Carl Hoyer
Nachtrag über das unsichtbare Mädchen
Bulletin des Neuesten und Wissenswürdigsten aus der Naturwissenschaft, so wie den Künsten, Manufakturen, technischen Gewerben, der Landwirthschaft und der bürgerlichen Haushaltung, Vol. 7, Carl Friedrich Amelang, Berlin 1811, pp. 79-80.
1 volume available
Carl Hoyer, vice-rector of the gymnasium at Minden (Prussia), in a letter of 2 December 1810 to the editor of the Bulletin, Sigismund Friedrich Hermbstädt, reports having seen at the Minden theatre the "unsichtbare Mädchen" of Mr Stephany, "physicist, inventor of the invisible girl and professor of natural magic". He exposes the trick: the two hollow feet of the stand facing the audience communicated with tin tubes running under the stage for about 16 feet, behind the second curtain, where Stephany's daughter spoke and blew into the mouthpieces; whatever she could not see through a hole in the curtain was conveyed to her by assistants through finger language or agreed words ("Nun wie viel?" = 18), while the dice were loaded to always give 7. He concludes that the invisible girl can be entertaining only if it offers witty answers, music and singing, otherwise it becomes tedious. Full transcription and Italian translation.
Language
German
