125 Tricks With Cards

W !LL ALMA M.I.M.C. a O N D O N )

125 Tricks With Cards Or Sleight of Hand Introductory

Ttie State Library of Victoria "A L M A CONJUIUM ® CO LLECTIO N ” O u t o f a ll ty p e s o f s le ig h t-o f-h a n d and o th e r k in d s o f tr ic k s , fe w a re so a ttr a c tiv e to th e a v e ra g e a m a te u r as those p e rfo rm e d w it h th e assistance o f a deck o f cards. I n n e a rly e v e ry g ro u p can be fo u n d a t le a s t one in d iv id u a l w h o can do one o r m ore ca rd s tr ic k s , b u t th e p e rso n w h o has a t h is fin g e r­ tip s th e a b ilit y to p re s e a t in th e c o r­ r e c t m a n n e r a f a i r l y c o n tin u o u s n u m ­ b e r is s t i l l ra re . T h e re fo re th e p e rso n w h o has th e p a tie n c e to m a s te r some o f th e b e t­ t e r t r ic k s to th e p o in t w h e re th e y can be p re se n te d w it h confidence and suc­ cess r e a lly is u n iq u e. T hese t r ic k s are n o t le a rn e d to th e p o in t o f p e rfe c tio n a t one o r tw o tr ia ls . N a tu r a lly , th e re a re some w h o can le a rn to u n d e rs ta n d a t r ic k w it h a fe w re a d in g s o f th e In s tru c tio n s , b u t th e re Is s o m e th in g else th a t a lso m u s t be s tu d ie d — th e c o rre c t m o v e m e n t o f th e fin g e rs. T he t r ic k s m u s t be p e rfo rm e d d e ft ly and w it h as sm o o th a flo w o f m o tio n as p o ssible. T h e a c tio n m u s t n o t be je r k y a nd in c o h e re n t o r th e e n tire e ffe c t is sp o ile d and u s u a lly th e s e c re t o f th e t r ic k g iv e n a w a y . P a lm in g , p a s s in g and fo r c in g a re p e rh a p s th e b a ckb on e o f th e c a rd t r ic k sequences. These In s tru c tio n s s h o u ld be s tu d ie d to th e p o in t w h e re th e y can be p e rfo rm e d w it h h a rd ly a n y m ore d if f ic u lt y th a n i t is to ra is e a f o r k to one’s lip s . T he h is to ry o f c a rd t r ic k s goes b a ck to th e m id d le ages and f o r ye a rs I t w a s re g a rd e d as g e n u in e m a g ic to be a b le to p e rfo rm some o f th e s tr a n g e r s le ig h ts , as a re o ffe re d in th is book. H o w e v e r, th e se cre ts a re so s im p le th a t once u n d e rs to o d th e y a re v e r y seldom fo rg o tto n . O f course, th e re Is m o re to c a rd t r ic k s th a n th e m e re p re s e n ta tio n o f th e m o tio n s . Y o u m u s t d e ve lo p a c o n ­ tin u o u s lin e o f p a tte r, as th e sta g e p e r­ fo rm e rs te rm It , to keep u p th e I n t e r ­ est o f th e au d ie nce and a lso to d ir e c t th e a tte n tio n o f th e a u d ie nce fr o m y o u r

fin g e rs w h e n a s le ig h t is a b o u t to be p e rfo rm e d . Y o u w i l l h ave to im i­ ta te th e v e n tr ilo q u is t and h is “ s p e a k ­ in g d u m m y ” w h o m he h o ld s on h is knees. T h e audience w a tch e s w it h r a p t in te re s t th e m ovem ents o f th e d u m m y, w h ic h is ju s t w h a t th e v e n tro lo q u is t w a n ts , f o r th e n . th e y w o n ’t see th e co rn e rs o f h is o w n m c u th m o v in g w h ile th e w o rd s a p p a re n tly a re co m ­ in g o u t h is "s to o g e ’s’’ lip s . T he b e g in n e r can re s t assured o f one th in g and th a t is th a t th e t r ic k s in th is b o o k a re th o se used b y some o f th e fo re m o s t m aste rs. T he e x p e rts w h o w o rk e d o u t th e c o rre c t p re s e n ta ­ t io n o f th e t r ic k s c o n ta in e d in th is b o o k a ll w e re re co g n ize d as a m o n g th e r e a l m aste rs. T h e t r ic k s a re sound a nd w h e n p ro p e r ly p re se n te d w i l l r e n ­ d e r th e e ffe cts desired. T h e re a re m a n y tr ic k s w h ic h do n o t re q u ire a n y e q u ip m e n t and i t f r a n k ly w a s th e in te n tio n o f fh e p u b lis h e rs to in c lu d e as m a n y o f th is ty p e as p o ssible. M o st o f th e e q u ip m e n t r e ­ q u ire d w it h some o f th e m o re e la b o ra te t r ic k s can e a s ily be o b ta in e d . M uch o f i t can be m ade b y th e p e rfo rm e r, i f he is g e n u in e ly in te re s te d in th e pos­ s ib ilitie s . In fa c t, m o s t o f th e m a ste rs w h o appeared f o r ye a rs on th e sta g e a nd in p riv a te m a n u fa c tu re d t h e ir o w n e q u ip m e n t. F r a n k ly , m o st o f th e e q u ip ­ m e n t on th e m a r k e t is copied fr o m p r o ­ d u c ts w h ic h th o se m a ste rs devised. W h e th e r th e re a d e r w a n ts to e n te r in to th e c o n s id e ra tio n o f these m ore in t r ic a t e p o s s ib ilitie s is e n tir e ly up to h im s e lf. T h e b o o k abounds w it h n u ­ m e ro u s t r ic k s and s le ig h ts w h ic h can be m a ste re d w it h in a s h o rt p e rio d o f tim e a nd th e p u b lis h e rs c o n fid e n tly p re d ic t th a t once th e e a sie r t r ic k s have been m a ste re d th e d e s ire to p e rfo rm th e h a rd e r ones w i l l be h a rd to suppress. T h e re a re some w h o co n te n d th a t c a rd t r ic k s r e a lly s ta rte d s h o r tly a f ­ t e r p la y in g ca rd s w e re in tro d u c e d in ­ t o E u ro p e a n d w e re w o rk e d o u t b y th e

