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diff --git a/32368-8.txt b/32368-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b78e94 --- /dev/null +++ b/32368-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1296 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Peerless Prestidigitation, by Herbert De Caston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Peerless Prestidigitation + Being a collection of entirely new ideas and effects in + the fascinating art of modern magic + +Author: Herbert De Caston + +Release Date: May 14, 2010 [EBook #32368] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEERLESS PRESTIDIGITATION *** + + + + +Produced by Diane Monico and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + + + +PEERLESS +PRESTIDIGITATION + +BY + +HERBERT DE CASTON. + + +[Illustration: HERBERT DE CASTON.] + + + + +Peerless +Prestidigitation. + +BEING A COLLECTION OF +ENTIRELY NEW IDEAS AND +EFFECTS IN THE FASCINATING +ART OF MODERN MAGIC. + + +BY +HERBERT DE CASTON + +ASSISTED BY +The Leading South African Magicians. + + +COPYRIGHT 1910. + +(_Entered at Stationers' Hall._) + +HAMLEY BROTHERS, LIMITED, +LONDON. + + +BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS, +LONDON AND TONBRIDGE. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY SPEECH. + + +LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, + +In calling your attention to a deceptive entertainment, Legerdemain, +more generally known as Conjuring, a few introductory remarks may not +be out of place. The superstition that existed in the early ages, when +wizards and magicians were supposed to exist, time has not worn out; +the mystery that hangs over all professors of magic is still in part +retained. Many there are who class them amongst supernatural beings, +their seeming impossibilities are converted into positive realities, +their power supposed to be supreme. Now, were I, in this the twentieth +century, to stand before you professing to be a wizard or a +magician--or, in fact, to be that which I am not--endowed with +supernatural power, it would be looked upon as a gross insult to your +good sense; for in truth the only peculiarity of my profession is to +deceive--yours to detect. If my hands are quicker than your eyes, I +shall have the pleasure of deceiving you; but, on the contrary, if your +eyes are quicker than my hands, the reverse will be the result. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +INTRODUCTORY SPEECH 3 + +THE LATEST CARD FORCE 5 + +THE PHANTOM CARD 6 + +THE "DE CASTON" METHOD OF "RISING CARDS" FROM HAND 7 + +DE CASTON'S DISCOVERY 9 + +A SPECTACULAR HANDKERCHIEF COMBINATION 10 + +AN ORIGINAL CONCEPTION WITH EGGS AND FLAGS 19 + +A NEW HANDKERCHIEF COMBINATION 22 + +THE "PHANTOM" COIN TRICK 24 + +AN ORIGINAL "EGGSTRA" SPECIAL COMBINATION 26 + + * * * * * + +All Tricks described in this book can be purchased at HAMLEY BROS., LTD. + + + + +Peerless Prestidigitation. + +THE LATEST CARD FORCE. + + +_Effect._--A pack of unprepared cards is shuffled by any member of the +audience and handed to the performer, who requests one of the +spectators to secretly note a card by simply raising a portion of the +pack whilst held in the hand of the performer, who turns his head away +whilst this is being done. The cards are again shuffled, and the +performer instantly names the selected card. + +[Illustration] + +_Modus Operandi._--After the cards have been thoroughly examined and +shuffled by the spectators the performer takes the pack (face +downwards) and quietly bends them over his hand, the bend being so +slight that it is hardly noticeable. He then grasps the pack at one end +between the first finger and thumb of either hand, and requests a +spectator to select a card in the manner described above. It will be +found that the action of raising the cards causes a slight break at the +spectator's card, and enables the performer to insert his little finger +beneath the same and make the pass which brings the selected card to +the bottom. After getting a glimpse of the card the pack can be again +shuffled and the trick brought to a conclusion in any manner desired. + + + + +THE PHANTOM CARD. + + +_Effect._--A pack of cards is spread face downwards upon the table, and +one of the audience is requested to choose five cards and hand the same +to the performer, who arranges the cards fan-shape in his hand. The +spectator is now asked to name any one of the five cards, after which +the performer drops the cards face _upwards_ upon the table, and, to +the astonishment of the audience, the named card has entirely vanished, +four cards only being visible. These cards are now turned face +downwards and mixed with the remainder of the pack, which it will be +remembered is still lying scattered upon the table. The performer, +showing his hands quite empty, now proceeds to select another five +cards, which he places face down upon the floor at the feet of his +temporary assistant and asks him to touch with a stick any one of the +five cards. The assistant does so, and, to his astonishment, the +touched card is turned over and seen to be the missing