Henri French (Conjurer) from June 18, 1901

 (Reprinted from Stanyons "Magic")

 

Stage is carpeted and furnished as a drawing room. Wings closed with curtain screens, small entrance to stage at rear. The entertainment is divided into two parts - comic juggling and a travesty on Chung Ling Soo, a Chinese magician.

 

French, attired in ridiculous costume with red wig and dilapidated top hat, enters on one small bicycle wheel, running around the stage. Hat falls off and a large sign on his back reads "There's hair." Rings very large bell at center stage. Attendant enters and enacts funny business while French juggles plate and balances same on nose.

 

Juggles four odd objects (plates and cups), two in each hand. Dexterous dropping and catching of plate.

 

Juggles hat, plate, small ball of paper. Catches hat on head and paper ball under hat, lifting hat from behind.

 

Small table, 15" square, laid with cloth and crockery. French removes cloth with a quick jerk very high and catches it on plate several times. Breaks egg on plate to show its real. Keeps ringing bell to recall attendant. Puts large jar and plates on end of pole and attempts to balance on head. All falls to ground when attendant shouts. French throws plates, etc., at attendant, who retires hurriedly.

 

French lights candle and pockets lighted match. Jerks cigar from table into mouth, lights cigar with candle. Extinguishes candle by tossing it in air in a half-turn out of the candle holder, catching it lit end down. Juggles candle stick on arm, and finally juggles candle, candle stick and small table.

 

Jerks top hat from chair onto head, and directly onto peg of hat stand beside. Throws hat from foot to head. Juggles cigar, hat and umbrella. Lays cigar on hat, throws hat with cigar going into mouth and hat on head.

 

Juggles egg, ball and plate. Throws egg very high and catches it on plate several times. Breaks egg on plate to show it's real. Keeps ringing bell to recall attendant. Puts large jar and plates on end of pole and attempts to balance on head. All falls to ground when attendant shouts. French throws plates, etc., at attendant, who retires hurriedly.

 

Juggles iron wash stand, basin and jug. Afterwards he pours water from the jug into the basin. Juggles three revolvers, firing them at the same time. Eventually blows off wig and reveals French.

 

Speaks for the the first time and announces that he will give an imitation of the great Chinese conjurer.

 

Four attendants in Chinese costume enter and clear away mess from juggling show. French enters with rod and line and works the Fish Catching Trick. (This trick is a bit overdone at this date, fish catching and back hand coin and card palming are now stale, in fact, worked and exposed to death!)