The following general hints and directions must always be borne in mind. The simplest trick cannot be performed without much patience and perseverance; every trick must be practised over and over again before attempting it in the presence of an audience. It is advisable to practise the tricks before a looking-glass, and for two reasons: firstly, to see that you are doing the trick neatly; and secondly, it is a training in accustoming the eyes not to look at the hands during the performance of a sleight. A conjurer should always have his eyes fixed intently on his audience, and keep up during the exhibition of his tricks an ever flowing talk or "patter." He must never lose confidence in himself; if so, all is lost. Nor must he call attention to what is about to be done; but when the trick is really done, he should then direct the attention of the audience to it, as if it were about to be done. A trick should not be repeated; if an encore is called for, a similar trick should be substituted. The object of the conjurer is always not to be found out.
The cultivation of the art of talking, or the use of "patter," is a leading essential to success; it is as necessary to rehearse the conversation to be used as the tricks to be exhibited. The talking, too, must always be uttered as if that were really the most important part of the entertainment, the tricks being only accessory thereto. This judicious "patter" will not only keep the audience amused, but will prevent them from concentrating their attention more closely than is desirable upon the manipulations of the performer. If some "clever fellow" should be present, more intent upon perplexing the performer than upon being amused, it will be necessary in self-defence to play off some tricks at his expense early in the entertainment.
The conjurer should dispense with all grotesque attire, ordinary evening or morning dress being ample. He should also do without confederates in the audience and assistants on the stage or platform, but an assistant behind the scenes will sometimes be very necessary. Showing off merely mechanical or automatic tricks is to be avoided. Many of them are very wonderful, but the whole credit of them is due to their inventors. As a general rule, the Magician's Wand and the Magician's Table are all the materials needed for the practice of conjuring sufficient to amuse a friendly audience in a drawing-room for an hour or more. The wand in itself is of no real use, but it serves as a means of directing the attention of the audience away from the hands of the performer, when it is judiciously placed upon or removed from the table, or when pointed at some particular object. It should be a tapering stick or ruler, from a foot to a foot and a half in length. The table may or may not be specially prepared, but it should be a few inches higher than an ordinary table, in order that the operator may stand at it, and if necessary place his hand behind and below, without stooping or appearing to arrange anything under it; a drawer or cloth judiciously placed will sometimes be necessary. With these general remarks we will proceed with our programme, giving first a few
SIMPLE DECEPTIONS AND MINOR TRICKS.
EATABLE CANDLE-ENDS.
Punch with a metal tube a few pieces out of some apples; place in one end of each piece a strip of burnt almond, and make the whole look as much like candle-ends as possible. During the entertainment have them brought in, and, lighting them one by one, proceed to explain in the "patter" the relish there is in tallow, and then eat them off as quickly as possible. The almond strips imitating the wick of the candle should be slightly oiled, to make them burn readily. A quick lad will be able easily to extinguish the flame before it reaches his mouth without letting it appear that the flame is extinguished. The imitation candle-ends should not be handed round for inspection; but when the performer is able to make a clever substitution it may be advisable to allow some real candle-ends to be carefully examined.
The instructions as to How to Swallow a Flame come in appropriately here. On putting the candle or other lighted object to the mouth, breathe strongly inwards; the flame will then enter the mouth without touching or scorching the lips, and as the lips close will become extinguished.
TO PULL A STRING THROUGH A BUTTON-HOLE.
Tie together the ends of a piece of string about two feet long; pass it thus tied through a button-hole of the performer's coat; hitch each end on to one or other of the thumbs, catch up with the little fingers the upper strings on the thumbs of the opposite hand; then stretching out the hands will have the effect of giving the string a very complicated appearance. If the hold of the right thumb and left little finger, or vice versâ, be then loosed, and the hands smartly separated, the string will come away from, and seem as though it had passed through, the substance of the coat.
THE CUT STRING RESTORED.