The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-05-12

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Three tricks Robert Houdin had ar
ranged specially to impress the Arab
imagination, and these three he re-
served to tina end. Then he said that
the strange powers they had seen him
exhibit enabled him to deprive any man
of his strength, aud he invited any
Arab who dared to step on the stage.
A solidly built Arab, with massive
muscles in perfect training, stepped
forward and stood beside the magician.
Robert Houdin held in his hand little
box we'll rivcted together, and having
stout handle. Holding this box for a
minute swinging on his little finger,
Robert Houdin placed it on the floor.
care you strong9' he asked.
eyes," answered the Arab, with con-
fdent carelessness.
care you sure of remaining so al
ways2'
Always" the native replied.
'Lift that little box" said the ma
gician.
The Arab lifted it, AMI said, coldly,
els that ala"
"Wait," returned Robert Houdin.
Then, making a solemn gesture, he con-
tinued, ''Now you are weaker than a
woman" and this to an Arab is the
final degree of weakness. "Try to lift
the box again"
The strong man seized the box once
more, and made vigorous effort to lift
it. But now the box resisted, and de-
spite his utmost exertion he could not
raise it from the floor, After many vain
attempts he paused as though to ac-
knowledge the influence of magic be-
You'd his ken; but this would be to con-
TESS himself beaten, so he braced him
self for O final furious effort. But
scarcely had he seized the handle of the
box than sudden shock shook him.
He dropped on his knees, trembling and
shrieking with unexpected pain. Then
he rose hastily and fed from the the
atre, throwing his cloak about his head,
as though to conceal the shame of his
defeat, while the faces of the remaining
Arabs became grave, and they gazed
fearfully at Robert Houdin as though he
were really sorcerer.
The explanation of this startling trick
is simple. The little box had an iron
bottom. When it was placed on the
floor of the stage it rested over pow
erful electro-magnet. After the Arab
had lifted it the first time the electric
circuit was completed, and then no man
who ever lived was strong enough to re-
move it. The cause of the Algerian's
spasm of agony was shock of cleo
tricity, which Robert Houdin by sig
nal had had sent through the handle of
the box from an induction coil out of
sight behind the scenes.
The second of the special tricks fol-
lowed. Robert-Houdin announced that
he had talisman which made him abb
solutely invulnerable, and that he defied
the best shot in all Algiers to hit him.
At this a marabout, who had shown
great excitement all through the per-
Torrance, sprang on the stage, saying:
Il want to kill your
Robert Houdin handed him pistol,
bidding him examine it. The Arab
blew through the nipple and scrutinized
the weapon carefully. cit is good
pistol" he said, "and will kill you"
"Sincc you insist on it, replied Rob
-Houdia; "and as double precau-
ton, put in double charge of powder
and then a wad. Now here is leaden
bullet; mark it with knife so that you
will know it again. Then drop it into
the pistol and put in a second wad."
at is done" said the marabout.
"You know that the weapon IS good,
and that it is we'll loaded" Robert
Houdin continued. 'Have you no scru-
pies in aiming at me, even if authorize
your
'No," answered the Arab; 81 want
to kill you"
The Frenchman took pear and thrust
it on tie point Of knife. Then going
few PAGES from the Arab no babe him
take aim at the heart. The marabout