The Balanced Card In the course of some trick in which the performer has occasion to use a silk hat, the conjurer demonstrates skills as a juggler as well as a magician by taking a selected card and balancing it in an upright position on the crown of the hat. Going among the company, the conjurer continues to balance the card in this position. The card is then removed and, together with the hat, passed for inspection. As usual the secret is a very simple one. To the upper button of the conjurer's vest is tied a blond human hair about sixteen inches in length. To the lower end of this hair is attached a very small pellet of adhesive wax. After a card has been chosen, the performer, on the way to the stage, obtains possession of the waxed end of the hair and secretly presses it against the middle of the upper end of the selected card. Fig 53 The conjurer then stands the card upright on the center of the crown of the hat, holding it in such a manner and at such a distance from the body that the hair is drawn taut, the card leaning slightly toward the spectators (Fig. 53). As the hair is practically invisible to the naked eye, especially in the evening, the performer can safely venture among the company, allowing them to witness the mysterious feat at close quarters. Seizing the card, and quickly detaching the wax with the fingers (which allows the hair to drop), the conjurer passes both card and hat for inspection. For the sake of clearness the hair in our illustration is shown much heavier than it is in reality. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.