The Old and the New Magic

by Henry Ridgely Evans

“Shakespeare wrote well;

Dickens wrote Weller;

Anderson was—

But the greatest is Heller.”

The following is one of Heller’s programmes (Salt Lake City, Utah, May 23, 1867):

{194}

II.

A curious exhibition of silent second sight was that of the Svengali trio. The effect as described by the New York Herald, August 11, 1904, is as follows:

“Two persons (lady and gentleman) are on the stage, both with their backs toward the audience. A third one goes into the auditorium, with his back towards the stage, to receive the wishes of the audience. If the name of any international celebrity is whispered to him, with lightning rapidity the thought is transmitted. The gentleman on the stage turns round immediately and appears in features, bearing and dress as the desired personage—with wonderfully startling resemblance.