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

| 11Oudiu was Gtlll!OJ GU " lux
French government to go to AL
giers on 4 novel mission. The
MaraJout priests exercised great
| influence over The natives, because
they were able to perform certain
teats Of juggicry, which they pre-
tended proved their divine power,
| These Marabouts were enemies OF
the French and encouraged turbu.
lenco among the Arabs. The gov
ernment thought that it might be
u good stroke Of policy TO send
Houdin through the colony per-
forming his miracles and demon
straiing to the natives that L
French sorcerer was greater than
an Arab sorcerer. Accordingly "
Houdin appeared before large au-
dienccs, beginning in the city Of Al
gcria. At the first Of these per-
formanccs he introduced q 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 declared
to his hearers that he possessed
the power to deprive the most
powerful man of his strength and
restore 1t at will. He invited any
onc 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. "Are
You strong?" asked Houdin meas.
uring him from head to foot. "Oh,
yes" be replied carclessly. care
you sure that you will always re-
main 50 ?" "Quilc sure" "Iou
are Mistaken" said Houdin, "foI
in an instant | will rob you OF
your siren 9Th, and you shall be-
come as Il little child" The Arat
smiled disdainfully. Houdin told
him tn lift the box. He stopped
and lifted it without any effort
and said coldly, "Is that all p
With an imposing gesture Houdir
solemnly pronounced the words
"Bchold you are weaker thar
woman; now lift the box
The Hercules grabbed the boz
quite confidently, but to his aston
ishment, it would not bulge. He
attacked it vigorously over anc
over again, while his countrymer
sat looking on in silent wonder
but it resisted. He vainly expcnd
ed on this box strength which
would have raised an enormou:
weight, until at length, painting
exhausted, and red with anger, h'
buried his face in his burnous anc
retired from the stage. Houdil
does not explain the secret of thi
strange trick by which he made
bodies heavy or light at will, ant
withoutapparently touching them
but it was g favorite of his, ant
often exhibited to his Fashionable
Partisan audiences.
At the same exhibition in Al
geria of which we have written
| Houdin invited one ofthe audienc
to come on the stage. A youns
Moor, about twenty years OF age
tall, we'll built and richly dressed
advanced. There was plain ia
bic on the stage (thc space betweeI
the top and the floor bcing un
mistakably opcn) which Houdi
asked him to mount. When b
did so, Houdin covered him Will
an enormous cloth cone, and ir
stantIy removing it, the Moor va
gone. This trick produced
panic in the audience. Screaming
"It is the evil one p they Chamber
eli over the benches in wild terrc
and rushed out the door into tn
street, where, in the public stree,
rubbing his eyes in stupcfactio
) and wondering how he got ther'
they found the young Moor.
While in the interior, Houdi
gave an open air exhibition to tn
wildsons Of the desert. Hepreten'
cd that nc was invulnerable and o
: fcrcd to let q Marabout shoot at hin
There was \ great crowd, and Vii
dictive. looking fellow came out
it and claimed to have the hont
of killing the hated Frenchna
The pistols were handed to Hou'
, in, who called attention to tt
l fact that the vents we're clear
! The Marabout put in q fair charg
f of rowder and drove the We
| home. Among the bullets pr
t duccd Houdin chose one whlc
= he openly put in the pistol, and
J was also rammcd down. By tt
J same process tho second pist
= was loaded. Everybody watchf
4 with the most profound solemnlt
c Houdin posted himself Fl fte c
j. PAGES from the Marabout witho
t evincing the slightest emotio
d The Marabout Immediately seiz
;, one Of the pistols and, on Houdir