FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, 22 January 1914, Page 62

FAMILY FUN

TRICKS AND ILLUSIONS. * (Special to the N.Z. Tablet by Mahatma.) Paper Cones.-These are very easy to make, and will be useful in a great number of tricks. The us© of the paper cone is for the appearance and disappearance of any small article, such as a silk handkerchief or small flag. In the first place, both sides of an ordinary sheet, of paper are shown. The performer next twists it into a cone or bag similar in shape to that which a grocer uses. You will notice that in making these bags ho takes hold of two opposite corners, twists the paper round, and then screws up one end. The conjuror having done this places inside the con© a small silk handkerchief. The top of the bag is then folded over and the whole placed on one side of the platform. A few passes are made or a pistol fired, and the paper cone is again taken and unfolded, but the handkerchief has disappeared. In a reverse order the cone may be made to produce three or four handkerchiefs. The secret lies ip the preparation of the paper. Two sheets of ordinary newspaper are gummed together on three edges, the fourth remaining open. A bag is thus formed. If now you make a cone of the paper thus prepared, .so that the open end is at the top, and place any article between the outside sheet and the inner one (which are really the two separate sheets gummed together), your handkerchief will repose in this pocketlike arrangement, instead of in the body of the bag, which is where the audience believe-it to be. It is only natural that when the cone is unfolded the handkerchief will be invisible because it is between the two sheets of paper of which the bag is composed. To. reverse the trick the handkerchief is placed beforehand in the bag. This is then formed into a cone and the hand is slipped in between the sheets and produces the handkerchief.

Tho Restored Tape.—This is a very effective trick in the hands of a good performer. The method is as follows: —The performer shows a long length of tape, and has it cut into three parts by two members of the company. These three pieces are then joined together by one of those present, and the tape in this condition is tied between two chairs. A handkerchief is tied over each knot, and when these are untied the tape is once more found intact, no sign of any cut or knot being visible. This is a . trick which will appeal to any audience —especially as several members are allowed to participate in it. The method of procedure is as follows: Before commencing the trick the conjuror must provide himself with a piece of tape the same length as the one which he proposes to use. This duplicate may be placed in a convenient pocket or held in position beneath his waistcoat. This is prepared in the following manner : At equal distances along it are tied ‘two small pieces of tape, to represent-knots. These may ho pinned on if the performer wishes. Prom a distance they looic like genuine knots. When the performer has this tape neatly folded and placed in a convenient position he comes forward with the genuine piece of tape and has it cut into three equal pieces, and then retied. His right hand at this time goes to his pocket where the duplicate tape is concealed, and closes over it. He then requests a member of the company to fold the genuine tape up neatly into a small roll, and then fakes it from him with the left hand. In walking towards the stage, with a deliberate, but by no means hasty, movement, he exchanges this tape for his duplicate, and the trick is practically finished. All he has to do now is to tie one end of the tape to the back of one chair and the other end to the back-of another and then place a handkerchief over each knot. It will be but a second’s work to undo the pin which holds the faked knots and carry them away in the palm of the hand. The denouement, when the handkerchiefs are removed, • will win for the conjuror an amount -of applause that. will fullv ‘ compensate him for the time spent in -practising this really interesting trick. ‘ .