FOOTNOTES:

[A] It will be remembered that in those days French towns were lighted by a lamp suspended in the centre of the highway from a cord attached to two poles.—(Ed.)

[B] After Vaucanson’s death, his works were dispersed and lost, with the exception of the duck, which, after remaining for a long time in a garret at Berlin, saw light again in 1840, and was purchased by a M. George Tiets, who spent four years in repairing it.

[C] The automaton chess-player always used the left hand—a defect falsely attributed to the carelessness of the constructor.

[D] Since this period Bosco has changed his stage decorations: his cloths have altered their colors, his candles are shorter, but the death’s-head, the ball, the costume, and the tricks, have ever remained the same.

[E] This slight incident did not prevent the jury granting me a silver medal for my automata. Eleven years later, at the Universal Exhibition of 1855, I received a medal of the first class for new applications of electricity to mechanism.

[F] It is possible that M. Robert-Houdin intends to take this revenge, owing to the unfair way in which he was treated during his professional career. In 1850, a man who had been seven years in his service, and in whom he placed entire confidence, allowed himself to be seduced by the brilliant offers an amateur made him, and sold the secret of some of his Master’s tricks at a high price. Justice was appealed to and stopped this disgraceful traffic: the seller was awarded two years’ imprisonment, but the buyer could not be touched, and thus many of M. Houdin’s tricks passed into strange hands.

[G] 1677, first edition, page 41, and second edition, 1680, pp. 24, 147, 252.

Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:

  1. Robert-Houdin, sa vie, ses œuvres, son théätre=> Robert-Houdin, sa vie, ses œuvres, son théâtre {pg 5}
  2. prestidigitatuer=> prestidigitateur {pg 9 & 136}
  3. recal my reminiscences=> recall my reminiscences {pg 55}
  4. my suprise was increased=> my surprise was increased {pg 56}
  5. A day had elasped=> A day had elapsed {pg 57}
  6. supported by trestels=> supported by trestles {pg 61}
  7. same degree of skill=> some degree of skill {pg 66}
  8. so much petulence=> so much petulance {pg 80}
  9. a jury should decided=> a jury should decide {pg 84}
  10. had concealed for any unforseen=> had concealed for any unforeseen {pg 90}
  11. I was enenchanted=> I was enchanted {pg 93}
  12. One repesentation the less=> One representation the less {pg 94}
  13. celebrated Bréguet=> celebrated Brèguet {pg 106}
  14. for the occassion> for the occasion {pg 108}
  15. prove its superority=> prove its superiority {pg 109}
  16. my experiperiment=> my experiment {pg 111}
  17. A brass motar=> A brass mortar {pg 111}
  18. Do yo not recognize Antonio Torrini=> Do you not recognize Antonio Torrini {pg 118}
  19. The only precaution neccessary=> The only precaution necessary {pg 129}
  20. her mornful handmaids=> her mournful handmaids {pg 131}
  21. contented himsely with=> contented himself with {pg 141}
  22. occassion=> occasion {pg 146 & 264}
  23. In fact, the the=> In fact, the {pg 147}
  24. there was the ball-headed gentlemen=> there was the ball-headed gentleman {pg 147}
  25. such a talened sorcerer=> such a talented sorcerer {pg 147}
  26. In it will he found=> In it will be found {pg 158}
  27. convalesence=> convalescence {pg 163}
  28. the brilliancy of their dèbut=> the brilliancy of their début {pg 166}
  29. to enable to enable=> to enable {pg 167}
  30. this flatttering explanation=> this flattering explanation {pg 169}
  31. I have forgotton=> I have forgotten {pg 173}
  32. I was quite annihileted=> I was quite annihilated {pg 174}
  33. playing ècartè=> playing écarté {pg 219}
  34. on a table two sugar-loves=> on a table two sugar-loaves {pg 229}
  35. sextett=> sextet {pg 242}
  36. the next day we sucseeded=> the next day we suceeded {pg 256}
  37. I know not how your will interpret=> I know not how you will interpret {pg 259}
  38. was to elaspe between=> was to elapse between {pg 265}
  39. had elasped since the curtain=> had elapsed since the curtain {pg 266}
  40. an affair of one hundred thousand france=> an affair of one hundred thousand francs {pg 274}
  41. I had sarcely uttered the words=> I had scarcely uttered the words {pg 296}
  42. I should like too see=> I should like too see {pg 306}
  43. During this conversatian=> During this conversation {pg 342}
  44. the the other six months=> the other six months {pg 344}
  45. be scarely held in both hands=> be scarcely held in both hands {pg 356}
  46. the incarnation of opitimism=> the incarnation of optimism {pg 360}
  47. “Yes, gentlemen, yes; you can go in,” Gènet replied=> “Yes, gentlemen, yes; you can go in,” Génet replied {pg 362}
  48. Your are mistaken=> You are mistaken {pg 383}
  49. weaker than a women=> weaker than a woman {pg 384}
  50. than the once preceding it=> than the ones preceding it {pg 387}
  51. surrouuded the man=> surrounded the man {pg 389}
  52. with great affiability=> with great affability {pg 399}
  53. the ground strown with magnificent Turkey carpets=> the ground strewn with magnificent Turkey carpets {pg 403}
  54. The came other dishes=> Then came other dishes {pg 406}
  55. leaving the audience under the impression had I produced=> leaving the audience under the impression I had produced {pg 412}
  56. for its serves=> for it serves {pg 418}
  57. Auriol and Dubereau=> Auriol and Debureau {index}
  58. Dubureau, Houdin’s automaton clown, 179.=> Debureau, Houdin’s automaton clown, 179. {index}