1. THE FLYING RING
Under varying forms this trick has long been a favorite with both magicians and audiences. I shall explain the simplest method first; but this must not be despised on that account—quite the reverse, for the effect is very good.
Effect. A borrowed ring is dropped into a glass by a spectator. It vanishes and instantly reappears on the performers wand, although the ends of this are held by two spectators.
Preparation. Prepare for the trick by attaching a ring to the middle of a handkerchief by a thread about three inches long, and have this in a pocket in such a way that on removing it and holding it up by two opposite corners the ring will be suspended on your side and therefore concealed from the spectators.
1st Method. When you are ready to show the trick, you request the loan of a wedding ring. Then you take out the prepared handkerchief and spread it out, holding the ring corner in the right hand between the tips of the second and third fingers and the opposite corner between the tips of the left thumb and forefinger. Place the corner thus held in the right hand with the corner in the left hand, which then retains hold of both corners.
Receive the borrowed ring with the right hand; place it behind the handkerchief; and apparently seize it from the other side at the middle of the fabric with the left hand, which drops the two corners previously held. In reality you slide the borrowed ring to the thumb grip in the right hand, take hold of the suspended ring and push this upward underneath the handkerchief—the left hand taking it from above. Take the ring and handkerchief from the left hand in your right hand; invite a spectator to hold both in his left hand; and give him a glass to hold in his right hand, under the handkerchief and immediately below the ring.
Take the wand in your left hand and, in sliding the other end into the right hand, make it pass through the ring; then move the right hand along the wand to the middle, with the ring hidden under it. Invite a spectator on your right to grip both ends of the wand. Tell the spectator who holds the ring and handkerchief to drop it into the glass at the word “Three”; count “One, two, three”—he drops the ring and everyone hears it fall into the glass. Once more you count as before. But at the word “Two,” seize the middle of the handkerchief just over the glass; at “Three,” jerk it rapidly away—straight upwards, so that the suspended ring cannot strike against the side of the glass. “See,” you exclaim, “the ring has vanished! I call ‘Three,’ and here it is threaded on the wand held by this gentleman.” Remove the right hand quickly, pressing it against the ring and making it revolve rapidly on the wand. Finally let the spectator holding the wand remove the ring and hand it to the owner for identification. Put the prepared handkerchief in your pocket while all attention is on the sudden reappearance of the ring.
2d Method. In this version the prepared handkerchief is dispensed with. It is necessary, however, to switch the ring, and a good way to do this is to have a duplicate ring palmed in the left hand. After borrowing a wedding ring, show it in the right hand in readiness for the tourniquet (see page 24); then take it apparently with the left hand, really letting it fall into the right and showing the duplicate in the left hand which you drop forthwith into a glass or onto a plate. As in the first method, slide the end of the wand through the ring secretly; move the right hand, and the ring under it, to the middle and have the ends held by a spectator. Take out your handkerchief with the left hand and throw it over the middle of the wand, thus concealing the ring when you remove your right hand.
Pick up the duplicate ring from the glass or plate; show it and pretend to put it in your left hand, really palming it in the right. Keep the left hand clenched, its back to the front, and move it away to the left. With the right hand seize a corner of the handkerchief on the wand on the side nearest to you. Count “One, two, three”; at the word “Three,” make a throwing motion with the left hand toward the wand and pull the handkerchief away rapidly and directly toward you, causing the ring to spin rapidly on the wand—a very effective finish. Place the handkerchief in your pocket and take the opportunity of dropping the ring at the same time.
A cane or a ruler can be used instead of the wand, but you must make sure first that the diameter of the ring is large enough for the article to pass through the ring easily.
3d Method. This method is refined still further, the duplicate ring being also suppressed so that the trick becomes an entirely impromptu one. The working, however, is somewhat more difficult than those of the preceding methods.
Receive the borrowed ring on the palm of the right hand; while showing it thus, shake it into the position shown in Fig. 4, so that a very slight contraction of the hand will hold it securely. Bring the right hand over to the left and, turning it over onto the left palm, pretend to place the ring in the left hand. Close the left fingers immediately and keep the hand clenched.
Take a long pencil from your upper left vest pocket and hold it by the middle with tips of your right fingers so that one end comes against the palm of the hand, the back of the hand being, of course, toward the spectators. Now comes a movement which will require some practice and which must be made by the right hand alone. As you gesticulate while talking and tapping the back of the left hand with the pencil, make the pencil slide through the ring until you get it to the middle, keeping the back of the hand to the spectators all the time.
With this accomplished, invite a spectator to take hold of both ends of the pencil. Bring the left hand underneath the right, open both hands so that the palms come together with the pencil between them, rub them together, and then suddenly remove both hands. The ring is then seen to be on the pencil, although the ends are still held.
It should be noted in connection with this trick of the ring and the wand that a fine effect can be obtained by using a piece of flash paper and the trick fold described on page 48 in connection with coins. This method dispenses with the duplicate ring; the borrowed ring is obtained directly from the paper, although the impression on it makes it appear that the ring is still wrapped up. A touch with a lighted cigarette will flash off the paper, and the ring appears instantly on the wand held by a spectator.
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