AFTER DINNER TRICKS
In introducing to my readers a series of simple, but effective, tricks
in magic, I would state that it has been my life study to popularize
the art of sleight of hand, simply because, at the outset, I was
impressed with the idea that, while having no desire to emulate the
skilled professional magician, certain very novel and entertaining
tricks were within the reach of all persons possessed with the least
desire to amuse their friends.
Every one is not musical; every one cannot sing or recite; but every
one can, with but little practice, learn to perform the following
tricks, and thus put themselves in a position to brighten what might
otherwise prove to be a dull evening.
THE CHINESE CROSS.--The only properties required for this excellent
little trick are six stout straws of the kind used for lemonade, and
the small metal accessory shown at A in Fig. 30. The straws are
fashioned into the form of a cross as shown in the figure, which is
about half the actual size. It will be observed that pins are passed
longitudinally, through the three straws at each extremity of the
structure; this is done with a view to keeping it perfectly flat,
otherwise the binding where the two pieces intersect would not be
effectual. The piece of metal is next pushed into the centre straw at
the foot of the cross in such a manner that it will not readily fall
out, and so as to be entirely covered with the exception of the sharp
needle point. The cross is laid on the palm of the left hand; the right
hand makes a few passes over it, when it is suddenly seen to stand
erect, and to rise or fall at command.
[Illustration: Fig. 30.--Chinese Cross]
The method of working is as follows:--The cross is laid on the hand in
such a manner that its foot, carrying the metal fake, point upward,
comes in contact with the base of the middle finger; the point is now
inserted in the hard flesh at the base of the said finger, when it will
be found that to cause the cross to lie flat on the hand the fingers
must be bent at an angle of about sixty degrees to the palm. If the
hand be now straightened out very slowly the cross will rise gradually
until it assumes a perpendicular position--or ninety degrees. By a
slight movement of the fingers, practically imperceptible, and if
noticed at all raising no suspicion, the cross is caused to rise and
fall as often as desired.
In view of the possibility of the cross being "snatched" by a person
overanxious to discover the secret, care should be taken to see that
the metal fake is attached to the hand more firmly than to the centre
straw. Perhaps the better way would be to work the trick with the fake
attached to the hand from the commencement, then the cross may be given
for examination at any time.
THE FLOATING METAL DISC.--Here a metal disc about the size of a quarter
is caused to sink or swim at command in water contained, for
convenience, in a shallow glass tray.
The secret in this case depends upon duplicity; in reality there are
two discs, the one an exact duplicate of the other in appearance, but
considerably lighter in weight. Aluminium and zinc are alike in
appearance and afford the necessary disparity in weight.
The zinc disc is given for examination, and a member of the audience is
requested to float it on the water; he, of course, fails. On receiving
back the zinc disc the performer "rings" it for that in aluminium and
proceeds to surprise the company. I have arranged a special sleight of
hand change for the trick as follows:--You carry a handkerchief in the
left breast pocket and the aluminium disc palmed in the left hand. On
receiving back the zinc disc in the right hand, you forthwith seem to
place it in the left hand, really palming it and showing its prototype.
The right hand now takes the handkerchief from the pocket and proceeds
to dry what seems to be the wet zinc disc. This latter action gives an
excuse for the transfer of the disc from one hand to the other, while
the handkerchief effectually conceals the "palm."
The disc is now floated. The handkerchief and the zinc disc are now
transferred in a careless manner to the left hand, which forthwith
returns the handkerchief (handkerchief only) to the pocket.
The performer is now in a position, at the conclusion of the floating,
to repeat the exchange above, dry the disc, and once more hand it for
examination.
It is not absolutely necessary to give the metal for examination a
second time, in which case the duplicate may, after the first "change,"
be disposed of entirely under cover of returning the handkerchief to
the pocket.
When apparently wiping the disc dry be careful that it is never once
completely hidden from view, or an exchange may be suspected.
