COURTCONJ
"Nothing express more about what kind of Magician Charles Bertram was than his presentation for de Kolta's vanishing birdcage : Bertram, nothing than there si always the risk of hurting the bird, rectified the possibility by allowing the bird to escape from the cage just before he was about to vanish it.
Bertram was well aware that, for the class of audience he appealed to, any suggestion of cruelty would be repugnant. So, he opened the door of the cageostensibly to show the bird was alive, and the canary flew out into the hall where upon Bertram commented "" You have flown away, have you ? Well, take your cage with you.""
Then, he threw up his arms and vanished the cage the usual way. There is real touch of artistry about this - The audience thought the action was unpremeditated and impromptu, and consequentially, the vanishing was all more wonderful.
The court conjurer book is about magic, the magic of Charles Bertram...
"
Kaufman & Co.
"Bertram, Charles"