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    Notices.] T HE LEADER. 749

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    * Tlio profound noorcay and JoiiIoiih pr...

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    in which skill is needed can be earnestl...

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    * Ijotwooii Tliw Kovornor, Tmuut Uolziv,...

    trians in Match , 1848 , as well as the ; register , * also discovered there , of the spies of the Imperial pay in Central and Southern Italy , sufficiently prove that there had " been no remissness in carrying out his precepts . At that early stage of the Italian move .-ment , however , when the spirit of unity , lcyralty , and forbearance , inculcated by the admirable Piedmontese school of reformers , still held the ascendancy , and Mazzini appeared forgotten , these intrigues were ineffectual in eivihor an appearanc of anai-chy

    or discord to the pacific revolution which claimed Pius IX . as its originator . Lamenting tliat his closing years would not be passed in peace , since such an anomaly as a liberal Pope had come into the world , Metternich , while he predicted that , ere a twelvemonth had elapsed , the Court of Koine would be forced to apply to him for assistance , was compelled to await the gradual ripening of his machinations , and remain an apparently passive spectator of changes subversive of all the ^ labours and principles of his life . '

    Charles Albert was ready to abet the Pontiff's attempts , at reform . But the King of Naples opposed the introduction of liberal measures in his dominions , and Austria adopted precautions to stifle every tendency of the sort in L . ombardy . England excited hopes , too , which she failed to support , and rendered herself liable to the reproach of having bitterly deceived the Italians . The FVfvnr : li Revolution of 1848 must be left to tell its

    own tale .. How Charles Albert and his army entered Lombardy , in the interest of the war of Italian independence ; but how at length Radetzki redeemed the fortunes of Austria , and how the Pope In his famous Kncyclical letter disavowed any adhesion to the popular cause ; what chanced in those fatal fields of Custoza and Novara , and how the stars fought against the right ; these things are all distinctly recorded in the volume before us . In the last battle : —

    " Charles Albert had sought in vain for a soldier ' s grave . Conspicuous by his tall figure and undaunted bearing wherever danger most abounded , he was at length forced by his attendants from the field . ' Let me die , ' he is said to have exclaimed'this is my last clay I' A council was hastily summoned , and as the demoralised condition of the troops precluded all possibility of bringing them again to face the enemy , an armistice was demanded .

    Radetzki ' s arrogant conditions wei'eat once pronounced inadmissible . Then it was , that , believing personal animosity towards himself had a share in the conqueror ' s severity , the King resolved to abdicate in favour of his eldest son , the Duke of Savoy , now Victor Emmanuel If . Embracing him in the midst of his assembled officers , sorrowing andawc-stricken while he alone was unmoved , he presented him to them ns their King ; after which , dismissing' the council , he remained for a short time alone witli his

    sons . ' No intrusive chronicler has pried into that last interview , no moral anatomist has laid bare the sufferings of that mysterious heart in renouncing all its dreams of glory and ambition . Charles Albert was seen by the world no more . Without returning to Turin , or seeking to bid any other members of his family farewell , he set out that same night with a single attendant for Oporto , whero , enveloping himself in the strictest seclusion , discouraging all communication with Piedmont , and given up to practices of austerity and de votion , he died after three months , of that most incurable of all diseases— a broken heart . "

    Here we shall close tho story . How Victor Emmanuel took up tho cause in which his father was wrecked ; what he did with it ; what ho is now doing with it ; what the support ho lias gained towards prosecuting the great trial , of liberty tijjainst ( lespotmn ^—those arc the topics of the present hour . To understand them rightly-this volume of Mr . Crretton ' s will bo a " valuable help . It should be road by every Englishman .

    Notices.] T He Leader. 749

    Notices . ] T HE LEADER . 749

    * Tlio Profound Noorcay And Joiiioiih Pr...

    * Tlio profound noorcay and JoiiIoiih precautions in which compnotH of UiiH nuturu woro iil ' wuyri Hhrouchtd , ron < lorcd It tixtroiiii- 'lv ( Hffluiilt to soouro tiioiilpntory dooumomtK . In addition to titling bound under thu mivur-cAt nonultlett not to Uivulffo their connection with t ) i « Clovorninont , the loioor ( jrndc « qf'tlta Initiated wuru wot « vou fportfonnlly known to euoh ot . licr i and liiH ( imciJfc ) wore not unlVoquont of sjiIoh , thrown Into tliu tuuna ooinpitny at u tnvifni or cafo , who iinwtcmocl to dunounou ouch otliur to tlio police l ' ortlio rovplutlouury nonunion I h they lind reciprocally boon nrofvirrlng to dnuv out tlio opInloJJH of tlio byatuuduru I

