Aunt Kate - Conjuring and Parlour Magic

7/27/2019 Aunt Kate - Conjuring and Parlour Magic

1/52

C o p y r i g h t .

P R I C E O N E P E N N Y .

i t

A

J O T I S ? I Z J I

Mac

M

P r i n c i p a l C o n t e n t s

H i n t s f o r B e g i n n e r s .

T r i c k s w i t h C o i n s .

E x p e r i m e n t s w i t h E g g s .

O p t i ca l a n d o t h e r I l l u s i o n s .

Magic Corks .

H o w t o C h a n g e W a t e r i n t o W i n e .

S o m e S i m p l e E x p e r i m e n t s .

S t r i n g T r i c k s .

S o m e A f t e r - D i n n e r A m u s e m e n t s .

T r i c k s w i t h H a n d k e r c h i e f s .

S e c o n d S i g h t .

C u r i o u s P a p e r R i n g s .

S t r i n g S t i c k s .

T r i c k s i n B a l a n c i n g .

Card Tr icks .

T r i c k s w i t h G l a s s e s .

T r i c k s w i t h R i n g s .

S w o r d - S w a l l o w i n g T r i c k s .

M a g i c S q u a r e s .

H o w t o T e l l H i d d e n N u m b e r s .

T h e A u t o m a t i c D a n c e r.

T h e T r a v e l l i n g D o l l .

The Lovers ' Knot .

A B r i d g e o f D o m i n o e s .

A B a t t e r y of D r a u g h t s m e n .

&c., &c., &c.

JOH N LEN O CO., Dundee, and IS6 Fleet Street, London.


2/52

4

CI)C

F O R H O M E A N D O U T D O O R R E A D 2 N G

For

The Br

The Du

The Sei

The Lig

^

u

W I L L A L M A

M.I.M.C. (LONDON)

y

D

eader

ader

Reader

The Humorous Reader

C o n t a i n s S o m e t h i n g s u i t a b l e fo r e v e r y R e a d e r .

' W e d o u b t If t h e r e

s

a n y t h i n g b e t t e r o f I t i

kind

p u b l i s h ed a n y w h e r e .

Daily Chronicle

LonAen.)

WEEKLY

D.


3/52

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS.

P

AQE.

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1

I N T R O D U C T O R Y ~ 3

HINTS FOR BEGINNERS,

... 3

TRICKS WITH COrNS 5

T H E M O N E T -M A K I N G T W O * 5

T H E F L Y I N G S I X P E N C E 5

T H E V A N I S H I N G P E N N Y ,

5

T H E D I S A P P E A R I N G T H R E E P E N N Y , .. . 6

A T W E N T Y - S H I L L I N G T H IC K 6

T H E S U B M E R G E D C O I N 6

A C O I N A N D B O T T L E P U Z Z L E

T H E B L O W N S I X P E N C E ,

C O I N S A N D C R O S S ,

C O I N S I N AR O W ,

T H E J U M P I N G S H I L L I N G ,

T H E S T A T I O N A R Y S H I L L I N G

T H E R E V O L V I N G C O I N -

T H E E F F E C T O P GRAVITY, ... _ 8

W H A T M A K ES ITS W I N G ? ... ... 8

T H E V A N I S H I N G H A L F - C R O W N , _ 8

S E C O N D S I G H T 8

B O T T L E A N D C O I N T H I C K , ... 8

A L I V E L Y P E N N Y 8

A S I X P E N C E I N A B A L L O F W O O L , . .. 9

To DRIVE N E S D L B T H R O U G H A

H A L F P E N N Y 9

T H E D I S A P P E A R I N G P E N N I E S 9

E A S Y W A Y TO M A K E M O N E Y 10

T H E O B E D I E N T S I X P E N C E , ... ... 10

TRICKS WITH CORKS, 10

A N O B S T I N A T E C O R K

10

A D E L I C A T E L I F T I N G F E A T , 10

A D I F F I C U L T L I F T I N G F E A T , ... 10

A C L E V E R S E L L , _ 10

T H E F O U R C O R K S , 11

T H E C O H E S I V E C O R K S 11

A L A U G H A B L E F E A T 11

E A T I N G C O R K S - 12

C O R K S E A S I L Y D R A W N . 12

A N A C R O B A T I C C O R K 12

A

S i M r L E

F K A T , 12

C O R K A N D C A M P H O R T R I C K , 32

A C O R K M O U S E 13

STRING TRICKS 13

T H E B O U N D S C I S S O R S , 13

T H E E N D L E S S T H R E A D , 13

S T I T C I I I N O W I T H AK N O T T E D T H R E A D , 13

C U T T I N G T H R O U G H T H E F I N G E R S ( N O . 1 , 13

C U T T I N G T H R O U G H T H E F I N G E R S ( N O . 2 , 13

T H E C U T T A P E 14

T H R E A D I N G T H E N E E D L E , ... . . . 15

T R I C K S W I T H S C I S S O R S , ... 15

T H E M A G I C T H R E A D , ...

M H

IS

P A D S .

T H E I N D E S T R U C T I B L E T H R E A D , .. . II

C U B I O U S P A P E R R I N G S

T o C U T A S T RO N G C O R D W I T H O U T

K N I F E O R S C I S S O R S , ..

S P L I C I N G S T R I N G , .. .

T R I C K S W I T H H A N D K E R C H I E F S , . . .

T H E R E E F I N G K N O T , ... _

T H E M A G IC A L K N O T ,

...

T H E L O V E R S ' K N O T ,

T H E U N T Y A B L E H A N D K E R C H I E F , _

C U T ANDB U R N E D H A N D K E R C H I E F

R E S T O R E D

T H E H A N D K E R C H I E F A N D C A N D L E , ...

CA RD T RI CK S

T o

G U E S S T I I E C A R D S F I X E D O N B Y

F O U R P E R S O N S ,

. T o

T E L L T H E N A M E OF A C A R D

T H O U G H T O F ,...

F O U N D A T T H E SE C O N D G U E S S ,

T H E S U R P R I S E

T H E W A N D E R I N G A C E , _

A C L E V E R C O N S T A B L E ,

T o T E L L H O W M A N Y C A R D S A P E R S O N

H A S S H I F T E D

g

20

C A U G H T

IN

F L I G H T ,

; 21

T o

N A M E AC A R D W I T H O U T I T S B E I N G

S E E N

A C A R D A N D P E N N Y T R I C K ,

T o

S C E N T O U TAC A R D C H O S E N F R O M

A P A C K O F S I X T E E N ,

T o C A L L A N Y C A R D IN T H E P A C K ,...

B E T R A Y E D B Y I T S W E I G H T ,

1ft

16

1 7

1 7

1 7

18

18

18

1 9

1 9

1 9

1 9

1 9

2

2 0

20

21

21

2

2

22

B A L A N C I N G T R I C K S _ 22

T H E P E N C I L A N D K N I F E F E A T , 22

B A L A N C I N G

A

T U M B L E R ,

22

T R I C K

IN

B A L A N C I N G

22

T H E B A L A N C E D P L A T E

. 22

A C u p

IN

D A N G E R ,

... . . . . 22

A B A L A N C E D G L A S S

23

A B A L A N C E D B O T T L E , 23

TRICKS WITH GLASSES, 23

W A T E R C H A N G E D IN TO W I N EAND

W I N E IN T O W A T E R 23

W A T E R A B O V E A L E ,

23

F L O A T I N G AP I N INW A T E R 24

A O N E - H A N D E D T U M B L E R T R I C K , 24

A N O T H E R T U M B L E R T H I C K , 24

L I Q U O R U N D E R AH A T , . . . ... _ 24

T U B M A G I C A L T U M B L K U S , ... . . . 24

A D I F F I C U L T L I F T , 24

H o w T O K M P T Y A G L A S S , 24

T I I F . P I S A I T H A R I N G G I . . \ S S 25

A N O V E L M O D E OF E M P T Y I N G A

T

U M B L E R , ...

M

25 -


4/52

2

T A B L E O F C O N T E X T S .

P A G E .

E X P E R I M E N T S W I T H E G O S , 2 5

A N

E a o

M A T V A R I E S I N W E I G H T , . . . 2 5

H o w T O M A K E A M A M M O T H E G O , . . . 2 6

F A C I A L E X P R E S S I O N O N A N E C G S H E L L , 2 6

T o

B L O W A N E G G F RO M O N E W I N E -

G L A S S T O A N O T H E R , 2 6

Tins F L E X I B L E E G G , 2 6

T H E R O T A T I N G E G G 2 6

T H E S E L F - C O O K IN G E G G , 2 6

T H E P K R F O K M I N G E G G , , . . 2 7

T U N H O O P A N D T H E E G G , 2 7

T R I C K S W I T H R I N G S 2 7

T H E - R I N G O N T H E S T I C K , 2 7

A R I N G P U Z Z L E , 2 8

A N O T H E R R I N G T R I C K , 2 8

M

I SCE L L A N E O U S T RI CK S 2 8

" T I N I ' D I V I B E D P E A R 2 8

T H E C U B E I N T H E I I A T , 2 8

S W A L L O W I N G A B A R B E R ' S P O L E , . . . 2 8

T H E F O U R - M A T C H P R O B L E M , 2 9

T H E P A P K R T O P 2 9

S W A L L O W IN G A K N I F E 2 9

A S T A R T L I N G S W O R D

TRtcK

3 1

, S T R A W T R I C K , . . . 2 1

T H E B R I D G E O F D O M I N O E S , . . . . . . 3 1

T R I C K W I T H M A T C H E S , 3 1

A B A T T E R Y O F D R A U G H T S M E N , . . . 3 1

T H E L A W O F I N E R T I A , 3 1

T H E T R A V E L L IN G D O L L 3 2

S T R I N G S T I C K S , 3 3

A B U R N I N G S N O W M O U N T A I N , 3 3

T H E E L E C T R I F I E D P I P E , 3 3

: A S T R I K I N G S I G H T , 3 3

. T H E . A U T O M A T IC D A N C E R , 3 1

O N E S T R O K E P U Z Z L E , 34 -

A R E . Y o u . N E R V O U S ? T R Y 3 5

T H E T A N T A L I SI N G P E N C I L , 3 5

T E L L I N G A N U N S E E N A M O U N T , . . . 3 5

A N I N G E N I O U S C A N D L E S T I C K , 3 5

A C A N D L E B U R N I N G U N D E R W A T E R , 3 5

A N O T H E R C A N D L E T H I C K 3 5

M A G I C S Q U A R E S , - 3 6

T i n t M A Gto O F N U M B E R S 3 7

fc'oN E A R A N D Y E T S O F A B , 3 7

. A T A N T A L I S I N G S W E E T M E A T , 3 7

WI N N I N G B Y A NE C K NE C K O B

N O T H I N G 3 7

A T T R A C T I O N A N D R E P U L S I O N , 3 7

W H E N A F R I E N D I N T E N D S T O R I S E , . . . 3 7

T N S O B S T IN A T E L E A F . . . 3 7

K I C K I N G T H E S P O O L 3 8

I N C O N T R O V E R T I B L E , 3 8

l l o w T O T E L L A P E R S O N ' S A G E , . . . 3 8

I M P O S I N G O N A C O M P A N Y 3 8

A S T A R T L I N G T R I C K , 3 8

N O T T H E B E S T W A Y T O L I G H T A

C A N D L E , 3 8

AFTER DINNE R AMUSEM ENTS 39

T o M A K E A W I N E G L A S S W I T H A N

O R A N G E , 3 9

H e w T O M A S S A P I G W I T H O B A N Q B P E E L , 3 9

TACK.

