ing about the theatre, returned to
perch on Joe's shoulders.

There was loud applause at this trick.

The boy wizard bowed and smiled as he acknowledged the tribute to his
powers, and then hurried off the stage with the pigeons on his
shoulders. He did not stop to explain how he had chosen to make the
omelet change into pigeons, the surprise at the unexpected ending of
the illusion being enough for the audience.

Of course, one realizes there must have been some trick about it all,
and there was--several in fact. The eggs Joe seemed to pick out of the
air were real eggs, and he really broke them into the saucepan. But
the saucepan was made with two compartments. Into one went the eggs,
while in another, huddled into a small space where there were air holes
through which they might breathe, were two trained pigeons, which Joe
had taught, not without some difficulty, to fly to his shoulders when
released.

After he had put the cover on the saucepan Joe caused the fire to
appear. The flowers were artificial ones, made of paper soaked in an
inflammable composition, and then allowed to dry. As Joe pointed his
wand at them an assistant behind the scenes pressed an electric button,
which shot a train of sparks against the prepared paper. It caught
fire, the flowers were burned, and ignited the wick of an alcohol lamp
that was under the saucepan.

Then, before the pigeons had time to feel the heat, Joe took off the
cover, opening the secret chamber and the birds flew out.

Easy, indeed, when you know how!

Joe walked off the stage, to give place to Professor Rosello, who was
going next to give his "fire trick." This was an effective illusion,
and was worked as follows:

Professor Rosello came out on the stage attired in a flowing silk robe
of Japanese design. His helpers wheeled out a long narrow box, which
was stood upright.

The professor, after some "patter," or stage talk, announced that he
would take his place in the small box, or cabinet, which would then be
lifted free from the stage to show that it was not connected with
hidden wires. As soon as the cabinet was set down again, the house
would be plunged in darkness, and inside the cabinet would be seen a
bony skeleton, outlined in fire, the professor having disappeared.
This would last for several seconds, and then the illuminated skeleton
would disappear and the magician again be seen in the box.

"And in order to show you that I do not actually