Later Day Tricks
A. Roterberg
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The Fairy Tube and Ball
AS there are various, entirely different plans in use for accomplishing this trick, the author has decided to explain the principal ones only, at the same time leaving it to the reader, to select for his own use the method he likes best.
First Method
The requirements are a nickel plated tube of thin metal of twelve inches in height and nearly two inches in diameter, a separate lid or cap to fit the top of the tube, a socket, turned out of wood for the lower end of the tube to fit in and two billiard balls, enameled red, of sufficient size to just pass through the nickeled tube.
One of the billiard balls is kept concealed in the left hand while the other parts of the trick i.e. tube, cap, socket and second ball are given for examination. After receiving them back, the cap and socket are placed on the table and the performer now proceeds to repeatedly drop the billiard ball, with the right hand into the upper end of the tube, through which it passes and is caught with the same hand, coming out of the other end. This is repeated several times until suddenly, when the ball has just been dropped into the tube, the performer by squeezing the lower end of the latter, retains the ball in the tube and drops in its stead the ball palmed in the left hand. This sleight is to be practiced diligently until it looks sufficiently deceptive. Still continuing to compress the lower end of the tube, the performer places it on the wooden socket and after the cap is placed on, gives the apparatus to someone to hold. The billiard ball is now vanished and commanded to pass into the tube, which upon being opened by the person holding it, is found to contain the ball.
Second Method
In this version of the trick, a vast improvement on the last method is introduced. The lower end of the tube is bent into an elliptical shape; the balls used being just a shade smaller than the inside of the tube. It therefore follows that a ball dropped into its upper end would stick in the lower elliptically shaped end. Upon this fact the trick is based. One of the balls is kept palmed in the left hand, as in the last method, while the tube is seized with the same hand by its lower end, the fingers of this hand exercising sufficient pressure on the two widest points of the ellipse, causing it to become a circle, thus allowing the other ball to be dropped in repeatedly with the right hand and to pass freely through. At the proper moment, when the ball has just been dropped into the upper end of the tube, the performer relaxes the pressure of the left hand, whereby the lower end of the tube to resume its former shape, causing the ball to stick in the tube, the palmed ball being dropped instead. The tube, which may now be lifted at its upper end without fear of the ball dropping out, is now placed on the socket or, if preferred, the latter may be discarded altogether and the tube simply placed on the table. The visible ball is now caused to disappear and is found under the tube, it being however necessary to compress the lower end of the latter when lifting it, in order to release the ball.
A further effect may next be introduced by secretly dropping the previously vanished ball, which we will suppose has been palmed, into the tube, in which it sticks. The performer then, as if to illustrate what has occurred, places the lower end of the tube over the ball on the table, squeezing the tube while doing so. The tube, now contains two balls, the upper one of which is next allowed to roll out of its upper end, while the other ball, i.e., the one that was just seen lying on the table, remains sticking in the tube. For the benefit of those that did not see how the trick was done, the conjurer offers to repeat the experiment by once more vanishing the visible ball and finding it under the tube.
To facilitate the finding of the proper points of the, ellipse on which pressure is to be exercised, two small raised points, which are easily found by, the finger tips, are made on the outside of the tube.
Third Method
The inside of the tube used in this method contains four small projections, consisting of dabs of solder, which are situated in the middle of the tube. These projections are rubbed down smooth with fine emery cloth, allowing the tube thus prepared to stand a tolerably close inspection. Two balls are used, both of which are of the same diameter as the unrestricted parts of the tube, but when dropped into the latter, will be caught and prevented from passing through by the slight projections on the inside.
One of the balls, as usual, is concealed in the left hand, and after the tube has been inspected the artist secretly places its lower end over the left palmed ball. The remaining ball is then dropped into the upper end of the tube with the right hand, causing the ball to stick in the center. The last named hand then lifts the tube and shows the ball lying on the palm, it having apparently passed through.
Turning the tube upside down, which may be done without fear of the concealed ball dropping out, the performer seizes its lower end with the left hand, the tube being clear of the palm, and drops the visible ball once more into the upper end. The hidden ball is thereby forced out, the other ball remaining in the tube, which is now placed upside down on the table, the performer giving it a slight knock while placing it down, causing the ball to drop down inside of the tube. The remaining ball is now vanished and is subsequently discovered under the tube by a spectator, who has been requested to lift it.
If desired a third ball, which is it shade smaller than the other two and which passes freely through the tube, may be employed. The ball found under the tube is adroitly exchanged for this one, permitting the performer to pass tube and ball for inspection. Anyone who desires can then pass the ball through the tube and remain still in the dark its to the true secret of the trick.
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