Memoirs of Robert-Houdin : ambassador, author, and conjurer

Front matter

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Chapter I. Page

My Birth and Parentage — My Home — The Lessons of Colonel Bernard — Paternal Ambition — My first Mechanical Attempts — Had I but a Rat! — A Prisoner's Industry — The Abbe Lariviere — My Word of Honor — Farewell to my darling Tools. . 17

Chapter II

A Country Idler — Dr. Carlosbach, Conjurer and Professor of Mystification— The Sand-bag and the Stirrup Trick — I turn Lawyer's Clerk, and the Minutes appear to me very long — A small Automaton — A respectful Protest — I mount a Step in the Office — A Machine of Porter's Power — The Acrobatic Canaries — Monsieur Roger's Remonstrances — My Father decides that I shall follow my bent ..... 26

Chapter III

My Cousin Robert — The most important Event in my Life — How a Man becomes a Sorcerer — My first Sleight-of-Hand Feat — An utter Failure — Praetisiug the Eye and the Hand — Curious Experiment in Prestidigitation — Monsieur Noriet — An Action more ingenious than delicate — I am Poisoned — Influence of Delirium. 42

Chapter IV. Page

I return to Life — A strange Doctor — Torrini and Antonio : a Conjurer and a Fanatic for Music — A Murderer's Confession — A perambulating House — The Fair at Angers — A portable Theatre — I witness for the first Time a Conjuring Performance — The blind Man's Game at Piquet — A Dangerous Rival — Signor Castelli eats a Man alive. . . . . .55

CHAPTER V. Antonio's Confessions — How to gain Public Applause — The Count

de , Mountebank — I repair an Automaton — A Mechanician's

Shop on Wheels — Nomadic Life — Happy Existence — Torrini's Lessons — His Opinions about Sleight-of-Hand — A Fashionable Greek, Victim of his own Swindling — The Conjurer Comus — A Duel at Piquet — Torrini proclaimed Conqueror — Revelations — New Catastrophe — Poor Torrini! ... 73

Chapter VI

Torrini relates his Life — Treachery of Chevalier Pinetti — A Conjurer through Malice — A Race between two Magicians — Death of Pinetti — Exhibits before Pius VII. — The Cardinal's Chronometer— Twelve Hundred Francs spent on a Trick — Antonio and Antonia — The most bitter of Mystifications — Constantinople. ....... 90

Chapter VII

Continuation of Torrini's History — The Grand Turk orders a Performance — A marvellous Trick — A Page cut in two — Pitying Protest of the Harem — Agreeable Surprise — Return to France — Torrini's Son Killed — Madness — Decay — My first Performance — An annoying Accident — I return Home. . 121

Chapter VIII. Page

The Prodigal Son — Mademoiselle Houdin — I go to Paris — My Marriage — Comte — Studies of the Public — A skillful Manager — Rose-colored Tickets — A Musky Style — The King of Hearts — Ventriloquism — The Mystifiers Mystified — Father Roujol — Jules de Rovere — Origin of the word prestidigitatuer. . 136

Chapter IX

Celebrated Automata — A Brazen Fly — The Artificial Man — Albertus Magnus and St. Thomas d' Aquinas — Vaucanson — His Duck — His Flute-Player — Curious Details — The Automaton Chess-Player — Interesting Episode — Catherine II. and M. de Kempelen — I repair the Componium — Unexpected Success. 155

Chapter X

An Inventor's Calculations — One Hundred Thousand Francs a Year by an Inkstand: Deception — My new Automata — The First Magician in France: Decadence — I meet Antonio — Bosco — The Trick with the Cups — An Execution — Resurrection of the Criminals — Mistake in a Head — The Canary rewarded. . 176

Chapter XI

A Reverse of Fortune — Cookery and Clockwork — The Artist's Home — Invention of an Automaton — Voluntary Exile — A modest Villa — The Inconveniences of a Speciality — Two August Visitors — The Throat of a mechanical Nightingale — The Tiou and the Rrrrrrrrouit — Seven Thousand Francs earned by making Filings. ....... 192

