The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-24

CAGLEoSTRo PERFORMING HIS FAyoRITE
TRICK.
use Of all his learning. He was such an
apt student of chemistry that he was
sent TO a monastery neal Palermo to pur-
sue the study under the direction of
learned priests. 1t was an age OF igno-
rance and superstition, and the agile
mind of Balsanio detected great possibili-
ties in performing tricks based on this
science. He was naturally a trickster,
and so, after completing his course OF
study, he started out on a career OF de-
ception. He began by forging theater
tickets and then a will. he robbed a
goldsmith named Marano of a sum of
money. Balsamo pretended that a secret
treasure lay buried in a certain rocky
chasm just outside the city of Palermo
and that he, for a consideration, of
course, was able TO unearth the gold by
means of certain magical nominations.
The goldbeater was u simple man and
like a gudgeon swallowed the bait, hook
and all. He paid the required fee and, ac-
companied by the amateur sorcerer, paid
a visit on . certain dark night to the
lonely spot where the treasure was sup
posed to be.
The drew a magic circle
of phosphorus on the ground, pronounced
some cabalistic words and bade the gold
smith to dig. Marano went to work with
pick and spade. Suddenly terrific yells
were heard, and a troop of devils DO
seph's boon companions in disguise)
rushed from behind the rocks and pounc-
ed upon the. hapless goldsmith. They
pummeled him with their fists and prod
ded him with pitchforks and left him in
&f. ~1a1z Tor This Qaf
Balsamo was forced to flee from Palermo
to escape the vengeance of the furious
goldsmith and punishment at the hands
of the authorities. He was not loath to
leave the city, for he had the heart of a
rover. y
In company with a Greek named Al
shotas he visited Greece, Egypt, Arabia,
Persia. Rhodes, Malta, Naples, Venice
and Rome. According to his own account,
he studied alchemy at Malta in the lab
oratory of Pinto, grand master of the
knights of Malta and St. John. During
the course of his wanderings he became
more and more yersed in natural magic,
and his talents in that line were so great
that he soon won a reputation as a mas
ter of miracles. lie perfected his dex-
terity and became proficient in tricks in
~goiving the use of sleight of hand. He
also learned the art of forging documents
and seals and practiced with zeal the
profession of the idea of mime and
thine"
In Rome he met a beautiful girl. Lo-
renza Feliciani, daughter of a girdle
maker. and as she was dexterous IN the
practice of sly arts and promised to be a
GOOD assistant to him and helpmate they
wore married. She was, in fact, more
original and inventive than himself, and
they Travelled over Europe in a coach
with a retinue of servants IN gor-
reous @)~iyeries. He played the part OF a
magician, prophet and exorcist so wen
that his fame spread over Europe, and
people of the better class, scholars and
writer's. met him with great Difference.
The ladies wore fans, hats and souvenirs
3 In Cagliostro. His wife's picture and
bic own were worn in lockets. Marble
husts Of the couple were to be seen in the
marks and palaces, and under the picture
Of the charlatan were inscribed the
words, "The Divine Cagliostro.'
One Of his famous arts was the prepa-
ration of a rcjuvenating tincture by
whose use old and wrinkled ladies might
obtain a smooth skin and the various
charms of youth. "At Strasburg,' says
one of his ~biographers, s.he reaped an
abundant harvest by processing the art
of making old people young" Cagliostro
himself pretended to be Of great age and
declared that he had hobnobbed with Al
exander and Julius Caesar, that he was
present at the burning OF Rome under
Nero, and was an eyewitness of the cru
cifxion Of Christ. As the founde of a
.ertain mysterious lodge Cagliostro gain
ed many adherents. He led his brother
hood back to Enoch and Elias and prom
Used the members that they should be
born again, morally and physically, and
In that way they could live 5000 years.
Count Cagliostro was at the ~perihelion
Of his fame when he first appeared In
Paris. in the summer Of 1871. His record