card. + +_Modus Operandi._--When the pack has been spread face down upon the +table and the five cards handed to the performer, he asks for one of +the five cards to be named. This having been done, he gives the cards a +shuffle, and contrives to get the named card to the top, and secretly +reverses it. It will thus be seen that when the cards are dropped faces +up upon the other cards scattered about the table, the selected card +has apparently vanished. The four remaining cards are now turned over +and mixed with the others, the performer being careful not to lose +sight of the named card. Five cards are now taken seemingly at random +off the table, one of them of course being the selected card. The faces +of these five cards are not shown, but are immediately placed upon the +floor, care being taken to get THE card in the centre of the row. It +will be found that in nine cases out of ten the spectator invariably +touches the middle card, which, on being turned over, is found to be +the one he originally selected. Should the spectator, however, touch +any other card you simply revert to the well-known (to conjurers) dodge +of "Very well, we don't require this card," etc., etc. + + + + +THE "DE CASTON" METHOD OF +"RISING CARDS" FROM HAND. + + +_Effect._--Several cards having been selected and marked by the +audience are returned to the pack, which is thoroughly shuffled. The +cards rise from the pack whilst held in the performer's hand, and when +two-thirds of the card is visible. The performer requests the spectator +to remove his card himself, which he does, the card being drawn out +from about the centre of the pack. The remaining cards are produced in +a like manner, the effect being quite weird. + +[Illustration] + +_Modus Operandi._--For the purpose of this most mystifying card effect +it is necessary to prepare a few cards by cutting an oblong slit in +each card wide enough to admit the first finger. These cards are then +placed in a side pocket, or _pochette_, and the remainder of the pack +handed to several spectators for the purpose of having cards selected +and marked. This having been done the performer proceeds to collect the +cards, each card when placed in the pack being brought to the top by +means of the pass, and after the last card has been returned, the +conjurer palms off all the selected cards and hands the pack out to be +shuffled. On again receiving the pack in his hands he immediately +replaces the palmed cards on top of the pack, and whilst calling +attention to what has been done as regards freedom of choice, marking, +shuffling, etc., he secretly secures the prepared cards and places them +upon the chosen ones. By keeping a couple of fingers across the back of +the pack it is an easy matter to casually show the front and back of +the cards, and a great deal should be made of the fact that no threads, +etc., are employed. When the first card (_i.e._, the last one returned +by the audience) is well out of the pack, the finger again covers the +slit and the pack is presented to the chooser for him to remove his +card and verify the mark. The other cards are similarly dealt with, and +the prepared ones are finally palmed off, disposed of, and the pack +again passed for inspection. + + + + +DE CASTON'S DISCOVERY. + +AN ENTIRELY NEW CARD EFFECT. + + +A pack of cards having been shuffled, the performer deals about fifteen +cards one by one face upwards upon the table, remarking, "You will +observe that the cards are thoroughly mixed." During this action (which +is the whole secret of this experiment) the performer secretly notes +the _fifth_ card from the top of the pack, and when gathering up the +cards takes care that the noted card is left in its original position. +He now makes four heaps of cards (faces down and about eight or ten +cards in each heap), taking the cards from the _bottom_ of the pack, +and when this has been done the conjurer quickly deals from the top of +the pack one card on to the top of each heap, immediately throwing the +next card (_i.e._, the noted one) face downwards to one of the +spectators, who is requested to remember the card (which has seemingly +been thrown out at random), and while he is doing so the performer is +busy dealing the remainder of the cards in his hands on to the top of +the four heaps. The spectator is now requested to place his card in any +heap he prefers, and put all the heaps together, and again thoroughly +shuffle, during which time the performer turns his back so as not to +see which heap the card is placed in. It is now an easy matter to tell +the name of the card, which should be done with hesitation and plenty +of dramatic gesture. Try this trick, and remember to work it at rather +a high rate of speed, and watch the effect on your audience. + + + + +A SPECTACULAR HANDKERCHIEF COMBINATION. + + +_Effect._--Three white handkerchiefs are borrowed, a coloured one being +added to them (this being performer's own), and placed in a box; an +umbrella is shown, replaced in its case, and a change is commanded to +take place. The box is opened, and in place of the four handkerchiefs +is the