Fifty Years in the Magic Circle

Fifty Years in the Magic Circle
Author	Signor Blitz
Publisher	Belknapp & Bliss
Illustrator	Tay & Cox
Publication Date	1871
Language	English
Pages	432

Fifty Years in the Magic Circle: being an account of the author's professional life; his wonderful tricks and feats; with laughable incidents, and adventures as a magician, necromancer, and ventriloquist

Contents

CHAPTER I.

MY EARLY LIFE.

Philosophy of Laughing—Birth and Parentage—The "Black Eagle"—Juvenile Tricks—School-days—The Old Veteran Teacher

CHAPTER II.

APPEARANCE IN PUBLIC.

Thirteen Years of Age—Parting from my Mother—First Appearance on the Stage—Hamburg and Lubec—The Conceited Doctor —Dr. Von Kelperstein's Love-letters—Return Home—First Great Affliction

CHAPTER III.

INCIDENTS IN ENGLAND.

Appearance in England—Clerical Opposition—The Watch Trick —Indictment and Trial before the Council—Trying an Experiment— The Frightened Judges— The Black Art—Bewitching the Parish—Visit to London—A Nervous Landlady

CHAPTER IV.

ADVENTURE WITH GAMBLERS.

Tricks of a Gamester—A Gambling Saloon—The Ruined Young Man—His Sad Story—The Biter Bit—Lost, but Saved—The Magician's Trick

CHAPTER V.

THE INQUISITIVE LADIES

The Fortune-teller—The Broken-hearted Maiden—Her Sad Story —Effects of Fortune-telling—he Mysterious Paper—The Lovers made Happy—Jack Ketch, the Hangman—The Hat and Whiskers—A good Joke

CHAPTER VI.

IRELAND

Entertainments in Dublin—An Aristocratic Cabbage—Ventriloquism Illustrated—The Frightened Doctor-—Doctor Crampton and the Students

CHAPTER VII.

IRISH CHARACTER.

Daniel O'Connell—Irish Wit—The Marchioness of Donegal—The Talking Codfish—The Dishonest Servant—The Repentant Chambermaid—The Frightened Tax-collector—Martial Law in Kilkenny

CHAPTER VII.

THE WITCHES UNDER THE BRIDGE.

The Sergeant and the Soldiers—The Female Bathers—Attempting an Arrest the Sergeant gets a Ducking—Game of Hide-and-Seek—Ominous Signs—Effect of Superstition

CHAPTER IX.

VISIT TO SCOTLAND.

Coronation of King William—Glasgow—Spirit of the Mill—Paganini, the Violinist—Babe in the Violin Case—My Marriage —Personal Adventure—Falling in Love, and its Consequences

CHAPTER X.

INCIDENTS IN EDINBURG.

The Bottled Janitor—The Bewitched Horse—My Silver Snuff-box —A Clergyman in Trouble—Struggles of a Poor Man—Poll Parrot Pays the Rent—An Aerial Voyage—The Freaks of Fortune—What Happened at a Dinner-party—Personal Jokes

CHAPTER XI.

VERY PECULIAR PEOPLE.

The Two Pictures—Individual Oddities—Amateur Magicians— A Wig Regiment—An Original Feat—Before the Nobility—Picture of a Rich Man—Duchess of St. Albans—A Brilliant Assembly

CHAPTER XII.

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Farewell Soirées at Liverpool—Packet-ship "Columbus"—A Mississippi Major—Arrival in New York—Young America—The Original Blitz—Bogus Personages—Finding one's Talent—The Man of Brass—Ambitious Office-seeker—Persevering Politician— American Enterprise

CHAPTER XIII.

ENGAGEMENT AT NIBLO'S GARDEN.

How to Dine with Kings—A Disturbed Dinner—The King of Pigs—The Great and Little Magician—The Marketman Outwitted —Quakeress and Chickens—The Wonderful Money-bag—Egg Trick—Game of Cricket—A man of Veracity

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ECCENTRIC DR. VALENTINE.

The Land Doctor—A Wise Phrenologist—Agricultural Chemistry —Villanous Heads—A Natural Thief—The Gun Trick— Dangerous Experiment—The Fond-hearted Sailor—Almost a Catastrophe

CHAPTER XV.

PASSAGE TO BOSTON, AND INCIDENTS.

A Sound Steamer—Laughable Occurrences—The Gormandizers— A Temperance Governor—His Bottle of Whiskey—The Coat of all Colors—A Boston Merchant—Tricks at Faneuil Hall Market—Beelzebub's Wife—Cambridge—Judge Story—An American General

CHAPTER XVI.

SALEM WITCHCRAFT.

History of Witches—Superstition and Spiritualism—Monomaniacs— Doctor John Price—Fire from Glass—Codfish Aristocracy at Marblehead—Lodgings in a Poor-house—A Laughable Feat —The Great West

CHAPTER XVII.

ADVENTURES IN PHILADELPHIA.

A Model City—The Automaton Chess-player—The Beautiful Lady— A Truant Husband—The Deserted Wife—A Prophecy— Victimizing a Judge—Dissecting a Mummy

CHAPTER XVIII.

VISIT TO THE SOUTH.

Ventriloquism in the Senate Chamber—Reminiscences of Webster, Clay, Fillmore—The Frightened Darkies—Joe and the Bale of Cotton—Tom in a Rice Barrel—"De Debil about, sure!"—Puss and the Rabbits—An Indian Raid—Wheel within a Wheel—An Inventive Genius

CHAPTER XIX.

A DANGEROUS CUSTOMER.

