Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-27
The PARIS EXPOSITION.
Nothing Il More Curious There Than the
Algerian Jagglers.
81

Nothing II More Curious There Than the
Algerian Juggiers.
Especial Correspondence1
PARIS, July 12.-The exhibition has
brought to this city many curious things,
but none more 80 than troupe Of Al
gerian jugglers. who have established
themselves on the Esplanade des Inva-
lides, and who each evening draw q
large crowd pf curiosity seekers. These
men are known in their own country by
the name of Ayssoua, and they are most
expert, but their powers seem to be
given more to horror producing than
pleasing sights, but there is fascina-
ton that forces the beholder to remain
unil the last act is finished.
The performance begins with an infer.
nal din Of drums of peculiar make, and
this is continued until it is supposed that
the higher powers have listened to their
appeal for aid. When this noise be-
comes insupportable it ceases suddenly,
and silence almost painful reigns for
some minutes. after which one Of the
jugglers brings brazier and places 1t in
the center of the stage, and throws a
powder upon it, which sends up light
smoke with a pleasant pungent odor.
Two OF the jugglers then advance and
one supports the others head over the
smoke. After this the man lifts his
eyes towards the sky and rolls his head
around rapidly, and it is probable that
this rapid movement Of the head causes
q partial insensibility Of the body, for
suddenly he precipitates himself upon
pile of broken glass and cactus leaves,
and devours the glass and sharp cactus
spines. During this he throws himself
fiat on his stomach, rises. lifts his eyes
to heaven in an ecstasy, while the others
beat on their drums, and then he rises
and after saluting the chief takes his
place on bench as calm and placid as q
pool Of water in dark forest, though
the cactus thorns inflict painful wounds.
A second rises, is conducted to the
brazier, breathes the smoke and then
gives himself up to the most extraordi-
nary contortions. as though in terrible
fit and with every expression of agony,
throws himself on his stomach and begs
for the box of vipers. This is given him
and he beams with joy, and opens the
box, taking out the poisonous snakes.
They enlace his arms and neck, which
are bare, and they bite him in dozen
places, whereat he laughs gleefully and
kisses them as he replaces them and re.
tires to the bench.
He is followed by others who infiict
the most revolving cruelties upon them
selves. They stick nails and needles
through their legs and cheeks, and then
,ln r. Al. II
flow in vain. One of them takes special
pains to show how he sticks fine needle
into his eye, and another pulls his eye
from its socket, and when the blood
trickles down the cheek he laughs and
turns swiftly around and it is in it's place
again, and he tries to look as If he is in
sprcd.
The last thing on the programme after
a number of things all curious, to say
nothing Of being horrible, is for one of
them to take small box and from that
set loose n scorpion, which he allows to
run around on his face, and he provokes
it as much as possible until at last it
turns and stings him, after which he
swallows the little reptile, or at least ap-
pears to.
The place where this curious perform
ance is carried on is handsomely fitted
up and hung with barbaric tapestry, and
though one would think no person of re-
fnement would care to visit such re-
voting entertainments it is always full
OF the elite of French society. The price
of admission is very high, and every
evening may be seen long line of pri-
vate carriages waiting for the perform
ance to finish
The rich people in France find it as
hard to amuse themselves and pass the
time as the people of the same class do
in every country. But the women show
that the old taste for horrors has never
died out in the hearts of French women
since the days when they used to pity
the horses who were whipped to make
them pull harder so as to tear some
wretched offender to pieces.
Among the carriages which stood at
tho door of this place tonight were
those of the Countess de Pourlates, the
Princesse de Sagan and Madame de
Noirot. Buffalo Bill is popular, but he
does not give SO many horrors at short
range. The Algerians are thin and dark,
but picturesque in their tribal costumes,
and they are something new. Perhaps
tomorrow il will be something else,