| SLEIGHT OF HAND | APractical Manual of Legerdemain for Amateurs & Others EDWIN SACHS Dover Publications, Inc. | New Yorkpony 9c la, Das i Tort Ow {rary of Congr Catig Card Nambu: 79S4108 Monae ne Ui Sn en CONTENTS. Ibernoovoriox ors worm Conse TV —Taroes wien Cort ano Basa 1K—Gewa, Basan Xm Tanne ao Danes X1—Sunronne ano Provanvies 90m Gas Us XIV. —wions wien Con XVI—tie Gonmvoorte Kat XVIL-—Twoes wre Wavomes sn Lave B00 XVITLSeax Benenmans, Cammvorancr, {XIK—Povan TeranerionsPREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. Ir ie always a matter for seltcongratulation on the past ff am author to bo called upon to furnish a Profuoe to a second or mabsoquent edition of some “bantling of his bain” Jn the prevent instance the task ia more satiiuctory than tual, the author aot coming before the reader ompty- Tanded. Sinco the publiation of th fit edition, oonjuror Ihave not been idl, and numerous new methods for producing ‘magia surprises havo Hom. invented. Such of these as are suliable or worthy —for, in heir haste to be novel, many’ havo failed to be antetactory—the author baw incorporated; tnd, by a thorough vevielon of the work, bo as placed before the aspiting oonjuror, written wp to dato, all that ‘is possible for him to know i the sogion of Sinton op Haro. BS, Loxpex, Apri, 1885,SLEIGHT OF HAND INTRODUCTION. “Te ia aa pleasant to be chested a to cheat” fs @ maxim hat must have been framed expresnly for conjsring, forthe more completaly one in deveived hy ite modiom (and, be i sd, ty ite medium alone) the beter one is pleased, ‘Tho dato of tho origin of conjuring, ar wo now understand ‘tho art, is not mowa, but thare must have been profienta J th proto of it at early aa the tine of Obanoer; fr that tnciont writer apes of one Coll Trogetoar (Tregstoutsigni- fying © jugglen) producing a windmill fom Beneath a walnct shall, ‘hore ie doubtless some alight exageoraton in this Statoment, oF else modem wiarda are for behind thoes of ‘arly daye—an hypothons I cannot accept, In the maper- stitoas lands of the Bust, jugglery was donbiless st the Yottom af tho many manifestations that were mized up with religion, and the wily priate mado tho bost (or worst) uses of ita infvence on tht unculivaed mind. “When we consider ‘the effect that ie oven now produced on the minds of a en Hightonod audience by a skilfel munipalate, tho wonderment cf people who were but half civilised, and who were taught to belive in epiits in scarosly a matter for surprise.2 exon o7 max, Although waperttion hae nob dicd out if, Sadoed, it ever will dio ont—there are now very few poople who atiribat the successes of a conjuror to sny other agency than that of bi form abil always excepting Chat of he ovrlasting “oom federate:” who, as tho reador of the following pagee will incor, rise, in minsty-nine cases out of a huaved, only fn tho imagination of the spectator. Formerly, conjarors eppanted clothed in long vobee and tall, pointed hats, Both covered with myatlo sigs and symbols Robert Hoadin, whom we may consider the father of modern conjuring, boing th fret to perform in tho now conventional evening dre. Thi innovation had the elt of increasing the gansinenent of the pesformancs, anit wan an eaay matter to conceal large atiler beneath » flowing robs, each aw bad been proviounly worn; but the close-fting dren auit ards sno mente of consealment—to the mina of an audieno, at ‘any mite, Houdin was the means of elevating the art Jn the ‘oon of the publi, bsidos Snvonting i with nowy all that 4 pomesoon of tho gracafal; ond, ax it baa undergone ail ‘more improvement snes hin time, it haw now become ‘pormit well worthy the attention of anyone iostined to follow up, as mach for Uhe amutoment of Rima? as of others ‘Bosids ite powar of amusing, enjuring affords en immense ‘mount of lautrution to itr student, and is useful fn inal cating cootnes, pression, and an endless amount of resource, ‘which will alvaye sland one Ja good lead on the word's ‘wide and overshenging stags. Te i my intention to giv, in the fllowing pages, euch in stavetion an shall ens the merort tyro to become an adept in the art of Tegerdemsin, providing that a due degree of itntion in given and a reaonablo amount of prationwnder takon. -Practico, indeod, i what is ragaiod in ordar to eckieve soca in any pursuit oe amasoment, whiter ite mavore may tbo, and withoat it tho hort of inatrastion is given it vain ‘For this reason, I must exhort mach of my readers ee may feck to amuco their fiends through the medium of what emopvomon, 3 hall impart to thm to devote az mach time as they can spare 40 praction at the outat, im order that they may ‘oquive » neat method of manipalation, whioh inthe keystone of mocom ia a eonjarur, ani which, once attained, will never lava them, I to thi daloagy of manipulation fe added a savy of manner, accompanied by a novor-faiing cool daring, ‘hen the perfection of a oonjuor ix attaixed. ‘Magio thay eafely be divided into two parte, Deang-room DMagio and Grand Magic. As it in im the family citlo that fvery_smatenr conjoror monly exhibite ia stiainments, T shall Sev treat of deuting zoom mngio; indod iti absolutely eoeenry to be a mater of that brunch, in ondar to undortako {grand magic encouetully. ‘The wince of the conjuror who fe perform only on the stags, far removed from all ngusitoral Intertoonoe, wil bo but of abort duration. T find it hae Teun the cate with most maton, who rarely Sind oppor tonite for performing om stage, hat thal rentet successes Ihave Deen aehiered in the drawing oom, ‘The very fr thing w conjuror must posure ia & conjuring. vrsnd—an implement that is sways exppored by the audience to he for show only; and Tor much they mast almaye be made to think it in. tia, however, um absolutly indepensnble favo, Both to bapimaer and. profile, aa fb aerves ar an amcriliny to the oonomlment of any