Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-05-11

which he exhibited for about ID Wear,
in Paris; London, Vienna, Petersburc
and all the great cities on the continee,
of Europe. To acquire 50 vast h,
tune, (little less than fifty thousand
doIlars) in SO short a period by nm
frssiOn the very name of which mpor,.
imposition, affords one proof among tbs
many of the amazing cretlulity Of man
and the avidiry with which he lays hold
of every thing by which his curiosity
is excited, especially if it is of the mar
relous kind. In the presen, ins,aucs
however, there is perhaps more 10 he
said in favor of gratifying this desire
than in most other cases of a similar
nature. We have witnessed The per
formances in question, and cannot bu,
admit that they are both rational, 4.
musing and instructive. The "Chiness
Juggler" is not a mountebank, whorn.
deayors to attract notice by assuming
grOtesque figure and dress; he may with
some prnpriety. be allowed to rank a.
m"ng men of science; for every part Of
his arr has an immediate reference to
scientific principles. To possess COR
rect idea Of the extraordinary talents
of these men, it is absolutely necessary
to see them exhibit. Some faint con.
Cepiion however of their wonderful
powers may be found on pcrusing the
following account of their pcrforman.
ces, which we have copied from late
English paper mat. Adr.
lst. Throwing about three gilt balls
in various directions with amazing We.
loeity, making them form circles of e.
very denomination round the head,
neck, arms, &c. horizontal, perpendi.
cular, elliptic. &c. which to the eye ap.
pear perfect rings.
Cd. Tossing up large china bason
to the ceiling, and catching it sideways
upon the flat of the hand, then turning
it upside down in various ways, max.
ing it appear TO the beholder as if glued
10 the hand.
Sd. From under the carpet on which
the performers walk, and where it ap.
pears impossible to conceal any thing,
an immense tlowerpot is produced, al.
forwards large bason full of water,
and live fish sporting III it and lastly
large china dish, entirely filled with
eggs.
9TH. Several very curious and divert.
ing cvolutions are performed with three
small sticks, which are we'll worth the
closest attention.
5th. Upon an empty china plate q
shower of nuts is made to fall from an
empty handkerchief.
9th. With eight solid brass rings, in
none of which can any break be disco.
vered, one Of the artists performs Sc.
veral curious tricks; namely, sepsrat-
ing and exhibiting them, nay, handing
them about singly for inspection among
he visitors, and then. al one touch,
linking them together in various forms,
snmetin'es like a chain, pair of spec.
tacles, a globe, &c. then shaking them
assunder on the floor.
9TH. A large china bowl is thrown
aloft, and caught in its descent, bottom
downwards on the point of small stick
where it is spun and tossed about with
great velocity; and, to all appearance,
with certainty Of destruction.
9Th. Several astonishing feats are
performed with three large knives,
which are flung about with equal veIo-
city with the balls and caught in such
a way as to require great stesdiness Of
nerve to behold, without apprehension
for the safety Of the performer.
9Th. AT each end Of long cord or
bowstring is attached large brass ball.
With this cord and ball they perform
with the most extraordinary activity e
management that can tie conceived
He makes those balls fly round in eve
ry and opposite directions, each form
ing separate aud distinct circle, he
himself holding the cord in only one
hand at the middle.
10th. One of the performers eats a
quantity of cut paper blazing on ire
which he afterwards, apparently WIN
great pain discharges from his moua
and nostrils in smoke and real flame.
He then draws from his mouth al least
100 yards Of white ribbon, and alter
wards as many more yards of red RIB
bon.
18th. A great quantity of the shreos
of white paper is cut small, and put ID