Miracles of Modern Magic
Harry Whiteley
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The World in a Nutshell
ONE of the most graceful effects ever worked in a drawing-room, full of subtle humour, expectancy, and bewildering artistic dénoûement, is also culled from the répertoire of Mr. Max Sterling, who has staged it under the above title, without, however, claiming its conception. That gentleman informs the writer that it originally formed a special feature in the programme of the late Mr. Sydney Pridmore, of Hinckley, with whom he was closely associated.
Through somewhat troublesome to prepare, the brilliant reception it always achieves well repays the time and labour expended, and in the hands of a skilful worker, possesed of gentlemanly address, will go far toward filling his date-book.
On entering the room or platform a small parcel is introduced, already sealed and tied, and handed to one of the audience to hold. A lady's ring is borrowed adn vanished into the heart of the parcel held at the opposite side of the room. The parcel, on being opened by its custodian, is seen to contain a cokernut; this is broken with a neat small hammer, and in turn contains another parcel securely tied and sealed; the second parcel contains a lemon which, on being peeled, discloses another small parcel securely tied and sealed; this final parcel covers and egg; the egg is held at the finger tips of performer and broken by a tap of the hammer by one of the audience; both ends are thus pierced, and from the egg a small stem is seen projecting, which on being pulled out, through the egg itself, proves a dainty nosegay of flowers to which is attached the original borrowed ring tied to them by a neat bow of bebé ribbon; this is handed intact to the owner for verification, and as a souvenir of the illusion.
As the "magical" reader may have by this conjectured, the whole secret lies in, first, the vanish of the ring borrowed, and second, in the loading of the flowers into the egg. The rest requires elaborate and careful preparation, therefore a minute detailed description is given of the parcel and its extraordinary contents.
An ordinary egg is blown and dried, then tied up in thin brown paper and carefully sealed with wax. A large size lemon is the second requisite. The skin is divided lengthwise by a sharp clean cut with knife, and then gently peeled from the fruit that the juice may not saturate the skin itself. The two half-shells thus obtained are placed over the parcel containing egg until they join again exactly. A stout sewing needle and strong white cotton joins them, or very small pins may be used. If this work is done well it should be impossible to detect the joining at close quarters. It must now be wrapped up, tied, and sealed. Finally, the cokernut--a fairly large one--should be selected, and broken with great care by light hammering whilst being revolved in the left hand; constant tapping all round the centre ensures a clean break. Remove the fruit from the two halves, apply seccotine to the edges of the shells, place in the prepared parcel, then join neatly, pressing tightly the while until it is firmly fixed. Should the join be too palpable a small amount of light earth or dust may be rubbed on to the exuding cement until the shell appears perfect; then it is ready for its wrapping of brown paper, and finally inthe cover of some favourite periodical. Mr. Sterling invariably used Pearson's Weekly, and wove several jokes around it which, however, can be applied to almost any popular journal.
To the back of the trousers sew an ordinary tie-clip to hold the nosegay of flowers until wanted; also, a small pocket slightly below the thigh of the right leg, to hold the vanished ring.
A neat hammer, penknife, piece of flash paper, and matches complete the list of properties. The hammer, etc., and parcel may remain on your table throughtout your programme if this is to form your grand finale, and in introducing it you may explain to your audience that: "Undoubtedly you have been wondering what the strange-looking parcel on my table has to do with the magical effects I have worked before you. The fact is simply this, it forms my constant travelling companion--in fact, my portmanteau, for it contains the world in a nutshell. The wizards of India never perform without it, and claim for it the marvellous property of collecting anything that may become mislaid or lost during an entertainment. If anyone present should lose their senses, or even more valuable property, all we have to do is to investigate the contents of the mystic parcel, to find the missing article reposing carefully packed within its centre. I will endeavour to give you an illustration of my argument. Kindly name anything you have recently missed, and I will assist in its recovery. What, your mother-in-law, sir? Certainly. All I have to do--beg pardon, thought better of it. Ah, well. Anything else? No! Then allow me to borrow some trifling article, that you may witness the full process. Will any lady trust me for a few moments with a diamond ring; one distinctive enough to preclude the possibility of my duplicating it? You will observe that the parcel is securely sealed and tied, and perfectly free from springs or trap-doors. Perhaps you will note that it is wrapped in the cover of Pearson's popular weekly, but Tit-bits Anwers quite well. So many valuable articles are always to be found within those covers--they contain the world in a nutshell."
A volunteer is invited to hold the parcel within full view of the audience and as far away as possible from yourself. The borrowed ring is "for greater security" wrapped in a piece of flash paper (faked fold) and an athletic young gentleman is asked to blow upon the paper--usually the most consumptive-looking young man is chosen as the victim;--several attempts are to be made in the blowing efforts--the paper can be unfolded again to prove the ring present. Accuse the assistant of not blowing in a straight direction--that of the upheld parcel. Light a match or candle, that he may see better, and in changing the paper from right to left hand for final blow, allow ring to drop into hand and transfer to hip pocket.
Accidently catch paper in flame of candle; it is gone in a flash, and hands shown empty. Direct attention to the parcel, and to the gentleman's responsibility for the missing ring, should it not be recovered.
Hand penknife to the holder of the parcel, with the request to open it carefully. While strings and seals are being cut assume a natural attitude with both hands under coat tails; take ring from pocket, and tie on to ends of bebé ribbon, then again into a neat double bow. By this time the first wrapper if off, and displays the cokernut. Bring forward both hands empty and show the nut round, remarking, "I may say I have the nuts grown for me on a very special tree." Take hammer, break the nut, and take out second parcel. Hand as before to be opened, then show the lemon--"Also grown for me upon a very special tree."
With pocket-knife carefully peel lemon until third parcel is visible. Be sure and pocket the peel, that the secret joining may not be discovered. Get the last parcel opened, and, as egg is found, remark, "These are also grown for me on a very special tree--I mean, laid for me by a very special hen." Give hammer to your temporary assistant, and offer the egg to him at the tips of your right hand. Your left secures the button-hole and ring palmed with stem upwards towards fingers. When one end of egg is pierced, it is turned over and taken by the left hand, which secures the stem into the opening; the remaining end is similarly broken, and with the finger-tips of the right hand flowers are drawn stright through the egg itself, and handed to the lady who loaned the ring, with a few complimentary words terminating the trick.
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