Pages from memoirs of robert houdin~1 150

MEMOIRS OF

RO B E R T - H O U D I N AMBASSADOR, AUTHOR, AND CONJURER.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

EDITED BY Dr.

R. SHELTON MACKENZIE.

PHILADELPHIA: GEO. G. EVANS, PUBLISHER, NO. 439 CHESTNUT STREET.

1860.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by G. G. E V A N S , In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of

Pennsylvania.

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

A

man

may not only "take his own life,” by writing his

autobiography, without committing felo de se, but may carry himself into future time by producing a. book which the world will not willingly let die. This is what M. RobertHoudin, the greatest artist in what is called Conjuring, has lately done in the remarkable book Confidences d'un Prestidigiteur, a faithful translation of which is here presented to the American reading public. The work has had the greatest success in Europe, from its lively style as well as the various information it contains, historical and philo­ sophical, on the practice and principles of sleight-of-hand, and the other details, mental as well as mechanical, which unite to make perfect the exhibition of White Magic, the antipodes of what our forefathers knew, persecuted, and punished as the Black Art. Houdin has been considered of such importance and in­ terest in France, that in Didot’s Nouvelle Biographie Generale, now in course of publication at Paris, a whole page is given to him. From this memoir, and from his own account

4

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

in the pages which follow, we learn that he was born at Blois, on the 6th December, 1805,— that his father, a watchmaker in that city, gave him a good education at the College of Orleans,— that his inclination for escamotage (or juggling) was so decided as to make him averse to pursue his father’s trade,— that he early exhibited great taste for mechanical inventions, which he so successfully cultivated that, at the Paris Exhibition of 1844, he was awarded a medal for the ingenious construction of several automata,— that, having studied the displays of the great masters on the art of juggling, he opened a theatre of his own, in the Palais Royal in Paris, to which his celebrated soirees fantastiques attracted crowds,— that, in 1848, when the Re­ volution had ruined all theatrical speculations in Paris, he visited London, where his performances at St. James’s Theatre were universally attractive and lucrative,— that he made a tour through Great Britain with equal success, returning to Paris when France had settled down quietly under the rule of a President,— that he subsequently visited many other parts of Europe, every where received with dis­ tinction and applause,— that at the Great Parisian Exhibi­ tion of 1855, he was awarded the gold medal for his scien­ tific application of electricity to clocks,— that, shortly after, he closed ten years of active public life by relinquish­ ing his theatre to Mr. Hamilton, his brother-in-law, retir­ ing with a well-earned competency to Blois,— and that, in 1857, at the special request of the French Government, which desired to lessen the influence of the Marabouts, whose conjuring tricks, accepted as actual magic by the

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

Arabs, gave them too much influence, he went to Algeria, as a sort of Ambassador, to play off his tricks against theirs, and, by greater marvels than they could shew, de­ stroy the prestige which they had acquired. He so com­ pletely succeeded that the Arabs lost all faith in the mira­ cles of the Marabouts, and thus was destroyed an influence very dangerous to the French Government.

In his retirement, to which he has returned, Houdin wrote his Confidences, and is now devoting himself to scien­ tific

researches

connected

with

electricity.

Before

the

appearance of his own work, M. Hatin had published, in 1857, Robert-Houdin, sa vie, ses oeuvres, son theatre.

The

French

and

English

critics

have

generally

and

warmly eulogized M. Houdin’s Confidences, and I am per­ suaded that, on this side of the Atlantic, it will be con­ sidered an instructive as well as an amusing volume.

One error which M. Houdin makes must not be passed over. His account of M. de Kempelen’s celebrated automa­ ton chess-player (afterwards Maelzel’s) is entirely wrong.