T o

SP L I T A N A P P L E I N T O

T w o

EQ U A L

P A R T S W I T H T H E F I N G E R 3 9

A T O U C H I N G P I C T U R E , 3 9

T o P E E L A N O R A N G E W I T H O U T L E A V I N G

T H E P I T H ON , 3 9

T H E L I T T L E C O N J U R E R 3 9

F U N W I T H C L O T H E S P I N S 4 0

A S P R I G H T L Y D A N C E R , 4 0

T H E W I N S E D A C R O B A T , . . . . 4 0

O

R

N

A M E N

W FROM LO B S T E R SflfiLts,... 41

T H E L E M O N P I G , 4 1

S O M E O P T I C A L A N D O T H E R I L L U S I O N S , 4 1

T H E G O T H I C A R C H 4 1

T H E B I R D I N T H E C A G E , 4 1

T H E D I S A P P E A R I N G W A F E R S , . . . . . . 4 1

A C A N D L E S T I C K I L L U S I O N , . . . . . . 4 2

A T R A N S P A R E N T H A N D , 4 2

E S T I M A T I O N O F D I A M E T E R S , 4 2

H A L F P E N N Y I L L U S IO N , . . . . . .

(L L

4 2

C O L O U R E D C A R D T E I C K , . . , . . . . 4 2

T w o M A R B L E S T R I C K 4 3

T H E " A D H E R I N G " C O I N 4 3

T H E D E C E P T I V E P I L E , . . . 4 3

T H E E Y E D E C E I V E D , 4 3

S O M E S I M P L E E X P E R I M E N T S , 4 4

I N V I S I B L E W R I T I N G ,

F O U B L A Y E B S o r L I Q U I D S , 4 4

E A T I N G F I R S , . . . 4 4

C O N V E R T I B L E S U B S T A N C E S , . . , . . . 4 4

T H H M A G I C W H I R L P O O L , . . . . . . 4 4

A G H O S T L Y L I G H T , . . . 4 4

W A T E B T H A T W I L L N O T S P I L L , . . . 4 4

M A G I C A L T R A N S M U T A T I O N ,

T w o M A G I C A L F I G U R E S , 4 4

A M A G I C D R A W I N G , . . . 4 5

V O R T E X S M O K E R I N G S 4 5

T o B O I L W A T E B I N P A P E R , . . . J 4 5

C A M P H O R I N W A T E B , . , , , 4 5

M A G I O T R A C I N G S . . . 4 5

A N O L D M E T H O D O F T E L L I N G T I M E , 4 5

T H E S T R E N G T H O F T H E B R E A T H , . . . ' 4 6

A G R E A T E X P E R I M E N T O N A S M A L L

S C A L E

A D E A D G A S 4 6

A S H R I M P S Y P H O N

;

46

S I M P L E F O R M O F S Y P H O N , , . . . 4 7

C O M P L I M E N T A R Y C O L O U R S 4 7

A B E A U T I F U L E F F E C T , 4 7

D O T S A N D D A S H E S 4 7

E X P E R I M E N T S I N E L E C T R I C I T Y , . . . . . . 4 2

A P I E C E O F B R O W N P A P E R , . . . . . . 4 8

H o w

T O P R O D U C E E L E C T R I C L I G H T , . . . 4 8

A H O M E - M A D E M A G I C L A N T E R N , . . . 4 8

C U R I O U S M I S H A P A T A C O N J U R I N G

E N T E R T A I N M E N T , . . . 4 8


5/52

The State Library of Victoria

" A L M A C O N J U R I N G C O L L E C T I O N "

I N T R O D U C T O R Y .

i H I S i s t h e f ir st of my man y ha nd -

books wh ioh I r as been p repared , ex -

clusively , I may say , for my nephews.

I do no t suppo se tha t many of my n i eces t ak e

a n y v e r y p r a c t i c a l i n t e r e s t i n c o n j u r i n g ,

a l though , doub t l ess , t hoy app rec i a t e t he - en -

d e a v o u r s o f t h e i r b r o t h e r s a n d m a l e f r i e n d s

t o m y s t i f y t h e m b y m e a n s o f t h e " B l a c k

A r t . " I d o n o t f o r g e t t h a t w o m e n

ha.ro oc-

casionally

d i s t i ngu i shed them se lves as

m a g i c i a n s , b u t t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f c o n -

j u r e r s a xe d r a w n f r o m t h e o t h e r s e x , a n d i t

i s i n t h e h o p e t h a t m y n e p h e w s m a y h a v e

s o m e t h i n g w i t h w h i c h t o a m u s e t h e m s e l v e s

d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r n i g h t s t h a t X h a v e s e t

abou t t he pub l i ca t ion o f t h i s l i t t l e work on

" C o n j u r i n g a n d P a r l o u r M a g i c . "

The con ten t s wh ich go to fo rm th i s book

were br ou gh t tog eth er in th e f irst in s ta nc e

by one who was no mean con ju re r h imse l f , "

an d w ho, fo r mor e fchani a qu ar te r of a cen -

tu ry , was a lmos t con t inua l ly g iv ing h in t s t o

a l a rg e c i r c l e o f am at eu r ma g ic i ans . The i r

p r e s e n t a r r a n g e m e n t ha s b e e n u n d e r t a k e n

by ano ther who has a l so ev inced more than

a pass ing in t e res t i n " t h e tu rn o f t he w r i s t

and th e tw i s t of t h e e lbow." I f ee l con -

f iden t, t he r e fo re , t h a t , fo r t he beg inne r , a t

al l events, the book wil l prove of no small

va lue .

I n t h e p r e p a r i n g of " C o n j u r i n g a n d P a r -

lou r Ma gic " on, po in t th a t has be en kepti .m

view is th a t 110 t r ic k has been in t r od uce d

wh ich demands much pecun ia ry ou t l ay fo r

ap pa ra t u s . T r i cks wi th such eas i ly ava i l -

ab l e a r t i c l es as co in s , eggs , handkerch ie f s ,

and ca rd s have been g iven in abundance ,

and wi th a l i t t l e p rac t i ce and a t t en t ion to

tho ins t ruct ions Taid down no one should

f ind i t d i f f icu l t to a r ra ng e an in ter es t in g

c o n j u r i n g p r o g r a m m e . A f t e r t h e b e g i n n e r

has mas t e red the con ten t s o f t h i s book , and

become prof ic ien t in the t r icks which i t ox-

p lains , I have no doubt he wi l l pass to those

l a rger and more p re t en t ious works , t he p rac -

t ice of which demands greater sk i l l and out -

l a y . - A U N T K A T E .

H I N T S F O R B E G I N N E R S .

The f i rs t essen t ia l in conjur ing i s pat ieno* .

The f ac i l i t y and ease wh ich a re necessa ry to

e f fec t ive s l e igh t -o f -ha nd ca n on ly be acqu i red

by much pa t i ence , and i f

0.

m an i s no t w i l l ing

to " t r y an d t r y aga in , " he shou ld n eve r

b e g i n t h o a r t . E v e r y t h i n g i s l e a r n e d b y

deg rees , and the amateu r con ju re r wi l l f i nd

i t j ud i c ious to beg in wi th s im p le t r i ck s . As

he gains prof ic iency in these, he wi l l pass of t

t o f e a t s r e q u i r i n g g r e a t e r d e x t e r i t y . O n a

g o l d e n r u l e t o r e m e m b e r a t t h e o u t s e t i s

Always p rac t i ce a lone , and in f ron t o f a

mi r ro r . I f you s t a nd be fo re a l a rge look -

ing -g lass you see every movemen t you make ,

and by gaz ing s t ead i ly i n to the mi r ro r g ra -

d u a l l y l e a r n t o p e r f o r m t h e t r i c k s w i t h o u t

gaz ing a t you r hands o r fo l lowing you r

f ingers wi th you r eyes . H av ing acq u i red

the ab i l i t y t o work au tomat i ca l ly , you a re

in a f a i r way tow ards com ple t e success. By

look ing a t you r aud ience and f e ign ing in -

d i f f e rence you bege t i n t h em incre ased won-

der a t t he ease wi th wh ich you do a t h ing ,

a n d t h e i r m i n d

becomes so

occup ied wi th

" w o n d e r i n g " t h a t t h e y p a y l es s a t t e n t i o n

to so lv ing the ques t ion how th i s o r t ha t f ea t

i s accompl ished .

I t i s a lways wi se to acqu i re va r ious

me thod s of pe r fo rm ing tho same t r i ck . I f

you have an a l t e rna t ive way c f work ing , i t

comes in handy shou ld you b lunder i n t he

f i rs t performance, o r should i t become ap-

paren t t o you tha t some one in t he aud ience

suspec t s you r opera t ions . Ne ver be too

a n x i o u s t o g iv e a p e r f o r m a n c e . P r a c t i s e

incessan t ly , and on ly when per fec t pe r fo rm

in pub l i c . H av ing supposed th a t by p rac -

t i ce t he . s tu de n t has become expe r t , a nd i s

ready to g ive i l lus t ra t ions in the aTt , we

shal l p roceed to g ive a few h in ts as to how

a per fo rmer shou ld conduc t h imse l f be fo re

h i s aud ience .

One of the f i rs t requis i tes i s that he be

ab le t o en t e r i n to t he en joy m en t o f t h e

t r i c k s h e i s a b o u t t o p e r f o r m . H e m u s t

t ake a r ea l p l easu re i n do ing them, and in

pro po r t io n as he en joys the i r exhib it ion wi l l

he de l ig h t h i s aud ien ce . A wizard mu s t


6/52

t taro som ethin g to sa y im con nect io n wit h

svery

i t e m ,

a n a m u s t p u t

l i f e a n d v i v a c i t y

I n t o a l l t h a t h e s a y s a n d d o e s . H e s h o u l d

hare a

c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f p a t t e r o r t a l k f o r

ev er y t r i ck , amid b e ab le to se t i t off in a

free

a n d e a s y s t y l e . I f h e

is

r e a d y - w i t t e d ,

n d c a n t h r o w i n s o m e t h i n g a p p r o p r i a t e o n

t h e s p u r of t h e m o m e n t , so m u c h t h e b e t t e r

for

h i s c h a n o e s o f s u o c e s s. A c o n j u r e r

s h o u l d l o o k h i s a u d i e n c e s t r a i g h t i n t h e f a c e

w h i l e h e i s s p e a k i n g ( h e h a s a l r e a d y a c q u i r e d

t h i s h a b i t b y w o r k i n g i n f r o n t o f a m i r r o r ) ;

h e

s h o u l d n o t r e m a i n s t a n d i n g o n o n e s p o t ,

b u t s h o u l d m o v e a b o u t w i t h a f r e e- a n d - e a s y

d e p o r t m e n t . H e s h o u l d k e e p h i s h a n d s

m o v i n g , a n d n o t l e t t h e m h a m g l o o se a n d

m o t i o n l e s s a t h i s s i d e s .

