Items related to Parlour magic
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ... In a box with six, eight, or more sides, lined with lookingglass, as above, the different objects in it will be multiplied to an almost indefinite extent. APPARATUS FOR WRITING IN THE DARK. In this ingenious contrivance, A is a frame of wood, into the back and front of which are inserted two thin boards, the front one, B, reaching about half the height of the frame, and the back one being moveable, by sliding in grooves, for better fixing the paper to be written on, C, to a roller at top, with a handle and ratchet working into a spring. To use the apparatus, the paper is to be fixed on the roller, and a strip of lead or other weight suspended from the bottom of the paper, to keep it smooth: then, by resting the right hand on the edge of the board, B, and turning with the left hand the ratchet, the distance of the lines may be regulated by the number of clicks caused by the spring on the ratchet. D, is a foot to support the apparatus; which, however, should be light enough to be held in the hand as a slate. AN OPTICAL DELUSION, CALLED JUMPING UP TO THE CEILING. For this purpose provide a sheet, or other long piece of cotton cloth or linen (the longer, i. e. the higher, the better), and strain it across the folding-doors of the loftiest room in the house. Place a lighted candle behind it, and let the smallest boy of the party stand between the candle and the sheet: if he now jump over the candle, his shadow, which was previously on the screen, appears to jump up to and disappear in the ceiling. The rationale of this will be understood when it is remembered that the candle throws out rays in every direction, like radii drawn from the centre of the circle: when, therefore, the boy jumps over the candle, he obscures for the time not only the...
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
