Docc Hilford Our Magic Edited

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which may lead
to many new inventions. Each of these, again, may lead to further inspirati-
ons; and so on
indefinitely. As a general rule, inventions are not derived from accidental i-
deas, happy
thoughts, or heaven-born revelations. Their origin is in the fact that inventors
are always on
the lookout for sources of inspiration, and always endeavoring to imagine
novel
combinations and novel applications of familiar devices. When in the course
of his work an
inventor finds some detail lacking, which known devices or methods cannot
supply, he is led
to seek out in imagination a new device or a new method--it may be even a
new principle--
that will fulfil his requirements. Having a definite aim in view, and the ability
to imagine
possible means for achieving that aim, the chances are a hundred to one that
he will find what
he wants. Thus, an inventor's work consists, not in a happy-go-lucky waiting
for inspiration,
but in laborious effort devoted to the building up, mainly from fragments of
existing
knowledge, of complete structures which possess the element of novelty, in
some form or
other. It is for this reason that the art of invention is capable of being taught;
or rather,
learned. Although there is much to be learned, very little instruction can be
given. That little,
however, is the small key which opens a very big door.
In the present instance, what we have to do is to point out to the would-be in-
ventor of
magical novelties, where to seek for inspiration, and how to make use of it
when obtained;
always provided, of course, that the aspirant to inventive ability has learned
to use his eyes
and to exercise his imagination. Of course, the man who has a native talent
for invention is
bound to be more successful than one who has not that advantage. That goes
without saying.
Nevertheless, a wide field exists for the work of those who, without special
gifts, are willing
to do their best toward inventing things for themselves.
In magic, as in all other directions, the chief source from which inventors de-
rive their
inspirations is the work already done. But this is where one wants to know
where and how to
search. It is absolutely useless to read magical works, or inspect magical de-
vices, and then
confine one's attention to what has been read or seen. One must not look at
just what is
directly in view; one must look all round it, above it, and beyond it. One must
not look at
each invention singly, just for the sake of admiring or copying it. One must
seek for what
may be got out of it, put into it, or suggested by it. In almost every case there
will be found
something that may prove useful, if not immediately, then at some future ti-
me.
The most desirable discovery, of course, is a new specific principle.
That is, therefore, the first thing for which one should be on the lookout. Next
to that
comes the suggestion of a novel combination of details, or a novel application
for existing
devices or principles. After having conceived a basis upon which some novel
invention may
be produced, the real work of an inventor begins. So, at the outset, it is advi-
sable to attempt
something not too elaborate. In this respect, at all times, an inventor must be
guided by a
knowledge of the facilities he has for doing the necessary work of design and
construction, or
of getting it done by others. And, further, it must be remembered that such
work, to the
uninitiated, usually seems a lot easier to do than they will find it if they try to
do it
themselves. Still, if it is worth doing, a man of energy will always find means
for putting it
through.
Since an ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory, according to the pro-
verb, we
cannot do better than to show that an ounce of theory can be made worth
many pounds in
practice. For this purpose we propose to invent a magical novelty, for the rea-
der's benefit;
and to describe, step by step, the process of its evolution. Having done so, we
will, further,
point out such possibilities of future development as may be suggested by the
invention as it
stands. At the same time, we give our word of honor that the invention shall
have been
solved precisely in the manner described; and shall not be one already exis-
ting, that has been
dissected and analyzed for the purpose of making up a story.
In order to begin at the most elementary condition possible, we take for our
starting
point a general principle; preferably, one that is not commonly employed. We
shall select
that of trigger-action by an electro-magnet, and see what can be done with it.
To this end, of
course, our first aim must be to ascertain, so far as possible, what has already
been done upon
the principle we have adopted. According to our
present knowledge, it would appear that there is but
one specific principle upon which magical apparatus
embodying an electro-magnetic trigger has ever been
constructed. That is the principle of concealing, within
the appliance containing mechanism controlled by
trigger, an electro-magnet to which the current is
conveyed through suspending wires. Such being the
case, we must get away from that principle if possible.
The most obvious way of so doing is to put the magnet
somewhere outside the apparatus containing the
trigger mechanism, and do away with the suspending
wires.
Fig. 1
Here we arrive at two perfectly definite conclusions. Since the magnet must
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