Sam Lloyd Puzzles ... (2)

This was an advertisement card from the 19th century for an insurance company. The text says : "Push up the handle (on back of card) and you will find EIGHT JAPS and NINE LANTERNS. Move the handle down and there are NINE JAPS and EIGHT LANTERNS. The BEST explanation wins the prize."

Unfortunately you are more than a century late for the prize, but you can still try.