Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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The Magic of
ROFURRT-TTOTTDTIV
"An Artist's Life"
CHRISTIAN FECHNER
The Magic of
ROBERT-HOODIN
"An Artist's Life"
The Magic of
ROBERT-HOUDIN
"An Artist's Life"
BIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY
On re-
turning home,
I arranged round
my study my performing
instruments, my faithful com-
rades, I may almost say, my dear
friends; henceforth I intended to devote my-
self to my darling study, the application of elec-
tricity to mechanism.
It must not be believed that, for that purpose, I disown
the art to which I owe so much pleasure. The
thought is far from me, I am more than
ever proud of having cultivated it, as
to it alone I owe the happi-
ness of devoting myself
to my new stud-
ies...
6/J 0et-(
/
Act
. 1852-1854 - Hamilton: From Palais-Royal to Boulevard des Italiens 11
.1854 - The Photographer Andre Adolphe Disderi 22
. 1854-1855 - Emile and Eugene Robert-Houdin -The Exposition
of 1855 27
. 1856 - The Electric Clock of Blois Robert-Houdin
Becomes a Patronym 35
. 1856 - Robert-Houdin's Algerian Saga 39
1856 - Goodbye to the Stage in Marseilles 61
.1857-1858- The Writing of Confidences d'un Prestidigitateur 67
. 1858-1859 - Raphael Macaluso, Alfred de Caston, Klosloge, and De Lille 79
1854-1871 - The Myth of "Rest at The Priory" 83
1859-18~ 1 - Les Tablettes journalieres (Daily Notes) of Robert-Houdin 87
. 1859-1861 - Small and Large Magic Activities in Saint-Gervais 93
.1859-1861- The "Geraud affair" and The" Lassaigne affair" 97
.I860 - Mile. Benita Anguinet 107
.1859-1860- Robert-Houdin and Amateurs Magicians 113
, I860 - Alexander Heimbiirger 119
.1861 - Card-Sharping Exposed and Les Figures du temps 122
. 1862 - Hamilton and Pierre Edouard Brunnet 134
. 1862-1863 - The Shop and Wedding of Emile Robert-Houdin 141
. 1862 - An Unexpected Comeback 148
. 1863-1864 - Francois Eugene Lahire, known as Cleverman 171
1864 - Return to The Priory and Robin's Mythomania 177
.1865 - The Davenport Brothers and The Stacey Brothers 197
Act V
. 1864-1866 - The Common Clock, The Electric Light Bulb with a Vegetal
Filament, The Musical Telegraph, and Ophthalmology 229
. 1864-1866 - The Harpsichord or Tympanum Player 239
1866 - A Peaceful Year - The Sphinx and The Talking Head 249
.1869 - The Grand Affair, The Odometer, and Dr. Epstein 294
Epilogue 362
Appendix TI
- Texts and biographies written by Robert-Houdin and
published in Le Grand Dictionnaire universel du
XIX" siecle by Pierre Larousse 405
po-se
Illustration 4 - Robert-Houdin by Disderi.
This document is the only signed photograph of Robert-Houdin known today. Robert-Houdin's friend was the Blois painter
Uljsse Besnard (or Bernard?), whom \\e will have the chance to meet in this essay. A work by the artist representing a conjurer
decorates the frontispiece of the remarkable new edition of Sidney W Clarke's work The Annals of Conjuring, edited by Edwin
A. Dawes and Todd Karr in association with Bob Read, The Miracle Factory, 2001.
ACT IV
During the year 1852 Hamilton left his Fantastiques from Palais-Royal to Boulevard
lodgings on Rue de Laval and settled with des Italiens. Everything had to be meticu-
his wife Amelie and his stepson Paul lously planned in order to waste as few per-
Devillers at 13, Rue de Valois, where he oc- formance days as possible. The future theater
cupied a third-floor apartment with a large
living room, dining room, and two bed-
rooms. At the beginning of the year he
made his official request to the police chief
Pietri to succeed Robert-Houdin and re-
ceived confirmation on February 14. The
clauses and restrictions of this decree are
practically the same as those previously im-
posed upon his illustrious brother-in-law.
Hamilton seemed to be on his way to suc-
cess, as shown by a legal account of 1854
which we will examine later. As the lease
of Palais-Royal was to expire on April 1,
1854, Hamilton began to look for a new site
for his establishment. He decided on
Boulevard des Italiens. This proved to be a
"wise decision because of its location on an
axis highly frequented by the crowds, and
because of the favorable financial condi-
tions negotiated by Hamilton with the
Vicomte Terray de Morel Vinde, owner of 8,
Boulevard des Italiens, from whom he
rented the entire building. Until the end of
the lease, Hamilton sublet shops and apart-
ments in this building to other tenants for
far greater amounts than the total rent he
paid. His own lodgings and his new theater
therefore cost him nothing and later, when
he retired, Hamilton continued to receive
rent just like any respectable, indepen-
dently wealthy individual! Illustration 5 - Hamilton by Disderi.
The conjurer holds a magic wand In his right hand, similar
As of September 1853, Hamilton began to to that of Robert-Houdin. and his left hand rests upon The
actively prepare the moving of Soirees Cannonbatt Box.
11
ROBERT-HOUDIN
On the theater facade on the third floor of the second building from the right, one can read the following words: "HAMILTON-
MAGIE-ROBERT-HOUDIN-SEANCE." (Jacques Yoigmer collection)
.12
Acr IV
p.vnis-.u.nni 31!)
Illustration 7 - Hamilton.
13
ROBtRT-HOUDIN
PREFECTURE OF POLICE.
ifflftHettnve SJe polite,
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
2'' Office
14
ACT IV
15
ROBFR r-HOl'DIN
17
ROBERT-HOUDIN
tocracy, upper classes, and intellectuals of arts francs. M. Belluot, the shareholder, brought
and letters became more and more scarce over 16,000 francs, which was to be reimbursed from
time. daily income for his half of the profits. The same
act stipulates a prorogation of the company for a
A few days before the opening of the new- time equal to the interruption in the event of
theater, an amusing trial entertained legal force majeure, illness of M. Ghocat, and even [So
columnists. It was a litigation between many precautions!] political events. For operat-
Hamilton and his shareholder M. Belluot. The ing costs, M. Ghocat was entitled to 60 francs
account, published in the Gazette des daily and 107 francs the days he gave two perfor-
Tribunaux of March 8, 1854 indirectly tells us mances. The exceptional costs for performances,
that Robert-Houdin's brother-in-law's affairs in Paris or elsewhere, and incidental trips were to
were prosperous and that he was on the right be agreed upon by the two associates. M. Ghocat
received 300 francs per month; but if he felt it
track to winning his financial gamble:
necessary to buy or have new pieces made or
M. Ghocat, more commonly known as Hamilton, other objects useful for his performances, he
and successor to the famous conjurer Robert- alone was to bear the expense.
Houdin's theater of the Galerie de Valois at Palais- These clauses gave rise to several protests, al-
Royal, created a company in order to run the though the associates have only reached half of
show entitled Soirees Fantastiques with a certain the running time. On one hand it is a question of
M. Belluot in 1852 for a period of four years. settling the accounts, in which M. Ghocat in-
M. Ghocat, the acting manager, brought his skill cluded certain objects he qualified as ordinary
and industrial material evaluated at 20,000 but that M. Belluot qualified as extraordinary or
18
ACT IV
as new elements that M. Ghocat should pay for By the decree of this day, the 1" chamber of
entirely. This part of the discussion concerned the Imperial court presided by the first presi-
many curiosities, such as artificial orange blos- dent Delangle, ruling on the 23 respective ap-
soms, a live gazelle costing 150 francs, the re- peals of the two arbitral sentences, and who
pairing of the orchestra piano, the varnished had settled all these points and many others,
jockey boots, the globes and broken glasses, sev- has reformed one and confirmed the other in
eral small glasses to hold innumerable liquids favor of M. Ghocat, notably by accepting the
from the inexhaustible bottle, etc.... It was also qualification of common expenses that he had
to be determined whether or not M. Belluot had indicated in his accounts in freeing him from
paying any amount on the profits earned in
the right to profits from the two performances in
Meaux; and finally in including in operating
Meaux...before the people of Meaux, as the fa-
and social charges those necessary for the
mous person says.
rental repairs of the new installation, etc.
The debate is also complicated by the termi- Moreover, the profits earned to this day by M.
nation of the Palais-Royal lease, whereby it was Belluot, thanks to the artist's talent are, ac-
to be determined how to bear the cost of rental cording to the latter, 20,000 F, and according
repairs of the room and those of the installation to the former, 10,000 or 12,000 F: the balance
of the theater on the boulevard, in an adjoining with the capital invested of 16,000 F is there-
house in Passage de 1'Opera. fore exceeded or almost reached. Without a
However, when M. Ghocat installs or moves doubt the harmonious relations will resume,
his industrial material, the repairs or damages given that the company has two more years of
incurred are not considered ordinary expenses. running and probably success in store.
CO
yj
eo
o
c
oc
J9
ROBtRT-HoUDIN
22
ACT IV
pher's cameras and furniture by the claims was established between M. Hamilton and
courts. Unable to utilize this material, M. Andre Adolphe Disderi and M. Francois
Hamilton was obliged to rent his space to Desire Lebel, "solidary takers." The rental in-
Disderi once again. [3] The rent was of course cluded two apartments on the fifth floor and
accordingly increased. A new lease, signed the entire terrace above the third floor -
for twelve years and six months dated where Hamilton had built a basic construction
September 18, 1857, informs us about the with ante-chamber, office, twro living rooms
space occupied by Disderi in the building at and two studies on the boulevard, a large bay
8, Boulevard des Italiens. The notarized act window, hallway with furniture, photogra-
24
ACT IV
phy material, and curtains, etc. He also had Emile Robert-Houdin, due of a leak from the
the right to show framed objects in the en- workshops of the photographer Tourtin, who
trance on the ground floor and the boulevard. was Disderi's successor. The second was in
This was granted for an amount of fourteen 1901, when Georges Melies was manager,
thousand francs per year. The presence of a because of a fire in Clement Maurice's lab-
photography lab, situated above the theater, oratory. Emile Robert-Houdin and Georges
was a great risk to the safety of the venue, Melies had no other choice but to entirely
which was almost destroyed twice. The first renovate the theater following these two cat-
time was in 1881, under the management of astrophes.
25
RODI RT-HOUDIN
'
Robert-Houdin had just turned forty-eight tive man, full of humor and affection. Joseph
when he returned to Saint-Gervais after a long Prosper Eugene Robert-Houdin entered the
road paved with applause and fruitful income. Ecole Imperiale Speciale Militaire of Saint-Cyr
This retirement at the height of his glory is sur- on November 3, 1856.
prising, but the reasons are simple. Robert-
Houdin was a prudent man; his fortune was
made and although it was far from equaling that
of industrial leaders or the aristocracy of the
time, the fruit of his labor would suffice to
amply provide for his needs anci those of his
family. He wanted to see little Georges and
Eglantine grow up and ensure the education
and the entrance into the workforce of his sons
Emile and Eugene.
The eldest, Emile, became a student of
Breguet and a watchmaker like his father, his
two grandfathers, and great-grandfather. He
seemed to have inherited part of his father's
inventive mind and his taste for quality work
but unfortunately did not inherit his practical-
ity. All his life, Emile Robert-Houdin wanted to
impress his father; he wanted him to be proud
of him. Unfortunately, several of his business
initiatives were unsuccessful. His passionate
relationship with Robert-Houdin, his need to
resemble him, including physically, made him
e\ en want to become Hamilton's successor
one day. We will later have an opportunity to
return to these issues.
Robert-Houdin wrote the following lines
about his son Eugene: "The energetic and de-
termined character of the younger one, his war-
like dispositions, made him take on a career in
the army." The brilliant ascension of Captain
Eugene Robert-Houdin shows the exactitude of
this portrait because he showed a "lion's
courage" in combat. His correspondence with Illustration 31 - Emile Robert-Houdin by Disderi.
the family also gives the impression of a sensi- (Private collectionj
27
ROBI RT-HOLDIN
As for Robert-Houdin, he had clearly de- For the time being, Robert-Houdin filed a
fined ideas about the continuation of his own deluge of patents, no fewer than eight, some of
career. I purposely use the word "career'1 be- which were very important ones, as referred to
cause the term "retirement,'" frequently used to in a single note on March 3, 1855:
describe this part of his life, seems inappropri- Electrical regulator, Electrical vibrator, vi-
ate to me given the importance of his literary brator able to interrupt electrical current in a
work and scientific research and the prepon- constant manner, electrical switch, distributor
derant, unsuspected role that he always held of magnetic forces, new submerged battery with
in the destiny of his theater and its programs, electromagnetic action, electric clock, heat in-
as well as in the magic community of his time. dicator for fire and cold. Finally July 7: addition
to the March 3"1 patent concerning electric
clockmaking.
Illustration 33 - Technical drawing from the patent for the Electric Clock of Robert-Houdin.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
3
Illustrations 34 and 35 - Robert-Houdin's Electric Clock
(Valker Hilbei collection)
Secondly, the editor-in-chief Father Moigno In this same issue of the magazine Cosmos
in Cosmos of September 19: the following can be read concerning Robert-
Yet another tour deforce of the great con-
Houdin's Electrical Distributor:
jurer that causes universal astonishment. He This small and humble distributor appears to
has simplified the mechanism of this type of be a stroke of genius and one of the greatest nov-
tool to such an extent - while also perfecting elties of the Exposition.
it and removing it from the influence of elec- From a mechanical point of view, it is an en-
trical fluctuations which give it life and move- tirely new tool that will be applied in a thou-
ment - that M. Destouches can now deliver sand different ways, for a thousand uses, and
an excellent electric clock for 60 francs. which will render innumerable services. For
Electrical clockmaking has not yet found its physics and electrical applications it is a huge
niche and status; from now on, the most mod- discovery.
ACT IV
To regulate and use variable forces in a much Robert-Houdin's rise in this new field was
greater proportion, in much better conditions of as brilliant as in his earlier chosen disci-
continuity and subtlety, to eliminate regulating plines, as M, Andre Keime Robert-Houdin
springs, and to mainly dispense with the neces-
clearly confirmed in his work Le Magicien de
sity of accessory motors, it is an advance we
would hardly have believed possible a few la Science:
months ago. Robert-Houdin left the [Parisian] stage in
The eminent scientist Theodore du Moncel 1852; less than five years later he made a name
held a conference at the Academie des for himself in scientific circles. Several men of
Sciences on the "the manner of tracing the great notoriety confirm this.
curves of a distributor of M. Robert-Houdin
Father Moigno, encyclopedic mind.
in relation to magnetic attraction" [5] and
showed in detail the characteristics of the Becquerel, one of the pioneers of electricity
[whose son would discover radioactivity].
distributor in his work Expose de VElectricite
(1855): The Count Th. De Moncel, reputed scientist.
The effect of a distributor is such that an ar- The Englishman Wheatstone, father of tele-
mature that could directly support only 60 grams graphy, who, fascinated by the electric clock,
at 1 cm. in distance from its electromagnet could, was determined to immediately acquire one of
thanks to this, support up to 1 kg. them.
31
ROHER'l -HOUDIN
ROBERT-HOUDIN
LE MAGICIEN DE LA SCIENCE
32
ACT IV
Horloge Robert-Houdin.
Illustration 42 - Electric Clock by Robert-Houdin. Illustration from Physique experimentale - Electricite statique et electricite dy-
namique by S. Duclau. Limoges. Eugene Ardant et Cie. Publishers. (PascalFriaut collection)
3:5
ROBERT-HOUDIN
36
Acr IV
A. Auger, iditeur
Saint-Gervais-la-Foret (L.-&-Ch.). L'Eglise.
Illustration 48 - The "hole" in the bell-tower of the Saint-Gervais church.
37
ROBLRT-HOLDIN
Robert-Houdin's Algerian saga is one of a major figure in the return to peace and
the episodes of his memoirs that most in- reconciliation.
trigued the public. Hundreds of articles
throughout the world in newspapers and We do not know exactly who made the
magazines of all types, and unrelated to the decision to send Robert-Houdin to partici-
art of magic, have popularized this story, pate in what was discreetly called the
which fascinated and still fascinates both "pacification" of Algeria. Was it suggested
magicians and laymen. This episode also in- at a top level by Louis-Napoleon who had,
spired works of fiction - such as The as we recall, attended the conjurer's perfor-
Magician's Wife - as well as film projects in mance before Queen Victoria in Fulham in
France, Canada, and the United States. It is 1848? Or was it suggested by Marshal
obviously quite uncommon for the highest
authorities of a country to ask a magician to
aid them in peacekeeping during a conflict. ANS PLUS TARD, It REVINT
M However, before beginning the narrative DECISION.
of this episode - which is yet another ex-
PRESENCE EN AFRIQLJE
ample of how superstition and religious fa- DU KJORD 5ERAIT UTILE I
naticism can be detrimental to a population
- it is useful to briefly recall here the his-
tory of the major events in the colonization
of Algeria. The conquest began in 1830 by
France's capture of Algiers, which, from
1852, was followed by the full occupation
of the country. At the end of 1856, the pe-
riod when Robert-Houdin went to Algeria,
although serious problems still agitated cer-
tain provinces, notably Kabylie, France con-
trolled the majority of the country except
for the Saharan regions. The conjurer there-
fore did not have a major influence on the
conquest, in which, moreover, he refused to
participate twice, but, on the contrary, was
who refused because he was so happy to no doubt that such a patriotic man, whose
be back home; he diplomatically expressed son Eugene was preparing to enter Saint-Cyr
to the lieutenant-colonel "all [his] regrets to become an officer, would not have ea-
not to be able to accept his invitation.'' The gerly welcomed the chance offered to him to
second request was made in 1855 while he serve his country, even more so given that it
was preparing to accept the awards granted was a peaceful mission. We can also empha-
by the Exposition jury for his work. This size the fact that, in spite of Robert-Houdin's
was his justification for a new refusal, ac- courteous refusal of his demands, Lieutenant
companied by new regrets! The author Colonel De Neveu did not ask other French
wrote the following in his memoirs on this magicians to carry out this assignment. This
subject: says much about the aura of the artist in
But the colonel kept these excuses still in spite of his retirement from the stage, and
mind, and in June 1856, he presented them to confirms that the highest authorities of his
me like a bill to be met. This time I had ex- time, like the general public, knew he had
hausted my excuses, and though it cost me no rival.
much to leave my retreat and brave the What, therefore, were the deep reasons that
caprices of the Mediterranean in the worst so motivated the French government to bring
month of the year, I decided to go. the conjurer to Algeria?
It is difficult to determine whether Robert- French soldiers of the time held the
Houdin's hesitations came from a legitimate marabouts or traditional wizards responsible for
desire to continue his work at Saint-Gervais, the numerous revolts of the population that they
or from ethical, professional, and social rea- had to repress. In Magie et Religion en Afrique
sons that he did not wish to transgress. Even du Nord (Magic and Religion in North Africa) by
if he had such thoughts, they had no influ- E. Doutte (published by Jourdan in 1908) we
ence on his decision, because there can be find the following definition of the marabout:
41
ROBLRT-HOLDIN
i 1 1 1 >^
relates the problems apparently provoked by
the presence in Medeah "of an individual
named Mohamed Abdallah bearing great re-
|
1 Pi semblance to Bou Maza" and who was led to
Blidah "to remove him from a region where
the false name Bou Maza could cause some
worries." The report is concluded by this sen-
tence, which clearly expresses what the mili-
1
! HI ii -*
\w
gious authority and did not hesitate to use
u *-- -"X
\ ; rudimentary illusions to astonish and further
r (
i i the fanaticism of their fellow men. One of the
1*1]
methods used by the marabouts to establish
their superiority in the minds of the faithful
was to convince them they had the power to
render themselves invincible. Here is how
The Marabout always acts in the name of Robert-Houdin described one such feat:
Allah. He is a benediction of the gods (baraka) One of them, for instance, ordered a gun to be
and the marvels he produces are not witchcraft loaded and fired at him from a short distance,
(sih'z) but signs of God (Karama). His feats have but in vain did the flint produce a shower of
a moral character, meaning that they have a so- sparks; the marabout pronounced some cabalis-
cial and not merely individual signification. tic words, and the gun did not explode. The mys-
tery was simple enough; the gun did not go off
In the military archives of Vincennes, there because the Marabout had skillfully stopped up
is a note from 1856 signed by Marshall the vent. Colonel De Neveu explained to me the
Vaillant, minister of war: "Do not the interests importance of discrediting such a miracle by op-
of our domination demand that the influence posing to it a sleight-of-hand trick far superior to
of marabouts be eliminated or significantly it, and I had the very article.
diminished? How can we reach this goal? This power that the marabouts pretended
Should we close the zaouias [A sort of uni- to transmit to Arab warriors made them be-
versal and religious institution, free hostel, lieve they were immune to gunshot wounds
and place of welcome similar to - in spirit - from French soldiers. The deaths of these
Middle Age monasteries] which are veritable young, nai've, honorable men, as well as
ACT IV
those of numerous army recruits, was caused usual fashion but to give each of his effects a
by this nonsensical belief. supernatural character that would impress
Robert-Houdin's assignment, whose suc- the minds of the indigenous audience.
cess contributed to saving numerous human Robert-Houdin dedicated a large part of the
lives on both sides, was therefore eminently summer of 1856 to preparing this mission
political. The government wanted to demon- with his usual meticulousness. Having left
strate to Arab chiefs that their marabouts' Saint-Gen, ais on September 10, Robert-
false miracles were nothing more than primi- Houdin and his spouse arrived in Marseilles,
tive tricks and could not at all be considered where on the 16th they boarded the
as supreme manifestations from the Almighty. Alexandre, an imposing wooden ship - lined
For everyone's salvation, white magic of with brass, with waterwheels and three
France needed to dethrone African wizardry. schooner masts framing a large chimney
For the conjurer it was therefore no longer which took them across to Algiers. This
appropriate to perform his repertoire in his steamship carried 350 passengers on each
43
ROBBRT-HOUDIN
journey. The painter Horace Vernet, a fre- bor. It had been previously agreed upon with
quent attendee of Soirees Fantastiques and the authorities that Robert-Houdin would
friend of the artist, was also on board. participate in the capital's yearly celebration
Robert-Houdin's government invitation was that was to begin on September 27. However,
published in the Marseilles newspapers and a revolt had broken out in Kabylie and the
he could not refuse to give performances to Marshal governor had just left Algiers at the
the managers of the Grand Theatre upon his head of an expeditionary group to suppress
return. the rebellion. This unplanned expedition de-
layed these annual celebrations by a month.
After thirty-six hours of sailing, the con- [10] To compensate for this delay, Colonel De
jurer and his wife arrived in Algiers. Awaited Neveu offered the artist an elegant arrange-
by a unit, they were brought to the dock in a ment which would end up being more prof-
"charming little boat" and taken to the Hotel itable. The government would graciously
d'Orient, where the government had reserved allow him to use the city theater, where he
them a stately suite overlooking Algiers's har- could give up to three performances per
44
ACT IV
1
'HOWABMONTA SUR LA SCENE. ROBERT- q UANOIL EUT REPOSE LE COFFRE A TERRE,
RQBERT-HOUDIN DECLENCHA UNCQURANT
" HOUDIN LUIDIT DE SOULEMER UN COFFRE
LECTRIQU EN APPJJYANTA VEC SON PIED SUR
\PEF5R, CEQU'lL FITmciLEMENK UN FIL CACHE,ET LECOURANT MAINVNT LE
COFFRE AU SOL . AiORS...
week at no cost to himself, with an opera These performances, which ran from the
troupe. This decision was frowned upon by end of September to the end of October,
some and the manager of the theater, seeing brought all the city's European population
himself deprived of a large part of his in- to the theater. Robert-Houdin's perfor-
come, called upon M. De Guiroye, the mances were made up of the best acts of his
mayor of Algiers, to arbitrate, but he usual repertoire except for the tricks spe-
cially prepared for the two exceptional galas
nonetheless confirmed the government's de-
that he was to perform on October 28 and
cision. In order to calm matters, Robert-
29 before all the country's tribal chiefs.
Houdin agreed to give only two perfor-
The author relates, in an extraordinarily
mances per week.
vivid manner in his memoirs, one of these
The conjurer's arrival in Algiers caused an memorable performances, as well as the re-
amusing polemic in local newspapers and the markable adaptation of his repertoire to ac-
publicity attracted the public as soon as the credit his position of white sorcerer before
first performances were announced, [n] this audience. [12] In this narrative one can
45
ROBHH-HOLDIN
realize to what extent the same trick results temporarily remove. In spite of all his ef-
in producing a completely different effect if forts, the selected person could not manage
its presentation is substantially modified. to lift this mysterious chest though, at any
This is valuable information and provides a given moment, a child could. This trick,
precious lesson on the psychological prin- combined with a short electric shock dis-
ciples that govern the art of magic. The creetly sent into the handle of the box.
Light and Heavy Chest, for example, was no filled the gullible with fear and astonish-
ment.
longer accompanied by the little fable in
which the conjurer presents it as a valuable The conjurer then presented his version
protection from thieves because it cannot of the Gun Trick, compared to which the
be moved against the artist's will. Instead, marabout's tricks were only little stunts, and
Robert-Houdin transformed this experiment finally the disappearance of a "randomly se-
into a challenge to the strongest man in the lected" member of the audience from under
audience, whose strength he claimed to a giant cup. a trick for which the artist used
DUIS.ROBERT-HOUDINICHAN&EALECOURANT
MAGNETIQUE EN DECHARGE ElCTJ?iQUE QUI
SOUPAA LA POI&NEE DU COFfPE LBS MAINS
DUSLUET
47
ROBERT-HOUDIN
a young Arab as a confederate who, accord- which he was the guest of honor, and which
ing to newspapers of the time, was 6'4" tall. lacked neither splendor nor originality. In a
This last feat created a bit of panic in the magnificent reception room were gathered
theater which did not abate until ''the reap- thirty of the most important Arab leaders, who
pearance" of the young More in front of the greeted him with the traditional Salam alikoum.
The conjurer responded by bowing and began
theater entrance.
to shake hands with these fierce warriors. He
The article from the Moniteur Algerien, had to quickly refrain from shaking hands,
Algeria's official newspaper, which we however, because several of them seemed terri-
reprint here, clearly shows that the press fied at the idea of touching the hand of such a
knew of the political importance of Robert- powerful white wizard. The oldest chief of the
Houdin's performances: assembly approached and unfurled a scroll. It
Let us add, to conclude, that the races this year was a poem, a true masterpiece of indigenous
were the occasion, as always, for several celebra- calligraphy enriched by hand with gracious
tions specially devoted to our indigenous leaders. arabesques. The doyen read this long poem in
But neither the banquets provided by the Arabic with great solemnity. At the end of his
Marshall, nor the ball that gathered together the
speech, he pulled the seal of his tribe from his
elite of our population last Thursday at the Hotel
du Government, and which so brilliantly ended belt and stamped the bottom of the imposing
the series of these magnificent parties, did not document with dignity; the main chiefs fol-
produce as vivid an impression on the Arabs as lowed his example. Rolling up the scroll, the
Robert-Houdin's performance, which they saw for old warrior presented it to Robert-Houdin with
the first time. It is superfluous to say that, in call- this compliment:
ing this skillful conjurer to Algiers, the Marshall's
"To a merchant, gold is given; to a warrior, arms
goal was not simply to provide new entertainment
are offered; to thee, Robert-Houdin, we present a
for them. A higher goal must have influenced him.
testimony of our admiration, which thou canst
We know that in Africa, certain individuals,
hand down to thy children." And, translating a
through sleight-of-hand more or less skillfully per-
verse he had just read in Arabic, he added,
formed, easily manage to pass themselves off as
"Pardon us for presenting thee with such a trifle,
gifted in the minds of their compatriots, and to
but is it fitting to offer mother-of-pearl to the man
have a most detrimental effect on populations op-
who possesses the real jewel?" [13]
posing us. In showing to the Arabs a Christian su-
perior in this domain to the fake sharifs who have The conjurer was deeply moved by this
tricked them so often, the Marshall believed he homage, which he always considered the most
would likewise expose and subvert such trickery, precious souvenir of his life as an artist: [w]
which the public, aware of the truth, could resist
in the future. Homage offered to Robert-Houdin by the chiefs
of the Arab tribes, following performances given in
May these performances, which will be talked Algiers on October 28th and 29th 1856:
about for a long time, provide this useful teaching. "GLORY TO GOD,
They will contribute to maintaining the peace who teaches us what we know not, and enables
from which we benefit now and which is one of the us to express the treasures of the mind by the
main factors in our prosperity. flowers of eloquence and the signs of writing.
Destiny with generous hands has sent down
Three days after the end of his performances, from above, amidst lightning and thunder, like a
Robert-Houclin received the order to go to the powerful and nurturing rain, the marvel of the mo-
governor's palace for a midday ceremony at ment and the age, he who cultivates the surprising
18
ACT IV
arts and marvelous sciences - the sid Robert- before him and pay him homage, so long as the
Houdin. benevolent rain nourishes the soil, so long as the
Our century has seen no one comparable to moon illuminates the night, so long as the clouds
him. The splendor of his talent surpasses the most come to temper the heat of the sun.
brilliant productions of past ages. Our century is Written by the slave of God,
the most illustrious because it has possessed him. ALI-BEN-EL-HADJI MougA
He has known how to stir our hearts and aston- Pardon us for presenting thee with so little,
ish our minds by displaying to us the surprising [etc.].
facts of his marvelous science. Our eyes were
never before fascinated by such feats. What he ac- After this ceremony, the artist and his
complishes cannot be described. We owe him our spouse were supposed to leave Algiers for
gratitude for all with which he has delighted our Marseilles, where they had been awaited for
eyes and our minds; hence, our friendship for him
over a month. The performances before the
has sunk into our hearts like a perfumed shower,
and our bosoms preciously harbor it. Arab leaders had fulfilled Robert-Houdin's
We shall in vain attempt to raise our praises to agreement with the military authority and
the height of his merit; we must lower our brows had been entirely successful thanks to the
strength of the repertoire composed specially received comments of certain Arab leaders as
for these circumstances. However, instead of to the effects produced by Robert-Houdins
returning to France. Robert-Houdin had to performances. One of the fiercest warriors
prepare for a second assignment that, al- had confided his feeling to one of the main
though as peaceful as the first, might include leaders of Algeria:
real danger. He had to travel into Algeria to Instead of having your soldiers killed to subju-
visit Arabs among their tribes and give a sam- gate the Kabyles, send your French marabout to
ple of his talent as the "French marabout," the worst rebels and in less than two weeks, he
under conditions much more difficult than will bring them all back here.
those of the theater. This "tour" in the desert, It must be stated that very little is known
whose length was to be three or four days, about what happened during the twelve days
lasted nearly two weeks. [15] spent in the desert. Robert-Houdin's mem-
The military authorities had suggested this oirs extensively discuss the tricks of Arab
unplanned journey after Marshall Randon had fakirs, the Alssaoua, the beauty of horse
51
ROBERT-HOUDIN
JULES GERARD
IX Tit EUR !>E LIONS
52
ACT IV
races, and the receptions in Algiers, but would be allowed to deter them from mov-
aside from the anecdote we reproduce at the ing to the African continent. The narrative of
end of this chapter, the author proves very the conjurer's Algerian saga obviously takes
discreet about large and small events during this demand into account and the author ful-
the trip into the heart of the country, whose fills the duty of discretion forced upon him
only perils he evokes are the effects of spicy by this peace mission.
Algerian cuisine on his stomach. This is per-
haps true but I have my own reasons for The military authority's satisfaction was
doubting it. The author's voluntary discre- expressed by a famous officer of the Second
tion may be paralleled with the goal of Empire, General Devaux [who met Robert-
French propaganda to promote the attrac- Houdin in Algeria and remained his friend]
tiveness of the new colony and to minimize during discussions with J. Joseph-Renaud,
its dangers. France needed teachers, mer- Vice President of the Societe des Gens de
chants, and colonists and no publication Lettres. The author wrote:
UANP 1L LENLEVA..,
?Er-HOUD/N LB COUVRITD'UN
GRAND CONE.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
I can still hear him telling me: "Son, the two men During this specially requested tour, an
who did the most for the pacification of Algeria were Arab chief named Bou-Allem received Robert-
Jules Gerard, the famous lion-killer, and especially the Houdin. The artist demonstrated his talent be-
incomparable Robert-Houdin." [u]
fore important people from the village. A
J. Joseph-Renaud adds the following, which marabout showing true hostility toward the
entirely confirms the obligation for discretion conjurer was present. In order to soften this
that Robert-Houdin upheld in his writings; "colleague," but also to prove to the public
I have found out from General Devaux that that his power was superior, Robert-Houdin.
after having performed in Algiers, Robert-Houdin putting the Algerian sorcerer at a disadvan-
made a lengthy tour in the interior of Algeria, not tage, performed some tricks where manipula-
without risk, from village to village in poorly con- tion was the key. The sorcerer, obviously em-
trolled regions, and astonished the indigenous barrassed, did not wait to ask for his revenge:
people, who then disdained their own wizards. His
memoirs - the edition that I have - do not mention The Marabout frowned without saying a word,
this tour. and I saw he was spelling over some evil design.
54
ACT IV
"I now believe in your supernatural power," he ing the Marabout. I stopped him, however, for an
said. "You are a real sorcerer; hence, I hope you idea had occurred to me, which would save me
will not fear to repeat here a trick you performed from my dilemma, at least temporarily; then, ad-
in your theatre." dressing my adversary:
And offering me two pistols he held concealed "You are aware," I said, with assurance, "that
beneath his burnoose, he added, I require a talisman in order to be invulnerable,
"Gome, choose one of these pistols; we will and, unfortunately, I have left mine at Algiers."
load it, and I will fire at you. You have nothing to The Marabout began laughing with an incred-
fear, as you can ward off all blows." ulous air.
I confess I was for a moment staggered; I "Still," I continued, "I can, by remaining six
sought a subterfuge and found none. All eyes were hours at prayers, do without the talisman, and
fixed upon me, and a reply was anxiously awaited. defy your weapon. Tomorrow morning, at eight
The Marabout was triumphant. o'clock, I will allow you to fire at me in the pres-
Bou-Allem, being aware that my tricks were ence of these Arabs, who were witnesses of your
only the result of skill, was angry that his guest challenge."
should be so pestered; hence he began reproach- Bou-Allem, astonished at such a promise,
HOUDIN, THE
CONJUROR.
B"5T BEABD.
Illustration 76 - Cover of Life and Adventures of Robert-Houdin, the Conjuror fop cil)
56
ACT IV
asked me once again if this offer were serious, in the blood, and, raising it to his mouth, con-
and if he should invite the company for the ap- vinced himself of the reality. When he acquired
pointed hour. On my affirmative, they agreed to this certainty, his arms fell, and his head was
meet before the stone bench I have already al- bowed on his chest, as if he were annihilated.
luded to. It was evident that for the moment he doubted
I did not spend my night at prayers, as may be
supposed, but I employed about two hours in en-
suring my invulnerability; then, satisfied with the ME H4RME DES SORClERSF(JT
result, I slept soundly, for I was terribly tired. U
ROMPU RO8ERT: :HOUDINCEN-
By eight the next morning we had breakfasted,
our horses were saddled, and our escort was await- TRA EN FRANCE OU IL MECUT
ing the signal for our departure, which would take JUSQU'A UNAGEAVANCE.PEJJ
place after the famous experiment. AVANT GA MORT, EN 1671, IL
None of the guests were absent, and, indeed, a ECRIVAIT A UN'AMI.-
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 delib-
erate aim at me. The pistol went off, and the ball
appeared between my teeth.
Angrier 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 white-
washed wall appeared a large patch of blood, ex-
actly at the spot where I had aimed.
The Marabout went up to it, dipped his finger
57
ROBFRf-HOUDIN
everything, even the Prophet. Algiers on November 18, 1856 after having said
The spectators raised their eyes to heaven, goodbye to the capital's civil and military au-
muttered prayers, and regarded me with a species thorities. The conjurer gave new proof of gen-
of terror. erosity and civic duty by refusing to accept the
This scene was a triumphant termination to my sum that had been agreed upon to cover his ex-
performance. I therefore retired, leaving the audi- penses and the amount of his two performances
ence under the impression I had produced. We
given before the Arab leaders. He asked that
took leave of Bou-Allem and his son, and set off at
these ten thousand francs be donated to differ-
a gallop. [17]
ent charities for invalids of the war. The artist
Robert-Houdin and his wife finally left believed that he had been paid enough by the
ACT IV
x :
' ^
fife* i
-
. K. _ * .
59
ROBtR'I-HOUDIN
Illustration 80 Robert-Houdin.
ACT IV
On November 27 the Alexandre finally appearance of his partner in a vase, from which
docked in Marseilles after a nine-day crossing he literally had to extract her. Critics therefore
on a turbulent sea, a dangerous and tiring voy- wrote this cruel sentence:
age that required four stops in various harbors, Neither M. Rovere's lovely madrigals nor the
[is] Robert-Houdin and his wife feared they number of candles, nor the dazzle of his decor
would be unable to return to this city in time nor the elegance of his tools suffice for him to de-
and had left the boat, which was docked on the serve the title of artist.
coast of Spain in Rosas, in order to return to The second performance took place more
France by crossing the Pyrenees in a horse- quietly before an equally small audience, but
drawn carriage. This itinerary was just as dan- the charm was, alas, ruined. After Jules de
gerous in horrible weather conditions. Rovere, the inhabitants of Marseilles in 1843
Respecting the promise made during his first
journey to Marseilles, the conjurer agreed with
the managers to give two performances at the
Grand Theatre that were set for Thursday,
December 4 and Saturday, December 6. The
small number of performances was due to his
late return from Algeria and because the theater
was at the time occupied by lyric shows that
could not be easily moved. The artist also did
not want to prolong his stay by several weeks
by performing alternatively with the other
troupe. The exceptional capacity of the theater,
which contained 1800 seated places and a few
hundred standing ones, would suffice to content
his admirers.
Only one magician, or should we say con-
jurer, had shown the courage to perform in this
huge, luxurious "boat" before Robert-Houdin
did so: Jules de Rovere. [19] He debuted on
November 2, 1819 and almost did not give a
second performance because his show was dis-
rupted by several incidents. The sparse public,
too far from the stage, could not see his tricks
and he had a most difficult time completing the
Illustrations 81, 84, 85. and 8" - Engravings used by Robert-
Houdin on his bills and on the cover of French edi-
tions of his works.
61
ROBLRl-HOUDIN
&
ggggggiggg aaijSjZSSSSgg
applauded the Polish Linsky. who performed published in La Gazette du Midi, Le Sema-
in a small room in the Allee des Capucines phore, Le Phoceen, Le Courrier de Marseilles,
across from the Conservatory. He also per- and Le Nouvelliste:
formed in the new theater in the Rue Saint- The famous conjurer Robert-Houdin has just
Ferreol where, in 1844, the lovely and tal- arrived in our city, back from his journey to
ented Benita Anguinet had a huge success. Africa, where he went to perform for the brilliant
Other performers included Valentin Berzinsky, celebrations in the Algerian capital, upon invita-
a masked lady named Miss Dauphin, and, at tion by the government. Before leaving for Paris,
M. Robert-Houdin will give two performances next
the Foire Saint-Lazare, Aldo. "first conjurer of
Thursday and Saturday at the Grand Theatre. We
the Grand Duke of Tuscany." as well as Le cannot exhort lovers of the fantastic enough to at-
Theatre Mecanique of the late M. Pierre. In tend these performances, which will be highly ex-
1846 Robin set up his Palais Enchante in citing...
the old theater of the Rue du Pavilion where
he presented his automata: a Harlequin, a
Savage, and a Cosack. Philippe was one artist The famous conjurer Robert-Houdin has ar-
who had overwhelming success in Marseilles, rived in Marseilles. He will give a certain number
arriving in July 1848 with a program of forty- of performances at the Grand Theatre. Two are
four feats of skill and mechanics. He distrib-
uted candy and bouquets for the ladies, and
had a raffle of porcelain and crystal objects
with pompous names that unleashed public
hilarity. Philippe announced "A steam ma-
chine in full activity" and offered the specta-
tors "a lit pipe." or. as the Works of Racine
[Meaning both "root" and the famous play-
wright] he gave away a "bunch of carrots or
turnips." Philippe stayed in town for the en-
tire Foire Saint-Lazare in September and fi-
nally set up in the Boisselots room with au-
tomata and a Polyorama. Marseilles had
already had a club for conjuring amateurs for
several years. These impassioned aficionados
met regularly at the optician Barbier's in the
Rue d'Orleans. [20]
Marseilles was therefore a city that particu-
larly appreciated the magic art [21] and was
preparing to welcome Robert-Houdin. newly
crowned with the success of his peace mission
in Algeria. Local newspapers had heartily
echoed this voyage and some gave him a title
for which the conjurer had never asked, that of
"Conjurer of His Majesty, Emperor of the
French." Here are a few of the advertisements
63
ROBERT-HOUDIN
scheduled for Thursday and Saturday of this ...Last night M. Robert-IIoudin obtained huge
week. We hope that they will be followed by a few success at the Grand Theatre, which lets us hope
others... that the theater will be too small to hold the
spectators who will want to attend his second and
last performance. We would need too much space
Le ec'.ebre prestidigilsteur Robert Homlin est ar-
rive a Marseille; i! y donnera un ceilain tiombre do to describe the numerous and varied tricks that
rcpresenlatioas aa Grr.nd-Thealre. Deux sortt assurees evoke the public's awe and admiration.
pour jeudi et samedi de celle semaine. On eipero qu'el- M. Robert-Houdin, who promises new tricks for
les seront SUITIM de quelques autres.
Pour la chronigue locale: J . CMTVUHE.
tomorrow, has surpassed Bosco himself...
64
ACT IV
fore had he put more of his heart and given Soirees Fantastiques had already been packed
more of himself to an audience because these into its own crate. [22] Robert-Houdin, very
performances were to mark the definitive moved, thanked the staff, gave tips to the
goodbyes to his artistic career. stagehands and, with his spouse at his side,
On December 6, around eleven o'clock quickly took leave to hide his emotion. The
in the evening after a long series of curtain conjurer left Marseilles to return to Paris and
calls, the curtain fell for the last time. The was back in Saint-Gervais for the year-end cel-
Mysterious Orange Tree, The Aerial Clock, The ebrations:
Crystal Balls, The Birth of Flowers, The I was, indeed, famously recompensed for
Sympathetic Turtledoves, The Inexhaustible the fatigues and dangers of my journey; for the
Bottle, etc. that had participated in this final Marseillais displayed towards me such unex-
performance were quickly packed away by ampled kindness, that these last performances
the stage manager. The stage was dismantled, will ever remain on my mind as those in which
as well as the consoles, tables, and gueridons, I received the greatest applause. I could not
and when the artist - whom officials, person- take my leave of the public in a more solemn
way--- [23]
alities, and enlightened amateurs of the city
had invited to a vin d'honneur in the theater
lobby - returned to the stage, each element of
65
ROBtRT-HOUDIN
Although several artists have written their by the writing of his memoirs. It is difficult to
memoirs, few can be proud of having touched be certain when Robert-Houdin had the idea of
more readers through their literary works than this work and when he began its writing, but
spectators during their artistic careers. This was we can reasonably believe that the project had
nonetheless the case of Robert-Houdin, whose been developing over se\eral years because
memoirs. Confidences d'un prestidigitateur sparse notes, summaries of little amusing,
(Memoirs of Robert-Houdin), have been pub- tragic, or funny events have survived and show
lished and republished to this day and con- his habit of writing down certain incidents of
tributed to a glory that was universal during his his professional life since the early days of his
lifetime. His scientific aspirations, his health, arrival in Paris. [24] The following has never
and the future of his children made him decide been published:
to say goodbye to the stage, but he could not Theater Emotions
abandon his public with a light heart, and his ul- In preparing one of my performances at Palais-
timate trick was to infinitely multiply his admir- Royal, I realize I have no powder to load my stage
ers by transforming them into readers. His pistols; the public is entering at this very mo-
Memoirs, whose exemplary nature we have em- ment. I send my servant to fetch a kilogram,
phasized, were recommended to adolescents which he returns with a moment later. I try to
and acquired true public recognition when they open the package, and thinking that the case is
made of lead, I take a file [illegible word] from
were chosen as a prize for deserving students in
high schools and junior-high schools. A sweet
revenge for one who had probably never grad-
uated.
Just as he could not let go of the public,
Robert-Houdin could not stay aw ay from the
stage. He therefore designed his Priory as a new
theater in keeping with his former ambitions.
His new "theater" would have only a few simi-
larities with Soirees Fantastiques and the magic
would only be alluded to as decoration: his
house and grounds would be entirely dedicated
to research and progress. The coming decade
would be consecrated to these and many other
things during which the art of illusion, science,
and literature would harmoniously In e together.
The years 1857-58 were devoted to the pur-
suit of important work on The Priory, complex Illustrations 89 and 91 - "Theater Emotions."
constructions to which we will later return, and Handwritten anecdote by Robert-Houdin
67
ROBERT-HOUDIN
6s i
ACT IV
We must not think that the author's days of this edition was sold, so it seems, exclu-
were spent like those of a more classic writer sively and only for a few weeks in bookstores
for whom writing is the only obligation. of Robert-Houdin's native town. Only a few
Robert-Houdin's schedule was dictated by dozen copies were printed and had no other
the rigors or the clemency of the climate. He purpose than to serve as the author's visiting
dedicated his evenings and rainy or cold days card for publishers who would distribute
to his literary work, whenever he could not these volumes all over the world.
dedicate himself to his host of daily occupa-
tions. Robert-Houdin was faithful to the path
The first announcement of the upcoming
he had always traced for himself: the under-
sale of the artist's memoirs was published on
taking of several activities at a time, whose
the first page on four columns and replaced a
complementarity does not at first seem obvi-
regular series in issue No. 97 of the Journal de
ous but which in fact reach towards the same
Loir-et-Cher, Sunday November 28, 1858:
goal.
The study of manuscripts of his work is Confidences d'un prestidigitateur by Robert-
particularly interesting. Each page, 6 by 8 Houdin
inches, is covered with large handwriting Our readers will be grateful that we offer them
with very few corrections, free from spelling the first edition of a work almost exclusive to
or grammatical errors. Some chapters were Blois. It is "Confidences d'un prestidigitateur"
(I) which are none other than the memoirs of
written in several versions, which differ more
our famous compatriot M. Robert-Houdin. The
in form than content. As soon as Robert-
artist-writer authorizes us to publish here one of
Houdin finished a chapter, he would go to
the numerous anecdotes of his book, whose lit-
Blois to see a certain M. Reber, [25] a former erary value we will discuss later. It is about a
junior-high school teacher, who corrected his ventriloquism performance by M. Comte. To sit-
work. Their work sessions rarely exceeded uate it, we will preface it with a few of this skill-
one hour. In consulting the manuscripts of ful artist's acts [...]
these different works, one clearly sees what
type of corrections M. Reber made in the au-
thor's work. He sometimes had a tendency to
construct long sentences that his kindly cen-
sor quickly broke up or shortened. Robert-
Houdin then brought his corrected pages to
his friend the printer Lecesne, [26] who for-
matted it and delivered the proofs. In this
way he continued the writing, correction, and
printing of his memoirs at the same time. The
artist felt the need to control everything from
beginning to end of the chain of creation and
fabrication and when the first and rare Blois
edition of Confidences d'un prestidigitateur
was published during the winter of 1858 [27] in
two volumes, he was simultaneously the au- Illustration 92 - Robert-Houdin's inkwell.
thor and the publisher. The original printing (Chateau de la \ tile de Blois)
69
ROBERi-HOUDIN
CONFIDENCES
PRESTIDIGITATOR
ROBEUT-IIOUDIN
f\ -rfajtv*--' flu* aM*rd>. UA^ -<U.
UNE VIE D'ARTISTE
BLOIS
LECESXE, 1JIPRIMEUB - EDITEUR
y^yt
CONFIDENCES
^
PRESTIDIG1TATEUR
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 93 - Autographed letter by Robert-Houdin.
UNE VIE D'ARTISTE
Letter with Robert-Houdins quatrain, which accompanies
the profiles of the artist and his wife that were chiseled by
Vocatio Lutle Travaux Sueci3
Dantan (See pages 117 and 305). 1 tre et P r stidigitation
Senm levant lea Ar faea
II i cour dp Hiracles
70
ACT IV
71
ROBERT-HOUDIN
TOME I
The following month, the Journal de Loir-
et-Cher, no. 8, Thursday, January 27, 1859 an-
PARIS nounced the release by a Parisian publisher
L I B R A I I U E N O U V E L L E of Robert-Houdin's memoirs and reproduced
1* Bouleurd des IU]ien< 14
the city's first review of the work:
18 5 9
72
ACT IV
Illustration 100 - La Librairie Nouvelle. This rare engraving is also reprinted in Jean-Yves Mollier's remarkable ork Michel & Calmann Levy
ou la nalssance de I'e'dition moderne 1836-1891, Calmann Levy 1984.
tience, and perseverance prevail in the long Librairie Nouvelle had its offices at 14,
term. This book is amusing, as I stated earlier, Boulevard des Italiens, a short distance from
and I add that it is moral and instructive. Soirees Fantastiques. Its spectacular store was
This second edition (or first Parisian edition) then housed in no. 15 of the same boulevard,
of Confidences d'un prestidigitateur was there- between Rue Gramond, La Maison d'Or, and the
fore published at the beginning of 1859 by La famous ice-cream maker Tortoni, across the
Librairie Nouvelle. It was followed by the street from Hamilton's new theater. Founded in
English edition, in two volumes, published in 1851 by the bookseller Jaccottet and Achille
London by Chapman and Hall in the beginning Bourdilliat, former manager of Victor Hugo's
of July, and in November by the American, newspaper L'Evenement, La Librairie Nouvelle
one-volume edition of Geo G. Evans. It was had great editorial successes with the works of
followed in I860 and 186l by the Dutch two- Dumas, Balzac, Du Camp, Champfleury,
volume edition. Labiche, Meilhac, and Halevy (Offenbach's fa-
The author chose the Parisian publisher mous librettists), Ourliac, George Sand, and
Bourdilliat to distribute his memoirs. La Dr. Veron. It played an important part in the
73
ROBERT-HOUDIN
to know that during his lifetime the artist never f. ~r.rer, who h-ia abdicated in fivoui of
his Uother in law Hamilton, his just fur-
nished us with a positive proof that tiie
ple of voluTilea dump fi'or.i tlio press,
what high in piae, but hi from low in
... est, in which we aio informed what a
pission, nnd the vocation, mid the COIISE Kurd stiug^le it coits to cstablfah ,<,reputation
gave up his rights to a publisher, preferring to (juent toil, linve been in his case thenewasar
piccuraora of artistic aucuesa From hi
1 chr
of money paid at the signing of the contracts. Llioujjh.l
- lift
,t from his earliest yenra , miii appended her nams to hia own, a IB tha
ope, hia amusing existence is fashion svith Frenchmen, to ihsliugoiah hira-
1
Although Bourdilliat negotiated the first transla- il for a self from other it a & mm Kolwrt , exnotly as
i to continue to be a Scot din i,i fcrasor or a Campbelldda
uliltlie termof Ina the name of hia hie pi ice to hia hie patronymic,
eurthly career fihulUrrive Still in hia brain order to avoid con<. sion witli 1
tions in foreign languages of Confidences d'un worka the accustomed stnriy of dexterous other flomiihlrg Campbells and Fraiei-s.
efFecta , still in tin fingers burn their wonted This conjoint anrname wu alWrwaids lflgnl-
fires There, vemote from the capital, m a isscl, l>y decision of the Council of State, to
prestidigitateur, Robert-Houdin personally took quiet hamlet, at that mysterious hom when be Vnttan currently and entire, linked to-
the clock strikes eight, his pulse quickens, g*ther by a hyphen, in one stroke of thep-n ;
hie temples W t , he can scarcely brenthe, he so that, cuvioualy einugh, tho socond and tha
fels a wmitof air ind inovo:ac:-.t, qncj'-.o.s isignmg Mail-itno Itiliait-tinudin has anc-
care of the negotiations for the majority of his put to him remain unanswered Eight ceede'l to her predMoMOr1* niuideu imnis
o'clock was the time when his performances This being cxpliiineil, the rcidei rosy now
ami; when, peepW thrnuoh ths be in formed Hint liobcrt the eldor WM II
g ouuoaity,
" "
ity, rejoiced
y, hee rejoicfd
j t m r lp
in Ins linr
Wiitehmiiktr, rtaidniir m tlfosol,!!: >(:>! HI tow.
audiauce flocking in , when, proud of then of JJloii, and tu.compliahed ir
iplimn rts. Hi
ralkiiiJieJ
a '.he
74
ACT IV
MEMOIRS MEMOIRS
ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN
LONDON LONDON
1859. 1S59.
[RegUlered accordivg to the Inlerwlhnal Copy ight Acl.~] [Rc^uteicdaccording to the Inttinational Copyright Act]
Illustrations 102 and 103 - Title pages of the two volumes of the original English edition of Memoirs of Robert-Houdin.
Emile Robert-Houdin was in London work- September 14* I received an excerpt from
ing on a project for Breguet. In Robert- The Times from M. Westley.
Houdin's Tablettes journalieres of 1859, we November 13th Visit from M. Desouch coming
can read these notes concerning the transla- to answer a question I had
asked him on literary conven-
tion of his work: tions between the United
July 13th Sent 25 F to Emile for my States and France.
nd
memoirs. November 22 I received the translation
August 16th
Emile arrived from London. of my memoirs from Phila-
He gave me the translation of delphia (United States).
my memoirs and the English December 26th I received a letter from New
newspapers that wrote about York from Mr. Dick and
them. I spent the rest of the Fitzgerald asking me to re-
day reading them. serve my next work on con-
th
juring for them.
August 19 At the binder's for two English
and French volumes. We also find notes concerning the letters
September V I received from Menimo an sent to him by the baronet Sir Frederick
issue of The Times in which Charles Lascelles Wraxall, [29] w h o translated
there is a review of my work. his memoirs and those of others into English,
75
ROBERT-HOUDIN
BEKENTENISSEN
MEMOIRS
OF
ROBERT-HOUDIN
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
3n twrt i e f l t n , mtt 16
BDIIBD BT
Kerste deel.
Illustration 104 - Title page of the original American editon Illustrations 105 and 106 - Title page and cover of the Dutch
of Robert-Houdin's memoirs. edition of Robert-Houdin's memoirs.
The first volume was published in I860, the second in 1861.
BEKENTENISSEN
VAN EEN
GOOCHELAAR EN KUNSTENAAR,
DOOE
ROBERT-HOUDIN.
ra ZUTPHEN, BUT
A. E. C. VAN S O M E R E N .
1861.
77
ROBEKT-HOUDIN
IL V A Au:;si m LA MUSCQDS.
. Qualqu'un do !a soc6td voudrailil prfiter cent s N'oulOnrs jias ia charmante personne Ni Ie monsieur qui nous a anconcS !a
oni nous a ch,mt6 queiquf chose sur son Venus du Afe<sie, sur tin air inconnu.
PETIT N'OISKAU,
- Oui. mais intrigant conime un macpigmm. Et mnuvaise langue. Je ie connais de longue date; I! t'a bien rendu queiqaes pifeees de vrngt fran
- Si encore il (itait bo garden ' nous avons demeur^ trois ans ensemble. En voila un que Le voila lanc^.
- II n'est queb&te. ]es succfes dea camarades font maigrir. Lui ai-je assez C'est a se faire e*picier.
- Et jaloiDi. p^et^i de pieces de cent sous! Oui, si on avail un commanditaire.
During the 1858-59 season, a new theater man with a remarkable intelligence.'' This let-
devoted to magic opened on the capital's boule- ter opened doors to a few aristocratic salons
vards under the name of the Theatre Lyro- for him, and Macaluso had the honor of per-
Magique or Theatre Macaluso. forming in Fontainebleau in the presence of
Arriving in Paris at the age of twenty-five, the Emperor and the Queen of Holland.
Raphael Macaluso was preceded by a flattering Following this performance, the Emperor
reputation. A native of Sicily, where his art granted him the privilege of creating a theater
was first recognized, his popularity quickly ex- that, for a time, was highly fashionable:
tended to all of Italy. Ferdinand II received
At the opening of the Theatre Lyro-Magique,
him at Caserte, Victor-Emmanuel II in his
we were the first to predict M. Macaluso's and
palace in Torino, the Grand Duke of Tuscany M. Lamazou's success. Now that the public and
in the Pitti palace, and the Emperor of Austria its applause has confirmed our prediction, we
in Venice. Macaluso left his country for France are happy to note that their reputation grows
with a letter of recommendation from the each day. Moreover, it is enough to see Macaluso
writer Alphonse Karr: "I vividly recommend M. perform the handkerchief, candle, or dice trick
Raphael Macaluso; he is a prodigiously skillful once to prove it.
The music, directed by M. Lamazou, and gen-
eral good taste of the performance are especially
pleasant aspects of these charming soirees on the
Boulevard Montmartre. We would even go to the
Theatre Lyro-Magique just to hear the excellent
music and M. Lamazou's very lovely voice, and as
wizardry as he is, Macaluso cannot conjure away all
the bravos that he shares every evening with his
happy associate, [ao]
79
ROBFRI-HOLDIN
80
ACT IV
C O R R E S P O N D AINTOE S P I R I T E
Verntdre crtatton de M. de CASTOX. qitijotndra a cede
LE PANIER JAPONAIS
\" Le* Evocations. 2' Les Apparitions - 3" Leans Manifestations - '\* fifiifilali ih diuree* J 0 Dsjianl on dis I! pnt Creation de M. A. DELILLE
L.e I'i i \ d e l I'lncen n o s e r a pan uii<-niei)l(i
I)
Ce piogiamme, tout "i f.ii! e^Leplionnel pa lu rhoix des mati les qtii j soot developpi.es. 3i(h'6SSfl .
chaque classo de li sociut6 in-? savants pom la partlo i bvsTqne an olerg^ pom HpsvcUologie e^p^iimeii.
tale, et enfin pom tons cout cim .nuient ,i >;e oonviiiieic tin quolfjiies uit^ de res i>1innmi1>m>s nrn fpiulnnf Experience brevetee (s. g, D. g \
lever un des coins de ce voile <\m couvio oeitains injskies de la nattn
8'admser, -pour la location, dis atijourd- kni.au thintre, de 10 hem du maim a 6 Aeures du soir
Elbeuf. Impnmerie LBVASSEUR. ORKl'EL s ice*. i.ifiSainl-Jcan. 21. PRIX DES PLACES :
Chaises, 2 fr. Banquettes, 1 fr. 50. Seeondes, 1 ft1. Troisi&mes, 50 c
Demi places pour les enfants.
Illustration 110 - Small Alfred de Caston playbill, 1886. JEL'DI ET DIMANCHE A 3 HEURES
Derniere F E T E EHTFAWTTIWE
a priv reduits
Illustration 111 - Small Adrien Delille playbill, 1867. Bordeaux Imp. 3. Pechade, rue dn Paiiement-St-Pierre, 12.
81
ROBFR'I-HOUDIN
We owe to Jean Chavigny the image of Arrangements for the Comfort and Pleasure of
Robert-Houdin taking advantage of well-de- a Home). Paris, Michel Levy freres, publishers,
served rest at The Priory, where he appar- 1867 The Priory was a work in progress for
ently dedicated all his time to scholarly re- more than six months per year, during which
search. This interpretation is based on truth Robert-Houdin worked nonstop with a few as-
but, as we will discover, scientific research sistants. To bury the electrical wires that
was not the only constant in the artist's mul- linked all parts of the property, trenches had
tiple activities in Saint-Gervais as in Paris. On to be dug which were reopened a few months
the contrary, this period, ranging from his re- later because of water leakage or breakdowns
tirement from the stage in 1854 to his death in of various kinds. They built walls, created al-
1871, was one of the most prolific of his en-
leys, filled and dug trenches, built clocks and
tire life. In Robert-Houdin's works we can
electrical regulators, etc., and in short carried
read a description of LAbbaye de I'attrape, a
out an ambitious plan which, although very
nickname given by the sculptor Dantan to his
well conceived, obviously did not escape all
friend's domain. The author describes the
the problems and misadventures that all orig-
mechanical and electric marvels inside, and
inal designs encounter. For example, the in-
mysterious attractions that decorated the
vention of the electric opening device on the
property. The question of knowing when,
property's little door next to the gate took
how, by whom, and especially in how much
nearly seven years. This operation today
time these domestic and festive marvels were
carried out is not even mentioned, although it seems so simple but was then a real puzzle,
should be. and its effects at that time seemed like magic
spells to visitors.
It seems that between 1849, when the con-
Robert-Houdin's Tablettes fournalieres dis-
jurer acquired The Priory, and the end of
1853, a period during which he actively con- proves the legend and give us a much more
tinued his artistic activities, the stops at Saint- realistic view of the author's activities.
Gervais were relatively brief and punctual. Although he spent several hours in his work-
Landscaping work and the extension of the shop or in his office, he also handled the pick,
house were taken care of in his absence by shovel, paintbrush, or trowel with equal joy,
"Cousin Robert." who was responsible for ap- depending on the season; he moved wheel-
plying his famous nephew's instructions. On barrows full of dirt or rubble and was simul-
the other hand, the planned and supervised taneously worker and foreman. Robert-Houdin
"magic" and technical works of the master nonetheless carefully planned his schedule,
began in 1854. For thirteen years - until the which he described as ''the most precious
publication of his booklet Le Prieure, Organi- thing" in order to simultaneously pursue his
sations Mysterieusespour le Confort et I'Agre- learned experiments and his literary and
ment d'une demeure (The Priory - Mysterious magic activities.
ROBHRT-HOUDIN
We will return in detail to The Priory's sur- the house never considered having his resi-
prising creations (see Appendix I of this dence visited for any sort of commercial ven-
work) but we can already emphasize the sin- ture. It must be stated that his "enchanted"
gularity of this enterprise comparable to house, which prefigures our modern tech-
none other in the artist's career, because it niques, is the work of a pioneer and philan-
could bring him neither more glory nor the thropist convinced of the benefits that sci-
slightest hope for gain. The Priory was a pri- ence could bring to everyone's quality of life.
vate domain, inaccessible to the public and, He did not satisfy himself with writing down
although Robert-Houdin graciously received his convictions, but carried out his futuristic
guests on numerous occasions, the master of views lifesize.
Robert-Houdin's Tablettes journalieres are children Eglantine and Georges are followed by
a precious source for the reconstruction of fatherly words infused with worry, day after day
certain chapters of his life as accurately as when accidents or illnesses arose, as was often
possible. The extracts from this document we the case.
have included concern only the specific sub- Georges Robert-Houdin, then aged eight,
ject being discussed. Reproducing the totality began to show alarming signs of typhoid fever
of the notes dealing with the artist's daily oc- on September 12. 1859. For several months,
cupations would enrich this essay by a few until late December, he was near death, and Dr.
thousand pages! It is a veritable labyrinth that Arnoult, who cared for him almost daily, made
I thought appropriate to spare the reader, no promises. At the end of the year, the doctor
having myself spent months classifying the considered the patient to be almost completely
multitude of subjects briefly evoked by the out of danger, and Georges began a long con-
author. valescence. In his Tablettes journalieres of
The years of these journals, although teach- 1859, Robert-Houdin also described an accident
ing us much about the man, only partly ex- that happened to his youngest daughter
plain small and large events in his existence. Eglantine, who was luckily left unscarred, a few
Robert-Houdin at times noted the start of a days after her sixth birthday:
creation, success, or problem but then made
no more reference to it for months, sometimes
years. If he mentioned letters he received, he
often did not specify their content, and in
many cases only outside research has allowed
the unraveling and amending of his writings,
which briefly relate his schedule and only pe-
riodically make up an intimate or professional
journal.
In these notes, for the most part terse, only
rarely do his deepest feelings come across, ex-
cept for those concerning the health or future
of his four children. When Eugene was on a
military campaign, a period during which mail
scarcely circulated or was forbidden, Robert-
Houdin wrote every day: ''No letter from
Eugene" and, after a few weeks during which
this sentence was written every day, ''Letter
from Eugene from...1' (location of some battle-
field) followed by the underlined comment
"Great Toy." Comments on the health of the Illustration 11 - Eglantine Robert-Houdin by Disderi.
87
ROBI RT-HOUDIN
89
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 119 - D a n t a n t h e y o u n g e r .
90
ACT IV
parish, who regularly dined with them, re- ferred the pleasures of the Anjou and
mained very close to the couple. The bishop, Touraine regions to the charms of spas.
archbishop, congregations, and religious Robert-Houdin's Tablettes journalieres show
schools of the region regularly visited The us how he spent most of his time. His priori-
Priory and its enchanted garden. ties were essentially working on embellish-
He later noted in his Tablettes journalieres ments to The Priory and writing. The rest of
his activities, whether scholarly, mechanical,
that he was aware of the weight of age and re-
or magical, were pursued simultaneously. He
capitulated the past year at the end of each
rarely dedicated himself to just one project,
notebook. There are never any traces of bitter-
and if he did. it was because he had agreed
ness but instead much optimism, expressed
upon a specific delivery date. Robert-Houdin,
with his usual realism and with the wish that
faithful to the method of his beginnings, the
the year to come be more or less similar to the
years 1830-1837. worked daily on several pro-
one past. We disco\ er a philosophizing
jects at once, leaving some on hold for several
Robert-Houdin with few needs, who had ac-
months while he began new ones. Thus, many
quired complete independence thanks to the
creations took several years to complete while
fruits of his labor, and the rare worries ex-
others remained unfinished at his death.
pressed are those of all fathers preoccupied
Robert-Houdin's days were already full and he
with their children's future.
refused to sacrifice all his time to his art, at the
The myth of rest and retirement at The expense of his family, his children, and his so-
Priory leads one to think that the master of cial duties.
the house rarely left his property. This vision
is inaccurate because, aside from his daily
trips to Blois, Robert-Houdin went to Paris
every month by train for one-week stays dur-
ing which his time was divided between the
purchase of supplies, the efficient manage-
ment of his assets and those of the family as
well as those of a few friends like Dantan,
who bought shares with him. His stays in the
capital provided an opportunity for visits and
also coincided with the pursuit of his magic
and scientific activities. Part of his evenings
was dedicated to all sorts of entertainment,
concerts, circuses, boulevard shows, and
watching the shows of new colleagues. His
journeys to the capital were less frequent in
the summertime, during which he hosted
family members, friends, and various person-
alities. The banks of the Loire at this time of
the year were vacation spots sought after by
Illustration 120 - Father Ranc from the parish of Saint-
wealthy Parisians, at least by those who pre- Gervais. (Prtoate collection)
9.1
ROBERT-HOUDIN
During the summer of 1859, a few months On September 22, I860, Robert-Houdin wrote
after the publication of Confidences, Robert- with no more detail: "I received a letter from
Houdin indicated in Tablettes journalieres the Hamilton that mentions Herrmann." This letter
manufacture and welding of 'Tings,'' and that he did not concern conjuring, but more specifi-
worked on them certain evenings. For a few cally mechanics, because Carl (Compars)
days during the month of August, he worked on Herrmann, who was also a great art collector,
The Light and Heavy Chest but nothing allows had expressed to Hamilton his desire to ac-
us to specify whether this concerns a new quire a bird piece made by Robert-Houdin.
model or repairs on the ''old" one. This request is confirmed by later letters from
Emile to his father, in which he mentioned
During October 1859, Robert-Houdin set up
the impatience of a certain Herrmann who
electric wires in his living room for, he writes,
awaited his order! It is from this date that
"electric jolts," an experiment described under
Robert-Houdin also worked "regularly" on
the title of "spirit rappings" in his posthumous
this Singing Lesson more than on his other
work Magie et Physique amusante (Secrets of
Conjuring and Magic).
