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THE
BIG BOOK OF

TRICKS ANB MAGIC

by JAMES

R.

BLACKMAN

A RANDOM HOUSE BOOK

/t^^*^ -. -,

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2009

http://www.archive.org/details/bigbookoftricl<smOOblac

THE BIG BOOK OF TRICKS ANB MAGIC

A RANDOM HOUSE BOOK

THE
BIS BOOK

TRICES
AND

MA6IG
by JAMES R. BLACKMAN

Copyright, 1962, by James

All rights reserved

Conventions. Published
Distributed

in

R.

Blackman

under International and Pan-American Copyright

in

New

Toronto, Canada, by

Manufactured

in

ISBN:

York by Random House, Inc.

Random House of Canada, Limited.

the United States of America

0.394-80632-8

CONTENTS
THE SQUARE TRICK
THE WALKING

MAN

AND

THE STRAW

BOTTLE TRICK

THE MIRACLE MATCH

THE WEEPING COIN

THE

MATCH AND PENNY

TRICK

THE BALANCING HANDKERCHIEF

THE MATCHLESS

AND

THE STRING
THE

MATCHBOX

BILL

10

12

ICE-CUBE TRICK

AMAZING SUGAR CUBE

THE DOLLAR

AND

13

14

BOTTLE TRICK

THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT

MATCH 18
THE MAGIC CRAYON

17

THE LAST

20

THE ALTERNATING GLASS TRICK

THE MAGIC COIN
THE GLASS

22

AND MATCH

THE TRIANGLE TRICK

MATCH BOX

TRICK

24

26

27
28

THE VANISHING COIN

THE MATCH-EATING

TRICK

25

THE MATCHSTICK TRICK

THE MASTERMIND

21

30

BANDANA

32

16

THE SINGING FORK

33

THE UNBROKEN LINE

THE HANGING CUP

THREE GLASSES
36

34
35

SEVEN COINS FROM HERE TO THERE

THE OBEDIENT COIN
39

TWO

LITTLE DICKIE BIRDS

THE RISING WATER

43

THE MIND-READING TRICK

ANOTHER

BILL

AND

THE STRING TRICK

AND

48

49
50

UNDER WATER TRICK

THE GLASS

47

MAKE NINE

THE PYRAMID TRICK

FIRE

44

BOTTLE TRICK

TWO CORNERS FOR ONE

FIVE PLUS SIX

40

53

PLATE TRICK

THE MAGIC PURSE

55

54

46

38

THE BIG BOOK OF TRICKS ANO MAGIC

FOREWORD
In life

there are two kinds of people: those

who

leod the parade end those

who

follow the leader. Every one of us secretly yearns to stand out from the crowd and

win the admiration of our friends and family but too few of us have any idea as to

how

Entertainment

to attain this goal.

ways

to popularity.

The sound

is

one

of the surest

of laughter or the look of pleased

your friends' faces at the completion of a well-executed magic

adequate compensation
In
It

and most rewarding

amazement on

trick

are more than

for the time taken to learn these simple tricks.

addition to being a crowd pleaser, the art of magic offers other compensations.

develops quickness and a good use of your hands.

It

also will develop the neces-

sary poise to address groups of people, since one of the most important things to

a magician

is

a good line of patter to hold the audience's interest while he

is

com-

pleting a trick.

am

sure you

learned with a

the tricks demonstrated

will find
little

practice,

since most of the materials

After you have

amount

become

and magic

will

at being able to

this

needed can be found

in

your

proficient at doing the tricks

will

be astounded

book by my son

own home.

you

will

be amazed

at the

from watching you do them... but

at the feeling of satisfaction

do something everyone else

easily

prove to be a very inexpensive hobby

of pleasure your friends will derive

more importantly you

in

you

will

have

can't do.

JAMES

R.

BLACKMAN

Can you form a

perfect square with these matches

by moving only one match?

THE SQUARE TRICK

Take care

to

arrange

the matches exactly as

shown
Gently move the
top match, and as you
see you will have formed

a square

in

the center

of the arrangement!

Materials: Four matches.

in

the picture.

Can you make a walking

man

out of the numbers

given below by making

two

just

straight strokes with a pencil?

The Walking Man

Write the numbers

This

one

letter

is

II

on a piece of paper.

easy! Using one stroke,

out of the

make

I.

make

the

With the second stroke,

the letter B out of the

3.

HOB
Materials:

piece of paper

and a

pencil.

