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et hoc genus omne
, are
devices in which this principle is involved.
Secret Cavity or Receptacle is the principle upon which all devices for the
concealment of an object within an apparently solid structure may be said to
depend. False
bottoms, secret drawers, bellows tables, hollow stems, double lids, and so on,
are examples
of tricks upon this principle.
Diverse Formation is a principle of very common use in magic. It relates to
appliances which, though apparently similar in every respect, are either whol-
ly or in part
unlike in structure. It is a principle common to many kinds of "prepared" ap-
paratus. Thus,
beveled coins, for example, are of diverse formation. In external appearance
they resemble
genuine coins, with the ordinary square edges. The beveling is so slight that it
can be
detected only by careful examination. It is, however, sufficient to insure that,
when spun, the
coin shall fall with its larger diameter upward. Cards with dissimilar halves,
with convex or
concave sides, with ends of different widths, and so forth, are devices upon
this principle.
A good example of Diverse Formation is to be found in "The Chinese Rings."
Here
we have a number of rings, apparently identical in structure and condition.
But, in reality, the
case is far otherwise. Some few of the rings, it is true, are what they appear to
be-genuinely
solid and single. Of the others, one has a gap in it, and the rest are linked up
in pairs and
threes. It depends upon the adroitness of the performer to convey to his audi-
ence the
impression that each and every ring is given out singly for examination, appa-
rently proving
the whole number to be identical in every respect. Any contrivance in which
an unobtrusive
alteration in shape is the essential feature will come under this heading.
Closely allied to the foregoing is the principle of Double Facing. It is suffici-
ently
familiar, in connection with playing cards, to render comment superfluous.
Concealed Mechanism or Motive Power, also, is a principle that is well
known, even
to those who know little else of magic. There are innumerable devices and
places for the
concealment of mechanical trickeries. So vast, indeed, is the range covered
by this section
that, without unduly occupying space, it is impossible to give even a list of
the chief forms of
apparatus in which the principle is commonly embodied. Broadly, we may
say that most
appliances in which a trick is concealed are included in this group. Thus, the
trick by means
of which the performer is enabled to escape from a locked and corded box is
an example of
such mechanism; since concealed access alone cannot meet the case. A mere
trap or sliding
panel is out of the question-assuming, of course, the relative dimensions of
box and
performer entail a close fit, and that the rope is sufficient and properly
applied. There must,
necessarily, be some form of concealed mechanism comprised in the trick,
whereby the
performer releases himself and restores the box to its former state. In this, as
in other
instances where the trick by which a magical result is produced consists in
mechanism, the
existence or nature of which is unknown to the audience, that trick comes un-
der the present
heading. Incidentally, we may remind the reader that a "box trick" is the
trick
embodied in a
box-not the
feat
of escaping from a box.
Concealed Connection is another mechanical principle, of the utmost familia-
rity to
magicians and public alike. It is one of the three principles usually quoted, by
that section of
the public whose only delight at a magical performance is to explain (?) how
everything is
"done." The explanation given by such people, when fully engaged in sho-
wing their
cleverness at a magician's expense, as a rule consists in either "wires," "ma-
chinery," or
"mirrors." It may be that the effect could not possibly be produced by either
wires,
machinery, or mirrors, but that is of no consequence. The fact that, if the ef-
fect were actually
produced by such means, it would be an absolute miracle, does not matter in
the least. "Make
it wires!" says the busybody, and "wires" it is, unless it may happen to be ma-
chinery or
mirrors. This sort of chatter, if loud enough, will always enhance the enjoy-
ment of
surrounding spectators. In some cases of the kind, we have seen printed on
the faces of those
around a chatterer, enjoyment so unspeakably sincere that it would be unspe-
akable-in public,
at any rate. But, if they only had that nuisance alone-my word! However, the-
se common
occurrences serve to show that the principle of concealed connection is one
of the most
familiar in the whole range of magic. From the slender thread that lifts the
"rising cards" to
the heavy "pull" that snatches away the cloth thrown over a vanishing lady,
the purposes to
which this principle is applied in the service of magic are infinite in number
and variety.
Last on the list of mechanical principles, we have Invisible Suspension. This,
of
course, is closely allied to concealed connection. The precise difference bet-
ween the two is
this: In the case of connection, invisibility is by no means essential and some
form of
apparent action at a distance is implied. On the other hand, invisibility is the
first essential in
the present case, and no action other than that of sustaining a certain weight
in mid-air is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]