    In Which Skill Is Needed Can Be Earnestl...

    in which skill is needed can be earnestly pursued without elevating the individual . M . Kobert-Houdin , there can be no doubt , became a better man by turning conjuror than if he had remained only a watchmaker . The contrary opinion would naturally be the one generally current ; but the truth is , on the evidence of the book before us , what we have stated . The solution of the problem , if there be one in the mind of the intelligent reader , lies in the one fact of spontaneity . M . Ilobert-IToudin worked out for himself a sphere of spontaneous effort , in which every step gained was the development of a power or principle , app licable certainly to the matter in hand , and , probably , like all laws , to others likewise .

    - » « - i ¦* T > TT" " 1 * : — 1- - .- » A . Ul A ^/ i XJi . i M . Robert-Houdin was born at Bloi . « . His father ' s talents were con fined to a single art , that of watchmaking , and therewith he was content ; though nature" had adapted him for various branches of mechanics , and the activity of his mind led him to try them all with equal ardour . " An excellent engra ver ( proceeds the autobiographer ) , a jeweller of the greatest taste , he at the same time could curve the arm or leg for some fractured statuette , restore the enamel on any time-worn porcelain , or even repair musical snuff-boxes , which were very fashionable in those days . The skill he evinced in these varied arts at length procured him a most numerous body of customers ; bat , unfortunately , he was wont to make any repairs not strictly connected with his own business for the mere pleasure .

    der it easy for an artist to attend to several things simultaneously . The juggler throwing four balls into the air that cross each other , is an instance . A corn-cutter at Blois who could do this feat became his teacher ; and master Robert thus rendered Tiis hands supple and docile , and became , beforelong , expert In the manipulation of cards , and palmistry . In these , arts lie improved under M . Norict , a sculptor at Tours , as well as watchmaker , ami was . accustomed- to amuse his friends with his dexterity . rJufc unluckily from eating of a ragout niude in x stewpan in which had formed a powerful layer of verdigris , he suffered severely by poison . Delirium ¦ ensued , in the height of which he eloped from the house , and while tlie vehicle was progressing , under the influence of intolerable fever * he leaped

    into the road , at the imminent risk of his life ., lift was picked up by the proprietor of a conjuring van , by whom lie was carefully provided for , and to whom he was indebted for his regular induction ¦ into the art and mystery of public deception . Torrini ' ( for such was the showman ' s name , ) related to him the story of his most romantic life . To help this man at ' hi 3 extreme need , M . Robert made an exhibition of the-master ' s tricks , and was successful . We next find the wanderer returning to his parents , and soon afterwards marrying Mademoiselle Houdin , from which . circumstance he derives the surname ( llobert-Houdin , ) setting up in earnestness the business of * juggler . About this time , the term for his profession of prestidigitateur came into vogue . The following is the account o'l ' its origin : —

    "I had noticed , while passing along the Rue Ilic-nelieu , a modest little shop , in front of which conjuring apparatus was exposed for sale . This was a piece of good luck , so I bought some of the things , and while paying repeated visits to the master of the shop , under pretext of asking information * I got into his good graces , and he grew to look on me as a friend . "Father Roujol ( such was his name ) was perfectly acquainted with his trade , arid he held the confidence of every conjuror of note- ; hence , he could give me much valuable information , so I became more polite than ever , nu ' cl the worthy mau soon initiated me into all his mysteries . But my repeated visits to the shop had another object as well , for 1 wished to meet some of-the masters of the art why could increase my knowledge .

    " Unfortunately , my old friend ' s shop was not so visited as before . Tlie revolution of 1830 had turned persons' ideas to more serious matters than ' physical amusements , ' and the greater number oi conjurors had wandered into strange countries . Old Roujol ' s good times had , therefore , passed away , which rendered him very gloomy . " < Things arc not as they used to bo , ' he would say , ' and it might really be fancied the jugglers had juggled themselves away , for Ildon ' tsce a single one . Will the time ever return , ' added , ? when the Due de M did not disdain to visit my humblo shop , and remain here for hours talking to me and my numerous visitors ? Ah , that was a time ; when all the-first conjurors and amateurs formed a

    brilliant club here ; for each of these masters , desirous of proving his superiority over the others , showed his best tricks and his utmost skill . ' , ^ "I felt tho old gentleman ' s regret equally witn himself , for I should have revelled in such society , as I would have walked any time twenty leagues tor the sake of talking with a professor . Still , I had tho luck to form here the acquaintance of Jules do Kovero , tho first to employ «¦ tlt } now Ronerully given to fashionable conjurors . Being of noble birth , lie desired a title in accordance with it ; but , an hv had rejected with disdain tho vulgar nuino of rsaimoteur and as , too , thatof ji / ij / sicicn was fVequejilly used by his rivals , ho was compelled to emito a title lur himself . .. niwniniiiTA

