However, quickly recovering from his surprise and trouble, he smilingly observes that this misfortune, irreparable without a certain delay to ordinary members of society, is easily rectified by a conjuror.
To make good this assertion, he takes up his wand, and waving it gracefully three times, the company is startled to see a beautiful rose appear instantaneously in his button-hole.
Explanation.—This charming little deception is as simple as effective. A child can perform it, and at the cost only of a few pence.
You must have twelve or fifteen inches of common elastic cord, fine but strong, covered with thread of the same colour as your coat. To one end firmly fasten an artificial flower, or it may be a real one if you strengthen its stalk by the insertion of florists’ wire. The place of fastening is close to, and just under, the flower.
Punch out a small hole in your coat, on the point corresponding to that button-hole in which a flower is usually worn, and just under the button-hole itself.
In this hole insert a metal “eye,” such as is put in boots for the laces to run through, and fasten it there. It is for the cord to run smoothly through. This eye is not visible, even to yourself.
On the other end of the elastic make a small loop.
When ready for the performance, take your elastic cord, to which is attached the flower, and pass the loop end through the button-hole from the outside. Then pass it through the eye in the same direction, and bring it down along inside the coat to the button on your trousers, at the left side, or you may have a button sewn on your vest about the same place. There fasten the end of the cord by the loop.
The elasticity of the cord now draws the flower up to the button-hole.
Pull the flower back, just a little behind the left armpit, and let the left arm hang loosely by the side. As long as the upper left arm is kept close to the side, the flower must remain secure, and concealed at the back of the shoulder.