BUTTON-HOLE MYSTERY.
Fig. 1.
Secure a piece of strong cord a yard in length, and having tied the ends firmly together, pass the double end through your button-hole, and a thumb through each loop, as in Fig. 1. Now slip the little finger of your left hand under the lower string of the loop which passes over the right thumb, and the little finger of the right hand under the lower string of the loop which passes over the left thumb, separating the hands as in Fig. 2. Now comes the mystery. A quick movement of both hands, without releasing the string from either thumbs or little fingers, will give the effect of a tangle which can only be extricated by cutting the string or the button-hole. You add to the illusion by sawing a little on the button-hole to direct the attention to the impossibility of loosening the string at that point; then suddenly, without letting go either hand, you present the string-free from the button-hole though still securely tied.
Fig. 2.
The secret lies in this: if you look carefully at Fig. 2, you will discover that the little finger of one hand and the thumb of the other are really holding the same loop; so you have only to retain your hold at these points, letting the rest go, to draw the string out of the button-hole with freedom.
But you may find it rather difficult at first to make the proper thumb and finger act quickly and in unison, apart from the twin brother of each; for thumbs, and also little fingers, are like twin children, and, unless well trained, one always wants to do what the other does. But you will succeed if you think very hard for a moment, for that is the way the mind makes naughty hands and feet obey her commands.