The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-11-02
The Indian Basket Trick.

Ever since the capture of the strange
Empire of India by the English, or for
more than hundred years, the civilized
peoples have been hearing of the marvellous
feats performed by the native jugglers.
Naturally, Houdin's announcement Of the
Indian basket trick made a great sensation.
The curtain arose and disclosed IL wicker
basket Of oblong shape standing upon what
appeared to be light table, without any
cloth cover upon if. The juggler entered,
dragging y beautiful youth, dressed as ALI
Indian Prince, wearing a robe of white
cashmere embroidered with gold, while
upon his head waved ID peacock's plume
held by diamond star.
mercy mercy J" cried the child.
"No- 10 mercy. You are an Indian
and prince, and must die," was the saw
| age response. .-.-.,e'
81 am only child" cried the innocent
boy.
"That wi'I.,"t prevent my killing you.''
| With pleasing shreks the child broke
away and rushed to the side wing. only TO.
be seized there by bis executioner, who,
lifting him in his arms, plunged him into
the basket, which he closed, strapping down
the cover. Then he drew his sword and
having tested its sharpness by striking it
in the floor, he thrust it in the basket
again and again, while the victim inside
gave the most heartrending cries of pin
E,np
pulled out, it was seen to be covered with
blood, while the sobs and groans from the
inside Of the basket grew fainter and
| fainter, till at length they ceased, and
ghostly silence ensued. During this scene
the excitement among the audience was
intense. Ladies hid their faces behind
their fans, some wept aloud I'm, n shouted
hoarsely, "Enough!'' The smiling juggler
bowed, and proceeded to unstrap the
basket, which he turned, mouth npward,,
to the audience, showing it to be entirely
empty. In. the midst of the applause,
which followed from the unused and re-
lieved audience, the little Indian prince
was seen to be seated IN a box in the centre
of the audito, ium, kissing his tiny hand to
those about him, as well as to his friend
the executioner on the stage.
This trick was performed With the aid
of looking glasses inserted between the
table legs-a contrivance nav commonly :
used in pantomlmes aud OTHER show piece
up N our stage. But it WIS new thing
then, and the scene was remarkably well
played by noudin anu the child. AS soon
as the boy got in the basket Ire opened a
trap door in the bottom of it, which was
placed over a corresl oading opening in the
table. Hidden by the looking glass, he
crouched between the table legs, and
shriekcd and sobbrd until the proper mo-
ment came for him to descend through q
trap in the stage, and SO pass around to
! the box in front of the theatre. A sponge
full of red liquid was placed at certain
spot inside the basket, and the sword,
passing through this. seemed to be dripping
with blood. 1t was imperative that the
juggler should not pass in front of the .
table, else his legs would have been reflect
ed there, and that would have disclosed the
entire secret. Houdin became dissatisfied
with this trick, and made many improve
ments in if, which the jugglers of cur day
have still further perfected. 1t is palnable
that this cannot be the way in which
Indian :jugglers perform the trick in the
market places or other public squares in
broad daylight They have no looking
glass table, no traps through the earth:
Houdin's theory concerning them was
that their basket had in opening iii it,
either at its front or its back, and that,
while buckling and strapping down the
cover, with the knee lifted up and pressed .
on the basket as to tighten the leather
strap more securely, the child crept out
under the bent knee, aud hid beneath the
voluminous robes of the juggler. Then,
while the sword is piercing the basket, and
the child's sobs are most heart-rending,
the crowd gathers in compact mass about
it, and into the crowd the child easily
escapes without being seen. and runs away
AT the proper moment he comes running
back as if from distance, and of course
the astonishment of the crowd is unpar-
alleled, for the basket has in the mean
time hcen opened and shown to be empty
Oliue Logaa, In Harper's Magazine far
Nooember.