Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

The production of the basket of flowers from the handkerchief is produced by wholly different means, and will require a somewhat minute explanation. In the first place, the flowers are secured to the sides of the baskets by silk or wires, so that they cannot fall out, in whatever position the basket is placed. To the basket are attached two black silk threads. The one (which we will call a) is about eighteen inches in length, and is attached to a button on the performer’s waistband, immediately above the front of the left thigh. Obviously, therefore, the basket, if fastened by this thread alone, would hang down loosely in front of the performer’s left knee. The second thread (which we will call b, and which is attached to the edge of the basket at a few inches’ distance from the first) is only three or four inches in length, and serves to suspend the basket behind the back of the performer (concealed by his coat) until the proper moment for its appearance. For this purpose it has a small loop or ring at the loose end, and this is attached by means of a strong short needle, after the manner shown in Figs. 248 and 249 (the latter representing a slightly enlarged view of the attachment), to the waistband of the performer. The needle carries a third thread c, which, passing through the cloth of the trousers, is brought round and attached to the centre button of the waistband, being concealed by the edge of the waistcoat. The modus operandi will now be easily understood. The basket is in the first instance suspended by the thread b. The performer, while spreading the handkerchief before him, ostensibly to show that it is empty, crooks the little finger under the edge of his waistcoat, and pulls c, thereby withdrawing the needle, and detaching b. The basket, being no longer held back by b, falls, but is compelled by a to swing round in front of the performer, who, while lifting it, still covered by the handkerchief, breaks a, and thus altogether releases it. The object of passing the needle through the cloth of the trousers is that it may not fall forward and be seen when c is pulled.