River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-12
Observation-Disclosures.

JUGGLERYEXrR AURDINARY.
what 1. Vhfte- Rab-a Htnd Conf aver
Dfd an a. oaa Dayighs-A vi ing, Free.
rive Re sstgh. ssro,sia Z from the Nut
! In n single Houe.
| was smoking my chibouk on the wide
veranda of bungalow, or government
inn, one day in Northern India, writes
a correspondent OF the Cleveland (0hio)
Herald. it was in Janu4ry, but the
weather was intensely hot, and mJ OAK
gahrra, with its rough, untraint d horses,
I had stopped here for midday rest. My
Hindostanee servant, with an unpro-
nounceable name, whom | had nick
Aamed Handy Andy on account of Ger.
tain unhaudy ways, and merry twinkle
of the eye that indicated no lack of
Hibernian humor, came up to the porch
and, with a s4laam, s9id; Would sahib
| like to see coniurer make tricksl' "Yes,
bring him on" 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 tail, fine i0nkipg Hlndoo, with a
clear cut, Intelligent face, and eyes that
looked straight at you, next appeared on
the scene. He was dressed in ordinary
long white robe of his race, with rich
cashmere shawl wound around his wais-,
and his saution aud manners were re-
spectful, without the least shade of seryil
ity. He was followed by two attendants,
carving 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 |
ful distance to enjoy q Tree show. The |
ground in front OF the bungalow was |
paved with large, fiat stones, and upon |
one Of tn sc the conjurer seated himself, |
curling hrs legs unuer him in Oriental |
fashion, and asked in Hindos;anee. |
"What special Trick would the Sahib like
to see2" At the sane time he barred his |
arms, long, well formed, oat not muscu
lar, and united his shawl 20 open his robe
and show me thar there was DO concealed |
mechanism about his person. | told |
MIN through Handy Andy that | would |
like him 10 perform the mango uick
which had seen once before at Delhi
without being able to penetrate its mys
terles. He nodded assent, and, taking a
box about ten inches square, filled it
with earth, and in il planted a mango nut
about the size of an English wanut, hay
ing first handed it to me FOR examination.
He then made a framework. or triOd, of
three sticks, six or eight feet long and
tied together at the top, placed it over
the box, and covered the whole with a
piece OF white muslin. The only thing
thus far That looked like char atanism
was a muttered incarnation, rolling up
his ewes, with ouystretched palms, as ii
appealing for and to some higher power.
Again seating himself not more than
ten feet In front of the ve~anda, he went
through the most astonishing perform
ances of sicht-oT- hand tricks, such as
swallowing swords, tossing balls in the
air, drawing from his mouth colored RIB
bops of interminable length, &c, some
of which | had seen before, but never In
broad daylight. He borrowed my watch,
and after smashing it 70 flinders it was
mysteriopsly returned unframed TO ms
pocket He burned my handkerchief,
then poured from wal some elixir upon
the ashes, any thc linen was restored 10
me without and smell of fire upo1 it
These and many other equally curious
things ne did for nearly an hour with
the most intense gravity of manner, and
an air of can1Or that would oisarm suS
picion. My eyes were wide open, aud !
watched him so intently as scarcely To
wink, and vet | was unable to detect
single flaw or account for one of those
transformations
Some of.tbe trick she repeated at my
request, but the result was the same. Al
the critical moment his motions were
quick as lightning. In ali cases where
ire was used | noticed that he either
poured some liquid or threw a whitish
powder upon the flames. which produced
for al instant dense smoke, and left Il
puugent ar )matic od0r 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 sgrout, three or four inches iOlg. APP
al which lie expressed satisfaction
and carefully watered it from small
spinkling pot The next time it was a
foot high, and the leaves seemed just
forming The third time il was fully
two feet in height, and appeared 10 be
growing most vigorously. At the close
of his other performances he tossed aside
the enveloping cloth and tripod of sticks,
1
about five feet high, with perfectly form !
ell leaves and branches. He brought ii {
to me, aud salts ed myself beyond ques
ton that it was real, live tree by break
ing off branch, which ! kept for a SOU
yenir. He then pulled it up by the roots
to which was attached the nut, partially /
decayed and covered with fine tibrous
sprouts. lie then emptied the earth from !
the box to show that nothing was con- ,
ceaied within it. ,
Through Handy Andy offered him
twenty rupees If he would disclose 10 me
the secret of the mango tree. | then
doubled and trebled the offer, but he only
shook his bead, sad presume thous-
and rupees would have been no tempta-
tiou. rewarded him with a generous ,
Zip, and for tie moment regretted that
| was not a Snowman by profession