New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-12

in excellent spirits, which were increased by
the flattering compliments Of the Pope. In
one of his tricks-that of the burnt writing,
which consists of q sentence or two written
by one of the company, who, after burning
the paper, discovers it intact in a sealed en-
velope-he had the satisfaction Of procuring
an autograph from his holiness. On being
solicited to write a sentence, Plus VII. in
dited the following:
II have much pleasure in stating that Sig |
nor Torrini is an amiable sorcerer."
The paper was burned, and the skill with
which it was made to appear in sealed en-
velope was appreciated by the Pope, who
gave the conjurer permission to keep his au-
tograph. 1t was now time to end the per-
Torrance with the trick the artist had in
vented for the occasion to crown his other
exploits. Among the difficulties that he had
to contend with, the greatest was to obtain the
for it. To overcome this he had recourse to
a ruse. Requesting loan Of Q watch from
the company, several were handed to him,
which he returned; with the excuse, not
without truth, that mono Of them had any
popularity of shape that would make it easy
to identify the one selected. He then said:
''If any gentleman among you has a watch
of rather larger size (this was the popularity
Of the cardinals) he will confer great
favor by lending it to me, - it will greatly
facilitate my experiment. I need not say
that I will be extremely careful Of it. My
object is to prove its superiority, if it has any,
if not, to wonderfully improve it."
All eyes were now turned on the cardinal,
who, as was we'll known, priced his chronoE-
eter on account of its unusual size E; the large
case, as he said, allowing the works to act
more freely. He hesitated, however, to part
with his treasure, till Plus VII. said to him
Cardinal, I fancy your watch will suit
exactly; oblige me by handing it to Signor
Torrini.''
His eminence complied, though not with
out numerous precautions. When the watch
was handed to him, Torrini assumed to be abb
sorbed in admiration of the works and beau
tiful chasing, to which he drew the attention
of the pope and the cardinals. He then asked
the owner some questions which elected the
high estimation in which the owner held his
thermometer, which had been made to his
order by the celebrated Breguet. The en-
thusiasm of his eminence amused the pope,
who looked ON attentively as Torrini, after
saying that he should prove the solidity and
excellent qualities Of the watch, suddenly let
it fall to the ground. Everybody was amazed
at the holiness of this act, and the cardinal,
unable to restrain his Indignation, vehe-
mently exclaimed:
"You are playing very sorry jest, SIR
"But, monsigneur," calmly replied the
magician, ''there is no cause for alarm. l
only wish to prove to these gentlemen the
perfection of your watch, and you may rest
assured that it will not be injured by the
trials to which l may subject it."
With these words he stamped on the case,
crushing it into shapeless mass. This act
still further excited the ire Of the Cardinal
but the pope, who took a more sensible view
of the matter, turned to him and said:
'Come, cardinal, have you no confidence
in our sorcerer? For my part, 1 laugh like
a child at it, being convinced there has been
some clever substitution"
Torrini, who was delighted with the sue
cess Of his trick, assured his holiness that
there had been no substitution, and appealed
to the cardinal for identification of his watch.
The latter, after examining the shapeless
fragments, and finding his arms engraved in
side the case, acknowledged that it was in-
deed his beloved chronometer, and added, in
a stern voice:
~ do not see as how you can escape, sir
you should have tried your dangerous expert |
ment on some object that could be replaced,
instead of an unique watch like mine.'
The magician, after declaring that this cir
cumstance gave him additional satisfaction, |
as it enhanced the credit Of his performance,
dShcu pcIuIlSSiOu W pTOCccu
But the latter said that, as he had not been |
consulted in the destruction of the watch, he |
did not care what became of the fragments. |
Having established the identy Of the car
dinal's chronometer, Torrini's next object
was to pass into the pope's pocket the one |
he had bought the previous evening. As
this could not be easily done while his holi-
ness remained seated, the magician hit upon
q pretext to make him rise. Placing brass
mortar. with an enormous pestle upon the |
table, he threw in the fragments Of the watch,
and began pounding furiously. Suddenly
slight demonstration was heard a lurid fame
shot up from the vessel into which Torrini
gazcd with an expression OF profound aston
Respect for the pope prevented
the audience from rising; but his holiness,
curious to see the cause Of the conjurer's in
terest, approached the table and looked into
the mortar
81 do not know" he said, whether it is
because the light dazzles my eyes, but can
distinguish nothing"
TorrinI then begged him to come round the
liable and choose more favorable point of
and, as he moved, dexterously
slipped the reserve watch into bis pocket.
The cardinals chronomcter had now been re-
luced to small ingot. Holding il up be-
Orc the audience, the magician said:
81 will now restore this crude mass to its
original shape, and the transformation shall
take place during its passage to the pocket Of
/ person who cannot be suspected Of COM
plicity."
"Ah!" said the pope, with an expression
If jocular Incredibly; that Is promising a
yood deal. What should you do If asked
IOu to select my pocket ?'
''The orders Of your holiness shall be
,beyed," said Torrini, who, on receiving an
.ssenting nod from the Pope, took the ingot
n his fingers, showed it to the company, and
uttered the word "Pass !" when it instantly ,
expression Of countenance, put his hand into
lis pocket. He had hardly done SO. when
,e showed signs Of confusion, and, drawing
lis hand out, brought with 1t the watch,
which he quickly passed to the cardinal, as
afraid Of burning his fingers. II
There was great astonishment among the
lignitaries of the Church when his eminence, i,
n examining the watch, DECEASED 1t was the
cry one that had been made for him by Bre-l
,lef -and which thew had seen crushed to