Chapter I: Front Matter

THE
Practical Magician
AND
VENTRILOQUIST’S GUIDE.

A PRACTICAL MANUAL OF
FIRESIDE MAGIC AND CONJURING ILLUSIONS,
CONTAINING ALSO
COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACQUIRING & PRACTISING
The Art of Ventriloquism.

NEW YORK
HURST & CO., Publishers,
75 NASSAU STREET.

(Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1876, by
THOMAS D. HURST,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.)

BEST BOOK ON THE “BLACK ART.”

PARLOR PASTIMES.

_A NEW BOOK ON_
MAGIC, CONJURING, LEGERDEMAIN,
AND PRESTIDIGITATION.

BY THE CELEBRATED
PROFESSOR RAYMOND

This work is certainly the most exhaustive one on Magic that has ever been issued. It exposes all the secrets of the Wizard’s Art. No trick or illusion of importance is left unnoticed, and the explanations are made in so simple a manner that any one of ordinary comprehension can readily understand and perform them. The book thoroughly elucidates all the mysteries connected with

White Magic,
Natural Magic,
Jugglery,
Sleight-of-Hand,
Electricity,
Chemistry,
Cards,
Coins,
Galvanism,
Magnetism,
Legerdemain,
Necromancy,
Fireworks,
Mechanics,
The Black Art,
Prestidigitation.

It also contains a grand assortment of

_RIDDLES_, _CONUNDRUMS_, _CHARADES_, _ENIGMAS_, _REBUSES_,
_TRANSPOSITIONS_, _ANAGRAMS_, _PUZZLES_,
_PARADOXES_, _ACROSTICS_, _AND PROBLEMS_.

A study of this extremely interesting work would make any one thoroughly expert in the art of Amusing, whether in private or public. The work may be consulted with profit either by the Amateur or Professional Magician.

Price Twenty-Five Cents.

Sent to any address on receipt of price. Address
HURST & CO., 75 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Introduction. 8

Of palmistry and the passes. 9

To command a dime to pass into the centre of a ball of wool,
so that it will not be discovered till the ball is unwound
to the very last of its threads. 13

To change a bowl of ink into clear water with gold fish in it. 14

The dancing egg. 15

The walking cent. 16

Tricks with and without collusion. 19

To make a quarter and a penny change places while held in
the hands of two spectators. 23

Trick with the dime, handkerchief, and an orange or lemon. 23

How to double your pocket money. 24

The injured handkerchief restored. 25

To make a large die pass through the crown of a hat without
injuring it. 26

To produce from a silk handkerchief bon-bons, candies,
nuts, etc. 27

Practice. 29

A sudden and unexpected supply of feathers from under a
silk handkerchief or cloth. 31

Heads or Tails? 33

To cook pancakes or plumcakes in a hat over some candles. 34

To eat a dish of paper shavings and afterwards draw them
from your mouth like an Atlantic cable. 36

How to cut off a person’s nose without injuring him. 37

Tricks by magnetism, chemistry, galvanism and electricity. 39

The watch obedient to the word of command. 41

A chemical trick, to follow one where a young friend has
assisted. 43

To draw three spools off two tapes without those spools
having to come off the ends of those tapes, and while
the four ends of the tapes are held by four persons. 44

To restore a tape whole after it has been cut in the middle. 46

On the continuity of tricks. 49

The invisible hen, a very useful trick for supplying eggs for
breakfast or dinner. 53

Tricks with a plain gold ring. 56

Friendly suggestions. 59

The conjuror’s “bonus genius” or familiar messenger. 61

The shower of money. 63

To furnish the ladies with a magic supply of tea or coffee,
at their selection, from one and the same jug. 64

To furnish a treat to the gentlemen. 66

Ventriloquism. 67

Ventriloquism among the ancients. 70

Modern professors of the art. 71

The theory of ventriloquism. 76

The means by which it is effected. 79

Practical illustrations. 81

Polyphonic imitations. 87

A mountain echo. 88

Points to be remembered. 88

Concluding remarks. 90

To make the magic whistle. 91

THE PRACTICAL MAGICIAN

AND

VENTRILOQUIST’S GUIDE.