The Calumet news., 1913-09-26
MAGIC OF HoUD|N
He Scared the Algerians and
Conquered the Nation.
A LITTLE BLACK BOX DID 1T.
BY the Aid Of . Magnet and a Current
Of Electricity He Struck Terror TO
the Hearts Of the Arabs and Took Al
the Desire For Fight Out Of Them.


the Hearts Of the Arabs and Took Al
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 cevtainly are going
some in the lighting game"
Yes" agreed the Old Fogy as be al.
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. "Nor
"You have heard. no doubt" the Old
Fogy rambled on. "of the marvellous
inventions OF Robert Houdin. the great
French conjurer. Il man who did great
things with electricity when Alexander
Graham Bell was an infant.
"Houdln 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 10 that.
Houdin retired TO his family estate on
the left banks OF the River Loire near
st. Geryaise. hoping to end his days
in peace. But after a year or so there
came to him through military friend
a request from the French government
that he go TO Algiers.
'In his memoirs. translated into Eng
lish 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
ernment 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
unharmed and many other such feats
But his piece de resistance undoubt-
edly 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 II he
could lift his little black box. Dis
dainfully the Arab lifted 1t 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 IL with his
great muscular hand: tugged ut it with
all the strength OF his massive arms,
bracing his legs like two huge bronze
columns. so Houdin says. TO no avail.
Try as he would, this son of the des-
ert could not stir that little box from
its place.
For breathing spell he released
his grip for moment. then went at 1t
again as Houdin gave signal to have
the current turned off. And while the
awe stricken audience painted I'm amaze
ment he suddenly writhed In acutest
agony and sank groveling to the stage.
The current coursing through him had
galvanized him into misery.
"Tben 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
to 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. "Hou.
din was triumphant. The country had
seen him shot at by q man who said
he wished to kill; had seen him rob
giant Of his strength. No Marabout
had ever done that. No Marabout 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. e."-Popular Elec-
tririfv