The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-04-11

the fingers. The fifteenth letter in the
alphabet would require the second ques-
ton, and SO through the list.
Heller's success in this and other
methods depended largely ON his own
marvellous memory and the memory of
Haidee Heller, and when he put one of
these or other questions to her, in the
most natural and off-hand manner in
the world, she would respond as quick
ly as if the object were right before her
eyes. This will be readily recalled by
any one who has ever seen one of his
performances. There was another
series of questions which was used in
the same way, the cue being color for
colors, precious stones for such, these
different groups of thirteen each being
classified in the order of the series of
questions already given. or Of this series:
How-1-a. Very welsh.
Now-2-b. See-9-i.
See Sc her, here-s-c; M Well-&j;,
Look here-5-e. Quick-1s-I.
Go on-6-f. Look sharp-h-m.
And here-7-g.
A snap of the finger would accom-
plish the same purpose in this series as
in the other.
The system of the elder Hermann and
of Houdin was very cumbersome and
apparent. A long string of questions
would sometimes have to be asked to
get at very simple object, and the sys-
tenn was, moreover, very much circum-
scribed and inadequate to the purpose.
Mention has been made of Heller's
classification of objects into groups of
thirteen. Materials were arranged in
this list: Stone, cloth, gum, putty,
leather, cork. marble, glass, ore, ivory,
rubber, wood and hair. The metals
chosen were: Gold, silver, brass, nickel,
steel, tin, lead, platinum, mercury, cop
per, bronze. zinc and iron. Precious
stones were: Diamond, topaz, emerald,
ruby, amethyst, blood-stone, opal, cam
60, cat's-eye, sapphire, onyx, carbuncle
and pearl. Designs were arranged in
this order: Skull, head, musical instru-
ment, house, figure, insect, coin, star,
monogram, three links, square and
compass, strap and buckle and weapon.
Leading countries were also system
atized in this way, and, as for playing
cards, the ten numbered cards CORE
,ponded with first ten questions in a Sc
ries, and the jack. queen and king with
the three last questions.
Heller and his assistant used every
means for dramatic effect. Taking up
watch. he would give the proper cue
to Miss Heller, who, knowing full well
what the object was, would describe it
as round object and bright, and finally,
after seeming difficulty, would say what
it was amid much applause. The num-
Der OF the watch was given by means of
the system stated. 'Can YOU give" the
number was the cue for units, tell the
for tens, twill you give for hundreds,
whats the" for thousands, and s'give
the for hundreds of thousands. Say
the watch was numbered 20S2. Heller
would remark, whats the number
on this, giving the cue for thousands
thereby, and adding ''how,' which will
be seen by reference to the second series
of questions given stands for So" Miss
Heller would slowly reply, Two thou
sand. and Heller would respond, Every
well, ''how," which would elicit from
his assistant ''82" at once. Heller,
however, had other systems for per-
forming the second-sight trick. One of
them called electricity into play. There
was an armature and magnet in the
bottom of the lounge upon which Miss
Heller sat, and for ordinary articles
there were thirteen telegraphic signals
that Dale, who was on the stage con-
cealed from view, would telegraph to
her. She could feel the pulsations of
the magnet, and would know at once
what tho arffolo he
holding in his hand without saying q
word. 1t was especially puzzling to
many persons to see Heller take up an
article from some person in the audience,
and, although he apparently gave no
sign and certainly did not speak, Miss
Heller would promptly say what it was.
They did not know how simple the solu-
ton was. When Heller played in his
Broadway Theater, now Harrigan &
Harris, there was lattice-work on the
front OF the stage covered with artificial
flowers. Behind this sat Mr.. Dale.
Miss Heller vas seated blindfolded,
with her back to the audience. Heller
would take up some article from the
first or second row, and Mr.. Dale.
through a strong opera glass slyly pene-
trating the lattice, could see very clearly
what it was and telegraph to Miss Hell
Ter. To vary the system as much as
possible, Dale on some nights would
communicate to her through speak
ing-tube that ran through the stage
floor up through the lounge where she
sat.
Perhaps the most impudent thing in
the way of audacity that Heller ever did
was the book thick. A gentleman in the
rear Of the audience, apparently from the
country, would hold up volume and
say; Now. I'd like Miss Heller to tell