The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-10-13
From the Philadelphis Press.
The Cardinals watch.

the rrencn cOn)urer-a man before whom all
minor sleight-of: hand stars hide their dimin-
ished heads and pale their Intellectual fires
we related how he had received his first in
struction in the art from practitioner, who
really was the Count de Grisy, bat whose
travelling title was Signor Torrni This man,
on Houdin's showing, had passed through a
variety of adventures, wonderful as any re-
lated by Eugene Sue or Alexander Dumas.
One of these adventures is related in Hou-
din's Autobiography, yet unpublished in this
country and we here take the liberty of
throwing it into our own less attractive words,
in order to condense it within reasonable
newspaper bounds. aE s tgsa
While in Rome, an invitation reached Tor.
rini to exhibit before no less parsonage than
the Supreme Pontiff The occupant of the
chair of st. Peter at that time was that very
estimable old gentleman, Pope Plus VII. 1t
was not to be thought of, by an conjurer with
proper pride in his art, that only the or
dinary tricks should be exhibited before his
Holiness. Something new was to be hit up
on-something which would astonish, be long
borne in memory, and talked Of, as wholly
wonderful and inexplicable. .s ..u
Without searching for such q thing,
Chance, that inventor Of all inventions the
most ingenious, came to aid him. The very
evening before Torrini was to show off be-
fore the Pope and conclave, and other high
dignitaries of the Church, he happened to be
in the shop of one of the first watchmakers
of Rome. A servant came in to inquire
whether the watch of his Excellency the Car
dinal de - was mended. The watchma
ker replied that the repairs would not be
completed until the evening, when he should
himself bringit to the Cardinal, and the SER
want withdrew. g...a.- ... ...
Taking the watch from drawer, the
matchmaker proceeded to examine it. at is
handsome and excellent watch,s said the
tradesman to the conjurer, ''and the Cardin-
al values it at more than ten thousand francs,
because, having ordered it himself from the
illustrious 9reguet, he fancies it unique of
its kind. Yet, what an odd thing two days
ago a mad young fellow of this town of ours
came to offer me, for thousand francs. a
watch by the same maker, exactly like the
Cardinal S." This attracted Torrini's attcn-
ton. He examined the watch, which was
handsome one, with several distinguishing
peeuliarties. ..... ..... ........ ..
An idea struck him. ADO you think" he
asked the matchmaker, .that this person
really wishes to part with his watch ?" There
was no doubt. The young man was spend.
thrift, who had gradually made way with
his property. and had come down to selling
even his family jewels. The thousand francs
would be acceptable. Then, said Torrini,
Find this person for me. Iwish to make
his watch mine but must have it at once.
Buy it for me; then engrave the Cardinal S
arms OIL mine, so that the two may not be
distinguished one from the other. On your
discretion depends the benefit you will draw
from this transaction" ,.... .,-...r, . .,,.
i = ~
The owner of the watch was easily found.
at the gaming house, which he constantly
frequented. d. The watch was seen, examined
closely compared with the Cardinals, and
purchased. Itwas duly engraved, duly sent
home, duly paid for, and as duly placed in
Torrini's pocket, ready for the trick of tricks
which was to close his Night at the Vatican
Pope Plus VII, who was an enlightened
man, turned a deaf ear to all hints that Tor
rinis wonderful effects were produced by
sorcery. He occupied . large armchair on a
dais, placed on the foreground. ., Near him
were placed the Cardinals, and behind them
were the different prelates and dignitaries of
the Church. As far as that nights feats
went, the Pope sat simply like wondering
layman, -aston,shed at the skill of the con-
jurer., The evening passed off agreeabiy, for
Torrini never performed better, and he never
hada more wonder-st-icken audience.
"Then" Gas Torrini himself told the story,
ito end it and by way Of bouquet, went on
to the famous trick which had contrived
for the oc.'asion. Here, however, I had 10
encounter many difficulties. The greatest
Of these, without question, was to lure the
Cardinal de ~ to give me his watch, and
without directly asking for it. To gain my
point had recourse to stratagem. On my
asking for . watch, many had been handed
to me-but had given them back, on the
pretext, mo,e or less true, that, offering as
they did no popularity in shape. it would be
difficult afterward to identify the one chosen
by me. If Kessieurs, any one among you,
said |, has rather large watch (the Cardi-
nails had precisely this pecuiarity), and
would intrust it to me. should accept it
willingly as the one fittest for our expert
ment.iH rrtg4t
The Cardinal biqued himself on the size Of
his watch, having an idea that the works
acted more freely in large case He hesi-
tated TO lend it to Tcnini, but did so, at the
special request Of the Pope, adding many
cautions to handle il with the utmost care
Torini examined and admired the watch,
and asked numerous questions about ii, nv
&C k,.a 4