LITMIR.BIZ

      RUBBED THROUGH THE LEG

      Here is a companion effect to the one described above. Although both produce the same effect, they are accomplished by different means. They are alike, however, in that both are direct and convincing.

      Effect: The right hand rubs a coin on the left leg and it disappears. The same coin is produced from behind the same leg with the left hand. Only one coin is used.

      Method: The right hand flips a half dollar in the air a few times. Bend over and apparently place the coin on the left leg, but actually toss it into the left hand, Fig. 1. The right hand makes a rubbing motion on the leg and the left hand produces the coin from behind the leg. Basically that is what happens.

      You may wonder how it is possible for a coin to be tossed from the right hand into the left without anyone seeing it. Well, it can be done, and it isn’t as difficult as would be imagined. I will try to break down every move so there will be a thorough understanding.

      First of all—the flipping business. This is most important; in fact, the trick practically depends on it. What it does is to focus attention on the coin so that when you suddenly bend over to rub coin on the leg, the eye has to refocus for this different position. It is at this instant that the coin is tossed into the left hand. The coin travels only a few inches, but it is not seen because of the rapidity of its flight, and because the eye has not had time to focus on this action.

      The human eye is like a camera lens in that it has to focus at a specific range for an object at that distance to appear in sharp definition. For instance, if the camera lens is focused at ten feet anything at twenty-five feet will be blurred. This would hold true if the distances and settings were reversed.

      To fully understand how the eye compares to the camera lens in this matter, try looking at something nearby, then suddenly shift your eyes and gaze at an object farther away. Notice how it takes the eye a fraction of a second to refocus on this new distance. It is on this brief time-lapse that the secret of this effect is partly based. This phenomenon is used to advantage by quite a few top-flight magicians.

      Now let’s go back to the beginning. Show a half dollar and flip it into the air a few times with the right hand. Suddenly bend over and pretend to place the coin on the left leg a few inches above the knee, but really toss it into the left hand. The hands are in front of the left leg as this happens, and the coin travels only a few inches. It is thrown from the tips of the right fingers and when it strikes the open left hand that hand is quickly placed against the left side of the leg. The right hand makes a rubbing motion on the left leg, and simultaneously the left hand moves up the left side of the left leg, coming to rest in a natural position just below the left trousers pocket. As the right fingers continue to rub the left leg the fingers are slowly spread apart. Then the fingers flick an imaginary speck off the leg and the right hand is seen to be empty. Slide the left hand down the back of the leg and bring the coin into view.

      A lot of words have been necessary to explain this feat, but the mechanics are simple. Mostly it is a matter of timing. Once this is understood the reader should have no difficulty in mastering it. This trick has an astonishing effect when smoothly performed.