A hat being about to be returned to the owner from having been
shockingly maltreated in the concoction of an omelette, it occurs to
Herr Harngy Barngy, that, while it is unfit for adorning the human head,
it may be available for other purposes.
“Hang it!” says the Professor, with his genial smile, which is never so
sweet and placid as when he is working his will with borrowed property,
“I see such a resemblance in it to a flowerpot, that flowerpot it shall
be. So I will hang it here—on this little shelf—hanging from the ceiling
by three cords.”
For seed, a few rose leaves; for mould, some shreds of handkerchief,
&c., which are put into the hat.
Then Mr. H. B. retires in amongst the audience. At the wave of his wand,
a tender stalk is seen to peep over the edge of the hat, and by degrees
a bush of flowers rise out of this novel jardinière, whilst a perfume as
of newly blooming flowers pervades the air.
[Illustration: Fig. 49.]
_Explanation._—In our former works will be found full directions to
manage the miraculous birth of flowers by mechanical means. In the
present case the result is brought about by a less complicated method.
You have a tin vessel of the size and shape of a hat, to fit inside it.
In it is a bush, with natural flowers attached, mounted on a large cork,
the whole to move upwards without impediment.
In going up to the hanging shelf you slip this prepared vessel into the
hat. When the whole is in its place, your signal to your confederate
sets him to turn on perfumed water, which runs into the vessel through
one of the suspending cords, which is a gutta percha tube covered with
silk. As the water enters, the cork is floated.
[Illustration: Fig. 50.]