Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-12
A FRENCH WIZARD.

of their thrilling "Ride for Life"
A FRENCH WIZARD.
NJ. HoUDIN AMONG THE ARABS
The most famous of magcians was the late
Robert Houdin. He was never excelled, and
seldom equaled in his calling. He was we'll
declared to be the prince Of onjurors, for he
elevated his occupation to a profession, and
was an able mathematician and mechanician.
His ingenuity was unlimited, and it was ab'
solutely impossible to detect the secret of his
inuumerable tricks and performances. With
out the least assistance, he would hold an au.
dience in delight and amazement for hours,
everything being done with graceful facility
which showed that Houdn absolutely enjoyed
his business He taught his son many of his
original tricks, but never impaired them to
Others while the secret of the most remarka-
Bile performances has died with their great
master, and no one can ever hope to repro
duce them.
Probably the first instance in which con.
Juror has been called upon to exercise his pro-
fession in government employ, was that Of Ro:
bert Houdin. He was sent to Algeria by the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs to exer'
else the black art in that beni GIFTED country,
hoping thus to destroy the influence exercised
among the Arabs by the Marabouts-an in
huence which was often mischievously ap.
piled. By few cunning, yet clumsy tricks,
these Marabouts passed themselves off as sor-
cerers, and were held in fear and veneraton
by the ignorant tribes.
The French government desired to show the
Arabs that these would-be leaders among
them were mere imposters, and that their pre-
tended supernatural powers we're without the
least foundation in truth. The best way to
do this, it was thought, would be to send one
among them who should eclipse their skill,
and thus discredit their science and pretended
powers 1t was resolved to send Robert Hou.
din, and the wizard was ordered to appear at
the government Office in Paris
Houdin was little puzzled to know what
the Minister of Foreign Affairs could want of
him.
The plan and purpose Of the government
were made known to him, and he entered with
spirit into the idea and its successful applica.
ton. With every facility and all needed
protection, Robert Houdin sailed for Algeria
to astonish the natives.
Arriving under such favorable auspices, he
went to work at once upon the object of his
mission, and gaping crowds followed him ev-
erywhere, thinking him to be inspired. He
succeeded in showing the people that he could
vanish the famous would-be prophets who had
obtained such control over the ignorant mass
es of the population, and thus threw them into
such discreit that he succeeded in disarming
them entirely of their influence
Still, there was one of the Marabouts whom
he had not yet met, and who scofed at the
reported power of this French wizard A day
was therefore appointed when the two should
appear before the people, and each give evil
dence of their peculiar powers.
One of the great pretensions of the Mara
bout was to invulnerability. At the moment
that loaded musket was fired at him, and
the trigger pulled, he pronounced few caba'
listic words, and the weapon would not 60 Oft.
Robert Houdin instantly detected the trick,
and showed that the touch-hole Of the mus
ket was carefully plugged. This rendered
the Arab conjurer furious, and he, of course,
abused his French rival without mercy.
Houdin was perfectly cool, and said:
"You are angry with me?"
II am" said the Arab
"And would be avenged ?"
"Yes."
at is very easy
Tell me the way"
II will show you, said Houdin, quietly.
The Arab was all attention.
"Take pistol, load it yourself: Here are
bullets Put one in the barrel. But stop
"For what?"
"Mark the bullet with your knife, so that
you may know it,
The Arab did as he was told.
"You are quite certain now," said Houdin
"that the pistol is properly loaded"
"Yes."
"Tell me, do you feel no remorse in killing
me thus. even though consent?"
"No"
ut is strange"
you are my enemy" he coldly answered
"and will kill you"
"Wait hut moment"
Houdin then stuck an apple on the poin
of knife, and calmly gave the word, as ht
held the fruit raised in one hand
| "Fire %