Can you

pick

up an empty pop

bottle with

a straw without touching the bottle?

The Straw and Bottle Trick

Materials:

dry straw and

a short stubby pop

bottle.

Bend straw a

little

than one third

its

less

length,

with both ends pointing upward.

Place straw in bottle, bent

part

first,

holding onto the

long end. Then pull up on

straw slowly. The straw

wedge and you can

pick

will

up the

bottle without touching

it!

Can you by your magic power

match

to

its

restore a broken

original condition?

THE MIRACLE MATCH

Use a large handkerchief with a wide

hem.

Insert

a match

the hem, so that

This

is

all
it

the

can't

way

into

be seen.

done beforehand and the

handkerchief placed

in

your pocket.

Now

after

announcing what you can

do, pull the handkerchief out, lay

it

on a table, and place the second

match

in

the center. Then pick up the

corner which has the match inserted

in
all

the hem,

and

four corners.

start folding

Pick

up handkerchief, and when you

have located the position of the

match

in

the hem,

guests feel

Now

shift

hands a

the handkerchief
bit

and

utter

in

it

let

one of your

and break

it

in

your

some magic

words such as "match, match, mend

thyself."

Then shake the handkerchief,

and the whole match

table.

will fall

on the

The broken one

remain

IvIaterialSI

in

will

the hem.

Handkerchief and two matches.

two.

Can you make a

weep?

silver coin

THE WEEPING COIN

The secret of

this trick

is

to get the

Then place your

left

hand over your

piece of wet cotton behind your ear

ear and with your right hand rub the

without being observed.

coin on your arm,

making some remark

about the importance of rubbing the

arm.

Your friends

and

will

is

be watching the coin

not notice that you are pick-

ing up the

that

will

*.

wet cotton with the hand

over your ear.

Now

very quickly place the wet cotton

behind the coin and squeeze

friends will be

amazed

drip from the coin.

it.

to see

When

Your

water

the water

stops dripping, slip the piece of cotton

into

your pocket or drop

it

out of sight.

Then show your friends the coin and

Materials:

a silver

half dollar.

let

fhem

a small piece of wet cotton or

8

try to

make

tissue.

it

weep!

Can you remove the penny with your

match that

is

slanted to

fall

fingers without causing the

away from

the upright match?

The Match and Penny Trick

Stand the cover of the match

box on

its

side, with the

scratching surface up. Sharp-

en the untreated end of a

wooden match, and

stick

it

in

the upper side of the cover,

fairly close to the end.

Against the head of

this

match, rest the head of the

second match. Hold the

second one

in

position

by

placing a penny against

its

untreated end.

Light the third

match and

ignite

the heads of both matches.

The second match

away from
you
the

will

will curl

the penny,

and

be able to pick up

penny without causing

the second match to

away from

the

fall

first.

Materials.' Three matches, a penny, a safety-match

For safety reasons, place match

box on a

box and a

fire resistant

knife.

surface.
9

Can you balance a handkerchief on the tips of your

fingers and make it rise and fall at your command?

The Balancing Handkerchief

Insert

a soda straw into the hem of

a handkerchief. This and the following

step should

Tie a knot at the corner of the

handkerchief, and push straw up to

the knot. Place the handkerchief
carefully

in

your pocket, so you don't

break the straw.

to

10

Now

show your

you are ready

friends the trick.

be prepared ahead.

Msterisls:

handkerchief with a wide hem, and a soda straw.

Take the handkerchief from your

pocket, holding the knot

in

one hand.

With the other hand, stroke the

handkerchief
times.

Still

downward two

holding

it

or three

by the knot,

bring the other hand down, grasping

the lower end of the straw
the tips of the

thumb and

between

forefinger.

Release your hold on the knot, and

will

look as

if

the handkerchief

balanced upright. Make

By a

movement

sliding

forefinger

"Down

Billy."

is

look

you are making a great

difficult,

as

efFort at

balancing the handkerchief.

if

of the

and thumb, allow the

handkerchief to come
saying

this

it

Billy."

You can do

down

slowly,

Then say, "Up

this

several times.

At the end, throw the handkerchief

into the air, catching

and crumpling

up before placing
pocket.

If

it

back

in

it

your

you have two handkerchiefs

prepared, you can satisfy the skeptic

who

says, "Bet

you

can't

do

it

again!"

11

Can you make a

appear

coin

in

an empty match box?

