Signor Blitz Before Abraham Lincoln

By Oscar S. Teale.

Of the many fairy-like tales of famous magicians and the wonders performed, one of the most charming was related by George Morgan for the edification of readers of the Youth's Companion, in its issue for February 8th, 1906.

It is too long a story to repeat verbatim in the M. U. M. therefore I present it in abbreviated form. The episode occurred at a time, when the affairs of the American nation were fast approaching a climax. The crisis of the three days battle at Gettysburg was hanging in the balance on July 3, 1863. George Morgan, an eminent financier had spent the greater part of a day journeying toward the White House, in Washington, on a special mission to impart to President Lincoln information concerning an emergency plan formulated by certain great bankers aiming to avert dire disaster through a possible alliance of England witjh the Southern Confederacy, which might have been equivalent to announcing to the world a defeat of the Union army.

During such stirring events, companionship between fellow travelers became more or less spontaneous and it was not a strange coincident that Mr. Morgan "fell in with an animated and amiable little gentleman", drawn by his spirit of comradeship, and the fact that he seemed to possess much information on the all-absorbing topic of the war. Mr. Morgan confided to his chance acquaintance that it was his purpose to drive to the White House on his arrival in Washington. Coincidently it happened that the amiable gentleman had an ambition to shake hands with Mr. Lincoln himself in token of personal admiration. So favorable was the impression, that consent to such introduction was given by Mr. Morgan.

The genial gentleman hustled about to procure a bus in which he placed an odd looking red morocco grip, and the companions in travel hurried to the White House.

On reaching the executive mansion it was learned that Mr. Lincoln had gone, as was his frequent custom during July and August, to spend the night with his family at the Summer White House, near the Soldiers Home in the suburb of Washington, and so the bus with its passengers headed in that direction.

It was near sunset when the bus arrived at the President's charming retreat, a cottage in a park of oaks and evergreens, and, as the visitors stepped upon the porch, they were greeted by the cheery sound of children's voices, the clatter of dishes and tinkling of glasses. Mr. Lincoln was entertaining a party of little girls.

The new arrivals were too gallant to intrude beyond the threshold of the cottage on this joyous occasion, so, contented themselves basking in the eden of blooming flowers and soft sky, just flushing pink;—when suddenly their came a romping group of shouting children, 20 or more, "clad in astonishing manner, as if for a fairy dance". Each was bedecked with a silken flag sash, a star in her hair and each bore a shield emblazoned with the name of a loyal state. Then little "Tad" Lincoln, the president's son, of about ten summers, who was the only boy in the party. The girls who had been "showing off at fairs and things", as was announced by Tad—and as a reward Mrs. Lincoln was extending hospitality—as prelude to a rehearsal of the "Tableau of the Union" by the girls for the Fourth of July celebration to take place in the convalescent camp the following day, and of which Tad was to be manager.

The only spectators at this memorable event, were Mrs. Lincoln, the President, Mr. Morgan and the amiable little, gentleman" and with due apologies Mr. Lincoln justified himself for his attention to the children until they had quite finished their exercises.

The amiable gentlemen at length approached one of the little girls saying. ''Pardon me, I see something that you do not," and from her sunny curls he plucked "a live canary, which at once began to sing. "Now will you eat this fine, fat bird?" said the amiable gentleman. "No! no!” cried the little girl, backing away.

"Perhaps you will eat the bird?" said the gentleman, turning to Tad Lincoln. "No, sir! not for a thousand dollars," said the boy, backing away in turn. "Then I shall have to eat him, myself," and suiting the action to the word, he raised the canary to his mouth, and an instant later it had disappeared.

"It's a shame!" cried one of the little girls. “Wait a minute," responded the gentleman. "There is some mistake; I think that the bird is in your pocket," and from her skirt he triumphantly re-produced the little canary, which again burst into song. Then turning to Tad Lincoln, he said:

"Why don't you laugh like your father?" "I don't know, sir." replied the boy. "Well. I do. You should be ashamed of yourself, carrying things around in your mouth when you ought to have an egg basket" and from the mouth of the astonished lad a large white egg was produced, and from this, when broken, came another canary.

A ring was borrowed from another little girl, mysteriouly vanished, and later re-discovered in the petals of a rose which the gentleman had asked the child to pluck and bring to him. Then a shower of sweets was produced from a borrowed handkerchief. A colored servant approached, and a mouse was taken from the bright bandana handkerchief which she wore upon her head. Then approaching Mr. Lincoln, the amiable gentleman said:

"Mr. President, it is not unseemly, I hope, that we thus should enjoy ourselves with the little ones, when the Nation's fate hangs in the balance? I can see that you regard our play as harmless, yet I understand where your thoughts are. Your heart is with our noble army. Have you heard, sir, the issue of the great struggle at Gettysburg?"

"No," replied President Lincoln, shaking his head, sadly, "but if it is within the province of your magic to disclose it to me, I shall thank you to do so."

"Permit me to remove your hat," said the little man, and by standing upon tip-toe, he was finally able to do so, when to the amazement of everyone, a beautiful, snow-white pigeon was produced from the hat. "Ah! it is as I thought. A message!" From under one of the pigeon's wings he produced a dispatch. "Will you read it, Mr. President?"

"It is from General Meade." 'Oh! what does he say? cried little Tad Lincoln. "Victory!" said the President.

As the amiable little gentleman was slipping quietly away, the President approached Mr. Morgan, and whispered in his ear, "Who is he? He came with you, didn't he?" Mr. Morgan ran after the gentleman, and leading him back to Mr. Lincoln, said: "Mr. President, this is Mr. . . . . . . . .?"

"Blitz," said the magician, "Signor Antonio Blitz, who has long desired to see and clasp by the hand. President Lincoln, the man whom he loves."

W. & F. Langenheim, photographer. Signor Blitz, from life. Philadelphia [ca. 1859]. Albumen print stereograph.

"Why, of course;" said the President, "it's Signor Blitz, one of the most famous men in America! How many children have you made happy, Signor Blitz?"

"Thousands and tens of thousands!" "While I, said President Lincoln, with a melancholy smile, "fear that I have made thousands and tens of thousands unhappy. But it is for each of us to do his duty in this world; and I am trying to do mine."

Originally published in the M-U-M in Vol. 10, No. 1, (Whole No. 87) in New York, June 1920.