2

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D

w o r ld ’s f ir s t cheats in ca rd games. As soon as th e craze f o r cards became g e n e ra l th e re w e re those w h o w o rk e d o u t a fe w o f th e s im p le r w a ys w h e re b y cards co u ld be s w itc h e d to th e b e n efit o f e ith e r one o r m ore in d iv id u a ls in those games w h e re w a g e rs and sta ke s w e re b e in g s o u g h t a fte r. N a tu ra lly , th e n u m b e r o f these e a rly cheats was s m a ll and u n t il t h e ir n e fa rio u s scheme w a s suspected th e y had gain e d co n sid ­ e ra b le riches, a c c o rd in g to these h is ­ to ria n s . H o w e ve r, i t w as n o t lo n g be­ fo re th e ir schemes w e re uncovered and became, to a c e rta in e x te n t, th e k n o w ­ ledge o f so m a n y th a t i t w a s im p ra c ­ tic a l to use them a t g a m in g ta b le s. T o be a t th is s itu a tio n th e cheats m e re ly co n ce n tra te d on fin d in g new m ethods a t p a lm in g cards, s w itc h in g cards, s ta c k in g th e decks, etc., etc., u s u a lly m a n a g in g to keep ju s t a l i t t le b it ahead o f th e ir p u rsu e rs. W h ile th e n a tu re o f ca rd tr ic k s is f a ir l y w e ll u n d ersto o d th e m ethod o f d o in g th e m is s t i l l m ore o r less a g e n e ra l m y s te ry . T h is is w h y so m a n y resp e cta b le p e r ­ sons are a n n u a lly lu re d in to games by p ro fe s s io n a l g a m b le rs w h o u n d e rsta n d c a rd t r ic k s and a g a in s t w h o m th e u n ­ s u s p e c tin g v ic tim has no chance o f co m p e tin g . The a n n u a l t o ll ru n s in to m a n y hu n dre d s o f thousands and the p ro fe s s io n a l g a m b le r a lw a y s 'w ill find v ic tim s because so fe w persons u n d e r­ sta n d w h a t can be done w it h a pack o f c a rd s / a f e r t ile m in d and d e ft fin g e rs. O f course, th e g re a t m a jo r ity o f card t r ic k s th a t have been handed d o w n th ro u g h g e n e ra tio n a fte r g e n e ra tio n are based on th e g re a t o p p o rtu n ity f o r e n te rta in m e n t w h ic h th e y o ffe r. C ards can be made to rise fru rn the ta b le , flu t t e r th ro u g h th e a ir, change th e ir Id e n titie s w h ile in f u l l v ie w o f e v e ry ­ one— in fa c t so m a n y th in g s can be done th a t s u g g est s tr o n g ly o f b la c k m a g ic th a t th e co n scie n tio u s p e rfo rm e r can m ake peoples’ h a ir lit e r a lly sta n d on end. E q u ip m e n t and accessories became th e r e s u lt o f a desire f o r v a rie ty in p ro g ra m s and e n te rta in m e n ts b y th e old m asters. Once these m aste rs had p e rfe c te d a ll k n o w n tr ic k s and s le ig h ts th e y im m e d ia te ly s o u g h t m ore. The n e w ones w e re th e r e s u lt o f e ffo rts

and s tu d y in g th a t som etim es covered m a n y years. P o r in sta n ce, th e t r ic k in w h ic h a ca rd is to rn up b y th e a u d ­ ience and th e n made to rea p p e a r w h o le , in a fra m e on th e stage, w it h the excep­ tio n o f a s in g le piece o f th e supposedly to r n ca rd m issin g , a c tu a lly to o k ye a rs to w o r k out. B u t w h e n i t w as p e rfe c t­ ed th e o ld m a s te r k n e w w h e n he said he co u ld do th e t r ic k th a t i t w o u ld be done s m o o th ly and th a t th e am aze­ m e n t o f th e audience a t seeing th e to r n c o rn e r rea p p e a r and fu rth e r m o r e to have one o f th e audience f it in th e piece he re ta in e d w h e n th e c a rd w a s rip p e d to shreds w o u ld be a lm o s t u n believeable. S till, th is t r ic k can be w o rk e d o u t i f th e spe cia l e q u ip m e n t is obtained. O f g re a t va lu e also is th e a b ilit y o f th e a m a te u r to a p p ea r e xce e d in g ly n a tu r a l d u rin g th e p re s e n ta tio n o f w h a t tr ic k s he m ay have m astered. .There sh o u ld be li t t l e in h is a c tio n to in d ic a te th a t he considers h im s e lf a fin ish e d m a g icia n . T he m a g ic ia n u s u a l­ ly accom plishes h is fe a ts to th e accom ­ p a n im e n t o f v a s t flo u rish e s, excessive fa n fa re , etc., b y w h ic h he im presses h is a udience o f th e g re a t d if f ic u lt y and s tr a in c o in c id e n t w it h p re s e n ta tio n o f h is tric k s . T he a m a te u r w h o can p e r­ fo rm a sequence o f c a rd tr ic k s in a fa s h io n th a t m akes i t a p p ea r th a t i t re q u ire s a lm o s t no e ffo rt m akes his audience w o n d e r th e m ost. The p a tte r can be casual and easy, ju s t as th o u g h i t w ere p a rt o f the o rd in a ry co n ve rsa ­ tio n . W h e n th e audience sees th e cards do s tra n g e tr ic k s w it h a lm o s t no e ffo rt th e y become so im pressed th a t th e re is a lw a y s th e dem and f o r m ore and also a tte m p ts to im ita te , w h ic h n a t u r ­ a lly a lw a y s come to f a ilu r e and w h ic h g re a tly increase th e resp e ct f o r th e p e rfo rm e r. T he sp e cia l e q u ip m e n t, o f course, does n o t f it in w ith th e p la n s ,o f th e p erson d e s irin g to p re se n t ca rd tr ic k s as a casual in te rlu d e in w h a t m ay be a ca rd p a r ty o r a house p a rty . E q u ip ­ m e n t a lw a y s su g g ests c a re fu l p re p a ra ­ tio n and n a tu r a lly th e p e rfo rm e r m u s t be c a re fu l to m ake h is appearance, p a tte r, etc., a p p e a r in lin e w it h th e n a tu re o f h is sp e cia l e quipm ent.

125 Tricks with Cards Or Sleight of Hand

T o bo •» s u c c e s s f u l a r t i s t , it is e s s e n ­ t i a l t h a t th is, th e p a s s , be m a s t e r e d to th e p o in t w h e r e a b s o l u t e l y no c h a n c e o f f a i l u r e e x i s t s . T h e d e c k is h eld as in th e f ir st i l l u s t r a t i o n , w i t h

th e li ttl e fin ge r o f th e l e f t h a n d i n s e r t ­ ed o v e r th e c a r d to be b r o u g h t to the top. N ow c o v e r the d e c k w ith th e r i g h t har.d. G r a s p th e lo w e r p o r t i o n o f the d e c k l e n g t h w i s e b e t w e e n the se c o n d

f in g e r a t th e u p p e r , a n d th e t h u m b a t f h e lo w e r end, th e le f t t h u m b l y i n g s l i g h t l y be nt a c r o s s th e p a c k . P r e s s th e u p p e r e d g e o f the l o w e r p a c k e t ' ito th e f o r k of th e l e f t t h u m b so

t h a t th e tw o p a c k e t s w i ll b e in th e p o ­ s i t i o n d e p i c te d in th e se c o n d i l l u s t r a * tion. F i n g e r s o f th e le f t h a n d a r e now e x te n d e d , c a u s i n g th e u p p e r p o r t i o n o f th e d e c k to be d r a w n a w a y , a t th e

s a m e ti m e r a i s i n g ( w i t h th e r i g h t h a n d ) (he lo w e r e d g e o f th e u n d e r d e c k u n t i l the e d g e s o f th e p a c k e t s j u s t c l e a r e a c h o th er. H e r e r e f e r to th e th i r d i l ­ l u s t r a t i o n . W h en th e p a c k e t s a r e a t t h i s p o s i t io n by th e m e r e a c t o f c l o s ­ i n g the l e f t h a n d th ey w ill be b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r a s a t fir st e x c e p t t h a t th ey h a v e c h a n g e d p l a c e s a n d th e d e s i r e d c a r d w i ll now be on th e top. T h e l e t ­ t e r s A a n d B in the i l l u s t r a t i o n s w i l l m a k e t h i s cle a r. TH E FORCE T h i s t r i c k c o n s i s t s o f b e i n g a b l e \ic m a k e a s p e c t a t o r s e l e c t a c e r t a i n card, s o m e t h i n g w h ich is p o s i t i v e l y in d is p e n s i b l e in c e r t a i n tr i c k s . I t a l w a y s h a s p r o v e n d i ff i c u l t to t e a c h a novic e how to a c c o m p l i s h t h i s t r i c k in w r i t i n g , b u t a c t u a l e x p e r i ­ m e n t w i l l so o n s h o w r e s u l t s . T h e c a r d y o u w i s h s e l e c t e d is g e n e r a l l y a t the top or a t th e b o tto m o f th e d ec k , the p a s s is now beinpr m a d e (bringring the p a r t i c u l a r c a r d to th e m i d d l e ) a n d the d e c k is s p r e a d o u t fanw :s th e s e c o n d

