The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-23
Magic and the Indian

THE mind of the noble redman does not lend itself readily
l to the proper appreciation Of ~latter-day "magic,' as
Leon Hermann, 'the last Of the illustrious Her1manns,'
who will appear at the Orpheum next week, discovered to his
cost. ~. ..,. %
1t was while playing in Phoenix, Ariz, that the third
Hermann the Great decided to visit a tribe Of Navajos on
a n~eighboring reservation: After seeing all there was to be
seen, Hermann decided to have some fun with the unso-
phisticated Los. He took a hat, a broad sombrero, from the
head of a tall buck, and, much to the amazement of the In
dian, proceeded to fill it with silver dollars, caught from the
air. -,
A crowd Of tribesmen gathered around and, with whoops
and grunts, expressed their establishment at this miraculous
performance. Following up his advantage, Hermann walked
over to the victim and began producing silver coins from
various parts of the Indians person. From his thick, black
hair, his arms, from under the blanket in which the Navajo
was wrapped, a shower of coins jingled merrHy into the hat.
Finally, Hermann paused and began taking the, coins
from the hat, preparatory to taking his departure, likewise.
But the big buck demulred. Selling Herrmann's arm rough
ly, he grunted:
Ugh! Him mine! You take from me? Ugh! Him mine!
You give me- =.-..
The great magician held stoutly to his hat, which con
tanned twenty silver dollars, and attempted to explain.
ooh, no, my good fellow,'' he said, ''you don't under
stand. This is only a trick. That money is mine. [ brought
it here with me. You understand? It's a trick, a trick
Finally an old Indian spoke up. He was evidently the
chief Of the tribe, judging from the respect with which his
words were treated. :. ..u. -
"You say trick, huh? 2" he queried of Hermann. WELL,
if him a trick, you do him again." ."
The words were more OF a command than a suggestion,
SO Hermann thought it best to comply with the chiefs in
Dictated desire and perform the trick once more.
Again in the most wonderful manner Hermann pro-
ceeded to take coins from the different parts of the Indians
body, while the rest looked on in growing wonder. Finally,
he paused and turned to the chief. r.
''Now you see it was only a trick. The money is my own
which I brought here for the very purpose!'
'''tUgh, you heap, big man, big cbief!' said the Indian
chief. %"Him no trick. You take money from him. > point
ing to the tall Indian. 'EYou take money from him. You
give him money back. Ugh, I have ~spoken!" The old chief
turned on his heel and calmly left Hermann at the mercy. of
the tribesmen.
Again the tall Indian grabbed his hat, and this time,
fearing violence, the money-creating magician gave it up,
with a resigned smile-and the tall Indian had, both the hat
and the money. -> "
Hermann walked over to his carriage and jumped in.
"Any trouble, sir?" asked the driver.
"Oh, no trouble answered Hermann with a rueful
smile, "only that hat contained $50, and the joke is very
much on me- ~r%
The affair didn't turn out so badly, however, as fifty big
bucks, at 81 a head, occupied front row seats at the Herr
mann entertainment in Phoenix that night, and Hermann
says: "Never IN my career did I play to a more delighted
OF more appreciative audience than those same fifty Indians
who came in on my money!