On August 6, I860 we discover the following
note: "I worked with Emile on The Writing and
Drawing Automaton." From this date on, during
periods ranging from a few weeks to a few
years, Robert-Houdin worked on a new model
of The Writing and Drawing Automaton, a me-
chanical piece that always held a special place
in his heart. Except for periods when Emile was
free, during which father and son worked to-
gether, Robert-Houdin devoted himself alone to
this task. As we wrote in the chapter concern-
ing Phineas Taylor Barnum, it is possible that a
contractual exclusivity granted to him was end-
ing, an exclusivity that would have no more
reason to exist after the destruction of The
Writing and Drawing Automaton in the 1865
fire at the American Museum.
At the time of Robert-Houdin's slightly
chaotic succession, Emile inherited the unfin- Avant de quitter Paris, le professeur Herrmann
propose d'escamoter les principales questions
ished automaton, and it appears that he never politiques.
completed it. He probably lacked the essential
to do so: the master's genius. Illustration 122 - Carl (Compars) Herrmann.
95
ROBIRT-HOUDIN
creations. History does not say whether or January 16"' I prepared my phantasmagoria
not this automaton - which the mechanician that I plan to present as a re-
finished a few years later, and whose price hearsal on Thursday and seri-
ously Sunday.
was quite high - was finally delivered to
Herrmann, because it is not included in the January 20th I prepared my polyorama...The
evening at M. Bergevin's. I per-
sale catalogue of the great magician's collec-
formed the polyorama among
tion. [33] ourselves.
The Tablettes journalieres from 1859 to January 221"1 I went to Blois at 2 o'clock [...].
1861 also testify to parties given at The Priory Went to see M. Vidal [principal
and invitations to parties attended by Robert- of the junior high in Blois] for
Houdin and his wife. On these occasions, the the phantasmagoria.
artist rarely gave samples of his art because January 31" I prepared my phantasmagoria
he did not mention card tricks or demonstra- for the evening. At three
tions of card-sharping, except with respect to o'clock I went to M. Vidal's to
two receptions. During this period, the care prepare it. At eight o'clock I
that the conjurer took concerning his gave my performance before
Polyorama for a school party, planned for the entire junior high school
and the teachers.
January 31, 1861 and in which he generously
participated, shows his desire to plan every- Robert-Houdin received, throughout his re-
thing in the slightest detail even if it was a tirement." proposals for performances in France
performance that could be deemed minor: and abroad - in England, Germany, the
Netherlands, and the United States - and their
number increased considerably with the publi-
cation of his memoirs. He did not accept. If he
had decided otherwise, his agreement with
Auction
von modernen urn! alten Mobeln, Kunstgogonstilnden, OeT
Hamilton would have permitted it; we will soon
have proof of this...
gemaldon und Aquarellen, Porcelan etc. etc.
Sfieflen SUkeife beggerni ^I'ofejfovS $evrnmmsroerbenin beffen For example, here is an offer to travel to the
SBoljnunfl, am Opetntitifl Sir. 13, itu 2. Stod xxS&i, son 7 Simmetn noil*
fiSnbiee ouSemnd)iuitB, befteijetib in mobetnen unb antiten SliSbtln, legendary Alexandria:
einem fdjfinen Sgiano DOU 8ofsnbotftc unb einer stolen eifernenfiaiJe,
StowS* unb Sfteifiener SSorceian, inobernem unb etltent Sifter, Delge*
motbenunbSlfliiaretten.fflconteiunbSmnil'SuflecS fut (SnS unb fietjeit, November 22, 1860I received a letter from an
coBtpteferJ?u(6en:iSinriif)tuit8,4!e)))H<i)en,bann eine SBlineralienfamm- engineer from Alexandria
lutig,SBiiouteticitunb fammtlidie ntaaiidjeSlpparateicjcimSicitationS*
Befit a w n flld) Bore SejaljlunB nnb caWaffung oeroujsert for me to give ten perfor-
K B . S i e SSoIjnuHS ifi foflfeicft su oetmietljeti.
$ie Suction ftnbet SRatttas fiot 2 9 . miB 3)le)"<riB t e n 3 0 . mances before the vice-
6. 4B. on iebem %aa on 2 Bis 6 Ufctftatt, unbftnbbiesutSluctuin
eelanflenben eflenftmibe tdgli(J son 2 b\3 5 U6c SwaiSmittafifl roy.
su JcMtigen. 6356
M a t h i a s LosDher, K h. ktihkt $&Mmtiht. Although during these three years the artist
also" dedicated himself to new stage creations,
Illustration 123 - Announcement of the auction of the art it was his brother-in-law and successor who
collections of Carl (Compars) Herrmann. benefited from this. We will return to this sub-
ject in an upcoming chapter.
- Ik
Due vue de deux amours. Arc-en-ciel, mecanique.
Un rideau bais^fi de th6atre. Gastronome sans argent.
Onze veires de titre du polyarama. I n fort detache.
Ua lot de dou/e tableaux iiucheves on de'pareille's. Un homme en o entre deux r.
Un Maure vivaut.
Vues du Oomicorama. Un Turc.
Un cygne, mecanique.
Titre du eomicorama. Un arc-en-ciel, mecanique.
Gavde-hora de tour. Une baiancoirecbinoise, nnSeanique.
La nuit touche k son gril. Apparition deTamour lancant aa fleche, tableau mecanique.
Un soldat qui a 3'ennemi dcvant lui. i ran ^formation d'un amour, mecanique.
Monsieur TMpedur. Tableau mftcanique pour effet de neige.
Un pierrot qui bat des ailea. Epanouissement d'une rose, raecunique.
Trois PersanSj enfaots. La danse des chats, tableau mficanique.
Trois eniants persaas. Un enfant dana la laiterie prenant un reuf.
La reverence d'une Anglaise maigie, pi6ce m6canique. Une cuisiniere faisant danser I'anse du pauier.
La i^v^rence d'uac Anglaise grasse, pitce m^cauiquu. Le temps aj ant sa fauls sous le bras,
Le gastronome sam argent, tableau de la fin. Un rat peint.
Reflexion d'ua paysan, mCcaaique. Un chat dans une laiterie.
L'eaclave, tn6canique. Un oheval qui s'emporte faeilement.
Un enfant bien 116, tableau mecanique. Un eiiroyable a i sorti du scsn ties flols
Le tambour-major etourdi. Des airs en cc moment a trouble la repos.
Paysau couvert de bois.
Au revoir.
Le teraplier.
Uu bouquet de bal.
Un monsieur qui marche avec BOO siecle. Vues du Ohromatropo.
Deux amoureux, tableau m^eauique.
Ua invalide anglais, mecanique.
Titre du chromatrope.
Metamorphose d'un cuisinier, piece nie'eanique.
Un chromatrope, jet d'eau.
Un elown anglais, mecanique.
Les trois Graces couioDii^es par 1'amour,piece m^canique. Quatre autres tableaux du chromatrope.
Ua mouiin, mticaniq'ie. (Tom ccs tableaux sont emballes dans des caisses spiciales
Une vache au champ, tableau mecanique. pour voyagrs.)
95
ROBFR T-HOUDIN
96
ACT IV
The two "affairs" that we are going to de- According to his declaration, she is only 22
scribe illustrate the author's stubbornness in de- years old but is his wife. She is said to be from
fending the honor of his name, but also show Sardes, a province of Savoie. To support this dec-
laration, he showed me a passport issued in Lyons
that unscrupulous magicians must have found a
for Nice on November 26, 1858 upon presentation
real benefit in usurping it. This was the case not of an expired passport issued in Ghambery in
only in France, but also in England and America which he is said to "accompany his spouse, Julia
(see note 15 of Act V), and, strangely enough, Houdin, aged 22." He added that this lady in fact
Robert-Houdin's death was not enough to stop had nothing in common with your family, but that
this "hemorrhage," because at the end of the was not a reason for her not to keep her own
nineteenth century, one ''artist" - whose adver- name, of which several members can be found in
tisement I reproduce on this page - was still
touring in the provinces using the name of the
illustrious conjurer! We must also not forget the
most famous of his "namesakes," Harry
Houdini, who wrote that he borrowed his name
''in admiration" of him, but who posthumously
thanked him in the most indelicate manner.
During the month of July 1859, Robert-
Houdin learned that one of his colleagues
had performed in Vichy using the name
"Houdin." The conjurer wrote on August 7 to I CfiRgS. Potka.
Par 1-Oreh.
6 OUVKUTURB 8YMPHO.N1QUE TiLLUim
Piu VOrtbtttrt
the mayor of the famous spa to obtain infor- I AirdeLAKMft.
l J ( LIVAN
L. DELIBES 7 MOiSK MOURANT . .
Pic M O"SUtLIVAS
. N . Lot)!*
3 INDICATE-RDESCHEMINSJ.EFKR DIM
8 CHANSON i)E MUSE1TE . F TKOMI
mation on the "usurper." Here is the head Chanjonnei'e pr M TU8PIH
4 Air das SAISOMS V. : 9 U^EPROMKNADEMILITAIRE LACOBF.
Par Mademoiselle Jeanns T _
magistrate's answer: 5 KOS CONCIERGKS. eh. typique Bos
P i r M TURPIK
Par M TURPIN
10 MARCHii
Pai lOreheiiie
ZitOLER
T
ROBERT-HOUDIN
g#
fllEi
S3 IMS UK
.NofA. C M e s p S d s n u c s sonl Un msUlour goAt, d tioo Eottros tie ESItcttallonan G aDS,*dos piim-ipaux
diels dc matsons , Olrooletira cl'InstHullon tics i saxos i SIuTsons religtousos, Dfrfiotsura <1* Scminaires , ptc.
Plus i*aUwLl!on dcs 7 \nhr\rqii"^ nti Bvdcjuos dp Praocfi. sont uu Bfli gamiil <^i talent di-s Ailistes
RQOnS . U j \ AMATKl liS > francs Tlicuec, 3 joiis lours, (JU'OU Mdculera parfaitemenl dans ce lapi tie temps.
En -2 /(rows d'une hetne, sans mtcune jxirtic Iheonqxtc, ftriv: M1$ fr.
ROTA. M C -G. HOUDIN dana chaounfl dt> ses Seances da Bnnlllc, KIPO BCCQmpngnd par M. Adolpho BEnTllS
pt&niste distingue.
Illustration 12" - "M. & Mine. C.-G. Houdin," in reality M. and Mme. Geraud.
98
ACT IV
Glermont-en-Argonne (Marne) where they resided left on the 30th. During their stay in this city, they
after having left Savoie. gave seven to eight conjuring, hypnotism, and
If this information is of use to you, I am happy mesmerism performances.
to have been able to provide it. M. Girault definitely did not say in Orleans or
Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my distin- in my office that he was related to you. He only de-
guished consideration, clared that his wife was named Julia Houdin, and
The Mayor of Vichy, Commissioner that he thought it advantageous for him to use this
of the government for the Establish"1"" name.
I have the honor to salute you.
On August 14, wanting to verify this infor- The Central commissioner.
mation at the source, Robert-Houdin wrote to
For a few more months, Robert-Houdin gath-
the Mayor of Clermont-en-Argonne and here is
ered information, then gave it to a lawyer and fi-
the edifying answer that he received:
nally forced the abuse of his name to end. He
Glermont, August 17, 1859 took a long time to resort to legal action in this af-
Sir, fair, and must have thereafter been convinced to
You ask me in your letter of the 14"1 of this
immediately crush all such attempts in the future.
month if it is true that a certain Julia Houdin, wife
of Geraud, was born in our city.
I consulted families with this name and the
Civil Registers and have found that this woman FETE DU X I I I ' AKRON DISSEMENT
was not born here at all, and that she is not related GGKST&TCTIQH SPEGIAI.K-K.IOSQTIE BW M Y S T E K
CENTRE de la PLACE D'lTALIE
to any of these families, who have been absent and
unknown for a long time. Derniere Creation du Celebre
I will however inform you, sir, that I have the
honor of telling you that none of the families living Oil les families trouveroat une re'cre^atioE du Meilleur gout, & qui
ne peut avoir de rivalit6s nulle part.
or having lived in our locality writes their name Le Spiritisme a la port6e de Tous
with an H but instead with an O.
Please accept the assurance of my distin-
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
guished consideration. Cette cassette completement isolee de tout: parle & tient conversation
avec le spectateur, elle rit, pleure, chante, ecrit sous la dictee joue aux
The Mayor being absent, cartes, etc.. etc. etc
Elle devine la ponsee des personnes qui la touohent
The Deputy e'tsst le dernier mot du Spiristnue.
During the following year, Robert-Houdin LE MIROIR MAGIQUB
Effet du plus grand i : pouvoir cabaliatique de LA.SSAIGNE
continued to have news of the travels of Geraud
here or there but he had already left the places Revelations d'outre-tombe de la fille du Banquier de Francfort.
before intervention was possible. Commissioner V LPS Espnts Frappeurs. 6' Les Espnts Tracasiers
Suzanne of the central police headquarters of 2' La Boite de Pandora 7* La lettre secrete
B'UeoffreduBanqmer 8' Concert Mj stei iftux
Blois advised him to begin a report and so 4* I'Espntqm parle 9* Revelation de la pense.
o' Heproduttiondes Seu&ations 10' Le meiveilleux du travail d6montre
Robert-Houdin wrote to the publisher of the
E t line foule d'experiences improvisees provoqudes par le Public et qui ne peuvent t t r e
Journal de Loir-et-Cher and to the Orleans chief ntionnbes au Programme,
Ce spectacle se renouvelle toutes les heureset serecommande par sa composition, son
of police. Here is the latter's response: imT}j*ev\i sa nouvB&utei aux families et tt\ix aiu&tc^ii's f^ui aimeiit le ue^m st le mervGitlBus
PRIX D'ENTREE 26 e.
Orleans, July 3, 1860 II est impossible de trouver h ces conditions un spectacle plus* convenable,
LASS-VIGNE est im noio asscz eonnu pour que les perspnue intelhgentes n'hemtent
Sir, pus Si venir le voir, tous las soirs i, 8 lienres
99
ROBfRI-HOUDIN
?
5 i
1
100
ACT IV
PROTESTATION
et de"ii iormel au Prcslidigitateiir dont 1'afficlie amionce tine rcpieseiitation
accompanied me to court at
12:30. M. Brizard presented my
aujonidhiii MARDI au GRAND CASINO honorable position. He read a
Cette affiche apposee CP maim sur les muvs de la Ville est bles^anto pour tons lesconfrdrts. letter from M. Riffaut, mayor [of
M. VERBEGK sc dit lhomme par excellence et ajoute que tous ceui. (jui eiercent eette
profession DOIYSKT S'ltWLIXSJi DEVANT LCI ! ! Blois], which says I am his
ERREUK ! ! ERREUR ! ! friend. He skillfully insisted
upon the damage done by
M. LASSAIGNE 1" Prestidigitateur Physician de France
Lassaigne's pretending to be my
son-in-law. The lawyer De Verre
RELEVE LE GANT tried to elevate his client. He
Si M. Yerbecfc 1G desire M. Lassaigne pent Itii jtrouvor iju'i! esi an moins aus&i fort si non could not succeed. The deputy
PLUS FORT QUE LUI public prosecutor argued in con-
J'attends line r^ponse du GKL&BRE \ERBKCiv et je demande an public impaitial cfaq clusion on the wrongdoing to me
minutes de presence icciproquc pour pronycr quo
by Lassaigne. Still the courts
JE DIS VRAI
postponed judgment for another
Salut cl vespucl.
J. LASSAIGNE, Fhycisicn. session. I left Tours at five o'
clock.
Venez, venez- me voir, vous serez emerveiile
el cela no vous coulerapas 5 fr. commp a u Casino. June 2'"' I received a letter from
M, Soloman saying that I had
won the trial. Lassaigne was con-
came to an agreement to sue demned to pay 400 francs in
Lassaigne.
May 21" I took notes for the Lassaigne
trial...I wrote to M. Brizard to tell
him I would go to Tours next
Saturday.
May 25th I left for Tours on the 8:39 train.
I went to M. Brizard's, where we
talked about our business with
M. Soloman. I left on the 5:30
train.
May 26th I received a letter from M. Brizard
and a letter from Tours in which
Lassaigne denies everything.
May 27th I prepared notes for t h e
Lassaigne trial. I went to Tours at
noon from St. Gervais, one hour
from Blois. I discussed matters
with M. Brizard and Soloman. It
Experiences tie somnambuhsmo-mo.:itLii,ue au IWai Bonne-Nomci't.
was decided to still sue Lassaigne
even though he had inserted a Illustration 131 - Lassaigne at the Bazar Bonne-Nouvelle.
101
ROBERT-HOI DIN
1
Vari6e
LE SPECTACLE SE COMPOSE DE
Physique, Magie, Mecanique, Prestiges, Ventriloquie, Electricite, Automates, Optique, Microscope, Magnetisme,
Sp'iritisme, Jeux Acrobatiques, Exercices Indiens, Intermedes Drolatiques. etc., etc.,
EN 12 SOIREES SUCCESSIVES
LE PROFESSEUR LASSAIGNE
Premier Physicien-Prostidigitateur do notre epoque, paraitra a toutos los Representations et donncra une seric
U(! ses "mimitables Experiences qui, toutes marquees au cachet du bon gout, laissent Mm en ;rriero tout ce qui a eW;
fait jusqu'a nos jours.
M. VALENTIN, ( d e Paris,) dit l'HOMME A LA POUPEE, Premier Ventrilcqus de France,
M Viitonlln a ou bien des imitatours depuis sa creation au Palais-Royal, rnaisjamais do uval. Les scenes dialoguees
' ' avec le desopilant Fouyou et los liebes parlants, sont ii croquer.
Af. Admn NKGER p r e s e n t e r a ses Automates Mecaniqucs Cfui font
partout l'admiration des Visiteurs.
DIAVOLO ANTONIO
vemavquera eotte liguro mecaniquo se mouvoir, s'agiter, monter descendro, accomplir miime des Rxercices
On iisliiiues
gynmasliqU' a rinstar de Leotard, comme si e'etait une personno vivante. Ici, on pout dire : il no lui manque quo la
parole.
M. A L B E R T RTJELLO E T L E J E U N E ANTONY
Awos
1 avoir accompli des efforts de mnemoteclmie et des divinations surprenantes so rendront completomcnt
invisibles par un nouveau procede.
Prix des Places:
I'remieres, 1 Fr. 50, Secondes, 1 Fr. Troisiemes, 50 Cent.
// y aura des Places riiseroe'es et nutniroUes a 2 fr.
On pent rotonir des Places sans augmentation do Prix, do 1 heures a 4 heures.
: 483 <
KXHIBITTON FERMANENTB D'TJNE MAQ-N1FIQXTE ET BTONNANTB MAOIIIN"K
A MOUVEMENT GONTINU
Brevcti- |>ui- iiluhii-uiB Gouverncmeiili 8. G.
DASft S n LBS I.OIS DE I.A l'KSANTEUR, ET SEIiVANT DE MOTBUIt A UN imOYEUB A CHOCOI.AT,
ET A ONI! MACHINE A MBSOMSJt LE TEMPS AVEC UNE PHECISION CHKONOMETRIQUE.
(let Appavcil esl visible Ions los jours do dix heuves du matin a onzo houres du soir,
ADMISSION SO d.
Tous Its soirs ajirrs Id Representation, il sera donni une Seanrc explteativi) de, ce chef-d'wuvre me'eanique.
Nola - I,'Administration Iraite pour Soirees partic.ulieres, soif, pour une partie ou pou- une Seanco complete,
Ainsi qu'avoc MM. los Ch.'t a mwitutions.
Pondtmt los premieres soirees, la Sociftlo s'occupera activeiivmt ' * menterson Spectacle d'O])tiquc qui demandc
do longues ol sorieusiss iM'ejiUtitions
damages and the insertion of the ceived in awards, but his honor was saved,
ruling in three newspapers in the and this victory was all that counted for
provinces and one in Paris.
him. As for the mesmerist, he only agreed
On June 10th Robert-Houdin learned that to pay the damages ordered by the Orleans
Lassaigne had appealed the verdict and was court after a few harsh letters from Master
preparing for a new legal battle. Following
Felix Lecoq.
M. Daridan's advice, he went to the court in
Blois to hear pleadings by a lawyer from Robert-Houdin, having won, described
Orleans, a certain Master Lecoq, who had Lassaigne's work in 1868 in The Secrets of
been recommended for the upcoming appeal Conjuring and Magic (p. 30). He dedicated a
trial in Orleans. His new defender told him laudatory footnote (2) to him as well as an
the trial would take place the following equally laudatory quote in his posthumous
Saturday: work, The Secrets of Stage Conjuring (p. 95).
1
July 19" Awake at 6 o'clock. My wife and Concerning Geraud. who is also mentioned in
I left for Orleans by the 8:15 The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic, Robert-
convoy. We stopped at the
Houdin wrote the following in 1864 in his
hotel d'Orleans. I went to see
M. Lecoq... I discussed my affair Tablettes journalieres-.
with my lawyer Lecoq and my so-
licitor Lecoq his brother-in-
law...We spent the evening at
MEMO IRES
M. Lecoq's...
July 20th I went to see M. Pagnere the
editor-in-chief of the Loiret MAGNETISEUR
who gave me a letter for the
trial publisher M, Gotel. I went LA BIOGRAPH1F DE LA SOMNAMBL'LE
103
ROBFRI-HOUDIN
104
ACT IV
Illustration 138 - Robert-Houdin's repertoire, as in this engraving, became a Inexhaustible Horn of Plenty" for his plagiarists!
105
ROBERT-HOUDIN
!
. i . i' I
I'ULKA-AIAZLHKA,
Pour Piano, par
L.MICHELI.
Polka
Du meme auteur
Schoihsch-
hOJ ,Palkn
i Vakt
It is probably because of too much gal- Tuesday November 5th Anguinet did fairly well
lantry that magic literature is so discreet but his incorrect liaisons
about the biographical details of this nine- caused gaiety; in short,
teenth century magicienne. We indeed know M. Gomte was missed; his
very little about the lovely Miss Benita demeanor proclaimed an
Anguinet [35] - whose passage through honest man and his appa-
Marseilles we have already mentioned ex- ratus and costumes were
cept that she performed in elegant Parisian very decent.
salons in 1856, in the Hertz theater, and es-
Anguinet participated in other perfor-
pecially in the Pre-Catelan, where a pleasant
little magic theater had been established and mances at the end of the year 1822 and in
where this artist was the graceful attraction 1823- He probably improved his presentation
for several seasons. because following a private performance
dated January 13, 1824, M. Comte wrote,
The first reference to a possible relative of
"Anguinet pleased for one hour and fifteen
Miss Benita Anguinet I have found is in
minutes..."
M. Comte's book of private performances. In
this document, which gives the names and A brief note by Robert-Houdin from his
addresses of his beneficiaries, M. Comte wrote Tablettes journalieres of June 15, 1859 tells us
comments on the kind of welcome he had re-
ceived, how successful he had been, the qual-
ity of the refreshments, and performances of
all sorts of artists whom he provided for these
soirees. The fees for his shows and the
salaries of his employees were also noted.
When an individual could not or did not want
to pay the price asked by the King's Conjurer
for a performance he planned to do himself,
he would send his students or other col-
leagues.
The name Anguinet appears several times
in 1822 and this date suggests that the person
referred to could be the father or at least a rel-
ative of this lady. Here are some of M. Comte's
comments on his occasional replacement:
Wednesday July 14"1 Anguinet did well except
for his dialogue, which was Illustration 140 - Musard of the Pre-Catelan.
a bit heavy but acceptable. Engraving from the Album deportraits comiques fop- cit).
10"
ROfllR'l-HOLDIN
Illustration l4l - The stage and equipment of Miss Anguinet at the Pre-Catelan. (Jacques voigmer collection)
the following: ''Soiree at the Musard concert," repertoire, such as the famous Fantastic
otherwise known as the Pre-Catelan, managed Portfolio, The Cabalistic Clock, The
by M. Musard. Although we have good reason Marvelous Orange Tree, The Crystal Chest,
to believe this was not the artist's first meet- The Fabulous Rosebush (or Love Nest), The
ing with Miss Anguinet, we do not know for Harlequin, and even The Cannonball Globe.
certain what their relationship was. Was this Although these elements could suggest a new
seductive magicienne among the creator's case of "piracy" against Robert-Houdin, one
plagiarists or part of the first wave of his stu- can notice on the photograph of the Pre-
dents or proteges? Catelan theater in 1856, which we reprint
Miss Anguinet's theater was indeed very above, several disturbing details. Indeed,
precisely based on that of M. Robert-Houdin: The Cabalistic Clock and The Marvelous
same decoration, same consoles on one side, Orange Tree, to mention only these two
gueridons and center table, not to mention pieces, are completely identical to those
some of the "borrowed" elements of his manufactured and used by Robert-Houdin in
108
ACT IV
mon with Robert-Houdin's. The two artists iSranbermunmntt aiu i&onfisnirs et nnx fyM
Deuccicme Partie.
must have also met - or met again? - in Blois LE POIN01R D ' C l MAGICIENNE
the following year, when the author's jour- Le Vase de la Chine, les Foulards incendies , il Signor Glrinkao ( automate
qui H'poudra a toutes les questions qui lui seront faites par le public), le
ConlUeur inoderne, le Pot de fleur du jardin. des Hesperides.
nals mention their meetings. L i BOIIE DE P A 1 0 E , 01' U SORCIERE DE LI MAGIE WIRE.
109
ROBEET-HOUDIN
1 10
ACT IV
produce here is not part of Robert-Houdin's Environ deux cents coups de hautes difficultes des plus modernes
seront executes (ant commo s6ries qua comme fanlaisies.
100 CAflAMBOLAGES BN DEUX MINU1KS A L.V MAIN.
archives. Although not dated, it is clearly from
CARTOMANIE
the same period. In 1861, the author men- Pi asLidigitation <ans appareils, CuTromagTe
SurfiHses, Illusions, Peusces anti niagaeiique->, Obicurdgraphotecbuie.
tioned these two visits: Tours de destente avec ies cartes,
Part!^ fDlmiUlbles de Piquet, ficarte. Bezigue, Whist et Impcnale
en jouaot les yeux lwnles.
June 10, 1861 I had a visit from a conjurer,
nephew of Maffe [See chapter GVLCULS. COMBIXUSONS. \! MHLMATIQU.S, MNKMOfKHME. \
"The Little Parisian Curiosity DLS, DAHBS l-.T DOMI.NOri-
j1 1
ROBERT-HOUDIN
We must not deduce from the preceding June 13th I received a letter from Amelie
chapter that Robert-Houdin was not generous [the wife of Chocat-Hamilton]
in his teachings except to the fair sex because containing a note from M. Maffey
he made it a point of honor to always answer [Masse] to offer me a few papers
belonging to Ghalon the con-
in detail and extensively those who asked for
jurer. I wrote to Ghocat to go
advice. For some, these questions turned into
pick them up.
veritable correspondence courses. Among
these amateurs, there is one with whom he This M. Massey, relative of the conjurer
remained in contact, Moreau-Sainti, the Chalon, who signed his letters "Chalon de
founder of the Cercle philomagique. In July Massey,'' was the uncle of the conjurer w h o
1859. we find in the Tablettes journalieres the came to visit Robert-Houdin at The Priory.
trace of a letter, which was doubtlessly one of He was one of the members of the Masse
the last, as Moreau-Sainti died on March 31, family, allied to that of "Pere Roujol" since
1860: the marriage of Alexandre Francois Roujol,
the eldest son of the builder of conjuring ap-
July 20th I wrote to Moreau-Sainti and I
paratus, with a Mile. Masse (see Act II, note
sent him fake balls, a wrist [?]
and my memoirs. 6). The author was in familiar territory; these
documents on Chalon were to enrich his col-
In 1861, during a trip to Paris, Robert- lection and allow him to write or complete
Houdin visited Moreau-Sainti's family to give this famous conjurer's biographical note. He
them his books but also to ask them for his published it a few years later in the Grand
old friend's notes and magic. At that time, Dictionnaire universe! du XIXe siecle by
there was no transgression of the notion of Pierre Larousse [36],
secrecy and nothing concerning the art of A debutant managed to convince Robert-
magic was to be in uninitiated hands: Houdin to take an interest in him through his
April 12dl Went to Moreau-Sainti's sons' letter sent from a far-off island in I860. His
home in Auteuil... name was M. Mailhol:
April 14lh I went at noon to Moreau-Sainti March 7th I received from the lie de la
in Auteuil to ask him for his fa- Reunion a long letter from
ther's notes and give him my a certain M. Mailhol asking for
memoirs. advice on his conjuring the-
April 21st I went to Auteuil to Moreau- ater.
Sainti's to whom I gave the March 9"' I spent part of the day sketching
tricks. response for M. Mailhol.
For the month of June, we find this note in March 10th I wrote the letter to M. Mailhol
the Tablettes journalieres: in the morning.
113
ROBHU-HOUDLN
u>.&zs /
rdd Of
2 i^c&X
i'xcdUwt,
Illustration 147 - Letter of March 31, 1818 from "M. Chalon, Professor of Recreational Physics and Mahier, Aerial
Grotesque," to the Minister of the Interior. (Archives nattonales)
114
ACT IV
This correspondence lasted several years, questions. This missive was written to Francois
without the two men ever meeting - I found Lauzun, [37] with whom he maintained a corre-
no trace of a meeting - and it was undoubt- spondence, of which we have at least one more
edly beneficial to M. Mailhol, as these lessons example:
came to fruition on the stage of Soirees Fan- Paris March 5, 1859
tastiques. For a time the master's distant stu- Sir,
dent was one of the associates when Emile I live in Paris during the winter, so the letter
Robert-Houdin managed the theater. that you sent to St. Gervais was late in reaching
In I860, Robert-Houdin met another conjur- me.
ing amateur, Paul Chenu - referred to by the You do me the honor of asking me a few ques-
tions which I will try to answer.
artist on page 59 of Secrets of Conjuring and
My distributor is a mechanical intermediary
Magic whose goal was not to become a pro-
designed to balance magnetic attraction. You
fessional but to perform for the pleasure of his know, sir, that this force is directly inverse to the
relatives and friends. Paul Chenu. who was also square of the distance. This law is detrimental to
a friend of Rossini, Dore, Dumas, and Theophile mechanical applications, because when the ar-
Gautier, was the husband of a certain Miss mature is at its greatest distance from the elec-
Lafitte. He was at that time manager of a large tro-magnet, it would be necessary to have as
alcohol shop in Bordeaux. During each of his much force as possible to overcome inertia and
passages through Blois, Paul Chenu was invited the molecular adhesions of the contacts. I tried
to remedy this disadvantage with the help of my
to The Priory and he showed his gratitude to his
distributor and I succeeded. With such an auxil-
hosts with delicious gifts that the master of the iary, the initiative force of attraction, although
house noted in his Tablettes journalieres:
September 27th I received a letter from M.
Chenu announcing that he was LI I . //
sending me a basket of rum and
cognac.
Robert-Houdin answered this letter on
October 10lh:
^/
I found them excellent [and I have] found be-
tween them and your procedures this analogy: both
are filled with spirit, delicacy, and generosity...
r
7
^tIT"'/"
At the end of summer 1859, Robert-Houdin re-
he'
/ -*"*
.A
ceived a letter from an American conjurer whose 9 i^
name he does not specify, asking him for the ad- '&>
'
. 71
dress of an apparatus manufacturer. Robert- CM/- CJz. L,. or
1
letter on the 10th.
HA
115
ROBHRf-HOUDIN
116
ACT IV
Illustration 151 - Profiles of Robert-Houdin and his spouse by Dantan, with a quatrain by the conjurer in homage to the
sculptor's talent. (See illustration 93, page ~0)
117
ROBhRl-HOl'DIN
Illustration 152 Portrait-rebus of Robert-Houdin by Dantan: "Robe, R, Houe, Daim" (Dress. R, 'Hoe, Deer).
ACT IV
1 0'' '"'
Alexander Heimbiirger
119
ROBFRI-HOUDIN
rights [39] - of Confidences d'un prestidigita- lishers were not indifferent to Robert-
teur were sold to Alexander. However, if we Houdin's works since Les Tricheri.es des Grecs
lean towards this hypothesis, it is because devoilees |>i] was published in Germany in
Robert-Houdin wanted his memoirs to be 1862, barely one year after the original
published first in countries where he had suc- French edition. The name Robert-Houdin was
cessfully performed. The present work repro- so famous in Germany that the translation of
duces several of his notes on letters written to his son Emile's book, L'Art de connaitre et de
foreign publishers or to persons who could regler les montres et les pendules (The Art of
potentially help him contact one of them. undestanding and setting watches and
However, after his correspondence with clocks), was published there in 1865. We can
Alexander, there is no mention in his writings therefore wonder about Alexander's inten-
of any other steps taken, by him or by tions in wanting to publish Robert-Houdin's
Bourdilliat, concerning a German edition of Confidences. It is fairly rare that a profes-
his memoirs. This implies that he considered sional magician promotes a colleague, at least
it settled. The facts also seem to during his lifetime, so wasn't the actual pur-
support the above because Confidences pose of this maneuver to keep the market
d'un prestidigitateur was not published in clear in Germany for his own memoirs and
Germany during the nineteenth century. It therefore to give himself time to write and
was, however, published in all the other have them published? [42]
countries where he had performed and one Two other events gave these agreements an
can legitimately assume that the German pub- unforeseeable persistence; the first was the liq-
5Die
BOH
Jjoubtn,
Illustrations 154 and 155 Cover and title page of the German edition of Les Tricheries des Grecs devoilees (op. citj.
ACT IV
uidation of the Librairie Nouvelle (September met. After Alexander's response to Robert-
1861) - as a result, only Bourdilliat's bank- Houdin's letter, the German magician's name
ruptcy creditors, for whom this little "affair" of appears no more, either in Tablettes journal-
the German Confidences was the least of his ieres or in any other personal document of
problems, could have eventually sued; the sec- Robert-Houdin that I consulted. This seems
ond came from political tensions. Moreover, to confirm that after their attempt to come to
the war between France and Prussia did not an editorial agreement (whether or not it was
further editorial exchanges between French concluded) the two conjurers were never in
and German authors. contact. Supposing that we grant the slightest
We can therefore form from the above many- credibility to the appalling declarations "at-
hypotheses. Perhaps Alexander obtained the tributed" by Harry Houdini to Alexander [a]
publishing rights for Germany of Confidences - lies contradicted by several rough drafts
but did not manage to have them published, or of the chapters of the manuscript of Confi-
he blocked their publication, or finally, he did dences, which allow one to follow the au-
not get them and so resented his famous col- thor's thought processes step by step, and by
league. his former and later writings, public or pri-
Whatever the hypothesis chosen may be, vate, all stamped with the same personal and
we are quite positive that the letter printed at so easily recognizable style - the facts re-
the beginning of this chapter is Alexander's ported in this chapter and its footnotes
only contact with Robert-Houdin. It also would take away all credibility from them, if
clearly shows that the two men had never need be.
Citt
rfttr.SSaitb.
ifiridi, 1865.
ags^iKagaj
Muftet i. S .
(3- edjaStlm)
vIad ber Soppenvatlj'jefjen S&uifc
1882.
Illustration 156 - Title page of the German edition of Emile Illustration 15 - Title page of Volume I of Alexander
Robert-Houdin's work L'Art de connaitre et de regler Heimbiirger's autobiography.
les montres et les pendules (op cil )
ROBERT-HOUDIN
On January 29. I860, Achille Bourdilliat author arrived on October 15lh at the Librairie
and Robert-Houdin decided to begin a second Nouvelle but the work did not emerge from
Parisian edition of Confidences d'un pres- the presses until the end of December.
tidigitateur. The author began correcting and Robert-Houdin finally received the first ten
recomposing his work, and by the beginning copies of the second edition of his memoirs
of spring he sent it to his publisher. The first on December 27lh I44] Following are a few ex-
proofs only began to arrive, however, on amples of letters Robert-Houdin sent to his
August 21SI. Robert-Houdin was displeased publisher Bourdilliat in I860. They clearly
about this delay; his second English edition show the author's concern for the publication
had already been on sale in London since the of his works and his attention to detail, but
end of February or early March (March 3'd also, depending on the situation, his courte-
I860 "I received a copy of the second edi- ous firmness or irony:
tion of my work by mail from M. Chapman in St. Gervais near Blois on March 2, 1860
London"). The last proofs corrected by the My dear Publisher!
I am sending you with this letter the first vol-
ume of my confidences corrected and ready to be
MEMOIRS sent to the typographer. I would not like you to
print it without my having seen the proofs. To do
so, you could send me one or two pages at a time,
and I would return them to you immediately. I am
ROBERT-HOUDIN, sending with this volume a portrait of myself I
arranged under favorable conditions to be placed
AMBASSADOR, AUTHOR, AND CONJUKOK. at the front of the work. Several people have re-
quested I do so. See what you think about this
idea. The engraver could arrange the image to the
size suitable for your format.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
In two weeks I will send you the second vol-
ume, from which I have removed all the illustra-
tions depicting my tricks as well as the accompa-
StconB eKfition.
nying text. I have replaced all this with only five
pages.
This information on the second volume and
that from the first will suffice, I think, to give you
LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193 PICCADILLY.
an idea of the material that will make up our new
1860. edition.
[Rejitteml according to t\>. international CoppigM Art.]
Please be so kind as to let me know when you
have received the volume, because in the event
Illustration 158 - Tide page of the second English edition of that it does not reach you I will immediately carry
Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, condensed into a single volume. out all necessary procedures.
122
ACT IV
MECANIGIBN ET PRESTIDIG1TATEUR
Illustration 159 - Frontispiece engraving of the second Parisian edition of Confidences by Robert-Houdin.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
124
ACT IV
YtAsfajA
4fr(L,l.W.
- /
-/
I,
(STn^a^,
U^IOAMJ
7
' u
e /T^> <jAA..e>
n+.
* * j
p ./, C .
/oJ^Ls
Illustrations 162 and 163 - Letter from Robert-Houdin to the Illustrations 164 and 165 - Letter from Robert-Houdin to the
publisher Bourdilliat. publisher Bourdilliat.
125
ROBERT-HOUDIN
St. Gervais near Blois, September 10, 1860 St. Gervais near Blois, the 6th of November 1860
Dear publisher! Dear Bourdilliat
We are going quite slowly for the proofs; what is I have been waiting for a copy of the second
the reason? I nonetheless put aside all serious ac- edition of my Confidences over the past few days,
tivities in order to think only about this work, but seeing nothing arriving I decided to send you
which I am eager to see finished. I am ready and this question:
waiting. If my book could merit
I have in my entourage a few people who wish For a few readers some merit
to obtain this work and are pestering me for this Why does the publisher who publishes me
reason. Free me as quickly as possible from this Meditate to publish me?
importunity. I have reason to believe that the
Whatever the case may be, dear Bourdilliat, all
bookstores in Blois will also would melt for a cer-
the best and believe me to be always
tain number of copies.
Your devoted
As soon as your friend's face is finished, please
be so kind as to send him a copy. Robert-Houdin
Please, dear publisher, favorably welcome the
complaint of the least fortunate and also the most St. Gervais near Blois, the 19th December 1860
devoted of your unhappy authors. Dear Sir!
Robert-Houdin I received the copy of the second edition you
sent me. Let it be said with no reproof that the
work was in progress for one year. This is a long
time for a company in which this could be done in
two weeks. But let us not discuss that any further.
I am going to have a few excerpts inserted in the
Blois newspaper in order to attract the attention of
amateurs and bookstores. We must admit that you
have in me a famous assistant. Unfortunately my
employer who lets me do all the hard work alone
does not support me. It is now your turn, My
Master; we are going to see how you do things.
The work is very well printed, the type is very
lovely, but, you know the but of the fake good-na-
tured characters of the Vaudeville, but it is unfor-
tunate that the paper is not satin-finish. The con-
trast is considerable. I can understand that for a
work that costs one or two francs per volume, this
detail could be neglected, but for books at 3 francs
each it must be done. Moreover it is a question of
at most one centime per volume and my boss. I am
sure, could part with this centime.
'ttC^WM <U* >9n t^iJt*tJlJL4 9 <L- 4?\JLsi I will come to Paris around the end of January
CA but if before then you have some copies to send
IP *<l*JZJh isv a VL*J> me I would be pleased, as I have a few gifts to give
friends to whom I could not give the first edition.
Please receive, My dear Publisher, the assur-
ance of my good friendship and a bit of resent-
Illustration 166 - Letter from Robert-Houdin to the pub- ment.
lisher Bourdilliat. From Figures du temps. Robert-Houdin
126
ACT IV
r* / i / />
> CONFIDENCES
ROBERT-HOUDIN
if UNE VIE D'ARTISTE
THKATRE ET PRESTIDIGITATION
4, euWi
f* " / "
;
to, i^ 5^ -. . fa _ ; , . ^ _
, MiA PARIS
LIBRiiaiE NODYELLE
a. 1'al* ./., - BOULEVARD DFS [T4LieW3, I S
1861
r CONFIDENCES
'i ft"
7 i
*. i tot, 4
*1" 1 *>/'
THEATRE ET PRESTIDIGITATION
/ . ^ /.
7 //
PARIS
LIBRAiaiE N0U7ELLE
<&
/.A S-/
BOULEVARO Di'S ITALIEN5, Ifl
<. U Via?* /i+-6eoO
T'J" ^mJ- civ
A. BOURDILLIAT ET C!, EOITEURS
/ - ^ l.i traduction et la reproduction sent reservees
Illustrations 167 and 168 Letter from Robert-Houdin to the Illustrations 169 and l""0 - Title page of the two volumes of
publisher Bourdilliat. the second Parisian edition of Confidences.
127
ROBERT-HOUDIN
ART. 4*r. Les reunions sont de'signe'es mer la gaiele, a exciter la soif et sur-
SMUS le titre de Diner du Figaro. taut la verve.
ART. 5. La direction du journal est />. 23. Un joli mot dit MIX petitos
cliargde de choisir 1'emplacement ties tables pourra valoirason auteur l'lion.-
reunions j sont exceptes, Umtefois, neur d'etre prorau a I'une des grandes.
Pour l'AmMoralion de I'Espril Francais Cayenne, Clirhy, Nouka-Hiva et I'Hip- Le mot en question sera done imme'-
podrotne. diatetnent soumis au vote des convives
ART. 9- Pour stmserire utilement, tl de la premiere categoric. On pourra
fautetre connu parses ujuvres. Chaque voter par acclamation.
cand.dat est tenu d'appor-tor un mot, ART. S3. Un mot prudhomme, sans
Illustrations 171 and 172 - Invitation addressed to Robert-Houdin for the Figaro picnic of August 29, I860.
A reading of the statutes of this company, with which Robert-Houdin was affiliated, is particularly delightful!
Please print the portrait as lightly as possible. crowd - of which he had already given ex-
The letters that make up the name Robert-Houdin amples in Confidences - and carried out re-
are a little dark; I had asked for white letters with search in libraries. The author, leaving very
no shadow. Is it still possible to change it?
little to chance, called on his contacts in
On November 14, 1859. the author wrote France and abroad to obtain writings to com-
this sentence in his Tablettes journalieres: "I plete his own documentation but also to ver-
wrote down the first ideas for a new book ify that no other work had already examined
called Les Tricheries devoilees. " the same subject. One of his French corre-
spondents was a certain M. Xavier (one of his
The writing of the work lasted seventeen
schoolmates from Blois) who lived in Paris.
months and was published at the end of
March 1861 under the title Les Tricheries des Robert-Houdin wrote to him on March 21,
Grecs devoilees (Card-Sharping Exposed: The I860:
Tricks of the Greeks Unveiled). To write this Sir and dear comrade:
book, Robert-Houdin used his own knowl- I think that by the nature of your commercial
edge, his memories of past meetings with relationships you must be familiar with a great
"distinguished" representatives of this illicit deal of English and American books. I therefore
17.8
ACT IV
JiDOIIARD GOURDON
I.ES
FAUCHEURS
"J yi i DE NU1T
JOUEURS ET JOUEUSES
' Co :::/A
DKlXU'iME EDITION
uM.
/ PARIS
LIBRAIE1E N0BTELL1
11 BOULEVARD DES ITALIESS, to
e
A, B O U R D I L L I A T ET C , KDITEURS
? / # // n '
rr -^- La tratiuction et la reproduclion sent r6servees
1860
Illustration 173 - Letter from Robert-Houdin to M. Xavier. Illustration 1""4 - Title page of Edouard Gourdon's work Les
Faucheurs de nuit.
would like to ask you if you can obtain a few of card-sharping techniques. My book will serve as
works for me from one of these two nations deal- somewhat of a complement to this publication. I
ing with cheating in games or giving information also propose referring to it for details that I would
on modern card sharpers in these countries or in not know how to provide...
any others. It is said that America is very strong
in this sinister science; it would therefore not be
Dear comrade
impossible that with a moral goal someone has
already tried to divulge the ruses of these Would you do me the pleasure of sending me
crooks... one of these little books whose title is La maniere
de faire sauter la banque (How to beat the bank)
The author also asked his first biographer or something similar; it is a theory about playing
Eugene Hatin to help, and sent him letters on and infallibly winning at roulette. I need informa-
tion on these techniques; I think that this book
September 17 and 27, I860:
will be useful to me...
Dear sir and friend
Robert-Houdin also received information
I vividly thank you for your kindness in sending
me Les Faucheurs de Nuit. I have read this work; from a certain M. De Beaulieu, who gave him a
I find it very interesting but it has no technical de- few details on the Lavareille affair. As with the
tails. We can see that the author has no knowledge publication of his memoirs, the author person-
129
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 1~6 - Title page of the original edition of 1200 copies of t h e first edition of Les
Tricheries des Grecs devoilees. Tricheries des Grecs devoilees, I'Art de gagner a
130
ACT IV
1 861
Robert-Houdin often applied the proverb "if
you want something done, do it yourself" and we
can credit him with being the author of another
work, signed by his son Emile, L'Art de connaitre
131
ROBhRT-HOLDIN
L'AET
DE CONNAITRE ET DE REGLER
ROBERT-HOUDIN FILS
Horloger-MScanicien
ELI:VE DE BREGUET
(3 EDITION.)
Prix : SO centimes.
PARIS
CHEZ L ' A U T E U R , E.TJB DE CHOISEUL, I
1867
Illustration 181 Title page of the work by Emile Robert- Illustration 182 Letter in very small format from Robert-
Houdin, L'Art de connaltre et de regler les montres et Houdin to Lemercier de Neuville, humoristically an-
les pendules. swering his request for an autograph.
et de regler les montres et les pendules (The Art of Medite-t-il pour m'editer?
Understanding and Setting Watches and Clocks). (If my book can merit
He began writing it on August 17, 1861 in view of From its readers some merit
the upcoming opening of his eldest son's watch- Why does the editor who edits me
making shop. On the other hand, although Meditate to edit me?)
Robert-Houdin was a more experienced writer [In French, "editor" refers to the publisher and
than his son, this does not mean that the contents "to edit" means "to publish."
of this work did not reflect Emile Robert-Houdin's The work was published in early August. We
own ideas. He was a skillful watchmaker who can add that for a certain time, Bourdilliat's affairs
filed several patents for personal inventions. had been going badly. As of June Robert-Houdin
had already saved him from bankruptcy by lend-
For the frontispiece of Figures du temps, ing him 500 francs to cover promissory notes that
Robert-Houdin posed for the photographer Pierre the publisher had issued but could not pay. By
Petit. In the booklet, the famous quatrain sent by mid-September the Librairie Nouvelle went bank-
Robert-Houdin to his publisher Bourdilliat is rupt and its prestigious authors, capital, and of-
reprinted from a letter quoted earlier: fices were sold to the publisher Michel Levy (for
Si mon livre a su meriter the attractive sum of 220,000 francs), who rein-
Pres des lecteurs quelque merite forced with this purchase the important place he
Pourquoi I'editeur qui m'edite already held in French literary publishing.
133
ROBERT-HOLDIN
By 1862. Hamilton had been running Soirees skillfully manage his name and that of
Fantastiques for ten years. He had shown Robert-Houdin and never tried to put his
great management qualities and, having own first. Although his ego sometimes
started from zero, could now begin thinking tempted him, his common sense always had
about a pleasant retirement, free of all fi- the final say. The press was more or less fa-
nancial worries. Hamilton knewr how to vorable to him during his career, although
there were occasional jibes; he was said to
lack the charm and eloquence of his illustri-
ous predecessor. Robert-Houdin did step in
from time to time to help improve and ren-
ovate his program, and to boost advertising.
The facade on the boulevards was modified
in several ways; one of these modifications
was noted by A. de Bragelonne in the news-
paper Le Voleur. no. 105, November 5, 1858.
This eminent journalist was particularly well
qualified to observe Hamilton's establish-
ment, where he was a regular:
134
ACT IV
. . - . .
i .
: i
Illustration 184 - The conjurer Pierre Edouard Brunnet. For almost two decades, this skillful artist was one of the associates of
the Theatre Robert-Houdin most admired b\ press and public alike.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
'?c7 /r
137
ROBERT-HOUDIN
138
A C T IV
LA
VOIX DU DESTIN
LA SCIENCE DES CARTES
a sa plus simple et a sa plus claire expression
SUIYIE DE
Illustrations 190 and 191 - Cover and frontispiece engraving of Hamilton's very rare work from I860, La Voix du destin.
139
RORFRI -HOUDIN
Illustration 192 - Emile Robert-Houdin meets Etnile Robert-Houdin. Composite photo by Disderi.
(Pnvatc collectionj
ACT IV
I'll
ROBERT-HOLDIN
Fi<r 3
Fitr. 4.
'0 Certttme-trrs
142
ACT IV
a performer and had never before said that he The result of this attitude, which proved to
wanted to make it his career. be awkward although well intentioned, was
Emile's late vocation for conjuring, how- that when Emile had bad luck, he felt dou-
ever, was part of his admiration for his father bly guilty, because he thought that he had
and his desire to resemble him in every re- betrayed the trust his father had placed in
spect. At thirty-one years of age, after having him. Emile practically never dared express
done serious apprenticeships in the fields of his true aspirations to his father, who prob-
watchmaking and mechanics, Emile probably ably did not know how much they meant to
wanted, without daring to clearly state it, to him. Robert-Houdin helped him in every
follow the path laid out by Robert-Houdin in way he could, but in the direction he had
the artistic discipline where he had so bril- chosen for him.
liantly excelled. Robert-Houdin was a fairly strict father to
We do not know the content of the father's his children during their youth, but he tried to
answer to his son but in his Tablettes jour- teach them values in which he deeply be-
nalieres of January I860 during a stay in Paris,
he wrote this slightly disdainful note:
January 29 I dined at Dantan's with Le
Garpentier, his wife, his nephew,
Sebron, and Emile. After dinner
Emile tried to perform card
tricks.
It does not seem certain that Emile's
demonstration was as brilliant as he had
hoped because Robert-Houdin wrote a few
days later:
143
ROBERT-HOUDIN
144
ACT IV
Illustration 197 - Rosalie Olga Leonie Munier, Emile Robert-Houdin's wife, around 1868.
145
ROBERT-HOUDIN
the young couple to keep their own funds, which would remain one of the artist's worst
he was obliged to add 25,000 francs and memories. After a very promising start, the
therefore involuntarily took over 25% of the business stagnated, lost money, or did not
company founded by Emile, his wife, and make any, much to the frustration of Robert-
himself, whose title was Robert-Houdin fils Houdin, who was powerless to change a son
et Cie. (Robert-Houdin and Son, Inc.). This who did not show any real business acumen
investment of 100,000 francs, a considerable in managing such a large investment.
amount for the time, of which Robert-Houdin Indeed, as long as Robert-Houdin had an ac-
provided two-thirds and advanced the rest, tive part in his son's business, it was a real
shows to what extent Emile's future and that success, but after Emile's wedding he had
of his future family counted for him. stepped back and business turned poor. On
At the end of 1861, Robert-Houdin and his this subject the author wrote in his Tablettes
wife settled temporarily in Paris, or so they journalieres of January 30, 1864:
thought, and therefore had to put their two I set up the accounts of the shop, whose busi-
younger children in boarding school. This ness was progressing until the time of Emile's
was the beginning of a three-year period wedding. The first six months of the year we
earned approximately 50,000 francs, not includ-
ing the D'Armainvilliers affair (13,000 francs)...
During the year 1863, Robert-Houdin little by
- HOUBW little retreated from his eldest son's business and
Hoploger Mecanicien. PRECISION his participation in the company Robert-Houdin
EL&VE DE BREGUET fils et Cie. (Robert-Houdin and Son, Inc.). Here
is one of his letters to the great watchmaker
Breguet, in which he proposed taking over one
'#t. O/&Vw<w "^O of the projects undertaken with Emile:
Paris October 19, 1863
Monsieur Breguet in Paris
-- -,J
146
ACT IV
Obliged to conciliate interests of the March 29th The weather is cold, yet my wife
D'Armainvilliers contract with my plans to rest, I and I are very happy to finally
would like to ask you if it would be agreeable to be back home and tranquil.
you to completely replace us in this affair. Never have we appreciated the
The conditions would be as follows:
pleasure of freedom so much
1. All the work executed until this day,
after the three years of slavery
October 20th, would be on our account.
that we have just spent in Paris.
2. All other work underway and future orders
would be carried out by you, with no guarantee
on our part.
3. In order to facilitate the taking over of my
work, you would freely allow your employee
M. Bouis to work with my son.
4. As soon as this work is completed, I would
ask Mme. Pereire about the substitution and pro-
vide an explanation.
It is understood that I cannot guarantee any
disposition of the Pereire family concerning you
although I promise to always act in your interest.
In the event that this offer would suit you,
please, sir, answer me and our two letters will
constitute our mutual engagement.
Please accept my hurried civilities and believe
me to be your devoted,
For Robert-Houdin et fils
Robert-Houdin
147
ROBFRI-HOUDIN
An Unexpected Comeback
Deuxieme partie.
RoHert-Houdln. M. Hobert Houdln, fondaiour
du rhcafre qui s continue 4e potter son nom, a coo- Les Boules de cristai.
senli donner quelques stances, pou reroplacor M.
Hamilton, son successeur et beau-fHire, qui el engag6 Les Boulets.
pour donncr dii repr^sentalions de soa spectacle k Les Drag^es.
Ljon. Les seances de M. Robert Houdln cotnraen- Les Poissons.
eeront !e <0 noverabre.
Le Yoliigeur.
i-a Boutoiiie in^puisable
This announcement alone raises several Les Tourterelles sympathiquea.
questions because we have the right to ask Illustration 201 - The program of Robert-Houdin's "come-
what his reasons were. Was it due to a need back" published in L'Entr'acte in 1862.
148
ACT IV
**> b
HENRI ROBIN. Fig. 01. DISPOSITION Dti THEATRE ROBIN PENDANT LES SPECTRES.
Fig. 90. Graruro publieo pap I'lllustrirte Zeitung Leipzig, lo 13 mai 185').
Illustration 203 - Henri Donckele, known as Robin. Illustration 204 - "Revelation" of the Ghosts in Robin's
Almanach dn Cagliostro.
for money linked to his future investments was perfectly likely but Robert-Houdin de-
in Emile's watch-making shop? The answer cided otherwise. The conjurer made the de-
is certainly no; his fortune was not at all in cision to return to the stage for a major rea-
danger because of his son's company. Was son: to defend his honor as a creator and
it nostalgia for applause, the call of the artist in the most dazzling and elegant fash-
stage? The answer is also negative because ion.
Robert-Houdin was then a publicly ap- The magician Robin, who was preparing
plauded and respected man and had no to open a theater in the capital, was the rea-
frustrations in this respect. We can also son behind this decision.
question the truth of the motive evoked in The chapters on Robin which will follow
the announcement. Did Hamilton really will perhaps surprise some readers who
have performances in Lyon on these dates? only know this magician through the partial
There is nothing inexact in the announce- and strangely idealized image that Anglo-
ment because Hamilton actually did per- Saxon literature has often given of him
form in Lyon from November 10th to 23rd- [si] since the beginning of the twentieth cen-
We could then justifiably retort that tury, although the magician had passed
Edouard Brunnet could have just as easily away well beforehand. We must note that
replaced Hamilton and given the perfor- French historians, however inclined they
mances for the length of this absence. This are to recognize the merits of their country-
150
ACT IV
SOIREE HYSTERIE0S1
Illustrations 205 and 206 - Small bills for Robin in Lyon and Saint-Etienne in 1844. (Jacques \ btgnter collection)
men, never granted Robin a greater impor- Robin's surname nor his pseudonym is on
tance than he really deserved in the history the lists of the young performers of the
of magic. These deliberate or unintentional Theatre Comte. He never performed as a
historical manipulations very regrettably led conjurer, as he said he did, in the famous
to the glorification of the actions of an artist theater of the Passage Choiseul (see Act II,
who, whatever talent he was reputed to note 11). Robin is also not among the
have, built his career on the two worst ills artists whose names are cited in the book
the art of magic can suffer, as today: plagia- of M. Comte's private performances from
rism and exposure. the year 1821 until 1854, which lists many
We know little of Robin's professional students of the King's Conjurer. As his
beginnings, except that early on he showed pseudonym then had no notoriety, Robin
a pronounced taste for telling tall tales and had the name Comte printed in letters al-
for imitating his colleague's programs. Two most as large as for his own name, and we
of the oldest known bills of this artist dat- can note that the title of his show, Palais
ing from the year 1844 are part of Jacques Enchante, and that of his repertoire, enti-
Voignier's collection. They announce per- tled Soiree mysterieuse, were (already)
formances in Lyon and Saint-Etienne; the "borrowed" most flagrantly from those of
magician proclaims himself to be "the sole Philippe, whose repertoire he reproduced
student of M. Comte" [!] However, neither in its entirety in these two cities while the
151
ROBERT-HOUDIN
SECON D SEASO N.
Entire change of Performance ! More Novelties .' Fourth Programme !
LAST WONDERS!
PA1AIS EMCHAJtlfe Soirees mystifrieuses de K. Philippe.
tawiTims TU 4^)1 un grand nombre do phy&klcns et de preslidigiUleurs habils ;
kutg avoiD, now s<mmes forcii tie J'ayouer, s e j>eoi enEfer e n concarreneo STCC
M Philippe Tul <e qae limasinatlort peut rSver de plus presMgleUX , dfl plus fantas-
Me, M Philippe iBSt ptu A IG rfcallser. II y a deux s!6alos en t'euf ful comma un nia -
gt<(en, el poitfn te biicber e&t it6 le prlx do jon sayotr e l dc son adresse. JUainte-
tat stn iieganl Uitatr* , toojoars Erop petit au gr4 de Is foule, e$i le rendex->oos dc
Ij Bejjieare t i $ \ e
FANTASTIQUES,
At theie JETefjant Place of Efitertainmeitt, 232, PICCADILLY.
In Italy a few months later. Robin would use The Entertainment trill take place
this very same program, perhaps acquired from EVERY EVENING, at i-past Eight o'clock
PRECISELY, AND
EVERT WEDNESDAY,
"Father Roujol."
A MORNING PERFORMANCE:,
Robin encountered his first noteworthy and
long-lasting success in London. Associated BY COMMAND,
152
ACT IV
plagiarist performed in London at Easter 1862 Illustration 211 - Robin's plagiarism of Second Sight.
153
RODbRT-HOUDIN
PARISIENNES
M.&M ME ROBIN
(Xnlr Isxan- nnrf Proprietor, V. KOUI\.)
SECOND SEASON.
R*TIItr. (H t > t i : OF PKKFOKU U l ' f c
More Novelties!! - Third Programme 111
232, PICCADILLY.
THE THEATRE is NOW OPEN
EVERY EVEniING a t 8 o'clock
WHBT WfflMSI AT >MQBIII6 PBRPQRMASCB
At HALF-PAST TWO o'clock.
iniiMt'ii*. IMIISHIK. tiTomro\s,
ILLISIOVS. APF.tklTIOMi. Ali!B.
PEKSTIUKH, I H U U to.
DIAVOLO ;j5BfpNIO!
""'A OOMld SCENE'WITH ills'btOWN.
TUB LAST
THEAGIOSCOPE,
THE SIUSEE COMIC AND CHARIVAIlIQtJE i
k
151
ACT IV
So l|!i
S l f IS & II M 15 i
THE TOUR OF H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES
OF i
JERUSALEM. MALTA
THE MOSQUE OF OMAR. WINDSOR.
X.I!SATURDAY, 97th September, 290th, an! positively the iast
Performance. Ca .ages -nay be ordered at 10 and {pasti
g i
m
Illustrations 213 215 and 216 - Robin's program at Egyptian Hall in 1861.
In this program we find Robert-IIoudins Sympathetic Turtledoves. The Shower of Gold, and The Fantastic Box!
(Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. Lnitersity of Texas, Austin)
under the title Archimedes' Problem. Robins Haussmann. all the theaters that had flour-
last show at Egyptian Hall was on October ished on Boulevard du Temple - and could
expect a comfortable compensation for their
upcoming eviction - had stopped running.
Robert-Houdin had abandoned the Parisian The establishments situated on the even-num-
stage for more than ten years, and the statute bered side of the street were already being de-
of limitations for possible legal actions linked molished. Those that were situated on the
to the Legrand trial had elapsed. Robin there- odd-numbered side were granted delays rang-
fore announced that he would commence per- ing from a few months to a few years. If one
formances in a site on Boulevard du Temple, was not afraid of setting up near this huge
which, like so many others, had just been de- worksite, it was thus possible to cheaply rent
serted. one of the spaces momentarily saved from the
This installation on the famous Boulevard hammer and shovel. Although it was possible
du crime'' deserves an explanation; from July to open a business at a lower cost on this part
15, 1862, and following a decree by Baron of the boulevard, the location could only be
155
ROBFRI-HOIDIN
GREAT SIGHT??
a
3UM KUBfN ( i l l
Id put M vKUifMdHr Mi !)<!,, ind n m ),KH i^*ff**I
jiiVi, at Ha.tiUMHOlllXimuil.'lo.idiil the . uf h.i lijb*J'
156
ACT IV
157
ROBERT-HOUDIN
DA&O
Illustration 222 - Robin's plagiarism of the engraving and Illustration 223 - Robin's plagiarism of the engraving and
effect of Robert-Houdin's The Horn of Plenty in his effect of Robert-Houdin's The Instant Impression in
English Album of 1851-1852. his English Album of 1851-1852.
thin, stripped of more than fifteen years of by Robin this same week:
thefts from Robert-Houdin. [56] Thursday. January 1, 1863
The confrontation that Robin thought he
could avoid finally took place at the beginning
of 1863 because, although Hamilton had taken Soirees Fantastiques Salle Robin
of M. Robert-Houdin Seance of physique and magic
up the magic wand again as early as December
of M. Robin, sole pupil of the
4, Robert-Houdin could not refuse a new se-
famous conjurer Comte
ries of performances for those who had never
been able to obtain a ticket for the first series. Part One Part One
The Cabalistic Clock The Magnetic Cards
The shows were scheduled for the first week
The Hunter The Wedding at Cana
of the year, from Thursday, January 1 to
The Ladies' Mirror The Worry-Free Mill
Wednesday, January 7, 1863 in the morning
The Ball of Wool A Dangerous journey [?]
and evening.
The Crystal Chest Five Minutes of Spiritism or
It is obviously interesting to compare The Mysterious Orange Tree The Medium Inkermann
Robert-Houdin's program with that proposed The Horn of Plenty A Scarf from Carnival [?]
ACT IV
Illustration 224 - The plagiarisms of Robert-Houdin's The Illustration 225 - The plagiarisms of Robert-Houdin's The
Ladies' Favorite and The Crystal Stamp by Robin in French Guardsman and The Fabulous Rosebush by
his English Album of 1851-1852. Robin in his English Album of 1851-1852.
The English word exercises instead of the French exercices again
confirms the English origin and date of this Album.
Part Two Part Two which his son was no longer young enough to
The Crystal Balls Several Secrets of Physique
Amusante
participate.
The Cannon Balls Juno's Bird Robin, who later claimed to be the "inven-
The Art of Producing Candy The Flower Basket tor" of The Inexhaustible Bottle, simply
Antonio the Acrobat
changed water into wine in The Wedding at
The Shower of Gold
Cana; The Worry-Free Mill [57] was the automa-
Part Three
ton sold by Roujol in 1830 under the same
The Inexhaustible Bottle Hagioscope Moses saved from
the Waters name, and shown by Pinetti and Bologna in
The Sympathetic Turtledoves The Castle of Windsor, the Bridge the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries,
over the Train Tracks in Chalons, respectively; Robert-Houdin explained The
the Golf of Naples [etc.]
Medium Inkermann in his posthumous work
Robert-Houdin's program was a sort of ''great- The Secrets of Stage Conjuring. "Several Secrets
est hits" of his repertoire, except for the Pastrycook of Physique Amusante" was a series of very
of Palais-Royal, the Fantastic Portfolio, The unfortunate exposures of magic secrets that
Ethereal Suspension, and Second Sight, feats in Robin continued in his almanacs; and Juno's
159
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Bird is none other than the automaton peacock conclusion of this episode. He had gotten
that Philippe had presented 18 years earlier. what he wanted and asked for no more. The
This fairly unoriginal repertoire probably artist could undertake his other activities
explains why the first six months of the Salle feeling he had protected his artistic work in
Robin were difficult while the Theatre des Paris and, at the same time, the interests of
Soirees Fantastiques, stimulated by the impact his brother-in-law and successor.
of a few of Robert-Houdin's performances, Robin was finally saved by Mercury, known
seemed to gain a new vogue. We must not to all as the god of thieves. Since he could no
deduce from the failure or lack of success of longer pillage the famous Frenchman's reper-
Robin's first performances that he was a toire, Robin appropriated the most famous
mediocre performer, because no critic im- English invention of his time: the Ghosts of
plied this. However, unable to use the cre- Messrs. Henry Dircks and John Henry Pepper,
ations of Robert-Houdin, who had just taught a huge success at the Royal Polytechnic
him a cruel but well-deserved lesson, it Institute since December 24, 1862. A perfect
would take him a few months to recover. mercenary, Robin betrayed France while in
Robert-Houdin was not arrogant about the England, and once back in France betrayed
100
ACT IV
S E E AND BELIEVE!!!
PROFESSOR PEPPER'S
MR JAMES MATTHEWS.
Who hold3 permission from PROFKSSOS P E P P E R to exhibit the same, will have the
hononr of introducing this Splendid Illusion, as performed at
"MOSBHH WiEftRQS,"
Any detailed programme of th<?$e ra narkable Illusions would be supprfluaus,
more especially as they wilt be varied irora night to night, hut the sub-
joined Opinions of tlie Press, and the testimony of so high an authority
Illustration 227 - The Polytechnic Institute in London. as Sir l>avid Brewstcr, will sufficiently vouch for their wonderful effect*
From a Private Letter from S I R DAVID BUBWBTER (who is the highest living
authority on sunh subjects) -~ ' I was greatly d e b a t e d wiih your Magical Illusions, you
wEamiv do a great eerrico to 'iociety in teaching that that ththinge npparsntly above
cj;s,i.-J^i-ioa ana be done without the necessity p them
p y to supe
sity of sscnbing
s
England, even though he had been so well re- g them to supernat
From the Ttmtt, London ' We thought dint we had eeen all that could ba
s h o n n m t h e way of Migic, but were undeceived when v,-e witnessed the wwvellouadex-
PAET II.