I

rR IC K S W IT H CA ItDS OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D

fin ge r o f th e r i g h t h an d m e a n w h i le pr essing- on the b(Tttom o f the n e c e s ­ s a r y c a r d , a s the i l l u s t r a t i o n sh o w s. N o w a s p e c t a t o r is a s k e d to s e l e c t a c a r d f r o m the d ec k, the p e r f o r m e r m e a n t i m e r u n n i n g the c a r d s q u i c k ly f r o m h a n d to h a n d and, a s th e s p e c ­ t a t o r ’s fin g e r s a p p r o a c h th e d ec k, the se co n d f in g e r o f the r i g h t h an d l i t e r ­ a l l y p u s h e s the d e s i r e d c a r d in to h i s

tak-e a p a c k a n d offe r the s a m e c a r d s in li k e m a n n e r to th e s e c o n d a n d th ir d p e r so n , t a k i n g c a r e t h a t th ey d o n o t s t a n d n e a r e n o u g h to see th e ca rd e ac h o t h e r d r a w s . You th en d r a w s e v e r a l c a r d s y o u r ­ se lf, a m o n g w h ich i s th e l o n g c ard , a n d a s k eac h o f the p a r t i e s if h is c a r d be a m o n g th o s e c a r d s ; he w ill n a t u r a l l y s a y y es, a s th ey h a v e a ll d r a w n the s a m e ca r d . Y ou th en sh u ff le a l l th e c a r d s to g e t h e r , c u t t i n g th em a t the l o n g c a r d ; you hold it b e f o r e the fir st p e r s o n s o t h a t o t h e r s m a y not s e e it a n d telJ him t h a t it is h is c a rd . Y ou t h en p u t it in th e p a c k , sh u ff le it, a n d c u t it a g a i n a t the s a m e c a r d , a n d hold it to th e s e c o n d p e r so n , a n d so to the r est. Y ou c a n p e r f o r m this recreation w i t h o u t the l o n g c a r d in the followingm anner: L e t a n y p e r s o n d r a w a car d , a n d r e ­ p l a c e it in the p a c k . Y ou th en m a k e th e p a s s , a n d b r i n g t h a t c a m to the top o f the p a c k a n d sh u ff le th em w i t h ­ o u t l o s i n g s i g h t o f t h a t card. You then t -i< a s in d ica ted in th e s e c o n d iloffer th a t c a r d to th e s e c o n d p e r s o n : -ii which s h o w s h ow the c a r d th a t he m a y d r a w it a n d p u t it in the is p u sh e d f o r w a r d . T o be a b s o l u t e l y i m id d le of the p a c k . Y ou m a k e the p a s s s u r e o f su cc ess * the c a r d to be f o rc e d a n d sh u ff le the c a r d s th e se c o n d ti m e sh o u ld be a bit m o r e e x p o s e d th a n in the s a m e m an n e r, an d offe r th e c a r d the oth e r s. T h is , h o w e v e r, is- j n e r e l y to the th ir d p e r so n , s o a g a i n to the f o u r t h o r fifth. the o u tl i n e o f th e t r i c k , a n d t o be D EC EPTIV E SH U FF L E S T h e r e a r e th r e e k i n d s. T h e fi^st ia to m i x all the c a r d s e x c e p t i n g one, ot’ w h ic h you n e v e r l o s e s i g h t . To do tha^, y o u m u s t in the fir st p la c e p u t i t upon th e p a c k , th en t a k e it in the r i g h t h and , r e t a i n i n g th e b a l a n c e o f the p a c k in th e l e f t ; w i t h the th u m b of t h i s l a s t hand, s li p into th e r i g h t hand five or s i x o th e r c a r d s upon t h i s r e ­ v e r s e d c ard , a n d u p o n t h e s e l a s t five or s i x a g a i n , a n d s o on u n til a l l the p a c k is fo u n d in y o u r r i g h t hand. B y th i s m e a n s th e r e s e r v e d c a r d w ill be fo u n d a t the b o ttom , a n d if a t th e m o ­ m e n t you r e t u r n the w h o le p a c k into s u c c e s s f u l it m u s t b e tr ie d a g a i n a n d i the le f t h an d e x c e p t i n g only th e u p ­ a g a i n . In d if fe re n c e is one o f th e g r e a t , i p e r m o s t c a rd , you c a n p a s s s u c c e s ­ es t a s s e t s w h en th e t r i c k is offered. s i v e l y a ll the c a r d s f r o m th e l e f t to H o w e v e r , th ^r e is a n e s c a p e sh o u ld th e r i g h t hand, t h r o u g h p l a c i n g the tho. s p e c t a t o r d ec lin e to t a k e the s u g - ; c a r d s a l t e r n a t e l y a b o v e a n d b e l o w the g e s t e d card. S h o u ld t h i s h a ppen , m e r e ­ a f o r e s a i d u p p e r m o s t r e s e r v e d c ard , u n ­ ly s u g g e s t t h a t he r e p l a c e the c a r d in til you r e a c h the r e s e r v e d c ard , which the d ec k a n y w h e r e , p u t the li ttl e fin­ y o u p u t on th e top, o r th e b o ttom , a s g e r on it, m a k e the p a s s b r i n g i n g it c i r c u m s t a n c e s r equ ire. to the top, f r o m w h ich p o si t io n it c a n T h e se co n d d e c e p t i v e sh u ff le c o n s i s t s be p a lm e d off, or th e t r i c k finish ed a s in t a k i n g f r o m the r i g h t hand, the t h e f a n c y d i c t a t e s . T h e c a r d is now u p p e r m o s t h a l f o f a p a c k held in th e f o r c e d on s o m e m o r e a c c o m o d a t i n g left, in m o v i n g a d r o i t l y the a n n u l a r p erson . f in ge r o f the r i g h t , to a l l o w the r a r d s to s lip w i t h o u t d e r a n g i n g th e i r o r d e r ; T H E D IV IN IN G C A R D a n d n o t ic e : 1st. T h a t a f t e r h a v i n g m o v . P r o v i d e a p a c k in whic^i t h e r e is a ed the c a r d s o f a p a c k w i th the a n n u ­ lo n g c a r d ; open it a t t h a t p a r t w h e r e l a r fin ge r o f th e r i g h t h a n d a s w© h a v e the lo n g c a r d is, a n d p r e s e n t th e p a c k s a i d , it is n e c e s s a r y to p la c e b e n e a t h to a p e r s o n in s u c h a m a n n e r th a t he t h e p a c k in the r i g h t h an d a card, w ill n a t u r a l l y d r a w t h a t c a r d . T h e n a n d one or tw o o t h e r s ’m m e d i a t e l v f o l ­ tell him to p u t it into one p a r t o f th e l o w i n g it, to m a k e p r e t e n c e o f l e a v ­ p a c k , a n d s h u f f l e th e ca rd3. You i n g s o m e w h olly u n d e r n e a th . T h e se ,

