CHAPTER V

TRICKS WITH b.a.l.l.s

CREATION, MANIPULATION, MULTIPLICATION, AND ANNIHILATION OF BILLIARD b.a.l.l.s.--For the series of tricks hereafter described, you will require two solid billiard b.a.l.l.s, and a case to contain one of the b.a.l.l.s, consisting of two hemispheres of thin spun bra.s.s hinged together. When closed this case will represent a solid ball, but when open and held in the hand with the thumb over the hinge, will appear as two b.a.l.l.s. The b.a.l.l.s, together with the case, should be enameled red. When about to present the trick, come forward with the case containing a solid ball in the left breast pocket, and the other solid ball under the left armpit.

CREATION.--Pull up the right sleeve and then the left one, which gives you the opportunity of taking the ball in the right hand unperceived.

You now execute what is known as the "Change-over Palm" to show both hands empty, and then produce the ball from the back of the right hand.

This palm is made as follows: Having gotten the ball into the right hand draw attention to the left with the fingers of the right, showing it back and front. When doing this you will be standing with your right side toward the audience. Now make a sharp half turn to the right and show the right hand in the same manner. This you will be able to do, as when making the turn the palms of the hands very naturally pa.s.s over each other, and the ball is transferred from the palm of the right hand to that of the left.

The ball is now found on the back of the right hand.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 24.--Revolving Ball]

MANIPULATION.--The amount of manipulation possible with a single ball is considerable, and limited only by the dexterity of the performer.

The principles of sleight of hand as described in Chapter II. will, with few exceptions, be found equally adaptable to this branch of the mystic art. For the benefit, however, of those of my readers who have not hitherto made sleight of hand a study, I append a few examples.

1. Having obtained the ball from the back of the right hand, place it between the two forefingers, (Fig. 24). Then twist the fingers round and round, which will cause the ball to revolve with them. This produces a very pleasing and puzzling effect, and is to all appearance a feat of dexterity. It requires, however, very little practice.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 25.--Ball in Position on Right Hand]

2. Close the right hand and place the ball on the top, (Fig. 25). From this position appear to take it in the left hand, really allowing it to sink down into the palm of the right, where it is retained. Vanish the ball from the left hand in the usual manner, and produce it from the left elbow.

3. Roll the ball between the palms of the hands as if you were trying to make it smaller. When the left hand is underneath, seem to close it over the ball, really palming it in the right hand. The left hand is now brought down rather smartly on the back of the head, and the ball produced from the mouth.

4. Place the ball between the teeth and, apparently, give it a smart rap with the right hand as if to force it into the mouth. The ball, however, is palmed in the right hand, and immediately taken from the back of the head. When producing the ball, pa.s.s it up the back and over the top of the head, and let it fall into the left hand.

5. Appear to take the ball from the left hand, as in "Le Tourniquet"

with a coin. Then apparently pa.s.s it through the left knee, producing it from underneath.

6. Throw the ball several times from one hand to the other, and finally, when appearing to throw it into the right hand, palm it in the left. Vanish the ball; place the left hand to the nose; and let the ball fall into the right hand. To all appearances it actually comes from the nose.

7. Stand with the left side to the audience, and throw the ball into the air several times. At the third time palm it in the left hand; the effect being that the ball is vanished into thin air. Now perform the "Change-over Palm," described above, and find the ball at the back of the right knee.

8. Apparently transfer the ball from the right hand to the left, really palming it. Place the palm of the right hand (containing the ball) on the right breast, and thence extend it over in the direction of the left sleeve. In the act of doing this, the ball leaves the palm and is held between the forearm and the body; the hand, turned palm toward the audience, then pulls up the sleeve. You then blow on the left hand to vanish the ball, and show the hand empty.

To regain possession of the ball, all that is necessary is to reverse the motion of the arm, when the ball will find its way into the palm of the hand, and can be produced as fancy suggests.

If the ball is not produced, the above forms an excellent final vanish to any billiard-ball trick.

If used as a vanish, after having regained possession of the ball, you stand with the hands one on each lappet of the coat, bow, and retire.

This pa.s.s, which I have found practical in every way, was given to me by Mr. George Newman, a very clever amateur conjurer.

The following explanations will to some extent be given in the "vernacular," it being a.s.sumed that the student has become familiar with the various pa.s.ses.

MULTIPLICATION.--You must now obtain possession of the trick ball, which can be done by means of the following ruse. Appear to place the ball in the left hand, vanish, and take it from the left breast pocket.

In doing so you take out the trick ball, leaving the solid one behind.

For two b.a.l.l.s.--Take the trick ball in the left hand, and, waving the hand up and down, open the sh.e.l.l, placing the thumb over the joint, when you will appear to have two b.a.l.l.s in the left hand. To show these as two solid b.a.l.l.s, one in each hand, take the ball out of the case, which forthwith close. This can easily be done under cover of the right hand. Draw attention to the ball in the left hand, and remark, "One, and this one" (ball in right hand) "make two." As you say this you appear to place the ball in the left hand, really opening the case to represent two b.a.l.l.s, and palming the solid one in the right hand.

For three b.a.l.l.s.--Produce the ball you have palmed from behind the left knee, and really place it with the two others (case open) in the left hand. Wave the left hand up and down, and under cover of the movement allow the solid ball to slip into the case. Then produce the ball previously left in the breast pocket, and you will seem to have pa.s.sed a ball up your sleeve.

