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Healthful Sports for Boys by Alfred Rochefort
page 148 of 164 (90%)

PASSES

Being thoroughly master of this first lesson, you may proceed to the
study of the various "passes." All of the passes have the same object
--viz., the apparent transfer of an article from one hand to the other,
though such article really remains in the hand which it has apparently
just quitted. As the same movement frequently repeated would cause
suspicion, and possibly detection, it is desirable to acquire
different ways of effecting this object. It should be here mentioned
that the term "palming" which we have so far used as meaning simply
the act of holding any article, is also employed to signify the act of
placing any article in the palm by one or the other of various passes.
The context will readily indicate in which of the two senses the term
is used in any given passage.

Pass I.--Take the coin in the right hand, between the second and third
fingers and the thumb, letting it, however, really be supported by the
fingers, and only steadied by the thumb. Now move the thumb out of the
way, and close the second and third fingers, with the coin balanced on
them, into the palm. If the coin was rightly placed in the first
instance, you will find that this motion puts it precisely in the
position above described as the proper one for palming; and on again
extending the fingers the coin is left palmed. When you can do this
easily with the hand at rest, you must practice doing the same thing
with the right hand in motion toward the left, which should meet it
open, but should close the moment that the fingers of the right hand
touch its palm, as though upon the coin which you have by this
movement feigned to transfer to it. The left hand must thenceforward
remain closed, as if holding the coin, and the right hand hang loosely
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