These fantastic evenings soon became popular. When the Revolution of 1848 ruined the majority of Parisian theater managers, Houdin simply locked the door of his hall, and retired to his little workshop to invent new tricks and automata. His loss was very slight, for he was under no great expense. When order was restored, he resumed thesoirées magiques. The newspapers rallied to his assistance and made playful allusions to his{134}being related to the family ofRobert le Diable. The leading illustrated journals sent artists to draw pictures of his stage. Houdin found time, amid all his labors, to edit a little paper which he calledCagliostro, full ofbon motsand pleasantries, to say nothing of cartoons. Copies of thispetit journal pour rirewere distributed among the spectators at each performance.As each theatrical season opened, Houdin had some new marvel to present to his audiences. His maxims were: “It is more difficult to support admiration than to excite it.” “The fashion an artist enjoys can only last as long as his talent daily increases.” Houdin had but few, if any, rivals in his day. His tricks were all new, or so improved as to appear new. He swept everything before him. When he went to London for a prolonged engagement, Anderson, the “Wizard of the North,” who was a great favorite with the public, retired into the Provinces with his antique repertoire. What had the English conjurer to offer alongside of such unique novelties as theSecond Sight,Aerial Suspension,Inexhaustible Bottle,Mysterious Portfolio,Crystal Cash Box,Shower of Gold,Light and Heavy Chest,Orange Tree,the Crystal Clock, and the automaton figuresAuriol and Debureau,the Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal, etc., etc.
These fantastic evenings soon became popular. When the Revolution of 1848 ruined the majority of Parisian theater managers, Houdin simply locked the door of his hall, and retired to his little workshop to invent new tricks and automata. His loss was very slight, for he was under no great expense. When order was restored, he resumed thesoirées magiques. The newspapers rallied to his assistance and made playful allusions to his{134}being related to the family ofRobert le Diable. The leading illustrated journals sent artists to draw pictures of his stage. Houdin found time, amid all his labors, to edit a little paper which he calledCagliostro, full ofbon motsand pleasantries, to say nothing of cartoons. Copies of thispetit journal pour rirewere distributed among the spectators at each performance.
As each theatrical season opened, Houdin had some new marvel to present to his audiences. His maxims were: “It is more difficult to support admiration than to excite it.” “The fashion an artist enjoys can only last as long as his talent daily increases.” Houdin had but few, if any, rivals in his day. His tricks were all new, or so improved as to appear new. He swept everything before him. When he went to London for a prolonged engagement, Anderson, the “Wizard of the North,” who was a great favorite with the public, retired into the Provinces with his antique repertoire. What had the English conjurer to offer alongside of such unique novelties as theSecond Sight,Aerial Suspension,Inexhaustible Bottle,Mysterious Portfolio,Crystal Cash Box,Shower of Gold,Light and Heavy Chest,Orange Tree,the Crystal Clock, and the automaton figuresAuriol and Debureau,the Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal, etc., etc.