Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-11-12

Atouoih WIS employed ny the
Frepch Government to go to Algiers
on novel mission. The Marabout
priests exercised great influence over
the natives, because they were able to
perform certain feats of jugglery,
which they pretended proved their
divine power. These Marabouts were
enemies of the French and eneour-
aget turbulance among the Arabs.
The government thought that it
might be good stroke of policy to
sena Houdin through the colony per-
forming his miracles and demOnstra-
ting to the natives that a French So
cerer was greater than an Arab So
cenaf.i Accordingly Houdiu appear
ed before large audiences, beginning
in the city of Algeria. At the first
of these performances he introduced
Il lOS which became heavy or light at
his order. This box was brought by
him.to the footlights, and while hold
ing it in his hands he declared to his
hearers that he possessed the power
to deprive the most powerful man of
his strength and restore it at will.
Heinvited any one who thought him.
self strong enough to come on the
stage. An Arab of middle height.
but well built and muscular, came to
his side with great assurance. Are
you strong:" asked Houdin. measur-
ing him from head to foot. --Oh,
yes" he replied carelcssly. Are
You sure that You will always remain
so? "Quite sure You are mis-
taken" said IIoudin. for in an in
stant | will rob you of your strength,
and you shall become as little
child" The Arab smiled disdainfuI-
| ly. Houdin told him to lift the box
He stopped and lifted it without any
effort. and said cOldly, is that all:"
With an imposing gesture HOudin
solemnly pronounced the words, BE
hold YOU are weaker than woman;
now lift the box The Hercules
grabbed the box quite confidently. !
hut 10 his astoniShment it would not
bulge. He attacked it vigorously
over and over again, while his coun-
trymen sat looking on in silent won
der, but it resisted He vainlv ex-
pended on this box strength which .
would have raised an enormous
weight, until at length, painting ex-
hausted. and red with anger, he bur
led his face in his burnous and retired /
from the stage. Houdin does not eX-
plain the secret OF this strange trick /
by which lie made bodies heavy or
light at will, and without apparently (
touching them, but it was Iavorite
of his, and often exhibited TO his
fashionable Parisian audiences.
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
At the same exhibition in Algeria
of which we have written, Houdin in
vited one of the audience to come on
the stage. \ young Moor, about
twenty years of age, tall, well built
and richly dressed, advanced. There
was plain table on the stage (the
space between the top and the floor
being Enthusiastically Open) which
Houdin asked him TO mount. When
he did so, Houdin covered him with
an enormous cloth cone, and instant
ly removing it, the Moor was gone.
This trick produced panic in the
audience. Screaming. ut is the
Evil One they clambered over the
benches in wild terror and rushed out
the door into the street, where, in the
public street, rubbing his eyes in
stupefaction and wondering how he
got there, they found the young Moor.
INyCLNERABHTrY.
While in the interior HOudin gave
an open air exhibition to the wild sons
of the desert. He pretended that he
was invulnerable and offered to let
Marabout shoot at him. There was
a crowd, and a vindictiye-lOoking fel-
low came out from it and claimed to
have the honor of killing the hated
Frenchman. The pistols were handed
to Houdin, who called attention to
the fact that the vents were clear.
The Marabout put in fair charge of
powder and drove the wad home.
Among the bullets produced HOudin
chose one which he openly put in the
pistol, aud it was also rammed down.
BY the same process the second pistol
was loaded. Everybody watched with
the most profound solemnity. Houdin
posted himself fifteen PAGES from the
Marabout without evincing the slight
est emotion. The Marabout imme-
diately seized one of the pistols and.
on Houdin's giving the signal, took
a deliberate aim at him. The pistol
went off, and the ball appeared be-
tween the magician's teeth. More
angry than ever, the Marabout tried
to seize the pistol. "You could not
injure me-" said Houdin; ''but you
shall see that my aim is more dan
gerous than yours. Look at the
WALL He pulled the trigger, and
on the newly whitewashed wall ap-
peared large patch of blood exactly
at the spot where he aimed. The
Marabout went up to it, dipped his
finger in the blood, and raising it to
his mouth, convinced himself of the
reality. When he acquired this GER
tainty his arms fell and his head
bowed ON his chest, as if he were an
initiated. 1t was evident that for
the moment he doubted everything,
even the prophet. This seemingly in
comprehensive feat Houdin per-
formed by prepared balls. With
bullet-monld and bit of wax mixed
with lampblaek he had manufactured
a very fair imitation bullet. Anoth
er bullet of the same material he had
filed with blood. OF course, it was
by sleight of hand that he changed
the bullets forced upon him by the
Marabout and substituted his own.
An old trick enabled him to get the
real bullet between his teeth while