New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Houdini Is i'm the Movies
To Perpetulate His Work
AS a Master Mao;c;..

II Harry Houdini were to die to-mor-
row he would pass out content with the
fullness Of life and with the knowledge
Of experiences such as few men have
had He confessed this quite simply
as he sat in his study and tinkered
with the keys of typewriter. The
room had more of the atmosphere Of
the student than Of the magician.
Houdini, among other things, is a writer
and lover Of books. His shelves are
! filled with rare specimens Of many
kinds. His collection of books on magic
is the most extensive in existence
The keen, piercing eyes Of the magi-
clan were focused intently on his audi
ence as he told something Of his life
story. The knotted wrists that have
deted handcuf and manacIc and made
Houdini universally known figure lay
in reposc. There was concentration in
every line of his figure. 1t is this very
quality, he says, that has enabled him
to dQ unaccountabe things.
III | were die tomorrow ! could
not complain" said Houdini. "because
| have performed every known feat Of
magic from the smallest to the largest.
The most remarkable thing probably
was my vanishing elephant Jenny
weighing 10000 pounds, who used to
disappear Systematically in the Hippo
dromc. My smallest feat was swallow
ing couple Of PACKAGES of needles and
bringing them out threaded
''ln my opinion Harry Kcllar, the
originator Of the levitation wonder,
Princess Karnac, is the greatest magi-
clan the world ever saw. This feat is one
of the classics of viva rdry. At pres
ent | am writing Kelar's biography.
There is different spirit among the
~ y
arc specializing and they do not zeal
ously try to keep their secrets from
each other as they did in the old days.
They arc more intent now on improv-
ing their art than they are on further
ing their interests"
Houlin's discovery of his lock-
breaking gift dates pack to the time
of his mothers pies. AS boy in Ap-
pleton, Wis, he wanted to get into the
cupboard where the pastry was kept,
but mother had the key, so Harry sim
truthfuiy be said he realized then that
he had any special gift in this drec-
tion. But later, when he worked in
machine shop young man came in
handcuffed. The key had been lost
and he wanted to free himself. Hou-
dini struck on a way of releasing him
and thought nothing more of it until
he became magician. Endless the
ories have been advanced as to the
secret of his powers. There are those
who say he slips out Of handouts as
an eel slips through the fingers of an
amateur fisherman. Others say he ma
nipulates cell locks by muscular mag
netism. There is a further supposi-
ton that he squeezes himself through
bars OF cells. Superstitious persons
believe that spirits help him to escape.
81 have accomplished everything by
natural means" said Houdini when
questioned on this score. land not en-
trely by Drawn. Brain work has been
necessary, and concentration has meant
more than everything else put together
1t is the presentation OF the trick, and
not the trick itself that interests me. In
mystery work I always believe / am the
person who is talking. No, | don't be-
ieve in spiritualism at all. and think
the ouija board is nothing more nor
less than a pleasant pastime. l have