The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-27
JUGGLING IN JAVA.

JUGGLING IN JAVA.
How the Late Robert Heller Delighted
Much Married Oriental King.
Miss Haidie Heller is writing a book
about her brother, the late Robert Heller,
whose feats as prestidigitateur were as
amusing as they were wonderful. In this
work she will give the following incident
of visit to Java: On May 9, 1872, the
Hellers sailed away from Singapore on
the steamer Amecita, bound for Batavia,
in Java. A quiet sort ola spot Java is Just
now, but the ancient history of the place
moved with as much fame and smoke as
a torch light procession. Instructions
and wars were their pleasures and pur-
suits from their earliest records. In 174O
they butchered 10, 900 Chinese in Batavia,
and erected brass image of the heather
Chinee to commemorate the determination.
Straight down to 1880, the last year of the
great Japanese war, their chronicle is one
Of blood and piracy. But with one of the
present emperors, the sleek and fat 500
zoohoonan, who holds his court in
Soerakarta, the Helle1 were particularly
fascinated a. being in all respects mild
and gentle sovereign. Soerakarta is a
wretched, struggling place, and the i'm
perial palace is mixture OF splendor and
squalor, difficult TO understand. His
Serene Majesty, who boasts a dozen or
more titles, such as Hengkang Senahon-
Object of Veneration; Agabdose Rachman
Servant Of the Merciful; the Master who
is Served, the one who wears the province
on his lap, the Superior great chief com-
mander, etc., was best known as Soosoo,
that being short for Emperor Soosoo-
hoonan. The day arrived for their visit
to royalty, and at the palace of Soc
rakarta the magician, his sister and their
agent duly presented themselves. Ush.
cred into a vast hall on the ground floor
las the entire palace never got above one
story, they were first RECALLED with BAN
quet of native fruits and wines. Then
the wide doors of the back were flung
open, and the Emperor Soosoo and his
wife entered with their children. "Soosoo-
hoonan" was a big fat man, sleek and
black, who moved with difficulty in con-
sequence OF a new pair of huge slippers.
which caught continually in the fiinges Of
loose rush mass that lay thickly strewn
on beaten earth floor. The room was
large, but there were 30 manv of Mrs.
SoOsoohoonan and the imperial offspring
that they formed no uncomfortable au.
dience. There was an empress of Soc
rakarta, an extraordinary looking per-
son, who held her huge mouth wide open
during the seance for the purpose of dis
playing her principle attraction, a row of
big teeth stained jet black, that looked
like scuttle of canal coal. Ranged be-
hind the royal pair were the second class
in cOnJugal relations, the sixty-three con-
cubines, with an average family of three
children apiece about the same age
ten to 6fteen-and most of them
boys, dressed with all the taste of
which fond mother in Java is posed;
that is, they had their hair gorgeously
creased. they wore medallions on brass
chains around their necks, and in some
cases carried feather fans. But other
clothing they had not. However, old
SOosoc had any quantity. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY an unusual dress-up day for even
an Emperor, and the old gentleman's ex-
tensive wardrobe troubled him, for at the
close of Mr.. Heller's Srst trick the proud
sovereign arose and removed his spangled
ulster. At the end of the second a sky
blue embroidered froek coat followed, and
when Mr.. Heller sat down to the piano,
SoosOo got up and out Of his pantaloons.
Under these he wore a striped cloth about
his hons, which is considered the proper
thing In underclothes out IN Java.
Miss Heller, knowing the tastes of the
natives, had ransacked her trunk for her
gayest dress. She had selected a crimson
silk, and decorated its low neck and short
sleeves with the brightest flowers. She
added to its glory every article of jewelry
she owned, and her entrance created SEN
sation. The Empress and her sons, young
Java, Mocha, st. Domingo, and the rest
OF the coffee-colored names, rose and clus-
tered about her for nearer survey, much
to her CONSERVATION, as the empress with
her yawning, cavernOus mouth and black
teeth was frightful spectacle, and tine
young men in their medallions and feather
fans were quite as appalling. The expla-
nations and accompanying talk of Mr..
Heller's feats formed always a most en-
joyable portion OF the entertainment. He
had in this instance to get along with an
interpreter who had an English eiscation
Of twenty-five words. With this brief
stock of language he failed to make much
Of the magician's swift utterances. Per-
ha ,s it was as well that he did no better,
for, to the amusement Of his agent and
but the fright of his sister, he
would thus address his royal host: 81 am
about to show you, most ignorant repro
bate, how these three eggs may be made
TO produce the medallion, of your stark.
naked sons, which you no doubt believe to
be swinging in yonder crystal casket. And
now, If, after breaking all the ten COM
mandments and outraging decency. you
can give me your attention, will proceed
to break the eggs.
His poor sister ehuddered lest her fire.
quent laughs should be construed az in.
suits; but uninterrupted by bow strings
or scimetars. the performance concluded
to great applause. The Emperor beck
nned. one of his slaves approached, in
the most difficult and ridiculous of atti-
tudes, known in the dwarf dance as the
heel movement-kseping himself, as he
came forward and retreated, in a squat.
ting position, and reducing his height to
about three feet. The Emperor gave an
order; the slave hoped off and presently
hitched on, bearing tray on which rested
a box. Miss Heller impatientiy watched
him as he searched its recesses. Finally
he selected huge medallion like those
worn by his sons. II contained over a
hundred small brilliants and handsome
ruby, attached. however, to q brass wire
chain. which a well-bred dog would have
refused TO be led by. But the diamonds
gllttered and tine ruby flashed, and Miss
Heller was delighted. The Emperor hung
the chain about her neck ard with much
artistic taste caused the medallion 70 rest
uppermost on the bouquet at her bosom.
Still he fingered, and as If unconsc,ously
took up a golden curl that fell upon her
shoulder. Sixty-four Mrs. Soosoos glared
with jealous rage, as the hideous rascal
gave the curl cloeer scrutiny. Mrs.
Soosoo number one opened her black
mouth still wider. and with a cry ike a |