MULTIPLIED MONEY
Take a large drinking-glass, of a conical form, that is, small at bottom and wide at top, and, having put into it a dime, let it be half filled with water; then place a plate upon the top of the glass, and turn it quickly over, that the water may not get out; a piece of silver as large as half a dollar will immediately appear on the plate, and somewhat higher up another piece of the size of a dime.
MULTIPLYING SHADOWS
A dummy figure (suppose that of a witch, riding on the conventional broomstick) is suspended by fine threads or wires on the screen remote from the spectators. Behind this are ranged, one behind the other, and at right angles to the screen, a row of lighted candles. Being all in the same line, they throw one shadow only on the screen. The figure is now made to oscillate slightly, so as to impart some little motion to the shadow. One of the candles is now removed from its place in the row, and waved gently about, now high, now low, the effect to the spectators being that a second shadow springs out of the first, and dances about it on the screen. A second and third candle is then removed, and waved up and down, each candle as it leaves its place in the line, producing a separate shadow. It is well to have three or four assistants, each taking a candle in each hand.
CHAPTER XII
TABLE GAMES FOR ADULTS
DOMINOES—BACKGAMMON—CHECKERS—JENKINS—ZOO—STRAY SYLLABLES—CHESS
DOMINOES
At the beginning of the game the dominoes are thoroughly shuffled by being turned face down and stirred round and round. The players then draw at random as many bones as the game requires. These dominoes with which the hand is to be played may stand on their edges in front of the players or may be held in the hand, or both. It is usual to sort them into suits as far as possible. The one who has drawn the highest doublet usually plays or sets first.
The object in dominoes is either to block the game so that the adversary cannot play or it is to make the two ends when added together equal to some multiple of a given number, or it is to make both ends of the line the same. The player first getting rid of all his pieces is "Domino."