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[Match de prestidigitation]

Match de prestidigitación

MEL 1904-A

A Wager Between Two Magicians, or Jealous of Myself 

This shows two arcades, one containing a well, the other a huge vase. The magician enters all muffled up; it must be cold out by the way he swings his arms around to get warm. Taking off his overcoat, he throws it down the well, and, backing towards the vase, he vanishes, the vase ascending out of sight. He reappears at once from out of the well. Taking hold of his coat, he pulls his entire dress suit off. He is arrayed in stage dress. Throwing the dress suit down the well, he kicks it out of sight. Standing in the centre of the two arcades, he spread his arms out, and there appears from each side of him exact counterparts of himself. They bow to each other. The one in the centre, explaining that two is company and three a crowd, turns a back somersault and vanishes. The one on the fight takes a silk hat and shows that there is nothing in it. After a few passes he produces a handkerchief; from this he causes a live dove to appear. The other magician, not to be outdone, does the same trick, to the surprise of the other, who produces a rabbit. The other following suit, he gets angry, and at once takes a large cage full of doves; and first one thing, and then another is alternately produced, neither getting the best of the other, the first magician getting so angry that he strikes at the other in his anger. Then the third one appears and says, “Let me all get together and he friends,” when the three merge into one.
This picture must be seen to be appreciated; it is very comical, and is full of animation from start to finish. 

MEL 1905-A