Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-14
M|istellaueuns &eadimg,
MYSTERY AND MUMMERY.
SOME OF THE TRICKS HoUDIN PLAYED OFF
ON THE ARABS.

in 1856, to proceed to Algiers and there dem
onstrate to the natives that the Marabouts,
whom the Arabs believed to have supernatu-
raj powers, were only very clumsy tricksters
Never had conjurer higher mission than
this-to erase debasing superstition from the
minds of these children Of the desert.
At the Algiers theatre were assembled all
the leading chiefs and a large audience Of mi
nor natives
Houdin, skilled in all the ght.of.hand,
the scientific knowledge and the fnesse of the
French school of magcians, was equal to any
emergency. He was as cool and collected asif
on his own stage in Paris, and addressed his
strange audience in few we'll chosen words,
which were translated to the Arabs by inter
prefers provided by the French Government
of the town.
In his little speech he told the natives that
his art was simply the outcome of science and
dexterity that if his feats excelled those of
the Marabouts, his audience could judge for
themselves whether they had been victims of
imposture for many years at the hands Of
very clumsy jugglers indeed and that in the
end he hoped to leave those poor wizards
without leg to stand on-protessionally, Of
course.
The copjurer commenced his performance
with few ordinary sleight-of.hand tricks,
sufficiently puzzling to create great wonder
in the native mind, and then proceeded to
bolder and more ambitious efforts.
Carrying small box down to the "practi-
cable" or rake" running from the stage to
the pit, he declared that though a little child
might lift it, he could defy the strongest man
to do so, if he (Houdin) willed otherwise.
This being quickly interpreted, an Arab Of
middle height, but we'll built and muscular,
ventured to the test
care you very strong?" said Houdin.
"Oh, yes!' replied the son of the desert,
carelessly, not needing the Frankish magi.
clans assertion that he could deprive him of
his strength.
Houdin allowed him to pick up the box,
as though it were toy, and return it to the
'rake," smiling to think that he could be
made as little child. But Houdin now
made some mystic passes over the box, and
requested the dusky Hercules to raise it once
more.
He tried but tug and strain as he would,
the box was immovable. He stopped at
length, painting, and was on the point of leav'
ing his task, when pride overcame desire to
escape from this enchantment, and he made
one final effort, cheered by his compatriots in
front.
All in vain and just as he was at the point
Of giving in once more, he sank, with terri
ble yell, upon his knees.
The reason of this was that the coDjurer
had given signal, and the poor man had re.
ceived the shock Of an electrical current,
transmitted to the handles of the box.
By similar means had the box been held to
the stage when the conjurer willed it, for a
bar of soft iron underneath the "rake' was
converted into magnet by passing an elec.
trio current in coils around it. When the
current was suspended by Houdin's assistant
behind the scene, the bar was demagDetized,
and the box could not be lifted up.
Of course, this was mystery to the ma
tives, and, as the beaten Arab retired, MUIR
murs of "Shaitan" and "Dienoum" running
round the startled audience, told that not
withstanding the assurance of the interpre'
ters, the natives gave Houdin credit for hav-
> ing dealings with one who shall here be name
less.
The skil(ul professor had been informed
that the most startling Of the supposed mira
cles of the Marabouts was their standing in
front of loaded gun, which though pointed
at them and the trigger pulled producing
sparks in plenty from The flint, would yet not
90 off.
The cabalistic jargon of the Marabout was
supposed to place his sacred person in safe
ty and this was one of his tricks the French
Government was anxious to prove imposture
Houdin, though the guns would not 60 off,
soon exploded the marvel. He saw at once
that the mystery was one of the simplest, the
Marabouts merely stopping up the vent Of the
firearm with grease, while handing it to the
experimentaist
, Accordingly this was the next feat Houdill
called their attention to, declaring himself in
vulnerable-by trickery alone-and defying
even the "crack shot" of the district to hit
him.
, An Arab, delighted to have human tar
, get, bounded upon the stage, with the words
II will kill you"
This was Marabout, jealous of sorcerer
greater than himself.
Houdin gave him a cavalry pistol to ex.
anime. The man blew down tho barrel and
into the NIPPLE and then loaded it with pow
der and BALL To add to his other precau
tions he had previously marked the bullet
, The French prestidigitateur placed an ap
> pie upon the point of knife, and holding ii
up said
!, i'm ctroipht of my hoo rt w