A Domestic Effect
By Rupert Howard, A.I.M.C.

Effect--
The performer picks up a piece of linoleum from a chair, and, after showing it on both sides, rolls it into a cylinder which he places on a chair. He now brings forward a dust-pan and brush. Showing the dust-pan to be empty, he puts the brush inside it, and places it on his table, back towards the audience so that the brush cannot be seen from the front.

A duster is now picked up, which, when rubbed, vanishes from the hands. On picking up the dustpan the duster is found inside it, the brush having completely disappeared. The performer walks over to the roll of linoleum and putting his hand into it, draws out the brush.

Apparatus--
A sheet of thin linoleum measuring 20in. x 15in. A cardboard tube 12in. x 2-1/2in. is attached to one of the shorter sides by two pieces of tape, so that there is about one inch of tape between the linoleum and the tube. This is an adaptation of the 'Secret Tube' invented by Mr. Charles Waller, and fully described in his book, Up his Sleeve!

The dust-pan itself is unprepared, but it has a flap cut from sheet tin, which, when in position, will conceal the brush behind it. The bright sheet tin of the flap corresponds exactly to the dust-pan and is most deceptive. At a distance of only a few feet it is difficult to say whether the flap is in position or not, and it is absolutely safe to use, as there is no chance of the light being reflected or flashed, as occurs occasionally with most apparatus in which mirrors are used.

The following articles are also required: two yellow silk 'dusters,' two dusting brushes and a piece of fine wire.

Setting--
The sheet of linoleum is rolled up on a chair {left), the secret cardboard tube containing the brush being behind the roll. The dust-pan is on a chair or table, the flap lying loose on the bottom, where it is not noticeable. The brush and duster are in the pan on top of the flap.

The duplicate duster is rolled up into a ball, and as it is made of silk it goes into a very small space. The ball is bound round with the fine black wire, which is then twisted so as to form a loop by which the ball can be picked up. The balled duster lies on a servante behind the table, the wire loop projecting above the edge of the table.

Working--
Pick up the linoleum with the right hand by the top, letting it unroll. Bring the chair forward with the left hand. Pass the linoleum from the right to the left hand. The left hand holds the linoleum at the top, the thumb towards the audience, the secret tube being pressed against the other side of the linoleum with the fingers. Tap the bottom with the right hand, and then raise it slowly. When it has just passed the top, roll the secret tube over with the left hand and straighten out the linoleum, keeping the secret tube held behind with the left hand. The tube remains at the back of the linoleum, but is now at the bottom instead of the top. Both sides of the linoleum having been shown, the audience will be quite convinced that it is unprepared; it is now rolled into a cylinder, the secret tube being inside. The cylinder is laid on the chair.

Pick up the dust-pan, duster and brush, and after showing the duster, place it on the linoleum cylinder. Show the dust-pan and brush and put the brush into the dust-pan, pushing it well back; the dustpan is placed on the table, with back of pan to the audience, and the flap is adjusted. The pan is placed just in front of the wire loop from the duster on the servante.

Flip the duster over the linoleum a few times, then roll it into a ball and vanish it by palming. If desired a pull can be used for vanishing the duster. Show the hands to be empty. Walk forward to the table to pick up the dust-pan, and insert the little finger of the right hand into the wire loop and thus sweep the duster into the pan. Turn the dust-pan round and show the duster, being careful to slip it out of the wire so that it may expand. Place the tips of the fingers into the roll of linoleum and draw out the brush.

Patter--
"A domestic mystery. This is a sheet of linoleum direct from Catesbys. No expense spared to make the show a success. The inside; the outside. I roll it round my hand into the shape of a tube, and place it on this chair. Now to explain the mise-en-scene. This chair represents the drawing room of a suburban villa, and this is the linoleum with which it is carpeted--I should say linoed. The table represents the kitchen of the same house.

"This is the story of Little Mary. Now Little Mary had been told by her mistress that she was never to dust the drawing room linoleum with the best duster, but always to use the brush. Unfortunately Little Mary disliked using the brush, and on the day I am describing she was dusting it with the duster. She had left the brush in the kitchen, in the dust-pan, and was busily engaged in cleaning the lino with the duster--I don't know if that's how they-clean lino, but anyhow, just at that moment Mary's mistress came into the room and thought she saw the duster. She immediately said, 'Why, Mary, I told you not to use the duster for cleaning that.' 'Oh, ma'am', said Mary, 'If you will look in the dustpan in the kitchen you will find the duster there, and here is the brush with which I am cleaning the lino.'"