A party of American college graduates on a trip around the world were spending a few days in one of the smaller cities of India. Near by was a temple, in the grounds of which were always to be found a number of fakirs and jugglers and performers of wonderful tricks. One evening the Americans were joking with one of these miracle-workers, and succeeded in making him believe that they considered there was nothing wonderful about his performances. One of the Americans who had a knack of doing sleight-of-hand tricks, and who had cultivated his ability somewhat by entertaining his college mates with various feats of dexterity before he graduated, thought it would be a good joke to challenge the fakir to a competition. The juggler accepted, and called his assistants about him. It was decided that the American should perform the first trick; and he confided to his friends that he would make the fakir believe he had swallowed a lighted cigarette. Knowing how well he could perform this feat of sleight-of-hand, his companions smiled confidently. The American youth rolled up his sleeves and pulled from his pocket a cigarette, which he passed around among the Hindoos. He then took a match from his pocket and scraped it on the heel of his shoe. To the amazement of all the American travellers the natives uttered howls of dismay, and gathered up their goods and fled. Nothing could persuade them to come back again, and the Americans were considerably at a loss to know what had caused their fright. They learned a few days later from a low-caste Hindoo that the fakir and his friends had been scared almost out of their wits by the lighting of the match. "They are willing to do tricks with human beings," said the man, "but they have great fear of one who can pick up a small stick from the ground, and with it draw fire from his foot. The fakirs fear no man, but they would have the Prophet protect them from devils." * * * * * A SLOW TRAIN. Southern railroads have a reputation for slow travel, and in some cases it is well merited. A Western travelling-man, making a trip on these lines, suffered a great deal of annoyance from this particular failing, but up to the time of the following incident he had enjoyed himself immensely guying the conductors, trainmen, or any persons having to do with the roads, about their rapid transit.