article fm the hand, a vill be explained hereafter. For the presen, all the learner Thus to do ie to provite a round atk of ebony, about 1sin, Jong, Btied with ivory, aller, or brase feraloe (aot caps) conmtensunk at cach end, and to trot to me to its being recenary. Tt ie best to have the wand made to suit the taste, at those sold at conjoringshops are invavably too short, Any wlkingatick masnfactarer wil wake i.Part I. DRAWING-ROOM MaGiIc. ‘Tu devivn ila chief beauty from the fact that i ix slmot cntirely dependent on puro slight of hand, a faot which fandlznose aro nover slow to appreciate, Tho most familar objeotn aro dealt with, snd aro made to vanish and reappear jn unexpected places, os though they raully were disembodied fd relgstted. ‘The amateur will nd, flaw & ow year ox Device, that” the imprompts performanoes ‘he may, from time to time, to called upon 10 give in the drawing-vome of his aaguaintances, will be mach more estntactory to both Trimgolf and hie eudienccs than the move pretentious affire sven upon stays, whisk call for a gre deel of mansge ment, spat from ability, to vender them accuses, When ‘once the performor lau attained the crodit of being ettor than the ordinary week, it will Become inommbent upon him to keep sp the lovel of abl by meane of pactos, a= wonder aut follow wonder in everneroasing proportion. sing, from being so readily proosrabl, and fiom their adaptability, are deservedly favoarito mois, and with them T shall fst deal. For all general purpotes, a wellcond tioned lovin will bo found the best coin for the beginner, although, of couse, he must, in tims, be able to manie plato slippery alf-crowon and pennies with equal “ee Florin, ab @ vale, are more vaully procurablo ia howe days, but few lalEcrowae being oxined in comparison with them, But ae the conjuror must be provided againt all er- srencin, T shall give directions for the best method of teat~ rent for euch coin, ‘The means adopted for the temporary conceatment of a cain in tho hand i known as Palning, tna T shall commence Drawing-reom Magic with s doseip- tion of the various methods, CHAPTER I. PALMING. Method 1. ‘The Palm Proper-—Hold the coin firmly between ‘the thumb on the ons side and the middle and shird Sngers on tho other, he fet and Litle Magers taking up graceful positions, aa it were, to oover tho movement about to be fnade (Fig. D. Reniove the thumb to x ordinary positon ® a ‘of repons and, af the mae inetant let th two fingers (seoond fand third) poem the coin into the palm of the hand, bait ‘wey down the root of tho thumb, the muscles of which Inst be brought to bear against the edge of tho esi, 206 fexmont oF max. ‘tnt it ie beld fimly and forme a budge over the hollow fof the hand (Fig), A backward and forward eving should be given to tho hand whit the coin ix being palmod, ait not only coves the movement, but also facilitates the opent- ton in a marked degree. a preming tho coin home, it will bo found that the third finger wil be mare usod than the ‘middle one, “Tho instant the palm ie effsted, the hand must bo made to assume the mort natural ysition posible under the ciroumetancey, the little finger being well thrown cut, Atlr the dainty manner ladog afoot when Bolding © oup, to as to give the hand breadth, Some boginmere think that in holding the hand perfectly fat thoy are effocting a very bonutifal polm; but thin Sa not he ong, at oan bo sown at ‘once by looking at the band without aay eoin in its palm, ‘That fa the model the conjoror must copy: any unnatural position at once bteays the fact that something unumal is fing on. For this method, the florin willbe found tho beet (Goin, a edge affording a better hold than tbat of any other piooe ‘Method 2, The Winger Paln—Tho coin is held betmeen tho thumb and forefinger, on the Intter then slid aide, wo that the coin ests upon tho aldo of tho middle finger. ‘The forefinger then taken the plaoe of tbe Um, and tho coin fn held an in Big, The ation is simplifed If the osin ld) in the fit instance ebwoon tho thumb and middle finger, but i locke awkward and msapilons, ‘This mothod vill be found pertialarly adapted for concealing coins of the size of a shilling end lee Larger coina should not bo treated thus, except ia emergunsiog, when anything fs allowable, Method 8, The Thuy Polo—This palm is not generally Iktowa, which is to be wondered at, for it is w very safe sand etry one, ‘The coin is imply held between the thax fand forefinges, snd thes lid to tha woot of tho lator, whare it i held, a ia Pig. 4 ‘The only objection to thia palm is that it Reape the thumb a lose pelsoner, to the manifest Pannen. 7 tom of gon, but i Sa execedingly scfol for lye and slippery enn, each aa bn-eowns, ponsice, and crowns ‘Matt 4-To, thew, sud four coi may be palmed by the fret method, bat the mothod shown ot Wig. 5 is the afer. ‘There ie 9 rather wnnatural depotton of the thumb bout i bat the fingers aro left free play. ‘Moth 5, Boverss Palm It in omatines required of the pontormer to show that his hands do not contain any oxi, HE a con is palued in one of thom, ho must tout exhibit ‘the other opm ia a very ostentatious maumnor, andy whilst ‘he andience i momentarily engaged in looking at i, proae8 sumomr oF max, the coin, by mons of the thumb, through the Singers of the Jand in’ which Ht Se eld, o that it protraden at the buck, snd eannot be ween from tho front (Fig. ). Some performers Ihave brought this palm to a great wate of pertestion, One very falling effect in to protnd to throw the cola, away. or thin purpon, it is held betwen the tipe of the int Anger and thumb, while lying upon the sida of the middle Singer, An the action of throwing Je imitated, the foreinger is ald over the ooin, tho thumb Ising removed, ad the coin ‘thus mado to protrude at the beok of the hand, Other fanciful methods of paling exist, but they