The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-06-09
H0UDIN AND THE ARABS.
How the Famous Magician Extri-
Gated Himself from an Awk-
ward Position.

peat HOudlns remarks 10 tne nauYCS
In their own language. With true ORR
entail dignity and gravity, the Arabs
witnessed the first tricks in stolid ST
lence, but the taking of huge cannon
ball from a borrowed hat caused great
excitement.
"By a wonderful power which pos
sess," said Houdin, II can deprive any
man of his strength. invite anyone
to prove my words"
On this being interpreted to the
Arabs, a tall, strong man stepped for
ward on the stage. Houdin held in his
hand little iron box, and, balancing 1t
carelessly on his finger, he asked the
Arabs
"Are you strongP"
EYES," replied the man, carelessly.
"Are you always sure of remaining
SOP"
always"
Lift that box"
The Arab did so and asked contemptu-
ously:
"Is that ALP"
"Wait," said Houdin, making sol.
emn gesture. "Now you are weaker
that 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, he paused for moment to
brace himself for 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 compatri-
OTIS stricken with fear. The trick was
as simple as the result was startling.
The box was placed on a powerful cleo
tro-magnet, and, the current being
complete, no man on earth could have
lifted it. An electric shock sent at q
signal by Houdin from behind the
stage was what caused the Arab 20
shrek and hurriedly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by this
trick had subsidized, Houdin announced
that he had talisman which rendered
him invulnerable, and he defed the
best shot in Algiers to kill him. A
maraboYt Immediately sprang on the
stage, 9Sclaiming: Il want to kin
you" Houdin handed him a pistol,
which the Arab, examining, pronounced
@ good one. "It is good pistol, and
will kill YOU"
every WE'LL" said Houdin; Ito make
sure, put in double charge Of powder.
, Here's wad. Take bullet from this
: tray, and mark 1t so you will know 1t
again. Ram it into the pistol we'll"
Houdin took a pear, stuck 1t on a
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 on the pear. After the pow
der and wad were rammed home and
| while the Arab was marking the bullet
Houdin slipped little tube into the
pistol This tube was closed at the
lower end, and into this the Arab
!, dropped the bullet. AS he thrust the
wad into the ramrod, the tube fitted
| snugly on to it, and was withdrawn
, with 1t, being polished to resemble It.
On one occasion during his visit So
Algiers Houdin was placed in very
extricated himself by his quick-witted
ness. He was the guest of an Arat
chief, Abou Allen, and entertained his
host and friends by few tricks. One
of the company was marabout who as
serted that the spectators in Algiers
had been merely duped by a vision
. Houdin, however, produced the mara
bouts watch in his hand, and on feeling
his sash the marabout found there {
five-franc piece. Convinced by this ant
other feats that Houdin was really 6
sorcerer, he challenged him to repeat
his performance in the theater and pro
duced two pistols. you need not fear,
said the Arab, 'since you know how tc
ward off bullets" Without losing hi!
! self-possession Houdin explained tina
= his invulnerability lay in a talismaI
Z which was with his possessions in AL
giers. by six hours prayer, however
;. I can do without that talisman, and by
eight o'clock tomorrow morning yol
, can fire at me-"
At the appointed time there was I
b large concourse of Arabs, which th
: news had attracted. The pistols wer'
brought and carefully examined. Th'
marabout dropped in the powder. Hou
din handed him bullet from the tray
! and he rammed 1t down. Houdin thel
loaded his own pistol, and, walking
about IS PAGES away, turned and faced
the marabout. The shot was fred ant
the Frenchman opened his mouth ant
4 showed the bullet between his teetN
"You cannot kill me-" he said, IAN,
now you shall see what my shots cal
4 do" He fired at the marabout, and i'm
i 'mediately red splash was seen on tn
: whitewashed Wall before which he wa
Q standing. The Arab was untouched
stepping up to the wall, he dipped hi
finger in the red splash, tasted it, and
+ realizing that 1t was blood, collapsed II
a amazement.
Though the trick was simple, onl
? a Houdin could have devised and cal
Il 4 - "