The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-13
EXPOSING THEIR TRICKS.


ASklEr; gave Gnll2QelPDla reporter &n
account of his travels all over the world.
Concerning East Indian juggiers 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 got a 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 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
I could scarce detect the trick. Once,
however, saw the snakes tail whisk
from bsg that was lying on the stage.
With q movement actually so 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. o. this army officers
of high standing in India have written
long accounts, pronOuncing it beyond
human comprehension. I have seen
these accounts coried in Philadelphia
papers. Well, it was the poorest trick
that l ever saw attempted. The jugglers
now no longer appeared in their naked.
ness that made their snake trick so mar
velous, but they donned long flowing
gowns. Over q fower-pot filed with
earth in which the seed had been planted
an empty basket was placed. This re-
moved, 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
considerably. This was nothing more
than bungling sleight-of~hand. The
long gowns concealed branches of the
mango. these were placed, not very
dexterously neither, beneath the basket
and stuck in the earth, and, in one in.
stance that witnessed, the juggler per
formed his work so poorly that the
stem actually fell over and out of the
pot"
Kellar was asked if he had seen a feat
OF East Indian jugglery which the late
Kew. Dr. 2. E. MOriai ty, o. S. a, de-
llghted to narrste, and concerning which
Father MOriarty frequently said: 1t
there is such a thing as demonology that
alone will explain that performance. -
The trick has since been feebIy 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 he witnessed it was connected with
British regiment on duty in India, the
Juggler's performance was as follows ::
Having previously told the officers of the
garrison what he proposed doing, the
Juggler permitted them % select a spot
on the green swafd in the open air.
Here he stationed himself, with a basket
with hinged lid at his feet, little bow
at his side and a sword in one hand, He
wore nothing but a breechclout. The
officers, with locked arms, knee to knee
and Watchful eyes, formed q semi.circIe
in front of him. The juggler placed the
child in the basket, closed the lid. uut-
tered a seeming incarnation, and sud
denly plunged the sword through the
basket, and as the child agonizing crv
was heard the man drew back the sword
all dripping with bloed. The officers
were Mortified, but they still kept their
seml-clTcle unbToken, and the Indian
again plunged his sword into the basket.
| and again and again. Still the child's
heart-rending screams were heard. until
finally they grew fainter and then ceased
entirely. The juggler asked that the
basket be examined. The officers opened
1t. 1t was empty. There was no trace
of the child. A gleefuI shout was heard
in the rear. The soldiers turned about.
and there, astride the lower limb of q
small tree, was the Indian juggler's
child, waving his arms in the air and
looking as happy IS you please. There
was no apparent solution of such & mvs.
al rad h L,
seen anything like it.
Yes" he replied with aquaint smile
saw one Indian juggler who cOuld
perform the trick, and a mighty good
trick 1t is, too. l paid him two rupees
Zone dollar) and ne showed me how it
was done. 1 marveled first that he
should expose the trick for so small a
sum, but 1 soon discovered that he was
safe in telling me all about it, for none
but those who wore the East Indian
iuggler's cOstume-the breechclout-
could perform it. DR.. Moriarty. in
narrsting the particulars of the perform
ance, omitted mention of one verv
trihing little articles white cloth-and
this seemingly Insignificant appliance
was the most important feature of the
affair. In legerdemsin trifes weigh the
heaviest. The trick is done in this Wav
The child is well trained. After he has
been placed in the basket the iugpler
while praying aloud, weaves a large
white cloth about his arms, as though If
were part of the incarnation. Then he
draws the cloth toward him, brings it IN
around his waist and tucks the ends in
his clout, leaving a portion hanging
down in front in graceful folds. Then
he draws his sword and performs the resi-
of the trick Just az 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 he gets under the iuggIer
grssps q strap around the mans waist
and actually draws himself ND between
the juggler's legs.
The cloth, when brought about the
mans waist, hides the little fellow, who
from his queer retreat utters the piercing
shTieks of the dying child. With 3
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 mangIed body, the
little fellow slips from his hiding-pIace
and sneaxs away to wherever he is to
make his appearance. That is how it is
done, and I say again, poor performers as
indian jugglers are, it is mighty good
trick"
The Story Of Cow Bell.