The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 23, 1896, Page 19

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1896. 19 THE REAL BOHEMIA IN SAN FRANCISCO Disciples of Raps the Great Who Bow to the Owl “Lulw.” lTnis is the mysterious cry of recogni- tion of the members of the Schlaraffia. “Aha, Ihi, Uhu.” These are the names of the gods before whose shrines all good Schlaraffen bow, and the greatest of these is Aha, the wise and solemn-looking bird which rules E Bohemia o'er all the world. Within Bohemia’s charmed and blithe- some realm there dwells a little coterie of congenial spirits whose quiet, enjoyable and ynostentatious doings have hitherto remained entirely unknown to the folks of ordinary grain and fiber in this City. Everything pertaining to this exclusive organization is flavored with a peculiarity and a secrecy that give it extreme piquancy to the unitiated. Itis known as the Schlaraffia, and its | members are all Germans, or those who | are able to converse in the language of the | Fatherland. Entrance to the domain of | the gods of pleasure and genius, who are | the rulipg spirits of the society, is made | contingent, not upon the wealth or social | position of the applicant, but upon his in- | dividual ability to renderassistance in the institution. It was not long before the renown of the Prague club spread, and admission to its precincts was sought by the very people who had forced the founders, as a measure of revenge, into the movement. But the club was in- exorable in the rule laid down for eligi- bility. No initiation was charged and the | dues were simply the amount necessary to carry on the meetings. While rank and wealth in themseives were not pro- scribed, the prime requisite was the ability to contribute some intellectual or artistic dish to the menu of the “feast of reason and the flow of soul.” Soon branches were instituted in various cities of the Continent, and in 1883 its in- fluence had spread to this City, where a local club was organized, largely through the efforts of A. J. Kahler, the well-known newspaper artist, who had at one time been a member of the mother club. San Francisco, in fact, bears the distinction of having organized the first Scilaraffia club in the United States, though there are to- day similar societies in New York, Brook- lyn, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Philadelphia, and one is about wask of speeding the fleeting hours by lading them with pleasure. Membership is confined to actor, artist, poet, sculp- tor, author, musician and those who fol- | low any of the muses who are presumed | to contribute to the pleasures of the | human race. It was a generation ago that the order of the Schlaraffia took its origin in the city of Prague, Bohemia. Itsdate of birth is down in its sacred records as October 10, 1559. The apparently ancient date is due to the whimsical carrying on fiction adopted of | the proceedings of the | various societies of the organiza- tion in conformity with the days of 300 years ago. Everything in use by the members, their ceremonies, the desig- nation of the months, the ranks of officers and members, all bear names that would be unrecognizable to the German versed only in the modern Teutonic etymology. Its inception was due to the disfavor with which the artist of the stage was then looked upon by the higher classes of | society in Germany apd Austria, and to be organized in San Jose. Altogether there are now mnearly 120 clubs scattered throughout the world and all rendering allegiance to the “Mutter,”” or chief or- ganization, st Prague. > The meetings of the local Schlaraffen are held every Thursday evening in their hall on Bush street, on one of the floors above Norman’s. This apartment is dec- orated in a manner to at once attract the notice of any casual visitor who may be fortunate enough to gain access to it. Scarcely an inch of the wall is left blank, the mural adornment consisting of the works of the members, but more particu- larly of the artist constituents. Most of the paintings and designs are freaks, but with a strong element of the artistic and poetic in them nevertheless. At each meeting diversion is offered in the shape of an original poem, an essay, a painting, a bit of work in clay or marble, the rendition of a musical composition, declamation and even short histrionic displays. All visiting German actors re- new their allegiance to the owl, the chief actors were the originators of the unique deity of the Schiaraffen, when they come to this City, and these occasions partake generally of more than the usual gayety. Not an infrequent occurrence