The Matchless Matchbox

Two

steps of this trick must

completed beforehand.

First,

be

open the

drawer of the match box

far

enough so that you can wedge a

coin

between the cover and the end

of the drawer. The second step

is

drawer

to slide the
until

in

the coin

part

is

way

covered.

When

ready, hold up the apparently

empty match box,

half

opened

so that your friends can see inside,

and
in

Now

close the

box

(the coin will

into the drawer). After

say, "This

box

is

matchless

more ways than one."

drop

a few

magic words, open the box again.

To your

friends' surprise

a coin

has appeared!

Materials:

12

penny and a match box.

Can you snare an ice cube with a

and lift the cube from the

piece of string
glass?

The String and Ice-Cube Trick

Float

an

ice

cube

Take a

in

string

one end, then

a glass of water.

and

invite

try their luck.

tie

When

They

will fail,

ice

cube

is

about impossible.

they give up, show

how
Simply
rest

it

can be done.

let

ice.

melt

the wet loop

on the

Sprinkle a
the

in

your friends to

because looping the

just

a loop

ice cube.

little

on

salt

The surface

will

and then freeze

again, with the string

embedded
cube.

(It

in

the ice

takes a

little

time for the surface to

freeze again, so don't be

too hasty with

this trick.)

Now

lift

the string carefully

by the free end, and you

iVIateriais: Salt shaker, string with

cube of

ice,

and a

a loop,

glass of water.

can draw the

ice

cube out

of the glass.

13

Can you make a

pencil

mark

that has been placed on a cube

of sugar pass mysteriously through water

and onto the hand?

The Amazing Sugar Cube

On any one
draw a
heavy

firmly against the drawing.

come

off the

your thumb. (As

trick,

do

noticed.)

14

heart, a number, or a cross with

strokes.

up the cube and press your thumb

Pick

will

side of the cube of sugar

it

The mark

sugar and show on

this

is

the secret of the

quickly so

it

will

not be

Drop cube

in

glass of water.

Pick

up your

press your

of his

friend's

thumb

hand and quickly

firmly against the

hand as you are drawing

toward the

Hit the glass

saying,

"I

his

palm

Place his hand over the glass of water

and

tell

him to keep

it

down

firmly.

hand

glass.

a sharp tap with the pencil,

am now

tions."

M3t6ri3lS!

releasing the vibra-

Then

tell

your friend to look at

his

hand.

He will see the mark and will think it

came through the water onto his hand!

Soft lead pencil, cube of sugar, three-quarters of a glass of water.

15

Can you remove a

dollar

bill

from under a bottle

without touching or upsetting the bottle?

The Dollar

Bill

and Bottle Trick

Place the bottle upside

down on

the

bill,

on a table or the
bare

floor.

r
up the

Roll

bill

carefully,

touching only the edges of

the

bill

so that your fingers

do not come

in

contact

with the bottle. As you

the

bill,

roll

the bottle will be

pushed along

until

finally off the

it

is

bill.

Materials: Dollar

16

bill

and pop

bottle.

either

Can you remove a

coin from under a cup without touching the cup?

The Magician's Assistant

Place one coin on a table, put the

cup over the coin, and

you are going

friends that

move

tell

your
to re-

the coin without touching the

cup.

With the second

coin,

have kept concealed

in

which you

Naturally, your friend will then pick

your hand,

up the cup to see

tap the table from the underside

just

under the cup, saying, "Here

is

disappeared.

you quickly pick

up the coin that was under the cup

and

that coin."

Now

the coin has

if

say,

"I

told

you

could pick

it

up without touching the cup." Your

friend has unwittingly

Materials:

been a magi-

cian's assistant!

Two

coins

and a

cup.
17

In this

game, can you

that your

figure out

opponent always

how

to

make

picks the last

sure

match?

THE LAST MATCH

Arrange

fifteen

matches side by side on a table.

of your friends that

one

you can always make him pick up

the last match, each of you alternating

two or three matches at a

time.

It

in

picking up one,

doesn't matter

Materials: Fifteen matches.

18

Tell

who starts.

The secret of

this trick

matches on the table

will lose

the

game. For

take three, leaving the

two, you take two.

each case, the

last

If

make

certain to leave five

your opponent the third time

for

around. Then, no matter

he

to

is

how many matches he

instance,

last

one

if

picks up,

he picks up one, you

for him.

