PART II--True Stories of Modern Magic

M. Robert-Houdin

A Conjurer's Confessions

I

SELF-TRAINING

[Sleight-of-hand theories alone cannot explain the mysteries of

"magic" as practiced by that eminent Frenchman who revolutionized

the entire art, and who was finally called upon to help his

government out of a difficuity--Robert-Houdin. The success of his

most famous performances hung not only on an incredible dexterity,

but also on high ingenuity and moral courage, as the following

pages from his "Memoirs" will prove to the reader. The story

begins when the young man of twenty was laboring patiently as

apprentice to a watchmaker.]

In order to aid my progress and afford me relaxation, my master

recommended me to study some treatises on mechanics in general, and

on clockmaking in particular. As this suited my taste exactly, I

gladly assented, and I was devoting myself passionately to this

attractive study, when a circumstance, apparently most simple,

suddenly decided my future life by revealing to me a vocation whose

mysterious resources must open a vast field for my inventive and

fanciful ideas.

One evening I went into a bookseller's shop to buy Berthoud's

"Treatise on Clockmaking," which I knew he had. The tradesman

being engaged at the moment on matters more important, took down

two volumes from the shelves and handed them to me without

ceremony. On returning home I sat down to peruse my treatise

conscientiously, but judge of my surprise when I read on the back

of one of the volumes "SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMENTS." Astonished at

finding such a title on a professional work, I opened it

impatiently, and, on running through the table of contents, my

surprise was doubled on reading these strange phrases:

The way of performing tricks with the cards--How to guess a

person's thoughts--To cut off a pigeon's head, to restore it to

life, etc., etc.

The bookseller had made a mistake. In his haste, he had given me

two volumes of the Encyclopaedia instead of Berthoud. Fascinated,

however, by the announcement of such marvels, I devoured the

mysterious pages, and the further my reading advanced, the more I

saw laid bare before me the secrets of an art for which I was

unconsciously predestined.

I fear I shall be accused of exaggeration, or at least not be

understood by many of my readers, when I say that this discovery

caused me the greatest joy I had ever experienced. At this moment

a secret presentiment warned me that success, perhaps glory, would

one day accrue to me in the apparent realization of the marvelous

and impossible, and fortunately these presentiments did not err.

The resemblance between two books, and the hurry of a bookseller,

were the commonplace causes of the most important event in my life.

It may be urged that different circumstances might have suggested

this profession to me at a later date. It is probable; but then I

should have had no time for it. Would any workman, artisan, or

tradesman give up a certainty, however slight it may be, to yield

to a passion which would be surely regarded as a mania? Hence my

irresistible penchant for the mysterious could only be followed at

this precise period of my life.

How often since have I blessed this providential error, without

which I should have probably vegetated as a country watchmaker! My

life would have been spent in gentle monotony; I should have been

spared many sufferings, emotions, and shocks: but, on the other

hand, what lively sensations, what profound delight would have been

sacrificed!

I was eagerly devouring every line of the magic book which

described the astounding tricks; my head was aglow, and I at times

gave way to thoughts which plunged me in ecstasy.

The author gave a very plain explanation of his tricks; still, he

committed the error of supposing his readers possessed of the

necessary skill to perform them. Now, I was entirely deficient in

this skill, and though most desirous of acquiring it, I found

nothing in the book to indicate the means. I was in the position

of a man who attempts to copy a picture without possessing the

slightest notion of drawing and painting.

In the absence of a professor to instruct me, I was compelled to

create the principles of the science I wished to study. In the

first place, I recognized the fundamental principle of sleight-of-

hand, that the organs performing the principal part are the sight

and touch. I saw that, in order to attain any degree of

perfection, the professor must develop these organs to their

fullest extent--for, in his exhibitions, he must be able to see

everything that takes place around him at half a glance, and

execute his deceptions with unfailing dexterity.

I had been often struck by the ease with which pianists can read

and perform at sight the most difficult pieces. I saw that, by

practice, it would be possible to create a certainty of perception

and facility of touch, rendering it easy for the artist to attend

to several things simultaneously, while his hands were busy

employed with some complicated task. This faculty I wished to

acquire and apply to sleight-of-hand; still, as music could not

afford me the necessary elements, I had recourse to the juggler's

art, in which I hoped to meet with an analogous result.

It is well known that the trick with the balls wonderfully improves

the touch, but does it not improve the vision at the same time? In

fact, when a juggler throws into the air four balls crossing each

other in various directions, he requires an extraordinary power of

sight to follow the direction his hands have given to each of the

balls. At this period a corn-cutter resided at Blois, who

possessed the double talent of juggling and extracting corns with a

skill worthy of the lightness of his hands. Still, with both these

qualities, he was not rich, and being aware of that fact, I hoped

to obtain lessons from him at a price suited to my modest finances.

In fact, for ten francs he agreed to initiate me in the juggling

art.

I practiced with so much zeal, and progressed so rapidly, that in

less than a month I had nothing more to learn; at least, I knew as

much as my master, with the exception of corn-cutting, the monopoly

in which I left him. I was able to juggle with four balls at once.

But this did not satisfy my ambition; so I placed a book before me,

and, while the balls were in the air, I accustomed myself to read

without any hesitation.

This will probably seem to my readers very extraordinary; but I

shall surprise them still more, when I say that I have just amused

myself by repeating this curious experiment. Though thirty years

have elapsed since the time of which I am writing, and though I

scarcely once touched the balls during that period, I can still

manage to read with ease while keeping three balls up.

The practice of this trick gave my fingers a remarkable degree of

delicacy and certainty, while my eye was at the same time acquiring

a promptitude of perception that was quite marvelous. Presently I

shall have to speak of the service this rendered me in my

experiment of second sight. After having thus made my hands supple

and docile, I went on straight to sleight-of-hand, and I more

especially devoted myself to the manipulation of cards and

palmistry.

This operation requires a great deal of practice; for, while the

hand is held apparently open, balls, corks, lumps of sugar, coins,

etc., must be held unseen, the fingers remaining perfectly free and

limber.

Owing to the little time at my disposal, the difficulties connected

with these new experiments would have been insurmountable had I not

found a mode of practicing without neglecting my business. It was

the fashion in those days to wear coats with large pockets on the

hips, called a la proprietaire, so whenever my hands were not

otherwise engaged they slipped naturally into my pockets, and set

to work with cards, coins, or one of the objects I have mentioned.

It will be easily understood how much time I gained by this. Thus,

for instance, when out on errands my hands could be at work on both

sides; at dinner, I often ate my soup with one hand while I was

learning to sauter la coupe with the other--in short, the slightest

moment of relaxation was devoted to my favorite pursuit.

II

"SECOND SIGHT"

[A thousand more trials of patience and perseverance finally

brought to the conjurer a Parisian theater and an appreciative

clientele. But he never ceased to labor and improve the quality of

his marvelous effects.]

The experiment, however, to which I owed my reputation was one

inspired by that fantastic god to whom Pascal attributes all the

discoveries of this sublunary world: it was chance that led me

straight to the invention of SECOND SIGHT.

My two children were playing one day in the drawing-room at a game

they had invented for their own amusement. The younger had

bandaged his elder brother's eyes, and made him guess the objects

he touched, and when the latter happened to guess right, they

changed places. This simple game suggested to me the most

complicated idea that ever crossed my mind.

Pursued by the notion, I ran and shut myself up in my workroom, and

was fortunately in that happy state when the mind follows easily

the combinations traced by fancy. I rested my hand in my hands,

and, in my excitement, laid down the first principles of second

sight.

My readers will remember the experiment suggested to me formerly by

the pianist's dexterity, and the strange faculty I succeeded in

attaining: I could read while juggling with four balls. Thinking

seriously of this, I fancied that this "perception by appreciation"

might be susceptible of equal development, if I applied its

principles to the memory and the mind.

I resolved, therefore, on making some experiments with my son

Emile, and, in order to make my young assistant understand the

nature of the exercise we were going to learn, I took a domino, the

cinq-quatre for instance, and laid it before him. Instead of

letting him count the points of the two numbers, I requested the

boy to tell me the total at once.

"Nine," he said.

Then I added another domino, the quarter-tray.

"That makes sixteen," he said, without any hesitation. I stopped

the first lesson here; the next day we succeeded in counting at a

single glance four dominoes, the day after six, and thus we at

length were enabled to give instantaneously the product of a dozen

dominoes.

This result obtained, we applied ourselves to a far more difficult

task, over which we spent a month. My son and I passed rapidly

before a toy-shop, or any other displaying a variety of wares, and

cast an attentive glance upon it. A few steps farther on we drew

paper and pencil from our pockets, and tried which could describe

the greater number of objects seen in passing. I must own that my

son reached a perfection far greater than mine, for he could often

write down forty objects, while I could scarce reach thirty. Often

feeling vexed at this defeat, I would return to the shop and verify

his statement, but he rarely made a mistake.

My male readers will certainly understand the possibility of this,

but they will recognize the difficulty. As for my lady readers, I

am convinced beforehand they will not be of the same opinion, for

they daily perform far more astounding feats. Thus, for instance,

I can safely assert that a lady seeing another pass at full speed

in a carriage, will have had time to analyze her toilet from her

bonnet to her shoes, and be able to describe not only the fashion

and quality of the stuffs, but also say if the lace be real or only

machine-made. I have known ladies do this.

