MAGIC WORDS Common Magician's Applications: Triggering. For example: "The performer, wearing a borrowed coat, is handcuffed (hands behind) by a member of the audience, who may use his own irons. He is then placed in a sack, the mouth of which is tied, and sealed with private seal, above his head by any person present. In this condition the performer is lifted bodily into a solid mahogany brass-bound trunk, which, having been subjected to a thorough examination, is now corded and double-locked, and keys retained by audience. To make things double sure, this box, which actually contains the performer -- there are no stage or scene traps employed -- is now lifted into another similar solid mahogany brass-bound trunk, also thoroughly examined by the audience, corded, and cords sealed anywhere desired by audience, also double-locked, and keys retained by audience. The double trunk containing the performer is now lifted into a curtained enclosure, absolutely devoid of trickery, as is the stage under it. The performer's assistant, usually a lady, now says: 'I will enter the cabinet and clap my hands three times, and you will please notice the effect.' This the lady does, and, within one second af- Figure 18. The hand clap represents primal power, as in this woodcut from 1697 emblem book. In clapping as in prayer, hands come together when opposites unite. in mind the next time you witness or perform magic where objects seem to move by themselves or have life-like characteristics such as the serpentine silk, rising wand, rising cards, haunted matchbox, etc. Make your magic come alive!" -- Michael Mat- son, personal correspondence (2005). Matson further discusses clapping triggers on his website MichaelMatson.biz.