Or

if

he picks up

he picks up three, you take one.

match

is

left

In

for him.

Following are two of the several combinations you can use

to arrive at the point of leaving the five

opponent.

Opponent

matches

for

your

Can you

tell

seeing

the color of a crayon without

it,

simply by feeling

it?

THE MAGIC CRAYON

Hold your hands behind your back,

and have someone choose a

crayon of any color and place
it

Grasp crayon

in

in

your palm.

one hand and

run thumbnail of other hand over

end of crayon.

Then quickly raise your hand

to

forehead and pretend to be

concentrating, at the
stealing a

same time

peek at the

bit of

crayon

on your thumbnail. After uttering

a iew magic v/ords, reveal the
color of the crayon.

Materials: Several crayons of different colors.

20

Can you rearrange all these glasses in alternating order-a filled

one next to an empty one-by moving or touching only one glass?

The Alternating Glass Trick

Can you make a

coin disappear by rubbing

it

into

your arm?

THE MAGIC COIN

r
Spin a coin on the table, and

announce that

it

is

that you can

a magic coin, and

Wtm

make

'

by rubbing

it

it

disappear

into

your arm.

Pick

rub

Take your

right

the coin
surprised

and

hand away,

fall

on the table. Act

say,

rub hard enough."

letting

Do

"I

guess

this

didn't

again and

remark, "My skin must be tough;

it

22

takes a

lot of

rubbing."

j
\^

up coin with your

it

against your

left

right

arm.

hand and

a coin.

Materials:

Now

pick up the coin in your left

hand and pretend

right,

but palm

it

to put
in

your

it

in

left

your
hand.

Start rubbing as before, pretending

you are using the

lift

your

left

coin.

Meanwhile,

hand and casually

scratch your neck, letting the coin

drop inside your

shirt collar.

Then take your

right

hand away from

your arm and show that the coin

has vanished!

23

Can you remove one of the glasses

without making the match fall?

The Glass and Match Trick

Wedge one

of the matches

between the two

glasses.

Use the second match to

the head of the

first

soon as the head

light

match. As

lights,

blow

out the flame. Let cool for a

few seconds.

The match doesn't

sticks to the glass,

fall

but

and you

can remove the other glass!

MaterialSI

24

Two

glasses

and two

kitchen matches.

Can you make four triangles, all of

same size, with six matches?

the

THE TRIANGLE TRICK

iniii

Materials: Six matches.

Lay three matches

flat

on the table

in

the form of a triangle. Then stand

the other three on end, one

corner of the

first

triangle,

in

each

and

let

the

other ends meet to form a tripod

or

wigwam, as shown. Count them

four

triangles!

25

Can you make

ten out of nine matches?

patter as your friends struggle to

do

Keep up the
this trick.

The Matchstick Trick

//;
Say,

"I'll

make

Mil

ten out of these nine matches/'

As you can see from the

once you know the

picture, this

one

is

easy

trick!

Materials: Nine matchsticks (or toothpicks).

26

Could you

tell

which of these cords was touched

while you were out of the room?

THE MASTERMIND

This trick

is

lots

of fun,

and

is

especially

good

after dinner while

a group

is

still

around the table. Place some cards on the table, and then ask somebody

sitting

to

touch one of them while you are out of the room. Tell him you will be able to pick out
the one he has touched. The secret of this trick

who knows

When

the trick)

you come back,

you touch the

can't

sit

is

to

have a confederate (someone

next to you at the table.

sit

down, and

right card,

start

touching the cards one at a time.

your confederate

go wrong! And you can do

it

will

When

tap you lightly on the foot. You

several times before

anyone catches

on.

Materials: Twelve to fifteen playing cards,

placed on a table as shown.

27

Do you want to make your

power? You

friends believe

you have some strange

have to prepare a small box of matches beforehand,

then you can do the trick on the spur of the moment.
will

MATCH BOX TRICK

Break or cut one of the matches so

that

it

is

just

long enough to

wedge

across the drawer of the match

(this

must

pends on

28

Insert

drawer

where

it

will

in

box and put box

not be disturbed.

fit

this

box

snugly as the trick de-

wedge

match.)

Materials:

a small

box of matches.