THE BALANCED COINS.--No particular dexterity is necessary to perform
the trick I am about to describe, although considerable care must be
exercised for its successful execution. The performer, having obtained
the loan of three pennies, lays them in a row on the palm of the left
hand, in which position they may be inspected by all present. He then,
with the thumb and second finger of right hand, grasps the edges of the
outermost coins and raises all into a perpendicular position.
The trick is performed with the actual borrowed coins; the secret
depends upon the introduction of a little accessory in the shape of a
thin strip of wood one-quarter of an inch wide, and in length about
one-sixteenth of an inch longer than the combined diameter of the three
coins. At the commencement this strip of wood is held concealed in the
left hand, being held between the base of the thumb and the first joint
of the middle finger. The performer receives the coins in the right
hand, then transfers them to the left hand, secretly placing them in
the required position: the coins effectually hide the strip of wood and
all may be examined. Now by grasping the coins, together with the strip
of wood, (as explained above) no difficulty will be found in securing
the desired effect. In conclusion the coins are again laid carefully in
the left hand, then tossed with apparent carelessness into the right
hand and forthwith handed to the owner.
The strip of wood is of course "palmed" in the left hand (as described
above) in the act of tossing the coins into the right hand.
MUTILATED CIGARETTE PAPER.--A pretty little trick of an impromptu
nature, in which a cigarette paper having been torn into a number of
pieces, the pieces being rolled up into a little ball, is afterwards
found completely restored.
FIRST METHOD.--The performer is smoking a cigarette; this is an
indispensable condition of the trick. By the side of the cigarette, on
the right, concealed between the lips, is a little paper ball made from
a duplicate whole paper. When presenting the trick, as when smoking in
the ordinary way, the cigarette is occasionally taken between the
forefinger and thumb of the right hand; experiment will also show that
the little paper ball may be removed and replaced, quite secretly, by
holding it between the finger and thumb of same hand. (See Fig. 31.)
Thus prepared, the performer hands packet of papers to a gentleman,
with a request that he will take one, mutilate it, and roll up the
fragments into the form of a little ball. While this is being done the
performer casually shows both hands empty, occasionally removing the
cigarette from his mouth, and finally securing duplicate ball. Now,
under the pretense of showing the gentleman the proper way to roll the
paper, he takes it between the finger and thumb of the left hand, and
having rolled it about a little, passes it over to right hand, where,
under cover of the manipulations, it is passed to the rear, the
duplicate whole paper taking its place. (See Fig. 32.) The performer
now returns the paper (the whole one) to the gentleman with the right
hand, and forthwith, with the same hand, takes cigarette from mouth,
thus concealing duplicate ball between fingers (see Fig. 31) without
exciting suspicion. Finally the torn pieces are placed in the mouth
when returning cigarette, and kept there until an opportunity arrives
for removing them in secret.
[Illustration: Fig. 31.--Cigarette Trick]
SECOND METHOD.--This is no less interesting than the method described
above. In this case the packet of cigarette papers is prepared
beforehand by rolling up one into a little ball, and fixing it on the
underside, near the edge at one end, of the second in order from the
top.
Thus prepared, the performer removes the packet from his pocket, and
tearing off top paper, hands same to a gentleman with a request that he
will tear it into small pieces. Says the performer, "I will take one
and show you what I mean; tear it as I do." Saying this, he removes
second paper, and with it the duplicate ball. While tearing the paper
the little ball is kept concealed between the forefinger and thumb, by
no means a difficult matter, and occasionally passed from one hand to
the other that the hands may be shown empty alternately. When the
tearing is complete, the performer screws up paper with the remark,
"Now roll the pieces into a little ball like this--thank you, that will
do nicely." While giving these instructions he passes his torn paper to
the rear, where it is completely concealed by being pressed tightly
between first joint of finger and thumb; the duplicate ball being
presented at the extreme tips of same fingers. (See Fig. 32.)
