Later Day Tricks
A. Roterberg
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The Newest Billiard Ball Trick
THE principle upon which this trick I am about to describe, is based is somewhat similar to the one used in the billiard bill trick explained on page to of "The Modern Wizard" but the manner in which the trick is performed, makes it far superior to all other methods.
Three solid billiard balls and a half shell, all of which are enameled red, are used. Two of the solids balls and the half shell are concealed under the right side of the vest, while the third remaining ball is vested on the other side.
The performer commences the trick by showing the back and inside of the right hand, at the same time pulling up the right coat sleeve with the left hand, the latter hand is then shown empty, the right hand pulling up the left coat sleeve in the meantime. While during this last act the right hand is brought forward to do this, it passes the lower edge of the vest and quickly obtains and palms the ball vested on the left side.
Both hands having thus been shown empty and the sleeves pulled up a trifle, the right hand reaches into the air and produces the billiard ball that was palmed in it, immediately transferring it to the left hand. The performer's left side having in the meantime been turned towards the audience, thus giving him the necessary opportunity to palm the half shell with his right hand, which is immediately passed over the ball in the left hand, and leaves the half shell on the ball held in that hand. As one ball only is visible in both hands, no one pays any particular attention to the last sleight upon the successful execution of which the entire trick is based.
The empty right hand now covers the ball in the left hand and under pretense of squeezing it, slips off the shell and upon removal of the right hand, two balls i.e. one solid one and the half shell are seen in the left hand. While the attention of the spectators is drawn to this hand, the performer palms another solid bill and secretly slips it under the shell in the left hand. This movement if properly executed does not look suspicious, as one would surmise in reading the explanation, especially as after the sleight, the balls in the left hand still present the same appearance as before.
To prove that the two visible balls are solid ones, the performer knocks them together, replacing them in the left hand, and squeezing them once more, under cover of the movement slipping off the half shell and a moment later showing three balls in the left hand. Meanwhile the conjurer has obtained and palmed the remaining vested ball and secretly slipped it under the half shell, being now at liberty to knock the three balls together, to prove they are solid ones. Replacing them in the left hand and passing the right with a downward movement over them, the performer allows the ball with the half shell to slip out from behind the latter and to drop into the palm of the passing right hand, which immediately vests the ball or drops it into the profonde. As the position of the balls in the left hand seemingly remains unaltered, no suspicion is created. Under cover of the right hand, the half shell is now slipped over one of the solid balls and upon separation of the hands only two balls are seen which are knocked together.
Again the process is repeated, of passing the right hand over the balls and palming out the one covered by the half shell, the palmed ball being instantly made away with and the two balls in the left hand are then reduced to one solid ball, which is allowed to drop on the floor, the shell remaining palmed. The dropping of the ball enables the performer to get rid of the shell and all that remains to be done is to vanish the remaining ball by means of the pass or dropping it into the profonde under pretense of tossing it into the air.
To make the trick still "stronger" as is called in conjurer's parlance, the shell may be palmed off every time the number of balls increases and decreases. The balls can then tossed out for examination at the various stages of the trick, thus proving to all intents and purposes, that the conjurer operates with solid unprepared balls only.
The author hopes, that this billiard ball trick, which he has tried and tested thoroughly, will find favor in the eyes of his readers on account of the several vast advantages it possesses over other perhaps more expensive, billiard ball productions and vanishes.
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