Tracy Career of Houdini, Famous Magician Both Unique and Inspiring
An editorial appreciation argues that Harry Houdini was a great magician above all because he admitted his feats were tricks and nothing more.
By M. E. Tracy Harry Houdini was a great magician, not only because he mystified people with tricks, but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks. but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks.
Few men could refrain from abusing such talents as he possessed, and as a matter of fact, few have refrained.
It took character to resist the temptations Houdini faced, as is proved by the fakes and impositions visited on a credulous world by magicians of far less ability.
Had he declared that his ability to escape from nailed-up packing cases, to be frozen in ice cakes and to break out of prison cells was due to the exercise, or intervention of some supernatural power, millions would have believed him.
With his knowledge of the mystifying art, his peculiar mental and physical powers, his personal charm and aptitude for winning the confidence of the people, he could easily have became the founder of a new sect, or the recognized leader of an old one.
He could have gone in for spiritualism and made himself the greatest medium of all time, or have stepped forth as an exponent of the occult and become a prophet.
The fact that he was content to live and die a mere entertainer, in spite of talents that have never been excelled, if, indeed they have ever been equaled, makes his career both unique and inspiring.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Yesterday's paper
October 31, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Evening Star, Douglas Daily Dispatch, The Daily Worker, Chicago Daily Tribune, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
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Today's paper
November 1, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Brownsville Herald, Evening Star, New Britain Herald, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, Seward Daily Gateway, and Phoenix Tribune.
You do.
Tracy Career of Houdini, Famous Magician Both Unique and Inspiring
An editorial appreciation argues that Harry Houdini was a great magician above all because he admitted his feats were tricks and nothing more.
By M. E. Tracy Harry Houdini was a great magician, not only because he mystified people with tricks, but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks. but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks.
Few men could refrain from abusing such talents as he possessed, and as a matter of fact, few have refrained.
It took character to resist the temptations Houdini faced, as is proved by the fakes and impositions visited on a credulous world by magicians of far less ability.
Had he declared that his ability to escape from nailed-up packing cases, to be frozen in ice cakes and to break out of prison cells was due to the exercise, or intervention of some supernatural power, millions would have believed him.
With his knowledge of the mystifying art, his peculiar mental and physical powers, his personal charm and aptitude for winning the confidence of the people, he could easily have became the founder of a new sect, or the recognized leader of an old one.
He could have gone in for spiritualism and made himself the greatest medium of all time, or have stepped forth as an exponent of the occult and become a prophet.
The fact that he was content to live and die a mere entertainer, in spite of talents that have never been excelled, if, indeed they have ever been equaled, makes his career both unique and inspiring.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Yesterday's paper
October 31, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Evening Star, Douglas Daily Dispatch, The Daily Worker, Chicago Daily Tribune, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
Today's paper
November 1, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Brownsville Herald, Evening Star, New Britain Herald, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, Seward Daily Gateway, and Phoenix Tribune.
You do.
Tracy Career of Houdini, Famous Magician Both Unique and Inspiring
An editorial appreciation argues that Harry Houdini was a great magician above all because he admitted his feats were tricks and nothing more.
By M. E. Tracy Harry Houdini was a great magician, not only because he mystified people with tricks, but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks. but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks.
Few men could refrain from abusing such talents as he possessed, and as a matter of fact, few have refrained.
It took character to resist the temptations Houdini faced, as is proved by the fakes and impositions visited on a credulous world by magicians of far less ability.
Had he declared that his ability to escape from nailed-up packing cases, to be frozen in ice cakes and to break out of prison cells was due to the exercise, or intervention of some supernatural power, millions would have believed him.
With his knowledge of the mystifying art, his peculiar mental and physical powers, his personal charm and aptitude for winning the confidence of the people, he could easily have became the founder of a new sect, or the recognized leader of an old one.
He could have gone in for spiritualism and made himself the greatest medium of all time, or have stepped forth as an exponent of the occult and become a prophet.
