Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-07
THE THEATER.
The Performance of Hermann, the Msgi-
cian-Comtng Events.

The large audience at the opera house
last evening had no reason to complain of
the entertainment afforded by Hermann,
the Prestidigitateur. OF course people knew
that all .his work was Straightforward, or
magic" but nevertheless none of them
could say show tits done" The first part
consisted of various tricks with cards,
handkerchiefS, hats, watches, etc, and one
cannot begin to recount them. The second
part, where his ''blach art was intro
duced, was equally as mystifying and the
illusion was greatly aided by the
while row of gaslights crossed
the stage in front and climbed along the
tormentors on either side. In this part the
''decapitation scene" occurred and it was
altogether too realistic for comfort. A note
on the programme thus speaks of this part:
"a reproduction of Incantatory Tails
manic Sorcery known and practiced by the
ancienVs from the earliest historical times.
1t is mentioned in Deut xviii. 10, Il; in
Samuel, xviii; also. by the most
ancient Greek poets, who speak of
the descent into Hades to con-
suit with the spirits of the dead and OBJ
tain knowledge of future events. Its prac-
tice was frequent in all known countries at
the dawn of Christianity Dead bodies
We're said to be terminated by demons.
Black art was forbidden under severe pen
alties by Constantine, also by the pagan
emperors"
The illusion in part g. known as ''Stro-
beika," was probably the most mystifying
of any of the work A young man is bound
TO a board, his arms, legs and neck securely
fastened by metallic bands, and securely
locked by two gentlemen from the
audience. The curtains are then drawn.
leaving space of probably three feet I'M
derneath, so that one can see no trap door
work is used. The curtains are then with
drawn and lady is found bound in
the same position, the locks apparently IN
tempered with. Taken all in ALL Hermann
amply demonstrated his right to the title
of liking of the Wizards"
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
'sThe Bottom of the Sea-" marine spec
tacle adapted from the French by William
A. Brady, will be produced at the opera
house for an engagement limited to matinee.
and night only, Saturday. November T.
Coming as it does direct from its New York
and Boston presentations. the piece is to be
mounted here in exactly the same manner
that characterized its success in those cities.
From all accounts the scenic and mechan-
ical effects are really superb. 1t is. in fact.
on realistic scenery that the success of the
ance is the scene showing the bottom of the
sea, with divers at work in the wreck of q
sunken ship. The battle between one of
the divers and gigantic devil-fish is very
realistic The other scenes are the rescue
in mid-ocean and the deck of the French
man-of-war.
The events center about the laying of a
West India cable by young French engi-
neer, assisted by an American engineer.
Both love the formers cousin. and this
leads to trouble. A rascally Greek tries to
kill the French engineer at the bottom of
the sea, and the American engineer is ar
rested for the murder The supposed dead
man, however, turns up alive and saves the
accused man. The Greek is killed in at
tempting to escape and all ends happily.
SOL SMITH RUSSELL.
Peaceful Valley" Sol Smith Russen's