Death of a Noted Wizard.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 7

Death of a Noted Wizard.

One of the most popular personages of Vienna society, nay, of the whole world, the prestidigitateur Professor Hermann, has just died at Carisbad. His marvellous performances had acquired for him an extraordinary fame, and he was as well-known at Paris and New York as at Vienna* In '43 he lost his fortune of nearly 2,000,000f1. through speculations on the Bourse. He then set forth on a series of long tours through France, Russia, Austria, and America, and in a few years had recovered the amount of his loss. He was, undoubtedly, the most clever of all his professional colleagues. He had performed before all the potentates of Europe, and Czar Alexander 11. was never in such good spirits as when Hermann produced his sleight of hand tricks before him. The most remarkable items of his inexhaustible programme were his tricks "with cards. In Portugal he performed the following trick before Don Fernando. He handed the King a loaded 6 barrelled revolver, and requested His Majesty to fire at him. The King did so,> and Hermann caught five bullets in succession in his hand. The sixth missed its aim, and struck a large looking-glass which it starred with innumerable cracks. Then Hermann himself fired at the glass which at once became whole and faultless again. " You are the devil in person," exclaimed the King. "So I am," replied Hermann, "but a poor devil." The latter assertion was not quite the truth. Hermann died a millionaire.

A New York paper declares that " the low-neck dress must go." Where? Even now it is sometimes mistaken for a garter in the East. First lady caller— "ls your husband at home?" Young wife (playfully)— " No ; he has left me for a time." Second lady caller (aside)— " And a pretty big one as usual, I suppose." A popular writer, who sometimes has a bad "spell," wrote the name of the illustrious author of "Pilgrim's Progress" as "John Bunion." His publisher suggested that it be in a footnote. Fogg : What do you think of Dole ? Bogg : I think he is one of the biggest liars 1 ever knew. Fogg : Of course ; he said I was a fool the other day. Bogg : Indeed ! Well, I may have misjudged him. The girl who keeps a diary faithfully wants to be mighty sure that sho keeps it under lock and key. And if she doesn't want to b,ring down her grey hairs in sorrow to the grave she must never read it when she gets old.