EXERCISE 3 Preview and then read the passage. A. Write your starting time New York City A photograph shows Ehrich Weiss at the age of 13 when he was a messen boy department store in New York. He good-looking boy with a ready smile. At this age, he already seems to know how to get people's with and on East 69th When he was father became ill and unable to work. Ehrich Street. 16, Ehrich his brothers worked long hours at any job they could find. From the department st moved to a necktie factory mu free At the factory, Ehrich worked nine or ten hours a day. That did not leave him and time, but he made good every minute. joined the Pastime Athletic competed in swimming and running, Another photograph this period who would athletic medals pinned to his running shirt. He is clearly very proud, a young man accept anything but first place his brothers, Most of his free time, however, was spent practicing magic tric the he learned how to do a few tricks and taught them to Ehrich. more tricks made friends who was learned tricks through and practiced together whenever they could. Ehrich also found out about magic in those He often stopped to look through the used books that were sold on the streets he had days. In fact, throughout his life, he loved books and reading. At the time of his death, an enormous collection of books on magic. Robert-Ho Until now One day he found a book that changed his life-The Mem of Robert-Houdin, Ehrich had never thought of magic as a possible profession. In this book, wealth and fame as French magician, told the story of how he had started out poor and gained convinced Jacob a magician. Soon after reading this book, Ehrich left the necktie factory and to leave too. They, too, would become famous magicians. of the Frenchman, Ehrich decided But first they needed a good stage name. In memo first to call himself Houdini. The extra letter at the end made it sound better in English. For a name, he took the nickname his friends used for him-Ehrie and changed it to Harry also then on, he was Harry Houdini. He and Jacob Hyman became the Brothers Houdini. He copied Robert-Houdin's costume--a formal jacket and white shirt the long magician's robe that had been popular before. As an intelligent Why did he give up his job and risk everything to become a career the stage and ambitious young man, Ehrich wanted to make something of his life. A were closed was one way he could escape from poverty As a Jew at that time, many professioas of his to him. A career in business might have been possible, or even in medicine (like one family brothers), but it would not have been easy. He had had to leave school early, and his unable to help him get started. careers. He was a born showman case, Ehrich/Harry was not interested in those he more powerful. He who loved an audience. Furthermore, on stage as a magician, he wanted. On stage he was the one in control, who could make people believe whatever since he was quite short-only stood above the audience physically. This was important to him himself seem taller 5 4" (62 cm). All his life, he stood very straight and tried to make B. Write your finishing time Then turn the page and answer the questions Harry Houdini: The Life of an Escape Artist