will bo ‘of no practical wo to the confor, wo T have omitted doverp- tioae of them. CHAPTER I. ‘TRICKS WITH COINS, ‘Ta wee of the palm will male themselves manifeat in every tick in whioh money is used ae « medium, but the beginner fn astonish his friends, md, at tho ame time, make himself perfect by any of the following min teoks (@) Thoow the coin baokwarde and forwards, ftom end to ‘hand three or fonr tine, in e caoleas manner, aways taking fave that the left and ia shut well over ench time the coin Is contained in its and then make w fine of throwing, but, ia realty, pal the coin after the method that leat mute ite10 suaows oF wax, lea, ‘Tho and (ia most cages it would be tho le a= the rajority of conjurors palm with tho right; with left banded people woald be, of eras, revered) which is supposed to reocivo the coin must be ceed amarly, o na to make anoles lmlar to Chat eausod by » onin thrown int the palm. ‘This fs efactod by the ends of the two middle fngere striking the Meaky part of the thumb (Fig. 7). If thie a peopely oxe- ‘utod, tho illusion is perfet, and all eyes wil bo directa to the Left hand, when Ube coin can be quietly placed in a edo or tal pocket to which reaplacl it may afterwards be made to puss from tho left hand, whore it ie supposed to be, in = (0m te oe pnt he ln pa a My ragical manner, I would recommend the baginner to prntion ‘his movement seduloualy in privat, ae it teashon quick and ‘neat palming, snd will prove» most seoful anxlary to many Important tole. By “passing” w coln from plage to aoe “jn magioal manner” i implied the aot of pretnding to do to; it being an noowpted axiom amongst conjaneta never ¢o iy to any given spot antl the srtilo of couse, commend itself to all as avoiding untoward misiakes. To a coin from the band, wave the wand over i and ‘whatorer you think will go down bost with tho patiolar sadlenoe you have Dotore you. A abarp rap ox tho Iackler ‘ratcus wit coms. u vill conplate the operation, bu alwaya tako care to show the Thand empty, otherwioa the tric ie apllt. If the wand is not Tandy, protnd to rob the coin away between tho fingers, oF sifoct to give it to one of the audience. (See Figa. 8 and 9 for an eotive method) (Haves oin plod in th lett hand and orow m wilar no from the audience, and. ave i well marked (always Ihave coins masked whore porils, “to prevent. changing’) Make a atovement aa thoogh you placed the marked exin in the left hand, bt fm soality pal it At the emo tine, opan ‘he left hand, nd the eoin that baa been smugly concealed thore wil look an if it had just left the wight band. By his rane a change is effeted which you oan wii according to2 sumone oF uaxp, siroumstansee. By fdgeting about among the eudionc, you ray be able to ple the masked coin under ons of them the cotter coin being held by someone who is divested to bold it very high ar, vory high, 20 that evergone ean ast it”—tho ral object boing t0 Keep hin from examining it to closely By standing the bolder of the coin on a chai, an opportenity for slipping the pulmed coin into his pooket presote ite, tnd should be taken advantage of, ‘Tho marked ooin being ‘once eafely hiddon it So an eaay matter to palm the amarked ‘one (which, of outa the andlenoe has Boon lod to belive ‘the marked one) and make it * pam” invaily to wherever the other may he, ‘The eanjuror's own enin should alaye be provided with a very distinot musk—a crvte iv invariably & tafe one to emplay—as it is vray that ono meets with people ‘who can refrain from iaatitating an iit investigation 9 soon a the conjur’s back is turned. When the holder of ‘he coin is suen to bo sureptitionly examining for the mark, the conjaror should not prevent in, bat eal Eh atfen- tion of the audience to the fact, and ak if tho mark be sible, "Phe older, seeing the cross, will anawer in the firmatives ke not being aware, of couse, that the borrowed coin was pouty marked with a very difent sign, ‘This Incident wil add to the eftectrences of the trick, in trike « and B the wand will be found very weful, Tb ‘ould always be cariod under tbe arm, after the manner in Which soldiers curry thelr canes and when any palm has been fected, and the ooin has to romein onceled in the band ‘the wand should bo taken in the hand containing the coin ‘Boginners,cepcilly, will nd this of geeat assistance, og in the noo of somewbat datective palm the eoin can be preted ll ome by clenching the wand bat, Bovides thi, the fact ff earying a wand in tho hand koops the idee af the coin being there from tho minds ofthe eudianee; and the mind is what the conjror hus to desi (©) Have. coin palnod in the right bend (Palm No, 2), and procure » similar one, marked, which bold up to the audnce ‘mutans wom coms, 8 hy tho late hand Pretend to take it in the night, Dut let it {all Into the hollow of the left hand (Figs. 8 end 8); the unmarked coin in the right hand being exhibited. In oxder to effect this daring change natoally and without detection he thumb of the right hand must be paned throngh the tig formed by tho thumb and fordnger ofthe lft and the coin Iuld betmeva them, and tho fngars closed wall over tho ec, hich wil sppenr to bo grasped by them, Now pace the Jott nd under the table, the right and renaiing. abor Covered by the aston of bringing ib on the table, execate Palm No.1 with the night hand, bat keep the Sngers formed fs though thay ail eld the coin, which you than pretend to lay on the tablo with « sharp “lick” ‘This “lick” is made vy tho ooia in the lt and, under the tably in order that tho ilasion may be penfes ‘The right hand will Hn affct to rub the coin through the table and erentanly the one in ‘tho left hand, which hae ia reality never how out of {will bbe produced. ‘ho noise of rubbing is alao made by the coin nndar tho tabla nly it must not be eontinged ton Tongs ad care must be taken that the tro hands