The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-28
HOUDIN AND THE MARABOUTS.
The Maeician's Quick Wit and Self
Possession. BacsN ed by Science.

Ehe MaRician's Quick Wit and Self
Possession. Backed by Science.
There is given in the Household World
some account of the visit of Robert Hou-
din. the famous master Of sleight-of- hand
and other magic before Herrmann's day
o Algeria. It was made at the instance
Of the French government, to break the
influence OF the marabOuts who imposed
on the ignorant Arabs and wild tribes by
their pretense to supernatural powers, by
showing how vastly inferior they were to
the French magician, and the object was
really attained. Says the Household
World article:
To witness Houdins first performance
in Aleers the neighboring tribes were in
vited. The theater was speedily filled with
them and the French officials, who at
tended in all their pomp and glory. In
teTpreters were scattered through the
house in order 10 repeat Houdins remarks
to the natives in their own language. With
true Oriental dignity and gravity, the
Arabs witnessed the first new tricks i'll
stoid silence. but the taking of a huge
cannon ball from a borrowed hat aroused
great excitement. Then came the great
tricks of the evening, especially prepared
to astonish the Arabs.
by a wonderful power which l pos
sess," said Houdin Il can deprive any
man of his strength. invite any one to
prove my words"
On this being interpreted to the Arabs
tall, strong man stepped forward on the
stage. Houdin held in his hand little
iron box. and. balancing it carelessly on
his little finger. he asked the Arab:
Are you strong?"
Yes" replied the man carelessly.
Are you sure of always remaining so?"
Always"
Lift that box"
The Arab did so, and asked contemptu-
ously:
rs that al?"
wait" said Houdn. making a solemn
gesture. Now you are weaker than a
woman Try to lift that box again"
The Arab seized the handle and tugged
again. He could not raise the box an inch
from the floor After many attempts, ne
paused for a moment to brace himself for
a final effort He seized the handle again,
but shrieked aloud with pain, dropped on
his knees, then, rising, threw his CLOAK
round his face to conceal his shame, and
rushed from the theater, leaving his COM
patriots stricken with fear. The trick was
as simple as the result was startling. The
box was placed on a powerful electro
magnet, and the current being complete.
no man on earth could have lifted it. An
electric shock, sent at signal by Houdin
from behind the stage, was what caused
the Arab to shrek and hurriedly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by this
trick had subsided, Houdin announced that
he had a talisman which rendered him
nvulnerable, and he defed the best shot
In Algiers to kill him. A marahout immedi-
ately sprang on the stage, exclaiming, Il
want to kill you" Houdin handed him a
W int
nounced a good one. at is a good pistol.
and I will kiln you"
Very WELL" said Houdin, ito make
sure, put in a double charge of powder
Here's wad. Take a bullet from this
tray, and mark il so you will know il
again. Ram 1t into the pistol we'll"
1T is done"
Now" said Houdln, you say the pis-
toll is a good one, and you've loaded Ii
we'll so kill me-
Yes" replied the marabout, ~ will Ic
that
Houdin took pear, stuck it on knife
and walked few PAGES in front of the
| Arab and told him to,aim at his heart He
fired, and the marked bullet was seen or
| the pear. After the powder and wad wer,
! rammed home, and while the Arab was
marking the bullet Houdin slipped a little
| tube into the pistol. This tube was closeC
al the lower end, and lnyo this the Arat
| dropped the bullet As he thrust the wac
| down with the ramrod, the tube fitted
snugly on to Il, and was withdrawn with
| it, being polished to resemble it. Houdir
| thus got possession of the marked bali
! and all was then plain sailing.
On one occasion during his visit to AL
| giers Houdin was placed in very awk
ward position, from which he only extri
Gated himself by his quick-wittedness He
was the guest of an Arab chief, Abou Al
lem, and entertained his host and friend:
by few tricks one of the company wa.
a marabout, who asserted that The specta
tors in Algiers had been merely duped by
vision. Houdin, however produced tn,
marabouts watch in his hand, and on feel
ing his sash the marabout found there {
five franc piece. Convinced by this anc
| other feats that Houdin was really a sor
cerer, he challenged him TO repeat his per
| Torrance in The theater, and produced two
pistols. You need not fear" said Tn.
Arab, since you know how to ward of
bullets" Without losing his self posses
sion. Houdin explained that his invuiner
ability lay in a talisman, which was witt
his possessions in Algiers. by six hours
prayer, however, can do without that tai
isman, and at s O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing you can fire at me-"
AT the appointed time there was a lare,
J eoncourse of Arabs which the news hae
attracted. The pistols were brought ant
| carefully examined. The marabout droppee
in the powder. Houd.n handed him bul
let from the tray, and he rammed il down
Houdin then loaded his own pistol. an,
walking about Is PAGES away, turned an,
faced the marabout The shot was fired
and the Frenchman opened his mouth an,
showed the bullet between his teeth. "Yo,
could not Kill me" he said, land now yo,
shall see what my shot can do" He fire,
at the marabout and Immediately a re,
| splash was seen on the whitewashed wal
before which he was standing. The Aral
was untouched; stepping up to the wal!
he dipped his finger in the red splash, tast
ed il, and. realizing that it was blood. col
| lapsed in amazcment."
Though the trick was simple, only a Hou
din could have devised and carried II on
successfully. During the night he ha,
melted some wax. blackenod It to look lil,
lead, and run, il into a bullet-moId. TIM
obtaining a hollow globe OF wax exact,
resembling a bullet in appearance. II wa
aHMana