The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-03
YANKEE MAGIC IN The EAST.
Western wizards Experience I'm the
Orient.

Western wizards Experience I'm the
Orient.
II confess said Professor Baldwin,
a show man. who has given seances in
magic, thought reading. legerdemain,
and the like In almost all the countries
Of the civilized and unciyilized world,
that l have not a very high opinion
OF the much-taIked-o Eastern magic.
Some OF the tricks lone by the ndian
fakirs may appear miraculous enough
To US. although they are In reality quite
simple. but. on the other hand, many
OF our old familiar stand-bys astonisn
n Orientals far more. For example.
ther is a ~well-known trick requiring
only a little knowledge of elementary
chemistry for Its performance which
1 have played before various strange
audiences, always with great success
and sometimes with rather surprising
results. III you put a few drops of very
simple chemical mixture on a carmen
the whole thing will burst into flame
in exactly three minutes without giving
any warning except to the eye of the
initiated, and W him only when he
keeps a very careful watch.
We'll. some 10 years ago, when Sir
James FERGUSON was governor OF Bonn
bay. 1 was performing in Simla. After
one OF my shows I was introduced 10
Sir James. and We fell 10 talking of
Indian magic. Sir James was a believ-
er: I was a skeptic. He declared that
he could produce men who would ron
vert me. I accepted the challenge. The
trial was to take place in 10 days. when
1 was to dine at the government house.
BY this time Sir James said he could
procure the most celebrated magicians
In the province. with whom he would
confront me. Well. the time came. 1
repaired to Government house. where
there was assembled a big crowd OF off,
GERS and civilians and their wives. in
fact. all the wealth and fashion Of Sim
Ia, waiting to see the discontinue OF
the American bragsart. There were
also present some half dozen fakirs or
foghis, or whatever you choose to call
them. solemn-ioeking individuals with
long boards and nails. and not over
clean. and for clothes. white bandanas
wound round them. The Indians went
the old familiar tricks. the
mango tree, stabbins the boy in the
basket. etc. the mysteries OF which I
was able to explain away well enough
to the audience.
After my rivals had got through
with their work l took the governor
aside and told him that I would make
all the Indians strip to the skin and
run out or the house IL the company
could stand IL. Sir James told me To
ahead. We don't thin anything OF !
naked niggers here he said. Now, 1
was familiar enough with the indian
to know that unless you car
~ matters with a high hand they will
think nothing OF you I acted accord
Through the medium of an Off
Ger. who acted as interpreter. I reyiled
the leading magician through all the
moods ana lenses.
Il asked him what he meant by show
Ing such childish rubbish to his excel
lency. he representative OF the en-
press. n ended by telling him that l
would blast him with fire from heaven
unless he went down on his knees in
n apologized. The Indian
contemptuously and made some
at which my interpreter laugh
Cd. but refused to translate IL. AS well
10 I could gather. IL was an obscene ex-
signifying that 1 was talking
trough my hat Straightway. I pre-
to fall into a towering rage and.
out a long rigmarole. waved
ny hands above my head n invoked
he wrath Of heaven to burn him Up.
The magician looked a little startled. /
'ut maintained an attitude OF incred-
ility and contempt. OF course my rig
nsrole vas meaningless, but while Il