at these gatherings is a duel over some imagined offense. The gauntlet is thrown down to the alleged offender, who promptly ac- cepts the challengs. The character of the combat is then decided by the Ober Schlaraffe. It may be of the material or the intellectual. If of the former, each principal _ selects three seconds. Six glasses of beer are then placed upon a table, three for each group of ®econds. The principals, after tasting the contents of each glaes, hands one to each of his seconds, and the latter must drain them to the last drop. The side which con- cludes the task with the greater expedi- tion is declared the victor, Should one drop be spilled defeat falls to the knight on whose side the faux pashasbeen made. More interesting, however, is the 1n- tellectual contest. When the Ober Schla- raffe pronounces his fiat that the battle is to be of the mind the combatants retire to the seclusion of their studios and there concoct the poem, song, canvas or piece of sculpture that is intended to bring them victory and honor. The verdict is ren- dered by the presiding Schlaraffe. The productions of both knights become the property of the club, and the victor is presented with a medal as an award of merit., There are three Ober Schlaraffen elected for each club. One attends to all inside affairs, another to outside business and the third looks after the artistic side of the organization. Emil Meyer, R. Kenner and C. Herr- mann are the reigning Schlaraffen of the local club, and among its prominent and active members are Otto Dobbertin, the sculptor; Ernest A. Otto, the artist; John H. Sievers and others prominent in professional and artistic circles. “In Arte Voluptas” is the motto of the Schlaraffen, and diligently do they seek pleasure in art, and unselfishly do they provide entertainment for visiting brethren, come they whence and when they may. Occasionally the wives and daughters of members are admitted to the mysteries of the ‘‘sippung” or meeting, and also strangers. But all non-members must be vouched for by the member who introduces them, for who enters here must take an iron-bound pledge of secrecy. Each initiated Schiaraffe bears an 1n- signia of his affiliation, but this is minute in size and its significance is not to be be- trayed to any outsider. Unless oneisa member of the select circle the secret badge of Bohemiamism would probably never be discerned, though usually worn in plain sight. Though caste is eliminated from this brotherhood of pleasure-seekers, rank is a feature. There are the grafen, the ritter, the junker, the knappen and the proba- tioners. Strangers who are permitted to pass the sacred portals of the ‘‘burg,” or ‘meeting place, are known as *‘pilger.” An act of disobedience or disloyalty is punished by confinement in the jail of the “burg,” generally a particular corner of the apartment, and the prisoner is de- prived for a fixed periad of his usual al. lowance of beer and other inspiriting liguid refreshment. For the past rifteen years the order has had its own official organ, published in Prague under the sanction and super- vision of the mother club. Herein are printed the effusions of the literary mem- bers and they are.of more than ordinary bears the name of the organization it rep- resents, celebrated the issuance of its two- hundredth number by a specially hand- some edition, with a unique poster design on the cover in colors. Nonebut members are allowed to become subscribers to this journal, nor are the unaffiliated permitted to peruse it. Raps the Greal is the most notable fizurg in the history of the Schlaraffia. He was one of the early Ober-Schlaraffen of the mother society and did more by his individual efforts to bring the organiza- tion to its present and past state of popu- larity than any other dignitary of the Bohemian band. His wit was of the keen- est and always readyto flash. While he reigned there was no dull moment pos- sible during the sippung. Monotony was his abomination, and his inventive genius evolved new ideas as rapidly as the occa- sion required. His name to the every-day acquaintance was John Eichler, and he followed the calling of a sugar-broker. ‘Who knows naught of Raps the Great is not a true Schiaraffe. “I can’t help being & little melancholy,” he said, apologetically. “In trouble?” “Noton myown account; but I can’t help thinking over the misfortunes of two friends of mine who recently married. One got a girl who can cook, and insists on playing the piano. The other got one who knows how to ‘flny the piano, and insists on cooking.’’