Now

you are ready any time

box and

tell

to bring out the

your friends that you can make

the matches stick to the inside of the box.

the

Open

box part way (be sure the wedge match

does not show) so that everybody can see there

are matches

Now

in

box upside down and

turn the

drawer

all

the box. Close the box.

the

way

out, holding

it

pull the

so everyone

can see you are not using your fingers to hold

the matches

Your friends
stay
still

in

in.

will

be amazed that the matches

the box. To prove that the matches are

drawer sharply against the

there, tap the

keeping the drawer upside

table edge,

still

down.

wedge

matches

The

will fall in

dislodge

and

the

a heap. Pick them up (pock-

eting the wedge), put

your friends

will

them

in

try to figure out

the box,

how

and

the trick

let

was

done!

29

Can you make a

coin vanish into thin air?

The Vanishing Coin

The secret of

amount

this trick

is

of soft soap on a corner of

the handkerchief while no one

Place dime

in

a small

to put

is

watching.

the center

of the handkerchief.

Pick

up the corner nearest your

right

hand, which should be the corner with the

soap. Then press

30

it

on the dime.

Take the other three corners of the handker-

and

chief

fold

down over

a person standing by
that, tell

it

first

corner. Let

and with

feel the dime,

him you are going to pass

through the table. Then

on

the

let

your

fist

it

right

come down

with a thud.

Next, place the thumbs of each hand under

the folded edge, as shown.

With a quick outward movement, straighten

the

edge and grasp the

done
stuck

this

coin

ivl3t6ri3lS^

Some

soft soap,

you have

in

to

one of the corners,

is

now

your right hand. Deftly pocket the

while holding the handkerchief up for

inspection.

doing

If

properly the coin, which had been

by the soap

concealed

corners.

If

you can keep up the patter while

this trick,

it

will help.

a coin and a handkerchief.

31

Have you ever seen a bandana

that eats matches?

The Match-Eating Bandana

The secret of

this trick

is

to get

a smal

Pick

up matches with the

right hand.

rubber band around the fingers of your

left

hand while no one

is

hand closed and no one

Bring

left

is

band around the

into

off fingers

Keep

notice

will

it.

hand up under center of ban-

dana. The hand

down

looking.

open with the rubber

fingers. Push

matches

Shake bandana, and

to

your friends'

amazement, the matches have

"eaten" by the bandana!

palm, and pull or slide band

and around matches. You

notice they are held in the

will

bandana.

Materials: Small rubber band, some matches,

and a brightly figured bandana.
32

been

Can you make a

fork sing?

THE SINGING FORK

This

is

a perfect

trick to

do at the

dinner table or after refreshments at

a party.

As

illustration

shows, grasp fork

center of handle,

and keep

in
it

close to but not touching the table.

With the

left

hand, pick the

prongs of the fork

firmly.

It

will

give forth a dull sound.

Wait a second, and then with the

free

hand, point to or touch any nearby

object.

As you do

this, let

the

handle of the fork come to

the table
firmly

rest

on

and pick the prongs

once more. To your

amazement, the fork

friends'

will sing!

Materials: Dinner fork and a table covered with a cloth.

33

Can you make

the drawing below

In

one unbroken

line?

THE UNBROKEN LINE

This trick

are

simple; there

is

many ways

it

can be

done. Several persons can

at the

same

time.

try

it

Do

not put the numbers on

the diagram. They were

put

in

simply to

one way the

trick

can be

done.

9.4

Materials:

a sheet of
person,

34

show you

paper and pencil

for

each

and the diagram shown.

Can you

cut the string in

two without making the cup

fall?

THE HANGING CUP

Tie the string to the handle of the cup

as shown and

let

someone hold

the upper end of the string. Then

state that

the string

you are going

in

to cut

two and that because of

your magic powers the cup

This

one

is

in

simple.

Make

the string

will

not

fall.

a large loop

and knot

it.

Then

snip the string in the loop, as shown,

and announce,

"It

cup

MaterifllSI

A cup,

is

is

cut

still

and the

hanging!"

a piece of heavy string and a pair of

scissors.

35

Can you place

all

position after

the glasses

in

an upright

making three moves?

THREE GLASSES

an excellent but very teasing

This

is

You

will

time

if

be able

keep

to

you work

it

trick.

it

going a long

right.

Explain that

each person gets three moves, and that

after these

moves,

should be standing
tion.

Each move

all

in

of the

glasses

an upright

Say

to your friends,

three moves,

and

"I
I'll

will

show you the

wager you

can't

posi-

repeat them." Then make the three

up

moves, keeping up the patter as you go.

consists of picking

any two of the glasses and reversing

No more and no less than two

glasses may be picked up at any one

them.

time.