Chapter XII. Page

The Inventive Genius of a Sugar-baker — Philippe the Magician — His Comic Adventures — Description of his Performance — Exposition of 1844— ^%re King and Royal Family visit my Automata. 221

Chapter XIII

3Iy proposed Reforms — I build a Theatre in the Palais Royal — Formalities — General Rehearsal — Singular Effect of my Performance— The Largest and Smallest Theatre in Paris — Tribulation— My first Performance — Panic — Discouragement — A Fallible Prophet — Recovery — Success. . . . 234

Chapter XIV

2Tew Studies — A Comic Journal — Invention of Second Sight — Curious Experiments — An enthusiastic Spectator — Danger of being a Sorcerer — A Philter or your Life — Way to get rid of Bores — An Electric Touch — I perform at the Vaudeville — Struggles with the Incredulous — Interesting Details. . . 253

Chapter XV

Seductions of a Theatrical Agent — How to gain One Hundred Thousand Francs — I start for Brussels — A lucky Two-Sou Piece — Miseries of professional Travelling — The Park Theatre— Tyranny of a Porter — Full House — Small Receipts — Deceptions — Return to Paris. .... 273

Chapter XVI

Reopening of my Fantastic Soirees — Minor Miseries of Good Luck — Inconvenience of a small Theatre — My Room taken by Storm — A gratuitous Performance — A conscientious Audience — Pleasant Story about a Black Silk Cap — I perform at the Chateau of St. Cloud — Cagliostro's Casket — Holidays. . 294

Chapter XVII. Page

New Experiments — Aerial Suspension, &c. — -A Performance at the Odeon— A Friend in Need — 1848 — The Theatre deserted— I leave Paris for London — Manager Mitchell — Publicity in England— The Great Wizard — A Butter-mould used as a Puff — Singular Bills — A Prize for the best Pun. . . 312

Chapter XVIII

The St. James's Theatre — Invasion of England by French Performers— A Fete patronised by the Queen — The Diplomatist and the Sleight-of-Hand Man — Three Thousand Pounds taken at one Haul — I perform at Manchester — The Spectators in the Pillory — What capital Curacoa! — A Torrent of Wine — A Catastrophe — Performance at Buckingham Palace — A Wizard's Repast. ....... 330

Chapter XIX

An Optimist Manager — Three Spectators in a Room — A Magical Collation — The Colchester Public and the Nuts — I return to France — I give up my Theatre — A Farewell Tour — I retire to St. Gervais — An Academician's Predictions. . . 359

Chapter XX

Travels in Algeria — Convocation of the Chieftains — Performances before the Arabs — A Kabyle rendered powerless — Invulnerability— A Moor disappears — Panic and Flight of the Audience— Reconciliation — The Sect of Ai'ssaoua — Their pretended Miracles. . . . . . . 371

Chapter XXI. Page

Excursion in the Interior of Africa — The Abode of a Bash- Aga — A comical Repast — A Soire"e of Arab Dignitaries — A Marabout mystified — Tent-life in Algeria — I return to France — A terrible Stoi'm — Conclusion. .... 398

CHAPTER XXII. A Course of Miracles. ..... 422

THE AUTHOR'S OVERTURE.

Saint Gervais, near Blois, September, 1858.

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

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

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

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

14 THE AUTHOR'S OVERTURE.

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

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

But, soon reassured by the past, I waited with greater calmness the signal for the curtain to draw up. I then walked on the stage : I was near the foot-lights, before my judges — but no, I err — before my kind spectators, whose applause I was in hopes to gain.

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

These emotions and souvenirs are not at all painful to me : on the contrary, I summon them up with pleasure. At times I even mentally transport myself to my stage, in order to prolong them. There, as before, I ring the bell, the curtain rises, I see my audience again, and, under the charm of this sweet illusion, I delight in telling them the most interesting episodes of my professional life. I tell them how a man learns his real vocation, how the struggle with difficulties of every nature begins, how, in fact

THE AUTHOR'S OVERTURE. 15

But why should I not convert this fiction into a reality ? Could I not, each evening when the clock strikes eight, continue my performances under another form ? My public shall be the reader, and my stage a book.

