Pierce an apple in such a manner as to obtain two holes tending toward the middle, and forming a pretty large angle as shown in the figure. Two quills or tin tubes should be inserted to make the inside passages smooth. Pass a string through the hole and your apple is prepared for a little trick, which, you may be sure will astonish all persons before whom you practice it, and who of course are not yet initiated.

You fasten one extremity of the string to your foot, and take the other in your hand so as to produce at will the rigidity of the string. You can then command the apple to go down, or to stop, and it will obey your order immediately. Indeed, when you straighten the string, the part which enters the apple pushes against the angle formed by the two passages, and by the pressure, holds the apple. When on the contrary you let go a little, you take away the rigidity and the apple glides down.