The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-08

never tor q moment doubted that 1t
was trick which could be nationally
explained. In the East, the profession
of a cOnjurer inspires dread. He is
looked upon as in league with the
Devil. The ordinary Oriental mind
does not seek to penetrate his secret,
but takes it for granted that he pos
sesses supernatural powers. His mag
inatiOn is easily excited, and the be-
lief in magic is universally accepted as
part of his religious creed. In the
holy books of Buddha the magic arts
open short road to attain that per-
lection of power and wisdom which
eliminates in the cessation of sensitive
existence. The more refined and
learned class of Buddhists repudiate
and despise the grosser exhibitions of
common magic and charlatanism, but
as the common people will not dispense
with these marvels, every great monas-
terry keeps conjurer who does not be-
long to the brotherhood of the con-
vent, and is allowed to marry. These
practitioners possess no literature, but
hand down the secrets of their art by
tradition. In India, conjuring as well
as understanding is hereditary pro-
fession. and their mystic practices are
transmitted from father to son.
1t is a good plan4f anyone has any,
thing marvellous to relate, to tell first
what he has seen himself, and after
ward what may have come to him at
second hand. The old missionary
Jesuits in India and China relate with
holy horror the magic arts of the sor-
cerers which came under their own OBJ
servation, and lament that some cred
ulous Princes, who had been converted
to Christianity, should still allow dia-
bolic tricks to be played upon them.
A very learned friar, who is spoken
of as perfectly truthful, says that among
the Tartars there are certain men whom
they honor above all others, who are
idol priests from India, persons of deep
wisdom, we'll conducted and Of the
purest morals. They are acquainted
with the magic arts, and depend on the
counsel and aid of demons. Among
other delusions they exhibit, which he
describes with great exactness, he says
they can sit in the air without any
visible support-tirst on a tripod of
three sticks, then one stick after an
other is removed, and still the man re-
mains, not touching the ground. He
further relates that with q long cane he
felt all under the suspended individual
and found nothing upon which his body
rested. This last performance was pro-
fessedly exhibited in Madras during the
present century, and is infinitely de-
scribed by writer's Whose veracity can
not be impeached.'
And now comes the most astonishing
trick of all, which has touch of trag-
edy to give it more piquant flavor.
/ shall tell it in the quaint language of
the old chronicler, somewhat abbrcvi-
ated. After describing very wildly the
basket-murder trick, which is well
known in India, he says: 81 am now
about to relate a thing which surpasses
all belief, which should scarcely ven
ture to insert here had it not been wit
messed by thousands under my own
eyes. One of the party took ball of
cord, and grasping one end, threw the
other up in the air with such force that
its extremity was beyond the reach of
our sight. He then Immediately
climbed up the cord with incredible
swiftness. aud was soon out of sight. /
stood, full of establishment, not con-
ceiving what was to come of this,
when. 10! leg came tumbling
down out of the air. One Of
the conjuring company instantly
snatched it up and threw it into a
basket. A moment after hand came
down, and Immediately on that another
leg. And in a short time all the menu
bers of the body came thus successive
ly tumbling from the air, and were
cast together in the basket. The last
fragment of all we saw come down was
the head, and no sooner had that
touched the ground than he who had
snatched up all the limbs and put them
into the basket turned them all out
again topsy turvy. And straightway
saw with these eyes all those limbs
creep together again and in short
time form a whole man, who stood up
and walked about without showing the
least damage! Never in my life was
so astOnished as when / beheld this
wonderful performance, and I doubted
now no longer that these misguided
men did it by the help of the devil.
had an attack of palpitation of the heart
like that which evercame me once be-
fore in the presence of the Sultan of
India when he showed me something
of that kind. They GAGE me cordial,
however, schich cured the attack. The
Kazi Afkharradin was next to me, and
quoth he: IS Wallah! tits my opinion
there has been neither going up nor
coming down, neither marring nor
mending; tits all hocus pocus!' which
was q very wise conclusion to come to.
When the evidence Of eye-witnesses
is too direct to be rebutted and an alibi
can be proved, the willy advocate in de-
Tending his client relates to the open
moulded jury certain wellrauthenticat-
ed stories Of optical decisions, which
like those other illustrations of the fall
libility of circunlstantial evidence can
be found in the repertoire of every skill.
full crimi1al lawyer. Byway of caveat,
l will only add the motto which every
Eastern traveller should bear in mind
believe nothing you hear, and only
half you zee. ~ n. xSgg, IN Cleve.
land Herald. 49,
1t is perfectly easy 3 become SC
infatuated with yourself thst yeu labo,
under the delusion that everything be.
longs to you which you can put your
hands on. The fact that other people
differ from you in opinion is what
causes half the trouble in your life. -
~. +. Herald. kH
The healthy growth Of the baby 10 depend
ent upon its freedom from the pernicious eff.