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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
647
The
above
trick
is
cited
by
Robert-Houdin
in
illustration
of
the
great
difference
which
there
may
be,
in
point
of
effect,
between
two
modes
of
presenting
the
same
illusion.
The
reader
may
possibly
be
aware
that
Robert-Houdin
was
employed
by
the
French
Government,
at
one
period
of
his
career,
in
a
mission
to
Algeria,
with
the
object
of
destroying,
if
possible,
the
popular
belief
in
the
pretended
miracles
of
the
Marabouts,
whereby
these
latter
had
obtained
an
extraordinary
ascendency
over
the
minds
of
the
ignorant
Arabs.
The
plan
adopted
was
to
show,
first,
that
a
European
could
perform
still
greater
marvels,
and
then
to
explain
that
these
seeming
mysteries
were
mere
matters
of
science
and
dexterity,
and
wholly
independent
of
supernatural
assistance.
The
“Light
and
Heavy
Chest”
was
one
of
the
prominent
features
of
the
programme,
but
if
presented
under
that
name
it
would
have
produced
but
very
little
effect.
The
fact
that
the
chest
became
immoveable
at
command
would
only
have
been
attributed
by
the
Arabs
to
some
ingenious
mechanical
arrangement,
beyond
their
comprehension,
but
exciting
only
a
momentary
wonder.
With
great
tact,
Robert-Houdin
contrived
to
turn
the
attention
of
his
audience
from
the
object
to
the
subject
of
the
trick,
professing,
not
to
make
the
chest
light
or
heavy,
but
to
make
the
person
who
volunteered
weak
or
strong
at
his
pleasure.
Thus
presented,
the
trick
had
the
appearance
no
longer
of
a
mere
achievement
of
mechanical
or
scientific
skill,
but
of
a
manifestation
of
supernatural
power.
We
will
tell
the
rest
of
the
story
as
nearly
as
possible
in
Robert-Houdin’s
own
words,
as
related
in
the
story
of
his
life:--
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
