Page:Magic book, or, The whole art of ledgeremain.pdf/9

9 by bottles, or somewhat else, otherwise they hand of the confederate would be seen, or the napkin would be seen to move. As for the means employed to cause the ashes of the burnt card to disappear in the box, it consists in putting into the cover a piece of wood or paper which exactly fits it, and falls down to the bottom when the box is shut; this piece of wood or paper being of the same colour as the inside of the box, operates as a double bottom, and hides the ashes from the view of the deceived spectator, who at that minute is tempted to believe that the ashes are gone out to be combined afresh, and to produce the miniature card which is found in the watch.

Magic Spoon.

Put four ounces of bismuth into a crucible, and when in a state of complete fusion, throw in two ounces and a half of lead, and one ounce and a half of tin; these metals will combine, and form an alloy fusible in boiling water. Mould the alloy into bars, and take them to a silversmith to be made into teaspoons. Place one of them in a saucer, at a tea-table, and the person who uses it will not be a little astonished to find it melt away as soon as he puts it into the hot tea.