actin pefext as i wil not do for the noi to continue when the action of rabbing withthe eight Nand bas caged. ‘This trick i not f= dificle an it looks om paper, wad is very effetiv. ‘Tho ‘whole trick consate ia protnding to take tho masked oon from tho fingos of tho left hand without doing so. (@) onocal a umber of vias ia the left hand. Ae a. quantity exanot bo easily palmod, they most be Beld tn the and with the wand. If that is not handy, bold the fap of the coats but onto soula be taken that the wand teat oad for thia tvsk. “Bovzow a lst, taking it im tho aight hand (in hich a aoitary coin i pulsed), and tmafer it repdly to he lef auch m manner that tho crown i almays tomas tho andience, and the fingers holding the coinn are inside, he coioa mnt not be jingle, or the tick will be exposed ‘oll one of the audience that he must be vary eh if he ean ford to carry money about im rach atrnge places as yom“ sumone oF man, peecive he does, Surprise wil of ours, be expremed on his Dart, when you wil famblo about in hie Bair, and eventually find the coin which you hare hd yalmed, ‘Thin ie a mach otter method of commencing than marly saying, “have ere a shilling.” Te ie sure to amse the andienee, and put ou on s good footing with thom besides which, itis alway oll to mingle av amnch with them an possible, ao then people 0 home and say, “Oh! he came right down among ve, and found money in people hend” ho.” Also take car to find ‘the money in an clogent and inoffensive snamner. Having spun the enin in tho aie, fm order to show that iis a real one, retire to the end of the rom, afar away as you oan, if ‘he room is mall, and hold the bat ill in the lef. hand, bafore you, with the crown towatds tho audience, With the vin in the right hand, make « passat the hat, plug the nin (Palm No. 3), snd letting one from tho left band fall ‘Yow will then appear to have paneod the coin from the ght Ian into the hat, by way of the rome, Should the ooin by ‘ooiden fall on w eof placo in the bat, and ake mo nae fa 0 doing, shake the hat about to show that the eoie realy ie inside, ot n0 ono will know what ie supposed to have taken Place, Now advance step oF to, looking attiosly fornand fs if you saw wmething in th air and wadaly make v dust out with the right hand, at tho same time bringing the cain to the extrome ends of the agers. ‘The iden conveyed in that the coin has eon caught in the air (Fig. 10}. Pass it roogh the hn lei another fll from the left ad, and shaking the hat eo as to ensue the two that have been dropped jingling together, and Sind soother in tho alr Wetle ferther on, Proceed in thio way till all tho eoiea in the eft ‘hand are exhausted (varying the procadings by oocesonally finding one at your elbow or foot), and then show the hat vith coins to the andinoe, x mamber of which will doubdlees have "just one more” weated on tho lip of the nose, which coin is put into the hat ix the ondinary woy. ‘The bogianer shonld uso ailing, seven or eight only ix number, for thin ‘THORS wie cows. uw teok, bough larger csi ae certainly more ofetve ha Givtance, Tee bet to ue two plme, vty the finger yal ‘when fhe orn le toe caught fa the al or tho fame of ale (a very prety list a in mor etl bronght 1 {he ends of the Sager fom that pation; and cher of the tines (o,f cols when the en eto bo fond on the body or elewhere It ie a» well Yo ocowloaly preleed to but the can tata the hab inthe etinary way, talead of tsk te aor Sone one gor sing through the crown; but this is merely a mat fstuy. Te ometneshappeas ah the pwn ovens air yo fd the frat sce wil rom hin Dig “ona ma” {erin el eink oa we Mi ake “eles af onoe vith ht roger of come ater Jou ovn manner, which Wil be to pm the slg and Frotnd to gio to Kim, much to he dncmtae, In mowing he ty be me tha thier th le nd a the ct of bing ter, wo tat sny_secidentl expontr of the ‘sine held thr, hich might ecer through ineperonny il Te covert. Also observe the rato cation in. orn cnly oe eon nto the ab nf the fat ean flee the et cain afl, ie dows not materi tro or move are anc Eta ot fl ab oes, a Eh err could note dated16 sumonr o7 mayo. Dut at the commencement it would be simply fatal to do eo Under cover of tho hat itis eay to acpaate one ooin fiom tho rent for the fist drop. If the number of coins is very Timited, you must give the hat a short, sharp sbuke, whieh vill prve in ou of leting one fall; ut only do thie now sand then, ‘This tick will bo trosted in an enlarged form, under the head of “Grand Magia” When any nimbar of vine azo roquized for any othor tok, they shoul always be colleted in this manner, it being a tnoet flctive mech. Alays tak s stap in advance each time » onin iv found, Wor this reason the performer shold stand well to the right fon tho stage on commencing (@) Tho folowing makes an exellent “fllon” to the pro- cating teiok: Sappoao tht yom bave sateen eine in all in ‘he hat; conceal four of thom in one band, If the bat is then hela by the sume hand, it will not be noticed that it coninina any coins. Now ack someone to count tho coins fm the hat, and, of coun, there will ho twelve. ‘Take four ‘of there emay, and give them to be eld Yy anther person. Hold the hat high in the ais, and tell the person who has ‘he remaining eight coinn to drop them tuto it when you Ihave countad “thre.” Watel tho action of hie and narrowly, tnd, as tho cight coins fall, veleage the four conecled in the Band which Boda the bat 20 that they all fal exactly together, ‘The great thing to avoid isthe sound of two distngt Atop whisk would bo fatal, Leaving tho hat, covered with f Dandkorchiot if you please, in the hands of your temporary Auiotant, who will of coun, bo enjoined to "hold it very high,” you tako the four eoine just previously given to be old end “pws” thom invaily into the bat where, of cour, twelve coins will be fomnd. "Tho method for passing