Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-06
The COnjurers of Old.

The medium of the present day bears
a closer resemblance, in methods and
manipulations, to the well-known con-
jurer of history, than any other repre-
sentative of the magic art. How far
short he still remains of the perform
ances of his prototypes is illustrated be-
low. In 1915 delegation of highly ed
ucated and distinguished men Of the
English East India Company visited
the Emperor Jehangire. While on this
mission they witnessed many most Won
derful performances, almost causing
them to discredit their senses, and far
beyond any hint even of solution. A
party of Bengalese conjurers and jug
glers, showing their art before the En-
peror, were desired to produce upon the
spot, and from seed, ten mulberry trees.
They Immediately planted ten seeds,
which in a few minutes produced as
many trees. When a seed was planted
tiny leaves appeared, at once followed
by slender shoots, which rapidly gained
elevation, putting out leaves and twigs
and branches, finally spreading wide in
the air. budding, poisoning and yield
ing fruit, which matured upon the spot,
and was found to be excellent. And
this before the beholder turned away his
eyes. Fig. almond, mango and walnut
trees were at the same time under like
conditions produced, yielding the fruit
which belonged to each. Wonder sue
ceeded wonder. The branches were
filled with birds of beautiful plumage,
fitting about among the leaves and
singing sweet notes. Theleaves turned
and twigs withered, and finally the trees
hoo inf tho rth ont Of hi oh
they had all sprung within an hour.
The same conjurers performed series
of marveis. Ono Of them produced a
chain fifty cubits in length One end
, of this he threw into the air, when the
chain rapidly ran out its whole length,
and remained fixed in the air as if fast
ensd against the sky. A dog was then
placed upon the chain, when up he ran
T to the further end and at once disap-
| peared heavenward. A hog, panther
r and other large animals were successive.
ly dispatched up this aerial pathway
: and each In turn disappeared from the
far end. Nor were they seen again
= and finally the chain was Withdrawn
and placed in a>bag for convenient car.
: rags.
! And another had bow and about IF
ty steel-pointed arrows. He shot an ar
row into the air, when, low! the arrow
became fixed in space, at considerable
. height. Another and another arrow
was sent off, each fixing itself in thu
:, shaft of the preceding, until all formed :
: chain of arrows in the air, excepting thu
: last shot, which, striking the chain
brought the whole to the ground in de
4 tachments.
Y They set up two common tents facing
u. IL 49, ,,f
These tents were critically examined BY
y the spectators, as are the cabinets of tn
mediums, ana pronounced empty. Th
i tents were fastened to the ground al
around. The lookers-o on were then in
e vited to chose what animals or bird
: they would issue from these tents to en-
gage in battle. Khaun-e-Jahaun, in
It credulously asked to see fight between
ostriches. In a few minutes an ostrici
:. came out from each tent, rushed to com
d bat with deadly earnestness, and from
l. them the blood soon began to stream
but they were so nearly matched tina
k neither gould win the victory, and the.
were at last separated by the conjurer
3 and conveyed within tile tents. Ate
p this the varied demands of the specta
e tors for birds or beasts were exactl,
i complied with, always with the same re
suits.
o They took man and apparently sey
d cred limb from. limb, actually at las
e cutting off his head, as it appeared
d They scattered these members along th
a ground for considerable distance, an
), allowed them to remain for some time
z Gathering them together, they sprea
over these remains shest, under Whicl
II one of the iugglers crawled, and 500
= came out, followed by the man who ha
e been discovered, now sound in ever,
part. Neither was there to be foun(
?, about the place asy traces of tis thin;
d that had been done.
Y A large cauldron was SET and into
a quantity ofrice was thrown. Withou
q sign OF fire this rice soon began t
a boil, and out from the cauidron was ia
e ken more than che hundred platters G
cooked rice, with q stewed fowl at tn
% top of each. This trick is performed o.
i, smaller scale By the most ordinary ia
<, kris of the present day.
d But space fails to give opportunity 70
d illustrating from the records of the past
: how the niserably tame performance
d by comparison-of the mediums of tn
d present day were paled and overshad
:, owed by those of other days and NOR
:. adroit peoples. There is not wonder
e full feature in any of the so-called phe
o n0nenG or manifestations which wa
# not, nay, which is uat now more thai
d duplicated by other skiIlful performers
IS whose connection with earth, and ear
r alone, is too evident to be doubted, eve
I if the fact was not supported by thei
}, own testimony.