Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
750
Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
307
The
seeming
mystery
is
easily
explained.
The
mortar
has
a
moveable
bottom,
which
allows
the
watch
at
the
performer’s
pleasure
to
fall
through
into
his
hand.
There
is
a
hollow
space
in
the
thick
end
of
the
pestle,
closed
by
a
round
piece
of
wood
lightly
screwed
in,
which,
fitting
tightly
in
the
bottom
part
of
the
mortar,
is
easily
unscrewed
by
the
performer,
or
rather
unscrews
itself,
as
he
apparently
grinds
away
at
the
ill-fated
chronometer.
In
the
cavity
are
placed
beforehand
the
fragments
of
a
watch,
which,
thus
released,
fall
into
the
mortar,
and
are
poured
out
by
the
performer
into
his
hand,
in
order
to
show
that
there
has
been
“no
deception.”
When
the
performer
goes
to
fetch
the
loaf,
he
has
already
obtained
possession
of
the
watch,
which,
after
giving
it
a
rub
upon
his
coat-sleeve
or
a
bit
of
leather
to
increase
its
brightness,
he
pushes
into
a
slit
already
made
in
the
side
of
the
loaf.
When
the
loaf
is
torn
asunder
(which
the
performer
takes
care
to
do
from
the
side
opposite
to
that
in
which
the
opening
has
been
made),
the
watch
is
naturally
found
imbedded
therein.
If
a
regular
conjuring-table
is
used,
the
loaf
may
be
placed
in
readiness
on
the
servante.
The
performer
in
this
case,
having
got
possession
of
the
watch,
and
holding
it
secretly
palmed,
borrows
a
hat.
Walking
carelessly
behind
his
table,
he
asks,
as
if
in
doubt,
“Who
lent
me
this
hat?”
holding
it
up
with
one
hand,
that
the
spectators
may
see
that
it
is
empty.
While
all
eyes
are
thus
drawn
to
the
hat,
he
with
the
other
hand
forces
the
watch
into
the
loaf,
and
then,
in
bringing
the
hat
down
on
the
table,
introduces
the
loaf
into
it,
after
the
manner
of
the
well-known
“cannon-ball”
trick,
to
be
described
hereafter.
The
hat
is
then
placed
on
the
table
as
if
empty,
and
the
pistol
fired
at
the
hat.
This
little
addition
heightens
the
effect
of
the
trick,
but
demands
somewhat
greater
address
on
the
part
of
the
performer.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
