Page 414 - The Ashley Book of Knots

CHAPTER 33: TRICKS AND PUZZLES

"N ow here's this Bandy bug," the Prime Minister was saying. <

"What does he k11O'U' about 1l1ltyillg the knots in a cord of "wood?"

"N othing!" said the Queen, positively. "Absolutely nothing!"

CHARlES EDWARD CARRYL: Davy and tbe Goblin

Most of these tricks and puzzles were shown to me by sailors, but

many friends and acquaintances ashore have contributed as well. A

few of the string figure~ were found in the ethnological reports of

the Smithsonian Institution, and several others in 'works on cat's

cradles by W. W. Rouse Ball and Kathleen Haddon. A number are

from a little booklet entitled The Parlor Magician that was pub-

lished in New York about 1860.

Knot tricks in general require no especial apparatus other than a

piece of twine or a bit of clothesline. For that reason they are espe-

cially adapted for indoor entertainment. f

Some of the sailor's tricks and puzzles have fragments of spun

yarn attached to them, which make the best sort of patter; and as

everyone knows, a trick without its patter cannot stand alone.

The main difference between a trick and a puzzle seems to be

that the latter takes so much time to demonstrate that the attention

of the audience cannot be held to the end. For that reason, if it is to

be presented as a trick, it is well to have a build-up of thwarted

effort on the part of the audience itself. This is generally accom-

panied with much pseudo explanation and sham assistance from the

performer. In the end the audience is generally only too glad to have

the performer finish the trick or puzzle himself.

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