round it. This tendency the performer counteracts by drawing it
partially back through the slip-knot at each pretended tightening.
When he finally covers over the knots, which he does with the left
hand, he holds the straightened portion of the handkerchief,
immediately behind the knots, between the first finger and thumb of
the right hand, and therewith, in the act of covering over the knots,
draws this straightened portion completely out of the slipknot.

THE DANCING SAILOR

The Dancing Sailor is a figure cut out of cardboard, eight or nine
inches in height, and with its arms and legs cut out separately, and
attached to the trunk with thread in such a manner as to hang
perfectly free. The mode of exhibiting it is as follows: The
performer, taking a seat facing the company, with his legs slightly
apart, places the figure on the ground between them. As might be
expected, it falls flat and lifeless, but after a few mesmeric passes
it is induced to stand upright, though without visible support, and,
on a lively piece of music being played, dances to it, keeping time,
and ceasing as soon as the music ceases.

The secret lies in the fact that, from leg to leg of the performer, at
about the height of the figure from the ground, is fixed (generally by
means of a couple of bent pins), a fine black silk thread, of eighteen
or twenty inches in length. This allows him to move about without any
hindrance. On each side of the head of the figure is a little slanting
cut, tending in a perpendicular direction, and about half an inch in
length. The divided portions of the cardboard are bent back a little,
thus forming two "hooks," so to speak, at the sides of the head. When
the performer takes his seat, as before mentioned, the separation of