A Comparison of The Oldest Magic with Modern Illusions
By G. G. Laurens
The writer of this essay has just returned from a cursory exploration of the labyrinths of "Retrospectia." He undertook this voyage for the purpose of becoming better acquainted with the Sorcerors, Magicians, Conjurors and Temple-exploiters of old. Barring his nausea at the superstitious tendencies that have always characterized the "hoi polloi," he has so far emerged from that "Ghostland" with the conviction that there were men at all times who were not one jot inferior to the best of our day. He was delighted to find that father Time has not yet wiped out the traces of all past magicians and conjurors nor of those who exploited, magic in some other ways. He is further impressed by a realization that our best modern efforts do not embody new conceptions, they do not supercede the wonder dreams and Pegasus flights of ancient poets and fabulists. Even our modern illusive creations do not appear to transcend the ancient effects to a very marked degree.
It is true that the erstwhile exponents of our art were sometimes fools and more oft knaves, but such men do still make up a great percentage of the human family. Perchance the ancients knew less about practical mechanics; doubtless our modern means can accomplish more in less time; but if so, they, not we, deserve the credit. Being pioneers they have accomplished their results under greater difficulties and, in any event, their wonders left behind, impression far more lasting than ours ever will be.
Purposes of This Essay
1st. By reference to documentary evidence stilI extant, the writer pretends to prove that the kinds of magic we denominate "sleight of hand" and "optical illusions" were sometimes practised by the ancients as such.
2nd. By similar conclusions he will prove that for the sake of gain and power, the "Sacerdoti" did resort to such means at various epochs. They however, did so with fraudulent intent. Anti-sacerdoti or sorcerers, exploited also the art for fraudulent purposes.
3rd. The writer will strive to demonstrate that although our "modi operandi" may have improved, we still exploit illusions that were invented and performed thousands of years ago.
4th. The imagination and desire to witness wonders of which the ancients were capable superceded our own wildest wishes and dreams. We have become more astute albeit more skeptical.
Finally the writer will conclude his observations by some pertinent remarks which may not please all readers, but are offered to counteract what in his opinion constitutes degeneracy in our art. He sincerely believes that being a co-student and initiate, he had a duty to perform; no one in particular is meant by his "knocks." In fact he acknowledges that he himself should have practised what he is preaching, but has failed to do so.
Conjuring Versus Miracles, Sorcery, Thaumaturgy, Necromancy, Etc.
All the above words mean "wonderworks,"' but supposedly emanating from "different sources and brought about for diverse purposes. Miracles nowadays are deemed to be prodigies manifesting the will of the Deity; the word was not always limited to that sense, the ancients used it indiscriminately to refer to favorable manifestations attributed to the gods whereas unfavorable casualties were named "malefices, sorcery, thaumaturgy, necromancy," etc. Innumerable instances can be quoted: Judaical writers such as Philo and Josephus, simultaneously with pagans such as Tacitus, Plutarch and others used that word in their descriptions of the wonders performed by Eleazar the Jew, and Camillus, Vespasian and other heathens. Church fathers, among whom Justin Martyr, Euthenius, Eusebius, St. Chrisostom; pagan authors among whom Theophilactus, Philostratus, etc., were the very historians who have recounted the miracles performed by non-Christians such as Appolonius of Tvana, Simon Magus, Menander, etc. Their belief in these wonders was as genuine as in those attributed to early Christian promulgators. Not all believed with equal vim, thus St. Chrisostom wrote: "Miracles are proper only to excite sluggish and vulgar minds, men of sense have no occasion for them." Theophilus wrote: "Evil spirits must have inspired the old poets of Greece and Rome." Athenagoras, also one of the Christian founders, expresses belief in the Divine origin of miracles performed by the power of heathen gods, etc. Philostratus, a pagan, said about the magicians of his day: "They are but vendors of miracles."
Illusion, Delusion, Superstition
Briefly: Illusions are false impressions resulting from logical reasoning. Delusions are mental aberrations brought about by illogical reasoning. Superstition is a mental delusion caused by exaggerated or by fallacious religious convictions. Whether one who has witnessed an effect conceives clearly the causes thereof, or knows himself to be illuded, or is afterwards found to be deluded, are results depending sorely from his own mental development.
