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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
305
The
arithmetical
reason
for
this
curious
result,
though
simple
enough
in
itself,
is
somewhat
difficult
to
explain
on
paper,
and
we
shall
therefore
leave
it
as
an
exercise
for
the
ingenuity
of
our
readers.
TO
BEND
A
BORROWED
WATCH
BACKWARDS
AND
FORWARDS.--This
little
deception
is
hardly
to
be
called
a
conjuring
trick,
but
it
may
be
introduced
with
good
effect
in
the
course
of
any
trick
for
which
a
watch
has
been
borrowed.
Looking
intently
at
the
watch,
as
though
you
noticed
something
peculiar
about
it,
you
remark
to
the
owner,
“This
is
a
very
curious
watch,
sir;
it
is
quite
soft.”
Then
taking
it
(as
shown
in
Fig.
101),
with
the
dial
inwards
towards
your
own
body,
and
holding
it
between
two
fingers
of
each
hand
on
the
back,
and
the
thumb
of
each
hand
on
the
face,
you
bend
the
hands
outwards,
at
the
same
time
bringing
the
points
of
the
fingers
nearer
together,
immediately
bringing
them
back
to
their
former
position.
The
motion
may
be
repeated
any
number
of
times.
By
a
curious
optical
illusion,
which
we
are
not
able
to
explain,
but
which
we
assume
to
be
produced
in
some
way
by
the
varying
shadow
of
the
fingers
on
the
polished
surface
of
the
metal,
the
watch
appears,
to
a
spectator
at
a
little
distance,
to
be
bent
nearly
double
by
each
outward
movement
of
the
hands.
The
illusion
is
so
perfect,
that
great
amusement
is
occasionally
produced
by
the
consternation
of
the
owner,
who
fancies
that
irreparable
injury
is
being
done
to
his
favourite
“Waltham.”
If,
however,
his
faith
in
your
supernatural
powers
is
so
great
as
to
resist
this
ordeal,
you
may
test
it
even
more
severely
by
means
of
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
