Water Wizardry Part 10

_Hole in cup_

_Water_

_Hole in Saucer_

_Hollow Saucer_

Fig. 19]

This is managed by means of a "confetti cup," which is a metal teacup on a saucer. The cup is divided by a part.i.tion in the centre and the front compartment is filled with confetti. There is a hole in the bottom of the other compartment and it is there that you pour the water. Where does the water go to? Into the saucer, which is somewhat suspiciously thick. There is a hole in the centre of the saucer and the hole in the bottom of the cup goes exactly over the hole in the saucer. Thus, when the water is poured into the cup it finds its way directly into the saucer and the cup can at once be lifted up. The trick is more suitable for a stage than for a drawing-room; even a little confetti makes a big litter in a room. Still, some good-natured hostesses, if asked if they would have any objection to a litter of confetti in a room, would be sure to reply: "Not the slightest, do what you like as long as you amuse the children."

Silk from Water

Most conjurers like to conclude a performance with a showy trick, one in which they can produce a quant.i.ty of ribbons and flags, finis.h.i.+ng up with the production of a Union Jack--the bigger the better.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

{two cylinders, each with water in one portion and hidden flags in other} _Hinged Flap_ _Rubber Cover_

_WATER_ _FLAGS ETC_ _FLAGS ETC_ _WATER_

_TYPE A._ _TYPE B._

Fig. 20]

Here is a trick of that kind. The conjurer begins by showing a large metal cylinder closed at one end. He rattles his wand inside it and then holds it with its end facing the audience. But he does not hold it perfectly still. If he is performing in a room with the front rows of his audience close to him the utmost he can do--in the way of showing the interior of the cylinder--is to point it to the audience on his right and then bring it round with a quick sweep to the audience on his left. It is as well to have an a.s.sistant for this trick, but the a.s.sistant must be "in the know"--the conjurer's very own a.s.sistant, because he--or, better still, she--is asked to hold the cylinder with both hands while the conjurer fills it with water, and the conjurer cannot allow a member of the audience to undertake that task.

The water should be poured in from a height, so that the audience can see that real water is used, and that it really does go into the cylinder. The conjurer puts the jug down and peeps into the cylinder as though he were expecting something to happen. Of course, the trick could be brought to a conclusion at once, but you may well pause here for a moment--just to "work up the excitement."

You dip your hand into the cylinder and take it out dripping with water.

"Just wet water," you say, "very wet." Dip your hand in again. "Still wet." Repeat the action, but this time you remark that here is something which is "quite dry," and you take out an American flag. The little joke may, or may not be, discovered by the audience, but probably some of the older members will see it. You then continue to produce a quant.i.ty of flags and finally finish up with the Union Jack, which, of course, must be larger than any of the other flags you have produced.

But the trick is not yet over, because as you produce the last flag your a.s.sistant, knowing what to do, pours out the water from the cylinder.

This effect is produced in a simple manner. The cylinder is divided down the centre into two compartments. The top of the part.i.tion does not come up to the top of the cylinder because one compartment, filled with flags before the commencement of the trick, is closed with a little semi-circular lid, and as this lid has to be opened before the flags can be produced it follows that if it were level with the top of the cylinder it would be seen. The whole of the interior is painted a dull black.

Care must be taken in pouring the water into the cylinder; if it is poured on to the top of the lid there will be a visible splash above the top of the cylinder, which would give the trick away.

Your a.s.sistant, having rehea.r.s.ed the trick with you, knows just what you are going to do, and, therefore, when you dip your hand into the cylinder for the third time to get at the first flag she tilts the cylinder slightly towards you and holds it in such a way that you can lift the lid quickly.

Another cylinder for producing the same effect has the secret compartment in the centre. The compartment is a round tube closed at the mouth with an india-rubber cap. This cylinder usually has a foot to it, and this makes it more convenient for the a.s.sistant to hold. Besides, knowing that the secret compartment is in the centre the conjurer does not have to be over careful as to the way in which he pours in the water; as long as the spout of the jug is near the edge of the cylinder he knows that he is safe. I used one of these cylinders at St. George's Hall some years ago.

