The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-31
MAGIC or HOUDIN
He Scared the A|gerians and
Conquered the Nation.
A LITTLE BLACK BOX DID 1T.
BY the Aid Of Magnet and Current
of Electricity He Struck Terror to
the Hearts of the Arabs and Took All
the Desire For Fight Out of Them.

-
the Hearts of the Arabs and Took All
the Desire For Fight Out of Them.
"These are great times" exulted the
Electrician to his friend the Old Fogy.
with machine guns and other instru-
ments of war we certainly are going
some in the fighting game"
Yes agreed the Old Fogy rs he ad-
justed his glasses, "but do you know
that before such things were dreamed
of an entire nation was conquered with
magnet and little black box?"
And the Electrician confessed, mol"
You have heard, no doubt" the Old
Fogy rambled on. "of the marvellous
inventions of Robert Houdin, the great
French conjurer, man who did great
things with electricity when Alexander
Graham Bell was an infant.
"Houdin applied electricity to many
of his magical experiments and de-
lighted the Partisan public for years in
his little theater. When he retired
he was the most favored performer of
his day and had bowed to the plaudits
of royalty"
Heard all about that" snapped the
Electrician. What about the black
box? 2"
Coming to that. boy; coming to that
Houdin retired to his family estate on
the left banks of the River Loire near
st. Gervaise, hoping to end his days
In peace. But after year or so there
came to him through military friend
a request from the French government
that he go to Algiers
I'm his memoirs, translated into Eng
fish some years before his death, he
says that the Marabouts of that coun-
try, a sort of medicine men and Won
der working priests. controlled the
masses and melted them to intermit-
ten revolts against the French by their
tricks. These tricks, he assures us, |
were of the simplest and most prim
tive type
ut was the hope of the French gov
eminent that Houdin by his mysteries
could demonstrate that the white con
queror's magic was superior And |
Houdin did It,"
with the little black box and the
magnetT
Yes His recital of his perform.
ance in Algiers is exceedingly interest
ing Some of the most distinguished
natives were there. Houdin showed
them all sorts of things: allowed him
self to be shot at and caught the bullet
unframed and many other such feats
But his piece de resistance undOubt
eddy was his box. He called for a
strong man to come on the stage, and
a giant responded. Houdin toyed with
him for a moment, bantered with him
about his strength and asked him if he
could lift his little black box. Dis
the Arab lifted it and smiled
But HOudin warned him: Wait.
But a moment, and you shall be as a
little child" He placed the box on the
stage over the magnet and dared his
huge guest to raise it. The Arab tried
with one finger; grasped it with his
great muscular hand: tugged at it with
Ill the strength of his massive arms
DraCing his legs like two huge bronze
so Houdin says, to no avail
Try as he would. this son of the des-
.rt could not stir that little box from
Is place.
For a breathing spell he released
,iC frt,in hny 4
gain as Houdn gave a signal to have
he current turned off And while the {
we stricken audience painted in amaze /
nent he suddenly writhed in acutest {
gony and sank groveling to the stage
he current cOursing through him had '
advanced him into misery
"Then Houdin gave a signal. the cur I
ant from the electro magnet beneath
he stage was turned off. and the Arab
ell back groaning. He lifted himself {
} his feet and, hiding his face in his g
Ioak. crept away to blush unseen. D."
he little black box had conquered" t
"And"- inquired the Electrician t.
"And," replied the Old Fogy. "Hou. b
inwas triumphant. The country had II
zen him shot at by man who said c
e wished to kill; had seen him rob a s
amt of his strength No Marabout
nd ever done that. No Marabout with
'imitive tricks could convince them
lat any revolt of theirs could prevail G.
yainst the white man and his magic K
IS electricity. The conQueror's con- r.
lest was complete. Popular Elec- n
lefty. NJ
fl