3. To Produce a Ball from the Wand
Under cover of calling attention to his wand and speaking of its powers
of production, absorption, etc., the performer secures a ball from the
pochette, and palms it by the second method; or the ball may be obtained
from a pin point under coat lapel, from a wire clip just inside the lower
edge of coat, or it may be taken from the collar in the act of easing the
latter – a very natural action. Well, having palmed the ball, he holds the
wand by one end in the left hand in such a manner that the hand can be
seen to be otherwise empty. He then draws the wand through the right
hand when, just as the free end disappears into the hand, the thumb rolls
the balls to the finger tips, the effect being that it is actually squeezed out
of the wand. (See “H” in the Fig.)
4. To Return a Ball into the Wand
This is, of course, the converse of the movement last described above.
The wand is held in the left hand as before, the ball being shown at the
finger tips of the right hand. The free end of the wand is then laid lightly
on the finger tips of the right hand (in front of the ball) which is then
drawn slowly down the wand until it reaches the left hand, by which time
the ball will have been palmed by the first method. The right hand may
be removed at this point, or it may take the lower end of the wand and tilt
the opposite end over into the left hand, itself being then withdrawn from
the free end.
5. To Secretly Introduce a Ball under a Cup
This is always done in the act of raising the cup with the hand in which
the ball is “palmed”, presumably to show there is nothing under it, or other
pretext. Some performers palm with equal facility with either hand, but
while the ability to do this may add somewhat to the confusion of a fellow
conjuror, it is scarcely necessary in the ordinary way. We shall, therefore,
suppose the ball to be palmed in the right hand unless otherwise stated.
The right hand then held almost flat upon the table, grasps the cup by the
rim, as low down as possible, between the thumb and lower joint of the
forefinger.
The cup is then raised, its position in the hand as shown as “F” in the Fig.,
the lower edge being just over the ball, presuming, of course, that the ball
be palmed by the first method; it is then and forthwith replaced on the
table, when a slight movement of the fingers will be found to dislodge
the ball which falls under it unperceived. Needless to say, the left hand
should, when necessary, raise and replace a cup at one and the same time,
handling it in precisely the same manner as the right hand.
If the ball be palmed by the third method, the operation, as experiment
will show, becomes even more simple.
If the ball be palmed by the second method, the third and fourth fingers
may readily transfer it from the palm proper to position “E” (third method)
when the operation becomes equally simple. The ball, however, may be
jerked from the palm proper upwards and under the cup, which is then and
forthwith replaced on the table with the ball under it. This is the method
employed by the Indian conjurors, whose wooden cups are lifted by a
knob on the top, grasped between the tips of the first and second fingers,
and which will be covered completely further on in these lessons.
There is still another method of secretly inserting a ball under a cup from
the palm of the hand. In the act of picking up a cup in each hand, say
“B” in the left hand and “C” in the right, both are allowed to tilt forward,
momentarily, but long enough to admit of the ball being dropped from
the palm of the right hand into the cup, when both are replaced on the
table. “A” and “B” should then be raised and replaced, being handled in
precisely the same manner. If this method be employed at close quarters,
the cups should be lined with felt to deaden the sound of the ball falling
therein.
TO SECRETLY INTRODUCE A BALL BETWEEN TWO CUPS
The operation is practically the same as when introducing a ball beneath
a cup on the table, the only addition being a little upward jerk (rather
difficult to describe but readily acquired) whereby the ball is thrown
upwards into the cup that it may, in falling, come to rest on the concave
top of the lowermost one. The position of the ball between the cups is
shown at “G” in the Fig. The first or third methods of palming should be
employed for this operation.
6. To Simulate the Action of Placing a Ball under a Cup
The ball is at the outset conjured away, i.e., made to disappear by palming.
This sleight is of the greatest importance and must be well executed, it
being imperative the spectators be satisfied the ball is actually under the
cup. There are two methods of forcing this conclusion. (1) The ball is first
shown at the finger tips of the right hand, when then seems to transfer it
to the left, the fingers of which (apparently) close upon it. It is, of course,
palmed in the right hand which at once raises the cup sufficiently for the
fingers of the left hand to be placed beneath it. The edge of the cup is then
drawn over the fingers and down on to the table, the action apparently
scooping the ball under the cup. The left hand is then casually shown to
be empty. (2) In this case the ball is (apparently) passed direct from the
right hand under the cup. It is first shown at the finger tips. The left hand
then raises the cup while the right hand seems to place the ball under it,
the cup seeming to scoop the ball off the fingers as before. The ball is
really palmed by the first or third methods as when returning it to the
wand (sleight 4).
(To be continued)
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