Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-17
CupidIty ofihe Greeks-A wOuId.be Assns
sin Fooled.

SuHANAA OAENAN $3.50
sin Fooled.
In a notice of Houdin's new book an
Eastern editor says:
The cupidity of the Greeks is natural.
II is of a character with that Of Cataline,
whom Sallust reports as profust4S SUI, ALL
Ell dppiteRS,-profuse of his own, covetous
of what belonged to others. NJ. Houdin
gives an instance of this, in which he es-
capped beng plundered, and probably MUIR
dered. Iu his Memoirs will be found some
mention OF q manufacturer of conjuring
tricks, commonly known as Father Roujoi,
Nbom he describes as perfectly acquainted
with his trade, and upon intimate terms
v it'll every c~oDjuror of note. AT one time,
tie first cuDjurOrs and amatuers used to visit
Father ROUiOls little shop, each of the pro-
f ssion DESTROYS of proving his superiority
over the rest showing his best tricks aud
utmost skill. 1t appears, from revelations
it. Huudin' 5 new book, that Father Roujol
was, if not a great scoundrel, on intima'e
terms with some who were. He told me
one day, Houdin says, of a certain Elias
Bausheer, whom he had met at a cafe.
this man. he said, us possessed Of great
talent; bat, from a few words that escaped
him, | fancy that his skill serves him less TO
amuse the public than TO correct the acci-
d nts of fortune when playing"
HoudiD paid q visit TO Elias Hausheer, and,
by way OF diverting that parsonage, put
into his = cket one of the mechanical snuff
boxes, made principally in Geneva, which
ere very curious aad rather costly. The
FIST that we ever saw, quarter Of a century
ago, cost $500. The price may have been
reduced since then. To outward view, it
Wss a snuiI. box, OF larger size than ordinary,
hut not ~ wieldy. Ga the lid was inserted
an oval nedallion, on which was enamelled
q mil ature portrait or bouquet of flowers.
The box was wound up, in the usual man
Der, ard then, on touching q spring, the en-
anne few of, and alittle golden tree Jumped
up, upon Q branch of which perched a little
bGd CT gorgeous plumage, whose eyes glist-
ened ana moved, whose head also moved
hom size 10 side, and from whose throat,
which also hutteTed as if song were issuing
from it, issued sounds Of delicate music, like
tie warbiing Of a bird-only more delicate,
distinct, and elaborate than any sounds eX-
cept those made by the nightingale. When
tie mechanism ran down, or by touching a
second spring, the tree and bird fell back
irto their place in the lid of the box, and
the enameiled medallion concealed them, as
before.
When NJ. Houdin paid his visit to Elias
H9usheeg, two curtains of an elcove that
we're once white suddenly parted, and in the
enter of The opening thus formed a bony
face appeared, surmouuted by a cotton
nlGhtcsp, which had also once been white
In q short time, they became pretty familiar
Eoudin saws: "My friend took up a pack o
cards, and began TO give me 4 lesson, and
confess that my feas aud disgust soon en-
trely disappeared; admiration took tn;
P ace of every other feeling, 1t was now
ny turn TO seduce my seduceT | pulled GU
dc famous snuff. box, aud, presenting it K
Hausheer, touched the spring without hi
cogrizance. Ny little automlton at onc'
emerged FROM the box, sang, leaped, 1appeC
il wings; and when these egolution5 werl
c. mpleteG, disappeared SIS if by enchantment
s. long B. my bird sang, my attention wa
Culcentrated on it; but, when it ended,
looked at ilausheer to discover the effect
had produced o. him. ] was struck by III,
eypession Of ~coyetousness ! read ia his eyes
j. seemed 10 me as if he were looking fur
lively from one side TO the other with tn
d,siIe Of playing me a trick. His face wa
p"ie, and lis hands, which he stretched GU
toward me, we're agitated by q febrile emo
tIua."
In fact Elias Hausheer, who had neve,
b. fore seeu the musical autOmatOn, madil
coveted il and demanded it from HOudin
that he n gbt how it TO a curiosity fancier
who, he SAID, would certainly give any price
fer il. He was so anxious in the matte
that he proceeded to 6 cupboard and his
something in his blouse, which, from tn
outline, Hsudin had no difficulty in recog
nizing as n very ugly knife. Still, our au
thor's presence of mind did not desert him
he told Hsusheer that the present box wa
b~espoEen, but if be would accompany hin
10 his house heswouli give him a gold snuff
box. with a similar singing bird, which h
felT certain his friend would be delighted u
bay. The bait took, and Hausheer accom-
panied Houdin to his house, when he slam
md the door in his face, and listened for tn
1eAult. Hausbeer presently went off, swear
ing indignantly, aud accusing himself Q
beng such q fool. Some months later, Hor
din heayed q sigh of relief or reading tha
bis friend was sent to the galleys for life.