This remarkable piece of mechanism was constructed in 1769, and not in 1796; it was the Empress Maria-Theresa of Austria who played with it, and not Catherine II. of Russia; it was in 1783 that it first visited Paris, where it played at the Cafe de la Regence; it was not taken to London until 1784; and again in 1819; it was brought to America in 1825, by M. Maelzel, and visited our prin­ cipal cities, its chief resting-place being Philadelphia; M. Maelzel’s death was in 1838, on the voyage from Cuba to the United States, and not, as M. Houdin says, on his return

6

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

to France; and the automaton, so far from being taken back to France, was sold by auction here, finally purchased by the late Dr. J. K. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, reconstructed by him, and finally deposited in the Chinese Museum, (formerly Peale’s,) where it was consumed in the great fire which destroyed the National Theatre, (now the site of the Continental Hotel, corner of Ninth and Chestnut streets,) and extending to the Chinese Museum, burnt it down on July 5th, 1854. An interesting account of the Automaton Chess-Player, written by Professor George Allen, of this city, will be found in “ The Book of the First American Chess Congress,” recently published in New York.

M. Houdin is engaged now in writing a volume explain­ ing the manner in which sleight-of-hand and other conjur­ ing tricks and deceptions are performed.

I have added an Index to this volume, which I trust will be accepted as useful.

R. Shelton Mackenzie.

P hiladelphia , Sept. 26, 1859.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

My Birth and Parentage — My Home — The Lessons of Colonel Bernard—Paternal Ambition — My first Mechanical Attempts— Had I but a R a t ! — A Prisoner’s Industry — The Abbe Lariviere—My Word of Honor—Farewell to my darling Tools. .

17

CHAPTER II. A Country Idler—Dr. Carlosbach, Conjurer and Professor of Mys­ tification— The Sand-bag and the Stirrup Trick—I turn Law­ yer’s Clerk, and the Minutes appear to me very long—A small Automaton—A respectful Protest—I mount a Step in the Office —A Machine of Porter’s Power — The Acrobatic Canaries — Mon­ sieur Roger’s Remonstrances — My Father decides that I shall follow my bent

.

.

.

.

.

.

26

CHAPTER III. My Cousin Robert—The most important Event in my Life—How a Man becomes a Sorcerer — My first Sleight-of-IIand Feat — An utter Failure — Practising the Eye and the Hand — Curious Ex­ periment in Prestidigitation — Monsieur Noriet—An Action more ingenious than delicate — I am Poisoned — Influence of Delirium.

42

8

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV. PAGE

I return to Life — A strange Doctor—Torrini and Antonio: a Con­ jurer and a Fanatic for Music—A Murderer’s Confession — A perambulating House — The Fair at Angers — A portable Theatre — I -witness for the first Time a Conjuring Performance — The blind

Man’s

Game

at

Piquet—A

Dangerous

Castelli eats a Man alive. .

Rival

.

—

.

Signor

.

.55

CHAPTER V. Antonio’s Confessions—How to gain Public Applause — The Count de , Mountebank — I repair an Automaton—A Mechanician’s Shop

on

Wheels—Nomadic

Life

—

Happy

Existence—Torrini’s

Lessons — His Opinions about Sleight-of-IIand—A Fashionable Greek, Victim of his OAvn Swindling — The Conjurer Comus — A Duel

at

Piquet—Torrini

proclaimed

Conqueror—Revelations

—New Catastrophe—Poor Torrini!

73

CHAPTER VI. Torrini relates his Life—Treachery of Chevalier Pinetti—A Con­ jurer through Malice — A Race between two Magicians — Death of Pinetti—Exhibits before Pius VII. — The Cardinal’s Chro­ nometer— Twelve Hundred Francs spent on a Trick—Antonio and Antonia — The most bitter of Mystifications — Constanti­ nople. .

.

.

.

.

.

.

90

CHAPTER VII. Continuation

of

Torrini’s

History—The

Grand

Turk

orders

a

Performance — A marvellous Trick — A Page cut in two — Pity­ ing

Protest

of

the

Harem—Agreeable

Surprise—Return

to

France — Torrini’s Son Killed — Madness — Decay — My first Performance—An annoying Accident —X return Home. .

