Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-03
A MYSTERY SOLVED.
HOW JueoLER5 MAKE A FULL
GROWN MANGO TREE SPRING UP.

A Trick Of Indian Performers That iIas
Long Puzzled the world Explained Tor
the FIRST Time How the secret OF the
Illusion Was Discovered.
Ny readers viii remember that some
months ago appealed for Information ~.
spcctlng Indian Iugglcry, and especially
Tor details n the manner In which the eel.
ebrated mango Trick was performed II
may reoapitulate the circumstances under
which my appeal was made, II may he
added that a discussion had arisen regard.
ing the relations Of science with what was
held by many persons to be- uCeult and In.
oxplicnbie phenomena, Including not only
the rususciiatlon u buried fakirs. but the
participation of theosophicsl bodies and
objects themselves.
In the attitude Of scientific skcptlc.
maintained that Il was unsafe 10 assume
the lncxpllcable theory of matters until we
had exhausted the probabilities which lie
az our doors, and said the same thing
concerning boom" In ghosts and ghost
seeing Most things come 20 those Mo
live long enough to wait, and after the
receipt Of many letters regarding Indian
jugglery have NJ last been favored with
what ventura 90 think Il the true cxpli
nation Of the mango trick. This trick con.
slsts In the iugglcr causing q mango plant
to grow out Of pot containing earth,
amid which u mango seed has been planted
A. far rs can discover, there exist varl
Gus notifications Of the trick, Tor some "
my correspondents declare that IL Is not
mango which grows out of the pot but
only branch Of some tree which the jug.
glor has plncks,l Oh close by the scene u
his operations The typical trick, how.
ever. shows a mango plant growing bit by
bit IA the iugglor performs, and think we
have arrived at tho secret Of the operation
at last.
My present correspondent writes 70 me
from the far of Noumea, New Caledonia
Az EXiiiniTioS or TrE THICK.
lie Is an old Anglo-lndian, writing with
full experience Of what hc has seen, and,
~ the sequel will show, speaking with the
authority ~ one who has Iccn behind the
scenes. He does not agree with the oxpla.
nation Of Herr Hermann. who said tho
growing plant trick WIS performed through
the performer conccaling the pot, with the
plant In II, under his robe e
IN lS0 my correspondent was on the
point Of leaving Calcutta. when some mn.
tive jugglers came on board the steamship
W XIV AAl NNlANlAlNn VI AtNAE IhNfIN Tue
surroundings were thus very favorable for
the performance VI anything but very
loxtorou- trick. aud the mango exhibition
was given Oh the bare deck. The performer
WIS almost naked, 40 there was no oppor
tunlty for the concealmout Of flower pot
under robe lie placed before him nrst
Of all small. nat, native wickcngotk
basket, such as snakes are carried In.
This was Allied with earth. \ mango seed
was then produced.
II was very large one-a point, this, Of
Importance IN Wow Of what follows-nnd
was duly placed In the earth and covered
up The earth was watcrod and the basket
In IT, turn concealed by small cotton
cloth. Then began the usual mutterings
and lamentations, while the cart h WINS again
sprinkled with winter and stirred with the
fingers Of the operator After n few min.
utes' interval the juggler lifted the cloth
and showed 20 the spectators two smnll
mango leaves appearing above the surface
Of the earth.
The basket was once more covered up,
the watering 81 the earth and tho lneanth.
tions proceeded, and In short time, when
the cloth wis removed, mango plant,
seven or eight inches high and bearing four
OF live leaves, was disclosed to view. After
another interval Seeding mango appeared
at least thirteen inches high and bearing
seven or eight leaves. Here the perform.
ancc ended, my correspondent adding that
he did not see the fruit produced, although
Ia some cases, II N said, the iugglors under
take TO bring tho fruit itself into equally
rapid existence.
sEcEEr OF THE THICK.
Curiosity was rife, u coursc, regarding
the jugglers modus opcrandi. and my cor.
respondent, anxious 10 know how the trick
was performed, offered the juggler good
round SUN Of money for the disclosure OF
his secret. After some hesitation the man
consented TO reveal his art, stlpulating that
his revelation should be conducted In se-
cluded spot A cabin ON the slap was Of
fcrcd aud accepted ~ suitable place, aud
the jugglcr aud my correspondent retired
thereto. The basket was prepared ~ be-
fore. aud the mango seed was handed
around. Il was, ~ before, large one.
On it, being returned to the jugglor he
pressed one end OF the seed with his long
finger nail, when the seed opened. Two
small leaves, those first seen Ia the deck
trick, were withdrawn from the seed and
next In order came forth the stem with
four leaves. Ultimately the full thirteen
inches Of the plant were manipulated out
Of the seed before the eyes OF the spocta.
tors. The seed was In fact hollow one,
and the young plant had been dextarously
folded within Its compass. II 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 simple OK.
pertinent shows how It's conditions can be
realized. Most leaves can 10 30 folded
that when liberated from pressure they
spring back TO their original shape. The
folding, however, must be done In special
and careful manner The upper surface
OF the leaf must be folded on itself, and
that surface skillfully treated aud watcrcd
will scarcely show crease on u superficial
examination.
The orcasing which the under surface
will show Is OF course concealed from the
spectators view II the fruit Is produced
IN the course OF the trick my correspondent
coniecturcs, IL also Is contained in the hol.
low seed. Its likely to DO very small
mango, which IL packed In dry state, and
which, under the watering process, swells
out 20 considerable proportions. DIR. An.
drew Wilson In Illustrated London News
Longevity In Russia.
Famine and nihilsm Notwithstanding,