By steeping an egg in vinegar for some time it can be made pliable enough to be stuffed into a bottle. Then restore the egg to its natural shape by pouring water into the bottle.
How to Drop a Tumbler on the Floor Without Breaking It.
This requires a steady hand and smooth table. You simply set a tumbler upon a table near the edge and gently push the tumbler with your forefinger until it is very nicely balanced upon the edge of the table. Now by giving the tumbler a very gentle push again it will fall to the floor, striking upon its bottom edge, and remain standing either upon its bottom or lying upon its side perfectly sound. Be careful and have no covering upon the table, as the less friction you can get the surer you are to perform your trick.
Magic Money.
This conjuring trick is performed thus: Procure two quarters and a half-dollar; conceal one of the quarters in the right hand; lay the other quarter and the half-dollar on a table, in full view of the audience; now ask for two handkerchiefs; then take the half-dollar up, and pretend to roll it in one of the handkerchiefs; but, in lieu thereof, roll up the quarter, which you had concealed, and retain the half-dollar; give the handkerchief to one of the company to hold; now take the quarter off the table, and pretend to roll that up in the second handkerchief; but put up the half-dollar instead; give this handkerchief to another person, and beg him to “hold it tight,” while you utter, “Presto! fly!” On opening the handkerchiefs the money will appear to have changed places. This is one of the best tricks in this book.
Sorcery.
This is a somewhat singular trick. One of the party is placed behind a screen in an adjoining room, where he cannot possibly see the players—or may be blindfolded. One of the party must then call out, “Do you know Miss ——?” naming a lady’s name. “Yes.” “Do you know her dress?” “Yes.” “Her wreath, her slippers, her gloves and her bracelets?” “Yes.” “Her handkerchief?” “Yes.” “Her fan?” “Yes.” “Well, then, since you know her dress so well, tell me what article of her costume I am now touching?” If the one behind the screen is acquainted with the trick, he will, of course, answer directly, “her bracelet,” the only article mentioned which has the word “and” before it.
Odd or Even.
To tell in which hand of a person, having an odd number in one hand and an even number in the other, the odd or even number is. Desire the person to multiply the number in his right hand by a figure which is an odd number, and the number in his left by an even one; and to say if the products added together are odd or even. If even, the even number is in the right hand; if odd, the even number is in the left hand.