Another story which is gleaned from a biography of John Henry Anderson,
the Wizard of the North, tells how Phillippe started his career as a
pastry cook in the household of one Lord Panmure, and I quote this
literally from the Anderson book, because I believe it to be truthful,
as material gathered from Anderson literature has proved to be:
"It was at this time that he came in contact with a person who
afterward, under the designation of M. Phillippe, became celebrated in
France as a magician. Phillipee (for so was he named in Scotland) was
originally a cook in the services of the late Lord Panmure. Leaving that
employment, he settled down and remained for a number of years in
Aberdeen. He heard of the fame of the youthful magician, was induced to
visit his 'temple,' and was struck with his performances; and having
made the acquaintance of Mr. Anderson, he solicited from him and
obtained an insight into his profession, and fac-similes of his then
humble apparatus. Phillippe improved to such a degree upon the knowledge
he thus acquired that, leaving England for France, he earned the
reputation of being one of the most accomplished magicians ever seen in
the country."
The date of his initial performance is not known, but he must have
remained in Scotland, perfecting his act, for the earliest Phillippe
programme in my collection is dated February 3d, 1837, when he opened at
Waterloo Rooms, Edinburgh, and announced:
"The high character which Mons. Phillippe has obtained from the
Aberdeen, Glasgow, Greenock and Paisley Press, being the only four towns
in Britain where he has made his appearance, is a sufficient guarantee
to procure him a visit from the inhabitants of this enlightened
Metropolis, where talent had always been supported when actually
deserved."
[Illustration: Phillippe and his Scotch assistant, Domingo. The latter
became famous as a magician under the name of Macallister, introducing
in America Phillippe's gift show. From a lithograph in the Harry Houdini
Collection.]
Evidently, however, Phillippe made rapid progress, for a programme dated
Saturday, April 21st, 1838, shows that his last daytime or matinée
performance in Waterloo Rooms was given under the patronage of such
members of the nobility as the Right Honorable Lady Gifford, the Right
Honorable Lady H. Stuart Forbes, etc. In an Edinburgh programme, dated
probably 1837, he is shown as performing his tricks, clad in peculiar
evening clothes, knickerbockers and waistcoat matching, with a mere
suggestion of the swallow-tail coat. In his 1838 bill he is shown clad
in the flowing robes of the old-time magician, and he advertises the
Chinese tricks, notably the gold-fish trick, which demanded voluminous
draperies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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