T h e f i r s t a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g f o r

t h e s u o c e ss of a n e n t e r t a i n m e n t i s t o g e t

t h e a u d i e n c e i n t o g o o d h u m o u r t o t a k e

a w a y f r o m t h e m t h a t s t o l i d o r k e e n l y c r i t i -

c a l l o o k w h i c h i s s o a p t t o d i s c o u r a g e o r

d i s c o n c e r t a n a m a t e u r . T h e r e m u s t b e a

f e e l i n g of g o o d f e l l o w s h i p c r e a t e d b e t w e e n

a u d i e n c e a n d e n t e r t a i n e r a t t h e v e r y o u t s e t ,

a n d o n c e t h a t i s o b t a i n e d , a l l t h a t f o l lo w s

b e c o m e s e a s y a n d p l e a s a n t a n d s m o o t h , a n d

e v e n a f a i l u r e m a y b e l a u g h e d o v e r g o o d

h u m o u r e d l y . I t i s j u s t a t t h i s p o i n t t h a t

m o s t a m a t e u r s f a i l . T h e y c o m e b e f o r e t h e i r

a u d i e n c e s t if f ly a n d a w k w a r d l y ; t h e y f e e l

a n x i o u s a b o u t t h e su c c e ss o f t h e e n t e r t a i n -

m e n t , a n d a n x i e t y b e t r a y s i t s e l f o n t h e i r

f a c e s a n d g e n e r a l d e p o r t m e n t . W h e n t h e y

a t t e m p t a. j o k e , t h e i r j o k e f a l l s fla t, t h e i r

c o n c e r t e d p a t t e r c o m e s i n s i p i d l y f r o m t h e i r

l i p s , a n d t h e r e i s a m e c h a n i c a l rin g a b o u t a l l

t h e i r u t t e r a n c e s t h a t a c t s l i k e a w e t b l a n k e t

u p o n i t h ei i" a u d i e n c e , a n d r e a c t s w i t h t e l l -

i n g f o r c e u p o n t h e c o n j u r e r . H o w i s a l l t h i s

t o b e a v o i d e d

P

I t i s h e r e t h e b o r n c o n j u r e r

w i l l a p p e a r a t h i s b e s t . H e w i l l f e e l e a s y ,

a n d h e w il l j o k e p l e a s a n t l y , a n d b e f o r e

m a n y m i n u t e s a x e p a s t h e w i l l b e i n c o m -

p e t e s y m p a t h y w i t h h i s a u d i e n c e . N o

a m o u n t of i n s t r u c t i o n c a n g i v e t h i s n e c e s -

s a r y q u a l i f i c a t i o n , b u t i t m a y t o a l a r g e e x -

t e n t b e a c q u i r e d b y s t u d y a n d p r a c ti c e . T o

i l l u s t r a t e t h e s e p o i n t s l e t u s t a k e a n i m a g i n -

a ry case .

W e w i l l s u p p o s e t h a t t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t

t a k e s p l a c e i n a s m a l l s c h o o l r o o m . T h e

p l a t f o r m i s r a i s e d , s a y a f o o t o r t w o f r o m t h e

f loor. A t a t a b le a t th e ba ck of th e p la t -

f o r m i s a r r a n g e d t h e c o n j u r i n g a p p a r a t u s

f o r t h e e v e n i n g ' s p r o g r a m m e . A b a r e

t a b l e s t a n d s a t t h e f r o n t o f t h e p l a t f o r m ,

a n d t o w a r d s t h i s t h e c o n j u r e r c o m e s t o a n -

n o u n c e h i s e n t e r t a i n m e n t , o r o n i t s b e i n g

a n n o u n c e d b y t h e C h a i r m a n . T h e r e i s a n

e a s y e x p r e s s i o n o f g o o d h u m o u r o n h i s f a c e .

H e b e g i n s b y o f f e r i n g a f e w o b s e r v a t i o n s

u p o n t h e h a p p i n e s s o f b e i n g a c o n j u r e r a n d

a b l e t o s a y a n d d o w h a t e v e r o n e p l e a s e s t o

B n y o n e . H e t h e n o b s e r v e s t h a t , o f c o u r s e ,

. E v e r y o n e w o u l d l i k e t o b e a c o n j u r e r , a n d '

i t i s t o b e h i s b u s i n e s s t h e r e t h a t e r e n i n J g ,

n o t o n l y t o t e a c h t h e m h o w t o b e c o m e o n e ,

b u t t o m a k e t h e m a b l e t o s h o w o t h e r s w h a t

t h e y h a v e s e e n h i m a c c o m p l i s h . H e t h e n g o e s .

o n t o t e l l t h e m t h a t t h o s e w h o d e s i r e t o e x -

c e l i n s l e i g h t - o f - h a n d o r n e c r o m a n c y m u s t

h a v e c e r t a i n n a t u r a l c a p a b i l i t i e s f o r t h e

w o r k , a n d t h e p e r s on , w h o is a b l e t o d o t h e

f e a t s w h i c h h e i s g o i n g t o s h o w t h e m w i l l

h a v e t h e b e s t c h a n c e o f e x c e l l i n g i n t h e a r t .

In the f i r s t p lace , he says , a l l m agi ca l

t r i c k s a r e p e r f o r m e d b y t h e t w i s t o f t h e

w r i s t a n d t h e t u r n o f t h e T i g h t h a n d , a n d

t o i l l u s t r a t e t h i s h e w i l l s h o w h o w t h e t w i s t

o f t h e w r i s t i s p e r f o r m e d , a n d t h e p e r s o n

w h o c a n m a k e t h e w r i s t t u r n j u p o n a p i v o t a s

he does should have good hopes of success .

N o w , a n y o n e c a n d o t h i s . S t r e t o h o u t t h e

l e f t a r m , p a t t h e b a c k o f t h e l e f t h a n d w i t h

t h e r i g h t h a n d ,

a n d c a u s e t h e a r m

t o r i s e u p f r o m t h e

e l b o w ; t h e n w h e n

t h e f o r e a r m i s a t

r igh t ang les wi th

t h e u p p e r

arm,

p a t t h e b a c k o f

t h e h a n d a n d i

c a u s e i t t o b e n d

o v e r t o r i g h t

a n g l e s w i t h t h e

f o r e a r m , a s s h o w n ,

i n t h e c u t , t h e n

take the lef t hamidi

be tw ee n th e f inger

a n d t h u m b o f t h e

r i g h t h a n d , a n d t w i s t t h e h a n d s o u t w a r d s

a s far a s c a n c o n v e n i e n t l y b e d o n e . T h e

a t t i t u d e l o o k s m o s t rid ic ulo us a n d s t r a n g e ,

a n d o a u se s m u c h w o n d e r m e n t . O n l i f t i n g

t h e fin ger a n d t h u m b f r o m t h e l e f t h a n d ,

a ll o w i t t o r e t u r n t o i t s n o r m a l p o s i t i o n w i t h

a j e r k , a n d t h e w o n d e r w i l l b e s t i l l f u r t h e r

i n c r e a s e d

T h e t u r n i n g o f t h e t w o h a n d s i n o p p o s i t e

d i r e c t i o n s i s a p p a r e n t l y a m u c h m o r e s i m p l y

p e r f o r m e d f e a t , ^

a n d y e t , s t r a n g e J

t o r e l a t e , w e b e - | |

l i e v e t h a t h a r d l y '

m o r e t h a n o n e i n

100 is able to do

i t . I t c o n s i s t s

i n m a k i n g t h e

l e f t h a n d p e r -

f o r m a c i r c u l a r

m o v e m e n t , a n d t h e r i g h t h a n d p e r f o r m a

c i r c u l a r m o v e m e n t r o u n d i t , b u t i n an . o p -

p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n . T h e w r i t e r i s a b l e t o d o

t h i s w i t h e a s e , a n d b y p r a c t i c e m o s t p e o p l e

c o u l d s u c c e e d i n d o i n g i t . I t s e f f e c t u p o n

a n a u d i e n c e of c h i l d r e n i s w o n d e r f u l . T h e y

a t o n c e s t a r t t o t h e f e a t , a n d s o o n a l l a r e

e n g a g e d t r y i n g t o m a k e t h e i r t w o h a n d s g o

r o u n d i n o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n s . T h e i l l u s t r a -

t i o n s h o w s t h e m e t h o d o f p l a c i n g t h e m d a .


7/52

L o t s of p e o p l e a r e c a p a b l e o f p e r f o r m i n g

s o m e l i t t l e , s imp le fe a t w ith- th e h a n d s o r

f in ge rs w h ic h o th e rs , w i t h o u t c o n s id e ra b le

p r a c t i c e n e e d n o t a t t e m p t . A n y t h i n g of

th i s k in d w i l l b e e f fe c t iv e in c re a t in g a . g o o d

u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n a m u s e r a n d a m u s e d ,

a n d c a u s i n g s o m e i n n o c e n t d i v e r s i o n . L e t

a n y o f th e s e th in g s b e do n th a t s u g g e s t s

i t s e l f to th e e x p e r ie n c e o r a p t i tu d e o f th e

c o n j u r e r , a n d s o g e t a t t h a t d e s i r a b l e s t a t e

o f g o o d fe l lo ws h ip wi th y o u r a u d ie n c e b e -

f o r e b e g i n n i n g t o a n y t r i c k s , h o w e v e r

s i m p l e .

T R I C K S W I T H C O I N S .

O n e of t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e t r i c k s w i t h w h i o h

t o o p e n y o u r p e r f o r m a n c e i s t h a t i n w h i c h

y o u i n f o r m y o u r a u d i e n c e t h a t y o u a r e g o i n g

t o s h o w t h e m t h e e a s i e s t a n d m o s t e x p e d i -

t i o u s m e t h o d of m a k i n g m o n e y . T h i s w i l l

i m m e d i a t e l y e n l i s t i n t e r e s t i n y o u r p r o -

c e e d i n g s , a s t h o s e w h o a r e a v e r s e f r o m

l e a r n i n g t h e s e c r e t of a c q u i r i n g w e a l t h

eas i ly and

1

s p e e d il y a r e i n t h e m i n o r i t y .

T H E M O N E Y - M A K I N G T R I C K .

P r o c u r e t h r e o s i x p en c e s o f t h e s a m e i s s u e ,

a n d h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y p u t a l i t t l e o r d i n a r y

c a n d le wa x o n o n e s id e of th e c o in s , t a k e a n

o p p o r t u n i t y , d u r i n g y o u r o p e n i n g a d d r e s s ,

o f s e c re t ly s t i c k i n g th e m to t th e u n d e rs i d e of

th e t a b le , a b o u t ' h a l f a n in c h f ro m th e e d g e ,

a n d e i g h t t o t e n i n c h e s a p a r t . N o w y o u a r e

i n a p o s i t i o n t o p e r f o r m y o u r " m o n e y - m a k -

i n g - t r i c k . " T u r n u p y o u r s l e ev e s a n d t a k e

t h e t h i r d s i x p e n c e i n y o u r r i g h t h a n d , d r a w -

i n g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e e x a c t d a t e

a n d i t s g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e , a n d ( i n d i r e c t l y )

t o t h e f a c t t h a t y o u h a v e n o o t h e r c o in s

c o n c e a l e d i n y o u r h a n d s . T u r n b a c k t h e

t a b l e c o v e r , a n d r u b t h e s i x p e n c e w i t h t h e

b a l l o f t h e t h u m b b a c k w a r d s a n d . f o r w a r d s

n e a r th e e d g e o f th e t a b le : in th i s p o s i t io n

y o u r f ing ers w i l l n a t u r a l l y b e u n d e r th e

t a b l e . A f t e r r u b b i n g f o r a fe w s e c o n d s y o u

s a y " I t i s n e a r l y d o n e t h e si x p en c e is

g e t t i n g h o t , " a n d t h e n a f ew m o m e n t s l a t e r

d r a w t h e h a n d a w a y q u i c k l y , a n d b r i n g w i t h

i t one of the concea led ' co ins , which you ex-

h i b i t a s b e i n g p r o d u c e d b y t h e f r i c t i o n .

