Magic tricks from the father of modern magic

At this point, you could guess that I got something for prestidigitation and magic tricks. You would be right. Indulge me a bit more as I describe some more tricks from one magician to another. May their creativity spark yours.

Our entertainer today is Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, often considered the father of modern magic. He saw pretty much every trick in his time and probably created the rest. Do keep in mind that he tended to embellish things. Therefore, the tricks he describes might be dubious, but nevertheless fun distractions to think about.

Flowery tricks from the Comte

The entertainer known simply as “Comte“ was quite famous when Houdin started his own career. Before giving away some of his most famous tricks, I find one thing Houdin attributes to him as interesting. According to Houdin, Comte once said that it is easier to dupe someone clever than someone ignorant. Why? Because the clever man will see the conjuring trick as a challenge to his intelligence. Therefore he will pinpoint his focus on where he expects sleight of hand to come from. Of course, this means the conjurer is then free to prepare whatever he needs where the clever man doesn‘t look. Now, for some of his tricks:

The first trick was called “the Birth of the Flowers“. Comte sowed seeds here and there in some earth within a cup and spread an unknown liquid on them saying that it stimulates vegetation. A few seconds later, he reveals that the cup contains a bouquet of varied flowers.
At the end of a performance he gave before Louis XVIII, Comte invited the king to select a card from a pack. By “chance“, the king drew the king of hearts. At the same time, a servant places a vase filled with flowers on a table not far away. After that, Comte loads a pistol using the king of hearts with some gunpowder. He then asked Louis XVIII to look for the vase as the card would appear just above it. Suddenly, a gunshot revealed a bust of Louis XVIII in the flowers. The king, baffled, supposedly stated that the trick didn‘t end as declared. Comte replied (citing Houdin here): “I have quite kept my promise. I pledged myself that the king of hearts should appear on that vase, and I appeal to all Frenchmen whether that bust does not represent the king of all hearts?“. General applause from the public.
He supposedly could make animals talk too. Probably an excellent ventriloc. One day, Comte wished to buy a pig but, finding the price too steep asked the pig in turn if the price asked was good for him. The response was: “You are a long way out. I'm not even worth one hundred pence. I am meazled, and my mistress is trying to take you in.“

Historical automatons

Houdin was quite fond of automatons and deservedly famous for his creations. In fact, his original house, now a museum, still has some dragon automatons peeking out of the windows. In his memoirs, Houdin describes some fascinating historical (if not dubious) automatons. Here are a few:

A Bishop of Naples made a brass fly automaton which was “trained like a shepherd dog“. The Bishop put his automaton on one of the city gates and prevented other flies from entering Naples. It supposedly was so good at it that “during eight years, the meat exposed for sale in the market was never once tainted.“
He also describes an automaton made by Roger Bacon (yes: the famous Middle Ages scientist). He would have used an alchemical compound called “peculum Amuchesi“ to construct a brazen head that could tell if enclosing England within a wall was possible (yeah, I don‘t see either why make an automaton for that very specific question). Constructing this automaton took seven years Houdin said but when the automaton spoke its answer, Bacon didn‘t hear “as he was engaged on something else“. Very dubious. Nonetheless, funny.
A Dominican monk took 30 years to build a brass man. This automaton acted as a sort of astrological tool. Its eyes showed the sign of the Zodiac where the sun currently resided. Of course, this automaton could move and talk just like any man (because that‘s easy it seems).
Finally, Houdin describes the Kempelen Turkish automaton. That one is quite famous and deserves a post. Let‘s leave it at that for now.

Philippe the magician

Some more tricks that Houdin saw another famous magician perform. Some of those might seem more “classic“ in our minds but they weren‘t in Houdin‘s time.

Philippe comes dashing on a dim stage stating that he has been delayed in his preparations. He then raises a pistol and declares that he will use it to light the candles to save some time. Upon firing, the candles are suddenly lighted. According to Houdin, this trick doesn‘t require a gun and, in fact, uses static electricity.
Philippes had 3 automatons of his own: a 'cossack' juggler, a peacock expanding his plumage and a harlequin grimacing.
Houdin also describes Philippe performing the classic ring trick. He took up several rings about eight inches in diameter and intertwined them into chains and knots with ease. He then blew on them and separated them when it seemed impossible. A “charming illusion“ according to Houdin.
Philippe also had a good variation of the classic hat trick. After borrowing a hat from a spectator, Philippe pulled countless objects from it including enough feathers “to make a bed“. The best part is when a kid bursts out from the pile of feathers.
He also had a trick using a “magic potion“. Philippe suspended a large copper cauldron full of water. Then, two kids put dead pigeons, vegetables and spices to it. The cauldron is lit and, after an incantation, live pigeons spur out. The cauldron is then revealed to be completely empty.

Oversea inspiration

Then comes the most impressive part of his life's story: the Algerian affair. Frankly, this is too good for me to spoil it right away. It will be the subject of another post! Still, Houdin describes many tricks he saw performed in Algeria. Here are some:

Running a dagger into your cheek. Houdin states that, with your back to the audience, it is easy to fake the plunge and hit clothes instead.
Eating the leaves of the poisonous prickly pear.
Laying the stomach on the edge of a sabre (using a cutless sabre on one side).
Playing with serpents (with fangs probably removed).
Striking the arm, causing the blood to flow, and stopping it instantaneously. Houdin recalls doing something similar as a boy. He would “make wine come out of a knife, or of my finger, by pressing a small sponge full of the liquor which I concealed in my hand“.

The cat is out of the bag

And that does it for our quick exploration of some historical tricks. I hope it sparked your imagination a bit. For the rest, see you next time.

References

Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, ambassador, author, and conjuror by Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, translated by Wraxall Lascelles, 1860.