r5—^— 
I 66 
MOORE’S RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
JULY 24 
sorcerer. Accordingly Houdin appeared before 
large audiences, beginning in the city of Alge¬ 
ria. At the first of those performances he In¬ 
troduced a box which became heavy or light at 
his order. Thin box was brought by him to the 
footlights and while holding It In lila haudc lie 
declared to his hearers that he possessed ‘.be 
power to deprive the most powerful man ci jis 
strength and restore it at will. He Invited any 
one who thought himself strong enotr -h to 
eome on the stage. An Arab of middle, ght, 
but well built and muscular, came to hii jfdo 
with great assurance. 
“Are you strong?" asked Houdin, measuring 
him from head to foot. 
“ Oh, yes,” he replied, carelessly. 
“Are you sure that you will always - lain 
so?" 
“Quite sure." 
“ You are mistaken,” said Houdin, “ for In an 
instant I will rob you of your strength and you 
shall become as a child.” 
The Arab smiled disdainfully. Houdin told 
him to lift the box. He stooped and lifted It 
without any effort, and Bald coldly, “Is that 
all?" 
With an imposing gesture Houdin solemnly 
pronounced the words: 
“ Behold, you are weaker than a woman; now 
lift the box." 
The young Hercules grabbed the box unite 
confidently but. to bis amazement, It would not 
budge. He vainly expended cm this box a 
strength which would have raised an enormous 
weight until at length, panting, exhausted, and 
red with anger, he hurled his face In bl* bauds 
and retired from the stage. 
Houdin does not explain the secret of tine 
strange trick by which he made bodies heavy 
or light at will and without apparently touch¬ 
ing them; but It was a favorite of hit; and often 
exhibited to Ills fashionable Parisian audiences. 
At the same exhibition in Algeria, of which 
we have written, Houdin Invited one of the au¬ 
dience to come on the stage. A young Moor, 
about twenty years of age, tall, well-built and 
richly dressed, advanced. There was a plain 
table on the stage (the space botweon tho top 
and the floor boing unmistakably open) which 
Houdin asked him to mount. When he did so 
Houdin covered him with an enormous cloth 
cone, and instantly removing it, the Moor was 
gone. This trick produced a panic in the au¬ 
dience. Screaming, “ It is the Evil One 1" they 
clambered over the benches in terror and rushed 
out of the door into the street, where, in the 
public place, rubbing his eyea In stupefaction 
and wondering how ho got there, they found 
the young Moor. 
While in the Interior Houdin gave an open uir 
exhibition to the wild sons of the desert He 
proteuded that he was Invulnerable and ofTered , 
to let a Marabout shoot at him. There was a 
great crowd and a viudictlve-looklng fellow 
came out from It and claimed to have the honor 
of killing the hated Frenchman. The pistol# 
were handed to Houdin. who called attention 
to the fact that the vents were clear. The Mar¬ 
about put In a fair charge of powder and drove 
the wad home. Among the bullets produced, 
Houdin chose one which he openly put lu the 
pistol and it wtus also rammed down. By the 
same process the second pistol v s§ loadod. 
Everybody watched with the most, profound 
solemnity. Houdin posted himself fifteen paces 
from the Marabout withouteviiiclngthc -light¬ 
est emotion. The Marabout Immediately seized 
one of the pistols and, on Houdan's giving the 
signal, took a deliberate aim at him. The pis¬ 
tol went off and the ball appeared between the 
magician’s teeth. More angry than ever, the 
Marabout tried to seize the pistol. 
“You could not injure me," said Houdin; 
“but you shall see that rny aim Is more danger¬ 
ous than yours. Look at that, wall." He pulled 
the trigger, and on tho newly whitewashed wall 
appeared a large patch of blood exactly at the 
spot where he aimed. 
The Marabout went, up to It, dipped Ids finger 
n the blood and raising it to his mouth cou- 
nceil himself of tho reality. When he ac¬ 
quired this certainty Ids arms fell and his head 
bowed on Ids chest as If ho were annihilated. 
It was evident, that for the moment he doubted 
everything, even the prophet. 
