the

posted

enough

not

the

extremely
in

and

himself

to

note-book

the

among

who

pocket-wallet

my

and,

me

got

two

and

here

it, has

probably
he

of

myself

question,

only pity

I had

wished

entertaining angels (or

was

page

story

knowledge

and

pushed

I wondered

read

ever

that

perception,

this

in

policeman

should

me

to

he

note-book

that

in

safe

sure

details

was

book
note-

make

to

car

passenger

my

pound-notes

that

assume

incriminating

if the

of

unawares

nearest

the

finally

Downs,

policeman's

carefully removed

the

his

put

disappeared.

pocket-book

own

the

lift. Then

the

and

hands,

my

he

!"
at

up

into
and

contraband,

morning

thanked

into

\ Then

licence, leaned

my
no

"Good

When
and

at

carried

sinister

him

on

breast-pocket.

looked

He

tricks

vanishing

my
in

it

MAGIC

WHITE

250

sense

in

cumstances
cirand

CHAPTER

of the

films

Magic

find

the

body

almost

father's

almost

The

the

appears
dis-

name

author

vanishes

occurred, and

made

convinced

of time

the

world

must

add

our

lives 1

tales that I have

is

this

book,

one

consider

to

come

there

is very

films, and

some

that the

has

little to
see.

me

realm

of

not

of

during

the

about
to

have

to

seems

Well,
to

series

life

tell you

I propose

romantic

ward,
Looking backhad, perforce,

my

nothing outstanding
? Let

own

my

down

two

I done

have

have

of

account

of grace.

hundred

historyof Maskelynes
great J. N. is told, and

and

up

passage

when

or

year

What

Puzzle

"

old

An

The

"

the

perspective of

the

Yet

of the

it, while

untold, since

volumes.

Morton

tale of the

this year

to

recall

can

leave

am

meet

this chronicle

that

colouring to

last

"

Mr.

making magic

I think

to

magic

illusions

"

story with

adventures

production
Maskelynes* Theatre

new

date.

to

up

reached

Theatrical

"

last time.

brought

HAVE

my

"

from
for the

future

XX

it.

begin with,

make

more.

some

camera-magic

has

not

yet

properly explored.Indeed, I think that we shall see

talkies,during the next
some
year or so, that will provide
blase" of cinema-goers.
for the most
thrills even
thrills will,I hope, be largelyproduced by screen
These

been

magic of
acting as
For

my

devising,and

own

instance, I

Manchu.

Oriental

of my

cases

some

own

well.

probably going

am

picturesdealing with
Fu

in

was

of

Most

able

to

the

notorious

things that
perform, with the
the

251

to

make

Chinese
this

series of

wizard, Dr.

mysterious

invaluable

old

assistance

WHITE

252

of Mr.

Sax Rohmer,

MAGIC

alreadydo in the studio. And I

believe there are a few wrinkles,in the way of uncanny
and
murders, abductions
disappearances,
decapitations,
sudden

deaths,which

can

can

offer the learned

will be quitenew
which, I fancy,
I

Then
immediate
worked
which

even

to

Doctor, and

him.

assist in the stage production,in the

of illusions which
I have
future,of a number

hope

to

out, which

might put

are
some

not

only suitable

real pep

for

into modern

myself,but
top-speed

revues.

been tried
productionideas have already
For instance,
illusion a short
I perfected
out successfully.
an
of girls
could dance behind a
time ago in which
a chorus
of a stage, and immediately
in the middle
small screen
clad in entirely
different
emerge on the far side of the screen
all the world could
but justas elaborate costumes,
when
for the quickest
that they had not had time even
of
see
lightning
changesof frock.
This particular
illusion has been used in two
three
or
and has screened quiteeffectively.
talkieslately,
he
Justbefore Jack Hulbert started film work recently,
of my magic
rang me up one morning,havingheard of some
tricks for revue,
and arrangedto lunch with me
to talk
As a result,
have agreedto work
them over.
we
together
show
in London, in
in staginga big revue-cum-illusion
which a whole series of my tricks of production-magic
will
be producedwith proper effects.
I have what I believe to be an absolutely
In particular,
unique idea for staginga mystery play. In this play I
"vanish"
the body of a
to
propose to develop a theme
force on earth
villain in such a way that no police
murdered
Some

of these

it had gone.
As every criminologist
knows, the problem that baffles
murderers is not to commit the murder without beingseen
could

discover how

or

where

WHITE

254

I sometimes

lifeover

wonder

againI would

MAGIC

if I
not

If I
superstitious.