121

CONTENTS.

9

CHAPTER VIII. PAGE

Tlie

Prodigal

Son—Mademoiselle

Houdin—I

go

to

Paris—My

Marriage — Comte—Studies of the Public—'A skillful Manager —Rose-colored Tickets—A Musky Style—The King of Hearts — Ventriloquism — The Mystifiers Mystified — Father Roujol—Jules de Rovkre—Origin of the word prestidigitateur.

.

136

CHAPTER IX. Celebrated bertus

Automata—A

Magnus

Duck—His

and

Brazen

St.

Fly—The

Thomas

Flute-Player—Curious

Chess-Player—Interesting

Artificial

Man—Al-

d’Aquinas—Vaucanson Details

Episode

—

—

Catherine

The II.

—

His

Automaton and

M. de

Kempelen — I repair the Componium—Unexpected Success.

155

CHAPTER X. An Inventor’s Calculations — One Hundred Thousand Francs a Year by

an

Inkstand:

Deception

—

My

new

Automata—The

First

Magician in France: Decadence—I meet Antonio — Bosco — The Trick with the Cups—An Execution — Resurrection of the Criminals — Mistake in a Head—The Canary rewarded. .

176

CHAPTER XI. A

Reverse

of

Fortune—Cookery

Home—Invention

of

an

and

Clockwork

Automaton—Voluntary

—

The Artist’s

Exile—A

mo­

dest Villa—The Inconveniences of a Speciality — Two August Visitors — The Throat of a mechanical Nightingale—The Tiou and the Rrrrrrrrouit—Seven Thousand Francs earned by mak­ ing Filings. .

.

.

.

.

.

.

192

10

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XU. PAGE

The Inventive Genius of a Sugar-baker—Philippe the Magician — His Comic Adventures—Description of his Performance—Expo­ sition of 1844—The King and Royal Family visit my Automata.

221

CHAPTER XIII. My proposed Reforms—I build a Theatre in the Palais Royal—■ Formalities—General

Rehearsal—Singular

Effect

of

my

Per­

formance— The Largest and Smallest Theatre in Paris—Tribu­ lation— My first Performance — Panic — Discouragement — A Fallible Prophet—Recovery — Success.

.

.

.

234

CHAPTER XIV. New

Studies—A

Curious

Comic

Journal—Invention

Experiments—An

enthusiastic

of

Second

Sight—

Spectator—Danger

of

being a Sorcerer—A Philter or your Life — Way to get rid of Bores—An Electric Touch—I perform at the Vaudeville—Strug­ gles with the Incredulous — Interesting Details. .

. 253

CHAPTER XY. Seductions Thousand

of

a

Theatrical

Francs

—

I

Agent—How

start

for

to

gain

Brussels—A

One

Hundred

lucky

Two-Sou

Piece — Miseries of professional Travelling — The Park Thea­ tre— Tyranny of a Porter — Full House — Small Receipts— Deceptions—Return to Paris.

.

.

.

.

273

CHAPTER XYI. Reopening

of

my

Fantastic

Soirees

—Minor

Miseries

of

Good

Luck—Inconvenience of a small Theatre — My Room taken by Storm — A gratuitous Performance—A conscientious Audience— Pleasant Story about a Black Silk Cap — I perform at the Cha­ teau of St. Cloud — Cagliostro’s Casket — Holidays.

.

294

CONTENTS.

11

CHAPTER XVII. PAGE

New Experiments — Aerial Suspension, & c . — - A Performance at tlie Odeon—A Friend in Need

—1848 —

The Theatre deserted—I

leave Paris for London — Manager Mitchell — Publicity in Eng­ land—

The

Great

Wizard—A

Butter-mould

used

Singular Bills — A Prize for the best Pun.

as

.

a

Puff—

.

