Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26

up again and put it into a glass of water,
stirring 1T round with the handle of the
fan. Lift 1t out with the fan, set down the
glass. take the wet paper in the left hand
and squeeze the water out of 1t, at the
same time laying the fan on the table
again. Then take the paper In right hand
and shake the water from the left. Pass
paper back to the left pick up fan with the
when a perfect cloud Of tissue paper clip
pings will be blown from that hand, and
immedia tely both hands are shown empty.
The Magic Made Plain.
To accomplish this it Is necessary at the
start to roll a paper napkin of the same
pattern as the one shown into small ball
and conceal in the wrinkle of the left coat
sleeve inside the elbow. You will find that
while the arm Is kept bent In natural
position quite a large article can be thus
hidden. Come forward with the other nap
kin in the hands: when you push VI. your
left sleeve, after showing both hands
empty get hold Of the ball and Immediately
pass the other napkin to that hand, to
leave the left hand free to push up the
other sleeve. Thus the ball will be con,
cealed behind the napkin. Hold the ball
thus while tearing the napkin and when
you roll the pieces up exchange the balls,
taking the whole one in the left hand. call
ing attention to 1t by gesture, while the
other is hidden in the right; then as you
reach for the fan. which should lie near
the back of the table, let the pieces fall on
the shelf.
The rest is plain up to the time the nap
kin goes into the water. At that point
or when you pick up the folded fan to stir
the water take 1t by the end opposite the
handle. Pick up with 1t small bundle
of tissue paper clippings. hold them CON
cealed in the right hand and retain them
there when you lay down the fan. Then
take the squeezed paper in the right hand
while you shake the water from the left,
rolr 20 fsnN 1nrf
the bundle of clippings instead of the
squeezed paper, and when you reach for
the fan again drop the latter on your
shelf. Then you have only to rub the
hurdle of clippings between the thumb
and fingers of the left hand and thus
break the thin paper which holds them,
and the wind of the far, which should
be held below the left hand, will scatter
them upward.
Sword and Candle Trick.
TIE sword and candle is another good
drawing room trick in the Japanese style.
A silk handkerchief and sword are used,
and can be examined freely. as there is
no preparation about either of them. Lay
the handkerchief across the blade Of the
sword suddenly slash the air and the
handkerchief vanishes. Then call atten-
ton to a candle which Is burning on your
table and say you are going to cut it in
two. Make few jaEs in the air and then
strike the candle near the middle, cutting
1t in two, and the handkerchief will be
seen on the blade as In the beginning of
the trick.
This trick depends for its success upon
black silk thread. but many far more elab- |
crate tricks are even more delicately bal |
anced, so there is no cause for worry over |
it's slender support. Tie the thread around |
across the back and down the right |
sleeve. A few trials will determine the |
proper length. AT the end have a small |
spring clip and as you return to your
table after having sword and handker-
chief examined, attach the clip to the CEN !
ter of the handkerchief. When thus fast |
ened considerable slack can be obtained |
by careful management of the arms so the |
handkerchief will lie on the sword blade at |
some distance from the hand. AS the slash !
s made extend both arms and the hand
kerchief will fly up the sleeve. The candle
Is followed out inside to within an inch |
Of the top, and a duplicate silk handker-
chief placed inside, that the blow of the |
sw ord which cuts the candle will carry
away the handkerchief on the blade.
Mystery of the Rings.
One Of the most popular tricks known,
and one that is, probably, more generally
used both by amateurs and professionals
than any other, is called the Chinese
rings" 1t consists Of linking together in
all sorts of complete designs a number of
large nickel plated rings which have been
examined by the audience and pronounced
solid. The sets Of rings vary In number
from six to twelve. but the one most used
consists of eight, and contains two single |
rings. a key" ring, set Of two perma-
nently linked together, and set of three
Joined. The rings vary in size,
too. according to the taste of the perform
er, but the best size is eight inches in
diameter, all of one set being, OF course, Of
the same size. They should be made of
iron wire and nickel
plated. The key" ring has an opening in
/ jsee Fig. y, and in this lies the whole
secret of the trick. 1t is impos sible to ex-
plain the various designs, as there are doz-
Ems of them. and each magician has his
own favorites, but the general working of |
he trick IAN be made clear, and the stu
lent must rely on his own ingenuity and