The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-04-26
EXPOSING THEIR TRICKS.
How the Most Wonderful Feats of Eastern
JuggIers are Performed.

account of his travels all over the world. |
East Indian jugglers so much |
has been said that the estimate of one |
who has been among them is worth |
having. Celebrated travellers have pro-
nounced their tricks as being marvellous |
Says Kellar, speaking of then: "The |
East Indian jugglers, except in their
snake tricks, are very poor. was anxious
to test them, and SO I got number of
the most expert together by paying them
ten rupees five dollars) each, which was
more money than they would see in six
months. They wore nothing but breech-
clouts. Their dexterity in snake tricks
was really marvellous From their ma
ked arms they apparently drew large
cobras and made them dance ever the
stage, and even with my practiced eyes
/ could scarce detect the trick. Once,
however. saw the snakes tail whisk
from bag that was lying on the stage.
With movement actually so rapid that
the human eye could not follow it they
drew the serpents rom that bag Then
came the famous trick of the growth of
the mango tree. o. this army officers
of high standing in India have written
long accounts, pronouncing it beyond
human comprehension. | have seen
these accounts coried in Philadelphia
papers. Well, it was the poorest trick
that ever saw attempted. The jugglers
now no longer appeared in their naked>
ness that made their snake trick 20 mar
velous, but they donned long flowing
gowns. Over a hower-pot filled with
earth in which the seed had been planted
an empty basket was placed. This re-
moved, there was seen the budding stem
of mango tree. The basket was again
placed over the foWer-pot and when
again removed the tree had grown
considerably. This was nothing more
than bungling sleight-of~hand. The
long gowns concealed branches of the
mango. these were placed, not very
dexterousiy neither, beneath the basket
and stuck in the earth, and, in one in.
stance that witnessed, the juggler per-
formed his work 80 poorly that the
stem actually fell over and out of the
pot"
Kellar was asked If he had seen feat
of East Indian jugglery which the late
Rev. DIR. P. E. Moriaity, o. S. A., de.
lighted to narrste, and concerning which
Father Moriarty frequently said: "It
there il such thing rs demonology that
alone will explain that performance. !"
The trick has since been feebly initiated
in this country in the Indian basket
mystery, in which, however, a trap-door
always plays an important part. As
narrated by DR.. Moriarty, who at the
time be witnessed it was connected with
q British regiment on duty in India, the
iuggler's performance was as follows
Having previously told the officers of the
garrison what he proposed doing, the
iuggler permitted them to select spot
on the green swald In the open air.
Here he stationed himself, with basket
with hinged lid at his feet, little boy
at his side and sword in one hand. He
wore nothing but breechclout. The
officers, with locked arms, knee to knee
and watchful eyes. formed semi-circle
in front of him. The juggler placed the
child In the basket, closed the lid, NUT.
tered seeming incarnation, aud sud.
denly plunged the sword through the
basket, and as the child agonizing cry
was heard the man drew back the sword
all dripping with blood. The officer.
were Mortified, but they still kept theil
semi-circie unbroken, and the Indian
again plunged his sword into the basket
and again and again. Still the child'l
hsart.rending screams were heard, until
finally they grew fainter and then ceased
entirely. The juggler asked that ths
basket be examined. The officers opened
il. 1t was empty. There was no trace
of the child. A gIeeini shout was heard
ia the rear. The soldiers turned about
and there, astride the lower limb of 1
small tree, was the Indian juggier'
child, waving bis arms In the air ape
looking as happy as you please, There
was no apparent solution OF such mys
terry. Kellar was asked if he had eve
seen anything like 1t.
/ aYes," he replied with aquaint smile
~ saw one Indian juggler who couie
perform the trick, and q mighty gooe
trick it is, TOO. / paid him two rupee
Zone dollar) and he showed me how i
was done. | marYeled first that b.
should expose the trick for so small ;
sum. but [ soon discovered that be wa
safe In telling me all about 1t, tor nons
mt those who wore the East Indiai
iugsIers costHme--the breeehclout--
could perform it. Dr. Moriarty, in
narrating the particulars OF the perform
anee. omitted mention OF one yer,
triHing little articles white cloth--snt
this seemingly Insignificant appliance
was the most important feature OF th'
affair. In legerdemsin trifes weigh tn
heaviest. The trick is done In this way
The child IL well trained. Alter he ha
been placed In the basket the jugglsr
while praying aloud, wesyes isfg'
white cloth shout his arms, a. though !
were part of the inesntation. Then b
draws the cloth toward him, brings il VI
around his waist and tHeks the ends il