FATHER SILVIO MANTELLI, a Salesian priest also known as The Wizard of Torino, is an Italian who is much more than a local wizard. One day he packed up all his tricks and costumes, magic wand and top hat, and set off around the world on a special mission - to bring laughter and joy to children who live in appaling conditions in the Third World. This specialist entertainer looks like a real wizard but he transforms himself into eight other characters from the wonderful robes that he carries with him. A 17 hour flight is nothing to SALES (pronounced SALICE) which is his theatrical nom de plume. He has already been to the Bolivian Andes, Brazilian "Favelas", African villages in Madagascar, Nigeria and Kenya, and Sales magic has mystified thousands of children in the Phillipines, and in the Salesian Missions of M A C A O, INDONESIA and HONG KONG. Soon he will be off to India and Vietnam. He visits islands that are poor in history but rich in youth, entertaining in mountain villages, Southern island beaches, or in bigger venues in the capital cities. Performing in San Fernando in North Manila on the. large island of Luzon where the volcano had raked havoc, he had to set up on the second floor of a building as the first floor was flooded with stagnant water. In spite of the stench, the children were carried away into Sales' world of magic and fantasy forgetting their plight for a few hours. Life is not always safe and pleasant for Sales the Wizard. When in Peru he had to be escorted by CAMPESINOS as they were afraid the wizard might be attacked by the SENDERO LUMINOS. In fact, when in Madagascar, all his props were stolen and he had to make or invent other tricks to enable him to carry on his work. This did not worry Sales unduly as he is a clown, character actor and general all rounder. The magic is in the wizard not so much in his props. Asking Sales what has been his most wonderful moment, he said: "It is always wonderful to see the happiness on the faces of the children, but I recall when I was at the huge CAMPOGRANDE Hospital in Brazil in 1993. I met a man with leprosy; his name was LINO VILLACHA. He had no legs or hands, and he had been struck dumb, but he had not lost his courage and his joy of living. He was in the front row with the children and he insisted in helping me on stage. The next day he wrote a poem inspired by seeing a young child abandoned by his parents because he had leprosy. Poor Uno died in the spring of the following year." Magicians are magicians for all kinds of reasons. Why is Sales a magician? Well you've read my story, we've got to admire him for the work that he does, and his reasons for doing it! I MAKE no apology for the fact that Exposure is like a red rag to a Spanish Bull to me, I give no quarter to those who make excuses for it. My articles in ABRA, GENII and MAGIGRAM and similar articles put the point across. All young magicians are taught by their tutors the one all important rule "THOU SHALT NOT EXPOSE MAGICAL SECRETS OR FORMULAE." The reason for this is simple - to preserve the secrets of magic so that the general public can continue to enjoy this art form. Nothing destroys the enthusiasm of a young magician more than seeing people who should know better breaking the rule for private gain. We are not concerned about books publishing simple basics to get young magicians started or the magic sets which have been traditional over many years; a good magic set really costs these days, so the interest in conjuring must be there. We who are against exposure are talking about the classics of magic used by professionals and semi-professionals, and amateurs. If our generation won't take care of the problem, then we hope the generation will, for the benefit of themselves, and those that follow them.