This natural, or acquired, faculty among ladies, but which my son

and I had only gained by constant practice, was of great service in

my performances, for while I was executing my tricks, I could see

everything that passed around me, and thus prepare to foil any

difficulties presented me. This exercise had given me, so to

speak, the power of following two ideas simultaneously, and nothing

is more favorable in conjuring than to be able to think at the same

time both of what you are saying and of what you are doing. I

eventually acquired such a knack in this that I frequently invented

new tricks while going through my performances. One day, even, I

made a bet I would solve a problem in mechanics while taking my

part in conversation. We were talking of the pleasure of a country

life, and I calculated during this time the quantity of wheels and

pinions, as well as the necessary cogs, to produce certain

revolutions required, without once failing in my reply.

This slight explanation will be sufficient to show what is the

essential basis of second sight, and I will add that a secret and

unnoticeable correspondence[1] existed between my son and myself,

by which I could announce to him the name, nature, and bulk of

objects handed me by spectators.

[1] "Telegraphy."

As none understood my mode of action, they were tempted to believe

in something extraordinary, and, indeed, my son Emile, then aged

twelve, possessed all the essential qualities to produce this

opinion, for his pale, intellectual, and ever thoughtful face

represented the type of a boy gifted with some supernatural power.

Two months were incessantly employed in erecting the scaffolding of

our tricks, and when we were quite confident of being able to

contend against the difficulties of such an undertaking, we

announced the first representation of second sight. On the 12th of

February, 1846, I printed in the center of my bill the following

singular announcement:

"In this performance M. Robert-Houdin's son, who is gifted with a

marvelous second sight, after his eyes have been covered with a

thick bandage, will designate every object presented to him by the

audience."

I cannot say whether this announcement attracted any spectators,

for my room was constantly crowded, still I may affirm, what may

seem very extraordinary, that the experiment of second sight, which

afterwards became so fashionable, produced no effect on the first

performance. I am inclined to believe that the spectators fancied

themselves the dupes of accomplices, but I was much annoyed by the

result, as I had built on the surprise I should produce; still,

having no reason to doubt its ultimate success, I was tempted to

make a second trial, which turned out well.

The next evening I noticed in my room several persons who had been

present on the previous night, and I felt they had come a second

time to assure themselves of the reality of the experiment. It

seems they were convinced, for my success was complete, and amply

compensated for my former disappointment.

I especially remember a mark of singular approval with which one of

my pit audience favored me. My son had named to him several

objects he offered in succession; but not feeling satisfied, my

incredulous friend, rising, as if to give more importance to the

difficulty he was about to present, handed me an instrument

peculiar to cloth merchants, and employed to count the number of

threads. Acquiescing in his wish, I said to my boy, "What do I

hold in my hand?"

"It is an instrument to judge the fineness of cloth, and called a

thread counter."

"By Jove!" my spectator said, energetically, "it is marvelous. If

I had paid ten francs to see it, I should not begrudge them."

From this moment my room was much too small, and was crowded every

evening.

Still, success is not entirely rose-colored, and I could easily

narrate many disagreeable scenes produced by the reputation I had

of being a sorcerer; but I will only mention one, which forms a

resume of all I pass over:

A young lady of elegant manners paid me a visit one day, and

although her face was hidden by a thick veil, my practiced eyes

perfectly distinguished her features. She was very pretty.

My incognita would not consent to sit down till she was assured we

were alone, and that I was the real Robert-Houdin. I also seated

myself, and assuming the attitude of a man prepared to listen, I

bent slightly to my visitor, as if awaiting her pleasure to explain

to me the object of her mysterious visit. To my great surprise,

the young lady, whose manner betrayed extreme emotion, maintained

the most profound silence, and I began to find the visit very

strange, and was on the point of forcing an explanation, at any

hazard, when the fair unknown timidly ventured these words:

"Good Heavens! sir, I know not how you will interpret my visit."

Here she stopped, and let her eyes sink with a very embarrassed

air; then, making a violent effort, she continued:

"What I have to ask of you, sir, is very difficult to explain."

"Speak, madam, I beg," I said, politely, "and I will try to guess

what you cannot explain to me."

And I began asking myself what this reserve meant.

"In the first place," the young lady said, in a low voice, and

looking round her, "I must tell you confidentially that I loved, my

love was returned, and I--I am betrayed."

At the last word the lady raised her head, overcame the timidity

she felt, and said, in a firm and assured voice:

"Yes, sir--yes, I am betrayed, and for that reason I have come to

you."

"Really, madam," I said, much surprised at this strange confession,

"I do not see how I can help you in such a matter."

"Oh, sir, I entreat you," said my fair visitor, clasping her hands--

"I implore you not to abandon me!"

I had great difficulty in keeping my countenance, and yet I felt an

extreme curiosity to know the history concealed behind this

mystery.

"Calm yourself, madam," I remarked, in a tone of tender sympathy;

"tell me what you would of me, and if it be in my power--"

"If it be in your power!" the young lady said, quickly; "why,

nothing is more easy, sir."

"Explain yourself, madam."

"Well, sir, I wish to be avenged."

"In what way?"

"How, you know better than I, sir; must I teach you? You have in

your power means to--"

"I, madam?"

"Yes, sir, you! for you are a sorcerer, and cannot deny it."

At this word sorcerer, I was much inclined to laugh; but I was

restrained by the incognita's evident emotion. Still, wishing to

put an end to a scene which was growing ridiculous, I said, in a

politely ironical tone:

"Unfortunately, madam, you give me a title I never possessed."

"How, sir!" the young woman exclaimed, in a quick tone, "you will

not allow you are--"

"A sorcerer, madam? Oh, no, I will not."

"You will not?"

"No, a thousand times no, madam."

At these words my visitor rose hastily, muttered a few incoherent

words, appeared suffering from terrible emotion, and then drawing

near me with flaming eyes and passionate gestures, repeated:

"Ah, you will not! Very good; I now know what I have to do."

Stupefied by such an outbreak, I looked at her fixedly, and began

to suspect the cause of her extraordinary conduct.

"There are two modes of acting," she said, with terrible

volubility, "toward people who devote themselves to magic arts--

entreaty and menaces. You would not yield to the first of these

means, hence, I must employ the second. Stay," she added, "perhaps

this will induce you to speak."

And, lifting up her cloak, she laid her hand on the hilt of a

dagger passed through her girdle. At the same time she suddenly

threw back her veil, and displayed features in which all the signs

of rage and madness could be traced. No longer having a doubt as

to the person I had to deal with, my first movement was to rise and

stand on my guard; but this first feeling overcome, I repented the

thought of a struggle with the unhappy woman, and determined on

employing a method almost always successful with those deprived of

reason. I pretended to accede to her wishes.

"If it be so, madam, I yield to your request. Tell me what you

require."

"I have told you, sir; I wish for vengeance, and there is only one

method to--"

Here there was a fresh interruption, and the young lady, calmed by

my apparent submission, as well as embarrassed by the request she

had to make of me, became again timid and confused.

"Well, madam?"

"Well, sir, I know not how to tell you--how to explain to you--but

I fancy there are certain means--certain spells--which render it

impossible--impossible for a man to be--unfaithful."

"I now understand what you wish, madam. It is a certain magic

practice employed in the middle ages. Nothing is easier, and I

will satisfy you."

Decided on playing the farce to the end, I took down the largest

book I could find in my library, turned over the leaves, stopped at

a page which I pretended to scan with profound attention, and then

addressing the lady, who followed all my movements anxiously,

"Madam," I said confidentially, "the spell I am going to perform

renders it necessary for me to know the name of the person; have

the kindness, then, to tell it me."

"Julian!" she said, in a faint voice.

With all the gravity of a real sorcerer, I solemnly thrust a pin

through a lighted candle, and pronounced some cabalistic words.

After which, blowing out the candle, and turning to the poor

creature, I said:

"Madam, it is done; your wish is accomplished."

"Oh, thank you, sir," she replied, with the expression of the

profoundest gratitude; and at the same moment she laid a purse on

the table and rushed away. I ordered my servant to follow her to

her house, and obtain all the information he could about her, and I

learned she had been a widow for a short time, and that the loss of

an adored husband had disturbed her reason. The next day I visited

her relatives, and, returning them the purse, I told them the scene

the details of which the reader has just perused.

This scene, with some others that preceded and followed it,

compelled me to take measures to guard myself against bores of

every description. I could not dream, as formerly, of exiling

myself in the country, but I employed a similar resource: this was

to shut myself up in my workroom, and organize around me a system

of defense against those whom I called, in my ill-temper, thieves

of time.

I daily received visits from persons who were utter strangers to

me; some were worth knowing, but the majority, gaining an

introduction under the most futile pretexts, only came to kill a

portion of their leisure time with me. It was necessary to

distinguish the tares from the wheat, and this is the arrangement I

made:

When one of these gentlemen rang at my door, an electric

communication struck a bell in my workroom; I was thus warned and

put on my guard. My servant opened the door, and, as is customary,

inquired the visitor's name, while I, for my part, laid my ear to a

tube, arranged for the purpose, which conveyed to me every word.

If, according to his reply, I thought it as well not to receive

him, I pressed a button, and a white mark that appeared in a

certain part of the hall announced I was not at home to him. My

servant then stated I was out, and begged the visitor to apply to

the manager.

