The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
KING OF CONJURERS
SOME of THE CURIOUS TRICKS THAT
MADE ROBERT HoUDIN FAMOUS.
Count CagIiostro, Dead 100 Years,
Apparently Made to Assist Him I'm
n Trfck--AmOng the MOors.

1ections from it made by the San Francisco
Argonaut The first is Houdin's story of a
trick that he played for the benefit of King
Louis Philippe of France. At 4 o'clock
precisely, when the royal family and the
numerous guests were assembled, the cur
tains that concealed me opened, and I ap-
peared on the stage
borrowed from my noble spectators sew
eral handkerchiefs, which / made into a
parcel and laid on the table. Then, at my
request, different persons wrote on the cards
the names of places whittier they desired
their handkerchiefs to be visibly trans
ported.
When this had been done. I begged the
king to take three of the cards at hazard.
and choose from them the place he might
consider most suitable.
Let us see," Louis Philippe said, what
this one says: 7 desire the handkerchief
to be found beneath one of the candelabra
on the mantelpiece.' That is too easy for
sorcerer, SO we will pass to the next card:
The handkerchiefs are to be transported
to the dome of the Invalides.' That would
suit me, but it is much too far, not for
hankerchiefs. but for u.s. All, ahv' the
King added, looking at the last card. II am
afraid, M. Robert Houdin. about to
embarrass you. Do you know what this
card proposes"
will your Majesty deign to inform me?"
ut is desired that you should send the
handkerchefs into the chest of the last
orange tree on the right of the avenue.
Only that, sire? Deign to order, and
Very good, then; should like to see such
tree chest
The King gave some orders in a low voice,
and directly saw several persons run to
the orange tree in order to watch it.
/ had now to send the handkerchiefs on
their travels, so I placed them beneath
I ordered my invisible travellers to proceed
to the spot the King had chosen.
raised the bell: the little white parcel
had taken its place.
The King then walked to the door quickly.
whence thence ne looked in the direction Of the
guards were at their post; when this was
done he began to smile.
'Ahi NJ. Robert Houdin,'' said he, some
what ironically, II much fear for the virtue
of your magic wand" Then he added, as
he returned to the end of the room, where
servants were standing:
Tell William to open Immediately the
last chest at the end of the avenue, and
anything
William soon proceeded to the orange tree,
and though much astonished at the orders
given him, he began to carry them out
He carefully removed one of the sides
Of the chest. thrust his hand in. and al
most touched the roots of the tree before
he found anything. All at once he ut
tered d cry Of surprise as he drew out a
small nal. iron Golfer r.e eaten by rust
cleaned from the mold, was brought in and
placed on a small ottoman by the kings
side.
well, M. Robert Houdin." Louis Philippe
said to me, with a movement of impatient
curiosity, here is a box; am to conclude
that it contains the handkerchiefs?
Yes, SIRE / replied, with assurance;
land they have been there, too, for long
How can that be? The handkerchief
were lent you scarce a quarter of an hour
II cannot deny it, sire; but what would
my magic powers avail me if / could not
perform incomprehensible tricks? Your
prised when I prove to your satisfaction
that this Golfer, as we'll as it's contents,
was deposited in the chest Of the orange
A KING IS AMUSED.
II should like to believe your statement"
the King replied, with a smile. 'tbut that is
impossible"
cit only depends on yourself, sire. to
prove it. Deign to remove the key from
the neck of this turtle dove, which has just
brought it to YOU"
Louis Philippe unfastened ribbon that
held small, rusty key with which he
fastened. to unlock the Golfer.
The first thing that caught the Kings eye
was a. parchment, on which he read the
following statement
In1S Gay, the sixth June, 1855, this iron
box, containing six handkerchiefs, was
placed among the roots of an orange tree
by me, Balsamo, Count of Cagliostro, to
will be executed on the same day, sixty
years hence, before Louis Philippe of Or
leans and his family"
There is decidedly witchcraft about this, .
the King said, more and more amazed.
Nothing is wanting, for the seal and sig
nature of the celebrated sorcerer are placed
at the foot of this statement, which heaven
| pardon me- smells strongly of sulphur
but" the King added, taking out of the
box a carefully-sea1ed packet, "can the
handkerchiefs by possibility be in this?"
ing the parcel, I would request your Maj
| esty to notice that it also bears the i'm
preston of Cagliostro's SEAL
This seal, once rendered SO famous by be-
| ing placed on the celebrated alchemist S
bottles Of elixir and liquid gold I had OBJ
| friend of Cagliostro's.
TT is certainly the same" my royal
spectator answered, after comparing the
| two seals STILL in his impatience to learn
| the contents of the parcel, the King quick
| ly tore open the envelope. and soon dis
six handkerchefs which, few moments
| before were still on the table
| was regarded by the French government
| that they sent him to Algeria shortly after
| the conquests of that country by the French
| wishes, marabouts, had great influence
| over the natives by reason of certain SIM
4 PIE ITlCkS WHICH tIey p6TlOfIIlGu anu WHICH
| the natives believed betokened supernatural
| powers. The influence which they possessed
| over the natives used for the purpose
| of stirring them up to revolt. Hence the
French government concluded that if a
| prestidigitateur like Houdin should perform
all the tricks that they did and others
l still more startling it would remove the
/ belief of the natives in the superiority
! of the dervishes. Eoudn, therefore, gave
| such performance. But let him tell the
story:
81 felt, I confess, rather inclined to laugh
| at myself and my Moorish audience, for
| stepped forth, wand in hand, with all the
/ gravity of a real .sorcerer. Still, / did not
| give way, for / was enacting the part of a
\ French Marabout.
| Compared with the simple tricks of theil
pretended sorcerers, my experiments must
! appear perfect miracles to the Arabs.
| II commenced my performance in the most
| profound, / might almost say religious ST
lence, and the attention of the Spectators
| was so great that they seemed petrified
| Their fingers alone. moving nervously
| played with the beads of their rosaries
1 while they were doubtlessy invoking tn,
4 protection of the Most High. But tney
soon gave way to noisy outburSts.
This especially the case when
/ produced cannon balls from hat for my
i spectators. laying aside their gravity ex
/ pressed their delighted admiration by the
| strangest and most energetic gestures.
| Then came-greeted by the same sue
cess-the bouquet of flowers. produced in