umbrella cover, and upon opening the umbrella case the umbrella +is found minus the cover and the four handkerchiefs attached to its +ribs. The handkerchiefs are removed and laid on a table, the umbrella +being returned to the case, which is then placed aside. + +[Illustration] + +One of the white handkerchiefs and a pair of sharp scissors are taken +to a spectator who is asked to mark the same, which he does, the result +being (to the consternation of the performer) a large piece cut out of +the centre. The performer apologises for the accident, and mentions +that by a similar misunderstanding one of his own handkerchiefs was +similarly treated the previous evening, in proof of which he shows a +coloured handkerchief with a piece cut out of the centre. He says he +will endeavour to restore the white handkerchief, and at the same time +he will restore the coloured one. He places the two handkerchiefs with +their respective loose centres in another piece of apparatus, and upon +removing them discovers to his horror that the white handkerchief has +the coloured centre and _vice versâ_. He makes a frantic endeavour to +unpick the stitches, finally giving it up in despair. Another piece of +apparatus is now introduced into which he places the two handkerchiefs, +and thinking that it would be more interesting if he used all the +borrowed handkerchiefs, he picks up the remaining handkerchiefs from +the table and places them along with the two unfortunates. The +performer announces that he is about to cut them all up, but before +commencing to do so bethinks himself of his own good handkerchief which +he removes and places in his pocket. After some by-play the +handkerchiefs are shown in dozens of strips, which are offered to the +respective owners to sort out, but this not meeting with the +approbation of the lenders, the performer introduces a dove-pan into +which he places the torn strips, and whilst descanting upon his trials +and troubles he holds a lighted candle near the dove-pan and the pieces +of cambric catch light. In order to extinguish the fire the performer +claps the lid on the pan, and on removing the cover, out fly two doves, +and the conjurer immediately removes the three borrowed handkerchiefs +and his own coloured one quite restored. + +_Modus Operandi._--This combination will enable magicians to bring into +play some apparatus which they have probably put aside as obviously too +mechanical. Properly presented, no better effect can be wished for. + +[Illustration] + +I shall not take up space by describing in detail the various pieces of +apparatus, the working, I take it, being well known to magicians of the +present day. + +_You will require_:-- + +A CHANGING DRAWER BOX, with umbrella cover in one compartment. + +UMBRELLA CHANGING TUBE: in one side is the skeleton umbrella with three +duplicate white handkerchiefs and one coloured handkerchief attached to +the bare ribs. The other division contains the unprepared umbrella. + +BURNING GLOBE, containing a white handkerchief with coloured centre and +a coloured handkerchief with white centre. + +HANDKERCHIEF MILL.--One of the compartments contains white and coloured +strips, which will be shown to the audience later, as the borrowed +handkerchiefs cut to pieces by the knives contained in the mill are +produced. + +DOVE-PAN.--The pan only is placed on centre table, the lid and inner +lining being left behind the scenes to be brought on during the +experiment. + +THREE WHITE HANDKERCHIEFS (disposed of as mentioned above) to match +those you intend to borrow. + +THREE COLOURED HANDKERCHIEFS--one has already been disposed of, the +second one is placed in your pocket and the third one is prepared by +cutting a piece out of the centre; this latter mutilated handkerchief +is laid on your table, both pieces being required. + +A WHITE HANDKERCHIEF WITH COLOURED CENTRE, disposed of as above. + +A COLOURED HANDKERCHIEF WITH WHITE CENTRE, disposed of as above. + +A SMALL BOTTLE OF SPIRITS OF WINE, supposed by the audience to be +water. + +A PAIR OF SHARP SCISSORS. + +CANDLE AND CANDLESTICK. + +BOX OF MATCHES. + +REVOLVER, loaded with blank cartridge. + +TWO DOVES, and + +ONE INTELLIGENT ASSISTANT, if procurable. + +_To perform_:--The conjurer requests the loan of several white +handkerchiefs. A number being offered, he accepts three, which he +throws over a chair back while he calls attention to the empty +condition of the drawer box. The performer now takes the borrowed +handkerchiefs one by one and places them in the box. After placing the +third handkerchief in the drawer box, he looks round as if for another +handkerchief, and remarks, "I should have borrowed _four_ +handkerchiefs, but I will not trouble you again, I will use my own." +Drawing this (the coloured one) from his pocket and placing it in the +box with the three white ones, he closes the drawer. The drawer box is +now placed on a table or chair near the footlights. The performer next +introduces the umbrella tube, being careful to remove the lid from the +end containing the unprepared parasol, which he withdraws, opens, and +passes for inspection