This idea pleases me : I accept it with joy, and immediately give way to the sweet illusion. Already I fancy myself in the presence of spectators whose kindness encourages me. I imagine they are waiting for me — they are listening eagerly.

Without further hesitation I begin.

HOBERT-HOUDIN.

MEMOIRS

ROBERTHOUDIN

Chapter I

My Birth and Parentage — My Home — The Lessons of Colonel Bernard — Paternal Ambition — My first Mechanical Attempts — Had I but a Rat! — A Prisoner's Industry — The Abbe" Lariviere — My Word of Honor — Farewell to my darling Tools.

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

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

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

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

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

MY LOVE OF TOOLS. 19

driving my profession into me, and that, as I was a wonderful lad, I could not but become an extraordinary workman. I do not pretend that I ever realized the paternal predictions, but it is certain that I have ever felt an irresistible inclination for mechanism.

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

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

With my illness my pleasures ended ; I was sent to school, and from that time I had few opportunities for indulging in my favorite tasks. Still, on my holidays, I used to return to my father's workshop with delight, and, yet, I must have been a great torment to that excellent parent. Owing to my want of skill, I now and then broke some tool, and although I might try to conceal it, the blame was generally laid on me, and, as a punishment, I was forbidden to enter the workshop. But it was of no use attempting to keep me from my hobby ; the prohibition had to be continually renewed. Hence it was thought advisable to attack the evil at the root, and I must be sent away from home.

Although my father liked his trade, experience had taught him that a watchmaker rarely makes a fortune in a country town ; in his paternal ambition he, therefore, dreamed a more brilliant destiny for me, and he formed the determination of giving me a liberal education, for which I shall always feel grateful to him. He sent me to college at Orleans. I was then eleven years of age.

Let who will sing the praises of school life ; for my own part I can safely state, that, though I was not averse from study, the happiest day I spent in our monastic seminary was that on which I left it for good. However, once entered, I accepted my lot with resignation, and became in a short time a perfect schoolboy. In my play hours my time was well employed, for I spent the greater portion of it in making pieces of mechanism. Thus I made snares, gins, and mouse-traps, their excellent arrangement, and perhaps the dainty bait as well, producing me a great number of prisoners.

I had built for them a charming open cage, in which I had fixed up a miniature gymnastic machinery. My pris-

I GO TO SCHOOL. 21

oners, while taking their ease, set in motion a variety of machines, which caused a most agreeable surprise. One of my inventions more especially attracted the admiration of my comrades ; it was a method of raising water by means of a pump made almost entirely of quills. A mouse, harnessed like a horse, was intended to set this Lilliputian machine in motion by the muscular strength of its legs ; but, unfortunately, my docile animal, though perfectly willing, could not overcome the resistance of the cog-wheels, and I was forced, to my great regret, to lend it a hand.

"Ah! if I only had a rat!" I said to myself, in my disappointment, "how famously it would work !" A rat ! But how to get. one? That appeared to me an insurmountable difficulty, but, after all, it was not so. One day, having been caught in the act of breaking bounds by a monitor, I was awarded twelve hours' imprisonment. This punishment, which I suffered for the first time, produced a violent effect on me : but in the midst of the sorrowful reflections inspired by the solitude, an idea dissipated my melancholy thoughts by offering a famous suggestion.

I knew that at nightfall the rats used to come from an adjacent church into the cell where I was confined, to regale on the bread-crumbs left by prisoners. It was a capital opportunity to obtain one of the animals I required ; and as I would not let it slip, I straight-way set about inventing a rat-trap. My only materials were a pitcher holding water, and, consequently, my ideas were confined exclusively to this. I, therefore, made the following, arrangement.

I began by emptying my pitcher ; then, after putting in a piece of bread, I laid it down so that the orifice was on a level with the ground. My object was to attract the victim by this dainty into the trap. A brick which I dug up would serve to close the opening, but as it was impossible for me in the darkness to notice the exact moment for cutting off the prisoner's retreat, I laid near the bread a piece of paper which would rustle as the rat passed over it.

