This may be justly considered one of the most surprising sleights; and
yet it is so easy of performance, that any one may accomplish it after
a few minutes’ practice.
You previously provide yourself with a piece of brass wire, pointed
at both ends, and bent round so as to form a ring, about the size of
a wedding-ring. This you conceal in your hand. You then commence your
performance by borrowing a silk pocket handkerchief from a gentleman,
and a wedding-ring from a lady; and you request one person to hold two
of the corners of the handkerchief, and another to hold the other two,
and to keep them at full stretch. You next exhibit the wedding-ring to
the company, and announce that you will make it appear to pass through
the handkerchief. You then place your hand under the handkerchief, and
substituting the false ring, which you had previously concealed, press
it against the centre of the handkerchief, and desire a third person to
take hold of the ring through the handkerchief, and to close his finger
and thumb through the hollow of the ring. The handkerchief is held
in this manner for the purpose of showing that the ring has not been
placed within a fold. You now desire the persons holding the corners of
the handkerchief to let them drop; the person holding the ring (through
the handkerchief as already described) still retaining his hold.
Let another person now grasp the handkerchief as tight as he pleases,
three or four inches below the ring, and tell the person holding the
ring to let it go, when it will appear to the company that the ring
is secure within the centre of the handkerchief. You then tell the
person who grasps the handkerchief to hold a hat over it, and passing
your hand underneath, you open the false ring, by bending one of its
points a little aside, and bringing one point gently through the
handkerchief, you easily draw out the remainder; being careful to rub
the hole you have made in the handkerchief with your finger and thumb,
to conceal the fracture.
You then put the wedding-ring you borrowed over the outside of the
middle of the handkerchief, and desiring the person who holds the hat,
to take it away, you exhibit the ring (placed as described) to the
company.