The Washington times., 1902-03-23
HIME-HONORED TRICKS
OF Observation-Disclosures
Legerdemain Which IS Still
Practiced With Success.
QUICK GROWING ROSEBUSH
Tricks Which Have Been Displayed for
Years and Which Still Mystify the
Spectators-How Two of Them Are
Accomplished.

Many old conjuring tricks, which have
stood the test OF years are still employed
by prestidigitateurs and are relisEed by
their audiences. One of these is the cone
which is formed of an ordinary newpaper
and which suddenly becomes filled with
flowers that have come from no one knows
where. The number OF them even be
comes so great that they soon more than
fill the cone and drop on and cover the
floor.
The coniuror cannot possibly have con-
celaed these mysterious flowers about his
person. He is attired in ordinary clothes.
and rolls up his sleeves before making
the cone. How then is it done? Very
simply.
How Il Is Done.
Each of these marvellous flowers con-
sists of four petals of various colors. cut
with punch out of very thin tissue pa
per. small. very light and thin steel
spring. formed of two strips soldered to-
gether at the bottom. and pointing in op
posite directions is fixed to the two cx-
terror petals Of the flower, and is con-
cealed by a band of paper of the same
color. gummed above. 1t is this spring
that. when it is capable CT expanding free
ly, opens the flower and gives ii its
yoluminous aspect
Quite large number OF these flowers
"a hundred or more) united and held to-
gether by means of a thread or a rubber
band makes a package small enough 10
allow the operator to conceal it in the
palm of his hand. only the back of which
he allows the spectators to see while he
is forming the paper cone.
Growing Rosebush Trick.
trick that has contributed much to-
ward making magicians such favorites
with the fair sex is cne in which a bush
filled with genuine rosebuds is caused TO
grow in a previously examined pot that
contained nothing but quantity OF white
sand
After the bush is produced the flowers
are cut and distributed to the ladies and
by many recipients of the magician's
fayors these buds are looked upon as a
production of fairy land. For many years
this trick has occupied a prominent posi-
tion on the programme of the magician.
and mystifies the audience as much today
as ever thus proving how well magicians
keep their secrets from the public. The
trick is not difficult one by any means,
yet, regardless of Its simplicity and the
ease with which it may De performed, the
florist would ind-it anything but an eco
nomical method of raising roses.
The Mysterious Stand.
There is seen on the stage. in the per-
formance of this trick. two stands with
metal feet, and with long rich drapery
trimmed with gold fringe. On each of the
stands is a miniature stand on which are
fowerpots
The magician passes the pots for inspec-
tion then places them on the stands, and
plants few flower seeds in each pot. A
large cone, open at both ends. is shown.
and can be carefully examined. One Of
the pots is covered for a moment with
the cone, and on its removal green sprig
is seen protruding from the sand, the seed
$50 The magician says having sprouted
thus mysteriously. Now the second pot
is covered for moment with the cone,
on the removal Of which a large rosebush
is seen in the pot, a mass of full blown
roses and binds.
The Wonderful Cones.
The first pot is again covered for a mo-
ment with the cone. and when uncovered
a second rosebush is seen, equally as full
of roses as the other. The cone is once
again shown to be empty.
small basket or tray is now brough;
forward, on which the roses and buds are
placed as the performer cuts them from
the bushes, after which they are dis
tributed to the ladies'.
AS matter of fact the stands are not
what they appear. for the drapery does
not extend entirely around them. but
quite a space at the back Of the stand is
open. There is a small shelf attached to
the leg of the stand, near the bottom of
the drapery. Three cones are used, al
though the audience sees but one.
The Mystery Explained
The rosebushes are merely stumps to
which are attached base of sheet lead.
cut of such size as TO fit nicely in the
flower pots, resting on the sand. To the
stumps the genuine roses are attached by
tying with thread. When the bushes are
prepared they are suspended inside of
cones by means of a stout cord that is
fastened to the stump by one end and to
the other end of which is attached u
small hook, which hook is slipped over
the edge Of the upper opening OF the cone
When the bushes are placed in the cones.
these cones are placed on the shelves at
the back OF the stands. There is a vari-
ance in the size of the cones. The cone
shown TO the audience is slightly larger
than the cone that is behind the first
stand, and the cone behind the second
stand is a fraction smaller than either Of
the others. Thus the cones will fit
snugly one in the other. in the order
named.
The Green Sprout.
After the performer has shown the
pots, planted the seed, and placed the
pots on small stands, which are used to
the spectators that there is no
between the pot and the
large stand, he shows the large cone
which is nicely decorated. and covers the
top OF the pot on the first stand. as he
says to shut out the light, that the seed
may germinate. Between the fingers OF
the hand holding the cone, he has con-
cealed small metal shape. painted
green, which he drops through the cone
the cone from over the pot, and in a
most natural manner passes fl down be-
hind the stand and over the concealed
rome containing the rosebush, and car
ries this cone away inside OF the larger
one. At the same moment he picks up
the flower pot and carries II down and
shows the green spout in the sand.
The performer now steps to the sec
ond stand and covers the fowerpot on