Sometimes it happened that I erred in my judgment, and regretted

having granted an audience; but I had another mode of shortening a

bore's visit. I had placed behind the sofa on which I sat an

electric spring, communicating with a bell my servant could hear.

In case of need, and while talking, I threw my arm carelessly over

the back of the sofa, touching the spring, and the bell rang. Then

my servant, playing a little farce, opened the front door, rang the

bell, which could be heard from the room where I sat, and came to

tell me that M. X--- (a name invented for the occasion) wished to

speak to me. I ordered M. X--- to be shown into an adjoining room,

and it was very rare that my bore did not raise the siege. No one

can form an idea how much time I gained by this happy arrangement,

or how many times I blessed my imagination and the celebrated

savant to whom the discovery of galvanism is due!

This feeling can be easily explained, for my time was of

inestimable value. I husbanded it like a treasure, and never

sacrificed it, unless the sacrifice might help me to discover new

experiments destined to stimulate public curiosity.

To support my determination in making my researches, I had ever

before me this maxim:

IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT ADMIRATION THAN TO EXCITE IT.

And this other, an apparent corollary of the preceding:

THE FASHION AN ARTIST ENJOYS CAN ONLY LAST AS HIS TALENT DAILY

INCREASES.

Nothing increases a professional man's merit so much as the

possession of an independent fortune; this truth may be coarse, but

it is indubitable. Not only was I convinced of these principles of

high economy, but I also knew that a man must strive to profit by

the fickle favor of the public, which equally descends if it does

not rise. Hence I worked my reputation as much as I could. In

spite of my numerous engagements, I found means to give

performances in all the principal theaters, though great

difficulties frequently arose, as my performance did not end till

half-past ten, and I could only fulfill my other engagements after

that hour.

Eleven o'clock was generally the hour fixed for my appearance on a

strange stage, and my readers may judge of the speed required to

proceed to the theater in so short a time and make my preparations.

It is true that the moments were as well counted as employed, and

my curtain had hardly fallen than, rushing toward the stairs, I got

before my audience, and jumped into a vehicle that bore me off at

full speed.

But this fatigue was as nothing compared to the emotion

occasionally produced by an error in the time that was to elapse

between my two performances. I remember that, one night, having to

wind up the performances at the Vaudeville, the stage manager

miscalculated the time the pieces would take in performing, and

found himself much in advance. He sent off an express to warn me

that the curtain had fallen, and I was anxiously expected. Can my

readers comprehend my wretchedness? My experiments, of which I

could omit none, would occupy another quarter of an hour; but

instead of indulging in useless recriminations, I resigned myself

and continued my performance, though I was a prey to frightful

anxiety. While speaking, I fancied I could hear that cadenced yell

of the public to which the famous song, "Des lampions, des

lampions," was set. Thus, either through preoccupation or a desire

to end sooner, I found when my performance was over I had gained

five minutes out of the quarter of an hour. Assuredly, it might he

called the quarter of an hour's grace.

To jump into a carriage and drive to the Place de la Bourse was the

affair of an instant; still, twenty minutes had elapsed since the

curtain fell, and that was an enormous time. My son Emile and I

proceeded up the actors' stairs at full speed, but on the first

step we had heard the cries, whistling, and stamping of the

impatient audience. What a prospect! I knew that frequently,

either right or wrong, the public treated an artiste, no matter

whom, very harshly, to remind him of punctuality. That sovereign

always appears to have on its lips the words of another monarch: "I

was obliged to wait." However, we hurried up the steps leading to

the stage.

The stage manager, who had been watching, on hearing our hurried

steps, cried from the landing:

"Is that you, M. Houdin?"

"Yes, sir--yes."

"Raise the curtain!" the same voice shouted.

"Wait, wait, it is imp--"

My breath would not allow me to finish my objection; I fell on a

chair, unable to move.

"Come, M. Houdin," the manager said, "DO go on the stage, the

curtain is up, and the public are so impatient."

The door at the back of the stage was open, but I could not pass

through it; fatigue and emotion nailed me to the spot. Still, an

idea occurred to me, which saved me from the popular wrath.

"Go on to the stage, my boy," I said to my son, "and prepare all

that is wanting for the second-sight trick."

The public allowed themselves to be disarmed by this youth, whose

face inspired a sympathizing interest; and my son, after gravely

bowing to the audience, quietly made his slight preparations, that

is to say, he carried an ottoman to the front of the stage, and

placed on a neighboring table a slate, some chalk, a pack of cards,

and a bandage.

This slight delay enabled me to recover my breath and calm my

nerves, and I advanced in my turn with an attempt to assume the

stereotyped smile, in which I signally failed, as I was so

agitated. The audience at first remained silent, then their faces

gradually unwrinkled, and soon, one or two claps having been

ventured, they were carried away and peace was made. I was well

rewarded, however, for this terrible ordeal, as my "second-sight"

never gained a more brilliant triumph.

An incident greatly enlivened the termination of my performance.

A spectator, who had evidently come on purpose to embarrass us, had

tried in vain for some minutes to baffle my son's clairvoyance,

when, turning to me, he said, laying marked stress on his words:

"As your son is a soothsayer, of course he can guess the number of

my stall?"

The importunate spectator doubtless hoped to force us into a

confession of our impotence, for he covered his number, and the

adjacent seats being occupied, it was apparently impossible to read

the numbers. But I was on my guard against all surprises, and my

reply was ready. Still, in order to profit as much as possible by

the situation, I feigned to draw back.

"You know, sir," I said, feigning an embarrassed air, "that my son

is neither sorcerer nor diviner; he reads through my eyes, and

hence I have given this experiment the name of second sight. As I

cannot see the number of your stall, and the seats close to you are

occupied, my son cannot tell it you."

"Ah! I was certain of it," my persecutor said, in triumph, and

turning to his neighbors: "I told you I would pin him."

"Oh, sir! you are not generous in your victory," I said, in my

turn, in a tone of mockery. "Take care; if you pique my son's

vanity too sharply, he may solve your problem, though it is so

difficult."

"I defy him," said the spectator, leaning firmly against the back

of his seat, to hide the number better--"yes, yes--I defy him!"

"You believe it to be difficult, then?"

"I will grant more: it is impossible."

"Well, then, sir, that is a stronger reason for us to try it. You

will not be angry if we triumph in our turn?" I added, with a

petulant smile.

"Come, sir; we understand evasions of that sort. I repeat it--I

challenge you both."

The public found great amusement in this debate, and patiently

awaited its issue.

"Emile," I said to my son, "prove to this gentleman that nothing

can escape your second sight."

"It is number sixty-nine," the boy answered, immediately.

Noisy and hearty applause rose from every part of the theater, in

which our opponent joined, for, confessing his defeat, he

exclaimed, as he clapped his hands, "It is astounding--

magnificent!"

The way I succeeded in finding out the number of the stall was

this: I knew beforehand that in all theaters where the stalls are

divided down the center by a passage, the uneven numbers are on the

right, and the even on the left. As at the Vaudeville each row was

composed of ten stalls, it followed that on the right hand the

several rows must begin with one, twenty-one, forty-one, and so on,

increasing by twenty each. Guided by this, I had no difficulty in

discovering that my opponent was seated in number sixty-nine,

representing the fifth stall in the fourth row. I had prolonged

the conversation for the double purpose of giving more brilliancy

to my experiment, and gaining time to make my researches. Thus I

applied my process of two simultaneous thoughts, to which I have

already alluded.

As I am now explaining matters, I may as well tell my readers some

of the artifices that added material brilliancy to the second

sight. I have already said this experiment was the result of a

material communication between myself and my son which no one could

detect. Its combinations enabled us to describe any conceivable

object; but, though this was a splendid result, I saw that I should

soon encounter unheard-of difficulties in executing it.

The experiment of second sight always formed the termination of my

performance. Each evening I saw unbelievers arrive with all sorts

of articles to triumph over a secret which they could not unravel.

Before going to see Robert-Houdin's son a council was held, in

which an object that must embarrass the father was chosen. Among

these were half-effaced antique medals, minerals, books printed in

characters of every description (living and dead languages), coats-

of-arms, microscopic objects, etc.

But what caused me the greatest difficulty was in finding out the

contents of parcels, often tied with a string, or even sealed up.

But I had managed to contend successfully against all these

attempts to embarrass me. I opened boxes, purses, pocketbooks,

etc., with great ease, and unnoticed, while appearing to be engaged

on something quite different. Were a sealed parcel offered me, I

cut a small slit in the paper with the nail of my left thumb, which

I always purposely kept very long and sharp, and thus discovered

what it contained. One essential condition was excellent sight,

and that I possessed to perfection. I owed it originally to my old

trade, and practice daily improved it. An equally indispensable

necessity was to know the name of every object offered me. It was

not enough to say, for instance, "It is a coin"; but my son must

give its technical name, its value, the country in which it was

current, and the year in which it was struck. Thus, for instance,

if an English crown were handed me, my son was expected to state

that it was struck in the reign of George IV, and had an intrinsic

value of six francs eighteen centimes.

Aided by an excellent memory, we had managed to classify in our

heads the name and value of all foreign money. We could also

describe a coat-of-arms in heraldic terms. Thus, on the arms of

the house of X--- being handed me, my son would reply: "Field

gules, with two croziers argent in pale." This knowledge was very

useful to us in the salons of the Faubourg Saint Germain, where we

were frequently summoned.

