Marveh of Indian Juf^r/ling. 4^^ 



presently seemed to issue from his mouth. These, indeed, 

 are feats of conjuring which have been performed in Europe, 

 usque ad nauseam, but here all was done with such precision 

 and dexterity (each man especially playing entirely con amove, 

 evidently not to impress the spectators, but because he felt 

 a pleasure in it himself), that the whole exhibition left 

 quite a different impression from anything of the sort 

 elsewhere. 



After this introductory amusement, the children invited 

 were regaled with a refection under an enormous tent. This 

 was for the grown-up guests another source of great amuse- 

 ment. More than 300 children took their seats at a long 

 well-covered table, while their fathers, mothers, governesses, 

 &c., stood behind the benches, and took special care to 

 supply the little watering mouths with a sufficient supply 

 of the many delicacies before them. 



A distribution of souvenirs to the various children present 

 succeeded the repast, the various articles being fastened to a 

 gigantic tree under a tent. The tree was profusely hung 

 with elegant paper lamps, and although there were no pine- 

 branches, only palm leaves, the " tout ensemble/' bore a 

 strong resemblance to a genuine Christmas tree. Fathers 

 and mothers expressed to us their own feelings of pleasure 

 at beholding the glee of their children, and, indeed, seemed 

 to think this the most entertaining part of the fete. The 

 distribution lasted a considerable time, and many of the 

 children affected to coquette disparagingly with the presents 



