The Van Buren press., 1870-05-31
A Magician Buying Eggs.

AS a precious immortelle.
A Magician Buying Eggs.
The far-fsmed magician. Robert Houdin,
cannot be satisfied with his legitimate tri
umphs before an audience, but occasionally y
docs . neat thing for his own amusement,
very much to the surprise Of all who may
happen to DO present.
On one occasion, in the market at Mo-
bile, while passing an itinerant vendor oil
cheap provisions, Mr.. Houdin suddenly
paused and inquired
.'How do you sell eggs. suutie ?"
Dem eggs 2" was the response. +" dey
am picayune piece-fresh, too, dc las
one of dem; billed 'em myself, and knows
dcy's fust rate"
"Well, I'll try them." said the magician,
IS he laid down bit Of fractional curen-
cy. "Hsve you pepper and salts"
"Yes. sar, dare dey is. said the sable
sAleswoman, watching her customer with
intense interest.
Leisurely drawing out neat little PEN
knife, Mr.. Houdin proceeded very quietly
to cut the egg el actly in half. when sudden
~ = bright, new silver quarter was discov-
cred lying imbcdded in the yolk. apparent
ly as bright as whom it come from tho 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
egg =
"De Lord bress my soul Dat egg T?
Do fac am. boss, dat egg am wutf dime,
shuah!"
"All right" was the response, here s
your dime, now give me the egg"
Separating it with an exact precision that
the solored lady watched most eagerly, a
quarter eagle was carefully picked out OF
the center Of the egg, and placed in the
vest pocket of the operator, as before. The
old woman was thunderstruck, as we'll she
might be, and her customer had to ask her
price for the third egg two or three times
before he could obtain reply,
Oars no use talkin', msrs'r.' said the
bewildeied old darkey, +" l couldn't let you
hsb dat dsr egg. not no how. for loss dan
. . quarter. declar to de Lord can't"
Very good" said Houdjn. whose i'm.
pertarbable features were as solemn as an
undertaker's; "there is your quarter. and
bore is the egg All right"
As he opened the last egg, brace OF
fvo dollar gold pieces were discovered
snugly deposited in the very heart Of the
yolk. and jiugling them mcrrily together in
his palm, the savant coolly remarked:
"Very good eggs, indeed; rather like
them, and while am about it. believe
III buy a dozen. What is the price p
"De price - screamed the daughter Of
ham. "You couldn't buy dom eggs. msrs'r
for oil de money you's got M! dat you
couldn't. Tse gwine for to take dem eggs
all home, is, and dat money in dem
eggs all b'longs to me. 1t does dat
Couldn't sell moro oh dem eggs, no how.
Amid the roar OF the spectators. the be-
nighted old woman started for her domicilt
to "smssh dem eggs.' bus with what sue
cess we are unable to relate.
SECRETS OF Masonry Zacf
Wheeler was quite character in his time
being . clever. easy going, coniding man
who managed to let everybody cheat him
out Of his inherited estates. Just as hi,
last farm was about to slip out Of biz
hands, he succeeded in raising the money
to lift tho mortgage. Aaron Remer, ,
prominent Mason, accompanied him to the
town. As they were riding along OF
horseback. Zach says to Aaron. in a con
tiding tone:
/" Now, Aaron we are here, oil alone
and l want youko tell me the secrets Of Ma
sonry."
II can't Zach, they would kill me-"
why. no they won't. they'll never find
il out"
Yes they will you'll speak oft
No. swear won't
We'll. If you'll ride close alongside o,
mc. and put your hand on my thigh, and
take the oath I'll administer, III tel! you
the secrets of Masonry
Zach was not slow to comply and a
most powerful iron.clad oath was admin.
istered ana taken.
Now for the secrets exclaimed the i'm
patient unsuspecting victim.
WELL said Aaron. with mock solsmni
~ and secrecy, in the drst place, we Ma
sons combine together to cheat everybody
= much a. we can. Thisis the first grand
secret.
~ THE second is like unto IT, When W.
can't find any body else to cheat ws chea
each other, but a. little as we can
Well exclaimed Zach. with evident
surprise. II swear Ill join. wish / hat
done il twenty years sgo-I might hav'
been Q rich man afsre now"