In the world of magic we have a similar character, not a mere figment, however, of the novelist’s imagination, but a living, breathing personality. I refer to Félicien Trewey, the eminent French fantaisiste, whose life reads like a romance. M. Trewey possesses all of the qualities of heart and mind of Dumas’ hero—audacity, versatility, tireless energy in the pursuit of his profession, bonhomie, and what not. Had he lived in the seventeenth century, he doubtless would have been a soldier of fortune like D’Artagnan, fought duels, made love to duchesses, and outwitted a cardinal, but having been born in an age of steam and electricity, and fully realizing the fact that science has reduced the art of war to mere mechanics, he sought out a career that promised the most romance and adventure, and became a mousquetaire of magic, wielding the wand instead of {332} the sword. It is a long, long way from the half-starved mountebank of a wandering caravan to an _Officier d’Académie_ and landed proprietor living at ease in one’s old age. But Trewey has accomplished all this. II. One evening, when strolling along the Boulevard, I saw outside of the _Concert des Ambassadeurs_, a billboard, with the following announcement: “Le Grand Trewey! Equilibre, Jonglerie, Prestidigitation.—Le Chapeau Multiforme ou 25 Têtes sous un Chapeau.—Mime.—Musique.—Silhouettes et Ombres des Mains, etc. Amusements Scientifiques et Récréatifs.” [Illustration: TREWEY’S VILLA AT ASNIÉRES SUR SEINE. AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE.] My interest was at once aroused. Here was no ordinary artist, but a man of versatility. I bought a ticket, and was soon seated in the theatre. After the usual infliction of skirt-dancers, acrobats and eccentric singers with raspy voices, the curtain rose on M. Trewey’s act. I sighed with relief. Ah, here was an oasis in the vast Sahara of vaudeville claptrap and mediocrity. {333} I was not disappointed. The stage was elegantly set with gilt tables. The scene was boxed in with rich silk curtains _à la_ Pinetti. A burst of applause (not confined to the _claque_ either), and the great Trewey appeared. A long black cloak enveloped him. PROGRAMME PREMIÈRE PARTIE TREWEY Dans ses créations. Ouverture. — Equilbres et Jongleries. DEUXIÈME PARTIE Fantaisies. — La Valse des Assiettes. — Les Cuvettes tapageuses. — Le Papier multiforme. — La Harpe éolienne. — Le Tabarin moderne. ENTR’ACTE TROISIÈME PARTIE LES OMBRES DES MAINS PAR TREWEY Ouverture. 1^{re} Série. — Le Lapin — Les deux Oies. — Le Perroquet. — Le Poisson. — L’Eléphant. — Le Taureau. — Le Cygne. — Le Prédicateur. — Le Chat. — Le Chien. 2^e Série. — Le batelier. — Le Pècheur. — Le Jockey. — La Danseuse de corde. 3^e Série. — Les Amours du Policeman, pantomime. 4^e Série. — Silhouettes et Protils illustrés. 5^e Série. — Le Clown et l’Ane savant. 6^e Série. — Le Buveur normand et le Rigolo. — Au Revoir..., galop final.