Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-01
THE JUGGLER.


ing served q man was admitted. He was
abut 80 years old While iugglers and
magicians have lively appearance, this
mans features were deeply earnest. He
carried little table, which he placed be-
fore Josephine and covered ii with a worn
cloth. After these preparations he drew
out three tin cups, with which he executed
all kinds of iugglery. The balls quadru-
pied themselves under his fingers and
formed all kinds Of figures and grotesque
forms, only 10 disappear again in a
twinkling. Like the magical composers,
the magician also has his overture before
he unfods the panorama to the audience.
After this he touched the magic cups with
a stick of ebony and said madame, you
may express any wish, and it shall be full
filed. l regret very much that you have
finished your meal, else ! could have
brought You dishes which were wanting
on your table to-day-the red feather OF
the Mediterranean, sardines of Royan or
the little silver fish caught in the vicinity
in which madam was born - for the great
welfare OF France. Madame, you may
order whatever your heart wishes. Do
you wish a spotIess diamond or grass
fly on the heather, an Oriental ruby or a
nightingale ?' This man, who placed all
the wealth of nations at Josephine's dis
posal, seemed TO wish that she might de
eide upon the nightingale, for he put his
ear to the cup and it almost seemed as If
he heard the melting tones Of the singer
Of spring. Josephine, whose desires
however, were modest, and who pre-
ferred bunch of flowers to a diamond.
selected neither diamond ner a ruby
nor nightingale, but a rose. She had
scarcely spoken the word when the Jug
gler upset the cup and showed the aston
ished lookers-on a rose, which bent grace
fully on its stem and filled the room with
sweet fragrance.
"My goodness" said Josephine, "you
have cut the prettiest rose in our con-
seryatorv, the rose which l intended Civ
ing Bonaparte tomorrow. 1t would have
Unfolded during the night"
Beg pardon, madame" replied the
iuggler politely, this rose belongs to me,
and | have the honor to present it TO the
wife of the First Consul; | would never
dare to touch her flower, and l have never
been in her conservatory
Josephine sent q servant to investigate
the truth of this assertion and was told
that the Tose which was destined for the
First Consul was unhurt. Incredulous as a
creole, she could not hide her admiration.
and, in fact, il vas impossible to embarrass
the man who was so entertaining and
wonder-creating. He magically drew out
Of his pocket a swarm of singing birds
which picked up the crumbs; then he
filed iumbler with water and as quickly
as he would upset it numberless flowers
flowed upon the persons around, and
Josephine imagined herself in her con.
servatory.
When the wonders had reached then
highest degree Josephine reached for the
pompadour, which was hanging on hel
armchair, in order to give some gold pieces
to the juggler. When the juggler noticed
this he fell down at her feet, saving
Madame, you can reward me hundred
times for this little pleasure that have
given you, but not in money! mercy
madame, mercy"
which she asked
The wonderful man begged her then to
eat one of the apples which were on her
table. Josephine stretched out her hand
for one and placed her knife on it with
the determination of a woman prepared
for a surprise. Mother Eve surely did not
reach for the apple with such longing
which caused such misery to her descend
ants as josephine. She cut through the
apple and found inside a petition to the
First Consul.
Madame" said the iuggler, before
you Is an unlucky one, who has mixed in
the quarrels of the kings, and has taken
part in the wars against the republic. |
have fought in the Nendee with a Co.
carde, which is no more that of my coun.
try, and when the party which | served
was defeated | took flight, to live in a
strange land. My country drove me ont
as a traitor. Branded like Cain. | wan.
dered about my name is crossed from the
list of citizens and put on the emigrani
roll. 4 word from your lips. madame
can make a Frenchman of me again and
give me back to my own. You. the
adored wife Of the First Consul, have the
power to give me back to my country and
to my own.
Sir" she said to the emigrant, will
do as you wish. The Consul shall read
your petition and assure YOU that will
do everything l can in your favor"
The juggler arose, put his cups into his
pocket, his table under his arm, bowed
deeply and disappeared.
Josephine, inclined to be superstitious,
could not see the enemy of her husband in
this juggler. She believed in his magical
power, which would be of use to the En-.
peror, and made up her mind to use all in.
fuence in her power with Napoleon tC
intercede for this man. The following
morning at o'clock Bonaparte breakfastec
in the dining-room of the Palace Malmai.
son; they were getting his carriage ready
in the courtyard of the palace when
Josephine entered.
What did You do yesterday, dear
Josephine % asked Bonaparte. "Who ha,
visited you Pr
Il have been well entertained: if you
will dine with me to-day have pleasant
surprise in store for you. Which reminds
NE, do have this name crossed from the
emigrant list With these words she
handed him the petition of the magician
A Chonan said Napoleon, after he
had read the petition. zone of the fanat
zeal followers of Charente's and LaroChe.
Jaquelin's; one Of the people who but q
short time ago followed the armies of the
Republic to murder the scattered soldiers
and finish the dying. Marco Marco
who comes from England, who secretly
landed on our coast, probably to fulfill
Pitts shameless plan, brandishing their
torchlghts over the sweltering battletields
of France. Fox, my friend, has written
me to be on my guard for this evil one
And how 60 you know him? Where
have you seen him -
At this Josephine burst into tears.
ooh, do not cry" he said, but answer
me; your charity HIS been abused The
traitors imagined petition which YOU
should propose could not be denied, and
then they would in Paris, under my very
eyes, have begun their wretched play
Fouche is right; these people are ire
deemable.'
81 do not know him." replied Joseph.
inc 'do not get angry. Tear up the peti
ton and we viii speak no more of it il
you knew how it came to me-"
Josephine related how the petitioner
came to her, and the wonders he produced
And you open the door to such people.
Jugglers and magicians, who try TO strev
sand in the eyes of the First Consul, be,
cause they could not deceive him, How
childish you are, Josephine, to be blinded
by magicians +"
.p..I .La.a ,rorJs la Oh III.