In order to understand why superstition among the masses has prevailed all these centuries, one must bear in mind that Theophilus and St. CyriI, bishops of Alexandria were the ones who caused the celebrated library and seat of learning of that capital to be destroyed. This act plunged humanity into a new era of ignorance and bigotry, known as the "dark ages" from which we are only gradually recovering. What ancient, works escaped their rancor, together with the recent deciphering of hieroglyphic, hieratic and cuneiform monuments, and the gradual translating of long hidden Oriental documents, is all we have left to reconstruct the history of pre-Christian days.
The Oldest Record of a Conjurer
An old Egyptian document written about 1800 B. C. rests now in the Berlin Museum of Archeology. It is called the Westcar Papyrus, and in it are related several tales of Magic. One of these stories is about a magician named Deda, who performed before king Cheops, his illusions of decapitating and revivifying a duck, a goose and an ox. The Pharoah Cheops had sent prince Hordudof to invite and specially escort him. (See Wiedemans' essay V—Popular Literature of Egypt.) The writer has seen Imro Fox, Leroy, Phillippe and others perform this feat with chickens, ducks and pigeons. Needless to refer here to the many books wherein methods for accomplishing kindred effects have been published.
Extricators and Escape Artists
The myth of Hercules, the sacred legend about Samson releasing himself from the chains that bound him, the miraculous escapes of Daniel, of the Maccabees, of Sts. Peter and Paul as recorded in the Acts, are sufficient proof that the Ancients delighted in marvelous escapes. Among pagan legends, the most interesting is told about Appolonius of Tyana, as narrated by more than one author. Domitius emperor of Rome, having legislated against magicians, caused Appolonius to be apprehended because he was reputed a miracle maker. He was taken before him bound in irons. "I have ordered you to be well tied," said Domitius, "to prevent you from resorting to your magic in trying to get away. Appolonius, afterwards visited in prison by his follower Damus, was asked when he thought he should recover his liberty. This instant if I desire, said Appolonius, and he forthwith extricated himself from his shackles before a number of others, but resumed them on again, saying: "I will appear before Domitius with the chains on, tell you him you saw them off, let him explain it."
Bringing the topic some centuries nearer, I will mention here a curious and voluminous work published in 1695 by a certain Veronese monk named Johannes Bagatta, a copy of which is in my collection. This Latin book purports to be an authoritative and authorized compendium of the most notable "miranda" canonized or supposed worthy thereof, that happened from early Christianity up to the time of the author. Over a hundred records of escapes from chains and from jails are listed therein. Of course not one of the humans thus favored by Heaven and angels could have been an "extricator" or an escape artist or a "houdiniizer," inasmuch as those words had not yet been coined in 1695. Prisoners who escape nowadays do it a la Houdini, where as in romances they do it a la Monte Christo. Still names, localities and dates are given and "where there was much smoke there must have been some fire."
A Vanishing Glass of Wine
One of the effects that contributed much to the renown of our late Alexander Herrmann, (although explained in a work two centuries old that the writer saw in the Houdini collection), consisted of vanishing a glassfull of wine held in the hand, while standing and making a speech. Now let us turn to that ancient Latin, work of Q. Curtius Rufus, the celebrated biographer of Alexander the Great (three centuries B. C.) There we will find the story of one Cobares, who could perform the same sleight.
(Continued next month.)
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 10, No. 9, (Whole No. 95) in New York, February 1921.
Cobares, although a Median is not described to have been aught but a polished conjuror, in fact the story serves also as proof that at the time when Magi flourished in Persia, there were Medians who performed "white magic" as a profession. It further proves that Curtius was not a superstitious fellow for he describes magic as "an art, the most senseless, yet most amusing of all arts."
The St. Graal romances of King Arthur's days will further illustrate that vanishing goblets were not a new thought in those days.
Mechanical and Hydraulic Automata, Ballistica, Catapeltica
Heron of Alexandria (150 B. C.) is responsible for those words, not I. He is said to have written many works on scientific, mathematical and engineering subjects of which fragments entitled as above have survived after the destruction of the Alexandrian library. (See Britanica.) I can best refer the reader to Hopkins' Magic for a good insight in some of his ingenious descriptions. But the point is that in 150 B. C. scientists wrote with immunity, descriptions of illusive productions presumably exploited before and at that time in the temples and by the priests of the pagan deities. Let us feel thankful that a few straggling works such as these have survived in spite of subsequent persecution; they open up antiquity from an unexpected and entirely different point of view.
