Later Day Tricks
A. Roterberg
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The Hypnotised Cane
THE conjurer borrows a cane from some obliging spectator and states that after charging it with mesmeric fluid, he will place the cane on the floor and cause it to stand alone in either a slanting or upright position without anybody being near it. He then proceeds to fulfill his promise and after the trick immediately returns the cane to its owner.
The secret of the trick, the latter being especially adapted for the parlor, lies in the use of a prepared ferrule, which just fits over the one on the cane, the performer taking care to borrow a cane which fits as nearly as possible his ferrule. Near the edge of the bottom of this ferrule is inserted a sharp steel needle which is either screwed in or fastened with hard solder. The ferrule is kept concealed in the right hand, the performer receiving the borrowed cane with his left hand. On his way to the table, he secretly slips the palmed ferrule over the one on the cane and is now ready for the experiment.
After the spectators have been asked to select the position in which they wish the cane to stand, the performer places it in the desired position on the floor, pretending to magnetize it while he does so, and at the same time pushing the needle into the floor. If the company wish the cane to stand slantingly, the conjurer places it on the floor in such a way that the cane rests on the end of the ferrule opposite to the point where the needle is placed. Still continuing the hypnotic passes, the conjurer gradually relinquishes his hold on the cane and slowly moves his hands further and further away front it, till finally he is at some distance from it, the cane remaining standing without apparent support.
Pretending to demagnetize it, the performer seizes the cane by its lower and upper ends, then taking his hand away from the upper end, returns its the cane in this fashion to its owner, who will naturally seize it by the end nearest to him. In drawing it out of the performer's hand, the loose ferrule is kept concealed in the latter and disposed of at the first opportunity.
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