The Middlebury Register

MISCELLANEOUS.

Pirnetti;

Or, Juggling Extraordinary.

The Russians have long exhibited a remarkable taste for juggling and all that smacks of the marvelous. Conjurers, prestidigitators, ventriloquists and the entire race of mountebanks, who in France and in England astonish the gaping crowds at races and country fairs, ever find a ready welcome and a liberal encouragement among the higher classes in the capital of the Czar. About the beginning of the present century a species of Cagliostro, or rather a superior kind of Wizard of the North, made his appearance at St. Petersburg, and astonished the natives. His fame is yet retained in the memory of those who witnessed his unrivaled talents.

The Czar having heard Pirnetti much spoken of, was desirous of seeing him, and one day it was announced to the conjurer that he would have the honor of giving a representation of his magical powers at Court, the hour fixed for him to make his appearance being seven o'clock. A brilliant and numerous assembly of ladies and courtiers, presided over by the Czar, had met at the prescribed hour in the saloon prepared for the evening's amusement: but the prestigiator was absent. Surprised and displeased, the Czar pulled out his watch, which indicated five minutes after seven. Pirnetti had not only failed in being in waiting, but he had caused the Court to wait, and Paul I was not more patient than Louis XIV. A quarter of an hour passed, half an hour, and no Pirnetti! Messengers who had been sent for him returned unsuccessful. The anger of the Czar with difficulty was restrained, for it displayed itself in threatening exclamations. At length after the lapse of an hour, the door of the saloon opened, and the gentleman of the chamber announced Pirnetti, who presented himself with a calm front and the serenity of one who had nothing to reproach himself with. The Czar, however, was highly displeased, but Pirnetti assumed an air of astonishment, and replied with coolness:

'Did not your majesty command my presence at seven o'clock precisely?'

'Just so!' exclaimed the Czar at the height of exasperation.

'Well then,' said Pirnetti, 'let your majesty deign to look at your watch, and you will perceive that I am exact, and that it is just seven o'clock.'

The Czar, pulling out his watch violently in order to confound what he considered a piece of downright insolence, was completely amazed. The watch marked seven o'clock! He looked at the clock of the saloon, which had been twenty times consulted during the space that the assembly was kept waiting; the clock also marked and struck seven o'clock! In turn the courtiers drew out their watches, which was found as usual, exactly regulated by that of their sovereign. Seven o'clock! indicated with a common accord all the watches and clocks of the palace. The art of the magician was at once manifest in this strange retrogression in the march of time. To anger succeeded astonishment and admiration. Perceiving that the Czar smiled, Pirnetti thus addressed him;

'Your majesty will pardon me. It was by the performance of this trick that I was desirous of making my first appearance before you. But I know how precious truth is at court: it is at least necessary that your watch should tell it to you, sire. If you consult it now, you will find that it marks the real time.'

The Czar once more drew forth his watch—it pointed to a few minutes past eight. The same rectification had taken place in all the watches of those present and in all the clocks of the palace. This exploit was followed by others equally amusing. At the close of the performance the Czar after having complimented Pirnetti, brought back his remembrance that, in the course of the evening's amusements, he had declared, that such was the power of his art that he could penetrate everywhere.

'Yes, sire, everywhere,' replied the conjurer, with a modest assurance.

'What!' exclaimed the Czar, 'could you penetrate even into this palace, where I to order all the doors to be closed and guarded?'

'Into this palace, sire, and even into the apartment of your majesty, quite as easily as I could enter my own house,' said Pirnetti.

'Well then,' said the Czar, 'at mid-day to-morrow I shall have ready in my closet the price of this evening's amusement—one thousand roubles. Come and fetch them. But I forewarn you that the doors shall be closed, and carefully guarded.'

'To-morrow at mid-day I shall have the honor of presenting myself before your Majesty,' replied Pirnetti, who bowed and withdrew.

Two gentlemen of the household followed the conjurer to make sure that he quitted the palace; they accompanied him to his own lodgings, and the police surrounded the dwelling from the moment he entered it. The palace was instantly closed with positive orders not to suffer under any pretext whatever, any one to enter were he prince or valet, until the Czar himself should command the doors to be opened. These orders were strictly enforced, confidential persons having watched their execution. The exterior openings to the palace were guarded by the soldiery. All the approaches to the imperial apartments were protected by high dignitaries, whom a simple professor of the art of legerdemain possessed no means of bribing. In short, for greater security, all the keys had been carried to the Imperial Cabinet.

A few minutes previous to the hour fixed for Pirnetti's interview with the Czar, the chamberlain on service brought to His Majesty a dispatch which a messenger handed him through an opening in the door. It was a report from the minister of police, that Pirnetti had not left home.

'Ah! he has found out that the undertaking is impracticable, and has abandoned it,' observed the Czar with a smile.

Twelve o'clock sounded. While the last stroke yet reverberated the door which communicated from the bedroom of the Czar to the cabinet opened, and Pirnetti appeared! The Czar drew back a couple of paces, his brow darkened, and after a momentary silence, while fixing a suspicious look on Pirnetti, said:

'Are you aware that you may become a very dangerous individual?'

'Yes, sire,' he replied; 'but I am only an humble conjurer, with no other ambition than that of amusing your majesty.'

'Here,' said the Czar, 'are the thousand roubles for last night, and a thousand more for this day's visit.'

Pirnetti in offering his thanks, was interrupted by the Czar, who with a thoughtful air inquired: 'Do you count on yet remaining some time in St. Petersburg?'

'Sire,' he replied, 'I intend setting off this week unless your Majesty orders a prolongation of my sojourn.'

'No!' hastily observed the Czar, 'it is not my intention to detain you; and moreover,' continued he with a smile, 'I should vainly endeavor to keep you against your will. You know how to leave St. Petersburg as easily as you have found your way into this palace.'

'I could do so, sire,' said Pirnetti, 'but far from wishing to quit St. Petersburg stealthily or mysteriously, I am desirous of quitting it in the most public manner possible, by giving to the inhabitants of your capital a striking example of my magical powers.'

Pirnetti could not leave like an ordinary mortal; it was necessary that he should crown his success in the Russian capital by something surpassing his previous efforts; therefore on the evening preceding the day fixed for his departure, he announced that he should leave St. Petersburg the following day at 10 o'clock in the morning, and that he should quit it by all the city gates at the same moment. Public curiosity was excited to the highest degree by this announcement. St. Petersburg at that time had fifteen gates, which were encompassed by a multitude eager to witness this marvelous departure. The spectators at the various gates all declared that at 10 o'clock precisely, Pirnetti, whom they perfectly recognized, passed through. He walked at a slow pace and with head erect, in order to be better seen,' they said: 'and he bade adieu in a clear and audible voice.' These unanimous testimonies were confirmed by the written declaration of the officers at every gate to inspect the passports of travelers. The inspection of Pirnetti's passport was inscribed in the fifteen registers.

Where is the wizard, whether coming from the North or South, who could in these degenerate days perform so astonishing an exploit?