Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1880 — An Astonished Sultan. [ARTICLE]

An Astonished Sultan.

The Viennese conjuror, Hermann, has lately been in Constantinople, vainly endeavoring to amuse the Sultan, but he succeeded in astonishing him. The Paris correspondent of the London News tells the story: “ The scene was a boat moored in the Bosphorus. ‘ Will you oblige me,’ said Hermann to the Grand Vjzier, ‘by throwing your watch overboard ? ’ The Vizier looked doubtful, but the Sultan nodded, and the watch sank glittering through the sea. * Now,’ said Hermann, ‘ will some one kindly give me a fishingrod? ’ A rod was brought, a line, and a hook, which the conjuror baited before the eyes of the Sultan. He soon had a nibble, struck, and after an exciting interval had a fine fish in the land-net. Hermann opened the fish and took out the Vizier’s watch, still keeping capital time.” Repressing a stroDg inclination to refer to the ring of Polyertes, he goes on ‘to prove that Hermann can giggle as well for the wily Muscovite as tho gallant Turk. “ While amusing the Autocrat of all the Russias. he broke a large, magnificent mirror. The superstitious potentate winced, for to break a mirror is unlucky, and a curtain was thrown over the glass. Hermann went on with hi* tricks for a while, then suddenly exclaimed, ‘I forgot the glass; ookatit.’ The curtain was removed, and there was the mirror, whole and unharmed.” M. Soleillet proposes to leave soon for West Africa to recommence his ex- ' plorations, which are to be on the line of route of the Trans-Sahara railway. A considerable portion of his expenses will be paid from the $120,000 which the French Government contemplate setting aside to defray the cost of the preliminary surveys and investigations connected with that scheme,