Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-12-24
SOME JUGGLER'S TRICKS.

into mplres-WOrldS, rlght race! FROM
Eqqleston's "a Rebels Recollections."
SOME JUGGLER'S TRICKS.
Robert Houdin, the French juggler, was
employed by the French government to 60 to
Algeria on novel mission. The Marabout
priests exercised great influence over the ma
tives, because they were enabled to perform
certain feats of jugglery, which they pretend
ed proved their divine power. These Mara
bouts we're enemies of the French, and en-
couraged turbulence among the Arabs. The
government thought that it might be good
stroke of policy to send Houdin through the
colony performing his miracles and demon
strating to the natives that French sorcerer
was greater than an Arab sorcerer. Accord
ingly Houdin appeared before large audiences,
beginning in the city of Algeria. At the first
of these performances he introduced box
which became heavy or light at his bidding.
This box was brought by him to the footlights,
and while holding 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. He invited any one
who thought himself strong enough to come
on the stage An Arab of middle height,
but we'll built and muscular, came to his side
with great assurance.
care you strong?" asked Houdin, measu-
ring him from head to foot.
20, yes" he replied, carelessly.
care you sure that you will always remain
SOP"
"Quite sure"
"You are mistaken" said Houdin, "for in
an instant will rob you of your strength, and
you shall become as child"
The Arab smiled disdainfully. 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 solemn
ly pronounced the words
"Behold you are weaker than a woman ;
now lift the box"
The young Hercules grabbed the box quite
confidently, but, 10 his amazement, it would
not bulge. He vainly expended on this box
strength which would have raised an enor-
nous weight, until at length, painting, ex-
hausted, and red with anger, he buried his
face in his hands 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 apparently without touch:
ing them, but it was favorite of his, and
often exhibited to his fashionable Partisan all
diences.
At the same exhibition in Algeria, of which
we have written, Houdin invited one OF the
audience to come on the stage A young
Moor, about twenty years of age, tall, we'll
built, and richly dressed, advanced. There
was plain table on the stage, (the space be-
tween the top and the floor being unmistaka-
bly, open) which Houdin asked him to mount.
When he did so, Houdin covered him with an
enormous cloth cone, and instantly removing
it, the Moor was gone. This trick produced
panic in the audience Screaming, "lt is
the Evil One p they clambered over the
benches in terror, and rushed out Of the door
into the street, where, in the public place,
rubbing his eyes in stupefaction and wonder
ing how he got there, they found the young
Moor.
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 great crowd, and vindictive
looking fellow came out from it and claimed to
have the honor of killing the hated French
man. The pistols were handed to Houdin,
who called the attention to the fact that the
vents were clear The Marabout put in a fair
charge of powder and drove the wad home.
Among the bullets produced, Houdin chose
one which he openly put in the pistol, and 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 slightest emo
ton. The Marabout Immediately seized one
of the pistols, and, on Houdin's giving the
signal, took deliberate aim at him. The
pistol went off, and the ball appeared between
the magician's teeth. More angry than ever,
the Marabout tried to seize the pistol. "Y ou
could not iniure me-" said Houdin, "but you
shall see that my aim is more dangerous than
yours. Look at that wall" He pulled the
trigger, and on the newly whitewashed wall
appeared 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 certainty his arms fell and his
head bowed on his chest as if he were ami
hiated. 1t was evident that for the moment
he doubted everything, even the prophet.
This seemingly incomprehensible feat Houdin
performed by means of prepared balls. With
bullet mould, and bit of wax mixed with
lamp p-black, he had manufactured very
fair limitation bullet. Another bullet of the
same material he had filled with blood. Of