The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-24

pealed to the cardinal for identification OF
ms watch.
The latter after examining the sh4peless
I fragments anu finding his arms engraved in-
side the case, acknowledged that 1t was in
decd his beloved chronometer, and added
in a stern voice:
Il do not see how you can escape, sir
| you should have tried your dangerous ex'
| pertinent on some object that could be re-
/ placed, instead of unique watch Ike
NINE"
The magician, after declaring that this
] circumstance gave him additional satisfac-
/ uon, Is 1t enhanced the credit of his per
/ formance, asked the cardinals permission
! to proceed. But the latter said that, as he
had not been consulted in the destruction
| of the watch. he did not care what became
of its fragments.
! Having established the identity OF the
| cardinals chronometer, TorrinI's next OBJ
lect WAS to pass into the P)pe's pocket the
one he had bought the previous evening.
As this could not easily be done while his
/ holiness remained seated, the magician hit
upon a preteXt to make him rise. Placing
| "a brass mortar, with an enormous pestle.
upon the table, he threw in the fragments
of the watch, and began pounding furious
! ly. Suddenly slight detonation was heard
a lurld flame shot from the vessel, into
which Torrini gaZed with an expression of
profound astonishment. Respect for the
! Pope prevented the audience from rising
but his holiness, curious to see the. cause of
the con jurer'S interest, approached the table.
and looked into the mortar.
Il don't know" he said, "whether it is
because the light dazzles nay eyes, but can
distinguished nothing"
Torrini then begged him to come round
the table and choose more favorable point
| of observation, and, as he moved, dextrous.
ly slipped the reserved watch into his pocket.
The cardinals chronometer had now been
reduced to small ingot. Holding 1t up
before the spectators, the magician said:
Il will now restore this crude mass to its
original shape, and the transformation shall
take place during its passage TO the pocket
of person who cannot be suspected of COM
picity."
"Ah!' said the Pope, with an expression
| of jocular incredulity, THAT Is promising a
good deal What should you do if | asked
you to select ny pocket?"
The orders of your holiness shall be
| obeyed," said ToTripi, who, on receiving an
asserting signal from the Pope, took the in
got in his fingers, showed it to the COM
pany, AZ d uttered the word ''Pass." when
~ hlShpJCdISus JUS VII, WIFI
an lncredulOus expression of countenance,
put his hand into his pocket. He had
hardly done so when he showed signs of
confusion, and, drawing his hand out
brought with it the watch, which he quick
ly passed to the cardinal, as if afraid of
burning his fingers.
There was great astonishment among the
dignitaries of the Church when his emf
nence, on examining the watch, declared it
was the very one that had been made for
him by Breguet, and which they had seen
crushed to pieces by the conjurer. The
mystery was increased when Torrini de-
clared that he had fulfilled his promise and
had only tested the superiority of the chro-
nometer.
The next day the Pope sent him rich
diamond snuff-box, with thanks for the
pleasure his performance had afforded
Attracted by the news of this wonderful
exhibition, crowds tiocked to see the magi
Clan who had accomplished such marvels.
They did not, however, have the gratitca-
tion of Witnessing the famous trick of the
''broken watch" " for the expense of under
taking an experiment which could never
again be repeated under such favorable aus
pices, would be warranted only by the cir
cumstances which originally brought to-
gethcr the Pope and the conjurer.