Hanky Panky

THE MAGICIAN’S BIRDCAGE.

There is an universal exclamation of sorrow from the ladies when the inmates of the pretty cage—suddenly produced from a gentleman’s hat, as a conclusion to a trick—are found to be lifeless.

Participating in the distress, Monsieur Hanky Panky seeks to remove its cause, and for that purpose borrows from the audience a pocket handkerchief.

Hardly has he drawn it two or three times over and around the cage, than the pitying faces are seen beaming with wonderment and joy, for the inanimate birds have been resuscitated, and are flying and chirping within the gilded bars.

Explanation.—Some wondrously scientific gentleman will probably descant upon the marvellous effects of training of canaries, or, perhaps, of the administering angels, ether and chloroform. Let him do so, for you will learn on an inspection of the cage, that it has a double bottom, in the receptacle of which, at first, the live birds are kept unseen, and, on the pressure of a spring in the knob at the top, the stuffed ones descend, thanks to the false bottom sinking in the middle, if its halves are on pivots at each side; or, one half sinking one side and the other opposite, if they turn lengthwise.

An egg can be made to transform itself into a live bird or mouse, and other changes can be wrought by this same apparatus.

THE GARDEN HAT; OR, FLOWERS GROWING VISIBLY IN A HAT.

A hat being about to be returned to the owner from having been shockingly maltreated in the concoction of an omelette, it occurs to Herr Harngy Barngy, that, while it is unfit for adorning the human head, it may be available for other purposes.

“Hang it!” says the Professor, with his genial smile, which is never so sweet and placid as when he is working his will with borrowed property, “I see such a resemblance in it to a flowerpot, that flowerpot it shall be. So I will hang it here—on this little shelf—hanging from the ceiling by three cords.”

For seed, a few rose leaves; for mould, some shreds of handkerchief, &c., which are put into the hat.

Then Mr. H. B. retires in amongst the audience. At the wave of his wand, a tender stalk is seen to peep over the edge of the hat, and by degrees a bush of flowers rise out of this novel jardinière, whilst a perfume as of newly blooming flowers pervades the air.

Explanation.—In our former works will be found full directions to manage the miraculous birth of flowers by mechanical means. In the present case the result is brought about by a less complicated method.

You have a tin vessel of the size and shape of a hat, to fit inside it. In it is a bush, with natural flowers attached, mounted on a large cork, the whole to move upwards without impediment.

In going up to the hanging shelf you slip this prepared vessel into the hat. When the whole is in its place, your signal to your confederate sets him to turn on perfumed water, which runs into the vessel through one of the suspending cords, which is a gutta percha tube covered with silk. As the water enters, the cork is floated.

TO RUN THE FINGER THROUGH A HAT AND YET RETURN IT INTACT.

Having concluded a performance in which a borrowed hat was employed, you pretend to hesitate about handing it to the owner, and, in fact, whilst you are mumbling excuses, reveal that, by some bungling, you have made so large a hole in the crown, that a finger—yours, for instance (suiting the action to the word), can go through it, to do which you thrust a hand within the hat.

The forefinger is seen issuing through the top of the hat, where it wags in an amusing manner. Nevertheless, on instantly giving the hat to the owner, not the slightest trace of the fracture can be perceived.

Explanation.—The finger shown is one made of gutta percha, with a little cup valve at the base, from which the air is exhausted by a simple pressure, when the adhesion is perfect. To remove it, pick up the edge of the valve with the thumb-nail. This little diversion causes that hilarity always befitting a magical entertainment.