Bad Men and Worthless Money—Escape from Danger—A Shot from Behind—Five Dollars Fine—Experience as a Detective —Gambling and its Results—A Surprising Treat—The Foolish "Schoolmarm"—A Practical Joke—Jealousy and Love— Happy Conclusion

CHAPTER XX.

ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Effects of my Tricks upon the Indians—Gifted Horses—The Surprised Hostler—Value of a Negro's Head—Financial Crisis Shinplasters—Slave Labor—A Nervous Traveller—Monomania for Life-preservers—Outwitted by Patrick—American Pleasure Travel

CHAPTER XXI.

IN THE BRITISH PROVINCES.

A Dead-head—One of the Smiths—A Myth—The Captain and his Tricks—Great Mystery—A Full Disclosure—Spirit and Energy of Americans—A Prophecy Fulfilled—Sir John Harvey

-CHAPTER XXII.

NOVA SCOTIA.

Residence of the Duke of Kent—Animals Bewitched—The Golden Oranges—Up the St. Lawrence—Great Excitement at my Feats—Before the Bishops and Clergy—Alleged Miracles—Newspaper Ballets—Entertainment at the Government House —Sir George Arthur

CHAPTER XXIII.

LAUGHABLE INCIDENTS.

The Wise Turkeys—The Gobbler's Talk—Astonished Clergyman—Misplaced Confidence—Professional Thieves—Philosophy of Pocket-picking—Family Bedroom—A Serious Mistake —Smuggling a Passenger—Child in a Carpet-bag—Travelling under Difficulties—The Mystified Quaker

CHAPTER XXIV.

AMUSING INCIDENTS.

Excitement in a Market—The Pig in a Beet Barrel—The Vegetable Trick—The Egg Trick—Ancient Magicians—A Discomfited Widow—Hours with the Insane—Touching Appeal—An Interesting Case

CHAPTER XXV.

DAME FORTUNE.

Thirty-five Years Ago—Poverty and Riches—John Jacob Astor at Eighteen—The Millionaires of New York—Future of New York City—Ventriloquial Illusion—A Royal Bed—Dangerous Attempt—Barbadoes and George III.—Dinner-party Disturbed —The Mystery Explained—Believers in Sorcery

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE CHRISTIAN SKIPPER.

A Great Surprise—Prayer and Praise—Sea Voyage—Trinidad— Temporary Amalgamation—Ignorance of the People—The Connecticut Captain—Cook and the Monkey—An Expensive Pet—Last of the Monkey

CHAPTER XXVII.

ANTIGUA.

Negro Pilot—Educated Horses—An Enraged Captain—Kidnapped Negro—The Old Nick—Conscientious Minister—Sir Charles and Lady Fitz Roy—Capital of St. Kitts—Chartering a Vessel

CHAPTER XXVII.

A SEA VOYAGE

Schooner Dart—Storm at Sea—Queen of the Fairies—A Dream of Heaven—Joe Spoils the Dream—Water-nymphs—Captain's Argument—Results of Education—The Unknown Visitor An Old Maid—Skipper Confounded—Secret Revealed

CHAPTER XXIX.

CONTINUATION AND CLOSE OF TROPICAL TOUR.

My Entertainments—Jamaica—A Diabolical Character—Haunted House—Party of Cowards—Great Battle with Hobgoblins —The Singing Mule—Obstinate Dick—The Prolific Eggs—Unhatched Chickens—Nonplussed Merchant—Awful Predicament— A Warning Voice—A Drunkard Saved

CHAPTER XXX.

CUBA.

Public Conveyances—The King Pig—Havana—Rights and Privileges of Travellers—Appearance of the City—Governor-General— Qualifications of Rulers—Judges—Land and Naval Forces—Great Contrast—Schools—Sugar Plantations—Labor

CHAPTER XXXI.

INCIDENTS IN HAVANA.

Great Superstition—Enchanted Apple—The Mystic Bouquet— Thieving Soldiers—An Unjust Pine—Magician's Gold—Gold Changed to Silver—Natural Magic—A Bit of Philosophy Liberal Landlady—Peculiar People

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE CUBAN LOVERS.

Señorita Inez Garcia—Señor Carlos, the Old Castilian—Great Opposition of Parents—The Warning Voice—The Magician's Trick—All's Well that Ends Well—Captain-General of Cuba —He Becomes a Victim—Before the Alcalde—Battle with the Bees—The Beautiful Lady

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE SPEAKING PORTRAIT.

The story of Señorita Alonzo—The Sad Farewell—Off to the Battle-field—Don Felix—A Hurricane at Sea—The Catastrophe— Civil War in Spain—Defrauding an Orphan—Results of Ventriloquism—Señorita Obtains her Fortune—Justice at Last

CHAPTER XXXIV.

INCIDENTS AND ADVENTURES ELSEWHERE.

The Landlord and his Guest—The Musical Quash—Quash and his Master—The Educated Horse—Billy Lemon, and what he did —A Surprise Party Surprised—Tricks Played on Both Sides Old Scratch—A Rich Joke—Total Depravity, but Quick Justice— A Sleigh-ride

CHAPTER XXXV.

PHILADELPHIA AND THE REBELLION.

My Present Residence—Patriotic Ladies—Sanitary Commissions— Effects of a Good Laugh—Soldiers' Reading-room—An Affecting Picture—Free Entertainments to the Soldiers—Independence Hall—Singular Ideas of Freedom

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CONCLUSION.

The Quaker City—A Buzz on 'Change—A Great Surprise Thoughts and Sayings of Children—An Impossible Trick— Poor Little Dickey—A Prospective Genius—A Public Servant —Labor of Pleasing

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