Description: Book given to James Branch Cabell by Beatrice Houdini, from her collection.
The book was originally given by the author, Robert Green Ingersoll to his friend, John G. Mills on June 24, 1880. Harry Houdini acquired the book and added his bookplate opposite Ingersoll's inscription. James Branch Cabell wrote his name on the page above the inscription.
Robert "Bob" Ingersoll was a famous orator, nicknamed "The Great Agnostic." A friend of Walt Whitman, Ingersoll delivered the eulogy at Whitman's funeral. His inscription to Mills in this book is of special note as
Ingersoll's oration at Mills' funeral (April 15, 1883) was considered scandalous for declaring that Mills was not a Christian; "Humanity was his God."
Beatrice Houdini gave this to James Branch Cabell in exchange for his autograph on a copy of Cabell's
The Music From Behind the Moon: An Epitome. The letter from Beatrice Houdini requesting Cabell's autograph may be
found here.