to prove its unpreparedness. The parasol being +returned is placed back into the tube, the lid put on, and in turning +to place the tube on the table, it (the tube) is reversed, which brings +the lid covering the division containing the skeleton umbrella towards +audience when laid on the table. The performer now commands a change to +take place, and picking up the box he pulls out the drawer containing +the parasol cover, which he removes and shows to audience. On opening +the umbrella tube, he withdraws the skeleton parasol with the four +duplicate handkerchiefs attached to the ribs; the four handkerchiefs +are unfastened and laid on the table, the audience believing them to be +those originally borrowed. The performer now selects one of the white +handkerchiefs, takes up the pair of scissors and asks one of the +spectators to mark the handkerchief so that he will know it again--the +conjurer holding the handkerchief in such a manner that the spectator +is compelled to cut a circular piece out of the centre. While the +gentleman is cutting the handkerchief, the assistant enters and removes +the drawer box and umbrella tube, as having been finished with, and +when behind the scenes he opens the box and removes the three borrowed +handkerchiefs and the performer's coloured one, all of which he folds +neatly and places in the inner lining of the dove-pan, finally putting +in the two doves and locking lid to lining by the usual bayonet catch. +During this time the performer has been apologising for the damage done +to the white handkerchief, and the owner not caring to accept his +property in its present condition, the performer calls attention to the +burning globe, and states that by placing the mutilated handkerchief in +the globe he can immediately restore it; at the same time he mentions +that "the previous evening I had the misfortune to have my own +handkerchief marked in a similar manner" (picks up coloured +handkerchief and loose centre from table and shows to audience), "and +will take the opportunity of restoring my own coloured handkerchief +whilst I am restoring the borrowed white one." After showing the globe +to be empty, the performer places the two damaged handkerchiefs, with +their respective loose centres, into same and gives the body of globe a +quarter-turn, which brings the compartment containing the white +handkerchief with coloured centre, and the coloured handkerchief with +white centre uppermost. After allowing the "spirits" due time to repair +the damaged MOUCHOIRS the performer requests one of the spectators to +remove the handkerchiefs, and on his doing so, it is found that the +centres have been sewn into the wrong handkerchiefs. The conjurer now +makes an attempt to undo the stitches, but finds it impossible, so +states that "I shall have to cut the handkerchiefs up in order to +restore them to their original condition." During this little bit of +by-play, the assistant enters, bringing with him, unostentatiously, the +lid of the dove-pan, which he places on the centre table, retiring +immediately with the brass globe, now finished with. The performer now +introduces the handkerchief mill and removes the knives in order to +show their sharpness, and the two handkerchiefs are placed in the empty +compartment (the other division, it will be remembered, contains the +strips of handkerchiefs); but on second thoughts the performer +considers that it is unfair not to treat all the handkerchiefs alike, +so he picks up the remaining two white handkerchiefs and the coloured +one from the table and places them also in the mill. + +Before commencing to cut the handkerchiefs up, the performer removes +his own coloured one and places it in his pocket, remarking that "to +damage my own handkerchief would be ridiculous." The performer now +makes the knives revolve, and shortly afterwards pulls the strips of +handkerchiefs out of the second compartment and drops them into the +dove-pan, saying, "The damage to the handkerchiefs is irreparable, but +I will endeavour to iron the pieces and the lenders can sort them out +at their leisure. I believe it is necessary when doing any ironing to +sprinkle a little water over the objects to be ironed" (sprinkle strips +with spirits of wine from bottle) "and also to wax the iron, but as I +have no wax and no iron, I will light the candle and drop a little of +the melted wax on the pieces of handkerchiefs." Whilst lighting the +candle the conjurer carelessly drops the lighted match in the dove-pan, +the spirits of wine become ignited and there is a great blaze. The +performer gets excited and endeavours to blow out the flames, and not +being successful, he frantically grasps the lid of the pan and claps it +on to same, immediately afterwards picking up his revolver and firing +over the pan, finally removing the lid (which leaves the inner lining +inside pan) and allowing the doves to escape. + +The handkerchiefs are now removed and handed back to their respective +owners, the performer's coloured handkerchief being returned to his +pocket. + +If the above description has been carefully followed it will be