pages: latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf, 208
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latestmagicbeing00hoff.pdf | 208 | CONCERNING PATTER IT will doubtless have been observed that I have in the foregoing pages been somewhat lavish in respect of patter. I have done SO for two or three reasons. First, in order to enable the reader to form a better estimate of the effect of the trick presented, duly clothed and coloured, to the mind of the spec- tator. A trick described, however minutely, from the mere mechanical or technical point of view, gives scarcely more idea of its actual effect than the rough charcoal sketch of the artist does of the finished painting. Secondly, because ready-made patter, if the reader cares to use it, will save him a considerable amount of trouble. My third reason is more personal, namely, that it has been a labour of love to do SO. To my mind the devising of some little bit of appropriate fiction to serve as intro- duction to a trick is the pleasantest part of the inventor's work. It may perhaps be thought that I have, in some of the more ambitious tricks, been overliberal in this particular. I remember thinking, after wit- nessing a "show" by Dr. Lynn, a popular per- former of the last generation, that he had talked a 192 |