The Divided Pear
Problem: To find the position in which a knife must be held that a pear, suspended high up near to the ceiling, shall, on the severing of the thread to which it is attached, so fall as to cut itself in half upon the blade. There is no necessity for line or plummet; we need only dip the suspended pear in a glass of water, which we forthwith remove. The water drips from it; we note the exact spot on floor or table where the drops fall, and make a private mark on such spot.
This is done privately beforehand, so that the company, on their arrival, find the pear suspended in readiness for the feat, and know nothing of the tell-tale “drop.”
At the proper moment you hold the knife, edge upward, immediately over the point which you have marked, while some one applies a lighted match to the thread. If you have duly followed our instructions, the pear, in falling, should cut itself in half upon the blade.
For the experiment as above described one knife only is used; but it may also be performed with two knives, as shown in our illustration.