I don't know whether it is necessary to say that the lid should be hinged at the back, and of course it will add to the appearance of the box if it be polished or oiled.
Now, for those who may not have seen the locked and corded box trick performed, a few words of caution may not be out of place. Don't forget to have something in a pocket easily got at that will serve to push the bolt out, before going into the box. A piece of stout wire, a small pencil case, or anything of that sort will do. Be careful when getting into the box to lie with your head toward the loose panel end, and face toward the front—as there will be no space to turn round; the right hand will then be uppermost and free to push the bolt out. Having done this, grasp the panel with the finger and thumb by means of the two holes, push it to the front of the box, when the back edge will be clear of the groove. It can now easily be pulled into the box, and the performer can creep out. When out, refix panel and bolt so that everything looks as it was. Any cording that may be over the end of the box will give sufficiently to allow of exit.
I have, I think, made it quite clear that padlock and ropes have nothing to do with the real performance of the trick, but they serve to mystify spectators, who may be allowed to knot the rope and seal the knots in any way they choose.
There must always be a screen or curtain to hide the box from the spectators while the performer is getting in or out.—D.B. Adamson, in Amateur Work.
PRICES OF METALS.
The Metallarbeiter remarks that metals have in most cases experienced a reduction in value of late years, this depreciation being attributed in some measure to the cheaper methods of obtaining metals as well as to the discovery of new sources of mineral wealth.
The following comparative table shows the approximate prices of various metals in December, 1874, and December, 1884:
Dec., 1874. Dec., 1884.
Per lb. Per lb.
£ s d. £ s. d.
Osmium 71 10 0 62 0 0
Iridium 70 0 0 45 0 0
Gold 62 15 0 63 0 0
Platinum 25 7 6 21 7 6
Thallium 23 17 6 4 15 0
Magnesium 10 5 0 1 15 0
Potassium 5 0 0 4 0 0
Silver 3 17 6 (in Hamburg) 3 7 6
Aluminum 1 16 0 1 16 0
Cobalt 1 14 0 1 2 0
Sodium 0 14 2 0 8 8
Nickel 0 11 0 0 3 1
Bismuth 0 8 1 0 8 1
Cadmium 0 7 1 0 4 0
Quicksilver 0 2 0 (in London) 0 1 9
Tin 0 1 1 (in Berlin) 0 0 9
Copper 0 0 10 (" " ) 0 0 7
Arsenic 0 0 8 0 0 4-1/2
Antimony 0 0 6-1/4 (" " ) 0 0 5
Lead 0 0 2-3/4 (" " ) 0 0 1-3/8
Zinc 0 0 2-1/2 (" " ) 0 0 1-3/4
Steel 0 0 1-3/8 ( in 0 0 0-3/4
Bar iron 0 0 1-1/8 Upper 0 0 0-5/8
Pig iron 0 0 0-7/16 Silesia ) 0 0 0-1/4