THE WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY OF CHINA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 15 October 1927, Page 9

THE WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY OF CHINA.

In China there are many Ching Ling Foos. They, like the- East Indian, have nothing new to offer. In truth, in the realm' of magic—here or abroad—there is little new 'or startling. The science, like musioj Has seven notes, ■ but unlike music, its harmonies have been exhausted. There are no new principles, inexplicable or awesonie. As with necromancy eo with necromancers. So says Carter the Great, .who, with his box of tricks, assistants, and : live, ponderous-ele-phant, will appear for on© week only and two matinees at the Theatre Boyal, commencing on Friday next,. October 21st. Some old trick is oftentimes dressed up freshly and passed for something' new or a small trick is converted into an illusion, the principle whereof is. as old as an Egyptian mummy. But about magic there is always a new factor; that is, the growing and the new generation. They are more difficult to fool than their progenitors; and more imposing apparatus is required than in the days of, Anderson, the Wizard of the North, 'Maske-. lyn, or Carl Hertz, .but, they are equally credulous, for the trend of the times-makes for credulity and the modornity of,thought and innovations of science bring along in their wake the light of heart, the investigator, the_ thoughtful and erudite hand in hand with innocent and childish wonderment, as personified in this, and ever recurrent and successive ages. There will be a special matinee on Saturday next, and on Labour Day, Monday.