This seemingly Incomprehensible feat Hoti- 
dln performed by means of prepared balls. With 
a bullet mold and a bit of wax mixed with 
lampblack, ho had manufactured a very fair 
imitation bullet. Another bullet of the same 
material lie had filled with blood. Of course, 
it was by sleight-of-hinul that he changed the 
bullets forced upon him by the Marabout, and 
substituted his own. An old trick enabled 1dm 
to get the real bullet between Ids teeth while 
the waxen one was shattered to pieces. So with 
the second ball: it was shattered upon the wall 
but a spot of blood was produced. 
When Wm. H. Seward made his tour a roun 
the world be witnessed some performances ofd 
jugglers In Indian which were quite surprising 
He saw a man climb a bare pole sixty feet high- 
standing In tho open air, and when lie reached 
the top he mysteriously disappeared. After a 
while his feet re appeared, then his legs and 
body, and he came down. Ho claimed no su¬ 
pernatural powers. How did tie do it? 
-♦ -w — ——— 
JOSH BILLINGS’ BIZZNE'IS LETTERS. 
Mirter Blake :—Sir—I rent Ived yarn clrku- 
lar in yesterday's mail, in whl h yu r quest- me 
to buy a ticket in a gift m-tri aeme. 
Pleaze furgiv mo If I don’t invest, i bav often 
bought Into theze maguifliaut chances, and all 
that I liav aver drawd yet wax the wool over mi 
eyes. 
I hav resighned for ever more mi posishur In 
the gift distributing bizzoess. 
Falrwell, virtewous Blake, and may yu see 
the error ov yure ways and repent -rbile thare 
Iz a show for yu. If yu must rob, take a plkax 
and proceed onto the hi way and rob like a man, 
giving yure kustomers a fair pop at yu. 
Ml** Pamela Hmiwtcr.—Flours are worn this 
seazon quite mutch on bonnets. I saw a luvov 
a hat last week at Madame Frisky’s which fairly 
bulls the market. It lookt mutch like a bokay 
for a target excurshun, presented Id sum aider- 
man to the constituents ov Ids ward. 
Thare waz sunflours and pond lily« and holly- 
hawks and dandyllons, euuff to stok a forty 
aker farm. I waz told that the bonnet, waz the 
very kream ov style and the price waz a mere 
song, only 83 dollars. 
I wanted to buy the dear thing and set it out 
In my front yard and water It and see it gro, 
but it had been sold to a Junk dealer’s wife. 
Mister Brooks.—i received yure kind invlta- 
sbun to attend aepellln dispute in yure city nex 
thursday eve. I will be thare, and would like 
to bet the oyster stuze for the party that! out- 
spell the congregashun. Spellin lz my strong 
holt; I hav studdid onto It for years. I dont 
spel aokordin to the late Daniel Webster una¬ 
bridged, but 1 spel ackordln to BPlIng?. May 
the best man win. 
Mi** Monfart. I leant tel 1 you which iz the 
best breed ov lap-dogs. All 1 kno 1/. that the 
whole lot ov them are a shame and a noosance. 
Dont buy any lap-dog; If you must have a pet 
or suffokate, git a rag doll and lug that around. 
Lap-dogs are liable to fleas, and If yu should 
get a flea on yu, Miss Mouforo, goo-i-nuy to yure 
piece ov mind—yu would be mo/e f-antik than 
a goid-huDter. 
One Ilea on the mortal exteric .-ov a person iz 
wuas to sarch out than a sum in vulgar frack- 
s linns. 
After yu hav sarched for a flea and find him 
and finally ketch him, yu will be mortyfled to 
detb to find that be haz giv yu the slip. 
Thare Is no more proflit nor common sense in 
kultlvating lap-dogs than thar is in nussing 
cockroaches. 
Mister Boon.- Yu ask me whltch iz the level- 
•st, the married or the single state, and I aint 
afrade to say that having tried both for mutiny 
years and sarched out their weak and strong 
points, that matrimony iz the true stylo. I think 
I Uan safely say that the marrid condishun for 
everyday wear is 3(1 per cent, ahead. 
Perfokt happiness aint to be bad In fhis life 
ennyhow, I don’t care whether you go In single 
or dubble. 
