Two Tricks

N°1 – A ACROBATIC HANDKERCHIEF

Here is an informal version of that trick made famous by Blackstone. It cannot, by any conceivable length, approach such a masterful effect, but as an impromptu (appearing) item simplicity is the keynote.

All that is required is a clean handkerchief and a waxed paper drinking straw. This is drawn between the fingers so that it is flat, and then it is inserted in the hem of the handkerchief. About three inches of the hem are left free so that a knot may be tied in the corner of the handkerchief. Until needed the handkerchief is kept in the inside coat pocket so that the straw may be kept straight. Then, drawing it from the pocket by the proper corner, a knot is tied, and then the hand is passed down the hank, stroking it several times.

The bottom of the straw is held, and the hank stands upright. Now by manipulation of the little finger, which should be behind the handkerchief, it can be caused to lean in any direction, or bob up and down. And at the end of such strange and unnatural movements as one can master the whole thing is merely crumpled up and returned to the pocket.

N°2 – FLAME IN DUPLICATE

The performer states that it’s common knowledge that a safety match will light only on the side of its match box. As he says this he proceeds to light one. “However,” he continues, “it is not so well known that if one uses the other side of the box the match will light again.” And as he says these words he strikes the match, which has been blown out after its first lighting, on the other side of the box. It lights again – and the performer apparently has proved his point to the detriment of safety match manufacturers. The preparation for the effect, which should be present in a most nonchalant manner as though it were information that everyone should know.

A bit of double-sided adhesive tape on the bottom of the box does the trick. If none is available, some Scotch tape can be made into a ring, adhesive side out, and then pressed to the bottom.

At any rate, a safety match is dipped a quarter of an inch into black ink and then allowed to dry. Then it is stuck to the adhesive on the box and the whole thing placed in the pocket.

Removing the box it is held in left hand while the right takes a match from it. Make sure that the head of the concealed match is away from you. The removed (from box) match is lit, allowed to burn a few seconds, and then blown out. Now, as the burned match rests on the right hand fingers, the left hand places the box directly over the match, bringing away the concealed fake. Apparently the box and the match have been traded, in order that the other (left) side of the box may be used. The fake (inked) match looks exactly like the original burned match and no exchange is suspicioned. The fake match is lit and the first one carried to the pocket stuck to the bottom of the box. The box should be held very carelessly before and after, by the ends, making it evident that the hands are otherwise empty.

For the record, George McAthy conceived of the effect of lighting a match twice, but his method used a second match head clipped to the other end of the first match and it could not be plainly shown that one was actually striking a burned (?) match for the second time, not to mention the additional labor in preparing the match.