any more silver quarters to change into goold, come to Michael MacCarty. He is the man for you.” And with these consoling words he walked rapidly away, leaving me minus my half-eagle, while the storekeeper laughed immoderately at the magician being outwitted by a son of the Emerald Isle. All Louisville became cognizant of “the joke,” as they called it, and hugely enjoyed it at my expense; but I could not see it. THE NEW TRICK OF MELTING MONEY. In our former works have been given revelations by means of which the disappearance of coins can be accomplished. The present act of prestidigitation is quite new, and never before discovered by magicians to their audiences. _Performance._—A drinking-glass having been passed around amongst the audience, that the absence of mechanism may be generally manifest, Mr. Hanky Panky borrows a half-crown and a handkerchief, and pours some pure water (which may be tasted) into the glass, held by one of the company. Though this essence of the New River has no corrosive properties perceptible to the tongue, Mr. Panky confidently asseverates that it is bewitched into the power of annihilating silver. He then places the coin in the centre of the handkerchief, and puts it over the mouth of the glass, where the volunteer holds it by its edge through the silk, so that the pendent corners hide the coin and glass. [Illustration: Fig. 5.] The person is notified that Mr. Panky will count three, at the last of which numbers he is to let the piece fall into the glass, as the sound will betoken. One, two, three, chink. The coin is distinctly heard to fall, so that there can linger no doubt whatever of its presence in the glass. Nevertheless, Mr. Panky, with his usual assurance, announces that—without his approaching—he has the power to attract the coin to him, and, in truth, he suddenly holds it up in plain sight. The person takes away the handkerchief, and is even more astounded than the most impressionable amongst the spectators, to see nothing but the water in the glass—of which the magician relieves him by swallowing it. [Illustration: Fig. 6.] _Explanation._—The bottom of the glass is of the same dimension as a half-crown. A disc of sheet-glass is cut of the same size exactly. This is substituted for the coin, and is felt within the handkerchief. When it falls, the sound is so like that of metal that all are filled with error. When the cover is removed, the water prevents the glass piece being seen at the bottom even by the operator himself. The coin wand can be used in connection with this trick, for which see a description following. TO REDUCE A SHILLING TO A SIXPENCE. Take two pieces of fancy paper with one side in colours, patterns, or marbling, about seven inches square, put the coloured sides together, and cut them at the same time in the shape of Fig. 7. [Illustration: Fig. 7.] The success of the trick depends on their being exactly alike in size. Place a sixpence in the centre of one of the pieces at the place marked A, then fold it carefully over at the crease on the side marked B, and also again at the side marked C. When you have done this, turn down the end marked D upon the centre A and again fold over on E. You have thus formed a small parcel the shape of Fig. 8, with a sixpence in the middle. You must then put a shilling in the centre of the other piece of paper, and...