Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

It is hardly necessary to remark that the cards chosen by the audience are “forced” cards, of which duplicates have beforehand been placed in the head. THE MAGIC PICTURE FRAME.--The performer, always borrowing, borrows this time a lady’s handkerchief, and any small articles--say a watch and a glove. These latter he rolls up in the handkerchief, and places the ball or bundle thus made upon the table. He looks about in search of his magic pistol, which is immediately afterwards brought in by the assistant. The performer places the handkerchief, etc., in the pistol, the assistant meanwhile bringing forward and placing on the table a handsome picture-frame, mounted on a stand. It contains no picture, the space which the picture should occupy being filled by a board covered with black cloth. The performer, standing at the farthest available distance from the frame, takes aim at it, and fires, when the borrowed articles are seen instantly to attach themselves to the black background, whence, being removed, they are handed to the owners for identification.