Robin took a break during the first days of 1ITIFIFICI1L GL1IRIOY1MCS;
OR, SECOND SIGHT!
April "for improvements" and three months BY T H E M Y S T E E 1 O O S L A D Y ,
Who has excited the greatest wonder by her extraordinary poner.
Saturday, June 20, 1863. This illusion launched " T H E MIONIQHT SPECTRE,"
mixed, and seemingly with some pleasure, e Reality,"illustrating the sentence of Shakespere
' Mine eyes are mads tHefook o' Vie other ttnsu.
Or eke tcorlh all Ihe r w ( '
spiritualist feats, magic, exposures, and scien- ions and Grotesque, with aU t
of the Entertainment.
OPINIONS OF T H E PEESS
tific vulgarizations. I H B O K O S T I T H B G H O S T ! T H E G s o a r IThe impres.o^ produced by the Ghost in
ilr Di^ktnasbook is exactly t i u ' i
-
n the Polytechnic BtBge,namely.
th,e lumreuton of a psrwn clearly visible, moving his lips and arreaiing m a sepulohtal
;sf L - m h o l h -l-xrviouB to the sense of touch i h e m a n n e r i a which thefligure and-
In order to do a favor for his brother-in-law jeuiy \itni3hes, hteralii'seeraiug W go nowbdCa, u moce aUrtling, shll more aorptBlflg
^iL3daapiaiai:ce, nnea it gradually raeltaaway, a^uming a more and mote filmy look,
attained absolute uouemty. Xha maintenance of tha illaiiou on so large an aienn
ige of tfie Polytechnic may be regarded as a great trtDmph."Tunes.
Hamilton, who showed great interest in the
Ghost illusion Robin had just presented, Robert- Illustrations 228 and 229 - Professor Pepper's Ghosts pre-
Houdin wrote these lines to his friend and sented by James Matthews in 1864.
161
ROBERT-HOUDIN
163
ROBERT -HOUDIN
164
ACT IV
( i f 7
165
ROBERT-HOl'DIN
B \
166
ACT IV
during his first tour in Lyon in 1843 and Avjourd'hul jeudi, 11 fivrier 1847.
16"
ROBERT-HOUDIN
show that, in spite of its ghosts, devils, and phan- The first account of Robin's new exhibition
toms, is not the least frightening, even for the most can be read in La Tribune Lyonnaise of
superstitious and fearful minds. Here is a good op- November 1846:
portunity to learn what the mysterious apparitions
This charming soiree ended with the Diapha-
oi Isis's Temple and Dodon's forest really were.
norama, a show unknown in Lyon; we have never
Robertson's Ghosts were projected on seen anything like it. The tableaux are really re-
markable; the changes occur in such a perfect, al-
screens partly surrounding the audience and most magical way. We did not know that optics
obviously had nothing in common with the could go this far. We would have a difficult time de-
Ghosts of M. Dircks and M. Pepper. As for the scribing the Diaphanorama, because how can we ex-
phrase ''Living Phantasmagoria" that Robin plain in words the presence of a new point of view
supposedly used in his 1846-1847 advertise- somehow emerging whole out of the one already
ments, of which I have been able to find no being observed without, even with the most perfect
concentration, being able to tell where one ends and
trace, this was also a creation of Robertson,
the other begins? We see a farm, the haystacks are
who, in chapters XII and XIII of volume 1 of there, nearby there is a bull eating and ruminating,
his memoirs, described in detail this experi- we see them and a second later, the Kremlin or some
ment, which has no relationship, even slightly, other point of view appears. As an artform, the
to the system of the Polytechnic Institution. Diaphanorama seems to merit public attention.
In reading this article, we easily realize Robin obviously has nothing to do with the
that they are melting tableaus with the invention of the Ghosts, which legitimately
same name as those done by Seraphin in belong to M. Seguin, M. Dircks, and M. Pepper.
1845 and very similar in principle, if not
Robert-Houdin did not doubt this because he
also in procedure, to those shown that
mentions in his Tablettes journalieres two
summer in Belgium by Robert-Houdin, a
appointments that he had with M. Seguin's
review of which we reproduced earlier.
Although in Robin's advertisements of 1846 widow, who then lived at 177, Rue Faubourg
and 1847 in Lyons and Saint-Etienne we Saint-Martin.
find the Diaphanorama, the Megascope The conjurer who replaced Robin in the
de Cagliostro, and the Chromatrope Fire-
theater of the Galerie de P Argue was M. Aldo,
works - these last two were invented by
who performed before the public of Lyon on
Robertson - and also his Grand Animated
February 28, 1847 under the title: "Conjurer
Phantasmagoria of 1843, there is absolutely
no doubt in any reviews that I could find of the Court of Japan"; he then performed on
that these experiments are all based on March 7th under the title "Conjurer of
projections. Tuscany"!
169
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Since 1862, Hamilton had devoted much en- Hamilton for six years and three months begin-
ergy ensuring that the theater's success remain ning on January 1, 1864 [61] until April 1, 1870
constant. In order not to tire the public, he al- for the amount of 18,000 francs yearly rent, of
ternated his performances with those of which 9,000 francs were paid in cash, to be im-
Brunnet, each artist performing every other day. puted to the rent of the last six months of the
The program was constantly varied. To be fash- lease. Although Cleverman acquired in this
ionable, one saw for the first time onstage spin- agreement the usufruct of the name Theatre
ning tables and feats of famous mediums, and a Robert-Houdin and Soirees Fantastiques de
huge advertising effort was directed at foreign- Robert-Houdin, Hamilton sold him only a small
ers passing through Paris to whom the name part of the theater's magic repertoire. Indeed,
Robert-Houdin was still a powerful attraction. Robert-Houdin, who did not want his precious
In reality, Hamilton did not increase his efforts equipment to fall into uninitiated or foreign
during these years to ensure long-term profits hands, had repurchased from his brother-in-law
but because he had made the decision to retire all the mechanical pieces of Soirees Fantas-
since 1861 and wanted to sell a theater with a
brilliant income after so many years of exis-
tence. ROBERT H0UDIN
171
ROBFRI-HOl DIN
Illustration 24" - First page of Cleverman's lease subletting the theater from Hamilton. (Archives nationalesj
172
ACT IV
tiques, and they went to his Cabinet de Physique subjected to a veritable invasion of carriages with
in The Priory. innumerable springs, which, in parentheses,
seems to cause great surprise to the street.
Around this time, and to also take advantage
Nothing like this has happened since Henry IV.
of the "spectral'' vogue, magic dealer Andre
These soirees are said to have the greatest suc-
Voisin began to build Ghosts that could sup- cess in the Faubourg Saint-Germain. It is custom-
posedly be shown in the family circle, at least if ary to end them by ghost appearances similar to
we believe Ernest Blum's humoristic article ex- those of Le Secret de Miss Aurore, in which ghosts
cerpted from Le Charivari and published in are also provided by the aforementioned Voisin,
L'Entracte of January 6, 1864: who has found a way to let anyone perform this
show without any preparation. Elegant decentral-
I must inform you of a new vogue. Gentlemen
ization furthers his little business. We already had
living in respectable neighborhoods are making a
comedie de societe, now we have physique de
complete study of conjuring. It is in good taste for
salon. This is the inauguration of the era of home
these well-bred hosts to form conjuring cabinets
like Robin and Hamilton and offer their guests a entertainment. You will see that with this system,
light seance of Physique amusante. The cabinet there will be no one left in the streets of Paris.
can be instantly set up in the living room, a de- What humiliation for the pavements! But admit it,
voted friend is clothed with the necessary dress, my goodness, this is just too unfortunate!
and Voisin, the famous manufacturer of these
In January 1864, Robert-Houdin wrote in his
fashionable objects, sets to work. This famous
Tablettes journalieres:
Voisin is currently more sought after than was the
puppet maker you once knew. The Rue Vieille du January 12"1 [Paris] My wife and I have been
Temple, where these boutiques are located, is to the circus to see a juggler
* " ) APPARITIONS
DES
SPECTRES ET FANTOMES
M. Voisin, fabricant de physique amusante,
a 1'honneur de pre'venir les amateurs qu'il
vient ae fabriquer des appardls pour fairo
les spectres dans les salons ou dans les
the'dlres. Avec ces apparcils qui se montcDt ft
SR demontent sans degrader la moindre des
choses, on peui faira voir des spectres d'en-
fans ou de grandes pprsonnes.
SI. Voisin, pour satisfaire ses cliens, a tm
apparcil tout monW daas ses magasins, 83,
rue VJeille-du-Temple, que I'on peut vemr
visiter. Les amateurs trouveront nussi uti
grand choix de boitet de physiques pour
eHrennes et objets divers pour la physique
amusante.
II previent en outre les phvsiciens et les
amateurs que pour l'annec 1864 il vient de
f<tbri<|uer qualre series de tours entierement
noureauj.
VOISiN
Hue VieiHe-da-TempIe, 83, h Paris.
Illustration 248 - Andre Voisin's advertisement for the Ghosts and Phantoms in 1864.
173
ROBERT-HOUDIN
SOUVENIR
DES
1
SOIREES FANTASTIQUES
CLEVERMAN
Edition illustree
174
ACT IV
March 6th At Cleverman's, the daytime perfor- vited him to come stay at The Priory for a
mance is no good. The theater is few days to continue the magic teaching that
dropping considerably. should have undoubtedly begun much ear-
Robert-Houdin's realistic remark clearly con- lier.
tradicts the few laudatory lines published in
L'Entracte, March 10, which shows that the
public, and also historians, must not place
complete faith in press reviews.
The public rushing to the charming Theatre
Robert-Houdin comes out still dazzled by the
surprising novelties offered by Professor
Cleverman, the incomparable conjurer that all of
Paris will want to come and applaud. Very soon
will be appearances of the new ghosts that were
announced by all the press. One also speaks of
the lovely paintings representing the marvels of
nature.
It is true that newspapers of the time often
gave good reviews to artists who regularly ad-
vertised in their pages, and what held true for
Cleverman also held for his colleagues...
On February 29, 1864 Robert-Houdin
began his posing seances at his friend Dantan
the sculptor's studio. [63] In the workshop of
this artist, who also simultaneously worked
on the bust of the Archduke Maximilien,
Robert-Houdin met Gustave Flaubert, the au- I'
thor of Salammbo. The plaster bust was fin-
ished on March 8. Dantan used this mold as
a model for the definitive bust in white mar-
ble. To thank the sculptor for this remarkable
work, Robert-Houdin gave him a valuable
gold watch. Several copies in tinted plaster
based on the original bust were given to the
conjurer. One of them was placed in his son
Emile's shop, and another was exhibited in a
place of honor in the lobby of his theater.
Before leaving Paris, Robert-Houdin went to
see Cleverman every day to work with him.
He taught him "the tricks of the old reper-
toire" at his request. Finally, having fulfilled
the expectations of Hamilton's successor,
Robert-Houdin left him on March 27 and in- Illustration 250 - Bust of Robert-Houdin by Dantan.
175
ROBERT-HOUDIN
In 1862, Robert-Houdin began writing the art and was not satisfied with merely producing
work that he had promised his readers would yet another book on how to perform tricks.
follow Confidences d'un prestidigitateur and With this visionary work, whose relevance is
to which he devoted almost six years. The consistently amazing, Robert-Houdin indeed
first reference to the future publication of this built the foundations of the modern magic art.
new opus is found on the last page of Figures At the beginning of 1864, Robert-Houdin
du Temps: "In preparation: Manuel du ended his participation in the company Robert-
Prestidigitateur [Conjurer's Manual]." This Houdin fils et Cie. (Robert-Houdin and Son,
title was not definitive and the author regu- Inc.), and continued his efforts to help
larly referred to the work as Cours de Magie Cleverman. We will also take note of his reac-
(Course in Magic) in his Tablettes journal- tions, more amused than indignant, at reading
ieres. This work, originally planned as several Robin's Almanack du Cagliostro for 1864. The
volumes, was perhaps the one on which
Robert-Houdin worked with greatest perse-
verance, because for him it was important to LALMANACK
ILLUSTRE f (,
transmit his knowledge to new generations in
the form of lessons that would cover the var-
ious aspects of the art of magic: history, pre-
sentation, manipulation, parlor tricks, stage il-
lusions, complementary disciplines, etc. The
first part of this immense task was published
in 1868 under the title Les Secrets de la pres-
tidigitation et de la magie (The Secrets of
Conjuring and Magic), but the author's death
deprived his readers of volumes that were to
make up the rest. His posthumous work
Magie et physique amusante (The Secrets of
Stage Conjuring), which his heirs decided to
have published, is only a very incomplete
outline of what Robert-Houdin had planned.
[64] We must insist on the importance of
Secrets de la prestidigitation with respect to
all the other published works - before or after
- during the nineteenth century, as it is the
first truly pedagogic work on magic. Robert- In NfU mini As i l m n t e . MGHLME, (8. m It Stiti, tl t t n MS In liSrmris ft From tl lit Iknagfr
Houdin provided the aspiring magician with
the psychological and technical basics of his Illustration 252 - Cover of L'Almanach du Cagliostro by
Robin in 1864.
177
ROBERT-HOXJDIN
178
ACT IV
SOIREE MYSTBRIEUSE
SOIREE MYSTERIEUSE
La None sanglanto.
PREMIERE PARTIS. DEDXlfeftfS P4RTIE. Le Miroir cnohsnto. Uoscoo, vue d'ete et d'hiver.
Le Vase egypticn. Le Ptumet de la Garde imperiale. Le Coflre et Is Montro invisible. L'Astre da jour.
Le Miroir enchanle. Le Bassin de Neptune. La Decapitation de Paillasse. Le Moine ot la Hort.
Le Voyage du Canari. La Bouteiile infernale. Le Voyago da Canari. Lo Diablo enchtne.
L'Omelette fanlastiqtre. La Maison hoihmdaise. La Maison liollasdaise. [jn Pont dans lo Bourbonnaif, vuo
Le Foulard de Verdun. Le Boolet de Irente-six. Le Confisour gulant. dejour et denuil.
La Colon ne. Le Trousseau. La Liquoriste impromptue. Le petit Cochon de Sainl-Anfoine.
La Houleltc sympathique. Le ConHseur galiant. Les Ecus devins. Le Druide et l'Oracle.
Le Domino noir. LP Cdfeimprovi.se. Le Chapeau incpoisable. La Chauve-Souris.
Le Peloton merveiileux. La Liqnoriste impromptus. La ftuille ntonslro. UnMoulinaeau deCharenton, vne
Les Caries dansanles. L'Art de faire d<> ta Creme. La PScha miracoieuse. d'ete et d'hivcr.
Les MignonneUes. La Cuisine dcs Gitanos. La Decapitation sauvagc.
Le Moucbotr sacrifie. Le Paon. Les Tourterelles savantes. Le Magicicn a douie t6tcs.
Le petit Colomhior. Mayeux galanl.
Le spectacle sera termhie par la grande Fanlasmagoi ie animee. La multiplication des Bombons. Un Uochrren Ecosse, vue dejour
NOTA. Toules lessemaines es Experiences sont vartees. L'Oranger mcrveillcux. et de nuil.
Spectacle le dimanche et le jeudi, a sept heures precises. Distribution <ics Drapoaux dc lou- La Fcmine avare.
tes les nations. Feux perriques.
I^e Lit de piame improvise. Le Galop dcs Rats.
La Dame armec et le Domino noir. La Ferine de Dondy, vuo do jour
Le Foulard de Verdun. et dc nuit.
Illustrations 254 and 255 - The complete program of Robin l.es grandos Pyramides. Arlequindans une bouteilto.
Le Paon magique. Le Tombcau dc Robert le Diablo.
in Lyon and Saint-Etienne in 1844. TEOISlfeHIi FABTIE. L'Astrologue el la Coincle.
PoIjrorAma e t F o u t k t m a g o r i e . Les Chats de la mere Michel.
These programs of Robin were directly 'inspired' by Asmodee. L'Empercur a la veillo de la ba-
Amphitheatre d'Arles, rue de jonr laillo d'Autorlitz.
Philippe's repertoire, along with effects sold b\ Roujol. We ot de nuit. Une Messc dc minuit a S'-Elicnne-
will later return to these issues in the technical complement Pierrot avale. du-Mont, a Paris, vue de jour et
La Teto volante. de nuit.
to this work, and especially with respect to Tlie Marvelous NUT*. Spectacle Ie dimanche et le jendi, a sept heores precises.
Orange Tree, whose effects were far from those of Robert- Lea Experiences sont cbangees toules les setnaines.
Houdin's Mysterious Orange Treel
Etienne a few months earlier. However, in ... then with the help of his infernal bottle
the artist's repertoire, which is identical to M. Robin performs the miracle of The
Wedding at Gana before us. This miraculous
that of his Lyon advertisements, reprinted
bottle profusely pours out wine and water at
above, the titles of two of his tricks could
the audience's request...
create a certain ambiguity about their
theme. In his work Henri Robin, Expositor The experiment of The Infernal Bottle,
of Science and Magic, Abracadabra Press, which alternatively distributes wine or water,
Balboa Island, 1990, Mr. Edwin A. Dawes is part of Alexandre Roujoul 1830 catalogue
under the name The Bottle of the Wedding at
highlighted this ambiguity concerning the
Cana. It is described in detail in Robert-
second effect, The Infernal Bottle or The
Houdin's 1831 manuscript which we have al-
Bottle of the Wedding at Cana and The
ready cited: Recueil de Recreations de
Impromptu Liquor Merchant.
Physique amusante indiquant en abrege la
Here is how Le Messager des theatres of maniere d'executer Differentes Recreations.
Lyon of January 28, 1844 described the ef- In the Le Messager des theatres of the year
fect of The Infernal Bottle, which Philippe prior, on November 26, 1843, is a review of
had already performed in 1836: Robin's performance that mentions effects of
179
ROBERT-HOUDIN
180
ACT IV
t I.
Illustrations 258 and 259 - The original version of Hamilton's 1852 engraving and its plagiarism by Robin in 1864.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
V) Co
Ul
fe^3> li.il O
ar. 30
2: n-
ISIE
m
0)
tt
a Z
09
.
a
/On mm H
>
-4
O
SOI
'(f _ j C
m
v>
LAIfOUVElLEPECHE MIRACULEU&E.
Vim* aid t/oyer tH.ff-t' &-c<?tt.
( -/^
1 82
ACT IV
183
ROBERT-HOUDIN
DfiVOILfiES
PARIS
7. HETZEL, ED1TEUR, 18, <2?cW JACOB
COLLECTION HET?EL
Illustrations 265 and 266 - Cover and title page of Tricheries des Grecs devoilees signed by Robert-Houdin to his friend
Henry Berthoud.
184
ACT IV
St<**Ht4/
185
ROBERT-HOUDIN
FANTASTiQU
deMTROBIN
The spelling error PORTEFULLE instead of PORTEFE11LLE, highly unlikely in a French publication, clearly suggests that these
engravings are of English origin like the Album in which they appear.
M. Henry Donkelle, known as Robin, does not troversy thus had no effect and the debate
lower himself to such details; he contents himself that Robin felt it wise to start ended for lack
with stealing, crying thief, and playing the victim. of fighters.
Audaces fortuna iuvat.
In his writings, Robert-Houdin shows tact -
Please receive, my dear Father, my affectionate or customary objectivity when referring to
civilities and believe me your well-devoted Robin - and he refers to him as among the best
Robert-Houdin French magicians in his work Secrets of
This last letter takes on a special flavor Conjuring and Magic. In his posthumous
today because the reader knows with what work, Magie et Physique amusante, the author
repertoire Robin was obliged to open his remarks that Robin's version of the Ghosts was
theater in Paris and the truth about The among the best ever performed in France.
Inexhaustible Bottle and Ghosts. Except for Some of Robin's biographers thought it best
these two private letters to the learned not to mention the laudatory comments made
priest, Robert-Houdin never made any public by Robert-Houdin with respect to this artist in
commentary on Robin's fictitious writings. At the works that we have just mentioned, in
the time the press did not reprint them, be- order to insist upon the fact that he does not
cause the journalists as well as the magicians mention him in his Confidences. Neither do
knew the truth. This attempt at creating con- these historians mention the last paragraph of
186
ACT IV
Illustrations 2~0 and 271 - Plagiarisms of Robert-Houdin's Fantastic Portfolio and Second Sight by Robin in 1851-1852.
the appendix of the French edition of Memoirs In 1858, the date of the publication of Robert-
in which Robert-Houdin apologizes to his Houdin's memoirs, Robin like Herrmann was
readers for not being able to describe or men- a complete stranger to the immense majority of
tion all the experiments of his repertoire due the French, which was obviously not the case
to lack of space, and which he concludes with for Comte, Bosco, or Philippe, who were clearly
this sentence: "I hope that I can also be ex- depicted in the book; moreover, we do not see
cused for the silence which, for the same rea- what Robert-Houdin could have said in posi-
sons [Lack of space], I had to keep concerning tive terms about Robin that could have satisfied
certain famous conjurers." This is a promise his biographers of today.
which Robert-Houdin kept in Secrets of What would they have written if Robert-
Conjuring and Magic. Although no honest re- Houdin had revealed the theft and plagiarism
searcher can deny that Robert-Houdin simply of Robin with respect to Philippe or himself -
wrote an autobiography, that he did not at all as testified to by all Robin's engravings and
imply that this work could be considered in bills which we have reprinted in these chap-
any way a history of contemporary magic, ters - or even the accusatory details of the
which would not even have been of interest to Lettsom-Legrand trial? What is true for Robin
the lay reader, it is apparently necessary to re- is also true for Herrmann and many other
call some obvious facts here. more-or-less well-known artists whom even
187
ROBlR'l-HOLDIN
press articles of the time did not hesitate to book, and the exchange of letters from all hori-
condemn. No one may doubt that if he related zons. This was embellished by various encoun-
his altercations with these dishonest practi- ters and little daily pleasures:
tioners, and the way in which he triumphed April 30th [The Priory] I received a letter from
over their betrayal, Robert-Houdin, with his a conjuring amateur (M. Bouchard)
narrator's verve, would have enriched his that he had sent to Paris.
memoirs with picturesque descriptions which May?* I answered M. Bouchard, conjuring
would have won over the hearts of his read- amateur in Marseilles.
ers even more. On the other hand, the reve- May 18th [Paris] I had dinner at Lahire's
lation of these crimes would have consider- [Cleverman] with his brother-in-
ably hurt the business of more precarious law at Maisons Laffitte...I was at
artists still performing. Finally, and this is the theater; Brunnet was perform-
probably one of the main reasons behind the ing.
eminently diplomatic silence of the author, June 3 rJ [The Priory] I wrote...to Lahire
how can one imagine that an artist - whose [Cleverman] to talk to him about
major obsession, the goal of his entire life, issuing a little newspaper.
was to give a brilliant and respectable image August 8th In the morning an unfortunate
of his art, and to raise the status of the con- artist named Deschamps came, to
jurer to that of the great painters, sculptors, whom I gave five francs.
or musicians of his time, and who gave the
flattering illusion to his readers that all magi- During this year, in which Robert-Houdin
cians were not only greatly skilled but also fully took advantage of his newly found lib-
erudite scientists for whom physics, mathe- erty, his Tablettes journalieres repeatedly ex-
matics, and mechanics had no secret - would press his joy for life and his contentment:
decide to forever destroy the reputation of an September 27th In the midst of occupations
entire profession, simply to validate himself to where I find that the days
his readers, by revealing reprehensible ethics pass very quickly. We are all
doing well; we have nothing
and unfortunate practices that dishonored the
that unpleasantly preoccu-
art of magic then and certainly do so today? pies us. Simply put, we are in
Whatever this may have cost him, the one of the happiest phases of
artist's writings are always stamped with cau- our existence.
tion and lucidity. By remaining silent about October 10"' I am in excellent health and
these regrettable episodes, Robert-Houdin more than that because I
shows much generosity toward the entire transported huge loads of
magic community; he probably would not rocks in the wheelbarrow all
have imagined for a single moment that day.
some of his members would one day have That year the author had other more pleas-
the bad intentions and disgracefulness to ant tasks than transporting wheelbarrows full
blame him for it. of rocks. Thanks to the birth on June 25th of
Emile and Leonie's first daughter, he became
In April 1864, Robert-Houdin's life resumed its a grandfather. The baptism of Marie Eugenie
normal path: progress on The Prior)', continuing Alice [H took place in Boulogne on July 21sl
work on his automata, the writing of his new in the presence of the entire family because
189
ROBERT-HOUDIN
190
ACT IV
Illustration 2~5 Seating chart of the main room of the Theatre Robert-Houdin under Cleverman's management. (Jacques
Voignier collection)
Marvelous Orange Tree, which he sent com- sor in physique. Among the phenomena of the reper-
pleted on October 14th. toire, there was one called the magic pastrycook. A
box-like shop was brought on, from which emerged a
These few days with the master had probably
little automata, which M. Cleverman introduced as
inspired Cleverman, who followed his advice. the promised pastrycook and whose goods he listed.
He shared the bill with Brunnet and the show
was clearly improved. In October 1864, he an-
nounced the return of the ''Patissier des Italiens,
one of M. Robert-Houdin's most remarkable au- i u
tomata, which has not been seen in Paris for fif- PATISSIER-GLAC IER DU THEATRE
teen years." Here is the amusing account by ROBERT -HOUDIN
Alter [67] concerning the Parisian return of the Brioches Rhum
Pastrycook of Palais-Royal, renamed The Vol-au-Vent Anisette de Bordeaux
Pastrycook ''des Italiens" because of the change Biscuits au Rhum Cognac
of business address: Nougats Sirop de groseille
191
ROBBRT-HOUDIN
At first no one said anything; they all looked at thing; a couple of old bachelors, my neighbors,
each other. Some were not convinced that the pas- gravely asked for glasses of rum. After having
tries were free; others clearly feared being too asked his mother, a little boy cried out in a fluted
greedy. Here, Professor Gleverman gracefully in- voice: "A light cake. (This is Lent.)" Finally a
sisted. Finally an Englishwoman in a maroon cloak long-haired person who seemed to have sworn to
and wearing a hat with steel studs, opened the mar- find the flaw in the magic pastrycook asked for
ket. She asked for a kirsch-flavored ice-cream with four glasses of anisette in a row. After this first
the ease of someone who has paid for her seat in the round, others came; commands rolled out every-
orchestra. From then on the ice was broken. where, a smell of alcohol spread out through the
Let us not be fooled by the treacherous ap- assembly and the overworked automaton ran into
pearance of this pun - a second lady did the same his little shop just as a little lady nearly gave way
192
ACT IV
193
ROBFRT-IIOUDIN
194
ACT IV
195
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 281 - Ira and William, the Davenport Brothers, with their famous cabinet and props.
The size of this cabinet - w hich w as peihaps impossible to take apart - probably prevented Disderi from taking a picture in a
studio and forced him to do so outside on the sidewalk.
ACT IV
In 1865. Robert-Houdin continued his work February 171'1 [The Priory] The wife of a
and round trips to the capital, journeys in which certain Beaumesnil fair-
conjuring still had its place: ground conjurer who is
doing business in Blois came
February 3"' [Paris] I dined at Emile's. I
to present a subscription.
took Leonie to the circus to
My wife gave 10 francs.
see Leotard [The Famous
February 19" I had 10 more francs given
Acrobat] and the Bonheur
brothers [Mediums and to Beaumesnil the con-
Second Sight]. jurer.
February 4'1' At Hamilton's, at Lahire's - I March 28"' I answered an Englishman
met Tuffereau and Hamilton named Clark about tricks.
there.
LALMANACH
AmUe ILLUSTRE ! j u t e
H B(( cnlnl cits Mnnibi. HG\IRB8, 18. ree Je SliK. a thel Ins Its Librairu It Franco tl Je lttnign.
197
ROBERT-I lOUDIN
Illustrations 284 and 285 - Robert-Houdin during The Illustrations 286 and 28" - Robert-Houdin showing the prin-
Melting Coin effect. ciple of Forcing a Card.
Photograph b\ Mieusement used as a model for the illus- Photograph by Mieusement used as a model for the illus-
tration published in Secrets of Conjuring and Magic fop. tration published in Secrets of Conjuring and Magic fop
cit.). at.).
The good relationship that had been estab- deal or having [his] table copied." If they
lished between Robert-Houdin and Hamilton's came to an agreement, Cleverman was to
successor continued through the entire year. send his professor a promissory note for four,
The conjurer, at his request, sold him several five, or six months, as he wished. Cleverman
other objects from his repertoire and also asked Robert-Houdin to sell him his
Cleverman continued to take lessons with him Harlequin and a cage, and announced his ar-
in Paris or at Saint-Gervais. In February rival in June.
Robert-Houdin sent him three packages: a While nothing pointed to this so soon,
table and its accoutrements and "the ball" (of Leonie, Emile's wife, gave birth to a boy
Destiny or The Cannonball Box?). This trans- named Paul. [69] Here are the terms in which
action was made for 300 francs. The artist the happy father announced the good news to
gave Cleverman the choice of "accepting this his family:
198
Aci IV
Illustrations 288 and 289 - Robert-Houdin showing one of the Illustrations 290 and 291 - Robert-Houdin by the Blois pho-
sleights of the Diminishing Cards routine. tographer Mieusement.
Photograph by Mieusement used as a model for the illustra- This photograph was not used in the final version of Secrets
tion published In Secrets of Conjuring and Magic (op. citJ of Conjuring and Magic fop. cit.).
Paris, May 20, 1865 was over, and in the best conditions, with no pain
My dear father and that the mother and child were doing well.
I do not know how I will manage to spend two
Here is unexpected news...This morning at
months without her, especially Saturday; with my
6 o'clock Leonie gave birth to, I will not say a big,
payments and the business, which is doing fairly
but a little boy.
well, I am run off my feet. But it does not matter,
I was afraid that the event would be more I am very happy to have a boy and that it all is
somber. Three days ago she was inundated upon over.
awakening in her bed, like someone who was Where am I headed, my God; two children in
about to give birth, but with no pain. I immedi- eighteen months of marriage!!!
ately took her to Boulogne and I feared a miscar- Decidedly even better than my father.
riage. I could not believe that she was seven I embrace you with all my heart.
months pregnant. And yet it must have been so be- Your Happy son!
cause M. Munier came to announce that the affair Robert-Houdin son
199
ROBLRl-HOUDlN
Cleverman came to see Robert-Houdin, still sioned them. Robert-Houdin wrote in Tablettes
overcome with the joy of being a grandfather journalieres:
and comfortably set up in The Priory with his June 16th Cleverman practised conjuring
wife from the 14th to the 23'd of June. During this with me - I sold him the
time, in Paris, Brunnet replaced him onstage in Harlequin for 500 francs. I im-
Soirees Fantastiques. The stay went well and mediately began repairing this
piece. I worked on it all day. I
Mme. Robert-Houdin kept Mme. Lahire com-
gave the cabinetmaker the box
pany, taking her to visit Saint-Gervais and its to fix.
surrounding countryside in order to allow the June 2V I worked with Cleverman on the
two men to talk about the subjects that impas- organization of a crown appear-
200
ACT IV
1|H 1
ing above the head of he who
hits the bull's eye. [70]
June 21" I worked with Gleverman on the
organization of a crown coming
from above the head of he who
hits the bull's eye [70].
June 22nd Mme. Gleverman, who is a very
good musician, played the piano
every night for us.
On July 10, Robert-Houdin wrote to the
American publishers Dick and Fitzgerald, who
had made proposals for his new book, and he
noted on September 29th:
1
H
' ' , ' " - ' :
' - . - . i '"1.- ' - ' . ' " - " " , " * ' " * '
201
ROBERT-HOUDIN
tant allies in certain worldly circles, but also de- showing reproductions of their show at a rea-
termined opponents in the academic and scien- sonable price. [72]
tific world. The opportunity was too perfect for True to his usual behavior and not wanting
magicians of the time not to stir up this contro- to testify for or against the Davenport Brothers,
versy and try to fill their theaters at the expense Robert-Houdin went incognito to some of their
of their American colleagues. Robin led a huge seances, which took place in two different the-
offensive against the Davenport Brothers and aters. [73] Between these performances, the
defied them in the newspapers - which was fair conjurer returned to his Priory, where he fol-
play but became detrimental to the entire magic lowed the "affair" in the newspapers. The im-
profession when he revealed their secrets to the presario Wolghemuth asked Cleverman to hire
public. In keeping with his unfortunate past be- two of his proteges, the Stacey Brothers,
havior, he decided that duplicating their famous English "mediums" - who were not "brothers"
experiments was not enough. but partners, one named Kelly and the other
The public, given the Davenports" exorbi- Stacey - for Soirees Fantastiques, and he
tant prices, went to competing establishments jumped at the opportunity. Cleverman asked
202
ACT IV
203
ROBLRT-HOLDIN
THEATRE CLEVERMAN
Aneien tbeitre Eokri-Houdii
8, Boulevard dft Italians, 8.
PflYSIODE. IHAGIB ET
Par ic profes&eur
TABLEAUX ANIMES DE
AGIOSCOPE-ASTROMETROSCOPE
De PIGELEll
Illustration 29^ - The Theatre Robert-Houdin very briefly become the "Theatre Cleverman.
204
ACT IV
-1969 Vip^^jjjB mk
m
mm
|1
MW
:
) Fi!i 1I
1
>J
111
:
TlieStre de la Gaite, VJSscamottur, aotc dciisiimr,
Illustrations 298 and 299 - Engraving and photograph of L'Escamoteur at the Theatre de la Gaite.
205
ROBtR 1 -HOUDIN
Illustration 300 - Advertisement for the "Theatre Cleverman" Illustration 302 - Account of the Stacey Brothers' perfor-
proposing The Indian Basket in the third part of its mance at the "Theatre Cleverman." (Btbliotbdque de I'Anenal)
program.
206
ACT IV
n: *,.
4.,.,t I'lll'/
A/' . I
20"
NOTES TO ACT IV
Notest
209
ROBfcRi-HOtDIN
A LA COUR
DE MADAGASCAR
MAGIE ET DIPLOMATIE
Marius CAZENEUVE
MEDEC1N ET GONSEILLEB INTIME DE LA REISE DE MADAGASCAR
RANAVALO MANJAKA
PARIS
LIBRAIRIE CH. DELAGRAVE
15, HUE SOtJEFLOT, 15
1896
M vii 11 - CAXBXKUVK.
Illustrations 306 and 30" - Photograph and title page of the work by Marius Cazeneuve: A la Cour de Madagascar: Magie et Dtplomatte.
210
NOTES TO ACT IV
call himself henceforth Robert- rank of general of the brigade on with his unit...When the Marshal
Houdin. March 4, 1864. returned from Kabylie, he was ill
2. That M. Robert will not be and went to rest in the countryside
able to come before the courts to 10. of Algiers, then had to take care of
claim this change of his civil status In Robert-Houdin's archives is his daughter's wedding which was
before the expiration of the delay the rough draft of a letter sent to celebrated with just a few close
set by the law of 11 Germinal, Year Algiers to one of his acquaintances, friends and relatives with no
XI and in verifying" that no opposi- whose name is not specified. In pomp...The governor of Algeria is
tion was formed before the Conseil almost as important as the
d'Etat. this response. Robert-Houdin tells Emperor of France.
this friend, whose son was sta-
At the end of the year 1855, tioned in Algeria, about the steps
11.
Robert-Houdin received a docu- he had taken concerning him. This "Robert-Houdin," one paper
ment from the legal department of letter is filled with precious unpub- said, "cannot be in Algiers, for we
the Conseil d'Etat: lished details on Robert-Houdin's see daily announced in the Paris
The Master of Requests, General stay in the colony. On the specific papers, 'Robert-Houdin every
Secretary of the Gonseil d'Etat cer- subject about the delay of the cele- evening at eight o'clock.'
tifies that until today, no opposing brations in Algiers, Robert-Houdin And why," another journal
request was filed at the Secretary of wrote: asked pleasantly, "should not
the legal department of the Gonseil Robert-Houdin perform in Algiers
d'Etat to the Decree of the Prince- When I arrived in Algeria, the and yet remain all the while in
President of the Republic of twenty- governor had just left for Kabylie Paris? Do we not know that this
first February, eighteen hundred sorcerer possesses the gift of
fifty-two that allowed M. Robert ubiquity, and that he often gives
(Jean-Eugene) born in Blois (Loir et DAVID FISHER performances in Paris, Rome,
Cher) on 16 Frimaire, year XIV, and Moscow on the same
mechanician, performer, residing in evening?"
Paris, to add to his last name that of The discussion went thus, for
Houdin and to call himself Robert- several days, some denying my
Houdin henceforth... presence, others affirming it.
Paris, November twentieth, eigh- The public of Algiers was willing
teen hundred and fifty-five [signed] to accept this fact as one of those
Boilay. pleasantries generally denomi-
Le magicien nated canards, but they also
8.
We know of a second case in which
de guerre wished to be sure of not being vic-
tims of a delusion if they came to
a magician helped French diplomacy the theater.
with his art: Marius Cazenem e in At length the matter was taken
Madagascar, beginning in 1886. up seriously, and the publishers
More recently, the talent of the explained that M. Hamilton, on
English magician Jasper Maskelyne succeeding his brother-in-law, had
was successfully used during World kept up the old title; so that
War II by the British secret services. Robert-Houdin was a term equally
On Marius Cazeneuve see A la cour applicable to the performer and to
de Madagascar: Magie et the style of performance.
Diplomatie, Delagrave, 1896 and Le This curious discussion, the
Magicien de guerre by David Fisher, Collection DOCUMENT annoyances occasioned by M. D-,
Presses de la Cite, 1986. and as I hope I may believe, the
attraction of my performance,
brought me an enormous audi-
9. ence. All the tickets were bought
Rene Frangois Edouard de Neveu. beforehand, and the house was
born on November 19, 1809 in stiflingly hot, for the centigrade
PRESSES DE LA CITfi
Savigny-sur-Braye (Loir-et-Cher), PARIS thermometer denoted 35 degrees,
died in Algiers on February 17, 1871. and we were in the middle of
He became an officer in 1852, then September.
commander of the Legion of Honor Illustration 308 - Title page of the work Poor spectators, how I pitied
in 1856, and was promoted to the by David Fisher, The War Magician. them! To judge from my own sen-
211
ROBERT-HOLDIN
sations, they must all have been ter by Robert-Houdin is unusual. Had I allowed the liquid to get
mummified on the spot. I feared Its cautiousness and feigned hu- quite cold, the ball would have
that the enthusiasm, as is the gen- mility make me strongly suspect been full and solid; but in about
eral rule, would be in an inverse that the author knew that his cor- ten seconds I turned the mould
ratio to the temperature; but I had respondence would be read by the over, and the portions of the wax
no cause to complain of my recep- not yet set ran out, leaving a hol-
tion, and I drew from this success military censors. low ball in the mould. This opera-
a happy omen for the future. tion is the same as that used in
16. making tapers, the thickness of
J. Joseph-Renaud, "Contribution the outside depending on the time
Memoirs of Robert-Houdin. op a Vetablissement d'une biographie the liquid has been left in the
cit, pp. 376-77. de Robert-Houdin," Journal de la mould.
prestidigitation, no. 106 (March- I wanted a second ball, which I
12. April 1939). In this text. J. Joseph- made rather more solid than the
Memoirs of Robert-Houdin. op. Renaud, pursuing the narrative of other; and this I filled with blood,
cit., p. 380. anecdotes related to him by General and covered the orifice with a
Devaux about the Algerian jour- lump of wax. An Irishman had
13. ney of Robert-Houdin, wrote: once taught me the way to draw
The last sentence of this compli- blood from the thumb, without
ment is the translation of an Arab ...There again, electricity helped feeling any pain, and I employed
poem. Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, him greatly; he had a metallic it on this occasion to fill my bul-
op. cit., p. 391. mannequin made to represent a let.
French captain, with his hand ex- Bullets thus prepared bear an
14. tended: "When one is a friend of extraordinary resemblance to
Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, op. France," he said, "one can safely lead, and are easily mistaken for
cit.. p. 386. This diploma is among shake the hand of this officer. that metal when seen at a short
Robert-Houdms souvenirs kept at Try!...But if one is an enemy of distance off.
the Chateau de Blois. my country, here is what hap-
With this explanation, the trick
pens...Try now." This time a
will be easily understood. After
15. strong electrical current was sent
showing the leaden bullet to the
Robert-Houdins letter, which I through the mannequin; the
spectators, I changed it for my
Arabs who touched the out-
previously identified (see note 8). hollow ball, and openly put the
stretched hand received a painful
confirms that this journey into latter into the pistol. By pressing
shock...
Algeria lasted longer than the au- the wad tightly down, the wax
thor says in his memoirs, where his Thanks to a trick with mirrors, broke into small pieces, and could
he made terrifying ghosts appear not touch me at the distance I
stay seems to have lasted four
in his tent... stood.
days. He only mentions one inci-
dent, during the only stop de- At the moment the pistol was
17. fired, I opened my mouth to dis-
scribed in his peaceful tour among
the tribes: The trick I have just described, play the lead bullet I held between
though so curious, is easily pre- my teeth, while the other pistol
...As for your second letter, I pared. I will give a description of contained the bullet filled with
only received it yesterday; here is it, while explaining the trouble it blood which, bursting against the
why. Immediately after my perfor- took me. As soon as I was alone in wall, left its imprint, though the
mances I went to travel inside my room, I took out of my pistol wax had flown to atoms.
Algeria to visit the Arabs in their case - without which I never
tribes. I was supposed to go for travel - a bullet mould. I took a Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, op.
only three or four days but I card, bent up the four edges, and cit.. pp. 412-13.
stayed for twelve...your letter ar- thus made a sort of trough, in
rived during this time at the Hotel which I placed a piece of wax 18.
d'Orient... taken from one of the candles.
During research carried out in
When it was melted. I mixed with
Without entering into too many it a little lamp-black I had ob- the archives of Marseilles we
details, because it is more of an tained by putting the blade of a found several articles talking about
impression or personal conviction knife over the candle, and then the violence of this exceptional
than something proven, I would ran this composition in the bullet- storm. Here is an example in La
like to say that the tone of this let- mould. Gazette du Midi:
212
NOTES TO ACT IV
News from the South: Marseilles that Pliny the Younger used to Tube painted green and gold in the
November 26''. Yesterday and espe- designate acrobats, jugglers, and lid of which can be seen an oval
cially last night were marked in our mountebanks who, during his label, ''Barbier/Opticien/Marseille,"
city by a furious storm from the time, traveled through Rome's
countryside, where they per- with a handwritten note: "20
northwest. Roof tiles and chimneys francs."
fell under the blow of the strong formed their feats of skill.
winds, whose violence sometimes Whatever the ease may be, 21.
seemed to shake houses. The ef- Jules de Rovere was the only During our research in Marseilles,
fects of this wind must have been French conjurer who, inthe precious help of the historian
terrible at sea... Constantinople, received the honor Jacques Echinard allowed us to re-
from a great lord to perform one of
construct the passage of conjurers
19. his marvelous shows in his harem
before his wives who were, to tell in this city.
Here is an unpublished text
the truth, veiled from head to toe.
from Robert-Houdin's youth, from 22.
a manuscript he wrote for his From Constantinople, Jules de
Cagliostro in which he described Rovere returned to Paris and dur- ltobcrt Houdio n' fait que paraltre per-
a few anecdotes on the debut of ing one of his performances at the mi nous; le ceiebre preslidigitateur s'esi <tfto-
Odeon in 1817 on Good Friday, a liii , sprit deux lifouccs seulement, aus ap
Jules de Rovere's career: pliiiilissenicnts <lu public marjsillals. Un its
fire destroyed this theater a second ses 6mul(S vionl aujourd'hui rtdamer A son
Olivier was succeeded by Jules time. lour les suffrages des amateurs e t , nous <fa~
de Rovere, who was not, as vous le dim, il les a c>nquis dis a pre.oierg
apparition. M Lcvicu* a dona^, mardi der-
claimed, the inventor of the word The first fire at the Odeon took nier, sa premiere mirte , SOD programme aa-
prestidigitateur, but perhaps he place during a performance of noDQait ono foulo de (ours nouvemx (ju'il a
vitcaU.s avee tine adrcsa tQf!rveiileua6 6t de
anchored it into our language by Physique amusante by the conjurer mauicre h surprendro les specfaldirs \u;..-.t
giving it, in this fashion, the right Chalon. See Appendix II on this recommandoiis-nous out ncrsoniie* qui 'y
out pas encore assist'!, leg witte de M Le-
to be cited in the new dictionary subject. vieux, KilesuDt lieu lous lejours, fioepii h
of French language. This qualifica- vonjredi, rue Haio, a' 21, dans one sallauV
tion of prestidigitateur goes much i a eel f(tut.
further back because it is none 20.
other than the Latin word circula- Volker Huber has in his remark- Illustration 311 - Announcement of Mar-
tores or better yet prestigitatores able collection a metal Feather seille performances by the conjurer
Levieux, known as The Wizard of the
West.
3Pheatrc ttoya^ Htymarket Enthusiasts from Marseilles had
4 o - The d r c d n l SUCKM of tht I'KKNCH PHKHOKM \NCKS. ami th K
to console themselves about Robert-
PERFORMANCES, un mm. r . ^ ^ ^ A u ^ n s " l ns"iiriuetrt' ' " " " Houdin's brief stay by attending
FIRST gIPIE In BUtttflM P ME. J. de ROVERE
performances of the conjurer
Mousienr ENTIRE LY NOVEL F.E ATS
J U L E S de KOVERIfl,
FOR THRI-.l NIQHTS-MOKI.
This Evening, MONDAY. Oct. 27th, Levieux. nicknamed The Wizard of
CELEBRATED P R E S T I D I G I T A T O R , AEBOPBR1BT On WEDNESDAY 29th, & FRIDAY t h e 31st, 1828.
the West, who sometimes per-
Profeuorof ilrM ve PMIowphy. nd AHtktrofmtrat HW rfucavtrw,
la (he Arts ud SCISDCLB ndai ted to Pub! o Annwmcni, wijl hsre thi
F
honorofpurin5licfiite8 Dntwh And.caM
On MONDAY, Oct. 20tb, WEDNESDAY 22ni5
and rBZDAY the 24tb, 1828.
2rttnB4nrar frjaTi'^"^ **7' T J ^' t ^*T'^JLJ-.Ma*
i
Flora's Pavllton, 9 White j9i
iThe
She Sorcerer 8 SvPC'flrapbg
A p
Rabbit,
formed in a little space at 21, Rue
Haxo, beginning in mid-December
The MHsappoiHtea Giuttoa, TKtiL. FUOITIVSS DOVE,
Thi BoshuiMd r i o n r w k t t . Tha Dutch. Uauar Haaaa.
1856.
The Mysterious Rose, Flora's Pavllllon,
flu EHest sf'white ftlaflis.
FOIlTIINATIIS's CAPi
Or, tbo HOBH of PI.EKTY.
some Noiel IMITATIONS l.j
Monsieur ANDRIEUX, 23.
O/.V OIlttY. in Ilit Wrfa/ UikwrtHr, and of an Old Blind Uinitnl Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, op.
THE TWO PRIVATE ACTORS cit.. p. 419.
By Invisible Musicians.
LB Coucrtt do Cni-heilk, and La HurcUnde de Coi.jona
213
ROBERT -HOUDIK
his memoirs in order to respect the baronet Sir Frederic Charles 32.
privacy of his hosts as well as to Lascelles Wraxall (1828-1865). He Le Moniteur universel. July 2.
avoid repetition of his descriptions was the son of Charles Edouard
1859.
of his public performances. Wraxall, lieutenant of the royal ar-
tillery. His mother. Ellen Cecelia, 33.
25. was the daughter of John Madden "Catalogue des riches collections
In his Tablettes journalieres, of Richmond in Surrey. He was ad- artistiques delaissees par feu le pro-
Robert-Houdin carefully noted his mitted to Oxford University in fesseur Compars Herrmann de
appointments with M. Reber, their 1842. He served in the army and in Vienne," Koln. 1888.
length, and the sums paid. L. Chesneau 1855, he was in Kerch in Crimea in
first suggested the existence of this the Turkish contingent, where he
had the rank of captain. During his
proofreader, not yet identified, in his CATALOGUE
lifetime, he was fascinated by mil-
scarce booklet Robert-Houdin a
itary affairs and his experience in
Saint-Gervais. Blois, 1932. The au- the Crimean war is described in his COLLECTIONS ARTISTIQUES
thor, Father Chesneau, was an eccle- work Camp Life-. Passages from the PROFESSEUR
siastic who was very close to the Story of a Contingent, published COMPARS HERRMANN
Keime and Robert-Houdin families. in I860. Lascelles Wraxalls time DE VIENNE.
M. Andre Keime Robert-Houdin has a spent in the army must have made
very vivid memory of him. This brief, him used to being instantly Filiscit 1UU*UM. VemriN- iTclm t t a u x . tUtwx prtotm
Ftw. Plww. Hwlogwlt. B1K. Ctdi U Xaablts TtplfMriM.
Tbl U U
well-written, and well-documented obeyed, and this is probably why
work was probably a precious tool Robert-Houdin wrote this com-
for the work of his compatriot Jean VENTE A COLOGNE
ment about a letter he had re- le 2 8 at 29 Kai 1888
214
NOTES TO ACT IV
34. times. Unfortunately, three of these descriptions and feats they contain,
See the letter of May 30, 1851 volumes were destroyed by a fire notably those of Robert-Houdin's
reprinted in Act II. chapter 1849- before Jacques Voignier acquired automata, are unique and have
1851 - Return to Paris." the two others from Maurice never been reproduced in any
Sardina. They are entitled Guide du work to this day.
35. prestidigitateur 2. 1858-1859 and
See on this subject nos. 37 and Guide du prestidigitateur 3 They 38.
38 of L'Escamoteur by Robelly. are among the most important This letter was published in the
L Illustration of November 8. 1856 magic documents of the time; the work by Sam H. Sharpe. Salutations
praised the artist in the following to Robert-Houdin, pages 36 and 37.
manner: The eminent author could not draw
any conclusions at the time because
Make way now tor Miss Benita he did not know to whom the letter
Anguinet in the theater of the was addressed. He only knew that
Pre-Catelan. After Bosco and his the unidentified correspondent li\ ed
successors, all extremely remark-
in Germany. Here is the commentary
able, and especially after M. Ed.
Brunnet the inimitable, there will made by Sam H. Sharpe about this
still be room for admiration for document:
Miss Benita. This amiable con- April 28"': Robert-Houdin wrote
jurer is wholly from the good as follows to an unnamed corre-
school, where one produces a ball spondent in Germany. The original
from a cup where there is noth- of this letter is in the possession of
ing. As for the original tricks with Mr. John Mulholland of New York, it
which Miss Benita dazzles the having been given to him by
public. I will not try to describe Houdini's widow Bessie Houdini. I
them, in order to let you enjoy am able to translate and print it
the surprise... through the kindness of Mr.
Mulholland (who also owns three
36. other Robert-Houdin letters which
See the biography of Chalon by have been reproduced in The
Robert-Houdin in Appendix II. Sphinx), and my well-known friend
Mr. Jay Marshall of Chicago, who
37. sent me a photostat of the original...
Jacques Voignier has two letters The reading of the Tablettes
in his collection by Robert-Houdin journalieres of Robert-Houdin. of
addressed to M. Francois Lauzun, a which I reprint some entries in
conjuring enthusiast from Bourg- this chapter, definitively identifies
Saint-Andeol (Ardeche). Over the Alexander as Robert-Houdin's cor-
years, this amateur wrote a verita- respondent.
ble magic encyclopedia of the
tricks of his time, in five volumes, 39.
called Guide du prestidigitateur on In order to be as precise as pos-
Recueil complet de tous les tours sible, when Robert-Houdin wrote
qui s executent sur les grands et pe- in his Tablettes journalieres the
tits theatres. These manuscripts, il- words '"translation rights." the)
lustrated by the author, describe a must always be understood as "for-
host of routines and illusions and eign translation rights." He used
notably several of Robert-Houdin's these same terms in his agreements
automata. Nothing indicates that he with Chapman and Hall. Evans, or
had the opportunity to see the mas- Dick and Fitzgerald.
ter on stage but it is certain that he
often went to the Theatre Robert- Illustrations 314 and 315 - Title pages of 40.
Houdin w hen Hamilton was the di- manuscripts by Francois Lauzun. Robert-Houdin's memoirs were
rector, as he refers to him several (Jacques \oignier collection) finally published in Germany in
215
ROBERT-HOUDIN
216
NOTES TO ACT IV
saw and heard you while reading... the marriage was celebrated in Paris nombre des Soir&es de M. Hamilton sera it irfis-
at the town hall of the seventh ar- restreint. En cflet, M. Hamilton annooee sa c!6-
The underlined words are of rondissement on August 27, 1863. ture pouraujourd'hui dim on die, et nous n'osone
pasesp^rerqu's! differcson depart. Si nous avions
course underlined in the original
text. 51. a faire la imputation do U. Hamilton, nous es-
sajerions de aaerlre son habilele , ce qui SBt'ftlt
Article from L'Entr'Acte lyon- fort difficile, mats hcuteusemci.i e'eit chose foile
45. nais, no. 1253. Sunday, November depuis longiemps.
9, 1862, 27th year, pages 1 and 2, Nons nous con le nitrons done dc dire qun !cs
If we believe the back cover of
Cercle Musical: quelques se'ancus di- M. Hamilton out cie aulaiu
the work, three other biographies desoiiecsdc plaisirpourli'spersonnesquiovaient
were also on sale at the date of the Soirees Fantastiques de Robert- eu I'heureuse idde d'y ambler; el nous niiierous
booklet dedicated to Robert-Houdin: Houdin 5 nos lecteurs le eonscil de profiler de la seance
those of Mme. Ristori, Gustave Dore, M. Hamilton is to begin his per- de oloiuro pour oiler admirer IV'gaiice du ca
and Marie Petipa, while those of formances on Monday, November bind cl sippiaudir la dexie'iiti} dc i'cnclioiucur
Pius IX, Abd-al-Aziz, Havin, Jules 10. Praising M. Hamilton is super- du boulevard des Ituliens.
fluous and very difficult. How to de- F. BOILY.
Simon, Felicien David, Jules Noriac, pict the dexterity and subtlety and
Rossini, Paul de Kock, Auber, skill of each of his tricks? One must
Theodore Barriere, Edmont Texier, see him at work, and then everyone Illustrations 322 and 323 - Article announc-
Emile de Girardin, etc. were an- is in agreement to applaud him and ing the end of Hamilton's perfor-
nounced as upcoming. affirm that he deserves the title of mances in Lyon in November 1862.
217
ROBIRI-HOUDIN
52.
The connection between
Lettsom and Robin is so evident Illustration 324 - Plagiarism of Robert- Illustration 325 - Bill for Carl (Compars)
that, almost fifteen years after the Houdin's engraving of The Light and Herrmann in London in 1848.
Legrand trial, which could obvi- Heavy Chest reprinted by Robin in From Magic June 190-r
ously no longer be pursued. Robin his Almanach du Cagliostro.
again tried to credit his accom- pounds on July 29, 1859- Lettsom doves, The Mathematical Clock.
plice (whose name he spells was the co-author with R.P. Greg of The Isolated Clock Bell. The Birth
''Littson, attache at the English em- Manual of the Mineralogy of Great of Gold Fish, and The Ethereal
bassy in Paris"), in the Almanach Britain and Ireland. He passed Suspension. In this program, one
du Cagliostro of 1864 with the "in- away in Surrey on December 14, could discover, in the midst of the
vention" of The Light and Heavy 1887 at 142 Northwood Road, Lower other tricks, a "mechanical piece"
Chest! To illustrate this new lie. Northw ood. with the "charming" name "Robin
Robin used an engrav ing taken the Sorcerer".
from a sou\ enir fan of Soirees 53.
Fantastiques de Robert-Houdin! 54.
Carl (Compars) Herrmann, born
Lettsorrfs participation in "a little While running his theater in
in Vienna. Austria, on January 27,
theater in London" is referred to in London. Robin published a book-
1816, died in Carlsbad, Bohemia,
the works of Jean Chavigny and let called Album des soirees de M.
on June 8. 1887.
Sam H. Sharpe. et Mme Robin during the 1851-
Carl (Compare) Herrmann found
To complete the information on a way to publicly thank Robin for 1852 season. The booklet is illus-
William Garrow Lettsom's diplo- his "good deeds." During his first trated with engravings depicting
matic career that we discuss below, passage through London in 1848 his" experiments, accompanied
we can add that he was part of the at the Royal Haymarket Theater, by poems which describe their ef-
English delegation to Mexico as of almost all his effects were plagia- fects. However, all these engrav-
June 12. 1854. then made director rized from Robert-Houdin's reper- ings are plagiarized from Robert-
and General Counsel of the Uruguay toire, such as Second Sight (Anti- Houdin's engravings and all the
bureau on September 9. 1859. He Magnetism), The Inexhaustible poems are the servile reproduc-
retired with a pension of 900 Bottle, The Sympathetic Turtle- tion of Robert-Houdin's poems for
218
NOTES TO ACT IV
219
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
umph and his decision to prolong THE WORRY-FREE MILL : Houdin wrote "false in principle"
his performances until Wednesday, Mechanical piece. This apparatus across from the drawing no. 2 show-
December 3. Robin announced in represents a windmill on a ing an additional solution suggested
the Gazette des Tribunaux the inau- pedestal. Inside is a miller who by his correspondent and friend.
guration of his theater for Thursday comes out, goes back in, and
The correct modification of the
December 4' ; makes the mill turn. There is a
angle and size of the mirror, as well
rope bell at the door to warn the
miller. as the stage dimensions required to
M. Robin's first soiree of physique,
magic, and optics will irrevocably make the Ghost appear, was pub-
take place on Thursday December 4*. 58. lished in Magie et Physique amu-
La Salle Robin had exactly four sante. the author's posthumous work.
56. years and three months of exis-
Mr. Edwin A. Dawes. on page
tence, from December 1862 to 60.
44 of his work Henri Robin
February 26. 1867. The information Francois Eugene Lahire. known
provided in the works of Sidney as Cleverman. born in Paris on June
Expositor of Science and Magic.
W. Clarke and Edwin A. Dawes - 12. 1824. died in Maisons-Laffitte
Abracadabra Press. Balboa Island.
seven years of existence and clos- on June 14. 1875.
1990. wrote that in Robin's pro-
ing in 1869 - is erroneous. The dates given by Robelly in Le
gram, during his debuts in Paris,
litre d or are erroneous.
the following experiments were 59.
found: The Light and Heavy Chest. This letter by Robert-Houdin 61.
The Instant Impression, and The was reprinted in Sam H. Sharpe's Included here is the text of the
Child Raised by a Hair. This infor- work Salutations to Robert-Houdin, police prefect's request to the
mation is refuted by all Robins pages 37 and 38. William Manning's Emperors minister, followed by
Parisian programs from the open- answer to this letter is unpublished. the latter's answer, which officially
ing of his theater until its closing, One can notice that, on the origi- registered Cleverman as Hamilton's
because he was careful never to nal of Manning's letter. Robert- successor:
perform any of Robert-Houdin's
tricks in Paris. This mistake in in-
terpretation perhaps finds its ori- PREFECTURE Paris, December 31, 1863
gin in the article from the newspa- of
per L'lllustration of July 23. 1864. POLICE BUREAU To His Excellency the Ministre de la
in which the journalist's account Maison de l'Empereur et des Beaux Arts
2"" Office
mixes feats presented by Robin in
his onstage repertoire with those Robert-Houdin Monsieur le Ministre.
explained by the artist in his al- Show
manac, among them The Light and I have the honor of informing
Heavy Chest, whose secret he re- Agreement your Excellency that Sire Lahire, (Eugene),
vealed to his readers, as well as demand residing Boulevard St.Germain, no. 38.
The Child Raised by a Hair, of asked me for the authorization to
which he gives a whimsical expla- succeed M. Ghocat Hamilton as of
next January 1" as manager of the
nation. None of Robins weekly
show known under the name Robert-
advertisements and bills published Houdin, Boulevard des Italiens. no. 8.
in the press mentions these two The undersigned, employee at
effects, or The Instantaneous the Ministry of War, is favorably repre-
Impression. sented from all points of view. In the
future, he will take the name of
Cleverman.
57. I will be obliged to your
Description of The Worry-Free Excellency to inform me if there are
Mill from the 1831 manuscript of any oppositions to this demand.
Robert-Houdin. Recueil de recre- Please accept. Monsieur le
ations de Physique amusante in- Ministre, the homage of my respect.
diquant en abrege la maniere
d'executer d iffe rentes de ces
recreations.
220
NOTES TO ACT IV
221
ROBERT-HOUDIN
for the engraving which was se- Spettacoli d'Oggi". -Theatre Re. A
lected, perhaps by Pierre Larousse. spectacle of various feats of magic
after the author's death - and and mechanics, chemistry, optics,
which was utilized by his heirs in prestidigitation, illusion, appari-
the text of Magie et physique amu- tions, metamorphoses, etc.. etc. All
sante - to illustrate the description by M. Robin of Paris, student of the
of the Talking Head in his famous M. Comte. prestidigitator-
Dictionnaire in which the decor of physi den-mechanician of H.M. le
this entresort is drawn with an in- King of France." These advertise-
adequate angle with respect to the ments, in different forms, are the
position of the mirrors on the only texts published about Robin
table. Moreover, Robert-Houdin in the Milanese newspapers. They
would never have chosen Robin's do not include descriptions of ex-
engraving published nearly fifteen periments which could lead to
years before in Le Monde Illustre to speculation or to credible intr-
illustrate his chapter on the Ghosts. erpretations: they include no illus-
In this engraving, the vertical posi- trations of any kind, nor of course
tion of the actor w ho interprets the the engraving reprinted by Robin
role of the phantom is totally inac- in his almanac.
curate. However. Robert-Houdin's
technical drawing and the very 66.
professional description of the Marie Eugenie Alice Robert-
principle and effects of this illusion Houdin. born in Boulogne (Seine)
are unanimously considered as the on June 25. 1864. died on
Illustration 32" - Portrait of Dantan. best and most precise explanation November 27. 1878. See genealogi-
From Album de portraits comiques (op of the Ghosts published in magic cal chart.
cttj. literature. Although unpublished
parts of Robert-Houdin's manu- 67.
cited original melodies with a mar- script were included in this work, This press clipping, conserved at
velous effect. several drafts and notes on his ow n the Bibliotheque de 1'Arsenal, is
In an evening later on. in March experiments and those he created hand-dated from 1865. The name of
1858, Henri Herz joined the afore- for other artists, like Hamilton, the newspaper is missing.
mentioned artists, and Robert-
were not. This decision by the il-
Iloudin performed a charming
seance of conjuring. lustrious conjurer's heirs is easily 68.
understood because the masters Although I am not entirely cer-
64. creations still represented the ma- tain, it could perhaps be John
The unfinished posthumous work jority of his theater's repertoire, Algernon Clarke - 1828-1887 -
by Robert-Houdin entitled Magie et then run by his son Emile. magic amateur, author, and inven-
physique amusante - which was tor, notably of the famous calculat-
originally to be called Trues de 65. ing and whist-playing automaton
theatre - was composed mamh of In the Gazetta Privilegiota di Psycho, exhibited by John Nevil
texts already published by the au- Milano. no. 184. Tuesday. July 2. Maskelyne in 1873. Around 1880, a
thor during his lifetime in his earlier 1844. is an announcement by the copy of this automaton was pre-
works and others published posthu- conjurer at the bottom of the page sented at the Theatre Robert-
mously in Le Grand Dictionnaire and on three-fifth columns, promis- Houdin by Emile Robert-Houdin
Universe] du XIX siecle of Pierre ing a grand distribution" specified under the name Sophos. the
Larousse. This explains the pres- as an "extraordinary generosity" of Domino Player. J.A. Clarke was cho-
ence in the artist's posthumous flowers, candy, liquors, coffee, sen by Encyclopedia Britannica to
work of certain engravings w hich gadgets, and jewelry [1] etc." In write the article "Magic. White."
were clearly drawn or chosen after issue no. 186 of the year 1844 of More information on John
Robert-Houdin's death because the} the Gazetta Privilegiota di Milano, Algernon Clarke can be found in
do not always respect the author's Robin's show was announced in the elegant and learned essay by
very precise text. This is the case the following terms in the column John Gaughan and Jim Steinmeyer.
222
NOTES TO ACT IV
The Mystery of Psycho. John Gaughan 72. vivid depending on the lighting of
& Associates. 198". The question of the exorbitant the image. By raising trap D, day-
price of seats for the Davenports' light will enter and strike the plate
you have placed in BB; at the same
69. performance had much agitated
time trap E, pulled by thread FF.
Paul Robert-Houdin, born in "minds." In December 1865. jour- will close and the light will leave
Boulogne (Seine) on May 20. 1865. nalists stressed the virtues of the the plate placed in CC: at the
died on October 24. 1867. See ge- Theatre Robert-Houdin. which did same time it will become more in-
nealogical chart. not fall into this excess: tense on that placed in BB: the re-
... the hospitality granted by flection in the glass will be dis-
70. Gleverman, Robert-Houdin's suc- solved, having become transparent,
cessor to two Americans [sic] and the plate placed in CC will
The principle of this shooting
marvelously reproducing the Da- change into that placed in BB. One
stand was derft ed from one of the
venport exercises. They have no may change the plate on the bot-
masters previous inventions: an tom while observing the one at the
electric plastron for fencers linked pretensions to spiritism and the
price of the seats is not too high - top. and one can change the one
to a tableau that indicated the part at the top while looking at the one
of the body that had been touched. Progress!
at the bottom, and this in succes-
Robert-Houdin gave this invention sion as long as there are plates to
to a young corporal, a weapons of- 73. be exchanged.
ficer named Cabot. Throughout his See the narrative of the Davenport
Brothers' seances by Robert-Houdin For the effects of the Diorama,
life, the latter promoted this system
in Appendix II at the end of this one leaves trap E closed, and
to fencing competitions, where it is
when trap D is closed, trap GG is
well-known today. J. Joseph-Renaud. volume.
open and one obtains the day and
'Contribution a Vetablissement
74. night effects of Diorama. For mov-
dune biographie de Robert- ing tableaus. one must leave traps
Houdin." Journal de la prestidigi- Effects of the Polyoscope
By placing the paintings in D and GG open: the cut-outs of
tation, no. 106. March-April 1939. the tableau will become visible by
openings BB and CC and closing
traps D and G. the image of the turning the handle of the small
71. tableau which you have placed in board (illus. 5). which one has
Patent no. 64^86 of October 13. CC will be reflected in the glass. placed behind the moving tableau
1864. watch-holder pendant. This reflection will be all the more so that water will seem to flow and
Tier. 5
Illustration 328 - Technical drawings illustrating the Pierre Seguin's patent for the Polyoscope.
223
ROBFRT-HOIJDIN
flames will flicker, depending on Illustration IV represents one the contract between Bourdilliat
whether the tableau represents a of these walls. and the author for the first edition
fountain or a fire. Illustration V is a little board of the work and Robert-Houdin
In order to make transforma- on which there is a wheel set in proposes that Hetzel renew this
tions to medallions or little stat- motion by levers. This wheel is agreement:
ues, one must enlarge openings BB pierced with small holes. In full
and GG and put objects on small light, this little board must be ad- March 16, 1862
boards in order to allow them to justed so that one can easily slide Sir,
slide easily into the box. it behind the plates placed in the My card-sharpers are free of
opening BB. These plates will be all contracts; would you like to
The box can be smaller or
painted...behind, and one makes continue the publication of this
larger depending on the size of the
holes in the parts of the water work? To facilitate your deci-
plates or the medallions and little
and fire one wishes to see in mo- sion, I will give you a few of the
statues to be used. The Polyoscope
tion. clauses of my contract with
is a new type of optical device.
