burn this handkerchief to ashes, place them in this canister," (so saying
you put it into A,) "and when I have uttered a spell, it will be restored
perfectly whole. Will the owner say what mark it has?" While the audience
are looking towards the owner, you turn the canister over, and push up
the canister until the shoulder of B is on a level with the top of the
tube. When the mark has been declared, you open B, take out the cambric,
and pretend to verify the mark. You then put it into a candle flame, and
when it has burned entirely to ashes, put the ashes into B, shut it up,
and rapidly reverse it as you turn round to your audience, so that A is
uppermost again. Then utter any nonsense you like, open A, and take out
the handkerchief uninjured. It rather adds to the trick if you drop a
little eau de cologne into A before commencing.
53. THE FIRE EATER.
If the young conjuror is desirous of appearing in the character of a
fire-eater, it is very easily managed. He must prepare a piece of thick
string, by soaking it in a solution of niter, and then drying it. He cuts
off a piece about an inch in length, lights one end, and wraps it up in a
piece of tow which he holds in his left hand. The trifling smoke will be
concealed by a huge bundle of loose tow also carried in the left hand.
He takes a handful of tow in his right hand, puts it into his mouth, chews
it up, and appears to swallow it. He then takes another handful, and with
it the piece in which is the string. As he puts this into his mouth, he
takes out the piece which he has already chewed. By taking breath through
the nostrils, and breathing it out through the mouth, smoke begins to
issue forth, and the whole interior of the mouth is soon lighted up with a
glow. When the mouth is shut, and the tow pressed together, the fire goes
out, except the piece of prepared string. More tow is then taken into the
mouth, and treated in the same manner.
64. THE EGG-BOX.
[Illustration]
A, the egg-box; B, the upper shell; C, the inner shell, covered over with
the shell of an egg; D, the lower part of the box. To do the trick, call
for an egg, then bid all the by-standers look at it, and see that it is
a real egg, set the box on the table, take off the upper part, with your
fore finger and thumb, then placing the egg in the box, say, "You see it
fairly in," and uncovering it again, likewise say, "You shall see me take
it out, and put it in my pocket in your sight;" open your box again and
say, "There is nothing," close your hand about the middle of your box, and
taking B by the bottom, say, "There is the egg again," which it appears to
the spectators to be, so clapping that in again, and taking the lid of C
in your finger and thumb, say, "There it is gone again."
55. THE GLOBE-BOX.
This trick is not inferior to the best that is shown with boxes. It
is done with a box made of four pieces, and a ball as big as may be
conveniently contained therein; the ball serves as the egg does in the
egg-box, to deceive the hand and eyes of spectators. This ball, made of
wood or ivory, is thrown out of the box upon the table, for every one to
see that it is substantial; then put the ball into the box, which close
up with all the pieces one within another; remove the upper shell with
your fore finger and thumb, and there will appear another of a different
color, red, blue, yellow, or any other color you may fancy; this will seem
to be another ball, though, in fact, it is no more than a shell of wood,
ingeniously turned and fitted to the box, as you may perceive by the cuts.
L is the outer shell of the globe, taken off the figure M, the top of
which represents the ball; N is an inner shell; O, the cover of the same;
P another inner shell; Q, the cover of the same; R, a third shell; S, that
which covers it. These globes may be made with more or less varieties,
according to the desire of the practitioner.
[Illustration]
56. THE COFFEE AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICKS.
One of the greatest means of wonder-working is that of _ingenious
contrivance_. We will illustrate this by two popular feats. A number of
handkerchiefs taken from the audience by more than one popular performer,
were placed in a small washing tub, into which water was poured, and they
were washed for a few minutes. They were then placed in a vessel like the
figure (*) on the next page, and immediately afterwards the performer said
to the persons in front: "I will give you these;" and taking off the top,
when he was expected to throw out the wet handkerchiefs, all that fell was
a number of flowers. He now brought out a box, which he opened, and showed
it to be empty; then shutting it, and uttering a few cabalistic words, he
opened it again, and there were the handkerchiefs, all dry, folded, and
scented, which he distributed to their respective claimants.
