This trick has been titled by my audiences. It is as popular an effect with them as anything I do. They always ask for "The Glass Trick." It will be found equally effective as an opening trick close-up, on the night club floor, or on the stage. In fact it can be shown under any, and all, conditions. Basically the trick is not new but the changes made in it have enhanced its audience appeal to an enormous extent.
The magician enters, holding in one hand two men's size silk handkerchiefs by their corners. One of the handkerchiefs is red and the other is white. Those colors are not essential, but the handkerchiefs must be of different colors. He announces that he wants one of these handkerchiefs chosen--the one selected will be the one used in the trick. The handkerchief not chosen is pulled away from the other and thrown over his arm. He picks up a highball glass with his empty hand and pushes the chosen handkerchief down into the glass. It will fill about half the glass. The magician then takes the other handkerchief and pushes it into the glass, as he explains, to act as a stopper. He then calls attention to the fact that the selected handkerchief is in the glass and cannot come out the bottom because of the glass and the other handkerchief closes the mouth of the glass. He takes the glass between the palms of his two hands. One hand covers the bottom of the glass and the other the mouth of the glass. The fingers of the hands are held straight out so that every one plainly can see the glass and both handkerchiefs. He waves the glass a very little and the chosen handkerchief instantly disappears. Instantly the glass may be handed for examination. Not only will it be found intact, but the second handkerchief will be wedged in the mouth of the glass like a stopper.
To prepare for the trick, all that is needed is a length of braided silk cord. It probably can be found in a store selling material for ladies' dresses, but I know that such cord also is carried in upholsterers' shops. It needs to be quite strong and mine is about an eighth inch in diameter. Incidentally, this silk cord is much more flexible, and therefore better, than fishline. A one inch loop is made at one end and the cords at the end of the loop bound with thread. This fastening of the loop must be most secure. That loop is for the handkerchief as will be explained later. I also make the same size and kind of loop at the other end, for I slip it on to the strap of my wrist watch. The length of the cord depends upon the length of one's arms and the width of one's back. The cord must be just long enough to go from the fingers of one hand to the opposite wrist-up one sleeve across the back and down the other sleeve when the arms are bent and the elbows held flat at the sides.
