The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-13


act of magic, which will be executed on
the same day sixty years hence, before
Louis Philippe of Orleans and his
family" st There is certainly witchcraft
about this" cried the King, and then1
he looked again, and found in the bot
tom of the box a parcel sealed with the
well known seal of the famous Cagli-
ostro. He broke it and opened the par
Gel, and there were the six handkerchiefs
which but five minutes before were "
ing on the conjurer's table. Was not
this trick as remarkable as the produc-
ing of g Katie King" from a dark
cabinet?
Houdin was employed by the French
government to go to Algeria on a novel
mission. The Marabout priests exer-
cised great influence over the natives,
because they we're 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 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 sorcerer. Accordingly Houdin
appeared before large audiences, be-
ginning in the city of Algeria. At lthe
first of these performances he intro
duced box which became heavy or
light at his order. This box was
brought by him to the footlights, and.
while holding it in his hands, he de-
clared 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
well built and muscular, came to his
side with great assurance. care you
strong ?" asked Houdin, measuring him
from head to foot. "Oh, yes," he re-
piled, carelessly. Are you sure that
you will always remain so?" "Quite
sure" You are mistaken" /" said Hou-
din, " for in an instant 1 will rob you
of your strength, and you shall become
as little child" The. Arab smiled
disdainfully. Houdin told him to lift
the box. He stopped and lifted it
without any effort, and said, coldly, rs
that all?" With an imposing gesture
Houdin solemnly pronounced the words,
Behold, you are weaker than q woman J;
now lift the box" The young Hercules
| grabbed the box quite confidently, but,
to his amazement, it would not bulge.
i He attacked it vigorously over and over
again, while his countrymen sat look
ing on in silent wonder, but it resisted
He vainly expended on this box q
strength which would have raised an
enormous weight, until at length, pant
ing, exhausted, and red with anger, he
| buried his face in his burnous and re-
tired from the stage. Houdin does not
explain the secret of this strange trick
by which he made bodies heavy or light
: OF Nd 1x 0h
ing them, but it was favorite of his,
Partisan audiences.
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 90 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 unmistak-
ably open), which Houdin asked him to
mount. When he did SO Houdin Gov
cred him with an immense cloth cone,
and, instantly removing it, the Mool
was gone. This trick produced a panic
in the audience. Screaming, 90 It is the
Evil One !" they clambered over the
benches in wild terror, and rushed out
the door into the street, where, in the
public place, rubbing his eyes in stupe,
faction and wondering how he got there
they found the young Moor.
While in the interior, Houdin gave ar
open-air exhibition to the wild sons OF
the desert. He pretended that he was
invulnerable, and offered to let Mara
crowd, and a vindictive looking fellow
came out from it and claimed to have
the honor of killing the hated French
man. The pistols were handed to Hou
din, who called attention to the fact
that the vents were clear. The Mara
bout put III a fair charge of powder, ane
drove the wad home. Among the bull
lets produced Houdin chose one which
he openly put in the pistol, and it was
also rammed down. By the same pro
cess the second pistol was loaded
Everybody watched with the most pro
found solemnity. Houdin posted him
self fifteen PAGES from the AIarabout
without evincing the slightest emotion
The Marabout Immediately seized one
of the pistols, and, on Houdin's giving
the signal, took deliberate aim al
him. The pistol went off, and the bal
appeared between the magicians teeth
More angry than ever, the Marabou
tried to seize the pistol. g You could
not injure me" said Houdin, "but yor
shall see that my aim is more dangerous
Gnan yours. LOOK at Cnal wall. dS
pulled the trigger, and on the newly
whitewashed wall appeared large patel
of blood exactly at the spot where hs
aimed. The Marabout went upto it, dip
ped 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 bowet
on his chest as if he were annihilated
1t was evident that for the moment h,
doubted every thing, even the Prophet
This seemingly incompreLensible fea
Houdin performed by means of pre-
pared balls. With bullet-mold and
bit of wax mixed with lampblack h'
had manufactured very fair imitation
bullet. Another bullet of the sam,
material he had filed with blood. O.
course, it was by sleight of hand tina
he changed the bullets forced upon hin
by the Marabout and substituted hi
own. An old trick enabled him to ge
the real bullet between his teeth while
the waxen one was shattered to pieces
So with the second ball, it was shat
tered upon striking the wall, but spo
of blood was produced. If Houdin hat
not explained this part, it would b,
quite as wonderful to most people q
the phenomena of Spiritualism, ant
could have been passed off as good evi