The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-01-22
BLITX AND THE DARKIES.

with witchcraft and roguery. What a
twank of iugglery there is in its pro-
nunciation Presto change magical
words in themselves-aTe no more j.
Identified with miraculous deeds than
that of Blitz. He is the prince of con-
jurors, and adds to his wonderful dex-
terity at legerdemain the emostremark-
able power of the human voice known
as ventriloquism. Blitz is an arrant
joker, and loves to carry out practi-
/ cal joke of fun. For some weeks past
he has been frightening the market
/ men in New York by causing their
dead poultry and dressed pigs to talk
all sorts Of stuff, and to make formal
/ complaints of the untimely end to
which they had been brought. One
/ butcher after throwing a half dozen
! turkeys into the street because they
would gobble, though they were as
/ dead as door nail, was saluted with a
terrible grunt from a young pig that he
was offering for sale all clean and dress
! ed for the table. Frightened half out
/ Of his wits, the market man fairly "cut
stick" nor would he come back again
until piggy had been removed.
But the naughtiest thing that Blitz
ever did was to disturb negro meet
ing some years ago in Belknap street,
Boston. The story is not generally
known, as it would, perhaps, have led
to some personal trouble to him had it
/ been represented to the authorities.
All Boston knows or has heard of the
negro preacher, Father Snowden, who
/ held forth to his coIored friends in
Belknap street for so many years. 1t
was quiet summers afternoon, when
the house was pretty we'll fiiIed-there
being a revival Of religion going on
when Blitz and some other persons
/ (although he is himself as dark as a
mulatto, and has "curly, hair" to
/ boot entered the house. 1t was pret-
ty warm weather; but things went on
nicely enough until the minister got
warmed up in hissubject, and was using
words almost too big for a common
sized dictionary, when Blitz thought
it about time to do something.
"And the Lord said unto Moses
"Bow-wow-wow," came apparently
from behind the speaker.
The congregation looked each other
/ in the face with countenances darker
/ than ever, while Father Snowden, af-
/ ter staring behind himself, seemed to
come to the conclusion that the noise
proceeded from the street, and so he
/ commenced again.
"And the Lord said unto Moses
"Ain't you ashamed of yourself =
take your hand off me - said a voice
apparently proceeding from very neat
mulatto girl, who sat in the front pew,
and upon whom all eyes were now
turned.
81 didn't touch YER" said the man
next to her in amazement.
! Some smiled and said, "Sam John
son ought to be ashamed of himself to
act SO in meeting," and the minister
! frowned upon him in way that would
have thawed a SNOWFALL outright, after
which Mr.. Snowden attempted once
more to resume his remarks.
"And the Lord said unto Moses''-
"Well, what did he say ?" came sud-
denly from the lips of an attentive lis
tener in the side aisle.
The minister was astounded. He
looked at the man as though his bold
ness had electrified him, and some of
the congregation began TO think that
under the circumstance the inquiry
was very natural and appropriate
one. AS to the minister himself, he
was little veXed now, and repeated
with emphasis:
"And the Lord said unto Moses
"Fire Fire :" roared voice, which
seemed to come from the entrance to
the house, with startling earnestness.
This was too much to bear tameIy.
Even the minister rushed to the
door, and the affrighted women scream
ed as if they were mad, and they hud-
died and pushed each other out of the
pews and down the aisle. Bonnets
suffered some on the occasion and
when they all got fairly out, they
looked up to the top of the meeting
house patiently to see the flames burst
through the slated roof.
And there Blitz left them standing,
their eyes rolled heavenWard, and
Parson Snowden in a brOlcn study.