The Ring and the Handkerchief.
Previously provide yourself with a piece of brass wire pointed at both ends, and bent round so as to form a ring about the size of a wedding-ring, which conceal in your hand; then commence your performance by borrowing from a gentleman a silk pocket-handkerchief, and from a lady a wedding-ring; request some person to hold two of the corners of the handkerchief, and another to hold the other two, keeping them at full stretch. You next exhibit the wedding-ring to the company, and announce to them that you will make it pass through the handkerchief. Then place your hand under the handkerchief, and substituting the false ring which you have previously concealed, press it against the centre of the handkerchief, and desire a third person to take hold of the ring through the handkerchief, and to close his finger and thumb through the middle of the ring. Hold the handkerchief in this manner to show that the ring has not been placed within a fold. Now desire the persons holding the corners of the handkerchief to let go, the person holding the ring (through the handkerchief as already described) still retaining his hold. Let another person now grasp the handkerchief as tight as he pleases three or four inches below the ring, and tell the person holding the ring to let it go, when it will be quite evident to the company that the ring is secure within the centre of the handkerchief. Then request the person who grasps the handkerchief to hold a hat over it, pass your hand underneath and open the false ring, by bending one of its points a little aside, and bring one point gently through the handkerchief, the remainder may easily be drawn out,—be careful to rub the hole you have made in the handkerchief with your finger and thumb to conceal the fracture. You then put the wedding-ring you borrowed over the outside of the handkerchief, and desiring the person who holds the hat to take it away, exhibit the ring (placed as described) to the company, and while their attention is engaged, taking the opportunity of concealing, or getting rid of the brass ring.