TROUBLE WIT.
See "[Magic Fan]."
WONDERFUL TRUMPET.
The wonderful trumpet is a very simple toy, and to those who like practical joking, affords amusement, except to the one against whom the joke is made. Get a tube made of tin, wood, or cardboard, a piece of cork, and the hollow part of a quill. Cut a slice about half an inch in thickness off the cork, and place it about half-way down the tube, as at a b in Fig. 1 in the illustration. Next cut a second slice from the cork, making notches round its edge, and a hole in the centre through which to pass the quill. When this is done fix it at the points c d, contriving so that the quill will extend about two-thirds of the way down the upper compartment of the tube. Instead of closing up the compartment e with a piece of cork at the point c d, wood, tin, or cardboard may be used, it only being necessary that a number of small notches or holes should be cut in the material used. The trumpet is then complete, and should be represented by Fig. 2.
Fig. 1.—Section of Wonderful Trumpet.
The following is the use to which it is put:—Place flour, or some harmless dust or powder, in the compartment of the tube marked e, block up as instructed the end at c d, hand the trumpet to him against whom the joke is to be directed, and instruct him that by blowing through the end of the quill protruding an effect both marvellous and unexpected will be produced. "Blow hard," say; "the harder the better." If he carries out his instructions the flour or powder will come through the holes or notches at the point c d, covering the face of the poor unfortunate victim. Viciousness in the use of this instrument should be sternly condemned—a little flour in a boy's face will not harm him, but great care should be taken to ascertain the effects of the material placed in the tube, as certain powders lodging in a person's eyes might do serious injury. Practical joking is not to be much encouraged, but, practised occasionally, and with fun only for its object, is not to be entirely condemned.
Fig. 2.—Wonderful Trumpet.