Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-13
THE woNDERFuL KHLhsR.
Once n Captive OF the Eing of
IEurmah.

huEhhus
Harry Kellar, the magician, who has
been performing at the Academy of
, Music, is native of Erie, Pa, and
has been before the public for g years.
He is q gentleman of brilliant mental ~.
tainments, is fine linguist and one of the
best mathematicians in this country. The
magician is unmarried, but is beld never
theless. Mr.. Kellar has had wonder.
fully eventful life. He has made two
tours of the world, appearing in nearly
every country where there is any degree
OF civilization in the world. The poten-
tates of nearly all the European and
Asiatic countries and the Emperor of
Brazil have been mystifed by his feats,
and he has appeared before people of
every nationality in the world.
In 1873 when in Rapgoon, Burmah, the
magician and his company received an in
vitation to appear before the king at the
Court of Ava, Mandalay. To make the
| journey it was necessary to make river
| journey up the hrawaddy, distance of
100 miles which was done on IL small
steamer. The voyage was charminqly
picturesque, leading as il did by scores of
villages and towns with golden spires of
pagodas rising up and glistening in the
dazzling sunlight. At Mandalay the COM
pany was met by royal escort at the
steamer landing. the baggage hacked on
elephants and the people were likewise
mounted, and all were taken to the
palace Of the king. In the outer chamber
of the palace they were ordered 10 re-
move their shoes, which was done, md
after two hours detention they were
escorted through court yards and maguifi |
cent apartments into large audience |
chamber where a temporary stage had |
been fitted up. After fitting up their
properties for performance, screens
were set up at the farther end of the room |
from the stage and beyond these the king
and queen were seated where they could |
see and not be seen. All others in the hall |
including mobiles and officials knelt upon
the toor with nose fairly into the floor.
The interpreter to the court sent word
that the performers must kneel, and only
upon explanation that they could not give
the performance unless permitted TO
stand were they suffered to appear ON
their feet before the king. After the per-
formance the court interpreter told
the performers that his majesty
was so pleased that he would per-
init the conjurer TO gaze upon
his royal faces delicate honor in
that country. The screen was drawn
which revealed his majesty reclining upon
a silken dias. He chatted pleasantly
through an interpreter and maryeled at
the wonders exhibited by the magician.
His majesty expressed n desire that MIR. |
kellar remain as court conjurer and as
signed him and his assistants palace for
their especial entertainment. KeIlar in.
formed the king that friends demanded
his return to Europe. The latter then
insisted that some of his people be taught
'he tricks of the magician, but was told ,
hat this was impossible. His royal high
ness insisted that the magician should re-
nnin, and gave orders that he should not
De permitted to leave the palace /
md that he should be supplied :
With every comfort and luxury. For /
many days the king could not be induced ,
o countermand his former orders, and =
Aellar was literally prisoner in the most Z
gorgeous and magnificent palaces in the /
orient. He was treated with the greatest /
and kindness. and by I
begging, praying, threatening with the ]
Intervention of an American missionary, I
Who informed the king there would be
rouble unless his petted prisoner be
'llowed to depart as freely as he came, {
vas the magician given his liberty. A n
promise was exacted and given that Mr.. i
Aellar return to the palace again, and h
abinet was retained as hostage. Upon n
departing the king paid the conjurer 5000 g
upees, and made the party handsome a
PRESENTS of gold and embroidery work.
While confined as princely prisoners +
he party were shown the sacred white n
Elephant which Mr.. Kellar says was not +
learly SO white specimen as that ex- h
ibited by p. t. Barnum. The pachy- /,
erm was covered with silk and gold "
bread cloth, fed from dishes of silver g
nd gold and two priests were in constant 4
tendance upon his wants. The promise n
revisit Burinah has never yet been |,
UTILIZED but the fortunes of the unstable =
hrone have been such that the pledge is +
70 longer binding. The cabinet was dis i,
overed some time ago by the English in a
he palace of the king where it was con- /
ldered a treasure of great value. n