125 TR IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D h o w e v e r m u s t be b r o u g h t b a c k u n d e r th e p a c k a g e in th e le f t han d. 2d. T h a t th e p a c k a g e in th e l e f t h and , w h ic h w a s in th e fir st i n s t a n c e b e n e a th , a n d w h ic h is a c t u a l l y a b o v e o u g h t to be t a k e n into th e r i g h t h a n d to be r e t u r n ­ ed s l o w l y to i t s f ir st pla c e. T h e th i r d d e c e p t i v e sh u ff le c o n s i s t s in m a k i n g the p a s s to r e t a i n the c a r d s in th e r i g h t hand, a n d to d i v i d e th e in f e r i o r p o r ti o n into th r ee o th e r li ttle p a c k a g e s , of w h ich th e fir st f a l l s upon t h e ta b le , th e s e c o n d to th e r i g h t , a n d th e th ird to the le ft. T h e u p p e r h a l f is th en p la c e d in the m id d le ; s h o u l d y o u t r a n s p o r t u pon th is h a l f the p a c k a g e s o f th e r i g h t a n d the left, w h i le f o l l o w ­ i n g th e s a m e order, a n d e m p l o y i n g a l ­ t e r n a t e l y the r i g h t h a n d a n d th e le f t f o r g r e a t e r q u i c k n e s s , a n d to c a u s e it l a p p e a r t h a t you sh u ff le b y c h a n c e nd w ’ t h o u t p r e m e d i t a t i o n . T h e c a r d s , ' ■ a p p e a r i n g to c o m m i n g le , w ill he Y* . n e v e r to h a v e c h a n g e d p l a c e s . TO S M U G G L E A C A R D To s m u g g l e a c ard , it is n e c e s s a r y , fi r s t to held it b e tw e e n the ind ex a n d m i d ­ d le fin ge r o f th e r i g h t h a nd , a n d to h o ld t h e r e s t o f th e d e c k in th e l e f t h a nd , b e tw e e n th e f in g e r a n d th u m b o f th at hand. T h e u p p e r c a r d , w h i c h y o u d e s i r e to s u b s t i t u t e , o u g h t to be a l i t t l e a d v a n c e d t o w a r d th e r i g h t hand. In t h i s p o s i t io n the m iddle , a n n u l a r , a n d l i t t le f in g e r s o f th e le f t h a n d a r e p e r f e c t l y fre e , a n d it is w i t h t h e s e f i n g e r s t h a t y o u m u s t t a k e the c a r d w h ich is in th e r i g h t h and a n d w h en t h a t is b r o u g h t n e a r th e l e f t hand, in th e t w i n k l i n g o f a n eye t a k e f r o m it th e u p p e r m o s t c a r d w h i c h y o ” . w i s h to su b stitu te. TO S L I P A C A R D To s li p a c a r d it is n e c e s s a r y , fir st to h o ld th e d e c k in th e r i g h t h an d , a n d s h o w th e s p e c t a t o r the u n d e r m o s t c a r d . | w h ich w e w i ll s u p p o s e to be th e Ace o f D i a m o n d s , se cond , tu r n the p a c k u p s i d e dow n, u n d e r p r e t e n c e o f t a k i n g t h i s A c e o f D i a m o n d s ; th ird , t a k e i n ­ s t e a d o f the A c e o f D i a m o n d s , th e c a r d i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g it, in c a u s ­ i n g th i s A ce o f D i a m o n d s to s li p b e ­ h ind w ith th e a n n u l a r a n d l i t t l e fin g e r s o f th e r i g h t h and , w h ich y ou h a v e dam pened a m om ent be fore w ith som e s a l i v a . T h e f in g e r o f th e l e f t h and , w ith w h ich is d r a w n th e se co n d c a r d i n s t e a d o f th e fir st b e l o w it. s h o u l d be lik e w is e m oistened w ith saliva. TO C A R R Y A W A Y A C A R D To c a r r y a w a y one o r m o r e c a r d s , it *.s n e c e s s a r y : 1. To hold in th e le f t h a n d the c a r d s you d e s i g n to c a r r y a w a y , p o i s e d d i a g o n a l l y o v e r th e o th e r s, a n d a l i t t l e a d v a n c e d t o w a r d th e r i g h t han d. 2. T a k e t h e s e c a r d s w i t h th e l e f t h and , p r e s s i n g th e m s l i g h t l y b e t w e e n th e l i t t le f in g e r a n d th u m b.

5

3. L e an your righ t hand ca re le ssly upon the e d g e o f a t a b l e to c o n c e a l th© frau d . TO P L A C E A C A R D U p on o t h e r c a r d s hold in th e It,.', h a n d the i n s t a n t y o u a s k the s p e c t a t o r to p l a c e h i s h a n d u pon the p ack . T h e i n s t a n t y o u h a v e p la c e d the c a r d r e m o v e s l i g h t l y th e r i g h t f r o m th e l e f t hand, in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t y o u a l m o s t to u ch the c a r d s w i th the l i t t l e fin ger, a s if to i n d i c a t e to the s p e c t a ­ t o r the p la c e w h e r e y o u i n v ite hi m to p u t th e h and . B y t h i s m e a n s he w i ll n o t p a y a t t e n t i o n to th e f a c t th a t the h a n d s a r e b r o u g h t t o w a r d one a n o t h e r to o p e r a t e a s l i g h t c h a n g e , a n d he h o n e s t l y p l a c e s h i s h a n d w h e n to o l a t e to p r e v e n t one. T H E CHANGE A c a r d held in th e h a n d m y s t e r i o u s ­ ly c h a n g e s to a n e n t i r e l y d iff e r e n t one. T h e c a r d to b e c h a n g e d is held b e ­ t w e e n th e f ir st a n d s e c o n d f in g e r o f t h e r i g h t h a n d , th e p a c k b e i n g h eld in th e left, w i t h th e c a r d f o r w h ic h th e fir st is to be c h a n g e d s l i g h t l y p r o j e c t ­ i n g f r o m the top. T h e r i g h " h a n d now m a k e s a s w e e p i n g m o tio n , a n d , a s i t

