The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-15
The Indian Basket Trick.
Iolive Logan in Harper's.l


empire of India by the English, or for
more than hundred years, the civilized
people have been hearing of the marvel
Gus feats performed by the native Jug
glers. Naturally, Houdin's announce
ment of the Indian basket trick made |
great sensation. The curtain arose and
disclosed wicker basket of oblong
shape standing upon what appeared to
be light table, without any cloth upon
it. The jttgglef entered, dragging
beautiful youth, dressed as an Indian
prince, wearing robe of white cashmere
embroidered with gold, while upon his
head waved a peacock's plume held by
a diamond star.
"Mercyl mercy!n cried the child.
Mono mercy. You are an Indian
and prince, and must die" Was the
savage response.
"1 am only child" cried the inno-
cent boy.
That will not prevent my killing
you"
With piercing shricks the child broke
away and rushed to the side wing, only
to be seized there by his exeeutioner,
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 pain and agony.
Each time the sword was 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 a ghostly
silence ensued. During this scene the
excitement was intense. Ladies hid
their faces in their fans; some wept
aloud ;men shouted hoarsely, "EnoughW
The smiling juggler bowed, and pro-
ceeded to unstrap the basket, which he
turned, meuth up to the audience, show
ing tito be entirely empty. In the midst
of the applause which followed, from
the amused and relieved audience, the
| little Indian prince was seen to be
seated in box in the center of the
auditorium, 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 contrivancenow commonly
used in pantomines and other show
pieces upon the stage. But it was a
new thing then, and the scene was re-
markably well played by Houdin and
the child. AS soon as the boy got in
the basket he opened a trap-door in the
bottom of it, which was placed over a
corresponding opening in the table.
Hidden by the looking-glass, he crouched
below between the table legs, and
shrieked and sobbed until the proper
moment came for him todescend through
a trap in the stage, and so pass around
to the box in the font of the theater.
A sponge full of red liquid was placed
at a certain spot inside the basket
and the sword, passing through this
, seemed to bedripping with blood. 1t was
: imperative that the juggler should moi
J pass in front of the table, else his leg
| would have been reflected there, anC
{ that would have disclosed the entire
J secret. Houdin became dissatisfied
5 with this trick, and made many improve
ments in it, which the jugglers of ou
: day have still further perfected. 1t i
: palpable that this can not be the wa,
in which Indian jugglers performed tn
n trick in the marketplaces or othe
4 public squares in broad daylight. The,
e have no looking-glass table, no trap
o through the earth.
n Houdin's theory concerning them wa
/, that their baskets had an opening in il
r either at its front OF at its back, an
e that, while buckling and strapping dow
the cover, with the knee lifted up an
/ pressed on the basket as if to tighten th
d leather strap securely, the child creI
o out under the bent knee, and hid b,
Y meath the voluminous robes of the jul
gler. Then, while the sword is piercin
s. the basket, and the child's sobs al
lie most heartrending, the crowd gathel
in compact mass about it, and into tt
20 crowd the child easily escapes withol
y being seen, and runs away. At the pr
per moment he comes running back
lie if from a distance, and of course Il
d astonishment of the crowd is III
m paralleled, for the basket has in IL
ID mean time been open and shown to
lg empty.