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the first figure had been exhibited for a short time, it began to grow less and less, as if removed
to a great distance, and at last vanished in a small cloud of light. Out of this same cloud the
germ of another figure began to appear, and gradually grew larger and larger, and approached
the spectators, until it attained its perfect development. In this manner the head of Dr. Franklin
was transformed into a skull; figures which retired with the freshness of life came back in the
form of skeletons, and the retiring skeletons returned in the drapery of flesh and blood. The
exhibition of these transmutations was followed by spectres, skeletons, and terrific figures,
which, instead of receding and vanishing as before, suddenly advanced upon the spectators,
becoming larger as they approached them, and gradually vanished by appearing to sink into the
ground. The effect of this part of the exhibition was naturally the most impressive. The
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Lives of Conjurors--Chapter VIII
spectators were not only surprised, but agitated, and many of them were of opinion that they
could have touched the figures."
In 1804 the phantasmagoria was exhibited in London by a German named Moritz, who had
previously been known as a performer of feats of strength and agility, in conjunction with the
posturing of his wife and the acrobatic performances of his children. This entertainment was
presented by them at the Royal Circus in the autumn of 1796, and during the winter of the
following year at the old Royalty. They then appear to have returned to the continent, but
re-appeared at the Royalty, then under Astley's management, in the autumn of 1801.
Moritz made his first appearance in London as a conjuror in the beginning of 1804, when he
combined his legerdemain with the posturing and tumbling feats of his family, and concluded it
with the exhibition of the phantasmagoria, as already mentioned. This entertainment was given,
by permission of the Lord Mayor, at the King's Arms, Change Alley, Cornhill; and had previously,
according to the announcement of the entertainer, been presented before the Court at Windsor
Castle, and most of the Courts of Europe.
In the following year, the phantasmagoria was exhibited at the Lyceum, by an Italian named
Bologna, who combined it with hydraulic experiments and the exhibition of two automatons, a
swan that displayed all the motions of a real bird, and a figure in Turkish costume, that
performed conjuring tricks with cards. The optical portion of the entertainment consisted of
spectral illusions, and the bills--one of which is preserved in the extensive Banks collection of
notabilia, in the library of the British Museum,--were embellished with a rude head-piece,
representing the conventional ghost rising, with outstretched arms, from a flaming caldron.
Bologna was one of the minor entertainers of that day, whose performances were generally given
at public-houses in the provincial towns, and the suburbs of the metropolis. Another of the
number as Moon, of whom Raymond tells an amusing anecdote. The conjuror arrived in Salisbury
one night, at a very late hour, during Elliston's engagement at the theatre of that city, and took
up his quarters at the same inn. Stratford, the manager, had accompanied Elliston to the inn on
leaving the theatre, and, after a bottle of wine had been drunk, proposed to call up the landlord
to take a hand with them at loo. Moon at that moment entered the room, and was immediately
invited to sit down with them.
"I should be most happy to do so, gentlemen," said the conjuror, whom neither of the gentlemen
had ever seen before, "but, unfortunately, the state of my purse--" "Never mind cried actor and
manager together. "We'll lend you a few guineas."
Moon's hesitation disappeared immediately, and he sat down expressing the sense which he felt
of the kindness and good fellowship of gentlemen to them he was a stranger. Five guineas wore
advanced to him to begin with, and play was commenced with exuberant spirits. Elliston and
Stratford soon found themselves losers; Moon paid them the five guineas he had borrowed, and
still the run of luck was against them. When they rose from the table, neither of them had a
guinea left.
"You will give us our revenge?" said Elliston.
"With pleasure!" returned the conjuror.
"I shall be in Salisbury again this day week," observed Elliston.
"I am sorry," Said Moon, "to be obliged to disappoint you, but I am engaged that night at
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