p a s s e s th e p a c k l e a v e s t h e c a r d a t th e b o t t o m a n d b r i n g s a w a y , w i t h th e t h u m b a n d fir st f in g e r th e to p one. T h i s m a y a p p e a r to t h e n e o p h y t e t o be i m ­ p o s s i b l e o f i n ae te c.ta b le e x e c u ti o n , b u t w i t h e v e n a l i t t l e p r a c t i c e it w ill be f o u n d * t h a t a p e r f e c t i l lu s i o n c a n be c r e a t e d . I f th e bo d y m a k e s a h a l f t u r n f r o m r i g h t t o le f t, i t w i l l g r e a t l y f a ­ c i l i t a t e th e d e c e p tio n , or if d on e in th o ar*t o f a d d r e s s i n g a s p e c t a t o r , a n d s l i g h t l y b e n d i n g f o r w a r d a t th e s a m e tim e. T H R E E C ARD S HEING P R E S E N T E D TO T H R E E P E R S O N S , T O G U E S S W H IC H E A C H H A S CHOSEN A s it is n e c e s s a r y t h a t th e card™ p r e s e n t e d to the th r e e p e r s o n s s h o u ld be d i s t i n g u i s h e d , w e s h a l l c a l l the fir st A, th e s e c o n d B, a n d th e t h i r d C ; b u t th e t h r e e p e r s o n s m a y be a t li b e r t y to c h o o s e a n y o f th e m th ey p l e a s e . T h i s choice, w h i c h is s u s c e p t i b l e o f s i x d i f ­ f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s , h a v i n g be en m a d e ,

x25 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D g « v t ■ i ' fir st p e r s o n 12 c o u n t e r s, to the se co n d 24, a n d to th e th ir d 36; th en d e s i r e the fir st p e r s o n to ad d t o ­ g e t h e r the h a l f o f th e c o u n t e r s o f th e p e r s o n w h o h a s c h o s e n the* c a r d A, th e th ird o f th o se o f the p e r s o n who h a s ‘c h osen B, a n d the f o u r t h p a r t o f th o s e o f the p e r s o n w h o h a s ch osen C, a n d a s k the su m , which m u s t be e ith e r 23 or 24; 25 or 27; 28 o r 29, a s j n the f o ll o w i n g 1 t a b l e ; F irst. Second. Third. S u m s. 12 21 36 A B C 23 24 A C B B A 25 C 27 C A B 28 B C A 29 C B A T h is t a b l e s h o w s t h a t i f the s u m 25, f o r e x a m p le , th e f ir st p e r s o n m u s t h a v e ch o s en the c a r d B, the se co n d th e c a r d A, a n d th e th ir d th e c a r d C; a n d t h a t if it b e 28, th e f ir s t p e r s o n m u s t h a v e c h o s en th e c a r d B, th e s e c ­ ond th e c a r d C, and th e th ir d th e c a r d A ; a n d s o o f th e r e st. T H E O R D IN A R Y P A L M It is o f t e n n e c e s s a r y to p a l m or c o n ­ c e a l a c a r d in the p a l m o f th e hand. S u p p o s e , f o r i n st a n c e , a c a r d is c h o s en ’rom th e p a c k a n d r e p la c e d . T h e “ p a s s ” is then m a d e a n d the c a r d b r o u g h t to e top. T h e p a c k is now held in the l e f t hand, the r i g h t h an d a p p r o a c h e s th e s a m e , a n d w i th th e se c o n d fin ge r p u s h e s f o r w a r d the top c a r d a n e i g h th o f a n inch o r more, a t the s a m e tim e e x e r t i n g a s l i g h t p r e s s u r e u pon it. T h i s c a u s e s the c a r d to be ti lte d into the p a l m o f the r i g h t hand, w h ich f o r t h w i t h g r a s p s th e p a c k b e t w e e n th e fir st fin ­ g e r an d th um b. T h e p a c k c a n n ow s a f e l y be h a n d e d to a n o t h e r s p e c t a t o r to t h o r o u g h ly s h u f f l e , and, w h en r e tu rn e d , the p e r ­ f o r m e r h a s no d i f f i c u l t y in s e c r e t l y replacing- th e p a l m e d c a r d on top.

v ,rhile th e c a r d is p a lm e d , a l l o w th e ■). nd to h a n g d o w n in a c a r e l e s s p o ­ s i t i o n , a n d nev er, u n d e r a n y c i r c u m ­ stan ces, even g l a n c e a t it. T h e b e g i n n e r s h o u l d d e v o t e a s m u ch ti m e a s p o s s i b l e to th e p r a c t i c e o f the

f o r e g o i n g s l e i g h t s , a s w h en he is p r o fi­ cie n t i n n u m e r a b l e n ew t r i c k s a n d c o m ­ b i n a t i o n s w ill s u g g e s t t h e m s e l v e s to h is mind. TO PRO DU CE A P A R T IC U L A R C AR D W IT H O U T S E E IN G T H E P A C K T a k e a d e c k o f c a r d s w i t h th e c o r ­ n e r s c u t off. P l a c e th em a l l one w a y , a n d a s k a p e r s o n to d r a w a c a r d ; w h e n he h a s d on e so , w h i le he is l o o k ­ i n g a t it, r e v e r s e the p a c k , s o t h a t w hen he r e t u r n s the c a r d to th e p a c k , th e c o r n e r o f it w ill p r o j e c t f r o m the r e s t ; let him s h u f f l e t h e m ; he w ill n^ve r o b s e r v e th e p r o j e c t i n g c ard . H old th em beh ind y o u r b a c k . Y ou can f eel th e p r o j e c t i n g c a r d — d r a w it out, a n d s h o w it. TO C A L L FO R A N Y C A R D JIN T H E PACK T h i s is a v e r y s i m p l e tr ick , bu t wil g r e a t l y a s t o n i s h a n a u d i e n c e 1 0 whon. it is n o t kn ow n . S e a t y o u r s e l f a t a t a b l e so a s to h a v e the w h o le o f th e c o m p a n y a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e in f r o n t o f you a n d a t s o m e d i s t a n c e . T a k e th e p a c k o f c a r d s a s it u s u a l l y li es, and , in p a s s i n g it u n d e r the t a b l e o r be h in d 'ou. g l a n c e a t the c a r d w h ich h a p p e n s to be e x p o s e d ; then, p r e t e n d i n g to sh u ff le th e c a r d s , p la c e th e one y o u h a v e se e n b a c k to b a c k on th e o t h e r s i d e o f the p a c k , a n d h o ld i n g th e c a r d s f ir m ly by th e e d g e s , r a i s e y o u r h an d b e t w e e n y o u a n d th e c o m p a n y , a n d t how the c a r d you h a v e se en, c a l l i n g ou t, a t th e s a m e tim e, w h a t it is. O b s e r v e w h i c h c a r d i s f a c i n g you, ( f o r you h a v e n o w th e w h o le p a c k f a c i n g you, e x c e p t th e one c a r d w h ich is sh o w n to th e s p e c t a t o r s , ) p a s s t h e m u n d e r th e t a b l e a g a i n , a n d t r a n s f e r th e c a r d y o u h a v e j u s t s e e n to th e o th e r si d e o f the p a c k , h a n d l i n g th e c a r d s a s if s h u f f l i n g t h e m ; a g a i n e x ­ hibit, a n d c r y ou t th e n a m e o f th e c a r d tu r n e d to the c o m p a n y , t a k i n g c a r e to n o t ic e the c a r d t h a t f a c e s y o u r s e l f , w h ich c h a n g e a s b e f o r e an d so on. B y t h i s m e a n s you m a y g o o v e r th e w h o le p a c k , t e l l i n g eac h c a r d a s it is e x p o se d , w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t th e c a r d s , e x c e p t w h e n th ey a r e held b e tw e e n you an d th e s p e c t a t o r s , a n d w h e n th e y a r e a n x i o u s l y l o o k i n g a t th em t h e m s e l v e s to s e e w h e t h e r y o u a r e r i g h t or not. T H E C H A N G EAB LE ACE T a k e the A c e o f D i a m o n d s , an d p la c e o v e r it w ith p a s t e or s o a p s > a s to s l i p e a s ily , a clu b c u t o u t o f th in p a p e r , s o a s to e n t i r e l y c o n c e a l it. A f t e r s h o w , i n g a p e r s o n the card, y o u le t him hold one en d o f it, a n d y o u hold th e other , a n d w h ile y o u a m u s e him w ith d i s ­ c o u r se , y o u s l i d e off the club. T h e n l a y ­ i n g th e c a r d on th e ta b l e , y o u bid h im c o v e r it w i t h h i s h a n d ; y o u then k n o c k u n d e r th e tab le, a n d c o m m a n d th e c lu 1 to t u r n into th e A c e o f D i a m o n d s .

