The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-20
THE BLACK ART.
Magic on the Stage -Laughable Tricks of
Hermann, the Prestidi gitateur.

Magic on the Stage -Laughable Tricks of
Hermann, the Prestidig itateur.
A Chicago Journal reporter asked
Prof. Hermann if his perfection in the
magic art was not the result of severe
study
Indeed it is" said the professor.
"Since an early age I studied sleight of
hand. Why, for years before l made
my appearance on stage L used to
stay up until B or o'clock in the morn
ing practicing before looking-glass
l tell you, it was hard work. 1t took me
long time to master the various ne
cessary positions, but 1 did master
them. The art of 'palming' was the
hardt st thing to get to work smoothly.
Did get it? Well, look here"
The professor babe the reporter hold
out his hand. The latter did so. He
then placed on his palm Mexican sill
yer dollar, and babe the reporter turn
it over. The latter did so, and 10, the
dollar had changed into gold piece
through and through.
purely sleight of hand" resumed
the professor" and it takes long time
to get it down fine. tell you l am
overjoyed at an incident which occurred
at McVicker's Theater. 1t was unex-
pected. was doing the rabbit trick,
when gentleman arose, and irately said
that it was a swindle; that the persons
used by myself to play the trick on were
confederates. l denied it, and he Of
fered to bet me SO that l could not
play the trick OH him. Irefused at first,
but afterward bet him. Of course l
took live rabbit from his pocket, and
you never saw madden man in your
life. The money won goes to st. Luke's
Hospital for that chair for incurables.
"When did you first come to Ameri-
ca?"
I'm 1860. By the way, I am an
American citizen now, having been
naturalized in the city of Boston. / like
the American people. They are very
fond OF exhibitions of skill, and appre
ciate my performances immensely. An
other thing, they are great theater
goers. BY the way, brought out the
great fish trick first on my first trip to
America. l tell you it is great trick
and everywhere it is played creates
wonderment.
"In what country do you get the
largest audiences?"
in the United States, by all odds.
am just after playing fve-weeks' en-
gagement to standing room houses il
San Francisco. l get large audiences
in all the big cities"
DO you ever exercise the magic ar
off the stage?"
Occasionally. I remember one case
in particular. 1t was in New Orleans
some years ago, and while l was playing
an engagement there, finding thing,
rather irksome about the hotel one
morning, wandered down the stree
and came across barber shop. Coins
in, climbed into chair, and, as is thu
custom, closed my eyes. The barber
went off to get up the lather, and. re
turning, uttered the most piercing
shrek you ever heard. He discovered
that had cut my throat. He had one
assistant, and without further ado
he dispatched him for police
man, while he himself started lik,
mad for doctor. When they returned
in great haste, l was arranging my neck
tie carelessly, and there wasn't even
sign of scratch on my neck. l asked
what the matter was, and, on being
told, left the place pronouncing the bar
bers madmen. 1 had the honor o
being followed back to the hotel b,
half the population. The next day
went down to the market and picked
out few pigeons. Without turtle
ado, 1 wrung their necks, and then in
quired the price. 1t did not suit me
and / refused to take the birds. Tn
dealer raised great fuss because ha(
killed them. You are mistaken, sai'
I, your birds are alive whereupon
handed the futtering doves to the as
tonished fellow. 1 broke an egg tina
he had for sale, and took canary out
That settled it. He had me down 70
the devil from that time forward. Il
London, at the great market place,
one day bought some dead rabbits, an,
then quarreled with the man becaus
they were alive. The dealer laughed a
me, and said that he had killed then
himself, and that he had made sur
job of it. I patted the rabbits on thei
backs, and they manifested disposi
ton to walk at once. The man wa
astounded and l went away. Sleight @
hand, of course"