But if enny one will pay me for ml time 1 will 
sho six arguments In favor ov tleing oneself up 
with the kords ov connubial matrimony to 4 
agin It. 
Thare iz a grate menny rules, Mister Boon, to 
make marrid life comfortable; but the gold¬ 
en one iz tills, Go do aud giv / art) at ier haff ov 
the road. This rule Iz az simple and easy az 
milking a ooxv on the right side, and will be 
found az usephul aa lie to avoid hot journals. 
If one party wants tho whole of the road it, 
makes the turnpike hot and dusty, and if both 
parties want it and will have it, It raizes the 
very devil. 
Excuse nte, dear Boon, for use. eg the word 
“devil," but it seems the only one that will fit 
the spot. 
Good-bye, respected B oon. 
Mould. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Musical Composer* and Their Works. For 
the Use of Schools and Students in Musto.—By 
SARAH TYTI.XR. author of “ The Old Musters/’ 
and “ Modern Painters." [Smo,-pp. 42(1.] Bos¬ 
ton : Roberts Brothers. 
In books of this class, < f which the material 
Is drawn front biographies, encyclopedias and 
kindred sources, there can hardly be the credit 
of authorship unless the style and arrangement 
of facts are very superior, which cannot be said 
of this work. Very little of the Information 
and very few of the anecdotes are now, while 
the grnmmar In some Instances is notably bad. 
For example, on page 21 the compiler. In 
writing of the " London ’’ Bach, rays, “ he was 
only a degenerate eon of Sebastian Bach’s 
acaseof possession which “students in music ” 
or otherwise might, be bothered to dl«po«a of. 
In the chapter on Mozart one regrets to find 
that the sources drawn upon furnished such 
unjust and incorrect material concerning Mad¬ 
ame Mozart, who, Instead of being a “ weak, 
indolent, exacting little woman,” etc., was a 
most faithful, loving and devoted wife, and 
whose marriage with Mozart brought her an 
incessant round of suffering and privi.tlon, but 
whose patience und devotion were exception¬ 
ally great. In regard to Chopin and his con¬ 
nection with Madame Ditdevant, tho author 
attributes their separation to a refusal on t he 
part of the woman to marry the composer, 
while the real cause of their disagreement was 
of an exceedingly different nature. If the great 
novelist's own version of t he affair is to be ro¬ 
lled upon, and sho certainly ought to be regard¬ 
ed as good authority. But notwithstanding 
the abounding errors in the book, it forms a 
series of biographical sketches convenient and 
interesting to readers unable to obtain better 
Information, or those who have not the leisure 
for such studies. The hook Is nicely printed, 
and attractively bound, and contains sketches 
of sixty composers, concluding with Wagner. 
Popnlnr Resorts, and How to flench Th*on. 
Combining u Brief Description fit the Principal 
Summer Retreats In tho United States, and the 
Routes of Travel Leading to Them, Hr John 
R. BATcniaiiHl, author Of "The UP.-(rated 
Tourist’s Guido;” Ac., Ac. f Ftno.—pt>. 881.] Bos¬ 
ton ; John B. Batuholder (at Loo A Hhepnrd'g). 
In looking over this work we have felt as 
though we were in the company of an agreeable 
traveling companion, perfectly familiar with 
all the popular places of resort, and who could 
discourse most charmingly about, them—one 
whom we should press to go with us on our 
pleasure excursion#, and stay by us, for liis 
companionable qualities. The book is not a 
mere guide, with bare details of routes, etc., 
but a gazetteer of pleasure travel, arid is a 
credit alike to author and publisher, who in 
this case are one aud the same. We are not 
surprised that the work has already reached its 
third edition, and are pleased to know that the 
large demand for it has determined the author 
to make It a standard and to issue It annually. 
It is Illustrated by ISA beautiful wood cuts, 
• 
many of them from original sketches by the 
author, handsomely printed and bound, and is 
sold at the extremely low price of $2. 
UrenklnM. I.inirhrnii end Ten. Bv Marion 
li a in ,a Nil, author of "Common 8pti*o In the 
Household.” (12u]0.—pp. 458.] New Turk : Hortb- 
ucr, Armstrong A Co. 