— Washington Star. merit. Recently this publication, which | THE OLDEN DREAM OF THE ALCHEMIST Hath Emmens the Secret of Turning Silver Into Gold ? Dr. Stephen H. Emmens, the inventor of the powerful explosive known as “Em- mensite,” having recently announced that he has discovered a method by which silver can be changed into gold, the very large number of metallurgists and chemists who on the Pacific Coast deal with the production of the precious metals are on the qui vive and they will wait with much of interest and curiosity more definite announcements than have been made public. The utterances of Ur. Em- mens may be summarized, for readier understanding, about as follows: Neither gold nor silveris an elemental body. The relations of the two metals chemically to each other, and their con- stant association in nature, has long made it probable that they are but different forms of the same substance, just as charcoal and the diamond are allo- tropic forms of carbon. It is possi- ble to dissolve zold very easily, and the resultant solutions of both gold and silver are the same; a substance has been secured by segregating the particles of the silver solution which is similar to gold. Dr. Emmens has found that the transmutation of silver into gold has a commercial value. He produced artificial diamonds from a carbon solution thirty years ago, and has constantly worked since that time on the problem of the di- visibility of what are called elementary substances. A laboratory will be erected in New York to carry on the transmuta- tion of silver into gold according to his process. Local metallurgists and chemists have been interviewed. John W. Pack, assayer in the United States Mint in this City, said that it is true, as Dr. Emmens claims, that gold is not an elementary substance. Demonstration has amply proved that gold 13 a compound substance and con- taing two elements. This being so—and the chemists have claimed such to be the fact—it is possible that such a discovery may lead up to solving the solution of gold as we know it now. ‘At the same time,” said Mr. Pack, “before I am will- ing to say that silver can be transmuted into gold, or to think that a process has been discovered which can accomplish that result, 1 must see something more definite than has yet appeared on the sub- ject. In other words, I would like a demonstration. “Dr. Emmens is probably misquoted concerning the ease with which gold can be dissolved. It cannot be dissolved as easily as sugar is dissolved by water, but by the use of muriatic and nitric acids it can be liquefied, as it has been custom- arily turned by chemists into a liquid form. But while silver can be dissolved by one acid, nitric acid, it takes two acids to dissolve gold. Of course all metallurgists must surely realize the wide bearing of a discovery by which the transmutation of the less valuable precious metal into gold can be effected, and scientific men will undoubt- edly watch what may come of Dr. Emmens’ experiments by reason of the economic bearing of his researches fully as much as on account of their purely scientific possibilities.” Mr. Pack has been assayer of the mint some years, was four years assistant assayer at the mint under Mr. Twiggs and has had intimate knowledge of metallurgy since 1874. Louis Falkenau conceded that it 1s pos- sible that silver may be transmuted into gold. Modern chemists, proceeding scien- tifically, have reached the conclusion that this may be accomplished, and Dr. Em- mens may be the discoverer of the process, Mr. Falkenau did not say that he thought that such a discovery had been made. In reference to the article which appeared in Tee CaLn last Sunday Mr. Falkenau said: ‘‘What was published may be all true. At any rate the writer had some knowl- edge of his subject and he has the advan- tage that no one can dispute him success- fully. No one knows that what he says is not true. It has been hoped for, centuries that the baser metals might be trans- muted into gold. The olden alchemists believed that this was possible. The moq- ern scientists have arrived at the same conclasion, but by entirely different pro- cesses and investigations have the mod- erns come o that way of thinking. The field has been gone over so carefully that when the discovery comes the final and critical step will probably be the result of an accident. “At the same time it should be said in that connection that accidents of that sort are becoming da:ly iess probable as knowl- edge of properties steadily advances. I have the works of Cary Lea of Philadel- phia, who is alleged in the article in THE CALL to have made a discovery which Dr. Emmens says is the key to the problem of the relation