HERMANN'S TRICKS ON SHIPBOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 204, 27 August 1881, Page 1

HERMANN'S TRICKS ON SHIPBOARD.

The writer of this had the pleasure: ot crossing the ocean with tins'* great l magician, and; of eittipg, at the same table with him daring the voyage — and ; no end of fun it was, too. Some of the things he used to do would sound; incredible, if his marvellous per- 1 formances were not: well known. His* wife, who iB his accomplice in all his ; wonders, next him at the table \ where he delighted the passengers with \ exhibitions. Mrs Hermann was \ formerly a ballet-dancer, and ; is rather j a pretty ' little woman, with a pro- '■ pensity for wearing . satin slippers. Madame Mocpßka and her ) husband, Count JBozenta, were- also on board, and the great tragedienne was as much amused at Hermann's antics as anybody on board; 1 He Would pick up a bottle of claret at dinner— arid let me beg you to believe that this is no exaggeration—throw it up in the ! air, where; it would disappear, and th^n it would be found under the captain^ coat-tails, at the; other end. of the : table*. After the first ; few day's, when the horrors of sea-sickness were, partly done., with, apd the pasßengers. began to make, jtheic. ap* pearance at meal, time, Heuraann wai "wont to set the table in a roar," and made the- five ' o'clock dianera very merry occasion. Qne_ yo ujig jxx&n,. wlio had gazed with staring eyes at his performances v/as especially the victim of his jokes., Hermann would go up to him in the cabin, before a crowd of ladies waitiDg to see the fun, and, saying in liis blandest manner, " ]Vly dear sir, you appear to be a lemontree," .produce ' half-a-dozen lemons from his ear ! The youth's confusiou may be imagined. Then, in playiug cards, on deck, this young man seemed to feel a fatal fascination for him ; and although he knew that Hermann would victimize liiru, ho would sauuter up to him, when Hermann would ask him to hold a pack; of cards for a moment. He would sheepishly consent, for fear of being laughed at, and when his tormentor asked for them they • -would have multiplied into a> hundred packs. Cards would pour from his pockets' his vest, and his coat-tails, while he would look ready to faint with mortification. One of Hermann's favourite tricks was to ask the time, when the ; person producing his watch would' be tojd that he had a repeater, and '■< the ! watch would immediately strike. His mastery over clocks and watches ; was simply ciiabolloal, r: : '^ ;;;,;; ■ : ,:V y * \