The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-10-30
MAGIC.
HOudIn's Trieks-more Wonderful than
spiritual manifestations.


One of the most adroit iugglers of the
present age was Rybert Houdin,
Frenchman, who for many years gave
fashionable entertainments in Paris.
Houdln wrote his autobiography, and
related many curions feats performed
by him in his professional career. On
one occasion he was invited to display
his art before King Louis Philippe and
his court, at the chateau of st. Cloud
Houdln invented a trick especially for
this royal and noble assemblage, and re-
celved unbouI ded applause for his sue
cess. He borrowed from the king and
his oourtlers six handk rchiefs, which he
madC into parcel and laid on the table
Then at his request different persons
wrote on cards the name of the place
whittier they desired their handker-
ehiefst to be invisibly transported. When
this was done he begged the king to
take three of the cards at hazard, and
choose from them the place he might
consider the most suitable. "Let me
see, said Louis Philippe, "what this
one says, l desire the haudkerchiefs to
be found beneath one of the candelabra
on the mantlepiece.' All ! that is too
easy for a sorcerer, so we will pass on
nduuk6TCUleIS
are to be transported to the dome of the
Invalides.' That would suit us, but IT
is much too far-not for the handker-
chiefs, but for ms. All, ali !" the king
added, as he looked at the last card.
:" l am afraid, Monsieur Robert Houdin,
[ am about to embarrass you. Do Won
know what this card proposes ?" Hou-
din, with respectful bow, declared that
he did not. "WelI," responded his
majesty 60 it is desired that YOU send
the handkerchief to spot beneath the
roots of the last orange tree on the
right of the avenue of st. Cloud"
HOudin affected the utmost nonchal-
ance. "OnIy that, sire ?" he said
"Deign to order, and / will obey"
The king gave certain directions in
low voice, and Immediately q number
of bis attendants hurried off to the
orange tree to watch it. He then said,
g select the orange tree" Houdin's
first business now was to send the hand
kerchiefs on their travels. So he placed
them beneath a bell of Opaque glass,
and taking his wand ordered them to fiy
to the spot the king bad chosen. He
raised the bell, the little parcel was no
longer there, and a white turtle dove
walked quickly to the door, whence he
looked in the direction of the orange
tree to assure himself that the guards
were there, and when this was done he
began to smile and shrug his shoulders.
"Ah Monsieur Robert Houdin," he
said, ironically, 81 fear much for the
virtue of your magic staff" Then he
added, as he returned to the end of the
room where several servants were stand
ing, "Tell William to dig Immediately
below the last tree at the end of the
avenue and bring me carefully what be
finds there-if he does find anything"
The attendant proceeded to the orange
tree. The earth at the side of the tree
was carefully removed, and down among
the roots, after much cropping, q small
iron box, eaten with rust, was found. It
bore every appearance of having been in
the ground many years. This curious
find" was cleansed from it's mould
and brought in. and placed by the side
of the king. The greatest excitement
and Impotence prevailed on all sides.
HOudin brought, perched on his finger,
the dove to the king, and around its
neck his majesty discovered a little
rusty key. At the desire of the con-
jurer he unloosed it and opened the
box. The first object that met his eye
was a time-discolored piece of parch-
meut, upOn which he read "This
day, the 9th June, 1856, this iron box,
containing six handkerchiefs, was placed
among the roots of an orange tree by
me, BalsamO, count of Cagliostro, to
serve in performing an act of magic,
which will be executed on the same day
sixty years hence, before Louis Phil
lippe, of Orleans, and his family"
There Is certainly witchcraft about
this" cried the king, and then he look
ed again and found in the bottom of the
box parcel sealed with a well-known
seal of the famous Cagliostro. He
broke it and opened the parcel, and
there were six handkerchiefs which but
five minutes before were lying on the
eOnlurer's table. Was not this trick as
remarkable as the producing of "Katie
King" from dark cabinet?
Houdin was employed by the French
government to go to Algiers on a novel
mission. The Marabout priests exer-
cised great influence over the natives,
because they were able to perform GER
tain feats of iugglery, which they pre-
tended proved their divine power.
These Marabouts were enemies of the
French and encouraged turbulence
among the Arabs. The government
thought that it might be a good stroke
of policy to send Houdin through the
colony performing his miracles and de-
mOnstrating to the natives that French
sOrcerer was greater than an Arab
Eorcerer. Accordingly Houdin appeared
before large audiences, beginning in the
city of Algeria. At the first of these
performances he introduced abox which
became heavy or light at his order.
This box was brought by him to the
fOotlights and while holding it in his
hal Gs he declared to his hearers that
be possessed the power to deprive the
most powerful man of his strength and
restore it at will. He invited any one
who thought himself strong enough TO
CONE on the stage. An Arab of middle
hight, but well built and muscular,
came to his side with great assurance.
Are you strOng?' asked Houdin,
measuring him from head to foot.
"Oh, yes, he replied carelessly. care
You sure that you will always remain
SOP" "Quite sure" "You are mis-
taken" said Houdin, 1" for in an instant
l will rob you of your strength, and
you shall become as a little child"
The Arab smiled disdainfulIv. Houdin
told him to lift the box. He gtooped
and lifted it without any effort. and
said coldly, els that all % With an
impOs'n g gesture Houdin solemnly pro-
nouced the words, Behold YOU are
weaker than q woman now lift the
box" The Hercules grabbed the box
quite confidently, but, to his astonish-
ment, it would not bulge. He attacked
it vigorously over and over again, while
his countrymen sat looking on in silent
wonder, but it resisted. He vainly ex-
pended on this box strength which
would have raised an enormous weight,
until at length, painting, exhausted, and
red with anger, he buried his face in his
bnrnOus and retired from the stage.
Houdin does not explain the secret of
this strange trick by which he made
bodies heavy or light at will, and with
out apparently touching them, but it
was favorite of his, and often exhib
tied to his fashionable Partisan audi
ences.
At the same exhibition in Algeria of
which we have written, Houdin invited
one of the audierce to come on the
stage. A young Moor, about twenty
years of age, tall, well built and richly