FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 20, 20 May 1909, Page 38

FAMILY FUN

Trick With Coins. — If the hoy magician is a much appreciated acquisition to an evening company, surely one that can turn one coin into two must be doxibly welcome. Here is the'way to perform this seemingly impossible feat. Prepare a penny by putting a little wax on it, and then attach it by means of the wax to the underside of a table, near the edge. Now borrow another penny from one of the company, and announce that you intend to turn it into two pennies. Holding the borrowed penny under your thumb, rub it briskly along the table near the edge with your hand, under the table in such a position that you can at any time you wish take off the penny that you have .fixed there with wax and thus have two pennies in your hand. If neatly done this trick defies detection.

To Magnetise a Knife. — Take a pocket or table knife and lay its blade flat upon the back of a fire shovel. With a pair of tongs held firmly in the hand rub the blade vigorously and always in the same direction from point to base. Turn the blade over now and then, so that the friction may be applied to both sides. After a rubbing of from 40 to 50 seconds the blade will be magnetised and will be capable of lifting a needle with which it is placed •in contact, point to point. The magnetisation will last a long time. This experiment, which is not put down in works of physics, is very interesting, and worthy of study.