The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-20

Piece Of Deception.
While travelling through India between
Surat and Nagpore. my body servant one
dav Informed me that n great jugglcr and
snake charmcr wished TO have the honor
Of showing me something of his skill
Ms servant withdrew and presently re-
{urncd with snail 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
ike cat but there was at tines that
peculiar fiery appearance OF the balls
which is so often observable in night
prowng animals
He wore white vest, Turkish trousers,
a kind Of crimson petticoat worked with
strange device turban OF many colOrs
and morocco shoes pointed and turned up
at the toes His arms aud neck were bare.
aud with the exception OF a couple Of heavy
gold rings In his ears. he displayed no cx-
tranoous ornaments His age ] judge to
be go and his short mustachc was almost
white lie made a slow salam and then
suddenly produced--frOm where did not
see and cannot tell-a IaSge bali Of twine.
which he appeared TO toss in my lap.
keeping hold Of one end, so that it uu-
rolled the whole distance between him
and mc-at least ten feet-saying as he
did so
'Wiu your eycellcncy please examine
what you seer
Now. honestly aver that saw that
ball Of Irvine when he threw it as plainly
as ever saw anything in nay lifc-saw il
come toward me. saw 10 unroll and ap-
parently drop into my lap, so that !
brought ms knees quickly together TO
catch il. and vet when ! put my hand
down 10 take Il. and looked down for it. il
was not thcre-nothing was there and at
the same instant J perceived the juggler
dancing IL ON the end of mis- finger
4 WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION
Does your exccllency think ! have it?"
ne said
And before ! could answer ! saw in
place Of the bali q beautiful large red
rose which be vas balancing by the stem
and yet be had not altered his position
I'm the least nor scarcely stirred finger
While vet ] looked. ] saw in his right
hand a cup and in his left a rose He
stepped forward few feet, laid the rose
down on the ground, and placed the cup
over 10
Here. It will be observed. there was no
machinery 20 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 a 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,
aud my attendants grouped around almost
as near.
Having covered the rose with a cup-as
] would be wi,liaC - 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
VIII your excellency be kind enough
10 lift the cup and see what is under it,
OF course. would have wagered a
heavy sum that the rose was still there
for one thing. because. expecting some
trick. had kept my eve on II 10 the last
moment. and was certain there was no
possibility Of its being removed after
hand bad ict 20 of the cup at the top
complied with the request. stepped
forward and raised the cup. but instantly
dropped ii with IA cry Of terror-for there,
instead of the rose. was one Of the little,
deadly green serpents of India. coiled up
and ready to spring. with its small
G.istening ewes fixed intently on mine.
snake. of any kind are my horror. and
this one not only mortified me, but all my
attendants who with cries of alarm en-
larged the circle very rapidly, for they
knew its bite 10 be fatal
1T is perfectly harmless, your excel
'encv grinued the old man, walking up
To- it. lifting it by the neck. putting its
head in his mouth and allowing il TO rlU
down his throat
THE TUBE AND TWINE.
lie next produced a tube that looked
like brass. about two feet long and lialf
an inch in diameter. and next the ball of
Irvine again Where these things came
from or went 10 could not tell They
seemed o. 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 il was gone. and vet neither myself
nor any of my attendants had seen this
wonderful man pick 1t up. II was indeed
jugglery. il not magic. of the most IN
questionable kind
Through the brass tube the conjurer
passed one end OF the Irvine which he put
between his teeth He then put the tube
between his lips threw back his head and
held it perpcndicularly. with the ball Of
Irvine at the upper end Then suddenly