DEATH OF A FAMOUS CONJUROR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1621, 16 August 1887, Page 3

DEATH OF A FAMOUS CONJUROR.

Professor Herrman, the “ Prince of Coojurors,” as he called himself, dipd on the Bth inst. at Carlsbad, after a short illness at the age of seventy-two. The Vienna correspondent of the Standard gives the following sketch of the Professor’s career : Paofessor Herman was born in Hanover, his father also being a conjuror by profession. While still a boy he accompanied his father to Paris, where the great skill of the young conjuror attracted much attention. He seems, however, to hays got tired of living by his wits, and entering the Paris University, he studied medicine, living in great poverty in the Quartier Latin. After some ten years of this ho gave it up, and definitely resumed his old profession, which ultimately brought him many honors and a large fortune. His tours extended over the whole world, and there was probably not a single Court in Europe before which he did not perform. The unfortunate Sultan Abdul Aziz was amongst his warmest admirers, and used to pay him a thousand pounds (Turkish) for every representation. During one of these performances he exhibited two pigeons, one white and one black, and managed to place the white head on the black pigeon and vice vert&. This pleased the Sultan great y, snd he asked Herrmann to try the same trick with a black and white elave, but the conjuror declared that that was beyond bis power. On another occasion he took a rare and valuable watch from the Sultan and pretended to throw it into the sea, His Majesty, of course, finding it again in his own pocket. The Czar Nicholas also bestowed great favors on Herrmann, who it is said, received a million roubles for one Russian tour. He was very charitable, and only a few days before bis death sent 1500 fr for the relief of the victims of the Opera Comique disaster. In Vienna, where he was very popular, and where, two years ago, he celebrated his seventieth birthday, a distinguished company assembled in his residence to congratulate him. He leaves a large fortune, and a collection of rare antiquities which he spared no trouble or cost in amassing. A few months ago he told me that he had written his memoirs, which he believed would be of groat interest, giving an account of bis varied experiences. He leaves a widow, a French lady. She was his second wife ; his first, from whom he wss divorced, being the famous prima donna Mdme. Caillag, who is still living here as a teacher of singing. The most romarkabls items of his inexhaustible programme were his tricks with cards. In Portugal he performed the following triok before Don Fernando. He handed the King a loaded six-barrelled revolver, and requested hisMajeety to fire at him. The King did so, and be caught five ballets in succession with his hand. The sixth missed his aim, snd struck a large looking glass, which it starred with innumerable cracks. Then Herrmann himself fired at the glass, which became whole and faultless again. 11 You are the devil in person,” exclaimed the King. “So lam,” replied Herrmann, “but a poor davil.’ Among the numerous stories told of Herrmann, it is narra'ed that at a market at Buffalo Le bought a basket of eggs, which he broke one by one before the eyes of the farmer who sold them, apparently producing from each a gold coin. Thereupon the fajtner is said to have refused to sMI any more eggs, breaking them himself in the hope of also finding a gold piece in each, In 1873 Herrmmn lost his fortune of nearly 2,000,000 florins through speculation* on the Bourse. He then set forth on a aeries of long tours through Fraoce, Russia, Austria, and America, and in n few year* had recovered the anv unt of his loss.