San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-06
The JUGGLERS OF INDIA.
WONDERFUL TRICKS PERFORMED BY
THE HINDOO WIZARDS.

SkillfuI Sleight-of- Hand Exhibitions Which
Puzzle Careful watchers-The Astonish-
ing Basket Trick-Deadly Cobras Han
died by the Wizards.
Delightful India is the land of Nine Blavat-
sky, of Mr.. Isaacs and of the eight of Asia"
It is here that the esoteric Buddhists look for
their instruction, and many of the theosophi-
cal societies of America have Indian teachers,
with whom they correspond and from whom
they expect to get some of that wonderful
sweetness and light which is supposed to exist
in its pureSt form in this land of mystical
thought. Through them they would learn
how to annihilate space, to disembody their
souls for the moment and send them on
aerial errands to other parts of the world.
They would master that wonderful concen-
tration of soul which enables its possessor to
dissolve matter into the elements from which
it was made by a word, and by another
word "Prestol" to turn it back into the solid
Or liquid form, from which they have decom-
posed it.
One of them, who is now travelling in India
and searching for the masters, tells me he has
heard of Indian theosophists who, by waive
of the hand, can change glass of water into
the oxygen and hydrogen of which it is
formed, and by the same motion dissolve the
glass particles into their original elements
Another waive and the glass containing the
water reappears before your eyes, just as full
and in exactly the same condition as it was
before. | asked this man whether he had
seen such a miracle performed. He replied,
No." and upon further conversation found
that he had as yet seen nothing which could
be called supernatural
Il have had several talks with the masters"
said he, land have been told that | would
receive manifestation. 1t may come within
few days, and it may not come for a week,
and hope there will be no natural law that
will prevent it. | will wait in India until
receive it,"
This was three weeks ago, and at last ac-
counts the man was waiting yet.
THE GENUINE BASKET TRICK.
Let Inc give you a picture Of an Indian
juggler! One stands outside my hotel win
dow as | write. He is performing his tricks
in the dusty road without a table, cabinet,
patent boxes, or any of the accomplishments
Of the American wizard. His sole possessions
consist of three small baskets ranging in size
from half peck to a bushel, a couple Of
cloths and tripod made of three sticks, each
two feet long and held together by string
at the top. Three little wooden dolls with
red cloths tied around their necks and each
not over foot long, are the gods which en-
able him to do wonderful things. He has q
flute in his mouth and little drum in his
hand He is black faced and black bearded,
and his shirt sleeves are pulled up above his
elbows. His only assistant is a little turbaned
boy, who sits beside him, whom he will shortly
put into basket not more than two feet
square, and with him will perform the noted
| basket trick of India.
This trick is one Of the wonderful juggling
tricks Of the world. The boys hands are
tied and no is put into a net, which is tied
| over his head and which incloses his whole
body 80 that no apparently cannot move
He Is now crowded into this basket The lid
is put down and tight straps are buckled
| over IT, The juggler now takes a sword and
with few passes Of these little Hindoo doll
babies over IL and tue mUttering Of incanta-