The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-09-24
MAGIC OF HOUD|N
He Scared the Algerians 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.

Of Electricity He Struck Terror to
the Hearts Of the Arabs and Took All
the Desire For Fisht Out Of Them.
These are great times" exulted the
Electrician to his friend the Old FOgy.
with machine guns and other nstru-
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 Il little black boxY''
And the Electrician confessed. Nor
You have heard. no doubt" the Old
FOgy rambled on. "of the marvellous
inventions of Robert IIoudin. the great
French conjurer, Il 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 tho
Electrician. What about the black
box?'
Coming to that. boy: coming to that.
lIOudin retired to his family estate on
the left banks of the River Loire near
st. Gervaisc. hoping to end his days
in peace. But after IL year or so there
came To him through II military friend
Il request from the French government
that he 20 to AlgicrS.
"ln his memoirs. translated into Eng
HSh some yelrs hefnre- his death, he
says that the Marabouls of that cOun-
try. II 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 Houdim by his mysteries
could demonstrate that the white con
queror'S magic was superior And
IIoudn did it,"
with the little black box and the
magnet:'
Yes His recital of his perform
ance in Agiers is exceedingly interest
ing Some of the most distinguished
natives were there IlOudin showed
them all sorts of things: allowed him
SELF to he shot mt and caught the bullet
unframed and many other such fcatS.
but his piece de resistance undoubt.
edly WAS his box He called for a
strong man To come on the stage and
II giant responded. Houdin toycd with
him for II moment. hantefpd with him
about his strength AMI asked him If he
could lift his little black box Dis
hainfully the Arab lifted IL and smiled
Put Tloidin warned him: Wait
But II moment. AMI you shall he rs a
little child" He placed the box on tho
stage over the magnet and dared his
huge guest to raise it. The Arab tried
With Que ginger, sraSpcd II With his
s"eat muscular hand. tugseq II i With
81 The SlrenlIh - his massive aims.
- his legs like two huge bronze
columns. 81 Houdip says, to no avail.
FRY rs he would. this son of the des-
ert could not stir that little box from
its place - --isAMSfs -
For n breathing spell he released
us grip for n moment. then went nj IL
again as Hondin gave n signal To- have
the current turned off. And while the
awe stricken audience painted in amaze
ncnt he suddenly writhed in acutesr
agony aud sank grovclinG to the stage
The current coursing through him had
galvanized him into misery
"rhen IIoudin gave II signal. the cur
rcut from the electro magnet beneath
the stage was turned Off. and the Arab
fell back groaning Tie lifted himself
10 his feet and. hiding his face in his
cloak. crept away To blush unseen.
The little black box had conquered"
"And"- inquired the Electrician.
And" replied the Old Fogy. "lIou-
lin WAS triumphant. The country had
seen him shot mt 10y n man who said
he wished to kill; had seen him rob
giant OF his strength No Marabout
had ever done that M Marabont with
primitive tricks could convince them
hat any revolt OF theirs could prevail
against the white man and his magic
his electricity. The conqueror's con-
quest was complete. Elec-
rcity.