The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
AN HOUR WITH HELLER.
Second sight Tested-Linguai TeIesraphy
ventriIoquIsnn, and Mesne rism.

nve' said Miss Heller; " it is q gold watch. and
can be wound without key"
In parlor in the Fifth Avenue Hotel last
night sat Robert Heller. n sandy-haired. long
moustached man his sister. n tall. naxen-
haired blonde in n blue silk dress the editor
OF dramatic newspaper the purscr of Euro
pcan steamer Stanley Dust. young English
man, and myself.
Tho wizard was in a particularly lively hui
NOR and performed many amusing and some
amazing tricks. but. being tricks was not cs-
pecially interested in thcm-much more. in fact.
with the rare doxtcrity with which he accom-
plishcd his purpose.
But his exhibition Of Miss Hcllcr's marvellous
power Of second sight enlisted all my interest.
and as the room was absolutely free Of any pos
sibc accessory. thought | might perhaps de-
tcct or happen on a solution Of the supernatural
problem.
With cheerful alacrity the Hcllcrs allowed
themselves to be suspected and investigated.
and must say their tests were tolcraby severe
The Purccrs red bandanna handkerchief
was carefully bound over the lady's deep blue
eycs-although much OF her seeing was done
with her back to u.s. so the necessity OF blind
folding is apparent rather than rcal-and she
sat with her gloved hands folded on her lap.
At first the tests were such IA the average au-
dicncc invariably supplies.
gold lpcncl case a ring. scarf. n cane. nm
umbrella. n BUTTON hook. charm n diamond. a
watch. hat. and all that sort Of thing which
naturally suggests itself to the qucstonor.
Many OF these articles are so common that II
there were not system OF lingual telcgraphy
1t would not be- difficult TO invent one.
Indeed. my first impression was that by con-
slant practice they had classified and arranged
n vast number Of articles to be indicated by set
questions.
1t is obviously possible.
FER instanc,e What is ,hiss 7" might always
you describe this?' II handkerchief
could do that attn much myself Myself And IT, Without
practice. can do little. 10y constant and ntcl-
gent practice professional sghisecr could
world over, and its well 10 remember IT,
remembered g. and determined not to be
Answering a touch Of the bell. a waiter az.
pcnred, disappeared. and reappcarcd with a
Waiter said |. have you a pocket in your
H. wore a white Jacket. and. rs was developed
aiirrwurd. his pockets were on the inside
Yes. sir. d. ans wVrcd.
May 49," what you have in ono Of themf"
IL" griunrd all over. evidently unaccustomed
10 such familiarity. hutinnucnccd 10y the remote
possibility # quarter he turned one Of his
In II had been a knife with n corkscrcw blade.
a white button, little change. and something
thM looked like silver
While examined The articles not n word was
well ~ the rest.
carefully strutinized the little white article.
ana ~ did So the waiter . grin changed TO n
irown IF apprehension.
On were some chararic such as had never
seen combined before. and after the roughly look
ing at them handed It 10 Heller
=. He spent afew seconds IN looking at it, Now.
then, this is difficult; what do / hold in my
landf Come, YOU must try
nid that must hint at mesmerism7
With visible EFFORT the dignincd woman bent
=, Presently with sigh Of relief. she family said
Is piece OF silver
II looks like silver-a white metal-a charm.
should say. Its queer, thing"
Right ne not silver. but aluminium; but II
what are ,h,eyf Come. now"
II think there is cow"
a cow. triangle. and a cre~cent"
a COW. a triangle. and 2 crescent Yes.. that's
right, can YOU MAKE ont thr characters p
They may be Il and d. but they are inter
twlncd and not distinct"
The applause that followed this triumph Of
wei, don't yet know what to call IL. But tho
applause was as hearty rs any she ever received
IN h,5 NE. ior tho test was most remarkable.
Heller
Got him from the priest in New Orleans. A." re-
From the pricstg What pricstfn
The cQlored priest. He sells en- for dollars"
Safety piece. sir l don't have no moro
feycrs.'
lou wouldn't sell it, I suppose?"
No. sir not for nuthin'. SIR"
| suggested that possibly Miss Heller was IA
tgued but she laughed and said not. So we
OF course no system Of lingua biography
could have answered their purpose In this Test
unless II was SO offensive Is to COMPREHEND
metnllurgy. natural history Nhe alphabet. and
masonry and with some reluctance / dismissed
the idea for the moment.
Having seen considerable OF ventriloquists in
private as well AS public. and knowing Heller to
be Jdclle prmcfpS IN The practical Joking line, II
possibly possible that Ingenious and perfected
veniriloqulsm was the base slave who thus de-
ccivci our senses
And confess was somewhat mpellcd TO
serious consideration Of this thought 10y a sug-
gestlQn made last week in THE Sun. that Heller
would, not allow others TO put the question 10
Mss Heller.
Why notf
Was his roce. necessary as we'll as his eyes?
tried. therefore q second experiment.
The young dramatic news cditorwore pecu-
Larry shiny satin crayat, evidently fresh from
Taking him aside asked him TO lend me his
crayat. ,.
some, he did so. and. as had hoped. the name
Of, dcncr was stamped N tn collar.
showed the name 70 Mr.. Heller.
May ask her what this Is and test her gen
orally by my voice.
He told me aiicrwnrd that he had encountered
go away utterly cast down. rs one without hope.
" What In this. Miss HcllorY
A young persons cravat Il IL made Of
satin. has "A sin collar band. and is worn in
folds arranged in 'front.'
Correct What, If anything. is there written
on IT,
What? Look again"
There Is something stamped on the inside
In guilt old English letters. II Is n little worn
on the edge, or rather lmlcrlcctly stamped /
should say Sleck Co.
And that's precisely what It was
give II up, said ].
No no, 20 on man. Try again For all you
know | buy my underwear there Try some
thing Of your own
Mr.. Dust pulled from greasy leather wallet
q ticket and handed il TO mo
- II she can hit that. said he. " shc'sa witch
for I'll swear no one has ever put eyes On it
before but my uncle and myself"
Mr.. Heller looked at ii.
No one in the room but Dust. Heller and my
self had thus far seen it.
- Please describe this article. Miss Hcllcr'
." It's Il bit of paper, about two inches long
and one incn wide, with printed and written let
ters on it,"
*Will you read the letters
" can't very we'll make out tho number. but
think II says
No / PAS Il Simpson Co,
1875 Bowery, opp sptin, street
Goat