The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-03-17
Houiin, the Magician.


Ever since the capture Of the strange
empire Of India BY the English, or for
more than 100 years, the civilized pco-
pic have been hearing of the marvellous
ieats performed by tho native jugglers.
Naturally, Houdin's announcement Of
the Indian basket trick made great
sensation. The curtain arose and dis
closed wicker basket Of oblong shape
standing upon what appeared to be a light
table without any cloth cover upon it.
The juggler entered, dragging a beauti-
full youth, dressed as an Indian Prince.
wearing a robe Of white cashmere en-
broidered with gold, while upon his head
waved peacoek's plume held by a dia-
mond star.
HMercy +! mercy!' cried the child.
"No-no mercy. You are an Indian,
and Prince, and must die" was the saw
age response.
II am only child" cried the inno-
cent boy. s
aThat will not prevent my killing
you"
With piercing shrieks the child broke
away and rushed to the side wing, only
to be seized there by his executioner, who,
lifting him in his arms, plunged him into
| the basket, which he closed, strapping
down the cover. Then he drew his
| sword, and, having tested its sharpness
by striking it into the floor, he thrust it
into the basket again and again, while the
victim in the inside gave the most heart
rendering cries of pain and agony. Each
time the sword was pulled out it was
seen to be covered with blood, while the
sobs and groans from the inside of the
basket grew fainter and fainter, till at
length they ceased, and ghostly silence
ensued. During the scene the excite
ment among the audience was intense.
Ladies hid their faces behind their fans,
some wept aloud I; men shouted hoarsely,
Enough" The smiling juggler bowed,
and proceeded to unstrap the basket,
which he turned, mouth upwards, to the
audience, showing it to be entirely empty.
In the midst of the applause which fol-
lowed from the amused and relieved au-
dience, the little Indian Prince was seen
to be seated in box in the center of the
audience, kissing his tiny hand to those
about him, as well as to his friend, the
executioner, on the stage.
| The trick was performed with the aid
| of looking-glasses inserted between the
table-legs-a contrivance now commonly
used in pantomines and other show pieces
upon our stage. But it was new thing
then, and the scene was remarkably well
played by Houdin and the child. As
soon as the boy got in the basket he
opened a trap-door at the bottom of it,
which was placed over corresponding
opening in the table. Hidden by the
looking glass, he crouched below between
the table-legs, and shrieked and sobbed
until the proper moment came for him to
descend through trap in the stage, and
so pass around to the box in front Of the
theatre A sponge full of red liquid was
placed at a certain spot inside the basket,
and the sword, passing through this,
seemed to be dripping with blood. 1t
was imperative that the juggler should
not pass in front of the table, else his
legs would have been reflected there and
that would have disclosed the entire Sc
eret. Houdin became dissatisfied with
this trick, and made many improvements
in it, which the jugglers of our day have
still further perfected. 1t is palpable
that this cannot in the way in which In
dian jugglers perform the trick in the
market-place, or other public squares in
broad daylight. They have no looking
glass tables, no traps through the earth.
HOudin's theory concerning them was
that their basket had an opening in it
either at its front Or its back, and that
while buckling and strapping down the
cover, with knee lifted up and pressed on
the basket as if to tighten the leather
strap more securely, the child crept out
under the bent knee and hid beneath the
voluminous robes Of the juggler. Then,
while the sword is piercing the basket
and the childs sobs are most heart
rendering, the crowd gather into CON-
pact mass about it, and into the crowd
the child easily escapes without being
seen, and runs away. At the proper
moment he comes running back as if
from distance, and Of course the aston
ishment of the crowd is unparalleled, for
the basket has in the meantime been
opened and shown to be empty.--From
Hapers Magazine.
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