The fact that he was content to live and die a mere entertainer, in spite of talents that have never been excelled, if, indeed they have ever been equaled, makes his career both unique and inspiring.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Yesterday's paper
October 31, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Evening Star, Douglas Daily Dispatch, The Daily Worker, Chicago Daily Tribune, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
Today's paper
November 1, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Brownsville Herald, Evening Star, New Britain Herald, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, Seward Daily Gateway, and Phoenix Tribune.
You do.
Tracy Career of Houdini, Famous Magician Both Unique and Inspiring
An editorial appreciation argues that Harry Houdini was a great magician above all because he admitted his feats were tricks and nothing more.
By M. E. Tracy Harry Houdini was a great magician, not only because he mystified people with tricks, but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks. but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks.
Few men could refrain from abusing such talents as he possessed, and as a matter of fact, few have refrained.
It took character to resist the temptations Houdini faced, as is proved by the fakes and impositions visited on a credulous world by magicians of far less ability.
Had he declared that his ability to escape from nailed-up packing cases, to be frozen in ice cakes and to break out of prison cells was due to the exercise, or intervention of some supernatural power, millions would have believed him.
With his knowledge of the mystifying art, his peculiar mental and physical powers, his personal charm and aptitude for winning the confidence of the people, he could easily have became the founder of a new sect, or the recognized leader of an old one.
He could have gone in for spiritualism and made himself the greatest medium of all time, or have stepped forth as an exponent of the occult and become a prophet.
The fact that he was content to live and die a mere entertainer, in spite of talents that have never been excelled, if, indeed they have ever been equaled, makes his career both unique and inspiring.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Yesterday's paper
October 31, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Evening Star, Douglas Daily Dispatch, The Daily Worker, Chicago Daily Tribune, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
Today's paper
November 1, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Brownsville Herald, Evening Star, New Britain Herald, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, Seward Daily Gateway, and Phoenix Tribune.
You do.
Tracy Career of Houdini, Famous Magician Both Unique and Inspiring
An editorial appreciation argues that Harry Houdini was a great magician above all because he admitted his feats were tricks and nothing more.
By M. E. Tracy Harry Houdini was a great magician, not only because he mystified people with tricks, but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks. but because he had the honesty to admit that they were nothing more than tricks.
Few men could refrain from abusing such talents as he possessed, and as a matter of fact, few have refrained.
It took character to resist the temptations Houdini faced, as is proved by the fakes and impositions visited on a credulous world by magicians of far less ability.
Had he declared that his ability to escape from nailed-up packing cases, to be frozen in ice cakes and to break out of prison cells was due to the exercise, or intervention of some supernatural power, millions would have believed him.
With his knowledge of the mystifying art, his peculiar mental and physical powers, his personal charm and aptitude for winning the confidence of the people, he could easily have became the founder of a new sect, or the recognized leader of an old one.
He could have gone in for spiritualism and made himself the greatest medium of all time, or have stepped forth as an exponent of the occult and become a prophet.
The fact that he was content to live and die a mere entertainer, in spite of talents that have never been excelled, if, indeed they have ever been equaled, makes his career both unique and inspiring.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Reproduced unchanged from The Indianapolis Times, November 1, 1926, page 6.
This text reflects the language, attitudes and errors of its time. A Century Late publishes it as a historical document.
Text: read from the Library of Congress scan by A Century Late, within the article boundaries of American Stories (Dell et al., 2023), DOI 10.57967/hf/0757.
Yesterday's paper
October 31, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Evening Star, Douglas Daily Dispatch, The Daily Worker, Chicago Daily Tribune, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Receive the original news from the press of 100 years ago, daily, weekly or monthly. Subscribe by December 1, 2026 and get
20% off for life!
Today's paper
November 1, 1926. The original articles, with the text exactly as it appeared and scans of the original newspaper pages, from that day’s editions of the following publications:Brownsville Herald, Evening Star, New Britain Herald, The Indianapolis Times, Daily Kennebec Journal, Seward Daily Gateway, and Phoenix Tribune.