Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-02-26

CltNSI oSCSpllOnS3 con
| trived to amuse the imagination.
Pleased with the favorable reception
of his address, Torrini commenced his
performances in excellent spirits, which
were increased by the fattering com
pliments 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 sealed envelop-he had the salts
faction Of procuring an autograph
from his holiness. On being solicited
to write sentence, Plus VII. indited
the following
(" have much pleasure in stating
that Signor Torrini is an amiable sor-
cerer."
The paper was burned, and the skill
with which it was made to appear in a
sealed envelop was appreciated by the
Pope, who gave the conjurer permis-
sion to keep his autograph. It was
now time to end the performance with
the trick, which the artist had invent
ed for the occasion to crown his other
exploits Among the difficulties that
he had to contend with, the greatest
was to obtain the cardinals watch
without directly asking him for it. To
overcome this he had recourse to a
ruse. Requesting the loan of watch
from the company, several were hand
ed to him, which he returned, with the
excuse, not without truth, that none of
them had any popularity of shape that
would make it easy to identify the one
selected. He then said:
eff any gentleman among you has a
watch of rather large size (this was the
popularity of the cardinal's) he will
confer a great favor by lending it to
me, as it will greatly facilitate my ex-
pertinent. I need not say that I will
be extremely careful of it. My object
is to prove its superiority, if it has
any, and, if not, to wonderfully I'M
prove it."
All eyes were now turned on the car
dinal, who, as was well known, priced
his chronometer on account of It's un-
usual size, 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; obligo me by handing it
to Signor Torrini."
His eminence complied, though not
without numerous precautions. When
the watch was handed to him, Torrini
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 elicit
ed the high estimation in which the
cardinal held his chronometer, which
had been made to his order by the cele-
brated Breguet. The enthusiasm of
his eminence amused the pope, who
looked on attentively as Torrini, after
saying that he should prove the solidi-
ty and excellent qualities of the watch,
suddenly let it fall to the ground.
Everybody was amazed at the boldness
of the act. and the cardinal, unable to
restrain his indignation, vehemently
exclaimed:
You are playing a 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 I shall 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 conf
dence IN our sorcerer? 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 holi.
ness that there had been no substitu
ton, and appealed to the cardinal for
Identification of his watch. The latter,
after examing the shapeless fragments,
and finding his arms engraved inside
the case, acknowledged that it was in
deed his beloved chronom eter, and
added, in a stern voice:
tI 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 like mine"
The magician, after declaring that
this circumstance gave him additional
satisfaction, as it enhanced the credit
of his performance, asked the cardinals
permission to proceed But the latter
said that, as he had not been consult
cd in the destruction of the watch, he
did not care what became of it's frae-
ments.
Having established the identy of the
cardinals chronometer, Torrini's next
object was to pass into the pope's
pocket the one he had thought the
previous evening. AS this could not
easily be done while his holiness re-
manned seated, the magician hit upon
n pretext to make him rise. Placing a
brass mortar, with an enormous pestle,
upon the table, he threw in the frag
ments of the watch, and began pound
ing furiously. Suddenly slight de-
tonation was heard a lurid flame shot
up from the vessel, into which Torrini
gazed with an expression of profound
astonlshment. Respect for the pope
prevented the audience from rising;
but his holiness, curious to see the
cause of the coniuror's interest, ap-
PhONOAASN UiAS eotoiC, tt1iNA AOCIASNt 1IoO
the mortar
Il do not know" he said, "whether
it is because the light dazzels my eyes,
but [ can distinguish nothing"
Torrini then begged him to come
round and choose a more favorable
point of observation, and, as he moved,
dexterously slipped the reserve watch
into his pocket. The cardinals chron
ometer had now been reduced to
small ingot. Holding it up before the
spectators, the magician said:
II will now restore this crude mass
TO its original shape, and the transfor
nation shall take place during it's pas
sage to the pocket of person who can
not be suspected of completely"
''Ah!" said the Pope, with an ex-
preston of jocular incredulity; 'Ethat
is promising good deal. What
should you do if [ asked you to select
my pocket?"
"The orders of your holiness shall
be obeyed," " said Torrini, who, on re-
ceiying an asserting signal from the