It is advisable to produce a flag in the first place, because you are then able to get away with the india-rubber cover behind it; the cover can easily be pulled away and hidden afterwards as you put the flag down.

It is a good plan, after the production of the first flag, to take out a number of compressible things. If you are performing to children they will like nothing better than two or three bundles of carrots. These imitation carrots are made with springs inside them, and they can be packed in a very small compa.s.s. Imitation flowers, sausages, b.a.l.l.s and other things are also made in such a way that they can be packed in a very small s.p.a.ce, but when they are produced they expand to the usual size. If you adopt this plan you apparently take out of the tube far more than could possibly be put into it. These things can be followed with a few "throw-outs," as they are called--little coils of bright tissue paper ribbons; the conjurer gets hold of the end and throws the coil away from him when the ribbons spread out, making a good display.

After these can come a large number of silk handkerchiefs of bright colours, and finally the flags.

Care should be taken in displaying all these things after they are produced. You lose half the effect of the trick if you merely dump them down in an untidy heap. One flag can be hung on the a.s.sistant's arm, another over a chair, and another in front of the table, and so on, the object being to leave the audience with some kind of a "spectacle."

The one drawback to this very easy, but very effective trick is the anti-climax produced by the water being poured out of the vase at the end of the trick. You really want the end of the trick to be the production of the big Union Jack, and yet if you do not have the water poured out you lose some of the effect of the trick.

You can get over this difficulty by producing the Union Jack in another way, and this will give you a little more room in the vase for other flags. Let the last of these be a Union Jack of the same size as the others and drape it with the others over the back of a chair. Then have the water poured out of the vase and the audience will think that you have come to the conclusion of the trick and will begin to applaud--or it is to be hoped they will! Then take several of the flags from the back of the chair and produce a large Union Jack on a flagstaff; this makes an excellent finish to the trick.

The flagstaff is a telescopic one; the flag is pleated and rolled up, and the staff is concealed in a little bag hung behind the chair over which you drape the flags. To cause the staff to open, grasp the handle tightly and "shoot" it out with its point towards the floor for a moment; this is a very important point, because if you are performing in a room you may, in the excitement of the moment, do someone a serious injury if you merely "shoot" out the flag towards the audience. The flagstaff should be of the kind known as "self-locking"; that is to say, when every joint is out the staff can immediately be raised to a vertical position without any fear that the staff will collapse; it will remain rigid until you wish to close it. Wave the flag, allowing the other flags to fall from your hands to the floor, and if you do not finish your performance to loud applause the fault will not be yours.

=GAMAGES=

=Conjuring Tricks for the Discerning Magician=

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=Multiplying Plate.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A number of coins are counted upon the plate by one of the audience and poured into an empty hat, where they most mysteriously multiply. This plate is the best and cheapest on the market. Complete with full instructions. Larger size, 2/-, post 4d.; smaller size, 1/3, post 3d.

="Vest Pocket" Wine and Water Problem.=

A gla.s.s jug of water and four tumblers are used. Upon pouring water into the first gla.s.s, it remains perfectly clear, but upon pouring water into the second tumbler, it immediately changes to a rich wine colour, and so on until you have two gla.s.ses of wine and two of water. The contents of the first and second gla.s.ses when mixed produce all wine, while the second and third mixed, produce clear water. Finally, on all the liquor being returned to the jug, the result is clear water. The contents of the gla.s.ses may be tested without injury. Price 1/2, post 2d.; large size, price 2/-.

=The Mysterious Hammer, Box, & Ball.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Complete with full instructions. Price 2/9, post 3d.

The hammer is first given for examination and then the box with the ball in it. The box is then closed, being empty, and the ball by a magic pa.s.s is caused to appear in it. The performer now takes the hammer, and holding his left hand under the table, knocks on the top of the ball, which pa.s.ses right through the table into the hand underneath it, and it may all be again examined.

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Coin produced and vanished as often as desired; simply wonderful, no skill required, anyone can do it. Price 6d., post 2d.