First

move: Turn over the second and

third glasses, leaving

tion

36

shown above.

them

in

the posi-

Turn over the

leaving

all in

first

and

third

glasses,

the following position:

glass up, second

and

first

third dov/n.

For the third and last move, turn over

the second

Nov/

all

and

three

third glasses.

will

be rightside up.

Then give your friends a chance to do

the

trick,

but place the glasses as shown

above, which
nal

position.

move,

down

all

is

the reverse of the origi-

Naturally,

in

the

final

of the glasses will be turned

rather than up, which will mystify

th em!

Materials: Three glasses placed

the center one up

in

a row as shown,

and the outside ones down.

37

Can you move seven

coins from

one point

to

another

on the diagram below without duplicating any moves?

Seven Coins -From Here To There

Make

a diagram, as shown, on a piece

of paper. The

numbers are used

practice only.

showing the

the numbers

In

ofF,

trick,

for

leave

so that no one can keep

track of your various moves. Start the

first

coin

anywhere you

wish, but

move

the second coin to the point from which

you moved the

first

one.

Repeat the

same process with each succeeding

then you

MflteriSlS! seven

from

2-8

to

coins,

not

fail.

6-4 to -7
5-3 to 8.

to

pencil,

and a large sheet

38

will

of paper.

Example:

to

4-2

to

coin,

Move

7-5

to

Can you remove a dime from under a

glass without touching

it?

THE OBEDIENT COIN

Place a dime or other coin on the table-

between the two matches, as

shown. Then set the glass upside down

cloth

on the matches.

The

trick

is

to scratch the tablecloth with

the nail of your

glass

and

first

finger,

near the

directly in front of the dime.

With rapid, short scratches, draw the

fingernail

away from

the

glass

The ripples made by your finger on the

tablecloth will cause the dime to

move

toward you and out from under the

glass.

and

toward yourself.

MSlBrlSlS! A

glass, a coin,

two

matches, and a table with a cloth on

it.

39

Do you know how

to play the Dickie Bird

Game?

Two Little Dickie Birds

This

is

children.

a cute

You

trick

recite

with which you can

a rhyme with

it,

amuse younger

which goes as follows:

Two little dkkie birds sitting on o pole,

One named Peter, and the other named
Fly

away,

Come

Peter. Fly

back, Peter.

away,

Come

Paul.

Paul.

back, Paul.

Put the adhesive tape on the

forefinger of each

the fingers on the

hand and place

edge

Then say, "Two

little

dickie birds

sitting

on a pole."

Materials:

40

of the table.

Two

small pieces of adhesive tape.

Raise your right forefinger about

three inches as you say,

"One named

Peter." Replace this finger

table

and

on the

raise the left finger,

saying "and the other

named

Paul."

Raise the right

"Fly

Bring right

away,

hand as you say,

Peter."

hand down, concealing

the forefinger

and

letting the

middle

finger rest on the table.

Do

the

same

thing with your

hand as you say

"Fly

away,

left

Paul."

41

The taped
are

now

fingers, or dickie birds,

out of sight, and the middle

fingers are resting

Now

raise

on the table.

your right hand and say,

"Come back,

Peter," placing your

right forefinger

raise your left

on the table. Then

hand and say, "Come

back, Paul," replacing your

forefinger on the table.

Both dickie birds are again

sitting

42

on a pole.

left

Can you make water go up

into a glass?

THE RISING WATER

Place some water

a friend
into

if

the

saucer.

in

a saucer, and ask

he can make the water go up

without

glass

When

he says

show him how

it

touching
it's

the

Push the paper into the inverted glass,

and

light the

paper with the match. Wait

a few seconds.

impossible,

can be done.

Then place the glass

in

saucer of water. The

glass

and the water

which the paper

fire will

will

is

use up the

be drawn up

in its

burning

in

the

oxygen

in

the

place. (A few

drops of coloring were added to the water shown here

for photographic purposes.)

MfltBridls:

amount of water in it,

of paper, and a pencil.

saucer with a small

a glass, a match, a small piece

43

Can you guess what was

secretly written

on a piece of paper?

The Mind-Reading Tricl(

In

the center of the paper,

not more than one

draw a

and a

circle

He may

write something like

this:

half inches

Hand this to someone in your

audience, and tell him to write a short

Of course you aren't allowed to look at

what he has written, but he may pass it

question inside the

around

across.

