File:Modern magic. - A practical treatise on the art of conjuring. (1885) (14803815603).jpg

Identifier: modernmagicpract00hoff_0 (find matches)
Title: Modern magic. : A practical treatise on the art of conjuring.
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors: Hoffmann, Professor, 1839-1919 Hawkins, Arthur, ca. 1940
Subjects: Magic tricks
Publisher: London New York : G. Routledge and Sons
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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ed fragment towards the frame. It is seen tovanish from his hand, and the plate at the same moment appearswhole as at first. The plate is removed, and with the restored watches handed to theaudience for examina-tion, when the closestinspection fails to dis-cover any trace offracture. The first point tobe explained is themode in which theassistant obtains pos-session of the bor-rowed watches, inorder to place themin the frame. Thewatches are collectedby the performer in achanging apparatus(say one of the chang-ing caddies describedat page 348, or adrawer-box with ashallow inner drawer,as described at page346). In this isplaced beforehand alikenumber of dummywatches, and it isthese latter which areplaced on the plate,and meet the pre-destined downfall. The apparatus being left apparently empty, nosuspicion is excited by the fact that the assistant, when sent to fetchthe pistol or the frame, carries it off as no longer needed. The sudden restoration of the piece apparently wanting in the
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 295. MODERN MAGIC. 467 plate, though marvellous to the uninitiated, is really effected by verysimple means. The restored plate is throughout whole and unl.ic.Ver-.but the effect of a piece wanting is produced by covering one portionof its outer rim with an angular piece of black velvet or alpaca, similarto that which covers the back of the frame. The illusive effect isperfect. The frame is provided with two pedals, the first releasingthe black blind in front of the plate and watches, and the secendserving to withdraw the angular piece of cloth already mentioned, andthus (apparently) effecting the complete restoration of the plate.The pretended disappearance of the broken piece from the hand atthe moment of throwing is effected by taking it first in the left hand,and thence apparently transferring it to the right by the tourniquet, sothat when the right hand is opened in the act of throwing, it isnaturally found empty. The Magic Picture and the Chosen Cards.—We noticethis trick

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