of silver to gold. I am sorry that I have not now at hand some samples which have been sent out by Cary Lea as the result of his experiments. I had some, but they have been mislaid. Others on the Pacific Coast have received samples from Mr. Lea. The work of Mr. Lea is interesting, but I know very little of his standing as a chemist. Under cer- tain conditions silver may be made to look like gold. Frankiy I may say that I doubt whether Dr. Emmens can turn sil- ver 1nto gold, and [ believe such an ac- complishment as that a long way off—but I do not know.” proper performance, bespeaks the brute nature. This is one view, however. South of the Rio Grande there is a sentiment which shudders at the thought of two men en- tering a ring and fighting and - pummel- ling each other until one falls fainting, overcome by a succession of terrific blowsand its attendant weakness. Perhaps, as these fights too frequently, terminate, one of the combatants falls, never to rise again. And this the votary of bull-fighting holds to be infinitely more debasing and more cruel than the mere pastime of killing cattle. In Mexican cities where there is a large proportion of American residents it is cus- tomary to spend the Sunday afternoon in the bull ring and to yell with the rest as the sport waxes warm and exciting. In- deed, the American and European dwell- ers in the sunny republic are counted among the best patrons of the ring, and nowadays 1t is a common sight to see long trains crowded with people from Texan cities pouring into Mexico of a Sunday afternoon, the objective point being some town where a bullfight is to be held. On such occasions the towns on the American side of the frontier are actually emptied of their population. “Where are the peo- ple?”’ you may ask. “QOh, over in Mexico ata bullfight,” some old woman or youngster will be sure to answer. As an illustration of the growing infatu- ation among Americans for the bullfight, the city of Monterey, in the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, is cited. There the Ameri- can and European population is about 25,000, including the mining and refining districts immediately around the place. Monterey has a large paper printed in En- The bulls of Parangueo, that are known to be ‘the best in Mexico, were selected by Ma~ tador Ecijano, which is a guarantee that this will be the best fight of the season. | Matadores — Diego Prieto (Cuatro Dedos), Juan Jimenez (Ecijano), Antonio Escobar (Boto). Four picadores, five banderilleros. Prices of admission: Shade—Box for six persons, $16 50; general entrance, $2 50; front seats, extra, 75 cents; seats in boxes, 50 cents Preference place, sun—General entrance, $150; front seats, extra, 25 cents. Sun—Gen- eral entrance, 75 cents; front seats, extra, 12 cents. In Monterey, Mexico, the Mexicans say: “Qur laws prohibit American prize-fight- ing. But for your laws you would have bull-fighting in your country.” And so honors are even. Ganine Danger Signal There is a dog on Folsom street thata surpasses all other dogs in the vicinity in discernment, if not in all around intelli- gence. Blaine he is called, and is owned by nobody knows who. Heisa spaniel, with a large intermixture of Newfound- land, ané is noted particularly for his vocal performances at night. He will sit for hours upon an unoccupied stoop and how! without cessation from dewy eve till morn. What interests the whole neighborbood in Blaine is the fact, that has been observed any number of times, of his seeming to know the exact purpose of the pound-catchers, who peram= 1 ! DR. P I 27 { \ \ \ \ \ \ EMMENS IN HIS LABORATORY. Liovers Of the Bull-Fight In view of the difference of opinion re- garding the brutality of bull fighting it is interesting to learn that there are no more enthusiastic patrons of the plaza toro in Mexico than the Americans. North of the Rio Grande it goes with- out saying that the National svort of Mexico is barbarous, the goading of a bull mto fine furies for the insensate pleasures of a mob, the danger and excitement and blood are of a dead snd gone age. And the climax itself, the death of the tortured animal, being demanded as part of the " RARE STORIES Failed to Naturalize. There is one employe of the Sheriff’s office whose name, if the final letter was removed. would rhyme with brace, who will be careful to have it all understood beforehand the next time that to oblige a friend he undertakes to see him safely through the intricacies of becoming naturalized. A Swedish acquaintance came to him | when the Superior Judges were busy turn- ing out hundreds of citizens per day and announced that he wanted