The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-10-31

turtle dove had taken its place. The
King then 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 bis
shoulders. "Ah Monsieur Robert Hou-
din" he said, ironically, Il 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 ave-
nue. and bring me carefully what he finds
there-if he does find anything" The
attendant proceeded to the orange-trec
The earth at the side Of the tree was
carefully removed, and down among the
roots, after much groping, small iron
box eaten with rust was found. II bore
every appearance of having been in tho
ground many years. This curious 1fnd"
was cleansed from its mould and brought
in aud placed by the side of the King.
The greatest excitement and impatience
prevailed on all sides. Houdin brought,
perched on his finger, the dove to the
king, and around its neck His Majesty
discovered little rusty key. At the
desire Of the conjurer he unIoosed it and
opened the box. The first object that met
his eye was time discolored piece Of
parchment, upon which he read 80 THIS
day, The Oh June, 1856, this iron boz,
contai'li'g sic hdadkerchiefs, pas placed
among The roots Of an orange tree by me,
Bdlsamo, Count Of Cdgliostro, 10 scype IN
performing an act Of magic, aohicl ioH Be
executed on aie same day sirty years hence
before Louis Philippe Of Orleans and his
Jamiiy." "There is certainly witchcraft
about this," cried the King, and then he
looked again aud found in the bottom Of
the box a parcel sealed with the well.
known seal Of the famous Cagliostro. He
broke it and opened the parcel, and there
were the six handkerchiefs which but fiy,
minutes before were lying on the conjurer'
table. Was not this trick as remarkabl.
as the producing of "Katie King from
dark cabinet
Houdin was employed by the French
Government to go to Algeria on move
mission. The Marabout priests exercised
great influence over the natives, because
they were able to perform certain feats o.
jugglery, which they pretended proved
their divine power. These Marabouti
were enemies Of the French and encoura
ged turbulence among the Arabs. The
Government though that it might be q
good stroke of policy TO send Houdin
through the colony performing his miracle,
and demonstrating to the natives that q
French sorccrer was greater than an Arab
sorcerer. Accordingly Houdin appeared
before large audiences, beginning in the
city Of Algeria. At the first of these per
formances he introduced box which
became heavy or light at his order This
box was brought by him to the footlights
and while holding ii 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 mus
cular, came to his side with great assur-
ance. "Are you strong2' asked Houdin,
measuring him from head to foot. ss0h
yes" he replied carelessly. "Are you
sure that you will always remain SO r
aQuite sure" 'sYou are mistaken said
Houdin, "for in an instant | will rob you
of your strength, and you shall become a,
little child" The Arab smiled disdain-
fully. Houdin told him to lift the box.
He stopped and lifted it without any effort
and said coldly, aIs that all n With an
imposing gesture Houdin solemnly pro-
nounced the words, "Behold you are
weaker than woman; now lift the box. =
The young Hercules grabbed the box quite
confidently, bat, to his amazement, it
would not bulge He attacked it yigor-
ously over and over again, while his country
men sat looking on in silent wonder, but
it resisted. He vainly expended on this
box 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 retired
from the stage. Houdin does not explain
the secret Of this strange trick by which
be made bodies heavy or light at win, and
and without apparently touching them,
but it was a favorite of his, and often ex-
hibited to his fashionable Partisan audi
ences.
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, well built, and richly dressed, adyan-
ced. There was plain table on the stage
(the space between the top and the floor
being unmistakably open,) which Houdin
asked him to mount. When he did 50
Houdin covered him with an enormous
cloth cone, and instantly removing it, the
Moor was gone. This trick produced a
panic in the audience. Screaming, III is
the Evil One 7" they clambered over the
benches IN wild terror and rushed ont the
door into the street, whore, in the public
place, rubbing his eyes in stupefacation
and wondering how he got there, they