A third means of wonder-working is that of _ingenious contrivance_. We will illustrate this by two popular feats. A number of handkerchiefs taken from the audience by more than one popular performer, were placed in a small washing-tub, into which water was poured, and they were washed for a few minutes. They were then placed in a vessel like the figure, below, and immediately afterwards the performer said to the persons in front: “I will give you these;” and taking off the top, when he was expected to throw out the wet handkerchiefs, all that fell was a number of flowers. He now brought out a box, which he opened, and showed it to be empty; then shutting it, and uttering a few cabalistic words, he opened it again, and there were the handkerchiefs, all dry, folded, and scented, which he distributed to their respective claimants. [Illustration] [Illustration: A] [Illustration: B] Another experiment of a popular performer was called “coffee for the million.” Producing a vessel like the diagram A; the performer filled it with unground coffee, and placing it under a cover B, he said, “There, when you have done that, let it simmer for three-quarters-of-an hour; but, perhaps, you will not like to wait so long; here then it is;” and on removing the cover, the vessel appeared full of hot liquid coffee. In another vessel of the same kind he obtained lump-sugar from rape-seed; and in a third, warm milk from horse-beans; and pouring out the coffee into cups, sent them round to regale his auditory, amidst their loud and approving shouts at so great a transformation. [Illustration]