Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-09-07
Slight Of Hand.

AN INDIAN JUGGLER VS. ZERA sEMoN.
The other night our reporter had re-
turned from witnessing some of Zera
Semon 3 remarkable slight of hand per-
formances. when be met in the hotel office
very intelligent and educated gentleman
who had travelled a great deal and the
conversation fell upon the apparent i'm
possibility of some of the legerdermain
tricks they had both witnessed.
The traveller remarked that, as impossi-
BILE as things seemed, he could relate some
incidents that had come under his own
observation. which had appeared TO him
really supernatural.
He was several years ago upon the
island of Malta, lounging about the blr-
racks, with some British officers, when an
Indian juggler came up from the warf
where a ship had just landed, carrying an
ordinary sack upon his shoulders and fol-
lowed by boy twelve or fourteen years Of
age. The Indian jugglers, you know, are
the most expert of all wizards. The N an
accosted the officers and asked if he might
show them some tricks They asserting,
he drew circle upon the ground in the
open court, some Is or 20 yards in dame
ter, no house or tree being near, and re-
quired the officers and soldiers, of whom
quite mum yer had been attracted to the
place, to stand outside. He then produc-
ed an orange seed and scratching little
hole in the ground planted the seed. After
making few passes over the spot with
his rod, he stepped back and pointed to
the place where he had buried bis seed.
Soon the earth was seen to crack slightly,
and after awhile a tiny white shoot sp-
peared, which soon assumed the form of a
sprout and sent out green young Grange
leaves. This grew rapidly before their
eyes, sending off twies and then bouehs
which were in turn filled with fresh green
leaves until the bush was well grown
ORANGE tree. six CT eight feet in height
1t was not long then before the blossoms
began to appear, then full blown, to fall
off on the ground and then small green
fruit was seen. This grew rapidly and
after reaching full size, ripened into fine
looking oranges, which the magician
plucked from the tree and handing them
around to the spectators, they ate finding
them to bs luscious ripe fruit. The
whole performance lasted about twenty
minutes.
The juggler being here literally paid by
his wondering audience, said he would
show them something else better.
h nd cd
from within a stout iron chain. After
swinging this several times around his
head he tossed it in the air. 1t went rap
idly upwards unwinding as it went, until
the end seemed to be lost to sight in space
above, while the other rested on the earth.
did so, shining rapidly up the chain until
lost to view. After waiting some time.
he called to the boy to hurry up and come
down. Getting no reply and the boy not
appearing, the man pretended to get very
angry and drawing a knife, placed it be-
tween his teeth and he too climbed rapidly
up the chain, finally disappearing also. Il
was not long then before the soldiers
standing breathlessly below and looking
I'D at the mysterious chain. heard loud
angry voices and cries as though proceed
ing from the sky. They were next startled
by bloody hand falling to the ground,
then FOOT next an arm and leg and th'
head Of the boy and finally his discovered,
bloody trunk fell with a thud upon the
ground, followed by the man who slid
doun the chain and all covered with BLOOD
jumped to the ground shaking his head and
expressing great satisfaction at the revenge
he had taken upon the disobedient boy
whom he intimated would not disobey him
again soon. After the fellow had cooled
down he proceeded to dig shallow grave
gathered all the mangled remains together,
placed them in it and covered it over care
fully. After looking quietly around them
upon the expectant and wonder stricken
party, he stamped upon the grave, called
the boy loudly and was answered from the
court beyond the circle of spectators. who
turning around saw the boy run towards
them and laughingly pushing his way
through the soldiers joined the man, who
pulling his chain down, placed it in his bag
and making a low bow shouldered his load
and walked away.
The traveller vouched for his story or
his honor as a gentleman and said he could
nroduce the witnesses to its truth. should
it bs questioned, but the reporter did not
question it.