The Dye-Works
Presentation.—The conjurer hands round for inspection a small sheet of white paper. Upon its being returned, he rolls it into a cylinder. Taking a couple of red silk handkerchiefs from the table, he proceeds to poke them into the tube by means of the magic wand. He continues to force them down until they at length make their appearance at the other end. During this short passage through the tube, however, an astonishing transformation has ensued. Instead of the handkerchiefs being red, one emerges a deep blue and the other yellow! Yet upon the roll of paper being passed round for inspection it is found to be perfectly empty.
Fig. 3.—Cardboard tube with silk bag and handkerchief attached.
Apparatus required.—(1) Two red, one blue, and a yellow silk handkerchief.
(2) A sheet of stout white paper about six inches long by five wide.
(3) A small cardboard tube about three inches long and an inch and a half in diameter. A section cut from an ordinary postal tube will do admirably.
A small bag of yellow silk must be sewn by its edges to the interior of this tube ([Fig. 3]). The yellow handkerchief should next be stitched by its center to the bag, as is shown in the same diagram. This done, both the yellow and blue handkerchiefs must be forced into the cardboard tube until they are completely hidden. There will be no difficulty in doing this, as silk can be made to occupy a very small space. The bag, of course, will prevent the handkerchiefs coming out at the other end.
The cardboard tube and its contents should then be placed upon the table, and the two red handkerchiefs laid carelessly over it in order to obscure it from the view of the audience.
Patter.—“I have here an ordinary sheet of white paper. I intend, however, to turn it to a rather extraordinary purpose; in fact, to manufacture with it a dye-works!
“I first roll the paper into a cylinder—so. Please notice that I do not attempt to insert anything as I do so.”
The performer rolls up the paper, taking care to make it sufficiently large to admit the little cardboard tube.
“I have also two red silk handkerchiefs. Every lady present to-night will know how very difficult it is to dye anything that is red. Nevertheless, I am going to put these handkerchiefs down my dye-works’ chimney.”
He picks up the handkerchiefs—with the tube still hidden in them—and apparently attempts to poke them into the cylinder. In reality, however, he only inserts the cardboard tube, and then pauses, as though in doubt.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, it appears as if I haven’t built my dye-works large enough to receive both handkerchiefs together. I think it will be advisable, therefore, to insert them singly.”
The conjurer proceeds to place first one and then the other handkerchief in the tube. Then, taking up his magic wand he rams them well down. This has the effect of forcing them both into the small cardboard tube, thus liberating the blue and yellow handkerchiefs.
“Ah! I see that one of the handkerchiefs is issuing from the basement of our dye-works. And the color has been altered during its journey! Here comes the other straight from the mangle, and, as you will observe, it is now dyed yellow. The dye-works has proved most successful. In fact, I believe that if I’d inserted a third handkerchief it would have come out folded and ironed!”
Fig. 4.—Handkerchief covering small cardboard tube drawn from cylinder.
So saying, the conjurer takes the yellow handkerchief by its middle and draws it from the paper cylinder. The cardboard tube, with the red handkerchiefs safely in it, will, of course, be drawn out at the same time. The folds of the yellow handkerchief, however, will completely hide it ([Fig. 4]). The conjurer then throws the paper cylinder amongst the audience, with the remark—
“There you are, ladies and gentlemen. As I am of a philanthropic nature, I will let you have my dye-works free of charge, with full permission to make whatever use you like of them.”
The third trick may be called