The Washington times., 1901-09-08
SLEIGHT-OF- TRICKS.
Simple Feats That Deceive the Eye
and Appear Marvellous.
The Cabinet Act md the Handcuff
and Post Miracles Easy OF Accom-
pIishment Clever Ruses Resort
ed to by the Performers.

Audiences have frequently been mys-
! titled by persons protesting supernatu-
| raj powers who have had themselves
| bound by stout cords or ropes in "A cabi-
net and who have Immediately after
ward been found released from their
bonds. Splritualistic mediums adopt
this test quite frequently. thus amaz-
ing even the most incredulous. The ex-
planation of this really simple trick fol-
lows:
piece of soft cotton rope about six
feet long and of the size known as sash
cord is securely tied around the per-
formers left wrist, the rope being di-
vided so that the ends will be of equal
| length. When the committee selected
from the audience is satisfied that 1t
has made the knots secure the per
former places his hands behind him.
with the right wrist resting over the
knots on the left wrist. and the ends of
the rope are securely tied together.
bringing the knots down tight on the
right wrist. This appears all fair
enough, but 1t is not so fair as it ap-
pears. because while the knots are Sc
cure enough there is sufficient slack be-
tween the wrists to enable the perform
er, by giving his right wrist a half turn,
to withdraw his hand from the rope
encircling it
But the question IS, how does he, the
performer, secure this slack?
In placing his hands behind him after
the rope is tied about the left wrist he
cit itT,ae ha -t-4
portion between his wrists. so that 1t is
not seen by the persons securing hirh
This action is. of course, performed
with that celerity upon which all
sleight- tricks are primarily
based. When ready to release himself.
the performer gives his right hand and
wrist a half turn, releasing the twist on
the knot, which thus becomes a part of
the loop tied around the right wrist,
and eniargiug it sufficiently to enable
the performer to pull the right hand
free from the rope. when he can per-
form any trick he chooses with the free
hand. By replacing the hand in the
loop and giving the hand dexterous
half turn the knots can be shown as
secure as when first tied.
The "Spiritualistic Post Test" is
among the latest and most successful
of mechanical trick fastenings. A piece
of wood four inches square and three
feet long is given TO the committee who
bore hole through it near cre end,
and then pass an ordinary rope through
the hole, tying knot in The rope on
each side Of the rost, pressing the
knots against the post so that the rope
cannot be drawn through the post Tie
ends of the rope are then raveled,
and the post Decured to the nocr of the
cabinet
The performer, standing behind the
post, places his wrists against the knots
in the rope. one on each side Of the
post, and the raveled ends of the
rope are bound around his wrists and
tied securely. ana all knots are sealed
with wax. A large nail is driven in the
top of the post, to which gre fastened
cords that are passed out through the
cabinet and acid by members Of the
committee in order that they may know
if the performer moves the pest in any
manner during the performance of any
test, such as the ringing of bells, etc.
Before the performance hole is Lor-
ed in the centre of the end of the stick
or post, in which is placed a chisel-
shaped piece of steel sharoened at the
lower end and blunt at the upper end
The opening in the end of the post has
been carefully closed and all signs of
such an opening are concealed by the
aid of glue, sawiust. and a little dirt
rubbed over it When the committee
is invited TO bore hole in the post,
the performer takes care TO start the
bit, in order that there viii be no mis-
take about getting the hole directly be-
meath the chisal concealed IN the post.
When the rope is passed through the
hole and knotted 1t is directly under the
sharp edge of the chisel. with but a
thin layer of wood between. When the
nail is driven into the top of the post it
strikes the chisel. forcing it through the
thin shell of wood and through the
rope, thus releasing the performer, WHO
can withdraw his hands from the post
and do any trick he chooses, and when
finished. by merely replacing the ends
of the rope in the holes from which he
removed them. and holding his hands
tight against the post, can allow a most
rigid examination of the seals to show
that it was not possible for him to have
released his hands, while the persons
holding the cords that are fastened to
the nail testify that they did not feel
any movement of the performer or the
post.
The handcuff test is a great favorite
with the medium" In this test the
performer uses any pair Of handouts
furnished by the audience, and by them
ments after he takes his place in the
cabinet, his coat is thrown out, but on
examination the handouts are found to
be on his wrists just as they were plac-
ed by the audience. AS final test, the |
performer comes out Of the cabinet |
holding the handouts in his hand, re-
moved from the wrist but locked.
This trick Is really very simple, not |
withstanding its apparent mystery. |
There are only few styles of hand |
cuffs made in this country, and all that |
medium has To do is to secure the |
proper key for each style. which keys |
are concealed about the person, and by |
aid of fingers and teeth the proper key |
can be fitted to the handouts. In some |
types Of handouts 1t is impossible to |
get the fingers to the keyhole. II such |
pair is placed on the performer and |
he cannot use his teeth to hold the key, |
he slips the key in a crack in the chair |
or cabinet, which crack he makes sure |
is there before undertaking the test, |
thus holding the key and unlocking TIE !,
handouts.
PASSING OF THE BEAVER.