FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, 30 October 1913, Page 62

FAMILY FUN

TRICKS AND ILLUSIONS, (Special "to the N.Z. Tablet by Mahatma.) To Balance a Card on a Hat.— card, freely selecueu ana piaced face wards on the crown of a borrowed hat, rises slowly, standing balanced on one end and bows to the audience a number of times. This trick is very effective as well as mystifying. The secret is' a human hair, one end of which is attached to the_ bottom button of the performer's waistcoat, while the free end has a small pellet of beeswax attached to it. The length of this, hair should be such that when not in use the waxed end may be pressed on to the top button of the waistcoat. In this position it may be carried about always ready for the trick. The . Pencil.— performer goes amongst the audience and asks for the loan of a lead pencil. As he cannot procure one exactly similar to the one required he uses his own. This pencil is placed across the performer's palm. Passes are made over it, and gradually it rises until it stands perpendicularly. The effect is very mysterious, but it is also very easy of accomplishment. To the end of the pencil the performer has attached a small, sharp hook. This is stuck in the palm of the hand near the ball of the thumb. The pencil is laid down flat and held down by the fingers. Gradually opening the fingers and stretching the hand, the pencil rises up. This movement may bo repeated a number of times. Egg Spinning.— ordinary egg is kept spinning like a top, on a Japanese tray. The tray is held in the right hand, bottom upwards, the left hand placing the egg on the tray gives it a spin to the right. ■ By now causing the tray to describe concentric circles—i.e., in the opposite direction to that in which the egg is spinning, the latter may be kept going indefinitely! The egg must be hard boiled, and the heavier it is 'the better will it spin. The tray should be smooth but not polished. The surface on which the egg is to spin could be finished off with fine emery cloth. The better effect is obtained when the egg is first laid on its side in the centre of the tray, and caused to get up and spin without the assistance, of the left hand. To do this the right hand in addition to imparting the concentric motion to the tray causes it at the same time to oscillate slightly from side to side. The egg spins on its side, with increasing rapidity, the extra movement eventually causing it to stand on one end. From this point the trick proceeds as above described. The Disappearing Knot.— handkerchiefs are tied together by their corners, or two corners of one handkerchief are tied together and are mysteriously untied. The trick is a very old one but one that may be new to some readers. Two comers of a handkerchief, diagonally opposed to each other, are tied together with, a common granny or 'reef knot, either of which may be pulled reasonably tight. The knot is then covered with the body of the handkerchief, which is given to someone to hold. The performer, taking one of' the free ends, requests the holder to let go when he counts three. This is done and the knot has vanished. The secret depends upon the manipulation of ■the knot, prior to, and in the act of covering it with the handkerchief. Having tied a ' reef °or granny knot, and in the act of apparently pulling the knot tight, one hand takes a corner and the other hand the body of the handkerchief, corresponding to the same corner, and a strong pull is given, with the result that the corner is pulled out quite -straight, the opposite one being merely tied round iti.e., the • 'granny-' or 'reef knot is converted into a slip; knot which, with one or two more tugs, is worked still nearer the opposite end. The knot is then taken between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, while the remaining three fingers grip tightly that portion of the handkerchief immediately under the knot. The left hand now throws the body of the handkerchief over it, and under cover of this the thumb and finger push the knot completely off the end, just before the assistant grasps it. The hard twists which still remain satisfy him that he holds the actual knot.