IN-DOORS
By Ellis Stanyon
THE first thing for the student of magic to do is to learn palming, the art of holding small objects concealed in the hand by a slight contraction of the palm.
Practice first with a half-dollar. Lay it in the right hand as shown in Fig. 1. 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 practice this until you can turn the hand over without letting the coin fall.
Coin in PalmFig. 1.—PALMING COIN
Fig. 1.—PALMING COIN
Fig. 1.—PALMING COIN
When this can be accomplished with ease, lay the coin on the tips of the second and third fingers, steadying it with the thumb, as in Fig. 2. 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 instructions carefully, you will find no difficulty in retaining it.
Coin betwen thumb and middle fingerFig. 2.—PALMING COIN
Fig. 2.—PALMING COIN
Fig. 2.—PALMING COIN
Practice this movement with the right hand in motion toward the left, as if you really intended to place the coin in that hand. To get the 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.
The student who desires to become a finished performer should palm the various objects with equal facility in either hand.
When you can hold a coin properly, as described, practice with other objects of a 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.
The Pass.Second only in importance to the palming is the pass. Hold the coin between the fingers and thumb of the left hand (Fig. 3), and then appear to take it in the right by passing the thumb under and the fingers over the coin.
Fig. 3.—THE PASS
Fig. 3.—THE PASS
Fig. 3.—THE PASS
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. This pass should be performed equally well from either hand.
The Finger Palm.—Lay a coin on the fingers as shown in Fig. 4. 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.
Fig. 4.—THE FINGER PALM
Fig. 4.—THE FINGER PALM
Fig. 4.—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 candlestick between the thumb and fingers of the same hand. (Fig. 5.) 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 at this point should 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 lower end and produce the coin from thence, the effect being that the money is passing through the candle from one end to the other.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
To Change a Coin.—Sometimes, in order to bring about a desired result, it is necessary to change, or, in conjurer’s parlance, to “ring” a borrowed or 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 the pass (Fig. 3), having previously secreted the substitute in the palm of the right. Now take the coin in the right hand, and in so doing 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 marked coin into the left hand, really palming it, and showing your own, which every one takes to be the original borrowed one. You may now proceed with the trick in question, disposing of the marked coin as may be necessary.
Let the student practice faithfully the steps here given. He shall then be prepared to make practical use of them, as we shall endeavor to show in the next paper.