The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-04-27
Selert Sprg.
COUNT CAGLIOSTRO,

II any one chance to be acquainted
with the general character of this per-
sonage, he may learn something of it
from the following pithy summary Of his
titles given by Thomas Carlyle:
Count Alessandro Cagliostro, pupil OF
the sage Althotas, foster-child of the
Scherif of Mecca, probable son Of the last
king of Trebizond; named also Acharat,
and unfortunate child of Nature; by pro
fession healer of diseases, abolisher of
wrinkles, Grand-master of the Egyptian
Mason-lodge OF high Science, spirit-sum-
moner, gold-cook, Grand Coptha, prophet,
priest, and thaumaturgic moralist and
swindler; really liar of the first magni-
tude, thorough paced in all the provinces
of lying, what one may call the KING o.
iars." The man who so comporled him
self in life as to merit these titles-and
not one of them is inappropriately or un-
Justly applied-must have in his time
PLAYED many parts, from the contempt la
ticn of which may result both entertain
ment and instruction
In the year l743, Joseph Balsamo first
saw the light, being born OF poor parent
age, resident at Palermo, in Sicily. Left
under the weak control of widowed
mother, the youth showed an unruIy and
indolent disposition in his earliest years,
and greatly neglected even the scanty
educational advantages which were then
afforded to him. In his fifteenth year
circumstance occurred, which, in part,
gave the tone to his whole future exist
ence. An uncle got him placed in the
convent of Cartegirone, where the house
apothecary was charged with the task OF
instructng him in the arts OF chemistry
and pharmacy. Idle as he continued to
be- he no doubt acquired here some little
knowledge of these sciences, and we shall
see what use he finally made oft. After
some years stay, he grossly lnsulted the
monks of the convent, was consequently
punished, and Quilted the place forever
leaving those behind to congratulate
themselves on the happy radiance. JOS
Balsamo, now nearly in his majority,
passed the few succeeding years OF his
life in Palermo, acquiring by degrees the
repute of being one of the most finished
blackguards in the place, and fully de-
serving it, by rObbing his uncle, forging
a will, and many similar acts. At length
he used his address to persuade certain
foolish goldsmith that large treasure, to
be obtained by digging, lay hidden in a
cave nigh the city, and, on their going at
midnight to the spot, BalsamO brought
out on the dupe a band of accomplices
dressed like iends, who robbed the poor
man, and beat him cruelty. Having his
eyes opened, the goldsmith threatened to
retort with the SiciliaE vengeance of the
stiletto, and Joseph thought it necessary
to take himself off from his native Pal
Grmo.
With the lions share of the booty, six
ty ounces of gold, Balsamo proceeded to
Messina, where he met an alchymst
named Althotas, man versed in various
mysterious secrets of nature, and an
adept in the Eastern tongues. The career
of our hero in connection with Althotas
is buried in doubt and obscurity, his own
statements in after days being anything
but trustworthy, or even consistent. The |
common statement is, that finding Al
thotas 10 be possessed of a secret for |
making goods out Of fax of an almost
silken quality, B2lsano persuaded him
to try commercial venture to Alexan-
dria, with store of that commodity.
The voyage was eminently successful. 1t
is probable that they visited Egypt and
Turkey after this time, selling drugs and
amulets. From the stories afterwards
told by our hero, when concealing his
real origin, he let out ambiguous hints of
bis being some unfortunate Oriental
prince, it is possible that he also visited
Mecca and Medina, A visit to Malta is
better substantiated. He was well re-
Ceived by the grand-master, and, with
his companion, labored there for some
months at the task of making pewter into
gold. 1t is also said that Althotas died in
Malta Be these things as they may,
certain it is that, during the mysterious
years of his life now under notice, the
Palermitan was fitting himself most dill
gently and successfully for his final ca
reer; and that, at the close of his proba-
ton, he appeared alone in Rome to COM
mence new era Of his history.
1t must not be thought that Balsamo
had been all this time Contented with his
AAA TDo'OASN3 uhVAllCu pdlIOiI ~ lllCs 1T udu |
been cheValier, marquis, and six or
seven different barons in succession, just
as it suited him. Count Alessandro Gag.
liostro was the title which he bore on en-
tering Rome, and it became his perma-
nent one. He at first contrived to live
by selling pen-drawings forged ones,
moreover, being merely engravings In
dian-inked); but this was poor occupa-
ton, and he speedily gave larger scope
TO his genius. He commenced the sale
of an eIiTir for warding off old age and
disease, and further boasted that he could
trdrsmtae metals and make himselfinvisible.
The Maltese grand. master had given him
good letters Of introduction. These ad-
mitted him to society, where mis- bound.
less boasting and indonitable assurance
some with conviction of his
mystic powers. The elixir sold abund-
autly, and his success tempted beauti-
full Roman, Lorenza Feliciani, to share
his rising fortunes Inscriptions, witty,