Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-05-09
PLAYING 1T ON THE PRINTERS.
Hermann Visits the Government Printing Office
and Plays Some Tricks on the Boys and Girls.
Herald.


and Plays Some Tricks on the Boys and Girls.
from the Washington Republic,
Magicians are supposed to be queer
people. In all ages the masses have
held holy terror for those persons who
seemed possessed of supernatural power
and firmly believed that they were
linked to the devil by a wicked alliance,
the main feature of which was coven-
ant written in blood by which an am
bilious man agreed to give his soul to
the old boy after SO many years of pow
er. In eye olden times magicians
were barbecued, and the colonial his
tory of this country recites many in
fred, or roasted for the benefit of the
community where they praeticed their
supposed pefarious schemes. Even at
this late day numberless persons believe
that the devil is father-in-law of all
magicians, but there is money in the
realms of necromancy for any man who
is enough of a 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 said to puff forth fro a magician's
nostrils every fifteen minutes, but dis
covered nothing which would lead him
to believe that Hermann was peripa-
tetic piece of the hot hereafter. He
found the prestidigitateur very genial
gentleman, who had travelled the world
over and remembered what he had seen.
The conversation, while on the Journey,
naturally turned to the black art.
l have been before the public for
twenty-five years, said Hermann, sand
have given exhibitions in every country
on the globe. I know thousands Of
tricks which mystify people, but I am
always studying new ones and improv-
ing the old Ones"
''Some people firmly believe that you
are relative of the devil. Have you
ever met any of them ?"
"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 recent tour
III the south the negroes were particular
~ afraid..of me, and found it 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 geld fish tricks said that next winter
he would produce four globes filed with
water and fish. Upon reaching the print
ing Office the party, consisting of the
magician, Mr.. W. Il. Morton, Mr.. Ro-
maine, and several newspaper men,
were escorted through the enormous es-
Enlistment by Mr.. James White, as
sistant foreman of the bindery, who ex-
planned all the many departments to the
visitors. The fact that Hermann was IN
the building soon spread among the en-
ployes, 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 a girl who was
rapidly counting money order blanks.
Hermann leaned forward and said:
"You should be more careful OF
money"
"Oh, sir, these are not money, only
blanks
s'Oh, no." said Hermann, "iust
look at the money" and picking up a
few blanks he shook them and shower
of $50 gold pieces fell on the bewildered
woman's work.
Going into the bookbinding portion OF
the room he intently watched man
who was deity lettering the back OF q
book.
"Why don't you keep your money
somewhere else % he asked the man.
'sWhere should I keep it, but IN my
pocket?" was the reply.
& In your pocket, nonsense sal d
Hermann, and picking up the book he
took several 500 bills from between the
pages. The letterer was almost stupefed,
and as the party moved On he muir
INJURED.
'sWell, if that don't beat the dickens. -
Another binders lump of rubber dis
appeared, and Hermann found it in
s.Sub Rosa Murray's hat. All through
the building he amused the employees
with his tricks. In the folding room he
found a gold watch In bouquet OF
flowers on young lady's table, and
paralyzed colored messenger by draw
ing roll of green backs out of his beard.
He apparently changed sheet of draw
ing paper into thousand dollar bond,
and then as quickly changed it back.
Several old ladies crossed themselves de
voutly as Hermann passed by them,
and some colored men were seen to
shake their heads, as they muttered
something about "the debbil." After
thoroughly examining the building, and
giving the employees a semi-holiday. the
party returned to Wizards where, upon
getting out of the carriage, the driver
was nonplussed by seeing his dark haired
passenger deliberately pull the dust robe
out of hole in the lamp post, and then
coolly discover several hundred dollars
IL it.