FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, 7 August 1913, Page 62

FAMILY FUN

, TRICKS AND ILLUSIONS. ' ~;.,-., (Special to the N.Z. Tablet by ' Mahatma.) A Ball Trick.—This trick should be performed > rather quickly •so that the effect is produced before the audience are aware of what it is to be. The conjuror shows a ping-pong ball, and throws it» from one i band to the other. Presently, after holding it in the closed right hand, the conjuror opens his hand slowly and holds his left hand about two feet away from it. Suddenly the ball floats in the air from the right to the left hand, and the conjuror then"" throws it out to the audience for examination. At the same time in response to the inevitable request, ' let us have a look ac your hands,' he steps out amongst the company and allows his hands to be examined. The whole secret consists in the careful manipulation of a loop of thread, which of course is invisible at a distance of a few feet. The conjuror has this loop thrown over the second finger of the right hand and dropped down his sleeve. In passing the ball backwards and forwards from the right to the left hand the conjuror contrives to get the second finger of the left hand in the loop and carry it out. The ball thus runs along the extended loop. In the act of throwing the ball to the audience the conjuror snaps the thread and allows it to fall unnoticed to the floor. ) An Experiment in Thought-reading. —The conjuror hands a pack of cards to a member of the audience, requesting him to select a card, and show it to the other members of the company. In order that he may not get a glimpse of it himself the performer turns his back for a few moments. When he is told that everyone has seen the card, he again faces round and offers the pack to the chooser in order that the chosen card may be replaced. The pack is given into the chooser's hands and he is asked to shuffle it well. The performer now takes the pack and lays a few of the cards upon the table. At the same time he looks at the audience and pretends to be reading their thoughts. He then spreads out the rest of the packface upwardsand suddenly exclaims, ' I have it you were thinking, of the (say) queen of diamonds!' The secret is a subtle one and is well hidden. The performer must have two packs. The backs of thsee cards will of course require to be the same color. One pack he spreads out upon a table under a window, where the sun's rays will turn the cards slightly yellow. This being done, he compares the faces of these cards with the faces of the pack which has not been exposed. If the difference in color is marked all, is ready for the trick. Before presenting the experiment, the conjuror places the discolored pack in his waistcoat pocket. The unprepared pack is given to the audience to choose a card from. The performer takes back this pack whilst the audience are looking at the card chosen. He then turns his back, and it is the work of a moment to exchange this pack for the discolored one. With this in his hand, he now faces the company and has the chosen card returned. When the pack has been shuffled,-he takes it up and, spreading the cards out, is easily able to distinguish the chosen card. The effect is all that could be desired. • A Trick with an Apple.— trick invariably meets with much applause. The conjuror informs' the audience that he is able to cut an apple in half without cutting the skin. The company will look for a, catch in his words, but the performer proceeds to carry out his boast. He takes a needle in which is threaded some strong cotton. The needle he passes round the apple under the skin. This is best done by putting the needle in again at the point from which it emerged, and so passing on until the thread lies right round the apple under the sikn. When you.again reach the point at which you started, take both ends of: the thread in your hands and draw it to you. By this means the apple will be cut in twain. In the same manner you may divide an apple into many parts. After doing the trick, hand the apple to members of the company to peel, when it will fall to pieces.