Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-03
HELLER EXCLAIMED.


the article, believing that it will prove in
teresting to most if not all of our readers:
SECOND sGeHT-AN EXPOSE OF Mr.. HELLER's
GREAT FEAT.
Editors Missouri Democrat;
Robert Heller is nightly astonishing hun
dreds of our citizens who are anxious to pay
for the privilege Of being deceived. The
Rrstifed visages of his audience prove the
truth of the old couplet:
The pleasure is as great
In being cheated as to cheat"
In most Of his tricks the spectators know
their senses are deceived; in fact, Heller
tells them 30. Bot for his 'second sight" he
claims pre-eminence, and boldly defies the
world to produce an explanation. But for
this Wanting challenge, his second sight
would have seemed but another of his splen-
did deceptiOns. Many people, however, now
think there is something unndturaIi in it; that
itis mystery" and Robert Heller is pos
sessed ofsupernatural powers. As Mr.. Hell
Ter can not righfully object l will, with
your kind permission, endesvor to show to
our befogged citizens that the "nyStery" is
not altogether ine1plicGbLe.
In an old book in my possession l find
some hints which, with developement and
observation on my part remove all doubt
from my mind that either Heller or his in
teresting boy, Freddy, are in league with
"a1ld Hornie."
The system of second sight is, though Hell
Ter endeavors to deny it, a system of precon-
certed questions and answers.
The same question differently arranged re-
quires different answers; thus:
QD Cues -ls it plain or ornamented
Ans.-Ornsmented.
(2) Q-Is it ornamented or plain? A
Plain.
There are questions relating to color,
precious stones, metals, wearing apparel,
jewelry, &c. AS, for instance:
Q-Wbat color is iii A.-Black.
Q-What is the color2 A.-Bu ue.
Q-Tell me the colOr2 A.-Green,
Q-Has it a color A.-White.
Q-Any color2 A.-Orange or yellow.
Q-Name the color2 A.-Brown.
The following for metals:
Q-Whst metal? A.-Gold.
Q-Whst is the metal A-Silver.
Q-Tell me the metal2 A-Oopper.
Q-Name the metal A.-Iron or steel
Q-what metal is IT'D A.-Brasg
And so on for the different articles men
toned above. There is also list and a
very extensive one, for miscellaneous arti-
cles. A few examples will suffice:
Q-What have | here? A purse
Q-What is this2 A toothpick.
,Q-This will puzzle your A.-Court-
plaster.
And 80 on almost indefinitely.
By thus having questions classified and
arranged, an article of any kind can be yery
accurately described, requiring, generally.
however, a combination of the Questions of
different classes. Thus:
Q-Is this for any purpose &? A.-Of
course, a reticule2
Q-What color is it2 A-Black.
| (rakee an article out Of the recticule and
ssks:)
Q-What have here2 A purse.
Q-Tell me the color2 A.-Green.
| (raBes money out)
Q-What have | now? A.-Money.
o. can not hear you. A bank. note
Q-Of what value is it? A.-Ten dollars.
Q-ls this the same? A.-No-A dime.
| (Apother articie.)
Q-Tell me now? A.-Keys.
(AnOther)
Answer Immediately. A handkerchief
Q-Has it color2 A.-White
Thus the teticule and all its contents are
| described.
Describe piece Ofjewelry:
Q-Do you admire this? Yes; brooch,
Q-Do you know the stone ? A.-Yes;
cornelian.
Q-Has it color? A.-White.
MIR. Heller endeaVors by various expedi-
en,s TO conceal from his audience the fact
that all Freddys answers are dependent
upon the questions asked. He sometimes
asks no questions at all. The audience will
observe that be does not dispense with the
question I'll FTeds back is turned, aud he
(Fred) within q few feet o. the curtain.
They will also observe that the articles Mr..
Heller holds up are not the small ones con-
cerning which he had asked questions. This
time they are large; a hat, a muff, shawl. a
set OF furs, or something which can be easily
seen 10y person behind the curtain, who is
go near to Fred. as almost to be able to whis-
per in his ears. Of course Fred. dom fail to
give the right name to the article
To discourage the idea that the question
had any thing to do with the answer he
says some persons think the last word of
the questions | ask are the key to the reply;
We will see." ...
Q-Do you admire this, sayP the last
word very emphatic. A brooch. Ah,
say means a brooch; we'll try again.
Q-What have here say? A. A purse.
And 30 on, always adding say, and each
time receiveing different answer. Do not
the audience perceive that this word here
used is altogether like the blind in trades
mans mark--it means nothing Do they
| not also perceive that the rest of the question
is varied as different articles are presented
Not bit of it. Poor, innocent souls, they
paid their money to be cheated, and they
would feel they were sold" if they dis
covered the secret
And then when Fred is marched among
the audience and Heller stands near the
stage indicating that an answer is required,
Dy the clapping of the hands, how is it done3
Will Mr.. Heller then take whatever article
is offered him2 No, he goes from one to an.
other of his contederates, sitting near each
other, and receives from them articles with
the succession of which Fred is beforehand
acquainted. OF course, at each clap OF the
hands, Fred. knows what he is to cry out.
And again, without even word or clap of
the hand, or tinkling OF a bell, Fred. tells
what at that instant Heller has laid his
hand on. Will the audience again notice
that these are articles which H may touch
without moving around much; a lady's bon
net, gents coat, hat a fan, etc, 1.-THE or
der of which known beforehsnd) are touched
at intervals, during which Fred may count
(say) twenty, and Fred, of course, tells his
wondering and open mOuthed auditors what
they are.
Now, Messrs. Editors, must apologize for
the length to which this communication has
run. The subject however, is one which
next to the "War" is exciting the cOmmu-
nifty at present, more than any other and
your thousands OF readers will, | have no
doubt, feel as much obliged TO you tor the
publication of this expose as will
OBSERVER.
/