Presentation.—Hand the piece of earthenware to the spectator, together with the charcoal; request that his initials shall be written on the earthenware in a space marked the size of the tip of the index finger. After this has been done, you take it back between the thumb and index finger of the right hand, the finger over the initials exerting a firm pressure which has the effect of transferring the writing to the latter. Then place the earthenware under your heel and crush it.
Now request the spectator to wave his right hand over the pieces. After this has been done for a few seconds, boldly take hold of the hand (your index finger firmly pressing upon its palm) and suggest that the hand is not quite over the pieces, suiting the action to the word by slightly pulling the hand forward; this has the effect of re-transferring 79 the reversed initials on to the spectator’s palm, to be discovered a little later upon the hand being turned over.
THE ELUSIVE MATCH—A CAPITAL IMPROMPTU TRICK
Effect.—A match apparently thrown away persists in reappearing in closed hand.
Requisites.—A box of ordinary safety matches, together with an extra match top, broken off about half an inch long.
Presentation.—First conceal the extra match top between the tips of the index and second finger of the right hand. Now give the box of matches to a spectator, and request that the tops of three of the matches be broken off about half an inch long and handed to you. You then place these upon the table and proceed to pick them up one at a time with the right hand, and throw them into the left (each time closing that hand) as follows: The first is thrown in quite fairly, the second one is also thrown in but is secretly accompanied by the one which you have previously concealed at the finger-tips, the third one you pick up and apparently throw away, but really retaining it at the finger-tips as above mentioned. You now open the left hand and throw three match tops on to the table instead of the supposed two; apparently the one thrown away has secretly travelled back to the left hand. This trick can be repeated about three times without fear of detection, as you always have a fourth match top in readiness at the finger-tips. Properly worked it proves a very bewildering little trick.
HERCAT,
| Of the Egyptian Hall, Queen’s Hall, Shaftsbury Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, The Tivoli, Crystal Palace, &c., | Illusionist, Ventriloquist, Comedian, & Author, |
CAN BE ENGAGED FOR
EVENING PARTIES, ‘AT HOMES,’ &c.,