need fn tho nme as that depited at Wig. 7, with tho aiference ‘hat tho coisa are not palmod. ‘They met be held in the ingers lotely (Fig. 11) 40 that when the alte. movement of placing thom in the outatretched palm ie made they will some tagother with w clash, which is highly nscemary for the ‘meioes wars conse. W ucouts of the past. ‘Tho land astolly containing the coins mast instantly oeizo the wand, whish astile will then extae the magio journey from left hand to bat to be iade, Be careful that she counting of tho cola is dono in a. very dkliberats manner, and ia « loud wios, so that everyone i ‘tho room Knows how many eoine are aupposed to bo in the ‘bat before you pos tho rect into i. 18 thin in not dane, the Efeot of the tec ix lnk ‘Hore Jet mo alvise my reader to assiduously prctiso wick palming, for which parpose T would recommend tie (eas «most efotive exercins. So much depend upon a fulck and secure palm that too geeat atras cannot be lad (em pon it, Tndeod, T cannot 120 strongly impress the learner with the necessity of practising everyting, to the minutest Atal, fa rivate, bafore venturing to. perorm before other By 1 doing, much chagrin and disappointment. will be verted. (/) The trick Tam now shout to doevibe will, I have 20 oubt, be Iowa to many of my readers; but Task 20 cxouso for giving it here, as thoao who ean claim a provious sesisintancerhip with the tice wil, perhaps, here loa a ‘wrinkle oF two worth lmowing: Bonow a handkerchief When I my "torow handloreief" Tdo not mean simply Yortw one without say comment. On tho contrary, make ‘rst fue about norer asing your own bandkorchie, he.18 sumaur or an. nd be partionlar to band sound all borrowed artilew for inspection, to show that you “have no confederates” By making your aadience thoroughly sick of looking at borwwed tile, they are more likely to pass over anything of your ‘own that wil not bear minute exnmination, This sbould be borne well in mind, Sprend tho hundkorchiet out upon the table, and place a coin, ot heavier or leger than a shilling (orrowed and masked), in the entre of i Beneath the nail of the middle fngor of the vight hand (whioh hand is Smeal, but for the parpose of iluetration ik is necessary to uso tho terms “right” and left") you hare a. small place of eas! wax (on no acoount cobbler war) which you hhave previously made toleraly adhesive by woking it about. ‘Place this finger on tho evi, saying, “Now, in order that fall may noe ist I do not for one instant move the oola fom its position, T ples this fager upon i,” and, teking mp one of the corners of the handlerchiaf in the other band fold it ovor tho ovin so aa to well cover it and prea it down Ihara, allowing the war to come olf on tho ein, and to cause mutaal adbermoo between it and tho handeeroiet, old the rumaining three comers over one another with great Aalberation, ezibiing « portion of the coin each time, ¢o show that thoro ie "no cheating” Wham all four comers tte folded over the handkerchief will wll bein the shape of ‘8 aguare, bat of cosiwe meh mnaller than i was at tbe come ‘menconent, and it will have an aperture running from the contre 19 ach corer. Noto the portion of the bandkorhiot to which tho coin is stuck, and plao tho tno hands sido by fide, ia tho aperture formed by this portion and the one next to i (Pig 8). If the hands ate now separated briskly, ‘andthe ides of the handlercief allowed to aide through the Gagery, it atands to reaaon hat, the coin being fart t0 ‘he comer of the handkerchief, it will when the comer ie ruched, fnd ite way into the bund, ‘The bandkerohicf mast De abuken hard, as oom ar the enn ie eafe in the hand, for fect. The operations of opening the handkereief and | | i | smioes wren come, 19 shalking it most bo practised until they con be compasted ‘oth smoothly and quickly in one movement, ‘Tho tick ia ‘ney, bub roquires some little protien, Common soap it an cxcllanteubstitata for wax, but it hae the dimdvantago of Ting las portable, ‘The bonsty of tho wax in that it cat be co ecily concenad boucath tho nail, and come off the oxi leanly. The coin euocemfslly vanished from the adker- chet, it ysis with tho perfurmer to reproduce it in. what manner he pleases If he hae already found ooine in tho heads of tho andionc, the reproduction ean be For fnwtanos, Mla ty pleco of wax be allxed to the Mat end of tho wand, and that and brought into ootact withthe coin rile i the palm, and a ty promure wand, the cok wil ad Ione. ‘Then, if the wand be passed rapidly behind a curtain, co lnside the coat of ane of the audience, a grant fact an bo caused by slowly produsing tho vanishod article from its suppoaod place of concealment at the end of tho wand. The trick can bo farther prolonged by having about bin. of Thumm hair, with a tiny bead of wax at the end, aflzed to a20 sumonr or max. mistocat button. Aflx the eon to the waxed end, and place in a wineglas in which it cum be easily made to danco by slightly moving tho glass or depressing the hair with the ‘wand, which is eapposed to be betting tina, Sach x combi nation of teks, cach ono cosy in ital, fonda Savaluable practice to the hnginner. ‘The eonjoro, like the cheaper, mont alvaye aos, in bis mind's aye, two or thie mover head, ap thal no bitch or hesitation gooues, Por example fhe iastant the coin reucher the and from the. baud Teri, iv must bo polmed, the wand taken up, and the Inndkevehie ostntatonaly given rownd for ipection to show that there eno hola in it, or for any other plauable mason Peshape yo will only gain fire seconds by thin, but that ‘timo enough to enable you to pros the wand against the coin, You must not, aftr hia, allow the least pense to ova bat ab one asin someone, and have your watd inside bia oat betore bo knows what you aw abouts fore must be seaimnbered that, if the action is noticed, the coin will be notioed