Magic Memorized
It is said that at some period of his life every boy becomes stage-struck, and it may be averred with equal truth that sooner or later every boy is seized with a desire to become a conjurer.
Considering the fascination to old and young alike of a conjuring entertainment, this is not to be wondered at. But when the would-be conjurer begins to realize the years and years of practice necessary before he can accomplish his desire, he soon despairs; and instead of proudly mounting the platform as an entertainer, he finally satisfies himself by humbly occupying a chair as one of the entertained.
It is the purpose of this chapter, however, to set forth a complete conjuring entertainment in such a manner that anybody can easily learn and perform it, in precisely the same manner as they would memorize and deliver a recitation.
Before proceeding with the tricks themselves, it will perhaps be advisable, for the sake of the uninitiated, briefly to describe how to fit up a handy conjuring table.
Fig. 1.—A handy conjuring table.
Procure a small wooden box about six inches deep and one foot in length and width, and stand it in the center of a small gypsy-table. Then artistically drape one or two flags, or a brightly-colored cloth over it ([Fig. 1]).
It will be noticed that a portion of the table at the back of the box is left vacant. This, in the dialect of the profession, is known as the servante. It is used for secretly disposing of objects during the performance.
The magic wand simply consists of a decorated circular stick about ten inches long.
Each trick will be dealt with in three separate parts. The first will describe the illusion from the point of view of the audience; the second will explain the apparatus required; and the third the “patter” accompanying each trick.
Presentation.—As seen by the audience, the first trick is as follows:
Two ping-pong balls are lying upon the table, and the conjurer requests a member of the audience to choose one. This having been done, the performer picks up the selected ball and commences gently rubbing it in the palms of his hands, when to the amazement of the audience, the ball is seen to change into a couple of handkerchiefs!
The conjurer places one of these upon the table, and proceeds to wrap up the other in a piece of pink paper. Blowing out a candle which has been standing in a candlestick upon the table, the performer wraps that also into a similar parcel, using white paper instead of pink.
He next places the two parcels at opposite ends of the table, in full view of the audience. After making one or two passes with the magic wand, the conjurer picks up the parcel containing the candle. He then tears it open, when it is found to contain the handkerchief. Upon the remaining parcel being examined the candle is discovered within it.
Apparatus required.—(1) Two ping-pong balls. A large hole must be bored in one by means of a penknife.
Fig. 2.—False candle containing handkerchief.
(2) Three small silk handkerchiefs. Two of these should be stuffed into the prepared ball through the hole. Both balls must then be placed upon the conjuring table—the hole in the prepared one being turned away from the audience.
(3) An ordinary candle wrapped in a piece of pink paper, and concealed in readiness on the servante. Another piece of pink paper and a piece of white should also be ready at hand.
(4) A “false” candle. This is made by gumming a piece of white paper into the form of a cylinder, and sticking a slice from a real candle in one end. The third handkerchief must be stuffed into the “false” candle ([Fig. 2]), which should then be placed in a candlestick. From a short distance it will be impossible to distinguish this candle from the genuine article, and the effect will be considerably heightened by the candle-end being lit.
Patter.—The conjurer comes forward to the front of the platform and delivers himself somewhat after the following:—
“Ladies and gentlemen—you will observe upon my table two ping-pong or table-tennis balls. They are quite innocent-looking, and although in appearance they somewhat resemble eggs, will not be found half so deceptive. Will some lady or gentleman kindly select one?”
If the ball containing the handkerchief is selected the conjurer picks it up and proceeds with the trick. Should the other be chosen, however, it makes no difference. The entertainer simply hands it to the person who has made the selection, and remarks: “Very well. Would you mind taking the ball you have chosen and examining it?” Upon the person complying with his request, the conjurer picks up the remaining ball—the prepared one—and continues with the trick.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he says, slowly rubbing the ball between the palms of his hands, and carefully extracting the first handkerchief from its interior (a simple effort in sleight-of-hand, quickly acquired), “we will now see what effect a little friction has. Ah! Something is happening already!”
The performer allows the second handkerchief to stream forth, and then gradually opens his hands, taking care that one of the handkerchiefs completely covers the ball and hides it from view. He then lays the handkerchief sheltering the ball carelessly upon the table. If this is done in a natural manner, the audience will not have the slightest suspicion that it covers anything at all. Holding the remaining handkerchief up to view, he continues:
“We will now see whether this inherits any of the marvelous properties of the ball from which it was produced. I have here a piece of paper.” (Holds up the red paper.) “It contains neither trap-doors, hidden mirrors, nor other mechanical contrivances. The reason for my using pink paper is that it insures the trick being performed to the pink of perfection. I will now proceed to roll up the handkerchief in the paper.”
This is done, the performer taking care to make the parcel exactly similar in shape to that of the candle on the servante. During the wrapping-up process, however, he carelessly drops the parcel on the servante. With a muttered excuse for his clumsiness, the conjurer again resorts to quickness of the hand, and picks up the parcel containing the candle. The very audacity of this movement will effectually keep the audience from suspecting that a substitution has been effected.
“I will now take this candle and wrap it in the piece of white paper I have here. By the way, can any one tell me what nobleman could very well be represented by a burnt-out candle? No one? Why, the Earl of Wicklow!” (He blows out the “false” candle and wraps it in the white paper.)
“You see I have now two parcels—the pink one containing the handkerchief, the white one containing the candle. I will place them at opposite ends of the table, and make a few passes with my magic wand.”
The performer waves the wand a few times. Then, seizing the packet containing the “false” candle, he rips it open, thus tearing the paper cylinder, and revealing the handkerchief. The small wax candle-end will escape observation amongst the torn paper, and the audience will be under the impression that the candle has changed to a handkerchief.
“Will a gentleman kindly step forward and examine the remaining parcel?” (Upon the examination being made it is found, of course, to contain the candle.) “What! The handkerchief and candle appear to have disagreed with the quarters I originally allotted them, and have changed places! I think you will agree with me that this little experiment has terminated in a very interesting manner. I think you will also agree that I have not once attempted to deceive you, as the whole of the experiment was conducted before your very eyes.”
The second trick might very aptly be entitled