The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-07
AMUsEMENTs.

The JAPANESE AT THE AcADEMY.-The Aca-
denny ofMusic was crowded again last even
ing with a very fashionable audience, to wit
ness the truly wonderful feats of Risley &
Maguires Troupe of japanese Gymnasts
and Jugglers. They appear this evening
in very attractive programme.
Apropos, we observe the following account
of a troupe of Japanese Jugglers in London
paper of late date:--
A company of acrobats, conjurers, and Jug
glers, from Japan, have established them
selves at st. Martins Hall, London, where,
richly habted in their native costume, they
go through a series of feats that may be
accepted as a specimen of the amusements
that find favor in region to which the atten-
ton of the public has of late been more than
commonly directed. That they are genuine
Japanese, says a London journal, there can be
no reasonable doubt, inasmuch as their
testimonials are plainly inscribed on
their features. The juggling tricks of
the Japanese are most remarkable, two of
these being of a kind altogether new to
European public. In one of them large top,
spun with a string on exactly the same prin-
Ciple as the common peg-top used by school
boys, is made to display a degree of docility
that almost entities it to be classed among
the more intelligent members of the brute
creation. The iugger throws it out with a
force which enables it to remain spinning for
several minutes. Sometimes he sets it loose
altogether, and compels it to bound from its
perpendicular and remain spinning at an angle
of fOrty-ive degrees; sometimes he detains it
at the further end of his string, which becomes
rigid by the tension, and takes now a hor-
zontal now vertical position the top on
occasion flying up into box suspended from
the ceiling, and causing shower Of gold-leaf
to fall upon the juggler
The crowning feat of the "top-spinner," as
he is called, is to land the top into a 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 by all sorts
OF curves and angles, and passing through
strange miniature edifces built in the Japanese
style. Through the force of single throw
the top completes the whole of its journey
along this intricate road, going over two YER
tical 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
''butterhy trick" which is the other great
achievement Of the evening.
To perform this the juggler tears piece of
paper into small fragments, out of two of
which he makes pair of artificial butterflies,
about the size of life. By the aid of two fans
he not only keeps them floating in the air,
but makes them settle on a large bouquet of
flowers, and dart in and out of porcelain
vase. For the most part the entertainment is
enlivened by the delighted shrieks and shouts
of two Japanese children, who encourage the
juggler in the discharge of his duty, and oc-
cupy that sort of mid position between specta-
tor and performer which belongs to the clown
of an equestrian ring. The hilarity thus pro-
NOTED is qualified by a dismal accompaniment
played on the musical instruments of Japan,
which endures nearly the whole of the even
ing Other members of the troupe 60 through
feats on the tight rope, and do few conjuring
tricks; but in these there is no great novelty,
and the deliberate slowness with which the
Japanese make their preparations contrasts
disadvantageously with the nimble European
artists of the same kind. But the top and
the 'butterfy'' are really unique, and should
be seen by every one who takes an interest in
the quasi-occult arts to which they belong. If
there is any deception in the tricks, they are
still more ingenious; if there is none, they are
marvellous.