    " One day the pompous title of ' 1 ' - TKim ' was visible on un enormous poster , which also condescended to simply the d eri vation ot till * breath-stopping word , presto dujttt ( notIvity ut tho flfitforfl ) . Then cninc * tho detail * ot tho portornmnce , intermingled with Latin quotation ^ winch must n ! tmot " lie attention oflho public by evidencingthe learning of the conjuror—1 bog pardon , prcstidigi-^ This word , as well as prestidig itation , duo to tho Hiinio author , wcro noon seized upon by Jules do Kovirc ' B rlvalH , who liked a good mouthful too . Tho Academy itself followed this example by sanctioning tho formation of th « word , and thus hundhiK it down to posterity . I am bound to add , though , that , this word , orlghiully so pompous , Is uo longer » distinction , for . an tho moot humblo jugglors wore nt

    liberty to appreciate it , it follows that conjuring anu prestidigitation have become synonymous . 1 ho conjuror who requires a title should fleck it in him

    " In this house , which I may almost term artistic , and in the midst of tools and implements in which I was destined to take so lively an interest , I was born and educated , t possess . an excellent memory ; still , though my reminiscences date back so far , I cannot remember the day of my birth . I -have learned since , however , that it was the 6 th of December , 1805 . I am inclined to believe that ; I came into the world with a file-or a hammer in my hand , for , from my--earliest youth , those / . . implements were my . toys and delight : I learned how to use them and talk

    as other children learn to walk . I need not say that my excellent mother had frequently to wipe away the young mechanic ' s tears when the hammer , badly directed , struck my fingers . As for my father , lie laughed- at these slight accidents , and said , jokingly , that it was a capital way of driving my profession into me , and that , as I was a wonderful lad , I could not but become an extraordinary workman . I do not pretend that I ever realised the ¦ paternal predictions , but it is certain that I have ever felt an irresistible inclination for

    mechanism . " How often , in my infantile dreams , did a benevolent fairy open before me the door of a mysterious El Dorado , where tools of . ' every description were piled up . The delight which these dreams produced on me were tho same as any other child feels when his fancy summons up before him a fantastic country where the houses are made of chocolate , the stones of sugar-candy , aud tho men of gingerbread . It is difficult to understand this fever for tools ; the mechanic , tho artist , adores thorn , and would ruin himself to obtain them . Tools , in . fact , are to him what a MS . is to the archaeologist , a coin to the antiquary , or a pack of cards to a gambler : in a word , they are the implements by which a ruling passion is fed . "

    Here is the secret ;—nature ' s : it was the geniality of the artist for tho self-clioscu occupation . The self-developing youth was seat to college at Orleans ; but it was soon found that he preferred mechanics to letters . On quitting the college , lie bceamo acquainted with a charlatan , whom he names Dr . Carlosbach , the Anglo-Francisco-Gcrmanic mountebank , whose example inspired him with a desire for tho trade of mystification . Apiece of mechanism sent to . his father ' s to bo repaired further increased tho desire . Hut it was not yot that it was destined to bo gratified . Ho had yot to undergo a stale of transition , « s an attorney ' s clerk , whore an aviary-ea ^ o in the office exorcised his ingenuity , and lud to his dismissal , not before , however , his employer had had an interview " with his father , who then consented to young Robert following tho paternal trade .

    At K MO IRS OF KOHKRT-llOUDrX , Ainbnssndor , Author , nnd Conjuror . AVrlttun liy himself . Copyright Edition . In 2 voIb . —Chnpnuui niul Hull . Thbsis memoirs will probably load to a bettor appreciation of tho modern wizard ' s art than otherwise would gonornlly prevail . Their philosophical value ia considerable Th oy provo that nopurposo

    Soon ' afterwards tho narrative takes a most romantic turn . A book accidentally falls in his way entitled " Scientific AmusoineiitH , " the tricks in which he aoon learned by roto . But still lie wanted a professor to instruct him ; and ho had , therefore , to create tho principles of tho science ho wished to study . He saw , however , that , by practice , it would bo possible to produoo a certainty of perception and facility of touch , that would ron-

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1859, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18061859/page/17/