Burke's weekly for boys and girls. (Macon, Ga.) 1867-1870, November 26, 1870, Image 1

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in June.lß7o, by J. W. Burke & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District oi Georgia VoI.. IV—No. 22. Written for Burke’s Weekly. A LITTLE JUGGLER. 4m he Chinese and Japanese are famous for their feats of jug- gling and legerdemain ; in deed, some of their tricks are so won derful as to challenge the admiration of the outside world. A favorite feat among them is that of keeping a large number of wooden balls flying in the air, with the hands, head and feet, and so directing their motions as to make them represent fountains, balls, wheels, stars, 'esi° r^e y display such skill and ability ~ -this feat, that A seems to be almost miraculous ; but to lookat the juggler, you would suppose it no great task, as he will keep the balls flying for hours, with but little apparent exertion, if the lookers-on happen to desire it. The little fellow in the picture has only three balls, one of which he holds in his right hand ; but it is not unusual to see an old hand keep six, and even eight, in the air at the same time. When this little fellow grows older, he will no doubt be as expert as any of his nation. Some very common jugglers’ tricks are such as these : Lying down on the back and causing a large earthen water vessel to revolve around and around on the soles of the feet, which are turned up toward the sky. Another is to cause a candlestick, in which is a lighted candle, to stand erect on the top of one’s head, while he sings some ditty to the sound of clap-traps, which he swings or works in his hands. Another is to balance a common plate on the upper point of a short perpendi cular stick, which is placed for support by its lower point on another stick held in the mouth of the performer, the plate spinning around with very great velo city. The wonder of this truly wonder ful performance is the ease with which the plate is made to spin around so fast. Sometimes, one passing along the streets, will see a man playing with MACON, GEORGIA, NOVEMBER 26, 1870. three or five rings, some six or eight inches in diameter, in a manner which never fails to draw a crowd around him. He throws the rings up into the air separately, catching them in his hand when they seem joined together, or linked into each other like a chain. The performer throws the rings into a variety of shapes, without the slightest hesitation or mistake. Another man will be seen throwing up three sticks, one after the other, keeping two of them in the air. With I i % v\ ' 1 each, as he catches it on falling, he gives a rap on a drum placed before him. Sometimes, three kitchen-knives are thrown up in the same manner, and caught as they fall, one by one, and tossed up again. When knives are used no drum is struck. What among the Chinese is regarded as very wonderful is a performance de scribed as follows: The juggler pretends to kill his son, and plants a melon seed. The specta tors behold him apparently kill his boy with blows from a sword, cutting off his legs and arms. He then covers up the mutilated parts with a blanket placed on the ground. In a short time the body is gone, and is nowhere to be found, having seemingly vanished from the place. Having planted the melon seed in a flower-pot filled with earth, after a while the blanket is lifted, and there is seen a large melon on the ground. If a spectator expresses a wish that the melon should vanish also, the blan- ket is thrown over it. After waiting a little while, on again lifting the cover ing, the melon is nowhere in sight. Yet a short time longer spent in wait ing, and on removing the blanket there will be seen the lad, who had ap parently been killed and mutilated but a little while previously, living and well, without any mark of having been injured. Many more of the sleight-of-hand performances of the Chinese jugglers might be given, had we space. Whole No. 178. * * * * * * THE r MIDNIGHT CROSS. IN IDYLS. Over the Trenches. Douglas—Clebcrnr. HE good Lord Douglas,— dead of In his last journeying, T ° re a Chis heart, in heavy gold, nrfijj The"ieart. of Bruce, his King. Through Paynim lands to Pales- tine — For so his troth was plight— To lay that gold tm Clirist'his shrine *>•*-*>*4 Let falljwhat peril might. By night and day, a weary way Os vigilfand of fight, Where never resue caraeaby day, Nor ever rest by ; night. And one by one the valiant spears Were smitten from his side: And onelby one the bitter tears Fell for the brave that died. Tilfifieree and black around his track lie saw the combat close, And counted but the single sword Against uncounted'foes. He drew the casket from his breast, He bared his solemn brow! Oh ! Foremost of the Kinglicst! Go “ lirstjn battle” now ! Where leads my Lord of Bruce, the sword Os Douglas shall not stay! Forward !*We meet at Christ, his feet In Paradise, to-day! The casket flashed; the battle clashed; Thundered and rolled away ! And dead above the heart of Bruce The heart of Douglas lay! Loyal!—methinks the antique mould Is lost, or Theirs alone Who sheltered Freedom’s heart of gold, Like Douglas, with their own! Trial of Faith. The trial of faith is the greatest and heaviest of all trials. For faith it is which must conquer in all trials. There, fore, if faith gives way, then the small est and most trifling tempations can overcome a man. But when faith is sound and true, then all other tempta tions must yield, and be overcome.