The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-19
SENTIMENT AND FUN.
:" A little nonsense, now and then.
Is relished by the wisest men"

1
$3.50 s5af 1900 ---------- -aa .sr.
| (From the Binghamton Republican.
How COuntryman ISOLDE the French
1888 NecPOmancers
Robert Houdin, who has world
wide reputation as the greatest prest-
digitateur of the age, and who gave
such highly successful exhibition of
his powers at the Academy of Music,
last evening, to delighted audience,
was this morning made victim of a
very neat joke at his expense. Mr..
Houdin is the very soul of geniality.
extremely afable in his department,
modestin demeanor, and in all respects
a gentleman. He was in the Office of
the Exchange Hotel, quietly looking
over newspapers, when he was accost-
ed by tall, gaunt specimen of a Susr
quehanna lumberman, who exclaimed:
say, you. Guess you had 'em
last night. Them are tricks o'yourn
beat all creation. / had to smoker
right out in meetin'. Darned if /
could help it,
There was an uncouth politeness
about the man which at once recon-
mended him to Houdin, who replied:
So you were pleased with the per-
formance." ~ l2 l0
g," Pleasedl Jerusalem, stranger, /
was nigh tickled to death to see them
fellers dance so; and then that drink
of whisky: golly, wasn't that first
rate?" ht93
IA" am glad to hear that you were
gratifed,' " quietly responded Houdin.
1t is the aim Of my exhibitions to
amuse and instruct those that attend
them"
By this time a number of gentlemen
had gathered around the parties, ex-
pecting to see something rich, from
a peculiar twinkle which appeared in
the great conjuror's eye.
Houdin continued, "Oh, sir, the
tricks that | performed last night are
really nothing to some that | have the
power to exhibit =
'Wall, that beats all natur replied
the man. What on airth can you
do, stranger, to beat what you done
last night? [ don't want to be curious,
but rather guess you can't do any
thing right here thai lay oyer what
you did in the show place. Guess you
had things .fred about right up there.
Houdin thought he had a custom
er, and concluded that he would
astonish his weak nerves. He then
very quietly asked:
Have you such thing as an old
fashioned penny about your?
"Wall, [ guess / have. Let's see"
and after searching about his pockets,
he produced the coin. There, stran-
gel" said he, there's the contribu
ton. What in the name o 'snakes can
you do with that penny?'
Change it to ten dollar piece,
replied Houdin.
| guess not.
Nothing more easy. A mere slight
| of hand trick. 'i
I'll bet you two dollars and half
Done" said Houdin, who now
really began to- relish. the fun, but
with no intention of taking the mans
money.
The money was properly deposited,
and Houdon said, Now hold your
! hand.
The penny was apparently placed in
the extended palm, and the hand was
closed with convulsiye energy.
6 Presto, pass, said the great ma
gician. " Now open your hand"
He did so, and to his utter astonish-
ment found ten dollar gold piece.
Well, sir,'' said Houdin, F" you see
you have lost your money"
8 guess | have, said the man, with
a bewildered air.
F." Now" said Houdin, I'll bet you
a dollar can change the ten dollar
gold piece into your cent again"
mo you don't" said the country
man, placing the ten dollar piece in
his pocket, and buttoning his coat up
tight I'm obliged to you, Professor,
but I recon I'll leave it as it is. I'm
just satisfied that yer might do it.
Good morning, sir; I'll come up and
see you to night, sure.
| Houdin's turn came to be aston
ished, but he shirked the joke, saying
in his usual quiet way, "The man who
manages to deceive so many, must, in
turn, expect to be taken in himself
Gentlemen, what shall we take? Give
| it namel"
We came away without giving any
thing name, but satisfied with our
portion of the ten dollars worth of
fun.
The Austrian NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
n Il II