[Ebook] Chap’s Scrapbook by Franklin M. Chapman.

Magic is my hobby … It has been my hobby for over twenty-five years … I am not a professional magician … This may be questioned because I occasionally entertain for a fee … I do this for two reasons … To keep my hobby self-supporting … and to play fair with those who derive a livelihood from magic … My fee is considered high … I keep it high for two reasons … Because I can get it (so can you) – and because it places my performance on a higher plane (and it will yours) … And so you understand … at the start … that I am an amateur magician … and an amateur editor … and that “Scrapbook” is not a “last word in magic” … by any stretchy of the imagination … It is simply this … A monthly publication devoted, primarily, to club and pocket magic … Many of the effects will be taken from my private scrapbooks … They will be new to you … I sincerely believe that you will find them valuable … I know that they are practical … In addition to these effects … you will receive, from time to time, the ideas of others … Not “fillers”, understand; but exclusive material that meets my personal standard of judgement … and for which I will have reimbursed the originator … I shall ask myself this question before each issue leaves my hands: “Would you be satisfied with this issue of ‘Scrapbook’ if you had paid a dollar for it?” … I will never fail to answer that question fairly … I want “Scrapbook” to be worth at least double what you pay for it … And I will welcome your opinion of each issue…. It may inspire me to dig a little deeper should the “going get easy” … Wherever an effect calls for the use of a special gimmick I will supply that gimmick with the issue – providing the cost is not excessive … This, naturally, you will understand … As for inter-journalistic, and private, squabbles … I am not interested … The “scrap” in “Scrapbook” is not to be taken in any suoh sense … Those who seek such literary fisticuffs … had best look elsewhere … I can find better use for my time … And, I believe, yours … It is my intention to keep “Scrapbook” a quality sheet … Not a “high hat” sheet, mind you … A quality sheet … I promise no definite number of tricks to the issue … One month you may receive four or five … the next month two … But in every instance … you will receive double value for your money … I am not out to “live” on “Scrapbook” … I want it to pay its way … And, I hope, show a small profit … If it grows beyond expectations I shall reduce the subscription rate … and see that my original subscribers are rewarded for the confidence placed in me … One thing more … and then we will “get to the meat” … Today – there is a great demand for bar (pocket) magic and small club effects … This is the field that “Scrapbook” intends to serve .