two coins from the nails which have fallen. You now have two
shillings in your left hand and none in your right. In the second
attempt you have only to catch the shillings resting on your nails in
the manner described, and on showing one shilling in your right hand and
three in your left, your statement that one has travelled invisibly from
one hand to the other will appear to be correct.
PUZZLE OF TEN HALFPENCE
Place ten halfpence in a row upon the table, then taking up any one of
the series, place it upon another, with this proviso, that you pass over
just two halfpence each time. Repeat this until there is not a single
halfpenny left. Let the following figures represent the halfpence:--
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Place No. 4 upon No. 1; No. 7 upon No. 3; No. 5 upon No. 9; No. 2 upon
No. 6; and No. 8 upon No. 10. A little practice will enable the reader
to do this puzzle without referring to the figures.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR WEALTH
Obtain three sixpences exactly alike, place one in your pocket and stick
the other two with a small piece of wax under the edge of the table
about an inch apart. After showing other tricks produce the sixpence
from your pocket and show it to the company to prove it is an ordinary
coin. Pull up your sleeves, and if the table has a cover turn it back.
Place the coin on the table near the edge over the concealed sixpences,
and showing your right hand is perfectly empty place your thumb over the
coin and rub it vigorously backwards and forwards on the table. At the
same time run your first and second fingers under the table, and
securing one of the coins sticking there move it and the coin under your
thumb simultaneously off the table, and pinching them together between
your thumb and finger, say: "I will show you how to double your capital.
I am going to rub this sixpence into two sixpences." Then showing your
other hand is empty use the left thumb and finger to assist in the
rubbing, and gradually separate the two coins and exhibit them. Then
putting the sixpence with the wax in your pocket place the other one
near the edge of the table and repeat the trick, saying: "See, I have
now trebled my capital." Do not allow the company to examine the waxed
coins.
A NEAT COIN TRICK
Procure three coins (pennies or half-crowns) exactly alike. Scratch a
cross on two, and in the third bore a hole, in which fasten a short
piece of black elastic cord. The other end
|