An empty carafe is brought by your confederate. This you should rinse and drain in the presence of your audience in order to satisfy them that there is really no mistake, that the carafe is positively empty. After it has well drained dry it, wiping it around with the greatest care. In the towel which your confederate brought you he also brought a bladder, in which was a weak preparation made up of spirits of wine, sugar, and water. In this way the carafe is filled without the audience detecting. The glasses are already in position, and in each one has been put a drop or two of flavoring extract, such as pineapple, lemonade, orange, peppermint. The magician then inquires if any one would like a glass of lemonade, and being answered in the affirmative, he pours the same from the carafe by filling the glass in which the drops of lemonade extract have been placed. In like manner he will give a glass of orangeade, or whatever drink corresponds to the extract in the glasses.
THE VANISHING TEN-CENT PIECE.
Put this coin in the palm of your hand and take pains to let everybody see it. Then state that if any one of the audience will call out "Vanish" it will disappear.
The reason why is because the nail of your middle finger is covered with white wax, and closing the hand forcibly the coin instantly fastens itself to it. You must then open the hand wide and show that the ten-cent piece has really gone.
The tricks now being over, the audience rose to congratulate their young entertainers and also to exchange a few words with one another, and in so doing many of them did not discover that refreshments were about to be served until they were asked to take seats at the small tables that had most mysteriously appeared.
The refreshments were very simple, being only vanilla and strawberry rolled wafers, and delicious tea. The tea was, of course, poured into the prettiest of Japanese cups, and carried on richly decorated trays on which were laid divers colored Japanese napkins, while the graceful, cordial, Japanese-robed young girls added an indescribable charm.
And thus closed this dainty, interesting entertainment amid the pleasant chatter of the happily seated, congenial company.
