A PUZZLING TRICK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21708, 15 February 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

A PUZZLING TRICK

“Change, Please” Wrap a penny in a piece of paper, say “Change, please,” open the paper and the penny has become two halfpennies. This trick costs twopence, or at least you have to have twopence before you can do it, but as you still have twopence after you have done it I suppose it doesn’t really cost- anything. Your twopence »must consist of one penny and two halfpennies. You also want two pieces of thickish paper, each about three inches square. Stick

them together with a dab of gum or paste in the huddle, arranging them so that the edges are pretty well even. Now put your two halfpennies in the middle of one piece and fold the edges round, forming a little packet with the coins inside. This packet will, of course, be stuck in the centre of the other piece of paper. How to do it To do the trick, hold up the paper with the packet at the bacji. Show a penny and have it examined if you like, but if anyone says any-, thing about examining the paper you don’t hear him. Lay the paper on your haind, packet underneath, put the penny: on top, and fold the edges round. Now while you are saying "Change, please” you wave the double packet about a bit, and finally turn it over,: so. that when you open it again you open the side which contains the two halfpennies. Toss them for examination, screw up the paper and put it in your pocket, because it has a penny in it, and throwing it away would be a mistake.