17 MARCH 1917, Page 21

Supplementary Magic. By Elbiquet. (Routledge. 2s. 6d. net.)—This little handbook

of conjuring is well written and fully illustrated. The most interesting chapters are devoted to the Indian conjurer, a hose success is ascribed partly to his skill in misdirecting the spectator's attention. and partly to his manual dexterity acquired by incessant practice of a small number of tricks. The author explains the famous trick of growing a mango-tree from seed, but does not rate it highly. Ho says nothing of the feat described by credulous or imaginative travellers who allege that they saw a native conjurer throw a rope into the air, send a boy to climb up it into space and disappear, and finally produce the boy from some distant spot. That, we fear, is a myth.