HOUDINI THE SCIENTIST: DUEL OF THE MAGICIANS

       

    

Houdini used state-of-the-art optics to create illusions.                                                  (via hauntedamericatour.com)

In earlier posts, we've shown Harry's intense interest and sophistication in scientific and technical matters. He even took out a patent on a quick-release diving suit that he created for the U.S. Navy in World War I.

via jabberwock.org

In The Escape Artist, our upcoming historical novel based on Harry's tour of Russia in 1903, both his knowledge of optics and one of his true-life chemical experiments become part of our story. The fact-based fictional excerpt begins after the jump.

Here's the setup: Harry, in disguise, is watching a seance being conducted by a rival magician named Philippe. 

A seance for the nobility c. 1900                                                                                        (via Google Images)

The peace of the world hangs in the balance: Philippe is conducting this seance for Nicholas and Alexandra, the Emperor and Empress of Russia, and an audience of powerful officials. 

Nicholas and Alexandra are mad about the occult. The crafty Philippe is in reality a spy for the Germans. He is using their superstitious nature to further the aims of their enemies, his German spymasters. 

Philippe's disciple at work in his magical escritoire                                                                          (via omeganexusonline)

Philippe has conjured up a lifelike apparition of Nicholas' feared father, the late  Tsar Alexander. The apparition is seven feet tall (as was the real Alexander) and is floating in space above the crowd. 

Alexander III

As our scene opens, the ghost of the Tsar, in a booming voice, is calling for war!

          

“Our beloved Russia is a nation of warriors! God has designated us to battle the Antichrist here on earth! Our enemy is Japan! Our destiny is to destroy Japan! And there is one man whom God has designated to lead us to that victory. My son, our Friend, Philippe, will help you identify the man who must command our troops!"

Philippe, on that cue, handed a blackboard slate to Nicholas.

"Please examine it carefully, Your Majesty," he said in a soft voice.

"It is blank." He handed it back to Philippe. 

The magus took a chalk pencil and muttered apologetically, half to himself, “Let’s make sure this writes....” 

He scribbled all over the slate. Satisfied that the pencil worked, Philippe took a sponge, wet it in a bowl of water, and wiped the slate clean on both sides. He handed the slate back to Nicholas, who again inspected it and again pronounced it blank.

“Sit on it!” Alexander’s apparition commanded rudely, in a manner so intimidating and a voice so full of authority the entire audience had but one thought: No one but his father Alexander III could have said such a thing to Nicholas II. 

Obediently, Nicholas put the slate under his bottom.

“Right now, my son, it would be only possible for God Himself to write something on that slate, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, father,” Nicholas said timidly.

“Now, look at the slate again, and know the name of our future military commander, which God has written while the slate was under your … aegis.” 

Blushing somewhat, Nicholas II removed the slate from underneath himself. He found, boldly printed on it in white chalk, the name “Nikolasha.” The audience murmured in wonderment.

“Yes, God has ordained my brother Nikolasha, your uncle Nikolai, to command our military forces in Asia,” the Tsar boomed. “I have spoken!” With that, he began to dematerialize.

“NO!” Harry jumped up from his seat and bounded onto the dais. He tore off his wig, glasses and false beard, shouting: “I am Houdini! And I have not yet spoken!”

Harry Houdini in disguise                                                                (via appletonpubliclibrary.org)

The audience gasped.

“This entire séance has been a complete fraud! Your Imperial Majesty: I denounce Philippe as a fake -- an impostor!” 

The audience was flabbergasted. Grand Prince Sergei restrained the Abyssinian guards as the ghost of Tsar Alexander went bug-eyed halfway through his dematerialization. Harry made the terrifying image vanish instantly by merely waving his hand. Or that’s how it appeared, as he ripped a sheet of nearly invisible theatrical gauze from its imperceptible rigging of strong black thread. Opening a lantern, he drew back a heavy drape and threw light into a concealed pit between the altar and the audience. The light revealed a tall, stout, frightened red-haired actor from the Moscow Little Theater, made up and costumed as Alexander. He was lying on a slanted platform, lit by a powerful theatrical gas lamp – all invisible to the audience until now. 

Harry addressed the crowd in an authoritative voice. 

“Your Majesties, Your Serene Highnesses, Your Highnesses – we have all just witnessed ‘Pepper’s Ghost Illusion,’ named after Dr. John Henry Pepper of London,” he said. “The brightly-lit reflection aimed at this theatrical gauze threw his image into the air above the stage." 

The arrow is the audience's line of sight.                                                  (via hauntedhousemagazine.com)

"It really was a wonderful illusion,” Harry said with professional admiration, making a small, courtly bow in Philippe’s direction. Philippe stood mute....

The notorious Philippe                                                              (via lesquint.fr)

“As for the black slate upon which suddenly appeared the name of your future military commander – simplicity itself, combined with a knowledge of chemistry. When Your Majesty examined the slate at first it was, indeed, blank. Then, when Philippe scribbled on it, he used a special double pencil. One side was ordinary chalk. The other was dipped in silver nitrate.”   

Houdini picked up the double pencil and showed it to the audience. “As he scribbled he surreptitiously turned the pencil and printed the name ‘Nikolasha’ in silver nitrate, right under our noses. Bold. When he washed the slate clean, the chalk came off and the silver nitrate writing blended in with the black backing as long as the slate was wet. Then he asked Your Majesty to … handle the slate. The heat coming from Your Majesty’s own body dried the slate … and revealed the hidden writing. He has used Your Imperial Majesty’s own warmth to fool the Court. 

“Now,” Harry said dramatically, “Houdini has spoken.” He sat down. It was one of his greatest performances. There was no applause. The audience was stunned into dead silence, all eyes on the Tsar.

“The séance has ended,” Nicholas said at last. He got up and took the hand of his stricken-looking wife. Tears streamed down her face as both walked out of the chamber.  

Nicholas & Alexandra                                                     (via Retronaut)