The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-23

Western civilization might land him
| (and you) I'm a difficulty But on the
stage, Chanler was thoroughly at home
AT once and seemed instinctiveIy 20
know the right thing TO do.
WIN quiet dignity. he introduced
nimsel1 as humble citizen OF the
British Empire. and paid a graceful
little tribute to the beneficent rule OF
the great King Emperor under whose
sway East and West were linked in the
enjoyment Of justice and liberty.
Then he won the hearts OF the pa
rents by expressing his unbounded ad-
mlratlOn Of British boyhood-esDe-
cially OF the fine body of young and
noble collegians" whom he saw before
him. And he captivated the bovs
themselves by a half-comical commits
Grafton OF the scholastic burdens they
had to bear, and raised a ripple OF
laughter by confessing that he knew
all about IL through his repeated fall
ures TO satisfy the Calcutta examiners
for his degree.
All this was said with that curious
mixture Of dignity and humility which
would be absurd In a European. but
which seemed 50 exactly to fit in with
the character and personality OF this
gorgeous representative Of a distant
land.
Then, with a pleasant expression Of
his delight In relieving their strenuous
studies of modern learning with an
exhibition Of the ancient wonders and
wisdom of the East. no began hts per-
Torrance
Here. again, I could not but recoE-
nize that ChBnler had exactly gaEed
what was required Of him. The tricks
were chosen with special Rppropri-
ateness 70 the audience be had come TO
entertain. OF course, there was the
wonderful growth of the mango tree.
and the basket In which little Rao Is
apparently pierced again and again
with sword-nO exhibition OF real
Indian magic could be complete with
out these uch-discussed marvels-
But the other items-the egg on the
side-tablO which persistently refused
10 remain an egg and hetched into a
Growing bantam cock whenever Chan
lers back was turned, the huge cane
which changed Into a gorgeous hou-
Quet Of dollhouse flowers the moment
our Hindu attempted to chastise his
little son with Il. the white mice which
Chanler produced from the pockets of
boys all over the room-these were
casion. and produced roars OF laugh
ter from his appreciRtive audience.
Then We had the magic stewpot in
which two pigeons. plucked and
trussed. were placed TO cook over "a
spirit lamp, with the result that a
few minutes later. when the lid of the
pot was raised, two live birds flew out
and fiuttered round the room
Then followed the wonderful bottle
which appeared 10 pour forth what
ever liquid the audience might choose:
the daring trick in which little Rao
apparently catches in his teeth the
bullet from the revolver fired by his
father; and the startling thought
reading and second sight expert
ments which seemed too puxzlInE~ for
applause. and left the onIookers
speechless with amazemenG
Then the stage was cleared for the
great feature OF the evening-the pro-
duction OF Chanler RAGS new auto
maton. Khokan.
Now, ! can tell you nothing OF the
secret OF this marvellous mechanical
figure. which afterwards drew all Lon
don and made Chanler famous. Even
TO this day, believe, no one has real
~ solved the mystery.
OF course, as Rao was careful to
explain. there may be quite sufficient
mechanism inside the figure to account
entirely FOR the movements 10y which
khokan is enabled 10 write down his
revelations. The puzzle is as 10 the
directing intelligence which guides his
answers. Chanler himself never APP
proaches the automaton AZ all during
the performance. except 10 wind up
the machinery and TO renew. from
time TO time, the paper on which
Khokan writes his replies TO ques-
tions.
The rgurc-on almost life-size rep
rcscntation OF an Indian falir-restS
upon transparent glass cylinder
which apparently excludes all posi-