to vote at the coming election, but had not gone through the final steps of naturalization. “That’s all right,” said the municipal employe, “and I suppose you believe in free silver?” “] suppose so—guess so,” was the vague answer and the satisfied deputy hunted up another Swedish friend and introduced the pair, and without explaining much of the process of naturalization to either bundled them into Judge BSanderson’s court and by his authbority asa Sheriff's deputy procured an early audience. Being on terms with the legal luminary he supposed, of course, that he would be called upon first to answer to the qualifica- tions of his friend and began: “Judge, this is a friend —’ Then Judge Sanderson suddenly turned to the other witness, who was waiting silently for the deputy to answer the mo- mentous questions so that he would know what to say when called upon. “How long have you known this man?” he asked. «I know him not long, Judge. My friend here introduced us togedder.”’ A withering glance from the bench told the deputy that his friend would not vot- for free silver or anything else at this elec- tion and he hastily made his exit amid the laughter of the other prospective voters. —_————— “You have too big & heart,” they observed. She laughed. . “That doesn’t matter,” she lightly rejoined, “with these loose waists.”—Detroit Tribune. e -———— Young men oroid should not fall to read Thomas Slater's advertisement on page 82. It Was Arabic. Lots of funny things come into the office of the Board of Health in the way of birth certificates made out in foreign languages, applications for milk permits written in impossible hands, etc., but, as a general thing, through experience and knowledge of many different tongues, the secretary manages to set them right, and see that they are properly entered in the record. The other day, however, he struck a poser, and it is still a poser. The mail brought a birth certificate blank on which there were but two words that the secre- tary could made out. The first was in the line beginning ‘““Name of child,” which was filled out “Mary.” The other was the name of the physician or midwife, which was plainly E. Schneid. The other lines, in which the date of birth, name of father, should have been given, were filled with gueer-looking hooks, querls and curved lines with occa- sional dots. Mr. Godchaux scratched his head and looked puzzled. ‘“‘Some idiot has written this certificate in shorthand,” he said. “Here, Mrs, Sichel”—turning to the obliging sten- ofirapher of the office—"just translate this.” The certificate certainly did look like shorthand, but Mrs. Sichel made no more progress than the secretary. Occasionally she struck something which mignt have been a phonetic character, but it would not fit with anything else. “I giveit up,” she finally announced. *“verhaps it is some system that you are not familiar with,” said Mr. Godchsux, and he was about to send the certificate to the stenographer of some other depart- ment, when a friend, learned in ancient languages, came in and announced that the queer-looking marks were Arabic. ‘The inquiry stopped right there. —_——— She—You may say what you will, I think you will find that women are less wicked than men. I expect that heaven will be in- habited principally by women. He—Very likely. The men, of course, will generally be found in the smoking-room be- low.—Boston Transcript. FROA T ol Cl1Y RALL His Right Hand. Justice of the Peace -Cook bas one odd habit that comes into play while he is in- terpreting and carrying into effect the law in his court that puzzles many whose business calls them into his tribunal, and was the cause of an amount of amuse ment the other day that somewhat ruf- fled the dignity of his Honor. There is a time-honored custom that demands that oaths in a court of justice must be administered with the right hand raised. Of course, there is nothing in the law that compels this, and an oath woula be legal even though neither hand was up- raised, but the custom is so old that most people are not aware of this, ana to swear without the right hand up apoears queer. The witness-chair in Justice Cook’s court is on the left of the Judge’s bench, and his Honor seldom takes the trouble to turn to use his right hand, but raises the left when giving the formula of the oath. “Raise your right hand to be sworn,” he said to s witness in a case that was tried a few days ago. Apparently the man did not know which was his right, for he looked at the Justice to see which of his hands was up and then raised his left. “Raise your right hand,” said the Jus- tice a second time. “Ihave,” said the witness, and the law- yers and other witnesses began to laugh audibly. Justice Cook utilized his right hand to hammer vigorously with his gavel for order, and then again admonished the witness to raise the other hand. By this time the witness was badly rattled, the courtroom was eéonvulsed and the Justice was growing very impatient at the pro- ceedings. “Never mind,”” he said testily. ‘keep both hands down if you can’t tell your left from your right—it makes little difference anyway. ‘Do you solemnly swear, atc.,” and the case proceeded without further hitch. . ‘We wish we could look as wise as & plumber looks when he pounds a pipe to discover leak.