125 TR IC K S W IT H CA R D S OlH E C O N V E R T IB L E ACES TIi.’j t r ic k is s im ila r to th e fo re ­ g o in g . On th e A ce o f Spades fix a H e a rt i ad on th e Ace o f H e a rts , a Spade, in th e m a n n e r a lre a d y described. S how these tw o Aces to th e co m p a n y; th e n, t a k in g the Ace o f Spades, you d e sire a person to p u t h is fo o t upon it, and as you place i t on th e g ro u n d d ra w a w a y th e Spade. In lik e m a n n e r yo u place th e s e e m i n g Ace of H e a r t s u n d e r the fo o t o f a n o th e r person. Y ou th e n com m and th e tw o cards to change t h e ir places. T H E M E T A M O R P H O S E D CARDS In the m id d le o f a p a c k p l a c e a c a r d t h a t is a l i t t le w i d e r t h a n the r est, w h ich we w ill s u p p o s e to be th e J a c k o f S p a d e s , u n d e r w h i c h p l a c e th e S e v e n o f D i a m o n d s , a n d u n d e r th a t, th e T e n o f C lub s. On th e to p o f th e p a c k p u t c a r d s s i m i l a r to t h e s e a n d o t h e r s on w h i c h a r e p a i n t e d d i ff e r e n t o b je c t s , viz.: F i r s t C a r d .........A B ird . Second C a r d . . . A Seven of D iam onds. T h i r d C a r d . . . .A F l o w e r . F o u rt h C a r d . . A n o th e r 7 of D iam on ds. F i f t h C a r d ___ A B ir d . S i x t h C a r d . . . . A T e n o f C lub s. Seventh C a r d . . A Flow er. E i g h t h C a r d . . .A n o th e r T e n o f C lu b s. T h e n s e v e n o r e i g h t i n d i ff e r e n t c a r d s , th e J a c k o f S p a d e s , w h i c h is th e w id e c ard , th e S e v e n of D i a m o n d s , t h e * T e r o f C lu b s, a n d th e r e s t a n y i n d i f f e r e n t cards. T w o p e r s o n s a r e to d r a w th e t w o c a r d s t h a t a r e u n d e r th e w i d e c a r d , w h ich a r e th e S e v e n o f D i a m o n d s an d th e T e n o f C lu b s. Y o u t a k e th e p a c k in y o u r le f t h and , a n d o p en it a t th e w i d e end, a s y o u op en a bo ok, a n d t e l l th e p e r s o n w h o d r e w th e S e v e n o f D i a m o n d s to p la c e it in t h a t op e n in g . Y o u th en b lo w on th e c a r d s , a n d w i t h ­ o u t c l o s i n g th em , i n s t a n t l y b r i n g th e c a r d w h i c h i s a t top, a n d on w h i c h a b ir d is p a i n t e d , o v e r t h a t S e v e n o f D i a ­ m o n d s. T o do t h i s d e x t e r o u s l y , y o u m u s t w e t th e m i d d le f in g e r o f y o u r l e f t han d, w i th w h ich y ou a r e to b r i n g th e c a r d to th e m i d d le o f th e p a c k . Y o u then bid th e p e r s o n l o o k a t h i s c ard , a n d w h en he h a s r e m a r k e d on th e c h a n g e , to p la c e it w h e r e i t w a s b e ­ fo re. T h e n b lo w on th e c a r d s a s e c o n d tim e, a n d b r i n g i n g th e S e v e n o f D i a ­ m on d s, w h ich is a t th e to p o f th e p a c k , to the o p e n in g , y o u bid him lo o k a t h i s c a r d a g a i n , w h e n h e w i ll s e e it is t h a t w h ich he d re w . Y o u m a y do th e s a m e w i th a l l th e o t h e r p a i n t e d c a r d s , e i t h e r w i t h th e s a m e p e r s o n o r w i t h h im w h o d r e w th e T e n o f C lu b s. The w h o le a rtific e c o n sists in b r in g ­ in g th e c a rd a t th e to p o f th e p a c k to th e o p e n in g in th e m id d le , b y th e w e t fin g e r, w h ic h re q u ire s no g re a t p ra c tic e . Do n o t le t th e p a ck go o u t o f y o u r h an^s

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T H E N U M B E R OF CARDS BY T H E W E IG H T T a k e a p a r c e l of c a r d s— sa y f o r ty — a n d p r i v a t e l y i n s e r t a m o n g th em tw o l o n g c a r d s ; le t th e fir st be, f o r e x a m p l e , the fif tee n th , a n d th e o t h e r th e t w e n ­ t y - s i x t h , f r o m th e top. S e e m to sh u ff le t h e c a r d s , a n d c u t th e m a t th e fir st lo n g card ; poise those you have ta k e n off in y o u r hand, an d s a y , “ T h e r e m u s t be fif tee n c a r d s h e r e ; ” then cu t th em a t th e s e c o n d l o n g c ard , a n d sa y , “ T h e r e a r e b u t e le v e n h e r e ; ” a n d p o i s ­ i n g th e r e m a i n d e r , e x c la i m , “ An d h er e a r e f o u r t e e n c a r d s . ” On c o u n t i n g th em , th e s p e c t a t o r s w i ll find y o u r c a l c u ­ l a t i o n s co rr e ct . T H E CO NTINUO US F R O N T A N D B A C K H AN DPALM AND T R IC K S N C O NNECTIO N T H E R E W IT H . W e w i l l fir st o f a ll d e s c r i b e t h e m e t h o d o f w o r k i n g t h i s t r i c k w i t h one c ard . T o b e g i n w ith , th e c a r d is held b e ­ t w e e n th e t i p s o f the m i d d le f in g e r a n d th u m b , a s i l l u s t r a t e d .

T h e f ir s t a n d l i t t l e f i n g e r s n o w g r i p th e c ard . T h e tw o m i d d le f i n g e r s a r e n e x t be n t a n d b r o u g h t d o w n u n d e r th e c a r d s a n d r o u n d to th e f r o n t o f s a m e , th e r e b y c a u s i n g th e c a r d to r e v o l v e b e tw e e n th e fir st a n d f o u r t h f in g e r s , a s t h o u g h on a n a x i s , a n d a s s u m e th e p o s i t i o n on th e b a c k o f th e h a n d c l i p p e d b e tw e e n th e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d a n ^ th ir d a n d f o u r t h fin ge rs.

