National Republican., 1883-04-27
PLAYING 1T ON THE PRINTERS.
Hermann Visits the Government Print
ing ohicc and Plays Some Tricks on the
boys aud Girls.

Hermann Visits the Government Print
ing Office and Plays Some Tricks on the
Boys and Girls.
Magicians are supposed to be queer people
In all ages the masses have had holy terror
for those persons who seemed possessed of SUI
pernatural power, and firmly believed that
they were linked 10 the devil by wicked
alliance, the main feature of which was a
covenant written in blood by which an am
bilious man agreed to give his soul to the
old boy after SO many years Of power. In
we olden time" magicians were barbecued
and the colonial history of this country re-
cites many instances where so-called witches
were fired, or roasted for tho benefit
OF the community wherein they practiced
their supposed nefarious schemes Even
at this late day numberless persons bell ve
that the devil is father-in-law of ali magi-
clans, but there is money in the realms Of
ne romancy for any man who is enough Of 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 Herr
mann yesterday kept his eyes peeled for tho
sulphurous flames that are said to puff forth
from magician's nostrils every fifteen min
utes but discovered nothing which would
led him to believe that Hermann was
peripatotic piece of the hot hereafter. Ho
found the prestidigitatour very genial gen.
tleman who had travelled the world over and
remembered what he had seen. The conver-
sation, while on the journey, naturally turned
TO the black art.
81 have been before the public for twenty
five years." said Hermann, "and have given
exhibitions in every country on the globe. 1
know thousands Of tricks which mystify peo.
rla hfIt aN,, 1,vs,,
improving the old ones"
Some people firmly believe that you are
relative of the devil. Have you ever met any
Of them2"
"Oh, lots of times. In fact, superstitious
people do not believe that the things they see
me do are performed by sleight OF hand Dur
ing my recent tour in the south the negroes
wero particularly afraid of me, and found IL
difficult to get them to bring me my meals or
wait on me-"
Hermann told many incidents connected
with his career, and speaking of
his gold fish trick said that
next winter he would produce four
globes filled with water and fish. Upon reach
ing the printing Office the party, consisting
of tho magician, Mr.. w. II. Morton, Mr.. Ro-
maine, and several newspaper men, were es-
corted through the enormous establishment
by Dlr. James White, assistant foreman of the
bindery, who explained all the many depart
ments to the visitors. The fact that Herr
mann was in the building soon spread among
the employees, and at every turn clusters of
persons regarded him curiously. He played
jokes innumerable upon the men and women.
In the building the party stopped to watch Il
girl who was rapidly counting money order
blanks. Hermann leaned, forward and said:
"N on should be more careful of money"
"Oh, sir, these are not money, only blanks"
"Oh, no." said Hermann, Just look at the
money" and picking up few Of the blanks
he shook them and a shower of $50 gold
pieces fell on the bewildered woman's work.
Going into the bookbinding portion of the
room he intently watched a man who was
dGitly lettering the back of a book.
"Why don't you keep your money some
where else" ho asked the man?
"Wherc should l keep it, but in my
pocketr" was the reply.
In your pocket nonsense, said Hermann,
and picking up the book he took several 800
bills from between the pages. The letterer
was almost stupefed, and as the party moved
on he murmured
well, if that don't beat the dickens"
Another binders lump of rubber disap-
peared, and Hermann found it in Sub Rosa
Murray's hat. All through the building he
amused the employees with his tricks. In the
folding room he found gold watch in bou-
quet of flowers on young lady's table, and
paralyZed cOlored messenger by drawing u
roll of greenbacks out of his beard. He ap-
parently changed u sheet of drawing paper
mtoa thousand dollar bond and then as quickly
changed il 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 some
thing about the debbil." After thoroughly
examining the building, and giving the en-
ployes a semi-holiday, the party returned to
Wizards, where, upon getting out of the car
riagc the driver was nonplussod by seeing
his dark haired passenger deliberately pull
the dust robe out of n hole in the lamp post,
and then coolly discover several hundred dol
lDrs in IL