Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-09-02
The Late Robert Houdin.

li-racc Of The death of this world renoW ned
us- can. wh,s. wonderful feats in the srt
Of lc-eriemain have so often astonishel
and delighted audiences. In his rrcfes
sion he was undoubtedly without a rival
Robert lIovd.n was Frcnchman. aad
found ,uch abundant patronage IL his own
country as 10 have nooccasion to seek other
lands fer support. Yet, nevertheless, at
one period he wa, inl1'r. TO makca FRO.
tcssiunal tour through England, and at
another time, at the request of Emperor
Napoleon, to visit Algeria, the object Of
such visit being to SO astonsh the natives
by his marvellous lc.crlcmain and arpa-
rently surcrhuman powers. as to awe them
into willing subsection to French rule, in
the accomplishment of which mission, to
the great satisfaction of Napoleon, he was
entirely successful. NJ. Howdin published
very interesting account Of his profess
sional career, with the varied incidents
connected Herewith. Amongst the diver.
sifcd information of those pages there is
related this amusing episode, which we
take the opportunity of bringing under
notice:
In his early carccrit appears that Mr.. Houdin
joined himself to II travelling Snowman, who is
represented rs being skiltul in his art, but not
withstanding his ability, perchance if in cir
travel they should unfortunately come in con-
tact with rival member of their profession,
who though nothing so clever as his employer,
yet he had such marvellous way of ndverts-
ing as to carry everything before him. On
one occasion this hateful rival appeared, is
sued his flaming bills, with the startling an
nounccmcnt that the entertainment would
conclude "by eating man alive Of coursc
snch an announcement filled his house but
left lIoudn's employer with empty benches.
Ga the night of the entertainment. this rival
professor after performing some few common
place tricks addressing the audience said,
g now come to the last part of this evening
performance, IL have promised that on this c.
casion will cat a maa alive, and am here to
to fulfill my promise then fixing his gaze dis
timely upon the audience assemble said
Will some gentleman be kind enough to
come forward for me to operate upon,' after
short pause one in the company arose, shortly
followed by nother person (both of whom
had doubtless been previously rstructcD and
amidst immense tttering wendell their way to
the platform, and presented themselves to
the conjurcr One Of these Tcn WAS tall and
scragged, the other short and plump. Facing
them artistically before the audience, and first
taking survey OF the tall man he said " you
may go Gown sir you are to thin for my
money! then turning round to the plump
man, and cycling him with looks of al
miration, and rubbing his stomach as il in de-
light, said ''you are the man for me-" He OBJ
served, "you have made your mind to be eaten
alive have you?" G. Yes replied the man,
"well take your scat in this chair" "You
WILL said the Snowman "eycuse me, but
like my food properly seasoned upon which
he took -four dredgcr and powdered the man
al over white with iiour. " Now said the con-
jurer addressing him, "your time is drawing
near have you made up your mind to be eaten
aive?" " Ycs' said the man, but this time
rather family, as # in fear "Then SIR" join
your hands together and hold them high above
your head" upon which being done, the con-
jurer Immediately siczcd hold of his thumbs
with his mouth, and gave him a tremendous
bite whercupon the mai instantly jumped mp
shrieking. d" What is the matter" said the
Snowman. Matter, sir,' was the reply
"why you bit me-" "Pooh, nonsense man,
sit down, sir; hurt you, indeed why what will
you say when come to your head p But no
amount Of persuasion could induce the man to
resume his seat, and amidst roars of laughter,
he proceeded to his place among the company.
Nothing dannted by this nishap, the Snowman
addressing the company, said, I" Ladies and
gentleman, have thus far been unsuccessful in
my promise, but came tonight fully deter
mined to eat man alive, and to tell the truth
~
whole lot ofyou. Will some other gentleman
kindly come forward. BY this time the audi
ence saw through the trick, but in considera-
tion ofthe fun provided forgave the deception
and left the room we'll enough pleased in hay
ing been agreeably humbugged.
This representation will convey some
idea of the amusing contents of Mr.. Hou-
din's memoirs. BY his death another
name is added to the list of departed cele.
brites of the 10Th century.