The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-08
japanese JuggleTs.

4 company of acrobats, conjuyers and Jug
glers, from Japan, have established them
selves at St. Martins Hall, London, where,
richly habited in their native costumes, they
uo through series of feats that may be &C
ccptcd as specimen of the amuscments that
find favor in a region to which the attention
OF lha public has of late been more than COM
noDlF directed. That they are genuine ia
Paucse (says London ournal) there can be
no reasonable doubt, inasmuch as their testi-
rn0nials are plainly inscribed on their features.
The jaggng tricks of the Japanese are most
rem kable, two Of these being of kind alto
gelhef new to a European public. In one of
them large top, spun with string on ex
aotly The same principle as the common peg
top used by schoolboys, is made to display a
dtgree of dociity that almost entities it to be
c'as6ed among the more intelligent members
Of the brute creation.
The iuggler throws it out with force which
enables it to remain spinning for several min
utes. Sometimes he sets it loose altogether
and compels it to bound from its perpendicu-
lar and remain spinning at an angle of forty
five degrees sometimes he detains it at the
further end of his string, which becomes rigid
by the tension, and takes now horizontal,
now vertical position, the top on one occa-
sion flying up into box suspended from the
ceiling and causing a shower of gold leaf to
fall upon the juggIer.
Tie browning feat Of the "top- spinner,' as
he is called, is to land the top into sort OF
wooden tramroad that extends from the front
to the back of the platform, and to the front
again on the opposite side, varied b. all sorts
Of curves and angles, and passing through
strange miniature edi6ces, built in the Japa-
nese style Through the force of single
throw the top completes. the whole of its jour
ney along this intricate road, going over two
vertical semi circular curves just as it is about
to reach him. ...-
The performance of this trick constitutes
the whole duty of the top-spInner, and the
same may be said of the so,called "butterfy
trick" which is the other great achievement
OF the evening.
TO perform this the juggler tears piece O
paper into small fragments, out of two O.
Which be makes a pair of artificial butterflies
about the size of life. By the aid of two fans
be not only keeps them floating in the air, bu
makes them settle on large bouquet of flow
ers, and dart in and out of porcelain vase
For the NEST part the entertainment is emil
Fenei by the delighted shreks and shouts Q
Two Japanese children, who encourage the jug
gler in the discharge of his duty and occupy
that sort of mid position between spectator anc
performer which belongs tie the clown of the
equestrian ring.
Tie hilarity thus promoted is qualified BY ;
dismal accompaniment played on the musiea
instruments Of Japan, which endures nearly
the whole evening Other members of thu
troupe 60 through feats on the tightrope, ane
do few conjurng tricks but in these Their
j. no great novelty, and the deliberate slow
ness with which the japanese make their pre-
paratlons contrasts disadyantageously with tn
nIfabe European artists of the same kind
But The "top and the g butterfly : are reall
unique, and should be seen BY every one VII,
takes an interest in the quasi occult arts t
which they belong. # there is any deception
n me tricks, they are still most ingenious !;
there is none, they are marvellous.
both houses of tho Wisconsin ,ari lat,1r