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〃On the right or left？〃 my son asked。
〃On the right；〃 the speaker said； having a good reason for choosing
this book； for the lettering was very small。
〃The Travels of Anacharsis the Younger；〃 the boy replied。 〃But；〃
he added； 〃had you asked the name of the book on the left； sir； I
should have said Lamartine's Poetry。 A little to the right of this
row； I see Crebillon's works； below； two volumes of Fleury's
Memoirs〃； and my son thus named a dozen books before he stopped。
The spectators had not said a word during this description； as they
felt so amazed； but when the experiment had ended； all complimented
us by clapping their hands。
III
THE MAGICIAN WHO BECAME AN AMBASSADOR
＇It is not generally known that Robert…Houdin once rendered his
country an important service as special envoy to Algeria。 Half a
century ago this colony was an endless source of trouble to France。
Although the rebel Arab chieftain Abd…del…Kader had surrendered in
1847； an irregular warfare was kept up against the French authority
by the native Kabyles； stimulated by their Mohammedan priests； and
particularly through so…called 〃miracles；〃 such as recovery from
wounds and burns self…inflicted by the Marabouts and other fanatic
devotees of the Prophet。
Thus in 1856 the hopes of the French Foreign Office rested on
Robert…Houdin。 He was requested to exhibit his tricks in the most
impressive form possible； with the idea of proving to the deluded
Arabs that they had been in error in ascribing supernatural powers
to their holy men。＇
It was settled that I should reach Algiers by the next 27th of
September； the day on which the great fetes annually offered by the
capital of Algeria to the Arabs would commence。
I must say that I was much influenced in my determination by the
knowledge that my mission to Algeria had a quasi…political
character。 I； a simple conjurer； was proud of being able to render
my country a service。
It is known that the majority of revolts which have to be
suppressed in Algeria are excited by intriguers； who say they are
inspired by the Prophet； and are regarded by the Arabs as envoys of
God on earth to deliver them from the oppression of the Roumi
（Christians）。
These false prophets and holy Marabouts； who are no more sorcerers
than I am； and indeed even less so； still contrive to influence the
fanaticism of their coreligionists by tricks as primitive as are
the spectators before whom they are performed。
The government was； therefore； anxious to destroy their pernicious
influence； and reckoned on me to do so。 They hoped； with reason；
by the aid of my experiments； to prove to the Arabs that the tricks
of their Marabouts were mere child's play； and owing to their
simplicity could not be done by an envoy from Heaven； which also
led us very naturally to show them that we are their superiors in
everything； and； as for sorcerers； there are none like the French。
Presently I will show the success obtained by these skillful
tactics。
Three months were to elapse between the day of my acceptance and
that of my departure which I employed in arranging a complete
arsenal of my best tricks； and left St。 Gervais on the 10th of
September。
I will give no account of my passage； further than to say no sooner
was I at sea than I wished I had arrived； and； after thirty…six
hours' navigation； I greeted the capital of our colony with
indescribable delight。
On the 28th of October； the day appointed for my first performance
before the Arabs； I reached my post at an early hour； and could
enjoy the sight of their entrance into the theater。
Each goum；＇1＇ drawn up in companies； was introduced separately； and
led in perfect order to the places chosen for it in advance。 Then
came the turn of the chiefs； who seated themselves with all the
gravity becoming their character。
＇1＇ Brigade of native soldiers under French command。 It was this
influential native faction that the Foreign Office wished
particularly to impress； through Robert…Houdin's skill。EDITOR。
Their introduction lasted some time； for these sons of nature could
not understand that they were boxed up thus； side by side； to enjoy
a spectacle； and our comfortable seats； far from seeming so to
them； bothered them strangely。 I saw them fidgeting about for some
time； and trying to tuck their legs under them； after the fashion
of European tailors。
The caids； agas； bash…agas； and other titled Arabs； held the places
of honor； for they occupied the orchestra stalls and the dress
circle。
In the midst of them were several privileged officers； and； lastly；
the interpreters were mingled among the spectators； to translate my
remarks to them。
I was also told that several curious people； having been unable to
procure tickets； had assumed the Arab burnous； and； binding the
camel's…hair cord round their foreheads； had slipped in among their
new coreligionists。
This strange medley of spectators was indeed a most curious sight。
The dress circle； more especially； presented an appearance as grand
as it was imposing。 Some sixty Arab chiefs； clothed in their red
mantles （the symbol of their submission to France）； on which one or
more decorations glistened； gravely awaited my performance with
majestic dignity。
I have performed before many brilliant assemblies； but never before
one which struck me so much as this。 However； the impression I
felt on the rise of the curtain； far from paralyzing me； on the
contrary inspired me with a lively sympathy for the spectators；
whose faces seemed so well prepared to accept the marvels promised
them。 As soon as I walked on the stage； I felt quite at my ease；
and enjoyed； in anticipation； the sight I was going to amuse myself
with。
I felt； I confess； rather inclined to laugh at myself and my
audience； for I stepped forth； wand in hand； with all the gravity
of a real Sorcerer。 Still； I did not give way； for I was here not
merely to amuse a curious and kind public； I must produce a
startling effect upon coarse minds and prejudices； for I was
enacting the part of a French Marabout。
Compared with the simple tricks of their pretended sorcerers； my
experiments must appear perfect miracles to the Arabs。
I commenced my performance in the most profound； I might almost say
religious； silence； and the attention of the spectators was so
great that they seemed petrified。 Their fingers alone moving
nervously； played with the beads of their rosaries； while they
were； doubtless； invoking the protection of the Most High。
This apathetic condition did not suit me； for I had not come to
Algeria to visit a waxwork exhibition。 I wanted movement；
animation； life in fact； around me。
I changed my batteries； and； instead of generalizing my remarks； I
addressed them more especially to some of the Arabs； whom I
stimulated by my words； and still more by my actions。 The
astonishment then gave way to a more expressive feeling； which was
soon evinced by noisy outbursts。
This was especially the case when I produced cannon balls from a
hat； for my spectators； laying aside their gravity； expressed their
delighted admiration by the strangest and most energetic gestures。
Then camegreeted by the same successthe bouquet of flowers；
produced instantaneously from a hat； the CORNUCOPIA； supplying a
multitude of objects which I distributed； though unable to satisfy
the repeated demands made on all sides； and still more by those who
had their hands full already； the FIVE…FRANC PIECES； sent across
the theater with a crystal box suspended above the spectators。
One trick I should much have liked to perform was the INEXHAUSTIBLE
BOTTLE； so appreciated by the Parisians and the Manchester 〃hands〃；
but I could not employ it in this performance； for it is well known
the followers of Mohammed drink no fermented liquorat least not
publicly。 Hence； I substituted the following with considerable
advantage：
I took a silver cup； like those called 〃punch bowls〃 in the
Parisian cafes。 I unscrewed the foot； and passing my wand through
it showed that the vessel contained nothing； then； having refitted
the two parts； I went to the center of the pit； when； at my
command； the bowl was MAGICALLY filled with sweetmeats； which were
found excellent。
The sweetmeats exhausted； I turned the bowl over； and proposed to
fill it with excellent coffee； so； gravely passing my hand thrice
over the bowl； a dense vapor immediately issued from it； and
announced the presence of the precious liquid。 The bowl was full
of boiling coffee； which I poured into cups； and offered to my
astounded spectators。
The first cups were only accepted； so to speak； under protest； for
not an Arab would consent to moisten his lips with a beverage which
he thought came straight from Shaitan's kitchen； but； in