From the Biblically celebrated statue of Moloch (which according to Moret, the Egyptologist) was so made that the sacrificed children rolled alive down its extended arms and into its maw, to the tale of Galathea, ancient paganism is replete with tales of statues whose limbs could imitate life actions; although in justice we must record that same author: "that during all his researches he himself has found no traces of such."
In 1835 the government of Spain, being convulsed by a reaction of liberalism, ordered all monastic institutions suppressed. On the 6th day of July, a gang of insurgents entered the convent of Olot and proceeded to smash the statues and altars. Among other sources of “business” there was an image of the Virgin which was deemed to possess the miraculous power of weeping. Tore down from its niche a concealed reservoir and small tubes were brought to view. (History of Rome, by Dr. John Dowling.)
The medieval instances of images reputed to have moved, spoken and materialized, collated by Bagatta, would lead one to actually believe that Homers’ preconceptions were naught but fables. But as hundreds of such events are here recorded, and allowing for delusions as well as for popular exaggerations, I say again: “there can be no smoke without fire, especially where names, dates, localities and sources of information are noted.” Some at least must have been the result of artifice, or I am an incubus.
Talking Statues, Voice Throwing Apparatus, Etc.
Dupuis in “l’origine de tous les cultes,” in 1798 mentions the talking statues constructed by the aborigenes of San Domingo.
Dr. Dowling recalls how St. Dunstan the Dominican-monk-bishop of Glastenbury, England, A. D. 960, caused hollow crosses and statues to be set up, wherein monks were concealed for the purpose of audibly answering the prayers of devout believers.
Of all ancients frauds this, is probably one of the most palpable, yet it is said to be still perpetrated in some Buddhistics temples. (Error Chains by Frank S. Dobbins.)
The oldest record is the vocal statue of Memnon, sung by Homer, by Virgil and others. About it H. Brugsch Bey the Egyptian explorer writes that it was in fact the statue of Amen Hotep III, architect to the temple of Tchutimes III and that fragments thereof are still in existence.
Shades of the sacred “Telephonius,” Abbot’s talking kettles and skulls appeared only a few years ago. Oh, what’s the use? There is still one born every minute. And to think that Salverte in explanation of such things, wrote that talking machines were a possibility fifty years before the phonograph became a reality. Hopkins and others have sufficiently made clear the acoustics of talking trumpets, whispering galleries, etc., some of which are equal antiquity and subject to similar analysis.
Spontaneous and Chemical Combustion
Not very long ago one of the S. A. M. Compeers approached the writer for an improved method of magical combustion. The writer being in need of such an effect has in turn approached others. While on this subject it would be impious of course, to belittle the several incidents narrated in the Ancient Testament, of sacrificial altars set ablaze from Heaven; but it ceases to be sacrilege if we mention the Spinon stone of Theophrastus or similar records deciphered from Chaldean and Egyptian scripts, or the incidents of such nature told by Horace, Valerius Maximus, Pausanias, etc., or the many tales of Plutarch and others about Vestals, Augurs, Pythonisses, etc., who all must have possessed such secrets. Bagatta enumerates hundreds of medieval instances where fire, this fourth element of the ancients, was deemed to have started miraculously or the have been extinguised by the intermediary of Providence. To illustrate the pretentious system of this work, I will here translate a brief sample item culled at random: *3, page 69, Caput: Miraculous production of fires; item 86 page 77: From the life of St. Erenwald, bishop of London. The tapers which had been extinguised during the interment of his body, were found shortly after to have been relit by Heavenly Power and without human agency whatsoever. Need I comment?
Spiritualistic Materializations
It is claimed by us conjurors, that the so called visible manifestations of modern spiritualists are mostly the result of our own species of trickery. Surely our well known “Pepper Ghost” effect is the up to date acme of beauty and perfection. Yet the scene of Samuels’ evocation by the witch of Endor is one of the most fascinating episodes narrated in the Bible.
Saul consults Samuel after the witch of Endor has conjured him from the dead; demons crowd the background. Engraving by J. Taylor after S. Rosa, 1813.
