Chapter I: Preface: To the Original Edition

In the volume published by Robert-Houdin under the title of _Les Secrets de la Prestidigitation et de la Magie_,[1] the author expressed his intention of issuing at an early date a sequel to that work. Death unhappily prevented his carrying his design into execution; but he left behind him materials sufficient, if not, as he had wished, for an exhaustive treatise on the art of conjuring, at least for the compilation of a new work of a highly interesting character.

It is this posthumous work which is now offered to the public. Not only is it both instructive and amusing, as revealing the curious secrets of the professional wizard, but, further, with the aid of the diagrams with which the text is illustrated, it will enable the hitherto uninitiated to repeat on their own account those experiments which Robert-Houdin modestly describes as “tricks,” but which are in reality marvellous applications of mechanical and physical science, worthy in many instances of the genius of a Vaucanson.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] An English version of the above extremely interesting work, by the present translator, is published by Messrs. George Routledge and Sons, under the title of “The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic.”

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

THE THEATRE OF ROBERT-HOUDIN 9

CHAPTER II.

A CONJUROR’S STAGE ARRANGEMENTS 34

CHAPTER III.

HANDKERCHIEF TRICKS 46

CHAPTER IV.

THE LIGHT AND HEAVY CHEST 54

CHAPTER V.

THE HUNDRED CANDLES LIGHTED BY A PISTOL SHOT 62

CHAPTER VI.

THE GHOST ILLUSION 67

CHAPTER VII.

THE INDIAN BASKET TRICK 96

CHAPTER VIII.

SPIRITUALISTIC MANIFESTATIONS 111

CHAPTER IX.

THE BUST OF SOCRATES 119

CHAPTER X.

A CURIOUS EFFECT IN ACOUSTICS 123

CHAPTER XI.

THE DECAPITATED SPEAKING 143

CHAPTER XII.

THE PROTEAN CABINET 154

CHAPTER XIII.

THE FEATS OF THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS 160

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ENCHANTED PORTFOLIO 229

CHAPTER XV.

THE MAGIC DRUM 249

THE SECRETS

OF

STAGE CONJURING

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