The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-13 00:00:00

HELLER'S WONDERS.

"Music, Magic, and Mystery" have severally
formed the components of the three entertain-
ments given by Mr. Heller in the Corn Exchange
during the week. The attendance on Wednes-
day evening, although good, was far surpassed
by those on the Thuretlay and Friday, is hen the
room was thronged to excess in ecery part,
many ef those who had paid for hoot Seats
having ti make theintielves contented with
standing romn. This was undoubtedly due to
the fact that those who had witnessed the first
performauce had been h.ghly pleased therewith,
and by their glowing descriptions of it induced
others to come. And this can hardly be
wondered at, for Mr. kleller is without. doubt the
oleterest performer in his " line" of the age.
He net only does the chief trick a which Pro-
fessors Anderson, Frikell, BOSCO, Houdiu, and
others used to exhibit to wondering audiences,
but he wide to and waked them so much more
difficult that he may be said to create new ones
out of the old materials.* Nor does he confine
himself to the persons we have mentioned for
precedents; but lie laysludia,Citina, and Egypt
under contribution fur his "womiersi and flats
which rdngtish people can have only read about
with an inert:Elul...us smile are gone through
before their own eyes—only with this addition,
that they are performed under such circam•
stauces as to make them much more marvellous
than they bad been desci the& To demonstrate
the truth of Oils we may instance the Ilintloo
Joggl des ft iv of making a Mango tree grew out
of the sand to the height c f a foot in the course
of .20 minutes. Mr. Heller took n hat iron
aLittletuait 501014,8 L. the audience, sod atter
throwing a sniali quantity of sant a ii ssds
into it be turned it over mid in less 111.1.11 three
Ltilitites I.e prr nc d a tree from under it
euvi red with flow el s, which was cousidershl)
tier than the hat. Bit this was hut ail. He
this produtoli a large quantity of pears. a cauli•
dower—tha latter in obedience to a request of
sotue one at the back of the hall—and a Dutch
cheese, is hich sieined large enough of itself to
fill the hat. In like manner, his performance
with the silver rings was totally unlike that of
any others who have gone before him. With
these he went into the body of the hall and
parted and joined them together again literally
under the very noses of those present ; and su
slowly was this done that it was really marvellous
that could it not be detected. In fact, whether
catching invisible money in the air, killing and
then resuscitating genuine canaries by the pro-
cess of cooking them, making cards jump out of
a small tin box or gradually rise and then lower
themselves at the word of command, causing
: were to grow in his coat by the simple process
of placing a few seeds in the desired spot—he is
equally incomprehensible. Miss Haydee Heller,
too, his accomplished sister, is an invaluable
coadjutor in some of the most ditlicult feats.
Her spirit reading, living portraits, and box
tricks are some of the most astounding perform-
11:eefi that have ever been exhibited in this
town. Fur the benefit of those who were not
present we will ghe a short description of the
"living portraits" as the trick is so entirely
new to this neighbourhood that those who have
not seen it can form no conception of it. A
large easel or stand, such as is need to place the
black board upon at schools, is brought on to the
platform, and when the screen is removed from
the front it is disclosed to the audience having
a frame or box upon it about a yard iu length,
and a little more than half a yard Heroes the
front. This box is about four inches in depth,
and Mr. Heller taking up a series of portraits..
commencing with those of General Tom Thumb
and his wife—places them in a cavity for their
reception in the front, and upon uncovering
them discloses not a!one the portraits, but Miss
Heller's own features, and the latter lady sings
songs suitable to the various characters with
marvellous fidelity of mimicry. But the crown-
ing wonder to the audience is, what is done with
the other portions of her body—f. tr she is a lady
of goodly dimensions, being nearly six feet in
height—and it seems impossibe for that small
receptacle to contain a tithe portidu of her.
This aonderiti however increased when at length
what formed the backing of the pictures is
removed, and the interior is disclosed with the
bead and bust of NBB3 Heller herself. The box
trick, too, as performed by the same young lady
is equally astounding, and all who have seen
the entertainments will admit that the appella-
tion " Wonders," is the most appropriate desig-
nation that could have been given to a series of
the cleverest performances that have ever been
exhibited. When we add that Mr. Heller ie LO
exceedingly clever musician, as well as one who
keeps his audience in constant good humour Int
an easy flow of lively " patter," in the courts of
which he makes use of some excruciating punt,
we think we have said enough to show that biz
entertainment is as enjoyable as it is clever.