I had also learned the characters--though unable to translate a

word--of an infinity of languages, such as Chinese, Russian,

Turkish Greek, Hebrew, etc. We knew, too, the names of all

surgical instruments, so that a surgical pocketbook, however

complicated it might be, could not embarrass us. Lastly, I had a

very sufficient knowledge of mineralogy, precious stones,

antiquities, and curiosities; but I had at my command every

possible resource for acquiring these studies, as one of my dearest

and best friends, Aristide le Carpentier, a learned antiquary, and

uncle of the talented composer of the same name, had, and still

has, a cabinet of antique curiosities, which makes the keepers of

the imperial museums fierce with envy. My son and I spent many

long days in learning here names and dates of which we afterwards

made a learned display. Le Carpentier taught me many things, and,

among others, he described various signs by which to recognize old

coins when the die is worn off. Thus, a Trajan, a Tiberius, or a

Marcus Aurelius became as familiar to me as a five-franc piece.

Owing to my old trade, I could open a watch with ease, and do it

with one hand, so as to be able to read the maker's name without

the public suspecting it: then I shut up the watch again and the

trick was ready; my son managed the rest of the business.

But that power of memory which my son possessed in an eminent

degree certainly did us the greatest service. When we went to

private houses, he needed only a very rapid inspection in order to

know all the objects in a room, as well as the various ornaments

worn by the spectators, such as chatelaines, pins, eyeglasses,

fans, brooches, rings, bouquets, etc. He thus could describe these

objects with the greatest ease, when I pointed them out to him by

our secret communication. Here is an instance:

One evening, at a house in the Chaussee d'Antin, and at the end of

a performance which had been as successful as it was loudly

applauded, I remembered that, while passing through the next room

to the one we were now in, I had begged my son to cast a glance at

a library and remember the titles of some of the books, as well as

the order they were arranged in. No one had noticed this rapid

examination.

"To end the second-sight experiment, sir," I said to the master of

the house, "I will prove to you that my son can read through a

wall. Will you lend me a book?"

I was naturally conducted to the library in question, which I

pretended now to see for the first time, and I laid my finger on a

book.

"Emile," I said to my son, "what is the name of this work?"

"It is Buffon," he replied quickly.

"And the one by its side?" an incredulous spectator hastened to

ask.

"On the right or left?" my son asked.

"On the right," the speaker said, having a good reason for choosing

this book, for the lettering was very small.

"The Travels of Anacharsis the Younger," the boy replied. "But,"

he added, "had you asked the name of the book on the left, sir, I

should have said Lamartine's Poetry. A little to the right of this

row, I see Crebillon's works; below, two volumes of Fleury's

Memoirs"; and my son thus named a dozen books before he stopped.

The spectators had not said a word during this description, as they

felt so amazed; but when the experiment had ended, all complimented

us by clapping their hands.

III

THE MAGICIAN WHO BECAME AN AMBASSADOR

[It is not generally known that Robert-Houdin once rendered his

country an important service as special envoy to Algeria. Half a

century ago this colony was an endless source of trouble to France.

Although the rebel Arab chieftain Abd-del-Kader had surrendered in

1847, an irregular warfare was kept up against the French authority

by the native Kabyles, stimulated by their Mohammedan priests, and

particularly through so-called "miracles," such as recovery from

wounds and burns self-inflicted by the Marabouts and other fanatic

devotees of the Prophet.

Thus in 1856 the hopes of the French Foreign Office rested on

Robert-Houdin. He was requested to exhibit his tricks in the most

impressive form possible, with the idea of proving to the deluded

Arabs that they had been in error in ascribing supernatural powers

to their holy men.]

It was settled that I should reach Algiers by the next 27th of

September, the day on which the great fetes annually offered by the

capital of Algeria to the Arabs would commence.

I must say that I was much influenced in my determination by the

knowledge that my mission to Algeria had a quasi-political

character. I, a simple conjurer, was proud of being able to render

my country a service.

It is known that the majority of revolts which have to be

suppressed in Algeria are excited by intriguers, who say they are

inspired by the Prophet, and are regarded by the Arabs as envoys of

God on earth to deliver them from the oppression of the Roumi

(Christians).

These false prophets and holy Marabouts, who are no more sorcerers

than I am, and indeed even less so, still contrive to influence the

fanaticism of their coreligionists by tricks as primitive as are

the spectators before whom they are performed.

The government was, therefore, anxious to destroy their pernicious

influence, and reckoned on me to do so. They hoped, with reason,

by the aid of my experiments, to prove to the Arabs that the tricks

of their Marabouts were mere child's play, and owing to their

simplicity could not be done by an envoy from Heaven, which also

led us very naturally to show them that we are their superiors in

everything, and, as for sorcerers, there are none like the French.

Presently I will show the success obtained by these skillful

tactics.

Three months were to elapse between the day of my acceptance and

that of my departure which I employed in arranging a complete

arsenal of my best tricks, and left St. Gervais on the 10th of

September.

I will give no account of my passage, further than to say no sooner

was I at sea than I wished I had arrived, and, after thirty-six

hours' navigation, I greeted the capital of our colony with

indescribable delight.

On the 28th of October, the day appointed for my first performance

before the Arabs, I reached my post at an early hour, and could

enjoy the sight of their entrance into the theater.

Each goum,[1] drawn up in companies, was introduced separately, and

led in perfect order to the places chosen for it in advance. Then

came the turn of the chiefs, who seated themselves with all the

gravity becoming their character.

[1] Brigade of native soldiers under French command. It was this

influential native faction that the Foreign Office wished

particularly to impress, through Robert-Houdin's skill.--EDITOR.

Their introduction lasted some time, for these sons of nature could

not understand that they were boxed up thus, side by side, to enjoy

a spectacle, and our comfortable seats, far from seeming so to

them, bothered them strangely. I saw them fidgeting about for some

time, and trying to tuck their legs under them, after the fashion

of European tailors.

The caids, agas, bash-agas, and other titled Arabs, held the places

of honor, for they occupied the orchestra stalls and the dress

circle.

In the midst of them were several privileged officers, and, lastly,

the interpreters were mingled among the spectators, to translate my

remarks to them.

I was also told that several curious people, having been unable to

procure tickets, had assumed the Arab burnous, and, binding the

camel's-hair cord round their foreheads, had slipped in among their

new coreligionists.

This strange medley of spectators was indeed a most curious sight.

The dress circle, more especially, presented an appearance as grand

as it was imposing. Some sixty Arab chiefs, clothed in their red

mantles (the symbol of their submission to France), on which one or

more decorations glistened, gravely awaited my performance with

majestic dignity.

I have performed before many brilliant assemblies, but never before

one which struck me so much as this. However, the impression I

felt on the rise of the curtain, far from paralyzing me, on the

contrary inspired me with a lively sympathy for the spectators,

whose faces seemed so well prepared to accept the marvels promised

them. As soon as I walked on the stage, I felt quite at my ease,

and enjoyed, in anticipation, the sight I was going to amuse myself

with.

I felt, I confess, rather inclined to laugh at myself and my

audience, for I stepped forth, wand in hand, with all the gravity

of a real Sorcerer. Still, I did not give way, for I was here not

merely to amuse a curious and kind public, I must produce a

startling effect upon coarse minds and prejudices, for I was

enacting the part of a French Marabout.

Compared with the simple tricks of their pretended sorcerers, my

experiments must appear perfect miracles to the Arabs.

I commenced my performance in the most profound, I might almost say

religious, silence, and the attention of the spectators was so

great that they seemed petrified. Their fingers alone moving

nervously, played with the beads of their rosaries, while they

were, doubtless, invoking the protection of the Most High.

This apathetic condition did not suit me, for I had not come to

Algeria to visit a waxwork exhibition. I wanted movement,

animation, life in fact, around me.

I changed my batteries, and, instead of generalizing my remarks, I

addressed them more especially to some of the Arabs, whom I

stimulated by my words, and still more by my actions. The

astonishment then gave way to a more expressive feeling, which was

soon evinced by noisy outbursts.

This was especially the case when I produced cannon balls from a

hat, for my spectators, laying aside their gravity, expressed their

delighted admiration by the strangest and most energetic gestures.

Then came--greeted by the same success--the bouquet of flowers,

produced instantaneously from a hat; the CORNUCOPIA, supplying a

multitude of objects which I distributed, though unable to satisfy

the repeated demands made on all sides, and still more by those who

had their hands full already; the FIVE-FRANC PIECES, sent across

the theater with a crystal box suspended above the spectators.

One trick I should much have liked to perform was the INEXHAUSTIBLE

BOTTLE, so appreciated by the Parisians and the Manchester "hands";

but I could not employ it in this performance, for it is well known

the followers of Mohammed drink no fermented liquor--at least not

publicly. Hence, I substituted the following with considerable

advantage:

I took a silver cup, like those called "punch bowls" in the

Parisian cafes. I unscrewed the foot, and passing my wand through

it showed that the vessel contained nothing; then, having refitted

the two parts, I went to the center of the pit, when, at my

command, the bowl was MAGICALLY filled with sweetmeats, which were

found excellent.

The sweetmeats exhausted, I turned the bowl over, and proposed to

fill it with excellent coffee; so, gravely passing my hand thrice

over the bowl, a dense vapor immediately issued from it, and

announced the presence of the precious liquid. The bowl was full

of boiling coffee, which I poured into cups, and offered to my

astounded spectators.

