** Coin and Card on the First Finger [175]

This is a simple trick that many can do at the first attempt, while others will fail time after time.  It is a good trick to spring upon a company casually if you have practiced it beforehand.  A playing card is balanced on the tip of the forefinger and a penny placed on top immediately over the finger end, as shown in the sketch.  With the right hand forefinger and thumb strike the edge of the card sharply.  If done properly the card will flyaway, leaving the penny poised on the finger end.

[Illustration:  Coin and Card]

** How to Make Sealing Wax Hat Pins [175]

Select a stick of sealing wax of the desired color for the foundation of the hat pin.  Hold the end of the stick over a flame until the wax is soft enough to drop; then put it on the hat-pin head.  When sufficient wax has adhered to the pin, hold the lump over the flame, revolving the pin at the same time so the wax will not drop and the head will form a round ball.  The head can be made in any shape desired while warm.  When the desired shape has been obtained, cool thoroughly in cold water and dry carefully.

Stripes and designs may be put on the foundation by applying drops of other brilliant colored wax, and by careful manipulation the wax when warm can be made to flow around the pin head and form pretty stripes and designs.  If a certain color is to be more prominent, the wax to make this color must be applied last and the pin put through the flame again.  Cool in water and dry, as before, and pass once more through the flame to obtain the luster.

** Old-Time Magic-Part III [176]

** Disappearing Coin [176]

While this is purely a sleight-of-hand trick, it will take very little practice to cause the coin to disappear instantly.  Take a quarter of a dollar between the thumb and finger, as shown, and by a rapid twist of the fingers whirl the coin and at the same time close the hand, and the coin will disappear up your coat sleeve.  On opening the hand the coin will not be seen.  Take three quarters and hold one in the palm of the left hand, place the other two, one between the thumb and finger of each hand, then give the coin in the right hand a whirl, as described, closing both hands quickly.  The coin in the right hand will disappear up your sleeve, and the left hand on being unclosed will contain two quarters, while the one in the right shall have disappeared.

[Illustration:  Disappearing Coin]

** Sticking a Coin Against the Wall [176]

Cut a small notch in a coin—­ten cent piece or quarter will do—­so a small point will project.  When this is pressed firmly against a wood casing or partition the coin will stick tightly.

** A Chinese Outdoor Game [176]

The accompanying illustration shows the “grand whirl,” or the Chinese students’ favorite game.  This game is played by five persons, four of them turning around the fifth or central figure