able for performing
in a room, and has the advantage of being easily mastered by anybody
after five minutes' practice. This sleight has perplexed many of the
world's leading magicians, amongst whom may be mentioned Mr. Horace
Goldin.

[Illustration]

The effect of the trick is as follows:--The performer rolls up his
right sleeve to the elbow, and then sits down at a table. One of the
spectators is requested to sit down opposite him, and having obtained
the loan of a sixpence, he places the coin in his palm in full view of
everybody. The performer then closes his hand on the table, knuckles
upwards, and asks the spectator sitting opposite him to place his hand
on his (performer's), which he does, and then the performer, saying
"One! two! three! Pass!!" asks the spectator if he felt the coin leave
the hand and pass through _his_ (spectator's), to which, of course, the
answer is "No"; but, nevertheless, on the spectator removing his hand,
and the performer opening his, the coin is found to have completely
vanished. The hands are shown absolutely empty, fingers wide apart, no
palming being employed.

The effect of this little trick cannot be sufficiently judged by a
description in print, but must be put into actual practice to be
thoroughly appreciated.

_To perform._--When the performer (with right arm bared to elbow) asks
the spectator to place his hand on his (performer's), he brings his
left elbow on to the table and rests his head on his left hand--quite a
natural position--and when the spectator puts his hand on the
performer's (which in nine cases out of ten will be in the form of a
fist like performer's), the conjurer exclaims, "No, no! not that way;
put your hand _flat_ on mine," on saying which the spectator will
naturally remove his hand for an instant--and now comes the conjuring
part of the experiment. As the spectator removes his hand performer
raises his fist with a quick up-and-down motion, and as his hand
descends the coin is thrown through the bottom of fist into left
sleeve. This motion must be done very smartly and at the right moment,
but with a little practice will be found quite easy of accomplishment.

It will now be clear that when the spectator again puts his hand on top
of the performer's, the trick is done, and it does not take much of a
magician to cause the disappearance of the coin. Of course, should the
spectator at first place his hand _flat_ on your fist, the same formula
is gone thr