P o c k e t i n g t h e w a x e d c o i n , a n d s h o w i n g y o u

h a v e o n ly o n e c o in in y o u r h a n d , r e p e a t th e

o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e s e c o n d .

Th e n e x t t r i c k to b e d e s c r ib e d ma y b e

ca l led

T H E F I X I N G S I X P E N C E .

a n d th o fo l lo win g i s th e me th o d of i t s p e r -

f o r m a n c e : T a k e o n e.of t h e coin s us ed ini

th e f i r s t t r i c k , a n d , h a v in g to ld th e audience

y o u m e a n t o m a k e i t p a s s f r o m t h e t a b l e i n -

to a h a t p la c e d a t a d i s t a n c e th e re f ro m, l a y

i t in th e c e n t re o f a h a n d k e rc h ie f s p re a d o u t

o n t h e t a b l e . N o w t h i s h a n d k e r c h i e f s h o u l d

h a v e t h e c o r n e r n e a r e s t y o u r r i g h t h a n d

s l i g h t l y s o a p e d b e f o r e b e g i n n i n g t h e t r i c k .

Taking the soaped corner in tho f ingers o f

th e r ig h t h a n d , fo ld i t o y e r to c o y e r th e c o in ,

th e n i c o v e r th i s dormer w i t h t h e l e f t h a n d

o n e i n t h e s a m e w a y . Y o u m a y n o w t a p

(o r a l lo w a n y p a r ty t o d o BO) t o s a t i s f y t h e

a u d i e n c e t h a t t h e c o i n i s s t i l l u n d e r t h o

c o rn e rs o f t ih e h a n d k e rc h ie f . N e x t fo ld l

o v e r t h e t w o r e m a i n i n g c o r n e r s t o f o r m t h e

h a n d k e r c h i e f i n t o a s q u a r e . S e c r e t l y p l a c e

a n o t h e r ' s i x p e n c e b e t w e e n t i h e f i r s t a n d

s e c o n d f in g e rs a n d th u mb o f th e r ig h t h a n d ,

a n d h a v i n g b o r r o w e d a h a t , t a k e i t i n t h i s

ha nd w it h th e t ip s o f t h e f ingers (s ixpe nce

u n d e r t h e m ) j u s t i n s i d e t h e r i m . N O T *

s h o w t h e i n s i d e o f t h e h a t , a n d t u r n i t u p .

s i d e d o w n t o s a t i s f y e v e r y o n e t h a t it ia p e r -

f e c t l y e m p t y , a n d t h e n p u t i t

im

a n y p o s i t i o n

a w a y f r o m t h e t a b l e ( a n d w h e r e n o o n e c a w

s e e in s id e ) . Wh e n* p la c in g th e ih at a l lo w t h o

s ix p e n c e to s l ip f r o m u n d e r th e f in ge rs

d o w n i n s i d e t h e c r o w n . Y o u n o w T e t u r n t o

t h e h a n d k e r c h i e f o n t h e t a b l e . P u t t i n g

th e t ip s o f th e f in ge rs o f b o th h a n d s u n d e r

th e fo ld s o f r i g h t anid> l e f t c o rn e rs r e s p e c -

t i v e l y , y o u s a y , " o n e t w o t h r e e p a s s I "

a t t ih e s a m e t i m e d r a w i n g t h e h a n d s

s m a r t l y o u t w a r d s : t h i s w i l l b r i n g t h e

s o a p e d c o r n e r w i t h t h e c o i n a d h e r i n g t o i t ,

i n t o th e r ig ht h a n d , wh e n i t c a n re a d i ly b e

r e m o v e d . A n y p e r s o n n o w e x a m i n i n g t h o

h a t w i l l f in d th e d u p l i c a te c o in in s id e .

T H E V A N I S H I N G P E N N Y ,

T h s

" - s t o c k - i n - t r a d e "

for the fo l -

l o w i n g t r i c k c o n s i s t s of a y a r d

o f t h i n b l a c k l a s t i o a n d t h r e e

p e n n ie s , o n e o f th e m wi th a h o le i a

i t , t h e t w o o t h e r s s c r a t c h e d w i t h a c r o s s ,

o r s o m e o t h e r m a r k , t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e m

f r o m , o t h e r p e n n i e s . T h e c o n j u r e r m a k e s

t h e f o l l o w i n g p r e p a r a t i o n s . H o t i e s t h e

e l a s t i c r o u n d h i s l e g r i g h t f o r p r e f e r e n c e

j u s t a b o v e t h e a n k l e , a n d t o t h e f r e e e n d

of th e e las t ic the f ixes th e bored pe nn y , con-

c e a l i n g t h e l a t t e r u n d e r t h e u p p e r o f h i s

b o o t . N e x t h e h i d e s a m a r k e d p e n n y i n a n y

o d d c o r n e r t h a t m a y a p p e a l t o h i s i m a g i n a -

t i o n , a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g m a r k e d p e n n y h e

d r o p s , a s o p p o r t u n i t y o f f e r s, i n t o t h e p o c k e t

of t h e s t a i d e s t o l d g e n t l e m a n h a n d y . H e

n o w o p e n s t h e c a m p a i g n b y b o r r o w i n g a

p e n n y . L o o k i n g h a r d a t i t h e p r e t e n d s

t h a t h e is a b o u t t o r e a d t h e d a t e , b u t c h e c k -

in g h ims e l f h e e x p la in s th a t a s d a te s a re

v e ry o f t e n a l ik e i t w i l l b e b e t t e r to ma rk i t

(o n th e h e a d s id e ) w i th a c ro s s , a n d th i s h e

t a k e s o a r o t o s h o w h e h a s d u l y p e r f o r m e d .

H e t h e n h o l d s h i s a r m o u t s t r a i g h t a n d

s l ig h t ly e l e v a te d , a n d g ra s p s a p a r t o f th e

c o in b e twe e n his m i d d l e - f i n g e r a n d t h u m b ,

a n d ma k e s a mo t io n p re c i s e ly a s i f h e wo re

sn ap pi ng h i s f ingers. No ise less ly , amd w it a

l ig h tn in g ra p id i t j ' , t h e c o in wi l l f ly u p h i s

a r m p a s t t h e e l b o w j o i n t , a n d w i l l r e m a i n

s n u g t h e r e ( u n l es s t h e a r m b e b r i s k l y

s h a k e n ) u n t i l a n o p p o r t u n i t y o c c u r s t o r e -

m o v e i t . A f t e r s h o w i n g t h e a u d i e n c e t h a t

t h e p e n n y h a s d i s a p p e a r e d , ha i n t i m a t e s


8/52

t h a t he has sp i r i t ed i t aw ay to such and such

a corner , and inv i tes some one to prove h is

asse r t i on , whew, o f cou r se , wha t apparen t ly

is th e iden t ical pen ny i s fou nd the re . Th e

cr i es o f amazemen t t ha t b reak ou t on a l l

Hides are met by the conjurer wi th a modest

" Oh , t ha t ' s no th ing

1

Wil l any one favour

;>ie with a felt h a t ? " T h e h a t b e i n g f o r t h -

co m ing (ani o rd in ary one w i th an arch ed

br im for preference) he lays i t down on the

carpet , se lect ing a par t o f the room out o f

th e fu l l g l a re of l i gh t . U nde r t h i s ha t ho

e l ec t s t o pu t t he marked penny Which has

ju s t been r ecovered ; bu t pa lming i t , h e

really f ingers the coin to which the elast ic

ha s been a t t a ch ed . To conv ince the com-

pany th a t t h e re i s no decep t ion abou t t he

penny be ing l e f t under t he ha t l i e i nv i t es a

no t t oo inqu i s i t i ve member o f t he par ty t o

s t a nd e rec t and ho ld th e coim down wi th th e

po in t e d end of an um bre l l a the fo ld s of t h e

l a t t e r be ing handy fo r h id ing any poss ib l e

c lumsinessand then g rasp ing the ha t by

bo th hands , he edges i t g radua l ly over t he

coim, and then g ives the word for the um-

brel la to

be wi th d raw n . S imu l t aneo us ly

the penny f l ics no iseless ly back to the con-

ju re r ' s l eg wi thou t i n any way d i s tu rb ing

the ha t . S t and ing c l ea r o f t he headgear , he

makes mys t i c passes and incan ta t ions , and

so lemn ly announces tha t t he penny has been

wa f t ed in to M r ' s coa t pocke t . A dash

i s made fo r t he ha t , and , su re enough , t he

penniy i s no t there ; an d n ex t mom en t M r

announces , wi th much bewi ldermen t ,

t h a t t he ma rked pen ny i s i n h i s pocke t r i gh t

enou gh . The decep t ion may be accen tu -

ate d "if a so f t fe l t h a t w i th a ho le in th e

ce nt re is availa ble, for th e coin ca.ni th e n be

he ld down wi th a wa lk ing s t i ck when ac tu -

a l ly un de r t h e ha t . A rehea r sa l o r two wil l

enab le t he average r ead er t o m ys t i fy h i s

f r i ends cons iderab ly , bu t i t mus t espec i a l ly

bo no t over looked tha t t he decoy co in , a f t e r

leav ing t he ha t , i s le f t dang l ing to h is leg ,

and tho o ther leg must be manoeuvred so

as to h ide the fact .

T H E D I S A P P E A R IN G T H R E E P E N N Y .

Having prev iously s tuck a smal l p iece of

w h i t e w a x oil th e nail of your m idd le f inger,

lay a th reepenny on the palm of your hand ,

and , add ress ing the company , t e l l t hem tha t

i t wi l l van ish a t th e word of com m and . You

then c lo se you r hand , and on b r ing ing the

waxed nai l in contact wi th the co in i t wi l l

adh ere f irm ly to i t . You the n b low on you r

l i and , c ry ing "B eg on e . " You sudden ly

open i t , and , exh ib i t i ng the pa lm , show tha t

the coin is pone.

M a k e y o u r o w n C l o t h e s .

Full directions

h o w t o

cu t dresses a n d

o t h er g a rm en t s in Au n t

K a l e ' s

Dress-

mak ing; Book. Prico ONE PEN NY ; Sold

everywhere.

A T W E N T Y - S H I L L I N G T R I C K .