125 TH IC K S W IT H CARDS OIl SL E IG H T OP H A N D w i ll w i ll card hand

i n g a g l i m p s e o f th e c a r d s a s th e y a r e b r o u g h t f r o m th e b a c k to th e f r o n t o f th e h and , o r v ice v e r s a . T h i s can, h o w e v e r, be s u r m o u n t e d by p r a c t i s i n g

arithoT .it th e m o s t a s t u t e s p e c t a t o r h a v -

b e f o r e a m i r r o r , a s y o u w i ll th en be a b l e to a s c e r t a i n th e e x a c t a n g l e a t w h ic h th e m o v e m e n t c a n be in d e c te ta b l y a c c o m p li s h e d . T o f u r t h e r h e i g h t e n th e e ffe ct o f th e s l e i g h t w h e n th e c a r d i s in p o s i t io n w i t h th e b a c k o f th e h a nd , o f co u r se, f a c i n g th e a u d ie n c e , p u s h the c a r d d o w n into th e p a l m a s sh ow n . T h i s m o v e m e n t, w h ich is a b s o l u t e l y i m p o s s i b l e to d e s c r i b e in w r i t i n g , w i ll be c o m e a p p a r e n t to th e l e a r n e r a f t e r a few trials. W ith th e c a r d in t h i s p o si t io n , o f c o u r se , th e f in g e r s a n d t h u m b c a n be s p r e a d w id e a p a r t . W h en m a n i p u l a t i n g m o r e th a n one c a r d , the a b o v e m o v e m e n t s a ll hold g o o d w i t h th e e x c e p t io n of b r i n g i n g th e c a r d s f r o m th e b a c k o f th e h a n d to th e front. I n s t e a d o f th e th u m b p u l l i n g 1 t h e c a r d s r o u n d to th e f r o n t , w h ich ■ w o u ld p r a c t i c a l l y be im p o s s i b le , it sim_ j p ly p r e s s e s u pon th em , w h ile th e first ! f in g e r m o v e s to th e o t h e r en d o f th e c a r d s , a n d p u s h e s t h e m dow n. T h e f o r e g o i n g i s th e c o r r e c t m e th o d o f e x e c u t i n g th e c o n t i n u o u s f r o n t a n d b a c k h a n d p a lm .

A fte r considerable practice 't b e fo u n d t h a t a ll the m o v e m e n t s be c o m e p r a c t i c a l l y one{ a n d the w i l l a p p a r e n t l y v a n i s h f r o m th e

n g th e f a i n t e s t i d ea w h e r e , e s p e c i a l l y f the m a n i p u l a t i o n is a c c o m p l i s h e d v i t h a s w e e p i n g m otion, a s t h o u g h th e

c a r d w e r e t h r o w n in th e air. N ow to r e v e r s e the c a r d to th e f r o n t o f th e h a n d a g a i n , so a s to e n a b le the b a c k o f th e h a n d to b e s h o w n to th e au d ien ce . T o a c c o m p l i s h th is, th e f in g e r s bend f o r w a r d so t h a t th e th u m b c a n p r e s s on th e m id d le o f th e f a c e o f th e card, a n d pu ll it s h a r p l y r o u n d to th e f r o n t o f th e hand, w h e r e it is h eld b e tw e e n th e fin ge rs, a s sh ow n. Th e p r i n c i p a l d i f f i c u l t y e n c o u n t e r e d by v t u l e n t s w h en l e a r n i n g th i s s l e i g h t vc. o r e v e n t th e a u d i e n c e f r o m c a t c h -

TO

M A K E A C A R D PASS F R O M ONE H A N D IN T O T H E O T H E R T a k e tw o A c es, th e one o f S p a d e s an d th e o t h e r o f H e a r t s ; th en p u t on t h a t o f s p a d e s th e m a r k of H e a r t s ,

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D d e r w ill i n d i c a t e th e s p o t s o f th e c a r d w h ich h a s be en d r a w n : i f th e r e m a i n ­ d e r is 11, i t h a s be e n a j a c k , if 12 a q u een , b u t if n o t h i n g r e m a i n s it h a s be en a king:. T h e c o lo r o f th e k i n g m a y be k n o w n by e x a m i n i n g w h ich one a m o n g th e c a r d s is w a n t i n g . T h e t r i c k m a y t h u s be e x p la i n e d . In th e d e c k o f c a r d s t h e r e a r e 13 o f e a c h s u i t e ; th e s u m o f a l l th e s p o t s o f e a c h su i te , c a l l i n g th e j a c k 11, th e q u e e n 12, a n d the k i n g 13, is s e v e n t i m e s 13, or 91, w h i c h is a m u l t i p l e o f 12; c o n ­ s e q u e n t ly , th e q u a d r u p l e o f t h i s s u m is a m u l t i p l e o f 13 a l s o ; i f th e s p o t s th en o f a l l th e c a r d s be a d d e d to g e t h e r , a l w a y s r e j e c t i n g 13, w e m u s t a t l a s t find the r e m a i n d e r e q u a l to n o t h in g . I f a c a r d th e s p o t s o f w h ic h a r e l e s s th a n 13, h a s be e n d r a w n f r o m th e d ec k, th e d i ff e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e s e s p o t s a n d 13 A v i l l be w h a t i s w a n t i n g to c o m p l e t e t h a t n u m b e r ; i f a t the end, then, i n s t e a d o f r e c e i v i n g 12, w e re&ch o n ly 10, f o r e x a m p l e , it is e v i ­ d e n t t h a t th e c a r d w a n t i n g i s a th ree, an d if w e r e a c h 13, i t i s a l s o e v i d e n t t h a t th e c a r d w a n t i n g i s e q u i v a l e n t to 13, o r a k i n g . TO

C H A N G E A P A C K OF CARDS IN T O V A R IO U S P IC T U R E S T a k e a p a c k o f c a r d s a n d p a i n t th e b a c k s o f o n e - h a l f o f th e p a c k w i t h w h a t f i g u r e s y o u t h i n k fit— a s m en, b ir d s, w o m e n , flo w ers, etc. A l s o p a i n t th e f a c e s o f th e o th e r h a l f o f th e c a r d s in th e s a m e m a n n e r ; t h u s y o u w i ll h a v e a c o m p l e t e p a c k o f odd p i c t u r e s , a n d m a y , b y s h o w i n g th e f a c e s o f t h a t p a r t o f th e p a c k w h o s e b a c k s only h a v e be en p a i n t e d , a n d th e n b y a m o m ­ en tary shu ffle, a p p a r e n tly tr a n sfo rm th em into a s e t o f g r o t e s q u e fig-ures produce m uch am usem en t. E X P E R T C A R D M A N IP U L A T IO N S e v e n o r e i g h t c a r d s a r e s e le c t e d ( n o t f o r c e d ) in a b u n c h f r o m a p r e ­ viously sh u ffle d pack . The p erfo rm er c a n i n s t a n t l y n a m e th e c h o s e n c a r d s . Th e a r t i s t f i r s t s h u f f l i n g th e p a c k , a s p e c t a t o r i s th en a s k e d to n a m e a n y ca r d , w h e r e u p o n th e p e r f o r m e r s t a t e s i t s c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n in th e p a c k , a n d to jo rro b o ra te his asse rtio n , im m ed iately proceed s to c u t th e p a c k a t th e d e s i r e d ca rd. Three c a r d s a re selected by a m em ­ b e r o f th e a u d i e n c e , and, w i t h o u t l o o k ­ i n g a t s a m e , a r e p l a c e d by h i m s e l f in h i s p o c k e t. T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w c a l l s o u t th e n a m e o f a c e r t a i n c a r d , w h ich w e w ill s u p p o s e i s th e e i g h t o f d i a ­ m ond s, a n d r e q u e s t s th e s p e c t a t o r to t a k e one of th e t h r e e c a r d s f r o m h is p o c k e t , w h ic h u pon e x a m i n a t i o n , is sh o w n to be th e e i g h t o f d ia m o n d s . T h i s is r e p e a t e d w i t h th e r e m a i n i n g tw o c a r d s . T h e f o r e g o i n g a r e b u t a f e w o f the m any b rillian t and be w ild erin g tr ic k s p o s s i b l e o f p e r f o r m a n c e b y th e m e th o d 've a r e a b o u t to d e sc rib e .

