The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-11-25

FrL THAN SPIRITUAL MANIFESTO
TloNS.
| One Of the most adroit jugglers
Of the prcscntage was Robert Hou-
| lin, 4 Frcnchman, who for many
years gave fashionable entertain
ments in Paris. Houdin wrote his
autobiography, and related many
I curious fcats performed by him in
his professional career. On one
occasion he was invited to display
his art before King Louis Phil
liDpc and bis court, at the chateau
of St. Cloud. Houdin invented q
trick especially for this royal and
noble asscmbIage, and received un-
bounded applause for his success.
He borrowed from the kingand his
courticrs six handkcrchietS, which
he mado into u parcel and laid on
the table. Then at lis request diff
tcrcnt persons wrote on cards the
name Of the place whittier they
desired their handkcrchiets to be
invisibIy transported. When this
was done he begged the king to
take three of the cards at hazard,
and choose from them the place lie
might consider the most suitable.
'Lct me sce," said Louis Philippe,
"what this one says. 4 desire
the handlterchiefs to be found be-
meath one Of the candelabra on the
mantlepicce.' All! that is too easy
for ! sorccrer, so we will pass on
10 the next card; The handker-
chiefs arc to be tn l'ansported to the
dome Of the Inyalidcs. I h t
wonld suit us, but it is much too
far-not for the handkerchicfs,
! but for us. ''-Ah ah - the king ad-
dcd. as he looked at the last card,
Il am afraid, monsieur Robert
IIoudin, | am about to embarrass
you. Do you know what this card
proposes?" Houdin, with a respect
ful bow, declared that he did not.
SWELL" responded his majesty, ut
is desired that you send the hand
kerchicfs to a spot beneath the
roots Of the last orange tree on
the RIGHT of tho avenue OF st.
Cloud. uoudin, affected the ut
most nonchalancc. "Only that,
sire ?" he said. "Deign to order,
and l will obcy.' The king gave
gave certain directions in q low
voice, and Immediately 4 number
Of his attendants hurried off to the
orange tree to watch it. lie then
said, II select the orange tree
Uoudin's first business now is to
send the handkcrchiefs on their
travels. SO he placed them be-
meath a bell Of Opaque glass, and
taking his wand ordered them to
fly to the spot the king had chosen
lie raised the bell, the little parcel
was no longer there, and a white
turtle dove had taken it's place.
The king then walked quickly to
the Goor, whence he looked in the
direction Of the orange tree to as
sure himself that the guards were
there, and when this was done he
began to smile and shrug his shoul.
ders. "Ah Monsieur r o b r
Houdin," he said ironically, 81 feal
much for the virtue Of your magic
staff" Then he added, as he re
turned to the end Of the room
where several servants were stand
: ing. "Tell William to dig imme
/ diately below the last tree at tho
) end Of the avenue and bring me
. carefully what he finds there
/ he does find anything" The tend
ant proceeded to the orange tree
j. The earth at the side of the tree
= was carefully removed, and dowr
4 among the roots, after much
cropping, q small iron box, eaten
:. with rust, was found. 1t bore every
e appearance of having been in The
t ground for many years. This Gu
n rious "fnd" vas cleansed from it
4 mould and brought in, and placc(
0 by the side Of the king. Th'
d greatest excitement and impa
ticncc prevailed on all sides. 1lou
It din brought, pcrched on his finger
the dove to the king, and aroun'
a its neck his majesty discovered
n little rusty key. At the desire 0
y the coniurcr he unloosed it an
c opencd the box. The first objec
V that met his eye was q time-disco
o ored piece Of parchment, upo
). which he read: "This day, the st
II June, 1856, this iron box, contain
l ing six handkerchicfs, was place
It among the roots Of an orange tre
c by me, Balsamo, count Of Caslio:
/ tro. to serve in performing an &C
= of magic, which will be execute
on the same day sixty years bcnc'
&c before Louis Philippe, vss Orlean
c and his family" "There is &C.
tainly witchcraft about this" erie
the king, and then he looked agai
o,J found in the hottom Of tf