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Koincluding Observations: Houdini

Another American conjurer and mystifier, who is now creating a sensation in Europe, is Harry Houdini. Mr. Houdini is styled the "King of Handcuffs," and justly too. Houdini has completely baffled the police authorities all over the world by releasing himself from all * Since this book has been written Mr. Goldin has made another innovation in his act by omitting all talking. kinds of handcuffs, leg shackles, and prison irons. In Dresden, Germany, Houdini was locked securely by the police authorities with over ninety pounds of prison irons, and succeeded in releasing himself from all the locks in less than eight seconds, returning all of the irons, etc., unlocked. Houdini does not use "trick cuffs," and claims he does not use "keys" to unlock the locks. We understand that a certain dealer of magical apparatus in Germany (who by the way seems to be very jealous of the success of American conjurers) undertook to unmask and expose Houdini during his recent and most successful engagement in Berlin. This would be a very unprofessional thing to do, even if he was capable of doing it, but we are pleased to note that the alleged expose was a failure, and the man who would make a fool of Houdini only succeeded in making a fool of himself-a just reward.

Mr. Houdini's piece de resistance is the familiar "trunk trick," but he deserves great credit for making the exchange so decidedly quickthe author has never seen the trick done so well-another case of not what you do, but how you do it. Of course, it naturally follows that Houdini has, and will have, imitators, notwithstanding his patents-but will the imitation be the same?

Besides being the King of Handcuffs, Mr.

Houdini is also one of the best card manipulators of the day. - "TRICKS WITH COINS" is now finished, and the "King of Koins," wand, or rather pen, in hand, including the editor, Wm. J. Hilliar, make their bow after presenting their first act as Authors, trusting that this work, which will be followed by an elaborate Treatise on all-around Sleight-of-Hand embracing new Sleights with Cards, Eggs, Handkerchiefs, Billiard Balls, Cigars, &c., will prove a useful manual to all who are interested in l'Art Magique.* *The book referred to can be obtained through the publishers of this volume, entitied "The Magicians' Hand-Book," by Hilliar.