TRICK 9.—To make a large die pass through the crown of a hat without injuring it.
I will now give my young friends a nice, easy trick, requiring very little dexterity, as the articles for its exhibition can be purchased at any depot for the sale of conjuring apparatus; therefore the most diffident amateur will be able to display this trick.
PREPARATION.
Have a die exactly like the common dice, only it may be about two inches square. Have two covers for it, one of them exactly resembling the appearance of a die, only hollow, except that one side of it is open, so that it can easily be placed over, or be taken off, the solid die.
The other cover may be of decorated material, and it is intended to be placed over the first die-cover. Let this last cover be made of some pliant material, so that by compressing gently two of its sides with your fingers, while lifting it up, you can lift up the first die-cover, which will be within it.
Commence the trick by borrowing two hats; place one with its rims upwards on the table, and show that you place in that hat the die with its first cover on it. But say, “I forgot to appeal to the company whether they will like to see the trick done visibly or invisibly.” They will most likely say, “Visibly;” but it is of no consequence which answer they make, for the process of the trick is the same in either case.
Take out from the lower hat the first cover, which is painted exactly like a die, and having placed the second hat (with its rims downwards) on the other hat, display the first cover, and openly place it on the crown of the upper hat. All the spectators will believe it to be the solid die itself. Then take your penknife; you may just thrust it into the crown of the hat, and pretend to cut all round the die-cover there lying; say—“I shall now bid it move into the lower hat, but it will not do so while uncovered, so I must place this ornamental cover over it.” Do so; show that you have nothing in your hands or sleeves; then wave your wand or your hand, and say, “Change, pass, die, into the lower hat.” Give it a little time. Then, compressing the outward cover gently, lift off also with it the painted die-cover, which it has inside it. Lift up the lower hat, and show the company the solid die lying in it. Show all that the upper hat has received no injury.
The illusion to the audience will be that the solid die has passed through the crown of the upper hat without at all injuring it. Return the hats to the owners, and show them to be uninjured.
TRICK 10.—To produce from a silk handkerchief bon-bons, candies, nuts, etc.
PREPARATION.