How Magic Prevented a War — Robert Houdin in AlgeriaIn the mid 1800’s Robert Houdin was the mo

How Magic Prevented a War — Robert Houdin in AlgeriaIn the mid 1800’s Robert Houdin was the most famous magician and illusionist in the world, today he is known to magicians as the founder of the modern style of conjuring.  Some of his tricks included mind reading, levitation, making objects disappear, catching bullets with the mouth, cups and balls, and various other acts of prestidigitation.  One of his most popular acts was the “light chest , heavy chest”.  Utilizing electromagnetism, a new and mysterious technology in the 1800’s, Houdin would make a chest either heavier or light, first inviting a small child to lift the chest, which he could.  Houdin then invited a large strong man to attempt to lift the chest, at which point an electromagnet was activated making it impossible to lift off the stage.  The audience was astounded when the large man could not lift a chest which a small child had lifted a mere moment before.  Houdin toured Europe performing his act for decades performing for kings, queens, emperors, and empresses.In the 1850’s Houdin retired to be an inventor as well as to experiment with electricity.  In 1856 the French Emperor Napoleon III called on Houdin to perform one last great act.  In the French colony of Algeria were a group of Marabouts (local Muslim religious leaders) who where inciting various tribes to rebel against the French.  The Marabouts were able to control the tribes through the use of faux magic and illusion.  Napoleon III wanted Houdin to convince the tribes that French magic was far more powerful than the magic of the Marabouts.  Houdin performed for the tribes, making objects disappear, levitating, and performing other acts of illusion.  However it was Houdin’s bullet catch trick and “light chest, heavy chest” act which astounded them the most.First Houdin had local tribesman attempt to shoot him using specially marked bullets.  When the Algerian tribesman fired he caught the bullets with his teeth, with the marking still intact.  Then Houdin asked the largest strongest man of the tribe to attempt to lift his “light chest, heavy chest”.  On the first attempt the strong tribesman easily lifted the chest.  Then Houdin waved his wand over the tribesman saying “Behold! Now you are weaker than a woman; try to lift the box.”  When the tribesman tried to lift the handle of the chest, it would not budge.  In a fit of anger the tribesman attempted to smash the box, which only gave the tribesman a strong electrical shock as Houdin had rigged it to do so if tampered with.  Amazed by Houdin’s incredible French magic, the Algerian tribes were convinced to submit to France and the rebellion was peacefully suppressed.Houdin made one last performance in the Grand Theatre in Marseilles before retiring permanently.  He wrote books on magic as well as his memoirs.  In 1870 his son was killed in the Franco-Prussian War.  Due to the sorrow of losing his son his health deteriorated until he died in 1871.  Today Robert Houdin is mostly forgotten to history, his legacy only known to modern magicians.  His name lives on however, as a young magician named Erik Weisz took the stage name “Harry Houdini” in Houdin’s honor in the 1890’s. -- source link
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