This is a similar effect to the last, to which it makes a fitting climax. Nine silk squares are shewn, three each of red, white and blue, and tied together by their corners in groups of their own colour. The bundles are placed apart and subsequently appear with the colours redistributed into tri-colour groups. I tried many ways of producing this effect, some bad, some not so bad.
The first had the merit of extreme simplicity any fool could do it—and it suited me admirably.
You provide yourself (really, I hope you will do no such thing: I only put it this way to dodge a morass of grammatical complications) with a duplicate set of handkerchiefs and three mirror vases. A mirror vase is a glass vase with a metal partition, nickel plated and polished on both sides, placed vertically within so that the half of the vase is reflected and the conjurer thinks that it looks empty. Nobody else thinks so.
You tie together a red, a white and blue handkerchief, roll them into a bundle and place it behind one of the mirror partitions. Prepare two other sets of handkerchiefs and the other vases in the same way. Set these in a row, the loaded compartments to the rear, and hope for the best.
Shewing the nine other silk squares, tie together the three red and place them in one of the vases, the three blue in the second and the three white in a third. It should be noted that in making up the concealed bundles each should be folded to shew only one colour on the outside, and as each group of silks is openly tied it should be placed in the vase containing the bundle showing the corresponding colour. As you deposit each group in its appropriate vase, you give the latter a half turn, bringing the substitute bundle into view. The trick is now done and it only remains for you to tell the audience you are going to do it. Afterwards you can shake the handkerchiefs out proudly and mentally bracket yourself with Master Homer of pie fame.
The only thing I liked about this trick was that it made possible the use of material in a new shape. Instead of squares, I used broad strips of sash ribbon.
In the later version next described, I had to revert to the commonplace squares of silk, as the methods do not adapt themselves readily to strips. No trick vases or other apparatus are needed. The various changes are self contained in the handkerchiefs. The first two groups (consisting respectively of three white and three blue) are placed in ordinary drinking glasses stood to the left and right of the performer. The third group (red) he holds in his hands fully displayed in tri-radiate form. Giving these a quick shake they make a visible change: the three red handkerchiefs tied together become a set consisting of one red, one white and one blue, similarly tied. Withdrawing the bundles in the glasses and shaking them out they also are found to have changed in the same way. Each change is differently arranged and we will consider the composition of each individually. Commencing with the visible change, this depends mainly upon the construction of one trick handkerchief. This is made double. Two squares of red silk, of the same size, are sewn together all round the four sides, in order that one corner may present only a single thickness of material, for the purpose of tying, before stitching at the point, the corner of one of the squares is folded in to a distance of about three inches and sewn across so that when the bag eventually formed is turned inside out a similar corner of single thickness will appear. At the opposite corner a distended opening is formed by cutting away the extreme point and sewing in a stout wire ring of one-and-three quarter inches diameter. Tie to the corner prepared for that purpose a blue and a white handkerchief and pull them inside the double-red by turning the latter inside out. Over the corner of the blue that projects, sew red silk to cover it on both sides. To hide the white corner, when setting for actual performance, before turning the red lay the white on the blue, double this white upon itself, to reduce its length, and fold the blue loosely round it. To work, pick up the trick handkerchief and two unprepared red ones, and in passing them from hand to hand to shew them separate, keep the former in the background and shake only the unprepared, one of them twice, to give the impression that all three are fairly and freely shewn. Hold them with arms uplifted, the faked red corner in the right hand, the free corner of one of the unprepared in the left hand and the third handkerchief
hanging down from the central junction. To effect the change, release the left hand hold, give a sharp shake with the right, jerking the ring half-way down the blue handkerchief and immediately seize the ring with the left hand, draw it quickly over the other part of the blue, across the knot and continue to pull until the two single reds are swallowed by the double one and the white falls out of the folds of the blue. The change can be instantaneous. Fig. 68.
The other changes are variations of the same principle and not being visible are carried out in more leisurely fashion.
For the white group, commence by sewing two white squares together all round the edges, leaving one corner of single thickness as before. In this case, however, the folded corner of the superimposed handkerchief is not to be folded inside, but turned down outside when stitching. The double thickness of material is not for any direct purpose of deception but only to ensure opacity; as fine silk, in white, will without this precaution, allow colour beneath it to shew through. Having, then, made the white handkerchief of double thickness, fold it diagonally and stitch together the
edges where they meet, so forming a triangular bag. Tie to the single thickness corner a red and a blue handkerchief. In the corner of the red, diagonally opposite to the tied corner, fold a small cork ball, cover it with white silk and tie or sew. An india-rubber band (“thread-band” No. 14 or No. 16) is looped over the white corner just beside the knot. Fold the blue handkerchief loosely inside the red, then fold the red zig-zig fashion into three in the direction of its diagonal, fold the loop into the elastic band and adjust so that the white ball hangs clear of the red. Now turn the triangular white bag inside out and the coloured handkerchiefs will be concealed within the white. Two unprepared white squares complete the set. To work, shew the three white handkerchiefs with the same precaution and manipulation as with the red, tie them together and roll into a bundle, commencing with the two unprepared handkerchiefs side by side, taking the knot as it comes and steadily folding the material round and feeling for the white ball. When this is reached, dispose it so that it can be seen and quickly gripped when required, but with due care not to expose the coloured silk. Finish wrapping round the loose end and push the bundle into a glass. When its turn comes for display it is only necessary to seize the white ball and shake the bundle out. The double white will fall over and cover the loose white and the two coloured will be drawn from the elastic loop by the weight of the whole.
The third group—the blue—is of practically the same construction and handled in the same way. In this case, however, it is not necessary to make a double handkerchief. The blue fabric has sufficient density to mask the colours concealed within it. The basis of structure, then, is a blue handkerchief folded diagonally and sewn along the adjoining sides to form a triangular bag. To present a tying corner on both inside and outside an
extra triangular hemmed piece must be sewn in. Equipped with an elastic band, as in the previous set, the fake is complete. A white and a red handkerchief are tied to it and it is set and manipulated as already instructed.