Nothing expresses more about what kind of magician Charles Bertram was than his presentation for De Kolta's Vanishing Birdcage: Bertram, noting that there is always the risk of hurting the bird, rectified this 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 cage, ostensibly 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 in the usual way. There is a real touch of artistry about this--the audience thought the action was unpremeditated and impromptu, and consequentially the vanishing was all the more wonderful. This is a beautifully produced book that will be a proud addition to any library.