Another experiment of a popular performer was called "coffee for the
million." Producing a vessel like the diagram A, the performer filled it
with unground coffee, and placing it under a cover B, he said, "There,
when you have done that, let it simmer for three quarters of an hour;
but, perhaps, you will not like to wait so long; here then it is;" and
on removing the cover, the vessel appeared full of hot liquid coffee. In
another vessel of the same kind he obtained lump-sugar from rape-seed;
and in a third, warm milk from horse-beans; and pouring out the coffee
into cups, sent them round to regale his auditory, amidst their loud and
approving shouts at so great a transformation.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
These feats are the result of considerable ingenuity. It is probable that
the devices employed would not readily occur to spectators in general,
while they would utterly escape those whose object is merely amusement,
and who, if they thought at all, would be likely to describe the result
as supernatural. We proceed, then, to the unraveling of the mystery. Let
it be observed, in reference to the first experiment, that a number of
handkerchiefs are collected in the early part of the evening for various
illusions, and that many of them appear for a time on the performer's
table. Provided with a collection of these articles, from the handsome
silk handkerchief to one trimmed with lace, used by a fashionable lady,
he could easily substitute his own of the same kind for those of his
auditory, as the curtain falls, according to the arrangements of the
evening, between the collection of the handkerchiefs and the subsequent
processes. His own handkerchiefs, therefore, are washed and placed in the
vase already described; and the so-called change into flowers is nothing
more than the retention of the handkerchiefs in the lower part of the
apparatus, which the figure illustrates, while the upper part holds the
flowers till they are scattered among the spectators. Meanwhile, all
that is required is done to their handkerchiefs. It is not absolutely
necessary that they should be washed; for folding, pressing, and a little
eau-de-Cologne, would complete the preparation; but granting that they
are washed, there is still no difficulty, though this mystifies the
spectators, who have the idea that drying is a long affair; for it may
be effected in a minute or two by a machine that is readily obtained.
The box brought out has them deposited in it, but as it is double, one
interior is first shown, which, of course, contains nothing, for the
inner drawer holding the handkerchiefs remains in the case; but when a
few sounds are uttered, and the professor touches a secret spring behind,
which disengages the inner box, he draws it out with the outer one, and
presents the handkerchiefs to the audience. In the diagram A, the box is
shown as empty. At B, we have a representation of the box containing the
handkerchiefs. It is only necessary to add that the box is very nicely
made; the part within the other drawn out to the end, defies detection.
_See Trick No._ 65.
The preparation of coffee, milk, and sugar, may be easily explained;
for if the vessels containing respectively the unground coffee, the
rape-seed, and the horse-beans, always placed under a cover, be put on a
part of the table having a circular trap-door--and for this there is full
provision in the cover of the table extending to the floor--a confederate
may readily substitute one for the other.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
57. THE MAGIC FUNNEL.
This favorite and simple trick is carried out by the assistance of a
double funnel, that is to say, one funnel soldered into the other so as to
leave a space between them for water, and communicating with the hollow of
the funnel by a hole in the tube. Our drawing will assist the explanation.
[Illustration: S S, space for water between the funnels, which is filled
by stopping end of tube T with the finger: the water flows in and out at K.
N, a pin-hole at the top, which is covered with the finger. When the
funnel is prepared for use, every time the finger is withdrawn water flows
out from tube T.]
The funnel is always prepared before the audience by pouring in water,
occasionally stopping the end of the pipe T with the finger, so that the
inner space may be filled; whilst this is being effected the conjuror must
fill up the time with a philosophical disquisition on funnels, all ending,
however, in the fact, that if there is a hole in a vessel the water will
flow out. One of the audience is now requested to step up to the table,
and you proceed to draw water from his hair, ears, eyes, &c., as every
time the finger is withdrawn from the hole N the pressure of the air is
admitted, and the water flows out.
58. THE MAGIC BOTTLE.
This trick, if well managed, is one of the most wonderful that can be
performed in a drawing-room without apparatus; but it requires dexterity
at the conclusion.