Th is dece pt ion , which a ppea rs as m arvel -

lous to t he eyes o f t he un in i t i a t ed , i s t hus

p e r f o r m e d : B o r r o w 2 0 s h i l l i n g s f r o m t h o

company, which d isp lay on a p la te , hav ing

previously prepared f ive sh i l l ings in your

l e f t ha nd , wh ich you keep concea led . Th en

take the sh i l l i ngs f rom the p l a t e i n you r

r i g h t h a n d , a n d m i x i n g w i t h t h e m t h e c o n -

oealed f ive g ive them to one of the company

to ho ld . Ask th e possessor to re turn i five to

you , which he wi l l do , supposing he then

ret ain s ' on ly f if teen, a l th ou gh in real i ty h e,

of cou r se , has tw en ty . Now ha ve an o the r

sh i l l i ng p l aced in you r r i gh t hand , so tha t

when g iv ing the f ivo sh i l l ings to another

per son to ho ld you may mix i t wi th t ha t

sum, and p lace the s ix sh i l l ings in h is hand .

You may now ask h im as be fo re t o r e tu rn

one . W he n you t ak e i t r em ind h im he has

only fou i - , and you must now proceed wi th

t h e m o s t m a r v e l l o u s paTt of yo ur illusion .

Take the one sh i l l i ng you have ju s t r ece ived

in the r igh t hand , pa lm i t , and p re t end to

p lace i t i n t he l e f t . Th en s t r i k ing th e l e f t

hand wi th your magic rod , b id i t f ly in to

the c lo sed hand o f t he po r son ho ld ing the

five, or, as ho supposes, the four shil l ings.

On unclosing the hand the sh i l l ing wi l l , o f

c o u rs e , a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n t r a n s f e r r e d

t h i t h e r , a n d g r e a t a m a z e m e n t w i l l r e s u l t .

Now, tak ing the f ive sh i l l ings , make a more

dex te rous pass i n to the l e f t hand , whenoa

you b id them f ly in to the c losed 'hand of the

person hold ing the suppo sed f if teen, wh om

you now ask to re turn you the fu l l sum of

twenty ehil ' l inigs, and who, much to his

wonder and that o f the company, i s ab le to

do so.

T H E S U B M E R G E D C O I N .

Place a co in in a shal low p late , and near

i t an inver t e d g l ass . The n pou r enoug h

wa te r i n to th e d ish to cover t h e co in . The

puzz le you now announce to t hose a round

you i sHow may you l i f t t he co in f rom the

pla te w i th ou t w et t ing you r f ingers P Th e

ans w er is sim ple. C ut a sl ice of cork , and

place on the top of i t some matches and

pape r . F lo a t t he co rk on the w ate r , l i gh t

ma tches and p ape r , and ca re fu l ly cover

the m wi th th e g l ass. W he n the bu r n in g i s

over , the water in the p la te wi l l be sucked

up in to the ins ide of the g lass , leav ing the

coin qu i te dry ,

so th a t you can

now pick i t ou t ,

fu l f i l l ing the

condit ions . of

tho exper imen t .

The success of

the t r ick i s due

to the fact that the heat causes tho ai r in - ,

s ide the g l ass t o expand , and the re fo re t o

ra- ri fy , so th a t the pre ssure of the a i r ou t -

s ide becomes g rea t e r t han tha t i n s ide . The

resu l t i s t ha t t he wate r i s sucked in .


9/52

A C O I N A N D B O T T L E P U Z Z L E .

On e o f th o s imp le s t o f c o in t r i c k s ma y

b e p e r f o r m e d a s f o ll o w s . A c r o s s t h e m o u t h

of a bo t t le p lace a

w o o d e n m a t c h

wh ic h h a s b e e n

b r o k e n a t t h e m i d -

d le a n d b e n t b a c k

u n t i l t h e e n d s a r e

a b o u t a q u a r t e r o f

a n i n c h a p a r t .

T h e n p l a c e a

t h r e e p e n n y p i e c e

o n th e to p o f th e

m a t c h a n d c h a l l e n g e t h e o n l o o k e r s t o c a u s e

t h e c o i n t o d r o p i n t o t h e b o t t l e w i t h o u t

t o u c h i n g t h e b o t t l e , m a t c h , o r c o i n . T h e

t r i c k i s v e ry in g e n io u s , a n d a l l th e mo re s o

o n a c c o u n t o f i t s s imp l ic i ty . I t c o n s i s t s m

l e t t i n g f a l l u p o n t h e a n g l e of t h e m a t c h a

d r o p o r t w o of w a t e r . T h e w o o d n a t u r a l l y

b e g i n s t o s w e l l a t t h a t p o i n t , t h e r e s u l t

b e i n g t h a t t h e a n g l e o f t h e m a t c h s l o w l y

wid e n s , u n t i l i t is s u f f i c i e n t to a l lo w th e c o in

t o d r o p t h r o u g h a n d i n t o t h e b o t t l e .

T H E B L O W N S I X P E N C E .

In to a w in e -g la s s ( a c o n io a l o n e , i f p o s -

s ib le ) p u t a s ix p e n c e , a n d a b o v e i t p l a c e a

f lo rin o r a h a l f - c ro w n . Th e l a t t e r s h o u l d

n o t b e i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s i x p e n c e , b u t

th e g la s s s h o u ld

be of suc h a

s h a p e a n d si z e t h a t

the f lo r in or ha l f -

c r o w n r e s t s n e a r

t h e m o u t h o f t h e

g lass . No w b low

v ig o ro u s ly u p o n

th e l a rg e r c o in . I t

w i l l w h e e l r o u n d

u p o n i t s a x i s , a n d

th e s ix p e n c e b e -

n e a th wi l l b o s e n t

w i t h a l e a p f r o m

t h e b o t t o m o f t h e

g la s s , b e in g e x -

p e l l e d b y th e fo rc e

of t ihe br ea th , an d

w i l l f a l l e i t h e r u p o n t h e t a b l e o r u p o n t h e

f lo rin . A l i t t l e p ra c t i c e w i l l m a k e th e t r i c k

e a s j r o f p e r fo rma n c e .

C O I N S A N D C R O S S .

To d o th i s a mu s in g l i t t l e t r i c k p la c e f iv e

c o in s in a ro w , a n d o n e a b o v e a n d a n o th e r

b e lo w th e c e n t re c o in s s e v e n in a l l . Th e n

a s k o n e o f y o u r a u d ie n c e to ma k e a c ro s s

w i t h t h e s e c o i n s , h a v i n g a n e q u a l n u m b e r

of co ins in a l l the a rms of the c ross , and to do

i t w i t h o u t m o v i n g m o r e t h a n t w o of t h e

c o in s . Th e fo l lo win g i s th e s o lu t io n :

Ta k e t )h e two e n d c o in s f ro m th e ro w o f

f iv e a n d p la c e th e m u p o n th e mi d d le c o in .

C O I N S I N A R O W .

H e r e i s a n o t h e r c o i n p u z z l e . P l a c e

e i g h t c o in s i n a r o w . T h e n r e - a r r a n g e

th e m in c o u p le s , a n y c o in y o u mo v e b e in g

p a s s e d o v e r t w o ( n o t m o r e ) o t h e r coins.

T h i s i s t h e w a y t o d o i t : F i r s t p l a c e t h e

f o u r t h c o i n u p o n t h e s e v e n t h , t h e n t h e s i x t h

o n th e s e c o n d , th e f i r s t o n th e th i rd , a n d th e

f if th o n th e e ig h th . H a v in g a s k e d y o u r

a u d ie n c e to t ry th e p u z z le f i r s t , a l lo w th e m,

af te r a l i t t le wih i le , to see you do i t , and

t h e n l e t t h e m t r y a g a i n . E v e n t h e n , i n

mo s t c a s e s , th e y wi l l b e u n a b le to d o i t .

T H E J U M P I N G S H I L L I N G .

P l a c e a s h i l l i n g n e a r t h e e d g e of t h e

t a b l e , a n d u p o n i t p u t a p i n t b o t t l e , n e c k

d o w n w a r d s . W i t h a t h i n - b l a d e d k n i f e

s t r i k e t h e c o i n s h a r p l y o n t h e e d g e , w h e n

i t w i l l f l y f r o m b e n e a t h t h e b o t t l e , l e a v i n g

t h e l a t t e r s t a n d i n g . A n e x p e r i m e n t d e -

p e n d i n g u p o n t h e s a m e

m e c h a n i c a l p r i n c i p l e s

m a y b e p e r f o r m e d t h u s .

Ta k e a p ie c e o f p a p e r

a b o u t 1 2 in c h e s lo n g b y

a b o u t 3 ' o r 4 in c h e s

w i d e a n d p l a c e i t n e a r

th e e d g e o f a t a b le ,

w i t h a b o u t t h r e e - q u a r -

t e r s o f i t s l e n g t h p r o -

j e c t i n g o v e r t h e e d g e . U p o n i t p l a c e a

t u m b l e r , n e a r l y f u l l o f w a t e r . T h e n , h o l d -

i n g t h e o u t e r e x t r e m i t y of t h e p a p e r , s t r i k e

t h e p a p e r a s h a r p b l o w b e t w e e n t h e h a n d

a n d t h e t u m b l e r . T h e p a p e r w i l l c o m e o u t ,

b u t t h e t u m b l e r w i l l r e m a i n .

T U B S T A T I O N A R Y S H I L L I N G .

Pla c e a s ma l l c a rd u p o n th e t ip o f o n e

of th e f ingers o f th e le f t ha nd , an d on th e

c a rd , im m e d i a te l y a b o v e th e f in ge r, p u t a

s h i l l in g . No w g iv e a s m a r t b lo w to th e

card wi th the second f inger o f the r igh t

h a n d , a n d t h e c a r d w i l l b e w h i r l e d f r o m

u n d e r t h e c o i n s o s w i f t l y t h a t t h e l a t t e r

wi l l be le f t on th e t i p of th e f inger.

Th e s a me , o r a s imi la r f e a t , c a n b e p e r -

f o r m e d w i t h t w o w i n e g l a s s e s . P l a c e a

s h e e t o f c a rd b o a rd , o r th in wo o d , o v e r b o th ,

a n d t h e n , w i th a s m a r t f il lip, s e n d i t s p in -

n i n g f r o m u n d e r t h e c o i n s y o u h a v e p l a c e d

u p o n i t , a n d t ih e y wi l l d ro p in to th e g la s s e s .

T H B R E V O L V I N G C O I N .

Li f t a c o in b e twe e n two p in s , a s i l lu s -

t r a t e d i n t h e s k e t c h . B l o w u p o n i t w i t h a ll

y o u r fo rc e , a n d th e c o in wi l l r e v o lv e u p o n

th e p in s a s a n a x i s w i th g re a t r a p id i ty .


10/52

T H E E F F E C T O F G R A V I T Y .

H e r e i s a v e r y p u z z l i n g l i t t l e t r i c k . H o l d

t w o p e n n i e s t o g e t h e r b e t w e e n t h e t h u m b

and the f i rs t two

fingers of t h e rig ht

h a n d , a b o u t 1 5

in c h e s d i re c t ly a b o v e

th e o p e n p a lm o f th e

l e f t h a n d . L e t t h e

lo we r c o in d ro p , a n d

you wil l f ind tha t i t

h a s t u r n e d o v e r i n

sp i te o f you . You

c a n m o d i f y t h e t r i c k

b y a s k i n g a f r i e n d

to ho ld the co ins .

T h e n i n f o r m h i m

| th a t y o u c a n a lwa y s

te l l which s ide wi l l

c o me u p p e rmo s t , i f h e wi l l s h o w y o u wh ic h

s id e i s u n d e rn e a th . Th e s id e , o f c o u rs e ,

wh ic h y o u h a v e s e e n , w i l l . b e th e o n e , a s th e

c o in tu rn s o v e r in d ro p p in g .