seen +that although an enormous amount of destruction has apparently been +going on, in reality only one white handkerchief is destroyed at each +performance of the experiment. + + + + +AN ORIGINAL CONCEPTION WITH EGGS AND FLAGS. + + +_Effect._--An egg is produced and wrapped in a handkerchief, which is +then placed over a chair back. A glass casket is next shown to be empty +and a piece of tape tied round same by a member of the audience. The +casket is suspended from a stand and covered with a borrowed +handkerchief. A Union Jack flag is produced and changes into an egg. +The casket is uncovered, and flag seen within. Handkerchief removed +from chair back, opened out, and egg has disappeared. + +[Illustration] + +_You will require_:--A glass casket for handkerchief, double +handkerchief with slit in centre of one side, two small flags, one +ordinary and one hollow egg (with opening at side), a piece of red tape +long enough to go twice round the casket, candle in candlestick, box +of matches and a folding brass music stand carrying a frame in which is +suspended the casket. The casket has the front lid and two sides of +glass, the back and bottom being of wood. A wooden flap is hinged to +lower portion of back, and a small silk flag is roughly rolled up and +placed behind the flap, which is held up by a small catch operating +from back of casket. Casket can now be shown empty amongst the audience +without fear of flag or flap being seen. The hollow egg is vested, and +the second flag rolled up and placed in matchbox ready for production +from flame of candle. The ordinary egg can either be brought on openly +or magically produced. I prefer using one of the eggs I have previously +produced in the "four eggs at finger tips" trick. + +_Modus Operandi._--Show the egg and wrap same in the double +handkerchief, taking care that the egg is placed in the slit; twist the +handkerchief round so as to show shape of the egg, and call attention +to the fact that the egg can be seen throughout the performance, and +lay same over chair back, egg towards audience. Show casket empty and +hand the tape to spectator, asking him to tie same round the casket, +the performer holding casket whilst it is being tied. It is now +suspended in the frame on stand (two small brass chains with hooks at +end being used for this purpose), and covered with borrowed +handkerchief. In the act of covering the casket, performer releases the +flap which drops down inside the casket, thus releasing the duplicate +flag previously placed therein. The candle is now lighted and the flag +produced from flame. While calling attention once more to the egg in +the handkerchief and to the empty (?) casket, the performer secures the +hollow egg from vest and proceeds to vanish the flag by working it into +the opening at the side of egg. When the flag is well tucked in, the +conjurer, without showing egg, explains what he is about to do--to +cause the egg to leave the handkerchief and appear in his hand, and the +flag to pass from his hand into the empty casket. _Presto!_ the hands +are opened, the egg is shown, and placed in a conspicuous position on +the table; the casket is uncovered and handed to spectator to untie the +tapes and remove the flag. + +The performer now commences to introduce his _next_ trick, seemingly +forgetting about the handkerchief which is still hanging over chair +back, and of course the usual "smart" gentleman asks, "What about the +egg in the handkerchief?" Performer seems flurried, but otherwise takes +no notice of the remark, and pretends to be anxious to get on with his +next item. The audience insists that the egg is still in the +handkerchief, and performer then calls attention to the egg on the +table, which he asserts is the one he wrapped up in the handkerchief, +and "eggstracted" by magic. The audience do not believe it, so the +magician, with seeming reluctance, very gingerly picks up the +handkerchief from the chair and shakes same out (the handkerchief, not +the chair), and the egg is "found" to have disappeared, proving (?) +that the egg seen on table is the identical one which was wrapped up at +commencement of trick. + +I am indebted to my esteemed brother magicians, Messrs. T. HAYES, W. G. +MALVERN, and J. HEMPSTEAD, for the description of the following +original and novel experiments:-- + + + + +A NEW HANDKERCHIEF COMBINATION. + +BY W. G. MALVERN, COIN AND CARD MANIPULATOR. + + +The requirements for this excellent trick are as follows:--A glass gas +chimney, four silk handkerchiefs--one red, one blue, and two white. A +small _fêke_--consisting of a brass tube about two inches long and just +large enough to slip over the forefinger of the right hand. There must +be soldered at the top of the _fêke_ on the outside, a piece of wire +forming a small hook. The _fêke_ should, for obvious reasons, be +covered with flesh-coloured silk. + +A sheet of cartridge paper rolled up to form a tube and of such a size +as to fit over the glass cylinder is also required. + +The presentation of the trick is as follows:--The performer commences +by showing an ordinary glass cylinder to