The person performing the trick offers to pour from a common wine bottle,
port wine, sherry, milk, and champagne in succession, and in any order.
To accomplish the trick, you must make solutions of the following
chemicals, and label the bottles with numbers, thus:
1. A saturated solution of the sulphocyanate of potash.
2. A diluted solution of the above--one part of the solution to four of
water.
3. A saturated solution of nitrate of lead.
4. A saturated solution of perchloride of iron.
5. A saturated solution of bicarbonate of potash.
6. Sulphuric acid.
7. A clear solution of gum-arabic.
Procure a champagne bottle, and wash it out well, then pour three
teaspoonfuls of No. 4 into it. As the quantity is very small, it will not
be observed, especially if you are quick in your movements. Pour some
distilled or rain water into a common water-bottle or jug, and add a
tablespoonful of No. 7 to it; then set it aside ready for use.
Provide some wine glasses of four different patterns, and into one pattern
pour the solution marked No. 1, into another that marked No. 2, and so on
for Nos. 3 and 5. Return the solutions to their respective bottles, and
arrange the glasses on a small tray, remembering the solutions that were
poured into each pattern.
Everything being ready, take the champagne bottle that you have prepared,
from two or three others, and holding it up to show the company that it is
clear and empty, you must desire some person to hand you the water bottle
or jug, and then fill up the bottle with the water.
Pour some of the contents of the bottle into an unprepared glass, in order
to show that it is water; then say, "change to champagne," and pour the
liquid from the bottle into one of the glasses rinsed with No. 5; then
pour into a glass rinsed with No. 1, and it will change to port wine; but
if poured into No. 3, it will change to milk, and if into No. 2, it will
produce sherry. Be careful in pouring the fluid from the bottle, not to
hold it high above the glasses, but to keep the mouth of it close to the
edges of the glasses, otherwise persons will observe that it undergoes
change of color after it is poured into the wine glasses, and on this
account the glasses should be held rather high.
∵ As the solutions used in the above trick are deleterious, they must
not be left about in the way of children, and of course the fluid in the
wine glasses must not even be tasted; but if any of the company wish to
drink the wines you have made, then the tray must be adroitly exchanged
for another with the proper wines placed on it.
This is an excellent parlor trick if well managed, and is not difficult to
comprehend.
59. THE BOTTLE TRICK.
The chemical method of performing this delusion has been already
explained, the mechanical one will be easily understood from the "Magic
Funnel Trick." It is usually carried out with a bottle, the body of which
is constructed of tin, the neck of glass; the body is divided into
sundry compartments, three of which are sufficient, with a center one,
for ordinary use: by cutting the bottle in two, the arrangement will be
understood as shown beneath.
[Illustration: O, center of bottle, from which milk may be poured.
1, 2, 3, compartments holding port, sherry, and alcohol.]
It must be understood that little tubes from each compartment terminate
in the neck, and they are filled with their respective liquids by the
pear-shaped vessel already explained. Each compartment is perforated with
a little hole at the top, so that when the fingers are placed over them
(as on the holes of a flute) the liquid cannot run out on inverting the
bottle.
On showing the trick, the performer alludes to his wonderful bottle full
of the milk of human kindness, which he pours out carefully from the
center compartment, keeping the three holes tight with his fingers, the
center being filled and emptied in the ordinary manner; after pouring
out and handing round a few glasses of milk, he may pour the rest into a
jug, in the bottom of which some milk has been already placed, so that
the company may believe the bottle was originally filled with it; he
may now wash out the bottle (that is to say, the center compartment),
still keeping his fingers over the holes, and for the sake of a little
mystification put the bottle upright under a hat, commanding the bottle to
change its temperance habits. He may now ask the company to call for port,
sherry, gin, brandy, noyeau, &c.
The sherry and port are poured from their compartments, the spirit
supplies the others, as a number of wine-glasses can be prepared with
drops of burnt sugar for brandy, syrup and juniper for gin. A small
drop of oil of almonds or other flavoring materials may be used for the
different liquors. A thick wine-glass must be employed, holding a very
small quantity of fluid.
