| 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.
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