The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-20


sealed envelop was appreciated by the
Pope, who gave the conjurer permission
to keep his autograph. 1t was now time
to end the performance with the trick,
which the artist had Invented for the oc
casion to crown his other exploits. Among
the difficulties that he had to contend
with, the greatest was to obtain the car
dinars watch without directly asking him
for it. To overcome this he had recourse
to ruse. Requesting the loan of a watch
from the company, several were handed
to him, which he returned, with the ex
cuse, not without truth, that none of them
had any pecu irrity 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 large aize (this was the
popularity Of the caFdinals) he will cone
fer great favor by lending it to me, as
it will greatly facilitate my experiment.
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 cardi.
nal, who, as was well known, priced his
chronometer on account of its unusual
size; the large case, as he said. allowing
the works to act more freely. He hesi-
tated, however, to part with his treasure,
till Plus VII. said to him:
cardinal, fancy your watch will suit
exactly; oblige me by handing it to Sig
mr. Torrini."
His eminence complied, though not
Without numerous precautions. Whea
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 elected the high estima-
tion in which the cardinal held his chro-
nometer, which had been made to his
order by the celebrated Breguet. The
enthusiasm Of his emiHence amused the
pope, who looked on attentively as KOr-
RIM, after saving that he should prove the
solidity and excellent qualities of the
watch suddenly let it fall to the ground
Everybody was amazed at tie boldness
of the act, and the cardinal, unable to re-
strain his indignation, vehemently ex-
claimed:
you are playing very sorry jest sir !"
"But, monseigne ur," calmly replied the
magician, "there is no cause for alarm. I
only wish to prove to these gentlemen
the perfection of your watch, and you
may rest ass lred that it will not be in.
jnred by the trials tc which I shall sub
ject it."
With these words he stamped on the
Mt ~,
This act still further excited the ire Of
the cardinal; but the pope, who took
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 beenssome clever substitution"
Torrini, who was delighted with the
success of his trick, assured his holiness
that there had been 70 substitution, and
appealed to the cardinal for Identification
OF his watch. The latter after examining
the shapeless fragments, and finding his
arms engraved inside the case, acknowl-
edged that it was indeed his beloved
chronometer, and added in stern voice:
Il do not see how you can escape Sit;
you should have triei your dangerous ex-
pertinent on some object that could DO re-
placed instead of unique watch like
mine"
The magician, after declaring that this
Circumstance gave him additions. salts
faction, as it enhanced the credit OF his
performance. asked the cardinals per
mission to proceed, But the latter said
that, as he bad not been consulted in the
destruction Of tue watch, he did not care
what beca me of its fragments.
Having established the identity of the
cardinals chronometer, Torrini's next OBJ
ect was to pass into the pope's pocket
the one he had bought the previous even
ing. AS this could not easily be done
while his holiness remained seated, the
magician hit upon pretext to make him
rise. Placing brass mortar, with an
enormous pestile, upon the table, he threw
in the fragments of the watch, and began
pounding furiously. Suddenly slight
defamation was heard; lurid flame shot
up from the vessel, into which Torrini
gaZed with an expression of profound as
constituent. Respect for the Pope pre-
vented the audience from rising; but his
holiness, curious to see the cause Of the
cOnjurors interest, approached the table,
and looked into the mortar.
II do not know he said, whether it
is because the light dazzles my eyes, but
l can distinguish nothing"
Torrini then begged him to come round
and choose more favorable point of OBJ
servation, and. as he moved, doxterously
slipped the reserve watch into his pocket.
The cardinals chronometer 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 transformation
shall take place during its passage to the
- e L..