The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-21

a. nGu peen by other hands than mine.
They searched me from head TO foot, but or
course did not find the watch They rlui-
culed the idea when 1 suggested that the
two policemen should search themselves
The crowd insisted, however, and while
ono of the policemen pulled the hanuker-
chief out of his inside pocket, the other'
with look OF utter amazcment on ms
face, brought the missing watch TO nght
When tried to explain, the bobhies
wouldn't listen. My friends tried In vain
TO make them look upon the whole affair
as magician's joke. They declared that
they were not to be fooled In that way and
marched me of to the police station There
was recognized and set at liberty. AS the
London papers took the matter up, had
of course accomplished my object.
Another remarkable performance attrib-
uted to Hermann took place at Osoend.
There he caused lady's bracelet to disap-
pear from her wrist, anda moment later
he apparently picked 1t up from the pier
and threw it into the sea. While those
around looked on In amazement hermann
took her husband 3 hat and extracted there
from bouquet OF roses, with the missing
bracelet neatly tied with ribbon In the
center.
1t was favorite trick Of Herrmann's to
90 into market places and fool the stand
keepers He would buy living chickens
and rabbits, cut their throatsin tho pres
ence of tho vender, and then, reattaching
the neck, return the creatures TO the sur
prised dealers without sign of their re-
cent amputation showing He would cut
oranges and apples In half and extract
coins from them, pretending 30 DO very
much surprised and delighted over his
luck.
Some years ago Hermann was Invited
to dine with the Marquis of Acapules
The marquis had a taste for partridges, @
weakness of which Hermann was aware,
30 when the conversation drifted around to
edibles the old nobleman began to rave
about pnrtridges and express a wish that
he had provided come.
"Oh, well have some anyway" said
| Hermann.
"I'd like to know whero Wen get
| Them" said tho nobleman, with laugh.
"There's not such a thing in the house y
"Nothing easier" said Hermann, ris-
ing and picking up hat just this
way" And he dug his hand in the hat
and brought up brace of fine birds.
| At a hotel In Turkey the magician was
| much annoyed by the noise created by q
guest In the next room. He knocked on
the Turks door, and when tho latter ap
peared drew a dagger and stabbed himself
In his own wrist, what appeared TO be MI
lifeblood squirting out in stream.
The unspeakable Turk was so scarce
that he left the hotel without waiting fol
his baggage.
A trick which has mystifled many pco
pie has been performed twice In New Yorl
by Hermann. A half dozen rifles, inspect
ed and loaded by strangers, have been firct
at him by national guard men, and eaol
tima he has managed to catch the bullet
and escape without harm to himself. Herr
mann has explained this trick n number o
times, but no one has ever been able =
make head or tail of his explanation, ant
1t is regarded as the most remarkable u
his repertory.
Much Of Herrmann's success as sleigh
of hand man has been due TO his plausibil
ity. He was ready, witty tallSer and al
ways had q good story with which to dis
tract attention when 1t was necessary. II
was a great believer In life insurance an
is said to have carried policies aggregatia
10000