The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-24
From the New YORK mines.

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o. "a
From the New York Times.
Mr.. Butler, at the request of Nine. Herr
mann, gave out statement yesterday that
the magician had collected and left with
his wife all the necessary documents to
prove that Alexander Hermann was the
youngest of the fifteen. brothers of Carl,
the original Hermann. having been born
at Paris, Feb. TO- 1874 1t is possible, Mr..
Butler said. that Prof Herrmann's ne
phew, Leo Hermann, who is now living
IN Paris, may succeed to the mantle of the
magician. Prof. Hermann had been in
correspondence with him during the past
six months with that object in view. 1t is
expected that Leo viii come to America at
once to aid Nine. Hermann in her future
theatrical career He is said to have much
of his brothers powers of legerdemain.
Prof. Herrmann's sister, Mrs. Bloch and
his nephew, Louis Bloch, who are also in
Paris, have been notified of his DEATH
Prof. Hermann started his present sea-
son without manager. He was anxious
to rebuild his fortune as he rebuilt 1t after
his loss of half million in Wall street.
He had played to large houses this year,
and was in fair way to become rich
again.
tricity in money matters are common on
the Rialto He was a moneymaker but
had no conception of economy except in
his smaller business transactions. For
Years 1t had been his habit to haunt the
pawnshops and drive hard bargains with
the pawnbrokers, both in buying and sell
ing gems. A jewel that he bought for $500
last summer in New York he sold a few
days later for $1,000 to leading jeweler.
In contrast to this story there Is the one
of his purchase for $500 of a useless patent
for a cable grip from chance street ac-
quaintance. In the latter case he tried to
stop payment of his check when it was too
late. ldo4
HERMANN own story of the only time
he got deceived in his many tricks on
strangers is as follows: He was standing
on the steps of the stock exchange in
Paris one day with a friend, watching
some laborers repair the pavement of the
Bourse. He suddenly stepped forward
and picking up a $50 gold piece from
the ground under the eyes of an astonish-
ed workman. Hermann chided him for
his carelessness and said: you should
watch close; there may be another coin
under that stone. See" and he raised the
corner of the stone.
The coin was there, and the workman
Struggling his shoulders, picked it. up and
handed it to Hermann. The wizard and
his companion laughed. and, tossing a
france to the laborer, Hermann started
away. II don't want this franc" said the
laborer. II want my rights.' There was
a quarrel about the laborer's rights which
ended before a magistrate. There is a
French law that the finder Of money- who
returns it to the owner is entitled to half
the amount found. Hermann was obliged
to pay $40 for his joke.
The home of the Herrmanns was a fine
old manor house on the tip of Long Is
land sound, says the Chicago Times-Her-
aid. On the spacious verandas of this
residence the magician would sit during
the summer and lazily Whit his cigarette,
of which he was very fond. There he
would dream and invent new tricks to
amaze the public.
II one approached this house with no
one in sight the gate would swing open
on tapping the door ii would welcomingly
roll back on it's hinges and an automaton
would glide forward with tray extended
for ones card. Most of the secrets of this
home had their basis in electricity, OF
which Hermann was a great student.
Once, about three years ago, the wizard
was a guest at the Whitechapel Club, that
rendezvous for Chicago bohemians so well
remembered for its strange doings On the
night in question a venerable Japanese
drCnDlSnOp was also PRESENT.. IN the
course of the evening Hermann picked
up deck of cards and asked some one tc
select one Of the pasteboards. This was
done and proved to be the seven spot OF
clubs This was shown to the spectators
but not to the magician. The card was
replaced in the deck, which was shuffied
and then scattered about the room,
Now. gentlemen" said Hermann, ''ii
one Of you will kindly rnlace the arch
II .-g.n 6ld fhrra I'd
which was drawn from the pack"
After a brief protest by the kind-faced
and gentle old man he unlaced the shoe
and there, to the amazement Of ALL was
found the seven spot of clubs. The looh
of wonder on the face of the old japanese
prelate afforded the wizard much pleasure
One OF his favorite and most difficult
tricks was the palming Of billiard balls
Oftentimes when visiting his newspaper
friends he would scoop up three or four oil
the ivory balls, and by o csuck OF the
tongue cause them TO disappear. This
trick. done with coins or small articles
was very common. but when done with
billiard balls amazed all who saw II.
Remenyl. the great Hungarian violin
lat was a friend of Herrmann's, and the
latter often had much good-natured fur
al the expense Of the celebrated Adder
At st. Paul Hermann dropped in on Rem.
envi lust as the after was about 70 par.
take OF his mi5night lunch Of limburgei
cheese. pumpernickel and apollinarli
water
''Had your luncheon YETI" asked the ma.
gician OF his friend.
mo. Just going 10 order H."
well, never mind doing so. I've got ev
erything ready for YOU" and without
more ado the magician pulled a large
and odorous cheese from the coat-tai
pocket OF the violinist chunk or pump
ernickel bread from RemcnHa breas
pocket and a bottle OF apolllnaris from
beneath HE chair Remenyl fell 20 ane
was heartily enjoying the Joke "A vel