Fun for the Household: A Book of Games

by Emma J. Gray

Everybody who enjoys tricks is no doubt familiar with this. It is very easy to do.

First state that you are about to make an omelet. Then break three eggs into the hat, and appear to add a little milk and flour, after which shake all together and hold the hat over a lighted lamp, candle, or gas. After a few moments lift out the hot flaky omelet and pass it to your friends; otherwise they will think they have been deceived.

The secret is, the omelet was cooked on the range, and was in the hat when you commenced to exhibit the trick, the hat being held too high for the audience to see inside. The eggs were not full, only the shells, the contents having been previously drawn through a tiny aperture at one end. Laugh and talk a great deal and it will not be noticed that you do not put in the cornstarch and milk; also let a real egg drop, as if by accident, on a plate standing on the table before you, or let a tablespoon or knife fall. This will attract all eyes and further prevent discovery. As in other tricks, you should practise it before showing it to your friends.

The Wonderful Carafe.

An empty carafe is brought by your confederate. This you should rinse and drain in the presence of your audience, in order to satisfy them that there is really no mistake, that the carafe is positively empty. After it has well drained, dry it, wiping it around with the greatest care. In the towel which your confederate brought you he also brought a bladder, in which was a weak preparation made up of spirits of wine, sugar, and water. In this way the carafe is filled without the audience detecting. The glasses are already in position, and in each one has been put a drop or two of flavoring extract, such as pineapple, lemonade, orange, peppermint. The magician then inquires if any one would like a glass of lemonade, and being answered in the affirmative, he pours the same from the carafe by filling the glass in which the drops of lemonade extract have been placed. In like manner he will give a glass of orangeade, or whatever drink corresponds to the extract in the glasses.

The Vanishing Ten-cent Piece.

Put this coin in the palm of your hand and take pains to let everybody see it. Then state that if any one of the audience will call out, “Vanish,” it will disappear.

The reason why is because the nail of your middle finger is covered with white wax, and closing the hand forcibly the coin instantly fastens itself to it. You must then open the hand wide and show that the ten-cent piece has really gone.