The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-23


where all see it. and then say you will try
to sLoot the handkerchief into the lemon.
Load it into the pistol and fire at the lemon.
Then cut open the lemon and take out the
hand kerchief. Start toward the lady as if
to return it. SO suddenly and smell of it
and say: 'This smells rather strong of
lemon. Shall perfume it for your
Without waiting for an answer. put ii on
plate on your table and pour perfume
from bottle, but accidentally q put on
too much, pick it up and show it wet. Then
say you will dry 1t little before returning
it. Light candle. and while holding the
handkerchief over the fame it takes fire.
Drop it on the plate and offer il to the
owner while still burning. OF course, she
refuses 1t. Then put another plate over lit,
smother the flames and again offer the
burned remnant to the owner. making all
sorts of excuses for the accident. AS she
still refuses to accept, offer to put it in a
paper for her, return to table and roll the
ashes In piece of paper. and again offer
it to her, and as she still refuses, break
open the paper. take out the handkerchief
and pass it to her. and much to her sur
prise as she finds it is her own handker-
chief. and seemingly none the worse for its
strange adventures.
HOW IT is DONE.
In commencing with this, have in your
left hand lemon. prepared by cutting
plug-shaped piece out of one end, digging
out all the pulp and stuffing in a piece of
cloth the size of a ladys handkerchief.
After this the plug is replaced and fastened
in place. with pins. Hold the lapel OF your
coat with the same hand as you walk down
to borrow the handkerchief, and the lemon
cannot be seen. Under the waistband of
your vest. on the left side. have a bundle
of about dozen pieces of white muslin
say. three inches square-and on the right
side strip about three inches wide and IL
yard long. Behind the box on your table
have double piece of newspaper about a
foot square. pasted together on three sides,
so that it forms sort of bag. but appears
like single thickness. Also have on the
table two plates. pistol. perfume bottle
filled with alcohol. candle and candls-
stick. After prod ucing the lemon from the
gentleman's whiskeTs take the lsdy's hand
keIchief in the left hand.
As you turn toward the stage to throw
the lemon, tuck the handkerchief under
the vest in the middle and pull out the
pieces from the left side. Give them to the
man who Is to assist you. Then YOU start
toward the stage again, at the same time
getting hold of the long strip. and while
explaining to linn how 10 restore the hand
kerchief exchange the pieces for the long
strip and give him that to hold. While all
are watching him, put the pieces in your
pocket. As yon iuen to the stage. after
excusing your assistant. hold the long
strip at arms length. so they can see it all
the time, but with your other hand get
hold of the original handkerchief. and while
getting the pistol push it to the paper bag.
shooting it out as flat as you can. Of
course, when You finally tear open the
paper you only tear through the outer
thickness, and the shes are concealed by
the inner. Be sure not to leave the paper
where the audience can get at it. but
crumple it up and throw it on the stage
WasL ington Star.