The Red Cloud chief., 1878-05-30
ROBERT

$3.50 W. stfk ~
the late Robert Houdin. He was never
excelled, and seldom equalled, In his
calling. lie was well declared to be
the prince Of %conjurors, for he elevated
his profession, and VIA IN able mathe-
matician and mechanician.
His ingenuity was unlimited, and il
was absolutely impossible tn detect the
secret Ot his innumerable tricks and
performances. Without the least AS
sistance he would hold An audience in
delight and amazemcnt for hours. every
thing being done with u graceful faciii-
~ which showed that Houdin absolute
~ enjoyed his business. He taught his
son many Of his original tricks. but never
impaired them to others, while the so.
cret OF his most remarkable performAn.
ces has died with their master, and no
one can ever hope to reproduce them.
Probably the first instance In which
q conjuror has been called upon to ex-
ercise his profession in Government en-
ploy was that Of Robert Houdin. He
was sent TO Algeria by the French Min.
lister Of Foreign Affairs 10 exercise the
black art in that b~enighted country,
hoping thus To destroy the Influences
exercised amongthe Arabs by the Mara
bouts - an influence which was often
m~ischievously applied. by u few Gun.
ming, Yet clumsy tricks. these Marabouts
passed themselves of ~ sorcerers, and
were held in fear and generation by the
ignorant tribes. The French Govern
ment desired to show the Arabs that
these would-bc leaders among them
were mere imposters, and that their
pretended supernatural powers were
without the least foundation in truth.
The best way to do this, Il was thought,
would be to send n among them who
should eclipse their skill. and thus dis
credit their science and pretended pow
ers. II was resolved to send Robert
Houdin, and the wizard was ordered TO
appear at the Government office In Paris
forthwith.
Houdin was u 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 with spirit into the idea and
its successful application. With every
facility and all needed protection, Hon.
din sailed for Algeria 70 astonish the
natives. ft N' ga ft5r'
Arriving under favorable auspices, he
went ut nce to work upon the object of
his mission, and gaping crowds followed
him everywhere, thinking him inspired.
He succeeded In showing the people
that he could vanish the famous proph.
cts, who had obtained such control over
the ignorant masses Of the population.
and thus throw them into such discred.
II that he succeeded In disarming them
almost entirely Of their influence.
Still there was n of the Marabouts
whom he had not yet met, and who
scotfed ut the reported powers of this
French wizard. A day was therefore APP
pointed when the two should appear be-
fore the people, and each give evidence
OF his own peculiar powers.
One Of the great prctensions Of the
Marabout was to invulnerability. At
the m that . loaded musket was
pointed at him and the trigger pulled
he pronounced . few cabnlistic words,
and the weapon would O 90 of. Hon.
din instantly detected the trick, and
showed that the touch-hole Of the mus
ket was carefully plugged. This rem.
dered the Arab conjurer furious, and
he. of course, abused his French rival
without mercy. Houdin was perfectly
cool. and turning tn him, said:
''You are angry with me-" Ft
II am said the MarabOut.
''And would he avcngedy" wN y
Eyes he replied, regarding houdin
with eyes cleaning with ferocity.
ut Is very easy"
.'Show me the way"
IL will show yon," said Houdin, aui.
city. while the Arab was all attention.
Take a pistol load IL yourself.
Here are bullets. Put one in the barrel.
But stop"
..For whatg' said the Arab.
MARK the bullet with your knife,
that you may know it." The Arab did
rs he was told.
''iou are quite certain now" said
Houdin. 'that the pistol is properly
loaded"
.'Yes."
Tell me, do you feel no remorsc in
killing ma thus, even though I c~onsent?''
''No" and the eyes Of the savage
grew darker with an expression Of cru.
city.
1T Is strange" said Houdin. alnost