W H A T M A K E S I T S W I N O .

At ta c h a h e a v y g o ld r in g to th e e n d o f a

p ie c e o f s i lk th re a d , a fo o t in l e n g th , a n d

f a s t e n t h e o t h e r e x -

t r e m i t y t o t h e f o r e -

finger of t h e right

h a n d . T h e n p l a c e

t h e f o r e a r m i n t h e

p o s i t io n in d ic a te d in

t h e s k e t c h , s o t h a t

t h e r i n g h a n g s w i t h -

in ha l f an inch of the

ta b le . W h e n i t h a s

come to res t , p lace

u n d e r n e a t h i t t h r e e

or four one-sh i l l ing

pieces , and for som e

re a s o n o r o th e r i t

'jilllllMtWHIIIIIiliiiiiiiiiiiHiiiUHnl

swing

i l l beg in to

l ik e a p e n d u lu m f ro m s id e to s id e .

T H E V A N I S H IN G H A L F - C R O W N .

On a c c o u n t o f th e i r we ig h t two h a l f -c ro wn s

a re th e mo s t s u i t a b le w i th wh ic h to p e r fo rm

th i s t r i c k . F i r s t t a k e b o th c o ins in th e

r i g h t h a n d , a n d t h r o w t h e m o n e a t a t i m e

in to th e p a lm of th e l e f t h a n d . R e p e a t th i s

o n c e o r tw ic e , a n d wh e n a b o u t to p re s e n t

th e m (a p p a re n t ly ) to th e o n lo o k e r , th ro w

the f i rs t one as be i o re , bu t ins tead of repea t-

ing th is ac t ion wi th the second co in , b r ing

th e r ig h t h a n d d o wn s ma r t ly a s b e fo re , a n d

a t th e s a me t im e j e rk th e l e f t h a n d u p wa rd s ,

a n d th u s th ro w th e c o in i t c o n ta in s in to th e

r ight ha nd , when i t wi l l s t r ike aga ins t th e

c o in a l re a d y th e r e . To a l l a p p e a ra n c e b o th

coins wi l l be in the le f t ha nd as bef ore . You

c a n th e n a s k th e " s o ld o n e " to a c c e p t th e

d o n a t io n a s y o u e x t e n d th e l e f t h a n d . Th i s

i s a v e ry p re t ty t r i c k wh e n we l l p e r fo rme d ,

but i t requ ires a goou dea l f l f p rag t ice to do

i t we l l .

S E C O N D S I G H T .

Bo rro w fo u r c o in s th o mo re me ta l i r i

t h e m t h o b e t t e r f o r t h e t r i c k p e n n i e s w i l l

a n s we r v e ry we l l , a n d h a v e th e m p u t in to a

h a t . As k a l a d y o r g e n t l e m a n to t a k e o n e

c o in o u t , a n d a f t e r e x a min in g i t , t o p a s s i t

ro u n d s o th a t o th e r s a l s o ma y b e c o me in -

t e re s te d in th e t r i c k , wh e n y o u wi l l p i c k

o u t th e s a me c o in wi th o u t lo o k in g in to th e

h a t . W h i l s t th e c o in i s b e in g e x a m in e d

k e e p to s s in g th e o th e r c o in s in th e h a t to

cool th em ' as m uc h as poss ib le . I t wi ll no t

th en b e d i f f icu l t to se lec t th e co in , which

h a s b e e n s l ig h t ly h e a te d o n b e in g h a n d le d

b y s e v e ra l p e o p le b e fo r e i t i s r e t u rn e d to h a t .

B O T T L E A N D C O I N T R I C K .

Th e fo l lo win g i s d e p e n d e n t o n th e l a w c a l l e d

v i s i n e r t i a . T u r n a n e m p t y p i n t b o t t l e

ups ide dow n 011 a pe nn y p laced o n an y o r-

d i n a r y t a b l e n o t h a v i n g a t a b l e c o v e r u p o n

i t . Ch a l l e n g e o n e

o f th o c o mp a n y to

r e m o v e t h e b o t t l e

to a s imila r pos i -

t i o n o n a n o t h e r

co in p laced bes ide

t h o o t h e r w i t h o u t

t o u c h i n g t h e b o t -

t l e . T o p e r f o r m

th e t r i c k s u c c e s s -

fu l ly , se lec t co ins

wh ic h a ro s l ig h t ly

w o r n , a n d p l a o e

t h e m c l o s e t o -

g e t h e r . W h i l s t

t h e l e f t h a n d e x -

e r t s a s l i g h t l a t e -

ra l p re s s u re o n th o u n c o v e re d c o in , s t r ik e

t h e t a b l e n e a r t h e b o t t l e s m a r t l y w i t h t h e

c losed f is t. Th ere is a lw ays suff ic ien t

e la s t i c i ty in a t a b le to y ie ld s l ig h t ly to th e

b l o w , a n d b e f o r e t h e b o t t l e h a s t i m e t o r e -

s p o n d to th e d o wn wa rd mo t io n o f th e t a b le ,

th e l e f t h a n d c o in i s p u s h e d a l i t t l e to wa rd s

th e r ig h t . Th e b lo w, wh ic h s h o u ld n e v e r

b e s o v io le n t a s to u p s e t th e e q u i l ib r iu m o f

t h e b o t t l e , m u s t b e r e p e a t e d u n t i l t h e t w o

c o i n s h a v e c h a n g e d t h e i r r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n .

A L IV E L Y P E N N Y .

In th o r ig h t h a n d t a k e a l a mp s h a d e , a n d

wi th th e o th e r th ro w in to i t a p e n n y re -

v o lv in g o n i t s

e d g e . Th e c o in

m a y b e k e p t i n

mo t io n b y s l ig h t ly

t i l t in g th e s h a d e

from s ide to s ide ,

and i t wi l l be ob-

s e r v e d t h a t t h e

f a s t e r t h e p e n n y

r e v o l v e s t h e

h ig h e r i t a s c e n d s

o n th e s h a d e , a n d

v ic e v e r s a . Th e

tr ick requires a good dea l o f p rac t ice , which

i t s ma s te ry we l l r e p a y s .

0


11/52

A

S I X P E N C E I N A B A L L O F W O O L .

A s ix p e n c e i s b o r ro we d f ro m th e c o mp a n y ,

c a re fu l ly m a rk e d , s o th a t i t m a y b e k n o w n

aga in , and is g iven in to the hands of a boy

to h o ld . Th e c o n ju r e r n o w b r in g s o u t a l a rg e

ba l l of com mo n or fan cy co lou red wool . H e

p la c e s th i s in a c ry s ta l g o b le t o r o th e r

t ra n s p a re n t a r t i c l e , a n d t a k e s th e e n d o f th e

wo o l f ro m th e g o b le t a n d g iv e s i t t o s o me

y o u n g l a d y to h o ld . H e n o w te l l s th e

a u d i e n c e th a t i t i s h i s in t e n t io n to p a s s t h e

s ix p e n c e f ro m h i s h a n d in to th e c e n t re o f

the ba l l o f wool wi thout any one see ing i t

g o i n g i n . T a k i n g t h e s i x p e n ce f r o m t h e b o y

in h i s r ig h t h a n d , h e p la c e s i t i n th e l e f t

h a n d (a p p a re n t ly ) , a n d th ro win g i t t o wa rd s

th e g o b le t c r i e s Pa s s . " H e th e n d e s i re s

th e y o u n g l a d y to p u l l o u t th e wo o l a s

quick ly as poss ib le , and when the ba l l i s

c o mp le te ly u n wo u n d th e s ix p e n c e wi l l b e

h e a rd to j in g le c l e a r ly in th e g o b le t , a n d o n

i t s b e in g l i f t e d th e re f ro m b y o n e o f th e

a u d ie n c e i t w i l l b e fo u n d to b e th e id e n t i c a l

s ix p e n c e wh ic h wa s ma rk e d .

T h e m e t h o d o f p e r f o r m i n g t h i s t r i c k i s

v e ry s imp le , b u t v e ry in g e n io u s . A p ie c e

o f t in i s ma d e l ik e th e i l lu s t ra t io n s h o wn .

I t i s t u r n e d o r e r a t t h e top, and is of suffi-

c i e n t w id th j i t t h e b o t to m to a l lo w a s ix -

p e n c e to p a s s th r o u g h i t e a s i ly . Ta k e th i s

t in -f l a t t en ed f i ller , a s i t m ay be ca l led , an d

p ro c e e d to ro lMip a b a l l o f wo o l ro u n d i t ,

l e a v i n g t h e m o u t h of i t a l w a y s f r e e . W h e n

th is has been done you have a la rge ba l l o f

wool wi th a t in f i l le r in the cen tre o f i t .

Th i s b a l l i s n o w re a d y fo r th e t r i c k , a n d i s

h id f r o m v ie w. Th e b o r ro w e d s ix p e n c e i s

n o w g iv e n to th e b o y to h o ld ; b u t m d o in g

t h i s

the

s ix p e n c e i s c h a n g e d ; a n d wh i le y o u

s t i l l r e t a i n th e ma rk e d o n e in y o u r h a n d y o u

h a v e g iv e n th e b o y a d u p l i c a te o n e to h o ld .

De s i re th e b o y to h o ld th e s ix p e n c e u p ,

firmly closed in his hand, which he does

w i th o u t e v e r th in k in g of lo o k in g a t i t . Yo u

n o w p ro c e e d to wa rd s th e t a b le wh e re y o u r

ba l l o f wool is ly ing , d rop the s ixpence in to

the f i l le r , s l ip ou t the t in (which comes away

eas i ly ) , g ive the ba l l a squeeze in the hand ,

and the ho le in which the t in f i l le r was

p laced is c losed u p w i th th e so f t wool . Yo u

n o w h o ld u p th e b a l l b e fo re th e a u d ie n c e ,

a n d a p p a r e n t l y i t h a s n o t b e e n t a m p e r e d

w ith in a i iy wa y . Yo u now drop i t in to t f io

c ry s ta l g o b le t , t a k e o u t th e

en d

of

it to a

l a d y o r b o y to u n win d , t a k e th e s ix p e n c e ,

which the boy ho lds , in your r i j ih t hand , i ja sa

i t a p p a r e n t l y i n t o y o u r l e f t , b u t c o n c e a l ifi

i n t h e r i g h t ; t h r o w ib f r o m y o u t o w a r d s

th e b a l l , a n d c ry "Pa s s , " a n d th o t r io k i a

d o n e .

T O D R I V E A N E E D L E T H R O U G H A

H A L F P E N N Y .

Sc ie n t i f i c a l ly e v e n , th i s s e e ms a n utteB

imp o s s ib i l i ty , fo r wh o wo u ld ima g in e

t ha t

s u c h a t h i n a n d b e n d i n g i n s t r u m e n t

as *

n e e d le c o u ld b e d r iv e n th ro u g h a h a rd p ie c

of copp er ? B u t in rea l i ty , s tee l i s a mu o h

h a rd e r m e ta l th a n c o p p e r , s o th a t if th

n e e d l e c o u l d b e a d e q u a t e l y s u p p o r t e d alj

ro u n d i t wo u ld b e q u i t e p o s s ib le to p e r fo rm

th e t r i c k . A n e a s y m e th o d of d o in g th a t ia

p ro v id e d b y p a s s in g th e n e e d le in to a c o rk ,

s o t h a t t h e p o i n t j u s t p r o j e c t s t h r o u g h t h

end ._ W it h a pa i r of p l ie rs cu t o ff th e up pe r

p o r t i o n w h i c h p r o t r u d e s a t t h e o t h e r e n d .

