The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-04-27
BLACK.IEG INGENUITY

1 'he editor OF that paper, to have been
communicated for publication by an
emisrant foreigner, now in this me-
tropolis.' We have heard of manv
devices resorted to at gaming tables
tor making sure play, hut probably
there never was black leg artifice
so skilful'y combined and adroitly
conducted as that which is dsscribed
below. In Paris they have a ma.
chine which works unseen under tho
table. and is so exquisiteIy framed,
that it enables the person, who pre-
sides at the game of roulette, to make
the hall tumble into whatever hole
be chooses. We have also, heard of
an instrument used in Europe, called
the Cabdte Russo, from capt. Russo
Its inventor. by which the PLAYER.
who holds the cards, can with the
aid OF a little handling and shutting,
turn up any card that suits him. But
these tricks arc shallow comnared
with the chemical water and maeni.
tying spectacles, as described in the
following article. louisiana .adv.
A rich young English gentleman,
son OF one Of the first merchants
III Great Britain, arrived in London,
alter four years travelIingin differ,
ent countries Of Europe. He was
Ill love with a young English lady.
whose portrait he had in mediate
on. The whiteness of the skin, live
illness OF tho colours, the freshness
of youth, we're perfectly consonant
with all the other qualities necessa-
ry to form one Of the most beautiful
women in all Europe. The young
man wished to have small portrait
of the object he adored, which should
be so small and delicate as to place
'it in a ring which he wore on one of
his fingers. He required, also that
all the parts of this little miniature
should be visible TO 3ths eye and in
the highest perfection. he offered
$500 sterling, to the painter, who
should fulfil his wishes. 4 painter,
who enjoys a high reputation in this
country, proposed to him; in fact,
the artist began his work. The nj.
Getty of the small painting he was to
execute. obliged him to invent a mi.
croscope of new construction, capa-
BILE Of charging the size of objects
at a certain distance. He united
two or three pieces Of glass, in which
by means Of small holes he managed
the conveying Of the light, in order
to increase the concentration by all
possible means. With this machine,
and by applying il to the portrait, he
directed the action Of his pencil on n
larger scale, which facilicitated the
perfect execution Of his design in all
its most minute points. The young
Englishman had travelled a part of
his Journey with another young man
belonging to respectable aud hon
orable family of the European con-
tinent. This stranger was taken to
the house ofthe painter. lie UNDER
stood the painting 10 perfection, and
la' ished his praise ON the work of
the artist. However,, the spectacIes
OF the microscope which the painter
had employed was beyond the com
prehension of the stranger. lie re-
quested an explanation of il. The
painter acceeded to il with pleasure.
He added, besides. some other expIa-
nations. proving 10 him that by
means of the picture, violet e. turnsel
mingled with some other chemical
ingredients, the microscope changed
the colour OF OBJ rctsinto red K green,
" henever microscopic machines were
we're found with glasses OF green
and red colour.
The young stranger was fond Of
play, which had already occasione d
him immense losses. As soon as he
had learned from the painter the
wonderful effect of the glasses. his
Immediately suggested
the idea Of turning it to advantage
at games of chance. lie immedi-
atcIy ordered at certain shop two
pair of spectacles, formed on the
same principles as that which the
painter had explained to him. These
spectacles, increased in twenty-five
or thirty fold degree, objects at 4
PAGES distance. With this first in
strument, which be had of two CO.
Tors, red and green, he began to
form a system. At the game of Pha-