Housed at the Wellcome Collection
Without noting the fables of ancient poets, I shall quote the many apparitions described by Plutarch, (a true historian and not a fabulist), especially the dramatic apparition of Cleonice before his murderer Pausanias.
Apparitions, specters, materializations of saints, angels, doomed souls, sufferers in purgatory, demons, lemures, homogoblins, homonculi, ghosts, etc., constitute a large portion of medieval literature. Bagatta has indexed several hundred such. Books on the order of the “Malleus Maleficarum,” of which scores were printed by order of and under the direction of the Holy Inquisition, would appear to present day readers the Acme of ludicrous nonsense and hallucination were it not for the terrible scenes and tragedies that they have caused and which can never be obliterated as long as civilization will continue.
Oh well, it is surely is sinful to evoke spirits; but Metempsychosis illusions are surely among the crowing effects of our art. Anyways, as long as it remains a point of faith with some so called Christians, that demons and spirits can materialize, the conjuror has a sacred mission before him.
Dematerializations Extraordinary
Among the works of Titus Livius which have escaped destruction in spite of the edicts of Pope Gregory, I (see Britannica), this truthful historian records that in the initiation to a certain impious association, a machine was used to suddenly vanish undesired neophites, and those who looked on were told that "their bodies had been kidnapped by the gods."
Needless to chronologize here all the subsequent murders and crimes that have resulted in total dematerializations. Their list would embrace kings, generals, knights, bishops, etc., and thousands of mere "commons."
To produce a really effective disappearance is still the dream of all magicial inventors, in spite of the fact that Houdini has had the last word with an elephant at the N. Y. Hippodrome. Consistently with historical precedents that man should either be burned at the stake or canonized as a saint; this remark incidentally should make people reflect about the rule of "precedents" that still prevails in our courts of justice.
Hindoo Magical Dreams. Witchcraft
From India we have heard many wonder tales, but though the Hindoo fakirs are clever manipulators in their own way, we must yet see those things. The writer ventures the following origin of such tales: Should one care to peruse the ancient Sanscrit and Zend religious writings, "he would discover that "Homa" or the "Soma of Indra," (see Rig Veda, Vendidad. Avesta, etc.) was an ancient beverage far more inspiring than our producers of D. T.'s and of snakes; albeit less dangerous than the opium of China or the Hachisis of Persia.
(To be continued.)
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 10, No. 9, (Whole No. 96) in New York, March 1921.
(Continued from March.)
After their potion they are said to become intellectually exhilarated and do "see things," although without physical appearance or vertigo common to our intoxicants. They see the things they had intended to see before indulging, realistically and vividly, and thus for them untruth becomes truth, and fancy becomes persuasion.
Be that as it may, it has been claimed by Wierius and other scientific investigators, that thousands of the poor wretches, who by order of of the Holy Inquisition were executed not many centuries ago in Europe, as sorcerors and witches, did not "witch," but rubbed their bodies with certain magical ointments and drank specially prepared potions. They pictured these stimulants with specific instructions as to what they would "see" if used as directed. Thus "psychologised" and inebriated, the poor devils did see vividly in their sleep just what they had set out to see, and their own imaginations supplemented that sight with innumerable likely details. As a result, when put on the rack of the Inquisitors, they could not deny having tried to "see" and having participated in fact at fearsome orgies and at lewd debaucheries conducted by demons, by witches and by sorcerors. Ennemozer makes similar references to poisons although less explicitly. See also: Watte, Voltaire, Salverte, etc.
Magical Effects Resulting from Accidental Coincidences
Not on the stage but in real life, wonderful effects result sometimes from coincidences. The writer will quote two examples, not because of their value to conjurors but merely to illustrate how accounts of miracles (and of magical allegations) spread, even in our own time.
Thus the writer remembers that when he was a boy in Flanders a certain religious procession took place in one of the towns that have probably been destroyed during the late war. It was in one of the suburbs of Roulers if his memory serves him right. The church bell was caused to peal, but this specific old bell had to be tolled from within an open tower. The church warden's assistant was tolling for dear life, proudly exhibiting his athletic skill on such an opportune occasion, when suddenly he lost his hold and fell. Just at that instant the town band emerged from the church. Oh prodigious event! He tumbled more than fifty feet upon and through one of the pigskins of the base drum,—and was picked up unhurt. A "te Deum" of thanks was sung, and this was surely appropriate; but—the miraculous base drum became henceforth one cf the church's most prized relics.
