has not failed, however, to excite the wonder
of the ignorant and the inquiry of the
learned at Paris.''

This ``Wonderful Phenomenon'' may have
been ``the incombustible Spaniard, Senor
Lionetto,'' whom the London Mirror mentions
as performing in Paris in 1803 ``where he
attracted the particular attention of Dr.
Sementeni, Professor of Chemistry, and other
scientific gentlemen of that city. It appears
that a considerable vapor and smell rose from
parts of his body when the fire and heated
substances were applied, and in this he seems
to differ from the person now in this country.''
The person here referred to was M. Chabert.

Dr. Sementeni became so interested in the
subject that he made a series of experiments
upon himself, and these were finally crowned
with success. His experiments will receive
further attention in the chapter ``The Arcana
of the Fire-Eaters.''

A veritable sensation was created in
England in the year 1814 by Senora Josephine
Girardelli, who was heralded as having ``just
arrived from the Continent, where she had the
honor of appearing before most of the crowned
heads of Europe.'' She was first spoken of