312

CHAPTER XVIII. The St. James’s Theatre — Invasion of England by French Per­ formers— A Fete patronised by the Queen — The Diplomatist and the Sleight-of-Hand Man — Three Thousand Pounds taken at one Haul — I pei'form at Manchester — The Spectators in the Pillory — What capital Cura£oa!—A Torrent of Wine — A Catastrophe — Performance at Buckingham Palace — A Wizard’s Bepast.

330

CHAPTER XIX. An Optimist Manager — Three Spectators in a Boom — A Magical Collation — The Colchester Public and the Nuts — I return to France — I give up my Theatre—A Farewell Tour — I retire to St. Gervais — An Academician’s Predictions.

.

.

359

CHAPTER XX. Travels in Algeria—Convocation of the Chieftains — Performances before the Arabs — A Kabyle rendered powerless — Invulner­ ability— A Moor disappears — Panic and Flight of the Au­ dience—Beconciliation—The Sect of A'issaoua — Their pretend­ ed Miracles.

371

12

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXI. PAGE.

Excursion in the Interior of Aga—A

comical

Africa — The Abode of a Bash-

Bepast—A

Soiree

of

Arab

Dignitaries—A

Marabout mystified — Tent-life in Algeria — I return to France — A terrible Storm—Conclusion.

398

CHAPTER XXII.

A Course of Miracles.

Index.

.

.

»

.

.

.

.

.

422

487

THE AUTHOR’S OVERTURE.

S aint G ervais ,

near

B lois ,

September, 1858.

Eight o’clock has just struck: my wife and children are by my side. I have spent one of those pleasant days which tranquillity, work, and study can alone secure.— With no regret for the past, with no fear for the future, I am—I am not afraid to say it—as happy as man can he.

And yet, at each vibration of this mysterious hour, my pulse starts, my temples throb, and I can scarce breathe, so much do I feel the want of air and motion. I can reply to no questions, so thoroughly am I lost in a strange and delirious reverie.

Shall I confess to you, reader. And why not ? for this electrical effect is not of a nature to be easily understood by you.

The reason for my emotion being extreme at this moment is, that, during my professional career, eight o’clock was the moment when I must appear before the public. Then,

14

THE AUTHOR’S OVERTURE.

with my eye eagerly fixed on the hole in the curtain, I surveyed with intense pleasure the crowd that flocked in to see me. Then, as now, my heart beat, for I was proud and happy of such success.

At times, too, a doubt, a feeling of uneasiness, would be mingled with my pleasure. “Heavens !” I would say to myself, in terror, “ am I so sure of myself as to deserve such anxiety to see me ?”

But, soon reassured by the past, I waited with greater calmness the signal for the curtain to draw up. I then walked on the stage: I was near the foot-lights, before my

judges—but

no,

I

err—before

my

kind

spectators,

whose applause I was in hopes to gain.

Do you now understand, reader, all the reminiscences this hour evokes in me, and the solemn feeling that con­ tinually occurs to me when the clock strikes ?

These emotions and souvenirs are not at all painful to me: on the contrary, I summon them up with pleasure.

At times I even mentally transport myself to my stage, in order to prolong them. There, as before, I ring the bell, the curtain rises, I see my audience again, and, under the charm of this sweet illusion, I delight in telling them the most interesting episodes of my professional life.

I tell them how a man learns his real vocation, how the struggle with difficulties of every nature begins, how, in fact

THE AUTHOR’S OVERTURE.

15

But why should I not convert this fiction into a reality ?

Could I not, each evening when the clock strikes eight, continue my performances under another form ? My public shall he the reader, and my stage a hook.

This idea pleases me: I accept it with joy, and imme­ diately give way to the sweet illusion. Already I fancy myself

in

the

presence

of

spectators

whose

kindness

encourages me. I imagine they are waiting for me—they are listening eagerly.

Without further hesitation I begin.

Robert-Houdin.

