The times., 1897-03-21

Arrayed in gown OF white, his coal
black hair, covered by snowy turbdn
with many folds, an Indian juggler, who
calls himseff the Nawab of Jellabad, has
been startling Parisians nightly with
marvellous trick. Not so simple O trick,
perhaps to the unskillful, for it is 10th
less than the production OF O bicycle from
| beneath his flowing cloak.
Inasmuch as it is manifestly impossible
| to carry bicycle in ones pocket, or under
| the arm without being seen, the onlook-
| ers puzzle their brains to discover how on
! earth this seemingly remarkable man is
| going to carry out the promise he has
made. Suddenly there is thrown to him
| by his assistant large sheet of ordinary
muslin, folded. He unfOlds this sheet
i in full view of them, bowing politely to
| those who are watching him, filings il.
over himself and disappears beneath the
muslin cloud.
| The disappearance is, of course, only so
far as the view of the jugGler unObscured
! is concerned. The muslin is in plain sight
of everyone and too far from anything to
| permit even the suggestion of aid from an
outside source. The cloth undulates like the
| tall grass OH rolling prairie when the
wind is blowing. There are regular blllows
| of cloth. Then, here and there appears
suggestion or object. All at once, the muslin
shows the distinct outline of Il wheel. Then
the excitement does bccO me intense. why,
the man is really going UO do iGl' is heard
on all sides.
The cio5n moves more violently. a click
sounds clear and distinct from under The
muslin. Then the cloth shakes vigorously.
Suddenly it rises as if impelled by dozen
hands, and almost simultaneously with that
| rising there darts from beneath 1t tine fig
ure OF the juggler riding silyeT-mOunted
wheel upon which he makes the circuit of
| the stage several times. Then he alights as
deftly as the greatest Of trick riders, and
bowling to the audience, says, 'MesdameS
| ct essieurs, S il vous plait'
The iuggler has Kept his word to the
letter And now for the explanation. The
Nawab smiles in his most charming Indian
| fashion as he tells those who are about
| him that what he has done Is the simplest
thing in tine world If only 1t is understood.
ANY one of you could do it, / am sure
he saws Could they? Let US see This is
| the explanation condensed from the elabO-
rate fabric OF language which the Indian
jugglcr rears for the enlightenment Of
those who have watched him. In word,
the secret is that the bicycle, all IN pieces,
is hung about his body beneath the cloak.
To begin with, the rubber tires are allowed
to empty themselves of air, and are then
coiIed about the man. S waist Each OF the
spokes folds in three pieces, and thus con-
densed about the hub OF the wheel, the
whole hangs down toward the man S heels
like the big pendulum OF clock Aluminium
.cI IaF xx-U
of the machine is constructed, as largely
as possible, and Of course this makes the
hub and spokes much lighter than would
otherwise he the case. This part OF the
wheel S secured to the juggler in such
manner that although i hangs down, it VIII
not osclIlatc 50 violently as TO become
visible, or to give evidence of its presence
beneath the folds Of the cloak.
The handle bars are fastened about the
waist. The frame of the machine is in
five pieces, but fits together with snap locks
that makes it as firm as if it were all cast
in one piece. The chain is wound around
his legs, and the sprockets are attached
to the same limb. The saddle is carried
over his breast. As this is divided so that
it spreads out, it enables the juggier 10
wear 1t without danger of having the
presence thereof revealed.
with all this upon him. weighing perhaps
altogether eighteen pounds, tie jueler mas
appeared before those who have come to
see the wonder he has promised. The
folds OF his cloak so thoroughly conceaI
the dismantled bike that there is not tie
slightest evidence Of its presence. Ine
usual explanation is made, and then comes
the enveIoping with the sheet. Instantly
the sheet covers him, the juegler iOoSens
from about him the sections OF TIE bicycle
that make a complete whole First OF all,
he arranges the frame. Then two wheels
are quickly turned into proper shape
Following this he blows air into the rubber
tires aud adjusts them. Then comes the
gearing, the adjustment Of saddle and han