3. VANISHING THE WAND AND RECOVERING IT
The latest and most simple method is of recent introduction. The wand used is black with white ivorine tips, and another wand, duplicating this in appearance, has detachable tips (Fig. 2) which fit into a tube of black paper. The real wand is placed beforehand in the inside breast pocket of the coat and the faked wand is carried on openly. Because of the wooden tips this can be rapped on the table, giving the impression of solidity. To vanish it, you take a sheet of newspaper, roll the wand in it, screw up the paper at the ends, and again rap the end of the packet on the table, apparently proving that the wand is still there. Then, holding the packet between the hands, one hand on each end, clap the hands together, crumpling the paper, and roll it into a ball. The wand has vanished; toss the paper aside and bring the solid wand from the breast pocket.
This is the usual procedure; but there are two effects that can be added to make it still more effective: one is the spontaneous appearance of the wand from the vest pocket, and the other is the tossing of the crumpled paper to the spectators to be examined.
To provide for the appearance of the wand, cut a hole in the bottom of the upper left vest pocket, and have a bag of rather stiff cloth, which will take the wand and allow it to slide easily, sewed to the slit in the vest. The length of the bag is such that when the wand is placed in it the upper end is just out of sight in the vest pocket. Attach a small weight to a length of black silk, drop it into the bag, bring the thread down, and tie it to the lowest vest button; then place the wand in the bag. A pull on the thread will naturally cause the wand to rise out of the pocket. See Fig. 3.
To enable you to throw the ball of paper out, an exchange must be made for a piece of paper crumpled similarly. This you have under your vest on the right-hand side. With these preparations made, you proceed thus: When the paper supposed to hold the wand is crushed, your hands are brought just in front of the body; in rolling and squeezing the ball of paper, slip the right thumb under the thread and bend the thumb to hold it.
Hold the ball of paper in the right hand and with the left grasp the left side of the coat and pull it open. Look down at the vest pocket and at the same moment let the right hand move downwards and to the right, thus making the wand rise from the vest pocket. At the same time turn toward the right so that the right hand comes over the outside pocket of the coat at that side, let the paper ball drop into it, and then close the fingers again. Take the lower end of the wand in the left hand, let the thread slip from the right thumb, toss the wand in the air to show it is not attached in any way, and at the same moment take the duplicate paper ball from under the vest. Finally toss the empty paper out to the spectators. The weight will pull the thread taut against the vest, where it will be safely out of your way.
Someone is sure to open up the paper, and if you have the word STUNG printed in very large letters on it his expression on reading it will cause considerable amusement to the rest of the onlookers.
The paper tubes and the ivorine tips with solid wand to match can be obtained very reasonably at any magic shop. There are also many kinds of mechanical wands for the production, vanish and exchange of silk handkerchiefs and the like—“but these are outside the scope of this” work.
Website Content: © Copyright 2024 by Trickshop.com.