Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

THE MAGIC MILL.--This is a little Mill of the form shown in Fig. 167, and five or six inches in height. It is made of zinc or tin, and consists of two portions--the upper part A, and the base B (see Fig. 168), the former sliding over the latter (as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 167), and fitting easily upon it. A is hollow throughout; a and b b are hollow tubes open at each end, a third little tube c springing at right angles from a. The base, B, is a hollow chamber, closed on all sides save at the openings d and e e. This chamber is beforehand fitted with powdered chalk or charcoal; after which A is placed in position over it. If, under these circumstances, any person blows smartly through the tube a, the effect will vary according to the position of B within A. If B be so turned that the three holes d and e e correspond with the tubes a and b b, the breath entering at d will force out the contents of B through the tubes b b, and powder the lips of the person blowing, as in the case of the magic whistle. But if, on the contrary, B be turned ever so little to the right or left, the three openings in B no longer corresponding with the tubes, the latter will be closed, and the breath having no other outlet, will be forced upwards through the upright tube c, thereby setting the little vane f in rapid motion. The latter is the condition in which the apparatus is brought forward by the performer. Blowing through a, he sets the mill in motion, and invites others to do likewise, in which, of course, they succeed without difficulty; but when the turn of the intended victim arrives, the performer gives A a slight twist round, in such manner as to bring the openings of B in correspondence with the three tubes, with the result already explained. We have omitted to mention that there is on the under surface of B a little raised point, corresponding in position with the opening d, so that the performer is able to tell instantly by feel whether B is or is not in the required position.