336 STRING FIGURES [CH. XV 



hand string of the right thumb loop and pull it across to the 

 left hand. (5) Drop the right thumb loop and put the right 

 thumb into the right little-finger loop. (6) Finally, withdraw 

 both little-fingers, and separate the hands ; the string will then 

 come off the button-hole. In fact the effect of the movements 

 described is to get both thumbs in one loop. 



The Waistcoat Puzzle. The object is to enable a man wearing 

 a coat and waistcoat of the usual patterns to remove the latter 

 (which may be unbuttoned) without pulling it over his head or 

 taking off his coat. Though here described in this way, it can 

 be presented and is of the nature of a string trick. 



The removal can be effected thus : (1) Take the left corner 

 (or lappel) of the coat and push it through the left armhole of 

 the waistcoat, from outside to inside. (2) Put the left hand and 

 arm through the same armhole. The effect of this is to leave 

 the left armhole of the waistcoat at the back of the neck. (3) 

 Take the right lappel of the coat and put it through the left 

 armhole of the waistcoat. (4) Put the right hand and arm 

 through the same armhole. (5) Finally, pass the waistcoat down 

 the right sleeve of the coat. The operation tends to injure the 

 set of a good garment, and I suggest that a dressing or flannel 

 jacket may be advantageously substituted for the coat. 



