Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-01
OrIentn sports-A Feat at Catching.

Orien tai spOrts-A Feat at Catching.
81 should like to see boy beat
me at catching, or a man either, as
for that" were the boastful words
l heard uttered by a twelve-year
old lad, as he tossed aloit two balls
at once, and caught them as they
descended, one with each hand.
That was certainly very well done
but let me tell the boys who read
the st. Nicholas Of some catching"
that have seen in far-oif lands
catching with the mouth instead of
the hands-and they shall Judge
whether my boastful young friend
= of the two balls would be likely to
carry off the palm amid all COM
, petitors.
The first time l witnessed these
feats of agility was at the palace Of
! the King Of Siam, where | had
J been dining. His fayorite band Of
{ gymnasts were in attendance that
day, and he challenged us to see
! their exploits, and lhen tell him
whether our countrymen could do
anything more wonderful in the
way of climbing and catching. Sc
he seated our little party on an ele-
yated platform, where we could see
Il readily the movements Of the ac-
tors, and the first thing that met
our view was a swinging stage at
;, tached to two slender poles that
were planted perpendicularlyin the
u ground. About twelve PAGES of
u was another pole, to which was sus
u pended by a funny hook a silk ne
$ purse filled with gold. The purse
Is was full forty feet above the ground
y while the stage swung about fiy,
" feet lower, and was kept swayin2
q to and from the pole that held th
H. purse, by the action of a long rop
~ pulled by men standing on tn
Is ground. On the stage stood fou
e. men, and as it yeered toward th
Vi money purse, he who stood neares
n was allowed one trial of his skill q
eS catching the purse with his moutl
e. If he succeeded, the money (aboU
ne sixty dollars in gold was to be hi
reward, and he might descend, Q
he had mounted, by rope ladder
when the next one would take h
III turn, till all who wished to do s
as as had made the attempt; anew purs
~ being supplied each time one WI
W carried off by the teeth Of victo
'ss l thought it fearful lisk, an
oh almost held my breath in disma
ny but everybody around me W,
ne laughing, and the gymnasts then
W selves did not seem to think (
les lt danger. As easily and natural
ny as you would catch a ball tosst
y toward you by your companion, Il
uo first man opened his mouth just
we the right instant; touched the pur
hu with his lower lip to dislodge
EN- from the peg, and caught Il
nat string between his teeth, just
is his time was up, by the yeerir
ng away of the stage. Several othe
his followed, with the same success
es- each loudly cheered, and a
ng peming triumphaltly happy. The
in- for one poor fellow, who failed
ere catch the coveted prize, came Il
be- usual penalty of being hissed al
Iut hooted at by the crowd; but wor
nd Of all, he had to let 90 the stag
ne, grasp the pole to which the pur
ted was attached, and, with hands an
are legs entwined, slide down as best
nd he could to the ground. Though
old of course, he would fall; but he /
zen himself down as readily as a MOI
nd key or a squirrel could have don
me and appeared too Crestfallen at Il
disgrace he had incurred to ca
aw about the loss of the money, or eve
his the danger of descent by TIL
on bare pole. Of course there we
,ed only a few seconds of time for hi
nd to seize the pole as the stage Swur
de- away, and had he halted Or he;
ess tated at all, he must ineyitab
the lave been dashed to pieces,