Then

down

tell

the

circle.

him to fold the paper twice

Pick

middle that

half,

direction as shown.

is,

once

in

each

up

for others to see.

this

folded paper and tear

in

placing the half with the center

corner underneath the other half.

Materials: Piece of paper about three by four

inches, pencil, a large ash tray,

44

it

and a match.

Then tear these two pieces

half again,

in

placing the center corner piece again

underneath

all

hold

it

tray,

and

light

into

a large ash

them with a match.

the other pieces. Slide

the corner piece, which

into the

Then drop these pieces

is

palm of your

there with your

on the bottom,

right
little

hand and

finger while

you continue tearing up the other pieces.

While they are burning, walk around

the

room and pretend

trating.

When

your back

the piece of paper

in

to
is

be concenturned,

and read the message. You must do

into

your pocket or

shirt front.

will

look like

this:

open

your right hand

quickly, afterwards slipping the

The message on the paper

this

paper

Now

stand again by the ash tray; con-

centrate over the dying flames

and

re-

veal the message or answer the question.

You can do some hocus-pocus with

your hands over the ash tray to make

the trick seem difficultand

more magical.
45

Can you remove

the dollar

touching or knocking

down

bill

without

the bottles?

Another Bill and Bottle Trick

Can you take away one corner of a square

and thus produce five corners?

Two Corners

For One

Hold up the piece of paper

and

say, "See,

it

now has

four corners. Let's give

it

five!''

Simply cut

you

off

will find

for one," or

one corner, and

you have "two

total of

five corners.

Materials:

square piece of paper and a pair of

scissors.

47

Can you add

five

matches

to six

Five Plus Six

matches and make nine?

IVIal(e

Nine

Place six matches on the table so that they form a row as shown. Lay the other
five in

the row,

If

pile. Tell

your friends to add these

and make

five to the other six,

nine.

they have not succeeded

in

a reasonable length of time,

thought anyone could spell "nine!" Then show them.

Materials: Eleven matches.

48

without moving

tell

them that you

Can you

lift

a pyramid of three matches with a fourth match?

THE PYRAMID TRICK

Slit

the untreated end of the

the

whittle

match to a

wedge. Force the wedge of

the second match into the

match. You

Now

will

match, and

end of the second

untreated
flat

first

slit

now have an

in

the

first

inverted V.

form the pyramid by standing these

joined matches

head down on the table and

placing the third match head down, so that

the end of

it

rests at the top.

Place the fourth match under the peak of the

pyramid. Very gently and slowly, push the

two matches that formed the inverted

away from
You

will

the third match

in

IVI3l6n3IS. Four
trick,

but

on your

it

kitchen matches

requires a steady hand,

Now

and a

all

fall

will

into the

match which

raise the

your hand, and you

pick up

the pyramid.

see the third match

throat of the V.
is

in

fmd you can

three.

small paring knife. This

and you should practice

it

is

a good

before trying

it

friends.

49

Can you

two pieces

join

of string in your

mouth?

THE STRING TRICK

Hold the

string

up before your friends

and knot the two ends together.

Twist the string

in

one

your hands. This

requires practice.

is

full

turn with

the part that

It

is

important

to get just the right twist.

Materials:

A piece of string
50

two or three

feet long

and a

pair of scissors.

Now

fold

one loop over the other,

as shown, put your hands through the

double loop and

pull taut,

holding

the "lock" or twisted part between

the

thumb and

first

finger of

one hand.

Grasp the

string with

your

left

hand a couple of inches away from

your right hand, and ask someone
to cut through the

your

Now

still

keeping the "lock"

between thumb and finger of

hand so

it

left

and

two

strings

between

right hands.

in

right

does not show, hold up

the string to

show

been

it

has

cut in two.

51

Bring your right

hand

place the locked part

to your mouth,
in

your

mouth. Take hold of the opposite

ends with each hand and go through

the motion of chewing

and

let

your

tongue push the short piece of

string to the side of

Pull

your mouth.

long string out of your mouth,

and pass

it

around.

Who

can

doubt that you joined the two pieces

in

your mouth?

When you have

slip

the short piece out of your mouth

on the
in

52

a chance, you can

sly.

It

will

the picture.

look like the piece

Can you

light

Your patter

Fire

is

a match and burn

it

under water?

particularly important in this trick.

Under Water Trick

Simply

strike the

match on the

bottom of the glass and

keep
it

it

under the glass while

burns. Your friends can't

deny that

it is

burning

under water!