IIiCKK is a work—another of the “Common 
Sense in the Household” Series worthy the 
attention of every daughter, sister, wife or 
mother who ever expects to have anything to 
do with practical housekeeping; and pray what 
woman, rich or poor, may not have such “ great 
expectation*,” with the accompanying respon¬ 
sibilities ? Even the rich ought to have a thor¬ 
ough knowledge of cookery, etc., for protection 
against servants while wealthy, and as a re¬ 
source In case of adversity, indeed, we bold 
that every girl should be taught the art of 
cooking and the system of housekeeping, and 
such a work as the one before us must prove of 
great assistance in obtaining the requisite 
knowledge, though of course practice is as 
necessary as precept. The volume is mainly 
composed of recipes, the most of which have 
bees tested and proved by Lite author to be 
reliable, and all such are designated by a Mal¬ 
tese cross, as in her former work. 
The Graded School Render. By T. K. HAR¬ 
VEY, A M.. author of " Fllenientarv Grammar *’ 
and "Practical Grammar of the English Liuv 
^ar.ige." Published bv Wilson, Winkle A <Jo., 
Cincinnati, and 28 Bond St Now York. 
Under the general heading of “ Eclectic 
Educational Herb**" we have received a series 
of live Readers with the above t itle. The first 
Is adapted to the youngest pupils, being suf¬ 
ficiently elementary for beginners, and, like 
the three succeeding numbers of the series. Is 
handsomely Illustrated. The smallest volume 
contains 72 pages and the largest (or Fifth 
Reader) S36. These works seem well designed 
for Graded Schools, which demand a class of 
text books especially' adapted to their peculiar 
requirements In order to secure the full benefit 
of the methods of teaching pursued. Harvey’s 
Readers are Btrongly commended by the Super¬ 
intendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, and 
are apparently worthy the attention of teachers 
and parents generally. 
Alrajn s Or, Idle end Lovrlu Norwuv. From 
the German of Tuicodrk Mihjge.—B y Edward 
Joy Morris, late U. 8. Minister to Turkey. 
[I2md.—pp. ATI-1 Phlltt.: Porter A Ooatos. 
This romance, by one of the most distin¬ 
guished writers of fiction in Germany, will 
prove interesting and Instructive to those who 
desire to learn about Norway, Its people and 
scenery. Aside from the love story, which is 
admirably told, there is so much of value In the 
volume descriptive of the people and their 
habits and customs, that wc are not surprised 
at the cordial reception it received on Its first 
publication, last spring, in Europe. 
An Idyl ol Work.— By Ltrcr Lakcom. Boston: 
James R. Osgood (c OO. 
Poetical works are not popular as a rule, in 
these practical, rushing times, hut here is a 
poem, filling a volume of 188 pages, which we 
think will “ take." It Is dedicated to Working- 
Women by one of their sisterhood, and is a 
romantic sketch of factory life. 
“ Wide-Awake, an Illustrated Magazine for 
Girls and Boys," Is the title of a new monthly 
of 64 pages, publitihcd by D, Loturop A Go., 
Boston, and edited by Ella Carman. It Is 
well conducted, neatly Illustrated and printed, 
and altogether has a winning appearance. 
Though the field of juvenile literature is al¬ 
ready well stocked, there ought to be room for 
a publication so good «« Wide-Awake. 
“Queen Mary " is to be acted on the london 
stage next wilder. The public will have an op¬ 
portunity of judging for itself how far Tenny¬ 
son's drama resembles Shakspeare's Hi being 
not simply a poem to be read, but an “ action ” 
to be observed. 
The fourth and concluding volume of John 
Stuart Mill’s works, shortly to be issued, will 
contain much of his •orrespondence ou philo¬ 
sophical subjects. 
$alrlrath Reading. 
CONSOLATION. 
Wk insy not climb the heavenly steep# 
To bring the Lord Christ down ; 
In vain we search the lowest deops. 
For Him no depths oan crown. 
But warm, sweet, tender, even yet 
A present help is He; 
And faith has still Its Olivet, 
And love Its Galilee. 
The healing of the seamless (tress 
Is by our beds of pain; 
We toueh Him in life’s throng and press, 
And we are whole again. 
