stardust

"Houdini, the Greatest Magician." (A popular entertainer in the past...)

The fact that everybody enjoys a good mystery explains why magicians are such popular entertainers. We all know that a magician does not really depend on "MAGIC" to perform his tricks, but rather, on his ability to act with great speed. However, this does not prevent us from enjoying a magician who can produce rabbits from a hat, swallow countless eggs or saw his wife in two.
Probably THE GREATEST MAGICIAN of all time was HARRY HOUDINI. He died in 1926. His real name was Ehrich Weiss, but he adopted the name "Houdini" after reading a book which influenced him greatly. The book was written by a famous magician called Robert Houdini. Houdini mastered the Art of Escaping. He could free himself from the tightest knots or the most complicated locks in just seconds. Although no one really knows how he did these things, there is no doubt that he had made a close study of every type of lock ever invented. Strapped to his leg, he carried a small needlelike tool made of steel, and it is believed that he used this tool in place of a key.
Houdini once asked the Chicago Police to lock him up in prison. They bound him in chains and locked him up, but he freed himself in an instant. The Police accused him of having used some kind of tool, and they locked him up again. This time he wore no clothes and there were chains around his neck, waist, wrists and legs; but he again escaped in a few minutes. The usual explanation is that Houdini had probably hidden his "needle" in a waxlike substance passageway. As he went past, then, he could have stepped on it so that it would stick to the bottom of his foot. Houdini´s Most Famous Escape, however, was altogether astonishing. He was heavily chained and enclosed in an empty wooden chest -the lid of which was nailed. The chest was then dropped into the water in New York Harbor. One minute later, Houdini returned to the surface. When the chest was brought up, it was opened and the chains were found inside.
Why are MAGICIANS such popular entertainers??...
This is another tale...

nomadicrhymer

They are so popular because they mystify us, doing tricks we feel are incomprehensible to us, and allowing us to bask in the fantasy for a moment that "magic" must be real!!

Nice story!

Nomad

stardust

Dear Nomad:
OH!! Thank you so much for stopping by and making your kind comments!! I just read your notification about getting another award. Wooowww!! I am so excited. My appreciation goes beyond words. I have just finished writing a reply to you, sweetheart. I am glad you like this story, but it is indeed a true story: "Houdini, the greatest magician of all times." Have you ever heard about him, dear??...Warm Regards, Starry.

nomadicrhymer

Hi Ms. Starry, Yes, I've heard of Houdini...wish I had been able to see him before he died, although it was probably before my time. It was David Copperfield who was so popular a few years ago, but now I'm not sure who is the No.1 magician.

Nomad

stardust

Thank you, Nomad for replying!! You are so very kind, sweetie. I like your comments, dear.
God bless!! Starry.