Here is another, a "cabalistic gematria." The ancient Greeks and Judeans, used the letters of the alphabet to indicate numbers. Thus their "a" stands for "1," " b" for "2," etc. Counting up the sum of all the letters the Greek alphabet produces a total of 888. (First letter being alpha—1, last letter being omega—800). Capitals stand for figures of higher order. Now the Revelation of St. Johns' Apocalypse was originally written in Greek. (Omega was not a Judian letter by the bye.) Jesus in Greek—Ihsous; and that combination of letters, read numerically, equals also 888. Therefor it is assumed by many that this is what the Christian Saviour meant when he said: I am the Alpha and the Omega. Was that accident? It must have been. The inscription on an ancient medal referring to Bacchus and antidating the Christian era bears those same words. Besides all ancient creeds attributed to the Supreme Diety expressions equivalent thereto and meaning: "I am the All in All." (Bible Myths by T. W. Doane.)
To illustrate how common an occurrance coincidence really is: In this essay it was stated that the favorite trick of our Alexander the Great, was first performed about 2,500 years ago, before Alexander The Great.
Second Sight, Divination
Belief in Divination has been a popular dementia at all periods, among all races and tribes, notwithstanding all creeds and sects. In spite of the great strides of science it has not yet ceased, nothing but the bona fide admissions of clever conjurors can deliver the masses from it's thralldom.
Space forbids mentioning the dreams of Potiphar and of the Pharoah of the Bible, that were divined by the Hyksok whom we know today as "Joseph the Dreamer," or the numerous instances recounted about ancient generals, legislators, philosophers, etc. They resorted thereto before undertaking public or private enterprises; needless to say that some must have been clever enough to prepare the soothsayer beforehand! Enoch indicates that they throve in his day, Zoroaster was not free of their influence, our own Bible as well as the sacred books of ancient India, Persia, Buddhistic writings, etc., all are indicative of that specious exploitation.
The Holy Inquisition did not hesitate to resort thereto, even in imposing trial upon persons accused of witchcraft. Many authors, ancient and modern have pointed out the facile abuses resulting from such a form of popular superstition.
There were so many forms of oracular pretention, that special names were coined to tell them apart; the following were but a few: Aeromancy, Alectromancy, Aleurnmancy, Amphito, Anio, Anthropo, Arithmo, Astragalo, Belo, Biblio, Capno, Cleido, Dactylo, Gastor, Gyro, Hydro, Hippo, Litho, Pyro, Myo, Ono, Onycho, Oo, Kephalo, Oximo, Partheno, Syco, Theomancy, Cerescopy, etc., etc., and later: Kabbalism, Cartomancy, Chiromancy, etc. Nowadays we hear expressions such as: psychic medium, clairvoyancy, crystal gazing, phrenology, fortune teller, etc.
Presented as illusions marvelous effects have been obtained by those who devoted themselves to a thorough study of lip reading, pencil reading codes and mnemonics. It can here be repeated that the modern conjuror has a Holy mission, for he it is who by the exploitation of a fascinating form of entertainment, must eventaully purge mankind from the leeches who desire to maintain it under the thralldom of superstition and imposition.
It will repay an ambitious conjuror to become familiar with the doings of such past masters in the art of exploitation as Cybele, Nostradamus, Catherine Theot, Mme Le Normand Cazotte, Giles de Laval (the original Bluebeard), the Gypsies and many others.
Levitation
Modern entertainers who present that illusion are prone to pretend that the Hindoo fakirs were the originators of that conception. As a matter of fact the conceit of being lifted up in the air can be traced to the ecstatic mystics of all countries and periods.
