The Mystic Climbing Ring
The performer hands out a wand for examination and borrows a finger ring. He holds the wand in his hand, point upward, and drops the ring on it, then makes mesmeric passes over the wand with the other, and causes the ring to climb toward the top, stop at any place desired, pass backward, and at last fall from the wand. The wand and ring are examined again by the audience.
To produce this little trick, the performer must first provide himself with a round, black stick, about 14 in. long, a piece of No. 60 black cotton thread about 18 in. long, and a small bit of beeswax. Tie one end of the thread to the top button on the coat and to the free end stick the beeswax, which is stuck to the lower button until ready for the trick.
After the wand is returned, secretly stick the waxed end to the top of the wand, then drop the ring on it. Moving the wand slightly from oneself will cause the ring to move upward, and relaxing it causes the ring to fall. In the final stage remove the thread and hand out the wand for examination.
Skis and Ski Running
By Stillman Taylor.
PART I—Prominent Types of
Modern Skis
The requirements of the modern ski call for a hard, flexible, and tough material, and while hickory, white ash, white maple, birch, yellow pine, white pine, and spruce are all used, the experienced ski runner considers hickory and ash to combine in the fullest measure the qualities most desired. Of course, every wood has its limitations as well as merits. Hickory is elastic and fairly tough, but heavy. Ash resembles hickory so far as elasticity is concerned, and its weight is about the same, but the wood contains soft layers. Birch possesses the requisite lightness, but is far too brittle to prove serviceable, and pine is open to the same objection. Maple makes an excellent ski, which can be finished very smooth so as to slide more easily than the other woods, but it is much less flexible than either hickory or ash.