Later Day Tricks
A. Roterberg
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The Soup Plate and Flowers
First Method
An ordinary looking soup plate is freely shown and covered with a borrowed handkerchief. Upon removal of the latter, the plate is seen to be completely filled with handsome flowers.
There are two distinct ways of accomplishing this charming trick. The method that will be described first depends upon the use of a prepared plate, while in the second method any plate may be used. The mechanical plate may be made in different ways, the simplest one of which consists of fastening a false bottom about an inch above the real bottom. This false bottom is covered with fine glazed paper which is decorated in harmony with the rest of the plate. In the center is cut a round trap, divided in the center, which is constructed like the well known double rabbit trap, the only difference being that the doors of the trap in the plate fold upwards instead of downwards. The flowers (silk ones with strings) are concealed between the two bottoms, being prevented from spreading or sliding by a ring of pasteboard which is glued around the inside of the trap, thus forming a sort of a well for the flowers to he in. The center of the trap, where the two doors meet, is provided with a small hole, through which protrudes a loop of fine wire or catgut, which is fastened to the flowers. In lifting the handkerchief, the loop is seized from without, causing the flowers to be pulled out through the trap, which instantly closes itself, when they expand and fill the plate to overflowing.
Another plan of constructing this plate consists of having a round disc of metal or pasteboard, which just fits over the well in which the flowers are concealed. By means of a simple bolt device, the disc is secured to the upper false bottom of the plate. Under cover of the handkerchief, the bolt is pushed back, causing the flowers to well up, thereby lifting the disc, which is carried away with the handkerchief and afterwards disposed of on the servante.
Second Method
As has been stated before, the plate used in this version of the trick is an unprepared one. A small metal apparatus painted flesh color and oval in shape, with a flat top and bottom, is used; this apparatus being of sufficient size to accommodate a parcel of fifty folding flowers, which are introduced into the box by means of a trap door, divided in the center and forming the bottom of the box. These doors resemble a miniature rabbit trap, the only difference being that instead of working inwards like the latter, they fold outwards. The trap bottom is then locked by two spring catches, which call be released by pressing two small buttons situated on the outside of the box on the upper side of the latter is soldered a slip which enables the performer to pick up the box from the servante and to hold it concealed on the inside or back of the hand without giving the latter an awkward appearance. It will be readily seen that the box can thus be introduced under the handkerchief with little fear of detection.
When removing the handkerchief the performer picks up the box at the same time and by pressing the button already described, causes the trap doors of the box to open, whereupon the flowers drop out and fill the plate. To prevent any noise while the apparatus is laid on the plate, soft felt is glued on the bottom doors. A pretty way of performing the trick consists of using three handkerchiefs and three plates, each of which fills itself with a different color of flowers.
Those of my readers who possess a quantity of spring flowers and also some of the mechanical holders or bands which hold the flowers together, releasing them upon pressure, can produce nearly as good all effect by using the holders instead of the box described above. The parcel of flowers surrounded by its holder is secretly introduced under the handkerchief, a pressure on the outside of the latter sufficing, to open the holder, which releases the flowers. The disconnected holder is allowed to remain on the plate, being completely hidden by the expanded flowers. Some conjurers prefer this method of performing the trick, as it is simpler and does away with the necessity of disposing of the apparatus used.
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