The Arizona sentinel., 1886-07-17
PARLOR MAGIC.
How to Make a Cigar Dance on a Hat.
 The Shadow PantOmime.

How to Make a Cigar Dance on Hat-s
 The Shadow PantOmime.
 A hat is borrowed; likewise a. cigar. The performer breathes on the latter to mesmerize it and declares that when so mermerized he can compel it to stand upright on the crown of the hat. He endeavors to make it stand up accord ingly, at fir t without success, but pres- ently the cigar does actually stand up. right, self-supported, on the crown. At command it will bow to the company, salute the ladies on the right, the ladies on the left, and so on. The performer then asks for little music, and begins to move the hat about, still crown ups ward, first in of1e hand, then in the oth- CT. The cigar retains its vertical posi-. ton, but sways about, sometimes to one side, sometimes the other, as if endeav- bring to keep time to the music At any moment the performer can request spectator to take the cigar from the hat and to satisfy himself that it is not attached in any way.
 The seeming mystery rests on the use of a very simple piece of apparatus-a little rod about the size of lead-pencil, but rather thicker, of ebony or some other heavy wood, and with needle point an inch long projecting from one end of it. The performer gets this in- side the hat and his pretended efforts to balance the cigar on the hat pushes the needle-point up through the crown and into the end of the cigar, which thence forward sticks upright on the point. within the hat will naturally make the cigar bend in the opposite direction and so to salute the company, etc.
 The hand may now grasp the brim of the hat only, leaving the ebony rod swinging free within the hat, and as it swings it will communicate a swaying motion to the cigar above, as if affected by the music.
 When the trick is completed you in- vite some spectator to take the cigar from the hat At the same moment that his fingers touch the cigar you withdraw the needle-point from below, when the cigar naturally falls and mo- thing remains to indicate the means that supported it. The performer im- mediately begins to brush the hat with his handkerchief and under cover of so doing is enabled without difficulty to smuggle away into his sleeve or pocket the little ebony rod
 The shadow pantomine can easily be arranged in large room, across the center of which sheet is stretched; or, better still, in two parlors, across the opening between the two rooms, the sheet is suspended; The sheet should be damp, but not wet enough to allow the water to drIp on the carpet. The performance takes place in the back parlor, behind the sheet; the audience sit in the other room in front of the sheet. The audience part should be in semi-darkness, while behind, the sheet there should be strong light from the candle placed on the floor. The actors come in front of the candle, and their shadows are thus thrown vividly on the sheet, their bulk increasing and decreasing accord ing to distance. When they jump over the candle from behind, their shadows appear to descend from the roof. and when they jump back again, that is, from the sheet, thelr shadows appear to vanish into the sky. The actors may be dressed in various fantastic ways; for instance, an old man may be represent ed by boy in his fathers great coat. tottering along by aid of a stick; an old woman may be played by little Kate or Jenny in grandmother bonnet or shawl, and Tiny Toddles may be made to appear as miniature clown by means of a paper cap and large pair of knickerbockers with legs stuffed. In this way amusing scenes have been performed; the more activity displayed by the actors the more fun. Tables, chairs, etc., may be introduced, and much merriment is caused by one boy jumping over the back of another and vanishing at each jump. Philadelphia Tunes.