The trick is performed by clasping the party’s hands round the pillar of a large circular table or other bulky article of furniture, too large for him to drag through the doorway.
THE FIGURE PUZZLE.
You assert that you can prove the half of nine to be either four or six; and the half of twelve to be seven. To make this manifest you have only to draw a nine or a twelve in numerals, and fold the paper across the middle, as in the margin.
THE VISIBLE INVISIBLE.
You tell the company that you will place a candle in such a manner that every person in the room, except one, shall see it; yet you will not blindfold him, nor in any way restrain his person, or offer the least impediment to his examining or going to any part of the room he pleases. This trick is accomplished by placing the candle on the party’s head; but it cannot be performed if a looking-glass is in the room, as that will enable him to turn the laugh against you.
THE DOUBLE MEANING.
Place a glass of any liquid upon the table, put a hat over it, and say: “I will engage to drink the liquid under that hat, and yet I’ll not touch the hat.” You then get under the table, and after giving three knocks, you make a noise with your mouth as if you were swallowing the liquid. Then getting from under the table, you say: “Now, gentlemen, be pleased to look.” Some one, eager to see if you have drunk the liquid, will raise up the hat, when you instantly take the glass, and drink the contents, saying: “Gentlemen, I have fulfilled my promise. You are all witnesses that I did not touch the hat.”
QUITE TIRED OUT.
You undertake to make a person so tired, by attempting to carry a small stick out of the room, as to be unable to accomplish it, although you will add nothing to his burthen, nor lay any restraint upon his personal liberty. To perform this manœuvre, you take up the stick, and cutting off a very small sliver, you direct him to carry it out of the room, and return for more; concluding by telling him, that you mean him to perform as many similar journeys as you can cut pieces off the stick. As this may be made to amount to many thousands, he will of course gladly give up the undertaking.