tao, oi ix im a tolerably eonspiouona Position at the fed of Hho wand, "Then, whit you ate rating the indlideal soundly for having endoavoured to. epoil your trick by ene ‘maling tho coin, and drawing uaivarel attntion to lz, one Tnnd willbe bully employed in presing the waxed end of the hie againat the coin. ‘The trick of danoing coin in w glane fina well known thet no one with any desire for a eptation su prostidigitatour would intdace i by itolts bu, in the ‘Mastration T havo just given, tho oaln hae been in mich a vataty of ples and eituations, that tho iden of ite bing fied to anything does not enter the minds of the audience Hattasminite' duncing i quite wolfsint, nd st the end of it the attention of the aadienoe mot be at once drvnn into soother groove by your showing the coin to bo tho veritable fone marked como time since, tho war being zemoved by a finger nai (g) Another vary protty tic io the following, although lao reall knows. Procure (a “mayioal repository” wil be found | | ‘RIOKS WiEH corns, a the Dest place to go ton Uhe lag run) a “neeh” of roma Doren one Atting lane the other If the outeido one ie af ‘tho sie of a crows pinos, aid the inner ono lange enough to contain a shilling, the “nest” should consist of ino ov tom Toros. Have the lide arranged in otdet, one within tho other, and the bodies in the eame manner, bide the lids, TE you sre porforming with a retiring wtreen, the boxes ean be soranged Dehind it, Laoking this, the next bert plan is to Dave them at the bottom of « bag, which wil aie the noise rade by abutting thm. Borw © marked coin, which you ‘vill exchange for w aiuilar one in. your yal (Palm No. I Give ths to bo bela. Say, "Now, ere T have a wmall bor” But as you havo purposely lft the “atnall box” behind your fsoreen or in your bag, aa the ctoe may be, you will lave 10 40 and fetch it, AW soon a6 your handy ary ont of op the coin (which willbe dhe marked ne) into the smallest tor, and shut all the lid down together. If you have t0 30 ‘his fowide tho tag, and consequently in full view of the ssudionos, your fase must bear an anions aud lightly ennoyed fexpromion, as if the box eould not be found. Ae soon aa the smaneavr in executed, exclaim, a if snooh relieved, "Ab, hove it in, Now, ladiea and gentlemen,” ay fs, ‘Tho operation of hutting all tho bores down at ono it w very i tho two halvee meting, a ib mere, hal way. A litle pruatioe will won show the Tuility of attempting to fare the Tide ‘over othe Hodiet. Placo tho box im « prominent place (do not give it to bo hal, ae slight abake will reveal the fact ae thro is w coin alvondy inde), and, taking the coin ont of the bandlerohit, it into the bax, which now ea someone to open. | Of couse, box No. a will te. found inside, at which you wil say, “ Dear ma” or mako any other cxprossion of surpriso, Bozoa Noe. $, 4, and oo om will in tum be revealed, amidab great amnsement, and in the inner. ‘most onc, which the performer aust, on no account, open imelf, the ooin wil be discovered, You cannot very well22 exmion oF mam, void allowing an examination of the boron, but always take care that tho lids are in one place and the boxes in another, tnd all in geet confosion an to gradation of sna, and at eho cnsiot opportunity ameep them away. TI la tho fashion to perform this trick with w eoin previously sewn in a hand erehie, which handkerchief in whieked inthe ait, The tet in dcidedly good, if not ape (ax 8 erty will be, ‘over and anon) by a demand to oxamine tho anderhief, ‘whioh demand, T nowd hardly ma, it ie imponble to aocode 0, This sort ‘of thing the eonjaror mast never indulge in Lat him borrow and rotor hi handkeroef ike 9 mua, and ‘rust to his elaight of land () Palma penny (Pal No. 1); Borrow another, and a dos, ‘Aue one of tho suis to extond his or ber hands (paine ‘open and upwards) towntds you; give the borrowed penny to to held by someone elas, hold the florin at the ends of tho fingers of the lft band, and exacul the pan described in triele , which will leave the florin in the palm of the lett Jband. "The penny fa the wight hand must not, howorer, be sctully exhibited, avi the coin in tik e, but be immediately Placed fn one of the outstretched hands tufore you. TE the ‘owner of them nat ll restive, and anxious to ne what je in 1s or her band, oi a parton you know oF think you cast frost, ask the meat peroon to assist in the operation by Iholding the hand in ono of his or hor own, Thi, you will cexplnn, in to show that you have 20 confederaten IE the two partie are of opposite sexes, you can improve tho ocousion by some gentle sally about the gentlaman buing honoured by holding @ lady's hand, ds, ‘This operation concluded, the fnsdiner, including the holder of the oxi, i you may have ‘no fear under the impreson that the Bosin isin the holder's Iband, "You have sow to snake believe to. ple the penny into the otbar outatrtahed hand. "To do this, you mart cxecuie the same punt ax before, only reversed; diy the right hand will hold the penny and the Inf the palmed forin. ‘This (Hick afords an instance where paling with both ands is smmices wir con. 28 requsito accomplishment. If the performer is not able to pm with both hands, an opportanity must be auido. for iptting tho coin in tho loft hand bask into the right. By re penting tho chango as befor, you will be wuppoted to pla the nny in the other hand of the holder, and, drawing partiulae itention to the exot postion of the coin, command then to chuage place. This tick, no ximplo to Tooke at i ne of ‘the mont dificolt to perform of thom yet destibedy for not nly must tho sloight of band be well exsoutd, but the whole Gemeanour of the performer mutt bo imprestive of the fact that ho really ie doing what he says hein nwtond of exactly tho reverse. Yot tho impremivenom must not be too pointd, or the natural soxpision in human nature will