The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-12-12
rur rurr Asp rrr oovyrurH

giving exhibitions gu thH principal Italian
Clties, at the beginning of thH present
century, be decided 10 e8 90 Rome, .u
t4e hope ihat iba patronage af hs heB.
ness the pope would gige eeIai 90 OBJ.
reputation IN this be was uAt djsappoiD.
ted Pins VII. wao was thgn tae rigu.
ing pontjf, having bcani ot his perform.
aure, did hin the honor go command Of.
attendance at the Vatican Being iu-
formed ihai bis audience nj this exhibition
would comprise all the diguiiafies Of the
church, the magician devoted unusual
care 70 lhc selections ofhis tricks bat, af.
Ter fixing on bis best ones, yainly utkcd
his brain 10 invent something worthy Of
his illustrious spectators
While be was thu. perpleNcd, chance
threw 10 bis way the means Of accom-
plishing bis object. Happening to be in
the shop Of one Of the best wateh-makers
10 Rome the day before that hSed for the
performance, De heard q lackey, in rich
scarlet livery, who had just come 10, ask
If his cmiueucc the Cardinal dc -------'s
watch was repaired.
1t will not be ready till this evening, re-
piled the matchmaker, aud | viii 10 my
selfthe honor OF personally, carrying it TO
your master.
After the servant had gone, the trades
man said to Torrini:--
This Is a superb watch His ominence
the cardinal to whom It belongs values it
at more than ten thousand francs; for, as
1t was made 10 his order by the cclcbra-
ted Breguet, be naturally supposes it to
be unique of It's kind. Curiously enough
however, It is only two days ago that a
young fellow belonging to this city offer
ed me a precisely similar watch, made
by the same artist, for ono thousand
francs.
These words made an impression on
Torrini, who, having formed a plnn Of
operations, said TO the matchmaker
/ DO you think this person is still desirous
TO dispose of his watch:
/ have no doubt of it. was the reply.
/ lie is young prodigal who, having
spent al his fortune, is now obliged to
sell his family jewels, and will be very
glad to obtain a thousand francs
/ But can he be found?
Easily enough--in q gamiug-house,
where be passes all his time,
Well, said the magician, | wish to pro-
cure the watch, but cannot wait longer
than to-day. Please buy it for me as
soon as possible, and engrayo nit bis
eminences arms, so that there shall be a
/ precise resemblance between the two
watches, and your profit shall be proper
toned 10 the discretion with which you
conduct the transaction.
1 Tho matchmaker, who knew Torrini,
| probably suspected his object IN seeking
possession of the watch, but, being aware
that the magician's discreet management
would be assured by its necessity to his
success, had no hesitation in complying
with his request.
II will only take a quarter Of an hour
to 60 to the gaming-house, aud am con-
fident of being able to procure it for
| YOU.
In less than the time named the dealer
came back with the chronometer in his
hand.
Here it is ! he exclaimed, with an air of
triumph. My man welcomed me as a
proyidentia visitor, and was so eager to
dispose of the watch that he gave it to
me without counting the money. Every
thing shall be ready for you tonight.
That evening the matchmaker brought
the two chronometers to Torrini, who, af-
ter careful comparison, was unable to
detect any difference between them. The
magician now felt confident Of making
decided hit with his trick, the prepara-
tous for which were already expensive.
The next day be went 10 the pontitl7s pal
ace, and, at a signal given by his holiness,
came upon the stage. Though Torrini
had appeared before crowned heads, he
had never been in the presence Of such
an august assembly. In the foreground
sat Plus VII himself. in a large arm
chair, on dais, while near him were
seated the cardinals, and behind them
were the various prela'es and dig
nitaries OF the church. The nervousness
that the performer naturally experienced
in the presence Of such exalted person
ages was aIlayed by the benevolent ex-
preston on the face of the pope. Rcassur-
ed by bis kindly glauocs, Torrini com,
meueed;-
Holy father, be said, bowling respect
fully. am about to show yoa some cx-
perimeuts to which the name Of white
magic has been most uuiusily given.
This title was invented by chartaus to
impress the multitude, bat 81 only signifies
a collection Of clever deceptiou-. iugcni-
ousIy coutriyed to amusc the imagina-
ton.
Pleased with the favorable reception o.
bis address, Touini commenced lis per-
fOnmauccs in excellent spirits, which
were increased by thc llaueriag eompl-
ments OF the pope. In ouc OF his tricks
that Of The burnt writing, which cou-
sists OF sentence or Two written by one
Of The company, who, after baruiag the
paper discover, &c Intact ia a sealed en-
yelope--he had lho satisfaction Of procBr-
ing an autograph ieom hi. holiness. On
being s0lieited ts write sentence, pius
VII udited the fJ.Uwiug;-
have utueh f,faeaar. fa. .taffa.s ff.et