Through Him our first fond prayers are said. 
Our lips of childhood frame : 
The last low whispers of our dead 
Are burdened with His name. 
O Lord and Master of us all! 
Whate’cr our name and sign. 
We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call, 
We test onr lives by thine. 
[Whittier. 
-- 
A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT. 
William IV. expired about midnight, at 
Windsor Palace. The Archbishop of Canter¬ 
bury, with other peers and high functionaries 
of the kingdom, were In attendance. As Boon 
as the “scepter had departed," with tho last 
breath of the king, the Archbishop quitted 
Windsor Castle, and made his way, with all pos¬ 
sible speed, to Kingston Palace, the residence, 
at that time, of the Princess—already by the 
law of succession, Queen Victoria. Ha arrived 
long before daylight, annunoed himself, and re¬ 
quested an Immediate Interview with the Prin¬ 
cess. She hastily attired herself and met the 
venerable prelate in her ante-room. He In¬ 
formed her of the death of William, and form¬ 
ally announced to her that she was, in law and 
right, successor to the deceased monarch. 
“ The sovereignty of the most powerful nation 
at the feet of a glri of eighteen. Sho was <le. jure 
Queen of tho Anglo realm, in fact, on which the 
“sun never sets." 81)0 wa* deeply agitated at 
the formidable words, so fraught with bless fug 
or calamity, aud t he first words she was able to 
utter ware these“ 1 ask your prayers In my 
behalf." 
They kneeled together, and Victoria inaugu¬ 
rated her reign, like the young king of Israel in 
the olden time, by asking from the Highest, 
who ruleth in the kingdoms of men, “an un¬ 
derstanding heart to Judge so great a people, 
who could not be numbered nor counted for 
multitude." 
The sequel of her reign lias been worthy of 
such a beginning. Every throne in Europe has 
tottered since that day. Most of them have 
been for a time overturned. That of F.ngland 
was never so flrmlv seated in the loyalty and 
love of the people us at this hour. Queen Vic¬ 
toria enjoys personal Influence, too—the heart¬ 
felt homage paid her as a Christian woman— 
incomparably wider and greater than that of 
any monarch now reigning. 
-- 
THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCHES. 
The information contained ip the following 
statistics is rare und valuable. It shows the 
strength of the churches In America and under 
the control of Americans, for the your 1874: 
The Protestant Episcopal Church 1 as 8,040 
clergymen, 2,700 parishes, and 273,554 communi¬ 
cants- The Roman Catholic Church has 4,873 
priests, 4,731 churches, 1,002 cbupels and sta¬ 
tions, and 0,761,242 Catholic population. It has 
now one Cardinal. The Baptist Church has 043 
associations, 21,510 churches, 13,354 ordained 
ministers, and 1,761,171 members. Tho Church 
of the United Brethren has 3,0541 churches, 1,886 
ministers, and 131,805 members. The llniversat- 
ist Church lias 624 churches, 674 ministers, and 
30,006 members. The Congregational 1st Church 
has 3,404 churches, 3,278 ministers, and 330,301 
members. The returns of the annual confer¬ 
ences of the Methodist Episcopal Churcih In 
the United States show that there are now In 
'.bat church 10,654 traveling preachers, an in¬ 
crease of 283 over last year; 12,581 local preach¬ 
ers, an Increase of 320; 18,628 Sunday schools, 
with 200,484 teachers, and 1,363,876 scholars. 
The number of members is 1/103,622, an increase 
over last year of 00,404. The church property is 
valued at $00,238,815, an increase of nearly $13,- 
000,000 over tho value of property last year. 
The contributions to the Missionary Society 
were $611,054, a decrease of $60,006. 
--- 
MORAL GEMS. 
“A word fitly spoken, how good is it.”— 
Solomon. 
If God be God, serve him; if Baal be God, 
serve him. 
Contentment makes one happy and rich as 
the greatest king. 
Low as the grave is, only faith can climb high 
enough to see beyond it. 
Gon accept* man's hearty desire, and the will 
Instead of the deed, when they have not the 
power to fulfill it. 
Nothing positively good has appeared since 
the fall in any human being, but as arising from 
union with Christ. 
