PEOPLE WE MEET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 39

PEOPLE WE MEET.

No. V.— CARL HERTZ, Ki7?o op Cards and Prince of Illusionists, is an American of German parentage, and w= bom in San Francisco, California, May 14, 18o!i. The name Carl Hertz was given to him by ly-s fir3t manager in America. During his younger days iv Bchool (which he left at 14) he had an infatuation for card tricks and magical experiments, and many a thrashing he received at school for fooling with cards when he should have been learning his lessons. After several yeara* practice he managed to give a private .entertainment to a few of his friends which was

a. saocess. Then he made up his mind to adopfc i* aa a profession and start in life. He made his first trip in 1873, travelling through the mining districts of California and Nevacn, and after a five mouths' tiif> he returned with quite a largo capital. Success seeming certain, the young Californian necromancer," as he was then called, decided on making a second trip, which this timo included the Sandwich Islands. Returning to 'Frisco lie toured the East, principal citiei of tho United States, and all through Canada. Has since performed all over tho world — in Russia, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Holland, China, Jnpan, Sandwich Islands, America, South. Africa, British Isles, Australia, and jMaoviland, which country he visited in 1892 with Mdllu. D'Alton, Freddy Mason (who died penniless last year in London), Kose Dearing, the Fairy Four, and undor the management of Mr I*. J, Lohr ("one of the two whitest men in front"). His present Maoriland tour, which is a bit? financial success, is under the management of the goldenhaired Edwin Geach, jun. (tho other white man). He can give his performance in three different languages— French, German, and English. The first trick he made really famous wns the vanishing bird trick. Next he was the first to do the vanishing lady trick. All his illusions aro his own invention. One of the best advertisements he ever had was when he first performed tho vanishing bird and bird cage trick in London. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals made efforts to have the trick stopped on account of the London press being flooded with letters saying he killed a bird each time ; but at the society's otnees and before a committee and repressntative of the London Metropolitan press he performed the trick with a marked bird, and they crave him a certificate t'xotierivlinEC him from the charge of cruelty. In America he exposed a swindling spiritualists medium. A Mits Amelia Dies de Burr had swindled a wealthy N r ew York lawyer out oi home .thousands of pounds by means of so-called spirit messages. Sho was prosecuted, and Carl HercE was called as a witness. What she Baid sha had done by means of spiritualism Carl Hertz I :Hi'i in Ciiurt by trickery. He got .» handsome ' fee ; she t;ot two years. '< Cs.il Ileitz has been decorated twice with the i Legion of Honour — once by President Carnot ftud. ' the secend. tiiu<». by Queen Isabella ff Spain (v coloured button he wears in his coat was a decoiation given him by the Spanish Queen after a. performance in the palace at Miuliicl). Mr HertK once gave a performance before King Ludwig (the ' mad king who committed suicide) at Jluuich iiv the theatre attached to the palace The ICintc wonl'l not allow anyone else to be present, so the illusionist had to \)0 content with an audiencs of one. Carl Itcrtz hm appeared tsvice before the , Piince of Wales at M*ilborou£fh House, as «, memento of which the Priuce ga^ve him a silver smoker's companion bearing the inscription, i "Presented to Curl Hertz by H.R.H. Prince of | Wales, IS-87." That splendid diamond rinj? ho ( weai'3 was jelven him by the Town Council of ; jFauchester (where ha nirt.de hi 3 first appearance. j iv England) for what ho did in aid ot it local charity. Wixon travelling Mr Hertz carries over 15 torn of luggage. At the conclusion of his present Maoriland t»ur, which ends in May, after visiting Australia for a few months, ho returns to South Africa. A clever entertainer, v thorough gentleman •-« both on aud off— he has the be3t wishes of J Poverty Point, March 27- Bis