am

choose

to

have

one

had

moment

my
of

italtered. I have had great triumphs,

great happinessesand
great failuresand sorrows, too. But, givena second chance,
"

I would

be

magicianagain the same magician,

getting
sacked from the familytheatre at the time when
he was
a gripon
fame, going out "on the road",
really
obtaining
meetingdisaster and success, good luck and bad. I would
be a magician but I do not want
my children to follow in
the familytradition.
There is nothingwrong
with the professionindeed,I
think it offers biggerchances now
than it has ever
done.
But do you remember
that old John Maskelyne,the Wiltshire
farmer,whom
legendsays sold his soul and those of
his descendants to a certain nasty littlegentlemanin black
silk ? It is because of him that I shall probablybe the last
Maskelynemagician.
which was
told me
firstby
Accordingto this fairy-tale,
grandfather,
John arrangedin his
sixteenth-century
my
compact that magicalpowers should be possessedfor ten
and no more, by his descendants,
in return for
generations,
surrender to the powers of darkness.
John'sown
Ten generations
and no more
1
I am the tenth generation.
I am
not
superstitious
myself,
and I don't really
givea figfor either my naughtyancestor
his grim littlefamiliar. And
or
yet why flyin the face of
the legend?
a

"

"

"

"

I know

one

man

who,

believe,will

be sorry if the
in the magic world.

of

Maskelyne does not go on

I met
him the other day,to my very great delight,
and he
with
a link,
stronger than any legend,
gave me
very much
Maskelynemagic in the past.
I was
in Hull, a few weeks ago, at the Alexandra
playing

name

Theatre,when

Mr.

William

Morton

sent

in his

name

and

THE

asked
with

to
a

see

warmth

peoplein
For
same

real

young
one

them

MASKELTNES

OF

I welcomed

me.

that I could

255

him
have

into my dressing-room
found for very few other

the theatrical world.

Mr.

Morton

is

that
ninety-eight
years old now
William
Morton
who
his first
gave my grandfather
in the provinces,
start
had ever
long before London

heard

no

STORY

of him. That

"

Mr.

same

who
Morton, in fact,

financed

J.N. Maskelyne and

his partner, littleCooke, when

had faith in them ; who
stuck to

else in the world

and

stagedtheir turn until theystormed London itself

and made a name
in magic which shall not be forgotten
even
though there are no more
Maskelynesin the illusion
business
for many
a generation
yet to come.
And what do you think Mr. Morton
had broughtme
as
a
contract,
original
present ? Nothing less than that same
signedby himself,my grandfather,
grandmother,and Mr.
the manager
of the magic
Cooke, which made Mr. Morton
to it.
show, and guaranteedhis backingtillsuccess
came
I am
One of the things
keenly
lookingforward to really
Morton
in the future is sending Mr.
a
telegramof
on
scoringhis century.
congratulation
I think I have mentioned
alreadyin this historythat I
ambition
foster a secret
to
return
one
day to the old
sprawlingfarm under the wood where John Maskelyne
if he really
did practise
them
his wizardries
practised
and take up the ploughingand the sowing and the harvest
he left off.For what are ten generations
or less where
more
to the ageless,
patientWiltshire fields?
I have achieved
Well, perhapsI shall stilldo so. When
and rung up the curtain for the openingnight
my ambition
London
of my own
theatre,and made it a huge success
;
of illusionistsand
when I have engageda talented company
taughtthem how to produceall my best tricks there ; when
I feel like amusing myselffor a change instead of just
"

"

"

"

256

MAGIC

WHITE

and

west,

and

by

"

gallery,

beat

and,

where

shall

then

cattle

watch

with

of

the

joy

the

ploughshares
stage-

my

under

of

of

of

magic

the

eaves

my

out

appear

greater

grey

applause

swallows
to

and

change

"

of

the

to

fields.
into

course

rabbits

cause

walls

green

Instead

piping

the
I

now

and

face

my

dry-stone

of

process,

hear

turn

apparatus

reaping-hooks.

I shall

of

levitation

my

shall

land

red

magical

into

eggs

and

roofs

shall

then
"

the

to

return

stone-tiled
I

people

other

amusing

hat,

springing

my

corn.

Then,

all

when

successfully

and

farm-house

the

ready,

without

perform

theatre

constant

my

and

swept
I shall

master,

is

ready

to

steadily
the
its

greet

disappearing

greatest

on

and

presence

garnished
the

carrying

trick

old

new

of

my

career.