be unprepared and free from +deception. The three handkerchiefs are next shown, and in placing them +on the table the blue handkerchief is casually dropped over the _fêke_ +which is lying there loaded with a duplicate white handkerchief. The +red handkerchief is then picked up along with the cylinder and placed +in one end; then the blue handkerchief (and with it the _fêke_) is +inserted in the other end of the cylinder. The hook on the fêke engages +the rim of the cylinder, which prevents it from slipping down. The +performer now covers the cylinder with the tube of paper, and in doing +so the forefinger is pushed through the _fêke_, which action causes the +concealed handkerchief to appear between the blue and red +handkerchiefs, and when withdrawing the finger, the _fêke_ is brought +away on it, which, of course, cannot be seen owing to the +flesh-coloured silk. + +[Illustration] + +The trick is now practically finished; all the performer has to do is +to vanish the white handkerchief into the _fêke_, which is removed from +the finger, and command the white handkerchief to appear between the +red and blue handkerchiefs in the cylinder. On removing the paper tube +this is seen to have been done. + + + + +THE "PHANTOM" COIN TRICK. + +BY J. HEMPSTEAD, MAGICIAN. + + +The coin trick I am about to describe is most suitable for performing +in a room, and has the advantage of being easily mastered by anybody +after five minutes' practice. This sleight has perplexed many of the +world's leading magicians, amongst whom may be mentioned Mr. Horace +Goldin. + +[Illustration] + +The effect of the trick is as follows:--The performer rolls up his +right sleeve to the elbow, and then sits down at a table. One of the +spectators is requested to sit down opposite him, and having obtained +the loan of a sixpence, he places the coin in his palm in full view of +everybody. The performer then closes his hand on the table, knuckles +upwards, and asks the spectator sitting opposite him to place his hand +on his (performer's), which he does, and then the performer, saying +"One! two! three! Pass!!" asks the spectator if he felt the coin leave +the hand and pass through _his_ (spectator's), to which, of course, the +answer is "No"; but, nevertheless, on the spectator removing his hand, +and the performer opening his, the coin is found to have completely +vanished. The hands are shown absolutely empty, fingers wide apart, no +palming being employed. + +The effect of this little trick cannot be sufficiently judged by a +description in print, but must be put into actual practice to be +thoroughly appreciated. + +_To perform._--When the performer (with right arm bared to elbow) asks +the spectator to place his hand on his (performer's), he brings his +left elbow on to the table and rests his head on his left hand--quite a +natural position--and when the spectator puts his hand on the +performer's (which in nine cases out of ten will be in the form of a +fist like performer's), the conjurer exclaims, "No, no! not that way; +put your hand _flat_ on mine," on saying which the spectator will +naturally remove his hand for an instant--and now comes the conjuring +part of the experiment. As the spectator removes his hand performer +raises his fist with a quick up-and-down motion, and as his hand +descends the coin is thrown through the bottom of fist into left +sleeve. This motion must be done very smartly and at the right moment, +but with a little practice will be found quite easy of accomplishment. + +It will now be clear that when the spectator again puts his hand on top +of the performer's, the trick is done, and it does not take much of a +magician to cause the disappearance of the coin. Of course, should the +spectator at first place his hand _flat_ on your fist, the same formula +is gone through as before, only _vice versâ_. + + + + +AN ORIGINAL "EGGSTRA" SPECIAL COMBINATION. + +BY T. HAYES, CONJURER AND ILLUSIONIST. + + +_Effect._--Appear with wand in hand, and after usual introductory +patter lay wand on table and pick up a piece of white tissue +paper--size, say, 6 by 4 inches. Roll this up into a ball and place on +the palm of the left hand; then, shaking it to and fro, it gradually +assumes the form of an egg. Lay this on the table while you light a +candle (ready in candlestick); pick up the egg again and hold it over +the candle to harden it. In a minute show the egg and have the same +examined. Make a few passes--limited only by the skill of the +performer--eventually placing it in the left hand (back to audience) +and command it to pass; show empty hand, at the same time point to +candle on table, when the audience see the egg balanced on top of same. +Take it off and bring forward with candle and show. Replace the candle +and pick up a handkerchief. Cover egg with handkerchief and taking hold +of egg through same, gather up the four loose ends and give to someone +to hold. Take up your pistol and fire at same, and laying down pistol, +pick up plate and ask assistant to place the handkerchief on it; then +open out handkerchief, and in centre in place of the egg he finds +original