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Leader (1850-1860), 18th June 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 749, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      trians in March , 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 movement , however , when the spirit of unity , loyalty , and forbearance ,, inculcated by the admirable Pied ^ - montese school of reformers , still held the ascendancy , and Mazzini appeared forgotten , these intrigues were ineffectual in eriving an appearanc of anarchy

      or discord to the pacific revolution which claimed Pius IX . as its originator . Lamenting that 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 Home 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 Lombardy . England excited hopes , too , which she failed to support , and rendered herself liable to the reproach of having bitterly deceived the Italians . The French Revolutio ' n of 1848 must be left to tell its

      own tale . How Charles Albert and Ins army entered Lombardy , in the interest of the war of Italian independence ; but . how at length Iladetzki redeemed the fortunes of Austria , and how the Pope in his famous Encyclical 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 . ' X , et me die , ' he is said to have exclaimed' this is my Jast day ! ' 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 were at 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 II . Embracing him in the midst of his assembled officers , sorrowing and awe-stricken while he alone was unmoved , he presented him to them as their King ; after which , dismissing the council , he i-cmaincd for a short time alone with 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 glor } ' and ambition . Charles Albert was seen by the world no more . Without returning to Turin , or scekiug to bid any other members of his family farewell , lie set out that same nig ht with a single attendant for Oporto , whore , enveloping himself in the strictest seclusion , discouraging all communication with Piedmont , and given up to practices of uusterity and devotion , he died after three months , of that most incurable of all diseases— a broken heart . "

      Here we shall close the story- How Victor ^ Emmanuel took up the eaupp in which his father was " wrecked ; what lie did with it ; what lie is now doing with it ; what the support lie lias gained towards prosecuting the great trial of liberty against despotism ;—these are the topics of the present hour . To undei'sciind them rightly this volume of Mr . Grotton ' s will bo a valuable help . It should be read by wary Englishman .

      Untitled Article

      MEMOIRS OF nOHKRT-HOUDIN , Ambassador , Author , nnd Conjuror . Wilton by himself . Copyright Kdition . In ii volij . —Chnpuwm nnd Hull . Thbsh memoirs will probably lead to a better appreciation of tlio modern wizard ' s arfc than otherwise would generally prevail . Their philosophical value is considerable . Th oy prove that no purpose

      der it easy for an artist to attend to several things simultaneously . The juggler throwing four ballsinto the air that cross each o . ther , is an instance , A corn-cutter at Blois who could do this feat became his teacher ; and master Robert thus rendered his hah ; ls supple and docile , and became , before long , expert in the manipulation of cards , and palmistry . In these arts he improved under M . Noriet , a sculptor at Tours , as well as watchmaker , and was accustomed to amuse his friends with his dexterity . But unluckily from eating of a ragout made in -a , stewpan in which had formed a powerful layer oi , ' verdigris , he suffered severely by poison . Delirium ensued , in the height of which he eloped from the house , and while the vehicle was progressing , under the influence of intolerable fever , lie leaped

      into the road , at the imminent risk of his life . lie was picked up by the proprietor of a conjuring van ,, by whom he was carefully provided . for , and to whom lie 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 his 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 Iloudin ,. from which circumstance he derives the surname ( Robert-Houdin , ) setting up in earnestness the business of juggler . About this time , ' the term for his . profession ofprestidig itateur came into vogue . The following is the account oi "

      its origin : — "I had noticed , while passing along the Hue Richelieu , a modest little shop , in front of Which conjuring apparatus was exposed for sale . This was apiece 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 , arid he grew to look 011 me as a friend . " Father Roujol ( such was his name ) was perfectly acquainted with his trade , and he held the confidence of every conjuror of note ; hence , he could give me much valuable information , so I became more polite than ever , and the worthy man soon initiated me into all his mysteriqs . But my repeated visits to the shop had another object as well , for 1 wished to meet some of the masters of the art who could increase my knowledge .

      in which skill is . needed can be earnestly pursued without elevating the individual . M . Robert-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 he one in the mind of the intelligent reader , lies in the one fact of spontaneity . M . Robert-IIoudin worked out for himself a sphere of spontaneous effort , in which every step gained was the development of a power or principle , 'applicable certainly to the matter in hand , and , probably , like all laws , to others likewise .