"Walking on thin air" is an expression used to describe a sensation not at all foreign to conjurers who become suddenly exulted during and at the success of an effect. And so it was with the mystics; in attempting to describe their ecstatical periods they evidently used similar expressions. Result: their auditors accepted the expression literally and as all conjurers well know, amplified them to others, taking oath eventually, that they had witnessed the phenomenon. Such an explanation is conceded today, even by church authorities, to account for the reputed levitations of St. Clara, Thomas A. Kempis, St. Francis d'Assisi, Madame Guyon and others. Similar traditions exist in China about Buddha and Confucius, in India about Brahma, Vishnu and many lesser mystic celebrities. As mysticism is a form of exultation not peculiar to any specific creed, the same explanations will conform. There are deluded minds at this very day and among us who insist they can actually accomplish this wonder; the writer has met one such, and the "show me" of a skeptical conjurer was the plea he made for not being in position to demonstrate his pretenses.
Perfect as up to date presentations of that effect are the writer can forsee much progress to come; he knows of a mechanical improvement that is destined to amaze the future generations as much as the present version has impressed our generation.
Conclusions
Space is brief yet innumerable material remains at hand. If the writer has not demonstrated what he intended by sufficient evidences he refers his readers to Salverte 1843, Dupuis 1797, (anno VII of the revolution), Voltaire and many others. Of course these authors do not all write from the point of view of conjurers, the the facts are there for those who can dissect them.
Our own most ancient predecessors were the advance agents of the sciences and arts; our late forbears advanced hand in hand with science and art; we laggards fall behind; whereas we live in an age hitherto unrivalled in science, the progress of our own art has not gone apace.
"Wake up magicians! Get a move on S. A. M.! Cast aside the bonds that bind you! Their names are trifles, platitudes, self adulation and lack of vision. TRIFLES? Surely yes. The one who in self complacency trumpets around that he is a genius because he acquired a bit of skill, or because he discovered that slipping the left pinkey sideways against the bottom card of a pack is presumably more effective than sliding the right edge of the left thumb forwards, (or something like that). That one is a trifler.
PLATITUDES? There is a species of maxims one hears only uttered by modern conjurers. They sound something like this: " 'Tis not what you do, 'tis how you do it." or again: "Learn a few old ones well, never mind the new fangled effects." Now tell me, could any professional man, be he engineer, inventor, promoter, broker, minister, banker, lawyer or what not, impress the public with such a doctrine? Would any conjurer, be he ever so clever, dare to give vent to such a paradox at the commencement of his presentation? What about progress? Must the conjurer stand still while the world moves on?
SELF ADMIRATION? The least said the better. 'Tis true nevertheless. The writer himself is conscious of an abnormal share of egotism, but he consoles himself by the "know" that there are others; he knows also that one can learn more by being a listener than an expatiator. Who was the ancient that said: "Self praise is no recommendation"?
LACK OF VISION? Priests and kings of old built temples and palaces whether for worship or for prestige, or to impress the generations to follow. Successful men did at all times sink their possessions, their vitality, their acquired prestige, their all into further efforts.
The exploits of the past were successful only in proportion to such efforts. Comparing our best show houses to the theatrums of the ancient Greeks and Romans, we must concede that with our modern facilities we do not produce results proportionately stupendous.
Barring the operatic effects of Wagner; barring also the marvelous panoramas, dioramas and similar effects that had vogue some thirty years ago; excepting if you please even the later inventions of De Kolta, Maskelyne, and their presentation here by Herrmann, and by Kellar; where are we at?
There is not even a Kiralfy or a Rolthair left. At that the big illusions were finished and perfect only as far as the effects themselves were concerned; enterprise fell short to provide buildings worthy to contain them. Fire has destroyed the most worthy.
Today we witness the magic of enterprise in all things except in Magic. And the magic of Magic is a phenomenon only half understood by a few whom we misprize by the title "Good Showmen.”
The fables of old Mythologies contain more wonder deeds, plots and counterplots, than the brains of men during a score of centuries have been able to dramatize. Those who could, dare not; those who would dare, know not where to unearth genius capable to help them out.
Wake up S. A. M. Wake up magicians! Wake up producers! Learn to visualize again and to dare as did some of our forbears and as men do in other great fields. If we desire the support we think we deserve from the public, the public has the right to expect from us more than we give now. Ours is the fault, the shortsightedness, the deficiency. Inventors of magical effects, with the magician eliminated, are now supplanting us.
Modern admirers of our art know no longer the heartthrobs of joyful anticipation. Wake up!
Originally pubished in the M-U-M in Vol. 10, No. 10, (Whole No. 97) in New York, April 1921.
