Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-12-21

Win Wllcn IL was made TO appear In
scaled envelope was appreciated by tn
Pope, who gave the coDjuror permis
sion to keep his autograph. 1t was nov
time to end the performance with tn
trick which the artist had invented 70
the occasion, to crown his other ex
ploits. Among the difficulties that h.
had to contend with, the greatest wa
to obtain the Cardinals watch withou
directly asking him for it. 70 overcom,
this he had recourse to r,ue. Re
questing the loan of watch from tn,
company, several were handed to him
which he returned, with the excuse, no
without truth, that none of them hac
any popularity of shape that woulC
make it easy to identify the one Sc
lected. He then said:
"lf any gentleman among you has 9
watch of rather large size this was the
popularity of the Cardinals) he will
confer great favor by lending it to me-
as it will greatly facilitate my expert
ment. | need not say that | will be
extremely careful of it. My object is
to prove its superiority, if it has any,
and, if not, to wonderfully improve it,"
All eyes were now turned on the Car
dinal, who, as is well known. priced his
chronometer on account of its unusual
size; the large cases, as he said, allow,
ing the works to act more freely. He
hesitated, however, to part with his
treasure, till Plus VII. saio to him:
Cardinal, | fancy your watch will
suit exactly; oblige me by handing it
to Signor Torrini.'
His Eminence complied, though not
without numerous precautions. When
the watch was handed to him, Torrlnl
assumed to be absorbed in admiration OF
the works and beautiful 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 Cardi-
nal held his chronometer, which had
been made to his order by the celebrated
Brcguet. The enthusiasm of his Emi,
nence amused the Pope, who looked on
attentively as Torrini, after saying that
he should prove the solidity and excel
lent qualities of the watch. suddenly
let it fall TO the ground. Everybody
was amazed at the boldness Of this act,
and the Cardinal, unable to restrain his
Indignation, vehemen,ly exclaimed:
You are playing very sorry jest,
SIR"
But, monseigneur," calmly replied
the magician, "there is no cause for
alarm. | 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
shall subject it."
With these words, he stamped on the
case, crushing it into a 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 con-
tidence in our sorcerer2 For my part,
| laugh like child at it, being con
vinced there has been some clever sub
stitution."
Torrini, who was delighted with the
success Of his trick, assured his Holiness
that there had been no substitution,
and appealed to the Cardinal tor lden-
titication of his watch. The latter, after
examining the shapcess fragments, and
finding his arms engraved inside the
case, acknowledged that 1t was indeed
his beloved chronometer, and added; IN
stern voice:
II do not see how you can escape,
sir; you should have tried your danger
Gus experiment on some object that
could be replaced, instead OF unique
watch IKE NINE. ,
me haeiclan' aller @ p! securing IN! Ll'1 siaS
thls circumstance gave Nun n auol'iohat
satislactioll' as II enhanced 'he S',l creul. o.
MS performance aSkeo Ihe Earolhal a'
PERMISSION 10 proceed. nu. me i"Ilei
saio' that as ne hau ho' peeh cohsuitc9 1:9
IN the destrucIion OF lhe "atch' he oio
not care "hat became oi us lFaenlents'
HaVlng estaoiishea the iaeht'ty OF lhe
Cardlnars chrohohle'er, lotilni M 1, mex
o'9ect was, 10 pass lIVo 'he ropes
pu.no ip,;n,,a e.,;n '..G A. th;s noniJ ,ot aas;lv
ho lo' dona mh;l. bic MoI;nnss remoinaa
sa.taj tba mac;c;an mao hit mon a nretext
oa,e, % onaia 'IG ~, n;sa piaonro hraps NOV.
w. W n"nI ;,b niA an anor,,o,,s al.,a unn, The
t"h,a WIZ ~ tilron ~ ~ fnaan,a,,ts nf the
unuie' h nc ond .h'Im hoa 49, ',1 f,r;n,siv I
S,gI,i ""yol, i'no .,;est Gan pount hnan3:
oIoueny u;d o''gn, shnt e'u"oN @ fnon, ha uesse,
iufio ,;ah ltai1e ro sno. op aionl ;th ;Me '3
nrsss;on Of nrofound astonishment.
Pesnect for the Pone nrevcnted tho au.
d;ance from r;s;ng bnt his Holiness.
cnr;ons u 70 coo tha c9,,se Of the coniurer's
;ntsrest ~, .r " onnroacheJ the table and
inoI,ad nu ;ntn H. nonrtar