4. THE CANDLE. THE SILK, AND THE PAPER TUBE

Another version of the preceding effect.

EFFECT:

Performer produces a silk from the flame of the candle and tucks part of it into his vest pocket. He then covers candle with a tube which does not completely conceal it. The top is still seen, lighted. Magician then removes candle from tube and wraps it in a piece of paper. Suddenly the silk handkerchief vanishes from his pocket. He tears open the wrapped candle, and there is the silk instead of the candle. He removes the tube from the candlestick and, to everyone's astonishment, there is the candle in the candlestick.

PARAPHERNALIA:

Similar to that used in the preceding experiment.

HOW TO CONSTRUCT APPARATUS:

Cover a candle with India tinted enamel paper.

Around this wrap another piece of the same paper and glue the edge down. Make this so that you can slip it off to make a candle shell. Into this shell, insert a small piece of candle with a wick. This forms the top of shell. Push a silk tight up against piece of candle, Figure 44

Burn wicks a little of both solid candle and the fake.

Now slip shell down over solid candle and place both in the candlestick. Bottom edge of shell should come just a little inside of candlestick so that audience cannot see it, Figure 45.

To audience, the faked candle looks like an ordinary candle.

Now make a tube out of paper or cardboard. This must fit easily over candle and shell and rest on candlestick, showing about half an inch of candle above it, Figure 46.

SECRET AND PATTER:

To Perform:

Have candle and shell set in candlestick.

Have tube nearby on table.

Have match-box with silk in it also on table.

Light candle and produce silk from flame as taught to you in preceding effect of this lesson.

Show tube empty and place it over candle. Shell extends above it so that you will have no difficulty in grasping it. Remove shell, leaving solid candle concealed in tube.

Be careful not to expose open bottom of shell to audience, Figure 47.

Wrap shell in piece of newspaper.

Vanish silk in the "pull." Tear open paper parcel, containing faked candle, and produce the silk in place of the candle.

Lift tube from candlestick and show that candle has returned to its original place in the candlestick.

Lift candle out of candlestick and show it to audience. Then drop it back into candlestick.

5. THE EDUCATED KNOT

A clever experiment to perform on the stage or in a place where you are a little distance from audience.

EFFECT:

Magician ties a knot in the middle of a silk handkerchief. He holds the handkerchief up by one corner, and before the very eyes of his spectators, causes the silk slowly to untie itself.

PARAPHERNALIA:

1--A silk handkerchief.

You may use one of the silks sent to you with your paraphernalia. For stage use, however, it is well to use a much larger silk. A silk pocket handkerchief is suitable.

2--Fine black silk thread.

3--A small black button.

SECRET AND PATTER:

To Prepare:

Sew one end of thread to one corner of handkerchief. Tie single knot in handkerchief, letting thread follow knot. Hold handkerchief out in front of you at about your waistline. Let thread hang down to floor. Allow one inch beyond point where thread touches floor. Cut it off there and sew small black button or small piece of cardboard to this end. Untie handkerchief, Figure 48.

Another arrangement is to have a staple driven into the floor. End of thread can be run through staple and off stage to an assistant, who pulls thread at proper moment.

To Perform:

Method No. l.--Hold handkerchief as in Figure 49. Corner with thread attached is in left hand. Thread is not visible to audience. This view is toward the audience.

Bring corners in each hand together and tie a loose single knot. Right corner comes over into left hand. Left corner with thread following it goes over to right hand.

Hold handkerchief up by free corner in left hand. The thread goes up over top of knot, Figure 50.

Hold handkerchief out in front of you. Let thread fall to floor. Place right foot on button attached to thread, and stretch thread taut, Figure 51.

Method No. 2.--If you are using an assistant and have the staple arrangement, have your table a little in back or to the side of the staple in the floor. Pick up the handkerchief from the table, tie the knot, and hold it in front of you, standing just back of the staple, Figure 52.

Have assistant pull thread at proper moment to untie the handkerchief.

If you are working by Method 1, just raise your left hand higher and higher. The thread pulls up the bottom corner of handkerchief through the knot and unties it, Figure 53.

It then hangs straight again from left hand. The thread coming from bottom corner cannot be seen by audience, Figure 54.

Perform this slowly, and the audience is amazed to see the handkerchief slowly untie itself before their very eyes.

Method No. 3.--A third way of working this experiment is to have end of thread attached to vest button. Make handkerchief untie by pushing down on thread with wand or right hand, Figure 55.

TARBELL SYSTEM, INCORPORATED, Chicago.

LESSON 29

So-called Mind Reading and Mental Experiments have a tremendous effect over an audience. The Magician accomplishes things which to the spectators seem nothing short of miracles. It is to your advantage, then, to have several of these effects in your repertoire. Many Magicians specialize in this type of Magic entirely.

In this lesson I teach you three excellent Mental Effects:

1. The Chess Knight's Tour. A Chess problem done with a blackboard or large card which has been chalked into squares. The Chess Knight moves in regular chess fashion to cover every square, starting with any number which audience calls out. This is a good example of supposed supermentality.

2. A Mind Reading Act. Audience writes questions, dates, numbers, descriptions of anything on pieces of paper. Each one folds his paper and places it in his pocket. Yet the performer knows what has been written and proceeds to answer questions and give numbers, etc. You have been amazed yourself to see Magicians do mind reading like this. Now you can learn this wonderful feat.

3. Telepathic Drawings. Spectator draws a picture on a sheet of paper, folds it, and hides it in his pocket. Performer does not see paper. Yet he reproduces the picture on a piece of cardboard, seemingly getting the message of the picture by mental telepathy.