The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
BEHIND The SCENES
With Prof hermann, the Celebrated
Magician.
IN THE STOREHOUSE OF MYSTERY.
Marvellous Manual Dexterlty md Inven-
tive Genius OF . High Order Employed
to Astound and Perplex thePublic.

Over the human mind mystery exercises
charm more potent than reality and mysti
surroundings are ever sought. where tn
observer may ponder in awe. The archi
lecture of the Sphinx is forgotten in the en-
deavor to solve the secret cause OF its con
structon and the meaning it typifies; tn
sacred fire of the vestsl virgins was appa
rent. but it was made penalty with deati
attached to violate their sanctuary to ascer
tain its production. 1t was not what th'
Delphic oracle predicted so much as hei
den. with its tripod and fumes, that claimed
attention. So while the tricks OF modern
magician are known to be delusions thell
principal charm lies in their mystery. Ibt
discovery of how the mystery Is produced
must bo doubly interesting, and the work
shop of necromancer thereby becomes
fascinating spot
Through the special invitation of Profess
sor Hermann was permitted 10 spend an
hour behind the scenes OF his theatre during
| one of his spiritual seances last week. A
peep behind the scenes OF Oh ordinary the
atre with play IN progress Is no longer a
novelty to the public. Perspiring scene
shutters and men high up in the flies hard
at work adjusting huge canvas slides, with
mass OF seeming rubbish in every place
| but where il ought TO be- are the only sights
seen.
Behind the scenes with Hermann is
something entirely different and an access
not easily obtained At the stage entrance
behind locked door with bulls-eye slide,
| such as is used at inner doors or upper grade
CANT bling houses when liable to police scru-
tiny, stands a guardsman. and III answer to
your ring at the bell the slide is groOyed
l. 4 - w
in inquiry of the cause of your presence.
The Cerberus of Herrmsnn's stage door is
no ordinary watch dog. No sop thrown to
him in the shape Of d greenback Will bride
his Spartan honor. He is an old retainer
grown grZzed and gray in service. and his
mission in life alone seems to be to guard
the secrets of the modern Aladdlns Cave.
A card signed and stamped by the Professor
is the only sesame. and with that the door
swings only half way open to admit your
presence.
IN THE CAVE OF MYSTERY.
A half lit passage way, with dressing
rooms on one eide and the stage screened
from view with heavy black curtains on the
other, leads YOU to Herrmann's dressing
room. Here the great magician is III charge
of his valet. colOred mau, who on the stage
is known as Mr. BOOmski The Professors
dressing-roOm is elegantly furnished and 10
IN reality more Of u receptlOn-rOom. Not
night passes but party of political. social
or business friends drop IN TO exchange
greetings with the Professor and smoke some
of his cigars. If they expect to see the
inner cham Der and its secrets they are sadly
disappointed tor the curtains concealing
them never even flop by chance, and the
man on guard IS ever present to prevent
lettering or prylng.
II will waive an iron rule on this occa-
sion.n said the Professor. "and consent to
show you actually how my illusions are
worked. | will glys TO the public through
the Herald some idea of the labor. skill aud
expenses necessary for the practice Oh the
occult sciences so called"
Whereupon he led us into an adjoining
room he called his workshop. 1t WAS large
and spacious. and what an aggregation OF
indescrlb able brc-a-brac II contained. IL
was toy shop, q skeleton factory, O labora-
tory and battery storehouse all IN one. A
young man, who looked so old that his APP
pearance on earth might have been re-
garded AS his second ad ,ent ON the planet.
coughed IA cOnsumptive cough and chuckled
with delight at the suppressed horror 1t
produced. He was apparently mendlng
dolls head with slender cords. seemingly
without end, and worked as though he mad
an eternity to complete his labors IN.
My pamistry. of course" explained
Hermann, is what in the strict appllca-
ton OF the term is legerdemaln and constl-
tutes q distinct and separate branch or my
art Ii is acquired only after years of con-
slant practice. and requires IN addition
particular formation of the joints and mus
Giles for its perfection. My mechanical
tricks aad illusions are jus: as difficult IN
their invention and construction and re-
quire none the less dexterlty. When l tell
YOU that this young man works here elgnt
hours every day and utilize all his work IN
ten minutes on the stage you Will realize
that unseen spirits do not float III the ar
or come from the vastly deep simply NJ ones
bidding. They must be worked there and
the public must never guess the process
CHEMISTRY UTILIZED.
On a half dozen shelves were ranged bot.
ties OF all sizes and containing fluids OF all
colors, pestle and mortar stood by and
retorts and braziers were near. The whole
outfit resemble the rear view or prescrlp-
ton department in drug store
Chemistry. you will Observe" said the
Professor. pointing TO the drug-llke para
phernalia. CONSTITUTES an important part
In necromancy and Is never suspected by
the public It's laws must be we'll known
bV the magician for some OF his best results
are obtained from It's knowledge. For in
stance. these bottles contain all manner of
chemical simples and compounds In my
trick known MS the vital spark where / re-
store suspended animation in the shape of a
long. slender. brilliant flame, | use the
essence of three Of these fluids reduced in
bulk TO the dimensions OF one or these
phlals." o
which contained what seemed TO he oblong
diamonds, but which in tact were hollow
class tubes of extraordinary workmanship
and such small dimensions as 10 be capable
of being concealed beneath the finger-nais
Estimate the tip of a broad iinger-nall at a
ouarter of an inch and you have the size of
these phials. The Professor deity adjusted
them under his nails and explained that by
the combustion OF the fluids they contained
when in working order. at the proper time
an extraordinarily brilliant, lancellke flame
of three feet was produced which the spec
tatOrs were unable 10 guess the origin of. 10
is prevented from burning the Professors
hands by another chemical agency used.
They further imagine that the iiame enters
the throat of the supposed dead man. and
they apparently see his eyes and head llu-
minated in his returning senses with the
mysterious fire. As a fact. the flame Is no
place near his throat, and the illumination
Is "a deception wrought upon the visual
organs by means OF lenses neither seen nor
suspected. The infni,esmal phas are
further used under the Professors nails in
his walks among the audience. while the
theatre is darkened. TO scatter electric sparks.
These phials are of my own design he
said ''and the cost OF the manufacture of
the dozen / own may be bes, estimated
when tell you that enough plate glass was
broken in their heat and blowing TO make a
dozen store plate windows. They are rs
valuable TO me rs diamonds. and, like I'M
cut diamonds. you see keep them packed"
81 AtcpnyaraH