Liquid Change
By Carlton King

ABOUT 1910 or 1911 Mr. Chris Van Bern. a prominent and very original British magician, put forth the secret of his version of the wine and water trick in Will Goldston's "Magician's Annual." I have seen him perform this baffling experiment in his vaudeville entertainment and until he exposed it for the benefit of other wand wielders it proved most puzzling owing to the fact that he used only one tumbler and one glass jug.

At the introduction of the experiment, the tumbler was standing inverted on the table, and before commencing the various changes, he wiped it out thoroughly with a small silk.

The effect is as follows: The performer stands in the center of the stage well away from tables and chairs. In his right hand he holds a small glass jug about two-thirds full of water. In the left he holds the tumbler, which has been previously wiped out. Water poured into the tumbler turns instantly to ink. When the ink is poured back into the jug, the whole turns to red wine. The performer pours this back and forth several times showing that further changes are impossible, then he remarks: "But if I require a tumbler of water I simply pour it out like this." Suiting actions to words, he pours a tumbler of water from the jug of wine, and by pouring the water back into the jug changes the whole into water as it was at first. So much for the effect.

The practical magician will readily see the clean cut effect, also, how it lends itself to comedy lines. In the method used by Mr. Van Bern a very cleverly constructed glass jug was used. Some years ago I was using this jug when, unfortunately, it was broken in transit.

Necessity being the "mother of invention," I devised the following method, which I found works quite as successfully. A glass jug must be procured with a handle of the straight variety. An old- fashioned fountain pen filler, or eye dropper, must also be procured. This is securely fastened, opening downward, to the handle of the jug. A tablespoon full of Salicylate of Soda is dissolved in the water of the jug. Secure a quantity of Double Steel Drops from a drug store. Heat the bottom of the tumbler over a candle flame and paint a minute spot of this preparation on the inside bottom. This will dry quickly and the tumbler may be handled with impunity, even casually examined if desired. The fountain pen filler is charged with a quantity of highly concentrated Oxalic Acid.

Everything is now ready. When the water is poured into the tumbler it instantly changes to ink. When it is poured back into the jug, wine results. This is poured back and forth several times. At a moment when the tumbler is empty, under cover of misdirecting patter, bring the tumbler under the jug slightly to the rear. The right hand, holding the jug, gives the bulb of the filler a squeeze. This shoots the acid into the tumbler. Thus, when the wine is poured into the tumbler a change to water occurs. This being added to the contents of the jug turns all to water as it was in the beginning.

I would advise care in using the acid -be sure not to get it on your clothes while performing.