Chemical magic

Sae, Andy S. W. Chemical Magic from the Grocery Store. Dubuque, lA Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1996. 

Chemistry sets as such first came into being in the late eighteenth century. They were used by pharmacists and medical students, but also were used as toys for amusement and edification of the wealthy. Before the chemistry set there were instructional books, such as seventeenth-century European books on natural magick, which included chemical magic tricks. 

Remember that in Chemical Magic all the effects produced must be sudden and startling the less time given to your audience to think the less chance have they of discovering your secrets. 

An entertainment in Chemical Magic may naturally be presented in a great variety of ways. 

The first method is undoubtedly the best, especially if you have an acquaintance with some of the ordinary branches of magic as now practised in entertainment form. Three or four tricks in chemical magic interspersed with others add greatly to any magical show. 

Passing on to consider No. 2 in which the entertainment is to be, practically speaking, confined to Chemical Magic, the first and most important item is not to make it long. Half an hour at first— and later perhaps three quarters—will be as long as you will be able to command the full attention of your audience— especially if juvenile in part or whole. Make it an invariable rule, if possible, to cut your " show " short when signs of inattention or the least weariness... 

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