The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-11-01
ROBERT HOUDIN, THE WIZARD.
Some of the Wonderful Feats of the Great
Conjuror.
From the Boston Times

The most famous of magicians was
the hate Robert sHoudin.5 He was never
excelled, and seldom equaled, in his
calling. He was. well declared to be
the princeof conjurors, for he elevated
his profession, and was an able mathe-
matician and mechanician.
His ingenuity was unlimited, and it
was absolutely impossible to detect the
secret of his innumerablc tricks and
performances Without the least as
sistance he would hold an audience in
delight and amazement for hours, every
tning being done with graceful facility
which showed that Houdin absolutely
enjoyed his business. He taught his son
many of his original tricks, but never
impaired them to others, while the Sc
cret of the most remarkable perform
ances has died with their master, and no
one can hope to reproduce them. as
Probably the first instance in which a
conjuror has been called upon to exer-
else his profession in Government en-
ploy was that of Robert Houdin. He
was sent to Algeria by the French Min
lister of Foreign Affairs to exercise the
black art in that benighted country,
hoping thusrto destroy the influence ex-
ercised among the Arabs by the Mara
bouts influence which was often
mischieyously applied. By a few
cunning, yet clumsy tricks, these
MarabOuts@ @passed themselves off
as sorcerers -. and sAswere held
in fear and veneration by the ig-
norant tribes. The French Govern
ment desired to show the Arabs that
these 'would-be leaders among them
were mere impostors, and that their
pretended supernatural powers were
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 dis
credit their science and pretended pow
ers. 1t was resolved to send Robert
Houdin, and the wizard was ordered to
appear at the Government office in Paris
forthwith.
Houdin was little puzzled to know
what the minister could want with him.
The plan and purpose of the Govern
ment were made known to him, and he
entered withspirit into the idea and its
successful application. With every IA
cility and all needed protection, Houdin
sailed for Algeria to- astonish the ma
tives.s KnTX
Arriving under favorable auspices, he
went at once to work upon the object of
his mission, and gaping crowds follow
ed him everywhere, thinking him in
spired. He succeeded in showing the
people that he could, vanquish the
famous prophets, who had obtained such
control over the ignorant masses of the |
population, and thus threw them into
such discrefit that he succeeded in dis |
arming them almost entirely of their in
Still, there was. one of the Marabouts
whom he had not yet met, and who
scoffed at the reported powers of this
French wizard. A day, was therefore
appointed when the two should appear
before the people, and each give evil
dence of his own peculiar powers.
One OF the great pretensions of the
Marabout was to invulnerability. At
the moment that a loaded musket was
pointed at him and the trigger pulled
he pronounced few caba1istic words,
and the weapon would not go off.
Houdin instantly detected the trick, and
showed that the touch-hole of the mus
ket was carefully plugged. This rem
dered the Arab conjuror furious; and
ne, OF course, abused his French rival
without mercy. :Houdin was perfectly
cool, and, turning to him, said:
You are angry with me.''
am" said the Marabout.
"And would be avengedP''l a,s, i
eyes, he replied, regarding Houdin
with eyes cleaning with ferocity.
1t Is very easys'
"Show me the way.,, ga.
81 will SLOW you,'' said Houdin.
quietly, while the Arab was all attention.
" Take apistol; load it yourself. Here
are bullets. Fut one in the barrel. But
stop-"@ = A---& ~
'For what2'' said theArab.
"Mark til Vet Win your knife. that
!rs, may may knd The arab did as he
"You are ite ssxtaIn now," said
THAI sstpl is properly
eyes,
Tell me, do ron feel no remorse in
killing me thus, AHen though I consent?''
"No!'-and tie eyes OF the savage
grew darker wi, An expression of cru
city.
sadly. "a
You are my enemy, and Twill kill
you," he replied.
Wait but a moment"
Houdin thens stassk Fan apple on the
point of a, knife, and, calmly gave the
word, as he held the fruit raised in one
hand, "Fire!,,s ,gxey g.sv.s.gaE9
The pistol was discharged, the apple
dew TAR aNey, And there appeared in its
place fJeTk on the point Of the knifo