Project Gutenberg's Peerless Prestidigitation, by Herbert De Caston

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Title: Peerless Prestidigitation
Being a collection of entirely new ideas and effects in
the fascinating art of modern magic

Author: Herbert De Caston

Release Date: May 14, 2010 [EBook #32368]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEERLESS PRESTIDIGITATION ***

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PEERLESS
PRESTIDIGITATION

BY

HERBERT DE CASTON.

[Illustration: HERBERT DE CASTON.]

Peerless
Prestidigitation.

BEING A COLLECTION OF
ENTIRELY NEW IDEAS AND
EFFECTS IN THE FASCINATING
ART OF MODERN MAGIC.

BY
HERBERT DE CASTON

ASSISTED BY
The Leading South African Magicians.

COPYRIGHT 1910.

(_Entered at Stationers' Hall._)

HAMLEY BROTHERS, LIMITED,
LONDON.

BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS,
LONDON AND TONBRIDGE.

INTRODUCTORY SPEECH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

In calling your attention to a deceptive entertainment, Legerdemain,
more generally known as Conjuring, a few introductory remarks may not
be out of place. The superstition that existed in the early ages, when
wizards and magicians were supposed to exist, time has not worn out;
the mystery that hangs over all professors of magic is still in part
retained. Many there are who class them amongst supernatural beings,
their seeming impossibilities are converted into positive realities,
their power supposed to be supreme. Now, were I, in this the twentieth
century, to stand before you professing to be a wizard or a
magician--or, in fact, to be that which I am not--endowed with
supernatural power, it would be looked upon as a gross insult to your
good sense; for in truth the only peculiarity of my profession is to
deceive--yours to detect. If my hands are quicker than your eyes, I
shall have the pleasure of deceiving you; but, on the contrary, if your
eyes are quicker than my hands, the reverse will be the result.

CONTENTS.