The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-04-03
An Eastern Juggler,

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snake charmer wished to have the honor
of showing me something of his wonder
full skill. 9 aaaf
6aWhat can he do2" 1 asked.
aAlmost everything that is marvellous,
I've been told, was the answer I receiv-
ed. 72s a3t
aAdmit him."
My servant withdrew and returned with
a small withered old man, about whom I
saw nothing very remarkable except his
|eyes, which were small, black and pier
cling, and seemed to have lightning i'm
prisoned in them | do not know that the
man could see in the dark; but there we're
at times that peculiar fiery appearance of
the balls which is so often observed in
night prowling animals. He wore white
vest, Turkish trowsers, sort of crimson
petticoat worked with strange devices, a
turban of many colors, and red morocco
shoes, pointed and turned up at the toes.
His arms and neck were bare, and with
the exception of couple of heavy gold
rings in his ears, he displayed no extra
|neous ornaments. His age | judged to
be rising of sixty and his short mustache
was nearly white. He made low salaam,
aud then appeared to wait to be address
led. 2g 8 ia W a
"Your name?" I said in Hindoostanee.
"Paupjar, your exeellency."
II am told that you wish to show me
some wonders?"
ssIf your excelleney wills" E
aWell, what can you doP"
He suddenly produced-from where l
cannot tell-a large ball of twine, which
he appeared to toss into my lap, keeping
hold Of one end, so that it unrolled the
whole distance between him and me, at
least ten feet, saying as he did so:
f"Will your excellency please examine
what you see?''
Now, | honestly aver that | saw that
ball of twine when he threw it. as plainly
as ever / saw anything in my life-saw il
come toward me, saw it unroll and appa-
rently drop into my lap, so that caught
my knees quickly together to catch it
and yet when I put down my hand to otake
it and looked down for it, it was not
there-nothing was there-and at the
instant I perceived the juggler balancing
it on the end of his finger.
"Pshawr' said 1; syou deceived me by
making me believe you threw it toward
me" "
sDoes your excellency think haveit?'
he asked; and before could answer, |
saw in place of the ball large, beautiful
rose, which he was balancing by the stem,
and yet be had not altered his position,
and scarcely turned his finger
/ began to be astonished.
While yet looked | saw in his right
hand large cup, and in his left the rose
He stepped forward few feet, laid the
rose down on the ground, and placed the
cup over it.
Here, it will be observed, there was nc
machinery to assist h;m-no table, with
Its false top, concealed apartments, and
confederates, perhaps, to effect the change
as we see similar tricks performed in .
place fitted upby the magician for the
purpose-but my own quarters,i in the full
bright light of day, with myself sharply
watching him within FIVE feet, and my at
tendants grouped around almost as near
Having covered the rose with the cup, as
/ / would be willing to make oath-for !
saw the rose distinctly as the hollow YES,
lsel, held by the top, went slowly down
over it-and the conjurer resumed his
former seat and said:
@Will your excellency be kind enough
to iftup the cup and see what is under
it?''; ~
OF course would have wagered a
heavy sum that the rose was still there
for. one thing, because, expecting some
trick, I had kept my eyes on it to the las
moment, aud was certain there was nc
possibility of its being removed after the
hand had let 60 of the cup at the top.
compiled with his request, stepped for
ward and raised the cup, but instantly
dropped it aud bounded back with a cry
of terror--for there, instead of the rec
rose, was one ofthe little green deadly
serpents of India, ,coiled up and ready fol
a spring, with its small glittering eyes
fixed intent.y on mine. Snakes of any
kind are my horror; and this one not only
horri6ed me, but all my attendants, who
with cries of alarm, enlarged the circle
very rapidly, for they knew its bite to b'
fatal. 49, 5s- -
"No, more such tricks as these, conju
lrer," said I sternly.,. s,,~
sItis perfectly harmless, your excellen
Icy," grinned the old man, walking up tt
lit, lifting it up by the neck, putting it
head into his mouth and allowing it t,
run down his throat.
Ishuddered, aud half believed the jug
/ gler possessed of a devil, if not a devi
| himself. ~ s
He next produced aiube that locke,
Hike brass, about tive, feet long and hal
an inchiin diameter, and next the ball 0
ltwine again.
+ Where these things came from, or wen
Ito, / could not tell. They seemed to b
lin his hands when he wanted them; but
never observed his hands passing near hi
dress, either when they appeared or dis
appeared. When l looked for the Gu
that | had lifted from the snake it wa
gone, and yet neither myself nor any {
my attendants hadTsecn this wonderful
man pick it upl 1t was indeed jugglerJ
Iif not magic, of the most unquestionabl
kind. s1 za 81
Through the brass tabe the conjure
now passed one end of the twine, whic
he put between his teeth. He then place
| the nhn hafwnan his l;na ah.n,, hnnL j;