Materials: Kitchen match and glass partly

filled

with water.

53

Would you

like to

astound your friends with a neat balancing

trick?

The Glass and Plate Trick

This trick looks difficult to onlookers

because they see

it

believe you are doing an extraordinary feat of balancing.

do between other

tricks, since

it

from the front and

is

It

a good

can be done on the spur of the moment.

Place the plate

holding the rim

in

the right

in

front

and with your thumb

in

hand with the fmgers

toward your audience,

back of the plate, ex-

tended upward. Be sure the thumb

the

edge

friends.

of the plate, or

Now

of the plate

is

how

it

and support

will

look to your friends:

Materials:
54

plate

it

will

and a

glass.

it

is

not

above

be seen by your

set the glass carefully

as shown.

This

trick to

on the edge

with your thumb,

Can you make an egg come out

of

an empty purse?

THE MAGIC PURSE

This

is

a good

trick to

perform after

dinner while your friends are

table.

You

will

As the purse

is

it

it

upside down, and shake

patter will create interest.

pocket

the

next to you.

carefully,
it.

little

When

purse comes to your confederate, he

in

trick)

passed around the table

ask everyone to examine

turn

at the

need a confederate

(someone who knows the

sitting

still

egg which he has had

all

the time.

back

to you,

When

the purse

the
slips

in his

comes

say a few magic words

and then

pull out the

Mflteridls:

egg.

An empty

purse and an egg.

(A hard-boiled egg

is

safest!)

55

RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

L^ooIm.

QoCAtloM. omA JK^KAMJiK 'S'ookn

For ages 6-10:

Question and Answer Book of Nature
Question and Answer Book of Science
Question and Answer Book of Space
Question and Answer Book About the

Human Body

loi^

B.

Uk.^za

For ages 5 and up:

For ages 5-7:

Book
You
Horton Hatches the Egg

The Cat

Dr. Seuss's Sleep

Happy Birthday

to

Horton Hears a Who

If I Ran the Zoo
I

Had Trouble

in

Getting to Solla

SoUew
CyixXjUiJOM

On Beyond

Zebra
Scrambled Eggs Super!
The Sneetches
Thidwick: The Big-Hearted Moose

FoT ages 8 and up:

The Friendly Dolphins

The Horse that Swam Away
Champ: Gallant Collie

and other

titles

Cite^-Ue t^ooki.

DooW

RANDOM HOUSE,

Bennett Cerf's Book of Riddles

The King, the Mice and the Cheese

and other

titles

Big Black Horse

Big Book of Things to

to Read to the Very Young

Songs to Sing with the Very Young
Stories to Read to the Very Young

Alice in

Abraham Lincoln

For ages 7-8:

Animals Do the Strangest Things
Birds Do the Strangest Things
Fish Do the Strangest Things

For ages 4 and up:

The Story of Babar
Babar the King
The Travels of Babar
Babar Comes to America
and other titles

in the

Poems
(r/LcuCt \AcJuuJ\.

and other

Hat
Hat Comes Back
Dr. Seuss's ABC Book
Green Eggs and Ham
in the

For ages 4 and up:

For ages 5 and up:

titles

The Cat
The Cat

Book

Yertle the TUrtle

Mystery of the Musical Umbrella

and other titles

Meet Abraham Lincoln

Meet John F. Kennedy

in the Hat Beginner

Dictionary

Go, Dog, Go!

McElligot's Pool

OooleA

L^OOKA

Do and

Make
Big Book of Tricks and Magic
Blue Fairy Book
Daniel Boone
Famous Indian Tribes

Wonderland

Anderson's Fairy Tales

Bambi's Children
Black Beauty
Favorite Tales for the Very Young

Grandmas and Grandpas

Grimm's Fairy Tales
Heidi
Little Lost Kitten

George Washington
Hiawatha
King Arthur

Mother Goose
Once-Upon-A-Time Storybook

Peter Pan

Puppy Dog

Robert E. Lee
Robin Hood
Robinson Crusoe
Three Little Horses
Three Little Horses at the King's

Read-Aloud Nursery Tales

Sleeping Beauty

Palace

INC., 457

Pinocchio
Tales

The Sleepytime Storybook

Stories that Never Grow Old
The Wild and Wooly Animal Book
The Wizard of Oz

MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK

22, N. Y.

394-80632-8