The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-03

cy, grlnned the OLD man, walking up to''
lifting it by the neck, putting its head into
his mouth, and allowing it to run down his
throat
shuddered, and half believed the Jug
gler possessed of devil, if not a devil him.
self.
He next produced tube that looked
like brass, about two feet long and half an
inch in diameter, and next, the ball of
twine again.
Where these things came from, or, went
to, could not tell. They seemed to be
in his hands when he wanted them; but l
never observed his hands passing near his
dress, either when they appeared or disap-
peared. When I looked for the cup that
[ had lifted from the snake, it was gone;
and yet neither myself nor any of my at
tendants had seen this wonderful man pick
it up! 1t was indeed jugglery, if not mag
ic, of the most unquestionable kind
Through the brass tube the conjurer now
passed one end of the twine, which he put
between his teeth. He then placed the
tube between his lips, threw back his head,
and held it perpendicularly, with the ball
of twine on the upper end. Then suddenly
this ball began to turn, and turn rapidly,
and gradually grow smaller, till it entirely
disappeared, as if the twine had been run
off on reel. What turned it, or where it
went to, no one could see. The juggler
then set the other end up, and new ball
began to form ON the top, but apparently
ribbon, of half an inch in width, and of
different colors. These rolled up, as if on
a bobbin, till it formed wheel of two or
three inches in diameter, when the per-
former seemed to toss ribbon and the tube
over his shoulder, and that was the last L
saw of either.
He next produced what appeared to be
the same cup I had lifted from the snake,
showing something that looked like an egg,
advanced the same as before, and placed
the latter on the ground and the former
over it, and again requested me to raise it,
which declined to do, fearing [ should
see another serpent, or something equally
horrifying.
"Will any one lift the cup?" he said,
turning to the others.
No one volunteered to do so, but all
rather drew back.
At this he took up the cup himself and
appeared to throw it into the air, and there
sat in its place beautiful dove, which flew
up and alighted on his shoulder. He took
it in his hand, muttered over some unintel-
ligible words, seemed to cram it into his
mouth, and that was the last saw of that
also.
He performed some other tricks similar
to these, and concluded with the myster-
ious bag. This bag which somehow came
into his hands, as did all the other things
he used, in manner unknown to us-was
from two to three feet long, and about a
foot wide. 1t looked as if it had been used
to hold some kind of -four; and [ certainly
saw something like the dust of flour fly
from it when he turned it inside out and
beat it across his hands. He turned it
back again, and tied it to the mouth with
string, muttering low incarnation.
This done, he threw it on the ground
and stamped on it, treading it all out fiat
with his feet. He then stepped back
few PAGES and requested us all to fix our
ewes on it. We did so and after the lapse
of perhaps thirty seconds, we saw it begin
to swell up, like a bladder when being ex-
panded with wind. 1t continued to swell
till every part became distended, and 1t
appeared as round and solid as if filled with
sand Its solidity, however, was only ap-
parent-for when the juggler went up and
placed his foot on it, it yielded to the pres
sure, but Immediately sprung back, or
rounded out, as soon as that was removed
He then jumped on it with both feet, and
lattened it all out as at first. He then went
away again and the bag being left to itself
as before, again began to rise, or initiate,
but this time as if some animal like a cat
were inside of it. In fact, | could see
where there appeared to be legs; and then
to my utter amazement, I may almost say
horror, it began to move toward me, as if
impelled by the unknown something in it !!
I do not think I am coward-my
worst enemy has never accused me of being
one, at least-but I confess that on this
occasion my nerves would not let me re-
main passive; and l retreated from the
advancing mystery, and informed the
magician that 1 had seen enough to satisfy
me of his wonderful occult powers. AT
this he smiled grimly, walked up to the
bag, trod it down again, picked it up and
beat it with his right hand across his left,
caused it to unaccountably disappear from
nv sight, and then made his concluding
salaam.
How these wonders were performed
by what art, power, OR magic-I do not and
never expect to know. [ have conversed
with many persons who have seen quite as
strange, unnatural things, but never heard
any one give any explanation that l con
sidered at all satisfactory.
off your excellency wills, [ shall now
have the honor of showing you how
charm serpents," said the necromancer.