The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-23


the First Time-How the Secret of the
Illusion Was Discovered.
My readers will remember that some
months ago appealed for information re-
speeding Indian jugglery, and especially
for details of the manner in which the Gel
ebrated mango trick was performed. If
may recapitulate the circumstances under
which my appeal was made, it may be
added that discussion had arisen regard
ing the relations of science with what was
held by many persons to be occult and in
applicable phenomena, including not only
the resuscitation of buried fakirs, but the
participation" of theosophical bodies and
objects themselves.
In the attitude of a scientific skeptic, /
maintained that it was unsafe to assume
the inexplicable theory of matters until we
had exhausted the probabilities which lie
at our doors, and said the same thing
concerning ''boom" in ghosts and ghost
seeing. Most things come to those who
live long enough to wait, and after the
receipt Of many letters regarding Indian
jugglery have at last been favored with
what venture to think is the true expla
nation of the mango trick. This trick con-
sists in the juggler causing mango plant
to grow out of a pot containing earth,
amid which mango seed has been planted
AS far as | can discover, there exist vari-
GUS notifications Of the trick, for some Of
my correspondents declare that it is not a
mango which grows out of the pot, but
only branch of some tree which the Jug
gler has plucked off close by the scene Of
his operations. The typical trick, how
ever, shows a mango plant growing bit by
bit as the juggler performs, and think we
have arrived at the secret Of the operation
at last
Ny present correspondent writes to ne
! from the far off Noumea, New Caledonia
AN EXHIBITION OF THE TRICK.
He is an old Anglo-Indian, writing with
a full experience of what he has seen, and,
as the sequel will show, speaking with the
authority of one who has been behind the
scenes. He does not agree with the expla-
nation Of Herr Hermann, who said the
growing plant trick was performed through
the performer concealing the pot, with the
! plant in it, under his robe
| In 1865 my correspondent was on the
point of leaving Calcutta, when some ma
tive jugglers came on board the steamship
to give an exhibition of their powers. The
the performance of anything but very
dexterous trick, and the mango exhibition
was given on the bare deck. The performer
was almost naked, so there was no oppor-
tunity for the concealment of a flower pot
under robe. He placed before him first
of all a small, fat native wickerwork
basket, such as snakes are carried in.
This was filed with earth. a mango seed
was then produced.
1t was a very large one-a point, this, of
Importance in view of what follows-and
was duly placed in the earth and covered
up. The earth was watered and the basket
in its turn concealed by a small cotton
cloth. Then began the usual mutterings
and incantations, while the earth was again
sprinkled with water and stirred with the
fingers of the operator. After few min
utes' interval the iuggler lifted the cloth
and showed to the spectators two small
mango leaves appearing above the surface
of the earth.
The basket was once more covered up,
the watering of the earth and the incanta-
lions proceeded, and in a short time, when
the cloth was removed, mango plant,
seven or eight inches high and bearing four
or five leaves, was disclosed to view. After
at least thirteen inches high and bearing
seven or eight leaves. Here the perform
ance ended, my correspondent adding that
he did not see the fruit produced, although
in some cases, it is said, the jugglers under
take to bring the fruit itself into equally
rapid existence.
SECRET OF THE TRICK.
Curiosity was rife, of course, regarding
the juggler's modus operandi, and my cor
respondent, anxious to know how the trick
was performed, offered the juggler good
round sum of money for the disclosure Of
his secret. After some hesitation the man
consented to reveal his art, STIMULATING that
his revelation should be conducted in Sc
cluded spot A cabin on the ship was Of
fered and accepted as suitable place, and
the juggler and my correspondent retired
thereto. The basket was prepared as be-
fore, and the mango seed was handed
around. 1t was, as before, a large one.
On its being returned to the juggler he
pressed one end of the seed with his long
finger nail, when the seed opened. Two
small leaves, those first seen in the deck
trick, were withdrawn from the seed, and
next in order came forth the stem with
four leaves. Ultimately the full thirteen
luCDcS Vi Tie )ldUt were manipulated Oub
of the seed before the eyes of the specta-
tors. The seed was in fact a hollow one,
and the young plant had been dexterously
folded within its compass. 1t is the art of
folding the plant inside the seed which
constitutes the essence of the trick
My correspondent added that he has re-
peated the trick since, and a simple ex-
pertinent shows how its conditions can be
realized. Most leaves can be so folded
that when liberated from pressure they
spring back to their original shape. The
folding, however. must he done in a special
and careful manner. The upper surface
of the leaf must be folded on itself, and
that surface skillfully treated and watered
will scarcely show crease on superficial
examination.
The creasing which the under surface
will show is of course concealed from the
spectators view. If the fruit is produced
In the course of the trick. my correspondent
conjectureS, it also is contained in the hol-
low seed. Its likely to be very small
mango, which is packed in dry state, and
which, under the watering process, swells
out to considerable proporJions.-Dr. An
drew Wilson in Illustrated London News
Longevity in Russia
Famine and nihilism notwithstanding,