Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-18

To return to Heller. He was born
about 1888 III London, his father being
musician named Palmer. ionng Robert
III the age OF "A won u scholarship at the
Royal Academy of Music aud was destin-
cd OF course TO follow his fathers profcs
sion, Having attended one of Houdn's
performances, however, he became seized
with a desire to follow in that great mas
ter's footsteps and began to practice sim
pie tricks, eventually with some of his
scbooltellows, giving public exhibition
IN Rochester and failing lgnOmniousiy.
lie never abandoned his hope OF some day
becoming real conjnrer, however, and
while still in his teens actually did travel
yoand the English provinces as coDjurer.
Then he turned his attention more serious
~ to music and attained much proficiency
a this sTt.
In 1853 Heller came TO America tempted
by the promise OF an engagement from a
manager named Wilton, woo thought he
sould make money ont of him as a must
sian. The hope proved grouudltss and
Wilton let young Palmer, or Heller, as
he already called hims II, TO his own de
vices. The lad. FOR he was but little mor-,
found himself soon at the end OF his re
sources, and he used 70 tell "a story to the
effect that he one day wandered, in pen
nIlesS condition, into a Broadway piano
store, and sitting down to piano, began
TO improvise soon he had AN audieuce,
and two ladies in especial seemed struck
with his performance, and eventually
bought the instrument on which he had
played. The proprietor walked up 20
young Heller, and without word handed
him S25 "W hats this for :" asked the
astonibhed youth. your commission for
helping me TO make a sale" was the
answ r, and with this sum AS capital
Heller once more tempted fortune as Il
sonjurer, appearing with indifferent
succes sin the old Chinese Building" on
Broadway near Prince street.
His mimetic powers enabled him 10
pass himself off with success asa French
MAN, and by dint OF hard work and the
development OF his comedy talent, he
eventually achieved some reputation, HI
did not make much money though, and
eventually abandoned his ccniurOr's
trade and became a music teacher al
Washington, where he married one OF his
pupils, n Miss kieck hOefe the daughter
OF a rich German banker. This marriage
brought his career as "A music teacher 10 a
sloSe, for his WlfeS family disappearing
Of the match, caused nearly all his fash
iOnable pupils to withdraw from him
He accordingly came once more 10 New
York and with the once well-known +. i.
Kingston IA his business manager, h,
opened Heler's Hall In building which
then stood just opposite Niblo's garden
on Broadway. His entertainment speed
lily grew popular, and he began I,
sOin money. He subsequently returned
to London and opened Mt wha
ia now Poole's theatre near Charm.
Cross and while here he took hi
half sister, Rose Palmer, as an assistant
She subsequently shared his popularity II
this country. Heller then visited Austria
la, India and California, returning t,
New York IN 1875. For the next three
years he travelled from city to city draw
ing enormous audiences everywhere an'
making great deal Of money. He dice
November 90 1873 at the Continental Ho
tel, Philadelphia, after brief illness hi
last performance being given on NOvem-
Der IS at the Philadelphia Concelt hall \
curious provision in his will directed tina
all his apparatus should he destroyed 81
that no one should profit by his labOrs
is said however, that verbal directions Civ
en- to his half-sister before his death, over