New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-28
AZ AMITECR WIZARD INA GARDEN:
He CHALLENGES HERMANN TO a TRIAL OF
SKILL.

SKILL.
Some Of the best performances Of lc-crlcmaln or
s!ert q hand. arr not seen on the STAGE. II Is much
easier for prr-tdist1tcur, standing several feet
I'll ,ant from his audience and higher elevation. TO
perform trick, 10 deceive the eye than when lie Is
m tho midst Of company 30 closely grouped about
him TIA, Ac can be touched by outStrctchcd hand.
Professor Hermann Is probably the most >ul Of all
performer, in close company, bat there are others
vino arc proficient to remarkable degree under such
circuui- ,aucc,. AID they are not all Professionals
i few night, lttIc party sat at ono Of the
tables Of the Casino roof garden. Among them were
Albert \ron-on. Captain Cambridge. a few newspaper
mon and McCloud McKcs-on. young amateur who
was amusing the party by some clover tricks Mr.
McKc,,on would allow any member Of the company
o tie any kind II a hard knot in handkerchief when
he would instantly cause 10 become united by merely
swapping ID with hi, finger slightly shaking the hand
te~chci Taking silver half dollar in one hand he APP
parnty pa .,cI it beneath hat the table. When the
hat va, lifted a lemon found instead Of the coin.
which Mr.. McKcs,on then removed from Mr. AronSoh
vest pocket Ancr several Other tricks had been per
formed Mr.. Aron~on e>picd Professor Hermann 40
another table. ~ Jovo.' hc exclaimed. " ia liko
d1c, ~ Il ''''' MANN -'' ''''''
The Professor came over TO the table at Mr.. Aron-
hand knot u the handkerchief. Mr. HERMANN looked
at Mr. Mckc,,On qul1i'ally for a moment trr" thS
The Knot was there 10 longer ly TINS time large
crowd had gathered about the table, and for several
minute, The TWO performer, kept their impVmptu
audience laughing. suddenly. no ono could tell how.
Mr. Ilcrrmanus rIs,ct shoe Appeared on tile table
80 one had him take II from his foot but thcrc
IL va, on the table. Then II disappeared, ana was
found "A moment later IN somebody's hat. somebody
then had IL under his coat. and the shoe went me
rounds ~ the party. person present being able u
discover how and why II went. \ shoe L. too big an
cl" 10 bc concealed in the palm Of the hand and
the feat. which l. known a palming.' having been
performed I'm the presence of at least thirty men.
seemed almost phenomenal
Among the other tricks by Mr. McKeSSon was ono
that he said no else could do. Taking sharp
knife he appeared 10 make an mci,0n IN his thumb.
The blood flowed freely and fell In rapid drops to tho
floor Wipng the blood away with his Handkerchief.
Mr.. McKcs>on exposed the thumb again, and offered
10 tr,at the party t. wine II any one present could
dccc even an abrasion Of the skin. The blood had
stopped flowing and the skin was unbrokcn. Another
trick was heartily applaudcd Mr.. NcKcsson placed
four little bits II moistcncd paper on the narrow
blade Of a small knife two on each side lie then
wiped them off at time. showing the blade
clean lie then turned the blade over and the bits
~ papcr were there again. Turning II again they
had cone and they appeared 10 come back and dis
nppcar AT every turn II the blade. The movement
wa, rapid and when he stopped. all the bits OF paper
,rcre on ih, blade I'm the first place. Professor
Hermann said he liked to see amateurs so clever.