MEM O I R S OF

ROBERT-HOUDIN.

CHAPTER I. My Birth and Parentage — My Home — The Lessons of Colonel Bernard — Paternal Ambition — My first Mechanical Attempts — Had I but a B a t ! — A Prisoner’s Industry — The Abbe Lariviere — My Word of Honor — Farewell to my darling Tools.

In conformity with the traditional custom which expects every man who writes his memoirs—or not to use too strong language, his confessions—to display his patent of gentility, I commence by stating to my readers, with a certain degree of pride, that I was born at Blois, the birthplace of Louis XII., surnamed the “Father of his People,” and of Denis Papin, the illustrious inventor of the steam-engine.

So much for my native town. As for my family, it would only appear natural, regard being had to the art to which I devoted my life, that I should display in my family tree the name of Robert le Diable, or of some mediaeval sorcerer; but, being the very slave of truth, I

18

MEMOIRS OF ROBERT-IIOUDIN.

will content myself with stating that my father was a watchmaker.

Though he did not rise to the elevation of the Berthouds and the Breguets, my father was reputed to he very skil­ ful in his profession. In fact, I am only displaying our hereditary modesty when I say that my father’s talents ' were confined to a single art; for, in truth, nature had adapted him for various branches of mechanics, and the activity of his mind led him to try them all with equal ardor. An excellent engraver, a jeweller of the greatest taste, he at the same time could carve the arm or leg for some fractured statuette, restore the enamel on any time­ worn porcelain, or even repair musical snuff-boxes, which were very fashionable in those days. The skill he evinced in these varied arts at length procured him a most nume­ rous body of customers; but, unfortunately, he was wont to make any repairs not strictly connected with his own business for the mere pleasure.

In this house, which I may almost term artistic, and in the midst of tools and implements in which I was destined to take so lively an interest, I was born and educated. I possess an excellent memory, still, though my reminis­ cences date back so far, I cannot remember the day of my birth. I have learned since, however, that it was the 6th of December, 1805. I am inclined to believe that I came into the world with a file or a hammer in my hand, for, from my earliest youth, those implements were my toys and delight: I learned how to use them as other children learn to walk and talk. I need not say that my excellent mother had frequently to wipe away the young mechanic’s tears, when the hammer, badly directed, struck my fingers. As for my father, he laughed at these slight accidents, and said, jokingly, that it was a capital way of

MY LOVE OF TOOLS.

19

driving my profession into me, and that, as I was a won­ derful lad, I could not but become an extraordinary work­ man. I do not pretend that I ever realized the paternal predictions, but it is certain that I have ever felt an irre­ sistible inclination for mechanism.

How often, in my infantile dreams, did a benevolent fairy open before me the door of a mysterious El Dorado, where tools of every description were piled up. The delight which these dreams produced on me, were the same as any other child feels when his fancy summons up before him a fantastic country where the houses are made of chocolate, the stones of sugar candy, and the men of gingerbread. It is difficult to understand this fever for tools; the mechanic, the artist adores them, and would ruin himself to obtain them. Tools, in fact, are to him what a MS. is to the archaeologist, a coin to the antiquary, or a pack of cards to a gambler: in a word they are the implements by which a ruling passion is fed.

By the time I was eight years of age I had furnished proofs of my ability, partly through the kindness of an excellent neighbor, and partly through a dangerous illness, when my forced idleness gave me leisure to exercise my natural dexterity. This neighbor, M. Bernard, was a colonel on half-pay. Having been a prisoner for many years, he had learned how to make an infinity of toys, which he taught me as an amusement, and I profited so well by his lessons, that in a very short time I could equal my master. I fancy I can still see and hear this old sol­ dier, when, passing his hand over his heavy grey mous­ tache, he exclaimed with energetic satisfaction, “ Why, the young scamp can do anything he likes.” This com­ pliment flattered my childish vanity, and I redoubled my efforts to deserve it.