IN-DOORS DECORATION
By Ellis Stanyon
The first of this series of papers on Magic, commencing with the March number, included directions to the beginner for Palming and the Pass.
The first of this series of papers on Magic, commencing with the March number, included directions to the beginner for Palming and the Pass.
Magical Production of a Coin.—Come forward with a coin palmed in the right hand. Draw attention to the left hand, showing it back and front as empty, and, as if in illustration of what you say, give the palm a smart slap with the right hand, leaving the coin behind, and slightly contracting the fingers so as to retain it; now show the right hand empty, pulling up the sleeve with the left, which masks the presence of the coin, then close the left hand and, after one or two passes over it with the right hand, produce the coin.
A New Coin Fold.—Take a piece of paper four inches by five inches, place a coin on it, and fold the top of the paper down over the coin to within one inch of the bottom. Then fold the right-hand side of the paper under the coin, treating the left-hand side in a similar way. You must now fold the one inch of paper at the bottom, under the coin, and you will, apparently, have wrapped it securely in the paper; but really it is in a kind of pocket, and will readily slip out into either hand at pleasure.
Allow several persons in the audience to feel the coin through the paper, then take it from the left hand to the right, letting the coin slip out into the left hand, which picks up a plate from the table. You may burn the paper in the flame of a candle, and, dropping the ashes on the plate, the coin is found to have disappeared.
To Vanish a Marked Coin from a Tumbler and Cause it to Appear in a Small Box Wrapped in Paper in the Centre of a Large Ball of Wool.—For this very surprising trick you will require to make the following preparations:
Procure a tumbler having a slit cut flush with and parallel to the bottom, which should be flat. The opening should be just large enough to allow a half-dollar dropped into the tumbler to slip through into your hand (see Fig. 6).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Obtain a small metal box large enough to take the coin easily, also a flat tin tube just wide enough for the half-dollar to slide through it. Place one end of this tube inside the box and close the lid on it, keeping it in position by passing an elastic band over the box. You now wrap the box in paper and wind a quantity of wool around it until you get a large ball with the end of the tube projecting about one inch. Place the ball thus prepared on the table at the rear of the stage, and you are ready to perform. Show the tumbler, and draw attention to the fact that it is an ordinary one by filling it with water, which can be done by holding the forefinger around the slit. Empty the tumbler and borrow a half-dollar, which has been marked by the owner, allowing him to actually drop it into the glass. Cover the tumbler with a handkerchief, shaking it continually to prove that your coin is still there, and then place it down on your table, securing the coin through the slit as you do so. Going to the back of the stage for the ball of wool, you insert the coin into the tube and withdraw the latter, when the action of the elastic band closes the box. Bring the ball forward in a large glass basin and have the wool unwound, disclosing the box; on this being opened the marked coin will be found within.
Coin, Wine Glass, and Paper Cone.—This very pretty and amusing table trick consists in causing a coin placed under a wine glass, the whole being covered with a paper cone, to disappear and return as often as desired.
The following arrangements are necessary: Take a wine glass and, having placed a little gum all around its edge, turn it over on a sheet of white paper, and when dry cut away the paper close to the glass. Obtain a Japanese tray and on it lay a large sheet of paper similar to that covering the mouth of the glass, and stand the glass, mouth downward, on it. Make a paper cone to fit over the glass, and you are ready to present the illusion.
Borrow a penny and lay it on the large sheet of paper by the side of the wine glass; cover the glass with the paper cone, and place the whole over the coin. Command the penny to disappear, and, on removing the cone, it will seem to have done so, as the paper over the mouth of the glass, being the same color as that on the tray, effectively conceals the coin. To cause it to reappear, you replace the cone and carry away the glass under it. This can be repeated as often as desired.
To make the experiment more effective, use colored paper, which shows up against the coin more than white.
The Pocket Vanish.—Take a coin in the right hand and make believe to place it in the left, really palming it. The left hand is closed as if it contained the coin and held away from the body. The right hand pulls back the sleeve slightly, as if to show that the coin has not been vanished in that direction. This movement brings the right hand over the outside breast pocket, into which the coin is allowed to fall unperceived. The coin is now vanished from the left hand in the orthodox manner, and both hands are shown empty.
Should you desire to regain possession of the coin, have the outside pocket made communicating with an inner one on the same side of the coat; when, having shown the right hand unmistakably empty, you produce the coin thence, in a magical manner.
To Pass a Coin Into an Ordinary Matchbox Held by One of the Spectators.—Prepare a matchbox as follows: Push open the sliding portion about one inch. Then fix between the top of the slide and the back end of the box a coin, the greater part of which is overhanging the box, the whole being out of sight of the casual observer. Arranged thus, give the box to someone to hold, with instructions that when you count three the box is to be closed smartly. This will have the effect of jerking the coin into the box.
You may now take a duplicate coin by means of the “Pocket Vanish,” or any other convenient method, counting “One! two! three!” when, acting according to your instructions, the person will close the box, and the coin will be heard to fall inside.