—Atchison Globe. Spoiled the « Snap.” When telephones are mentioned in the office of the justice clerk there are quite likely to be dark looks cast at George Mc- Comb, the genial deputy clerk, the most of whose spare moments these days are spent in listening to the arguments of those of his friends who areu rging him to make a fight for the nomination for Re- corder. Generally no information regara- ing these giances and the accompanying pantomimes suggestive of severe breath- ings can be elicited, but in a burst of con- fidence the other day ore of his fellow- deputies told the cause. ‘‘We had a snapon telephone messages,” he said, ‘‘until George got into a row with Central the other day and spoiled the whole thing. This is the only nickel-in- the-slot telephone in the City Hall, and we svent the price of many steams sending messages to our iriends until we struck a great scheme. We found that by sharply striking the button that drops the nickel into the box and sets the buzzer going as notice to Central that the comnany had collected its tariff thesame result could be attained as though the nickel was paid. That was a genuine good thing, and we worked it for all it was worth. Even our best friends were letin on the snap, and they traveled blocks to use our ’phone. “One day George thumped the button and ‘waited for Central to do the rest, but there was a hitch somewhere, and in spite of the fact that he had contributed nothing to the support of the corporation he got impatient. “He banged the hook for a while and when Central answered said: ** ‘Say, Central, this machine is on the blink.’ “ ‘What's the matter?’ asked Central. ““That's what I want to know,” said George. ‘'l guess she must be out of or- der.’ *“He got his call and thought no more of thematter. The next day a repairer came from the telephone office, took out our soft snapand put in one that can’t be fooled into deceiving Central. No more free messages.”’ He Got the Morgue. The deputies out at the Sheriff's office are a lively lot of young fellows, full of animal spirits, and they like nothing bet- ter than a practical joke. = The latest amusement maker was invented by Billy Shean and many a laugh it has furnished the deputies between attachments. Billy went to the telephone the other day and asked Central for 'a number. ‘When the preliminary hello announced that an answer could be expected, he asked: “Is that you, Smith?"’ *No,” came over the wire. “Well, who is it?” asked Shean. “The Morgue,” was the answer. Billy was about to use some vigorous language when a thought struck him. ‘Why not put some one else in connection with the Morgue and have a laugh at the victim’s expense? Just then Head Keeper Van Derveer came in and was greeted with, ““Say, Van, a lady wants you at the telephone. Call up 1047.”" The unsnspecting keeper entered the box where the ’phone is kept for privacy’s sake, and Shean hastily gathered all the available deputies outside to await devel- opments. This is what they heard: “Hello, Central, give me 1947.” | “Thisis Mr. Van Derveer. Who wants me?”’ “The Morgue! What the devil do I want with the Morgue?'” Apparently the man at the other end was also a little bit hot, for the receiver went up with a bang and the victim came out with a red face to meet a circle of smiling deputies and a Ioud guffaw. Van Derveer was able to say, ‘‘There are others,” before the office closed for the day. ————————— «I thought you were never going to speak to Harold again as long as you lived,” said one girl. O +I know I said so,” replied the other. “Tt wasn't my fault that I broke the resolution.” «“How did it happen?”’ «He called me up over the telephone.”’