In addition to being a crowd pleaser, the art of magic offers other compensations. It develops quickness and a good use of your hands. It also will develop the necessary poise to address groups of people, since one of the most important things to a magician is a good line of patter to hold the audience's interest while he is completing a trick. Amaze your friends with these three magic tricks.



The Balancing Handkerchief

Can you balance a handkerchief on the tips of your fingers and make it rise and fall at your command?

Insert a soda straw into the hem of a handkerchief. This and the following step should be prepared ahead.

Tie a knot at the corner of the handkerchief, and push straw up to the knot. Place the handkerchief carefully in your pocket, so you don't break the straw. Now you are ready to show your friends the trick.

Take the handkerchief from your pocket, holding the knot in one hand. With the other hand, stroke the handkerchief downward two or three times. Still holding it by the knot, bring the other hand down, grasping the lower end of the straw between the tips of the thumb and forefinger. Release your hold on the knot, and it will look as if the handkerchief is balanced upright. Make this look difficult, as if you are making a great effort at balancing the handkerchief.

By a sliding movement of the forefinger and thumb, allow the handkerchief to come down slowly, saying "Down Billy." Then say, "Up Billy." You can do this several times. At the end, throw the handkerchief into the air, catching and crumpling it up before placing it back in your pocket. If you have two handkerchiefs prepared, you can satisfy the skeptic who says, "Bet you can't do it again!"

Materials: A handkerchief with a wide hem, and a soda straw.

The Matchless Matchbox

Can you make a coin appear in an empty match box?

Two steps of this trick must be completed beforehand. First, open the drawer of the match box far enough so that you can wedge a coin between the cover and the end of the drawer. The second step is to slide the drawer in part way until the coin is covered.

When ready, hold up the apparently empty match box, half opened so that your friends can see inside, and say, "This box is matchless in more ways than one."

Now close the box (the coin will drop into the drawer). After a few magic words, open the box again. To your friends' surprise a coin has appeared!

Materials: A penny and a match box.

The String and Ice-Cube Trick

Can you snare an ice cube with a piece of string and lift the cube from the glass?

Float an ice cube in a glass of water. Take a string and tie a loop in one end, then invite your friends to try their luck. They will fail, because looping the ice cube is just about impossible.

When they give up, show how it can be done. Simply let the wet loop rest on the ice cube. Sprinkle a little salt on the ice. The surface will melt and then freeze again, with the string embedded in the ice cube. (It takes a little time for the surface to freeze again, so don't be too hasty with this trick.)

Now lift the string carefully by the free end, and you can draw the ice cube out of the glass.

Materials: Salt shaker, string with a loop, cube of ice, and a glass of water.

You will be a hit at any party with these tricks up your sleeve!