piece of paper (initialed previously if desired). + +Now take piece of paper, and laying down plate and handkerchief, make a +fist of left hand and push paper in at top, draw it out at bottom of +hand, when it is seen to have changed to a white silk handkerchief. +Show this both sides, holding it at two top corners; then roll it up +rope fashion, and pulling hands apart, a handkerchief is seen in both +hands--one white and one yellow (here you may remark "The white and +yolk; simply a question of colour"). Now roll these two together in the +hands, and hold in right hand over candle, saying, "I will hard-boil +it," and show the egg again. Pass for examination, asking if it is a +good one; on reply of "Yes," say "Well, I have my doubts, but we will +test it." Throw it in the air two or three times and the egg +disappears, you remarking, "I was afraid there might be a chicken in +it." + +_Explanation._--When you pick up piece of paper at first, you take up +with it a "skin" egg, neatly folded, with a thin strip of paper round +it to prevent it prematurely expanding. It is this that is placed in +palm of left hand, and paper strip torn loose. Lay gently on table and +light candle, and as you lay down matchbox with right hand (right side +to audience), palm egg in left hand from hip pocket or vest. Pick up +"skin" egg and hold over candle, presently remarking "It's getting +hot"; suddenly place it apparently in the left hand (really crushing it +up and finger palming), and show palmed egg in left hand. After sundry +"passes" "vanish" to candle. This is worked on same principle as "Card +in Candle," or "Card on Ale Bottle," using a half shell (cut +lengthwise). When you go to take egg, remove with left hand and place +in right, in which is original egg still palmed. The shell fits on +this, so only one egg appears. Pick up the candlestick in left hand, +and bring it forward to show it quite unprepared, allowing the _fêke_ +to fall forward flat on table. + +[Illustration] + +Replace the candle and pick up the handkerchief. This has an oval wire +shape in centre covered by a piece of the same material as the +handkerchief--this fits over egg, which presses out handkerchief into +proper shape. When you pretend to take hold of the egg through +handkerchief, you really seize this--allowing egg to drop into right +palm out of sight. Gather up the four ends of the handkerchief with +this hand, which adds cover for egg. Let go top (egg?) with left hand +and ask assistant to hold handkerchief for you. In handing it to him +first take it in your left hand and let your right fall naturally to +side, and either "vest" or "_profonde_" egg. Now take up pistol and +fire at egg (?) in handkerchief, and picking up the plate or tray, lay +down pistol and ask assistant to lay handkerchief with the egg gently +on it. With your other hand open out handkerchief--when he sees roll of +paper on same. (This is original piece, palmed in when pretending to +place egg in. The wire frame holds it in position.) Let your assistant +open out the paper and verify mark (if one was made). Meanwhile, lay +down the plate and handkerchief on the table, at the same time palming +small _fêke_ containing white silk handkerchief in left hand. Now take +back piece of paper from assistant and thank him; then make left hand +into a fist and push the paper in at top till all is in. This pushes +out handkerchief from the _fêke_ into the palm; then secretly remove +_fêke_ on finger, continuing the pushing with another finger (old +idea). Now draw out silk handkerchief from bottom of left hand--show it +by holding it at the top corners, in front of you--gradually raise +right hand and lower left; as you do so, seize the corner of the yellow +handkerchief which protrudes through one of waistcoat buttonholes. (I +have a small black bead sewn to the corner to make this easy.) As soon +as yellow handkerchief is clear, the left hand should have reached +buttonhole and now seizes last corner; then a quick turn (ropewise) +rolls up the yellow in the white. Pull hands apart gently, retaining +end of yellow handkerchief in one hand and the end of white in the +other, and let the audience see both, one in each hand. Now roll these +up in the hands, "balling" them well, and hold over candle (or a +Stodare egg can be used, making all safe). After a minute, show egg, +saying, "It's getting hot!"--change from hand to hand, thus changing +for real original egg, which you had just before palmed from vest or +pocket, and hand for examination. The final vanish is, of course, into +the _profonde_ and needs no explanation. + +[Illustration] + + + + +HAMLEYS' MAGICAL PALACE. + + +=Boxes of Conjuring Tricks=, 1/3, 2/9, 5/10, 11/-, 15/8, post free. +Larger sizes, 21/-, 30/-, 42/-, 63/- to 10 guineas. + +=Cabinets of Card Tricks=, 2/9, 5/10, 10/11, 21/9, post free. Larger +sizes, 42/- and 63/-, carriage on receipt. + +=Boxes of Puzzles=, 2/9, 5/10, 10/11, 21/9, post free. Superb Cabinet, +63/-, carriage on receipt. + +=Boxes of Assorted Wire Puzzles=, price 6d., post free 8d. Large size, +1/-, post free 1/3. + +=Cabinet of Coin Tricks=, containing eight tricks, 6/3, post free. + +=Cabinet of Amusing Jokes=. Latest Novelty, very funny and laughable, +containing thirteen surprises, price 10/10, post free. + +[Illustration] + + +SHADOWGRAPHY. + +=Cabinet of Hand Shadows=, complete with book by David Devant. Price +1/-, post free 1/3. Without book 9d., post free 1/-. + +=A Complete Set of "Shadowgraphy."