Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-09-24


have all resly in few hours. l sat dow
and waited for my bills. l requested tn
editor to call at the hotel and witness tn
performance, after which would pay him
After night, Jim and myself, one with IN
bill. and the other with the paste ant
brush, put up the announcement.
In the morning, crowds Of persons con
gregated around the corners, reading thu
bills, and resolving to visit the " show,
without further invitation Everything
was progressing favorably. The hopes o
Jim were raised at the prospect Of ou1
approaching good fortune; but, for the lift
Of him, be could not imagine how We were
to get out of the scrape, for he well knew
that | was not magician. silenced his
fears and told him to be ready to do my
bidding. To this he cheerfully a.sented.
The evening, "big with the fate Of Ca-
sar and of Rome" had come 1t was six
o'clock, and the people began to gather.
The room was well lighted, and plenty Of
comfortable seats. took my station at
the door, and was happy to find plenty Of
customers.
In short time, I had seventy-fvs dol
lars in my possession. Calling jim to me,
gave him dollar, and told him to get
our bundles and wait for me at the Post
Office. He started Having conned over
brief address, | entered the room, dressed
in morning gown which had borrowed,
and took my position behind the taole. l
glanced around the large assemblage,
ahemed, coughed, spit, gazed again, and
at length, with a spasmodic effort, managed
to get out the following words:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN l feel
highly honored by your presence this eve
ming, and shall 10 my best to render entire
satisfaction, a. far as promised in the bills.
The first wonderful feat, is that of the
Visibie hgiaHe This renowned feat has
been performed by the renowned Fakirs
Of the Eastern world, and has astonished
all who have witnessed its exhibition.
The disappearance of the TiS'Lie is fol-
lowed by that of the eccentric Money
Goayer, and the utter astonishment of
the Dipped Witnesses In few moments
the performance will commence
Bowiug low, retired to the outside,
bolted the door, threw off the gown, and
decamped. In a few minutes l Joined
Jim, and We hastily left the village.-Thi,
was my first and last engagement as ma
gican.--I sent back funds to pay the
printer and the landlord
Some years afterwards, while acting in
the capacity of a steamboat clerk. | cnanced
-on one of those persons who had been a
witness Of my wonderful performance.
He laughed heartily at my ingenuity, and
said
Il am sure. Mr.. Benson, there was not
a person in that room who grudeed you
the money they had paid. At first, We
sat in silence-then, watches were fire.
quently eonsulted-and every sound drew
all eyes toward the door, to catch glimpse
of you, but You came not. Not until after
s o'clock, did we dream of the game you
were playing. Presently, your speech,
and the words of your handbill, flashed
across our minds. We were the Disap-
pointed-the puped Witnesses. We were
bis-but we only laughed. You had told
US your intentions, though We did not un-
dsrstand you at the time A fiddle wa.
procured-Then We were satisfied. and
went home as merry as if the Invisible
had performed Clarion Register.