No w a r ra n g e th e c o in a n d th e n e e d le a s

s h o wn in th e s k e tc h , s u p p o r t in g th e e d g e s o f

the co in on b locks of wood of the same

h e ig h t , a n d p la c in g th e c o rk wi th th e e m-

b e d d e d n e e d le o n th e to p of i t . Th e n h o ld

t h e c o rk wi th o n e h a n d , a p p ly a f e w

vigo rous b lows to the up pe r end of the c or k ,

a n d in a s h o r t t ime th e p o in t o f th e n e e d le

wi l l m a k e I t s a p p e a ra n c e o n th e o th e r s id e

o f th e c o in , h a v in g l e f t a b e a u t i fu l , c l e a n

h o le .

T H E D I S A P P E A R I N G P E N N I E S .

Th e c o n ju re r s i t s a t th e s id e o f a n o rd in -

a r y t a b l e , w i t h h i s l e g s u n d e r t h e m a h o g a n y .

P la c in g two p e n n ie s o n th e t a b le h e t e l l s h i s

a u d ie n c e (wh o m u s t b e b e fo re h im) th a t h e

m e a n s t o p a s s t h e p e n n y t h r o u g h t h e t a b l e .

With the f ingers o f the r igh t hand he pu l ls

th e r ig h t h a n d p e n n y to wa rd s h im a s if in

th e ac t o f l i f t in g i t , bu t in do in g so he j e rk s

i t over the edge of the tab le , where i t fa l ls

upon h is knees , bu t c los ing h is hand as i f ha

had i t in h is f is t , he ho lds up the r igh t hand

wi th th e p e n n y a p p a re n t ly in s id e of i t . H e

now l i f ts th e o t he r pen ny , which is s t i l l ly ing

o n th e t a b le , w i th th e l e f t h a n d , p la c e s th e

l e f t h a n d

in

be low

the

tab le , and in do ing so

l i f t s th e p e n n y wh ic h i s s t i l l l y in g u p o n h i s

k n e e s , a n d q u i e t l y n u t s i t i n t o t h e l e f t h a n d ,


12/52

r# t a l lo win g i t t o c l in k u p o n th e o th e r .

No w h o ld in g u p th e r ig h t h a n d h e b r in g s i t

d o wn s ma r t ly u p o n th e t a b le a n d c r i e s

" Pa s s , " a t th e s a me t ime o p e n in g u p th e

h a n d a n d l e t t in g th e p a lm l i e f l a t u p o n th e

ta b le . W i th th e wo rd " Pa s s " h e a l lo ws th e

two p e n n ie s to c l in k to g e th e r in h i s l e f t

h a n d , wh e n th e s o u n d ma k e s i t a p p e a r a s i f

th e p e n n y h a d a c tu a l ly p a s s e d th ro u g h th e

ta b le . H e th e n d ra ws o u t th e l e f t h a n d ,

and , ra is ing i t above the tab le , a l lows the

two co ins to fa l l f rom i t upon the tab le .

This , i f we l l done , i s rea l ly an e ffec t ive l i t t le

t r i c k fo r a n y p a r lo u r c o m p a n y . I f th e c o n -

ju re r c a n s e c re t ly s p re a d a h a n d k e rc h ie f

c po ru h i s k n e e s b e fo re b e g in n in g th i s t r i c k ,

the re wi l l be less chance of the pennies s l ip -

p ing to the f loor and d iscover ing h im.

E A S T W A T TO M A K E M O N E T .

On e n e e d n o t b e a n a lc h e m is t to m a k e

mo n e y , a s t h e fo l lo win g t r i c k wi l l s h o w.

mo n e y ju to th e wa te r a n d o o v e r th e g la s s

with a p l a te . I f th e g lass is now tu rn ed

around rap id ly , the p iece of money wil l be

seen g leam ing 011 th e p l a te , and a second

piece wi l l be seen swimming on the surface

o f th e wa te r .

I t i s r e f ra c t io n o f th e ra y s o f l ig h t wh ic h

c a u s e s th i s c u r io u s i llu s io n , fo r , th e m o m e n t

the g lass is res tored to i t s o r ig ina l pos i t ion

a n d th e wa te r c e a s e s to mo v e , th e s e c o n d

piece of money d isappears .

T H E O B E D I E N T S I X P E N C E .

I n v e r t a t u m b l e r a n d s u p p o r t t h e e d g e s

o n two p e n n ie s w i th a s ix p e n c e b e twe e n

th e m , b u t n o t to u c h in g . As k h o w th e six -

p e n c e c a n b o g o t f ro m u n d e r th e tu mb le r

wi th o u t to u c h in g e i th e r i t o r th e p e n n ie s .

Scra tch tho tab lec lo th wi th the f inger na i l ,

and i t wi l l be observed tha t tho s ixpence

imme d ia te ly re s p o n d s b y c o min g to wa rd s

y o u , a n d in t ime f ro m u n d e r th e g la s s .

T R I C K S W I T H C O R K S .

No one should exper ience much d if f icu l ty

in procur ing a few corks , and we sha l l now

proceed to desc r ibe a number of t r icVs wi th

th e s e a r t i c l e s .

A N O B S T I N A T E C O R E .

Ta k e a b o t t l e w i th a s o me wh a t w id e n e c k ,

and a cork which would f i t a much smal le r

b o tt le . H o l d

th e b o t t l e h o r i -

z o n ta l ly , a n d

p la c in g th e c o rk

ju s t in s id e th e

n e c k , t ry to b lo w

i t i n si d e t h e

b o t t l e a t h i n g

wh ich a t first

s igh t seems very

s imp le . In s te a d , h o w e v e r , of g o in g in to th e

b o t t l e , th e c o rk in s i s t s o n c o min g o u t , a n d

th e h a rd e r y o u b lo w th o m o re v ig o ro u s ly

does i t f ly ou t o f the neck .

A D E L I C A T E L I F T I N G F E A T .

Pla c e two c o rk s o n th e t a b le p a ra l l e l to

a n d to u c h in g e a c h o th e r . No w e n d e a v o u r

to l i fe th em off th e tab le be t w een t h e f irst

and second f ingers o f tho r igh t hand , keep-

ing th e fingers qu i te s t ra ig h t . Th is can be

d o n e wi th c a re . P ro b a b ly th e e a s ie s t wa y

to d o i t i s to fo rc e th e fu r th e s t o f f e n d s

a p a r t , s o th a t th e o u te r s id e s o f th e c o rk s

lie a long the inside of the fingers , producing

m o r e f r i c t i o n , w h i c h t e n d s t o p r e v e n t t h e

c o rk s f ro m s p r in g in g u p wa rd s o r o u twa rd s .

A D I F F I C U L T L I F T I N G F E A T .

Place a cork upr igh t on the f loor aga ins t

th o o u t s id e o f th e r ig h t to e , a n d t ry to l i f t

i t w i th th e l e f t h a n d , wh ic h mu s t p a s s ro u n d

th e r ig h t l eg f ro m th e f r o n t . Th i s i s v e ry

diff icu l t to accomp lish . Th e . sec r e t of suc-

cess is in n tak ing sure tha t the le f t e lbow is

p la c e d we l l b e y o n d th e r ig h t k n e e b e fo re

p u t t i n g t h e h a n d t h r o u g h b e t w e e n t h e l e g s .

Th e fe e t mu s t b e k e p t a s c lo s e to g e th e r a s

poss ib le , tou chin g , iD fa c t , li t th e toes .

A C L E V E R S E L L .

Ho ld a c o rk in e a c h h a n d b e twe e n th e

thumb and f i rs t f inger , wi th the corks

p re s s e d we l l to th e ro o t s o f th e th u mb s .

The t r ick is to take the oppos i te corks be-

tween the points of firs t f ingers and thumbs

lo n g i tu d in a l ly , a n d p la c e th e m o n th e t a b le .

I t i s d o n e in th e fo l lo win g ma n n e r : H o l d

th e b a c k o f th e l e f t h a n d u p wa rd s , a n d th e

b a c k of th e r ig h t a wa y f ro m y o u . In th i s

pos it ion plac e th e first f inger of le ft ha nd on

th e to p o f th e c o rk in r ig h t h a n d , a n d th e

th u mb o n th e o th e r e n d , b u t in s te a d o f r e -

p e a t in g th i s w i th th e r ig h t h a n d p a s s th e

t h u m b o f t h e r i g h t h a n d t h r o u g h b e t w e e n

thumb and f inger o f le f t hand , and p lace i t

on the oppo s i te end of th e cork , B rm g th e

f i rs t f ingar o f r igh t hand under the le f t

th u mb , t a k in g h o ld o f th e o th e r e n d o f th e

c o rk . Th i s t r i c k re q u i re s d i l ig e n t p ra c t i c e ,

o th e rwis e th e q u i rk wi l l b e a t o n c e d e te c te d .


13/52

T H E F O U R C O R K S .

This is a modif ica t ion of the wel l -known

th imb le - r ig g e rs ' t r i c k to b e s e e n a t a l l r a c e -

course s . I t i s one of th e bes t an d s imple s t

magica l i l lus ions , and is a t r ick which may

b e d o n e o n a n y c o mm o n ta b le w i th th e

8 i id ience surrounding you on every s ide , and

y e t , i f p e r fo rme d wi th d e x te r i ty , w i l l e lu d e

th e v ig i l a n c e o f e v e n th e mo s t s h a rp -e y e d .

You begin by so l ic i t ing the loan of two

s o f t c a p s . H a r d fe l t h a t s a re n o t s o g o o d

for tho purpose , because they do no t l ie f la t

o n th e t a b le , b u t s o f t f e l t h a t s w i l l s u i t th e

p u r p o s e a d m i r a b l y . H a v i n g s e c u r e d t h e

two ha ts o r caps , you now ask i f any one

p re s e n t c a n l e t y o u h a v e two c o rk s .

Ord in a ry c o rk s o u t o f a l e mo n a d e o r b e e r

b o t t l e a r e w h a t a r e w a n t e d . T a k i n g t h e

c o rk s , y o u p ro c e e d to c u t th e m th ro u g h th e

mid d le , th u s ma k in g fo u r h a l f -c o rk s , a n d

th e s e y o u p la c e a t e q u a l d i s t a n c e s in th e

fo rm o f a s q u a re o n th e t a b le , e a c h c o rk

b e in g , i f p o s s ib le , a b o u t two fe e t d i s t a n t

f ro m th e o th e r . Yo u a s k th e c o m p a n y if

th e y a re c o n v in c e d th e re a re o n ly fo u r c o rk s ,

An d th a t th e re a re n o o th e rs h id a b o u t th e

c a p s . H a n d th e c a p s ro u n d fo r in s p e c t io n .

