Butte record., 1856-05-10
A Crafty Magician.


Placards throughout certain city
announced the arrival of celebrated
DR.. Altrapiccini, the possessor of a
wonderful secret, that of raising the
dead. In consequence of this startling
announcement great excitement pre-
vailed. Loud were the denunciations
against the impostor, and the storm was
about to break upon the head of the
unfortunate Altrapiccini. But he,
not in the least Disconnected proceed
ed to the house of the prefect, and ad-
dressed him in this manner:
Citizen, however unworthy the in
habitants of this city may be, at hav
ing In their midst so remarkable a man
as myself, and of reaping the benefits
of my wonderful arts, still | will allow
them to participate in its unfoldings.
In precisely one fortnight from this
time, | will appear at the public GENE
try, and in the presence of the assem-
bled multitude, summon the dead to
arise from their graves. Let them ap
point officers to watch my proceed
ings and keep me in sight, until full
fiji the promise which | here make, of
general resurrection.
His self-confdence and prophetic
tone, produced a wonderful effect upon
the assembly, and no longer did any
one doubt the astonishing powers of
the Doctor. The prefect prostrated
himself three times before this envoy
extraordinary from Heaven. All
crowded around him to consult on the
best means Of prolonging life. In the
meantime the fatal epoch was ap-
preaching, and the agitation of the
people was extreme. On the evening
preceding the miraculous perform
ance, the DIR. received from an old and
respectable magistrate the following
letter:
ILLUsTRIoUs DoCToR.-Them mira
Gle which you propose to perform will
rob me of repose. | had wife old and
ugly. She is now in another world
For Heavens sake leave her there
| am already unhappy enough, and
entreat you not upon any consideration
to restore her to me. I offer you
hundred louis to preserve your Sc
cret."
Hardly had he finished the perusal
OF the letter, when a Young widow en-
tered, all in tears. II conjure you,'
said she, throwing herself upon her
knees before him, "let me enjoy the
peace and happiness which are now
my portion. | had cross and ieal-
Gus husband; death has freed me from
him. shall die if | have again to
place my neck in so detestable a
yoke"
The Doctor, a gallant man, was inter
ested-he consoled the pretty widow to
the best of his abilities, but would
promise nothing. While still acting
the office of comforter, there arrived
two young spendthrifts, whose father
formerly an apothecarv, had amassed
by sixty year, hard labor and econo-
my, the fortune which they were scat
terng to the winds in shameful dissi-
patton. The return of their indig-
nant parent would replace them in
their former humble & dependent con
dition. They offered three hundred
louis if the Doctor would leave the
aforesaid apothecary unmolested in
the charnel- house. To these libertines
succeeded sharper, one who made his
living by sponging and grinding 9TH
ers. This honest man offered thou
sand louis if he would relinquish his
design of bringing into life numerous
victims who had been inferred.
A multitude, followed, and thou
sand voices called, ''no resurrection"
mo resurrection" until the Doctor,
arrested by their cries, and convinced
by solid arguments, consented to with
hold from them the pleasure of seeing
their friends, and promised not to use
his extraordinary powers without their
consent. He accordingly left the city
with full purse, and followed by the
benedictions of the multitude.