The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-21
TALES OF THE TIMES.
tonne Good stories Of tho Late Magicfan
Hermann.
Continued Tomorrow.

tonne Good stories Of tho Late Magicfan
Hermann.
Often the tricks which Hermann prao-f
Need on his companions seemed more mar.
selous to them than those he presented on
the stage. One of his of the stage special
ties was reserved for use in the cafe at Dol
monico's. Necessary adjuncts were bot
tie of champagne and stranger. The In.
reduction of the stranger was the signai
for all the disengaged walters and guests
to constitute themselves an impromptu
audience. The stranger and the magician
would clink glasses filed to the brim.
"Your health, and here goes" Herr
mann would say. And as the brim OF cne
glass was touching his lips wine and glass
together disappeared before the astonisneo
strangers gaze.
The equally mysterious reoppearance OF
the glass moment later, still brimming
full of champagne, was the astonishing
climax of a trick of which no ono ever ex'
planned the secret.
Hermann always carried a number OK
gold coins in his pocket bearing his pri.
vate mark He was one OF the most expert
palmists that ever lived. There is story
of how Abe Hummel was vlctimized, with
apt CELEBRATIONS, In TINS Wise'
They were seated In a Broadway cafe IN
company with half dozen others. A
newsboy entered tho cafe opportunely.
Hermann wanted a newspaper. lie TOOK
n handful Of coins from his pocket, among
which were two $50 goldpieces, which he
laid on Mr.. Hummel's corner of the table
while making change with the boy out OK
a silver quarter Then he called the at
| 70 h, IN
one of his goldpieces had disappeared.
"I am sorry, gentlemen, said the ma-
Qician, ''but I shall have to search you"
Mr.. Hummel had no objection, ana
when Hermann found the missing coin
in the lawyers vest pocket the latter
brazenly declared that 10 was his own.
"But IL bears my private mark, }" retort-
ed the magician. "Now let US hear you
defend the criminal.
The prisoner Is declared to have pleaded
guilty and thrown himself on the meroy
Of tho court
When Hermann first appeared In Lon
don, it was I'm rather obscure fashion. But
no had already learned in this country the
yaluo OF newspaper advertising and TO
solved to furnish the English press with q
sensation. This Is the way that Hermann
carried out his resolution, os told by him
self 70 some friends in New York some
time ago:
asking two friends 10 accompany me
walked one morning into Regent street
Gotting into a crowd with two policemen
close behind M, I stepped up 70 gentle
man In front OF me and picked handker
chief out of his pocket in most CLUMSY
fashion. At tho Same time purloined th
watch Of n man who was standing near by
The two policemen saw me take the hand
korchief, rs intended they should, bu
the lifting Of the witch was not observed
The policeman grabbed mo, told my vic
tim Of tho loss OF his handkerchief nn'
asked him Co make a complaint ogains
me. My two friends insisted that wa
innocent. but just nt TINT moment the sec
ond victim discovered the loss OF his wntc
and insisted that must have stolen tha
also. proclaimed my innocence and AN
nounccd that II tho watch had been take