IV. THE CUPS AND BALLS
“The Noble and Antique Plaie of the Cuppes and Balles” is well called the king of tricks. It has had a run not of hundreds but of thousands of years, a run that appears likely to continue indefinitely. The reason is not far to seek. The trick has everything that a perfect feat of magic should have—a simple plot, appearances, vanishes and reappearances, changes of place and size, multiplications, amusing interludes, and an astounding climax—and all this with the use of the simplest possible materials: three goblets and some balls.
It has been said that no one should consider himself a magician if he cannot work the cups and balls, which is not strictly true; the converse, however, does hold good—anyone who can perform the cups and balls skillfully is a good magician. The reason that the trick is passed up by many is probably because the explanations of it are cluttered up with too many passes and, sleights and interminable routines, with the result that neophytes are frightened away at the very start. The fact is that the trick is simple and direct; the indispensable sleights are but few and not difficult. On the other hand, a successful presentation does call for a ready flow of patter and, even to a greater extent than in most conjuring tricks, the action must be fitted to the word and the word to the action.
The necessary materials will be considered first, then the sleights and flourishes, and finally the routines.
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