The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-19
A MAGICIAN's MISTAKE.
It Cane Very Near Costing Him E
e.. -... LIE.
From Harper's Younq People.


From Hdrper's Young People
Almost every magician can tell you an in
teresting story of how, at some time or
other. the noble art of deception, involved
him Unexpectedly in deep trouble The
temptation ito fool people" is always very
strong. 1t is, no doubt, fiattering thing
to be able to show off ones accomplish
ments at another persons expense. But
every once in a while the self-satisfied con-
jUrer runs across ''subjectn that does not
submit tamely to his innocent wiles and
sportive pranks. In one notable instance a
wizards performance led to serious compli-
cations, as the following will show:
The story comes to us from the island OF
Madagascar. The eventtul scene is the
court of her most gracious majesty Queen
Ranarabona II. with pretty maids and faith
full courtiers in attendance. A clever creole
conjurer had been invited to entertain her
majesty with his subtle craft. He had,
perhaps that high-sounding recommended
ton which comes from having performed
before all the crowned heads of EUROPE"
and that goes for great deal even In NADIA
Rascar.
And so the conjur set out to astonish
the natives. We have no idea of what he
did at first, but we may imagine that he re-
peated the old-time tricks that come from
the innocent request, PLEASE do this or
buhb. Az Oil 6V6OLS, bQo programme went
smoothly, until the wizard took a glass of
water, and, by flourish of his wand,
turned the liquid into wine-fne old Malaga,
as he claimed. With self satisfied smile
and courtly bow. he offered the glass to
her majesty. To the magician's surprise
the queen declined to taste the fine old
Malaga. The fellow repeated his SEEM
1nglY Innocent request. and again the queen
refused. When he insisted, an attendant
whispered into his ear that the queen did
not drink in public.
But magiclaris claim to be above all rules
OF etiquette aud royal red tape. II this
coffee-colored expert had been wise. he
would have stopped then and there. What
do you think he had the impertinence to doa
He pretended to be seized with fit of anger
(which appeared to the audience to be real,
and not assumedD and in his rage he threw
the fine old Malaga into the queens lap.
You can easily imagine the confusion
that ensued. OF course. the queen was so
greatly shocked that she tainted, the pretty
drew their swords, aud the guards were
called in.
II ever Prospero badly needed his magic
wand, it was at this time, when a little
ffrst-rate magic would have been of wonder
full service. How the creole professor
managed to get out of the court alive is
more than either he or we could tell.
OhhbSO ~ W COY AAos no dA0 GSSapcy hD0
that he at once sought refuge in the house
of the English resident general.
Few of US can realize the objectionable
offense committed by the magician. The
taboo which surrounds the royal persons
among semi-civilized people may be COM
pared to that divinity which. as Shakes
peare said. doth hedge a king The
luckless expert had behaved not only in the
rudest possible manner, but he had broken
one of the time-honored laws OF the taboo"
the punishment for which was death.
In truth, the saffron-faced professor was
in desperate trouble. He had no chance 20
explain. The water had been spilled into
the queens lap, her sacred person had been
insulted. Nor could he show that splitting
the water was really an Innocent trick, as
any amateur magician we'll knows. 1t was
too late. The only thing for the professor
to do was for himself TO take the part of
the vanishing lady" and get out. But
how?
By this time great crowd had gathered
around the house of the resident general
As loyal subjects, the people demanded the
head of the ill-msnnered foreigner. If the
resident general did not want to do the
execution act, they would do it for him
willingly. Then the English representative
came out and poured oil on the troubled
waters. he argued for delay. If her
majesty's good people would only wait un-
til tomorrow, their anger would be ap-
peased, and all would 90 we'll After some
parleying and coaxing, the mob dispersed.
Late that night or early the next morn
ing the terrified magician was hurried
away and secreted In a sailing vessel. The
action of the resident general threatened,
for short time. to produce diplomatic
complications. The people had been cheated
out OF their revenge. But England's
power and warships we're feared ,
and the matter was dropped. As
for the dusky magician, we hope that, like
Prospero, thereafter he eschewed magic, and
resolved ITO break his staff and TO bury
it certain fathoms in the earth"