Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-12-06
THE Pore AND THE CONJURER.


giving exhibitions in the principal Italian
cities, at the beginning of the present
century, be decided to go to Rome, in the
hope that the patronage Of His Holiness
the Pope would give ecldt to his reputa,
tion. In this he was not disappointed.
Plus VII, who was then the reigning
Pontif, having heard of his perform,
ances, did him the honor to command his
attendance at the Vatican. Being in.
formed that his audience at this exhibi.
tion would comprise all the dignitaries OF
of the Church, the magician devoted un.
usual care to the selection of his tricks
but, after fixing on his best ones, vainly
racked his brain TO invent something
worthy of his illustrious spectators.
While he was thus perplexed, chance
threw in his way the means of accom-.
plishing his object. Happening to be in
the shop of one of the best watch max.
ers in Rome the day before that fixed for
the performance, he heard alackey, in rich
scarlet livery, who had just came in, ask
if His Eminence the Cardinal de IS
watch were repaired.
" 1t win not be ready till this evening" u
replied the watch maker, "and | will do
myself the honor of personally carrying
it to your master"
After the servant had gone, the trades.
man said to Tcrrini:
This is superb watch. His Emil
nence, the Cardinal, to whom it belongs,
values it at more than 10000 francs for,
as 1t was made to his order by the cele-
brated Breguet, he naturally supposes it
to be unique OF its kind. Curiously
enough, however, it is only two days ago
that young fellow belonging to this city
offered me a precisely similar watch,
made by the same artist, for 1000
francs"
These words made an impression on
Torrini, who, having formed plan of
operations, said to the matchmaker:
DO you think this person is still desir-
GUS to dispose Of his watch?"
81 have no doubt of it," was the reply.
'He is young prodigal, who; having
spent all his fortune, is now obliged to
sell his family jewels, and will be very
glad to obtain thousand francs"
"But can he be found?"
Easily enough-in q gaming house,
where he passes all his time"
"Well, said the magician, 81 wish to
procure the watch, but cannot wait long.
er than to-day. Please buy it for me as
soon as possible, and engrave on it his
Eminence's arms, so that there shall be
precise resemblance between the two
watches, and your profit shall be proper
toned to the discretion with which you
conduct the transaction"
The 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.
at will only take quarter of an hour
to go to the gaming-house and 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 isr' he exclaimed, with an air
OF triumph. "My man welcomed me as
a providential 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 to night"
That evening the matchmaker brought
tEo chronometers to Torrini, who, after
a careful comparison, was unable to de-
tect any difference between them. The
magician now felt confident of making a
decided hit with his trick, the prepara-
tions for which were already expensive.
The next day he went to the Pontiffs
palace, and, at signal given by His Holi-
ness, 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 Pious VII. himself, in a
large armchair, on dias, while near
him were seated the cardinals and
behind him were the various pre-
lates and dignitaries of the church.
The nervousness that the performer
naturally experienced in the presence
of such exalted personages was al
layed by the benevolent expression on
the face of the Pope. Reassured by his
kindly glances, Torrini commenced:
"HOly Father" he said, bowing re-
spectfully, "I am about to show you
some experiments to which the name of
white magic has been most unjustly
given. This title was invented by char
latans to impress the multitude, but it
only signifies collection of clever de-
ceptions, ingeniously contrived TO amuse
the imagination"
Pleased with the favorable reception of
his address, Torrini commenced his per-
formances in excellent spirits, which
were increased by the hattering compli-
ments of the Pope. In one of his tricks
that OF the burnt writing, which con.
sists of sentence or two written by one
OF the company, who, after burning the
paper, discovers it intact in a sealed
envelop-he had the satisfaction OF pro-
curing an autograph from His Holiness.
On being solicited to write a sentence,
Plus VII. indited the following
II have much pleasure in stating that
Signor Torrini is an amiable sorcerer."
The paper was burned, and the skill
with which II was made to appear in a
sealed envelOp was appreciated by the
Pope, who gave the cOniurer permission
TO keep his autograph. II was now time
TO end the performance with a trick
which the artist had invented for the oc.
casiOn, to crown his other exploits.
Among the difficulties that he had to con.
tend with, the greatest was to obtain the
cardinals watch without directly asking
him for 1t. To overcome this he had re-
course to ruse. Requesting the loan of
a watch from the company, several were
handed to him, which he returned, with
the excuse, not without truth, that none
of them had any peculiarity of shape that
would make it easy to identify the one
selected. He then said:
IF any gentleman among you has a
wat ch of rather large size (this was the
of the Cardinal's) he will con-
fer great favor by lending it to me, as
u will greatly facilitate my experiment
! need not say that / will be extremely
careful of it. My object is to prove its
superiority, il it has any, and, If not, to
improve il.
All eyes were now turned on the Car
dlnal, who, as was well known, priced
the chronometer on account of its un.
usual sizes the large case, as he said, al
lowing the works to act more freely. He
hesitated, however to part with his treas
ure, till Plus VII, said to him:
cardinal, fancy your watch will suit
exactly; oblige me by handing it co Sig.
nor ToTrlni.W "