The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-10-03
MAGIC OF HOUDIN
He Scared the Algerians and
Conquered the Nation.
A LITTLE BLACK BOX DID II.

BY the Aid Of Magnet and a Current
Of Electricity He Struck Terror TO
the Hearts Of the Arabs and Took All
the Desire For Fight Out Of Them.
"These are great times" exulted the
Electrician 10 his friend the Old Fogy
with machine guns and other instru-
ments OF war we certainly are going
some in the lighting game"
"Yes," agreed the Old Fogy as he ad-
justed his glasses, "but do you know
that before such things were dreamed
Of an entire nation was conquered with
a magnet and a little black box"
And the Electrician confessed, "No"
"You have heard, no doubt" the Old
Fogy rambled on, "of the marvellous
inventions Of Robert Houdin, the great
French conJurer, a man who did great
things with electricity when Alexander
Graham Bell was an infant.
"Houdn 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
boxT
Coming TO that, boy; coming to that.
Houdln retired to his family estate on
the left banks OF the River Loire near
st Gervaise, hoping to end his days
I'm peace. But after year or so there
came TO him through a military friend
y request from the French government
that he go TO Algiers.
"In his memoirs, translated into Eng
lish some years before his death, he
saws that the Marabouts OF that coun-
try, sort Of medicine men and won
der working priests, controlled the
masses and melted them to intermit-
ten revots against the French by their
tricks. These tricks. he assures us.
were OF the simplest and most prim
tive type
at was the hope OF the French gov.
ernment that Houdin by his mysteries
could demonstrate that the white con
uuerors magic was superior. AND
Houdln did It,"
with the little black box and the
magnetT
"Yes His recital OF his perform
ance I'm Algiers Is exceedingly Interest
ing. Some OF the most distinguished
natives were there. Houdin showed
them all sorts OF things; allowed lnm-
self 10 be shot at and caught the bullet
unharmcd and many other such feats
"But his piece de resistance undoubt-
edly was his box. He called for
strong man to come OH the stage, and
n giant responded Houdln toyed with
! him for moment, bantercd with him
about his strength and asked him if he
! could lift his little black box. Dis
dainfully the Arab lifted It and smiled.
"But Houdln warned him: Wait.
| But n moment. and you shall be as
! little chlldr lie placed the box on the
stage over the magnet and dared his
! huge guest 10 raise r. The Arab tried
with one finger; grasped II with his
! great muscular hand; tuggcd at II with
! all the strength OF his massive arms,
hraclng his legs like two huge bronze
columns. so Houdin says, to no avail
Try MS ne would, this son OF the dcs-
ert could not stir that little box from
its place.
"For n breathing spell he released
his grip for moment. then went at II
again as Houdin gave signal To nave
the current turned Oft. And while the
awe stricken audience painted In amaze
ment he suddenly wrlthed In acutest
agony and sank groveling to the stage.
The current coursing through him had
galvanized him into misery.
"Thcn Houdin gave signal, the cur
rent from the electro magnet beneath
the stage was turned Off. and the Arab
fell back groaning. He lifted himself
10 his feet and. hiding his face In bis
cloak. crept away 20 blush unseen
The little black box had conquered
"And?"- inquired the Electrician.
"And." replied the old Fogy, "liou
din was triumphant The country had
seen him shot at 10y a man who said
he wished to Kill; had seen him rob n
giant Of his strength, No Marabout
had ever done that No Mnrabout with
primitive tricks could convince them
that any revolt OF theirs could prevail
against the white man and his magic
his electricity The conqueror's con.
quest was complete. Elec'
trlclty.