Hocus Pocus; or The Whole Art of Legerdemain, in Perfection. / By which the meanest capacity may perform the whole without the help of a teacher. Together with the Use of all the Instruments belonging thereto.

Chapter 16: How to make three little children dance in a glass upon a table.

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About This Book

A practical manual lays out the techniques and stagecraft of sleight of hand, teaching how to perform common experiments with balls, coin and money tricks, card manipulations, and cooperative confederate routines. It gives step-by-step procedures for classic effects such as the cups and balls and for operating luminous projection devices, with notes on specialized apparatus, concealment, and misdirection. Emphasis is placed on posture, gestures, scripted patter, and timing to distract observers, and on adapting simple props to produce surprising transformations. The instructions aim to enable readers of modest skill to learn and present entertaining feats.

How to make three little children dance in a glass upon a table.

Take little figures of glass that are made hollow, of an inch and a half high, representing little boys, which may be had at the glass-blowers; these little images have a small hole in one of their legs, and are lighter than water; immerge them into the water contained in the glass A. B. this glass is about a foot or 15 inches high, and covered with a bladder which is tied fast over the top; a small quantity of air is to be left between the bladder and surface of the water; so, when you command them to walk down, press your hand hard upon the top, and they will immediately come down, and so you may make them dance in the middle of the glass, at your pleasure; and when you would have them to go up to the top, take your hand away, and they will walk up.

I hope this is sufficient for your understanding; if not, you may have the glass and figures of me.