—— Tricks in Magic: Illusions and Mental Phenomena. Chicago, —. 8vo.
A series of entertaining works on modern magic and its professors.
Bursill, H. Hand-shadows to be thrown upon the Wall; Consisting of Novel and Amusing Figures formed by the Hand, from Original Designs. Second series, in one volume. New York, —.
Carlyle, Thomas. Count Cagliostro. In his Miscellaneous Essays.
This is a fascinating sketch of the most famous of charlatans and pretenders to magic. It is written in Carlyle’s characteristic style, and is, perhaps, more of a philosophical study of the genus quack than an impartial biography of the celebrated necromancer of the old régime. A more detailed account of Cagliostro’s romantic career is to be found in the series of articles by William E. A. Axon, published in the Dublin University Magazine, vols. lxxviii. and lxxix. (1871, 1872). All biographies of Cagliostro are founded on the work published in Rome, 1790, under the auspices of the Holy Apostolic Chamber. The Italian life contains an elaborate exposé of the great magician’s system of Egyptian masonry, also the full Inquisition sentence pronounced against him. This highly interesting product of papal jurisprudence makes strange reading for the nineteenth century. In the year 1791 the Inquisition biography was translated into French, under the title of Le Vie de Joseph Balsamo, connu sous le nom de Comte Cagliostro. It has for a frontispiece a steel-engraved portrait of Cagliostro. Original editions of this rare and curious old work may be seen in the Peabody Library, of Baltimore, Md.; the Scottish Rite Library, of Washington, D. C.; and the Masonic Library of Grand Rapids, Iowa.
Cagliostro made adroit use of hypnotism, optical illusions, and chemical tricks. He was past master of the art of deception. Modern professors of conjuring are fond of using the name of Cagliostro for all sorts of magical feats, such as the “Mask of Balsamo,” “Cagliostro’s Casket and Cards,” “Cagliostro’s Cabinet,” etc.
Carpenter, William H. At an Algerian Aissaoua. Current Literature, vol. xix. pp. 409-411.
The Aissaoua are the miracle-mongers of Algeria. For explanation of their tricks, see the concluding chapter of Robert-Houdin’s memoirs.
Conjurer Unmasked, The: With the Tricks of the Divining Rod, Magical Table, etc. 1790.
Conjurer’s Guide. Glasgow, 1850.