bo aroused ‘Tho “happy modiui” in well hit the performs, in giving the forin Gn reality the pouny),coye, "Now, air” (or * mada,” ts tho caro may bo), “I will ask you to tako great care of thi tain for me. Conjurors are bub poor yeople, and eannot wal, Mord to lowe money} for thie room I have given you the forin to hold in your right hand it being the stronger.” On fivigg tho peany, you oan my that "I would rather, for tnfty's mk, that it wero slang with the forin ia the right Tband, only, in that cam, there wosld be no trick” In giving ‘the coinn into the holder's hands i i highly eaential that you dose the latter rapidly, the caine being ao covered By your own fingers during the operstion that nothing in ron of em. “Otherwise, ib would bo unneconary to posed further vith the trick ‘The florin may be marked, bat not 0 the ‘pony, unless tho audience inviste pos it, an they sometimes wil, xt the instigation of Mr. Tntorlrunco; ia whioh ease ‘ho pniee must bo ona0 more exshangei—s very simple rmatter—baforo the coin ate Ttaraed to their owaorn, (@ Borrow or produce (it i immaterial, are for appearance, which you da) siz to nine coins, and lay them, apart trom ach other, on etablo or slab. “Have onn of the coins seared by soveral persons in the room (at the “no confederate” excute), and placed slong with the unmarked ones in a hata sumtoxr oF Hap. tnd the whole shaken up ¢0 ato bo well mizod. What this in being done, hove yonrenlé MindfoWed. Placing your band fn the hat, fol every coi, end you wil ab ance detect whieh in the marked one, by its warmth. The heat is imparted to it from the many Iands thiough which it has poscod. Tt in always advantageous & avo tho other coins ying om as ‘ald plage an posible; Dut nevar tora back « tablecloth for ‘the purpon of allowing them to He oa the bare maboguny, for a clue. to the antnton of the miyatery will bo given Sometimes some clrer poop wil petead to put tho marked stilling into the hat without doing oo, This you can eully Aetest by counting the eaias, Of couse, you would not ‘oust them until you filed to find the marked one, ax the tio shold be performed ar quickly ax pomible. No sleight fo band. whatever ie required; but i is w tick which never fila to excite the greatest wondorment whanorer sucosefully prforied. By allowing the sence to arvange the prelim havien, you dimes nuepsion. ‘The Blindfodng, whieh $x an Innovation of my own, I Sad = great improvement. Of eos, snake the most of i (@) Have = shilling pulmed (Palm No. 1), and torow snothers slay a handkerwhiet, Pago the bored shiling Sa ‘the handorchiet, which voll up very loosely, tho coin from tive pon being included in the folds, and ar near the other ‘one a pone without actually touching it. Place the whole in a bat with one end of the handkewhlet hanging ont Now borrow snother shilling, which say you wil pase ‘ini into the handkerchief. Make a pesm and ask eomo- ne to abake the handkorehiot into €he hat, when the two oine will fagle together. ‘This is a simplo trick, and is ‘capable of variation according to cicunatances, (@) The teick I'am now going to describe, ae a. druning. room cxperitont with cui, urpasues, for simplicity und fect, all others, “Bat ita implicty smash not lead the Tewnar to attempt it without ving attained some pro ficeney in the foregoing ticks, for conideralo nestness is required to exceute it effectively, Procure « plese of of tho site and thickneee of w pony, and have the oiger aground smoot, but not polabed. ‘hin ie best obtained feo # lapidary—not an optician, Have it palin flier hand (Palm No.1). Borrow a peony, and, whit it ix being marked, ask ona of the andionce to Balf 6) wineglay which Das eon ell examined, with water. Alvaju le the andionoe ttend to such matters we theas, aa it tends to diem sospcion, and alko saver yom trouble, You will, of cone ‘ot omit to make the moat of thee Being no pomble Acception in the ae, which you will give a Indy to hold by thostem or foot Now borow « white bnndkerehie, a cone fs you can procure it (do mat aak for w coaras bundkorhie, for that would be impolite, bat ray you want a gentleman's hnndkerchiat, and then you eau alent which you prefer), and, taking. the marked coin in the same hand ae tat in whieh he glass is palmed, epread the handkarchiet over ik Approach26 sunrony or Axo. ‘he lady holding the wineglan, and affect to take up the nin, with the handltubih frm the outed, by cane of the Aismgaged hand, but in reality take up tho glam, palmiog ‘ho coin (Pal No.1), Now aprond the handkorbiof over the winsglass, with the mxpposed coin exactly above tho latter, find within'an Such of ite rim, Let the holder of the wine: last grasp the coin (ia, the counteflt procantmant throat) wrth the thumb and fordingor of tho dleengaged hand, sad sp it in the somo postion, with the understanding that sf the word “"thiwe”” it ix to be allowed to fll into the las (2 Fig. 15). Take groat caro that the poco of le fs Bld exactly over the wingglas, and utter the word of fotumand only when there is a deud silenca, ‘Tho Filing of the falling laa wil, of course, bo assumed by the ‘dion to be that of the penny, You will now expe oor intention of invisibly extracting tho eoin from the gla. ‘Une any eabalistic form you may choos, and, with » fouish fof the wand from the winoglaes towards your band, exbibit ‘the cola, and givo i to bo examinod Let the lady withdraw ‘tho handkerchief from the wingglasy Which st onoo exo ‘and show ropidly rund, ‘Tho gan wt the botiom wil not ‘be porerived, and you mutt take an early opportmnity of extracting it Some ‘ticks “take” in various dogvees at Alleeat tues, bat thie one naver fila to. throw the ‘andionoe nto a state of bewildermant, Alway obtain po fomion of the wingglas an spon aa you can aftr the ‘completion of the trisk, for poople will somtimes feel to ‘he bottom of it with Weir