| Book Excerpts:
My professional life has been a constant record of disillusion, and many things that
seem wonderful to most men are the every-day commonplaces of my business. But I have
never been without some seeming marvel to pique my curiosity and challenge my investigation.
In this book I have set down some of
the stories of strange folk and unusual performers that I have gathered in many years
of such research.
Much has been written about the feats of miracle-mongers, and not a little in the way
of explaining them. Chaucer was by no means the first to turn shrewd eyes upon wonder-
workers and show the clay feet of these popular idols. And since his time innumerable
marvels, held to be supernatural, have been exposed for the tricks they were.
Yet to-day, if a mystifier lack the ingenuity to invent a new and startling stunt, he can safely fall back
upon a trick that has been the favorite of pressagents the world over in all ages. He can
imitate the Hindoo fakir who, having thrown a rope high into the air, has a boy climb it until
he is lost to view.
He can even have the feat photographed. The camera will click; nothing
will appear on the developed film; and this, the performer will glibly explain,
``proves'' that the whole company of onlookers was hypnotized! And he can be certain of a very
profitable following to defend and advertise him.
So I do not feel that I need to apologize for adding another volume to the shelves of works
dealing with the marvels of the miracle- mongers. My business has given me an intimate
knowledge of stage illusions, together
with many years of experience among show people of all types.
My familiarity with the former, and what I have learned of the
psychology of the latter, has placed me at a certain advantage in
uncovering the natural explanation of feats that to the ignorant have
seemed supernatural. And even if my readers are too well informed to be interested in my
descriptions of the methods of the various performers who have seemed to me worthy of
attention in these pages, I hope they will find some amusement in following the fortunes and
misfortunes of all manner of strange folk who once bewildered the wise men of their day.
If I have accomplished that much, I shall feel amply repaid for my labor.
HOUDINI.
|