For four b.a.l.l.s.--Draw attention to the two b.a.l.l.s now in the left hand (case open, with a solid ball in one half) and remark, "Two, and this one" (ball in right hand) "make three." Saying which, you apparently place the ball in the left hand, really palming it as before, and dropping the ball out of the case under the cover of the right hand.

You now find the palmed ball at the left elbow, and really place it with the other three in the left hand. You will now appear to hold four solid b.a.l.l.s.

ANNIHILATION.--Appear to take a ball in the right hand, really allowing one to fall into the case. Vanish this ball in the act of throwing it to the audience. You now actually take another solid ball in the right hand and exclaim, "I will vanish this one into thin air. Watch me."

Actually throw the ball into the air several times, and while doing this lower the left hand, and drop the solid ball out of the case into the profonde, making a movement that the audience cannot fail to notice. Thinking they have caught you, some one is sure to remark, "I saw him put one in his pocket that time." To which you will reply, "Oh, no, I did not put any in my pocket. I would not deceive you in such a manner. Two and one" (the one in the right hand) "make three." You now really place the ball in the left hand.

Again appear to take a ball in the right hand, letting it fall into the case as before. Then vanish it in the act of apparently throwing it into the air. Wave the left hand up and down, and under cover of the movement close the case, which will dispose of the third ball.

Finally, make believe to take this last ball in the right hand, standing with your right side to the spectators. Instead of doing this, however, the case is opened, under cover of the right hand, and the solid ball extracted. The right hand is then closed over the ball so that it cannot be seen, and the left hand quietly places the case in the profonde. It is well to again let this movement be suspected. Then, looking at the right hand, remark: "I have now only to dispose of this last ball." At this point some one is almost sure to say, "Oh! but I saw you put it in your pocket." You will then cause considerable amus.e.m.e.nt to the spectators, and bring derision on the party with the voice, by showing the ball in the right hand.

To cause the disappearance of the last ball make use of the pa.s.s described under Example 8 (p. 97).

BILLIARD b.a.l.l.s AND BASINS.--For the purpose of this trick you will require two small basins and two tea plates. The plates are to act as covers for the basins. In addition to these paraphernalia you will require two india-rubber b.a.l.l.s to match in size and color the ordinary billiard b.a.l.l.s.

The effect of the illusion is as follows:--The two basins are shown empty, and each is covered with a plate. In the course of the preceding billiard-ball trick, or a portion of the same, two b.a.l.l.s are vanished, afterward appearing in the basins.

To prepare for the trick, place one of the basins, containing one of the b.a.l.l.s, on the table, and cover it with one of the plates. On the top of this plate place the other basin, containing the second ball, covering the same with the remaining plate.

When about to present the illusion, you take the top plate in the left hand, and the basin in the right, fingers inside and thumb out. This enables you to grasp the ball, and conceal it in the fingers, while holding the basin so that the inside can be inspected. Place the basin on the floor, retaining the ball in the fingers, and immediately take the plate in the right hand, which again conceals the ball. Show the left hand empty, also both sides of the plate. Then pa.s.s the plate back into the left hand, taking the ball with it, and show both sides of the right hand. Cover the basin with the plate and in doing so secretly introduce the ball.

You must now go through the same movements with the other plate, ball, and basin, and the trick is practically finished. All that remains for you to do now is to vanish two b.a.l.l.s and find them in the basins.

The india-rubber b.a.l.l.s are essential for silence when dropped into the basin. Ordinary wooden b.a.l.l.s would rattle and thus betray their presence.

COLOR-CHANGING BILLIARD b.a.l.l.s.--There is a very old trick similar to what I am about to describe, known as the "Chameleon b.a.l.l.s." In this form of the trick the ball is caused to change by palming on, or off, as occasion may require, half sh.e.l.ls of different colors. I will now explain a method of producing a result a.n.a.logous to the old trick, but brought about by entirely different means.

The necessary accessories are a red, a black, and a white billiard ball, all solid. Place the white ball in the profonde, and the black one in the pochette, on the left side. Having arrived at the point in Annihilation (p. 100) where all the b.a.l.l.s have been disposed of with the exception of the last solid one, you throw this in the air as if to vanish it in that direction. While all eyes follow the ball in its upward flight you lower the left hand and take the white ball from the profonde, palming it. In doing this you would of course stand with the right side to the audience.

THE CHANGE TO WHITE.--Make a half turn to the right and take the red ball in the fingers of the left hand, in which you have the white ball palmed. Then show the right hand back and front. Now take the visible red ball in the fingers of the right hand, and, at the same instant, make the "Change-over Palm." This brings your right side again to the auditorium and enables you to show the left hand empty.

To execute the change you place the red ball in the fingers of the left hand, and then stroke it with the palm of the right; palming the red ball and leaving in place of it the white one. Again make the "Change-over Palm" showing the hands empty, with the exception of the white ball.

THE CHANGE TO BLACK.--You take the ball in the right hand, and turning to the left bring it down rather smartly on the table, to prove its solidity. This gives you the opportunity of dropping the red ball into the profonde and taking the black one from the pochette.

To change the white ball to black you will proceed as in the previous change, disposing of the palmed white ball at the earliest opportunity, or it can be produced with good effect from the bottom of the trousers.

Then lay both b.a.l.l.s down on the table.

To appreciate and thoroughly understand the effect of the above, it is necessary to actually practice the various movements with the b.a.l.l.s in front of a mirror.