Fig. 139.
Fig. 140.
Explanation.—Behind a partition, A B (Fig. 140), place a concave mirror E F, ten inches diameter, and at a distance three-fourths from its centre, somewhat inclined. In the partition cut a square or circular opening, about eight inches wide, directly opposite the mirror. Behind have a light to illuminate any object at C, without shining on the mirror or being visible at the opening. Behind the aperture and beneath it place inverted the object of which a phantom is to appear.
Before the partition, just under the hole, set a bouquet-holder or flowerpot (or, at the opening, as in this case, the bottle of water), that the image may seem to be standing in it.
All extraneous light must be kept from the mirror by blackening the surfaces around it.
The spectator will see the image so real that he will be apt to attempt to pluck it, if a flower and a flowerpot is substituted for the bottle.
The different flowers of a bouquet have counterparts set on the circumference of a disc, of which the edge comes to the proper point to present one of them to the mirror.
The magician, on seeing a certain flower taken to be destroyed, has ample time to set the disc in motion and place the duplicate in position.