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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."
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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."
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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