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EGG, HANDKERCHIEF AND WINE-GLASS COMEDY
An Original Combination by Ellis Stanyon
The effect, in brief, is that a handkerchief in the hands changes place with a real egg in a wine-glass; the egg is then broken into the glass to prove genuine. The effect is obtained with one ordinary wine-glass, one ordinary egg and one red silk handkerchief, i.e., without duplicates or special apparatus.
EXPLANATION: The egg used is a real one, with an oval piece of red silk glued on it, in imitation of a red silk handkerchief showing through the hole in the side of the well-known hollow egg. The egg is introduced without comment, care being taken to keep the red spot to the rear (the spot must not be exposed at this stage of the trick on any account) and forthwith put into the wine-glass, the stem of which is held between the second and third fingers of the left hand.
In the act of covering the glass with a cambric handkerchief (a borrowed one may be used), it is secretly turned upside down on the palm of the hand, readily done owing to the manner in which the glass is held, by merely closing the hand in the form of a fist. Thus the handkerchief falls over the foot, instead of the top of the glass and, since the foot is the same size as the top, there is nothing to disclose the fact. The covered glass is then stood on the table, leaving the egg concealed in the hand.
The right hand now picks up the red silk square which is forthwith rolled up between both hands, to be eventually concealed in the right hand, while the egg is exposed in the left hand--the silk has presumably changed to the egg.
In showing the egg at this stage, its "spot" is accidentally (sic) exposed, then quickly turned to the rear, when the egg is placed aside in full view. The diversion thus afforded leaves the right hand still concealing the red silk above suspicion, thus making this part of the working simplicity itself, AS ALL BELIEVE THE RED SILK TO BE INSIDE THE STILL-VISIBLE EGG.
The left hand now picks up the covered glass and places it on the right hand, thus secretly over the concealed silk, which is pushed up into it. In the act of removing the cambric handkerchief, and trader its cover, the glass is turned right way up; the red silk is then shaken out and the glass returned to the table.
In conclusion the performer picks up the egg, visible all the time--never changed, and remarking "No! this is an Easter Egg; I always use one of these because I like the pretty spots they paint on them," breaks it into the glass, thus proving it genuine; and the illusion is, or should be, complete.
PSYCHOLOGICAL--Although I have said a borrowed handkerchief may be used, I do not recommend its use, as I consider it a waste of time borrowing articles for this and such like purposes. Further, the borrowed article does not in any way enhance the effect; on the contrary, it weakens it by eliminating the possibility of deception in the particular direction, and so making it easier for the spectators to arrive at a solution.