The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-15

Either something was irritating the
mind Of Mysterious Houdon" at the Ma
tional Theater last night, or else the
spirits previously scheduled 10 be present
were busly engaged In telling the First
Spiritualists' Association how 10 build
its new temple, and were. therefore, IN
able TO aid him
An unusually big attendance for a Sun
day night entertainment gathered in the
seats Of the National Theater long before
the professor made his appearance.
From the babble Of tongues such re-
marks as these could be heard:
The advertisement says he Is marvel
Gus"
Yes; and he's got some gorgeous
scenic effects, I understand"
They say the spirits shine all over the
house when he begins his heavy work"
A little after o'clock the curtain was
lifted, and its rising brought from the
audience the first OF a series Of heart
rending signs. The gorgeous scenic
effects" were embodied IN a sort OF parlor
suite with numerous kitchen chairs scat
tered about, TO lend color 10 the atnos-
phere. The general decorative effect was
mAuve blue. which thoroughly har-
monized with the audibly expressed feel
ings Of the audience.
Came from Scenes.
Mysterious Houdon" crept out from
somewhere behind the scenes.
i haven't been in Washington for
nineteen years" said tho professor as
he sized up the audience.
Why come back nowg" grumbled Sergt
Lee, who had been detailed to watch the
show. and was consequently somewhat
| irritable
NOW" said the professor as he mys-
teriously beckoned 10 the audience II
general Il want committee Of selected
citizens TO come forward"
And before the committee could decide
who comprised 1t. the mysterious mag
neither had begun a little speech. II
which he told those present what an i'm
mense amount Of qualification II CAV,
him 20 see them all there.
About half the audience moved toward
the stage when the signal Tor the selec
| committee was given. Those sitting nea
/ the front were led up until the kitcheI
/ chairs and pavlor furniture were filed
/ when the professor announced his jurl
was large enough Mai. Duffy wa
among those picked by the professor, III
| seemed 20 be quite chummy with Hou
| don. inasmUch as HOUdOn made him d.
most OF the work requiring "a thorough!
impartial citizen. ladies and gentlemen"
/ once they got the committee seated
/ Houdon called one Of the audience and
/ told him 10 look the gathering over and
/ pick out a face.
Now. think about IT," ordered Hou-
don.
/ AS far as could he told externally, tbs
| gentleman appeared 20 be thinking.
NOW" said Houdon, I'm going q
take hold Of this gcntleman's hand. anC
get into intimate feeling with his esoteri,
senses. lie Will mentally inform me who
he is imagining. Then, still grasping hii
|esoteric senses. I'm going 10 walk hin
up anI down the hall until We pass IN,
man he's thinking about Then. still
keeping a tight hold on his esoteri,
senses. I'm going TO go into the audienc,
and find the face he thought about"
lie Looked AEgrteyed.
The gentleman. looking somewhat az
srieved at the personal way which IN
professor intended treating his esoteri
senses. consented TO carry out his part o
the contract The professor blind-folde,
himself. and soon he and his subject
were Looping up and down the aisles TO
gether in search Of the mysterious face
When the professor was red IN the face
and his subject was painting heavily, IN
two wendell their way back 10 the stage
The professor removed his bandage
The man you thought about" sal
he. facing his subject accusingly. had
round face and a sandy mustache. Is
not so. young man?'
The subject nodded In a little Will
the professor had found in the audienc
a nervous person, possessed Of a roun
face and a mustache.
This is the face said the professo
witheringly. Whereat the man with IA
sandy mustaChe blushed and tried % hid
his head.
, Il will now" said tho mysterious HoU
don. ask a member In the audience [
pick out some young lady wearing a rims
take the ring from her. and put it on tn
finger Of another young lady Then
Will get a grip on his esoteric senses, an
find both the young lady wearing til
ring and the one TO whom 1t belongs"
a young man wearing eyeglasses an
possessing a sparsely settled thatch 4
straw-colored hair was chosen by IN
select committee as the official victim [
part some girl from her ring.
Not being possessed Of a blackjack
the young man adopted the inane but et
fective policy of wandering aimlessly u
and down the aisles inquiring, who
got a ring? Who's got a ring?"
Some girl was persuaded 20 give up ht
: jewelry after the girl designated 10 T,
ceiye it had been pointed out 10 her b
the young man with eyeglasses.
| The professor bIindfolded himself agai
after he had waved his fists over his ey,
glassed subjects head for some minute
The eyeglasSed young man was haule
quickly off the stage by the professor ar
the two did neat little Marathon
among the seats After a while the
slowed up in front of the girl who ha
the ring, and subsequently in front Of II
owner, who seemed glad to get her pro-
erty back.
The Audience ApplnudH.
| BY this time the audience was applau,
ing everything with an amount Of er
thusiasm almost suspicious. Every tin
a new subject wandered up to the stal
in response to the professors request.
wild, untamed burst of applause wou
permanently abash him to such a degr,
that he was almost useless.
/ I'VE will now enact a murder. scene
said the professor. And It really seem,
for the time as II he was doing son
impromptu prophesying of an unusual
accurate variety.
He didn't mean. 1t developed. what h
audience thought he did. He explain,