The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-09-27
HOUlIn's Tricks.

tertalnments III Paris. EoRdin
wrote his autobiography and relat
ed many curions feats performed
by him in the course of his prGfrs
siOnal career. On one occasion
ne was invited to display bis art
before King Louis Philippe and
his court at the cbattean of St.
Cl md. Houiin invented Il trick
especially for this royal ami no
bic asSenlblage, and received nn-
bounded applause for his success.
lie borrowed from the King aud
his conrtiers six handkerchiefs,
which he made into a parcel and
laid on the table. Then ut his
request different perSo.s wrote
on cards the names Of places
whittier they desired their hand
kerchiefs to be invisibly trans>
ported. When this was done he
begged the King to take three OF
the cards at hazard, and choose
from them the place he might
consider the most suitable. "Let
me see,' said Louis Philippe,
"what this one says, Il desire TIT
handkerchiets to be fond beneath
one Of the chdndelabya on the man
telpiece.' All! that is too easy for
q soccer T, so we will pass on to the
next card 'TNe handkerchief are
to be transported to the dome Of the
Inrdiiles.' That would suit us.
bnt ii is much too far-nOt for
the bandkerchiefs, but for us.
Al, all! tlle King added, base
looked at the last card. Il am
afraid, Monsieur Robert Iiondin.
l all about to embarrasS you.
DO you know what this card pro-
p'sesg Hondin. with a respect
fIl bow, declared that he did not.
'Well,' responded His Majesty,
lit is desired that you send the
handktrrhieis to spot beneath
the =. OTIS Of the last grunge tree on
the right Of the Areaue VSt. Cloud
HOuiin affected the utmost non
chaIance. Only that, sire,' he
said. 'Deign to order, and l will
phey.' The King gave certain
directions in Il low voice, and i'm
mediatcly II number OF his atten
daDts hurried of to the orange
tree to watch it. He then said,
81 select the orange trce.' Hou-
din's first business now was to
send the handkerchiefs OH their
travels. So he placed them be
! meath Il bell of Opaque glass, and
taking his wand ordered them to
hy to the spot the King had cho-
Sen. He raised the bell, the lit.
tie parcel was no longer there.
and IA white turtle dove had ia
ken its place. The King then
walked quickly to the door,
whence he looked in the direc
ton of the orange tree to assure
himself that the guards were
there, and when this was done he
began to smile and slrug his
shoulders. 'Ah! MONSIEUR Rob
ert HOudin,' he said ironically
Il fear much for the virtue OF
your magic STALL Then he ada!
ed, as he returned tn the end o
the room where several servants
were standing: 'Tell William t,
dig immediately below the las
tree at the end of the avenue ant
bring me carefully what he find.
there-if he does find anything.
The attendant proceeded to th.
Orangetrcc. The earth at tn,
side of the tree was carefully re
moved, and down among TIN
roots, after much cropping "A small
iron box eaten with rust wa
found. It bore every appearance
OF having bern III the grount
many years. This curious find
was clpansed from it's mould an,
brought in and placed by til
King. The greatest excitemen
and impatience prevailed on al
sides. Houdin brought perche'
"n his finger, the dove to til
King, and around its neck Iii
Majesty discovered IL little rust,
KEY. At the desire of the coniu
y.r he unloo~ed it and opened IT,
box. The first object that me
his eye Vas II time diScolote,
piece eli parchment, upon wl,ici
he read: This day, the 9th q
Juae, 1856, tbs iron Boo coMtai
ina sic haadkerchietS, Was place
among the roots Of IA orange tire
BIZ NE, Botsamo, Count of Gngtio
tro, to Se,re IN performing az &C
of magic, rhich wW be erccutcd O
The same day sirty gears hence b
fore Louis Philippe Of Orleans IN
his family. There is "r(ainl,
w,tctlcrait about this, cried tn
King, aud ther he looked again
and found in the box a parcl
sealed with the weli-known sea
of the famous Cagliostra. IL
t.l =, ,ul nnaun.l thp maze i