104 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
piece of brass wire, about two feet long, 
which he holds by one end in his right 
hand. The object of this wire, h^ explains, 
is, so that he may not be suspected of 
changing the rings. Having borrowed 
three or four, he returns to the stage and 
hands the wire to the performer, who 
counts them aloud, " One, two ; ah, I see 
that is an engagement ring, with a solitaire 
diamond ; really, I ought to be very proud, 
Miss, at being so favored. Three ; a plain 
gold, wedding ring. Four ; well, number 
four may be gold, but I must say it looks 
very suspicious. However, I will return 
only what I receive." 
He next takes a pistol with a large bar- 
rel and places the rings, one after another, 
in it. 
" Number four, seems a trifle too large, 
to go in here," he says, " but as I doubt 
it's being gold, I will have no hesitation 
in shaping it so as to fit." 
As he says this, he takes a hammer and 
laatters the ring until it is flat, when he 
puts it into the pistol. 
The pistol, he puts where it can be seen 
by all, and then brings out a deep sauce- 
pan, which he allows every one to examine. 
Into this pan he puts four of the eggs 
which are on the plate, and then pouring 
spirits on them, sets it on fire. 
" This is the way," he says, that they 
cook eggs in Japan, I am told, but at any 
rate 'tis the way I cook in my pan. Quick, 
bring me the cover." 
The assistant brings the lid ; the sauce- 
j)an is covered, handed to the assistant, 
and the performer, seizing the pistol, 
fires it at the pan. Bang ! it goes ; the 
cover is removed from the pan, and instead 
of the eggs there are four doves, each bear- 
ing a ring tied to its neck by a ribbon. 
The doves are carried to the owners of the 
rings, w^ho are allowed to cut the ribbons 
from their necks, so that the rings can not 
in any way be changed. 
For this trick, is needed four brass rings, 
four eggs which have been "blown," that 
is, their contents extracted by means of a 
little hole at each end ; and a pistol, and 
a saucepan of peculiar construction. 
The pistol is made with a small, narrow 
barrel, into which the powder and wad 
are put, and on top of this barrel is another 
and larger one, not connected in any way 
with the stock. It is in this, that the rings 
are put, but from the other that the charge 
is fired, though of course the audience 
must not be allowed to suspect this. 
The saucepan is double ; that is, there 
is one pan fitting into another, the inside 
one, however, having no handle. The lid 
fits into this inside one, and it is in this 
that the doves are placed by the assistant. 
The rings are changed by the assistant, 
as he passes back to the stage, after col- 
lecting them, by merely letting those that 
are on the wire drop into his left hand, 
whilst brass ones to take their place, are 
dropped on to the wire from his right hand. 
This trick always pleases the ladies. 
It sometimes happens that when a party 
of friends get together, the amateur con- 
jurer is called upon to show some of his 
tricks, and on such an occasion, being en- 
tirely unprepared, he is at a loss what to 
do. In such an event, he has to depend 
entirely upon his manual dexterity, and 
press into his service such articles as are 
most readily obtained. If any of my read- 
ers are ever caught in this tashion, I would 
suggest as a suitable trick, that of 
Telling the Court Cards hij the Touch. 
This little trick is only suitable for a 
small party, and according to the old- 
fashioned method, could only be per- 
formed before a party seated at table. 
You inform the company that you pro- 
pose to pick out the court cards by merely 
feeling them ; that you will allow your 
eyes to be blindfolded, and that there 
may not be any suspicion of an arrange- 
ment of the pack, it may be thoroughly 
shuffled. 
A handkerchief is accordingly placed on 
your eyes, and you proceed to do just 
what you promised, which is no very dif- 
ficult matter, as your opposite neighbor, 
by a previous agreement made with you, 
presses your foot with his, when you come 
to the court cards. 
But that trick is old, and the chances 
are, that if there be twenty persons pres- 
ent, fifteen will know how it is done, and 
then will follow any amount of *' chaff " at 
the expense of the performer and his 
' assistant. 
