The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-09-12
JUGGLEkY Elk rRAvkDlNAkY.

protect it.
JUGGLEKY Elk rRAukDlNAkY.
what = WHITE Rob-a Hindos CoaSarer
Dia IN BsoaA Daylixht-A Mango Tre-,
i'm q Sinxle Mour.
l was smoking my chibouk on the wide
veranda OF bungalow, or government
inn, one day in Northern India, writes
a correspondent Of the Cleveland (Ohio)
Herald. it was in January, but the
weather was intensely hot, and my OAK
gahrra, with its rough, unframed horses,
had stopped here for midday rest. Ny
Hindostanee servant, with an unpro.
nounceable name, whom I had nick
named "Handy Andy on account of Ger.
tain unhandy ways, and merry twinkle
of the eye that indicated no lack of
Hibernian humor, came up to the perch
and, with a salaap, said: "Would sahib
like to see conjurer make tricks9'' Eyes,
bring him on" I suspected the fellow
was consulting his own fondness for
amusement more than mine, but was too
hot to sleep. and was ready for any
; thing that would kill time.
A tall, fine looking Hlndoo, with q
clear. cut, intelligent face, aud eyes that
looked straight ut you, next appeared on
the scene. He was dressed in ordinary
long white robe Of his race, with q rich
cashmere shawl wound around his wais' j.,
and his salution aud manners were re-
spectful, without the least shade of servil-
ity. He was followed by two attendants,
carrying the various implements of his
profession, which they spread out before
him, and dozen or two hangers on of
all ages grouped themselves at respect
full distance to enjoy q free show. The
ground in front Of the bungalow was
paved with large, flat stones, and upon
one of these the conjurer seated himself,
curling his legs under him in Oriental
fashion, and asked in Hindostanee,
"What special trick would the Sahib like
to see2" At the sane time he barred his
arms, long, we'll formed, but not muscu-
lar. and united his shawl 20 open his robe
and show me that there was no concealed
mechanism about his person. I told
him through Handy Andy that I would
like him to perform the mango trick
which had seen once before at Delhi
without being able to penetrate its mys.
teries. He nodded assent, and, taking q
box about ten inches square, filled it
with earth, and in it planted mango nut
about the size Of an English walnut, hav-
ing first handed it to me for examination.
He then made framework. or triod, Of
three sticks, six or eight feet long and
tied together at the top, placed it over
tue box, and covered the whole with a
piece of white muslin. The only thing
thus far that looked like charlatanism
was muttered incarnation, rolling up
his eyes, with outstretched palms, as il
appealing for aid to some higher power.
Again seating himself not more than
ten feet in front of the veranda, he went
through the most astonishing perform
ances of slight-oi-hand tricks, such as
| swallowing swords, tossing balls in the
air, drawing from his mouth co!ored rib.
bons of interminablc length, &C., some
Of which had seen before, but never in
broad daylight. He borrowed my watch,
and after smashing it to flinders it was
mysteriously returned unframed to nay
pocket. He burned my handkerchief,
then poured from vial some elixir upon
the ashes, any the linen was restored to
me without and smell of fire upo.. it.
These and many other equally curious
things ne diu for nearly IN hour, with
the most intense gravity Of manner, and
an air of candor that would disarm sus-
picion. Ny eyes were wide open, and l
watched him so intently as scarcely to
wink, and vet l was unable to detect a
single flaw or account tor one Of those
transformations.
Some of the trick she repeated at my
request, but the result was the same. At
the critical moment his motions were
quick as lightning. In all cases where
tire was used l noticed that he either
poured some liquid Or threw a whitish
powder upon the flames. which produced
tor al instant dense smoke, and left a
pungent aromatic odor in the air.
In the meantime the mango tree was
growing. Four times, at intervals of ten
or fifteen minutes, he raised the muslin
cover to report progress. The first time
a sprout, three or four inches long, ap-
pcared, at which he expressed satisfaction
and carefully watered it from small
sp,inkling pot. The next time it was
foot high, and the leaves seemed just
forming. The thru time it was fully
two feet in height, and appeared to be
growing most vi gorously. At the close
of his other performances he tossed aside
the enveloping cloth and tripod of sticks,
and 10! there was mango tree, or bush
about five feet high, with perfectly form
ed leaves and branches. He brought it
to me, and salts led myself beyond ques-
ton that it was real, live tree by break
ing off branch, which kept for SOU
venir. He then pulled it up by the roots
to which was attached the nut, partially
decayed and covered with fine tibrous
sprouts. He then emptied the earth from
the box to show that nothing was con-
cealed within it.
Through Handy Andy I offered him
twenty rupees if he would disclose to me
the secret of the mango tree. tnen
doubled and trebled the offer, but he only
shook his head, and presume thous-
aud rupees would nave been no tempta-
ton. rewarded him with a generous
tip" and for tie moment regretted that
| was not Snowman by profession.
A great man lives in the influence of bis
ex .mple and his teachings. How many
there are who resurrect Franklin in his
famous maxim, Save pence, pounds
will save themselves" when the church
collector shakes the contribution box or
basket under their noses!