Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-06-13
ASTONISHING FEATS.
TRICKS PERFORMED BY AN OLD Jug
GLER IN INDIA.

Twine The Rose and the Cup--A
Piece OF deception.
While travelling through India. between
Surat and Nagpore. my body servant one
day Informed me that great juggler and
snake charmer wished to have the honor
OF showing me something of his skill.
My servant withdrew and presently re-
turned with q small. withered old man,
about whom | saw nothing remarkable
except the eyes. which were small. black
and piercing. and seemed to have light
ming imprisoned in them. do not know
whether the man could see me in the dark
like 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,
q kind of crimson petticoat worked with
strange device. turban of many colors
and morocco shoes pointed and turned up
at the toes. His arms and neck were bare.
and with the exception of couple of heavy
gold rings in his ears, he displayed no ex-
traneous ornaments. His age | Judge to
be go. and his short mustache was almost
white He made slow saiam and then
suddenly produced-from where | did not
see and cannot tell-a large ball of twine.
which he appeared to toss in my lap.
keeping hold of one end. so 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 sect"
Now. honestly aver that l saw that
ball of twine when he threw 1t as plainly
as ever saw anything in my life--saw 1t
come toward me. saw 1t unroll and ap-
parently drop into my lap. so that
brought my knees quickly together to
catch it. and yet when put my hand
down to take it, and looked down for it. 1t
was not there-nothing was there. and at
the same instant perceived the juggler
dancing 1t On the end of his finger.
WONDERFUL TRANSPORTATION.
docs your excellency think ! have it9s.
he said
And before / could answer / saw in
place of tie ball a beautiful large red
rose which he was balancing by the stem
and yet he had not altered his position
In the least. nor scarcely stirred finger
While yet l looked, | saw in his right
hand cup, and in his left rose He
stepped forward few feet. laid the rose
down on the ground. and placed the cup
over it.
Here. 1t will be observed. there was no
machinery to assist him--no table with
its false top. concealed compartments and
confederate perhaps. to effect change.
as we see similar tricks performed in a
place fitted by magician for the purpose
but only my own quarters. in the full
light of day with myself closely watching
every movement. within five feet Of him,
and my attendants grouped around almost
as near.
Having covered the rose with cup--as
! would be willing to take my oath, for ]
saw the rose as distinctly as the hollow
vessel. held by the top. went slowly down
over 1.-THE conjurer resumed his former
place, and said
"Wul your excellency be kind enough
to lift the cup and see what is under itY'
OF course, would have wagered
heavy sum that the rose was still there
for one thing. because. expecting some
trick. had kept my eye on 1t to the last
moment. and was certain there was no
possibility of its being removed after
hand had let go of the cup at the top.
complied with the request. stepped
forward and raised the cup. but instantly
dropped II with cry of terror-for there.
deadly green serpents of India. coiled up
and ready to spring, with its small
glistening eyes fixed intently on mine.
Snakes OF any kind are my horror, and
this one not only horrifed me, but all my
attendants. who with cries Of alarm en-
larged the circle very rapidly. for they
knew its bite to be fatal
1T is perfectly harmless. your excel.
lency." grinned the old man. walking up
to it. lifting it by the neck, putting its
head In his mouth and allowing it to run
down his throat.
THE TUBE AND TwINE.
He next produced tube that looked
like brass. about two feet long and half
IN 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 | never observed his hands
passing near his dress either when they
appeared or disappeared When | looked
for the cup that had lifted from the
snake it was gone. and yet neither myself
nor any Of my attendants had seen this
wonderful man pick 1t up. 1t was indeed
jugglery. If not magic. of the most un-
questionable kind.
Through the brass tube tlae conjurer
passed one end Of the twine. which he put
between his teeth. He then put the tube
between his lips. threw back his head and
held 1t perpendicularly, with the ball of
twine at the upper end Then suddenly
the ball began to turn. and turn rapidly,
and gradually grow smaller. till it entirely
disappeared. as II the twine had run of on
reel What turned it or where 1t went
to no one could see. The juggler then
set the other end up. and new ball began
70 form ON the top. but apparently rib
bon Of half an inch In width and different
colors. These rolled up as If on bobbin.
TIL 1t formed wheel two or three inches