Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-29

free audience in the main hall, clothed as
in every day manner. .
"When the officials found what he had
done with their prisoners their amaze
ment passed all bounds. They took the
slight change Houdini made in their
plans with the utmost good nature, and
soon had everything Strengthened out,
and each of the men back in his CELL
Has Certificate of Event
The certificate of this event presented
to me by Warden Harris is one of my
treasures. In a New York deposit vault
have box containing nearly one hun
dred such certificates, with which 1 shall
paper my study when I get too old TO
repeat the feats they describe.
Now, what shall add? There is SO
much to tell that must stop somewhere
short of a complete history.
| Perhaps the most concise method is Ior
me to let you ask a lew questions. BE-
gin then. ~,
1874.
What was my first stunt. Conducting
the Punch and Judy snow in circus
Next I did a knot untying turn. Finally
graduated into the handcufr act. Inls
was absolutely the first t, attempt.
What else can I do? Well, few of the
things I am doing today may Suggest
what should do if my present act should
| throw me down. ,
In what is commonly called magic that
are said by the experts for whom l have
done them to be unapproached by any
| other nerformer in the same line, ana
| especially in the manipulation OF caros'
These would keep the wolf from the door
as long as have the use OF my hands.
| am an athlete and contortionist, as
YOU know ~ you have seen me get out OF
the straightjacket.
Pleasure in Magazine
But the thing in which l take mus
! n,oasure 10 NV magazine. This publica-
| ton is the recognized organ OIL an iha5, 81
clans Its columns are their forum. ~
lit-which means TO me-are relerreu a.,
i most all matters In dispute pMet"ee Jew ...iS,,
performers I write the greater poirioA
Of what appears in It's columns
rrbera is one more question that you
. want answered, but it Is the one tnat
must refuse. You want TO kno" noy
ascana from handouts, shackles, oregon
boots. steel prison cells, packing cases
and all the other contrivances tnat are
prepared for my detention: lnal s, a.,
: not tell you, and, really II l WEI u, ~
heIiave me You would say, NO. that
, lcan,t he true. e would not DC suoii
fool as to tell the real metnou'
when the right man guesses the r,sns ss -.
, vav he will not have to ask me- wneIher
he has # right or not. He VIII JUST do
the act and the rest of the world VIII go
l on guessing as beIore. 80 NV ,ittle
, Another would-be solver OF my n'.e
,,nsterv ~ was a great scientist OF Dort-
myd y a. Germany. Prof Jansen Bartna
! daIved into some of my tricks ana; tnink-
!. mo that / used some explosive, ne was
ii,,oa nn during an experiment in Jarring
omen locks in that way.
n Is NV hope to retire IN 1eW years
and then I shall expose all my metnous.
1Wb.t shall have to say will make lock
ssan,,sa m, cturers improve their creations.
Tn conclusion I ask that you snoulo
not take seriously anything | DO OF say.
,ioe ,Iu trv to entertain in a legitimate
: amnsr us trust that when l leave here
:, . week hence the people OF Los Angeles
:, 1.,;, have as pleasant recollections OF
II 1Ioudini as shall have OF Los Angeles
= + came here in 1899. struggling per-
$ former, and now I have returned pros
!, ,,era,,s and successful Once again be-
!, = fore retire hope to visit this city pro-
! foss,onaIlv. fos It would be pleasant to close
= nv stage career here and settle down
II amonr am the orange groves for the rest Of
q NV lffar 11<A1sAs@l hACCSZ%4NAA :