PRINCIPLES OF SLEIGHT OF HAND APPLICABLE TO SMALL OBJECTS
PALMING.--The first thing the neophyte will have to do will be to learn
palming, _i.e._, the art of holding small objects, such as coins,
balls, nuts, corks, etc., concealed in the hand by a slight contraction
of the palm.
[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Palming Coin]
Practise first with a coin. A half dollar is the most convenient size,
and is the coin generally preferred by conjurers, as its milled edge
affords a ready grip to the palm. Lay the coin on the right hand as
shown in Fig. 3. Then slightly contract the palm by pressing the ball
of the thumb inward, moving the coin about with the forefinger of the
left hand until you find it is in a favorable position to be gripped by
the fleshy portions of the hand. Continue to practise this until you
can safely turn the hand over without any fear of letting the coin
fall.
When you can accomplish this with ease, lay the coin on the tips of the
second and third fingers, steadying it with the thumb as in Fig. 4.
Then moving the thumb aside, to the right, bend the fingers, and pass
the coin up along the side of the thumb into the palm, which should
open to receive it, and where, if you have followed the previous
instructions, you will find no difficulty in retaining it.
[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Palming Coin]
As soon as you can do this with the hand at rest, practise the same
movement with the right hand in motion toward the left, as if you
really intended to place the coin in that hand. To get this movement
perfect, it is advisable to work in front of a mirror. Take the coin in
the right hand and actually place it in the left several times; then
study to execute the same movement exactly, with the exception that you
retain the coin in the right hand by palming.
When appearing to transfer a coin, or any small object, from the right
hand into the left, the left hand should rise in a natural manner to
receive it. The right hand, in which is the palmed coin, should fall to
the side; and the left hand should be closed as if it actually
contained the coin, and should be followed by the eyes of the
performer. This will have the effect of drawing all eyes in that
direction, and in the meantime the right hand can drop the coin into
the profonde, or otherwise dispose of it as may be necessary for the
purpose of the trick.
Let it be distinctly understood once for all that when you desire to
draw the attention of the audience in a certain direction you must look
fixedly in that direction yourself.
The student who desires to become a finished performer should palm the
various objects, with equal facility, either in the right or in the
left hand.
When you can hold a coin properly, as described, practise with a small
lemon, a watch, or any other objects of similar size. In this case,
however, owing to the greater extent of surface, it will not be found
necessary to press the object into the palm, but simply to close the
fingers round it, in the act of apparently placing it in the left hand.
LE TOURNIQUET.--This pass is generally known by this name, so I will
not depart from its time-honored title. Hold the coin between the
fingers and thumb of the left hand (Fig. 5), and then appear to take it
in the right by passing the thumb under and the fingers over the coin.
Under cover of the right hand the coin is allowed to fall into the
fingers of the left, where by a slight contraction it may be held
between the first and second joints, or it may be allowed to fall into
the palm proper. The right hand must be closed and raised as if it
really contained the coin, and be followed by the eyes of the
performer; the left falling to the side, and if necessary dropping the
coin into the profonde. This pass should be performed equally well from
either hand.
[Illustration: Fig. 5 Le Tourniquet]
THE FINGER PALM.--Lay a coin on the fingers as shown in Fig. 6. Then in
the act of apparently placing it in the left hand, raise the forefinger
slightly, and clip the coin between it and the second finger. The left
hand must now close as if it contained the coin, and be followed by the
eyes of the performer, while the right hand disposes of the coin as may
be necessary.
[Illustration: Fig. 6.--The Finger Palm]
[Illustration: Fig. 7.--Application of the Finger Palm]
Following is an illustration of the way in which this sleight can be
employed with good effect. Place a candle on the table to your left,
and then execute the pass as above described. The thumb of the right
hand should now close on the edge of the coin nearest to itself and
draw it back a little; and at the same time the candle should be taken
from the candle-stick between the thumb and fingers of the same hand,
(Fig. 7). The left hand, which is supposed to contain the coin, should
now be held over the candle and opened slowly, the effect to the
spectators being that the coin is dissolved into the flame. Both hands
should at this point be shown, back and front, as the coin, owing to
its peculiar position, cannot be seen at a short distance. You now take
the upper part of the candle in the left hand; then lower the right
hand to the opposite end and produce the coin from thence, the effect
being that the money is passed through the candle, from one end to the
other.
TO CHANGE A COIN.--Sometimes, in order to bring about a desired result,
it is necessary to change, or in conjurers' parlance to "ring," a
borrowed and marked coin for a substitute of your own. There are many
ways of effecting this, but having once mastered the various "palms"
the student will readily invent means for himself. The following,
however, is the one generally adopted by conjurers:
Borrow a coin and have it marked. Then take it between the fingers and
thumb of the left hand, as in "Le Tourniquet" (Fig. 5), having
previously secreted the substitute in the palm of the right. Now take
the coin in the right hand, and in doing so drop the substitute into
the palm of the left, which you immediately close, and remark, "You
have all seen me take the coin visibly from the left hand. I will now
make it return invisibly." Saying this, you appear to throw the coin
into the left hand, really palming it, and showing your own, which
every one takes to be the original borrowed one. You now proceed with
the trick in question, disposing of the marked coin as may be
necessary.