A magic coffee-pot may be arranged in a similar manner, with three
compartments to hold hot tea, coffee, and punch; the middle compartment
may hold the tea and coffee berries, into which the assistant may pour by
mistake the contents of the bottle labeled "_Ink_." The performer, after
scratching his head, as if in deep thought, will take a lump of whiting
and powder up, placing it in the center compartment, which can be fastened
up with a cork or proper lid. Then, if the holes from the compartments
terminate in the handle and the pipes in the spout, when the fingers are
removed the three liquids pour out separately, as in the Bottle Trick.
This mode of showing the trick is good, because, however large your
audience, you can provide everybody with something to drink, and it is
displayed with great effect by Signor Blitz, and Wyman.
60. THE MAGIC QUARTER.
Procure a small round box, about one inch deep, to which fit accurately a
quarter or cent: line the box with any dark paper (crimson, for instance),
and paste some of it on one side of the coin, so that when it lies in the
lower part of the box it shall appear like the real box. This quarter or
cent is concealed in the hand, and before performing the trick, it will
heighten the effect if a number of single quarters or cents are hidden
about the room, in places known to yourself. Having borrowed a coin, you
dexterously place this on one side, and substitute the prepared one; and
putting it gravely into the box, ask all to be sure they have seen it
enter: when the lid is on, shake up and down--the noise betrays the metal;
now command it to disappear, and shake laterally from side to side; as the
quarter is made to fit accurately, no noise is apparent--the coin seems to
be gone; in proof of which you open the box, and display the interior; the
paper on the coin conceals it, whilst you direct the audience to look into
a book, or a pair of slippers, for the missing quarter; the prepared coin
can be slipped out, and the box handed round for examination, in which,
of course, nothing will be found. This trick may be repeated two or three
times with the greatest success, and is so simple that nobody guesses the
manner of performance.
61. TO CHANGE A DIME TO A QUARTER.
This is quite a simple parlor trick, but when performed with dexterity is
calculated to produce much astonishment at an evening party. In fact, it
surprises on account of its very simplicity. Procure two pieces of marbled
paper about seven inches square, and having put the marble backs of the
paper together, cut them the shape of diagram Fig. 1. Be very careful to
have them exactly the same size, as the success of the trick depends in a
great measure upon the regularity of the paper. After cutting the paper
in the manner described, place a dime in the center of one of the pieces
at the place marked A, then fold it carefully over at the crease on the
side marked B, and also again at the side marked C. When you have done
this turn down the end marked D upon the center A, and again fold over
on E. When this is accomplished, you will discover that you have formed
a small parcel the same shape as Fig. 2, with a dime in the center. You
must then place a quarter of a dollar in the center of the other piece of
paper, and fold it up exactly the same size and shape as the first piece.
When you have done this, gum the two parcels together at the back of the
ends marked F, in Fig. 2, and the sides will be so even that both parcels
will appear as one. You can then open the side of the paper containing the
dime and show it to your audience, at the same time informing them that
you are going to open a mint on a small plan, and coin a quarter from a
dime. Having done this, mutter some cabalistic words and dexterously turn
over the side containing the quarter, and upon opening the paper, to the
astonishment of the company, instead of a dime they will behold a genuine
quarter. I have seen much merriment created by this excellent feat.
[Illustration: _Fig. 1_]
[Illustration: _Fig. 2_]
62. DESCRIPTION OF THE MAGICIAN'S TABLE.
When a secret confederate is required, have a table four and a half feet
long, two feet eight inches high, two feet nine inches wide, with a
curtain round it, twenty-two inches deep. In the top of this table are
several secret square holes, of different sizes, from three to five inches
across; these having covers which exactly fit, and hung upon concealed
hinges, so that they may be let down; but when lying flat, the top of
the table appears to present a perfect surface. Under this surface are
buttons, which prevent those lids from falling down when not made use
of. Under the top of the table is fastened a box, or drawer, open at the
top, and at the side which is farthest from the spectators. This box is
about twenty inches deep, and concealed by the curtain; and in this box is
placed the secret agent who assists the performer.
