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.
PROGRAMME AND COIN.—The effect of this experiment is as follows: The performer borrows a marked half-dollar from a stranger in the audience, immediately handing it to a gentleman to examine the mark, date, and other items. While this is being done, the performer obtains the loan of a programme, which he tears in half, laying one half on his table. The gentleman is now requested to place the coin in the half of the programme held by the performer, who wraps it up and gives it to him to hold. He now goes to his table for a piece of sealing-wax, which he passes several times over the packet held by the gentleman, when immediately it is transformed into a packet of three envelopes, made from the programme, all gummed and sealed, one inside the other, with the marked half-dollar in the smallest one. As the gentleman cannot see how it is done, the performer repeats the trick for his benefit with the other half of the programme, but the result is the same. This time, however, the gentleman is requested to take the last envelope to the owner of the money, that he may open it and satisfy himself that it actually contains his own coin.
The six envelopes are now rolled up and given to the gentleman to hand to the lady, to keep as a souvenir of the entertainment, but before he has proceeded far the performer tells him he has dropped one of them (he has not really done so), and, failing to find it, he very naturally begins to count those in his hand, when he discovers to his astonishment that he holds the programme restored.
Explanation.—After the performer has borrowed the half-dollar, in the act of handing it to the gentleman for examination he adroitly changes it for one of his own, bearing the mark of a cross, which mark, is, of course, taken for that of the owner of the coin. The performer now asks for a programme, and while it is being procured he drops the actual borrowed coin into the smallest of the three envelopes, which are placed one inside the other and concealed by a book or some other object on the table. To facilitate the introduction of the coin, a tin tube, with a rather wide mouth, just large enough for the coin to pass through, is placed in the smallest envelope. After this coin has been introduced this tube is withdrawn, left in its concealed position, and the envelopes closed.
The flaps of the envelopes are sealed with wax beforehand and prepared with the best gum arabic, which is allowed to dry. They are moistened with the tongue just before the performance of the trick, and, if cut as in Fig. 7, can all be closed at once while lying on the table. This packet is laid on the table under cover of the half of a programme used in the second stage of the trick.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
To begin, the performer palms a similar packet of envelopes containing another half-dollar marked in exactly the same way as the one he handed to the gentleman, and it is hardly necessary to say, having the same appearance and bearing the same date. When rolling up the programme the performer retains it and hands the gentleman the packet of envelopes; and when going to his table for the wax leaves half of the programme and the half-dollar thereon. By the time the first coin is taken from the envelopes the packet containing the actual borrowed coin will be dry and ready for use.
The remaining portion of the trick will now be understood. When the performer goes for the other half of the programme he takes the packet of envelopes with it and substitutes it as before, and the trick proceeds as described. When collecting the six envelopes for the final effect, the performer palms a duplicate programme which has been lying on his table behind some object, and substitutes this as before when giving the gentleman the envelopes to hand to the lady.
Filtrated Coin.—Borrow a half-dollar from one of the company, wrap it up in a handkerchief, and request some one to hold it over a glass of water.
Presto! The coin is dropped into the glass and heard to jingle. When the handkerchief is removed the half-dollar has disappeared, apparently dissolved in the water. This very effective trick is accomplished by means of a glass disc of the same diameter as a half-dollar. The modus operandi is as follows: Borrow a half-dollar and while holding it in your hand throw a handkerchief over it. Under cover of the handkerchief exchange the coin for the glass disc which you have concealed in your palm. Now get some one to hold the disc by its edges through the handkerchief, directly over the glass of water. He naturally supposes that he is holding the coin.
Pronounce your magical phrase, and command your volunteer assistant to drop the half-dollar into the glass. It will fall with a jingle similar to that of a coin, and will lie invisible at the bottom of the glass. You may even pour off the water, but the disc, thanks to the power of suction, will remain in the same position, firmly attached to the drinking-glass. To complete the effect the genuine half-dollar should then be produced from under the table or from the pocket of the volunteer assistant.