As, strange to say, no dictionary that we know of, either ancient or modern, has ever defined the word “conjuror,” or “conjuring,”apart from the idea of magic or dealing with evil spirits, we will at once disclaim the use of the word in any but its toy-shop sense, if we may be allowed the expression, and will give our own definition of the word “conjuring” as follows—the art of amusing people by apparently performing impossibilities by means of hidden mechanical contrivances, or by sleight of hand. That a man like Dr. Johnson, who was a firm believer in the Cock Lane ghost, should have declared a conjuror to be one who either dealt or pretended to deal in charms or enchantments, is not to be wondered at; but it is somewhat strange that Webster, Walker, and others, should have fallen into the same error, or rather have made the oversight of omitting the common meaning of the word as understood by 999 people out of 1,000.

We will illustrate our definition by describing and explaining one of the most effective feats ever performed, and one perhaps that on its first introduction into this country caused more astonishment than…

Extract from The Popular Recreator, Topic: Legerdemain, section i, page 25.