Practical Magician and Ventriloquist's Guide (eBook)

The popular adage "A magician never reveals his secrets" may have influenced this author's decision to publish his book anonymously.

  Introduction.                                                     Of palmistry and the passes.                                       To command a dime to pass into the centre of a ball of wool,   so that it will not be discovered till the ball is unwound   to the very last of its threads.                                  To change a bowl of ink into clear water with gold fish in it.     The dancing egg.                                                   The walking cent.                                                  Tricks with and without collusion.                                To make a quarter and a penny change places while held in   the hands of two spectators.                                       Trick with the dime, handkerchief, and an orange or lemon.         How to double your pocket money.                                   The injured handkerchief restored.                                 To make a large die pass through the crown of a hat without   injuring it.                                                      To produce from a silk handkerchief bon-bons, candies,   nuts, etc.                                                         Practice.                                                         A sudden and unexpected supply of feathers from under a   silk handkerchief or cloth.                                       Heads or Tails?                                                    To cook pancakes or plumcakes in a hat over some candles.          To eat a dish of paper shavings and afterwards draw them   from your mouth like an Atlantic cable.                            How to cut off a person’s nose without injuring him.               Tricks by magnetism, chemistry, galvanism and electricity.         The watch obedient to the word of command.                        A chemical trick, to follow one where a young friend has   assisted.                                                          To draw three spools off two tapes without those spools   having to come off the ends of those tapes, and while   the four ends of the tapes are held by four persons.               To restore a tape whole after it has been cut in the middle.       On the continuity of tricks.                                       The invisible hen, a very useful trick for supplying eggs for   breakfast or dinner.                                               Tricks with a plain gold ring.                                     Friendly suggestions.                                              The conjuror’s “bonus genius” or familiar messenger.               The shower of money.                                              To furnish the ladies with a magic supply of tea or coffee,   at their selection, from one and the same jug.                     To furnish a treat to the gentlemen.                               Ventriloquism.                                                     Ventriloquism among the ancients.                                 Modern professors of the art.                                       The theory of ventriloquism.                                       The means by which it is effected.                                 Practical illustrations.                                          Polyphonic imitations.                                             A mountain echo.                                                   Points to be remembered.                                           Concluding remarks.                                               To make the magic whistle.