pages: practicalmagicia00harr.pdf, 26
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practicalmagicia00harr.pdf | 26 | 16 THE PRACTICAL MAGICIAN. You must not allow people to handle the egg on the thread af- terwards, for when they see the simplicity of the process they will undervalue the trick, whereas it appears marvellous as long as they do not understand how the extraordinary movements are produced. And in these illusions, as Hudibras expresses it, Doubtless, the pleasure is as great In being cheated as to cheat. - FOURTH TRICK-The Walking Cent. PRELIMINARY PREPARATION IN PRIVATE. Ask for a long dark hair from some lady's tresses. Have a pin in shape of a hook, or a small loop affixed to the end of this hair, and fasten a little piece of beeswax (less than a pea) at the other end of the hair. Fasten the hair by the loop to a button on your vest, taking care to wear a dark-colored vest. The hair may be allowed to hang from your vest, with the bees- wax visible. Have a glass of water or cup on the table. Commence the exhibition of the trick by borrowing a cent. While pretending to examine the cent to see if it is a good one, press the waxed end of the hair firmly to the under side cf tho cent, and place it about a foot from the edge of n table. Then bid the cent to move toward you, to the right or to the left, and by gently moving your body in whatever direction you name, the hair will draw the cent in the same direction. You may say, while your left hand is near the table, "Now, cent, movo up my arm. Advancing your a.m gently, the cent will appear to move up to your elbow. It is your arm that moves, but it will appear to the spectators as if the cent moved or you may help it up the outside of the sleeve by interposing your right hand under the hair, so as to draw up the cent, while appearing to beckon it. "Now, cent, as you have performed so well, you shall have a bath." Placing the tumbler near the edge of the table, draw the cent into it. After exhibiting it in the water, say, ": Oh, cent, you must not stay so long in the water." Then jerk it out upon the table. Detach the waxed end of the hair by your nail, after which return the cent to the person who loaned it to you. When performing this trick, in order to keep the spectators at a little distance, you must inform them that the cent is very susceptible to magnetic influences, and request ladies not to ap- proach too near it, as the loadstones of their eyes are the causo of the magnetic attraction." |