The Van Buren press., 1859-11-11

WILL give DESCRIPTION OF 1t. i borrow.
ed from my noble spectators several hand.
kerchiefs, which l made . parcel, and laid
on the table. Then st my request, differen,
persons wrote on the cards the names q,
places whittier they desired the handker.
chiefs to be transported.
When this had been done, / begged thu
king to take three of the cards at hazard
and choose from them the place he might
consider most suitable.
Let US sec," said Louis PHILIPPE. .swha,
this one says: / desire the handkerchief,
to be found beneath onefof the candelabra,
on thD mantel-piecc.' That is too easy fo,
a sorcerer, SO we will pass to the next card
The handkcrchiefs ana to be transported to
the dome of the Invalides.' That would
suit me, but it is too far not for the hand.
kerchiefs. but for US. All, ah - the king
added. looking at the last card, "I am
afraid, Monsieur Robtft Houdin, I am about
to embarrass you. Dssyou know what this
card proposes 90
me 90
/" 1t is desired that you should send the
handkerchief into the chest of the last or.
ange tree on the right of the avenue
Only that sire Deign to ORDER and
will obey.
g Very good, then, I should like tc see
such magic act therefore choose the
orange tree chest
The king gave some orders in low voice
and l directly saw several persons run to the
orange tree, in order to watch it and prevent
any fraud.
was delighted at this precaution, which
must add to the effect of my experiment,
for H. trick was already arranged, and the
precsutiOn hence too hte.'
l had now to send the handkerchiefs on
their travels, SO 1 placed them beneath q
bell Of Opaque glass, and taking my wand
l ordered the invisible travellers to proceed
to the spot the king had chosen.
raised the bell the little parcel was no
longer there. and white turtle dove had
taken its place. !,
The king then walked quickly to the
door, whence he looked in the direction of
the orange tree to assure himself that the
guaros were at their post ;. when this was
done. he began to smile and shrug his
shoulders.
"Ah, Monsieur Robert Houdin," he said
somewhat ironically, " much fear for the
virtue OF your magic staff" Then he ad-
ded, as he returned to the end Of the room,
where several servants were standing, tell
William to open Immediately the last chest
at the end of the avenue, and bring me care
fully what he finds there, if he does find
anything.
William soon proceeded to the orange
tree. and though much astonished at the
orders given him, he began to carry them
out
He carefully removed one of the sides of
the chest, thrust his hand in and almost
touched the roots of the tree before he found
anything. All at once he uttered cry of
surprise. as he drew out small Golfer eat
en- by rust.
This curious " fnd," after having been
cleaned from the mold, was brought in and
placed on q small ottoman by the kings
side.
+" Well, Monsieur Robert Houdin," Lou
is Philippe said to me with movement of
impatient curiosity, here is a box, am /
to conclude it contains the handkerchiefs 90
Yes, sire," replied with assurance,
and they have been there for long pc
rod"
" How can that be? the handkerchiefs
were lent you scarce a quarter of an hour
ago."
=" cannot deny it, sire but what would
my magic powers avail me, if l could not
perform incomprehensible tricks Your
majesty will doubtless be still more surpri-
sed, when l prove to your satisfaction that
this Golfer, as well as its contents, were de-
posted in the chest of the orange tree sixty
years ago."
should like to believe your state
ment, the king replied with "a smile :" but
that is impossible. and l must, therefore
ask for proofs of your assertion"
"!f your majesty will be kind enough to
omen TINS scasket they will be srnplied."
Certainly; but snss... require key for
that
+" 1t only depends on yourself, sire, to
neck of this turtle dove which has brought
it to you."
Louis PHILIPPE unfastened ribbon that
held small rusty key, with which he has
tened to unlock the Golfer.
The first thing that caught the kings eye
was q parchment, ON which he read the fol-
lowing statement
"This day, the sixth of June. 1876, this
iron box containing six handkerchiefs, was
placed among the roots Of an orange tree
by me, Balsamo. Count Of Cagliostro to
serve in performing an act of magic, which
will be executed on the same day 80 years
hence before Louis Philippe of Orleans and
his family"
There is decidedly witchcraft about
this the king said, more and more amaz-
ed. " Nothing is wanting, for the seal and
signature of the celebrated sorcerer are pla-
ced at the foot of this statement, which,
heaven pardon me, smells strongly of sui
phur." -
At this Jest the audience began to laugh.
"But," Z" the king added, taking out of the
box carefully sealed packet, '' can the
handkerchiefs by possibility be in this ?''
"Indeed, sire, they are but, before
opening the parcel, would request your
majesty to notice that also bears the i'm
preston of Cagliostro's seal.
This seal once rendered SO famous by be-
ing placed on the celebrated alchemist' q
bottle of elixir and liquid gold, had OBJ
tanned from Torrini, who had been an old