Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — HANGING WITHOUT SUPPORT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HANGING WITHOUT SUPPORT.

An Buy and Attractive Parlor Trick for Amateur*. Dip one or more strings or threads In a strong solution'of salt. Let them dry and repeat this same thing three times. This preparation is the secret of your stock In trade and you may show the threads to your audience at the beginning of the performance, says an exchange. Take one of these prepared threads, tie a ring to it and suspend it in the air; then set the thread on fire with a match. It will burn from end to end and the spectators will anticipate the dropping down of the ring. But if you have prepared your thread properly nothing of the kind will happen. The thread, of course, was burned, but a little fine salt tube remains, which, if guarded carefully against draught, will prove strong enough to support the ring. This clever trick can be played in various ways. A little fine piece of cambric may be taken and a thread tied to each corner. The whole is then dipped Into the brine solution and when properly prepared and dried it is suspended from the chandelier like a hammock. An empty egg-shell is placed in the cradle and fire set to the improvised hammock until it is completely consumed by it. Again, if the preparation has been correct, the egg will not fall to the floor, but will remain hanging where it is. Both ring and egg are

thus suspended In mid-air without string or thread, for you have burned these before the eyes of your audience.