By J. Hempstead, Magician.

The coin trick I am about to describe is most suitable for performing in a room, and has the advantage of being easily mastered by anybody after five minutes' practice. This sleight has perplexed many of the world's leading magicians, amongst whom may be mentioned Mr. Horace Goldin.

The effect of the trick is as follows:—The performer rolls up his right sleeve to the elbow, and then sits down at a table. One of the spectators is requested to sit down opposite him, and having obtained the loan of a sixpence, he places the coin in his palm in full view of everybody. The performer then closes his hand on the table, knuckles upwards, and asks the spectator sitting opposite him to place his hand on his (performer's), which he does, and then the performer, saying "One! two! three! Pass!!" asks the spectator if he felt the coin leave the hand and pass through his (spectator's), to which, of course, the answer is "No"; but, nevertheless, on the spectator removing his hand, and the performer opening his, the coin is found to have completely vanished. The hands are shown absolutely empty, fingers wide apart, no palming being employed.

The effect of this little trick cannot be sufficiently judged by a description in print, but must be put into actual practice to be thoroughly appreciated.

To perform.—When the performer (with right arm bared to elbow) asks the spectator to place his hand on his (performer's), he brings his left elbow on to the table and rests his head on his left hand—quite a natural position—and when the spectator puts his hand on the performer's (which in nine cases out of ten will be in the form of a fist like performer's), the conjurer exclaims, "No, no! not that way; put your hand flat on mine," on saying which the spectator will naturally remove his hand for an instant—and now comes the conjuring part of the experiment. As the spectator removes his hand performer raises his fist with a quick up-and-down motion, and as his hand descends the coin is thrown through the bottom of fist into left sleeve. This motion must be done very smartly and at the right moment, but with a little practice will be found quite easy of accomplishment.

It will now be clear that when the spectator again puts his hand on top of the performer's, the trick is done, and it does not take much of a magician to cause the disappearance of the coin. Of course, should the spectator at first place his hand flat on your fist, the same formula is gone through as before, only vice versÂ.