Ball of Mahomet – continue
Working
The secret depends principally upon a length of fine black thread, the exact size being regulated according to the height of performer.
One end of the thread is fastened by a pellet of wax to the back of performer’s hair, the other end being similarly attached to the lowest button of his vest. A small sheet of tissue paper is freely exhibited and, whilst being held out for examination with the left hand, the
right hand secures the lower end of the thread from the vest button.
A chair is now moved slightly to one side of the platform, thus giving the performer an opportunity of fixing the end of the silk thread to the front of the chair-back. This is not noticeable, even at a short distance, and the thread will be found capable of sustaining a
greater strain than if fixed to the back of the chair-back. By carefully moving backwards the thread is drawn fairly taut and the sheet of paper is formed into a ball around the thread, which is now allowed to slacken, the ball being thrown on the floor. Various passes are now made with the wand, and, by raising or lowering the head, the ball can be made to rise or fall as desired, thus providing excellent opportunities for a really effective display. The importance of perfect showmanship throughout the whole of the presentation, however, cannot be too greatly emphasized. The wand is now passed underneath and over the ball, care being taken that it does not come into contact with the thread. Some performers keep a small hoop around their necks which is passed over the ball, but this effect is far more difficult to work successfully than the wand. The ball is finally allowed to drop to the floor. It is then picked up, the paper ball opened out and passed for examination.
There is another method of performing this trick which is more suited to the stage. The black silk thread in this case stretches right across the floor of the stage and is held by two assistants, or, if only one assistant is desirable, one end of the thread may be fastened
about three or four feet from the ground to one side of the stage. The thread lies along the floor until wanted, and this of course allows the performer perfect freedom of movement both before and during presentation. The sheet of tissue paper is shown, the performer
taking care to stand behind the thread on the floor. The assistant then raises the thread to the required height, and the ball is made around the thread as before. Several additional effects, however, are possible in the stage version of the trick, which if well worked create a really first-rate illusion. For instance, the ball may be allowed to descend slowly to the floor and a chair placed over it, the chair rungs being to the front and back of the thread. The rising and falling of the ball may still be effected, being only limited by the
height of the chair seat. This little maneuver effectually removes from the minds of the audience any idea that the movements of the ball are actuated by a thread from above. The ball may also be placed on a plate which is held by the performer with both hands,
and at the word of command the ball jumps off the plate to the floor.
A further good effect is obtained by standing a plank of wood in a slanting position against the table and, at the performer’s call, the ball travels slowly up the plank and on to the table. Finally the ball is ordered to jump into the performer’s hand, when it can be opened
out as before, or the thread may be pulled sharply by the assistant, broken, and pulled free of the ball, which is then handed out for examination.
Patter
Ladies and Gentlemen. Some of you may have beard the story of Mahomet’s coffin, which is said to remain for all time in mid air, without any visible means of support. To some this may seem to be incredible, but I propose to demonstrate here this evening, by means of this piece of paper, that there may, after all, be a certain amount of truth in the story. I will just roll the paper into a ball and place it on the floor. Now, if our pianist will kindly oblige with a little mahomety music, we may be able to induce the ball to show us its possibilities….
I think that the ball has now proved the case successfully and justified its title, so I now command it to jump into my hands to be demobilised. Thus you see, obedient to the last, it obeys my bidding and I shall feel obliged if you will please examine it to see that there
is no internal mechanism to account for the phenomenon.
