Magical Originalities
Ernest E. Noakes
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A Spirit Message FrameI WAS "down" to do something at a dinner of the "Magic Circle," on 7th December 1907, and I was desired to introduce some novel trick. The trick I thought out was as follows:--A frame containing a piece of white paper with glass back and front was tied round with string and sealed. After showing the frame round, it was placed before an open book which acted as an easel, and a sheet of "tissue" paper fixed in front. Then asking a member of the audience to hold one end of a magnetic cord, the other end was attached to the frame. The audience were all requested to think hard of whv they were there. A lighted candle was applied to the middle of the "magnetic cord," when one flame rushed towards the gentleman helping with the trick, and a second flame rushed towards the frame--a flash ensued, and there, printed on the paper, between the two sheets of glass, was a message of Yuletide Greetings and expressions of good wishes! Needless to say the result was well worth the making up of the trick.
To prove the simplicity in working, I may say that at the last moment I persuaded a celebrated magician who was present to work the trick for me, as by the necessary retiring of the Chairman I was called upon to deputise for him. I only had the opportunity of placing the gear in the performer's possession, and whispering to him a few details, but of course in "his" hands success was assured.
The actual secret of the trick is quite simple. In the first place, the string was only tied across the frame and sealed, leaving the top free. The message was written on a plain sheet of smooth thick paper, and covered with a smooth thin sheet of paper with its top end turned over the back of message sheet, and protruding beyond the back glass, which was shorter than the front glass. The frame when prepared, was placed against an open book, but the book when standing open in the form of an easel, permitted getting hold of the edge of the fake paper, and after the flash paper was attached to the front of the frame, for which four pegs protruded with a point on each, the fake paper was pulled down over the edge of the back glass and back of the book, and left behind the book. To one of the four pegs holding the flash paper one end of the "magnetic cord" was attached. This cord was a length of" flash" cotton, and when a light was applied to it, it of course flashed off and ignited the dash paper, exposing the message. Instantly the frame was passed to the audience. The strings were cut, and the message removed from the two sheets of glass, and everything left for the members and their friends to examine, but I do not think any one noted the quarter-inch difference ip the two pieces of glass, or that they fitted so loosely in the frame that they would fall to the back of the frame when it was placed against the book.
Whilst on "Spirit Messages," I should like to point out a little move in connection with the slates, whereby all four sides of the slates are marked. When the performer introduces the slates, they are, of course, blank. In order to prove they are quite unprepared in any way, the performer on side No. 1 boldly writes his initials, and asks for some word or initial, which he writes on the other side of the same slate, which we will call side No. 2. On the second slate he marks one side (No. 3) with a peculiar mark in one corner, and on the other side (No. 4) another name or initial suggested by the audience. The slates are now placed together, sides No. 1 and No. 3 being face to face. The usual "change" takes place in showing the initials on 2 and 4, and side No. 4 is left on the top.
The top slate is slowly raised, and the message has appeared on the slate, and it is instantly passed for examination, and the bottom slate is proved to have the initials, etc., as at the commencement.
The usual loose flap is used, and the slates prepared by writing the message on side No. 3, and marking the corner with the same peculiar mark that is to be openly placed on the flap later on, The flap has the performer's initials chalked on it, and is placed with the writing facing the message, see drawings.
This slate, with the flap on, is placed across the other slate. As the performer picks up the slates the thumb prevents the flap from falling. He openly marks the unprepared slate with his own initials to irmitate those on the flap, and then turns the slate over to place on the word or initials from the audience. This slate is now dropped on the table somewhat carelessly, to misdirect. The second slate is now marked in the corner of the flap with a similar marking to that underneath the flap, in the corner, and the slate is now turned over for the final word or initial from the audience to be placed thereon. The faked slate is now taken in the left hand, with thumb holding the flap in position, and shown both sides. The other slate is picked up from the table and placed on top with the performer's initials inside. When the position is reversed, the flap drops on to the bottom slate, which permits the top slate to be instantly passed to the audience, and the performer draws attention to the initials on the remaining slate, and where there are no persons above the performer's table, he can naturally place this slate down a moment, in order to release the flap on to the table, and then leave both slates with the audience.
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