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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
360
THE
FEATHERS
FROM
AN
EMPTY
HANDKERCHIEF.--This
is
a
very
simple
illusion,
but
has
nevertheless
been
a
favourite
with
many
noted
prestidigitateurs.
Its
effect
is
as
follows:--The
performer
comes
forward
with
a
large
handkerchief,
or
small
shawl,
which
he
shakes
about
in
all
directions,
to
show
that
it
is
empty.
Throwing
it
over
the
left
hand,
he
with
the
other
grasps
it
by
the
middle,
and
removing
the
hand
over
which
it
was
thrown,
lets
it
hang
perpendicularly
down.
To
all
appearance
it
is
still
empty;
but
on
being
shaken
it
is
seen
to
contain
some
solid
object.
With
a
twist
of
the
wrist,
the
performer
turns
the
handkerchief
and
its
contents
upwards.
The
handkerchief
naturally
falls
down
over
the
coat-sleeve,
leaving
exposed
a
handsome
military
plume.
The
performer
grasps,
with
the
left
hand,
the
stem
of
this
plume
and
the
centre
of
the
handkerchief,
immediately
drawing
away
the
right
arm
from
beneath
it.
Again
the
handkerchief
on
being
waved
about
is
seen
to
contain
something,
which
being
held
upright,
the
handkerchief
falls
down
as
before,
and
a
second
plume
is
revealed.
The
operation
is
again
and
again
repeated
with
a
like
result,
till
fifteen
or
twenty
plumes
have
been
produced;
the
handkerchief
being
at
any
moment
handed
for
examination.
The
explanation
lies
in
the
fact
that
the
plumes,
which
may
be
compressed
into
a
very
small
compass,
are
laid
beforehand
along
the
arms
of
the
performer,
who
puts
on
his
coat
over
them.
The
stems
of
the
plumes
are
nearest
to
the
hands.
When
the
handkerchief
is
thrown
over
either
hand,
the
other
hand
catches
hold
through
it
of
the
stem
of
one
of
the
feathers.
This
hand
now
remains
stationary,
while
the
other
arm
is
drawn
from
under
the
handkerchief.
The
fact
that
the
plumes
come
out
of
the
sleeves
is
thus
much
less
patent
than
if
the
opposite
hand
made
the
motion
and
drew
the
feather
out.
The
plumes
on
being
drawn
out
expand
considerably;
so
much
so,
indeed,
that
it
is
hard
to
believe
that
the
quantity
with
which
the
stage
is
strewn
could
possibly
have
been
concealed
about
the
person
of
the
performer.
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