fingers although without the {infest notion of hat they are leaking for. “When you ‘elder people, you must not bo wurprind if they do ine. loable thing, and mat prepare yourself for all emergensios ‘My reason for dweting tho performer to borow pauny for thin tick Jo that it has, similarly with tho cielo of fas, no milled edo, and ie of tho aizo. most convenient for the occasion. In extreme otses an eyeglan may be wood, when, if haw & mild edge, a4 most of them have, smmioes wre cor 7 it would bo ar woll to Jomow fori; Dub in much Jnstanoas thore must ‘be mo dallying im showing the glass round ator the idk, or the rbd edge will intliby be eon. T remember finding myself, on one voteson, without ray pioco of ass, and Iorrowed an eyeglass of ono of the audience, under the protort that the silken coed by ‘which it war sampondod. waa the very thing T seguired for A telok, T did some tevlal thing with the eon, bat. for gob to return the gla for an hoor or 90, having in the Interim forend i out of ile frame (wax minted in ‘artoioshol), performed the tie and replaced it. T knew ‘hat T should have to yorfom this porticlar tek, oF have my reputation tarfshed, 29 mode a bold stoke for vloory. Now Tam over without she glass, snd advise my renders to obser the samo preomstion, A port wine glaas in the ‘ost > ts, the pon of glass Daiog Table t sok in the ome paratively narrow sherry plas Always give the winegass 2 Indy to hold: Indien aro Ton ilo to atempt to conduct fsperimenta after their own nanter, or to make promatre Azsloowes, either of whisk proralings is embarreasng the performer. "The conjaring repositories engply ches ge tumbler, with w glam exactly the size of the interior of the bottom. "Thiet an sndoabled improvoment, ar the water may be poured out, if an examination be demtded, hen tho glase will still adhere to bottom of tho tumbles although the latter be tarned upside down. hie trick, whan "worked" in omjumotion ‘with the nest of ones, previously mentioned, malice an excallent combination. The rat can be used for any sized enn by the simple expedient of removing the very smallest boxes. (m) Tako a penny, in good condition, and make, oF have made, By a competent porson, a groove, quite j\ia. dep, al round the outer edge. ‘Thin is vury cally and most aceatly ranagod hy means of «lhe; bu, wanting that wctal Iachino, © pieringanw and A nosdledla will anewer ‘When the groove ix completed, with the paring www cut the8 suman oP max, penny into thee peoes of equal width, Now tako 9 vary fine indirubber bund, obtainable at all shope where rubber goode fro ool, and atrtch it ronnd the grove, ‘The illestration shows the penny in three poor, and aleo the band astaal ‘ize before being stretched. In puting on the band, com ‘mance with the cont pie, and then fit in the aide piece, tho greatest care bsing uecotaury ot to allow the band to got twisted. ‘The reault of these operations, when concluded, J that the penny can bo folded up and made to coompy a pce in width onothied of ite emul diameter. When held it a Title distance feom the apocttor, the incisions ae not bearable, expecially bafors the penny in uted for a tok, “() ‘tho teens of which, being unknown, does not lead the suse psi of tho audonca into any ticular groove. Aw the fot of folding causes » sharp sisi to oe put upon the band fat the jazations, the groove a thowo pints mst be carefully fled, s0 a8 to completely do amay with anything Yeeambling 8 eulting ego, or a dsustar may very cally ooo. Tovar ably, befor using, the band shoold be minataly examined, tnd, ifthe alightat signe of wear manitet thamelyen, it shoal he changed. ‘The prepared coin (whioh need aot necoanily be & penny) generally used in conjunction with « bottle nto which it | mado to pase, wid the mouth, In order to make the tick all satisactory, a marked penny abonld be borrowed, aad ‘mors wir com, 29 cachanged, by any of the previously deseribed method ‘he prepared one ‘A vodanatar Bottle hae boon prerously handed vox for szaminston, and this jn taken in the left hand, With the right hand show that the penny in af lest broad again as ho mouth of the bottle, and then, folding i wp quickly ‘whet making a oovering movement; and hidden Dy the body of tho band, lt i fal though, Stow che bottle round 9 ‘the spectators, continnally saking # x4 5€ t9 oonvings them ‘hat the coin ia eld and sal, It rally to prevent the pow silty of the alte being seen. ‘The tice ens now be fished in two ways, ving the bottle may be broken, oF the eu etn bo sbaken out again. T faney the breaking of che bottle the more fective, ag the shaking out mathod imprerss to forcibly upon tho mind of an intelligent oompany the fact that some mysterious if ingeniously concealed, preparation existe in comnoction with the coi. But thn perforin thie Fnwtanse, at in very anny other cate, mist be cided in hig actions by the meatal calibre of the spectators, To shake the eon from the bottle, the later howd be taken Iorizotaly im the right band, the fiayers of the left hand losing romd the mouth, leviag a hollow in the palm for ‘the ooin to fall nto. A not t0 violont awacping shake ie then given, Briging Whe mouth of the bottle downwans srhon the enin abowld pane into the lett hand, Some Lite practice will bo roquted to insure this operation boing rouge off ab the fist attempt, Having to sake the bottle then or fone times Joke vali, althongh it dace not baollely spoil the trick. I haee dineoted the wae of avdamatr Bottle booaise it haa sloping ses, which facitate tho operation of getting tho penny out very oon derably, and aleo Because it is malo of ‘white glam IE coloured bottle wore used (which it must not be, 3 possibly Svedablo} the spectators would mumpest that ool hall sme how been conoetlod in tho intaror before tho trick bogan, However the coin may be stained, whethor by breaking the tor