New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30

o-icI lofclguSIS Uut SOuEsciEte AdNo tFtl
seen. Wang, the court juggler, arrived
here Yesterday morning. He has never
given performance outside of the palace
before. | have asked him to entertain my
friends this evening. He requires no the
atre. stage. accessories Or confederate
nothing more than vou see here. Will you
De pleased 10 examine the ground your
selves, gentlemen
OF course we examined the premises. 1t
was the ordinary basement or cellar OF the
San Francisco storehouse, cemented to keep
out the damp. We poked our sticks into
the pavement aud raped on the walls to
satisfy our polite host, but for no other pur-
pose. We were quite content to De the vic
Tins of any clever deception. For myself,
knew | as ready TO be delude1 TO any
extent, and if l had been offered an eE-
PLANTATION OF what followed l should have
probably declined IL.
Although | am satisfied mat Naugs gen.
eral performance was the first OF that kind
ever given or American soil, II has probably
since become so familiar TO many ot my
readers that shall not bore them with 1t
here. He began By setting to flight, with
the aid of his fan, the usual number OF but
terfies made before our eyes OF little bits
OF tissue paper and kept them IN the air
during the remainder OF the performance.
| have a vivid recollection of the Judge try
and of its evading him with the pertinacily
of living insect. And even at this time
Wang, still plying his fan, was taking
chickens ont of hats, making oranges dis
appear. pulling endless yards OF silk from
his sleeve; apparently filing the whole area
of the basement with goods that appeared
mysteriously from the ground. from his own
sleeves, from nowhere. lie swallowed
knives to the ruin of his digestion for years
IN Ea GTalDput91 limb Of his
body, he reciIned IN the air, apparently
upon nothing. But his GROWING perform
ance, which have never yet seen repeated,
was the most weird, mysterious and
astounding. 1t is my apology for this Ions
introduction, my sole excuse for writing
this article, the genesis of this veracious
history.
He cleared the ground Of It's cucumber
ing articles for Il space Of about fifteen feet
square. and then invited US all to walk for
ward and examine it. We did so gravely;
there was nothing but the cemented pave
ment below to be seen or felt. He then
asked for the loan of a handkerchief, and,
as | CHANGED to be nearest him. | offered
mine. He took it, and spread it open upon
the floor. Over this he spread large
square of silk, and over this again a large
shawl nearly covering the space he had
cleared. He then took position at one of
the points of this rectan2le, and began a
monotOnOus chant, rocking his body TO and
fro in time with the somewhat lugubrious
air.
We sat still and waited. Above the chant
we could hear me striking Of the city clocks
and occasional rattle Of q cart IN the street
overhead. The absolute watchfulness and
expectation, the dim, mysterious half light
OF the cellar falling III grewsome way upon
the msshapen bulk of Chinese diety in
the background, faint smell Of opium
smoke mingled with spice, and the dread
full uncertainty OF what we were really wait
ing for, sent an uncomfortable thrill down
our backs, and made us look al each other
with a forced and unnatural smile. This
feeling was heightened when Hop Sing
slowly rose, and, and without Il word,
pointed with lis finger to the centre OF the
shawl.
There was something beneath the shawl,
surely-and something that was not there
before. At first mere suggestion IN relief.
a mere outline, but growing more and more
distinct and more visible every moment.
The chant still continued, the perspration
began to roll from the singers face, gradu-
ally the hidden object took upon itself a
shape and b1lk that raised the shawl in its
centre some tive or six inches. Ii was now
Enthusiastically the outline Of small but
perfect human figure, with extended arms
and legs. One or Two Of us turned pale;
there was a feeling of general uneasiness
until the editor broke the silence by g gibe
that, poor as 1t was, was received with
spontaneous enthusiasm. Then the chant
suddenly ceased, Wang arose and with
quick, dexterous movement stripped both
shawl and silk away and discovered, sleep
ing peacefully upon my handkerchief, a
tiny Chinese baby.
The applause and upTOar which followed
this revelation ought to have satisfied
Wang, even if his audience was small one;
it was loud enough to awaken the babv-a
pretty little boy about a year old, looking
like Cupid cug out Of sandal wood He
was whisked away almost as mysterlousiy
as he appeared. When Hop Sing returned
my handkerchief to me with bow, ] asked
if the juggler was the father of the baby.
mo sabe," said the imperturbable Hop
Sing, taking refuge in that Spanish form OF
non-commtalism SO common in California.
But does he have a new baby tor every
performance / asked. "Perhaps; who
knows" But what will become OF this
One!" ''Wharever you choose, gentlemen"
replied Hop Sing, with a courteous molina.
ton, ''it was born here-you are its god
father"
There were two characteristic pecuiriUies
of any Californian assemblage IN 1856; it
was quick to take a hint, and generous to
the point of prodigality i'll it's response to
any charitable appeal. No matter how
sOrdId or avaricious the individual, he
could not resist the infection Of sympathy.
doubled the points OF my handkerchief
into bag, dropped com into it, and,
without Il word, passed i t to the Judge. He
quietly added 4 $40 gold piece, and passed
1t to the next; when it was returned to NE
in the handkerchief and gave it to Hop Sing
-"For the baby, from its godfathers"
'But what name9' said the judge. There
was a running fire of ''Erebus,' 'Nox,"
"Piutus," Terra Gotta" .AntHus," etc,
etc. Finally the question was referred to
our host.
"Why not keep his own name p he said
quietly-"Wan Lee" And he did.
And thus was Wan Lee, on the night of
Friday, March 5, 1856, born into this vera
ciOus chronicle.
The last form of the Norther7, Star for
the nineteenth OF July, lS65-the only daily
paper published in klamath county-had
just gone TO press, and at 3 P. NJ. was
putting aside my proofs and manuscripts,
to going home, when | discOv-
cred letter lying under some sheets of
paper which must have overlooked. The
envelope was considerably soiled, it had no
post mark, but had no difficulty in recog-
nizing the hand of my friend Hop Sing. /
opened it hurriedly and read as follows:
''MY DEAR SIR do not know whether
the bearer will suit you, but unless the
office of a devil in your newspaper is
purely technical one, think he has all the
qualities required. He is very quick. active
and intelligent; understands English better
than he speaks it, and makes up for any
defect by his habits of observation and imi-
tation. You have only to show him how
to DO thing once, and he will repeat it,
whether it is an oiiense or virtue. But