(The Invention of M. Robert Houdin, and as Improved by Mr. Cremer.)
Mr. Hanky Panky, attired in a faultless evening dress, has presented
himself to the audience with the air of being quite perfect in his
appearance, when he suddenly becomes confused. By his nervous glances,
and their direction, it is perceived that he has omitted an
indispensable article of costume, and that is, the flower in his
button-hole.
However, quickly recovering from his surprise and trouble, he smilingly
observes that this misfortune, irreparable without a certain delay to
ordinary members of society, is easily rectified by a conjuror.
To make good this assertion, he takes up his wand, and waving it
gracefully three times, the company is startled to see a beautiful rose
appear instantaneously in his button-hole.
_Explanation._—This charming little deception is as simple as effective.
A child can perform it, and at the cost only of a few pence.
You must have twelve or fifteen inches of common elastic cord, fine but
strong, covered with thread of the same colour as your coat. To one end
firmly fasten an artificial flower, or it may be a real one if you
strengthen its stalk by the insertion of florists’ wire. The place of
fastening is close to, and just under, the flower.
Punch out a small hole in your coat, on the point corresponding to that
button-hole in which a flower is usually worn, and just under the
button-hole itself.
In this hole insert a metal “eye,” such as is put in boots for the laces
to run through, and fasten it there. It is for the cord to run smoothly
through. This eye is not visible, even to yourself.
On the other end of the elastic make a small loop.
When ready for the performance, take your elastic cord, to which is
attached the flower, and pass the loop end through the button-hole from
the outside. Then pass it through the eye in the same direction, and
bring it down along inside the coat to the button on your trousers, at
the left side, or you may have a button sewn on your vest about the same
place. There fasten the end of the cord by the loop.
The elasticity of the cord now draws the flower up to the button-hole.
Pull the flower back, just a little behind the left armpit, and let the
left arm hang loosely by the side. As long as the upper left arm is kept
close to the side, the flower must remain secure, and concealed at the
back of the shoulder.
But, on opening out the arm, the flower must be drawn by the elastic
cord up to the button-hole, through which it cannot pass, from its size.
Therefore, in entering the room where the audience await you, you have
nothing to observe but to keep your face to the company. No one can
perceive the cord, even at a little distance.
You take up your wand with your left hand, still keeping the left upper
arm by your side; move your left hand and wand across the body to the
right, then take the wand with your right hand, while your left hand
remains across the body, with the hand on a level with the button-hole.
Wave the wand to the left, and take it with the left hand again. Now
wave the wand to the left, and on extending the left arm fully, you of
course open it out, and the flower—under cover of the arm—is made to
appear suddenly in the button-hole.
These three movements should be gracefully done, and with the happy
medium between hurry and slowness.