The first cups were only accepted, so to speak, under protest; for

not an Arab would consent to moisten his lips with a beverage which

he thought came straight from Shaitan's kitchen; but, insensibly

seduced by the perfume of their favorite liquor, and urged by the

interpreters, some of the boldest decided on tasting the magic

liquor, and all soon followed their example.

The vessel, rapidly emptied, was repeatedly filled again with equal

rapidity; and it satisfied all demands, like my inexhaustible

bottle, and was borne back to the stage still full.

But it was not enough to amuse my spectators; I must also, in order

to fulfill the object of my mission, startle and even terrify them

by the display of a supernatural power.

My arrangements had all been made for this purpose, and I had

reserved for the end of my performances three tricks, which must

complete my reputation as a sorcerer.

Many of my readers will remember having seen at my performances a

small but solidly built box, which, being handed to the spectators,

becomes heavy or light at my order; a child might raise it with

ease, and yet the most powerful man could not move it from its

place.

I advanced, with my box in my hand, to the center of the

"practicable," communicating from the stage to the pit; then,

addressing the Arabs, I said to them:

"From what you have witnessed, you will attribute a supernatural

power to me, and you are right. I will give you a new proof of my

marvelous authority, by showing that I can deprive the most

powerful man of his strength and restore it at my will. Anyone who

thinks himself strong enough to try the experiment may draw near

me." (I spoke slowly, in order to give the interpreter time to

translate my words.)

An Arab of middle height, but well built and muscular, like many of

the Arabs are, came to my side with sufficient assurance.

"Are you very strong?" I said to him, measuring him from head to

foot.

"Oh, yes!" he replied carelessly.

"Are you sure you will always remain so?"

"Quite sure."

"You are mistaken, for in an instant I will rob you of your

strength, and you shall become as a little child."

The Arab smiled disdainfully as a sign of his incredulity.

"Stay," I continued; "lift up this box."

The Arab stooped, lifted up the box, and said to me, coldly, "Is

that all?"

"Wait--!" I replied.

Then, with all possible gravity, I made an imposing gesture, and

solemnly pronounced the words:

"Behold! you are weaker than a woman; now, try to lift the box."

The Hercules, quite cool as to my conjuration, seized the box once

again by the handle, and gave it a violent tug, but this time the

box resisted, and, spite of his most vigorous attacks, would not

budge an inch.

The Arab vainly expended on this unlucky box a strength which would

have raised an enormous weight, until, at length, exhausted,

panting, and red with anger, he stopped, became thoughtful, and

began to comprehend the influences of magic.

He was on the point of withdrawing; but that would be allowing his

weakness, and that he, hitherto respected for his vigor, had become

as a little child. This thought rendered him almost mad.

Deriving fresh strength from the encouragements his friends offered

him by word and deed, he turned a glance round them, which seemed

to say: "You will see what a son of the desert can do."

He bent once again over the box: his nervous hands twined round the

handle, and his legs, placed on either side like two bronze

columns, served as a support for the final effort.

But, wonder of wonders! this Hercules, a moment since so strong and

proud, now bows his head; his arms, riveted to the box, undergo a

violent muscular contraction; his legs give way, and he falls on

his knees with a yell of agony!

An electric shock, produced by an inductive apparatus, had been

passed, on a signal from me, from the further end of the stage into

the handle of the box. Hence the contortions of the poor Arab!

It would have been cruelty to prolong this scene.

I gave a second signal, and the electric current was immediately

intercepted. My athlete, disengaged from his terrible bondage,

raised his hands over his head.

"Allah! Allah!" he exclaimed, full of terror; then wrapping himself

up quickly in the folds of his burnous, as if to hide his disgrace,

he rushed through the ranks of the spectators and gained the front

entrance.

With the exception of my stage boxes and the privileged spectators

who appeared to take great pleasure in this experiment, my audience

had become grave and silent, and I heard the words "Shaitan!"

"Djenoum!" passing in murmur round the circle of credulous men,

who, while gazing on me, seemed astonished that I possessed none of

the physical qualities attributed to the angel of darkness.

I allowed my public a few moments to recover from the emotion

produced by my experiment and the flight of the herculean Arab.

One of the means employed by the Marabouts to gain influence in the

eyes of the Arabs is by causing a belief in their invulnerability.

One of them, for instance, ordered a gun to be loaded and fired at

him from a short distance, but in vain did the flint produce a

shower of sparks; the Marabout pronounced some cabalistic words,

and the gun did not explode.

The mystery was simple enough; the gun did not go off because the

Marabout had skillfully stopped up the vent.

Colonel de Neven explained to me the importance of discrediting

such a miracle by opposing to it a sleight-of-hand trick far

superior to it, and I had the very article.

I informed the Arabs that I possessed a talisman rendering me

invulnerable, and I defied the best marksman in Algeria to hit me.

I had hardly uttered the words when an Arab, who had attracted my

notice by the attention he had paid to my tricks, jumped over four

rows of seats, and disdaining the use of the "practicable," crossed

the orchestra, upsetting flutes, clarionets, and violins, escaladed

the stage, while burning himself at the footlights, and then said,

in excellent French:

"I will kill you!"

An immense burst of laughter greeted both the Arab's picturesque

ascent and his murderous intentions, while an interpreter who stood

near me told me I had to deal with a Marabout.

"You wish to kill me!" I replied, imitating his accent and the

inflection of his voice. "Well, I reply, that though you are a

sorcerer, I am still a greater one, and you will not kill me."

I held a cavalry pistol in my hand, which I presented to him.

"Here, take this weapon, and assure yourself it has undergone no

preparation."

The Arab breathed several times down the barrel, then through the

nipple, to assure himself there was a communication between them,

and after carefully examining the pistol, said:

"The weapon is good, and I will kill you."

"As you are determined, and for more certainty, put in a double

charge of powder, and a wad on the top."

"It is done."

"Now, here is a leaden ball; mark it with your knife, so as to be

able to recognize it, and put it in the pistol, with a second wad."

"It is done."

"Now that you are quite sure your pistol is loaded, and that it

will explode, tell me, do you feel no remorse, no scruple about

killing me thus, although I authorize you to do so?"

"No, for I wish to kill you," the Arab repeated coldly.

Without replying, I put an apple on the point of a knife, and,

standing a few yards from the Marabout, ordered him to fire.

"Aim straight at the heart," I said to him.

My opponent aimed immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

The pistol exploded, and the bullet lodged in the center of the

apple.

I carried the talisman to the Marabout, who recognized the ball he

had marked.

I could not say that this trick produced greater stupefaction than

the ones preceding it: at any rate, my spectators, palsied by

surprise and terror, looked round in silence, seeming to think,

"Where the deuce have we got to here!"

A pleasant scene, however, soon unwrinkled many of their faces.

The Marabout, though stupefied by his defeat, had not lost his

wits; so, profiting by the moment when he returned me the pistol,

he seized the apple, thrust it into his waist belt, and could not

be induced to return it, persuaded as he was that he possessed in

it an incomparable talisman.

For the last trick in my performance I required the assistance of

an Arab.

At the request of several interpreters, a young Moor, about twenty

years of age, tall, well built, and richly dressed, consented to

come on the stage. Bolder and more civilized, doubtless, than his

comrades of the plains, he walked firmly up to me.

I drew him toward the table that was in the center of the stage,

and pointed out to him and to the other spectators that it was

slightly built and perfectly isolated. After which, without

further preface, I told him to mount upon it, and covered him with

an enormous cloth cone, open at the top.

Then, drawing the cone and its contents on to a plank, the ends of

which were held by my servant and myself, we walked to the

footlights with our heavy burden, and upset it. The Moor had

disappeared--the cone was perfectly empty!

Immediately there began a spectacle which I shall never forget.

The Arabs were so affected by this last trick, that, impelled by an

irresistible feeling of terror, they rose in all parts of the

house, and yielded to the influence of a general panic. To tell

the truth, the crowd of fugitives was densest at the door of the

dress circle, and it could be seen, from the agility and confusion

of these high dignitaries, that they were the first to wish to

leave the house.

Vainly did one of them, the Caid of the Beni-Salah, more courageous

than his colleagues, try to restrain them by his words:

"Stay! stay! we cannot thus lose one of our coreligionists. Surely

we must know what has become of him, or what has been done to him.

Stay! stay!"

But the coreligionists only ran away the faster, and soon the

courageous caid, led away by their example, followed them.

They little knew what awaited them at the door of the theater; but

they had scarce gone down the steps when they found themselves face

to face with the "resuscitated Moor."

The first movement of terror overcome, they surrounded the man,

felt and cross-questioned him; but, annoyed by these repeated

questions, he had no better recourse than to escape at full speed.

The next evening the second performance took place, and produced

nearly the same effect as the previous one.

The blow was struck: henceforth the interpreters and all those who

had dealings with the Arabs received orders to make them understand

that my pretended miracles were only the result of skill, inspired

and guided by an art called prestidigitation, in no way connected

with sorcery.

The Arabs doubtless yielded to these arguments, for henceforth I

was on the most friendly terms with them. Each time a chief saw

me, he never failed to come up and press my hand. And, even more,

these men whom I had so terrified, when they became my friends,

gave me a precious testimony of their esteem--I may say, too, of

their admiration, for that is their own expression.

