Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-03
PLAYING 1T ON THE PRINTERS.
Hermann Visits the Government
Printing ONCE and Plays Some
Tricks on the Boys
and Girls.
Warrington Republican.

Warrington Republican.
Msgicisns are supposed to be. queer
people. In all ages the masses have
had q holy terror for those persons
who seemed possessed Of supernatural
power, and firmly believed that they
we're linked to the devil by q wicked
alliance, the main feature Of which was
o covenant written In boa d by which
an ambitious man agreed to give his
soul to the old Of ,er 80 many
years Of power. In I'VE olden
time" magicians were barbecued,
and the colonial history of this coun-
try recites many instances where 80.
called witches we're fl red or roasted for
the benef, of the community where
they prsoticed t. cir supposed nefari
ous schemes. Even at this late day
numberless persons believe that the
devil 10 fsther-in-law OF all msgicisns,
but there 10 money in the realms of
~necromancy for any man who is
enough ,f q genius to outwit the eyes
of those who crowd to see him.
The Republican reporter who rode
out to the government printing office
with Hermann yesterday kept his eyes
peeled for the sulphurous flames that
are ssid to potf forth from q magioian's
~nostrils every fifteen minutes, but
discovered nothing which led him to
believe that Hermann was q peripatet.
10 piece of the hot hereafter. He
found the prestidigitstuer q very gen.
isl gentleman, who had travelled the
world over and remembered what he
had seen. The conversation, whileon
the journey, naturally turned to the
black art.
II have been before the public for
twenty five years." said Hermann,
land have given exhibitions In every
country on the globe. I know thou.
sands Of tricks which mystify people,
but I Am always studying new ones
and improving the old ones"
"Some people firmly believe that
you are a relative of the devil. Have
you aver met any of them2"
"Oh, lots of times. In fact, super.
"stitious people do not believe That the
things they see me do are performed
by sleight of hand During my re-
cent tour In the South the negroes
we're particularly afraid Of me, and l
found 1t difficult to get them to bring
me my meals or wait on me-"
Hermann told many Incidents con.
nected with his career, and. speaking
of his gold fish tricks said that next
winter he would produce four globes
filed with water and fish. Upon
reaching the printing office the party,
consisting of the msglcisn }, Mr.. w.
Fl. Morton, Mr. Romatne, and several
newspaper men, were escorted through
:, the enormous establishment by Mr..
y James White, assistant foreman of the
"a blndery, who explained all the many
y depar ments to the visitors. The fact
$ that Hermann was In the building
]. o o spread among the employees, and
at every turn clusters of persons re.
garded h m %curiously. He played
), Jokes innumerable upon the women.
In the building the party stopped to
watch u girl who was rapidly count.
Ing money order blanks. Hermann
leaned for ward and said:
"You ehould be more careful of
money"
Goa. sir, these are not money, only
), blanks"
"Oh, no" said Hermann, ''just look
st. the money" and picking up o few
of the blanks he ehook them and q
shower Of $50 gold pieces tell on the
joy ildered womsn's work.
Going into the bookbiuding portion
Of the room No irtently watched a
man who was def.ly lettering the back
of a book.
"Why don't you keep your money
somewhere elSel' he asked he man.
"Where should 1 keep 1t, but In my
pocket" was the reply.
"In your pocket, nonsense" said
Hermann, and picking up the book
hs took several 500 bills from be.
tween the pages. The l~etterer was al.
most stupeied, and as the party moved
on he murmured:
"Well, If that don't beat the dick
ems"
Another binders lump of rubber
disappeared, and Hermann found 1t
: In "Sub Rosa" Murray's hat. All
through the building he amused the
employees with bis tricks. In the fold.
: = Ing room he found a gold watch In q
|. bouquet Of flowers on q young lady'a
table, and parslyzsd a colored messen.
ger by drawing q roll of greenbacks
= cut Of his beard. He apparently
r changed a sheet Of drawing paper
: into q thousand dollar bond,
!, and then as quickly changed
!, 1t back. Several old ladies crossed
. themselves devoutly as Hermann
passed by them, and some colored
: men were seen to shake their heads,
as they muttered something about
"the debbil." After thoroughly OK.
aiming the building, and giving the
employees a semi.holiday, the party re-
turned to Willlard's, where, upon get.
Ing out of the carriage, the driver was
n%onplussed by seeing his dark. haired
passenger deliberately pull the dust
robe out of q hole In the lamp post,
and then coolly discover several hun
dred dollars In it.
The Dry Tortugas.
w. R. Prentice, an old New York
soldier, recalls the following interest.
ing "reminiscences of the old military
v nrisen. In n letter To the San Franoisco