Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-10

promised TO produce Oil p3lntings, the same
as Nine. Diss Debsr. A gentleman in the
audience came on the stage after dozen
or more had been invited, and was given
an apparently virgin canvas to hold over
his head by Hermann. Hermann asked
him if he was Spiritualist.
The gentleman replied: "I'm certain
kind of Spiritualist." His ford COM
plexion and carmine-hued proboscis bore
testimony to the fact. The orchestra
played spirit music and Hermann passed
his hand over the canvas while the man
had his back turned to the audience.
He turned around and there was an oil
painting on the canvas. Hermann said
he purchased the picture at Mime. Diss
Dsbar's studio himself and covered it over.
HOW he MADE sPooK PICTURES.
The gentleman was next given 3x3 can
vas to hold above his head, and Hermann
turned him around.
It was not ten seconds after the man put
the canvas above his head when the audi
snce saw fine oil painting Of DIR. Wolf,
the oil being still wet.
This was accomplished by the dropping
of q panel, which consisted of false can
vas. Another picture was produced by
Hermann in foil view of the audience BY
removing the preparation Of china white
sheet by rubbing his hands over it and roll
ing it up into ball and slipping it up his
sleeve.
DE-. Lawrence got up aud howled. Herr
mann came down to him and said:
Doctor, You know how it's done better
than do. Here are the pictures just the
same as Mime. Diss Debar produced them.
II am doing this to show the public
how a man can be sRindled through this
trick. II can't do by trickery what you
claim to do by spirit power I'll retire from
the business"
Hermann then said, to show the people
that oil paintings could be produced legit-
imately within fifteen minutes, Matt Nor
gan had volunteered to paint the portrait
Of any one in the audience within that
time.
After introducing Mr.. Morgan, he asked
who wanted to sit for bis portrait. The gay
boys in the audience howled for Berry
Wall while voices from the gallery demand
ed Mrs McGuinness' pig and other pleas
ant pictures.
The bulk of the audience shouted Gro
YER Cleveland" and "Our Next President. "
Finally Richard II. Newcombe, who was
in the box nearest Mr.. Morgan, consented
to sit for his picture, and the artist went to
work.
In a little more than thirteen minutes
the canvas bore fine picture of the lawyer
in oil. In many respects it was superior
to the spook picture in the Marsh collec-
ton. While Mr.. Morgan was at work
Hermann was explaining how the spirit
pictures are produced.
To wind up the show Hermann said he
would bring out few spirits Of his own.
Tue house was darkened aud the spirits
appeared. Some played musical instru-
ments, while others talked to friends they
had left on earth.
The orchestra played Johnny Get Your
Gun" and one Of the male spirits danced
TO the tune. The sight of the alleged spOOk
pancing around, wob6liug its head and go
ing through all sorts Of contortions IN
company with the music set the audience
wild.
The lights being again turned on, Herr
mann thanked those present in the name
of the Press Club for their attendance and
support. He said he hoped he had offend
ed no one by what he had done, and on
the contrary, he believed he was doing his
duty as an American citizen in exposing
these frauds.
He was cheered to the echo. The gen.
eral belief of those present was that Herr.
mann's eudeavor was a great success, and
one of the bsst exposures ever seen in
America.
The performance last night was for the
benefit of the Press Club building fund. II
was first suggested to Hermann by Star
reporter, and he has been preparing for the
performance for several weeks.