IV

FACING THE ARAB'S PISTOL

[The severest trial of all was unexpectedly encountered during a

visit paid by the conjurer and his wife to Bou-Allem-ben-Sherifa,

Bash-Aga of the Djendel, a tribe of the desert interior.]

We entered a small room very elegantly decorated, in which were two

divans.

"This," our host said, "is the room reserved for guests of

distinction; you can go to bed when you like, but if you are not

tired, I would ask your leave to present to you several chief men

of my tribe, who, having heard of you, wish to see you."

"Let them come in," I said, after consulting Madame Houdin, "we

will receive them with pleasure."

The interpreter went out, and soon brought in a dozen old men,

among whom were a Marabout and several talebs, whom the bash-aga

appeared to hold in great deference.

They sat down in a circle on carpets and kept up a very lively

conversation about my performances at Algiers. This learned

society discussed the probability of the marvels related by the

chief of the tribe, who took great pleasure in depicting his

impressions and those of his coreligionists at the sight of the

MIRACLES I had performed.

Each lent an attentive ear to these stories, and regarded me with a

species of veneration; the Marabout alone displayed a degree of

skepticism, and asserted that the spectators had been duped by what

he called a vision.

Jealous of my reputation as a French sorcerer, I thought I must

perform before the unbeliever a few tricks as a specimen of my late

performance. I had the pleasure of astounding my audience, but the

Marabout continued to offer me a systematic opposition, by which

his neighbors were visibly annoyed; the poor fellow did not

suspect, though, what I had in store for him.

My antagonist wore in his sash a watch, the chain of which hung

outside.

I believe I have already mentioned a certain talent I possess of

filching a watch, a pin, a pocketbook, etc., with a skill by which

several of my friends have been victimized.

I was fortunately born with an honest and upright heart, or this

peculiar talent might have led me too far. When I felt inclined

for a joke of this nature, I turned it to profit in a conjuring

trick, or waited till my friend took leave of me, and then recalled

him: "Stay," I would say, handing him the stolen article, "let this

serve as a lesson to put you on your guard against persons less

honest than myself."

But to return to our Marabout. I had stolen his watch as I passed

near him and slipped into its place a five-franc piece.

To prevent his detecting it, and while waiting till I could profit

by my larceny, I improvised a trick. After juggling away Bou-

Allem's rosary, I made it pass into one of the numerous slippers

left at the door by the guests; this shoe was next found to be full

of coins, and to end this little scene comically, I made five-franc

pieces come out of the noses of the spectators. They took such

pleasure in this trick that I fancied I should never terminate it.

"Douros! douros!"[1] they shouted, as they twitched their noses. I

willingly acceded to their request, and the douros issued at

command.

[1] Gold Arabic coin.

The delight was so great that several Arabs rolled on the ground;

this coarsely expressed joy on the part of Mohammedans was worth

frenzied applause to me.

I pretended to keep aloof from the Marabout, who, as I expected,

remained serious and impassive.

When calm was restored, my rival began speaking hurriedly to his

neighbors, as if striving to dispel their illusion, and, not

succeeding, he addressed me through the interpreter:

"You will not deceive me in that way," he said, with a crafty look.

"Why so?"

"Because I don't believe in your power."

"Ah, indeed! Well, then, if you do not believe in my power, I will

compel you to believe in my skill."

"Neither in one nor the other."

I was at this moment the whole length of the room from the

Marabout.

"Stay," I said to him; "you see this five-franc piece."

"Yes."

"Close your hand firmly, for the piece will go into it in spite of

yourself."

"I am ready," the Arab said, in an incredulous voice, as he held

out his tightly closed fist.

I took the piece at the end of my fingers, so that the assembly

might all see it, then, feigning to throw it at the Marabout, it

disappeared at the word "Pass!"

My man opened his hand, and, finding nothing in it, shrugged his

shoulders, as if to say, "You see, I told you so."

I was well aware the piece was not there, but it was important to

draw the Marabout's attention momentarily from the sash, and for

this purpose I employed the feint.

"That does not surprise me," I replied, "for I threw the piece with

such strength that it went right through your hand, and has fallen

into your sash. Being afraid I might break your watch by the blow,

I called it to me: here it is!" And I showed him the watch in my

hand.

The Marabout quickly put his hand in his waist belt, to assure

himself of the truth, and was quite stupefied at finding the five-

franc piece.

The spectators were astounded. Some among them began telling their

beads with a vivacity evidencing a certain agitation of mind; but

the Marabout frowned without saying a word, and I saw he was

spelling over some evil design.

"I now believe in your supernatural power," he said; "you are a

real sorcerer; hence, I hope you will not fear to repeat here a

trick you performed in your theater"; and offering me two pistols

he held concealed beneath his burnous, he added, "Come, choose one

of these pistols; we will load it, and I will fire at you. You

have nothing to fear, as you can ward off all blows."

I confess I was for a moment staggered; I sought a subterfuge and

found none. All eyes were fixed upon me, and a reply was anxiously

awaited.

The Marabout was triumphant.

Bou-Allem, being aware that my tricks were only the result of

skill, was angry that his guest should be so pestered; hence he

began reproaching the Marabout. I stopped him, however, for an

idea had occurred to me which would save me from my dilemma, at

least temporarily; then, addressing my adversary:

"You are aware," I said, with assurance, "that I require a talisman

in order to be invulnerable, and, unfortunately, I have left mine

at Algiers."

The Marabout began laughing with an incredulous air. "Still," I

continued, "I can, by remaining six hours at prayers, do without

the talisman, and defy your weapon. To-morrow morning, at eight

o'clock, I will allow you to fire at me in the presence of these

Arabs, who were witnesses of your challenge."

Bou-Allem, astonished at such a promise, asked me once again if

this offer were serious, and if he should invite the company for

the appointed hour. On my affirmative, they agreed to meet before

the stone bench in the market place.

I did not spend my night at prayers, as may be supposed, but I

employed about two hours in insuring my invulnerability; then,

satisfied with the result, I slept soundly, for I was terribly

tired.

By eight the next morning we had breakfasted, our horses were

saddled, and our escort was awaiting the signal for our departure,

which would take place after the famous experiment.

None of the guests were absent, and, indeed, a great number of

Arabs came in to swell the crowd.

The pistols were handed me; I called attention to the fact that the

vents were clear, and the Marabout put in a fair charge of powder

and drove the wad home. Among the bullets produced, I chose one

which I openly put in the pistol, and which was then also covered

with paper.

The Arab watched all these movements, for his honor was at stake.

We went through the same process with the second pistol and the

solemn moment arrived.

Solemn, indeed, it seemed to everybody--to the spectators who were

uncertain of the issue, to Madame Houdin, who had in vain besought

me to give up this trick, for she feared the result--and solemn

also to me, for as my new trick did not depend on any of the

arrangements made at Algiers, I feared an error, an act of

treachery--I knew not what.

Still I posted myself at fifteen paces from the sheik, without

evincing the slightest emotion.

The Marabout immediately seized one of the pistols, and, on my

giving the signal, took a deliberate aim at me. The pistol went

off, and the ball appeared between my teeth.

More angry than ever, my rival tried to seize the other pistol, but

I succeeded in reaching it before him.

"You could not injure me," I said to him, "but you shall now see

that my aim is more dangerous than yours. Look at that wall."

I pulled the trigger, and on the newly whitewashed wall appeared a

large patch of blood, exactly at the spot where I had aimed.

The Marabout went up to it, dipped his finger in the blood, and,

raising it to his mouth, convinced himself of the reality. When he

acquired this certainty, his arms fell, and his head was bowed on

his chest, as if he were annihilated.

It was evident that for the moment he doubted everything, even the

Prophet.

The spectators raised their eyes to heaven, muttered prayers, and

regarded me with a species of terror.

This scene was a triumphant termination to my performance. I

therefore retired, leaving the audience under the impression I had

produced. We took leave of Bou-Allem and his son, and set off at a

gallop.

The trick I have just described, though so curious, is easily

prepared. I will give a description of it, while explaining the

trouble it took me.

As soon as I was alone in my room, I took out of my pistol case--

without which I never travel--a bullet mold.

I took a card, bent up the four edges, and thus made a sort of

trough, in which I placed a piece of wax taken from one of the

candles. When it was melted, I mixed with it a little lampblack I

had obtained by putting the blade of a knife over the candle, and

then ran this composition in the bullet mold.

Had I allowed the liquid to get quite cold, the ball would have

been full and solid; but in about ten seconds I turned the mold

over, and the portions of the wax not yet set ran out, leaving a

hollow ball in the mold. This operation is the same as that used

in making tapers, the thickness of the outside depending on the

time the liquid has been left in the mold.

I wanted a second ball, which I made rather more solid than the

other; and this I filled with blood, and covered the orifice with a

lump of wax. An Irishman had once taught me the way to draw blood

from the thumb without feeling any pain, and I employed it on this

occasion to fill my bullet.

Bullets thus prepared bear an extraordinary resemblance to lead,

and are easily mistaken for that metal when seen at a short

distance off.

With this explanation, the trick will be easily understood. After

showing the leaden bullet to the spectators, I changed it for my

hollow ball, and openly put the latter into the pistol. By

pressing the wad tightly down, the wax broke into small pieces, and

could not touch me at the distance I stood.

