"Some time before the close of the Fair there was erected a small building on the Midway Plaisance in which Hindu jugglers appeared, to display their skill for the first time before American audiences. It is said that they lost caste by coming to this country, but, if so, the disaster did not seem to prey greatly on the minds of the two swarthy gentlemen who appear in the illustration. They were not only in apparent excellent spirits over the steady inflow of money polluted by the touch of all manner of people, but showed an inclination to adopt something like the American mode of dress. The effect of the partial transformation was, from a sartorial point of view, picturesque rather than strictly beautiful. American shoes of the army pattern became aggressively conspicuous as the terminal endowment of thin legs in tight trousers, a cotton umbrella does not add to the dignity of a tall young man in a white turban, and an ordinary vest worn outside, a long white blouse and cravat worn without any collar fail equally, somehow, to meet all the requirements of a symmetrical blending of styles. However, the jugglers seemed to like the combination. As to the performance, it was clever but lacked that element of the mysterious anticipated by many. They were prestidigilateurs of a little above the ordinary class but by no means equal to many on the stage."