Tu rn u p y o u r s l e e v e s to s h o w th a t n o c o rk s

a r e h i d t h e r e . H a v i n g r e c e i v ed b a c k t h e

c a p s , y o u t a k e th e m u p o n e in e a c h h a n d ,

wi th th e f in g e rs in s id e a n d th o th u mb s o u t -

s id e . Yo u n o w m a k e s o me f lo u r i s h e s wi th

th e c a p s , t a lk in g a l l th o t imo , t e l l in g y o u r

a u d ie n c e y o u a re g o in g to s h o w th e m th e

th imb le - r ig g e rs ' t r i c k o n a l a rg e s c a le , u s in g

cor ks in ste ad of pe as . T he n, flourishing

t h e c a p , y o u t a k e t h e r i g h t - h a n d o n e a n d

p la c e i t d o wn d ra ma t ic a l ly o n th e n e a re s t

r i g h t - h a n d c o r k w i t h o u t l e t t i n g g o t h e c a p .

No s o o n e r h a s th e c a p to u c h e d th e t a b le

th a n i t i s r a i s e d a g a in , a n d th e l e f t -h a n d

cap, with a s imilar flourish, is placed on

t h e l e f t - h a n d n e a r e s t , c o r k . T h o m o m e n t

th i s c a p h a s b e e n p la c e d , th o r ig h t -h a n d c a p

i s n o w b e in g p la c e d o v e r th e to p r ig h t -h a n d

c o rk , a n d th e c o rk u n d e rn e a th th i s c a p i s

q u ic k ly c a u g h t u p b e twe e n th o mid d le a n d

th i rd finger of th e ha nd . Th e ha nd is

pu l led ou t wi th a f lour ish , which prevents

th e c o rk b e in g s e e n ; a mi , b r in g in g i t o v e r

q u ic k ly to th e l e f t -h a n d c a p , y o u n o w, wi th

b o t h h a n d s , p l a c e i t w i t h g r e a t f o r m a l i t y

o v e r th e to p l e f t -b a n d c o rk , a t th e s a me

t ime l e t t in g g o th e c o rk wh ic h i s b e twe e n

the fingers.

The whole sec re t o f th is exce l len t s le igh t-

o f -h a n d t r i c k c o n s i s t s in d o in g i t w i th g re a t

d e x te r i ty a n d n e a tn e s s , a n d n o a mo u n t o f

pa ins should be spared in accomplish ing th is .

You have now two caps p laced over ap-

p a re n t ly two c o rk s , a n d th e re a re two c o rk s

b e fo re y o u , wh ic h a re a l l t h e a u d ie n c e s e e .

Yo u n o w p la c e th e p a lm o f th e r ig h t h a n d

o v e r th e r ig h t -h a n d c o rk , s t r ik e th o b a c k

o f th e h a n d s ma r t ly w i th th e l e f t h a n d , a n d

c r y , " P r e s t o , f l y " T h e n , c o n t r a c t i n g t h e

h a n d , y o u c a tc h th e c o rk u p n e a t ly in th e

p a lm, k e e p in g i t c o n c e a le d th e re , a n d l i f t

w i th a f lour ish th e le f t -h an d cap , w hen , lo

a n d b e h o ld two c o rk s a re d i s c o v e re d t h e re .

Yo u h a v e l i f t e d th e c a p wi th th e f in g e rs a n d

t h u m b s o f e a c h h a n d ; b u t n o w , i n p l a c i n g

i t down aga in , you br ing the f ingers ins ide ,

s o th a t th e c o rk in th e p a lm o f th o h a n d i s

b r o u g h t u n d e r t h e c a p , a n d i n r e p l a c i n g

th e c a p a g a in th e c( rk i s d ro p p e d g e n t l y in -

s id e a n d t h e h a n d s w i t h d r a w n . I n t h e s a m e

wa y y o u p la c e th e r ig h t h a u d o v e r th e re -

ma in in g c o rk , s t r ik e th e b a c k o f th e h a n d

a s b e fo re , c o mma n d th e c o rk to f ly b e n e a th

th e c a p . Yo u ra i s e th e h a n d , wh e n lo i t

i s gone , bu t , o f course , i t i s s t i l l in the pa lm,

a n d l i f t i n g u p t h e l e f t - h a n d c a p , t h r e e c o r k s

a re fo u n d th e re , a n d th e c a p i s r e p la c e d in

t h e s a m e m a n n e r a s b e f o r e , d r o p p i n g a t t h o

s a me t ime th e fo u r th c o rk , wh ic h h a s b e e n

in th e p a lm of th e h a n d . Th e a u d ie n c e , of

c o u rs e , h a v e b e e n u n d e r th o imp re s s io n th a t

th e r ig h t -h a u d c a p h a s b e e n a l l a lo n g c o v e r -

in g a c o rk . Yo u n o w d e c la re y o u a re a b o u t

to p ro c e e d to th e mo s t wo n d e r fu l p a r t o f

th o t r i c k , a n d to ma k e th e c o rk b e n e a th

t h e r i g h t - h a n d c a p v a n i s h b e n e a t h t h e l e f t -

ha nd cap T^ th ou t an y one see in g i t f ly ing

a n d w i t h o u t y o u r t o u c h i n g t h e c a p . C o m -

mand the cork then to f ly , and ask any one

of th e aud ien ce who chooses to l i f t th e

c a p . On d o in g s o n o th in g is d i s c o v e re d

b e n e a t h . R e q u e s t t h e s a m e p e r s o n g e n t l y

to ra ise the le f t -hand cap , and on h is do ing

so the whole four corks wi l l be d iscovered

s a fe ly s to we d b e n e a th .

T H E C O H E S I V E C O R K S .

Take a bowl of wa te r and seven ord inary

cork s . H ow m ay the se corks ba mp.do to

f lo a t u p r ig h t in th e w a t e r ? Of c o u rs e ,

e v e ry o n e k n o ws th a t a c o rk i s d e e p e r th a u

i t i s th ick , and a lways topples over on to i t s

s id e wh e n p la c e d u p r ig h t m wr i t e r : bub it

a number of corks

b e p la c e d to -

g e t h e r i n t h o

wate r tho case is

d i f f e r e n t . P l a c e

t h e c o r k s t o g e t h e r

in a bundle , d ip

t h e m ov er he ad

in th o wa te r , a n d b r in g th e m to th e s u r fa c e

a g a in . Th e y wi l l n o w a c t as if th e y fo rm e d

a c o m p a c t ma s s , b ro a d e r th a n i t i s d e e p , a n d

wil l f loa t ac ross the surface of the wate r .

A L A U G H A B L E P E A T .

St ic k a n o p e n p e n k n i fe b e twe e n th e d o o r

a n d th e l in te l ( th i s w i l l n o t in ju re th e wo o d -

wo rk ) , a b o u t th o h e ig h t o f th o s h o u ld e r , a n d

b a la n c e a c o rk o n th e h a n d le . F r o m ; i d i s -

t a n c e o f two o r th re e y a rd s wa lk to wa rd s th e

cork , keep ing one eye c loscd , and t ry to

knock off the cork wi th the f i rs t f inger ou t-

s t r e t c h e d . On ly o n e -e y e d p e o p le a re a b le

c o r rc c t ly to e s t ima te th e e x a c t d i s t a n c e

wh e n to s t r ik e .


14/52

E A T I N G C O R K S .

H a v e s e v e ra l c o rk s o n th e t a b le . Ta k e

one between the firs t and fourth fingers of

r igh t hand , second and th i rd f ingers over i t .

Co n v e y th e c o rk to wa rd s th e mo u th , b u t in

doing so ben d the f inger, wh en fro m th e con-

venien t pos i t ion of the cork i t wi l l be read i ly

p a l m e d . P r e t e n d t o p u t i t i n t o t h e m o u t h ,

a n d a t th e s a me t ime fo rc e o u t th e c h e e k

wi th th e to n g u e , ma k e g r ima c e s , a n d p re -

t e n d to s wa llo w th e c o rk ; r e p e a t w i th o th e r

c o rk s , q u ie t ly d ro p p in g th e c o rk s o n th e

floor each t ime.

C O R K S E A S I L Y D R A W N .

I f y o u wa n t to a mu s e f r i e n d s a t a n e v e n -

i n g p a r t y , t e l l t h e m t h a t y o u c a n d r a w a

c o rk o u t o f a n y b o t t l e w i th o u t a c o rk s c re w.

Of course they wi l l laugh ; bu t ve ry soon i t

w i l l b e y o u r tu rn to l a u g h . Ta k e a p ie c e

of sea l ing wax and ho ld one end of i t over

a l a m p o r g a s j e t u n t i l i t b e c o m e s s o f t ; t h e n

le t s o me d ro p s of th e wa x fa l l o n th e c o rk

in th e b o t t l e . As s o o n a s th e c o rk i s

c o v e re d wi th wa x , y o u mu s t p re s s th e p ie c e

wh ic h y o u h o ld in y o u r h a n d a g a in s t th e

c o rk , a n d y o u mu s t h o ld i t t h e re u n t i l t h e

w ax is qu i te d ry . Th en i t wi l l be easy for

y o u to d ra w o u t th e o o rk b y u s in g th e s t i c k

o f wa x wh ic h a d h e re s to i t i n th e s a me ma n -

n e r a s y o u wo u ld u s e a s c re w. N o ma t te r

how firmly fixed the cork may be, i t will a l-

m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y y i e l d t o t h e p r e s s u r e .

Y o u m u s t , h o w e v e r , t a k e c a r e n o t t o w r e n c h

th e s t i c k o f wa x a wa y f ro m i t wh i l e y o u a re

d ra win g i t o u t , a n d y o u mu s t a l s o s e e th a t

th e c o rk i s p e r fe c t ly d ry b e fo re y o u p o u r

a n y wa x o n i t .

Good and interesting notion is never out of

place . I f you w ant rom ances of ster l ing value

read Aunt Ka te ' s Pen ny Stor ies .

A N A C R O B A T I C C O R K .

Of i tse l f , a cork is a he lp less enough ob-

jec t , bu t p rov ide i t wi th a pa i r o f legs , in

the shape of two

p in s s tu c k i n to

o n e e n d , a n d

wi th a rms , c o n -

s i s t in g of t w o

knives of equa l

we ig h t , s tu c k

in to i t s body , one

on each s ide, and

i t i s ready for

a c t io n a n d fu n .

T h e p e r f o r m i n g

c o rk , h o we v e r ,

re q u i re s a s p e c ia l ly a d a p te d p la t fo rm o n

wh ic h to a p p e a r . I t m u s t b e n a r ro w, in

o rd e r to g iv e th e lo n g a n d h e a v y a rms ro o m

to p la y , a n d i t m u s t b e s lo p in g , fo r a c o rk

like a boy or g i r lcan walk more eas i ly

d o wn h i l l th a n o n l e v e l g ro u n d . Fo r th i s

p u rp o s e a f l a t ru l e r , s u p p o r te d a t th e e n d s

by b locks of d i f fe ren t he igh ts , wi l l answer

a d m ira b ly . Se t t in g th e c o rk u p o n i t s l e g s

o n th e ru le r , g iv e i t a ro c k in g m o v e m e n t .

Th e we ig h t o f th e a p p a ra tu s fa l l in g a l t e r -

na te ly , up on each leg , th e cork waddles a long

i t s p la t fo rm s o me w h a t a f t e r th e s ty le of a

ma n o n wo o d e n l e g s .

A S I M P

Documents

Aunt Kate - Conjuring and Parlour Magic