= Containing every piece of apparatus +named in the book. There are about twenty different pieces, exactly the +same as used by Trewey. Price only 3/6, post free 3/9. + +=Sets of Figures= as described in the book "Shadow Entertainments," by +A. Patterson, at prices as follows, post free:--Broken Bridge, 5/3; +Ally Sloper's Menagerie, 2/9; Barnaby's Bull, 3/-; Mrs. Bugg's Chimney, +2/9; Old Tagg's Day School, 2/9; Down our Alley, 4/3; The Haunted +House, 6/9; Marine piece, 4/6; Set of Characters, 2/9; Book only, +describing above sets, 1/-, post free 1/2. + +=Ventriloquial Heads= at 5/-, 6/6, 10/6, 15/-, 17/6, 24/-, post free +5/4, 6/10, 11/-, 16-, 18/6, 25/-. + +=Ventriloquial Figures=, 15/-, 21/-, 30/-, 40/-, 63/-, 84/-, and 105/- +each; carriage on receipt. + +Any Special Figure made to order. A large assortment of Ventriloquial +Books. List post free. + +=Original Dialogues= written from 3/6 to 42/-. + +=Sets of Punch and Judy Figures= from 5/6. List post free. + +A Large Variety of =Marionette Figures=. List post free. + +=Hat Coils=, six bright colours in each, cut and made by machinery, +rolled very tight, price 2-1/2d. each, post free 4d.; by the dozen (not +less) 2/3, post free 2/9. + +=7-in. Tambourine Coils=, white, 3d. each, post free 6d. each; by the +dozen (not less) 2/9, post free 3/5. + +=Flowers of Enchantment=, best double flowers, silk leaves, shaded, +unequalled, price 1/1 per dozen, post free; or 7/6 per 100, post free +7/9. Cheaper quality Paper Flowers, very effective, bright colours, +price 6d. per dozen, post free 7d.; or 2/6 per 100, post free 2/7. + +=Multiplying Flags=, best quality, bright colours, very effective. +First size, 8d. per gross; second size (7 ins. by 5 ins.), 6d. per +dozen; third size (14 ins. by 10 ins.), 1/- per dozen; fourth size (19 +ins. by 15 ins.), 1/4 per dozen; fifth size (29 ins. by 20 ins.), 1/7 +per dozen; postage 3d. extra. Any size made to order. + +=Flash Paper= 4d. per sheet, 8d. per packet, 4/3 per quire, post free. + +=Grand Complete Illustrated Catalogue=, price 6d., post free. + +=CHAPEAUGRAPHY, or Twenty-five Heads under one Hat.=--A complete Set of +Apparatus, Book, etc., for Chapeaugraphy. An immense success for Public +Entertainments, Private Parties, Bazaars, Penny Readings, etc. Price +10/- complete, post free 10/6. Book only, price 6d., post free 7d. + +[Illustration] + + + { 35, NEW OXFORD STREET, W. C. +HAMLEY { 29, LUDGATE HILL, E.C. +BROS., LTD., { 510A & 512, OXFORD STREET, W. +Branches, { 200 & 202, REGENT STREET, W. +London. { 59, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, S.W. + { 86 & 87, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. (HEAD WAREHOUSE.) + + + + +HAMLEY BROS., Ltd., + +In which is merged BLAND'S MAGICAL PALACE. + + +Conjuring Tricks +Of all Kinds. +At all Prices. + +We have actually IN STOCK thousands of splendid tricks which can be +easily, but deceptively, shown immediately on purchasing, after merely +having read the clear and explicit instructions which are included with +each trick. + +Prices from 4d. to £25. + +All tricks described in this book can be obtained at HAMLEY BROS., LTD. + +=Ventriloquial Dolls and Heads= of every description. + +=Punch and Judy Shows and Figures= from 5/6 to 6 guineas. + +="Make-Up"= of every description at lowest professional prices. + +=Shadowgraphy and Chapeaugraphy= Outfits for Professionals and +Amateurs. + +=Puzzles=, =Practical Jokes=, and all kinds of funny Novelties, always +in stock in immense varieties, etc., etc. + +N.B.--We have Agents all over the world to keep us posted in "the very +latest," which is always to be obtained _first_ at our Grand Magical +Palace. + +Lessons given in Sleight of Hand, Ventriloquism, &c. + + +NEW BOOKS. + +="Some Modern Conjuring."= By Donald Holmes. Price =4/-=, post free +=4/2= + +="Entertaining."= By "Albertus." Price =1/-=, post free =1/2=. + +="The Art of Modern Juggling."= By "Anglo." Usual Price =4/6=, reduced +to =2/6=, post free =2/8=. + +="Problems in Mystery."= By Max Stirling. Price =2/6=, post free =2/8=. + +="Aids to Wizardry."= By E. D'Egerdon. Price =2/-=, post free =2/2=. + +="Patter Books,"= in 2 volumes. By "Selbit." Price =6d.= each vol., +post free =7d.= + + +Ideas for Illusions, etc., worked out. + +JUGGLING, VENTRILOQUIAL, BOOK, and JOKE LISTS sent post free on +application. + +GRAND ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE (nearly 1,000 Illustrations) post free on +receipt of 6d., stamps or P.O. + + + { 35, New Oxford Street, W.C. +HAMLEY { 29, Ludgate Hill, E.C. +BROS., Ltd., { 510a & 512, Oxford Street, W. +Branches, { 200 & 202, Regent Street, W. +London, { 59, Knightsbridge, S.W. + { 86 & 87, High Holborn, W.C. 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