Prop: A ring, salt water, sewing thread, a match box.
MAGIC:
This is a very good close-up trick. Borrow a gold ring from any lady spectator, with a promise to return it. Take an ordinary sewing thread of two-feet length and show it to them. Tie one end of the thread to the ring and the other end to any article lying above and make it hand, as shown in the illustration. Now light a match-stick and burn the thread. The thread will be burnt to ashes immediately, but magic! The ring is still hanging in the air with the help of the burnt ashes of the thread. How come?
SECRET:
Though this appears to be a miracle, the secret is very simple. You have to do a little preparation before you perform this trick. Soak the thread in salt water for three hours and let it dry. That's all! Then go ahead with the performance. Though the thread burns, the ashes remain, like a thread, and the ring will not fall down. While doing this, make sure that there is no fan in the room.