Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-01-08

performances put off for the same pc
riod.
"I have now to ask you," the colo
mel added, ''if you will sign this new
engagement"
Mon COLONEL" I replied, in jocu-
lar tone, II consider myself in military
employ. AS I depend on the COVER
nor, I will be faithful to my post
whatever may happen"
VERY good, NJ. Robert Houdin'
the colonel said with laugh; you
behave like a true French soldier,
and the colony will owe you thanks
for it. At the same time we will try
to make your. service in Algeria as
light as possible. We have given or
ders at your hotel that madame and
yourself may have no cause to regret
the comfort you left in order to come
here. If, while awaiting your official
performances, you might like to en-
ploy your leisure evenings at the town
theatre, the governor places 1t at your
service thrice a week, the other days
belonging to the operate company.
This proposition suited me admira-
bly,, and I saw three advantages in 1t:
the first, to get my hand in, for 1 had
left the stage for two years; the Sec
ond, to try my experiments on the
town Arabs; the third, to pocket
very welcome sum of money. 1 ac-
cepted: but when I began to thank M.
de Neveu, he said:
1T is our place to thank you: for,
by giving performances at Algiers
during the Kabylian expedition, you
will render us a great service.
How colonel?"
by employing the minds Of the AL
gerians, we prevent them speculating
on the results Of the campaign, which
might be very injurious to the gov
ernment."
That being so, I will set to work at
once"
The colonel started the next day to
Join the marshal, having previously
handed me over to the civil authori-
ties; that is to say, he had introduced
me to M. de Guiroye, mayor Of the
town, who displayed extreme kindness
in facilitating the arrangements for
my exhibition.
The journals had announced my
performances, and this statement i'm
mediately aroused a newspaper war
fare in the Algerian press, the strange
ness of which contributed no little to
give increased publicity to my repre-
sentations.
Robert Houdin," one paper said,
cannot be at Algiers, for we see daily
announced in the Paris papers, Rob
ert Houdin every evening at eight
o'clock"
"And why" another journal inquir-
ed pleasantly, should not Robert
Houdin perform in Algiers, and yet
remain all the while in Paris? Do
we not know that this sorcerer pos
sesses the gift of ubiquity, and that
he often gives performances at Paris,
Rome, and Moscow on the same even
ing?"
The discussion went on thus for
several days, some denying my pres
ence, others affirming 1t.
On the 2Sth Of October, the day ap-
pointed for my first performance be-
fore the Arabs, 1 reached my post al
an early hour, and could enjoy the
sight of their entrance into the thea
ire. Each goum, drawn up in COM
panies, was introduced separately, and
led in perfect order to the places
chosen for it in advance. Then came
the turn of the chiefs, who seated
themselves with all the gravity becom-
ing their character.
Their introduction lasted some time
for these sons Of nature could not un-
derstand that they were boxed UP
thus, side by side, to enjoy a specta-
Gle, and our comfortable seats faI
from seeming so to them, bothered
them strangely. I saw them fidgeting
about for some time, and trying to
tuck their legs under them, after the
fashion of European tailors.
Marshal Random, with his family
and suite, occupied the two stage
boxes to the right of the stage, while
the prefect and other civilian author
tiles sat exactly facing him. AS fol
Col. de Neveu, he was everywhere as
the arranger of the festival.
The Kaids, agas. bash-agas, and
other titled Arabs held the places OF
honor, for they occupied the orchestral
stalls and the dress-circle. In the
midst of them were several privileged
officers, and, lastly. the Interpreters
were mingled among the spectators, tc
translate my remarks TO them.
This strange medley of spectator!
was indeed most curious sight. Th,
dress circle, more especially, presented
an appearance as grand as it was i'm
posing. Some sixty Arab chiefs
clothed in their red mantles (the
symbol of their submission to Francel
on which one or more decoration:
glistened. gravely awaited my per
formance with majestic dignity.
1 have performed before many bril-
liant assemblies. but never before On'
which struck me so much as this
However. the impression l felt on th'
rise Of the curtain. far from paralyz
ing me. on the contrary inspired mt
with lively sympathy with the spec
tators. whose faces seemed so wei
prepared to accept the marvels prom
ised them. AS soon as 1 walked VI
on the stage, l felt quite at my ease
and enjoyed. in anticipation, the sigh
| was going to amuse myself with.
l felt, 1 confess. rather inclined t'
laugh at myself and my audience, fo
I stepped forth, wand in hand, will
all the gravity of a real sorcerer
Still did not give way, for I wa:
here not merely to amuse curious
and kind public, 1 must produce
startling effect upon coarse minds ant
prejudiceS, for / was enacting the par