The device, being painted Bourdilliat.
The plates, paintings, or Diorama
black inside after having been Between
placed inside change into each
other and appear to melt into one built as explained above, will be
ready for use. The said sale is for four years
another. By using this device, one
as of today in the following con-
can sec plates change with as Although nothing proves that ditions:
many subjects as available. One Messrs. Dircks and Pepper knew
can also produce the same effect 1. The first edition must be pub-
about Pierre Seguin's Polyoscope lished in a 8 format
with little statues or medallions. prior to the creation of the Ghosts, 2. The high price is set at the
With paintings, one can give they did know about the contents sum of five francs per copy.
the impression of movement to of this patent in 1863- This did not 3. Twelve hundred copies in
water or fire as much as desired. prevent Pepper from taking credit double pass will be printed.
The device is built in the following for one of Pierre Seguin's main dis- For the price of the first edition
manner: coveries a few years later and to Messrs. Boudilliat and Gie. will pay
Illustration 1 represents the name it Metempsychosis. This is M. Robert-Houdin twelve hundred
front side of the box. even more bothersome as Robert- francs...
Illustration 2 represents the Houdin was the first artist to adapt Messrs. Bourdilliat and Gie. will
side. A represents a tube with an this principle to the magic art. In give M. Robert-Houdin fifty copies
optical glass through which the Magie et Physique amusante, he of the first edition.
box can be seen. BB and CC are describes the little theater for Six months after the publica-
openings for the plates; D is a trap Ghosts built in 1865 in the former tion of the aforementioned first
which opens on the back of the milking-room of The Priory, whose edition, M. Robert-Houdin will be
box crosswise and lengthwise. gradual and visible transformations able to request the publication of
From the extremity of trap D, of objects are exactly those of a new edition whose price he will
there is a thread FF attached to Metempsychosis. We also find in determine; in this case, the roy-
the middle of trap E so that in the footnotes to Act V references alties paid to him for this new
opening trap D, trap E closes. At to letters sent by Robert-Houdin to edition will be established as fol-
the top of opening BB is another Pepper and Manning between 1866 lows: for the price of four francs
trap GG, opening behind the box; and 1868, concerning his own ex- per copy, seventy-five centimes;
this trap is designed to light the periments with the Ghosts. for three francs, 60 centimes;
Diorama's night effects and the and for two francs, 40 centimes
movements one wants to give to 75. per copy.
paintings placed in BB. Trap D For the second and following
In the publisher Hetzel's
must have a silver-plated band editions, Messrs. Bourdilliat and
lengthwise to provide light to the archives are two letters by Robert-
Houdin concerning Les Tricheries Gie. will give 25 copies of each to
plates placed in opening B. M. Robert-Houdin. All income
des Grecs devoilees. It was indeed
Illustration III shows the inte- from the reprinting and transla-
rior layout of box A; illustration III Hetzel who published the second tion rights in France and abroad
is unsilvered glass. This glass is edition of this work because of would be the property of both par-
set at a 45 angle - B and C are the liquidation and sale of the ties under the following condi-
two walls with small square open- Librairie Nouvelle to Michel Levy. tions:
ings slightly smaller than the The first letter which we Two-thirds to M. Robert-Houdin
width of the plates. reprint here details the clauses of and one-third to Messrs. Bourdilliat
224
NOTES ro ACT IV
and Gie. In the case where Messrs. Please accept, sir. the expres- April 17, 1863
Bourdilliat and Cie would refuse a sion of my distinguished senti- Dear Master
new printing of the edition in the ments. We have eome to a halt in our
three months following its publi- Robert-IIoudin typographic work. M. Poupard's
cation, M. Robert-Houdin would Rue de Ghoiseul, no. 6 in Paris workers are going very slowly and
assume total control over his it is going to take a very long time
work. The "opportunity" mentioned if you do not go and roust them up
Here are the main clauses of my by Robert-Houdin in this letter was a bit. The Rue du Bac is a daily
contract; those relative to the roy- the Calzado-Garcia trial which had promenade, but I return each time
alites could be used as a basis if the made headlines because of the empty-handed; we are only at the
affair is of interest to you. personalities of those concerned third page; you can imagine where
Whatever the ease may be, and the size of this fraud. this will lead us!
please answer me as quickly as Yours sincerely
possible; we must hurry because of The tone of the author's second
Robert-IIoudin
publication opportunities. letter to Hetzel recalls that of his
My corrections are all ready on letters to Bourdilliat. Robert-Houdin The second edition of Card-
an awaiting volume; a reprint could definitely found his two publishers Sharping Exposed was put on sale
be therefore quickly done. to be much too slow: at Hetzels on July 21, 1863-
Illustration 329 - The original Blois and Paris editions of Confidences d'un prestidigitateur from Robert-Houdin's library.
225
on of Robert-Houdinfs profile by Danlan in 1864.
(Christian Fechner collection)
II - First volume of the manuscript of Confidences by Robert-Houdirt.
(Chrlstiun Fechner collection)
Second volume of the manuscript of Gonfidenc
(Christian Feolirwr collection)
liofitre Robert-I Ioudln during (31
(.htc<i>ies Voignier collection)
VI Manuscript o t'richcrics </e.s Green d&ooilden by Robert-IIoudin.
Uiristktn Feehner collection)
(Ghrtstian Feehner collection)
\ MI - Tahlettes joiinialicies by Robcrt-IIoiidln.
(Christian Fechner collection)
IX - Small black
(Private collection)
oek with columns by Robcrt-IIoudta.
(Gh&teau cle la Ville tie Blots)
\ l - Clock with columns signed Rohert-IIoudln, I'ulais-Royiil.
(Private collection)
Bleetric clock by Robcrt-IIoudin christened T ('onimon (Hock.
(Christian Pechner collection)
jtrio door to the grounds of I
(Georges Proust collection)
cine of The Prlorv.
((Hiiitcttii dc hi Villa da Illois)
Standard regulator by Robert-IIoudin.
(Chateau de la Yilhi de Mois)
XVIII - Vertical bcinnneter clock and Perpetual vertlccd calendar ot The
((ihristlun Fechner collection and private collection)
XIX - Lanier regulator and The Priory
(Chateau lie U< Ville tie Blois)
XX - Ophthalmology instruments of Robert-Houdin and little table for The Writing and Drawing Automaton.
(Ch&teau tie la Villc dc Blois)
1864-1866
The Common Clock,
The Electric light Bulb with a
Vegetal Filament, The Musical
Telegraph, and Ophthalmology p. 229 ^
1864-1866 The Harpsichord or Tympanum
Player p. 239 1866 A Peaceful Year The Sphinx
and The Talking Head p. 249 1866 Hamilton, Cleverman,
and Plantet Tufferau, Littson, Varner, Lynn, and Alfred Stodare
p. 262 1867-1868 The Chess Player or La Czarine, and The Secrets of
Conjuring and Magic p. 272 1869 The Grand Affair, The Odometer,
and Dr. Epstein p. 294 1870 The Year of All Sorrows p. 304 1870-1871 The
Occupation of Saint-Gervais and Blois during the War of 1870 Described Daily by Robert-Houdin
p. 324 1871 The Master's Last Days p. 349 1871 Last Farewell Performance p. 354
Epilogue p. 362 Notes to Act V p. 377
ROBERT-HOUDIN
The Common Clock, The Electric Light Bulb with a Vegetal Filament,
The Musical Telegraph, and Ophthalmology
In his youth Robert-Houdin had served a Among the inventions credited to Robert-
particularly wealthy clientele, but at a mature Houdin long before his death, the first elec-
age he dedicated himself to works which less tric incandescent light bulb with a vegetal
fortunate social classes could acquire so that filament is probably one of the most as-
everyone could benefit from science. We re- tounding. Jean Chavigny revealed the exis-
member how successful he had been at the tence of this invention in 1943 in his work
1855 Exposition with his little electric clock devoted to the old master. This experiment,
distributed by the Destouches company. according to the biographer from Blois, de-
During this new period of his life, Robert- buted by electrically illuminating a country-
Houdin created a different simplified version, side dinner under the arbors of The Priory
which was less expensive and more efficient. to conclude his daughter Eglantine's first
The name of this clock is alone a profession communion in June 1863, but was not re-
of faith: The Common Clock. He made the peated by Robert-Houdin because of its
first copies at his home in Saint-Gervais at a high cost.
fairly slow rhythm because each piece was in-
dividually made. The first models were for
Emile, who displayed and sold them in his
shop. Wanting to give his invention a much
larger distribution, Robert-Houdin made an
agreement a few years later with the company
Billoret & Moras, 57, Faubourg Saint-Denis in
Paris, an establishment specialized in the sale
of very sophisticated optical and mechanical
apparatus. The contract was signed on
September 23, 1869- Here is an excerpt:
229
ROBLRT-HOUDIN
The late revelation of this invention, whose Gervais, even though the author was close to
paternity Robert-Houdin never claimed while the master's descendants, the Keime and
alive, at least in the very precise manner that Robert-Houdin families. In order for the case to
Jean Chavigny indicated, leads us to recall that be as complete as possible, we must also take
first of all, there is no reference to this research into account the study published in the maga-
prior to 1943- Moreover, the text of the lecture zine Magicus [1] by the historian and emeritus
that Eglantine Lemaitre Robert-Houdin gave in collector Jacques Voignier, a PhD in nuclear
Blois around 1920, which describes the various physics. The author's scholarly investigation,
learned works of her illustrious father at The which we reproduce in its entirety in the notes
Priory, does not mention the incandescent light of this chapter, seems to scientifically weaken
bulb with a vegetal filament wThich, according Jean Chavigny's version, which is mainly sup-
to Jean Chavigny, lit up the evening after her ported by second-hand testimonies. On the
first communion. Finally, this invention is not other hand, we must remark that in the very
referred to at all in Father L. Chesneau's inter- specific "Inventory After Death of Robert-
esting 1932 booklet Robert-Houdin a Saint- Houdin," we find gathered together in his
t. CHESWEJU
Bobet>t - Houdia
A Saint'Gervais
E BLOIS. I L I ' i lB 1 J V t t U h n
i'SAA
Illustration 333 - Advertisement for Robert-Houdin's electric Illustration 334 - Cover of the first biography of Robert-
clock in the catalogue of the company Billoret & Moras. Houdin published in 1932 by Father L. Chesneau.
(Volker Ihtber collettionj
230
ACT V
workshop all the elements that permitted this successes were always visionary. His imagina-
type of experiment: jars, batteries, air pump, tion, worthy of Jules Verne, sometimes led him to
etc. What is also undeniable, as proven by his anticipate inventions useful to all mankind and
writings, is that during this period, the learned he succeeded in finding several solutions in such
mechanician made several attempts in this area. domains. If he had possessed the technology re-
Robert-Houdin was therefore without a doubt a quired by his creativity, how many more miracles
pioneer in electric lighting, but this is perhaps would he have dazzled us with? His description
not enough to credit him, without proof, with of the musical telegraph, a cousin of the future
an invention he never claimed during his life- telephone, and the means he suggested to de-
time, although several concordant indications velop it, is another example. Here is what Robert-
strongly support this hypothesis. (See the end Houdin wrote, more than thirty years before the
of note 1, which summarizes M. Andre Keime birth of this remarkable invention, in a handwrit-
Robert-Houdin's opinion on this subject.) ten text called Utopies mecaniques and decorated
This debate, far from being resolved, shows on on the back with an example of the souvenir fans
the contrary that Robert-Houdin's research and distributed during Soirees Fantastiques:
231
ROBhRT-HOUDIN
Why could we not reproduce this effect me- JJous vous prions de vouloir
chanically? bien nous faire Vhonneur d'assister
A singer in London could be heard in Paris. a I'ouverture du TfiLfiPHONE PUBLIC,
A range of chromatic tones would vibrate in installe dans notre Salon annexe,
imitation of the notes a singer would emit - le Jeudi 4 avril dc 3 h. a 6 h.
nearly every chord would be a very sensitive
de I'apres-midi, et de 8 h.a 11 h. du
touch that would establish an electrical cur-
rent and by the intermediary of an electro- soir,
magnet would strike the same note on a piano El nous vous presenlons nos
- there would be as many isolated wires as civilites tres-empressees.
notes.
R O B E RT-HOU DIM
We could use this same method to hear an ora-
tor speak; the applause would make all of the
notes vibrate. Cette lettre servira de 3ettre d'entr^e pour 2
232
ACT
were invented during the war of 1870, the first , I '( < ^ ( -.. i p v ,<
two to help civilians to support the defense of
Paris, and the final to help French troops com-
municate at night. We can also mention his
electric plastron for fencers, his kilometric
odometer for carriages, and even his experi-
mental periscope. Still more surprising, Robert-
Houdin became renowned in another science
very far from his main disciplines: ophthalmol-
ogy.
In 1866 the conjurer began this research,
which so impassioned him and had so much
impact on the scientific community of his time
that his other creations would be
overshadowed. In less than a year. Robert-
Houdin created seven new instruments allowing
the observation of different parts of the eye.
The first, originally named the Crystallinoscope,
then the Eautophalmoscope, and then the
Eautoscope. would finally be called the
Iridoscope. Baron Cloquet presented this
instrument to the Academie des Sciences.
Robert-Houdin's research was saluted by several
articles in the scientific and general press and
Illustration 33~~ - Drawings by Robert-Houdin concerning Illustration 339 - Watercolor by Robert-Houdin depicting
his research in the field of ophthalmology. h i s i r i s . (Chateau de la I ille de Blois)
235
ROBLRT-HOUDIN
234
ACT V
235
ROBERT-HOUDIN
NOTE
B E
PRANCK. DE NOUVEAUX INSTRUMENTS
PKOPHES * I. 0B5KRVATI0N BE DIVERS OBGASE~
DE L CEIL
/
UOBKUT-HOUniN
y
ft /er/t I ouvra&e fifM tn>ud avez O-ieti
lil.OIS
IMPRIMERIE LECESNE
MDCOCi.XVIl
Illustration 3^3 - Letter from the Institut Imperial de France Illustrations 344. 345. 346 - The three booklets published by
stating receipt of Robert-Houdin's booklet Note on Robert-Houdin summarizing his works in the field of
new instruments for the observation of various or- ophthalmology.
gans of the eye. (Chateau de la Villa dc Blots)
236
ACT V
1 AH
de la M A C I ' U L i T t v el de In I n v n
BI.OIS
237
ROBFRI-HOUDIN
Illustration 347 - The Harpsichord Player. (Uusee dm Arts et Metiers - CMAM, Paris Photo p Paltgot - Seventh Square)
238
ACT V
For the Grand Dictionnaire universel du was made by a German cabinet-maker based on a
XIX" siecle by Pierre Larousse, Robert-Houdin drawing sent from France.
wrote an article about The Harpsichord Player This ensemble of work produced a masterpiece
automaton - better known today as The that was carefully packed up and sent to the royal
client. The automaton was long the admiration
Tympanum Player - which he restored in 1864:
and delight of the court, and everything leads us to
Let us now say a few words about a famous believe that the mechanician monarch fixed the
automaton known under the name of The deviations of such a complicated machine several
Harpsichord Player. times with his own hand. The Revolution came:
At the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers in the the aristocratic toy must have, in its own best in-
room dedicated to precision instruments, known terests, left the golden paneling of the Tuileries for
as the clockwork room, there is an automaton de- a simple storage room in the buildings of the
picting a miniature version of a musician playing Institute, where it was subjected to the ravages of
the harpsichord. The figure and its instrument are time for almost eighty years.
one-quarter life-size. In 1864, the Institute offered this precious wreck
When a button is pushed to start the machine, to the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers. General
the artist begins by graciously bowing to the audi- Morin, director of this establishment, understood
ence in various parts of the room; then, as she that it was possible to restore it. He brought it to a
raises her mallets above the cords of her instru- mechanician who undertook this difficult task and
ment, she raises her eyes to the heavens as if look- was lucky enough to carry it out properly. It took
ing for inspiration. him two years of constant work to return The
After this preamble, the little woman begins to Harpsichord Player to its original form and func-
play, with great precision, one of the twelve pieces tion.
of her repertoire, her right hand performing the
On September 25, 1864 Robert-Houdin re-
melody and the left the accompaniment. The eyes
and the head continually follow the movement of
ceived a letter from General Morin, director of
the mallets, as with any instrument in the musical the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers asking
world. him to restore the famous automaton. The
This mechanical piece dates from the middle of pieces of this eighteenth-century masterpiece
the last century. Around 1772, Louis XVI, whose had just been handed over to General Morin,
taste for mechanism is well-known, had the idea of who naturally called upon the leading me-
ordering from two skilled German mechanicians, chanician of his time, who was expected to
Roentgen and Rintzing [sic; the German cabinet- save something that was beyond restoration.
maker David Roentgen and the watchmaker me- Indeed, parts of the automaton were missing,
chanician Pierre Kintzing], an automaton playing
including the eyes, hair, clothing, etc. The
the harpsichord to depict Marie-Antoinette's physi-
cal charms and musical talent.
Harpsichord Player arrived in Blois by train on
October 5.
The creators took great care in this work or-
dered by the sovereign: they had the lovely char- During the first weeks, Robert-Houdin dedi-
acter made by a skilled sculptor, the material of cated himself particularly to the keyboard, which
the clothing was made in Lyon, and the woodwork the Blois music expert Pestrelle examined with
239
ROBI R I -HOUDIN
Illustration 3-i8 - The m e c h a n i s m of The Harpsichord Player. (Muse'e des Arts et Metiers - C\A \1 Pans Photo P paltgot - Seventh Square)
ACT V
Illustration 349 - "Close-Up" of The Harpsichord Player. (tfllsSe des Arts et Metiers - CNA V Pen ts Photo P. raligot - Set enlh Square:
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
Illustrations 350 and 351 - The mechanism of The Harpsichord Player and its base. Oiusee des Arts et Metiers- c\ \\i Pans Photo P.
Faligot - Seventh SquareJ
him and came to tune at The Priory on November I felt so tired by my cold that I stayed in bed
24. Robert-Houdin, always occupied with a thou- for part of the day with a big headache. I did
sand activities, resumed the work on January 16, nothing today. I consider this to be a day that
1865. He wrote every day: ''I worked on the au- does not count in my existence...
tomaton." On February 6 in Paris, he went to Ill for several weeks but also in a hurry
Debrage's for the eyes of The Harpsichord Player because of the order he had accepted, it
and had models of costumes of the period de- was only on April 18 that the mechanician re-
signed for the automaton. On the 17th, he wrote sumed the restoration before again stopping
to his son Emile, asking him to speed up this ini- for a few months. Robert-Houdin recom-
tial work. menced his daily work on The Harpsichord
On February 13, 1865 Robert-Houdin wrote a Player on October 2 and wrote in the Tablettes
few painful sentences in his Tablettes journal- journalieres:
ieres, which well summarize the philosophy of an November 5th I took apart the automaton
artist whose work was his passion and credo dur- to take it to Paris for clo-
ing his lifetime: thing.
242
ACT V
243
ROBERT-HOUDIN
November 7th [Paris] I went to see General work until June 9 and wrote: "I worked on the
Morin, who was not there. I automaton; the hairpiece is giving me a lot of
went to inquire about the au- trouble." Finally, on July 10, after having appar-
tomaton's costume. ently suffered so much in order to overcome dif-
November 8"1 I went to General Morin's. ficulties - more capillary than mechanical, which
November 11th I went...to see about the au-
he never mentioned in his Tablettes journalieres
tomaton's costume.
1 - Robert-Houdin wrote to General Morin to in-
November 24" I went to see about the au-
tomaton's costume.
form him that the automaton was completed,
which was a bit of an exaggeration, because he
After returning to The Priory on the evening kept working on it daily until August 1,
of November 24, Robert-Houdin began working On Sunday, August 6, he organized a meeting
on the automaton's head on December 2. On of his friends at The Priory, to which he also in-
January 14, 1866, he went to Blois to his friend vited a journalist from the Le Journal de Loir-et-
the painter Ulysse Besnard (perhaps Bernard) to Cher, and presented The Harpsichord Player. To
ask him for advice on the painting of the face thank his host and give him good publicity for
and hands of The Harpsichord Player. In this new work, the journalist published an arti-
February Robert-Houdin seemed to encounter cle on August 8 whose introduction detailed the
certain problems with his work and wrote: history of the automaton and explained the cir-
February 6th This piece is causing me cumstances in which the piece had been con-
much trouble; I should not fided to Robert-Houdin, to whom he then of-
have undertaken the work. fered homage:
February 9th I rebuilt the automaton; I
The mechanician from Blois gladly took over this
tried its costume - I am going
delicate and painstaking task, which he alone could
to have a hard time -
accomplish: after much work and with a great deal
On the 31, "Cousin Robert" came to help of patience, he managed to piece together the indi-
clean the cogwheels. Robert-Houdin wrote in his vidual parts, without adding anything to the original
Tablettes journalieres of February 22: "I went to mechanism; his skilled hand could have perfected
the defective device in certain respects, but he
Blois at one o'clock to Martin's for the painting
wanted to faithfully reconstitute the concept of his
of my automaton. It is not a good shade but for precursor, although the progress of art and his own
paint it is fine." Robert-Houdin reclaimed The ideas would have permitted him to do a better job.
Harpsichord Player on the 28Ih and seemed satis- He therefore reconstructed it with scrupulous exac-
fied enough with the new "tone" given by titude, and this automaton figure, which rehabili-
Martin. In Paris on March 16, he went to the li- tates its legacy of misfortune, charmed us with its
brary to study Louis XVI styles of women's hats. suppleness, ease, and distinction; depending on the
From mid-March to the end of April, he returned audience's wishes, it can execute the eight or ten
to his other numerous activities; he wrote on airs of a repertoire of the period without losing any-
thing of its noble air, without failing in the accuracy
April 16 to General Morin, asking for his pa-
of its sound or the precision of its movement, always
tience, and to Emile regarding the wig he had or- synchronized with the melody and measure.
dered for his Marie-Antoinette. In Paris on May
7, the mechanician went to a miniature-wig man- As the Tablettes journalieres show, the open-
ufacturer at 107, Rue St. Martin and picked up ing of this article irritated Robert-Houdin, who
his order on the 11th. He was in a period of frail had never implied that "his skilled hand could
health during this time: he did not go back to have perfected the defective device in certain
244
ACT V
Illustration 352 - General v i e w of The Harpsichord Player. CMusSe de<, Arts et Hitters - CNA u, Pans Photo p Faltgat - Seventh Square)
245
ROBERT-HOUDIN
respects" or that "his own ideas would have per- Aside from the pleasures of its picturesque loca-
mitted him to do a better job." The mechani- tion and the transformation of the irregular terrain
cian's discomfort was not over, however, be- as if by a magic wand, The Priory offers an exam-
cause this wise chronicler thought it relevant to ple of the applications of electricity for domestic
use; everything works there, everything functions
add to the preceding paragraphs a conclusion
by this energy, docile to the master's desires from
resembling an invitation for the entire popula- inside the house; nothing could equal the punctu-
tion to come visit him in his private domain: ality, promptness, and precision of this new type of
This art object deserves to be seen and heard; service. Even Marie-Antoinette's salon seems to ar-
thanks to the courtesy of its present caretaker, tistically come to life and has even more surprises;
everyone can have this pleasure before the Parisian likewise, the canary lesson or the Gups and Balls
conservatory retrieves its legitimate property. conjurer are Robert-Houdin's own creations, well
Moreover, in visiting The Priory in Saint-Gervais-les known in the world of industry. They contributed
Bois and its amiable master, the intelligent stroller to his great reputation in a justly appreciated field.
will be charmed by the variety of marvelous things This automaton seemed even more astounding in
collected there, as in a fairy palace or in Armide's agility, aplomb, expression, and...we will say intel-
gardens. ligence. Finally, after leaving such an enchanted
246
ACT V
sojourn where the best welcome was received, we him a burnishing tool that had belonged to
wonder if some elf, spreader of delicious illusion, Louis XVI and two medallions depicting the
had passed through as an adventure. sovereign and Queen Marie-Antoinette (see
Only a few hours after the publication of the page 367).
article, The Priory was invaded by dozens of on- Before bringing the automaton to the
lookers who asked for their right to visit and Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, Robert-Houdin
wanted to admire The Harpsichord Player, the attached this handwritten note to the interior of
mechanician's automata, and his enchanted gar- the instrument:
den. The gates had to be hastily closed, the This automaton belonged to Louis XVI; it is
growing crowd calmed, etc. Le Journal de Loir- said to represent the physical charms and the mu-
et-Cher published a rectification the next day sical talent of Marie-Antoinette. Abandoned since
apologizing for having unwillingly contributed to the revolution in a storage area of the Institute
where it was subject to the injuries of time, it was
disturbing Robert-Houdin's tranquility and work.
one day offered to the Conservatoire des Arts et
Robert-Houdin delivered The Harpsichord Metiers. General Morin, director of this establish-
Player to the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers on ment, entrusted me with the renovation of this
October 18 and received several official congrat- precious machine. The advanced state of decay of
ulations for his work. Upon his departure for the automaton, its abrupt, noisy, and unnatural
Paris on the 31SI, he took with him La Petite movements, rendered my task long and difficult. I
Vielleuse by Vaucanson, which General Morin especially did not want to go beyond my role as re-
storer by correcting the machine's flaws, and in-
had also asked him to restore.
sisted on preserving its original design in order for
It must be said that Robert-Houdin accepted it to remain the work of its creators.
no salary for this work, and to thank him for Saint-Gervais near Blois, October 10, 1866
his talent and generosity, General Morin gave Robert-Houdin
/./,...,/, ^ / <.. / / * /
'"*''
/:' C *
trvz
T atvjtr
CTTZ.^^ ^
Illustration 355 - Handwritten note by Robert-Houdin attached to the inside of The Harpsichord Player.
24"
ROBERT-HOUDIN
m
JOURNAL AMUSANT
- 5fr JOURNAL ILLUSTHE, 3 ,of"
N
In January 1866. the fashion for spiritualism did Ah! Finally, we know the mysteries of these
not seem to have calmed down in Paris. One American mediums. The Davenports. Staceys,
could applaud Prince the clown at the Cirque and other smart mediums' tricks could not resist
Napoleon in The Spirit Swings and the clowns the great wisdom of the King of the humbug, as
Chadwick and Leroy in The Cabinet: the mediums the Americans call him; the King of hoaxes, as
tied up in white suits accompanied by 'spirit we would say in French; in other words.
Barnum.
music"! Le Petit Journal maintained the contro-
versy by publishing an interview with Barnum on There was nothing left for the glory of this fa-
January 15 in which he explained the Davenport mous puffiste [''Puffist"] (to use words from the
other side of the Atlantic) except to expose his
tricks and the way the)- were performed in six
compatriots and colleagues in the art of mystifi-
steps. This interview, which must have greatly
cation.
amused Robert-Houdin. inspired a humoristic ar-
ticle in Le Journal de Loir-et-Cher by his friend I must still confess it here: I was not happy in
the execution of the procedures indicated by the
Lecesne. This text has not been not noticed by
great master. Perhaps I did not correctly under-
any of the master's biographers because the au-
stand his tricks and information. Please be kind
thor anonymously signed it: "One of your sub- enough, dear Editor, to explain this to me when
scribers ..." you have read my letter.
The Secrets of mediums Here are the directions given yesterday in Le
O....January 16, 1866. Petit Journal:
rz=m
i'SCgl
Le caifisier n'a pas peu contribue" au succes de la soiree.
II a prottv^, en rendant a chaque spectateur le prix de sa
place, qu'esprits et mediums Boxit comple"tement de'sinte- M Gogo soft t. o.if r er ivceIre frvres Davciiixirtdonsleur
.ystikiuuso an u.re re Qu Quelle nest pa? sn etupitfne?io ;;c
coi stater dans
dnus Ira
lea fo.11.bre3
to/itJms. que 1 capnt des Bossuef, des Pns-
cal ct des SuSulyio
ly so co
conplQit
npioit .1 lai :
, it l'i .at
1 d(loll
) uif m a
Illustrations 35" to 365 Humoristic portraits of the disaster of the Davenport Brothers' performances in Paris.
(Didier Moreait Morax Georges Proust, and the author's collections)
249
ROBERT-HOUDIN
250
ACT V
1
I was locked up again, and here I was left to -Tieiis'jcvais lm demander de m'atUcher
-lm demande done pas l'unpossible I des femmes comme nous est ce ijue 5a s'attache'
my inspirations. An imposing silence reigned in
the assembly. I gathered myself a moment. Let's
see!, I said to myself, let us try to have a bril-
liant debut; first I must place the flour, also
known as the dough, in one single hand, and
then wipe it in the pocket of my pants. But for
that, I think, I must have my hands freed...Let
us first put the two dough balls in one single
hand. There! Here is all the flour spread on my
pants and what is left of is a paste that is...very
unpleasant. I will brush myself off later. Let us
first try to get out of these cursed knots. Ouch.
Ouch. It is becoming painful because it is so
tight. But I do not see my arms and legs shrink-
ing at all (article 6). Ah! An idea. For making
them wait, I will show the famous false hands.
For lack of artificial hands, I brought suede
gloves; I will put them on my feet and when I
show them above the partition, they will cer-
tainly take them to be hands.
Oh! Devil! The gloves are in my coat pocket. I
should have come wearing them. We can never
plan enough! _ Alors .vous rroyez aui spintes >
_ Dam!imeMs dans i o i s a i n t c j a i r e g u n E e t r e p i g n p e ! ! ' etpuisj'aipaye trentc
Eleven o'clock chimes. I thought I heard snor- fraitcs' ecoute'A done!
_f.1 Madanip'
I.es FspntsltinmtseulfmenUapotf doui'emfnUes joues vons roinuitnez uno
ing around me; a cold sweat ran through my hair. friiraif.. . . c n h n l
I kept trying; my pulling was useless. The hostess
251
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Tons les Spmles.Esprits frappews d atftres mediums (Scrasfis par la chute &e 1'antioire This was not the first time that Robert-Houdin
des fr^res Davenport.
worked with the famous playwright, as shown
by this letter sent to Saint-Georges twelve years
earlier: 0]
252
ACT V
253
RODERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 366 - This unpublished "advertising" photograph is the only known document showing Stodare and The Sphinx.
254
ACT V
ings in his Tablettes journalieres but it does not ence clearly realized that this partition separated
appear that this collaboration ever really a very thin, oval three-legged table from the
began. back and sides of the stage. The magician carried
On October 16, 1865, Colonel Stodare pre- on a sort of silver chest, approximately 35 cen-
sented a new mystery in London at Egyptian timeters wide, placed it in the center of the table,
Hall in London called The Sphinx. This trick, then lowered the front panel. The audience then
whose principle is at the origin of several great saw the contents of the box: a head with an
illusions and many side-shows that made the Ancient Egyptian-style headdress, crafted with
fortune of fairground exhibitors, became the great realism. The magician, moving to the front
main topic of conversation for the public of the of the stage, waved his wand and spoke to the
English capital in just a few days. sleeping head with the following sacramental
A sort of large, draped partition with three words: ''Sphinx, awaken." The Sphinx then
solid panels could be seen onstage. The audi- slowly opened its eyes and gazed deeply at the
CO at,OUST 3E JKi
MAGIC CASTLE
Before Her Sfajaity the
Royal Family
ox
TUESDAY,
REPRESENTATIONS Aa pressnted by COLONEL STODARE for the firat time on Monday,
Nov. 21st, 1865.
October 16th, 1865, entitled the
255
ROBERT-HOUDIN
audience; then, gradually regaining conscious- seen, to revivify for a moment the ashes of an an-
ness, turned to the right, then to the left. The cient Egyptian, who lived and died some centu-
magician spoke to The Sphinx, who answered ries ago, lasts but for fifteen minutes. That time
him. The audience could also, by way of Colonel has now expired, and the head which has astoni-
shed you with its mysterious eloquence has again
Stodare, ask this enchanted head questions,
returned to its original dust." [s]
which it answered in the form of a prediction in
verse. These predictions ended the performance; He had barely ended the last words of his
the magician closed the box and removed it from speech before again opening the box: the
the table, but if the audience asked for more, head had disappeared, leaving only a hand-
ful of ashes, quickly dispersed into space.
Colonel Stodare, still holding the box, ap-
proached the footlights and said to the audience: This illusion was invented by J.W. Tobin,
the secretary of the Royal Polytechnic
Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad that The Institution, an establishment that had already
Sphinx has afforded you satisfaction, and I
presided over the birth of the Ghosts. Tobin
should be only too pleased to be able to indulge
the desire that you kindly testify of seeing it had at first proposed this trick to the magician
again. Unfortunately, this is not possible. The Anderson for a price of 80 pounds.
charm by which I was amenable, as you have Momentarily in difficulty, he could not con-
256
ACT V
elude the agreement. In light of the success of It was perhaps Hamilton who drew Robert-
his colleague. Colonel Stodare, Anderson, The Houdin's attention to The Sphinx and asked
Great Wizard of the North, must have bitterly him to get information for him. Henry Ridgely
regretted it. [6] Evans's book The Old & the New Magic (1906)
Robert-Houdin, always curious about new- includes on pages 320 to 322 a reprint of an
magic tricks, wrote in his Tablettes journal- article published by Alfred Thomson, "the
ieres in February 1866: well-known manager," in the New York
February 16th I wrote to Manning in London Journal. He relates that having attended one
asking for information on of the first performances of The Sphinx in
optical illusions performed in London, he discovered the secret of the mirror
London.
table by chance. In Paris a short while later,
William Manning answered this by return Alfred Thomson proposed to Hamilton to re-
mail and Robert-Houdin summarized his re- veal the trick for compensation. Robert-
sponse in the following manner: Houdin's brother-in-law refused the terms of
February 21"' I received a letter from Manning, the agreement unless the secret of the experi-
explaining the Sphinx trick. ment was revealed, which his interlocutor re-
257
ROBERT-HOUDIN
258
ACT V
mances from the 2nd to the 8th. The advertising Lost Spinning on a Single Tableaux of the Agioscope,
and performance of Lynn's show was in Thread
English with the following repertoire: Tim in a Fix and the Phantasmagoria, Microscopies.
Telegraph Eclipsed
Theatre Robert-Houdin Part Two The Gordian Knot
Novembre 3 rd The Great Secret Attraction The Mysterious Blood Writing on the Arm,
Physics seance or Fairy Fishing spirit-writing mediums
by Dr. Hughs Lynn The Spirit Calculator
The Perlexity of a
Lynn's performance did not impress Robert-
The great worldwide traveler Pomaceous Puzzle
Houdin very much, according to the following
and oriental illusionist The Right Thing in the comments he wrote in his Tablettes journalieres:
Wrong Place November 2nd I went back to Paris...I hired
a carriage to take me to
Cleverman's to see English
conjurer Mr. Lynn perform -
Part One Part Three His spinning top is the only
The Lost stead Ghromatrope, Polyorama, original trick.
Illustration 3~2 - Dr. Lynn presenting The Indian Basket. Illustration 373 - Dr. Lynn in Neptune's Basins.
Photograph from issue no 14 of L'lllusionniste. September Photograph from issue no. 14 of L'lllusionniste. September
1913. 1913
259
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
November 3rd I went to Lynn's performance. ...From Dublin, I went to Paris, and while there
His fish trick is the only one I invented my celebrated Talking Head illusion,
well done. After the perfor- which I introduced at the Musee Frangais, and
mance I went to his house sold the permission to produce it, also at the Paris
with Tobin, who showed me Exposition; about the same time an unauthorized
several optical illusions. imitation of this trick was brought out in
London...
Tobin's presence in Paris, during Lynn's
Here I made the acquaintance of Mons.
appearance at the Theatre Robert-Houdin,
Robert-Houdin, the celebrated conjurer, who
and this the day before the presentation of makes a graceful illusion [sic. ] to me in writing a
The Talking Head at the Musee Francais. work entitled Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation. I
seems to confirm that he was familiar with have also had the honor of sharing experiences
Lynn's transaction with M. Talrich, as indica- with such men as Philippe, Wiljalba Frikell, and
ted by Robert-Houdin in his posthumous Bosco...In recalling the names of some men of ge-
work Magie et Physique amusante. In a little nius I have met, I must not omit to say a word in
book published in 1878, [] Dr. Lynn narrates praise of Mr. T.W. [sic] Tobin, a gentleman of ex-
traordinary scientific ability and originality [...].
his adventures, reveals a few tricks, and pre-
tends to be "the true inventor" of The Sphinx. It would be unwise to write the history of the
He also talks about his meeting with Robert- invention of The Sphinx based on the version
Houdin: given in this "autobiography".
Illustrations 3 4 and 3 5 - Cover and title page of the work by Dr. Lynn.
260
ACTV
La realite.
KUMHDIC Illustrations 3~6 and 377 - The Talking Head. How it looks. How it is per-
Le decapito parlant. L'aspect. formed.
261
ROBERT-HOUDIN
262
ACT V
Illustration 3^9 Amelie Braconnier, Hamilton's wife, photographed by Disderi around 1865.
ROBFRT-HOLDIN
Illustration 380 - First page of the sale of the lease by Cleverman to M. Plantet. (Archives nationales)
26-1
ACT Y
name as well as use all his material, appara- M. Cleverman, the manager of the Theatre
tus, and mechanical pieces. At the end of Robert-Houdin, did not need to wait for
these various agreements, Hamilton was guar- Mr. Fay's revelations to unmask the American
anteed a comfortable income for the rest of mystifiers. He has already performed the follow-
his days as well as a not-inconsiderable share ing in the theater on Boulevard des Italiens: One
hour in the dark with guitar, violin, and bell ac-
of the possible eviction compensation, and
companiment, flying in all directions, and the
Cleverman would be relieved of all the
cabinet trick performed in full light. But he pro-
charges that weighed on him. He remained
duces marvelous effects himself, attributed to
manager with a premium on the income.
spirits by the Davenport Brothers. He only has
Plantet must have hoped for huge compensa- recourse to conjuring. He called upon two
tion while carrying out his daily functions of English conjurers to help him in this circum-
sole lease holder to the title and property of stance, Mr. Stacey and Mr. Kelly, who usually
Soirees Fantastiques, perform in London.
The year 1866 began with a publicized One of their compatriots, Mr. Wolghemuth,
competition between Robin and Cleverman, their drama agent in England, announced them
who both proposed practically the same
program:
Theatre Robert-Houdin: the cabinet trick and
"one hour in darkness," presented by Mr.
Cleverman at the Theatre Robert-Houdin, will be
the great success of the winter.
265
ROBLRl-HOLDIN
Illustration 382 - The Disappearance of a Child under a Cup by Cleverman. (Fmnc-ois Votgnier collection/
in France and put them into contact with Their lawyer M. Lenoir had maintained that
M. Cleverman; for the price of his services, he his clients owed nothing to Mr. Wolghemuth
claimed one third of their income. and that the latter, by his opposition, wanted
to put pressure on his compatriots, which
On December 23, because of a so-called debt of
their status as foreigners and their ignorance
2000 francs and by virtue of the judge's permis-
of our language would not allow them to re-
sion, he had the assets of Mr. Stacey and Mr. Kelly
sist, and that French justice needed to protect
seized from the Theatre Robert-Houdin. Mr. Stacey and Mr. Kelly and ensure their
The two conjurers immediately called upon means of existence.
the president of the Court of the Seine and asked Having heard the explanations of M. Fitremann,
him to refer to the decree authorizing the dis- M. Cleverman's lawyer, the President ruled
traint of December 23 or at least to reduce the against Wolghemuth, who did not appear, and in
effects of this to 1/5 of their income. regards to the defendants, who claimed not to
266
AcrV
owe the plaintiff anything, agreed that at the every evening. Professor Cleverman will soon be
end of their conversations they had agreed to performing the Basket trick and The Sphinx.
forfeit one third of their income from the
Theatre Robert-Houdin, and considering that From Thursday the 22nd to Sunday, March
the plaintiff could not justify that they owed 25th, the conjurer Tufferau performed at Soirees
him money for any other reason, the President Fantastiques and on April 12th, the first an-
upheld the opposition of December 23, 1865 nouncements for the Basket appeared, while
that it could retain one third of Mr. Stacey and Lassaigne performed at the magic theater of
Mr. Kelly's income, but authorized the latter to the Pre-Catelan, where he had debuted on the
keep the surplus in the hands of M. Cleverman.
6th. During the month of June, Littson (no rela-
Cleverman very quickly resumed the tradi- tionship to Robin's "English associate") waved
tional repertoire of his theater and announced the magic wand at the Theatre Robert-Houdin
as early as Friday, February 2: from the 1st to the 6th, and during the month of
At the Theatre Robert-Houdin, resuming of
August Cleverman announced the conjurer
the Pastrycook des Italians and the double dis- Paul Varner, with whom he alternately per-
appearance of a child, which means a full house formed for most of the fall. Finally, he wel-
corned Dr. Hugh Lynn for a few performances brother. This brother, Stodare II, has just arrived
from the 2" ' to the 8l of November. For the in Paris. He will be performing in the Salle Hertz.
first performance, on November 2, Cleverman The memory of the Davenports does not intimi-
date him because he does not present himself as a
performed during the first half and Lynn dur-
friend of the spirits but as a very good Robert-
ing the second, but from the 3 d Lynn was
Houdin [sic].
alone on the playbill. Cleverman and Varner
Transformed into a theater for his experiments,
resumed the show again from November 9.
the Salle Hertz will open its doors this Saturday
and on the 24' one could read the following
evening at 8 o'clock. During its occupation by
advertisement in L Entracte:
Mr. Stodare, the Salle Hertz will take the name of
Colonel Stodare. who just died in London after The Mystery Theater.
having astonished the town with memorable feats
of skill, bequeathed all his conjuring secrets to his This Stodare II, Alfred Stodare. who pre-
268
ACT V
sented himself as "a very good Robert- The Theatre Robert-Houdin. Boulevard des
Houdin," had neither the admiration of the Italiens, where conjuring and white magic is per-
public nor the majority of journalists. As Jules formed - including the exhibition of automata,
very ingenious mechanical pieces, and the famous
Claretie wrote about him in L Illustration of
inexhaustible bottle which, toward the end of the
December 8, 1866: evening, distributes a host of varied liquors to the
Colonel Stodare and his Mystery Theater, audience. A show at Robert-Houdin's - or more
which promised us such fantastic performances, correctly, Gleverman's, son of Lahire - is more in-
teresting than an evening at the Odeon.
have hardly managed to attract the public's atten-
tion. Well-known tricks, a worn-out talking head, a La Salle Robin. Boulevard du Temple, where
cabinet that should be sent back with that of the Physique amusante is performed and where the
Davenports, does not suffice...The audience did tricks of American puffers such as the Davenport
not seem to be having much fun the other evening Brothers and others are revealed. Between
in the Salle Hertz. I also left this performance with Gleverman and Robin, I cannot decide.
a painful feeling... The Palrich museum [sic], Boulevard des
Gapucines, where a decapitated head speaks -
In the Conty guide, Les Plaisirs de Paris, alive. Strange spectacle, but which has lost a bit of
1867. Alfred Devau commented on three of the its charm since a member of the audience decided
performances we have discussed: to throw a ball of bread in the tortured man's eve.
THEATRE ROBERT-HOUDIN
. boulevard des Italiens. 8
On commence 6, 8 h. 1/2
Premiere partie.
bs Cadran myste" deux. Le Petit mes-
sager. Un De" qui passe partout.
La" Naissapce desflevtrs. Bagues et bi-
joux. Cn voyage extravagant. L'o-
ranger merveilleux.
Deuxieme partie.
Cinq minutes d'escamotage. Magie au
XViIIe sieele. On ceuf a surprise.
Les anneaux fusibles.Les Tourterelles
sympathiques,
Troisieme partie.
Illustration 386 - The conjurer Varner at the Theatre Illustration 387 - Portrait of Henri Robin.
Robert-Houdin.
269
ROBERT -HOUDIN
NOUVEAUX TABLEAUX
In July of this year, Robin had already an- used after his death for a while by Cleverman's
nounced his eviction from the Boulevard du former associate, the conjurer Littson, for the
Temple in three months. He carried out his "re- ephemeral Cercle Fantastique on 8, Boulevard
peated" farewells to the public throughout the Saint-Denis - was purchased by the Theatre
winter and announced his last performances in Robert-Houdin - Emile Robert-Houdins and
December. Robin's last performance finally took Georges Melies's programs notably reintroduced
place on February 26, 1867. This eviction Juno's Bird - and we can justifiably think that
brought him neither compensation nor advan- his long career as a plagiarist brought him little
tage because the demolition of his theater was financial security because he ended his life as a
already planned when he signed the lease. As manager, and not an owner, of a small hotel on
fate would have it, his equipment - having been Rue Mazas.
271
RORI in -HOUDIN
The Chess Player or La Czarine and The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic
At the beginning of 1867 Pierre Larousse play about The Chess Player was taking form,
asked Robert-Houdin to contribute entries to the and a letter sent by Jules Adenis to Octave
Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIX" siecle for all Gastineau reveals the interest taken by theater
words relating to his art. [u] The author ac- managers in working with Robert-Houdin on a
cepted this prestigious and benevolent task dramatic work, as well as their preoccupations
alongside his other activities. He declined to and their demands:
take part in the Exposition, although the orga-
Paris, January 19, 1867
nizers wished him to participate to such an ex-
tent that they graciously offered him all the My dear Gastineau,
space he deemed necessary. The plans for the The day before yesterday I spent one hour
with Faille, the manager of the Ambigu theater. I
explained to him as clearly as possible, and the
way in which we agreed, the plans for the play
that we want to write with the help of M. Robert-
Houdin.
Basically, the chess player is fine with him; the
way that I presented it seduced the manager.
The play and the plot, the era, the characters
are, according to Faille, to be wisely discussed, but
a play based on Robert-Houdin's memories and in
which inventions of this ingenious mind would
play a role, that play, whatever it may be, greatly
interests him and he thinks it would be very suc-
cessful. We are looking for the best form and sub-
ject with him, as agreed.
But what supereedes everything according to
him is the guarantee of the success of the tricks
and surprises. He says that he does not doubt the
success of the chess player, the appearance of
Pierre Ill's shadow next to Pougatcheff, but how-
ever, whatever his trust in M. Houdin's skill, he
wants to see with his own eyes before any fur-
ther negotiation.
PIERRE LAROUSSE "I cannot," he said, "rehearse a great play for
two months, make five or six stage sets but be
Dapris un baste de PBRRAUD
halted at the last minute for a trick or effect that
would have to be redone. Each day of delay would
cost me one thousand francs, and especially in the
Illustration 389 Engraving of bust of Pierre Larousse.
theater, time is money."
From the Grand Dictionnaire unwersel du XIX'' siecle (Grand
Dictionary of the 19' Century) (op cit) This is indeed a reason.
272
ACT V
274
ACT V
Illustrations 393 and 394 - Drawings of the gardener of The Priory and Robert-Houdin by Dantan.
According to the caption of Dantan's second drawing, the sunflower was Robert-Houdin s favorite flower
Figure 395 - Olympe Robert-Houdin, Jean Martin Robert Renou, and Robert-Houdin in front of The Priory.
This photograph is an enlargement of a detail from one of the pictures taken of The Priory by Mieusement (see p 82).
275
ROBhRf-HOUDIN
Illustration 396 - Brunnet and The Talking Head at the 1867 Exposition.
276
ACT V
ceived the happy news of his son Eugene's born with too fragile a constitution. Robert-
nomination to the rank of captain. Having fin- Houdin received news from Jules Adenis of
ished the restoration of Vaucanson's Hurdy- The Chess Player as well as demands for tech-
gurdy Player, Robert-Houdin delivered it to the nical information on one of the episodes of his
Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers on June 4 memoirs (pages 429 to 431), which relates the
and stayed in Paris for a while, occupying his demonstration that the savant Mr. Boutigny
time with daily visits to the Exposition. He re- performed of "washing" his hands in a stream
turned for the month of August when his in- of molten lead. [i<| He then performed the ex-
ventions were presented at the ophthalmol- periment himself:
ogy convention; he ran into Wolghemuth
Paris, November 18th 1867
and Brunnet, who were performing in the lecture
room for the Exposition. On October 5, Lecesne de- My dear Master
livered the first proofs for Les Secrets de la prestidig- Today I had a visit from our friend and collabo-
itation et de la magie (The Secrets of Conjuring and rator Octave Gastineau, back from Touraine.
Magic); [13] Robert-Houdin returned to Paris on But he came with nothing!
October 23 to attend Brunnet's show at the I had hoped that he had written - in collabora-
Exposition presenting The Talking Head, and where tion with yourself - a note on the success and
he met Robin and his wife. He had very sad news harmlessness of M. Boutigny's experiments with
on the 25th, the death of Emile's son, little Paul, molten lead. That lazy man - I am not speaking of
c&v /fir
' c ' i/ A /
Illustrations 39 7 and 398 - Photograph of M. De Graefe given by the eminent scientist to Robert-Houdin at their meeting at
the Ophthalmology Congress of 1867.
The handwritten note on the back of the photograph is by Robert-Houdin. (Jacques Volgntercollection)
277
ROBERT-HOUDIN
278
ACT V
tain. Emile expropriated [with ...However, if the automaton was already fin-
a large compensation coming ished at the beginning of April, extremely fin-
up]. My entoptic inventions ished, I could begin to take steps and, the play
succeeded - Problems with the received, ask you to come with us. This would
Exposition avoided, excellent save time. But your presence, I repeat, can only
health for everyone around me be of use once the play is accepted. And this
- I am well myself except for a reading and desired reception can only take
few rheumatisms - I have noth- place after you have read the manuscript. So, be-
ing to hope for other than the fore resting, you must have:
continuation of this state for
1. received the play
my family and myself.
2. made remarks
In 1868, [16] Robert-Houdin divided his time 3. received notice of receipt by a director
It is logical, and I would not ask for more than
between all sorts of unending tasks at The
to be there...
Priory: proofreading Les Secrets de la pres-
tidigitation, creation of The Chess Player, and On March 20, Robert-Houdin received a
scholarly work. From the 12th to the 19th of letter from Bourdilliat's successor, the pub-
January, he dedicated himself to the installa- lisher Michel Levy, authorizing him to put
tion of the '"mysterious music" or "mysterious his name on the cover of his new book.
echo" in his small living room. He read Balzac
- Le Pere Goriot, Vautrin - and Ponson du
Terrail - Rocambole - and wondered about
the number of pages he would write for the
volume to follow Secrets de la prestidigita-
tion, which was about to be printed. He had
already written 250 pages of the planned 420
for the subsequent volume. On February 3, 4,
and 5 he was summoned to the court of Blois,
where he was a member of the criminal jury
judging a theft of gowns from the Saint- PRESTIDIGITATION
Nicolas church, sexual harassment of young
girls by a teacher, and theft of wheat by ma-
rauders. Robert-Houdin wrote that these ses-
sions greatly tired him. A long letter to Jules
Adenis, on March 23, 1868 informed him of
the state of the play:
...I was told that one is not bored an instant
and that if the automaton trick is as I indi-
cated, we will make piles of money with this
play...
2-9
ROBERT-HQUDIN
280
ACT V
how these incompetent self-styled conjurers are sorcier (Confidences and Revelations How to be-
satisfied to reveal in cheap booklets the secrets of come a Wizard).
tricks that they themselves barely know, for the Robert-Houdin learned that the play had been
sole benefit of putting their names on an almanac accepted from Jules Adenis's letter as follows:
and harming those they want to despoil. They ob-
tain no other result than tarnishing the audience's Dear master,
illusion. Great news! Just when I was beginning the 10th
and last tableau of your play I received a notice
Les Secrets de la prestidigitation was proposed that my friend Plouvier's play, in rehearsal at the
to the public at the beginning of April. At this time Ambigu, needed so many changes that the perfor-
a third, revised edition was planned, in a large for- mance is adjourned and that the theater is looking
mat, of Confidences d'un prestidigitateur, pub- for a play to replace Plouvier's. Immediately I
lished by Lecesne in Blois, which would first be wrote to Faille that I am ready: he gave me a read-
offered to subscribers of three regional newspa- ing for the next day at 6:30 in the evening, I stayed
up all night doing the last tableau. I read Saturday
pers, L'Echo Dunois, La France centrale, and Le
night the 2 tableaus and the next day Sunday the
Journal de Loir-et-Cher. An identical Parisian edi-
last 4.
tion, except for the introduction, would be pub-
Received with numerous shows of satisfaction.
lished under the label of A. Delahays, bookseller-
In the midst of all this commotion I did not
publisher. [17] These two editions were entitled: have time to send you the manuscript, because I
Confidences et Revelations - Comment on devient did not have time to have a second copy made.
ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN
CONFIDENCES CONFIDENCES
ET ET
REVELATIONS REVELATIONS
COMMENT ON DEVIENT S0RC1ER COMMENT ON DEVIENT SORCIER
ill ill
L|| ilslBu
pli
\I
it*
| | Hiliii |||p|!
DINE CAUJGRiPHIpUE Mr.tO3!SE CAUIGRAPHIQUE
BLOIS PARIS
LECESNC, IMPRIMEUR-ED1TEUR A. DELAHAYS, LIBRAIRE-EDITEUR
RUE DES 1'APF.GAUr I i[ 6, nt Caiimir Ddavigat
Illustrations 403 and 4O4 - Title page of the Blois and Parisian editions of Confidences et Revelations in 1868.
281
RODERT-HOUDIN
But here is what was agreed: Another letter dated April 24lh informed him
Either we begin rehearsal on Thursday 23"' to that the play must ''go on in three weeks." The
perform on the 19"' to the 20th of May or we will mechanician then went to Paris on the 27th with
wait until August; this depends on Mme. Marie-
The Chess Player, which, he said, was still in a
Laurent, who will play the role of Catherine II.
"rough stage." On May 3ld he was back at The
If we begin rehearsal on Thursday, you must
absolutely come to Paris and you will therefore Priory for the finishing touches on the automa-
read the play in Paris. If we are put off until ton which, once finished and packaged,
August, I will send you the manuscript at the end weighed 600 pounds. Before leaving Paris,
of the week and I will keep you informed of the Robert-Houdin gave a model and outlines for
situation. the Ghosts, which would be the object of one
The lead tableau has been eliminated. of the tableaus of the play [is], to M. Zara, the
The contraption or mystification and the ap- theater manager. In keeping with the artist's
pearance of the Czar remain.
wishes, he would fulfill all demands and no-
I took it upon myself to tell Faille that three
weeks would suffice for you to decorate the au- tably that of providing a large mirror without
tomaton and the dais and prepare the apparition. silver, essential for the trick. Robert-Houdin
I hope that you will not prove me wrong [...]. was worried about the care that had to be
PRESTIDIGITATION
3LA MAGIE
Nomtocouses gravures
PARIS
MICHEL, LEVY FrSres, Editeurs
Rut Vimnnt, % bit, et Boalewd del Ililteni, i 5
A LA LIBRAlItlE NOUVKI.LK
1868
Drolls f!c reproduction et tie traduction reserves
282
ACT V
LE BOUFFON
RtOHCIlOU
Paraissant la DIMANCHE
UEPOIS LE 15 AVRIL IMS BUREAUX SOST TRAKSFERftS : 4 9 , KCE MONTMARTKE.
LA CZARINE A L'AMBIGU
ROBERT HOTJDIN EN RTJSSIK
<eu n.J :)' ,|c ut' sls ou- et Hi- \\%iU f-tt VHCtU
La nature i'avait eiwj* pour t;lr* bonne Iu iitov*rlie * ( / i*t st. peril sit |$lrr
u*nfaLDt% ou- rile louaait dans le n^Itteire trop sea^lbie * z-9tne lul dim
rone fscon rman{a%ble; ao liea d cU elle uc jeuiie soidaS |'!@t de nettle, fthtL tint
lail rttriw de loales Ie3 B u ^ e s . U j ' a ties
AWa*'h nail ef Jour BI S |MT
L Iettticir K|UVI1VI aviil aiiai Uil ufi &iia- \ Ue rjto^ue fori'iuet it* ^t"lda.t ?
f ? soldat du uoui d'Oriof, qu'elle avaii fait [ttniuit sou h.jvti dc &.-'?< I|UQ
283
ROBERT-HOUDIN
28-1
ACTV
brought to the programmed effects, and won- again: then the tsar comes out of the tomb,
dered whether he should officially co-sign the takes off his shroud, his face becomes flushed
work or simply attach his name to his Chess and he sits up...
Player. The authors sensed this uncertainty and Well? If this causes a few difficulties or delay,
according to the disposition of the theater, it is
sent him letters to reassure him as well as to re-
agreed that the actor will appear alone, lit up by a
mind him of the necessity of his presence: green electric light, as with the magician in
Thursday Hamlet on the Red bridge.
Dear Master and friend. Please be perfectly reassured - there are pre-
Thank you for your letter and excellent dispo- cisely two choices:
sitions. 1-The automaton
I only regret that you are worrying yourself for 2-The apparition...optional - by the mirror
no reason.
And this last one is subject to the layout of the
Again, we need the automaton and its accou-
theater.
trements and the dais that you proposed. That's
Now, dear master, I read to the artists on
all, that's all! But it is essential that it be tried out
Saturday or Sunday -
and finished in 3 weeks.
Do not forget that once the reading done,
As for the apparition of Pierre III and the sec-
Octaye and I would forfeit the terms of the
ond to last tableau:
You proposed a tomb topped with a plaster agreement contracted with the managers, an
statue, which is broken and put back together amount of one thousand francs per act, mean-
ing 5 thousand francs if by our fault the theater
could not perform the play at the set time. I
LA hope that you will not giye up and in the hopes
of seeing you.
285
ROBERT-HOUDIN
, t : - : : ; j : ! : i i : : : : j : : ; : :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
nWlllllllllllllmlllllllllllM
Illustrations 410 and 411 - Technical drawings by Robert-Houdin for the illusion of the Ghosts in La Czarine at the Theatre
de l'Ambigu.
These unpublished documents which come from Robert-Houdms archives show all aspects ol this legendary illusion.
286
ACT V
fz*Z' %_.
Illustration 412 Catherine II of Russia playing against The Chess Player by Robert-Houdin in La Czarine.
The trials were not very good because of the awk- tomaton to help the young Christian escape
wardness and bad will of the stage-hand. the anger of Catherine II of Russia. During the
play, the audience therefore knows that
The day of the 30th was dedicated to fixing
different little problems of the show and the Christian is hidden in the desk of the au-
first performance was "successful" and tomaton and they assume that the fact of
warmly applauded. After a few cuts in the opening the doors successively allows the
text and various technical improvements, it actor to move from one compartment to the
seems that the play took flight, the income in- next. Having therefore led the audience down
creased, and the press published very lauda- the garden path, Robert-Houdin then created
tory reviews. two very strong effects one after the other,
Robert-Houdin's Chess Player was based which amazed the audience and won this
on a different psychological principle than scene hearty applause. Let us first remember
that of its creator, M. Von Kempelen. In the that the automaton was set on an uncovered
original, the art of the presentation consisted dais that eliminated all possibility of "escape"
in successively opening the doors of the cab- through a trap door. Here is how the climax
inet which contained the mechanisms, and of the automaton scene took place:
convincing the audience that the automaton During a dramatic scene where Catherine II
could not contain a human being. In that of is surrounded by police searching Von
Robert-Houdin, the principle is exactly the Kempelen's house looking for Christian, the
opposite. The main theme of La Czarine is that Viennese scientist demonstrates his Chess
Von Kempelen's character is building a fake au- Player for the sovereign. She then has a
28~
ROBKRT-HOUDIN
LA CZARINE
Drame nouveau en CINQ actes et HUIT tableaux, de
MM. JULES ADENIS & OCTAVE GASTINEAU
L'Automate Joucnr d'fichecs, et les Apparitions de
ffl. ROBERT-HOUDIN
Mme MARIE-LAURENT
Joue Catherine II.
Les nitres principaux r51es par MM, REGNIER, MONTAL, OMEH, ALLART,
RICHEZ, MACHANETTE, PERNIN, M" MARIE-VANNOY,CH, BARDV,
Au (3rae Tableau, a 9 h . 1/2
LE CELEBRE AUTOMATE
Invente au sicclc dernier par un savant Hoiigrols, le Baron BE KEMPELEN,
un des personnages de la piece, et dont le secret perdu, a eta retrouve,
apres des recherches infmies, par fli. B5OJ5i:it'I'~fill l I \ .
Les Litterateurs des deux moncles out tous essaye de donner des explica-
tions sur cette merveilleuse invention, et tous ont passe a cote de la verite,
Ce qu'il y a d'incontestable, e'est que M. DE KEMPELEN sauva la vie a un
proscrit, en le rendant invisible a tous les yeux, au moment meme ou il
venait de faire une partie d'ecliecs avec son persecuteur.
Cette scene, que le 6 tableau de LA CZARINE reproduit en entier, est de
L'effet le plus saisissant, et fait courir au THEATRE de L'AMBIGU-COMIQUE
tout Paris, qui applaudit en meme temps Fceuvre et les eminents artistes qui
L'interpretont: "lIASSIi: B . 4 I U I %T en tete.
Le Drame commeDce a 7 beures 3/4 e t finit i l l heures 3/4
27 Paris. Typ. Morns et Cuinp., rue Amelt,
288
ACT V
discreet aside with one of her henchmen and as well as the large drawer on the bottom, and
for a few seconds turns her gaze away from the opens the Chess Player's robe. Christian has
automaton, which Catherine II seems to find "truly" disappeared! The audience's astonishment
suspicious. During this conversation, the sover- and their applause barely dissipated. Von
eign and the policemen look away from The Kempelen closes the doors and drawer and im-
Chess Player. The young premier Christian, mediately sets the automaton to work again:
wanting to turn himself in so as not to cause checkmate\
harm to his hosts, comes out of the top half of
The sudden disappearance of the hero of the
the body above the desk to exchange a few
play, followed by his sudden "reappearance",
words with Von Kempelen. The latter makes a
was one of the most applauded magic effects of
sign telling him to immediately return to his
hiding place, which Christian hurriedly does. the play.
Catherine II, believing that she has heard a Robert-Houdin, congratulated on all sides, at-
noise, turns around and orders Von Kempelen tended almost all the performances, and on June 14th,
to open the doors of the automaton buffet. he wrote his demand for admission to the Societe
Instead of opening the doors successively, as usual, des Gens de Lettres (Society of Men of Letters).
he opens them all at the same time, front and back, Although Robert-Houdin presented his candidature
f
Jd .
L
r-
/' '
<P
~^t s.
r
v. B^Jt^^^
/' >t>^4# . ... ^ _ J ^
Jif- ^-J^4 HUM -/a*uj ni* .
3'.
Illustrations 4l4. 415 and 416 - Admission request by Robert-Houdin to the Societe des Gens de Lettres (Society of Men of
Letters).
289
ROBfcRT-HoUDIN
SOCIETE
W
BES GESS DE LETTRES
fold
tett t
Robert-Houdin's two sponsors who signed this request were G. Illustration 417 - Letter confirming Robert-Houdin's admis-
de Landelle and Jules Adenis. sion into the Societe des Gens de Lettres.
well, the associates seemed neither to refuse My dear colleague and friend
nor accept and the author had to wait for six- I learned on Monday evening that at 4 o'clock
teen months before hearing the verdict! This on that same day you had been unanimously ac-
episode once again illustrated the fight led by cepted. I am pleased about this unanimity and I
Robert-Houdin to position his art next to other gave cards to the main members.
disciplines and to overcome prejudices in all You could send some to the Society's headquar-
forms, including that of literary figures of his ters to Leo Lespes (Timothy Trimm) who I was
time. He triumphed over each of these setbacks told was very enthusiastic about your admission.
and small humiliations with an infinite patience Finally, it is done. I had no other merit than
linked to an unwavering determination. In this conquering a ridiculous prejudice and (which es-
pecially motivated me) obliging you...
particular case, it was thanks to the intervention
of his colleague and friend Jules Adenis that he Following the success of the play at the
finally received confirmation of his admission Ambigu, Robert-Houdin received the proposi-
into the venerable society on November 9, 1869. tion from a drama agent named Kuschnick to
Here are a few extracts from the letter sent by do a tour of La Czarine in the provinces. He
Jules Adenis to announce this belated but good also noted his appointments with the press in
news: Tablettes journalieres-.
290
ACT V
291
ROBERT-HOUDIN
292
ACT V
terial, said his farewells to everyone and re- the promoter, Mr. Kuschnick. Robert-Houdin
turned to The Priory on the 25th. attended the performance given in Orleans
During the month of August, his son Emile, before a "full house" and the premier in Blois
now living on boulevard des Italiens, sent him before a "bursting house''. The author added:
an assistant to help him in his work. This Mr. "The automaton was highly applauded." It
Gamier took care of various tasks, among would seem that Robert-Houdin had planned
which fixing the mechanisms of The Genie of to build a second Chess Player for the tour in
the Roses whose large dancer Robert-Houdin the provinces, but, for lack of time, he used
had dismantled. On August 26th, the happy the one from the Ambigu theater. His collabo-
grandfather learned that his daughter-in-law
rator Jules Adenis, who had just asked for the
had that evening given birth to a boy, Joseph
automaton in "forty-eight hours" for a possible
Eugene Henri, whose godfather was his
replaying of La Czarine in Paris, gently be-
younger son Eugene. On the 17th, 18th, and 19Ih
rated him for this. On November 19th. facing
of September, Robert-Houdin had the young
actor Carpentier rehearse with the Chess the possibilities offered for performances in
Player as he played the part of Christian dur- the capital as well as abroad, Robert-Houdin
ing the tour and, on September 20Ih, he did his began the manufacture of another Chess
first session of posing for Mieusement for the Player and, at the end of December 1868, we
different portraits accompanying the future see the traditional resume of the year:
Blois and Parisian editions of Confidences et
December 31" This year, except for a few fa-
Revelations. On the 11th and 12th of October,
tigues that I endured for my
Mieusement came to photograph the exterior
chess player in Paris, was very
of The Priory. The tour in the provinces of La
happy for us. We had fairly
Czarine, which had begun in Dieppe on
good health for our age and no
September 24th, seemed to be destined for suc- serious worries - we can only
cess in terms of audience, but given the costs, hope for the continuation of
it was only a modest financial success [19] for this situation.
293
ROBFR'I-HOUDIN
294
ACT V
fme$ nff
i. tVkkif U ft- chljt-fc. j
One JHdftfitiieittL. iruut- Vc &t- a&i. 'O ufa-t/%/1 -^l
% _ ^iicHUMu *'/cr/r/irnc oinmftu'ic, , f) VJ?* iiutHJc^
,m lu-iiu/- &ttft<#t*>&}tK, fit emi/u a $$*%i
dferiaalr- f
<5
(fUC4l
I -OUK. lidilJicsL-
(f -t'OtttcdhqiiCtl
/ L/ -t4en<Mtti/K_.
'afldka6>vi.t ft
4mte tnntt
lc cAxottux.
C Ctwci-t-- I
Illustrations 421 to 424 and 42 to 430 - Draft of the request for admission to the Legion d'Honneur by Robert-Houdin.
ACT V
PABIS. S&mca donnie aux Tuileries, devant U u n M&jestfa et le Prince Imperial, par le doeteur Ejtfteto.
have been fatal because he forgot to remove Illustrations 425 and 426 - Engravings of Dr. Epstein.
