The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-07
A MYSTERIOUS PERFORMANCE.

course of a European tour, that my Americansn
might be polished down by little atrtion annone
the genteel particles of Partisan society. | founc
the world of Paris in very considerable excite
ment, in consequence of very extraordinary per
formance which nightly exhibited by an East
ern juggler, and nothing more nor less than
the apparent decaptation of man in the presence
OF an audience, and under the very noses Of a com
mlttee OF medical gentlemen, who stood only sc
far distant while the operation was being perform
ed as to escape the swing of the long, two-edged
sword with which the jugsler smote off the head
went to see this exhibition, which took place
in theatre, in company with several American
gentlemen. The theatre crowded with be-
tween two and three thousand spectators, and the
feet long, upon the stage the very edge of which
l obtained seat, having gone very early.
At the given time, the juggler, a singular look
ing man, came upon the stage with his sleeves
rolled up to the shoulders, and bearing a long.
two-edged sword He upset the table upon the
boards and showed that there was no concealed
drawer or other recess and placed it in the blaze
of the foot-igh,s at the edge of the stage. In a
few words he stated what he was going to do, and
requested some of the audience to come forward
and stand upon the stage, that they might see
there ''pos no deception" A number of medical
gentlemen who had been chosen to investigate the
matter, if possible, took their position upon the
stage, and after, the victim, who had been
sitting in the parquette, mounted the stage, re-
moved his coat and cravat, turned back his shirt
collar, and laying down upon his back on the
table, elevated his chin to more fairly expose
his neck to the hcadsman's weapon. The juggler
then raised his keen and rful-looking sword,
and giving it wide sweep, brought it down.
say brought it down upon the neck, for no one
could see that he did not, even those within three
feet of him-upon the neck of the subject with
great force
Blood spirited high into the air, some of it fall
ing on our party and delueed the STAGE while the
most fearful sound, something between a groan
and Shrek of horror from the whole assemblage,
shook the building, and numerous women and
some men fell tanting in their seats, and were
borne out by the ushers of the house. The Jug
ger raised his sword again, repeated the blow, and
the discovered head fell upon the floor! Taking
it by the hair, he held it up to the audience for
full five minutes, until the blood had ceased to
flow from the several arteries, the lower jaw had
fallen, and the face had assumed the appearance
of corpse; then throwing it heavily upon the
stage, requested the committee to examine it, which
they did, passing it from hand to hand. They
then examined the body upon the table, from the
hcadess neck Of which the blood had not yet
ceased to drop upon the floor of the stage; they
lifted the limbs and let them fall with the limp
inertia of icless matter, and Of course pronounced
the man dead to all intents and purposes.
After they had concluded their investig cation,
the iuggler informed the audience that he was
going to put the mans head again, and restore
him to life. Taking up the head, he laid it on
the table, fitted the two parts of the neck tOgeth-
er, and began to mutter and make signs the
corpse. In about five minutes, the lately decap-
tated man slowly turned his ghastly, and altogeth-
er horrible face-white as snOw-towards the au-
dience, and an excitement followed exceeding, if
anything, that which occurred when the first blow
of the sword fell. In few moments the eye-lids
gradually opened and displayed the eyes, wearing
CLASSY, corpse-like stare; by degrees life like
speculation came into them, some color came into
the face; and after stretching his limbs, the man
arose from the table, resumed his coat walked
down from the stage and mingled with the crowd
The exhibition was over The neck of the ap-
parently decapitatcd man bore a red mark and scar
around it, like the cicatricc of newly healed
wound. Ali this I saw with my own eyes, which
were as effectually deceived thousands of
others | could in no way, consistently with rea
SON. account for any feature of this horribly thrill
ling feat of trickery l have never heard of the
trick being performed by any other man, and very
possibly it originated and died with him. How
ever, it is scarcely more unaccountablc than many
often displayed teats of the adroit fraternity of
oriental jugglers ~ O. True Delta.
The above is wei! told but don't believe much of
A CHAScE.-It is suggested by correspond
ent of northern exchange, that, as England and
America united by all electric chain, they
be linked closer and more indissolubly in the holy
bonds of wedlock. The foolish proposition is, that
some one of the fair daughters of America be Sc
lected, who shall become the bride of Victoria S
eldest son, the rather fast young Prince of Wales,
who has recently been discovered in some rather
awkward predicaments. That the inequalities Of
rank and fortune may not be urged as impediments,
the young lady whom the choice shall fall is to
be made Uncle Sans by adoption, and furnished
by each of the States with bridal present the
aggregate Of which shall make up dowry suitable
for the condition she would occupy.
The scheme will fall through it is said, chiefly
because the aversion of American girls to foreign
ers, and especially to titled foreigners, is great,
that no one OF them be found patriotic enough
sacrifice her private prejudice to Ter country
good.
AN INCENDIARY Co>FEssING HIS Guilt
While the trial of Hiram Powers, for setting fire to
the Moravian Church, in Springfield Mass, was
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