The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-03-26
A Story by Hermann.

A Story by Hermann.
Herman T7sits tie Aha-He Tells a Good &or
And illustrates ii By an Amazing Irsck-Ho'
he took The Gambler in-Esc.
Marvelously clever is Hermann the Pres
tidigitateur, who is now performing in TIN
city. He surpasses all his predecessors tn
mysterious art in that he requires scarcely
any machinery, or paraphernalia to aid HIN
in producing his truly wonderful illusions
All seems to be fairly and squarely done witt
no other assistance than his own matches
skill. Professor Hermann, does not even re-
quire the surroundings of the stage in order
to perform his incomprehensible feats
Whether acting in public or in private, MS
sleight of hand is equally surprising. 1t Is
often thought that as "distance LENDS encnant'
ment to the view" so the stage and the loot
lights are essential to the performance of the
Coniurer's tricks. Not so, however, is the
case with Hermann, as we had pretty good
reason to know yesterday, when the ALTA
office was favored by a visit from the mystic
rious, incomprehensible and withal exceed
ingly gentlemanly Professor. After having
been introduced to severa! gentlemen. he
politely asked them to take cigars. These
he at once began to produce in a way that
would seem to render him a dangerous oppo-
nent in the cigar trade, if he should at any
time take it into his head to engage in that
branch of industry. Taking a partially
smoked cigar and holding it between the
thumb and a finger of the left hand he pro-
ceeded with the thumb and finger of the right
to apparently slip out from the portion of the
smoked cigar as many whole ones as there
were gentlemen to be supplied. Indeed, SO
rapid was the process of manufacture that
one too many was produced ere the fact was
discovered. AThe Professor simply slipped it
back again with perfect unconcern. 1t is not
our purpose to describe the many tricks he
performed, these may be witnessed each
evening upon payment Of a moderate fee.
Mr.. Hermann, however, :ells ::
GOOD STORY,
Which deserves publication. Some years
ago he was travelling on a steamer up the
Mississippi. There was a considerable crowd
on board, to all of whom, except a son of
Baron Rothschilds, who happened to be
travelling at the time, Hermann was entirely
unknown. A professional gambler managed
TO engage a number of the passengers in the
game of poker, and before the voyage was
ended, had succeeded in winning a large
sum of money. Mr.. Hermann looking on,
soon detected that the play was not quite
fair. This led the Professor to make a re-
mark which extracted from the gambler a
challenge to play, which was, of course, the
very thing Hermann wanted. The Captain
of the steamer, seeing that he was a stranger,
very kindly warned Mr.. Hermann that he
was sure to lose his money. "Oh, never
mind" said the Professor " can afford to
lose a few dollars" Play was then COM
menced. The deal fell 10 Mr.. Hermann, and
he so managed the cards as to give the
gambler the four best cards in the pack-the
four aces. Seeing the value of the cards he
held, the gambler sought to draw his intended
victim on by degrees. and so did not name
too big a stake at first, but commended himself
by saying, 81 will bet So" To which Mr..
Hermann replied /" | will bet 800" The gam
bier then named $50. Mr.. Hermann, moth
ing daunted, rose his bet to $500. and so
each party went on increasing his stake be-
yond the offer of the other until the gambler
exhausted his coin, which amounted to nearly
So, 900, and then he put down his watch and
jewelry on the table, stalking the whole Of
the four cards he held, as well he might, see
ing that they were the best. The crowd
stood around looking at Hermann with all
the eyes they had, and wondering if he had
taken cave of his senses to 60 on increasing
the stake whilst playing with one of whom
he had already been warned.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
The ~totalamount of the stake being at last
settled. The gambler said q claim
the money, sir, for four aces" " I beg your
replied the cool Professor, "I hold
the four aces. Show your cards, if you
please sir" The gambler threw his cards on
The table with a flourish of triumph, but to
MS utter amazement, they turned out to be
Jour kings Mr.. Hermann produced the four
ices, and of course claimed the money. The
unavailingly asserted that he had
1een cheated. and claimed that he had seen
he aces in his own hand. The crowd would
lear nothing of the kind, and declared that
hey had seen nothing unfair, as indeed they
hadn't. The bitter was bitten! Z
WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE MONEY.
The Professor then took pains to ascertain
ow much each person had previously lost
md handed the amount to him. When he
lad done that, he very generously gave the
gambler his money all back, except !
300, which he told him he would spend in {
hampagne at this expense as the price of
he wholesome lesson he had taught him. t
H TRICK REPEATED. =
After telling the story, the Professor illus
rated it by repeating the trick in the ALTA {
flee in presence of some thirty gentlemen. :
new pack of cards was sent for and the four Z
ces were selected by a gentlemen mr. j. H. !
,. Wentworth) who was told to place them l
n his knee and hold them tight so as not to q
ose them. This done he was told to show
he faces of the cards, when to the amazement a
{ every one the four aces turned out to be S
our kings. Mr.. Hermann did not during
ne whole time touch the cards. How the s
rick was done remains a mystery to every q
ne who saw it. Verify the Professor is, as q
is agent advertises him, an indispensable +
e~lineator and interpreter of refined illusion, o
nd an unapproachable purveyor of delight Il
ii mystery.
Groceries, Groceries. a
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