At the moment the pistol was fired, I opened my mouth to display

the lead bullet I held between my teeth, while the other pistol

contained the bullet filled with blood, which bursting against the

wall, left its imprint, though the wax had flown to atoms.

It is no wonder that after such exhibitions Robert-Houdin's success

was complete. The Arabs lost all confidence in Marabout

"miracles," and thus a dangerous smoldering flame of disaffection

to the French was entirely smothered.--EDITOR.

David P. Abbott

Fraudulent Spiritualism Unveiled[1]

[1] As to whether communication with the departed is possible, no

discussion is here attempted. The episodes following, from

experiences well authenticated, merely illustrate what sleight-of-

hand experts have long known--that most "mediums," "astrologers,"

"mind readers," and the like, can be proven to be frauds. Their

dupes are puzzled, and sometimes won over, in the name of

Spiritualism, either by the tricks familiar to all "conjurers," or

else by the psychology of deception (see page 280). Some of the

cleverness displayed is marvelous, as the following pages show.

The passages by Hereward Carrington are copyrighted by Herbert B.

Turner & Co., 1907, and those by David P. Abbott are copyrighted by

the Open Court Publishing Company, 1907--EDITOR.

THE METHODS OF A "DOCTOR OF THE OCCULT"

Not so very long ago I met a friend--a man of wealth, who was a

firm believer in spiritualism, and who frequently conversed with

his dead wife and daughter. I asked him if he could inform me

whether or not there were any good mediums in the city, as I should

like to consult one.

He replied that at present there were none in Omaha of any well-

developed psychic powers; that he was entirely satisfied on the

subject and did not require any demonstrations to convince himself

of the truths of spiritual science. He informed me that the

question was settled beyond all dispute; but that if I were

skeptical, there was said to be a medium in Council Bluffs who

possessed most wonderful powers.

I accordingly made other inquiries from those who were in a

position to know; and I learned that this medium, a celebrated

"Doctor of the Occult, Astrologer, Palmist and Spirit Medium," was

at that time giving private sittings in Council Bluffs to earnest

inquirers only, for the small sum of two dollars.

I was informed that his performances were of the most wonderful

nature; that there was no possibility of trickery of any kind; that

he told you whatever you desired to know, without your even asking

him; that, in addition to this, he had powers over the elements of

nature; and, in fact, I was led to believe that he was a true

sorcerer of the olden days.

I determined at once to call on this renowned personage, and try to

secure a little information from the unseen world. Accordingly,

one Sunday afternoon I took the car that crossed the river, and in

due time arrived at the apartments of this wonderful doctor.

I was met at the door by an attendant, who accepted the fee and

directed me to enter the rooms of this mysterious person quietly;

and if I found him employed, by no means to disturb him, but merely

to await his pleasure; that he was frequently conversing with

unseen beings, or deep in some astrological computation, and at

such times it was not safe to disturb him.

With a beating heart I entered the room where he was to be found.

This room was a large one. I did not see him at first. What

attracted my attention was a large map or painting on a piece of

canvas which hung on a wall space in the room. This painting had a

representation of the sun in its center. This could be discovered

by the rays which radiated from it in all directions. Around this

sun were many stars, and an occasional planet, among which Saturn

and its rings were very prominently depicted. There were numerous

pictures of animals and men, and of queer monsters, scattered among

the stars.

Beneath this picture stood a large golden oak table at which sat

this delver into the occult, deeply engrossed in a study of this

painting; while with a little brush he figured and calculated, in a

queer sort of Chinese characters, which he drew on a sheet of

paper. He also seemed to be making a strange drawing on the same

paper. He was far too deeply engaged to notice my entrance, and

continued at his labors for some time, while I stood quietly and

watched him. Sitting on one end of this rather large table was a

glass globe or vessel, supported by three nickeled rods, something

like a tripod. Coming from the wall was a rather large nickeled

tube or pipe which curved over above the glass vessel, and

continually allowed drops of water to fall into the globe. From

the side of this glass vessel there led a small nickeled pipe which

evidently carried away the waste water.

Occasionally a little blue flame would appear on the surface of

this water, play about, and disappear. When this happened the body

of the medium was always convulsed slightly.

After a time he seemed to finish his calculation, and this seer

condescended to leave the realms of the stars wherein dwelt the

spirits that rule the universe and the destinies of men, and to

descend to earth and for a time direct his gaze toward this humble

mortal. He turned around and observed me for the first time. He

was a large, portly, fine-looking gentleman of middle age, with

very long black hair which gave him a strange appearance. He wore

a pair of glasses low down on his nose; and from over these he

condescended to direct his gaze at, and to study me for a moment as

a naturalist might study some specimen that happened temporarily to

attract his notice.

He soon informed me that the stars had told him something of my

coming and of the question that was worrying me; and he asked me if

I desired to consult the stars as to my destiny, to have him

decipher it from the lines of my palm, or whether I should prefer

to converse with the dead. The last was my choice.

Not far from a window at one side of the room there was a small

table on which were a few articles. He directed me to be seated at

this table, and handed me a slip of paper of a size of probably

four by five inches. He directed me to write the question I

desired answered on this paper, and when through to fold the paper

in halves three times with the writing inside. I did so while he

walked to his bowl of water apparently paying no attention to me,

and then returned.

When he had returned to a position opposite me at the table, he

reached to take my writing out of my hand; seeing which I quickly

bent down one corner of the paper and gave it to him. He directed

one sharp glance at me as I did this, at the same time picking up

an envelope from the table with his other hand. He held this

envelope open flap side toward me, and slowly inserted my paper

into it. As he did this, looking sharply at me, he remarked, "I am

no sleight-of-hand performer. You see your question is actually in

the envelope." This was the case; for it was close to me and I

could plainly see the top of it against the back of the envelope,

the lower portions being inserted; and I could see the little

corner folded down, as I had bent it, and I was certain he had not

exchanged it. In fact he took occasion to use his hands in such

manner that I could see there was nothing concealed about them,

that he "palmed" nothing, and that he made no exchange. I was

entirely satisfied that all was fair, and that no exchange had been

made.

Next, he sealed the envelope, and holding it toward the window,

called my attention to the fact that as the envelope was partly

transparent I could see my paper within it and that it was actually

there. This was really the case. He now took a match, and

lighting it applied the flame to this identical envelope without

its leaving my sight; and proceeded to burn the last vestige of it

and the paper within it, allowing the ashes to drop into a small

vessel on the table.

There was no doubt that he did not exchange envelopes and that he

burned it before my very eyes. He now took the ashes and emptied

them into the bowl of water on the side table. A little blue flame

appeared on the surface of the water after that for a moment, and

then disappeared.

He now brought from a drawer a number of slates--about eight or ten

small slates with padded edges. They were the smallest size of

slates, I should judge; and with them he brought another slate, a

trifle larger, probably two inches both longer and wider. He

requested me to examine thoroughly or to clean them all to my own

satisfaction, and to stack the small ones on the table, one on top

of the other; and when all were thus placed, to place the large

slate on top of the stack.

While I was doing this he called to his attendant for a drink of

water, and incidentally stepped into the hall to receive it, so

that his menial would not profane this sanctuary with his presence.

Returning to the table he took a seat opposite me and placed one of

my hands and one of his on top of the slates. In due time he took

up the slates and we found nothing. He replaced them, and waited

for a few moments; then seeming dissatisfied with conditions, he

took up the top slate in his left hand and with his right hand

began writing a message for me. He did this like mediums do

automatic writing, with eyes half closed; and while writing his

person was convulsed a few times. He then opened his eyes and read

aloud what he had written, asking me if it answered my question. I

replied that it did not, as it was entirely foreign to the subject.

Then seeming dissatisfied, he moistened his fingers, erased the

writing, and replaced the top slate on the stack of slates.

He now placed his hands on this slate again, and after a time

examined it; but it was still free from writing. He lifted up some

of the other slates; but as there was no writing, he scattered the

slates around on the table and asked me to spread a large cloth

over them which he handed to me. This I did, and under his

direction placed my arms and hands over this. He walked to the

bowl of water on the side table, and gazed into it. I watched him;

and I saw a rather large flame appear on the surface of the water,

dance about, and disappear.

He immediately informed me that he was certain that I now had a

message. He remained at a distance while I examined the slates one

by one. Finally, on one of them I found a message, neatly written

and covering the entire slate. It read:

"Mrs. Piper is a genuine medium. She possesses powers of a very

unusual nature. Her tests given Hyslop and others are genuine. Do

not be a skeptic. You are making a mistake, dear friend. It is

all plain to me now, and spirit is all there is.--WILL."

Now, the question I had written was addressed to a very dear friend

who is now dead, and read as follows:

"WILL J----: In regard to the medium, Mrs. Piper, of whom we

conversed on your last visit, I would ask if she be genuine, and if

the tests she gave Professor Hyslop and others were genuine. Give

me a test."

This was all nicely done, and I am sure would have greatly

impressed nearly everyone. Being a performer myself, I could of

course follow the performance in minute detail, and I am thus

enabled to give to the readers of this paper a detailed account of

the method used by the doctor. I will state that since that time I

have very successfully operated this same test, minus the bowl of

water and flame of fire; and that I can assure all that it is very

practicable and that it is very deceptive.