And

then
"

and

stare

fellow's

at

one

vanished

as

now

"

audience

my

another

and

say

1"

THE

END

"

will

"Upon

rub

my

their
soul

eyes
1

The

INDEX

Queen,
Alexandra, H.M.
Anderson, H., 163
Australian
Tour, 59

216

Finlay,

Dunn,

45

Illusion, 177

Limit"

"Dizzy

King, 45, 72,77

VII, H.M.
Ellenborough, Lord, 244
Illusion, 149
"Eye of a Needle"
Edward

Bacon, Professor, 81
Barber, Alfred, 216
Beaufort, Douglas, 74
Beringer, Vera, 88
Bertram, Chas., 72, 73

Fanfair, 49
Fay, Eva, 44

J. B.,

Dr.

Ferguson,

Bianco, 64
Box
Trick, 26, 40, 46, 56, 84, 236
Burnaby, David, 165

18

Fields, Gracie, 73
Fishing Illusion, 231
Foo, Ling, 21
Freak
Shows,

35

Cagliostro,161
Clarke, John, 41,
Clive, Lord, 12

Trick, 177
Colley, Archdeacon,

106,

94

King,

50,

231

hunts, 122, 226, 229

Grafton, Glen, 216
de, 162
Grisi, Comte

24,

36,

30,

40,

46,87
Trick,

Creation

(1926), 189

H.M.

Ghost
17,

14,

V,

George

I, 161

Cooke,

Strike

General

Coffin

Comus

Barclay,61

Gammon,

43

Hansard,

Davenports,
Davenport

8,

Box

22,

23,

Heller,

69

Hand

Devant,
91,

David,

102,

107,

Devil-worship,

8 1,

10,

Hulbert, Jack,

82, 85, 87, 90,

108, 109,
37,

90

Daniel, 47
Home,
Houdin, Robert, 161, 163
Howell, Walter, 216

Trick, 84

Trick, 102
Decapitation Trick, 36
Dead

J. B.,

161

252

127

85,

154,

Rope Trick, 103,

Irving, Sir Henry, 89

Indian

207-212

Disappearing Bird-cage Trick, 167

Disappearing Hen Trick, 199

Irish
257

Tour,

71

179

104,

INDEX

84
(TichborneClaimant),

Orton

Jodhpur,Maharajahof,176
Pepper, Dr., 42, 163
"Phantom
Dancer"
Illusion,
198
Park murders, 72
Phoenix

Kellar,Harry,69

King,John,ghost,47
Kolta,Bautier de, 72,

Pinetti,161, 162
Trick, 36,46
Plate-spinning

170

Psycho,41
Labial,49
Laforcade,Comte

de,65

Performances
:
Royal Command
(JasperMaskelyne),106, 231,
45, 50
235 ; (J-N. Maskelyne),

Hon.
Gerald, 232
Lascelles,
of Arabia, 120, 121
Lawrence
Levitation Trick, 36, 39, 182

Edward,
Longstafle,

74

Lumiere, 82
Lynn, Dr., 40

Said,Ben,
Sand

Trick, 231,

"Side

216

Issue"

244

Illusion,
97

"Magic Circle,"100

Slade,Dr., 47

Malone, John, 78

South

African

Tour,

215

Stuart,James, 74
Mary, H.M. Queen, 108, 231, 235
82
Sword-swallowingTrick,1 1 1
Maskelyne, Archie,
Sword- walkingTrick, 181
Maskelyne,Cassie,83
Maskelyne, Jasper,87 et seq.
Maskelyne,John, 10
161
Maskelyne,John Nevil,13 et seq. Thought-reading,
Maskelyne, J. N. (inventions),Thurston, Howard, 69
Tichborne

81,94

52-55,

84

case,

Maskelyne,Margaret, 12
Maskelyne, Nevil (astronomer),
n,

105,
VanishingDonkey Illusion,

160

Maskelyne,Nevil, 82
Maskelyne,
114,

Nevil

146

et seq.

73
(inventions),VanishingLady Illusion,

119, 133

Morrit, Chas., 74
Morton, William, 28, 30-34,
43"254,

38,

"Will,the Witch
56

*55

Murray, David,

Williams,Charles,47

88

of, 104
Woodbridge, Lord, 244

Windsor, Duke
N

"New

and the Watchman,"

Wylie,Julian,93

Page" Illusion,
103
O

Zoe, 48

Sidney,74
Oldridge,
258