As soon as night set in, I crouched close to my pitcher, and, holding the brick in my hand, I awaited with feverish anxiety the arrival of my guests. The pleasure I anticipated from the capture must have been excessive to overcome my timidity when I heard the first leaps of my savage visitors. I confess that the antics they performed round my legs occasioned me great nervousness, for I knew not how far the voracity of these intrepid rodents might extend ; still, I kept my ground, not making the slightest movement, through fear of compromising the success of my scheme, and was prepared to offer the assailants a vigorous resistance in case of an attack.

More than an hour passed in vain expectation, and I was beginning to despair of the success of my trap, when I fancied I heard the slight sound I hoped for as a signal. I laid the brick on the mouth of the pitcher directly, and raised it up ; the shrill cries inside convinced me of my success, and I began a paean of triumph, both to celebrate my victory and to frighten away my prisoner's comrades. The porter, when he came to release me, helped me to master my rat by fastening a piece of twine to one of his hind legs, and burdened with my precious booty, I proceeded to the dormitory, where masters and pupils had been asleep for a long time. I was glad enough to sleep too, but a difficulty presented itself — how should I bestow my prisoner ?

A NOVEL RAT-TRAP. 23

At length a bright idea occurred to me, fully worthy of a schoolboy : it was to thrust the rat headforemost into one of my shoes. After fastening the twine to the leg of my bed, I pushed the shoe into one of my stockings, and placed the whole in the leg of my trousers. This being accomplished, I believed I could go to bed without the slightest cause for apprehension. The next morning, at five exactly, the inspector took a turn through the dormitory to arouse the sleepers.

"Dress yourself directly," he said, in that amiable voice peculiar to gentlemen who have risen too soon.

I proceeded to obey but I was fated to dire disgrace : the rat I had packed away so carefully, not finding its quarters airy enough, had thought proper to gnaw through my shoe, my stocking, and my trouser, and was taking the air through this improvised window. Fortunately, it had not cut through the retaining string, so the rest was a trifle.

But the inspector did not regard matters in the same light as I did. The capture of a rat and the injury to my clothes were considered further aggravations of my previous offence, and he sent in a lengthy report to the head-master. I was obliged to appear before the latter dressed in the clothes that bore the proof of my offence, and, by an unlucky coincidence, shoe, stocking and trouser were all injured on the same leg. The Abbe" Lariviere (our head-master) managed the college with truly paternal care ; ever just, and prone by nature to forgiveness, he was adored by his pupils, and to be out of favor with him was regarded as the severest punishment.

"Well, Robert," he said to me, looking kindly over the spectacles which bridged the end of his nose, "I understand you have been guilty of grave faults. Come, tell me the whole truth."

24 MEMOIRS OF EOCERT-HOUDIN.

I possessed at that time a quality which, I trust, I have not lost since, and that is extreme frankness. I gave the Abbe* a full account of my misdeeds, and my sincerity gained me pardon. The head-master, after a vain attempt to repress it, burst into a loud fit of laughter, on hearing the catastrophe of my adventures. Still, he ended his gentle lecture in the following words :

"I will not scold you any more, Robert. I believe in your repentance : twelve hours' confinement are sufficient punishment, and I grant you your release. I will do more : though you are very young, I will treat you as a man — of honor, though — you understand me? You will pledge me your word not only that you will not commit your old faults again, but, as your passion for mechanics makes you often neglect your lessons, you must promise to give up your tools, and devote yourself henceforth to study."

" Oh yes, sir, I give you my word," I exclaimed, moved to tears by such unexpected indulgence; "and I can assure you, you will never repent having put faith in my promise."

" I made up my mind to keep my pledge, although I was fully aware of all the difficulties, which were so many stumbling-blocks in that path of virtue I wished to follow. Much trouble, I had too, at first, in withstanding the jests and sarcasms of the idler of my comrades, who, in order to hide their own bad conduct, strove to make all weak characters their accomplices. Still, I broke with them all. Sharpest pang of all, though, was the sacrifice I made in burning my vessels — that is, in putting aside my cages and their contents ; I even forgot my tools, and thus, free from all external distraction, I devoted myself entirely to my Greek and Latin studies.