29"
ROBERT-HOUDIN
-mage* -**~ ,
HU74HCK&. {tiMpHj
-Z3 **i ittrjinviut. . ~u/t_ cPM/rtzeJm
-~i+l*t Me /'>,
7
*L
t&. -*/( Ctt- tUi'c 21
f'STot
9 ( -*) 'GpfrMafiHc.
p. . 2r &_
~tpii it m twit - sil fit ?)/w/ C^?r"t-
fir/^att-tnx. Je>c
i 7
_ wuv C iaiVe-
t5
- jJVUtr- iHGf<t
/iccfl e ^ \ tin-%vi eJz 9>tut. t
eAmnl-
76tie*4s Ofts- SW C
- /XPett3*t*' ct 'ffm.
i
^ ^
_ </ , ,4
(31
IP/it-' '*'*&_ ^
?>'-
$J
298
ACT V
from the rifle the ramrod used to pack in the paper, which forced the candidates for this
gunpowder. When the shot rang out. Dr. Epstein high distinction to be extremely selective in
fell in a heap. The ramrod had gone through the choice of their supporters, who had to be
the left side of his chest. [20] Healed from his very brief. For months, Robert-Houdin had to
wounds, he was able to resume his perfor- arrange visits to those whose approbation he
mances as of June 1. did not doubt, and little by little, the essen-
In March and April, while continuing his tial document began to be covered with the
work on optics, Robert-Houdin installed his tributes rendered to his talent by some of the
Hermit in one of the caves of the property most learned and influential men of the time.
and provided it with a mechanism that al- Here is the text of their testimony:
lowed its head and body to move. The Having been able to appreciate the merits of in-
learned mechanician also spent time on the ventions and the utility of M. Robert-Houdin's
terrace of The Priory in his camera obscura, works for a long time, I support with insistence the
whose long view he perfected. Several years request made in his favor
after his death, this earned him credit for the Edmond Becquerel
invention of the periscope, which his as-
I join my son in recommending to the Minister
cending and pivoting telescope uncannily re-
of Public Instruction the request of M. Robert-
sembled. Houdin's family. His work, through its originality
In his Tablettes journalieres of March and usefulness, deserves the reward that has been
th
15 , Robert-Houdin wrote: "Robert came solicited in his favor.
to dine with us to sign the request for the Paris, March 23, 1869
Grand Affair." Becquerel
299
ROBERT -HOUDIN
300
ACT V
Emile had already begun manufacturing a On the 14th, Robert-Houdin went to Paris to
prototype but, facing certain difficulties he Emile's shop. He worked there all day with an
encountered, which he expressed to his fa- assistant on the transmission of his son's
ther, Robert-Houdin also decided to ponder odometers, which were very difficult to adapt
a design for an odometer. [21] As of the be- to the shapes of the carriages and their jolts.
ginning of April, Robert-Houdin worked Confronted with these problems, he finished
every day on a first model and presented the a note about his son with these words: "I do
result of his work to Emile at The Priory on not know if I can help him manage this."
After a week entirely dedicated to this me-
June 1:
chanical problem, Robert-Houdin wrote in his
Emile arrived at five o'clock; together, we tried Tablettes journalieres:
the odometer I made for his project and to facili-
September 20th[Paris] I finished the trans-
tate the work he was undertaking with La
Gompagnie de Petites Voitures. Emile left this mission for the odometers
evening and we tried it in the evening;
it is fine and fulfills all the de-
Robert-Houdin resumed his activity in op- sired conditions.
tics for a few weeks, took care of the print- September 21s1 [Paris] I worked a bit on the
ing of his scientific booklets, and pursued transmission. At noon one of
various activities he had put aside. In mid- the administrators [0/ the
company] came to see it and
July, he went to Paris and wrote on the 18th
in his Tablettes journalieres: "I went to chez
Emile, who was finishing his first odometer. I
went with him to Petites Voitures; it went
poorly and we stayed with M. Jenissieux until
6 o'clock." Luckily on the 27th, back in Paris,
he wrote this sentence: "I went to chez
Emile, who gave his first odometer to La
Compagnie de Petites Voitures. They are very
pleased with it." However, on the 29th of the
month, Robert-Houdin resumed work on his
own odometer, which he intended to im-
prove. He wrote on August 2: "I worked on
the car odometer; this invention is quite dif-
ficult." While the mechanician worked daily
on the odometer and also on his little
Theatre des Spectres and his camera obscura,
in which he obtained "very strange views,"
he received a letter from Emile saying that he
was ready to sign a deal for his odometers
with La Compagnie des Petites Voitures. On
September 9, another letter announced the
sad news of the death of his friend Dantan,
victim of a stroke on the promenade of Bade
on September 6. Illustration 433 - Small model of a camera obscura
301
ROBERT-HOUDIN
One may imagine that Robert-Houdin was November 27th I have been waiting for
far from being satisfied with this result, be- Emile's letter for a month
cause as soon as he got back to The Priory, about his great affair with
he immediately began fervently working on the carriages and I am very
the creation of his own model and did so for worried.
the entire month of October and November. At the end of the year, a few rheumatisms
In his Tablettes journalieres of November 11,
forced him to stay indoors, w h e r e he spent
he gave a short description of the progress of
most of his time writing his second volume
his work:
of Les Secrets de la prestidigitation et de la
I worked on the carriage odometer and went magie, or working on the definition of cer-
with my wife to Blois to try it out; it works well
tain words requested by Pierre Larousse
although it is just in a rough stage now. I at-
tached it to the front of my carriage; it is a and, as usual, on December 31st he wrote
square plate - at the top is a clock face for the an optimistic commentary on the year 1869:
time and on the bottom a kilometer dial divided [22]
into 100 decameters - when the hand has gone
around once, a kilometer appears in the window The year that has just ended was happy
- tens of kilometers are in another window. enough for us except for a few passing indisposi-
Inside, on a piece of paper, the kilometers are tions. I am fine. We have had nothing very bad
marked with their speed - as well as stops and happen and we can only hope that the year be-
slowdowns. ginning will be likewise.
302
AcrV
THEATRE FAURE-NICOLAY
Boulevard tics llaliens, ( 2 , Passage dc l'Opera, Galerie tin Baromttrc
ANCIENNK SAIXE BEETHOVEN, NOUVEf.LEMENT DECOHEE
f-
2
s
3
d 1
0
hi s
P
o *
a
U3 n
^ I
2 a
(A
w
p
o
I2 a
K
p
s a E
PC
w I 1
Is T3
E S*
t/3
H
03 'S
g.
Illustration 434 - Cover of the program of the Theatre Faure-Nicolay, which opened its doors in October 1869 at 12,
Boulevard des Italiens, Passage de l'Opera.
303
ROBERT-HOUDIN
The year 1870, during which Robert-Houdin father desired for him, and for which he was
would extensively suffer in his body and soul, probably not prepared, tore this bitter comment
began with a long litany of problems for Emile, from him, in a letter of January 25, 1870 ad-
who, in these circumstances as in others, ac- dressed to Robert-Houdin: "...and it is certain
cepted the common-sense advice dictated by that I am more of an artisan than a business-
his father's business experience. man, having been the apprentice of one and
I have already presented Emile as having un- not the other." There is much truth and sincer-
limited admiration for his father, and it is prob- ity in this simple sentence and we must not
ably this excess of eagerness to resemble him in judge Emile too severely. As soon as the tute-
every way that made him oppose him so often. lary shadow of his father no longer weighed on
Curiously, until the death of the master, Emile his shoulders, he showed unsuspected artistic
Robert-Houdin accumulated every possible mis- and business qualities.
take imaginable. The brilliant position that his For the time being, the Tablettes journalieres
of 1870 enlighten us about Robert-Houdin's
state of depression. For months his son's situa-
tion was his sole obsession, his sole worry, to
such an extent that he neglected most of his
other activities.
January 2nd I received a letter from Emile
telling me that his business was
not finished.
January 28th I received a letter from Emile
telling me that he has just signed
an agreement with the company
for the odometers and telling me
of the problematic position that
he finds himself in. It made me
ill and I did nothing all day. I
wrote to M. Adam asking him to
see Emile.
th
January 29 I wrote a long letter to Emile on
his business position and advis-
ing him to file bankruptcy. All
this makes me sad and sick and I
can do nothing.
dl
January 30 Up at eight o'clock. I slept very
badly. I am too depressed and very
sad. I have decided to send Emile
Illustration 435 - Emile Robert-Houdin by Disderi. part of what he is asking me for
304
ACT V
Illustration 436 - Profiles of Robert-Houdin and his wife by Dantan accompanied by a quatrain by Robert-Houdin.
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
THEATRE FAURE-NICOLAY
Passage de l'Opfta.
IMMENSE SUCCftS
FAURE-NXGOLAY
Phtjsicien-Prttttdigitateur, agrei des cours de Fiance, du Nordet d'Oneni.
La premiere partie comprendr.i la science modernp cr&e detois Comte, liosco, Ro-
bert-Hondm jusqu'a nos jours. Les experiences de Haute Magie Humoristique, de
PUysHfne, d'Hiusion, de M<ten6tisoie etde Spiitfisme divnlgae seront repr^seale'es
d'tme maaiere eompletement nouveHe.
La deuxieme partie se composers de
SEANCES EN V1LLE
Illustrations 437 and 438 - Small bill and photograph of Faure-Nicolay in 1869.
and to send Robert [The cousin] February 2'"' I worked on the kilometer-
to him to advise liquidation. I am odometer. I walk a bit to relax.
going to Blois to the telegraph of- Nevertheless I am not well.
fice to ask M. Adam if he is in Paris February 3lJ I am sick and sad abot;t Emile's
- at two o'clock I received a letter business. I am working very lit-
from M. Adam informing me that tle.
Emile received him rudely, saying
that he does not want his family to From this date on, Robert-Houdin tried to
get involved in his business. That move things forward, at least for his son. He
changed my mind; Robert did not composed business papers for him and went
go. to Paris on February 9 to meet M. Adam to try
January 31" I am ill and sad. I have a sort to find a solution to his problems. That
of spleen that I am having evening, Robert-Houdin went to the conjurer
trouble fighting. The weather
Faure-Nicolay's performance at Passage de
is gloomy and rainy. I am not
POpera and wrote this comment: "His conjur-
working.
ing performance is very mediocre, but he is
February 1st I am a little less ill but
still a little sad. I am working very good at billiards." The Theatre Faure-
on the electric door and in Nicolay, 12, Boulevard des Italiens, Passage de
the yard. I am going to bed i'Opera, opened on October 5, 1869 with the
earlv. title: "Soirees of Humoristic Magic and
306
ACTV
Illustration 439 - Performance by Faure-Nicolay before Napoleon III. (Georges Promt collection)
Conjuring by Professor Faure-Nicolay." In plunged him again into the stress that he had just
December, this artist "humbly" presented him- chased away. Luckily, he kept busy with his daily
self in his publications as "Robert-Houdin's tasks and continued to perfect his odometer. On
gifted rival." July 10 he received a visit from Mme. Ballet [23]
The savant mechanician took advantage of this (or Bailee), who began as an usher in his theater
journey to consult patents on his optical illusions: and had the same position with Cleverman after
having faithfully served Hamilton. (This lady,
February 12th [Paris] At the patent office for who must have been very old by then, was one
the Pepper tricks. of the guests at the Theatre Robert-Houdin for
th
February 17 [Paris] At the patent office, the hundredth anniversary of the master's birth in
where I spent the whole day. December 1905.)
Life temporarily seemed to take a turn for the On July 15*, Robert-Houdin learned at the
better upon his return to The Priory on the 22nd. same time as his compatriots that France had just
Robert-Houdin resumed his project, worked on a declared war on Prussia. This terrible news was
Domino article for Pierre Larousse, and led particularly worrisome to this family because
Eugenie, the daughter of one of his neighbors in one of their children was in the army.
Saint-Gervais, Mathurin Limard, to the altar. Her The next day, Robert-Houdin wrote to Emile
dress was given to her by Robert-Houdin's wife. to thank him for the kind traditional birthday
On March 30, another very sad letter from Emile wishes:
307
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
308
ACT V
309
ROBFRr-HOUDIN
310
ACT V
311
ROBMil-HOLDIX
312
ACT V
7^.^
L-
Co . ..
A -iJtA^J *K* it
Illustration 449 - Short note from a wounded Eugene Illustrations 450 to 453 - Letter from Robert-Houdin to his
Robert-Houdin to his father. s o n Emile. (Private collection)
313
ROBI RT-HOUDIN
314
ACTV
f-uso<*^ , J<uZ
315
ROBERT-HOl'DIN
g.
Although the entire family had faith in a
happy outcome, the priest of Saint-Gervais re-
ceived - through one of his parish members,
a friend of the wife of Colonel Gramont, who
was also injured and who shared the same
ambulance as Captain Robert-Houdin - the
confirmation of Eugene's death on the day of
August 10th.
Olympe Robert-Houdin came to the sta-
tion in Blois on August 25th in the evening to
meet her husband, who was coming back
from Paris, and announced to him the terri-
ble news.
After weeks of cruel suspense during which
Robert-Houdin and his entire family had
fought and hoped, the confirmation of
Eugene's death in his thirty-third year was a
sort of relief and allowed everyone to truly
grieve. Perhaps Robert-Houdin's pain was soft-
ened by the narrative of his son's heroic death,
recounted by the men he had under his com-
mand and which several newspapers printed.
316
ACT V
Illustration 459 - Article recounting the heroic death of Captain Eugene Robert-Houdin.
Since the death of my poor child I have been tain since 1866. He had had this rank for four
sick, discouraged, and completely absorbed by my years. He was part of the I s ' Zouaves and he was
pain; this is to explain the delay with which I an- cited as one of the brave ones in this brave corps.
swer you. You will judge yourself by the following narrative
You could, my dear friend, judge the extent of taken from an article in the Figaro of September
my regrets by the details that I am going to give 3"' under the title "An episode of Reichshoffen
you; my son was 33 years old; he had been a cap- taken from an individual letter"; this letter un-
317
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Utu
Illustration 46O - Death notice for Eugene Robert-Houdin. Illustration 461 - Monument erected in the memory of the
French soldiers wounded at the battle of Froeschwiller
and deceased in the Reichshoffen field hospitals.
doubtedly comes from a soldier in my son's com- that lights up the ranks. Soon the Captain falls in
pany; it is signed with an X. I will skip the un- turn, saying 'Tell them that I fell last facing the
bearable details that preceded the unfortunate re- enemy.' A bullet had pierced his chest. Transported
treat. "The line had received the order to break up to the field hospital of Reischhoffen [sic], he died
and we were conquered, 35,000 against 140,000! four days later from his wounds."
My company (1 st Zouave) was again called to the Well! My dear Manning, would you believe
battlefield and the soldiers were deployed, alone that this brave son, right when he had been hit,
without artillery; we had to support the retreat." had the heroic courage, in the middle of gunfire,
Now comes an episode of Waterloo. to pull a card and pencil out of his pocket and
"On the order of Captain Robert-Houdin, write on the back these words: "Dear father, I am
Lieutenant Girard advances with two men to rec- hurt, but do not worry, it is just a scrape." He
ognize the enemy. He takes three steps and falls, could not finish his signature. The envelope con-
saying, 'Do not abandon the coucou,' a familiar ex- taining it is stained with his blood. This precious
pression meaning the Flag. We pick him up and relic was sent to me from Reichshoffen after my
the captain cries Fire. son's death. Well, here is a lot said, dear sir, on
"The order to fall back arrives, but we do not this subject. But I thought these details would
hear it and continue to fight against a wall of fire interest vou.
318
ACT V
Please always believe me to be, large jars of preserved meat and butter in case
Your devoted of a siege.
Robert-Houdin. On September 4, Robert-Houdin wrote in his
Tablettes journalieres:
Robert-Houdin also received a letter from
one of Eugene's soldiers who, as soon as his I read the newspapers and learned of the
rerouting and destruction of the army corps of
captain had been wounded, took him to shel-
Marshal MacMahon, who was hurt and taken pris-
ter away from the gunfire. This letter told him oner with the Emperor; and forty thousand men
about his son's last moments, when he had have capitulated. According to the newspaper,
been taken to an inn called L'Ange d'Or, man- Paris is in an indescribable emotion. A resistance
aged by the Kremer family. This soldier, commission has been established; a national guard
named J. Morain, who was then a prisoner of is being organized at Saint-Gervais. There will be
war, told how Eugene, in spite of all the care about 80 men. I was offered the command. I re-
given to him, passed away after three days, in fused because of my age and health.
his arms and in those of the charitable young On September 4, the inhabitants of Blois
lady of the house. Morain adds: learned that the Republic had been proclaimed
at the Hotel de Ville in Paris. The Chamber had
His last words were: "You can say that I died as
been invaded by the people and the Deputies
a brave soldier in supporting the retreat"; then,
dispersed. A government of national defense
taking off a ring that he had on his right hand, he
was formed: Arago. Cremieux, Ferry, Gambetta,
gave it to the young lady and said, "Send my watch
to my father," as well as a second ring that he had Garnier-Pages, Glais-Bizoin, Pelletan, Picard,
on his left hand... and Rochefort. General Trochu became gover-
nor of Paris and Minister of War.
The people of Blois learned that the
The national guard began its defense service
Prussians had passed Chalons and were head-
day and night in Saint-Gervais because it was
ing toward Paris, where active preparations
necessary to protect oneself from the "bad ele-
for defense of the capital were being made. ments" that Paris had ejected from its limits and
On August 30, Robert-Houdin was told that who were running to the provinces. Blois was
Paul Devillers, the son of Amelie (Hamilton's very agitated and a permanent committee was
wife), who was also a soldier, was prisoner in established. The mayor and prefect resigned. In
the fortress of Magdeburg thirty leagues from his Tablettes journalieres Robert-Houdin wrote
Berlin. Robert-Houdin was also taking care of these sad sentences:
the education of Georges, who had just failed
September 7"1 I received a letter from Emile
the baccalaureate, and took him to Poitiers
and the newspaper, which are
to M. Doussaint, head of the institution, who not very reassuring abot;t the
enrolled him in classes for two months to at- tranquility of Paris - At 9 o'clock
tend the next semester beginning November we went to a family mass for my
1. Robert-Houdin raged against the newspa- son. All my friends from Blois
pers, which said nothing of "the stage of war" were there.
but discussed the success obtained when Olympe Robert-Houdin continued to send
Prussia announced victories. With the advanc- supplies to Emile and his wife, who now
ing of the enemy army toward Paris, the en- could not leave the capital. She sent baskets
tourage was now worried about Emile and his of fruit and ten bushels of potatoes. The
family. Diverse provisions were sent to him: National Guard of Saint-Gervais now had one
319
ROBERT-HOUDIN
hundred men who were starting to maneuver September 14 I sent Emile my plan for ex-
but for weapons they only had a few hunting tinguishing bombs so he could
rifles and 12 ammunition rifles. present it to the defense com-
In Paris, the police chief decided that as of mittee.
September 10, 1870 all theaters would be On September 15, Robert-Houdin organized
closed. (They would only receive the authori- his weapons; he had resolved to stay in the
zation to reopen as of June 22, 1871.) country, "except in the event of large-scale mas-
Robert-Houdin's creative genius was wor- sacres and fires by the enemy." The city of Blois
king to find solutions to support the de- gave up defending itself because it was unable
fense of Paris. He wrote in his Tablettes to. The author resumed writing his second vol-
journalieres: ume of Les Secrets de la prestidigitation, al-
September 13 I finalized a plan to prevent though his heart was not in it, because, as he
bomb explosions. wrote, "...I would fall ill if I continued to do
nothing."
The general council of Blois voted 500,000
francs for the purchase of twenty thousand ri-
fles. Resistance was in preparation throughout
the entire region. Olympe came back from the
city with very bad news: "Everyone is being ad-
vised to hide and take grains and precious ob-
jects.'' The Saint-Gervais town council was con-
sidering blowing up the bridge.
Aided by his servant Baptiste, Robert-
Houdin prepared an initial hiding place in the
little cave on the property. During the weeks
after September 20, the learned mechanician
equipped The Priory with hiding places for
food, wine, and valuable objects. He built an
imposing secret reserve in one of his large
caves with the help of the stonemason Dupuis.
The only news from Paris, delayed, arrived
thanks to courageous balloon pilots. Robert-
Houdin, who could no longer communicate
with Emile, in this way received three of his
letters in the coming months by way of bal-
loon. Robert-Houdin put precious objects that
he treasured, such as elements of his perfor-
mances, in hiding places until Sunday,
November 5. He let his neighbors benefit from
the shelter of his caves, and they deposited
their dearest treasures there. His Tablettes jour-
nalieres made a daily account of the war, with
Illustration 462 - Georges Robert-Houdin. both true and false news frequently spread by
320
ACT V
propaganda from both sides. Although every- termasters who slept in the parlor. On the 7th,
one hoped for an armistice, they also feared a Robert-Houdin decided to dismantle his Chess
new decisive battle. Robert-Houdin partici- Player in order to hide it. The population was
pated, as did all the inhabitants of Saint- expecting the arrival of the Prussians at any
Gervais, in the little national guard, and sent 20 moment. The next day Robert-Houdin went to
pounds of bread, a pound of preserved meat, Blois to organize the transport of two
and brandy. He established electric communi- wounded soldiers who had to be cared for at
cations with each hiding place in order to be
The Priory, and during the rest of the day, he
immediately notified if someone found them.
hid the remaining valuables, then wrote his
In these nonetheless troubled times, he re-
artistic will, which testified to his desire to
ceived a letter from Mr. Robert Dreyfus in
control the content of his works during his
London, who asked for his Chess Player, [25]
lifetime and afterwards.
and Georges returned to Saint-Gervais on
November 11 without having passed his bac-
calaureat. There was talk in Blois about the
battle of Orleans, which cost the lives of thou-
sands of soldiers on both sides.
Robert-Houdin wrote the preface of his
second volume of Les Secrets de la prestidigi-
tation and had Georges study for his exam for
a new session in January. Several troops on
their way to Orleans went through Blois, and
soldiers were camped out on the Loire.
Robert-Houdin continued his writing activi-
ties, had his son study every day, and cor-
rected his work.
On November 21st, Robert-Houdin had the
idea of a "light telegraph" and went to Blois to
discuss it with the deputy Jollois. Upon his re-
turn he immediately went to work, established
the blueprint for the telegraph, and prepared
a document on a new design for "an electric
telegraph for illuminated signals."
In December, Blois was living in fear, no
one knew anything about the outcome of the
new fighting in Orleans, and there was no
news of the situation in Tours. On the 6th, the
taking of Orleans by the Prussians was an-
nounced, followed by the retreat of the
French troops and the arrival of several flee-
ing soldiers in Blois. In Saint-Gervais, the
mayor's office sent to The Priory two officers
who shared the family meals, and four quar- Illustration 463 - Eglantine Robert-Houdin.
321
ROBERT-HOUDIN
v. ^
1&4 J}.
0 /
^ XD
va
Vt-
/ /
/ i ^ ^ ^
i t>4>-- &
322
ACT V
323
1870-1871
The Occupation of Saint-Gervais and
Blois during the War of 1870 Described
Daily by Robert-Houdin
Illustrations 465 to 477 - Robert-Houdin by Mieusement and engravings illustrating the war of 1870 taken from various works, on this
period.
rfics Pious: colh'.
3
places; it is cold. ried to remove the rug from
Sunday, December 11"'
the living room and clean it
a bit, which tired us greatly.
The Prussians from Hesse
For lunch, since we had no
continue their stay and pil-
bread, we drank broth and
lage. I saw the captain and
ate stewed cabbage. For din-
the lieutenant residing at
ner we ate beef without
M. Vallon's and who are very
bread with our fingers be-
nice; I showed them the cu-
cause all our forks have been
riosities of the house and the
taken - We were again tor-
electricity in my workshop.
mented in the evening by
Wine was distributed to the
marauders from the posted
soldiers twice a day. During
guards.
the day, the entire house was
searched for weapons. We are Tuesday, December 13th
very worried. We did not eat The Prussians who re-
during the day because they mained in the village came to
have taken everything and it stroll through the property
is impossible to go out to buy and ended up breaking the
anything. However, at night, train tracks. They destroyed
I managed to get a handful of everything they saw except
rice from the kitchen. We for the Hermit, which they re-
cooked it in our room and spected. Around 5 o'clock the
ate it without butter or salt; Prussians from Mecklemburg
this was our only meal for sent two lieutenants who are
three people. We were on alert quite insolent and a very like-
all night long. They went up able captain with whom I
and down the stairs making talked for part of the evening.
a lot of noise and knocked on The captain is staying in
our door constantly to ask no.l. The lieutenants live in
for things. We were exhausted the parlor. The living room,
with fatigue and needs. We the small rooms, and the
did not sleep at night. It was three rooms on the top floor
a little bit less cold. But they have been taken by soldiers.
filled the fireplace up with These people are not as dirty
wood at the risk of burning as the others but they pillage
the wood floors. more. The night was a little
Monday, December 12"' bit better - In the daytime we
The captain gave us a had a great scare; several bat-
piece of a chicken that had teries of cannons were set in
just been killed and we im- the valley right before us and
mediately made stew - In the next to the town in prepara-
morning the Prussians left tion for bombing. Blois capit-
us to get closer to Blois; they ulated. All the artillery pa-
left guards posted at raded right under the terrace.
Touvien's and at Marquet's If the city had resisted and
who came all day to prowl fired back, our house would
through the house. We hur- have probably been blown up.
Wednesday, December 14"' Baptiste is back from, his
The men from home and came to sleep at
Mecklemburg continue their the house and the next day he
ravaging of the property; they returned to Pontlevoy to get
have lots of their comrades the horse.
come and visit from the Saturday, December 17"'
village. All the curiosities are
I went to Blois to mother's
ruined except for the Hermit.
house; she is doing well. Six
Wine is distributed to the
Prussians were sent to her
soldiers. I went to Blois for
whom M. Rousseau had
cigars (for the captain) as
lodged with his own on the
well as for various provisions.
ground floor. I went to
I left at 3 o'clock with three
Lecesne's and Rousselet's.
armed men and a pass. We
Once hack I put away and hid
crossed in a boat. There were
various things.
no more cigars in Blois - To
Rousselet's for provisions. We Sunday, December 18"'
came back at 9 o'clock after My wife went to low mass.
great difficulties crossing in I cleaned the wine cellar -200
the pouring rain. I arrived Prussians are occupying the
extenuated with fatigue. My village - Baptiste is back: he
wife was mortally worried. We left the horse and carriage in
repaired the bridge all night Cellettes.
long. Monday, December 19"'
Thursday, December 15"' I went to Blois to look for
Stay of the men from bread - To Lecesne's - I
Mecklemburg. I took a walk learned that Chabault's wife
with the captain and another was taken away by drunk
captain from his ranks. I ex- Prussians and that M.
plained my electric tools to Rousset the mayor of Blois
them. In the evening two lieu- incurred some danger to get
tenants got drunk with six of her back. There was a big
their friends, whom they in- rumor among the people
vited (20 bottles of wine). The about this. Requisitions were
weather was nice. made in the land - They steal
everything they find - They
Friday, December 16"'
have not come to my house
The men from
yet - (I am hiding 3,000
Mecklemburg left at 7 o'clock
francs in bills and 1,200
this morning. I went to see
francs in gold in Lecesne's
the priest and Nelly gave sev-
hiding place and some silver-
eral poor people the meat that
ware) - We are quite sad.
the Prussians had left. I went
to see all the neighboring Tuesday, December 20"'
houses whose owners are ab- I am taking care of hiding
sent. I extinguished the begin- things well - A visit from
ning of a fire at Metivier's. We M. Vallon - There was a requi-
are cleaning up everywhere. sition at his place.
iiliii
Mme. Vallon went to the cap- Saturday, December 24th Tuesday, December 27th
tain housed at the chateau to We are still very worried I went to Blois (To
protest. There was a sort of because of marauders - I mother's, where there are no
restitution. Baptiste went to luckily had none all day - Prussians - To see Lecesne,
Cellettes to get the horse, the M. Vallon had some; he who has eight to feed - To
car, and a trunk - We went to went to complain at the see Rousselet, who gave me
bed to save light, which is chateau. I went to see him. 1,000 francs toward his rent)
scarce. The Jollois boys and Dulin - Blois is in turmoil; the
came to bring me news of supplies, the food, and the
Wednesday, December 21st
their parents - It is freezing wood is almost gone and we
I hid oats in several places. - Victor sent us a piece of
Baptiste went to take the do not know how we will be
beef and a duck from the able to feed the garrison of at
horse to the forest with the requisitions. (The entire
neighbor's animals that are least 12,000 men. For each
Bergevin family is still ab- man we need coffee in the
hidden there - The peasants sent. M. Surateau and
are sleeping in a hut and the morning, at noon a pound
Victor are running the of meat, a vegetable dish,
animals stay outside house.) We received a letter
(Baptiste went to Blois for and a liter of wine; in the
from Georges. I answered
provisions). We were so wor- evening 200 grams of meat
him.
ried to see the Uhlans and and cheese - back home at
marauders that I did not Sunday, December 25th 11 o'clock. In my absence
leave the house. (I buried two I brought in the Hermit two Prussians from the guard
trunks of linen - Victor has and the picture. My wife post came. We gave them two
been sending us meat for went to low mass with Julie. bottles of wine. In the evening
several days). There were only six people. another bottle - An officer
Victor sent us beef. We are came to get information on
Thursday, December 22nd worried about the requisi- the electric wires. We have
I hid oats, I cleaned up the tions and the patrols that are no news of the war. Around
cellar. Pointal brought meat going on in the countryside. 3 o'clock we heard the
and a duck. I fixed up the liv- Yesterday M. Vallon had a cannons in the direction of
ing room, which is still full of serious dispute; they threat- Vendome.
straw. Visit from Mme. Vallon ened to beat him (they
- Visit from the priest and wanted to take his chickens Wednesday, December 28"'
Bodin the baker. It froze last - ours were taken and eaten Around 10 o'clock the
night. I made my horse in the the first days). There is a guard of ten men which was
woods run. We still fear re- 10-man guard at Touvin's at Touvin's suddenly left, as
quisitions at home. that is renewed every day. did the Saint-Gervais gam-
Friday, December 23rd The last two were mean son. We think that they are
I hid the harnesses - It was imps. heading to Vendome. We were
10 below zero - / went to Monday, December 26"' fairly calm for the rest of the
thank Victor, who again gave I hid meat and potatoes in day except for a few maraud-
me some chops from several different places because the ers who came to ask for wine.
requisitions made in the marauders would not hesi- (I went to M. Vallon's. Victor
surrounding areas for officers tate to take them in their sent us six chops.) We are
of the chateau - at 3 o 'clock searches. We are very wor- fairly worried because we see
troops arrived in the village; a ried - Visit from Mme. many Uhlans circulating with
guard post was set up at Vallon who had marauders. requisitionary wagons. It is
Touvin's; we are very worried. I did not leave the house. ten degrees below zero.
Thursday, December 29"' - (At Godefroy's a ther- tenant to reprimand the
At 6:30 in the morning mometer). There are many guards and tell us that six
two Uhlans came to Prussians in Blois. It is a bottles a day were enough.
Metivier for wine; he place of depot and passage Still, in the evening, they
brought them to our home; for the troops. In my ab- got drunk with brandy that
we gave them two bottles sence the guards came to they stole somewhere and
- A seven-man guard post ask for wine and candles
they came carousing in
was set up at Marquet's - / - They broke the hedge to
order to get more; we had a
went to see Victor - To get in - It is 6 degrees
Touvin's - It is 8 degrees hard time getting rid of
below zero.
below zero - them.
Saturday, December 31s'
Friday, December 30"'
(Georges arrived from
The guards are still at
The guard is still at Marquet's - All day they Pontlevoy on foot at
Marquet's. I tried to work. asked for wine; we gave 4 o'clock -10 degrees below
1 wrote on oculistics. At them fifteen bottles. Three zero. How many unfortu-
2 o'clock I went to Blois marauders asked us for four nate days in the year that
to see Jollois, who has bottles. I complained to the has just ended? And on top
eight men to feed - At captain who is in the of it all the loss of our dear
Robert's three men to feed chateau; he sent a lieu- Eugene!)
::;,Sg
We have no news from the doubling their sentinels -
1871 outside -10 degrees below Marauders came to ask for
zero - (We have decided to a lot of things; we gave
Sunday, January 1st keep Georges with us.) them four bottles of wine
Yesterday's guard, before Monday, January 2nd not including the eight bot-
being relieved, asked for tles given to the post - We
I took my memoirs to Victor
two bottles of wine. I went to have heard that snipers are
and I gave him 20 francs; he
see no one and we had no meeting a kilometer from
accepted the book and refused
visits. I worked a little bit on here in the Russy forest ~
the money. I worked a bit. I
the oculistic study, which (Since the beginning of the
went to M. Vallon's - We are
distracted me from my trou-
still worried -10 degrees below occupation people from
bles - (My wife gave 3 francs
zero. Vienne and the city have
to mother Rose. Mathurin
come to get their wood in
and his wife came to tell us Tuesday, January 3rd
of the birth of a boy to their the forest; they cut green
The guard is still at
daughter Eugenie) - After a trees and do much damage;
Marquet's (at the little
modest dinner, we went to house). I took apart the they take as much wood for
bed at 8 o'clock. Today's post electric door. We fear events furniture as for heating.) -
was reasonable: six bottles - because the Prussians are 10 degrees below zero.
M:
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i
Wednesday, January 4"' have been a battle over there. Monday, January 9"'
As of 7 o 'clock in the I sought out news all day in It snowed from noon
morning, the Marquet guard the village - 2 degrees below until the evening and there
(little house) placed a sen- zero - Since all our provi- are 10 centimeters on the
tinel on the open corner of sions have been raided and ground - Baptiste went to
our terrace and one on the we know that in the neigh- take the horse to the forest
road at the end of the veg- borhood the Uhlans took all because of requisitions, but
etable garden - All the doors the foodstuffs they could is now forced to go back
remained open to let the pa- find, we are hiding all our and get it - I am working
trols pass through. Around provisions. We took the on physiological optics -
10 o'clock we heard about precaution of cutting bread Georges is working in my
fifty rifle shots and we hear in four parts and hiding it in office next to me - In the
that snipers, having met the four different places; this is morning I again heard
Uhlans in Clenord, killed one what they are looking for cannon fire far away near
and wounded three - Visit most. Vendome. I am going to get
from Mme. Vallon. We are news at the chateau from
greatly worried - eight bottles Saturday, January 7th Victor - M. Bergevin is in
to the men of the guard post I worked a little bit in the Saumur and Mme. Donnet
-10 degrees below zero. morning. We could still hear is in Blois at Dr. Arnoult's
the cannons near Vendome, - 1 degree -
Thursday, January 5"'
but less now. I was around
In the morning we learned Tuesday, January 10th
in the area looking for
that all the Prussians of news. Uhlans are going Snow is covering the
Saint-Gervais fell back to through the countryside ground - I am working on
Vienne. Sentinels were placed looking for snipers, whom optics. Baptiste is going to
in this 10,000 square meter they seem to fear. There are town to get provisions with
suburb. The post of the city very few Prussians in Blois. a pass. It is said in Blois
gate lets people go through to No news gets to us - that we are winning against
enter the city but doesn't let Everything that is an- the Prussians near Vendome,
anyone leave without a pass nounced is contradictory. It which is doubtful; there are
- We saw Uhlans going in is one degree above zero. 300 French prisoners head-
several directions with car- ing to Orleans. I went to
riages to make requisitions - Sunday, January 8th M. Vallon's around 5 o'clock
/ am going to the Municipal My wife went to low mass - After dinner we read and
Council to vote for the requi- with Georges - We can still went to bed early to save the
sitioning of one sack of hear the cannons around candles that we have a hard
wheat per day - The rest of Vendome and also near time finding at this time.
the day was fairly calm - We Orleans. It is said that there Although the ground was al-
have no news of what is is fighting in Jones - Visit ready covered with 7 to 8
going on. from the priest - Horses and centimeters of snow, it still
Friday, January 6th cars were requisitioned in snowed during the night. 2
Saint-Gervais to transport degrees.
Georges and Baptiste went
to Cellettes to get bread. wounded Prussians - Since Wednesday, January 11"'
Around nine o'clock in the the Prussian occupation we There are fifteen centime-
morning we heard the can- have gone to bed early and ters of snow on the ground.
nons in the direction of gotten up late to pass the We got up late. (We worked
Vendome and this went on time. We live soberly because with Georges in my office: he
until nightfall; there must supplies are scarce. 1 degree. is preparing for his baccalau-
333
reat, and I am pursuing my Council has assembled to
physiological optics work.) send a protest, so it is said, to
Around 11 o'clock two Uhlans King Guillaume. Uhlans come
came to ask for wine; we gave to requisition every day in the
them two bottles. countryside. Eight degrees this
Georges went to town at evening - We learned that Le
1 o 'clock with a pass in Mans was taken by Prussians
Baptiste's name; he brought us and that there were a great
news that fighting was going number of prisoners.
on near Vendome and that we
Saturday, January 14"'
had the advantage - An army
is supposedly spread out from The ground is covered with
Mans to Orleans and another at least 20 centimeters of
one is said to be in Vierzon - snow. I am making an in-
Nothing is certain. It is 10 de- strument to trace pathways
grees below zero. in the garden. It is a sort of
conical box, which makes
Thursday, January 12"' grooves in the snow on each
The ground is covered with side. It can be pulled fairly
snow and it was 10 below zero quickly - I worked on pseu-
last night - I wrote to doscopy the rest of the day -
M. Bourgeois, head of a junior- Baptiste went to town for
high school in Pontlevoy. provisions - It was said that
Georges and his mother wrote the damages were dropped
to Eglantine and we sent these from 200,000 francs to
three letters by way of one of 100,000 francs. It is 10 de-
Jollois's roadmen. I worked on grees below zero.
pseudoscopy (physiological op-
tics). Visit from M. Vallon - Sunday, January 15lk
The only news that reaches us The ground still covered
is contradictory. with snow, I drew a path
with my instrument up to
Friday, January 13"' M. Bergevin's door in fifteen
The ground is covered with minutes - My wife was able
snow. It was 3 below zero last to go to mass this way. We
night. I worked on physiologi- learned of the death of
cal optics. I did pseudoscopy M. Moessard who died sud-
drawings. I went to Blois at denly last night, choked by
three o'clock. (To see mother, his illness. Baptiste went to
who is doing fairly well al- town and tells us that there is
though she is quite worried.
serious talk of an armistice. I
To Lecesne's.) The city is agi-
worked on Pseudoscopy all
tated with emotion - a worker
killed a Prussian in the street.
The Commandant is asking Monday, January 16"'
the city for two hundred thou- It is warmer now - 5 de-
sand francs in damages or the grees. The snow is starting to
punishment will be two hours melt and there is much wind.
of pillaging. The Municipal I worked on pseudoscopy all
334- ,:..
day. Contradictory news on the taking of Mans. Paris was
the war. strongly bombarded on the left
bank of the Seine. General
Tuesday, January 17"'
Bourbaky has had a few suc-
A lot of wind, 6 degrees, and
cesses in the East - The
the snow has almost melted -
weather is nice - There are few
Baptiste went to Blois for sup-
Prussians in Blois - It is said
plies - There are very few
that the city of Blois has been
Prussians in Blois - At 9:301
exempted from its 200,000
went to M. Moessard's funeral
francs in damages.
until 11 o'clock. I worked on
Pseudoscopy images. I went to Friday, January 20"'
visit the priest, who came to the It is thawing little by little. I
house at that same moment. I worked on pseudoscopic im-
went to M. Vallon's. It has been ages. We have no news of the
raining for part of the day and war. Georges is preparing for
there is much wind. There is his baccalaureat as best he
talk of a congress that will take can - I worked a bit on fixing
place in England around the the camera obscura. My wife
21s' about the Orient issue and had a few rooms cleaned
in which the idea of an which had been dirtied by the
annistice will be discussed. Prussians. However, we are
leaving the living room as they
Wednesday, January 18'h did with the straw and their
It is rainy and windy. There garbage - I went to Tauvin's.
is no more snow on the
ground. I am working on my Saturday, January 21s'
Pseudoscopy images. Visit I get up every day at eight
from Mme. Vallon - We re- o'clock even though I have
ceived a letter from Eglantine trouble sleeping. I rest as well
- We can hear the cannons in - I worked on pseudoscopic
the direction of Beaugency images - Julie went to the
and this noise was said to be market in Blois. We have no
heard for a good part of the news. It continues to thaw.
night. Sunday, January 22nd
Thursday, January 19th I worked on pseudoscopic im-
ages - At 2 o'clock I went to
It was 1 degree below zero
Blois with my wife - I went to
but there is no more snow on
see Mieusement, Gervais, and
the ground. We could still hear
mother. They are still talking
the cannons this morning
about blowing up the bridge - I
from the direction of
read two newspapers that
Beaugency. - I worked on
Tlieophile Tauvin brought -
pseudoscopy images. I went
News from Pans is not very
with Georges to Blois (to
good. It is being violently bom-
Jollois's and for diverse items
barded. Tlie weather is very nice.
at the stationery shop) - I
heard of the defeat of the Loire Monday, January 23rd
army of General Chanzy and Up at 8 o'clock- I worked
with the stonemason Dupuis per inhabitant in the country-
to put a new cowl on the side. Everyone is upset - I
chimney of the little house - I went to Lecesne's. In the
worked a little on pseudoscopy evening there is a lot of snow
- I went to Tauvin s - We have covering the ground.
started to eat in the dining
Thursday, January 26"'
room since yesterday -
Madame Donnet sent someone The ground is covered
to find out if we would take with snow - I am working
her as a boarder - We gave a on my pseudoscopy images.
non-committal answer. The I went to Mme. Vallon's - In
weather is fairly nice. the evening I had a violent
headache, which forced me
Tuesday, January 24"' to go to bed at 7 o'clock.
Up at 6 o'clock. We went News of the war is not very
with Georges and Baptiste to positive.
Pontlevay. We arrived at the
hotel at 10 o'clock and had Friday, January 27"'
lunch. I went to the convent to I got up at 8:30 because of
tell Eglantine that I was taking the great cold - The Tauvin
her back to Saint-Gervais - I woman brought me newspa-
paid for her boarding for six pers from Romorantin; I have
weeks - 75 francs. I went to the found out that there are 10
junior high school where I paid thousand of our men in this
112 francs for three weelcs and town - The newspapers are
Georges's boarding. full of bad or contradictory
M. Bourgeois made me visit news. An exit attempted by
his museum. The people in General Trochu was unsuc-
Pontlevay are rising up against cessful - The delegate govern-
the Prussiaris, whose occupa- ment is in Bordeaux. They are
tion they did not experience. We looking to recruit men - The
left at 3 o'clock and anived in ground is covered with snow -
Saint-Gervais at 6 o'clock. It The Prussians do not let any-
froze a little bit during the day. one enter Blois - They put
kindling under the wood
Wednesday, January 25"' bridge that links the arches
I am a little bit tired from and placed three mines in the
my journey. I am fixing my arch on this side.
battery - I am going to Blois
at 2 o 'clock for news. I met Saturday, January 28"'
M. Legendre, who tells me Fighting in Saint-Gervais.
that the Prussian government Up at 8 o'clock. The ground
is asking the city of Blois for is covered with snow. I am
30 francs per head for war tax, working on my physiological
therefore 1 million. The mu- studies (Punctum corcum) all
nicipal council is addressing a day - Around 3:30 we heard
reclamation to Prince the French bugle and fifteen
Frederick Charles - We must, minutes later we saw the
people say, ask for 25 francs troops of the 25'1' battalion of
the army heading towards Vallon to organize a service
Blois near the Saint-Gervais to look for the dead, and
bridge. Heavy gunfire took group together the wounded
place with the Prussian guard in various houses
set up at the city gate. I saw (M. Bergevin). We buried six-
the action from all the way teen dead and brought back
down the road - a few of our ten wounded. The army hos-
men fell (on the ice) - Several pital now has only 17. All the
troops launched themselves at wounded who could be trans-
great speed and pushed back ported followed the anny that
the Prussians, who ran from went back towards Cour
house to house, hiding. The Cheverny - We do not know
artillery placed first at the top where they are going. My wife
of the hill and later near the spent the day and night tak-
bridge sent cannonballs (that ing care of the wounded with
do not travel well because of Mine. Vallon and Mile.
the foggy skies). After two Dusserre. There was a young
hours of shooting, the Piiissians army doctor and two assis-
crossed the bridge protected by tants. The priest quickly
their barricades and we imme- dined with us. In the evening
diately heard a triple detona- I went to Blois; there were a
tion; it was the three mines few more rifle shots from one
from the bridge that exploded bank to the next. During the
without damaging the bridge, day we heard the cannons in
but the wood parts burned - the direction of Vendome or
The French were forced to Marchenoir. I am very tired
stop in Vienne; if they had from my very difficult day.
been able to cross the bridge,
Monday, January 30"'
the city would have been
evacuated - (This fight had no Up at 7 o'clock. I worked
effect except to cut off the on my batteries, which are
bridge - Tlie general claims that in a bad state. My wife
the desired goal was fulfilled. It came back from the army
is also believed that it was a hospital at 9 o'clock; she
distraction for another opera- was tired. I went to Vienne
tion.) with Baptiste for news. The
bridge was cut off and
Sunday, January 29"' there were very few
According to the large Prussians in the city. To
number of rifle shots (perhaps Cajun's for copper sulfate.
about forty thousand and We learned that a 21-day
fifty cannonballs or bombs), armistice was concluded
we could have feared a mas- between the opposing par-
sacre on either side. There ties and the elections for the
were scarcely one hundred constituents would take
men wounded or killed on place in eight days as of
both sides. In the morning I January 31- noon. I went to
went with the mayor and M. our hospital in the chateau
Julie spent the night there. went to spend the night at tainty that the walls of Paris
We only have 10 wounded the chateau hospital. The were in the hands of the
left. Snow is still covering thawing seems to be under- enemy; that we fought for two
the ground. way. It is not as cold and the days in Paris against the
snow is starting to melt. democrats of Belleville, who
Tuesday, January 31"
had taken the Hotel de Ville,
Up at 7:30. I have a cold. Wednesday, February 1st
and that these troubles, al-
I was going to find out in Up at 8 o'clock. The thaw- though repressed, were the
the area if the news of the ing continues. I worked on cause of our defeat - this is
armistice is accurate; it is physiological optics. I found what the armistice is bringing.
true. We opened the hiding Leonie's hiding place, which is
place (near the dairy); we re- in a very good state - At Thursday, February 2'"'
moved the objects that are 4 o'clock I went to the munic- Up at eight o'clock. It was
less valuable. Georges went ipal council to establish a list very nice weather. I took all
to Vienne for news; the of indigents to give them my books out of the Lecesne
bridge has not yet been re- bread. We put 25 names hiding place and a few
built; a French colonel and a down. I went to the army hos- clothes. We also opened the
Prussian are meeting at the pital. There I met M. Vallon, large hiding place, which is in
Lion d'Or for the local condi- who was coming back from very good shape and we aired
tions of the armistice. I Blois in a fishing boat; the it out - We also unearthed
worked a little bit on physio- bridge has still not been re- two cases of white wine. (The
logical optics - Eglantine built. He told me with cer- two Thauvins helped us -
iii
' \ -
Visit from the teacher - I am requisitions in the country- Monday, February 6"'
working on oculistics a little side. The weather is very nice. Up at 7 o'clock. I went to
bit - My wife and daughter Blois with Georges for the clock
Saturday, February 4th
went to help at the army hos- face of the city hall, which does
pital. We are working on the Up at 7:30. I worked on
my pseudoscopic images. not work. To see Robert, who is
passerelle of the Blois bridge. suffering much from a sciatic. I
They say that the inhabitants The bridge rebuilt with
wood, my wife went to the went to the mayor's, where I
are quite tormented - another fixed the battery - We brought
Prussian was killed; 200,000 market in Blois with her
daughter and her maid. The back bulletins and two posters
francs are being asked. Two for the elections of the con-
weather is nice enough.
civilians were killed by them stituents that are to take place
but they do not want to pay Sunday, February 5"' on Wednesday. These eirands
compensation - Up at 7 o'clock. I worked on tired me greatly and I did not
my pseudoscopic images - I work much during the rest of
Friday, February 3rd
went to Blois with Georges - the day. I went to my neighbor's
Up at 8 o 'clock - I worked To Lecesne's. To see Jollois, to bring bulletins - There are
on my pseudoscopy images - whose foot is hurt - To three lists: Ultra democrats:
We learned that during the Robert's. We had the priest to Ducoux, Dufay, Germain
armistice the Prussian garri- dinner - In the evening the SaiTut, etc.;
son will be lodged by the in- army doctor came to see me Independents:Tassin. Emile
habitants and nourished by with his assistant. The weather Couteau, Basserien, etc.;
them - which will not prevent is quite nice. Moderates: Riffault, Thiers
Bouvilliers de Sers, etc. day. In the evening I worked
Tuesday, February 7"' on my electric regulator. It is
Up at 8 o'clock - I put a a little bit cold. We found out
plank in my main office for a few details in the newspa-
my books - Visit of Chabault pers on the deprivations en-
mayor about the elections - I dured by the Parisians during
cleaned up my office and did the siege. We also got a few
not do much else. It is raining details on the surrender of
a little bit. Paris due only to famine.
The Prussians are not en-
Wednesday, February 8"' tering; we are paying 200
Up at 6:30. I went (with million in war taxes - The
Georges and Baptiste) to entire garrison is prisoner -
Blois - (I am fixing the The forts are occupied by the
battery at city hall) - / went enemy.
to the chateau to cast my
vote to the state room: Sunday, February 12"'
Thiers. De la Panouge. Up at 7:30. I worked on
Boinvilliers. Riffault. De my electric regulator - I re-
Sers. I found out that ceived a letter from Leonie
Gambetta resigned - Back at dated from January 3O'h; she
noon - I worked on my is complaining about not re-
pseudoscopic images and on ceiving letters from us but
a new regulator for my clock we did write to her. They are
faces. It rained all day. all doing very well - I went
to Blois with Georges - To
Thursday, February 9"' see Jollois, whose foot is still
Up at 7 o'clock. I worked hurt - To Lecesne's (To the
on my new electric regulator. I mayor's for the clock face) -
closed hiding place no. 1, Three Uhlans came to
which I had opened and put St. Gervais to bring the
several objects inside. In the mayor the order to pay from
evening I went to the hospital now until February 15"', as
to see the doctor, who is a very contribution of war, 12,500
educated young man. It was francs - We had the priest to
nice all day long. dinner - It rained a little bit
Friday, February 10"' in the evening -
Up at 7:30. I worked on Monday, February 13"'
my pseudoscopic images. At Up at 6:30. I went to see
2 o'clock the army doctor Mayor Chabault about the
and his aide came to see me tax - He wrote a letter to
- In the evening I worked on M. Bergevin to ask him to
my electric regulator - It speed up the funds for the
rained all day. commune. M. Surateau left
Saturday, February 11"' to take the letter. (In
Up at 7 o'clock - I worked Sologne where M. Bergevin
on physiological optics - / retired.) I worked on entop-
was a little bit ill during the tic images and on my elec-
340
trie regulator - / was som- pork, potatoes, butter-apples,
nolent for part of the day and walnuts - Visit from the
and this tired me - It is army doctor who, in German,
quite nice weather. helped me to get along with
Tuesday, February 14"' my soldiers. The weather is
Up at 7 o'clock. I worked nice.
on my electric regulator. At Thursday, February 16"'
four o 'clock I went to the
My teeth caused me great
council to see how we would
suffering until three o'clock
face our war tax of 12,500 -
in the morning, so I did not
M. Bergevin is giving 3,000
If francs. The municipal council
managed to do the same
through contributions - We do
get up until 8 o'clock - Our
four men from Hesse left at
7:30 after having had coffee
not know what we can do with milk and butter; we
about the rest. The weather is filled up their jug of wine and
nice. even with all that they were
V i unhappy or pretended to be.
Wednesday, February 15th At 4 o'clock three Prussian
Up at 7 o 'clock - I went to officers arrived with eight
the Mayor Chabault's to come soldiers, who had dinner and
to a decision about the spent the night.
12,500 franc war tax. We
went to Blois with M. Vallon Friday, February 17"'
and the deputy to the Up at 6 o'clock - The
Prussian commander, who Prussian soldiers and their
was stubborn and hard. The officers left at 7 o'clock. At
only concession granted was 8 o'clock deputy Boucher
the paying of 3,000 francs to- fetched me to help him to
morrow and giving guaran- collect money to complete
tees for the rest - We went to
the 3,000 francs that had to
a Prussian prefect who had
be given on Sunday - We
just been set up in Blois to
had scarcely been to a few
conciliate the interests of the
homes when we were
inhabitants with the demands
of war; he was very kind and warned that 1,000
has promised to speak for us. Prussians were coming. (I
Scarcely back from Saint- went to the mayor's for the
Gervais at 1 o'clock. 235 men lodging tickets that we had
from Hesse passed through made.) - We had the com-
the village and had to be mander and two officers
housed and fed at individu- and 14 soldiers to feed and
als' homes. We had four who house - (Victor luckily came
were very demanding; in ad- to help us: He gave us a
dition to a snack upon their chicken and some chops).
arrival with bread and wine, We had a very agitated
we gave them dinner. Meaty evening. (The weather is
soup, beef a la mode, fried very nice.)
Vl I
Saturday, February 18"' to stay in Saint-Gervais will there be peace before
Up at 6 o'clock. The until the end of the the end of the armistice
Prussian soldiers and the armistice. The weather is that expires on Friday?
officers left at 8 o'clock after wonderful. Mile. Thiers and J. Faure
breakfast - At noon we had left for Versailles; we have
Monday, February 20"'
a colonel with two officers some hope for their inter-
Up at 6 o'clock. We went vention. There is some
and six soldiers - We dined
to Blois with Georges at trouble, which is easily re-
with them and everything
9 o'clock - to diverse sup- pressed - Georges went to
went well. They even spoke
pliers and to see mother, Blois for news. There is
French - There were 150 in
who is doing well and has none - Visit from, the army
the village. Baptiste and
not had any Prussians, al- doctor. It is rainy and cold.
Georges went on foot to
though there were many in
Cellettes to get supplies - We Thursday, February 23rd
Blois. After dinner I went
are all very tired - We have Up at 7 o'clock. I am
to see our horse with
been told that the armistice working on my electric
Baptiste; we had placed it
that was to end tomorrow regulator. We have fifty
in Charles Thauvin's care
has been extended for five Prussians in the village
with other animals for sev-
days and will end on the 25th lodged at individuals'
eral days. Baptiste went
- (Prussians and French homes. They are Polish
back to get it because the
believing in the possibility and kinder than the oth-
Prussians had a battle in
of a peace agreement. It is ers. We do not have any.
the forest and took several
wonderful weather. We The weather is very nice.
cows. I went to see the
received a letter from The armistice was pro-
army doctor. In the evening
Mine. Dantan announcing longed until Sunday at
I worked on the electric reg-
the death of Doctor midnight.
ulator. It was very nice
Phillips.)
weather.
Friday, February 24"'
Sunday, February 19"' s
Tuesday, February 21 ' Up at 7 o'clock. I worked
Up at 6 o'clock. The I am a little bit tired and all day on my electric regu-
colonel, officers, and sol- only got up at 8 o'clock. I lator, which will set the
diers left at 9 o'clock - At worked on the electric regula- time on all of my clocks. At
each departure they always tor. My wife went to Blois four o'clock we went to
find a way to steal some with Julie for provisions be- Blois with Georges and
linen or clothing that they cause Prussians are an- Eglantine - To mother's - To
sneak out. We hastily put nounced for tomorrow - We Lecesne's, where we learned
everything back in order have no news on what was that peace has been con-
and awaited new arrivals decided on the war but we cluded; although unofficial,
all day long. Luckily for us, hope for a peaceful conclu- it is almost certain - The
the 200 new arrivals only sion - The weather is very town is full of Prussians
occupied the part of the nice. still lodged in homes - It is
village near the road; they very nice weather -
are Polish Prussians. They Wednesday, February 22"d
are said to be good. They Up at 7 o'clock. I worked Saturday, February 25"'
set up guard posts and on my electric regulator. Up at 7 o'clock. I worked
sentinels as in wartime and Fifty Prussians have ar- on my electric regulator all
are ready for the Chamber's rived; they are housed in day. My wife went to Blois
decision on peace or war - the suburbs; we haven't had with Julie. She brought back
These Polish men are going any - We are quite anxious; news that there was no
longer any hope for peace. substances under the bridge and dined with us. He is a
The Prussian prefect sent his again and there are many very decent young man. The
servant to ask me if he could troops heading toward weather is very nice.
come and pay me a visit. I Sologne. The town is
answered yes. The weather is traumatized by its 500.000 Tuesday, February 28"'
very nice. francs tax. We had the Up at 7 o'clock. I
priest to dinner. The worked a little on the elec-
Sunday, February 26th tric regulator. I fixed the
weather is very nice.
Up at 7 o'clock. I worked ghosts and the camera ob-
on my electric regulator - Monday, February 27"' scura. I am having the
At 9 o'clock I went to Blois (Up at 7 o'clock. I fixed garden alleys cleaned by
(to the Prussian prefect to the train tracks with the Marquet woman. The
agree upon a day he could Georges) - We learned that army hospital evacuated
come so that I would be at the preliminaries of peace M. Bergevin's chateau. The
home. It will be tomorrow were agreed upon and doctor came to say good-
or the day after.) We have signed. We saw a large bye yesterday. We know
no news of the decision number of Prussian troops nothing yet of the peace
of the Chambers about coming back from Sologne conditions. The weather
peace. Blois is very worried - At 2 o'clock a lieutenant was very nice. The lieu-
and the Prussians are start- and his aide-de-camp tenant had lunch and din-
ing to put inflammable came; he slept in the parlor ner with us.
&Mmm
w: m Wm
>'M.
t'''i
Im
Wednesday, March I ' s
came to visit me. They told me as he had asked - To Jollois's ~
w
Up at 7 o'clock. I worked that the Chamber had agreed Upon arrival I learned that we
on my electric regulator. I on the conditions for peace - will have one captain and two
learned of the conditions of At 1 o'clock the captain of the aides-de-camp from the 59"'
peace: five billion in dam- company came with two other squadron tomorrow - The 58"',
ages. One fifth of Lorraine. Prussians until 4:30 - Our which is leaving, will return to
All of Alsace except for Belfort lieutenant left after lunch to Germany. The weather is very
and Metz. Around four go to Paris for the entrance of nice -
o'clock I had the visit of the the Prussians into the capital
Saturday, March 4'h
Prussian prefect and his gen- - The weather was wonderful
eral secretary. The lieutenant - Marquet came to clip the Up at 7 o'clock. Instead of
dined with us and his aide- trees. a captain, it was a sergeant
de-camp dined in the major accountant who arrived
Friday, March 3"' at eight o'clock with two
kitchen. It is very nice
weather. Up at 7 o'clock. I worked on Polish aides-de-camp - They
my electric regulator - At 10 are all very nice and polite -
Thursday, March 2"d o'clock I had the visit of sev- The first ate with us and the
Up at 7 o 'clock. I worked eral officers. At 2 o'clock I others in the kitchen - All day
on my new electric regulator - went to Blois to visit Sanesau I had Prussian officers visit-
At 9 o'clock three Prussian of the Comedie Francaise. I ing the property - At 1 o 'clock
doctors including an oculist took my memoirs to the Prefect in the morning a courier came
\ .
w&:
to announce departure the next
day at 8 o'clock - The weather
was beautiful.
Sunday, March 5"'
Hif Up at 7 o'clock. I fixed the
Hermit's head - My sergeant
#
hay for the horses and was from the mobile service.
hit in the face and put in jail
- I intervened for him with Friday, March 10"'
the colonel and he was re- Up at 6:30.1 have a very bad
leased at 6 o'clock - Several cold and my chest hurts. I did
officers came to stroll on my not work much in the morning
property - My two officers but I put my books and papers
had dinner with us - There away in my workshop. I went
are 9,000 men in Blois - The to bed early. It rained a bit. Our
weather is wonderful. I four Prussians stayed and they
opened the hiding place of will be in Saint-Gervais for one
the greenhouse where papers day.
and silver were hidden.
Saturday, March 11"'
Wednesday, March 8"' Up at 7:30. I am very tired
Up at 6:30. My two officers
M and their aides-de-camp left
from my cold; I have a little
bit of fever. I spent the whole
at 8 o'clock. I put the Hermit day cleaning up my workshop
back in place. We went with and organizing my papers.
Emile to Blois to Cousin Our four Prussians left in the
Robert's - There were many
morning - The weather is
troops in the city - We had a
fairly nice.
sergeant major and two
aides-de-camp in the evening. Sunday, March 12th
The weather is very nice. Up at 7:30. I am very tired
Thursday, March 9"' from my cold. I started to re-
Up at 6:30. The sergeant organize the electric door -
major and the aides-de-camp The Prussians have defini-
left at 8 o'clock. I put the pic- tively evacuated Blois. French
ture back in place - Emile left troops coming to stay in
for Paris at 1 o'clock. Georges Vienne could not cross the
went with him. At 3 o 'clock we badge before the payment of
had two corporals and two sol- the first billion. The priest had
diers from the army hospital.
dinner with us -
, , - . ; : .
ROBFR'I-HOL'DIN
The day after the Prussians left, Robert- on the odometer in the company of his
Houdin got up late at 10 o'clock in the worker. Until April 5, the learned mechani-
morning, after having spent a feverish night cian spent his time supervising various re-
disturbed with a terrible cough. He immedi- pairs inside and outside The Priory and his
ately had the large hiding place opened in work on the odometer with M. Roucault. On
the cave, 'which contained furniture and April 6, Robert-Houdin completed a figurine
bags of wheat belonging to his neighbors. of a gardener that was placed in the large
At 2 o'clock, ill, he was forced to return to cave. News from Paris was bad and greatly
bed. For three days Robert-Houdin re- worried him. In addition to stonemasons,
mained partially bedridden, going out only he hired a carpenter to work on the box for
to have different hiding places cleared out. the electric regulator. Robert-Houdin repaired
On March 16, feeling a little better, he took
many objects out of their crates and orga-
nized his library, but was still very tired. On 8- subdivide GARDE RATIONALE LIE PAUIS.
the 17th, in better condition, Robert-Houdin 2C BtTAlLLOI.
OBDKE DE SERVICE
cleaned up his workshop and unpacked /7 coupAcme.
of the electric door, and found the time to ci-apreh designte, av hen ordinaire de la reutxon de la
This was the beginning of the Commune. Sont con>iiJ*i*ei coniroe tetviccieoinmaoJei loulcs les priiwd'stmts, quci quesoil le modeie
convucJiHin.
I'heure indiquee ptr 1'ordre de urticc , Is manquenieut a cl BBMI (WralnWi le r*moi au Cuuscil
de discipline.
Lf i c Kfiiptions ii cmr cflu^^ tin in ^ lid If s fLdcid^ntp]lc soni coiiil3l& p&t tin cctlificit dc livrt'
griluiiement par un d Gbiturgiens ilu bataillon-
Prtvcoir, par fettretffranihie, leStrgent-H*jor. pour absence qm devra *trejusli5.
Roucault, whom he asked Emile to send to Touts rfelscnaiiOQ on eieute at sera odmiM par le SngiDi-^ajor nue d u i le* Zl teutei
349
ROBFR 1-HOUDIN
Illustrations 480. 481, and 482 - Alice, Henri, and Valentine Robert-Houdin.
Valentine, the youngest of Leome and Emile Robert-Houdins children, was born in 1876.
his vertical regulator and pursued the ad- From the 21st to the 30th of April, he contin-
vancement of the odometer. On April 12, he ued the same activities and his health seemed
consulted his family doctor, M. Arnoult, who to improve. Georges was considering studying
prescribed quinine sulfate, and this medica- for a scientific baccalaureat, and Robert-
tion seemed to relieve him and allow him to Houdin sent him to school. He received the list
spend better nights. For several days, he felt of the municipal elections on May Is' and
very weak and feverish and once again had wrote with no further commentary: "I am the
to resort to the medicine. M. Roucault first in the number of votes." Robert-Houdin
worked on the odometer or the electric reg- remained in epistolary contact with Mile. Anna
ulator with him. News from the capital was Kremer, the young hostess of the inn L'Ange-
worse but, to his great relief, Robert-Houdin d'Or where his son had passed away in her
learned that Emile was able to escape forced arms, and sent her a picture of Eugene which
enrollment in the troops of the Commune de she had asked for. Mile. Kremer informed him
Paris by joining the medical corps, to avoid in her latest letter of the result of her research.
fighting against the troops of Versailles. Eugene's watch and ring as well as the hun-
350
ACT V
351
ROBFRI -HOUDIN
Illustration 483 - The final two pages of Robert-Houdin's Tablettes journalieres dated June 3rd and 4th, 1871.
352
ACT V
Robert-Houdin passed away at 10 o'clock in the entire village. At the precise moment when my
the evening, succumbing to pneumonia, [27] in father, surrounded by his family, breathed his last
the room of the second floor of his dear Priory breath, the bells, clocks, the large bell, every-
from which he had admired the magnificent thing...everything...in impressive unison all rang
panorama of his hometown every day with the out the ten chimes of the hour. There are times
when one feels the souls of objects; this was their
same pleasure.
last goodbye to the man who had given them life
Eglantine Robert-Houdin was present during and whom they were to follow in death. The Priory
her father's last moments, which she recounted could not live without its creator. The property
during a conference dedicated to his memory: was sold following conflicting family interests and
To the great sadness of this moment is added a today time has done its deed. Fifty years have
painful memory that you will allow me to recall. At gone by and of the entire mechanical systems of
The Priory were many clocks and bells; a large bell the house, of all the attractions of the garden,
placed on the front of the house gave the time to nothing is left...only the memory.
353
ROBERT-HOUDIN
r,
Last Farewell Performance
If the importance and popularity of a per- haps even evils, and by sacrificing his own tran-
son is judged by the space that the press de- quility he managed to ensure that of others... [29]
\ otes to his death announcement, the verita-
ble avalanche set off in the press by the news Yesterday M. Robert-Houdin died at his pro-
of Robert-Houdin's death says much more perty of Saint-Gervais. Leaving to others the privi-
than the present work about his national and lege of discussing his scientific works, we are
international aura. From the most humble lit- happy to be the interpreter of all those who knew
him to pay tribute to the qualities that made a
tle regional newspaper in the remotest re-
gentleman and a good citizen.
gion to the large daily papers of the
During the occupation, through his courage and
provinces and the capital, the) all published
cautiousness, he knew more than once how to
this sad information in kind and warm terms. foresee great misfortune, and during the battle
Paragraphs, articles, and complete biogra- that took place in the suburb of Vienne and the
phies were published immediately after his commune of Saint-Gervais, he took all goodhearted
death, and several newspapers paid tribute to
the artist by relating the greatest moments of
his career in the form of episodes that went
on for several days. |>s] Daily newspapers in
foreign capitals also wanted to herald the
memory of Robert-Houdin and the watch-
maker, mechanician, conjurer, and scientist
Madame veuve ROBERT-HOUDIN; Nlomiem el Mudarna KJIIIE ROBERT-
was again honored. In contrast to these prac-
HOUDIN et leur enfant*; Monsieur OEOIIOBS ROliEHT-HOUMN; Mademoiselle
tically official homages, the very first articles EOLAKTIBE ROBERT-HOI) DIN; Madame veuve PROSPER-ROHERT; Mumium
published in the press of the region were BRACONMEB, colonel an 1" regiment de elmsseurs beiges; Madame BRA-
CONNIER et loure enfanls; Monsieur et Madame CHOCAT-HAM1LT0N et leui
among the most touching in their sobriety
ills; Monsieur ROBERT-RENOU; Madame veuve DE LA MARLIER; Monnieur et
because they spoke of the man and the com- Madame TOUTTAIN-AMIOT,
patriot, whose memory they saluted with
Ont Thoniieur de vous faire part de la nerte doulouieuse qu'ils viennent de faire en
modesty, tact, and also sincere sadness:
ia personne de
those who regret the disappearance of an im- leur epoux, pere, beau-pere, grand-pere, beau-fils, beau-freve et cousin, decede en sa
mense genius, the commune of Saint-Gervais will propriety du Prieure Sainl-Gervais, pres Blois, dans sa 66" annee, muni des
especially feel hard hit, because M. Robert- SacrementsriePEglise.