      ¦ M . Robert-Houdin was born at Blois . His father ' s talents were confined 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 carve 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 ; but , unfortunately ., he was wont to make any repairs not strictly ' connected with Ids own business for the mere pleasure .

      " 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 . I 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 , 180 ") . 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

      as other children learn to walk and talk . 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 , he 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 ia certain that I have ever felt an irresistible inclination for

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

      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 the same as any other child feels when his fancy summons up before him a fantastic country where tho houses are made of chocolate , the stones of sugar-candy , and the men of gingerbread . It is difficult to understand this fever for tools ; the mechanic , the artist , adores them , 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 , thoy are the implements by which a ruling passion is fed . "

      all the first conjurors and a - liant club here ; for-each of these masters , desirous of proving his superiorly over the others , . showed his best tricks and his utmost skill . ' " I felt the old gentleman ' s regret oqunlly with himself , for I should have ru veiled in such society , as I would have walked any time twenty leagues for the sake of talking with a professor . Still , 1 had the luck to form here tho acquaintance of Jules do Hovere , the first to employ a title now generally given to fashionable conjurors . Being of noble birth , lie desired a title in accordance with it ; but , a « ho had rejected with disdain the vulgar naino ut ' escamoteur and as , too , thatof physician was frequently usoU by his rivals , ho was compelled to cweato a title lur

      Here is the secret ;—nature ' s : it was the geniality of the artist for the self-chosen occupation . The self-developing youth was sent to college at Orleans ; but it was soon found that he preferred mechanics to letters . On quitting the college , he became acquainted with a charlatan , whom he names Dr . Carlosbach , the Anglo-Francisco-Gevmanic mountebank , whose example inspired him with a desire for the trade of mystification . Apiece of mechanism sent to his father ' s to ho repaired further increased tlie desire . But it was not yet that it was destined to bo gratified . Ho had yet to undergo a state of transition , as an attorney's clerk , where an aviary-cage in the office exercised his ingenuity , and led to his dismissal , not before , howover , his employer had had an interview with his father , who then consented to young Robert following tho paternal trade .

      himself . "One day the pompous title of ' l ' uKSTiPimr . t , - tkuji ' was visible on an cnormoiin poster , wli eli also condescended to supply tho deviraium oi th \ a breath-stopping word , presto d , ytU ( activity of tho fingers ) . Then came the details ot tho portonnunce , intermingled with -Latin quotations , which must attract the attention of the public by evidencing the learning of the conjuror—1 bog pardon , prcstidigi" ' " tItib word , as well as jtrostidiijitatiun , duo to the « amo author , were soon , seized upon by JuIob do liovdrc ' s rival * , who liked a good mouthful too . Tho Academy itself followed this example by sanctioning tho formation of tho word , and thus handing itdown to posterity . I am bound to add , though , that this word , orlglnully so pompous , is no longur u distinction , for , as the most humble jugglers wore at liberty to appreciate it , it follows that conjuring and wrest idigitution have become synonymous . Hj « conjuior who requires ft title should eook it in hi *

      Soon afterwards the narrative takes a most romantic turn . A book accidentally fhlls in his way entitled " Scientific Amusements , the tricks in which he soon learned by rote . But still he wanted a professor to instruct him ; and ho hud , therefore , to create tho principles of tho science ho wished to study . Ho saw , however , that , by practice , it Would bo possible to produce a certainty <•/ perception nnd facility of touch , that would ren-

      Untitled Article

      * TI 10 profound sooroHy and Joiuouh pruoautlontt ip which compiuita of thin nature won- always HhroiuUxl , ruudorou . U uxtruiiiuly dtlumilt . to nOmiru Inqulpntory doournontH . In addition Uibolntf bound under tho ncvmmt pontiltk >» not to dlvulu-o thfir coniuH'tlon with tlm Government , tlio louwr U radix a / 1 tho inltUilfd wore not uvon [ pci'HOiiu . lly known to each other : nnd limlauuua wore not uiuroqiKint ol spies , thrown into Uionnmo company at 11 tavern or cuJo , who hnutcnod to rionouiiou ouch other to tho police lor th <| revolutionary Hontlmfiittt thoy h « d rociprooaliy boon prolonging to druw out tho oplulonii of the byfltnnders I

      Untitled Article

      Notices . ] THE LEADER , 7 * 9

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1859, page 749, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2299/page/17/