The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-14
VAR. 1noudin, the Magician


maturgics who has ever yet appeared, at
least TO modern mouals, since tie cabilis-
TIC mysteries oil necTomancy and Inc black
AIT were succeeded by the more tangible
wonders OF mechanism, will pellerm at the
Liver Theatre this week, and if the people
Of Liverpool are as wide awake 10 the mi
Taculous as their friends OF London and their
neighborS of Manchester, they may pre-
pare themselves for establishment, mystical
lion and perplexity. The celebrated "bot-
tie conjuror of yore promised an impossi-
bility which he did not perform: but Iloudin
is con JUROR OF another complexion, and,
If he does not jump into a bottle, he con-
trives 10 bring something out of it, and
that in such quantity as to fill all spectators
with amazement. Superior to the NEGRO
mancer in the DiaJie BOiteur. he impris-
onS not only one spirit, but many, and the
spirits thus imprisoned, he-sstngs forth
again in sight OF his audience in such pro-
fusion as to puzzle scepticism, and make
credulity stare in willing, but still perplex-
ed, assent to the axiom that "seeing is be-
lieving." The Manchester papers have,
one and all, borne loud testimony Of the
wonderful doings Of this extraordinary per-
former. The following is one Of the no
tees which appeared in the Manchester
Guardian:
'Of all the conlurors, necDmancers,
wizards, magicians, Tor by whatever name
the professors of the black art may be call
ed) who have been permitted to walk this
earth from the time of Wizard lngleby,
(who held his audience spellbound with
awe and admiration some thirty years ago.
down to the present, Robert iIoudin is the
most powerful whom we have seen. lie is
either the devil or DIR. Faustu,-about that
there can be no doubt. But we
must restrain our passion for speculation,
and just call the readers attention TO few
plain facts and differences, With view TO
induce him to go and see the very ingeni-
Gus individual who has elevated legerde.
main into branch of the fire arts.
"The entertainments of Robert Houdin,
which are so peculiar and novel, have du-
ring the season been given at he St. James S
Theatre, London, alternately with the
French plays, and have attracted large and
admirng audiences He gave his first per-
fomance here last night; but we feel quite
inadequate to the task of giving our readers
even an idea Of its marvellous character.
Those tricks which depend mainly upon
manipulative dexterity are generally man.
aged with neatness and skill which defy
the quickest eye to detect the modus ope-
randi, and they are performed with an air
we had almost said with an easy grace
which is quite as pleasing as the tricks
themselves.
"Not TO mention the long catalogue OF
clever sleight-of-hand tricks, an inexhausti,
ble stock are drawn from an empty silk
handkerchief; and fans and cannon-balls,
and such like light materials, are dropped
from a hat borrowed from somebody in the
pit in numbers TO amaze, if not alarm. The
'cabalistic clock is simply a clock-lace Of
glass, suspended by cords in the front cen
tire Of the stage, without any apparent-may
we say possible?-means Of communlca
ton, which marks any honr named by any
of the spectators, while bell, suspended
below, strikes any number at any speed
which may be suggested. The inexhausti
) BILE bottle vertable and ordinary sizec
: wine-bostle, yields forth glass after glass o
liquem or cognac, at the pleasure OF tn
spectators who propose to drink it, with
prolific liberality which makes one almos
D feel certain that the Evil One himself is in
e side. This far exceeds any trick we hav
ever seen,
"Clairvoyance is exhibited by an inteI
!; esting youth, son Of the wizard himself
Z and TO crown this long catalogue oil maj
n vels, younger son, some ten years old,
quiet, gentle child, is suspended in almost
It horizontal position, through the action
6 concentrated ether. his only support ben
e his wrist resting on crutch or pole. lheT
is surely no trick here. The child inhalt
, the ether, and consciousness is lost, Will
i the face assumes and retains the most placl
e expression. The limbs become rigid, an
1t support after support is removed, until or
could really imagine that specific gravi
\. itself is distracted. This closed the ser
l. of wonderful performances, and almost IN
he mediately the child appeared before Il
curtain, at the enthusiastic call OF tho a