THE TELESCOPE OF POWER.
A number of various articles are collected from the Audience, in a
small box, which is locked, and a person is allowed to retain the key.
On returning to the stage, the box is wrapped up in paper or in a
handkerchief, and held thus enveloped by one of the company. The
performer takes up a telescope, which he pretends to be of
extraordinary power ; and, indeed, while looking through this
instrument, levelled at a suspended casket, or a large box elsewhere in
the room, he enumerates fully all the borrowed articles, as if he saw
them within the casket. The casket is now taken down, and, on opening
it upon the table, the small box is discovered within it, still locked
and containing the objects. Now, on undoing the paper or handkerchief,
it is found empty.
 Explanation.—The small box is genuinely made, and locks.
But instead of being wrapped up in the handkerchief, a duplicate, as
far as outward appearance goes, is substituted for it. This duplicate
is constructed on the principle of the opera-hat—to collapse ;
and when the handkerchief is retaken, it is juggled away, or may
contain a bird, &c., the flight of which will distract attention.
The box containing the objects is passed off so that the assistant has
it, and holds it ready at the trap in the table. Meanwhile (for this is
a trick where time is gained by the performance of some other feat in
the interval), a list of the articles is made, which you detail while
pretending to look through your telescope. The list may even be written
out minutely, with a Gillott's crowquill, and inserted in the
telescope, to gain time. The casket is at present empty. On placing it
on the table, you set it so that the part in the bottom where there is
a slide comes just over the trap. Up this the assistant puts his hand,
pushes back the slide, inserts the box, and closes the slide and trap.
The casket is opened, and the box found as described.
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