FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, 1 November 1906, Page 38

FAMILY FUN

The Tape Trick.— This trick consists in suffering a person to tie your thumbs together tightly, and- - yet that you shall be able to release them in a moment, and tie them, together again.. The mode of performing this trick is as follows- : Lay- a piece of tape across the palms of your hands, placed side by side, letting the ends hang down ; then bring your palms quickly together, at the same time privately .catching hold of the middle of- the tape with your fourth arid " fifth fingers. Then direct any person to tie your thumbs together as tight as lie pleases, but he will not, of course, in reality be tying them, because you have hold of the tape, yet it will nevertheless appear to him that he -is doing so. Request him to place a hat over your hands ; then blow upon the hat, and say, 'Be loose,' slipping yaur thumbs from the i under tape ; direct him to remove the hat, and show i your thumbs free. You then request the hat may be" again placed over your _ hands, and blowing upon it, you say, ' Be tied,' slipping your thumbs over the tape again ; and when the hat is removed, your thumbs will appear tied as at first. After ' performing the trick, convey the tape away lest it be detected.

The Knotted Thieadl—Considerable amusement, not unmixed with wonder, may be occasioned among a party of ladies by a clever performance of this triok. It is most frequently performed by~ a female, but the effect of \ it is considerably increased when it is displayed by a youth. A piece of calico, muslin, or linen, is taken in the left hand, a needle is threaded in the presence of the. spectators, and the usual, or even a double or treble knot, made at the extremity of one of the ends •- of it. The operator commences his work by drawing the needle and thread in it quite through the linen" ' notwithstanding the knot, and continues to make several stitches in like manner successively. The mode of performing -this seeming wonder is as " follows : A bit of -thread, about a -quarter of a yard long is turned once round the lop of the middle finger of the right hand, upon which a. thimble is then placed to keep it secure. This must be done privately, and the thread kept concealed, while a needle is threaded with a ' bit of thread of a similar length. The thread in the" needle must have one of its ends drawn up nearly close, and be concealed between the fore finger and thumb ; the other should hang down nearly as long as and by the side of the. thread, .which is fastened under the thimble, .so that these, two. may appear to be"the ends of the thread. The ends of the piece which is fastened under the thimble is then knotted, and the performer begins to sew by amoving his hand, quickly af-^ ter he has taken up the s-titch. It will appear as though he actually passed the knotted thread through the cloth.