The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-18
Academy of Music.


Hermann the celebrated prestidgitateur slight of
hand performer gave his FIRST soiree the Academy of
Music, on Monday evening, under the management of
Mcssrs. Ullman Palmer The Academy orchestra led
by Ihco. Thomas, assisted. The Academy crowded
TO overlowsng with an audience such does
there during regular opera season. but every class and
condition Of mon and women-cxqustes actors divnes
artisans bellies, all jumbled together in brilliant
and appreciativc mass, Not Piccolomini or Patti
ever ammed the house completely and so far as the
receipts were concerned the occasion entire
cess Nor was less in regard to the orchestral part of
the programme, which was most excelenty performed,
ana consisted OF miniature inerpolaed between
the two parts Ot Mr. Herrmann's soirec.
Oh what Mr. Hermann did, it is very difficult to write
Without ovefpraisng him. The applause Of the audience
is the best criticism upon such a performance and
with that criticism Mr., Hermann has cause to
have been fairly sureited with magcans every sort
from the poysylabc Anderson to the ireeaer of the
Bowery. They accustomed too to look only at re-
SUITS and provided the fea.s themselves DO
grand they care very little how and with
what ma hncry, they are performed. That Mr..
circumstances is not a little singular and very much
TO his credit; for, in the FIRST place, the substance
OF most OF his eas last evening" had seen before by
most of his audience and, next he differs from all other
magicians so called, more In the than in the
matter OF his tricks IL would be saying too much to
seit mat ne uses no machinery whatever but he certain
" has no parapharnaa, performs his feats upon
an entirely clear stage or among the audience, and
what little nachnery-of boxes, bottles, &c-lo
uses he places entirely in the hands OF the
audience ana they become, unwtngy his confederates
III the tricks. For instance, other wizards have brought
globes fcd with gold fish from under empty cloths but
Hermann comes down among the audience brings out
globe after globe before their very and cannot be
detected Other wizards have been fired at and escaped
unhurt, but Hermann allows the audience to examine
fn az his heart md VA, cSc ,hs balls " lend the pistol
plate held before him. Apparently there be de.
cepon about tat, nor in the hat which he borrows from
aspectator, from which he brings forth stage full Il
feathers, fans, balls and cups; which he changes into
baby which ho burns before the OF astonished
owner and finally restores from the ceiling uninjured
Two watches and a pigeon thrown out at
the door, and found the next moment in
bottle, which has been all the while upon stage Two
rabbits are rolled into Rings fred from a pistol
and reaprcar suspended from turtle doves In short nil
the greatest tricks of modern stage magic are performed
without appalca machinery without accessories by
mere manual dextority, every opportunity, seemingly
being given to the spectators detect the manner of the
deusions. As sleigh Of hand performer Mr. Hermann
IS certainly unequaled by any who have visited New
York, or Of whose skill we have heard His most
simple receptions most wonderful and he sent homo
bis audience on Monday evening" after fine display of
ventroquism in state Of great doubt as TO Their own
Senses and Of bewderment to whether Mr. Hermann
was mere man, Aephstophel,s Caligstro again
roviyined.