63. WYMAN'S GUN TRICK.
Having provided yourself with a fowling-piece, permit any person to load
it, retaining for yourself the privilege of putting in the ball, to
the evident satisfaction of the company, but instead of which you must
provide yourself with an artificial one made of black lead, which may be
easily concealed between your fingers, and retain the real ball in your
possession, producing it after the gun has been discharged; and a mark
having been previously put upon it, it will instantly be acknowledged.
This trick is quite simple, as the artificial ball is easily reduced to
a powder on the application of the ramrod; besides the smallness of the
balls preclude all discovery of the deception.
64. THE HATCHED BIRD.
Separate an egg in the middle as nearly as possible, empty it, and
then, with a fine piece of paper and a little glue, join the two halves
together, having first put a live canary bird inside it, which will
continue unhurt in it for some time, provided you make a small pinhole
in the shell to supply the bird with air; have, also, a whole egg in
readiness. Present the two eggs for one to be chosen; put the egg, which
contains the bird, next to the person who is to choose, and for this
purpose be sure to select a lady; she naturally chooses the nearest to
her, because, having no idea of the trick to be performed, there, is no
apparent reason to take the further one; at any rate, if the wrong one be
taken, you do not fail in the trick, for you break the egg, and say, "You
see that this egg is fair and fresh madam; so you would have found the
other, if you had chosen it. Now, do you choose to find in it a mouse,
or a canary bird?" She naturally declares for the bird; nevertheless,
if she ask for the mouse, there are means to escape; you ask the same
question of several ladies, and gather the majority of votes, which, in
all probability, will be in favour of the bird which you then produce.
65. THE APPLE AND ORANGE TRICK.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
Have a box made with a drawer fitted to it as in the figure No. 2, marked
A. The back part of the drawer B, which slides into the box A, has no
end piece; then have another drawer made, marked C, open at the top,
that will fit the drawer B rather easy, when put into it the sides and
ends of the drawer C, made of rather thin wood, with their end and sides
sloping towards the sides of the drawer B, so that when it is in the
drawer B, it cannot be discovered without minute examination; then push
them both into the box A, and have a small hole bored through the top of
the box A, in which you put a small pin with a flat top, as marked D in
the plate; this pin is so long that it will just catch drawer C, inside
of the box A, to prevent it from coming out with the drawer B, when not
necessary to be exposed. It is now ready to perform experiments with. You
are aware, as has already been described, that the drawer B is open at
the inner end, consequently, when that with the loose drawer C is pushed
into the box A, and you put the pin D in its place, the drawer B may be
pulled out, or pushed back, without interruption; but if you remove the
pin out of the box, C will come out inside of the drawer B without the
trick being discovered; it being understood that the false drawer C is
invariably concealed from the spectator. When the drawer C is in the box
A, and the drawer B has been drawn out, the end of the drawer C will then
appear as if it was the end of the drawer B as represented in the plate.
You can then show it to the company, and you may also measure the inside
of the drawer B, and the outside of the box A, and convince them that,
apparently, nothing is concealed. Care must be taken in pulling the drawer
C out alone, that the drawer C will not slip from the bottom of the drawer
B, which otherwise would prevent it from being pushed back. A little catch
may be affixed in the bottom of the drawer C, so as to prevent the same
from slipping out of its place.
_To Perform the Experiment._--Fill, privately, the drawer C with fruit,
close the drawer B, and exhibit it; then pull the drawer B out, alone, as
represented in the plate, figure 2, which will convince the spectators
that it is empty. When you have satisfied them on that point, slide
back the drawer B, then place the left hand on the secret pin D, and
take it out; then with the right hand pull out the drawer B, with the
secret drawer C, which is full of fruit, to the great astonishment of
the company; take the fruit out and present it to the spectators. This
concludes the performance.
66. ENCHANTED COIN, AS PERFORMED BY PROFESSOR WYMAN.