Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-07-29
Wise Ell Ian Y.


JUGGLrRv T. ALGwRs-The French Go
vernmont which sends dlncinr girls anC
comic actors u cheer M its sold crs wher
The are ordered awav from the dancing
Al IONS and theatres. 50 commo through
or France, engaged NJ. r bert Houdin T.
70 % Algeria and exhibit his best feats 0
leg rlomain before the natives. to shake tn,
exce~sive influence exerted by the marabout,
or priests, whose power seems to be estab
lishei solely on their adroit iugglery. How
he succeeded appears below.
40 the rising OF the curtain. the wonder
worker. greatly impressed hy the spectacle OF
hi, Assem- bied spectators. felt, nevertheless, a
slong temptation TO laugh; for he presented
himsalf. wand in hand, with all the gravity Of
a real sorcerer. But it would not to do WELD
10 the impulse His object was not merely
TO afford little amusement and recreation
TO a curious and good natured public; he
was required to make a strong impression
up1n an assembly of coarse imaginations
an1 preiudiced minds; for he had under
taken the part of a French Marabout. Com
pared with the simple tricks of their pre-
tn1ed s0rcerers, his exploits would pass for
rertahle miracles. The first thipp that
stlrtled the gravity Of the audience, was the
production Of cannon-b lis out of a hat aud
II excited them t express their admiration
b. the most whimsical and energetic ges-
trres. The inexhaustible bottle, with its
variety Of wines and liquors. was uupresent-
able to a Mahometan public: so 1t was alter
cd TO a magical supply, first of comfts. and
afterwards of excellent hot coffee, bowl of
which was filled as fast as it could be emp
tied
The first cups offered were accepted with
the greatest hesitation. Not Arab was
willing 10 moisten his lips with the beverage
which he believed to come from the devils
kitchen But, insensiblv seduced by the
perfume Of their favorite liquor, as well as
urged bv the solicitations of the interpreters,
few of the boldest ventured to taste the
the mage draught. and soon. their example
was generally followed. The vase answered
every demand that was made upon it, (as
the bottle would have DONE yet it was car
ried away still full Of coffee. Tricks like
these did not suffice to fulfil the object Of
The mission. which was to astOnish the ma
tives. and even to frighten them by a sem
blance Of suparnatura power T II this pur-
pos. the performance was made to conclude
Wit a selection of wonders Of the most i'm
prassive character.
The wizard possessed small box, but of
solji construction. which when placed in the
bands of the prnfane. heromes heavy or light
az the rightful owners will \ child can
carrv 1t with ease or the strongest man
cannot make it stir Even when produced
in this simple form, the trick has considera-
b. effect. but on the present occasion, it
vas worked up TO a still more dramatic
shape B,x in hand, Robert Hou lin ad-
vanced to the middle Of the nit, and ad-
dressed the Arabs. speaking slowly, to give
The interpreters time to translate
after what you have seen, you cannot
denv that am gifted with supernatural
power You ara right. am going to give
you an additional proof. by showing you
that can take awav the strength of the
strongest nun among you, and restore it at
will. Let him who thinks himself able to
brave the ordeal, draw near
An Arab of middle stature, but well made,
leau and muscular, as are all the Arab Her
enles, boldly advanced TO meet the challenge.
Are you very strong?'' asked the wizard,
boxing at him content ptuously from head to
foot.
81 am he carelessly replied
'Are you sure that you will always re-
tain your strength
Railways"
"You are mistaken. In one instant
mean to take away your strength, and make
you as feeble as an infant"
The Arab smiled disdainfully, in sign of
his incredulity.
Here, lift this box
The selfcJnfdent Samspon stopped, raised
the box, and cold V said
is that all p
Wait a moment -
Then, with all the dignity which his part
fequred, the sorcerer waved his wand impos-
lnglv, and pronounced the solemn words
You are now become weaker than a
Woman. Try to lift box"
lhs Arab making light of the conjuration,
seilsd the box second time by the handle,
snd gave violent shake to lift it; but this
Tine the box resisted and, in spite of the
most vigorous efforts, remained completely
lmmovable. In vain did the Algerine Sam
s9n exhaust upon the unlucky box an eIer-
t!Jn Of strength which would have sufhced
70 hit an enormous weight. Worn out at
,ast, painting and red with rage, he stopped,
aeeaae thoughtful, and seemed to begin to
1'nprehend the influence of magic. He was
On the point of retreating; but TO retreat
would be to avow himself vanquished, con-
'ess,on of lis weakness, the man whose mus
ei.ar vlg0r had hitherto been respected, must
5cknowledge himself no stronger than child.
his thought made him almost mad. Deriv-
ihs fresh energy from the encouragements
which his friends addressed to him by voice
and gesture, he replied by look which seem
20 to say g You shall see what son of the
gesert can do He stopped once more to
iit the oo1; the wiry fingers of both his
Ianas We're twisted in the handle: his legs,
anted on each side like couple Of pillars
~ ea hron3a, served as supports to the supreme
oes daob.e ne was about to attempt. No one
poloeed that, under the powerful strain. the
oA "Selo be broken into hundred piece,.
Pr9dlgiOqs The champion So strong % and
naughty only minute ago, bows now his h.
head his arms riveted to the how srs al'
lently contracted towards his chest his ,au. l.o
totter, he falls on his knees utterinp a crv ef
pain. .iy Vi
An electric shock had been sent from the
PACE OF the stage, at given signal, 70 the
aaaole OF the box, Hence the contortions Of