The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-11-22
HERMANN THE MAGICIAN.
His Tricks Among the Hucksters OF st.
Louis.

Of the darkest dark brunette, with blaz-
ing dark ewes and the blacklist of black
hair on his face and head. He dresses
in black, the only white showing in his
costume being his collar. At the mar
ket he was at once recognized by the
gamins who came trooping after him,
and when he stopped at a vegetable
dealers stall the crowd,formed q aing on
the outside. How do you sell these
SOUP bunches?:" said he, picking up
measure full Of herbs. 1.-Two cents a
piece replied the ample matron behind
the layout. That's cheap" said Her
mann, very cheap and then suddenly
looking into the heart of II of the
punches he pulled out a plethoric wad
of $50 bills. The woman made a grab
for the money, but as suddenly as it APP
reared it vanished, and she looked from
the bunch to the magician to the punch
in a puzzled way. 600 way with your
~foolishness," she said at last, and de-
clined 10 be further interested. A couple
ofstalls below there was a great selection
Of egcs. These at once caught Her.
mann's eye. Are those eggs fresh:' he
inquired of the damsel in charge. Eyes,
sir.n He picked up one and, ratified it
beside the woman's ear. She started
back at the peculiar metallic sound,
whereupon he smiled accusingly at her,
broke the egg, and took outetwo IS gold
pieces laying in the yolk. She started
and he got $40 more out of anotheriegg.
After collecting about thirty in this way
she suddenly declined to have any more
eggs broken. AS she spoke, a blue
tongue Of fame sprung out of a score OF
eggs on the tray, and the whole party
stared in alright. The fame died away
and the woman turned on Hermann
with almost a curse; "Iou are a sorcer-
er!" By this time q great throng OF.
people had gathered around, and each
new feat of the master was honored by
round Of applause. A stall or two lower
down Hermann saw a cabbage ana
INQUIRED of the MAJ if it WAS not impru-
IeIlI 10 IGING Ills SdlltiDtCT "a IC1Ct 1ia
way. The man lowered at him and said
he was not there for joking. "What
DO YOU want for the c~abbagc":n inquired
the maestro. give cents The money
was passed and the cabbage became the
property of the magician. Taking n
cutting it open, and before the aston
ishcd gaze Of the multitude, there lay 4
perfect nest Of treasures. Hermann de-
liberately began to fill his pockets, first
with 4 wad Of bills, a hundred dollar one
on the outside, then a gold watch and
chain, next two or three diamond rings,
and finally 4 heaping handful Of $50 gold
pieces and last n United States bond for
ST, 900. Powers Of description fail to
paint the changes which passed over the
huckster's face as this find was being
appraised and pouched by the magician.
Doubt, fear, a~variee and despair fitted
one after another over his countenance.
And at last, when the cabbage was evil
IDENTIFY empty he flung himself on the
bench behind the stall and refused to be
comforted. "That's 9 pretty good trade"
said Hermann, ard the boys cheered
him to the echo.
A few PAGES further on was q game
Dealers stand, and here the miracle of
the day was performed. Picking up a
rabbit that was lying without u head on
the pavement, Hermann inquired Of the
man how long it had been dead. .Only
Il day or two.n ''Smell it, said Her
mann. The reporter shifted att, and it
certainly was gamy. Don't you know
how to freshen up animals?' said Her.
mann to the man. He took the rabbit,
doubled it up and down, and laid it
dewn Oh the pavement with a head on
it, and evidently alive. Thedead rabbit
at once leaped in among the boys, who
chased it and finally brought it back in
sore need Of the magician's good offices
again. Then handing a dove from the
cote over the stand, deliberately Wrung
its neck, pnlled off its head, and threw
it to the owner, and before he had time
to examine it returned him his pigeon
none the worse for wear. By this time
the crowd was SO large that locomotion
was impossible, and with Il quizzical
glance at his admirers; Hermann hurri-
eddy boarded a q and disappeared to-
ward the south.
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