[Illustration: Fig. 32.--Cigarette Trick]
Continuing, the performer remarks, "Now please take this little ball
and give me yours." This is done, care being taken not to expose
secreted ball. Performer now accuses gentleman of retaining one of his
pieces; this of course leads to an examination, whereupon the gentleman
and all present are surprised to find the paper completely restored.
Finally the performer unfolds the pieces of gentleman's paper, with
which he also mingles his own, with the remark, "You evidently don't
quite understand the trick, sir."
TO READ THE WHOLE OF THE CARDS IN A PACK JUST SHUFFLED (NEW
METHOD).--The performer gives pack of cards to be shuffled, and when
returned places them behind his back and calls out the name of a card.
He brings the card forward and throws it on the table, and continues in
this manner to name every card in the pack.
The secret is exceedingly simple. A second pack of cards, prearranged
in a given order, is substituted, as hereafter explained, for the pack
shuffled by the audience. All the performer has to do then to make the
trick a success is to acquire a thorough knowledge of the order of the
cards in the prepared pack. The order of the fifty-two cards can be
learned in five minutes by the aid of the following mnemonic:
_Five Kings wanted (one ten), six Knaves. For (four) twenty-three (two
three) ladies (queen) or eighty-nine (eight nine) slaves (seven)._
The above gives the order of the values of the cards only; the suits
must, of course, follow in regular sequence, say: Diamonds, clubs,
hearts, spades. Example: On the table, face upward, place the five of
diamonds, on this the king of clubs, on this the ace of hearts, on this
the ten of spades, on this again the six of diamonds; and so on
throughout the pack. Thus arranged, the pack may be cut to any extent
without disturbing the order of the cards.
The exchange of packs is carried out under cover of a natural movement,
as follows:--Performer receives the shuffled pack in the left hand and
forthwith places it behind his back, resting the hand on the hip. The
right hand is now placed to the rear, ostensibly for the sole purpose
of removing the handkerchief from the left tail pocket, with which the
performer is subsequently blindfolded; the right hand, however, first
relieves the left hand of the shuffled pack and carefully lowers it
into the pocket containing the handkerchief and prepared pack; these
two latter are then removed together, the cards being placed in the
left hand and the handkerchief brought to the front. Performer now
requests some member of the audience to blindfold him in order to
preclude the possibility of his obtaining assistance from mirrors or
other reflecting surfaces. As he makes the request he turns round,
thereby casually drawing attention to the cards still in the left hand,
and which all present will readily believe to be those shuffled.
The solution will now be clear, but various little additions will,
doubtless, suggest themselves in the working of the trick. For
instance, the performer may undertake to pick out any card called
for, which, with a little practice, will be seen to be easy of
accomplishment. If the card asked for is out he will state the fact.
In making this reference I would state that the above doggerel rhyme
has been arranged, quite recently, by myself. It will be seen that it
gives a totally different order of the cards, a much-needed variation,
from the now hackneyed rhyme which for ages has appeared in all works
on card conjuring.
[Illustration: Fig. 33.--Balancing Knives]
BALANCING FEATS.--Take three dessert knives and arrange them in
triangular fashion upon three tumblers. Upon the triangular space
formed by the intersection of the knife blades, deposit a water bottle,
and upon the mouth of the bottle an apple, (Fig. 33). It seems quite an
impossible feat, but it is readily accomplished.
[Illustration: Fig. 34.--Balancing Forks]
Another curious experiment in equilibrium is the following: Take a
couple of forks and arrange them with their prongs one set over the
other, and stick a silver dollar between the middle prongs, thus
uniting the two forks. This accomplished, place the coin flat on the
rim of a tumbler, pushing it outward until the two circumferences touch
externally. The coin with appendent forks will remain balanced much to
the surprise of the company, (Fig. 34). You may follow this up by
pouring the water steadily from the glass into a second glass, without
disturbing the money or the forks, which remain in equilibrio. The
above clever feats may properly be performed at the dinner-table after
dessert has been brought on.