354
ACTV
people with him to help the wounded and retrieve mass, assisted by the former vicar of Saint-
the dead. Gervais, the family's friend Father Ranc.
lie was so universally admired that at the last Robert-Houdin's coffin was temporarily
municipal elections, he won all the votes of his fel- buried in the Saint-Gervais cemetery, as
low citizens... [30] Olympe had bought a plot in the cemetery
of Blois and had a mausoleum built,
Robert-Houdin's funeral took place on Friday,
adorned with a white marble medallion with
June 16 at 10:30 in the church of Saint-Gervais.
the master's profile, a work by their friend
Parents, friends, neighbors, and municipal, Dantan. It is in these shady, peaceful sur-
political, religious, and artistic figures gathered roundings that Robert-Houdin rests for eter-
in the church of Saint-Gervais, which was too nity.
small to contain the crowd during the cere-
mony, and some were thus forced to observe Here ends the narrative of Robert-Houdin's
from the square. Father Victor Colin said the life, and this biography. His departure for a
De la port dc Madame voino ftOBERT-HOTOK ; de Monsieur el Madame Ii>m-t BOBER'i'-HOUOIN el de lews enliiiils ; de
Moiisiem- GBOHBIB Il()I!KHT-IIOi;i)l> ; <le Mademoiselle IWNTJNE ROBERT-HODDIN; de Madame, veuve PBOSPER-ROBBRT ;
dc Monsieur el Madame BRACOKfffKR el de leurs cnfauls; de Honaieur el Madame CII0CAT-HAM1LTON el de ieur lils; de
Monsieur HOBERT-RliiSOO ; de Madame veuve DE LA MAItUI-K;
Ses EponsOj Pils, Fille, Belle-fille, I'elits-linfnnls, Belle-Mere, BeaiiN-Freres, Belles-SoniFS, Cousin el Cousine.
356
ACT V
357
ROBERT-HOUDIN
world said to be better marked his entry into play La Czarine at the Theatre Montparnasse
posterity. He occupies a unique place in the in December 1878, then at Grenelle and Les
pantheon of magicians, that of a founding fa- Gobelins. In 1887, following a proposal by
ther of a regenerated art which, thanks to Henri Lemaitre, his son-in-law, and in the
him, gained respectability. The artistic, me- name of the family, the municipal council of
chanical, and scientific heritage of Robert- Blois [27] decided to rename the Rue
Houdin is enormous and merits respect. Madeleine as Rue Robert-Houdin on May 26.
During his entire career, he was honored by
prestigious awards and adored by the public. The hundredth anniversary of his birth,
For fifty years after his death, his name con- celebrated by the elite of French and inter-
tinued to shine every evening on the marquee national magicians on December 6, 1905 at
of his theater, and his effects and mechanical an extraordinary gala in the Theatre des
pieces enchanted new generations. His Soirees Fantastiques with David Devant as
posthumous work Magie et Physique amu- guest of honor, and in the presence of the
sante was published in 1877 and his literary Parisian press and conjuring enthusiasts,
work was from then on regularly reprinted. set forth a new flood of journalists who
The Chess Player automaton was seen again saluted the artist's memory. The impact of
in Paris, where it ensured the success of the this event proved Robert-Houdin correct
(KUYRE PUSTHUME
MAGIE
A toi Robert-Houdin, dont la main si savante,
PHYSIQUE AMUSANTE Au temps jadis a su provoquer notre emoi,
Nous venons exprimer, l'&me reconnaissante,
La veneration que nous avons pour toi.
ROBERT H0UD1N
OltKfi I ) ' U S PORTRAIT DE L'AUTEUH En celebrant ici ta valeur triomphante.
KT D E V1GHI
Avec la vive ardeur que nous donne la foi,
Nous venons evoquer ta memoire puissante,
Comme un cher souvenir que chacun garde en soi.
1877
Broils dc reproduetuw d <ie Induction rcurvM
Illustration 488 - Title page of the posthumus work by Illustration 489 - Poem by Raynaly, for the one hundred
Robert-Houdin, Magie et physique amusante. year celebration of Robert-Houdin's birth.
358
ACT V
in 1938 Paris again honored the master by t. B A Y N A I . . Y , Prestidigitation classique & fantaisiste
IH Z I R K A , la Heine des Cigarieres
re-naming the Passage Bouchardy as Rue LHOMME M A S Q U E (le Marquis iO...
Robert-Houdin. The headlines said: "Robert- AS. H E L I E S , presentation des Automates de Robert-Houdin
MC. L E G R I S , la Prestidigitation modern
Houdin conjures Passage Bouchardy for him-
self." The cities of Caen and Bourges, follow- ] i dC B d
]eremonie du Couronnement du Busle de Roberl-Houdin
BALLET - DIVERTISSEMENT - APOTHEOSE
ing the example of the capital, also renamed LES PDESTIDIGITATEURS LOUIS XV ET LES BOUOUETIERES
Les Automates AN1MES de Robert-Houdiu
MEKUET GE
SONNET HI II mi ill mini ill -nut mv
Illustration 491 - Medallion of Robert-Houdin by Dr. Dhotel. Illustration 492 - Medallion of Robert-Houdin, created by Marie-
Madeleine Querolle, struck by the Monnaie de Paris.
359
ROBERT-HOLDIN
two of their streets with the artist's name. In magic art, from Harry Houdini in 1902 to
1949, a plaque was placed to mark the house David Copperfield in 1994, traveling from all
where he was born, and in 1966, Paul Robert- horizons to honor his memory. For more than
Houdin created a museum in Blois devoted a century, dozens of works and hundreds of
to his illustrious grandfather. The next year, newspaper articles, cartoons, television shows,
the Paris mint struck a Robert-Houdin medal, films, and exhibitions have been devoted to
and in 1971 a commemorative plaque was Robert-Houdin. whose statue stands today on
placed on The Priory. The postal ministry the esplanade of the chateau of his hometown,
printed a Robert-Houdin stamp for the hun- while throughout the world, amateur and pro-
dredth anniversary of his death. fessional magicians perpetuate the teachings
Over the years The Priory at Saint-Gervais of the "father of modern magic," who be-
and the Blois cemetery have become places queathed to each of them the most precious
of pilgrimage for those impassioned by the of legacies: his work and his example.
B
L
O
I
s
Illustration 493 - Advertising postcard for the first Robert-Houdin museum in Blois, accompanied by a Robert-Houdin
stamp with a "first day" mark.
360
ACT V
Epilogue
Even before the family could truly begin to wealthy individuals of the time, Robert-
mourn, several administrative tasks had to be Houdin kept large amounts of gold at home,
completed, and "Cousin Robert" proved him- probably napoleons. These sometimes very
self to be, as usual, efficient and of wise large sums were never part of notarial inven-
counsel. At Robert-Houdin's death, two of his tories out of discretion as well as for tax rea-
children were still minors; his old friend be- sons.
came their surrogate tutor and represented It would seem that dissensions broke out
them throughout the entire procedure. between the heirs because the advisor could
On June 21, 1871 at The Priory, under the not mediate a unanimous agreement.
direction of Maitre Postole, the artist's notary The civil court of Blois, charged with this
from Blois, and in the presence of Olympe litigation, decided on "the sale by licitation
Robert-Houdin, Emile Robert-Houdin, and (auction) of buildings according to law,"
Jean Martin Robert, representing Georges and the income was then transferred to the
and Eglantine, began the "inventory after account of the "liquidation-sharing of the
death of the assets belonging to M. Robert- assets." Maitre Postole was named "amiable
Houdin and his spouse." The first part of this liquidator."
tedious task consisted in cataloguing and Respecting the court's decision, the notary
evaluating on site every single object in offered a group of buildings for sale, the pro-
every room. The first session began at noon ceeds of which paid for various fees, taxes,
and ended between 7 and 8 o'clock in the and notably the portion of the inheritance be-
evening; it continued with the same schedule longing to Emile, the only heir who immedi-
on the 22nd, 23ld, and 24th of June. ately needed money. These three buildings
After all belongings came the evaluation of were: The Priory; a little house that bordered
the real estate, houses, farms, land, shares, the property; and an ensemble of houses sit-
and deeds which represented the largest part uated in Blois on Rue Saint-Martin. The Priory
of the inheritance. Emile had financial wor- was sold to Maitre Pelau for the amount of
ries as usual and did not share his family's 45,100 francs, as well as the neighboring
wish to continue to manage the assets as his house for 2,600 francs. Maitre Pelau was act-
father had done. The two sides present were ing on behalf of the Marquis de Flers, who
indeed facing a delicate problem because, al- became the new owner of The Priory, and
though the artist had left a sizable fortune for M. Bergevin took possession of the second
the time (the current equivalent of four mil- building. The houses in Blois were purchased
lion U.S. dollars), if we follow the inventory, - repurchased - by Olympe Robert-Houdin
there was very little cash. This relative ab- for 43,800 francs.
sence of cash, which appeared in the ac- Contrary to what the two biographers -
counts of Robert-Houdin's succession, is to Father Chesneau and Jean Chavigny - have writ-
be considered carefully. Like the majority of ten, in the same terms, it was not "Cousin Robert
362
ACT V
ROBERT HOUDIN
Illustration 495 - Engraving and frontispiece of Robert-Houdin's posthumous work, Magie et Physique amusante.
ROBERT-HOUDIN
[who] hurried with an unexplainable rush to greatly upset her, she preferred to give up
sell the family assets." her lovely but costly residence in order to
The choice of sacrificing The Priory - that keep and preserve the rest of the assets for
neither the Marquis de Flers, nor anyone in her children, whose interest they would ben-
the region would have tried to acquire with- efit from their entire life. The future proved
out Olympe Robert-Houdin's withdrawal - the wisdom of Olympe Robert-Houdin and
was sentimentally painful, and could have her faithful advisor Jean-Martin Robert,
undoubtedly been avoided in more peaceful 'Cousin Robert."
circumstances, but the assent of the master's
A meeting took place on October 17, 1871
widow was perfectly justified especially in
light of the proper management of her chil- at Maitre Postole's office in the presence of
dren's fortune. Without Robert-Houdin to all the heirs, where the portion of the estate
animate it, the property would never have due to each and the details of the assets
been the same; its upkeep was expensive they would receive were determined.
and required a large staff. Olympe knew that According to her wedding contract, Olympe
Eglantine was thinking about marriage and Robert-Houdin had the right to almost two
Georges was about to become an adult. thirds of the inheritance, the rest to be
Despite all these factors, even if it had evenly divided between Robert-Houdin's
365
ROBfrRl-HOUDIN
366
ACT V
367
ROBERT-HOUDIN
368
ACT V
Illustration 503 Olympe Robert-Houdin and her sister Amelie Illustration 504 - Olympe Robert-Houdin and her grand-
Chocat "Hamilton" during the last years of their lives. daughter Marguerite.
Emile Robert-Houdin kept for himself: what everyone diplomatically pretended to be-
A Writing Automaton in progress; lieve... [34]
A Singing Lesson, mechanical bird;
A bronze drinker; Thanks to their share of the inheritance and
and various tools for watchmaking and me- later to that of their mother, "[who] piously
chanics. passed away [on January 2, 1901} at the end
of a life devoted to the happiness of her fam-
The most important part of Robert-Houdin's ily and charity towards the less fortunate,"
Cabinet de Physique - including his stage Georges and Eglantine had an existence free of
equipment, his various experiments, and the all financial worries and devoted themselves to
ensemble of his automata - remained in joint their artistic passions: the first to painting, the
ownership for a few more months. By virtue of second to sculpture.
an act signed in the office of Maitre Marie The fact of having money again, and even
Ernest Duplan, notary in Paris on January 5, feeling wealthy for the first time in his inde-
1872, this ensemble was sold in its entirety for pendent life without having his father's gaze
10,000 francs to a mysterious buyer who stated upon him, seemed to have deeply transformed
he was acting on his own behalf, which is Emile. He only used a small part of his cash to
369
RODHRT-HOUDIN
3^0
ACT Y
Illustration 50"" Emile Robert-Houdin, manager of the Illustration 508 - Pierre Edouard Brunnet, co-manager of
Theatre Robert-Houdin from 1873 to 1883. the Theatre Robert-Houdin from 1873 to 1879.
formed during the second part of the evening. Physique of Robert-Houdin thanks to M. Plantet's
After August 8, Cleverman ended his show by generosity, Cleverman announced the trapeze
projections of instant tableaus of the ''Double artist Antonio Diavolo in 1872 as well as The
Siege of Paris" obtained with the help of oxide Garland of Flowers, while Emile Robert-Houdin
gas, and if we are to believe his announce- restored his father's other mechanical pieces
ment, this new attraction aroused great interest: with his apprentice Eugene Calmels, who, al-
"At the Theatre Robert-Houdin, huge success! though he did not know it yet, would remain at-
The most amusing evenings! The tableaus of tached to them for almost forty years.
the siege of Paris, the Insurrection, and the After nearly ten years spent at the head of
fires make it a full house every evening. Bravo Soirees Fantastiques, Cleverman, who suffered
M. Cleverman."
from heart disease and whose hair and side-
In the winter of 1871, a ten-year-old school- burns had gone grey from the workload, began
boy became an assiduous spectator at the little to think of retirement.
theater and discovered his vocation for the art of In December 1873, Emile Robert-Houdin ac-
illusion. He would one day be in charge of this complished his most precious dream, but also
theater's destiny. His name was Georges Melies. his most secret one, and succeeded Cleverman
Having been able to acquire Le Cabinet de on the stage of the theater, where, as Brunnet's
371
ROBLRT-HOLDIN
Illustration 509 - The facade of the Theatre Robert-Houdin during the time of its management by Emile, then by Leonie
Robert-Houdin, from 1873 to 1888.
372
ACTV
3"3
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 511 - Leonie Robert-Houdin, manager of the Illustration 512 - Dicksonn, co-manager of the Theatre
Theatre Robert-Houdin from 1883 to 1888. Robert-Houdin from 1883 to 1886.
associate, he proved to be a good artist who on the bill of the Theatre Robert-Houdin, some of
particularly excelled in the presentation of his whom would become celebrities of their time,
father's automata. Emile Robert-Houdin and such as the young prodigious calculator Jacques
Edouard Brunnet created new stage illusions Inaudi, or Dicksonn, who had not yet taken the
which also had all of Paris running to the little name Professor. That decade witnessed the death
theater of Soirees Fantastiques. The Indian of Robin in 1874, of Cleverman in 1875, of
Trunk (The Substitution Trunk), The Rose Nest, Hamilton in 1877, and the beginning of the next
The Tour of Japan, and even The Triple Indian saw that of Edouard Brunnet and Emile Robert-
Trunk all contributed to the vogue for the the- Houdin.
ater. Upon Emile's death on March 17, 1883, Leonie
Instead of bringing them together, success Robert-Houdin, his widow, courageously took
separated the two men, and in 1879, Robert- over the reins of the little theater and, after having
Houdin's son, whom everyone called Emile, entrusted it for nearly four seasons to Dicksonn,
purchased the theater assets and all its precious put the magicians Jacobs and Raynaly on the bill,
automata from M. Plantet. Emile Robert-Houdin then Lemercier de Neuville in his revue Tout Paris
proved to be a skillful and wise director and in November 1886. During her last year of man-
began, in the image of his predecessors, to ex- agement she became an associate with Emile
pand his fortune. He put several talented artists Voisin, the grandson of the magic manufacturer
374
ACT V
Illustration 513 - Emile Voisin, co-manager of the Theatre Illustration 514 - Georges Melies, manager of the Theatre
Robert-Houdin from 1887 to 1888. Robert-Houdin from 1888 to 1920.
Andre Voisin, whose shop he had taken over; with evocative titles, among them The Persian
during this period, Duperrey, Henry's, and Stroubaika, Mesmer's Castle, The Yellow Dwarf,
Jehanne d'Alcy. made their debut on the stage The Recalcitrant Headless Man, The Moon's
of the Theatre Robert-Houdin. Tricks, and many others which are today among
During the month of June 1888, Leonie the classics of illusion and which Jacobs, Raynaly,
Robert-Houdin sold the lease of Soirees Duperrey, Harmington, Carmelli, Arnould, and
Fantastiques de Robert-Houdin, its furnishings, Legris performed with style, to name only a few
and legendary automata to a 26-year-old man of the theater's famous associates. Georges
who was brilliant, talented, and wealthy: Georges Melies always reserved a place of honor in his
Melies, who would manage the theater for thirty- program for Robert-Houdin's most famous effects
two years. Thanks to this great multi-talented and automata, and the most talented magicians of
artist, a pioneer of cinema and creator of the cin- the end of the nineteenth centuiy periodically per-
ematographic show, the greatest talents of formed in his theater.
French magic performed on Robert-Houdin's The last performance of Soirees Fantastiques
stage, in the company of the Merveilleuses Vues de Robert-Houdin was performed with great
animees de G. Melies (Marvelous Animated emotion by Georges Melies, assisted by Henri
Images by G. Melies). This inspired manager Maurier, on July 13, 1920, exactly one month after
invented a quantity of new, spectacular tricks the date of the anniversary of the master's death.
375
NOTES TO ACT V
A-
377
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Secrets de Robert-Houdin, in- grees, would have produced too tried out for the first time by
cludes an excerpt of an interview weak a light. The bulb with a veg- Robert-Houdin during his son
with Jean Chavigny in Philippine etal filament that Robert-Houdin Georges's baptism in 1851 (see on
(Did the illusionist Robert-Houdin supposedly used was more or less this subject the works by Jean
invent the electric lamp fifteen pure carbon. Whether made with Ghavigny and Andre Keime).
years before Edison?): "How. sir. bamboo or carbonized thread like Volume 5 of Applications de
did you come across this story?" Edison used or any sort of vegetal I'electricite by the Count du
"From the son of an eyewitness, carbonization, it could be per- Moncel (3 "* edition, 1878) is de-
gardener of Robert-Houdin, pre- fectly suitable if the mechanism voted to several variations of arc
sent at this party." (Bonjour were appropriate. lamps, which have also been used
Philippine, no. 52 - journal pub- Second condition: the com- in cinema projectors. He was not
lished by the manufacturer of bustion of the element must be talking about incandescent lamps.
Philips electric bulbs). Personal brought to 2.000 degrees, or else Count du Moncel was in contact
note: could it be Mme. Jean the element would be destroyed with Robert-IIoudin and he de-
Chavigny's own grandfather, who (in this case vegetal filament). scribes the numerous applications
had been a gardener's assistant at This is why the filament must be he conceived (submerged battery,
The Priory during his youth?) sealed in an oxygen-deprived en- electric clocks, current distribu-
Andre Keime Robert-Houdin in vironment (a glass bulb in a vac- tor, electro-chronometric coun-
Robert-Houdin, le magician de la uum or filled with gas that does ters, electric distributor for arc
science, writes: "...the reality of not chemically combine with lamp, etc.).
this use of electricity during a oxygen). All researchers of that In conclusion, when Paul
country dinner and the use of in- time ran into this difficulty, as Robert-Houdin depicted his grand-
candescent lamps are supported summarized by Andre Keime in father holding an incandescent
by family tradition. Georges his book Robert-Houdin, le magi- lamp, it was more of a symbol
Robert-IIoudin. who was twelve cien de la science. than a reality. This detracts noth-
years old in 1863 at this party, The problem is a technical ing from Robert-IIoudin's merits
often told it in the same terms as one. In 1863 it was not possible to as a researcher and scientist. I will
Jean Ghavigny. Unfortunately, no create enough of a vacuum to pre- even say that during his lifetime,
written document, drawing, or ac- vent combustion. It was only after Robert-Houdin was primarily a
count exists regarding this inven- the invention of the mercury scientist and then a magician. He
tion by the owner of The Priory, if steam pump (1865) that it was would today be head of research at
not the actual incandescent lamp, possible to significantly create a the CNRS and he would probably
or at least a similar model, which vacuum. This was done progres- be taking care of the mega-joule
for the first time found practical sively, and it was not until 1879, laser set up in Bordeaux.
use during an entire evening in as noted by Andre Keime, that Paul Robert-Houdin and Andre
1863." Edison could make an incandes- Keime Robert-Houdin wanted
These are the only testimonies cent electric bulb work for thir- Robert-IIoudin's inventions to be
(unfortunately only verbal and teen hours, using carbonized recorded for posterity. In reading
second-hand, as Andre Keime ad- thread as the filament. the works of the Count du Moncel.
mits) that have led to the idea that To summarize. Robert-Houdin we realize that during the same
Robert-IIoudin invented the in- could not have made an electric era. several dozen researchers
candescent light in 1863 for his incandescent lamp work in 1863 were working on the same sub-
daughter Eglantine's communion. for even one minute because he jects as Robert-IIoudin. and they
What should we think? Here is did not have a pump that could all brought something to the de-
my opinion: first, let us take a create a sufficient vacuum. velopment of these techniques.
look at physics. So what must one think about History has decided that the ma-
First condition: a body or an el- the testimony of Robert-IIoudin's gician should go down in history
ement, to emit light visibly, must assistant gardener regarding Eglan- and not the scientist. I think that
be brought to a very high temper- tine's communion party? It was History was correct and that
ature, at least 2,000 degrees. This most certainly a variant of electric Robert-IIoudin's contribution to
is the temperature of the tungsten arc lamps, which work in the open magic is far superior to what he
filaments in our current electric air and whose principle is very dif- brought to science.
bulbs. During Robert-Houdin s time, ferent. They were frequently used
carbon was practically the only el- during Robert-Houdin's time and Monsieur Andre Keime Robert-
ement that was suitable for this he had done research on them in Houdin. with whom I have spo-
temperature. Tungsten could not using his electric distributor to ken on several occasions, and
be mass-produced and platinum, automatically bring together car- who has always shown great ob-
which melts at less than 2.000 de- bon electrodes. Arc lamps were jectivity about his illustrious
3"8
NOTES TO ACT V
great-grandfather's career, has a One of the rooms in The Priory The audience w as mainly made
very different opinion on this was completely filled with elec- up of officers from the American
subject. Although Jean Chavigny tric batteries and their amount military base in Blois. to whom
was the first to reveal the possi- and presence could only be justi- the light bulb was Thomas
bility of the invention of the in- fied by this type of experiment. Edison's invention. Eglantine
candescent lamp, this informa- M. Andre Keime Robert-Houdin Lemaitre Robert-Houdin may there-
tion had always been known by thinks that the bulb with a vege- fore have refrained from discussing
Robert-Houdin's family; and Georges tal filament invented in 1863 bv this experiment out of courtesy to
Robert-Houdin. the master's son his great-grandfather, instead of the illustrious compatriot of this
and Andre Keime's grandfather, lighting Eglantine's communion brilliant audience.
always spoke of his father as dinner for the entire evening,
Edison's precursor. Monsieur only shone for a short time and 2,
Andre Keime Robert-Houdin be- must have disappointed the in- Doctor Dufay from Blois w as
lies es that his great-grandfather ventor, as it was a very costly ex- Robert-Houdin's friend and he
had been inspired by the works periment. One must also recall assiduously followed his work in
of Changy. who partially made that the first bulb commercialized the field of ophthalmology. In
an incandescent lamp, and he by Edison had only a thirteen- volume 30 of L Union Medicale.
believes this idea is confirmed hour life span. journal des interets scientifiques
by the fact that, among the mem- M. Andre Keime Robert-Houdin et pratiques moraux et profes-
bers of the commission of the also believes that the absence of sionnels du corps medical in
Academie des Sciences in charge any reference to this invention in 1866. Dr. Dufay wrote a humor-
of examining Changy's invention Eglantine Lemaitre Robert-Houdin's ous scientific column on his fa-
were Bequerel and Babinet. two lecture is due to the context in mous compatriot's inventions,
of Robert-Houdin s scientist friends. which her presentation was made. which is included here.
Yes, of course, it is M. Robert-Houdin, who, in his M. Robert-Houdin took advantage of this law of
retreat in Saint-Gervais near Blois, devotes his ex- physics to build a device of the thermoscope family:
ceptional observational skills to research. This wise pyrometers, pyroscopes which I had proposed (encour-
and curious mind has already found a few improve- aged by M. Piorry's example) to name pyrangelie, of
ments and made some useful applications in a xup, fire, c.' ayyex, as a warning because of its extreme
branch of science that has long been familiar to him: sensitivity to the slightest change in temperature.
electricity. Let us suppose that a metallic blade, made from
I will give two examples: a strip of brass and steel welded together, is at-
Everyone knows the Gallaud battery, which pro- tached to a small board at one end, with its end
perpendicular to the surface of the board and its
vides electricity for quite a while as long as it does
direction parallel to the surface without contact,
not run non-stop; little by little, however, the con-
to avoid any rubbing. (The blade of a knife, which
tinuous decomposition of brass sulfate weakens the
one is about to scrape along a tabletop, gives a
solution and it must be replaced.
rough idea of what I am trying to geometrically de-
Now, through a very curious process, M. Robert- scribe.)
Houdin has reached this point: his battery recharges
When the temperature increases, the brass face
itself as it decomposes. This is an almost lifelike ac-
of the metallic blade, expanding more than the steel
tion that occurs in a jar, a veritable circulation of a
side, will force the other side to bend, and the free
liquid, which regenerates itself with the contact of a
end of the blade will move from its first position to
nourishing entity.
follow the concave curve made by the steel.
You will see.
This free end will meet on its journey a metallic
M. Robert-Houdin fills a long-necked matrass button embedded in the small board and will remain
with brass sulfate crystals; then he finishes filling it in contact with it until the temperature forces the
with the same solution as that of the jar. (I am re- brass to similarly expand. This button is in contact
ferring to the container, which in the Gallaud bat- with one end of an electric battery, the other end of
tery contains the brass sulfate solution, covered which contacts the screw attaching the fixed end of
with a layer of water, which floats due to its spe- the metal blade.
cific lightness). The contact of this free end with the button
The cork of the container, through which two therefore creates a circuit on which there is a bell,
conducting brass stems are run, is pierced with a known by the name of a trembler, and which we
third opening for the matrass neck, whose end hear ring in telegraphic offices to warn employees
goes into the brass solution at the bottom. Then, that a message is going to be sent.
as the solution grows weaker, its density de- And do not believe that great heat is necessary to
creases; it rises into the neck of the matrass, be- produce the expansion of brass and the curving of
comes saturated again with the contact of brass the bi-metallic blade; a burning cigar, match, or
sulfate crystals, and is replaced, as it rises, by a even breath at a proximity of 10 centimeters is
current going down into a denser solution; with enough to make the bell ring.
the neck of the matrass holding a double continu- Moreover, one can give varying degrees of sensi-
ous current, one rising and the other descending, tivity to the device by varying the distance between
saturation of the saline solution is maintained for the free end and the button.
an extended time, and also therefore the contin- One can see how useful this system would be to
ued functioning of the battery. warn of fire in places with very inflammable objects
and in a host of other circumstances whose enumer-
The battery of the clock on the Hotel de Ville of
ation would take too much time here.
Blois is only recharged three times a year.
I have already overused the hospitality granted to
Something else now: we have all learned that me; I hope I have shown that M. Robert-Houdin is
various bodies expand in an unequal manner even not fair to himself and others when he performs the
if the temperature increases by the same amount. amputation of half his name, which is not at all un-
It is on this diversity of dilatation coefficients that worthy of honorably taking its place in the world of
is the basis of the theory of diverse compensating science.
clocks. Dr. Dufay.
380
NOTES TO ACT V
381
ROBERT-HOUDIN
13V8.
12.
Robert-Houdin had in his collec-
tion documents on the famous au-
* 9^
Illustration 51" - Title page of the work tomaton, including the book by
by Dr. Lynn. Charles Gottlieb de Windish. Lettres
sur le Joueur d'ecbecs de M de
1'z.zm
Kempelen. Basle and Paris 1783. >j /.A.o* -1.1
9. 13.
Hamilton apparently was able to Robert-Houdin's collaborator,
be as convincing to M. Plantet as he Gastineau, did some research on
w as to M. Belluot at the beginning the origins of the art of conjuring
of his career as a director. at his request, a subject that the
master wanted to expand upon in 7
10.
These anticipated damages
Les Secrets de la prestidigitation
(The Secrets of Conjuring and
z;j
vv ere a bit of an illusion for future Magic). Here is Robert-Houdin's
managers of the Theatre Robert- answer to Gastineau, who had
Houdin. The only one who could provided some information:
have legitimately benefited from
them was Georges Melies. Per- St. Gervais near Blois December Illustrations 518 and 519 - Letter from
sonal and national circumstances 3, 1867 Robert-Houdin to his friend and col-
beyond his control prevented him Dear collaborator and friend, league, the playwright Gastineau.
I begin by thanking you for the (Taken from Max Dif. op at j
from keeping the theater open information that you sent me on
during the war and after 1920. The conjuring at the time of the Greeks
court subsequently ruled that the and Romans. These details are most
sub-letting of the theater for acti- interesting and make one want to
14.
vities other than those stipulated learn more. There must certainly be Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, op.
in his lease deprived him of al- in some dusty corner a book which cit., pp. 342-348.
most all the damages to which he gives more detailed explanations
and which edifies us on the talent of 15.
was entitled. This iniquitous ruling
our predecessors in simulated Notes relating to conjuring, and
was very difficult for the great undeveloped in this chapter, from
magic. When I go to Paris, I will
artist. \\ ho had brilliantly main- enjoy searching through one of the Robert-Houdin's Tablettes journal-
tained the renow n of the famous old corners of some old library... ieres for 1867:
382
NOTES TO ACT V
Illustrations 521 and 522 - Photograph and visiting card of the conjurer Tufferau.
383
ROBERT-HOUDIN
384
NOTES 10 ACT V
385
ROBERT-HOUDIN
ror for a certain time. The head and Sunday, November 15. Cognac: all the curiosities and
alone is uncovered and can be seen Monday, November 16. Saintes: inventions. They dined
in the mirror when the electric Tuesday. November 17. Nantes: with us and the priest
light is turned on. Wednesday, November 25; Friday, and left on the 11
The phantom coming out of the November 27; Sunday, November 29; o'clock train.
sarcophagus is a mannequin whose and Tuesday, December 1. Angers: March 19th I worked on the re-
head was modeled on the head of Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, pair of the vase of the
the actor portraying the tsar. This December 6. Poitiers: Thursday, Large Dancer [The
head can easily be detached from December 10 and Sunday, December Genie of The .Roses]
the body. 13. Saumur: Monday, December 14. April 13th, 14th - [Photographs of The
Everything was set up in such a Bordeaux: Monday, December 21; Priory taken by
way that the virtual image of the Tuesday, December 22; Wednesday, Mieusement]
tsar Peter III coincides with that of
December 23; Thursday, December April 18th To Mieusement's for
the actor-phantom.
24; Friday. December 25; Sunday, four photographs taken
At the moment when the head December 27; Tuesday, December 29;
falls to the ground, the electric light of the house and the
Wednesday, December 30; Friday, automaton [The Chess
subtly lights up the head of the
actor playing Peter III, which, re- January 1; Sunday, January 3; and Player].
flected in the mirror, seems to have Saturday, January 9. Agen, Villeneuve: April 30th Visit of Paul Varner. I
grown on the phantom's head. Once Monday, January 11. Auch: Saturday, received a letter from
this one is reversed, the cover over January 16 and Sunday, January 17. Manning sending me
the tsar's body is immediately Lectoure: Monday, January 18. Fleu- an English announce-
yanked away and the electric light, rance: Tuesday, January 19. Carcas- ment about me.
flooding it, projects its image at the sonne: Thursday, January 21. Montpel- May 6th Paul Varner performed
place where the head is. lier: Saturday, January 23. Sete: at the mayor's office.
Monday, January 25. Narbonne: Tues-
19. day, January 26. Nice: Friday, January May 15th I received a letter
from Kuschnick from
The tour of this play, with so 29; Saturday, January 30; and Sunday,
Hazebruck that gives
many characters and difficult set January 31. details on Donkelle,
decorations, and complicated to [sic] known as Robin.
The nickname given to the au-
transport, cost a great deal of money
tomaton Chess Player during this June 19"1 I wrote to Mr. Warner
and brought little profit to the drama
tour was Baptiste, in London about
agent Kuschnick. It was a profitable Secrets..,
operation for Robert-Houdin. who
received set royalties for each of the
20. Sept. 20'" [Paris] In the evening
See Robelly, Le Litre d'or de ceux we went to Seraphin's,
performances of his automaton
qui ont eu un nom dans la magie, where I met Wolghe-
Chess Player, as well as author's
Tours, 1949. muth and Tobin.
rights taken directly from the gross.
Here is the list of cities of the first Oct. 23rd [The Priory] I received
tour of the play in the provinces for
21. a letter from Tobin in
"New system of transmission ap- London about a book
the years 1868 and 1869:
plicable to cars for their odome- on second sight.
Dieppe: Thursday, September 24 ters," patent No. 87238 filed on
Oct. 25th I wrote a letter to
and Sunday, September 27. Caen: September 21, 1869. Tobin answering his.
Thursday, October 8 and Sunday, I talked to him about
October 18. Rouen: Friday, October 22. the automaton.
16; Saturday, October 17; Sunday, Notes relating to conjuring and
October 18; Monday, October 19; unexplored in this chapter, from Nov. 9th I received a letter
from Pierre Larousse
Tuesday, October 20, and Wednesday, Robert-Houdin's Tablettes journa-
about the articles that
October 21. Orleans: Sunday, October lieres for 1869. I promised him. I sent
25 and Monday, October 26. Blois: him
March 8th [The Priory] An one... In the
Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, evening I worked on
American conjurer
October 28. Tours: Thursday, October came to see me. [?] the Davenport article.
29 and Sunday, November 1,
Rochefort: Friday, November 6. March 141" Visit of M. Eads with Nov. 30th I received a telegram
La one of his friends, from Pierre Larousse
Rochelle: Saturday, November 7.
Dr. Pope, and Emile. about the word decap-
Rochefort: Sunday, November 8. They arrived at 3 itated which he asked
Angouleme: Thursday, November 12 o'clock. I showed them me to do.
386
NOTES TO ACT V
Illustration 528 - Bill for the associate of the Theatre Robert-Houdin, the conjurer
Varner.
38"
ROBERf-HOUDIN
ing through numerous fir trees, we and his Trapeze (Antonio Diavolo);
were entertained by continuous CATALOGUE Auriol (Auriol and Debureau); The
surprises like invisible voices, lev- Inexhaustible Bottle; The Crystal
itating benches, and apparitions of
spectres turning darkness into
DES OBJETS Chest; The Jewelry; side tables; The
Cabalistic Drying; The Ball of Wool;
light. The old gentleman did this The Horn of Plenty; the Garland
COMPOSANX IK CABINET
only for his own pleasure; he had
(of Flowers); The Sympathetic
already long ceased doing magic as
a business. DE M. ROBERT-HOUDIN Turtledoves; The Fish (The Miraculous
Qui seront vendua la Novenibre 1871 Fishing); Pierrot in the Egg; Punch
PAR LE M1NISTJSRE DE M'
Jean Chavigny, op. cit., page 145. Bowl (Inexhaustible); The Portfolio
(Fantastic); The Golden Coins (The
27. HOTEL DHOVOT, S A l l i :
Shower of Gold); The Crystal Ball;
Pneumonia was at that time an A PARIS
The Surprising Handkerchief; The
often fatal illness with no efficient Ink Vase; Chess Players (2).
treatment. It was most often fatal to Various tricks and accessories,
young children and old people. among which we can note: A me-
Robert-Houdin's repeated colds, chanical devil's head, a pile of the-
which seemed like flu, left him vul- BLOIS ater brochures and newspapers, a
nerable to this dangerous illness. IlSPRfltEBlE LBCESXE, RUE DENIS-PAPI\
large mechanical trapeze under
Quinine sulfate was one of the few construction, a large mechanical ac-
medications known that one could robat, a Chinese automaton under
try to relieve this sickness and Illustration 530 - Title page from the
Catalogue of objects of M. Robert- construction, a burnishing tool that
lower the fever. We recall that it is Houdin's Cabinet de Physique for belonged to Louis XVI with
this same medicine that Dr. Arnoult his Heirs. pedestal, etc.; Phantasmagoria and
had prescribed to Robert-Houdin in Polyorama with the list of tableaus
April 1871. It is therefore not im- for the Polyorama, Comicorama,
the municipal council of Blois,
possible that, a few months before and the chroma trope. Finally,
Georges and Eglantine Robert-
his death, Robert-Houdin had al- "Electricity and mechanics" along
ready had a first encounter with the Houdin donated to the city the
white marble bust of their father, a with its list of objects. The sale was
illness that would eventually sweep to end with the dispersal of the
him away. work of his friend the sculptor
Dantan. "Large collection of bills of all the
conjurers from the distant past."
28. 32.
I must emphasize here that the The complete title of this catalogue 33.
number and prominence of death is: Catalogue of objects / Making up These mementos of Robert-
announcements published upon the Cabinet / relating to the estate / Houdin are now part of the collec-
Robert-Houdin's death are truly of M. Robert-Houdin I which will be tions of the Chateau de Blois.
amazing. His family had kept in his
sold on November 1871 / By the 34.
archives two notebooks of press
Minister of Me- / Auctioneer / Hotel Charles Joseph Madelena re-
clippings on this subject and during
/ Drouot, room n- / In Paris / Blois placed Cleverman, who, because of
our research at the Bibliotheque
/ Imprimerie Tecesne, Rue Denis- his fight with Robert-Houdin, could
Nationale, we discovered dozens
Papin / 1871. not do business with his widow in
more which were unknown to us.
One finds in this sixteen-page person. Emile Robert-Houdin, who
29. catalogue the list of feats and me- probably participated in these trans-
L'Independant de Loir-et-Cher, chanical pieces that the master kept actions, "inherited" one of The Chess
June 16, 1871. at The Priory. Each of them is ac- Players constructed by his father;
companied by the detail of its ac- Charles Joseph Madelena received
30. cessories. Here are the titles of all scientific objects, among them one
Le Journal du Loiret of Orleans, the apparatus: The Cabalistic Clock; of the first examples of the master's
June 17, 1871. large gilded center table: Vase of electric clock; all the effects and me-
the trapeze artist (The Genie of The chanical creations made by Robert-
31. Roses); Ethereal Suspension; The Houdin would again find their place
Following this deliberation of Hunter (The French Guard); Auriol in Soirees Fantastiques.
388
No ITS TO ACT V
389
ROBLRT-HOI DIN
lustration 533 - The entrance to The Priory by .1. Rivet. (Castle ofBlois)
390
APPENDIX I i
I own and live in a property in INTRODUCTION take him to Saint-Gervais, bring him
Saint-Gen ais near Blois in which I into my home, and be a guide to
created arrangements, I would al- him, and, to spare him fatigue, I will
most say tricks, which, although less IN THE AUTHOR'S take him on a tour without his mov-
prestigious than those of my perfor- RESIDENCE ing, thanks to my position as a for-
mances, nonetheless gave me the mer sorcerer.
dangerous reputation in the region, At two kilometers from Blois, on
at that time, of a man with supernat- pleasant for the public to know these the left bank of the Loire, there is a
ural powers. little secrets which have been much small \ illage whose name recalls sa-
These mysterious arrangements discussed, and I thought I could do vor\ memories to gourmets. This is
are nothing more than useful appli- no better for their publicity than to where the famous cream of Saint-
cations of science for domestic pur- put them at the beginning of a book Gervais is made.
poses. full of revelations and confidences. It is definitely not the cult of
I thought that it would perhaps be If the reader will follow me, I w ill this white delicacy that led me to
391
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
ovi at J foi
choose this place for my residence. w hich my friend Dantan the younger away from here; a broad and wind-
It was solely for the sacred love of called L'Abbaye de I'Attrape (The ing alley leads through a little yard
my homeland that I wanted to have Abbey of Tricks). When we arrive at shaded with aged trees.
Blois facing me, for having honored The Priory, one has before oneself: This short topographical de-
me with birth. 1. An iron gate for the entrance of scription will allow the reader to
carriages; understand the necessity of the
A promenade, straight as a capi-
electric contrhances that I installed
tal /, links Saint-Gervais to m^ na- 2. A door on the left for visitors to
in my doors to automatically play
ti\ e town. On the far end of this / is enter; the role of a concierge:
a path forming a right angle to it, 3. A box on the right with a The visitor's door is painted
going from our village and leading hinged opening for letters and white. At eye level on this immacu-
to The Priory. newspapers. late door is a gold brass plate bear-
The Priory is my humble domain, The house is located 400 meters ing the name "Robert-Houdin";
392
APPENDIX Ii
this sign is extremely useful, be- door, which he does not even have although produced by different
cause there are no neighbors to in- to close, because there is a spring movements, arrive at The Priory
form the visitor. for this purpose. separated by pauses that are equal
Below this plate is a little gold Once the door is closed, one can- in length.
knocker whose shape sufficiently not get out without certain formali- With such a simple system, one
indicates its function; but, to leave ties. Everything has returned to its can obtain very different alerts
no doubt, a little grotesque head original state and the name has without the visitor knowing, as we
and two similar hands coming out of again replaced the invitation. will see:
the door, as in a pillory, seem to This closing is also a security for If one visitor comes, he rings,
draw attention to the word "Knock" the masters of the house; if by mis- the door opens, and he enters by
(frappez), which is placed below. take, in fun, or through awkward- pushing the door, which closes im-
The visitor lifts the knocker ness a servant pulls the cord, the mediately. This is what I call the
however he pleases, but no matter door does not open; the knocker normal opening; the pauses be-
how weak the blow, 400 meters has to be raised and the bell must tween the rings are all the same
away an energetic ring can be heard ring. length: ring, ring, ring, ring. At The
in all parts of the house though The visitor, in entering, has no Priory, we know that only one per-
without hurting the most delicate idea that his future hosts have been son has come in.
ear. warned of his visit. The door, in *
If the bell stopped with the rap- opening and closing, has caused a
ping of the knocker, as in ordinary- particular type of ringing in the dif- Now let us suppose that several
bells, there would be no way to con- ferent angles of its opening and visitors have come; the door has
firm the opening of the door, and closing. opened according to the aforemen-
the visitor might end up standing tioned procedures. The first visitor
This short, bizarre music can in-
guard in front of The Priory. enters by pushing the door and, fol-
dicate, through observation, whether
This is not the case here - the lowing the most basic rules of eti-
one or several guests are to be re-
bell does not stop ringing until the quette, holds the door until every-
ceived, whether it is a frequent vis-
lock works. one has gone through; then the
itor or a new one, and also whether
door closes. So, the interval be-
To open this lock, one simply it is an intruder who, unaware of the
tween the first two and the last two
presses a button placed in the hall. service entrance, has come through
rings has been proportionate to the
It is just like the concierge's cord. this opening.
number of people who have en-
When the bell stops ringing, the I need to give some explanations
tered; the ring therefore sounded
servant knows he has succeeded in here, because these effects, which
like this - ring, ring...ring, ring -
his task. seem to go beyond the ordinary
and for a trained ear the determina-
But that is not enough. The visi- laws of mechanics, could create a
tion of the number is as easy as can
tor must also know that he can few non-believers among my read-
be.
enter. ers if I could not prove all this:
*
Here is what happens: When the My processes for recognition at a
gate is unlocked, the name "Robert- distance are extremely simple and The person used to coming is fa-
Houdin" suddenly disappears and based on certain infallible acoustic miliar with things; he knocks and
is replaced by an enamelled plate principles. immediately walks in, knowing the
on which the word "ENTREZ!" We have just said that the door, maneuvers about to take place. He
["Enter!"] is painted in large let- in opening, sends two different does not pause at the workings of
ters. rings corresponding to the two dif- the door; as soon as it is open, four
In answer to this unmistakable ferent angles of its opening. These equidistant rings are heard and an-
invitation, the visitor turns an ivory- rings repeated themselves when the nounce his entrance.
knob and enters by pushing the door closed. These four little chimes,
393
ROBERT-HOUDIN
It is not the same for a new \ isi- an unexpected procedure; he fears by experience or by hearsay how to
tor; he knocks and when the word something is amiss; he hesitates to open them. The coachman gets
"ENTREZ!" appears, his surprise enter, and if he does, it is only after down from his seat; first he opens
stops him; it is only after a few in- a few minutes of hesitation and un- the little door and enters. Ah! For
stants that he decides to open the certainty. One may well imagine that example, his is a very distinctive
door. In this action, he observes he does not brusquely open the door. ring: ring-ring-ring-ring. We under-
everything; his steps are slow and In hearing the bell - r..i..n..g... stand at The Priory that the coach-
the four rings are like his steps r..i..n..g...r..i..n..g...r..i..n..g - it is al- man who enters with such haste
ring...ring...ring...ring. We prepare most as if we can see this poor devil wants to prove his zeal and intelli-
ourselves to receive this new visi- coming into the house. We go to gence for his masters or his fare.
tor. meet him with certainty. We have Our man finds a key hanging in-
The beggar traveler who presents never been mistaken. side the gate designated by an in-
# scription; all that is left to do is open
himself at this door because he does
not know of the service entrance, Now suppose that someone the double doors. This double
timidly raises the knocker and in- comes by carriage to visit; the en- movement can be seen and heard,
stead of seeing someone come to trance gates are usually closed, but even in the house. In the hall, on a
open the door as usual, he witnesses the coachmen of the region all know panel, the following words are there-
391
-APPENDIX Ii
fore painted for this purpose: "THE These very pleasant and useful senses of the word; he was not sat-
DOORS OF THE GATE ARE..." arrangements do have a drawback isfied, and if he buried his displea-
Following this incomplete in- that I will now mention, which will sure deep in his heart, it was to
scription, the word "OPEN" or lead me to relate a pleasant little ha\ e a greater freedom in his plan
"CLOSED" appears, depending on anecdote on this subject: for retaliation that he had just de-
the gates' status; and this alternation The inhabitants of Saint-Gervais veloped and that he planned to
materially proves the correctness of ha\ e a quality that I enjoy; they are carry out that same day.
the axiom: a door must be open or very discreet. None of them has Around midnight, he went to
closed. ever had the idea of using the this person's home; he rang the bell
With these arrangements, I can knocker on the door except by ne- with all the strength in his wrists.
verify without having to go out cessity. A window opened on the second
whether the doors are closed or not But certain strollers from the floor through which a head wearing
every evening. town are less reserved and some- a night-cap and purple with rage ap-
# times play with the electric con- peared.
trivances to see their effects. Jean had taken a lantern with
Now let us mo\c on to the let-
Although \ ery rare, these indis- him; he directed the rays toward his
ter-box. Nothing is simpler; I
stated earlier that the letter-box cretions are extremely unpleasant. victim:
was closed with a little swinging This is the disadvantage to which I Good evening, sir, he said in
door. This door is arranged in such have referred, and here is the rele- an ironically polite tone, how are
a way that when it opens, it sets vant anecdote: you?
off an electric bell in the house. One day, Jean, the gardener, was What in the devil are you
The postman has been asked to working near the entrance door; he doing ringing here at this hour? an-
first place all the newspapers in heard some noise nearby and saw a swered the head in a wrathful
the box with the circulars in order stroller from Blois who, after having voice.
not to cause false alarms; after toyed with the knocker, was having Oh! Excuse me, sir, said Jean
which he puts the letters in, one fun opening and closing the door, in paraphrasing the answer of his in-
after the other. One is therefore without worrying about the bother terlocutor. Yes, I know, it is ringing
warned in the house of the deliv- he was causing in the house. up there; but I wanted to see if your
ery of each of these objects, in After a reprimand by the man on bell worked as well as the knocker
such a way that, if one is not an duty, the intruder simply said to of The Priory. Goodnight, sir!
early riser, one can count the mail justify himself: It was time for Jean to move
from bed. Oh! Yes, I know; it rings over away; the gentleman had gone to
To avoid sending someone to there. Excuse me! I just wanted to get a nocturnal revenge to throw-
take letters to the village post see how it worked. on his head.
office, we write letters in the If this is the case, sir, that is *
evening; then, by turning a button different, said the gardener in a To conjure away this petty an-
called a "swritch," we reverse the falsely jovial tone, I understand noyance, I placed a warning on
signals, which means that the next your desire to learn and I beg your my door asking people not to
morning, when the postman places pardon to have disturbed you in touch the knocker unnecessarily.
his message in the box, instead of your observations. Useless! There was always a need
sending a ring to the house, he Thereupon, without seeming to to knock, to satisfy one or more cu-
hears a ring which tells him to come notice his interlocutor's embarrass- riosities.
and get the letters; he therefore ment, Jean returned to his work, Unable to escape these persis-
rings for himself. pretending to be completely indif- tent indiscretions, I decided not to
ferent. But Jean is clever in both worry about them any longer and to
395
ROBERT-HOL DIN
consider them as the success of my est in the art once cultivated by his This is not possible, as the
electrical systems. employer. He only knew a single lock only works from the outside.
I could only congratulate myself trick, but he carried it out with So then one could wait for it
on this conciliatory decision later on rare skill. This trick consisted of to have poured out and then re-
because either local curiosity had changing my oats into five-franc mo\ e it.
expended itself or from some other coins. Yes, but there is a bell that
cause, but the troubles ended by Fanchette did not really enjoy rings and is heard in the house to
themselves and now it is very rare this type of performance, and un- warn if the door is opened before
that the knocker is raised for any able to complain, she protested with the horse has eaten all the oats.
other purpose than to enter my tell-tale spells of fatigue.
property. This conjuring trick well estab- The clock that I have just men-
My electric concierge therefore lished, I sent away my artist, and tioned is also set to regulate the time
leaves nothing else to desire. Its decided to distribute her comfort- of two large clocks placed in the
sen ice is perfectly precise; its de- ing oats myself. front of the house and in the gar-
pendability is unwavering; its dis- I say myself; that is saying a lot dener's lodgings.
cretion is unequaled; as for its because I must confess, if the ani- Why the luxury of two large
salary, I doubt it possible to give mal had been obliged to depend on clocks, you will say, when a single
less to such a perfect employee. me for meals at set hours, she one suffices for the outside?
would have been greatly disap- On this subject, I owe you,
Now here are a few details about pointed. reader, a justification and explana-
a procedure that helps me ensure But do I not have reliable, intel- tion. When I put my first electric
the promptness of meals and the in- ligent helpers in electricity and clock on the front of The Priory, it
tegrity of portions for my horse. mechanics that I can rely on? was to give the time to the entire
I should note that this horse is a The stable is about forty meters valley and to give all the members of
mare, a lovely, good girl almost at away from the house. In spite of my household a single, regulatory
adulthood, who would answer to the this distance, the food supply is standard of time.
name of Fanchette if she could controlled from my study. A clock But once my work was finished, I
speak. takes care of this through electrical realized that my clock face was more
Fanchette is affectionate and connections. These functions take useful to passersby than to myself. I
e\ en tender; we consider her al- place three times a day and at set was obliged to go outside to see what
most a friend of the family, and hours. The distributor is extremely time it was.
this is why she gets all the care simple: a square box in the shape I vainly thought about it for a
compatible with her equine char- of a funnel, which pours the oats in while, in order to overcome this dis-
acter. regulated amounts. advantage. I saw no other solution
This little preamble will help Wait! Couldn't someone re- than to build a house across from
explain my concern about our dear move the horse's oats as soon as mine to look at my clock. Then, a
animal's meals. they are released? one may protest. simpler idea finally freed me from
Fanchette has a person as- This circumstance has been this dilemma. The gable of the gar-
signed to feeding her; he is a very foreseen; the horse has nothing to dener's lodge could be seen from all
good young man who, because of fear in this regard, because the our windows; I put a second clock
his clarity, is not at all astonished electric button that pours the oats there and regulated it by way of the
about my electrical arrangements. can only function if the stable is same electric wires as the other.
But before this servant, I had locked. The time is relayed by the same
another. He was an intelligent and But couldn't the thief lock process to various clocks placed
active man who had a great inter- himself in with the horse? throughout the house.
396
-APPENDIX Ii
There had to be a single ring for ties, the unsuspecting sen ants in- teen minutes that I would not ha\e
all these clocks, a ring that could cessantly wound the striking mech- otherwise obtained.
be heard by all the inhabitants of anism of the clock. It is almost a This same regulator also wakes
The Priory, as well as the entire perpetual movement that requires up three different people every
village. no attention. morning with the help of electrical
Here is what I devised for this. An electrical current distributed transmissions. The gardener is first.
by my regulator raises the hammer There is nothing particularly
On the rooftop of the house is a
of the bell and sounds the number marvelous about this arrangement,
sort of bell-tower sheltering a bell
and I would not discuss it if I did
with a moderate volume, which is of hours indicated by the dial.
not have to mention a very simple
used to indicate meal times. This distribution of time also al-
procedure to ensure that my staff
Beneath this bell I placed a lows me to use a little trick that is
arise when awakened. Here is the
sufficiently powerful clockwork sys- very useful to me in certain cases, procedure: The alarm makes such a
tem to raise the hammer at the ap- and I am going to confide it to you, noise that it awakens the soundest
propriate time. But since it would reader, as long as you do not talk of sleepers, and it continues to ring
have been necessary to wind this about it, because if revealed, my until a little button placed on the
clockwork every day, I instead used trick would lose its effect. When, other side of the room is pressed. In
a wasted force, or unused force, to for one reason or another, I secretly order to do so, one must get up. The
automatically perform this function. press an electric button placed in trick is done.
Between the swinging kitchen door my study, I can mo^ e the clocks
on the ground floor and the winding and the bell of the house forward That poor gardener; I really tor-
mechanism of the bell placed in the or back at will. The cook some- ment him with my electricity. Would
attic, I built a connection so that by times finds that time is passing you belie\ e that he cannot heat my
going back and forth for their du- quite quickly and I have gained fif- greenhouse beyond 10 degrees or let
Illustrations 537 and 538 - Map of the main house of The Priory.
Plates from Jean Chavigm's work (op nt.).
the temperature go below 3 below This thermo-electric arrange- dows of my house all ha\e electrical
zero w ithout my knowing it? ment is also placed in my woodshed connections that link them to a bell
The next morning, I tell him, to w arn me of the slightest fire. and are organized in such a way
"Jean, you heated it too much last # that, w hen one of them is opened,
night; you are roasting my gerani- The Priory is not at all a sub- the bell rings as long as it remains
ums" or "Jean, you almost froze m\ sidiary of the Banque de France; open.
orange trees; the thermometer went still, no matter how humble my The reader immediately sees the
down to 3 below zero last night." precious objects, I want to keep disadvantage of such a system if the
Jean scratches his ear, does not them, and for this purpose I bell rang each time we opened a
answer, but I am sure that he thinks thought I should take precautions window or left the house. It does
I am something of a sorcerer. against thieves: the doors and win- not work this way; the connection is
398
APPENDIX Ii
turned off all day and is reestab- I end my descriptions here; to visitor would have taken at the be-
lished at midnight (the hour of continue them, I would fear being ginning of the \ear 1870.
crime), and it is the same oat-regu- as ridiculous as a country home- Upon arm al, a little white door
lating clock that takes care of this. owner who, as soon as he has a visi- next to a gate attracted one's eve. A
When we leave the house, the tor, spares him neither the budding gold brass disc placed on the upper
electricity is always on, and if the of one of his trees nor the egg from part had the name ''Robert-Houdin"
his chicken coop. engraved on it. A bit lower, a light
house is opened, the large bell of
hammer had the following inscrip-
the clock, whose hammer is acti- Moreover, should I not save
tion: "Do not knock unless neces-
vated by electricity, rings nonstop some unforeseen details for the vis-
sary.'' The door being closed, we will
and makes the sound of a warning itor who would come and raise the
knock and after a short moment, the
bell. The gardener and the neigh- mysterious knocker above which, as name "Robert-Houdin" disappears
bors having been notified of this will be recalled, is engra\ ed the and is replaced by the word
situation, the thief would easily be name of "Entrez." Then the door opens, we
caught in the act. go through, it closes, and the next
# ROBF.RT-HOUDIN. visitor will have to knock again to get
We often enjoy pistol shooting. in. The mechanism of this door was a
little masterpiece, and in spite of its
For this we have a very well-orga-
precision, it was strong enough to re-
nized space. But instead of success In order to complete this "visit" to
sist the shock of a sometimes brutal
being indicated in the usual man- The Priory, I thought it interesting
closing.
ner, the marksman who hits the to add a few notes to the text of
bullseye suddenly sees a crown of Robert-Houdin's booklet. Here is Let us now head toward the
house situated 400 meters away We
foliage appear over his head. The his daughter's testimony about the
follow a broad path bordered with
bullet and electricity are fighting house that was the cradle of her
fruit trees and flowers, then we enter
for speed in this double trajectory; childhood. This text is an excerpt
by a \ ery well-defined path under
in this w ay, although one is twenty from the lecture that Eglantine
the vault of ancient oak trees, which
meters from the target, the crown- Robert-Houdin gave in Blois we follow until we near the house,
ing is instantaneous. around 1920 to render homage to preceded by two pavilions, a pond,
the memory of her illustrious fa- and baskets of flowers.
Allow me, reader, to tell \ou ther: After a short visit, we go down to
about an imention to which elec- The Priory a terrace. At the entrance, two old
tricity is completely foreign, but Before discussing m> father's shaped yew trees, an old-style garden
which I think will interest you work in Saint-Gen ais, I would like to a real priest's garden bordered on
nonetheless; in my yard is a sunken take you. gentlemen, on a short visit one side by an orange gro\e and dec-
path that must sometimes be to his propelt\, The Priory, where he orated in the middle with a lovely
crossed. There is neither bridge nor worked during the last twentv years sundial made from a large piece^ of
of his life, and which he enjoyed or- round slate, a sort of table placed on
passagew ay. But on the bank of this
namenting with all sorts of attrac- a rock base, and topped with a tall
ravine, there is a little bench; the
tions. He relaxed there after his often blade whose shadow indicated the
stroller sits on it, and is immedi-
dr^ research b^ working outdoors, time on sunny days.
ately transported to the other side.
work into which he put so much ef- Looking down over the plain, a
The traveler steps down and the lit-
fort that he was sometimes more high wall ended the terrace, and it
tle bench immediately turns around tired in the evening than when he was a pleasure. leaning on this wall,
by itself to get another passenger. had left his workshop to do some to admire the beautiful panorama of
This locomotive arrangement is healthy exercise. the cit\ of Blois. My father had
double-acting, there being a similar We will therefore, if you will fol- placed a spyglass there, a very origi-
flying seat to bring the traveler back low me. take a walk through The nal one, because one could put one's
again. Priory together, the same stroll that a hand, hat, or any object in front of it
399
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Illustration 539 - Eglantine Robcrt-IIoudin and her husband Henri Leinaitre during a class for "comedie de societe.'
400
-APPENDIX Ii
without disturbing the view of the Let us go back up to the garden. ordinarily present. The phantom-
person who was using it. It was an We follow a loveh straight path in like apparition of the child produced
application of the periscope un- the middle of the woods, and we ar- such an impression that the mother
known at that time. Continuing our rive at a little thatched house which almost fainted.
stroll, we walk past the stables had originally been used as a dairy, Leaving this little theater, we
where the distribution of oats was as indicated by a gigantic I placed head toward a higher part of the
controlled by an electrical system on one of the sides. An easy play on property where there was what we
described in a booklet by my father, words - (wordplay was quite fash- called the aerial railroad. It was a
The Priory. ionable during this happy time). [La method of transportation but also a
We descend amongst a pile of lettre I ("the letter l")=la laiterie game that enjoyed great success. It
very picturesque stones and in these ("the dairy")] This dairy had ne\er was used to cross a deep, hollow-
stones a large excavation stops us; it housed an animal; my father was not ravine leading to the entrance of the
is a lovely cave in which an artistic interested in agriculture. He gave main house and separated this part of
whim had placed a hermit a clas- this cottage another purpose. In the property. A wooden bench
sic, legendary hermit: long frock, 1868, ha\ing had to organize spec- awaited, suspended bv an iron bar
cowl, long white beard. We could tral apparitions for the Thearre de and a double pulley that rolled on a
see him in the shadows sitting on L'Ambigu for the play La Czarine, steel cable attached to a large tree on
the rock, reading a large book. In a which I will later discuss, he won- each side. A counterweight main-
corner, straw to sleep on; a bit fur- dered whether these apparitions tained this light bench at the highest
ther away, an old kettle and ashes produced onstage by a powerful part of the cable; but if a person sat
from a hearth. After a few minutes electric light could not be obtained on it, his weight pulled it to the other
of looking at him, when the visitors with simple daylight, and he per- side, and he would cross the ravine.
formed a little spectacle here in The person then descended and the
had seen everything in detail, the
which a few objects - a statue, an counterweight pulled the bench back
hermit slowly raised his head and
enormous bouquet, etc., appeared up to the other side. During the war,
gazed at them. All this artistically
then disappeared into one another especially in Italy, similar transporta-
arranged decoration made a huge
with a spectral appearance. Once, a tion methods were used to supply
impression, and during the invasion
lady who was a friend of the family, fortifications in the mountains that
of 1870, the German soldiers, who
having come with her little boy, who were difficult to reach.
had damaged almost everything,
never dared to touch the hermit, ei- was 5 or 6 years old, a very spoiled Leaving this amusing attraction,
ther by respect or fear, I do not child, my father had the idea of sub- we climb to the highest point of the
know. stituting him for one of the objects property; there was a very expansive
Illustration 540 - Map of the view from the terrace of The Priory.
From Jean Chavigny's work (op. n't.).
401
ROBTRT-IIOUDIN
LE DR1EURE
view. A camera obscura was set up deal of work. But as I have told you, Latitude of Saint-Gervais 47 34' -
there, an octagonal cabin about four this work relaxed him after his more ROBERT-HOUDIN.
meters high. When one entered and dry work, which I will now tell you
Near this location was a small
the door closed, one was in total dark- about.
pavilion decorated with shutters in
ness. With a few quick maneuvers,
trompe I'oeil, which in fact contained
the countryside was projected onto a
To conclude this description of a darkroom, a sort of perfected cam-
large white table with perfect clarity
The Priory, here are a few comple- era obscura, in which there was a
in all respects: a charming tableau,
sometimes animated when people or
mentary notes on the old master's periscope that allowed one to see the
animals passed in front of the lens. enchanted retreat: comings and goings of visitors as
well as the panorama from the
Without being able to specify, I
The domain of The Priory was heights of The Priory.
remember that several difficult
problems had to be resolved for the decorated with terracotta statues by A bit further away was a veritable
construction of this camera obscura Dantan, among them Le Jongleur, labyrinth of fantastic automata, among
of a completely uncommon size. which depicted the master's son life- them a mechanical gardener, a
This was the case for the majority sized. In front of the terrace overlook- bearded hermit clothed in a frock w ith
of attractions that I ha\e just de- ing the Gosson valley, set on an octag- a ceramic chicken at his side and a real
scribed and behind these apparently- onal stand, was a sundial engraved on skull whose eyes launched flames!
easy amusements was often a great a slab of slate with the follow ing text: Next to these caves was a chapel
402
-APPENDIX Ii
decorated with a "Diorama" illumi- into the image of the Virgin Mary "...horse was galloping backward with
nated by a fireplace. (this plaster virgin was 80 centime- its head against the apron of the car-
After ha\ ing "magically" crossed ters high), which mysteriously riage and the backside in the front"!
the little ravine with the help of a turned into a little girl dressed in These legends related by "trustwor-
mechanized bench, one could see a white and crowned with flowers, thy" witnesses long contributed to
hollow tree at the end of the path in then a huge bouquet, beneath which passionate debates during winter
which the stroller could sit; a gri- a rose gradually blossomed and re- evenings in the countryside of Blois.
macing imp then appeared in front placed the image of the young girl. Finally, to be as complete as possi-
of the unwise stroller's face. The secrets of this little "Ghost ble about The Priory, we must add
Near the pistol-shooting stand, theater" were revealed by Robert- that one of the first descriptions of
which crowned the winners with Houdin in his posthumous work this property was published in the
palms, was a chalet dedicated to Magie et Physique Amusante. form of two long letters from the mas-
"Optical Wonders." The spectators Oral - local - tradition credits ter in La Petite Rescue of Saturday,
stood in the dark before a sort of lit- Robert-Houdin with many other January 20 and Saturday, February 17
tle stage where a tombstone ap- wonders that must have made our of the year 1866, under the heading:
peared with an owl on it, who visi- savant smile. Some swore to ha\e "Interiors of a Few Artists and Men
bly and gradually transformed itself seen him driving a carriage whose of Letters."
Illustrations 542 and 543 - The sundial of The Priory, signed Robert-Houdin.
403
I ROBERT-HOUDIN
GRAND
DICTIONNAIRE
UNIVERSEL
1
DU XIX SIECLE
FRANQAIS, HISTORIQUE, GEOGRAPHIQUE, BIOGRAPHIQUE, MYTHOLOGIQUE
BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE, LITTERAIRE, ARTISTIQUE, SCIENTIFIQUE, ETC.
eomprenant
LA. LANGUK FRANCAISE; LA PRONUNCIATION; LES ETYMOLOGIES; LA CONJUGAISON DE TOUS LSS VER8ES IRREGULIERS;
LES REGLES DE GRAMMAIRK; LES INNOMBRABLES ACCEPTIONS ET LES LOCUTIONS l^AMILlfeRES ET PROVERBIALES; L'HISTOIRE,
LA GEQGRAPHIK; LA SOLUTION DES PROBLEMES HISTORSQUES; LA BIOGRAPHIE DE TOUS LES HOMMES REMARQUABLES, MORTS OU VIYANTS;
LA MYTHOLOGIS; LES SCIENCES PHYSIQUES, MATHEMATIQUES ET NATURBLLESj LES SCIENCES MORALES ET POL1TIQUES;
LES PSEUDO-SCIENCES; LES INVENTIONS ET DECOOVERTES; ETC., ETC., ETC.
P A R T I E S ItEOVKS :
LES TVPES ET LES PERSONS AGES LITTERAIRES; LES HEROS D'EPOPfeES ET DE ROMANS; LES CARICATURES
POLITIQUES ET SOCIALES; LA BIBLIOGRA.PHEE G^NfiRALE; UNE ANTHOLOGIK DES ALLUSIONS FRA.NCAISES, ETRANGERES, LATINES
ET MYTHOLOGIQUES; LES BEAUX-ARTS ET L'ANALYSE BE TOUTES LES <EUVRES D'ART,
TOME PREMIER
PARIS
ADMINISTRATION DU GRAND DICTIONNAIRE UNIVERSEL
19, RUE HONTPARNASSE, 49
Illustration 544 - Title page of the Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIXs siecle (Grand Universal Dictionary of the 19th Century)
bv Pierre Larousse.
404
APPENDIX II i
405
I ROBERT-HOLDIN
Bouteille [The inex- conjurer himself encouraged this fully hidden compartments, and
haustible bottle] tyrannical demand by his feigned even more on the finesse, tact, and
Physique amusante. Inexhaustible flight? He was expecting this; it skill of the operator.
