Parlour Magic

by Unknown

In using this opera-glass, rest the finger and thumb of one hand on the rim of the object-glass, B, whilst, with the thumb and finger of the other hand you hold the rim of the eye-glass, A. The spring tube may then be drawn out or shut up to very minute distances. Thus, the ordinary sliding tubes are superseded; nor is any external covering necessary, as the hand in grasping the instrument serves the purpose. If, however, a covering be preferred, a piece of silk may be sewn to the spirals of the spring.

This kind of opera-glass may be made very cheaply; it may be shut into a small space for the pocket, merely by pressing the object-glass and eye-glass together.

MULTIPLYING THEATRES.

Place two pieces of looking-glass, one at each end, parallel to one another, and looking over, or by the edge of one of them, the images of any objects placed on the bottom of the box, will appear continued to a considerable distance.

Or, line each of the four sides of the box with looking-glass, and the bottom of the box will be multiplied to an astonishing extent, there being no other limitation to the number of images but what is owing to the continued loss of light from reflection. The top of the box may be almost covered with thin canvas, which will admit sufficient light to render the exhibition very distinct.

The above experiments may be made very entertaining, by placing on the bottom of the box some toy, as sentry soldiers, &c.; and, if these be put in motion, by wires attached to them, or passing through the bottom or side of the box, it will afford a still more entertaining spectacle. Or the bottom of the box may be covered with moss, shining pebbles, flowers, &c.; only, in all cases, the upright figures between the pieces of looking-glass should be slender, and not too numerous, else they will obstruct the reflected light.

In a box with six, eight, or more sides, lined with looking-glass, as above, the different objects in it will be multiplied to an almost indefinite extent.

APPARATUS FOR WRITING IN THE DARK.

In this ingenious contrivance, A is a frame of wood, into the back and front of which are inserted two thin boards, the front one, B, reaching about half the height of the frame, and the back one being movable, by sliding in grooves, for better fixing the paper to be written on, C, to a roller at top, with a handle and ratchet working into a spring.