WALNUT SHELLS AND PEA.--This is an excellent table trick, and can be
performed at close quarters without much fear of detection. The only
articles required for the execution of the trick are three half walnut
shells and a pea. The three shells are laid in a row on the table, the
pea being placed under the centre one, from which position it
disappears and is ultimately found under either of the end ones at the
will of the performer. The table used must be covered with a cloth of
some kind.
The secret lies in the pea, which is fashioned from a piece of
india-rubber, but unless closely inspected cannot be distinguished from
the ordinary everyday article. When presenting the trick the pea is
actually placed under the middle shell. The shells are then, each in
turn, commencing from the one on the left, pushed up the table about
three inches. When moving the middle one the pea, owing to its nature
and the concavity of the shell, will be found to work its way out, when
it is instantly seized with the thumb and middle finger. This, however,
cannot be suspected, as the hand retains a perfectly natural position.
The third shell is then moved into a line with the other two.
The pea can now be caused to appear under either of the shells at
pleasure, all that is necessary being to leave it on the table
immediately behind the shell in the act of raising the same.
In effect this trick is identical with that known as "Thimble Rigging,"
which it is therefore needless to describe, but the secret is much
prettier and calculated to deceive more thoroughly.
THE RESTORED CUT.--This is a very interesting little trick, and is
especially suitable for an after-dinner surprise. The performer takes a
needle containing about a yard of thread, and passes it through an
apple. The cord is then pulled backward and forward, after which the
apple is cut in half with a table knife; both portions are shown, the
cord having to all intents and purposes been severed. The two portions
are then united and the cord is pulled backward and forward as before.
The performer prepares for the trick by passing the needle in at the
side of the apple and bringing it out at the end opposite the stalk, in
which condition it is laid on the table.
When about to present the trick the performer takes up both articles,
which if held properly will appear to be separate, and announces that
he is about to pass the thread through the apple. He apparently does
so, but really inserts the needle at the point where it came out,
passing it to the opposite side. The thread is now pulled backward and
forward, when it will appear to actually traverse the centre of the
fruit.
The apple is then cut in half, at right angles to the cord, which under
the circumstances will remain uninjured. The parts are now handed round
for inspection, care being taken to keep them together at the bottom,
after which they are replaced and the cord shown to be intact. At the
conclusion of the trick the thread should be withdrawn from the fruit
and given for examination; this also prevents the discovery of the
secret by any inquisitive spectator.
THE GARTER TRICK.--This is a very old trick, and from its title will be
recognized at once as common to the sharps who frequent race-courses.
It is not, however, generally known, and as it forms a good table trick
a description of it may not be out of place. It is usually performed
with a piece of stiff half-inch tape; an ordinary inch tape measure
will answer the purpose admirably. The tape is folded in half and
coiled round and round on the table until it is almost impossible to
tell for certain which is the loop proper, _i.e._, the point at which
the tape was doubled. (See Fig. 35.) The bystander is then requested to
place the point of his penknife in the loop, but however careful he may
be in his selection he will fail, as the performer is able to pull the
tape clear of the knife in all cases. The secret lies in the fact that
the tape is not folded exactly in half, one end being left shorter than
the other by about three inches. When uncoiling the tape, if the knife
be actually placed in the loop, and both ends are pulled from the point
A, it will not come away; but if the short end be passed round to the
left and both ends pulled from the point B, it will be found to come
clear of the knife. All the performer has to do, therefore, is to watch
and see if the knife is really placed in the loop or otherwise, and to
act accordingly. The short end is carried round under cover of the
fingers while twisting the tape.
[Illustration: Fig. 35.--Garter Trick]
Fig. 35 is arranged for clearness, but in actual practice the tape
would receive many more twists, which would also be of a more intricate
nature.