— Washington Evening Star, glish and manv American institutions, and on account of the importance of the foreign colony the Plaza Toro manage- ment publishes announcements as follows in English for the benefit of Americans: SANTA LUCIA BULLRING. GRAND AND EXTRAORDINARY BULLFIGHT. Sunday, at 4 P. M. sharp. Six first-class bulls of the Parangueo breed will be fought by the troupesof the celebrated matadores, Cuatro Dedos, Ecijano and Boto. The management takes pleasure in inform- ing the people of Monterey that besides the already well-known matadores, Cuatro Dedos and Ecijano, they have engaged for this fight Antonio Escobar (el Boto), whose fame as & matador is known over the Republic of Mexico. bulate Folsom street very frequently. ‘Whenever Blaine observes the fated wagon he gives a prolonged howl and then starts up the street barking as if possessed, and every dog when he hears Blaine’s peculiar racket immediately makes himself scarce and hides, and until the poundkeeper is gone cannot be induced to become visible again, So sure are the people that disas- ter threatens their pets when Blaine comes dashing down the street that there is a simultaneous rush to the doors and a search for the family dog. Blaine is abso- lutely infallible as a danger signal and owes his iiving to the bones which his beneficentservices have earned from grate- ful dog-owners. FROM STANFORD'S «JOSH” A Ratification. ‘When the summer began a maid and & man, Who had known one another at College, Mer again by the sea, but they couldn’t agree Upon their political knowledge. By the girl he adored he was frequently bored, Now and then he disguised it but thinly, For she was as sure of the free-silver cure As he was of Major McKinley. But somehow 1t chanced that as summer ad- vanced, Though months yet before election, The man was embracing sixteen to one And the maid was enjoying protection. BURTON M. PALMER. The Gool of the Moon. They spent their honeymoon where bleak Sierras pierce the air; They saw full many a mountain peak, But did not seem to care Until upon a luckless day A glacier they espied. He crossed, but she was fain to stay Upon the other side; So, though till then in sweet content The watchful nills had seen them, It now was all too evident Some coolness Lay between them. Herrmann in a New Trick. Politics at most times is as foreign to the dramatic world as a Bible in a josshouse. One would as soon expect to see Tom Reed play Falstaff to Platt’s Prince Hal as to hear a serious discussion of cam- paign issues among a group of actors. But this year the political agitation has penetrated even to the cool foyers, and from the entrance to the Abbey Theater building comes an echo of the battle of 16 to L One afternoon last week a little com- pany of stars were loungiug about McCon- nell’s Exchange discussing the relative merits of the coin metals and the probable effect of the Chicago convention on the price of wigs, cigarettes and pig iron when Herrmann, the magician, entered. “Here,” called Henry Dixey, *I bet 16 to 1on McKinley. Am I taken?” “What do you say, Herrman?’ said Maurice Barrymore. ‘‘Can - the country keep afloat on a silver plank?” The black eyes of the smiling magician sparkled as he replied: “It is a simple matter, I will explain: ‘“Have any of you five silverdollars?”’ The company laughed. “Itis no joke,” said Herrmann suavely. ©T will return them—come, I want tive silver dollars.” A collection was taken and the coins produced. They were dropped one by one into Hermann’s mysterious palm, and as the last one fell they vanished, leaving in their place a $5 gold piece. “You see,’”’ said Herrmann, “they are as good as gold."” “Oi course these dollars are; they are not coined at a ratio of 16 to 1’ said Dixey. “They are honest, Republican dollars.” Herrmann tossed the gold piece into the air, where it disappeared, and the five silver pieces were in his palm. “Very good,” said he. The coins went “elick.” He dropped them one at a time into his other hand. There was a hole in each. “Here,” said Herimann, “are your dollars on a basis of ‘16 to 1, and here are the plugs which have been removed.” He caused these to disappear, and continued: “Now here are the depreciated dollars. ‘Watch them closely.”” He touched them and they were gone. “You see,” said the magician, handing the five original dol- lars to their owners, “the ratio makes no difference whatever~when you know how.”” “Where did you get that trick?” asked Barrymore. “] saw Bryan do it at the Chicago con- vention,” laughed Herrmann, and then he added: “I am mnot sure but a hypnotic President would be a good thing. Itisan occasional loss of confidence that causes our panics rather than any real -distress, and at such times the exercise of ontimistic mesmerism will work wonders.”’—Chicago Times-Herald. e She—If I don’t accept you this time, you won’t get discouraged, will you? He—Oh, no; there are others.—Detroit Free Press.” ’