St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-14


ture of the spectacle. To those who
have seen neither the performance nor
illustrations it need only be stated that
lie Cocoon" is a sort OF butterfly devel-
opment from chrySalis, says the Chi
cagO Herald. Herrmann'S cocoon, how
ever, differs very materially from that
originally designed by nature, inaSmuch
as the caterpillar is an inartistic draw
ing in crayOn on white paper; the chryS-
ais is an artificial bud that blossoms
into the head and body of a beautiful
lady with none of the characteristics of
a butterfly other than that suggested by
performance viewed from the audi
forum is not alone interesting, but COM
pletely mystlfying. and the curtain
never falls on the climatic act-unfold-
ing of the flower developing the beauti-
full head and shapely bust of the butter
ty-lady-WithOut bringing round of
applause.
The establishment is not to be won-
dered at, for the great magician, after
announcing lie Cocoon" produces a
three-Sided frame covered with paper.
An ordinary box two feet square, with
the top, bottom and one side knocked
out will convey an adequate idea of the
first part of lie Cocoon" The specta-
tors are allowed to examine this paper
covered frame, and it is found to be
nothing other than the innocent screen
represented. This simple affair is placed
in the center of the stage with the COW
cred side facing the audience. The YER
satile performer then rapidly produces a
charcoal sketch of caterpillar OH the
paper side of the box. From this
hideOuS caricature the next step is the
cocoon. An Innocent piece of white
tape, about half an inch in width, is
stretched across the stage from
one wing to another at a height of eight
feet from the floor. With a hook at
tached to the end of a wind the magi-
elan catches the tape in the middle,
pulls it down and attaches it to the top
of the box mentioned. The usual
outer screen bursts, destroying all
traces of the caterpillar. But out of the
wreck gracefully floats the cocoon sup
ported by the tape.
THERE IT HANGS FOR A MOMENT
suspended in mid-air on the slender
line. A table is placed Immediately
under the swinging ball, which is low
cred and allowed to rest while the spec
tatorS are treated to lesson in natural
history. You have seen the ugly
worm, how it was converted into the
cocoon which you see before you on this
table, and now you shall see the Won
derful change"
This is the cue for the cocoon, which
suddenly unfolds, producing a tulip,
like flower, in which is the winged
lady mentioned. She gracefully moves
the gandy appendages, the people ap-
piaud, Hermann smiles and down comes
the curtain.
AS stated, Mr.. Hermann commences
the trick by holding up for inspection a
three-Sided, paper-cOyered frame. SO
far there is no deception. He places it
in the center of the stage, directly over
a trap-doOr. The box merely screens
the trap from view. While engaged
drawing picture of caterpillar on the
side of the screen facing the spectators
confederate underneath the stage
opens the trap and shOves up the al
legged cocoon. The cocoon is now be-
hind the screen. and within the ugly
looking ball is the butterfly lady"
She is real flesh and blood. A strong iron
hook is fixed upon the upper end of the
cocoon. The tape which is strung across
the stage is pulled down and hooked to
the cocoon containing the winged lady.
AT this instant she thrustS out hand,
strikes the paper screen on which the
picture was drawn, destroys that, and
then cocoon and all gracefully float up
ward. The whole illusion of this trick
lies in the tape. The spectators have
seen the innocent white line, and while
they would naturally imagine that a
confederate was in the huge ball to see il
float so lightly, suspended by tape
string that would not support weight
of five pounds, instantly diSpels the
idea, and they look for another solution
Now the butterfly or lady is in the
cocoon. 1t is made so she can sit in il
in kneeling position. She has come
from under the stage through the trap,
and now she floats off into the air suS-
pended by bit of white tape, such as
the ladies use in trimming white skirts
But that tape is deceiving. 1t is double
and conceals steel rope that will hold
half a ton. 1t runs through iron rings
| fixed into opposite wings of the stage
| This wire is weighted on both ends
| These weights are heavy enough tC
| pull up the cocoon with its human
freight. After floating in the air for {
moment the cocoon is lowered to table
AT signal the occupant of the cocoon
| opens it with her hands lit now assume:
the shape of a full-blown flower, the pc
tails disclosing beautiful face, raw
iShing bust and pair Of bespangleC
wings. ''She moves them!" "She il
alivew And this is the.sort of thing
that makes Mr.. Hermann great.