Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-23

81 should like TO see boy beat ne al
catching; or man either, as for that" ;"
were the boastiul words 1 heard uttered
by twelye-year old lad. as ho tossed
alo(t 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 iar-otf onds,-catching with the
mouth instead Of the hand, and they
shall Judge whether my boastful young
friend of the two balls would be likely to
carry oiT the palm amid all competitors.
The frs. time / Witnessed these ieats
of agility was at the palsce OF the King
of Siam, where had been dining, His
lavorite band of GymuasIs were in at
tendance that day, and he challenged US
10 SEQ their exploits, and then tell him
whether our couutrymen could DO any
thing more wonderful in the way OF
climbing and catching. So he seated our
little party on an elevated platform,
where we could see readily the move
ments of the actors, and the first thing
that met our view was a swinging stage
attached to two slender poles that were
planted perpendicularly in the ground.
Abou, twelve PAGES OF was another pole.
to which was suspen nIed by T. funny
hook silk net pulse filed with gold.
The purse was full forty feet above the
ground, while the stage swung about
five feet lover, and was kept swaying
10 and from the pole that held the purse,
by the action OF long rope pulled by
men standing on the ground. Ca the
stage stood four men. and as it veered
toward the money purse, he who stood
nearest was allowed one trial OF his
skill at catching the purse with his
mouth. II ho succeeded. tho money
(abou. sixty dollars ln gold) was TO be
his reward. and he might descend, as he
had mounted, by rope ladder; when
the next one would take his turn, till all
who wished to DO so had made the a.
tempt; new purse being supplied each
time one was carried of by tho teeth OF
victor.
Thought it fearful risk, and almost
held my breath in dismay; but everybody
around me was laughing, and the gym
nas's themselves did not seem 10 think
Of danger. As easily and naturally as
you would catch ball tossed toward
you by your companion, the first man
opened his mouth jlst at the right in
slant, touched the purse with his lower
lip to dislodge it from the peg, and
caught the string between his teeth, Just
as his time was up, by the veering away
oi the stage. Several others followed.
with the same success, each loudly
cheered, and appearing triumphantly
hsppy. Then for one poor fellow, who
AAllCh " NLsIu lIO CJfGACI EAaHSI NhiHS
the usual penalty OF being hissed and
hooted g. by the crowd; but worst OF all,
he had to let go the stage, grasp the pole
to which the purse was attached, and.
with hands and legs entwined, slide
down rs best he could to the ground |
thought, of course, he would fall; but
he let himself down as readily as mon
key or a squirrel could have done, and
appeared too crestiallen at the disgrace
he had incurred to care about the loss OF
the money, or even the danger OF a de-
scent by that hare pole. OF course there
were only few seconds of time for him
to seize the pole as the stage swung
away, and had he halted or hesitated at
all, he must inevitably have been dashed
to pieces.-From "Some Oriental Sports
that / ,"JV +. r. Feudge. 81. Nicho-
las for December.