Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-05
HlNuoO TRICKS EXPLAINED.
Prof Hermann in the New YOrl
Herald.

turn for the weird and mysterious
for tho wonderful. for that which
may not be understood by anyone
even those who profess to understand
everything? India, with oiviliza-
tlon that was older than Europe
when Europe's civilization began
What Is developed Is naturally more
fully developed In India shan in any
younger country. What has been
made a study for years must be sur
passed by that which has been made
a study of FOR centuries. AL
though the magic OF the Hlndoos Is
by far the most celebrated, 1t Is not
the most scientific magic In the world
While they were undoubtedly causing
flowers to grow and blossom at the
word OF command, rearing trees and
plucklng ripe mangOes from them,
from the seed, in q few minutes time,
doing decapitaton tricks, aerial suS-
pension and others equally az mar
yelous, centuries before any part of
the Caucasian race ever attempted
to entertain an audience with any
thing OF the kind they. the yogis ana
maglcians that appear before the
general public continue to do eN-
nctly the same things in exactly the
same way that they did centuries ago,
If the tales OF old travellers may be
relied on TO any extent.
Since Marco POlos account OF the
miracles performed by the jugglers of
the East, daily journals, periodicals,
books OF travel, and, ] am sorry to
say, standard works, too, often con-
sldered authorities, bristle with long,
elaborately written accounts of the
performance OF lmpossibilitles by Jug
glers of India. But while all In
dla Ia now open TO Europeans and
Americans, and has been carefully
convassed by the agents OF the great
est showmen In all countries, not any
one OF these has thus far succeeded
In obtaining a single novelty, In other
words, u has never been possible for n
European or American manager to
import any sort of performances from
ltindoostan sufficiently interesting to
entertain an intelligent audience The
attempts to transplant the magic OF
the East, as done by the inaglcians OF
the East TO European, American or
Australian Acids. have invariably
proved decided failures, in many cases
wreclstng their managers.
There Is no doubt but what there
II performed by certain members Of
certain societies Of India, and in In
dla alone. experiments 90 truly won
lists, md performed so NJ to prevent
reasonable solution. with this | have
nothing to do ut present other than
10 frankly admit that 1 do not under
stand the workings Of the theOsophists
OF India any more than they under
stand may natural effects caused by
natural causes in this country. But
the magic OF the Hlndoos is not dill
cult for any ono less schooled In tho
black art than Il o., ha
derstand ana explain, provided the
necessary amount OF study and at
tontion IL given TO II.
one of the most interesting expert
ments done by uie natives OF India is
known as the Hlndoo box and basket
trick This is done by tribe Of travel
Ing fatirs with no other apparatus
than a large basket having but
small mouth or top opening, over
which lid or cover ITS tightly Tho
opening in the top Is 40 much smaller
than the basket Itself as to leave
plenty of room around the sides when
anything JUS fitting the top Is placed
In the basket. In going through the
Suag canal shortly before the uprising
Of Arab Pacha our steamer halted ut
Ishmilla. |, In company with other
passengers, went ashore and saw
troupe OF Hindoo falSirs do the basket
a
a dozen natives of India In the troupe.
One old fellow seemed TO be the prin-
clpal performer. He was dressed In
the costume usually worn by the high
caste natives of the Bombay presl-
dcncy which consists Of many yards OF
white cOiton cloth gracefully draped
around the lgure In such a manner
Az to leave nothing hut the arms. from
the elbows to the hands, and the legs,
ka
feet were thrust into great red slim
pcrs, the toes Of which turned up like
the point OF an old-iashioned skate.
while on his head was an enormous
turbnn, tied in such a manner that two
long, flowing, acarflike ends hung be-
low the middle OF his back He wore
an enormous snow white beard, which
set OF his swarthy contenance and
gave his small, beady black eyes u tru-
~ demoniacal glitter.
At the beginning OF the entertain
ment the principal members OF the
troupe seated themselves In a circle
on the bare ground, when different
members OF the group entertained the
audience whit vanishing cups and
balls and exhibitions of their prof
cheney In palming and disappearing
small articles. all OF which they aid
fairly we'll After this a small boy.
ANNAig NNhNNt NhiiAt lNAo inc center of
the circle and addressed u few words
TO the chief performer, when this dig
nltnry flew Into a rage, summoned two
attendants, who brought the above de-
scribed basket and placed il before
him. lie removed the I'D, seized the
lad ana thrust him into the basket
after which the lid was firmly re-
placed and tied with leather thongs.
The shaking OF the basket proved TO
a close observer that the boy. instead
of remaining quiet after being thrust
Into Il, was carefully placing himself
In such position MS to Insure his safe
ty during what was 10 follow.
The old magician continued to rave
In his native language. and finally
drawing Il sharp tulwar, or native
sword. thrust II through and throuph
the basket at different places. causing
the boy to shrek in fendlsh manner
and the blade of his sword TO fairly
drip with blood.
l, Intent on observing his manner of
doing the trick, rather than the effect
II produced on the spectators, noted
that the sword was carefully Inserted
IN certain little aperturcs In the has.
ket, Intended to receive H. The cries
and means OF the boy grew fainter
and fainter, and finally ceased alto
gethcr when the magician. wiping the
blade OF his sword, returned Ii to its
seabbard and seated himself on the
ground.
His attendants all assumed a horror
stricken look and sat as mOtionless
as stone niatues for moment. when
hQyfe .NntRn tVaa hard a,Nttn.-