I LEAVE COLLEGE. 25

The praise I received from the Abbe Lariviere, who prided himself in having noticed in me the stuff for an excellent scholar, rewarded me for this sublime effort, and I may say I became, thenceforth, one of the most studious and attentive lads in the college. At times, I certainly regretted my tools and my darling machinery, but recollecting my promise to the head-master, I held firm against all temptation. All I allowed myself was to set down by stealth on paper a few ideas that occurred to me, though I did not know whether I should ever have a chance to put them in practice.

At length the moment arrived for my leaving college ; my studies were completed — I was eighteen years of age.

Chapter II

A Country Idler — Dr. Carlosbach, Conjurer and Professor of Mystification— The Sand-bag and the Stirrup Trick — I turn Lawyer's Clerk, and the Minutes appear to me very long — A small Automaton — A respectful Protest — I mount a Step in the Ofiice — A Machine of Porter's Power — The Acrobatic Canaries — Monsieur Roger's Remonstrances— My Father decides that I shall follow my bent.

In the story I have just narrated, only simple events were noticeable — hardly worthy, perhaps, of a man who has often passed for a sorcerer — but grant me a few pages' patience, reader, as an introduction to my artistic life, and what you seek in my book will be displayed before your eager gaze. You will know how a magician is produced, and you will learn that the tree whence my magic staff was cut was only that of persevering labor, often bedewed by the sweat of my brow : soon, too, when you come to witness my labors and my anxious hours of expectation, you will be able to appreciate the cost of a reputation in my mysterious art.

On leaving college, I at first enjoyed all the liberty I had been deprived of for so many years. The power of going right or left, of speaking or remaining silent, as I listed, of getting up sooner or later, according to my fancy, was an earthly paradise for a collegian. I enjoyed this ineffable pleasure to the fullest extent : thus, in the morning — although habit made me wake at five —

DR. CARLOSBACH. 27

when the clock announced that once so dreaded hour, I burst into a loud laugh, and offered ferocious challenges to any number of invisible superintendents ; then, satisfied by this slight retrospective vengeance, I went to sleep again till breakfast. After that meal I went out to indulge in a pleasant lounge about the streets ; and I preferred walking in the public promenades, for thus I had better chances of finding something to attract my attention. In a word, not an event happened which I did not know, and I was the real amateur "penny-a-liner" of my native town.

Many of these incidents afforded very slight interest ; one day, however, I witnessed a scene which produced a lasting effect upon me. One after-dinner, while walking along the side of the Loire, engaged with the thoughts suggested by the falling autumn leaves, I was aroused from my reverie by the sound of a trumpet, evidently blown by a practised performer. It may be easily supposed that I was not the last to obey this startling summons, and a few other idlers also formed a circle round the performer.

He was a tall fellow with a quick eye, a sunburnt face, long and crispy hair, and he stemmed his fist in his side, while he held his head impudently high. His costume, though rather "loud," was still cleanly, and announced a man who probably had "some hay in his boots," to use a favorite phrase of gentlemen in the same profession. He wore a maroon-colored frock-coat, trimmed with large silver frogs, while round his neck was a black silk cravat, the two ends being passed through a jewelled ring, which a millionaire would not have disdained — had it not unfortunately been paste. He wore no waistcoat, but his shirt was remarkably white, and on it glistened a heavy mosaic chain, with a collection of appendages, whose metallic sound loudly announced his every movement.

I had ample time to make these observations, for as the audience collected but slowly, the stranger continued his trumpet overture for a quarter of an hour ; at length, when an average crowd had assembled, the trumpet made way for the human voice. The artist laid the instrument on the ground, and walked round majestically to form a ring; then, stopping, he passed his hand through his hair, and began his address. Being little used to this charlatanism in the streets, I regarded the man with confiding admiration and determined not to lose a word of his address.

"Gentlemen," he commenced, in a firm and sonorous voice, "pray hear me. I am not what I seem to be; I may say more, I am what I do not seem to be. Yes, gentlemen, yes — confess it — you take me for one of those scurvy beggars who want to draw a few halfpence from your generosity. Well, you may undeceive yourselves. Though you see me on this spot to-day, I tell you that I have only come here for the relief of suffering humanity in general, then for your welfare in particular, as well as for your amusement."