Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

Here, as you see, is a little glass” (he raises the shade with the left hand), “perfectly empty. I shall now, by virtue of my magic power, order the articles in the box, whatever they may be, to leave the box, and fall into this little glass, and I will tell you by the sound of each as it falls what the article is. Let us try the experiment. First article, pass!” The assistant pulls a, and the little hammer c forthwith strikes the glass, simulating to some extent the sound of a small article falling therein. “That, by the sound, should be a coin, I should say a florin. Hold tight, sir, please. Second article, pass!” Again the assistant causes the hammer to strike the glass. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is a ring. You must hold tighter yet, sir, if you mean to defy my power. Third article, pass!” This time the assistant pulls b, causing the ladle d to rise, and to shoot out the three articles together into the glass. “That, I should say, was a lady’s locket. Fourth article, pass!” (This is a mere blind, and elicits no response.) “Ladies and gentlemen, there were three articles placed in the box, a ring, a florin, and a locket, and you will find that they have now all passed into the glass.” (He removes the shade, and shows that they have done so.) “May I trouble you once more to shake the box?”