The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-12
EXPOSING THEIR TRICKS.
How the Most Wonderful Fonts Of Easter
Jugglers are Performed.


JuRRlers are Performed.
A celebrated prestidigitateur, named
Kellar, gave Philadelphia reporter an
account of his travels all over the world.
Concerning East Indian jugglers 30
much has been said that the estimate Of
one who has been among them is worth
having. Celebrated travellers have pro-
nounced their tricks az being marvel
GUS. Says Kellar, speaking Of them
"The East Indian jugglers, except in
their snake tricks, are very poor. l was
anxious to test them, and so I got
number of the most expert together by
paying them ten rupees Give dollars)
each, which was more money than they
would see in six months. They wore
nothing but breechclouts. Their dex-
terity in snake tricks was really marvel
GUS. From their naked arms they ap-
parently drew large cobras and made
them dance over the stage, and even
with my practiced eyes could scarce
detect the trick. Once, however, l saw
the snakes tail whisk from a bag that
was lying on the stage. With move
ment actually 80 rapid that the human
eye could not follow it they drew the
serpents from that bag. Then came the
famous trick of the growth of the mango
tree. OF this army officers of high
standing in India have written long ac.
counts, pronouncing it beyond human
comprehension. I have seen these ac-
counts copied in Philadelphia papers.
Well, it was the poorest trick that I ever
saw attempted. The jugglers now no
longer appeared in the nakedness that
made their snake trick 80 marvellous,
but they donned long, flowing gowns.
Over fower-pot filed with earth in
which the seed had been planted an
empty basket was placed. This remov-
ed, there was seen the budding stem of
q mango tree. The basket was again
placed over the fower-pot, and when
again removed the tree had grown con-
siderably. This was continued, until
there had been produced quite a high
plant. This was nothing more than
bungling sleight.of-hand. The long
gowns concealed branches OF themango.
These were placed, not very de1terously
neither, beneath the basket and stuck in
the earth, and, in ono instance that I
witnessed, the juggler performed bis
work 30 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. DR.. P. E. Moriarity, o. 8. A., de-.
lighted to narrate, and concerning Which
Father Moriarity frequently said: III
there is such thing as 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, o trap
door always plays an important part.
As narrated by DR.. Morisrity, who at
the time he witnessed it was connected
with q British regiment on duty in
India, the iuggler's performance WAS rs
follows: Having previously told the OH,
GERS of the garrison what he proposed
doing. the juggler permitted them to
select spot on the green sward in the
open air. Here he stationed himself,
with basket with a hinged lid at his
fe. t, little boy his side and a sword In
one hand. He wore nothing but q
breechclout. The officers, with locked
arms, knee to knee and watchful eyes,
formed o semi.circle in front of him.
The juggler placed the child ir the
basket, closed the lid, muttered q seem.
ing incarnation, and suddenly plunged
the sword through the basket, and as
the child's agonizing cry was heard the
man drew back the sword all dripping
with blood. The officers were horrified,
but they still kept their semi circle un-
broken, and the Indian again plunged
his sword into the basket, and again and
again. Still the child's heart-rending
screams were beard, until finally they
grew fainter and then ceased entirely.
The juggler asked that the basket be
examined. The officers opened it. It
was empty. There was no trace OF the
child. A gleeful shout was heard in the
rear. The soldiers turned about, and
there, astride the lower limb of small
tree, was the Indian iuggler's child,
waving his arms in the air and looking
as happy as you please. There was no
apparent solution of such a mystery.
Kellsr was asked if he had ever seen
anything like it.
Eyes" he replied, with a quaint
smile. 81 saw one Indian iuggler who
could perform the trick, and mighty
good trick It is, too. I paid him two
rupees Zone dollar) and he showed me
how it was done. I marveled first that
he should expose the trick for 80 small q
sum, but I soon discovered that he was
safe in telling me all about it, for none
but those who wore the East Indian Jug
gler's costume-the breechclout-could
perform it. DR.. Moriarity, in narrat-
ing the particulars of the performance,
omitted mention of one very triaing
little article-a white cloth-and this
seemingly insignificant appliance was
the most important feature of the affair.
In legerdemain trihes weigh the heayl-
est. The trick is done in this way. The
child is we'll trained. After he has been
placed in the basket the juggler, while
praying aloud, weaves a large white
cloth about his arms, as though it were
part of the incarnation. He suddenly
throws it over the basket, binding one
end. Then he draws the cloth toward
him, brings it up around his waist and
tucks the ends in his clout, leaving a
portion hanging down in front in grace
full folds. Then he draws his sword and
performs the rest of the trick just as it
has been described. The explanation is
simple. As he draws the cloth over the
basket the agile youngster tumbles out,
and while still concealed by the cloth be
gets under the juggler, grasps strap
around the mans waist and actually
draws himself up between the juggler's
legs.
1.-THE cloth, when brought about the
mans waist, hides the little fellow, who
from his queer retreat utters the pierre
ing shrieks OF the dying child. With o
sponge saturated with red liquid and
aptly applied, the juggler produces the
blood stains. When the spectators rush
forward to open the basket, expecting
to witness the child's mangled body, the
little fellow slips from his hiding.place
and sneaks away to wherever he is to
make his appearance. That is how it is
done, aud 1 say again, poor performers
as Indian jugglers are, it is a mighty
good trick"
"Answers to Correspondents"
Desperate Wife.-(D My husband is