The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-03
Select STORY.
AN EASTERN JUGGLER.

While travelling through India, between
Surat and Nagpore, my body servant one
day informed me that a great juggler and
snake charmer wished to have the honor of
showing me something of his skill.
"What can he do?" | asked my ser
want
almost everything that is marvellous,
I've been told" was the answer | received.
admit him
My servant withdrew and presently re-
turned with small, withered old man,
about whom saw nothing remarkable ex-
cept the eyes, which were small, black and
piercing, and seemed to have lightning i'm
prisoned in them. | do not know whether
the man could see in the dark like a cat,
but there was at times that peculiar fiery
appearance of the balls which is so often
observable in night prowling animals.
He wore white vest, Turkish trousers,
kind of crimson petticoat worked with
strange devices, turban of many colors
and red morocco shoes, pointed and turned
up at the toes. His arms and neck were
bare, and, with the exception of a couple
of heavy gold rings in his ears, he dis
played no extraneous ornaments. His age
[ Judged to be sixty, and his short mus
tache was almost white. He made low
salaam, and then appeared to wait to be
addressed.
"Your name?' said I, in Hindostanee.
"Paunjar, your excellency.'
Il am told you wish to show me some
wonders?"
''If your excellency wills
"Well, what can you do"
He suddenly produced-from where
did not see and cannot tell-a large ball OF
twine, which he appeared to toss into my
lap, keeping hold of one end, 80 that it un
rolled the whole distance between him and
meat least ten feet, saying as he did so
"Will your excellency please examine
what you see?'
Now, [ honestly aver that l saw thai
ball of twine when he threw it as plainly
as ever saw anything in my life-saw il
come toward me, saw it unroll and appar
emily drop into my lap, so that l brough
my knees quickly together to catch it, anc
yet when 1 put my hand down TO take il
and looked down for it, it was not there
nothing was there, and, at the same instant
[ perceived the juggler balancing it on th'
end of his finger.
"Pshaw!'' p said l. you deceived me b.
making me believe you threw it TOWARD
me-"
''Does your excellency think l have it,
he asked.
And. before [ could answer | saw, IL
place of the ball, beautiful, large rose
which he was balancing by the stem-an'
vet he had not altered his position in tn
least and scarcely stirred finger.
[ began to be astonished.
While yet looked | saw in his rlgh
hand cup, and in his left the rose. II
stepped forward few feet, laid the ros
down on the ground, and placed the GU
over it.
Here, it will be observed, there was N
machinery to assist him-no table with 1t
false top, concealed compartments and con
federate, perhaps, to effect change as W
see similar tricks performed in place fitte
by magician for the purpose onl
my own quarters, in the full bright of day
with myself closely watching every move
ment within five feet of him, and my a
tendants grouped around almost as near
Having covered the rose with the cul
as [ would be willing to make oath, tor
saw the rose distinctly as the hollow vesse
held by the top, went slowly down over Ii
the conjurer resumed his former place, an
said
"Will your excellency be kind enoug
to lift the cup and see what is under 1t
Of course I would have wagered a heav
sum that the rose was still there for on
thing, because expecting some trick, L ha
kept my eye on it to the last moment, an
was certain there was no possibility Of ii
being removed after the hand had let go 9
the cup at the top.
complied with the request, steppe'
forward, and raised the cup; but Instant
dropped it, and bounded back with or
of terror-for there, instead of the rose
was one of the little, green, deadly serpent
of India, coiled up and ready for sprine
with its small, glistening eyes fixed intent
ly on mine. Snakes of any kind are m
horror; and this one not only horrifed me
but all my attendants, who, with cries
alarm, enlarged the circle very rapidly, fo
they knew its bite to be fatal.
s.No more such tricks as these, conjul
er |" said /, sterHly.
at is perfectly harmless, your exeeller