The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-05-05

elan Extricutcd Himself From an
Awkward Predicamcnt by the
Quicknens of His wit.
To witness Houdin's first performance
in Algicrs the neighboring tribes were in
yitvd. Tle thCatcr was speedily filled
with them and the French officials, who
attended in all their punip and glory. In
tr:i,r, tiers were scattered through tic
houar III Order to repeat ll"udin remarks
30 the natives in their own language
With true oriental dignity and GRAVITY,
the Arabs witnessed the first few tricks in
stolid silence, but the taking Of u huge
cannon ball from borrowed hat aroused
treat excitement.
Then camo the great tricks of the even
ing, especially prepared to astonish the
Arabs.
by IL wonderful power which | pos
scss." said Huudin, Il Gun deprive any
man Of his strength. l invite any one to
irovC my words. -
On this being interpreted to the Arabs,
. tall, strong man stepped forward on the
,tagc Houdin held in his hand II little
IRON box, and, balancing it cillciessly on
his little finger, he asked the Arab:
"Acc you strong"
Yes" replied the man carcicssly.
Ara you sure of always remaining SOP"
Always"
Lift that box"
Tie Arab did so and asked contcmptu-
Dusly, rs that ali:''
wait" said Houdin, making solemn
GESTURE ''Now you are weaker than i
woman. Try to liz that box again.
The Arab seized Tic handle and tugs-cd
again. lie could not raise the box sn inch
rom the floor After many attempts he
paused for y moment to brace himself for
4 final effort. lie seized the handle again,
brU shlickc;l aloud with pain, dropped on
his knees, then, rising, threw his cloak
round his face to cCnccGl his shame and
rushed from the thcatcr, leaving his c1n-
patriots stricken with fear. The trick was
rs simple rs the result WAS startling. The
box w;ls placed on powerful electro mig
net, and tho current being complete, no
man on earth could have lifted it. An
electric shock, sent ut g signal 10y lIoudln
! from behind the stage, WIS what caused
| the Arab to shrek and hurricdly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by this
trick had subsidized Houdin announced
| that he had q talisman which rendered
him invulncrablc, and he deficd the best
shot il Alcicr; to kill him. \ marabout
| Immediately sprang on tho stage, cXclaim
| ing, Il want to kill you" Houdin hand
| cd him "a pistol, which the Arab, cXanlin-
| ing, pronounced Il coed one. 1t is a
good pistol, and Will kill you"
Very we'll" SAID Houdin. ITO make
sure, put in double charge Of powder.
Here's wad. Take bullet from this
tray and mark it so you will know it
again. Ram it into the pistol well. "
1T is done"
Now" said IIoudin, you say the pis-
| toll is Il good one, and you've loaded it
| we'll; SO kill me-"
Yes" replied the nlarabaut, Twill do
| that
Houdin took pear stuck it on a knife
| and walked Il few PAGES in front of the
| Arab, and told him TO aim at his heart.
| lilo fired, and the marked bullet was seen
on the pear After the powder and wad
were rainmcd home, and while the Arab
| was marking the bullet Houdin Slipped Il
! little tube into the pistol. This tube was
| closed at the lower end, and into this the
Arab dropped the bullet. As he thrust tho
wad down with the ramrod, the tube fitted
snugly on to it, and was withdrawn with
| it, being polished TO resemble it. Houdin
| TINS got possession Of tho marked ball,
| and all was then plain sailing.
On one occasion during his visit to AL
slers liouIih W"S Fi''cGu IL NcLy "MN-
ward position, lroii WHleh nc ON! CN'il-
citIcd himself q! ms que, W!'teuilSsS.
| ii1 WIS INC S"SaV vi .tli iHr,'o ohiel, Apou
Sii'i!i' anu eh,ct','ii'ed ms iioSU am
irlehuS ny IL" 'IlcN'' Si'c vi Uiio COM
i:ahy WIS d iliirano"t' "i!o assel'eu 'ii;'V
thc spectators III AlgiefS ii''u pcell LiielciS
dupcu ny EiSloh' ilouulI' however pro-
| ouCeu inc inaf''oouU watch III MS manu-,
anu Oh ltclIhs us s''sii' tho ii"t ':S
io".;u IheFe lrahc piGct' Coi i..i LIEU
~ Iills anu o'iler leits Iii"' ilouuil was
iedii, d eoi'cioi' i-o MN W ~
! l'c''S Els performance III 'Hc 'iie'I'c' 'iiiu
l'rouuceo Two PiS'ols. 1ou ieeu ho0
lear s'iio 1he Arap' s1lcc you hno"
no" 10 "af" Oh n"liCt9. LOU Losi"s
ms SCH possession io'iulh eNpliiilou tiiat
MS lhFuihefabllltE lay Ill Il IiliSilah Which
was WIN ms possessions III AlSlcrs. ny
SIX hours prayer, however, can 90 With
| ont that tallsman, and at clock tomor-
row morning you can IRE Ht me.
Az inc appolh'eu 'lil1e iheTe Was Il inrse
cohc"uFSo VI r., -ar''"S' Mliicii 'iit news l''a
NttFtctGu' 1he pisIois were pLousiiI anu
| car2iully eSalhlileo. Inc ihira'p'uU urop-
pfo III lhe poWuef' houolh hailaea MIN
Dulic1 from inc tray ana nc r'tilihea IL
~. ''t," emf -, 't'Duv ~ M,