HOW THE TRICKS SUCCEEDED

When the medium picked up the envelope in which to place my paper,

there was within it a duplicate piece of paper folded the same, and

of the same size (one inch and a quarter by two inches) as the one

I had folded. He kept the face of this envelope opposite me so I

could not see that side of it. On the face of it was a horizontal

slit cut with a knife. This slit was about two inches long and was

situated about halfway down the face of the envelope. The

duplicate folded paper was placed vertically in the envelope at its

center, so that its center was located against the slit. This

piece of paper was held in position by a touch of paste at a point

opposite the slit, which caused it to adhere to the inside of the

back of the envelope.

When he picked up this prepared envelope with his left hand, he did

so with the slit side or face in his palm next to the fingers of

his left hand. This envelope lay slit side down before he picked

it up; so that I did not see the face of the envelope at all, and

he kept that side of the envelope from me during the entire trick.

The paper within the envelope had been placed far enough down so

that its top part was not exposed to my view. The envelope thus

appeared perfectly natural, as an ordinary one with nothing in it.

He thus held the envelope in his left hand, flap open wide, with

the back side of the envelope later to be sealed, facing me. Now

he really inserted my paper in this envelope with his right hand as

he took it from me; but in fact, he pushed it down just behind the

hidden slip of paper within the envelope. I mean that he inserted

it between the concealed slip and the face or slit side of the

envelope; and as he did this he caused the lower end of my slip of

paper to pass through the slit in the center of the front of the

envelope. The lower portion of my slip was thus out of the

envelope on its rear side, between the front of the envelope and

the fingers of his left hand; although I could see nothing of this.

He pushed it down so that the top still remained in view with the

bent corner exposed, and then sealed the flap over it.

Holding the envelope toward the window, he called to my notice the

fact that my paper was within, and that I could see it plainly. I

could see the shadow of the two papers, which appeared as one, and

thus his statement seemed correct. Of course he did not show me

the rear side OR FACE of the envelope, with my paper protruding,

which was immediately behind the duplicate, so that the shadow of

it was also the shadow of the duplicate.

This shadow also hid from my view the shadow of the slit. The

envelope was sealed fairly.

Now with his right hand he moved a small vessel on the table toward

himself. Then taking the envelope in his right hand, slit side

downward, he held it close to this vessel; at the same time with

his left hand he took a match from his pocket and proceeded to burn

the envelope. This move concealed the trick; and it was very

deceiving and cleverly done. As he took the envelope from his left

hand with his right hand, he, with his left fingers touching the

protruding portion of my slip, caused it to remain in his left hand

and to be drawn entirely out of the slit. His eyes followed the

envelope as his right hand took it; which naturally caused my eyes

to follow it, as his attention seemed centered on the envelope and

it appeared to occupy the stage of action. This move was executed

in a moment, not requiring any time worth mentioning, although it

takes so long to describe it on paper intelligibly. Now while his

eyes (and of course mine) followed the envelope, without pause his

left hand went into his left pocket in a natural manner to get the

match. He, of course, left my slip in his pocket with his surplus

matches; and when he retired for the drink of water, he read my

question.

As to the slate trick, all was fair until he picked up the top

slate, wrote an automatic message, apparently read it aloud to me,

and then upon my informing him that the message did not answer my

question, he seemed dissatisfied, apparently erased the message,

and replaced the large slate on top of the stack of slates. What

he really did was to pick up the large top slate, bottom side

toward himself, and at the same time to carry with it a small slate

pressed tightly against its under side. He held the large slate

with its under side tilted from me, so I could not see this small

slate. There being so many small slates in the stack, the

temporary absence of one from the stack attracted no notice.

He kept this small slate next to him out of my view, and really

wrote the message on the small slate which was next to him, and

which was concealed from my view by the larger slate. He did not

read aloud what he had actually written, but merely pretended to do

so, repeating something entirely foreign to the subject instead.

What he had written really answered my question fully. When he

appeared to erase the message, his movements were but a pretense;

and he did not erase it at all. When he replaced the large slate

on the stack of slates, he, of course, replaced the small one which

was concealed under it, message side down.

It must be remembered that the operator, at the beginning of the

slate trick, first took up and examined the large slate a time or

so for a message; and finding none, seemed disappointed, and

finally wrote the automatic message; then on being informed that it

did not apply to the case, he seemed dissatisfied and appeared to

erase it.

After the message was written and the slates replaced, he examined

the top slate a time or so, and even lifted off a few small slates

looking for writing, but did not turn them over; then seeing

nothing, he scattered the slates around on the table, leaving their

same sides downward; and handing me the cover, he requested me to

cover them and place my hands on them.

The trick was now practically done. As the slates had been

examined so many times and nothing found on them, even after the

automatic writing, the majority of persons would testify that there

was positively nothing on the slates when the medium left the

table. The majority of persons would never remember that he at one

time wrote on the large slate and erased it. The message being on

a small slate, and these being spread around, few would have known

that this message really appeared on the particular small slate

that was originally next the top of the stack.

Most people would have certified that they cleaned all of the

slates themselves, that the medium never touched any of the small

ones, and that he only laid his hands on top of the stack a few

times. Some would even forget that the medium handled their

writing at all before burning it.

I am sure that the nickeled tube that carried the dripping water

into the space over the glass bowl, had a second tube within it;

through which his assistant from the adjoining room either blew, or

sent by some mechanism, the chemicals (probably potassium) that

would take fire and burn on striking the water.

. . . . .

When I perform the slate trick described above, after writing the

"automatic" message, apparently erasing it, and replacing the

slates, I do not scatter the slates around on the table as this

medium did. Instead, I proceed as I will now describe.

We place our palms on the stack, and after a time examine the large

slate for a message, but find none. I may incidentally remark that

this last examination unconsciously verifies in the sitter's mind

the fact that I actually erased what I wrote "automatically."

I now look on some of the smaller slates for a message, but find

none. When I do this I do not turn these slates over and look on

their under sides, but merely take off the top slate to see if

there be a message on the upper surface of the one under it. I

merely remark, "Well, there is nothing on that slate," indicating

the second one from the top; and at the same time I drop the top

slate (now in my hand) on the table beside the stack. I

immediately take off the second slate and repeat this same

performance, dropping it on top of the first one. I keep on with

this performance until I have removed four or five of the slates,

and have them stacked in a second stack beside the first one. Then

seeming to grow discouraged, I remark, "I guess there is no

message"; and I replace the second stack on the first stack. This

places the message slate four or five slates down in the stack; as

the bottom slate of the second stack, being the top slate of the

original stack, is now the message slate.

I next up-edge the small slates and place a rubber band around them

placing them in the sitter's lap. I, of course, place what was the

top of the stack downward when I do so. As the stack is on the

side edges of the slates when I first up-edge them, I next bring

them upon the end edges, while I put the band in place. It is now

easy to place the stack of slates upon the sitter's lap with the

top slate down and to attract no notice to this fact. This is

because the position has been changed a time or so in placing the

band on; and I then take the stack in my hands by the edges of the

slates, and simply place what was the top side of the stack in the

beginning, at the bottom.

In due time I tell the subject to make an examination for a

message, and of course four or five slates down he finds a message

on the upper surface of one of the slates.

This seems very miraculous, as the slates have been so repeatedly

examined and nothing found. Finding the message on the upper

surface of a middle slate, where but a moment before there was

nothing, seems to be truly a marvel. The subject having cleaned

and stacked these slates himself, and having seen them examined so

many times, naturally feels impressed that the message comes by

some superhuman power.

THE NAME OF THE DEAD

In the book entitled Psychics: Facts and Theories, by Rev. Minot J.

Savage, at page 15, the following account will be found:

"Soon I began to hear raps, apparently on the floor, and then in

different parts of the room. On this, the lady remarked, simply:

'Evidently there is some one here who wishes to communicate with

you. Let us go into the front parlor, where it will be quieter.'

This we did, the raps following us, or rather beginning again as

soon as we were seated. At her suggestion I then took pencil and

paper (which I happened to have in my bag), and sat at one side of

a marble-top table, while she sat at the other side in a rocker and

some distance away. Then she said: 'As one way of getting at the

matter, suppose you do this: You know what friends you have in the

spirit world. Write now a list of names--any names you please,

real or fictitious, only among them somewhere include the names of

some friends in the spirit world who, you think, might like to

communicate with you, if such a thing were possible.' I then

began. I held a paper so that she could not possibly have seen

what I wrote, even though she had not been so far away. I took

special pains that no movement or facial expression should betray

me. Meantime she sat quietly rocking and talking. As I wrote,

perhaps at the eighth or tenth name, I began to write the name of a

lady friend who had not been long dead. I had hardly written the

first letter before there came three loud distinct raps. Then my

hostess said, 'This friend of yours, of course, knows where she

died. Write now a list of places, including in it the place of her

death, and see if she will recognize it.' This I did, beginning

with Vienna, and so on with any that occurred to me. Again I had

hardly begun to write the real name, when once more came three

raps. And so on, concerning other matters. I speak of these only

as specimens.

"Now, I cannot say that in this particular case the raps were not

caused by the toe joints of the lady. The thing that puzzles me in

this theory, is as to how the toe joints happened to know the name

of my friend, where she died, etc., which facts the lady herself

did not know, and never had known."

It has been the writer's good fortune to witness practically this

same experiment, performed by a very expert medium, Dr.

Schlossenger, who was traveling over the country a few years ago.