Bottle. A conjuring trick created by was somewhat of a theatrical reply "Let us see, who is tricking
M. Robert-Houdin and performed that was very well acted; he even whom here?" says the disap-
in his theater in 1847. Here is the counts on it for the final blow; he pointed reader. "The Grand
staging of this curious trick: The stops for a moment as if undecided. Dictionnaire usually gets to the
conjurer has a bottle of bordeaux "Gentlemen," he finally says, "be- bottom of things, which should
wine in his hand, whose contents cause I cannot satisfy you with especially be the case here be-
he pours into a number of glasses small glasses, I will be forced to get cause we are talking about a bot-
representing the bottle's capacity. bigger ones." Immediately the ser- t l e . Without a doubt, we are
Once the bottle has been emptied, vant brings a huge stem glass, watching a conjuring performance
rinsed, and drained, the operator which the conjurer fills to the top. in which the bottle is exhibited;
pours out all requested liquors, at "Here, sir," he says in a slightly we see the hands raised, the
the audience's will. The distribu- mocking tone to one of the most ar- glasses filled, and the bottle un-
tion takes a very long time. dent solicitors, "please empty this emptied. But the secret of the de-
Members of the audience, in order glass as quickly as possible so that I vice, the spring of the machine,
to ensure the reality of the trick, as can fill it again; during this time, I the key to the enigma... All of
well as to try to dry out this so- am going to pour out a few more that is closed off to us, we remain
called inexhaustible source, ask for glasses for these gentlemen." The as ignorant as before, and M.
the most uncommon and common gentleman does not dare, or most Robert-Houdin continues to be a
liquors over and over again: Parfait often cannot drink such a large sorcerer one hundred times more
amour, Mme. Anjou, Gin, Rosolio, quantity of liquor; all attention is burnable and fit to be hanged
Creme de Roses, gold-label Eau-de-vie turned to him; the audience laughs than the priest from Loudun."
de Dantsig, Grande Chartreuse, etc.; heartily at this scene; there are no Now let us speak and say clearly
every possible simple or aromatic more doubts; they are satisfied. to M. Robert-Houdin, "What do
liquor is ordered; they are all served The bottle is recognized as inex- you have to say about that?
immediately upon request; it is a haustible amidst hearty applause. If Because it is you, sir, who, from
great chaotic commotion. No one the spectators laughed, we must your Priory in Saint-Gervais, have
shows enough common sense or rea- think about how the conjurer must given us the solution; and you
son to conclude this serious affair. also have laughed up his sleeve well know that it is not one. We
Luckily all balls of wool, no matter about his skillful trickery. The bot- can see into your bottle as clearly
how big, must eventually come to tle, indeed, could not possibly be as the bottom of a well. You tell us
their end; a moment comes when inexhaustible, though it truly in your article...I fear going on too
the feat finally seems to be ending. seems to be. It is an excellent trick much. Boileau will answer you:
Members of the audience who are in which the ruses, artifices, and
I avoid going on too long and be-
too far away from the circle of dis- subtleties of language and science
coming obscure.
tribution find it lengthy enough. are united and reinforce each other
The conjurer retreats in a feigned to fool reason and the senses. The "Because it is your secret, keep
hurry, still filling glasses on his way context and nature of this article do it, sir; but the Grand Dictionnaire
back. So the audience, believing not allow us to extensively explain and its readers hope that in the arti-
the sorcerer to be out of resources, the numerous details related to the cle "Magic Revealed" that you are
blocks his way and cries and almost execution of this marvelous trick; preparing, you will free the mysteri-
screams for new samples. The poor let it suffice to say, in order to give ous goddess from the clouds sur-
spectators, sometimes so intelligent an idea, that the procedure is based rounding her."
and clever : do they not see that the on the use of reservoirs and skill- All subscribers to the Grand
406
-APPENDIX II|
Dictionnaire will now know that M. character: serious and phlegmatic, he TURY. Magical invulnerability. M.
Robert-Houdin collaborates on our performed with the solemnity of a Chdlon will soon face a cannonball shot
work for this still obscure area of professor at the Sorbonne. He also at him from a distance of twelve feet.
science, which he proposes to re- had a very high opinion of his art, Nota. In order to eradicate all suspicion
veal. This is part of a collaboration and seriously believed he could im- of confederates, the weapon will be
for which we sincerely thank him, pose it on his audience. "My stage loaded and fired by artillerymen belong-
because he becomes the torch- entrance," he used to say, "is what ing to the unit residing in the capital."
bearer of reason, common sense, produces the most effect in my per- This trick took place as an-
and truth against ignorance and formance." Other times, other en- nounced and made a huge sensation.
error. Isn't this a role to be envied trances. Here is how things took Artillerymen loaded the cannon; the
by a philosopher? place at the time of the distin- conjurer positioned himself before it
Concerning the Inexhaustible guished Chalon. The back door of in a most dramatic position; the fire
Bottle, M. Robert-Houdin, who is the stage opened in two parts; a man blast produced an earth-shattering
also a poet in his spare time, sent the appeared clothed in black, with a tie sound; a thick smoke covered the
following quatrain to the Figaro, and wearing white gloves; it was stage, and soon one could see
which had published an account of Chalon. He remained motionless for Professor Chalon holding a projectile
this charming trick in one of its issues: a second; then, with very slowly that he said he had warded off with
counted steps, he gravely moved for- his hands. Cannonballs are not so eas-
What could better resemble
My bottle than your plume? ward to the footlights; there, his eyes ily conjured away and the cannonball
Both know how to assemble riveted on the same point in the could not be a conjuring trick. It was
Much spirit in a small volume. room, impassible like the statue of simply an advertising stunt, as the
the commander, he pulled his gloves theater managers said. The cannon
Chalon off with regularity, finger by finger; was really loaded by an artilleryman,
A French conjurer, born in once free, he made a marvelously powder was clearly put in as with a
Poitiers in 1789, died in England in small bundle, solemnly placed it into real cannonball, but the artilleryman,
1825; he often performed in the one of his pockets, rubbed his hands in exchange for a sum of money (Who
provinces and abroad. His name together, cracked his fingers, and fi- cannot be corrupted?) had come to an
would have probably remained un- nally decided to speak. His words, agreement with Chalon. The swab
known to most, except for his stay in like his gestures, were slow and spar- with which he stuffed the ball was
Paris during Lent of 1816; this was a ing; he set forth in few words, as was hollowed in such a way that it held
fatal year for the theater that had the custom at the time, his desire to the projectile and could be taken out
welcomed him, because it was after let his visitors spend a pleasant without the audience seeing. The
one of his performances at Odeon evening. Well! It was rare that he ball that Chalon held in his hand was
that the edifice was burned to the was not applauded after his speech, passed from backstage at the moment
ground. The expensive apparatus an unbelievable thing for a skeptical of the explosion. Such was the artifice
that represented his entire fortune and critical generation. of this nineteenth-century marvel.
were destroyed in this accident and According to connoisseurs, Chalon
the conjurer, ruined and discour- had great intelligence in the creation Chapeau [Hat]
aged, with only his skill as baggage, of sensational tricks. During his Conjuring. Hat trick. Conjuring
left the capital and returned to his debut at the Odeon theater, he un- trick that consists of pulling a multi-
nomadic existence. He journeyed derstood that he needed tricks that tude of various objects out of a hat.
throughout Europe; visited Turkey, corresponded to the expanse of the
where he had the honor of perform- stage on which he was performing. Charlatan
ing before the sultan; and died in For his opening, there was this Among pureblooded charlatans,
England during a trip in 1825. As a strange advertisement on large bills: there is more than one species; our
conjurer, Chalon was a truly original "MARVEL OF THE 19th CEN- readers could judge them by sight
407
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
and sound. Let us nonetheless iden- ment. I had time to make all these circle, set up an X-shaped table be-
tify a fairly uncommon, very original observations because this man, un- fore him, upon which he placed
variety; we mean mystifying charla- doubtedly not finding the crowd three tin cups, so polished that
tans. Here is a strange specimen, large enough to deserve a perfor- they could have been taken for sil-
whom we take from Mysteres et mance, made his musical prelude ver; then he attached around his
Confidences by M. Robert-Houdin, a last almost fifteen minutes; finally, waist a bag in red velvet from
master, an infallible arbiter in char- the circle having grown signifi- Utrecht, into which he plunged his
latanism, as the Davenport Brothers cantly, the trumpet ceased to be hand for a few moments, undoubt-
know: heard. The artist placed his instru- edly to prepare the wonders he was
"One evening after dinner, while ment on the ground, gravely walked about to show, and the perfor-
I was strolling along the banks of around the assembly, asking every- mance began. In a long series of
the Loire, deep in thoughts sug- one to move back a bit; then paus- tricks, the balls, first invisible, ap-
gested to me by the falling of leaves ing, he ran his hand through his peared at the tips of the conjurer's
and their tumbling in the autumn long hair and seemed to meditate fingers, successively passed from
breeze, I was pulled out of this gen- with very poetic inspiration. Not at one cup to another, through the
tle reverie by the blaring sound of a all used to the charlatanism of this table, even into a spectator's
very well-played trumpet. I do not public presentation, I looked at the pocket, only to come out again - to
know if I was the last one to ap- man with trusting admiration, and I the great joy of the audience -
proach this bursting melody. A few prepared myself not to miss a single from the nose of a young onlooker.
strollers, attracted as was I by the word of what I was about to hear. The boy took this very seriously
musician's talent, also came to form "Gentlemen," he cried with a and began to frantically blow his
a circle around him. He was a tall sonorous and self-assured voice, nose to make sure that he had no
chap with a sharp eye, olive- "hear me. I am not at all what I more little balls in his head. The
skinned with long, very curly hair, seem to be. Yes, gentlemen, yes, skill with which these tricks were
with his hand on his hip and his admit it, you take me for one of done, the apparent good nature of
head held high. His suit, although a those poor devils coming to call the operator in these ingenious ar-
bit burlesque, was nonetheless upon your generosity for money. tifices, produced the most com-
clean and denoted a man who could Well! Be not mistaken; if you see plete illusion. It was the first time
have been said to have, as those of me here on this square today, I had attended this sort of show; I
his profession put it, a fair bit tucked please know that I have only come was dazzled, amazed, astonished.
away. He was wearing a brown frock to relieve human suffering in gen- Able to produce such marvels at
coat with a little collar of the same eral, in particular for your good, and will, this man seemed to me to be
color and decorated with large silver also for your pleasure." superhuman; it was therefore with
braids; around his neck, carelessly Here, the orator, whose accent vivid regret that I saw him put his
hung, was a black silk tie. The two could easily be recognized as from cups aside and fold up his bag. The
ends were linked by a ring deco- the Garonne region, ran his hand assembly also seemed charmed;
rated with a diamond that could through his hair a second time, the artist noticed and benefited
have enriched a millionaire, had it lifted his head, moistened his lips from these excellent dispositions
not been fake. His black pants were with an air of majestic dignity, and by indicating that he had some-
largely filled and he had no vest, continued: "Shortly I will inform thing else to say. Placing his two
but on the other hand, he was wear- you of who I am, and you will be hands on the table as in a court-
ing a very white shirt upon which a able to appreciate me at my true room - "Ladies and gentlemen,"
large imitation gold chain was value; while you wait, please let he said with feigned modesty and
draped, with a collection of me entertain you with a small sam- in order to create certain oratory ef-
bracelets whose metallic sound ple of my savoirfaire." The artist, fects, "ladies and gentlemen, I was
could be heard with his every move- after having adjusted the listeners' lucky enough to see you pay kind
408
APPENDIX II,
attention to my skillful tricks. I the human race; the worm, that de- sovereigns bought at the cost of
thank you for that" - the conjurer stroyer of all life; the worm, that de- their crown; this ointment that has
bowed toward the ground - "and termined attacker of the living and no price...I give it to you." At these
since I want to prove to you that I dead, is finally vanquished by my unexpected words, the crowd, trem-
am not ungrateful, I want to try to science; a drop, an atom of this pre- bling with emotion, remained silent
return all the satisfaction you have cious liquor is enough to chase away for a moment; but as if under the
given me. Deign to listen to me for this horrible parasite forever. Be impulse of an electric charge, all
a moment. I promised to tell you they long worms, flat worms, round arms were raised at once begging
who I was. I must satisfy you." - worms, the shape does not matter, I and imploring the doctor's generos-
change in physiognomy, look of will cure you. Have you ever had the ity. But, surprise! Disappointment!
high self-esteem - "You see in me macaque worm that places itself be- Carlosbach, this famous doctor,
the famous Dr. Garlosbach; the tween leather and skin; the rascal Garlosbach, this great man, sud-
sound of my name indicates that I worm, who breeds in the head; the denly left the role of charlatan and
am of Franco-Anglo-Germanic ori- tenia, commonly known as the soli- broke into a Homeric laugh. Just
gin, a land where one is born with a tary worm? Approach me without as in a change of perspective, the
crown of laurels on one's head. fear; I will painlessly remove them. scene was transformed and all the
Praising me would only be a reflec- Gentlemen, such is the virtue of my raised arms fell simultaneously;
tion of the renown of one hundred marvelous ointment, which not only people looked at one another, won-
mouths of gold and azure; it will frees man from this awful calamity dered, murmured, then calmed
suffice to say that I have great tal- during his lifetime, but his body has down, and soon the contagious
ent and that my immeasurable rep- nothing to fear after its death; take laugh spread to the entire crowd
utation can only be equaled by my my balm; it is like embalming one- and broke out in a chorus. The
modesty. Crowned by the most il- self ahead of time; man thereby be- conjurer stopped first and asked
lustrious academic societies the comes immortal. Ah! Gentlemen, if for silence.
world over, I bow before their you knew all of the virtues of my "Gentlemen," he said in a per-
judgment, which proclaims the su- sublime discovery, you would rush to fectly decent tone, "do not be angry
periority of my knowledge in the take it from me, in throwing me fist- at me for the little scene that I have
great art of healing the human fuls of gold; it would no longer be a just acted; I wanted to warn you
race." distribution, but a pillaging, so I will against charlatans who trick you
This speech, as bizarre as it was stop now..." every day, just as I have done my-
emphatic, was spoken with an im- The orator indeed stopped for a self. I am not at all a doctor, but a
perturbable assurance; however, I moment and wiped his brow with simple conjurer, professor of mysti-
thought I noticed on the famous one hand while with the other he fication, and author of a collection
doctor's face a few twitches of the motioned to the crowd that he had in which you will find, in addition
lips that betrayed an irresistible de- not finished. Many listeners had al- to the speech that I have just given
sire to laugh. I did not pay very ready tried to approach the learned you, the description of a great many
much attention to this, and, se- doctor; Garlosbach seemed not to conjuring tricks. Do you want to
duced by the orator's manner, I con- notice and, returning to his dra- know the art of amusing yourselves
tinued to attentively listen to him. matic pose, he continued in the fol- in society? For ten sous, you can sat-
"But gentlemen," he added, lowing manner: "But," you will ask isfy yourselves."
"enough about myself; it is time that me, "what can the price of such a The conjurer then removed a
I talk about my work. Please know treasure be? Would we ever be rich huge packet of booklets from a
that I am the inventor of the ver- enough to acquire it?" Well, gentle- box, went around the crowd, and,
mifugo-panaceli balm, whose effi- men! This is the moment for you to thanks to the admiration inspired
ciency is undeniable. Yes, gentle- see the discovery to which I devoted by his talent, he sold his merchan-
men, yes, the worm, that enemy of my entire life; this ointment, which dise. The performance was over; I
409
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
went home with my head full of a flattering testimonies as being bulent, agitated; if they fight
world of unknown sensations. As owed to him; in his eyes it is the amongst themselves to find a sub-
one might imagine, I had pur- fitting reward of his talent and de- ject of amusement; if they ask the
chased one of these precious vol- sire to do well. But the public is curtain to be raised before the
umes; I hastily tried to read it; but very capricious in this type of lib- proper time, the public will surely
the fake doctor had continued his erality; one day it frantically ap- be demonstrative and applause
system of mystification and in plauds and the next, for no reason, will abound.
spite of all my efforts, I could not it remains silent. It is not because These different observations,
understand any of the tricks whose the show was less appreciated, but whose accuracy can be recognized
explanation he supposedly pro- simply because the public lacked by all, prove that, for one reason or
vided. I did have the pleasant initiative. another, the public is very unequal
speech for consolation, however, Chance alone does not produce in its impressions, and even more
which I have just reproduced here. these diverse dispositions; there unequal in its demonstrations.
are other influences on the audi- Without stopping at the preceding
"Claque" ence which old actors know, and considerations, one generally blames
Our article on "claque" was com- on which they make observations managers for what is called tyrannical
pleted, when our learned collabora- that have a certain physiological pressure. But the managers pretend
tor M. Robert-Houdin brought us originality. For example, when they have nothing to be blamed for;
the following little gem. At random, ladies are the majority in a group, to justify themselves, they say that
we place it into its jewel box, with- the scenery certainly improves, the "claque" was never supposed to
out worrying too much whether or but the artist loses in terms of ap- influence public opinion; unless he is
not the case will mar its new gem, plause. These little white-gloved abusing his position, the leader of
and reciprocally. hands are not used to noisy out- the "claque" never forces applause,
- The "claque" and the "claquers" bursts. In this case, the artist only and he is satisfied to support it, to
There is a big difference between has the success of admiration. In enhance it, and if he sometimes indi-
claquers and the claque: the hired wintertime, on certain cold and cates the important points of a work,
claquers are, it is true, people of rainy days, there are almost noth- it is purely unofficial.
very little merit, but the cause they ing but unhappy and chagrined Instead of using such weak ar-
support is well above their reputa- faces in the audience! One was guments, managers would be bet-
tion. forced to leave one's umbrella in ter off admitting that for one rea-
The "claque" was originally in- the cloakroom; one's feet are wet; son or another, the "claque" is so
stituted with the single goal of sat- a cold is feared. Of course, the indispensable to the theaters of
isfying respectable demands, de- public will be as cold as the tem- the capital that none of them, ex-
mands that the audience itself perature. On the other hand, in cept those of Boulevard des
created by applauding artists. The the warm season, when the atmos- Italiens, could do without it.
noise of two hands clapping to- phere is heavy and charged with Managers could still hold this rea-
gether, the stamping of feet, the electricity, when, as commonly soning to their contradictors: Who
incoherent clamors by which the said, the weather is ill, everyone, can flatter himself by saying that
audience shows its satisfaction in a according to certain known laws, he has never been a claquer? For
theater is certainly the most discor- is subject to some debilatating, friendship; for one's best interests;
dant sound ever heard; but nothing soporific, and almost sickly influ- on a whim; fake appreciation; has-
is sweeter to the ear and heart of he ence. In this case, one is hardly n't applause been given one hun-
who is the object. The artist never disposed to approval, and shows dred times in opposition to neigh-
tires of these intoxicating emo- of satisfaction are often absent. boring judgment? The influence
tions; he becomes accustomed to it, But if, as soon as they enter the that was then produced, is it not
and he ends up considering these room, the spectators are gay, tur- comparable to the chevaliers of
410
APPENDIX II ,
glory, if the audience was not so at a distance by pulling a string. tricks; here is how it is usually pre-
highly indulgent toward them? The noise of these hammers simu- sented: the invulnerable person
All the managers' benefits aside, lates that of a cane striking the clearly introduces a little cylindrical
the reciprocal concessions of the floor. A few meters away from the metal nail between the lower lid
spectators obviously prove that one hammers, toward the center of the and the eyeball of the right eye.
is less shocked by the claque than by room, two devices were installed Once this operation is completed,
the claquers, and that if the former to perfectly imitate hand clapping. the performer leans his head to the
was separated from the latter, it They are two large castanets cov- left side; he strikes a few little
would be more easily accepted. ered with skin. A thread brings the blows with the tip of his finger on
The following anecdote, which two shells together. The noise of the tip of his nose, as if to create an
we offer as authentication, can this mechanical clap enters the impulse from this side, and immedi-
support this proposition. Twenty room through openings placed ately, we see him take the little nail
years ago, the manager of a troupe above them and hidden by the out of the left eye. The trickster
of one of our provincial towns, see- spectators' seats. The six cords then puts the piece of metal into
ing that the best artists of the com- placed in the theater are invisible the left eye; then, pressing this
pany were not supported by any to all and are linked to six strong point with his finger through the
sign of approval, wanted to orga- wooden keys laid out like those of skin of his cheek, he makes it drop
nize applause to stimulate the au- a piano. into his mouth. He then takes it out
dience, as was done in the capital. The device's mechanism is easy to show it, puts it back, then makes
This innovation was not crowned to understand: At certain passages it go back to the right eye, from
with success; on the very first of a play indicated beforehand by which he takes it out definitively.
evening, the claquers - booed and the manager, the stage manager In this way the little nail seems to
hissed - were forced to cease their pressed a button, and clapping have gone from the right to the left
function. Our impresario did not first to the left, first to the right, eye, from the left eye to the mouth,
insist, but did not consider himself like people eager to applaud do and from the mouth to the right
defeated. He was an extremely with their canes. It was rare that eye, by circulating through the
persevering and willful man, and the audience did not respond to fleshy parts of the face.
had an especially ingenious imagi- this call. In this case, our stage Here is the explanation of this
nation. He proved it in this situa- manager used what he called the trick: the nails used (because there
tion because, a short while later, big hand; all the approval devices are three for the experiment) are lit-
the public, so calm and cold in ap- were heard at the same time and tle metal rust-free ones, of 0.01
pearance, became expressive and mixed in with the real applause of meter by 0.003 in diameter. The
no longer hesitated in the manifes- the audience. ends of these little bars are rounded
tation of its kindly impressions. This innocent artifice remained so as not to be the least sharp. This
Here is the trick that the smart unknown to the victims, and little nail, once introduced into the
manager had used to obtain this re- thanks to the manager's ingenious eye, cannot be felt at all; to remove
sult: In agreement with an equally trickery, the city of X became and it, all one has to do is press the
discreet and intelligent stage man- is still one of the favorite stops for lower eyelid with the end of the
ager, he had organized a mechani- traveling artists. pinkie, directing it toward the inter-
cal and mysterious "claque" that nal angle of the eye. The circulation
we are going to describe in a few Clou [Nail] of the nail through the skin is simu-
words. Under the planks of the Conjuring. The trick of the nail lated; it is a real conjuring trick.
wood floor that forms the orches- in the eye. Among the artifices When one wants to present this
tra, one must imagine hinged ham- called into play to simulate invul- feat, it is necessary to put a nail into
mers attached in four places so nerability, the nail in the eye is one of the left eye and the mouth without
that one can knock them together the most simple and harmless the audience knowing.
411
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
One easily understands the fi- performed depends, most often, on are said. Naturally, passersby stop;
nesse of the trick. The third nail is the exactitude and skill of the ser- the two men are surrounded and
introduced into the right eye and vant. Many substitutions and trans- the cause of the dispute is sought.
one pretends to pass it into the formations attributed to the con- "Look, gentlemen, be my wit-
left, simply removing the one put jurer are the work of this nesses," says the conjurer's adver-
there in the first place, and it is by mysterious agent. The confeder- sary in showing his watch to the
this same trickery that one again ate, as we have said, mixes with the gathering, "this gentleman claims
seems to make it go from the audience; he is to hand the con- that my watch is one hour fast. See
mouth to the right eye. This exper- jurer a scarf, handkerchief, snuff- for yourselves." The conjurer
iment can be done without the box, watch, etc. when the conjurer quickly grabs the watch and throws
slightest pain, and without any asks the assembly for one of these it in the river. "Well," he says with
danger. The little nail, when intro- objects. The magician has a copy of bold air, "since you persist in say-
duced into the eye, is placed in a all these; he can therefore with lit- ing your watch is precise; take a
sort of pocket formed by the con- tle difficulty and with an appear- look; you will certainly be pleased
junctive membrane, which unites ance of magic, destroy the object to see it go forward. Follow it if you
the eyeball to the eyelid. This cir- handed to him and find it again can." The public is indignant; peo-
cular veil is an ingenious barrier completely restored in a small loaf ple are getting angry; the unknown
that protects the orbit of the eye of bread, a box, an orange, etc. This man is about to get roughed up
against any foreign bodies. Although mystification, somewhat twofold, when suddenly he announces who
the conjunctive membrane is ex- has fallen into disuse; very few he is, and that he is the famous
tremely sensitive, it cannot be hurt conjurers today would decide to wizard X...who wanted to prove his
through contact with the nail. This use such a blatant artifice, and they talent upon arriving in the city.
harmless little cylinder remains at can proudly say, like Syonorelle, "The watch I have just thrown into
the bottom of the membrane, with- that it was rococo, but "we've the river," he adds, "is now sus-
out hindering the movements changed all that." pended from the fireplace in this
made by the eye and eyelids. In order to justify the simplest gentleman's bedroom, where it
and most ancient of simulated tells the time I said it did; come
Compere [Confederate] magic artifices - confederates - it with me, gentlemen, and we will
A confederate is anyone who, in is necessary to say that conjurers verify this fact." One quickly goes
collaboration with a conjurer, helps from the last century and those to the plaintiff's home and finds
him in carrying out his tricks. from the beginning of this one had the watch at the designated place.
Conjurers use two types of con- powerful assistance in fulfilling the The watch that had just been
federates: (1), the invisible con- role of wizard that ignorant people thrown into the river is now hung
federate who cannot be seen by attributed to them. How, indeed, above the fireplace; it is one hour
the public and whom they call a can one explain, except through behind with respect to all the
servant; (2), the confederate who magic, facts of the sort we are clocks of the city.
is in the audience and who was about to relate? A conjurer meets a Two similar watches in fake
once known as a courtois. person on the bridge of a provincial gold, a confederate; what more
The servant is the conjurer's in- town; he asks him to please tell does one need to explain this won-
visible assistant; hidden backstage him what time it is, according to der of magic? But the public, who
with his ear to the curtain, he fol- his watch. The gentleman, satis- knows nothing of these details, be-
lows the performance with contin- fied, obliges him. "Your watch lieves in wizardry. Can we not say
uous attention because he must must certainly be wrong," says the this to be true in satirizing some of
carry out his function at precise conjurer. "It must be at least an the poet's words: The conjurer is
moments marked by certain lines. hour behind." A discussion takes not what he seems.
The success of some of the tricks places from all sides, unkind words By extension, we also call a con-
412
APPENDIX II i
federate a person who helps another I thank all of you passersby, to so that he could come out. Gomte
in a subterfuge, whatever its nature. whom I perhaps owe it. seemed to agree to this request; the
He who participates in an innocent This is M. Robert-Houdin. servant thanked him and came out,
lie is just as much of a confederate but once freed, he went to the upper
as he who facilitates the crime, or Comte floor and made fun of his liberator.
the seller of stolen goods who (Louis-Christian-Emmanuel- Finally, this voice was heard from all
shares the profit. If we consider Apollinaire), French ventriloquist over the room, even under the seats,
things this way, imagine how many and conjurer, born in Geneva to a to the great fright of the spectators.
confederates there are in the world! French father on June 22, 1788, This scene, as well as many other
People placed at strategic points died in Rueil (Seine-et-Oise) on similar ones, was seasoned with
to lure the crowd into a country November 25, 1859. At eight years wordplay, wit, and harmless mystifi-
fair, and to whom traveling per- of age, he was already amusing his cations that brought the audience's
formers give the title of "crowd friends with ventriloquism perfor- joy to ultimate heights.
gatherers," are confederates; asso- mances. His family wanted him to Gomte added a few conjuring
ciates of the traveling wine mer- go into business, and had placed tricks to his ventriloquism, but
chant who pretend to be buyers - him at an attorney's in the hope his repertoire in this area was
confederates; the biased party in a that he would follow this career. very limited. Having never had a
company when he exaggeratedly But correctly judging that he would mentor, he could perform only
brags about it - a confederate; the the magic tricks he had found in
be better at practicing his instinc-
entrepreneurs of success better basic works on the subject.
tive ventriloquism than studying
Nonetheless, he decided to go to
known as claquers; people who law books, he actively began to
Paris, passing through the south
promote political candidates or sci- perfect this talent and the success of France. At that time in
entists - confederates. Even some- that he obtained at a few intimate Bordeaux was a certain M. David,
one who arranges a marriage is a gatherings encouraged him to con- a rich cloth merchant and a great
double-faced confederate. Finally, tinue his plan. enthusiast of conjuring, who
how many confederates are to be Giving in to the caprices of his owned all the instruments of this
found in today's society of reci- adventurous spirit, he forever gave art and found genuine pleasure in
procity which we call comraderie up the monotonous work of law and helping and instructing the fol-
and of which the motto is: "Help resolutely entered into the artistic, lowers of white magic. Upon his
me, I'll help you!" Pierre Larousse nomadic life. With nothing but the arrival, Gomte met David, who
continues: taught him many interesting
carefree attitude of a fifteen-year
tricks. While traveling, the artist
"Now, who is the confederate old and his gift for ventriloquism, he
from Geneva maintained an ac-
who has come to reveal all these journeyed through the cities and
tive correspondence with his
things in the Grand Dictionnaire towns of Switzerland, where he often teacher, who kept him abreast of
which no one knows, yes, no one, had trouble with the subjects of his developments in the art of magic.
because the wizard who is the unit mystifications, but where he was also An original handwritten letter by
is in front of the crowd, or legion? admired for the perfection with Gomte (collection of autographs
This confederate, you have which he imitated distant voices. He of Monsieur the Marquis of Flers),
guessed, is a humble savant who has had composed short scenes that addressed to M. David, gives an
acquired an honest fortune, and formed very attractive shows. There idea of their relationship. This
who lives in retreat, surrounded by was, for example, the scene of the letter begins as follows:
books, in a charming villa on the servant locked in a cellar, with whom
outskirts of Blois, on whose walls he he began a most pleasant conversa- Orleans, May 13, 1809
could write the following: tion. One heard the voice of the ser- APOLLINAIRE GOMTE, ven-
The theater built this country vant coming from underground, beg- triloquist and professor of sci-
shelter, ging his master to open the trapdoor entific amusements, who, two
413
ROBtRl-HOUDIN
years ago, was almost a victim Borel and Fitz-James, who shared few seconds later, a bouquet of var-
of several Swiss peasants who, with him the favors of the Parisian ied flowers appeared in the vase.
believing him to be a sorcerer, public. After having given some un- Gomte gave them to ladies in the
beat him and wanted to burn profitable performances at the the- audience and during the distribu-
him by throwing him into an ater in the Rue Thionville, Gomte tion he found the way to says things
oven, etc
left the capital and traveled through with double entendre (this was the
Monsieur David, Bordeaux,
the provinces, where he obtained time of gallantries in language)
When I had the honor of
real success for a few years. Back in Miss, here is a rose that you made blush
meeting you in Blois, I told
Pans in 1814 he moved into the with jealousy Gentlemen, may you never
you that I planned to go to
Valencay to see the princes of Hotel des Fermes, Rue Grenelle have worries, etc. However, the little
Spain The prefect of Blois Saint-Honore, in the space that his bouquet was disappearing; there
gave me a letter for the gover- predecessors Bienvenu and Olivier were only a few flowers left
nor, and I gave two perfor- had occupied, and became a theatri- Suddenly, the conjurer's hands were
mances before the three cal entrepreneur (see the following literally filled with roses. Then,
princes I taught them a few article). It is at that time that he was with a triumphant air, he cried out
tricks, they presented me with called to the court of Louis XVIII "I had promised to conjure and
a magnificent certificate and and performed before sovereigns, transform all these ladies, could I
fifty louis All the gold I earn, I after which he received the title of have chosen a more graceful and
owe to you, because your King's Conjurer. amiable manner? In changing you all
tricks are the most beautiful in
my show This show was long in vogue. into roses, isn't it like offering a
And later However, in the last years, the con- copy of the model? Isn't it also con-
My intention is now to have jurer only rarely performed, and his juring you away to return you to
four trunks of magic effects I young actors did not inspire the same your original state? Tell me, gentle-
will present only magic at the interest. He was forced to invent sev- men, did I not succeed?" For these
two first shows For the third, I eral methods to maintain his income amiable, slightly precieux words, the
will present the larger effects during all seasons. He invented: (1), conjurer always received a triple
and lure my audience with Pink tickets: special tickets sent in dose of bravos\
ventriloquism The next day, I profusion all over Pans, for half-price This performer, albeit so grace-
will perform tricks in the town tickets; (2), Medals, brass tokens that ful and gallant toward ladies, was
and boldly announce three gave one a ticket for 10 centimes; (3), merciless to men. Let us mention a
performances of ventrilo- Free seats to prizewinners of ju-
quism In total, that makes six few jokes of which his masculine
nior-high schools, which we will audience was the victim. There
performances for towns with
discuss in the following article. were certain stools which made un-
10,000, 15,000, and 20,000 in-
dividuals What do you think^ As a conjurer, Gomte had a very pleasant sounds when someone sat
He ends by saying that his ven- pleasant talent. He performed his down, or the trick of the Ace of
triloquism tires him greatly. tricks with great skill and dexterity. Hearts, which ended with dozens of
In 1812, Gomte came to Pans We can judge by the following trick, aces coming out of all possible
[Actually, June 22, 1809] and moved which was called The Birth of pockets of the spectator's clothing,
into 24, Rue Thionville (Rue Flowers. After having spread seeds who was searched, prodded,
Dauphine), a children's theater, al- on a bit of dirt in a little bowl, he probed, and did not know which
ready named Theatre des Jeunes- said a few magic words, poured a way to turn to escape this avalanche
Eleves. His performances suffered flaming liquid on the dirt, and cov- of cards. There was also the hat
from the competition of the magician ered it with a bell, which he claimed lent by a bald spectator and out of
Olivier, who was very fashionable at was to concentrate the heat and which Gomte removed a wig in ac-
the time, and also two ventriloquists, stimulate the vegetation. Indeed, a companying this illusion with puns
414
APPENDIX II i
and cruel jokes. I had scarcely concealed the than fifty years of incessant work,
Ventriloquism, we have said, handkerchief and box, when I retired to a property he owned in
added much charm to Gomte's per- heard a strange voice on the sec- Nanterre. His kindness, benevo-
formances; it furnished pleasant in- ond floor landing. "Monsieur lence, and generosity won him the
terludes, which were very funny Robert-Houdin, will you be kind esteem and affection of all the in-
and effective. This talent also in- enough to step up to the box-of- habitants, who nicknamed him
spired curious mystifications, but fice. I wish to speak to you." - Good Papa Gomte. In this modest
the best (if a mystification can ever Not right now," I answered, still locality, he gave several perfor-
be good) were reserved for his trav- preoccupied with my theft. "I mances for the poor The last one
els, he used them for advertising his will come later." - "Go ahead," took place in January 1854, when
performances and they contributed said Comte jovially, "the gentle- he was almost seventy years old.
to attracting the crowd. One finds man will take only a moment of Comte left Nanterre for Rueil,
the description in a volume in-12 your time; go on, I will wait where he ended his days. Louis-
with the title Voyages et seances anec- here, because I still have to Philippe named him Chevalier of
dotiques de M Comte (de Geneve) speak with you." - "So be it," I the Legion of Honor
[Pans, 1816]. Only one of these answered, and without thinking Comte (THEATRE GHOISEUL,
pleasantries will show to what de- I went up to the second floor. called JEUNES-ELEVES and more
gree Gomte knew how to imitate a My readers will guess that the ordinarily, THEATRE) established
distant voice. This anecdote could ventriloquist had played a trick on January 23, 1825 in Paris,
be entitled "The mystified mystifiers", on me; indeed, on reaching the Passage Choiseul and Rue Mon-
we can guarantee its authenticity. office, I only found the clerk, who signy, replaced in 1855 by the the-
"After a visit paid to me by could not understand what I was ater Les Bouffes-Pansiens. The
the celebrated ventriloquist at talking about. I perceived, too Genevan Gomte, its founder, after
Palais-Royal," said Robert- late, that I had been victimized, having acquired a reputation
Houdin, who is the author of this and I heard Gomte celebrating his throughout Europe as conjurer,
article, "I accompanied him to victory with shouts of laughter. prestidigitator, and ventriloquist,
the foot of the stairs on his depar- For a moment, I confess I felt came to perform shows of amusing
ture. Gomte walked down before vexed at having been taken in, magic and phantasmagoria in dif-
me, still talking, so that the pock- but I soon regained my serenity at ferent theaters in Pans. From the
ets of his coat were at my mercy the thought of a little vengeance former Theatre des Jeunes-Eleves
The opportunity was too good to I might have from the very situa- of the Rue de Thionville, he
neglect the chance of playing a tion I was in. So I went down- moved into a space in the Hotel
trick on my talented colleague, so stairs very calmly. - "What did des Fermes, Rue du Bouloi. In this
I stole his handkerchief and a that person want?" Gomte asked, underground space where Jacques
handsome gold snuffbox; and I with ill-repressed delight. - de Falaise, the Polyphage, dazzled
took care to turn the pocket in- "Can't you guess?" - "Me? No." Parisians with the ease with which
side out, as proof that my perfor- "It was a penitent thief, who he swallowed roses, watches,
mance had been properly exe- begged me to return to you the birds, mice, etc , Comte presented
cuted. I was laughing at the comic articles he had stolen from you. a few scenes of buffoonery that
result my trick must have caused, Here they are, my master'" - "I added to the audience's amuse-
when I returned Gomte his prop- prefer it to end so!" Gomte said, ment, with the participation of
erty, but it was "diamond cuts di- returning his pocket to its place. children In 1817, Comte moved to
amond," for while I was thus vio- "We are now even and I hope we the Mont Thabor theater or former
lating the laws of hospitality, shall always be good friends." Cirque Olympique, which the
Gomte was scheming against me In 1854, Comte, tired by more Francoms had just left. However,
415
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
the demands of the administration, plays, many before the age of rea- although complaisant chroniclers
which only allowed him to perform son (on the male side, of course) often attributed him with a handful
his children's plays behind a gauze Comte's theater, in spite of the size of excellent actors, yes, a handful if
curtain, forced him back to the and age of its actors, remained pop- you will, but one must consider the
Hotel des Fermes After much ef- ular with its little audience when quality as well Alas' How many
fort and solicitation, he won the in 1855, its name and specialty dis- little stars shone one night before
privilege of setting up a moral the- appeared from the world of theater the theater, unfolded themselves
ater, where the troupe, like the au- Since then it has become Les before the fake sun of the foot-
dience, was made up of children Bouffes-Pansiens Lament, school- lights, only to fall back into the pa-
With only three young actors, he children - you who had a theater ternal room afterwards (porter's of-
began to perform amusing and edu- for yourselves and performances - fice, of course) - pale, broken,
cational plays, then in 1820 he about the good old days dirty from hard labor, dreaming of
moved his staff to the Passage des all sorts of imagined glory - only
The Theatre Gomte, before
Panoramas To Berquin's repertoire imagined
taking this name, had been succes-
he added special plays, among
sively called Theatre de Physique "A few of these young artists,"
which one must especially mention
amusante, ventnloquie, magie, Theatre said M Albenc Second, "died in
those of Emile Vanderburch, they
des Nouveautes (1819), Spectacle de squalor, many resigned themselves
were mixed with conjuring and
magie et des enfants de M Comte to manual labor One of them, a
ventriloquism scenes The
(1824) It left more than one mem- hunchback called Little Alfred 'en-
Panoramas space being too small,
ory in the minds of young genera- tered into the administration', he
Comte moved into Passage
tions who paraded through it wide- currently presides over the cleaning
Choiseul, where his repertoire ex-
eyed and open-mouthed before of his homeland he is an inspector of
tended itself to spectacular scenes,
Sleeping Beauty, The Pink Devil, The Parisian street-cleaning' This digni-
comic-operas, and other plays
White Mouse, Gargantua, The Magic fied civil servant must be seen when
which ended up digressing from
Lantern in the Moon, Puss in Boots, he goes through the inspection of a
the theater's original purpose
etc Every evening for the entire squad of street-cleaners' At these
They were nonetheless moral and
year, management gave a stall free times, he is truly magnificent to con-
instructive One could read on the
bills of charge to the student who won template He fulfills his mission as a
first prize during the annual man who often had the honor of play-
Through morality, good taste awards in junior-high schools and ing Napoleon I or the great
modestly shmes boarding schools of both genders Frederick Watch him he takes his
And without fear every mother in Pans and the suburbs Many snuff in the left pocket of his vest,
may bring her daughter families brought their children folds his arms behind his back, wears
The authorities did not let there for their birthdays, and on a grey frock coat, and says to his men
themselves be won over by these Thursdays, teachers brought their in dispersing them with a grandiose
tempting lines, they looked behind best pupils gesture, 'Soldiers' I am pleased with
the scenes and suddenly changed Today, there is nothing left for you '" Among M Gomte's students
the rules for this tiny theater, forc- sixth-grade students whose suc- who continued to act, most of them,
ing the director to hire older actors cess one wishes to reward, other we must say, did not and will not go
In the last years of its existence, than to go and see shows at beyond the level of decent medioc-
they were no longer barely weaned Chatelet or the cavalcades at the rity But what does this matter, after
babies, or noble fathers escaped Hippodrome all, if the renown of just one of them
from their nurses, but big young The Theatre Gomte only trained is enough to ensure the glory of the
people who acted in children's a small number of famous artists, professor? This one is Hyacinthe,
416
APPENDIX I I - !
the sublime gracioso of the theater Comus 3 The automaton, which will tell
of Palais-Royal Hyacinthe was Gomus, famous conjurer from the the age and thoughts of a person,
barely six years old when he made 4 The magic lemon trick, carried
beginning of the nmeenth century In
out by VOLTAIRE What will be
his debut at the Theatre Ghoiseul spite of the vogue and popularity that
thought-of will be found inside,
In considering his precocious talent his skill and savoir-faire earned him,
5 The siren trick,
and resounding success, M Gomte this artist, who called himself the
6 He will play cards blindfolded
ensured him an exceptional salary leading conjurer of France, never had and will do repic et capot to his oppo-
10 francs per month with nothing the honor of a biography Michaud, nent,
on the one hand, in discussing 7 Eight watches will be thrown
taken out, which he had never done
Gomte's competitors, mentions a cer- into the air, they will be suspended
before' And when he parted ways
tain Gomus, a very skillful conjurer, from the ceiling by a gun shot,
with his manager seven years later whose real name, he adds, was never 8 The trick of the glass of wine
to be an extra at the Vanetes, he known This is understandable, the changed into flowers that he per-
had already been earning 20 sous conjurer in question, in borrowing, formed before his Imperial Majesty
per day, which was the highest for his greater glory, the pseudonym And many other tricks of his in-
salary possible In the very com- under which one of the most learned vention
mendable goal of not creating terri- men of his time had become famous Price of seats
417
ROBFRT HOUDIN
in reality, he was shuffling the One of his colleagues named Cote, way," he said in a good-natured,
cards in his own way This is, with jealous of his name, but not having comical tone, "they trick you, gen-
the help of a conjuring, and more the right to use it, found a way tlemen, and it is wrong, but I, who
specifically, a cheating manipula- around this by using the name am honest, cannot use such meth-
tion called cull shuffling by the Gonus He so mercilessly com- ods " This did not stop him from
Greeks, with which he stacked the peted with the old conjurer that using exactly the same procedures,
cards in such a way that those he Gomus gradually lost his identity and he managed to invisibly pass
had chosen ended up in his hand to the newcomer The two names up to four coins from one hand to
when he dealt the cards He then became confused about who was the other using skill and cunning
presented the deck to be cut, but really the leading conjurer It is true to state that Gonus had
he reestablished the order he had the skill of hiding several coins in
The brilliant conjurer of the
set by performing the pass the palm of his hand, which he
past, Gomus, first conjurer of
held open but facing downwards
After the cards were dealt, the France, died in 1820, poor and for-
This skill is acquired through prac-
magician had in his hand a six- gotten Sic transit
tice, conjurers call it palming The
teenth major, a fourteen of ace, and
trick ended this way taking an
a fourteen king with which he did Conus empty cup in one hand, he placed
repic et capot his opponent by win- Skillful conjurer from the be- it under the table and taking the
ning one hundred and sixty-three ginning of the century, whose real other four coins, which he showed
points in a single round name was Cote He took the name to the audience, he appeared to
The glass of wine that Gomus of Gonus to create confusion with pass them through the table, and
mentions on his bills is a trick that and take advantage of the name after hearing their clinking sound,
he invented It was very well done, Comus, who was one of his very he proved that they had really
but we must be surprised that, popular competitors He was very fallen into the cup Comte took the
given the lack of formality with skillful with his hands Contrary to multiplying aces trick from Gonus,
which it was performed, it could be the manner of conjurers of that which consisted in making a multi-
presented before the Emperor time, he used neither devices nor tude of aces come out of all parts of
Napoleon I You will judge accord- apparatus for the execution of his a spectator's clothing Another one
ing to the following description tricks Cards, coins, cups, and a few of his tricks, which was greatly ap-
Gomus arrived on stage pouring objects borrowed from the audi- preciated by amateurs and which
wine from a bottle into a glass ence were the only elements of his his colleagues considered to be a
program To give an idea of marvel of conjuring, is as follows
Once the glass was full, he brought
Conus's dexterity with cups and He had a deck of cards in his left
it to his lips as if to drink, but
balls, it will suffice to say that, in- hand At his request, the audience
changing his mind, he suddenly
stead of using cork balls, whose named any card at will Conus then
threw its contents at the neighbor-
lightness was useful for stealing picked a card at random from the
ing spectators The wine, in its tra-
them away and placing them under deck, showed it to the audience,
jectory, turned into rose petals No cups, he instead used massive brass
matter how surprising this trick may and it so happened to be the card
balls much bigger than the other that had been named This was re-
seem, and no matter how graciously kind, which did not prevent him
it ends, it remains a very risky joke, peated as many times as desired
from performing the most surpris- Gonus died in 1835, leaving a son
especially in the presence of an au- ing sleights without the slightest who was also a conjurer, but who
dience that allows no familiarity of vibration being heard One of his has not performed in several years
any kind favorite tricks was the following
In the middle of this success, After having borrowed four coins,
Gomus had the bad luck to get a he first showed how his conjurer Coupe [Cut]
taste of his own medicine about the colleagues ordinarily held the coins Conjuring Cutting the cards This
pseudonym that he had chosen in the palm of their hand "In this is where conjurers have shown a
418
APPENDIX II ,
good hand, with or without word- game, because a pack of cards cut
play, according to the reader's wish one millimeter higher or lower
We intend to talk about cutting the could completely change the out-
cards, which holds such an impor- come of a game One knows that in
tant place in the outcome of the all card games, no matter how var-
game, especially when one skill- ied, the person in charge of dealing
fully knows how to maneuver them the cards first presents the deck to
to one's own best interest Even if his opponent to cut It is a sort of
we have to make the scarce hair on guarantee, or custom, which is prac-
the bald head of Lady Morality ticed in the best circles Here is
stand up, we are going to expose how this cut is usually performed
the dealer, after having shuffled the Illus 1
here the principles ('") upon which
cards, places the deck within arm's 2 Cover the deck with the right
this art is based, and which allow
hand and hold the edges of the lower
one to control the outcome of the reach of his opponent He in turn
packet together between the middle
game, which is euphemistically divides the cards as he wishes into
finger and the thumb as in illustra-
called correcting the mistakes of two more-or-less equal parts and
tion 2
fortune But let timid minds not be forms two packets on the table The
frightened disproportionately, let dealer takes the two packets and
not ordinary people put their hands puts the one that was underneath
in their pockets and put safety on top The two packets then be-
chains there, next to the illness, we come one, and all natural or artifi-
place the remedy, and after having cial dealing of cards that could have
read this article, a bad jester who occured in the game is prevented
wants to fool players risks being put One presents the cut, or in other
at the bottom of the wall, as is com- words, one gives the deck to be cut
monly said, and moreover, he would to the right, left, or across from one-
probably stay there "Maiprend aux self, according to the number of
volereaux de faire les voleurs," said La players In the last case, one always Illus 2
Fontaine, misfortune sometimes presents the cut on the side oppo- The pass With the help of the lit-
also befalls novice conjurers who try site to where the dealing began tle finger, which is in the middle of
to imitate Bosco and Robert- As the success of the game de- the deck, and the three other fin-
Houdin And because this last name pends uniquely on the cut, as it gers which are on top, pull out the
comes so easily to our pen, let us were, there are people who, ab- upper packet to make it go quickly
say right now that we owe the fol- solutely wanting to win, have de- and noiselessly under the lower
lowing information to this doctor in vised skillful manipulations so that packet To do this smoothly, one
witchcraft, who so well saw through the cut would not make them lose should press on the edge of the
the Davenports' cabinet This reve- the chances that they have created lower packet with the tip of the
lation is easy to understand, but dif- for themselves in shuffling the thumb and, with the help of the
ficult to put into practice One be- cards in a certain fashion To two fingers holding it, one uses a
comes a conjuror, but one is born a achieve this fine result, they have movement so that the other packet
magician Bnllat-Savarin said this found nothing better than to make can go under it In order to be more
more or less, and M Robert-Houdin the pass easily understood, remove the right
clearly proves it These preliminar- Preparation 1 Hold the deck of hand, which serves to hide the op-
ies well established, let us attack cards in the left hand and divide it eration, and we easily see the posi-
the issue of cutting the deck, an op- with the little finger in two nearly tion that the packets should occupy
eration so crucial to this kind of equal parts, as in illustration 1 during the transposition (illus 3)
419
ROBFRT HOLDIN
Place the card on the packet of in his hands, slides the little fin-
the left hand and cover it immedi- ger of the left hand between the
ately with the packet of the right two packets and prepares to make
hand, but at the same time you the pass at the appropriate mo-
have furtively placed the little fin- ment We say at the appropriate
ger between both packets, slightly moment because only beginners in
dividing the deck in two, giving it trickery hurry to carry out this op-
the appearance of illustration 1 To eration The experienced Greek
the spectator, the card is lost in the takes his time, and with the help
Illus 3 deck If you make the pass now, in of a few gestures of good company
Once the pass has been made, the following the previous instructions, and a very captivating conversa-
right hand leaves the left and ap- the chosen card will be on top of tion, he manages to hide the ma-
pears as in illustration 1 the pack nipulation of the pass In this way,
These diverse movements, de- for example, he will say, in moving
The One-handed pass This
scribed in steps to facilitate the ex- his hand to the right spot "Have
exercise is rarely used in card
planation, must be carried out with a
tricks, it has no other purpose the bets been made ? " Or even,
promptness so that they flow into
then to show the dexterity of the with the same intent, he will ask
one and the same action The skill-
fingers There are several proce- how many points his opponent
ful conjurer makes the pass invisibly
in less than a second The reader dures to eliminate the cut with has, in this way feigning distrac-
who will take a deck of cards in order one hand, we can see the descrip- tion or indifference
to try this manipulation for the first tion in several modern treatises The pass cut This cheating
time will perhaps consider it as im- on conjuring technique fulfills the same goal as
practicable Would it not be the The blind cut In greekery (we the preceding Here is the de-
same if one wanted to first play an are creating the word following scription When the deck has
instrument according to the instruc- Robert-Houdin), a skillful manip- been cut, the Greek, instead of
tions of a book? ulation of cards whose goal is to placing the lower packet on the
To show an application of the pass avoid the disorganization caused upper one, subtly slides it under-
in card tricks, let us suppose that after by the cut in card decks This neath, which completely changes
having asked someone to take a card card-sharping technique is based the cut
from a deck and put it back, one
on the following procedures (1), The cut avoided is a false cut
wants to quickly find it Here is the
The pass, (2), the pass cut, (3), The whose artifice is extremely simple
process to be followed once the card
cut avoided, (4) The wide card, And it is perhaps for this reason
has been removed from the pack, sep-
arate the cards into two packets held (5) the bridge that one is easily caught The
close to each other (illustration 4) The Greek pass, although pro- Greek, in lifting the lower packet
ducing the same result as in con- to put it on top of the other, in-
juring, is not done the same way, stead of stopping, goes over and
after his opponent has cut the past it and simply puts the packet
deck in two parts, the Greek, as in the left hand, after which he
usual, puts the bottom half on top places the other packet on this one
But, in so doing, instead of squar- The deck is in this way returned to
ing the two packets to make just its original condition
one, he puts the upper packet a The wide card This is a card
little behind the lower one so that which is wider than that of the
they overlap by one centimeter usual decks Introduced into a
Thanks to this ridge in the cards, deck, the wide card, thanks to its
Illus 4 the Greek, once he has the cards protruding portions, forces the cut
420
APPENDIX II i
421
ROB^RT-HOLDIIN
for whom all these tricks are but witnessed were marvelous and unex- proached. Well-intentioned newspa-
the ABGs of the trade, and who plainable per articles were followed by a large
proved that these supposedly su- The American mediums did not number of virulent protestations
pernatural gimmicks were, on the speak a word of our language; so against an exhibition that was con-
contrary, the most natural in the they were obliged to have an inter- sidered, and with just cause, to be
world. "Dear colleagues, you are preter who was also their agent, or dangerous to public thought and par-
certainly very skillful people; but, as it is still said, their Barnum. They ticularly for certain weak minds that
as Proudhon said very irreverently had been put into contact with always tend to take seriously the
to Victor Considerant and consorts, M. Derosme, a man of letters living tricks of adepts of simulated witch-
you are just a joke." in Passy and to whom we owe ex- craft. The following lines, taken
The three engravings below are cellent translations of a few English from a newspaper article in
the property of our learned collabo- works. The latter accepted the mis- L?Opinion natwnale (September 10,
rator. They faithfully reproduce the sion offered to him and to make his 1865) will give an idea of the state of
physiognomy of two operators per- proteges known; he had them per- excitement of the Parisian press
forming; in other words, they are form a few seances in his living about the American mediums. This
photographs. room before an elite audience, article preceded the Davenports'
In September 1865, two Ame- whose support could have great in- first performance by two days:
ricans, Ira and William Davenport, fluence on the future success of "...These admirable Americans
arrived in France to give marvelous their possible performances in the arrive preceded by a thundering
seances, under the name spirit man- capital. Huge American-style bills reputation. Their Gospel arrived
ifestations. They had come directly were put up all over Pans; the first before them. It is a 300-page vol-
from England, where for two years seance of the Davenports was an- ume in which M. Nichols, the au-
they had benefited from a great nounced in huge print and would thor of this work, guarantees that
vogue. The press from the three take place in the Salle Hertz on the Davenport Brothers have pos-
kingdoms had energetically related September 12th. The show, divided sessed the skill of being lighter
their mysterious exercises and the into two parts, was composed as fol- than air since their most tender
commotion from the polemics raised lows: (1), Cabinet effects; (2), The youth; that several times they have
had reached us. seance in the dark. The price of flown up to the ceiling and hovered
The arrival of these thaumaturges seats was 25 francs per person for over the audiences. If I dare con-
took the importance of a political the entire show and only 10 francs test M. Nichol's testimony on this
event, the Moniteur du soir, an official for the first part. point, it is not only because the
newspaper, announced them in its With such high prices, what a thing is absurd in and of itself, it is
issues of 6d and 8th September and prospective great income! Alas! The also especially because it is insult-
all the press repeated this interest- illusion of the two brothers about ing to the Davenport Brothers.
ing news over and over again. their future success in the capital What! Gentlemen, you let it be
Before going to Pans, the Davenport had to end here; the kindly support said that you flew without wings in
Brothers had stopped at the chateau they had collected in their prepara- a theater, when it is shown that you
of Gennevilhers whose owner, a fer- tory seances were the only real joys can longer do it! You therefore
vent disciple of spiritism, considered they were allowed to experience in have a power that has run out, a
the illustrious visitors' stay as good the most intelligent and skeptical virtue that has left you? Must one
luck. It was in this welcoming resi- country in the civilized world. conclude that you no longer merit
dence that the first trial performance An unforeseen storm was rolling your spirit servants? That you no
of spirit manifestations took place. A over spiritism in general and on their longer have the same authority
small number of writers and journal- exercises in particular; this storm be- over your aerial porters as before?
ists were also invited, who all agreed came more and more threatening as That you are already declining at
upon the fact that the feats they had the day for the first performance ap- twenty-five or twenty-three years
422
APPENDIX IIi
of age? That you are going from noted by the Emperor of China and Because of my distance from the
being the strongest to the weakest, the Sultan of Morocco; that does not capital, I could not attend this mem-
and in Nicolet's land? You have make them any more worthy. orable seance, I am therefore obliged
come to show us minor miracles But let me come back to your to borrow M. H. de Pene's account of
after having given performances in phenomena; because finally you it. I will then give my description of
America of which a god would be have your own phenomena and you when I saw them perform before a
jealous? Do you therefore take seem to want to find a place for calm and well-intentioned audience.
Pans for one of those small minor them. You do not know that phe- Here is how the spiritual chroni-
cities where used, misunderstood, nomena are nothing by themselves; cler of the Gazette des Strangers relates
and old artists go to regain success? it is a question of taking them to a the seance, under the title of-
Is it not strange that in 1865, known or unknown, ancient or new
CHOKING OF THE DAVEN-
when all humanity is taking great law; they only interest serious men
PORT BROTHERS AT THE
steps towards progress, when the on the condition that they prove
SALLE HERTZ,
positive spirit is taking over every- something. What do you want to
thing, when all the sciences, freed prove? What conclusions do you The tragi-comic saga of the
of the burden of antique nonsense, draw from your little nocturnal dis- evening of September 14th:
is resolutely heading toward the turbance? What new elements do "The first performance of the two
truth, that one tries to come and re- you bring to science? Gome on, ex- brothers before a paying audience,"
suscitate supernatural forces? pose yourselves frankly; new ideas he says, "took place on Tuesday
If the moment is ill chosen, the do not scare us. They scare us so lit- evening, as had been announced.
choice of instruments is hardly less tle that it is very useless today to rec- The theater had turned on its lights,
ridiculous. What! Here are two big ommend them via miracles. A good all the seats were full. But the spec-
men who have mastered invisible truth makes its way in the world tator found himself drowned in a tu-
powers; they are served by spirits; without being accompanied by lumi- mult worthy of an assembly of furi-
they have at their orders an army of nous guitars and phosphoric violins." ous shareholders. There was a lot of
unknown beings, but definitely su- (Edmond About). noise and mean grumbling. The
perior to man; and thanks to the al- These wise reflections and logical night performance, the most inter-
liance of this supernatural power, reasonings of the eminent writer esting of the two, that which had
they manage to do what? Play the must have struck a terrible blow to been poetically entitled "One hour in
violin in a closet. Really, demi-gods the American mediums' credibility the dark," and which was only to have
are quite modest these days' and shaken up the faith of the most for witness a small number of specta-
These gentlemen seem to have firm believers in occult sciences. The tors at a high price, did not take
taken the journey from America to medium-like faculties of the two place at all.
France to show us phenomena. This brothers, their evocations, and their "The first part only of the public
is the word that they use, and they spirit manifestations were now seance, accessible for a low rate, suf-
took care to add that "these phe- judged. For every man capable of ficed to bring such a turmoil that
nomena were noted by the most reason, the Davenport Brothers were after about fifteen minutes of com-
renowned savants in England and only tricksters Still, public curiosity motion the public had to leave with
America." Their Gospel is entitled* had been so excited lately that every- police sergeants prodding them.
Phenomena of the Davenport Brothers. one wanted to see these men who Moreover, one loyally gave back the
So much for phenomena; it is a had been so talked about, as well as money at the door; it was even said
word used in scientific language these true or false miracles which that more came out of the cash regis-
and also on the fairground. The had been the object of such vivid ter than went in.
