86 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
is found that the jar which contained the 
ink now holds the water, whilst that which 
held the water is filled with ink. 
For this trick all that is needed is a small 
packet of good ink-powder and a black 
silk lining which fits exactly inside one of 
the vases, and to which is attached a 
thread. The silk lining is placed inside 
one of the vases which is then filled with 
water, and the thread attached to the lin- 
ing is brought over the side of the vase, 
so as to be readily accessible to the hand ; 
in this shape it appears as if the vase was 
really filled with ink, and to complete 
the illusion a sm.all wooden spoon, the 
handle of which is hollow and filled with 
ink. is apparently dipped into the vase and 
its contents being immediately afterward 
poured on to a sheet of paper — unsized 
paper is best, as it absorbs the ink quicker 
and becomes black much sooner than a 
sized article — the audience are convinced 
that it is really a vase of ink that they see. 
The other vase is filled with pure water. 
To effect the change the two vases are 
covered with cloths of any kind, and in 
removing that which is over the supposed 
ink, the lining is lifted out by means of the 
thread, and there appears a jar of clear 
water, whilst the other jar which held the 
water is now filled with ink, and a very 
good article at that, for in covering it, you 
managed to drop the contents of the packet 
of ink-powder into the water. 
The foregoing trick originated in this 
way; many years ago there appeared in 
Paris a conjurer named Phillippe who 
astonished the whole city by his wonder- 
ful tricks. He did many clever things, and 
amongst others produced a number of 
large glass bowls filled with water and 
gold-fish from a lady's shawl. This trick 
being entirely new, attracted large audi- 
ences, so his competitors set their wits 
to work to discover how the thing was 
done. This they did not succeed in 
at the time, but one of them hit on the 
trick I have just explained, and by it 
managed for a while to share with Phil- 
lippe the patronage he had so long mon- 
opolized. 
More modern conjurers have combined 
the two tricks, altering them however 
both in the manner of performing and the 
effect, but before proceeding I will explain 
Phillippe 's trick of 
The Fish Vases as now Performed— The 
" vases " are small round glass bowls of 
about six inches in diameter, and furnished 
with rubber caps or covers, which fit 
tightly on and are retained in their places 
by the "lip" of the bowl. When about 
to exhibit the trick, the " vases " are filled 
with water and gold-fish, the rubber caps 
put on, and one each of the bowls is placed 
either in the breast pockets of the per- 
former's coat or waist-coat, or else in large- 
oil-silk bags or pockets, which he wears 
under his coat. 
Instead of a shawl, several large silk 
handkerchiefs are used. The performer 
takes one, rolls it into a wad, throws it in 
the air and tramples it under foot to show 
that it is empty ; then taking it by two 
of the corners with the tips of his fingers, 
he brings it over his left arm, letting it 
fall in such way as to entirely veil his- 
breast and the action of his right hand ; 
whilst in this position that hand searches 
for and grasps one of the bowls which it 
brings immediately under the centre of 
the handkerchief; the left hand is now 
brought into play to withdraw the hand- 
kerchief, and in doing this, it at the same 
time pulls off the rubber cover which is 
kept concealed in the handkerchief. The 
bowl of fish and water is advanced to the 
audience by the right hand, whilst the 
left throws the handkerchief and cover on 
the stage. 
These motions are repeated with a varia- 
tion of the hands, as many times as are 
necessary to bring out all the bowls of 
water, a fresh handkerchief being used for 
each bowl. At the conclusion of the per- 
formance the trick of 
TJie Fish Vases and The Filtration Com- 
bined may be very readily introduced, 
as follows : A large glass jar, shaped like 
a goblet, the base of which is made either 
of wood, metal or silvered glass, is brought 
on to the stage, filled to the brim with ink, 
and given to an assistant to hold. 
The performer then picks up one of the 
bowls of water which he has just brought 
out of a handkerchief, and re-covering it 
with another handkerchief, he suddenly 
throws it into the air, when to the aston- 
