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picking out either an admiral or a general as you desire. Will anyone call
for either an admiral or a general. Thank you, madam. A general, I think
you said. Here he is. An admiral, here to the front, sir. Of course, you
would not expect the British Navy to be behind, would you? Another
please.... The two Services have now been duly separated as you see.
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An Episode of Mere Man
Paper Magic
Will Blyth
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An Episode of Mere Man
Effect
The performer enters with three paper rings over his arm. These are freely
shown to the audience, being apparently identical in every way, and are
each cut down the centre lengthwise. The resultant rings, however, to the
astonishment of the beholders, are seen to be quite different. The first ring
is separated into two halves, hall as wide but the same length as the
original ring. The second ring, however, on being cut forms one
continuous band, half as wide, but twice as long as the original. The third
ring, like the first, is separated into two halves, but what is most
extraordinary, they are seen to be linked together like a chain, and one
would have to be broken in order to separate them.
Working
It has been stated that we are indebted to some old Indian fakirs for this
neat and puzzling little drawing-room trick. The secret is extremely
simple, and depends entirely upon the method of making up the bands.
These may be prepared beforehand, but a much better effect will be
produced if the straight strips are first handed for examination and the
bands then joined in front of the audience, care being taken that they do
not detect the secret during the process.
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An Episode of Mere Man
Tear three long strips of paper, each about one inch wide, to make rings
No. 1, 2, and 3 of Fig. 113.
The ends of ring No. 1 are joined together in the ordinary way by means
of an adhesive, or gummed paper. In joining the ends of ring No. 2 one
twist must be given to the strip, while in making No. 3, the strip is twisted
twice. The three rings should now appear as in Fig. 113, and if the strips
are fairly long, the twists will not be noticed.
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An Episode of Mere Man
If these bands are now cut through the centre they will appear as shown in
Fig. 114
Patter
(The performer should provide himself with a fairly long pair of scissors,
otherwise the patter will not outlast the somewhat lengthy process of
cutting.)
Ladies and Gentlemen. Will you please take a good look at these simple
paper rings and see that there is nothing concealed between them,
individually or collectively. I propose to tell you a short story, and will
illustrate my points with the rings and these scissors, whose points, I
might mention, have nothing to do with my story.
The hero is a Mr. Smith, who was something in the City. On returning
home the other evening he found his wife making some bands for sleeves.
She took up a length of material similar to this and cut right along the
centre, so, until at length she formed two complete rings. "There, I think
that will do very nicely, and just the size for the other four I require," she
said.
Mr. Smith remarked that some women made such a fuss over a simple
little job, and that anybody could do a simple job like that, blindfolded.
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An Episode of Mere Man
His wife replied that it was not so easy as it looked, and suggested that as
she was very busy, perhaps Mr. Smith would not mind cutting the other
four bands. With a "no sooner said than done" air he cut the band, but his
face was a study when he found that he had not proved so successful as he
thought he would have been. "Try again, dear, with the other band," said
Mrs. Smith, sweetly, and "dear" did try. He cut very carefully and slowly.
"There," he said triumphantly at last, "here are the two bands." But on
looking he found that instead of two separate bands, he had produced one
within the other, like this, so he gave over the job in despair to his wife.
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Moths of Japan
Paper Magic
Will Blyth
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Moths of Japan
Effect
Two small pieces of tissue paper are torn to represent moths or butterflies.
Performer then takes an ordinary Japanese fan and fans the papers, which
flutter about the room or stage as if endowed with life, settling anywhere
the performer desires; then rising again and resuming their flitting. The
movements are so natural that it is difficult to imagine that the papers are
not living insects.
Working
The secret of the trick depends upon a few feet of fine black silk thread,
but great skill and much practice are required for neat presentation. The
papers are about the same size as ordinary cigarette papers, being roughly
torn in the shape of butterflies. They are twisted in the centre to form the
body, and the two ends are lightly pressed on one of the fingers to make
the papers slightly concave, in order that the current of air produced by
waving the fan may have full effect. The papers may, of course, be
examined if desired. A piece of fine black silk thread is tied in the centre
to the top vest button and the two ends loaded with a small pullet of wax.
These are temporarily fixed on the lower vest button. When the moths are
ready to commence operations, performer attaches one end of the thread
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