The Queen Of The Air On two small tables or stands, situated one on each side of the stage, are placed two glass goblets. Both are sufficiently large to admit a pack of cards. A card is then selected, returned to the pack, and the pack then placed in the goblet on the left. The performer now commands the chosen card to rise out of the pack and to travel through the air into the glass on the right. A card is then seen to separate from the pack, leave it and slowly float in a straight line towards the second goblet. While the card is passing from one goblet towards the other, the performer asks the person if that is the card they selected, and receiving a negative answer commands the card to change into the chosen one, which it visibly does. Continuing its journey the card finally descends into the second goblet, where it is removed by the performer who shows it from both sides. Most of my readers will be mildly surprised to learn that this rather elaborate effect can be easily performed at a very small outlay of money and trouble. For the only properties required are two black silk threads, a flap cord and two goblets preferably with straight or perpendicular sides, especially made for the purpose of holding a pack of cards. Fig 31 In Fig. 31, the exact arrangement of the various objects is shown. C is a thread, which passes from an assistant concealed behind the right wing, through a staple in the floor and then upwards. To its other end is attached a small metal clip, which is slipped over the end of the mechanical card in such a manner as to hold the flap down. When pulled off by means of the thread C, the flap springs back to its normal position, changing the face of the card. Another thread A is stretched horizontally across the stage, one end being held by an assistant behind the left wing, and the other by the (already mentioned) assistant on the right. On the back of the mechanical card, near its upper edge, are glued two small strips or hooks cut out of another card with a similar back. These strips serve to suspend the card on the thread A. These necessary preparations having been made, the conjurer forces a card similar to the one concealed by the flap of the mechanical card. This trick card with its flap held back by the metal clip should be lying face upward on the left stand, its presence here being concealed by a silk handkerchief carelessly thrown over it. Returning to the stage with the pack into which the selected card has been placed, the performer lays the handkerchief aside and places the pack directly over the trick card, then shows both goblets proving them unprepared. The pack with the mechanical card on its back is now taken up and placed in the left goblet, the assistants at the same time lowering the thread A stretched across the stage from position A to B, enabling the performer to secretly slip it under the hooks of the rear trick card. At the performers command the assistants simultaneously raise the ends of the thread A, and thereby pulling the card out of the goblet. The assistant on the right slowly draws in the end of the thread, causing the card to appear as if floating through the air. By the time the card has reached the center of the stage it has been declared not the one selected. It is commanded to stop and transform itself into the desired card. The assistant at this moment gives a quick jerk to the thread C, thereby disengaging the clip from the card and instantly changing it to the selected one. The card is then made to resume its journey and to pass into the right goblet from which it is taken by the performer, who in the act of removing the card detaches it from the thread and shows it to be apparently unprepared. 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.