The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-13
fEArs OF ORIENTAL yuecLml.

How the Gentlemaniy Hindoo Made the
Mango Tree Grow. Smashed wstcies.
Burned Handkerchiefs. Etc.
A tall, fne-looking Hindoo, with a
clear-cut, intelligent face. and eyes that
looked straight at you, with no indica-
ton of ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain," next appeared on the
scene. He was dressed in the long
white robe Of his race, with rich cash
mere shawl round his waist, and his
salutation and manner were respectful,
without the least shade OF servility.
He was followed by two attendants car
rying the various implements of his
profession, which they spread out be-
fore him, and a dozen or two hangers
on of al ages grouped themselves at a
respectful distance to enjoy the free
show.
The ground in front of the bungalow
was paved with large fiat stones, and
upon one of these the conjurer seated
himself, curling his legs under him in
Oriental fashion, and asked in Hindoo-
stance, what special trick would the
Sahib like to see?" At the same time
he barred his arms, long, we'll formed,
but not muscular, and united his shawl
to open his robe, and show me that
there was no concealed mechanism
about his person. l told him, through
Handy Andy, that would like to have
him perform the mango trick" which
had seen once before at Delhi without
being able to penetrate its mys-
teries. He nodded assent, and, taking
box about ten inches square, filled it
with earth, and in it planted mango
nut about the size of an English wal
nut, having first handed it to me for
examination. He then made tripod,
or frame work of three sticks, six or
eight feet long, and tied together at
the top, placed it over the box and
covered the whole with piece of white
muslin. The only thing thus far that
looked like charlatanism was muttered
incarnation, rolling up his eyes, with
outstretched palms, as if appealing for
aid TO some higher power.
. Again seating himself on the stone
tagging, not more than ten feet from
the veranda, he went through the most
astonishing performances of sleight-of-
hand tricks. such as swallowing swords,
tossing balls in the air which never
seemed to come down, drawing from
his mouth colored ribbons Of intermina-
bic length, ETC., some of which / have
seen done before, but never in broad
daylight. He borrowed my watch,
mashed it to flinders, and then mystic
riously returned it unframed to my
pocket. He burned my handkerchief.
then poured from vial some elixir
upon the ashes, and the linen was re-
on its hem.
These and many other curious things
he did for nearly an hour with the most
intense gravity of manner and an air OF
candor that would disarm suspicion.
Ny eyes were wide open, and / watched
him SO intently as scarcely to wink, and
yet l was unable to detect single
flaw or account for one of these trans
formations.
Some of the tasks he repeated at my
request, but the result was the same.
At the critical moment his motions
were quick as lightning. In all cases
where fire was used 1 noticed that he
either poured some liquid or threw q
whitish powder upon the flames, which
produced for an instant dense smoke,
and left pungent, aromatic odor i'll
the air.
In the meantime the mango tree was
growing. Four times, at intervals of
ten or fifteen minutes, he raised the
muslin cover to report progress. The
first time sprout three or four inches
long appeared, at which he expressed
satisfaction. and carefully sprinkled it
from small watering-pot. The next
time it was foot high, and the leaves
seemed just forming. The third time
it was fully two feet in height, and APP
peared to be growing most vigorously,
At the close of his other performances
he tossed aside the enveloping cloth
and tripod of sticks, and lol there was
a mango tree or bush, about five feet in
height, with perfectly formed leaves
and branches. He brought it to me,
and l satisfied myself beyond question
that it was a real, live tree by breaking
off branch, which L kept as souve-
mir. He then pulled it up by the roots,
to which was attached the nut, partly
decayed and covered with fine fibrous
sprouts. He then emptied the earth
from the box to show me that nothing
was concealed within it.
When it is borne in mind that all
this was done in broad daylight, with
no person usually near him, the per-
formers arms being bare to the shout
ders, and seated on a stone pavement
it is not surprising that the bystanders
seemed filled with amazemen6, not I'M
mixed with awe. Their faces would
have been to me an interesting study,
if my own attention had not been so
closely riveted on the coniurer.
Through Handy Andy as interpreter,
/ offered him 20 rupees if he would dis
close to me the secret of the mango
tree. / then doubled and trebled the
offer, but he only shook his head. and
1 presume 1000 rupees would have
been no temptation. L rewarded him
with a generous "tip," and for the mo.
ment regretted that was not o show
man by profession. If / could have
secured his services for an American
engagement there would have been
millions in it"
Converting the Heather.
a large soap factory has fai1e1 In