Saverne fair opens next Sunday and controversy. One therefore waited "These poor Davenports! I saw
is already encumbered with phe- with impatience for the day of the them close up, I spoke to them; I
nomena. There are live ones, all first performance and rushed to it. touched their cabinet, their famous
423
ROBPRT HOIDIM
ropes, their tambourine, the bells, past ten years, do not have the good ence, interrogated by the inter-
guitars, in a word, all the elements of fortune of speaking your language, preter, answered in chorus that they
the miraculous symphony in which they therefore entrust me with the were satisfied with our work But a
they are said to excel I was called by task of assuring you that they in no blond-haired gentleman, whom I
universal suffrage of spectators to way pretend to impose upon the was told later was an engineer,
the perilous honor of climbing onto public the belief in their commerce arose 'These gentlemen,' he said,
the stage to inspect the operations, with spirits, they do not proclaim to 'are truly tied, but poorly tied up, I
to tie, untie, and do everything that be sorcerers or conjurers before you, will do it myself in such a fashion
my job as controller intended they only propose to let you witness that they will not be able to get
"Can I say that there was bad will phenomena whose causes they loose ' He did what he says and re-
toward them before the beginning themselves know nothing about, in turned to his seat with a triumphant
of the performance? Yes, I can, but I letting you be the sole judges of the air The doors of the cabinet closed
could not say for certain The worst effects produced on the two Brothers who, a few min-
enemies of the Davenports in this "Such a speech was reasonable utes later, seemed untied There
seance were themselves Let us be and fairly well-received Unfortu- was applause The Davenports
clear I think they are very skillful nately, the interpreter, too confi- therefore succeeded in what I will
because in front of trustworthy peo- dent in the marks of sympathy temporarily call the rope trick when
ple and myself, they did really mar- granted him, continued speaking the blond gentleman, who wanted
velous things with assistance from and launched into long and diverse to avenge himself, impetuously
this world or the next in various sit- explanations which finally tired the jumped onto the stage and cried
uations Their reputation and their public The Davenports were out 'We are being tricked, this is an
merit as conjurers, mediums, or sor- asked for with large cries They ap- undignified mystification the
cerers, however you would like to peared and the tumult ended bench on which the gentlemen are
say, still remain intact in my view "Finally the show would go on' seated rocks so as to allow them to
However, they do not know the Not yet' The actors were on stage, get untied ' Saying this, he struck
Parisian public at all, and given the their closet was open with three the plank with his fist, and it broke
way in which the staging of their doors to receive them but their ig- noisily into bits Naturally one of
miracles was organized, one would norance of our language, their af- the Davenport Brothers fell to the
say that they had never come out of fected or sincere desire to seriously ground as is the case when a chair is
their cabinet Obviously we were check things, the speed with which pulled out from under one who is
dealing with a defiant and wary pub- they accept all trials without bar- seated The entire theater arose,
lic that had to be energetically ac- gaining, the stubbornness they use the storm was everywhere, people
costed with a high and light hand, to force public incredulity (Alas' it left their seats and became their
just like a skillful horseman makes was always us) in sticking their nose own delegates, everyone was on-
his horse jump over the obstacle be- everywhere, added more and more stage One spoke with strangers, ex-
fore which it hesitates If the horse- length Better to hoodwink people actly like during a not M Hertz
man also hesitates, he is lost and do it quickly People grumbled, began to tremble for his theater
"The evening opened with the sang, whistled, burst out laughing, "Brusque entrance of the city
speech of an interpreter whose in- screamed, and got angry police and on the formal order of
tention was excellent and who had a "During this difficult time, we the police commissioner, the seance
conciliatory wit, but whose emotion fulfilled the functions delegated to was adjourned
was also very visible This was about us, we checked and tested every- "At the nightly hour when I
the jist of what was said thing Then, after examining the write these lines, on Tuesday at
"Gentlemen, the Davenport Brothers, ropes to be used, we attached the midnight, the Davenports are the
who have had an immense reputa- two brothers as best we could to the main subject of conversation on the
tion in America and England for the benches in their cabinet The audi- turbulent boulevard They will
424
APPENDIX II ,
drop on the stock market tomor- share his belief until last night, ob- build it without our intervention,
row The impression which seems viously made a mistake The mo- could convince himself that the
to dominate is that they were exe- bile wood plank is in no way the seance of September 12 h was
cuted with a certain ferocity and deus ex machina of this apparatus nothing other than a series of hos-
bad taste without being judged Indeed, this plank is now attached tile and malevolent demonstra-
Indeed, the worst of despicable to the uprights of the cabinet by tions We would have bowed down
things, in my opinion, is violence very strong screws The furniture before a judgment rendered with
It dirties the best causes, and is made of very thin planks inside calm and fairness, we protest with
would take us away from law itself which it is absolutely impossible to all our strength and legitimate in-
when one begins to follow its call I introduce the slightest mechanism dignation against the insults and
admit that the Davenport Brothers Above, below, on the side, we see brutalities that we have been
are impostors, and even impostors absolutely nothing suspicious and faced with for some time now, and
with no skill, still, in their Waterloo we can spend our time looking, loyally call upon the judgment of
of the Salle Hertz, the public knocking on the walls, and looking an impartial public, partisan of se-
showed itself to be brutal, so, in under rugs and moving chairs, we rious and honest investigations by
my view, the public was wrong are forced to admit that if there are objective persons, even fore-
even when they were right " tricks, they are absolutely, but ab- warned against us It is in this goal
Judging by the reception given solutely, invisible " that we will continue to give our
them, the Davenport Brothers Fncouraged by this declaration, performances in the Salle Hertz,
must have had a strange opinion of the Davenport Brothers had a letter not doubting the definitive result
French hospitality Many others in inserted in all newspapers in which, of our public appearance a single
their place would have been dis- while protesting against the vio- instant "
couraged after such a welcome and lence of which they had been the The Davenport Brothers did in-
would have bravely given up But victims, they announced their in- deed give a series of seances, which
they wanted to get revenge on tention to continue their perfor- they had the good idea to present in
their raging contradictor, whom mances Here is an extract "M D , a smaller room than that of the con-
they justifiably considered to be engineer who, after having made a cert hall, and therefore more ac-
the main instigator of the disas- scene, cried out 'We have been vic- ceptable for this type of show
trous adventure T h e next day, tims of a terrible mystification'' vio- These soirees took place with rela-
they had some important press fig- lently broke an innocent plank sup- tive calm There were from time to
ures come and visit their cabinet, porting the seat on which one of time a few little attacks or jeers, but
while the damage was being fixed us was sitting on tied up This these scenes never degenerated
They easily proved that the hinged plank is in heavy oak and hides no into disorder They were most often
planks, as signaled by their contra- spring or device, it came out of its comical and caused laughter on
dictor, only existed in his imagina- place because it was smashed to both sides
tion and that the hinges and mov- smithereens We personally invite I attended these seances several
ing parts of the furniture had no M D himself to come and verify times, and was so amused, just as I
other purpose than to fold to facili- this fact and to gallantly recognize would have been before well-per-
tate packing his mistake formed conjuring tricks, because
The triumph of the raging engi- "Our cabinet can be examined I knew what to expect from the
neer was therefore short lived, he by everyone, it contains no dispo- two brothers' manifestations and I
could read the same day, in several sition to favor the phenomena often laughed about the ease with
newspapers (LJEpoque, he Temps, which take place Moreover, who- which they behaved as passive in-
and La Patne) the following para- ever would like to provide us with termediaries for spirits from an-
graph "M D , who thought he had a piece of furniture with the same other world Let us declare it out
discovered the trick and made us shape and dimension as ours, and loud The Davenports were noth-
425
I ROBPRI-HOUDJN
ing more than skillful conjurers, guitar, trumpet, tambourine, and as soon as this last door is closed,
who, to give more dazzle to their whistle. Three doors can be closed one sees a right arm appear through
seances, had judged it important to to conceal the mediums from the the opening, still red from the
attribute supernatural forces to audience. tightness of the famous marine
purely manual exercises. From a Before beginning the perfor- knot. The surprise, astonishment,
sheer financial point of view, they mance, several members of the au- and stupefaction of the public can-
had collected great income. At that dience are asked to go onto the not be depicted; one hesitates to
time, it was not rope tricks or gui- dais and to stand in a circle around believe what is seen; one looks at
tar dances that one went to see; the piece of furniture, in order to his neighbor to base one's ideas on
one went to spirit manifestations to form a block to all exterior commu- his; but everyone is sufficiently in-
be witness of supernatural and in- nication. trigued and can furnish no explana-
explicable facts, and this is why First the two Americans are tied tion. They resign themselves and
one agreed to pay 25 francs per up. The audiences agrees to desig- pay a fair tribute of applause to the
ticket. In the end, the American nate a former naval officer, expert artists.
brothers' experiments were very in all sorts of knots, and in whom Soon the three doors are opened
interesting; the staging was well everyone seems to have great con- and one sees the two brothers,
done to produce the illusion of su- fidence, to carry out this delicate smiling, come out of the cabinet
pernatural forces, and no matter operation. free of their bonds, which they
what the opinion of this sort of First the ropes to be used are hold in their hands. More than ten
show, one was always very im- examined, and the two young men minutes were spent tying them up
pressed. In order to give the reader are searched as a policeman would and one minute was enough for
an idea of this seance, I will render do, as precautions against any them to get out.
the exact narrative of it here, also trickery or surprises. This first deed accomplished,
relating the impression I saw it The Americans go into the cabi- the young men go back into the
produce on the audience. Once net and sit on the planks, to which cabinet; they sit down; one places
these marvelous facts are known, I they are to be tied. The delegated the pile of rope at their feet and
propose to follow them with expla- marine takes a rope, he marks it to closes the doors. Two minutes
nations on the way in which they make sure that it will not be ex- later, the doors are opened and the
were produced. changed; he notes its length; then, mediums are tied up again; they
DAVENPORT BROTHERS' with the help of knots called ma- tied themselves up in the dark, and
SEANCE. rine knots, reputed until now to be their hands are solidly tied behind
First part. THE CABINET inextricable, he successively ties their backs. The knots are verified
We are in a salon of the Salle Hertz, up the two brothers; he attaches and are declared to be as solid as
Rue de la Victoire, which can hold their arms to their bodies, solidly the first. It is good to recall that,
sixty people. The room is divided ties up their legs; he finishes tying during the seance, a few members
into two equal parts by a balustrade them up in such a way on the of the audience are constantly sur-
one meter high. On one side are planks and benches that everyone rounding the cabinet, which is
seats reserved for the audience, believes the Americans' defeat to raised on trestles, and that the
and on the other the cabinet which be ensured; they will definitely be room is lit enough so that every-
must serve for the seance. This forced to surrender. thing can be seen.
piece of furniture, as fragilely con- We have said that the closet has Now the most astonishing facts
structed as possible, is mounted on three doors; there is a diamond- take place; the doors are closed as
trestles; it can only hold three peo- shaped opening at the level of a quickly as possible, but the last
ple seated or standing. The interior man's height in the third. First the one is barely closed when the
walls of the cabinet are hung with two side doors are closed, then the strangest concert is heard; the vio-
various instruments, such as violin, middle one. Incredibly, however, lin begins to play with a firmly
426
APPENDIX II i
conducted bow, the guitar sounds, tunate visitor has his head Following the request made to
the tambourine beats the time, the wrapped up in his own handker- their interpreter, fifteen people
bell rings, the trumpet is vigor- chief and is wearing the tam- come to sit near the Americans,
ously blown, and all this forms a bourine on his head, while his tie and hold each other's hands,
horrible cacophony. Sometimes a is tied around his right neighbor's thereby forming an unbreakable
succession of sounds, bumps, and neck and his glasses worn by his circle. Two gas burners, placed on
blows joins this infernal music. left neighbor; his watch has even each side of the reserved space, are
Then suddenly, all is silent, and been moved from one pocket to the only lights in the room; a per-
one sees an arm go through the the next. The delegate, once freed son placed near each one is charged
opening, frantically shaking the from his bonds and immediately with turning on or off the light.
bell. surrounded, is questioned; he de- At a signal given by one of the
At the moment when the con- clares that he only felt a little brothers, the lights are extin-
cert is the loudest, if one suddenly brush on his nose when his head guished for two minutes. A great
opens the doors of the cabinet, was covered with the handker- silence reigns in the room, every-
one notices that the instruments chief and his glasses taken away, one being overwhelmed by this un-
are in their previous places and and can give no other explanation. usual staging. The privileged spec-
that the two brothers are immobile The mediums' wrists are still tators, those who form the safety
on their benches and tied up as solidly bound behind their backs. line, are so close to the mediums
before. The doors close, the bac- Flour is brought with the help of a that the slightest movement, the
chanal starts again, and each time spoon and placed in each of the weakest rubbing of their clothes,
mediums' hands. The doors are no can be felt. One listens attentively
the doors are opened, the medi-
for the slightest revealing noise,
ums are calm, tranquil, and still sooner closed than the clothing of
but in the midst of this worrisome
tied up. I forgot to say that, at one of the recluses is passed
waiting, suddenly there is light,
each one of these spirit manifes- through the opening. The doors
and one sees the two Americans
tations, the cornet and the bell are quickly opened, the bonds are
solidly tied up; their arms, legs,
are thrown through the opening at verified, the door is shut again,
and bodies tied up with ropes and
the audience's feet. and two minutes have not gone by
knots to the chairs on which they
To control these mischievous when the two brothers come out of
are seated; their wrists are tied be-
elves, one of the members of the the closet, fully freed of their
hind their backs and attached to
audience is designated to get into bonds; they go toward the audi- the chairs. The table and chairs are
the cabinet between the two ence and show that their hands are also solidly tied together. One ap-
brothers. A delegate is sent: he still full of the flour placed there. proaches and looks at the various
sits on the middle bench, and to Moreover, the young men are knots and notes them to be well
prevent any action on his part, one wearing black and there is not the executed.
hand is tied to the shoulder of one slightest trace of flour on their
It becomes dark again, and im-
of the brothers and the other to clothes.
mediately the instruments placed
the knee. This guarantees that no Second part. T H E DARK- on the table are mysteriously
other movement from the medi- NESS. The staging of the seance heard. Suddenly the lights are
ums could take place without the is extremely simple: the cabinet back on and the concert stops.
delegate noticing. Once the doors and its trestles have been removed The instruments do not seem to
closed, the Sabbath is heard again and put aside; they are replaced have moved and the mediums are
in the cabinet and all the instru- by a little table on which are still tied up. The audience is
ments make even more noise. placed two guitars and a tam- starting to feel uneasy. There is
This bacchanal stops after a mo- bourine that we have seen in the very little applause; this type of
ment, and one sees that the unfor- first part of the seance. show is not the type to excite en-
427
ROBERT-HOUDIN
thusiasm. There is more of a ten- Verification of the sealed ropes: est level is that one of the broth-
dency to be irritated. Believers they are intact. ers, although tied up and sealed,
see true spirit manifestations in Here is a new precaution taken is wearing the clothing of one of
these deeds; the skeptical non- to reassure spectators against trick- the members of the audience,
believers cannot prevent them- ery, if they still have a doubt: A while the other is wearing a hat
selves from admitting that these sheet of paper is placed under the and glasses. These three objects
pretended supernatural interven- mediums' feet; the contour of their belong to one of the members of
tions are still well executed. shoes is traced. If, by way of an un- the audience. The medium's coat
There are even more surprising explainable process, they manage is in the theater, worn by another
feats of this mysterious seance to to free themselves of their bonds spectator.
come. and leave their seats, the piece of At this moment of astonishment,
To give the assembly absolute paper will re\eal the fact. A few we can even say stupefaction, the
certainty that the bonds will not be millimeters of difference and the public's bewilderment is at its
untied, one asks a few neighboring trick is ruined. The public seems height. Spirit manifestation, mysti-
spectators to pour wax over the satisfied by this measure. A mem- fication, or conjuring trick, the show
knots tying the ropes and to stamp ber of the audience is also asked to is complete and without any further
it with a seal. During this time, the take off his coat and place it on his reflection, the public gives a hearty
guitars and the tambourine are knees. round of applause to the artists.
coated with a phosphorescent oint- These dispositions finished,
ment that will allow them to be EXPLANATIONS OF T H E
the gas is extinguished and dur-
seen in the dark. TRICKS PERFORMED BY THE
ing a few moments of obscurity,
DAVENPORT BROTHERS, AT-
As soon as darkness falls, the the guitars still play their songs
TRIBUTED TO SO-CALLED
guitars and the tambourine move from beyond the grave and give
SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS AND
around and leave their places, in to their fantastic feats. But
INEXPLICABLE PHENOMENA.
producing the most lugubrious while these bright, resounding
sounds. They are seen to rise up in instruments swing in the air, a Conjurers usually have special
the air, trace a luminous contour, spectator finds himself suddenly instruments to facilitate their
then fly haphazardly through the stripped of his hat, which is tricks. The Davenports, strictly
room over the audience's heads. A swept a few meters away, another speaking, only ha\ e their ropes.
guitar ruffles someone's hair and has his hair ruffled by the pas- The cabinet serves no purpose in
someone else's clothing with sage of an unknown hand, a third the execution of their tricks. A
abrupt and jerky movements. feels his hand squeezed by an in- simple folding screen and two
None of the instruments ever visible hand; finally, the specta- chairs could replace it. It only
touches the members of the audi- tor's coat is energetically lifted serves, in reality, to hide the
ence or the ceiling; however, when off, while another spectator re- mediums' manipulations. The mu-
they pass close to the face, one ceives a piece of clothing, which sical instruments can be consid-
senses a brusque wind, a move- he cannot distinguish, on his lap. ered as simple props.
ment of air that immediately When the gas is turned back on, The ropes are made of a cotton
makes one hunch down for fear of we see the two brothers calm, material similar to that of the cords
being hit. This situation is more tied up, and seeming completely used to open and close curtains;
painful than pleasant, and a feel- unaware of what is going on. One they therefore have a smooth slid-
ing of \ ague terror is felt by all. hurries to the seals - they are in- ing surface. They are approxi-
In the midst of these bizarre tact; the piece of paper is verified mately three meters long.
happenings, the lights are turned - the shoe has not moved a mil- When, at the beginning of the
back on and the instruments are limeter from its outline. But what seance, a certain number of people
found on the spectators' laps. brings astonishment to its high- are asked to go onstage and encir-
428
APPENDIX II ,
429
ROBFRT-HOUDIN
Once tied, the medium goes bench. One of his hands is tied to
through certain efforts that we can- Ira's shoulder and the other to
not describe. He moi es the ropes William's knee. But doesn't one
on his forearms up to his shoulders, see that this precaution, which
in order to free them somewhat. seems to be taken against the two
Then comes an effort of strength brothers, is to their advantage?
and dislocation - the wrists vigor- Indeed, they do not need to move
ously spread apart to form a le\er their shoulders or knees to be able
on the loops in which they are tied, to perform their mischievous
and by repeated jostling, they re- tricks, and the newcomer cannot
lease certain parts. Even one cen- Fig. 3.
control their actions with his hands
timeter is enough to free one hand. tied. He becomes passive and, in
or loosened by pulling on edges A
Through an exercise practiced by this state, his glasses are easily
and B or letting them go.
our mediums, the thumb goes into taken off if he is wearing them, as
While leaving these loops open, well as his tie and handkerchief,
the hand and the whole hand be-
they put two ends of the rope and the tambourine is placed on his
comes cylindrical and the size of
through holes made in the bench; head. Putting flour in the two
the wrist. The first of the four
this rope is long enough to tie up brothers' hands does not prevent
hands to be freed goes through the
the feet and be attached to the them from taking them out of the
opening to display7 itself to the au-
plank in front. With the other two slip knot. Once the hands freed,
dience, while the three others are
ropes, they tie the thighs to the they put the flour into a pocket of
working on basic untying. Once the
plank and sometimes the arms to their clothing; wipe their hands;
hands are free, the other tics and
the body. This done, they place then successively pass them
knots are undone; teeth greatly
their hands in the loops, which through the opening to show they
help in this circumstance. Ira
they tighten by stretching their arc free and resume their noisy
Davenport, on the right in Illus. 1, is
legs forward. It is on this trick that concert, after which one of the
more skillful and better dislocated
all the simulacrum of the inter- brothers takes a little cone filled
than his brother; he is almost al-
vention of spirits and noise is with flour out of a side pocket; he
ways the first one freed. In this
based. Indeed, the doors of the puts some in his colleague's hand
case he helps William. Otherwise,
cabinet are barely closed when the and in his own, puts the empty-
the first to be free helps the other
two brothers bring their legs to the cone in its hiding place, and puts
one.
rear a bit, which loosens the knot the flour in both hands. The doors
When the mediums tie them- and allows them to free their are opened, and the two brothers,
selves up in their cabinet, the hands. The violin, guitars, tam- free of their ropes, emerge to show
method of tying that they use helps bourine, and bell are almost simul- the public that their hands are still
them to untie and tie themselves taneously played and form a ca- filled with flour. This little flour
up in very little time. Illus. 2 will cophony reinforced by the jolts trick once had a slightly unpleasant
give an example of how the ropes and knocks on the walls of the denouement for the mediums, but
are used. cabinet. Then suddenly the in- very amusing for the audience.
To obtain this arrangement, struments are put back and the The delegate chosen to put flour in
here is what they do: They take hands go back into their bonds. their hands had the malice to put
one of the ropes in the middle and The doors are opened and every- tobacco instead. The spiritists did
create a double loop here, as shown thing seems to be in order. not notice and they reappeared
in Illus. 3. with flour in their hands. The trick
A delegate of the audience, we
that had been played on them was
We see that it is a sliding double are told, is sent. He goes into the
admitted and everyone started to
knot whose loops can be tightened cabinet and sits on the middle
430
APPENDIX II i
laugh except the mystified mysti- of paper under the feet, the clothes Decapite parlant [The
fiers. taken off and put back on, etc. The Talking Head]
The explanations of the second guitars and tambourine are coated (Trick of) This ingenious illu-
part in the darkness are easy to un- with a phosphorescent liquid whose sion did not initially have this
derstand, as the tricks are still for weak glow is not strong enough to frightening name. It was presented
the most part based on the famous light the objects that are around under the name The Sphinx in
slipknot that we have just dis- them; one is therefore in total dark- 1865 in London, at Egyptian Hall,
cussed; the two brothers are seated ness. Ira frees himself and, thanks by a conjurer named Colonel
on each side of a table on which to the skill he has developed of see- Stodare. The inventor of this trick,
guitars and tambourines are placed; ing in the dark, takes a glowing gui- M. Tobin, secretary of the
they have a bundle of ropes at their tar by the handle, goes as close as Polytechnic Institution, sold his
feet; a magnetic circle of spectators possible to the public, and shakes it method to M. Talrich, a skillful
holding hands surrounds them; the over their heads while making the wax modeler who then ran a show
room becomes dark and immedi- ropes vibrate with the last two fin- of wax figures, called Musee
ately the two brothers tie them- gers. The absence of all other ob- Francais, in Paris on Boulevard de
selves up on their chairs in the con- ject of comparison docs not allow la Madeleine. This museum dis-
ditions described above in the the public to judge at which dis- played a number of figures from
position shown in Illus. 2. The only tance the blurry light finds itself Greek mythology, among others. It
difference lies in the shape of their and I myself felt that a guitar, also represented Dr. Dupuytren
seats. Just as in the closet, they can which almost touched my head, giving an anatomy lesson before
tie or untie themselves at will and seemed to be a few meters away. his numerous students. M. Talrich
play the instruments that are on During this time, the other medium was well inspired because this
the table. But how will they do it also being sufficiently free, raises tableau provided an occasion to
when the knot is sealed with wax? the other guitar and the tam- put into practice the anatomical
The reader will note in Illus. 3. bourine, which are both phospho- preparation to which he owed his
that wax can be placed on the mid- rescent, as high as he can and reputation.
dle of the knot and two parts of the makes as much noise and move-
rope held together at this spot ment as possible with these two in- The Sphinx trick gav e M. Talrich
without the movements of ^4 and B, struments. The trick of the feet the idea of creating an exhibition
or that of the loops, being dis- being outlined is very ingenious; similar to that of the famous cabinet
turbed. When the wrists are passed after the tracing, Ira steps awa\ of horrors that Mme. Tussaud had
through the loops, this part of the from the paper to approach the au- set up in London in her wax mu-
knot is always underneath. The dience and when he goes back to seum. He was obliged to change the
performer indicates the precise his seat, he turns over the paper be- staging of The Sphinx that he felt
spot where the seal must be placed fore placing his feet on it; then, to be too harmless for its destina-
in asking that one avoid dripping taking a pencil out of his pocket, he tion; below his museum was an un-
burning wax on his wrist. This re- traces an outline which will later be occupied, large vault in which one
mark always helps the success of taken for the one made by the audi- descended by way of a staircase,
the trick. Finally it must be said ence. As for the trick of the coat, whose door led directly into the es-
that as the rope is thick as a little Ira, free from his bonds, removes tablishment. It was in this space
finger, the seal cannot take more his coat, throws it into the middle that the beheaded show would take
space than the union of the two of the room, and then, taking the place. Far from trying to renovate
ends. one he had placed on the lap of a and re-plaster the walls, the intelli-
front-row spectator, puts it on, gets gent artist retained the greenish
There are still several marvelous
back into his bonds, and the trick is
facts to be explained: the fantastic fungus and humidity and particu-
done.
movement of the guitars, the sheet larly wanted to create a certain am-
431
ROBERT- HOUDIN
biance in keeping with the exhibi- fifteen, or twenty francs according called ball-shooting. These balls,
tion. We will judge by the follow- to the number of people brought. often directed by unskilled hands,
ing description. The staircase was However, the gallant cavalier with fell onto certain parts of the table
only lit by the yellow and faded his ladies, the family father with thought to be empty, thus reveal-
white light of antique lamps sus- his children, the friend with his ing a mirror. The trick was then
pended at the top of the vaulted friends, while paying without ruined and everyone took a mean
ceiling. Once downstairs, one first complaining, were often looking sort of pleasure in going and
saw a scene from the Inquisition. to express their pent-up frustra- telling family and friends about
The torture was portrayed with a tion with some teasing. It is un- the famous secret of the head. M.
striking realism. The execu- doubtedly in these unfortunate Talrich had ended the ball-throw-
tioner's helper, holding a lit torch, circumstances that regrettable ing by putting up a protective grill
was the only light of this sinister
tableau. In leaving the room and
turning right, one passed through
a barely lit hall and arrived in
front of a rail at waist-level form-
ing the entrance to a little vault.
In the middle of this space, with
moist strawr on the ground, one
could see a table on wrhich a little
head was leaning to one side and
seemed to sleep. At the call of the
guide, the head straightened up,
opened its eyes, told its own story
as well as the details of its torture, Fig. 1.
and then answered the questions
asked by the spectators in several
things happened to the beheaded between the head and the crowd,
languages; this was a particularly
one: paper balls were thrown at but this precaution came too late
horrible spectacle. Until then
this supernatural head, in order to and was superfluous; the battle
everything was for the best in this
know whether or not it had lost all ended for lack of soldiers; the
fantastic exhibition, and it is
sensation. At the first projectile, Musee Francais was no longer
likely that the success brought on
the unfortunate patient, whose fashionable. The Talking Head
by curiosity would have continued
head alone could be seen, or the had killed off the gods of Olympus
for a long time; but the manager
head itself, grimaced; at the sec- as well as Dr. Dupuytren's learned
made a huge mistake, which
ond it took on an irritated expres- lecture.
caused the theater's ruin. The
sion; and at the third, goodness The cause of M. Talrich's failure
entrance price for the Musee
gracious, forgetting its passive was the same as that of the
Francais was established at one
role, it insulted the audience; the Davenports. Too much trust in the
franc per person: it was a very low
manager had to push the crowd Parisian public's magnanimity led
price, undoubtedly, but if the visi-
back toward the entrance and call them to present ingenious conjur-
tor wanted to see the talking head,
for help. The rumor spread and a ing tricks as marvelous phenom-
he had to pay five francs more.
few idle thrill-seekers found it ena. Too much ignorance of our
Five francs for five minutes was
quite amusing to go and pay five customs also made them charge too
exorbitant. Still, curiosity almost
francs in order to bombard an much for the exhibition.
always winning, one paid five, ten,
angry decapitated head. It was More intelligent and more
432
APPENDIX II i
knowledgeable in theater issues, of a man in a box all day. Due to an let a voice be heard from inside.
Colonel Stodare did not put as arrangement of mirrors adapted to When the chest was on the table,
many pretensions into his Egyptian the feet of the table, this accom- the accomplice who was underneath
Sphinx; he only presented it in his plice can be under the table without opened the trapdoor of the hole in
performances as an intermission being seen and puts his head the table, passed his head through
and did not attribute any supernat- through the hole. A ruff hides the this opening, and, raising the
ural powers to it other than the borders of the opening. hinged bottom of the box, easily put
wonder of an ingenious trick. Still, The table is only supported by- his head inside. The conjurer only
the staging called for a fable, and three feet, C, D, E (lllus. 1 and 2), had to lower the front of the box to
here is how the trick was presented: although it seems to have four. show the head that it contained.
Holding a closed trunk in one hand, Between these three feet, and in Insomuch as one knows the laws
the colonel approached the audi- grooves made for this purpose, of reflection, it is easy to assure one-
ence and told them that, during his there are two silvered mirrors, G, G' self that, unless placed very close to
travels to Egypt, he had met a magi- (illus. 2), behind which, as we have the table and on the side, it is im-
cian who had died and left him this already stated, the accomplice hides possible for the audience to see anv-
box, which enclosed the living head in standing at spot H. These mirrors thing other than draperies in the
of a Sphinx able to answer ques- are placed at right angles to each mirrors. Moreover, measures are
tions. The conjurer then addressed other and approximately 45 degrees taken so that it remains this way. At
the Sphinx, who answered through with respect to the draperies (A, B) Talrich's exhibition, the walls of the
the box (Colonel Stodare was a ven-
triloquist). He then put the pre-
cious chest on a table, lowered the
front panel, and the audience could
see a nice Sphinx's head wearing an
Egyptian headdress with golden
wrappings. The underside of the
table on which the box rested
seemed to hide nothing. The
Sphinx, intelligent and clever, an-
swered the questions asked by the
public with infinite wit and pa-
tience; after which the colonel
[See footnote 64 of Act IV, which explains mhy these Kco illustrations of "The Talking Head" do not respect
closed the box, picked it up, had Robert-Houdm s very precise text.]
the prisoner say "Good night" [In-
English m the original text] to the around them. .4 and B, in reflecting tomb were reflected in the mirrors.
public and went backstage with his each other, correspond with A' and
precious treasure. Presented in this B' and apparently replace the part Domino
fashion, the trick was well liked and of the drapery that is hidden by the Conjuring. .4 pleasant ~domino
success continued until the intelli- two mirrors, in such a way that one trick. Twenty-eight dominos are
gent conjurer's sudden death. believes that one is seeing the back turned face down and they are all set
This experiment is one of the of the drapery through the table's on the same line, which makes a
easiest to explain and should be feet. long black band. This done, the con-
easily understood; the head that is The Sphinx effects were done in jurer announces that he will go into a
seen on the table belongs to the the same way: the chest was empty neighboring room and someone from
body of a poor devil that need has when Colonel Stodare brought it the audience is asked to take any
reduced to playing this painful role onstage; his talent as a ventriloquist number of dominos from the right
433
I ROBFRT-HOUDIN
end of the line and put them at the number two; you will then turn it is the secret: the two players have
opposite end. over to show that this many domi- agreed ahead of time to put the tip
nos were moved. If three were of the right foot on the left of the
No matter how secretly this
moved, by counting to thirteen you opposite one to signal which domi-
transposition is done, the conjurer
will arrive at the blank-three nos are played. If the player places
can, upon return, not only say how
domino, and the same for the other the double-six, for example, he
many dominos were transposed,
numbers by using the same presses the foot of his opponent six
but indicate this by the number on
method. If no dominos were moved times. He then puts the six-three,
a domino removed at random from
in order to trick you, you would for example, with the three at the
the middle of the line.
still get the best of them, because, open end; he presses the other foot
Explanation of the trick and in counting as before, you would three times. And so on. One sees
manner of carrying it out. Before arrive at the double-blank (zero) that the artifice consists in an-
announcing what you are going to that would show that no transposi- nouncing the open end of the
do, secretly look in the set for thir- tion was made. domino that one plays. For the
teen dominos with which you can blank, there is no signal. The only
represent the thirteen numbers - Another domino trick. One
gi\es the assembly a sealed letter, difficulty of this game consists in
from zero to twelve inclusively, remembering which domino was
such as: double-blank (0), blank- announcing that inside you have
written down the numbers of the played and when. By a signal agreed
ace (1), blank-two (2), blank-three upon beforehand, one can ask the
(3), blank-four (4), blank-five (5), last two dominos that will be at the
ends of the set when all the domi- opponent who, if he remembers
blank-six (6), blank-seven (7), six- himself, can communicate using the
two (8), six-three (9), six-four (10), nos are joined together according
to the rules of the game. This is in- aforementioned method.
six-five (11), double-six (12). Place
these thirteen dominos in a single deed what happens, no matter how Cheating at dominos. Although
line beginning with the largest the chain of dominos is laid out in cheating at dominos is rare, it is no
number (12), and ending with the the execution of this task. less treacherous. The following two
double-blank (0), which you follow examples w ill allow us to judge this.
This trick is simple and easy.
with the rest without assigning In disreputable cafes and even in
Secretly take out of the set the
them any particular order. This certain social circles, Greeks play be-
domino whose numbers you wrote
arrangement can be represented in tween themselves and against each
ahead of time. Suppose, for exam-
the following manner: 12, 11, 10, 9, other games whose sole purpose is to
ple, six and four were written on the
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, then the fif- mark all the dominos in order to rec-
paper; the six-four domino would
teen other dominos that follow. It ognize them when they are face
have to be taken out, which would
is well understood that all the down. A barely perceptible point
therefore be missing in the set to
dominos are face down. placed at a key place on the domino,
join the two ends. It would be nec-
a slight line in one direction or an-
essary to subtly put back the one
Now let us suppose that in your other, is enough to tell the dominos
taken out with the others so the
absence, two dominos from the far apart. These marks, invisible to the
subterfuge w ill not be discovered.
right side of the line were taken honest man, are very useful for the
away and put on the opposite side; A strange game of dominos. Two cheater whose skilled eyes show a
here is how you would find this people placed across from each marvelous acuity of vision. One must
number, which you do not know for other play dominos in placing them understand all a player can know in a
the moment. Mentally count to face dow n so that the opponent can- game when he knows the dominos of
thirteen from the domino begin- not see the points. When the game his opponent and those that remain
ning the side where one had to add is over, the dominos are turned over in the pile. Dominos being replaced
dominos (the left side), and \ou and one sees that the numbers only rarely, Greeks find a wealth of
will arrive at the domino with the match as in an ordinary game. Here opportunities to cheat.
434
APPENDIX II |
If there are no marks, Greeks use Paris. At that time, he was named was said to be able to find magnetic
telegraphic methods which are King's Conjurer and Physician of direction and its angle at any hour
quite simple to signal their col- the Faculte de Medecine. Louis b\ a simple, inexpensive procedure
league on which side to put his XV, who until his death enjoyed without a compass or magnet.
dominos and also to tell him which Ledru's conjuring experiments, had During the Re\olution, he was ar-
ones his opponent has. When a previously gi\en him the title of rested, then freed, and went to live
game has begun between these Conjuring Professor of the Children in Fontenay-aux-Roses. Ledru was
cheaters and the future victim, of France. During a fairly long stay a very hard worker, sober, lacking
whom they call a mark, an accom- in England, he had perfected and ambition, generous with the poor;
plice stands behind him and is nat- constructed various devices, no- he spoke very easily and he skill-
urally across from his acolyte. tably vertical and horizontal com- fully performed marvelous conjur-
Knowing the opponent's dominos, passes, and had obtained, upon his ing tricks. He was often confused
he pro\ides the information to his return, a patent to establish a work- with another conjurer of the same
associate on where to play; he only shop for the manufacture of all sorts period, whom we wrote about under
needs to shift his gaze from left to of physics instruments. This savant the heading COMUS.
right in order to do this. In impor-
tant games, one or more blinks warn
the accomplice of the number held
by the opponent. These signals are
imperceptible for all but the initi- RAPPORT
ated, and can in no way compromise
De MM. COSNIER, MALOBT, DARCET,
those who use them.
PHILIP ,LE PREUX, DESESSARTZ,
& PA ULET, Docleurs-RSgens de la Facuhi
Ledru
deMe'decine de Paris;
(Nicolas-Philippe), conjurer, born
in Paris in 1731, died in the same Sur les avantages reconnus de la Nouvelle
M&hode d'adminiftrer Mileftricit^ dans
city in 1807. His reputation all les Maladies Nerveufes, patticuli&ement
throughout Europe was immense dans 1'Iipilepfie & dans la Catalepfie; par
through his experiments in Physique M.LEDILU, connu fous le nom de COMUS.
amusante, which earned him the IM k VAffemblie de cute Faculte due du Prinra men fe,
tenue cm mots i'Avril dernier.
name Comus. He developed a new
system of nautical maps whose Ce Rappore eft pticlii <fe l'Apperfu du Syft&ne de f Antcur ia
1'agent qu'u cmploie, & des avaatages qu'U ca a this.
copies were given to La Perouse in
llBPRIMS PAX OKDRE ET AOX IRAiS DOT GotTYEKSSMSNT.
the presence of Louis XVI (1785).
He is also responsible for a proce-
dure for converting iron into steel,
the introduction in France of phan-
tasmagoria, and the application of
A P A R I S ,
electricity to therapy for nerve
Da LIMWUMBRIE DE PHIIIPPE-DJSNYS PIERH.ES,
illnesses, notably epilepsy and
Lnprimeur Ordinaire du Roi, de k Police, &c.
catalepsv. A commission of doctors
rue S,-Jacqnes.
having noted in a report the effi-
ciency of this mode of treatment, M. D G C . L X X X I I I .
(1783) Ledru applied it in an impor-
tant establishment that he formed
Illustration 545 - This plate is the title page of a very rare 1783 brochure by Nicolas-
in the former Gelestins convent in Philippe Ledru, known as Comus.
435
fcv
**
Gene-
alogical table
The photograph of the reconstitution of the scene from Soirees
Fantastiques de Robert-Houdin, which serves as background for the ge-
nealogical chart of the following page, is one of the tableaux of magic art exhibi-
tions organized by the Conservatoire National des Arts de la Magie et de l'lllusion with
the participation of Madeleine Malthete-Melies, Roxane and Jean-Guy Fechner, Christian
Fechner, Volker Huber, Andre Keime Robert-Houdin, Marcel Laureau, Gilles Mageux, Pierre Mayer,
Christine and Didier Moreau "Morax", Georges Proust. Jacques et Francois Voignier and the Castle of the
City of Blois for the inauguration of the Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin of Blois on June 12, 1998.
NICOLAS ELISABETH
HOUDIN LEVESQUE
Born in 1723 in Chouzy, Born in 1722. Born in 1724. Born in 1724 Born in 1746.
Died on April 12, 1781. Died on 3 Messidor, Died on Died on Died on
Farmer, vineyard year XI 4 Pluviose, year VIII 2 Germinal, November 17, 1773
worker. S. in Blois. year XII. in Chambord.
Married on
Feb. 15,1752 in
Chouzy
JACQUES NICOLAS AGNES JOSEPHE ANDRE FRANCOIS MARIE ANNE PIERRE RENE ANGELIQUE JACQUES CLAUDE FRANCOISE
HOUDIN MARTELLIERE BLONDEAU METIVIE METIVIE ROULEUX METIVIE GUILLON
Born on April 11,1752. Born in 1754. Born in 1749. Born in 1757 in Blois. Born in 1747. Born in 1754 Born on
Died on May 10, 1821 Died on Died on June 7, 1811. Died on Died on February 27, in Pontoise. October 10, 1765.
in Blois. Watchmaker October 13, 1836 Watchmaker in Blois, February 10, 1836 1825 in Blois. Died on Died on
in Blois. in Blois. Grande Rue. .. in Blois Goldsmith in Blois. , January 14, 1834. Dec. 6, 1817.
Married on Married on Married on Married on
Nov. 5,1782 in Nov. 27,1780 in May 9,1775 in 21 Nivose, year IV
Blois Blois Blois in Blois
JEAN-BAPTISTE JOSEPHE MADELEINE JACQUES FRANCOIS JEANNE ADELAIDE CECILE MARIE ANNE CHARLES FRANCOIS ANGELIQUE MARGUERITE ADELAIDE MARGUERITE ROSALIE
DEFRAYS HOUDIN HOUDIN BLONDEAU BLONDEAU BLONDEAU METIVIE METIVIE METIVIE
B o r n o n Sept. 18,1781 in Born on May 9,1776 in Blois. Born on July 26,1782 in Blois.
Died o n Born on July 17, Born on September 16, Born on Goldsmith. Married Married Pierre ROY on 29 Messidor, Died on June 19,1858. Born on
September 22, 1852. Blois. Died on April 4,
1786 in Blois. 1784 in Blois. Died on November 22, 1791. Elisabeth BAILLY year V in Blois, bom in Louhan on Married Pierre Jean PINAULT December 28, 1785
1809. M a r r i e d Barthelemj June 2,1773. Supply- keeperfor the
Health Died on November 10, 1860 in Died in Paris. on June 7, 1815 on 1 Vendemiaire, year XIV, Died on
AMIOT on 10 Brumaire, troops of the region of Loire-et architect of the region,
care worker. February 18, 1816. St. Gervais. S in Blois. August 4, 1872.
Married on year VII. Cher, left Blois for Provins. died on Nov. 7,1860.
Fructidor 26,
yearX JEAN EUGENE B
ROBER1
JEANNE JACQUES Louis FRANCOIS JOSEPHE CECILE EGLANTINE MARIE CELINE PROSPER
ARTHUIS MUNIER HOUDIN HOUDIN ROBERT ROBERT
Born on 16
Died on Died on Born on Born on April 1, Born on 1 Fnmaire, Born on 7 Pluviose, XIV (Decei
November 12, 1875 July 4, 1884. October 12, 1816 1811 in Blois. year XI in Blois. year XII in Blois. in Blois. Di(
Died about Died on October 19, Died on Died on
1836 in Paris 1843 in Paris. January 20, 1832. April 17, 1806. 1871 in Si
ROSALIE OLGA LEONIE JEAN JACQUES EMILK MARIE ROSALIE JOSEPH PROSPER EUGENE Louis HENRI AUGUSTE ADOLPHE LOUISE MARIE PAULINE EUGENIE VICTORINE
MUNIER ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN CHRISTOPHINI
Born on June 7,1844 in Born on June 19,
Constantinople (Turkey). Born on May 21, 1831 Born on Born on March 6, Born on Born on July 7, Born on June 19,
Died on October 26,1934 in Paris. Died on March February 25, 1836. 1837 in Paris. 1839 in Paris January 1, 1841. 1845 in Paris. 1860 in Versailles.
in Boulogne (Seine). 17, 1883. Watchmaker Died on February 28, Died on August 10, Died before Died before Died on June 15, 1846 Died on Jan. 24,1945
Manager of the Theatre and conjurer. 1844 in Blois. 1870 in Reichshoffen. October 1843. October 1843. in Neuilly/Seine. in Saint-Gervais.
Robert-Houdin Married on Captain.
August 27,1863
n Paris
MARIE EUGENIE ALICE EMILE JACQUES PAUL VALENTINE JOSEPH EUGENE HENRI VICTOIRE EGLANTINK M\RGUERITt
ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN ANDRE K E I M E ROBERT-HOUDIN
ROBERT-HOUDIN
Born on June 25,1864 Born on May 20,1865 Born on Sept. 18, 1876 Born on August 26,1868 in Born on July 5,
in Boulogne (Seine). in Boulogne (Seine). in Paris 7th. Died in Boulogne (Seine). Died on Born on Born on March 21, 1915 1891 in Paris.
Died on Died on Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer, August 10,1925. Married May 21, 1922 in in St. Gervais-la-Foret. Died on September
November 27, 1878. October 25, 1867. near Pornic, Jeanne Marie GIRARD Houdelaincourt Lawyer at the 1975 in
December 2, 1957. on August 18,1923. (Meuse). Court of Appeals. Le Chesnay.
Married
on September 1,
1943
Born on February 6,1946 in Versailles. Born on July 14,1947 in Pau. Born on June 21 in Versailles. Lawyer at the Court of Appeals
Married Born on October 28,1952 in Paris. Born on (
on July 3,1975
Alexis LEBLOND. Born on June 8,1971 Thomas LEBLOND. Born on Aug. 31.1973 Florence Herber. Born on June 18, en LAVERGNE. Born on June 5.1974 ( m ^42002 y )A m ^ LEBL0ND h a
' ' I I Axelle LEBLOND, Born on April 24,1979 | | Marie-Astride KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on June 17,1979 | | Nicolas KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on June 28,1980 | | Olivier KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on Nov. 15.1982 | | Constance KEIME ROBERT-HOIID
MARIE FRANgOISE Louis
CHAMPION LOYER ROBERT
GEORGES EMILP ROSALIE EGLANTINE HENRI HENRI LOUIS PAUL MICHEL LOUIS
ROBERT-HOUDIN ROBERT-HOUDIN LEMAITRE ROBERT-HOUDIN DEVILLERS
Born on May 29, 1851 Born on October 5, Born in 1842. Born on November 2, Born on Nov. 7,1847 in Paris.
in Saint-Gervais. Died 1852 in Saint-Gervais. Died on September 30 1853 in Saint-Gervais. Married Georgina WALCHE
on October 31, 1925 Died on December 26, 1911 in Blois. Died on in February 1874 in Paris.
in Blois. Painter. 1926 in Blois. Tax collector. November 12, 1853. They had two children,
Animal sculptor. / ' Married on Charles and Maurice.
Sept. 10,1872 in
Blois
BERNARD K E I M E R O B E R T - H O U D I N BEATRICE DE F E R A U D Y
Born on Oct. 17,1952 in Versailles. Magistrate. Born on May 2,1955 in St. Mande.
Married
on June 12,1981
3BERI-H0UDIN. Born on June 4,1985 | | Henri KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN, Born on Sept. 12,1982 | Stanislas KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on June 21,1984 | Dorothee KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on Jan. 19.1987] | Alban KEIME ROBERT-HOUDIN. Born on April 2 9 , 1 9 8 8 |
INDJEX
[ES
BARBIER [optician, magic ma- BOREL [ventriloquist] p 414 CALMANN-LEVY [publishers] p 73,
A nufacturer] p 63, 213 BOSCO Bartolomeo [conjurer] 385
ABD-AL-AZIZ p 217 BARNUM Phmeas Taylor [show- p 64, 109, 187, 215, 260 CALMELS Eugene [mechanician]
ABOUT Edmond p 423 man] p 93, 184, 249, 251, 252, BOU-ALLEM [chief p 54, 55, p 371
ADAM RUELLE [notary] p 299, 381, 422 57, 58, 308 CALZADO-GARCIA [the trial]
304, 306 BARRIERE Theodore p 217 BOUCHARD [conjuring enthu- p 131, 225
ADENIS Jules I p / ^ w z g ^ p 258, BASSERIEN p 339 siast] p 189 CANROBERT Marshal p 221
272, 274, 277, 278, 279, 281, BEAUCHENE Atala [actress] BOUCHER Alexandre p 417 CARLOSBACH [conjurer] p 405,
285, 290, 293, 385 p 417 BOUCHER p 341 408, 409
ADRIEN Victor [conjurer] p 81 BEAULIEU de [relative of Robert- BOUIS p 147 CARMELLI [conjurer] p 375
ADRION Alexander [magician, Houdm] p 129 BOU-MAZA p 42 CARRANDI Mario [antique dea-
historian] p 216 BEAUMESNIL fairground conju- BOURBAKY General p 335 ler, collector] p 13
ALBERTI [conjurer] p 194 rer] p 197 BOURDEU Patrick p 361 CARVALHOp 206
ALCY Jehanne d' [second wife BECQUEREL [man of science] BOURDILLIAT Achille [editor] CASTON vicomte Alfred de
of Georges Mehes] p 375 p 31, 299, 379 p 73, 74, 119, 120, 121, 122, [conjurer, writer] p 79, 80, 81,
ALDO [conjurer] p 63, 169 BELL Alexander Graham [in 124, 125, 126, 127, 130, 131, 201
ALEXANDER p 215, 216 ventor] p 232 133, 214, 217, 224, 225, 279 CATHERINE II [Empress of
ALEXANDRE p 294 BELL Georges [writer] p 130 BOURGEOIS p 334, 336 Russia] p 278, 282, 287, 289, 385
ALTER [journalist] p 191 BELLANGE p 221 BOUTIGNY [man of science] CAZENEUVE commander Marius
ANDERSON John Henry [conju- BELLUOT [Hamilton s share- p 277, 278 [conjurer] p 210, 211
rer] p 156, 256, 257 holder] p 18, 19, 382 BOUVILLIERS p 340 CELLINI p 76
ANGELIDIS [photographer] p 273 BERGEVIN [friend and neighbor BRACONMER Amelie [Hamilton's CHABAUT p 327, 340, 341, 347
ANGUINET [conjurer] p 107 of Robert-Houdin] p 94, 328, wife] p 11, 113, 263, 265, 309, CHADWICK and LEROY [clowns]
ANGUINET Benita [conjurer] 333, 334, 337, 340, 341, 344, 362 p 249
319, 369
p 63, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, BERNARD Prudence [sleepwal- CHALON DE MASSEY [conjurer]
BRACONNIER Carlo [son of
111, 215 ker] p 104 p 113, 114, 213, 215, 383, 405,
Charles Braconnier, brother of
ANTONY [medium] p 102 BERQUIN [playwright] p 416 407
Olympe Robert-Houdin] p 309
ARAGO Francois [politician] BERRYER p 23 CHAMPFLEURY [writer] p 73
BRACONNIER Charles [brother
p 23, 319 BERTHOUD Henry [watchma- CHANGY [man of science] p 379
of Olympe Robert-Houdin] Q 309,
ARDANT Eugene [publisher] ker] p 183, 184, 221 CHANZY General p 335
312
p 33 BERZINSKY Valentin [conjurer] CHAPMAN and HALL [publishers]
BRACONNIER Olympe [Robert-
ARNOULD [conjurer] p 375 p 63 p 73, 74, 122, 124, 130, 215, 383
Houdm s wife] p 88, 89, 117,
ARNOULT doctor [Robert- BESNARD Ulysse (or Bernard?) CHARPENTIER [actor] p 293
275, 307, 309, 312, 316, 319,
[painter] p 10, 244 CHAUDESSAIGUES p 221
Houdm's doctor] p 87, 88, 333, 320, 333, 334, 335, 337, 339,
BIENVENU [conjurer] p 414 CHAUVIGNY Francois de p 377
350, 388 343, 351, 356, 362, 365, 367, 369
BILLORET & MORAS [manu- CHAVIGNY Jean [historian] p 83,
ARTHUIS Jeanne [mother of BRAGELONNE A de [journa-
facturer of optical and mecha- 214, 218, 229, 230, 362, 377, 378,
Rosalie Olga Leonie Munier, wife list] p 81, 134
nical tools] p 229, 230, 383 379, 388, 397, 398, 401, 402
ofEmile Robert-Houdm] p 217 BRAUN John [historian] p 214
BLAND [trick manufacturer] CHENU Paul [conjuring enthu-
AUBER p 217 BREGUET [watchmaker] p 27,
p 383 siast] p 115, 193
AUSTRIA Emperor of p 79 75, 141, 146
BLUM Ernest [journalist] p 173 CHESNEAU Father [Robert-
AVARAY Duke d' p 278 BRIZARD [lawyer] p 101, 103
BOILAY p 211 Houdm 's biographer] p 214, 230,
BRUGNOT [man of law] p 147 362
B BOILEAU p 406
BRUNNET Pierre Edouard [conju-
BOILY F [journalist] p 217, 218 CHOCAT (see HAMILTON)
rer] p 71, 134, 135, 138, 150,
BABINET [man of science] BOLOGNA [conjurer] p 159 CHRISTIAN [character from La
171, 174, 189, 191, 193, 200,
p 299, 379 BONAPARTE Louis-Napoleon Czanne] p 287, 289, 293
215, 217, 276, 277, 370, 371, 374
BACHELIER [publisher] p 116 [emperor] p 39, 40 CHRISTOPHER Milbourne [ma-
BUSONI Philippe [journalist]
BAILLE [photographer] p 194 BONAPARTE Charles Louis gician, historian] p 381, 384
p 209
BALLE Mme [worker at the Napoleon - Napoleon III p 307 CIBBERp 76
Theatre Robert-Houdin] p 307,
386, 387
BONARD Mrs p 308
BONHEUR Ferdinand and Isidore
c CLARETIE Jules [journalist, wri-
ter] p 269
BALZAC Honore de [writer] [mediums] p 197, 384, 385 CABOT [corporal, weapons pro- CLARKE John Algernon [conju-
p 73, 279 BONHEUR Rosa [painter] p 23 vost] p 223 ring enthusiast] p 197, 222
BAPTISTE p 320, 323, 324, 327, BONNAT [painter] p 387 CAGLIOSTRO Count de p 214 CLARKE Sidney W [historian]
328, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, BORDEAUX David de [conju- CAJUNp 337 p 10, 220, 280, 381
340, 343 ring enthusiast] p 414 CALLAUDp 380 CLEVERMAN [conjurer] p 170,
437
ROBERI-HOUDIN
171, 172, 174, 175, 177, 189, 190, DEROSME [man of letters] p 422 DUMAS Alexandre [writer] p 23, FLEURY Robert [painter] p 23
191, 192, 193, 197, 198, 199, 200, DERVIGEN VAN [correspondent 73, 115 FOUCAULT Leon [scientist] p 23
201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 220, of Robert-Houdin] p 384 DUPERREY [conjurer] p 375 FRANCISQUE the younger
221, 223, 258, 259, 262, 264, 265, DESCHAMPS [artist] p 189 DUPLAN maitre [notary] p 369 [actor] p 417
266, 267, 268, 269, 271, 292, 307, DESOUCH [lawyer] p 75 DUPONT Paul [printer] p 415 FRANCK [photographer] p 149,
370, 371, 374, 381, 387, 388 DESTOUCHE [watchmaker] DUPREZ [lyric artist] p 221 201
CLOQUET Baron [scientist] p 233, p 28, 30, 116, 229 DUPUIS Mane [actress] p 417 FRANCONI [circus manager]
299, 379 DEVANT David [conjurer] DUPUIS p 335 p 417
COGNIARD [librettist] p 417 p 358 DUPUYTREN doctor p 431, 432 FRANKLIN [scientist, inventor]
COLBRUN [actor] p 417 DEVAU Alfred [journalist, wri- DURAND-BRAGER p 221 p 76
COLIN Victor [priest] p 356 ter] p 269 DUSSERRE Miss p 337 FREDERICK CHARLES Prince
COMTE [King's conjurer] p 69, DEVAUX [general] p 53, 54, 212 DUSSERRE [mayor of'Blots] p 351 P 336
107, 109, 151, 179, 187, 222, 384, DEVILLERS Paul [son of Amehe DUVAL Aline [actress] p 417 FRIAUT Pascal [magician, collec-
405, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417 Braconnier] p 11, 319 tor] p 33
COMTE Charles [manager of the DEVINA Casimir [or DOVINA] FRIKELL Wiljalba [conjurer]
theatre Les Bouffes-Pansiens] p 209, 210 EADS p 386 p 260
p 294, 384 DEZAINS [friend of Robert- ECHINARD Jacques [historian] FUSIER [imitator] p 374
COMUS [conjurer] p 405, 417, 418 Houdin] p 88 p 213
COMUS (see LEDRU) DHOTEL Dr [former president EDISON [scientist, inventor]
G
CONTY [the guide] p 269 of the A FA P] p 359 p 377, 378, 379 GABRIEL [associate of Emile
CONUS [conjurer] p 384, 405 DICK and FITZGERALD [publi- ENGEL [manager of the Kroll Robert-Houdin] p 147
COPPERFIELD David [illusion- shers] p 75, 201, 215 Theatre in Berlin] p 292, 381 GABRIEL [conjurer] p 111
mst] p 360 DICKENS Charles [writer] p 74, EPSTEIN doctor [conjurer] GAILLARD [magic art collector]
COTE called CONUS [conjurer] 214 p 294, 297, 299 p 180
p 418 DICKSONN [conjurer] p 374 EVANS G [publisher] p 73, 201, GAMBETTA p 319, 340
COTELp 103 DIETRICH de [industry manu- 215 GARNIER [worker mechani-
COURBET [painter] p 23 facturer] p 314 cian] p 293
COUTEAU Emile p 339 DIEUDONNE [conjurer] p 267 GARNIER-PAGES p 319
CREMIEUXp 319 DIF Max [historian] p 255
FAILLE [manager of the Theatre GASTINEAU Octave [playwright]
DIRCKS Henry [co-creator of p 258, 261, 272, 274, 277, 285,
D Ghosts] p 160, 164, 166, 168,
de VAmbigu comique] p 272,
382, 385
274, 281, 285
DANTAN Jean-Pierre [sculptor] 169, 224 FAILLY General de p 221 GAUGHAN John [magician,
p 23, 32, 34, 70, 83, 88, 90, 91, DISDERI Andre Adolphe [pho- FALAISE Jacques de [polypha- historian, collector, and creator
117, 118, 143, 146, 175, 203, tographer] p 10, 11, 16, 22, 23, gist] p 415 of illusions] p 222, 223
206, 221, 222, 253, 275, 301, 24, 25, 26, 27, 66, 87, 92, 112, FAUREJ p 343 GAULTIER Theophile [writer]
305, 356, 388, 389, 392, 402 134, 140, 176, 196, 209, 258, FAURE-NICOLAY [conjurer] p 303, p 115
DANTAN Mrs p 343 262, 263, 265, 304 306, 307 GAVARRET J [scientist] p 299
DARIDAN [lawyer] p 103 DONCKELE Henri (see ROBIN) FAY [announcer for the Daven- GERARD Jules [soldier - 'lion
DAUPHIN Miss [conjurer] p 63 DONNET Mrs p 333, 336 port Brothers] p 265 killer"] p 23, 52, 54
DAVENPORT Brothers [me- DORE Gustave [painter] p 115, FECHNER Christian p I, II, III, GERAUD Charles [mesmerist]
diums] p 193, 196, 197, 201, 217 VI, VII, VIII, XIII, XVIII, 436 bis p 97, 98, 99, 103, 104
202, 203, 223, 248, 249, 250, DOUAY Colonel p 221 FECHNER Jean-Guy p 436 bis GERMAIN p 339
251, 252, 253, 265, 268, 269, DOUSSAINT [administrator] FECHNER Roxane p 436 bis GERVAIS p 335
370, 386, 405, 408, 421 a 432 P 319 FERDINAND II p 79 GEROME [painter] p 23
DAVID Fehcien p 217 DOUTTE E [historian] p 41 FERRY p 319 GIRARD [lieutenant] p 318
DAWES Edwin A [historian] DREYFUS [conjuring enthu- FEYRNET X [journalist] p 20 GIRARDIN Emile de p 217
p 10, 179, 220 siast] p 174, 321, 387 FIGUIER L [scientific journa- GLAIS-BIZOIN p 319
DEBRAGE [craftsman] p 242 DUBERGE p 110 list] p 379 GODEFROYp 330
DECAMPS p 23 DUBOSC p 253 FINDLAYJB [historian, collec- GOLDONI p 76
DECLE Charles [friend of DU CAMP [writer] p 73 tor] p 213 GOTLIEB DE WINDISH Charles
Robert-Houdin] p 274 DUCHEMIN p 88 FISHER David [writer] p 211 [writer] p 382
DELACROIX Eugene [painter] DUCLAUS S [publisher] p 33 FITREMANN [lawyer] p 266 GOURDON Edouard [writer]
p 23 DUCOUX p 339 FITZ HENRY [client of Breguet] p 129
DELAGRAVE [publisher] p 211 DUFAY [mayor of Blots] p 216, p 141 GRAEFE de [scientist] p 277
DELAIiAYS [bookseller-publisher] 217, 235, 294, 339, 379, 380 FITZ-JAMES [ventriloquist] p 414 GRAMONT colonel p 316
p 281 DUFAY doctor [friend of Robert- FLAUBERT Gustave [writer] p 175 GREG R P p 218
DELANGLE [president of the Houdin] p 235, 294, 339, 379, FLERS Marquis de [friend and GREVY Jules [politician] p 23
Imperial court] p 19 380 neighbor of Robert-Houdin] GUIGNARD p 314
DELILLE Adnen [conjurer] p 81 DULIN p 328 p 362, 365 GUIROYE de [mayor of Algeria]
DE LILLE Victor p 79, 81 DUMANOIR [librettist] p 417 FLEURY L p 221 p 45
438
INDEX
439
ROBtRf-HOUDIN
MASKELYNE John Nevil [magi- p 144, 145, 146, 189, 197, 198, PIERRE III [Tzar of Russia] p 36, 101, 339
cian] p 222 199, 217, 340, 350, 351, 372, p 272, 385, 386 RIDGELY EVANS Henry [histo-
MASSAU [conjurer] p 193 373, 374, 375 PIETRI [police prefect of Pans] rian] p 130, 257
MASSEY [conjurer] p 113 MUNIER Mrs and Mr [tn-laws of P 11, 15 RISTORI Mrs p 217
MASSU p 384 Emile Robert-Houdin] p 190, PINETTI chevalier [conjurer] RIVET J [painter] p 390
MATHIEU Jacques [businessman, 199, 217, 309 p 159 ROBELLY [historian] p 17, 138,
friend of Robert-Houdm] p 71 MUSARD [conductor, director of PIORRYp 380 215, 217, 220, 386
MATTHEWS Brander [univer- the Pre-Catelan] p 107, 108 PLANTET Hippolyte Joseph [bu- ROBERT Marguerite Rosalie
sity professor] p 76 sinessman, financier] p 262, [Robert-Houdin's stepmother]
MATTHEWS James [conjurer] N 264, 265, 371, 374, 382 p 335, 343
p 161 NAY Louis p 351 PLOUVIER p 281 ROBERT RENOU Jean Martin
MAURICE Clement [photogra- NELLY p 327 PONSON DU TERRAIL [writer] ["Cousin Robert"] p 83, 244,
pher] p 25 p 279 274, 275, 299, 306, 330, 339,
NEVEU de [lieutenant colonel]
MAURIER Henri [conjurer] p 375 POPE p 386 346, 347, 362, 364, 365
p 40, 41, 42, 45, 59, 211
MAXIMILIEN Archduke p 175 POSTOLE maitre [notary] p 362, ROBERT-HOUDIN Georges
NICHOLS [biographer of the
MAYER Pierre p 436 bis 365 [painter] p 27, 87, 88, 294, 309,
Davenport brothers] p 422
MFILHAC [librettist] p 73 POUGATSCHEFF [character of 311, 319, 320, 321, 323, 324,
NICKLE Robert [conjurer]
MELIES Georges [pioneer of ci- La Czanne] p 272, 385 328, 330, 331, 333, 334, 335,
p 383, 384, 385
nema, inventor of "The cinemato- POULET [actor] p 417 336, 338, 339, 340, 343, 344,
NICOLET [manager of the
graphic show', draftsman, direc- POUPARD p 225 347, 350, 362, 365, 366, 369,
Nicolet theater] p 423
tor, magician, and last manager FOUSSET [mayor of Blots] p 327 370, 378, 379, 387, 388,
NOEL Leon [lithographer] p 361
of the Theatre Robert-Houdm] p PRICE [clown] p 249 ROBERT-HOUDIN Jean Jacques
NORIAC Jules p 217
25, 271, 371, 375, 382, 387 PROUDHON p 422 Emile [watchmaker, conjurer]
MELLINET General p 221
MENE p 221
o PROUST Georges [magician, his-
torian, collector, trick manufac-
p 25, 27, 40, 75, 88, 93, 115,
120, 131, 133, 140, 141, 142,
MENIMO [Manning ?] p 75 OFFENBACH [composer] p 73 turer, and creator of the Museum 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 150,
METIVIER p 327, 330, 347 OLIVIER [conjurer] p 414 of Magic and Curiosities] p 96,
175, 177, 189, 193, 194, 197,
MICHAUD p 417 ORFILA [magistrate] p 23 100, 146, 147, 207, XIV, 249, 307,
198, 199, 201, 203, 222, 229,
MICHELI L [composer] p 106 ORTIGUE d' p 221 324, 436 bis
232, 242, 244, 258, 271, 277,
MIEUSEMENT [photographer] OURLIAC [writer] p 73 PRUCHE [engraver and litho-
279, 293, 294, 299, 300, 301,
p 82, 195, 198, 199, 201, 233, grapher] p 182
302, 304, 306, 307, 308, 309,
261, 275, 284, 293, 295, 335, 311, 312, 313, 315, 316, 319,
346, 348, 355, 385, 386, 394 PAGNIERE [editor-in-chief] p 103
Q 320, 346, 347, 349, 350, 351,
MIROY Clansse [actress] p 417 PALLU DU PARC [head of the QUEROLLE Mane Madeleine 362, 365, 369, 370, 371, 372,
MITCHELL John [director of the national navy] p 59 [sculptor] p 359 373, 374, 381, 383, 386, 388
Samt-fames's Theater] p 193 PARTOUNEAUX General p 221 ROBERT-HOUDIN Joseph Eugene
MOESSARD p 334, 335 PASTELOT [actress] p 417 R Henri [son of Emile and Leonte
MOIGNO Father [scientist, jour- PELAU maitre [notary] p 362 RANC Father [vicar of Samt- Robert-Houdin] p 293, 350
nalist] p 30, 31, 182, 183, 184, PELLETAN p 319 Gervais] p 35, 88, 91, 193, 294, ROBERT-HOUDIN Joseph Prosper
185 PENE H de [journalist] p 423 356 Eugene [captain] p 27, 28, 41,
MONCEL Count Theodore du PEPPER John Henry [co-creator RANDON Marshal [governor of 87, 190, 203, 277, 278, 293, 299,
[scientist] p 31, 116, 279, 280, of the Ghosts] p 160, l6l, 164, Algeria] p 40, 48, 51, 211 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314,
378 166, 168, 169, 182, 184, 224, RANSOM Harry Humanities 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 330, 350
MONTSELET p 292 307, 384 Research Center [University of ROBERT-HOUDIN Marguerite
MORAIN J [soldierfrom Eugene PEREIRE Mrs [client of Robert- Texas, Austin] p 152, 154, 155, [daughter of Georges Robert-
Robert-Houdm's corps] p 319 Houdm] p 146, 147 156, 216, 384 Houdm] p 369
MORAND p 294 PEREY Charles [actor] p 417 RAYNALY Edouard [conjurer] ROBERT-HOUDIN Mane Eugenie
MOREAU "MORAX" Chnstine and PESTRELLE [expert in musical p 358, 374, 375 Alice [daughter of Emile and
Didier [magicians, collectors] instruments] p 239 READ Bob [magician, histo- Leonte Robert-Houdin] p 189,
p 20, 78, 79, 248, 249, 436 bis PETIPA Mane p 217 rian, and collector] p 10 190, 222, 350
MOREAU-SAINTI [lyric artist, PETIT Pierre [photographer] REBER [professor at the junior ROBERT-HOUDIN Paul [son of
conjurer] p 113 p 132, 133, 188, 217 high school in Blots] p 69, 109, Georges Robert-Houdin] p 360,
MOREAU-SAINTI son p 113 PHILIPPE [conjurer] p 63, 109, 214 378
MORIN General [director of the 151, 152, 160, 179, 180, 187, RENAN Ernest p 23 ROBERT-HOUDIN Paul [son of
Conservatoire des arts et me- 260, 271 RENAUD [architect] p 221 Emile and Leome Robert-
tiers] p 193, 239, 244, 247, 367 PHILLIPS doctor p 343 REVILLON Tony p 292 Houdin] p 198, 223, 277
MULHOLLAND John [historian, PICARD p 319 REYNAUD [conjuring enthu- ROBERT-HOUDIN Rosalie Eglan-
collector] p 215 PIE IX p 217 siast] p 381 tine [animal sculptor] p 27, 87,
MUNIER Rosalie Olga Leome PIERRE [mechanical theater] RHODDES p 182 88, 193, 229, 230, 294, 309, 321,
[wife of Emile Robert-Houdin] p 63 RIFFAULT [mayor of Blots] 323, 334, 335, 336, 338, 339,
440
INDEX
343, 347, 353, 362, 365, 368, p 162 TALRICH [curator of the Musee p 246, 247, 277
369, 370, 377, 378, 379, 388, SAMSON p 379 Frangais] p 258, 260, 261, 269, VELPEAU doctor p 221
391, 399, 400 SAND George [writer] p 23, 73 431, 432, 433 VERNE Jules [writer] p 231
ROBERT-HOUDIN Valentine SANESAU [actor] p 345 TASSIN p 339 VERNET Horace [painter] p 23,
[daughter of Emile and Leonte SARDINA Maurice [magician, TAUVIN Theophile p 335, 336 44
Robert-Houdtn] p 350 historian] p 215 TERRAY DE MOREL VINDE vis- VERON Dr [writer] p 73
ROBERTSON Etienne Gaspard SARRUT p 339 count p 11 VERRE de [lawyer] p 101
[conjurer] p 167, 168, 169 SEBRON [Robert-Houdm sfnend] TEXIER Edmont p 217 VICTOR p 328, 330, 331, 333,
ROBIN Henri [conjurer] p 63, p 143 THAUVIN Charles p 339, 343 341
150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, SECOND Albenc [journalist] THIERS [politician] p 23 VICTOR EMMANUEL II p 79
156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, p 416 THIERS p 339, 340, 343 VICTORIA [Queen of England]
163, 164, 166, 167, 168, 169, SEGUIER Baron [scientist] p 300 THILL [conjurer] p 261 p 39
173, 174, 177, 178, 179, 180, SEGUIN Pierre [inventor] THOMSON Alfred [theater ma- VIDAL [principal of the junior
181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, p 166, 167, 169, 223, 224 nager] p 257 high school ofBlois] p 94
187, 197, 202, 203, 218, 219, SELDOW Michel [magician, TOBIN Thomas William [archi- VILLEMESSANT de [editor-in-
220, 222, 265, 267, 269, 270, historian] p 377 tect and creator of illusions] chief of Le Figaro] p 130, 312
271, 277, 374, 381, 386 SELENICK [conductor] p 221 p 256, 260, 386, 431 VIRO Dr Prosper [writer] p 221
ROCHEFORT p 319 SERAPHIN [shadow artist] TOIRAC [doctor] p 221 VOIGNIER Francois [historian,
ROENTGEN David [cabinet p 169, 386 TORTONI [ice cream maker] p 73 collector] p 16, 209, 210, 266,
maker] p 239 SERS de p 340 TOSCANE Grand Duke of p 79 436 bis
ROGER maitre [notary] p 278 SHARPE Sam H [magician, his- TOURTIN Emile [photographer] VOIGNIER Jacques [historian,
ROSE p 331 torian] p 215, 218, 220 p 25 collector] p 12, 21, 22, 108, 109,
ROSSINI [composer] p 115, 217 SHOEN [prefect] p 387 TOUTIN [conjurer] p 381, 384 115, 136, 151, 191, 215, IV, V,
ROUCAULT [worker, mechani- SILVIN [conjurer, illustrator] TOUVIEN p 326 230, 277, 292, 377, 436 bis
cian] p 349, 350, 351 p 392 TOUVIN p 328, 330 VOISIN Andre [magician and
ROUJOL Alexandre [trick ma- SIMON Jules p 217 TROCHU General p 319, 336 trick manufacturer] p 115,173,
nufacturer] p 113, 152, 159, SIRAUDIN [librettist] p 417 TUFFERAU [conjurer] p 138, 374
179 SOLOMAN [lawyer] p 100, 101, 197, 262, 267, 383 VOISIN Emile [trick manufac-
ROUSSEAU p 327 103 TURGOT Marquis de p 221 turer] p 200, 374, 375
ROUSSELET p 327, 328 STACEY Brothers [mediums] TUSSAUD Mrs [wax museum]
ROUSSETp 327 p 197, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, p 431 w
ROVERE Jules de [conjurer] 249, 265, 266, 267, 370, 381 WALDECK de p 184
p 61, 180, 213 STARR William p 377 V WARTON [medium] p 370
RUBEL [actor] p 417 STEINMEYER Jim [magician, WESTLEYp 75
VAILLANT Marshal [Minister of
RUELLO Albert [telepath] p 102 historian, and creator of illu- WHEASTONE [scientist] p 31
war] p 42
sions] p 222 WOLGHEMUTH [impresario]
VALLEE Ernest Simon Mane
STODARE [conjurer] p 254, [notary] p 36, 292 p 193, 202, 205, 265, 266, 277,
255, 256, 257, 258, 261, 268, VALLON [lawyer] p 292, 294, 292, 381, 386
SAINT GEORGES de [play-
269, 431, 433 326, 327, 328, 331, 333, 334,
wright] p 206, 221, 252, 253, 381
SAINT VINCENT de [lawyer]
STODARE Alfred [conjurer] 335, 336, 337, 338, 341 X
p 262, 268, 269 VALOTTE [Les Fantoches] p 374 XAVIER [friend of Robert-
p 100
SUE Eugene [writer] p 23 VANDERBURCH Emile [play- Houdin] p 128, 129
SAINTE-FOY [lyric artist] p 221,
SURATEAU p 328, 340 wright] p 416, 417
222
SAINT-LAURENT Philippe [ma- VARNER Paul [conjurer] p 262,
gician, historian] p 217
T 267, 268, 269, 383, 386, 387 ZARA [decorator of the Theatre
SALTARINO Signor [writer] TAIGNY Emile [actor] p 417 VAUCANSON [mechanician] de lAmbigu comique] p 282
441
Design: Cristal Communication
33, rue Nicole
28000 Chartres
Photoengraving: L.P.H.
11, avenue des Marronniers
93400 Saint-Ouen
Brochage: S.M.R.F
56190 Muzillac
Printed December 2002
by the presses of
Imprim.Plus
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N ISBN 2-907584-06-5
Christian Fechner is a film producer and magic
enthusiast.
At the worldwide F.I.S.M. convention in 1979 he
was granted first prize in Invention and first
prize in Stage Illusions.
Since then, he has worked on a friendly basis
with the greatest illusionists of our time among
them Siegfried and Roy as well as David
Copperfield - and created new illusions for them.
The author published Soirees Fantastiques in
1988, Bibliography of French Conjuring in
1994 and annotated in 1995 the reprint of
Memoirs of Robert-Houdin by Robert-Houdin
for the publishing company Stock. In 2002, he
contributed to the work Melies, Magic and
Cinema published under the supervision of
Jacques Malthete and Laurent Mannoni.
The two volumes of this biography of Robert-
Houdin will be followed by a technical volume
dedicated to the study of the artist's legendary
inventions in the field of magic of which the
history, routines and explanations have maintained
most of their mystery to this day.
N ISBN : 2-907584-06-5
The celebrated ROBERT-HOUDIN will repeat bis
Original and extraordinary
Tuesday Tlmrsday
Saturday Evenings,
B OOItS OpSr AT EIGHT O'CLOCK i
<SD WILt ALSO ClVB 1
DAY
PERFORMANCE
Wednesday
Morning,
l'OMSIE.YCl<\fJ .iT HALF-PAST TWO OXLOCK.