The Louisiana Democrat., 1867-04-24
A Magician Buying Eggs.

The far-famed Robert Houdin, who
is now delighting crowds at the thea
tire by his weird performances cannot
be satisfied with his legitimate tri-
umphs before an audience, but occa-
sionally does a neat thing for his own
amusement, very much to the surprise
of all who may happen to be present.
On Saturday last, while passing an
itinerant vender of cheap provisions,
Mr.. Houdin suddenly paused and in
quired:
''How do you sell eggs, auntie ?"
"Dem eggs 2" was the response,
Hdey am a picayune q piece-fresh,
too, de las one oh dem; billed 'em my
self and knows dey's first rate"
"Well, I'll try 'em," said the magic
ian, as he laid down bit,pof fractional
currency. "Have you pepper and
salt F
ayes, sar, dere dey is," said the sa-
bic saleswoman, watching her custom
er with intense interest.
Leisurely drawing out a neat little
penknife, Mr.. Houdin proceeded very
quietly to cut the egg exactly in half,
when suddenly bright, new twenty
five cent piece was discovered lyingim-
bedded in the yolk, apparently as
bright as when it first came from the
mint. Very coolly the great magician
transferred the coin to his vest pocket,
and, taking up another egg, inquired:
"And how much do you ask for this
egg9"
ode Lord bress my soul! Dat eggS
De fac am, boss, dis egg is worth
dime, shuahn
"All right was the response, 'here's
Your dime; now give me the egg"
Separating it with an exact precision
that the colored lady watched most ca
gerly, a quarter eagle was carefully
picked out of the center of the egg, and
placed in the vest pocket of the opera
tor, as before. The old woman was
thunderstruck, as well she might have
been, and her customer had to ask her
price for the third egg two or three
times before he could obtain reply.
"Dar's no use talkin, mars'r,n said
the bewildered old darkey, ~ couldn't
let you hab dat dar egg, not no how,
for less dan quarter. declar to de
Lord I can't.n
every good" said Houdin, whose
impnrturable features were as solemn
as an undertaken, stthere is your quar-
ter, and here is the egg. All right"
As he opened the last egg, a brace of
FIVE dollar gold pieces were discovered
snugly deposited in the very heart of
the yolk, and jingling them merrily to-
gether in his palm, the savant coolly
remarked,
"Very good eggs, indeed; rather
like them, and while am about it, |
believe III buy dozen. What is the
price %
q say price, screamed the amazed
daughter of Ham. "You couldn't buy
dem eggs, mars'r, for all de money
Sou's got. Nol dat you couldn't. I'se
gwine to take dem eggs all home, is,
and dat money in dem eggs all b'longs
to me. 1t does dat. Couldn't sell no
hioie OO ueW eggs uo HOW.
Amid the roar of the spectators, the
benighted African started for her dom
icil to "smash dem eggs" but with
what success we are unable to relate.
-~o.o~>~.--aNs.+~-o---o-
WHOLESALE MURDERS IN THE NORTH
The Nation (Rad) speaks of fifty murders
that have taken place lately in Schuylkill
county, Pennsylvania This is more, so
far as we can see, than hos taken place in
the South for months. What wonder is
it, then, that the Petersburg (Va,) Index
INDUCES in pleasantly concerning Senator
Wilson as follows:
Be it known land, ifpossible, beIeged)
TO all the world, (the Hon. Charles Summer
Included that the Hon. Henry Wilson,
member of the United States Senate from
Massachusetts, did, on the 4th inst, from
the facade of Jarratts Hotel, in this
Coekade City, Military District No. /,
deliberately and ito all Appearances with
out the fear of man, deliver q public
address on the late military reconstruction
bill and other political questions of the day
toa promiscuous assembly Of white and
eoored citizens and that to-day, the 18th
Of April, 1867, for aught that this de-
ponent knoweth to the contrary, and
according to his best belief, the said Hon.
M. Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, is
living in his own boots, and in the full
and free enjoyment Of his personal liberty,
s he were in the United States, the
same not having been jailed, abducted,
oladgeoned, dirked, shot, hung, or in lany
olaer way mutilated or dishonored, or sent
oh the other side of the dreaded abourae,"
~ The wife OF a Wall street broker
mas gone away with an adventurer, because
aer : husband took the ridiculous part Of
Vocs Robin, in the charade "Babes in the
Moods ond bopnod ohauf tho e+,on ,;,L