The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-20
MAGlclAN'S TRICKS
Are Explained, But Not So That You
Could Notice It.

Denver Cor. New York American.
"Ah, it ees very cold. mademoiselle, ees
1t not? 1t ees what you Americans would
call fearful, would you not?"
1t was Hermann the great talking for
who else is there who can give that de-
llghtful little hesitation to his words, that
elaborate little twlrl to his mustache,
and that courteous bow which has greet
ed audiences In nearly every corner OF
the world? Hermann does all these
things and many more, and with the pol
ish, the charming touch of refinement
that life under the skies Of France gives.
1t was in the flies of the Orpheum the
atre surrounded by gaudy scenes. fiimsy
costumes and hurrying stage hands. that
Monsieur Hermann told how several
t. ) can be done in the parlor with lit
tie O.. per,se lie was dressed in neat
o.S suit which fitted his slim figure
ps- city. and he twred his heavy black
mrs,ache thoughtfuly.
''Of course" he said. "a magician Is
born, not made. lie can work hard and
learn many wonderful tricks, but he can
never learn the things that born magi-
clan can do. no never. no matter how
hard he may try. Another thing-he must
be Just as Interested in his own trick
and the thing he Is going to do as the
audience. lie must know that card Is
IN his right mana, nut lIlliN NliN ~ - ~
his left or he will never be great. II Is
with the billiard ball. the card and money
that the amateur must always begin, and
here are few of the things he can
easily learn with only an hours practice
each day. The cigarette Is another easy
thing to work with, and | viii show YOU
how he can make two out of one.
"Of course. one must never tell that he
is going to do a trick. He must quietly
l 4 aIfr. tn nd talking
TO the people before him. seclude one
under the middle finger Of his right hand
and show only the back of his hand to the
audience. lie then takes another cigar
cite from the box and holds 1t between
his thumb and first finger of the lett
hand I will now make two cigarettes
out of one.' he explains to the audience,
ana passing his left hand over the palm
of his right he slips one on top of th9
other and draws them out. If he wishes
to make the cigarette disappear he must
take it between the thumb and first finger
of the right hand, pass his left over 1t
ana conceal 1t under his second finger
and close both hands, presently opening
the one the audience last saw holding
the cigarette He then produces the
cigarette from some part of his body or
clothing.
"Another clever trick can be done with
n dollar Hold it I'm your right hand
between the thumb and first finger. Place
the palm of your left hand over it and
slip the dollar into the palm of this hand.
Have another In the palm OF the right
hand pass one over the other and pro-
duce both dollars in the same hand.
"'rhe billiard ball is the most difficult
of things to handle skillfully. for 1t is
round and easily seen. Place one in the
palm of the right hand. BY placing the
view hand over IL the ball is hidden from
view and pass II into the palm Of the
left hand Close both hands, make the
motion as II you threw It into the air,
and then open the hands, showing 1t In
the left hand or picking IT off the cloth
ing. Another thing that can be done Is
to throw the ball into the air four times
and the fifth time throw while in the
palm Make the motion OF throwing 1t
away and then pluck It from your sleeve.
"The last of these simple tricks can be
done with any card from the deck Place
1t between the thumb and first finger of
the right hand with the face toward the
audience. Then pass it on the back OF
the hand between the first and fourth
fingers and show the palm with the card
gone Use the thumb TO push 1t and bring
II back in the same way, this time show
ing the back of the hand. Then pro-
duce It.
"rhe trick of changing one card into
another is done by holding part of
deck of cards In the left hand the long
wav. PASS the right hand over the front
and draw card from the back of the
deck with the thumb of the left hand
Pass i'm front of the deck again AND slip
It on top of the deck. TO produce the
Illusion bring the hand down slowly In
front. putting the card into place care
fullV.'