N. B. To produce the illusion, and persuade the company that it is the egg which carries itself to the different points of the cane, the performer turns a little on his heel; by this means the egg receives a motion, which surprises the spectators, it remaining always at the same distance from the point to which it was fastened.
To make Three Figures dance in a Glass.
Take little hollow figures of glass about an inch and a half high, representing little children, or grown-up persons. These may be had of the glass-blowers; and, as they contain a body of air, are lighter than water. Immerse them in water contained in a glass of the following shape:—
This glass is about a foot or fifteen inches high, and covered with a bladder, which is tied fast over the top; a small quantity of air is to be left between the bladder and surface of the water; so, when you command them to walk down, press your hand hard upon the top, and they will immediately go down. Thus you may make them dance in the middle of the glass, at your pleasure; and, when you would have them go up to the top, take your hand away, when they will go up.
To shoot a Swallow, and to bring him to Life again.
Load your gun with the usual charge of powder, but, instead of shot, put in half a charge of quicksilver: prime and shoot. If your piece bears ever so far from the bird, the swallow will find itself stunned to such a degree, as to fall to the ground in a fit. As it will regain its senses in a few minutes, you may make use of the time, by saying that you are going to bring it to life again. This will greatly astonish the company. The ladies will, no doubt, interest themselves in favour of the bird, and intercede for its liberty;—sympathizing with their feelings for the little prisoner may be the means of some of them sympathizing with yours.
Singular Trick with a Fowl.
Take a cock from roost at night, or off its walk by day, and bring him into a room full of company; keep both your hands close to his wings; hold them tight: put him on a table, and point his beak down as straight as possible; and then let any one draw a line with a piece of chalk, directly from his beak, and all the noise you can possibly make, with drums, trumpets, or even crowing of other cocks, will not disturb him from the seeming lethargy, which that position you have laid him in, with the chalked line, has effected. Strange as this seems, yet the certainty of it is past a doubt, as many gentlemen who have, ere this, sported some hundreds on the turf, are ready to assert its truth.