THE YOUNG 
Lessons in Magic. 
THERE is a wonderful fascination about 
Conjuring, or "Magic," as it is com- 
monly called. Old as well as young suc- 
oumb to it, and I have yet to meet with 
any one who, having become at all pro- 
ficient as a conjurer, ever gave it up 
entirely. 
Within the past few years, very many 
amateur magicians have appeared, and as 
there are still hosts of other folks anxious 
to acquire a knowledge of the "mystic 
art," I propose in this and following num- 
bers of the Young Scientist to give a 
course of simple "Lessons in Magic," 
which I trust I shall be able to make clear 
to all. 
I shall endeavor to avoid as far as possi- 
ble those tricks that require great manipu- 
lation, but as no one can ever hope to be- 
come any sort of a magician without a 
knowledge of Palming, I shall begin with 
an explanation of that most necessary rudi- 
ment. 
To palm a coin, ball, or other article, is 
to hold it concealed in the palm of the 
hand, and yet leave the hand in such a 
natural position that the lookers-on will not 
suspect that it contains anything. Simple 
as this appears when done by an expert, it 
requires no little practice to become perfect 
in it. 
Anything, from a gold dollar to an 
orange, may be palmed; but for a beginner, 
a silver half-dollar is, from its size, the 
best to practice on. 
Take, then, a half-dollar between the tips 
of the thumb and fore-finger, and, with the 
aid of the third finger, sUde it along the 
thumb until it reaches the lower part of the 
fleshy portion; then, by bringing the thumb 
around a trifle, toward the palm, the coin 
will be held by the ball of the thumb on 
one side, and the palm of the hand on the 
other, as shown in the accompanying illus- 
tration, Fig. 1. 
There are several other modes of palming, 
but this is the most useful, and, for the 
present, it wiU suffice. 
SCIENTIST. 139 
Palming constitutes the stock-in-trade of 
some of the best conjurers, and by its aid 
many wonderful effects may be produced, 
as, for instance: A coin has been borrowed 
Kg. 1. 
for a trick, and the performer hands it to 
the owner as if to return it. Just as the 
hand is extended to take it, Mr. Conjurer 
palms it, and it has disappeared. Some of 
the audience will imagine it has dropped to 
the floor, but, to their astonishment, the 
performer approaches one of their number, 
and, remarking that "It's really too bad of 
you, Sir, to play such jokes," apparently 
takes the missing piece from his beard, 
hair, or other part of his person. This he 
does by merely dropping the coin from his 
palm to the ends of his fingers at the mo- 
ment that they touch the spot from whence 
he wishes to take it. 
Supposing the student in legerdemain to 
have practiced palming until able to do it 
well and imperceptibly, he may now pass 
to a "stage trick," and I will select for this 
purpose one of the best known to the pro- 
fession. 
The Touch of Midas. — This is a rather 
fanciful title for what is more generally 
styled "Catching Money in the Air." The 
performer borrows a hat, after allowing the 
audience to satisfy themselves that he has 
nothing concealed about his arms. 
Holding the hat in his left hand, he be- 
gins his search for money. He creeps 
stealthily around the stage, until suddenly, 
with an exultant cry, he springs forward 
and catches a coin. He continues picking 
up money everywhere — in the air, from his 
own person and from the audience; he 
shakes it from a lady's handkerchief, and 