17

M a n y h a v e f o r s o m e tim e p a s t be e n a c c u s t o m e d to p r e s e n t t h i s s e r i e s o f trick s a t all p rivate en gagem en ts, a n d can , w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , e m p h a t i ­ cally sta t e th a t fo r p arlo r or d ra w in g r oom w o r k t h e r e a r e no b e t t e r c a r d tric k s extant. T h e p r i n c i p a l s e c r e t o f th e w h o l e o f th e t r i c k s h e r e in e x p l a i n e d l i e s in th e n o v e l p r e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e p a c k o f c a r d s used. T h e c a r d s s h o u l d , in the f ir st p la c e , be l a i d o u t on th e t a b l e in th e o r d e r a s sh ow n . T h e s e c o n d c a r d ( th e f o u r o f s p a d e s ) s h o u l d n o w be p l a c e d on ( t h e a c e o f c l u b s ) , th en th e th i r d one ( t h e s e v e n o f h e a r t s ) , a n d so on to th e end. I t w i ll be o b s e r v e d t h a t e a c h c a r d is t h r e e h i g h e r t h a n th e one i m m e d i a t e l y b e h in d it, th e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e s u i t e s b e i n g : C lu b s, s p a d e s , h e a r t s , d i a ­ m o n d s. T h e p r e c i s e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e s u i t s is p r a c t i c a l l y i m m a t e r i a l , a n d it w ou ld , p e r h a p s , be a s w e l l f o r th e s t u ­ d e n t to a d o p t a s y s t e m o f h i s ow n. T h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e C o u r t c a r d s i s : J a c k — 11, q u e e n — 12, Jungr— 13, s o t h a t s u p p o s i n g th e b o t t o m c a r d o f th e p a c k w a s th e j a c k o f c lu b s , th e p e r f o r m e r w o u l d i n s t a n t l y k n o w t h a t th e n e x t c a r d b e g i n n i n g a t th e top o f t h e p a c k is th e a c e o f s p a d e s . T h e p e r f o r m e r sh o u ld , b y m e a n s o f h i s p o c k e t o r o t h e r w i s e , e x c h a n g e th e p a c k he h a s be e n p r e v i o u s l y using-, f o r a sim ilar pack, prepared a s ju s t d e s­ cr ib e d . F o r s t a g e or d r a w i n g - r o o m p u r p o s e s , a v e r y i n g e n i o u s li t t l e p i e c e o f a p p a r a - . t u s h a s r e c e n t l y be en d e v i s e d to e n a b l e th e a r t i s t e to i n d e t e c t a b l y c h a n g e one p a c k f o r a n o t h e r , a n d as i t w o u ld b© m o s t u s e f u l in t h i s case, w e t h i n k w e c a n n o t do b e t t e r th a n g iv e r e a d e r s a d e s c rip tio n o f it.

The principal part of this piece of

a p p a r a t u s c o n s is ts of a m e ta l ring, 6 o r 8 in c h e s in d i a m e t e r , to w h i c h is a t t a c h e d a b l a c k c lo th b a g . T o th e r i n g is s o l d e r e d a flat s t r i p o f m e ta l, h a v i n g r i v e t e d to it a s p r i n g clip. B y m e a n s o f a s h a r p p o i n t p r o t r u d i n g f r o m th e r e a r , th e a p p a r a t u s c a n be e a s i l y a n d q u i c k l y a t t a c h e d to th e b a c k o f a c h a i r

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D b y p u s h in g th e p o in t in to th e w o o d ­ w o rk . I n th e c lip is in s e rte d a p a ck o f ca rd s a rra n g e d in th e o rd e r I have e x ­ p la in e d , w h ic h th e p e rfo rm e r m u s t su b ­ s t it u t e f o r an o rd in a ry p a c k by m eans o f th e f o llo w in g ruse : W ith th e p a ck in the r ig h t hand, he ta k e s h o ld o f th e c h a ir in such a m a n ­ n e r th a t th e th u m b o n ly is v is ib le to th e audience, th e p a c k and th e fin g e rs b e in g hid d e n b y th e b a c k o f th e c h a ir. T h e l e f t h an d n o w t a k e s hold o f th e s e a t o f th e c h a ir , w h ic h i s s e t on one si d e , a s i f it w e r e in th e w a y . D u r i n g t h i s o p e r a t i o n th e p a c k o f c a r d s is d r o p p e d f r o m th e r i g h t h a n d i n to th e b a g , a n d th e d u p l i c a t e p a c k r e m o v e d f r o m th e clip. I f t h i s is d o n e n e a t l y a n d w i t h o u t u n d u e h a s t e , th e a u d i e n c e w ill never su sp e ct th at a ch an ge h as b e e n a c c o m p l i sh e d . A m ore sim ple chan ge, b u t w hich w i l } a n s w e r th e p u r p o s e q u i t e a s w ell, especially fo r an im prom ptu p e r fo rm ­ a n c e, is to s i m p l y p l a c e th e p a c k w h ic h y o u h a v e be en u s i n g in y o u r c o a t p o c k ­ et, a n d a n i n s t a n t l a t e r t a k e o u t f r o m t h e s a m e p o c k e t th e p r e p a r e d p a c k . T h e p e r f o r m e r n e x t p r o c e e d s to m a k e w h a t is k n o w n a s a f a l s e s h u f f l e w i th th e p r e p a r e d p a c k . A s t h i s i s a m o s t u s e f u l a d j u n c t to m a n y b e a u t i f u l e x ­ p e r i m e n t s w i th c a r d s , w e w i l l d e s c r i b e tw o o f th e m e t h o d s e m p lo y e d in i ts e xe cu tion . F i r s t M eth od T h is is one o f th e v e r y m a n y d e c e p ­ t i v e s l e i g h t s o r i g i n a t e d by th e c e l e ­ b r a t e d P r o f e s s o r C h a r li e r , a n d is u n ­ d o u b t e d l y th e b e s t f a l s e s h u f f l e in e x ­ iste n c e , b u t o w i n g to t h e g r e a t a m o u n t o f practice required fo r its su cc essfu l a c c o m p li s h m e n t , i t is r a r e l y m a d e u s e ©f e x c e p t b y p r o f e s s i o n a l s , b u t i f t h o r o u g h l y m a s t e r e d th e p e r f o r m e r c a n deceive experts. T h e p a c k i s h eld in th e l e f t hand, a n d th r ee or f o u r o f th e to p c a r d s a r e p a s s e d into th e r i g h t . N o w p a s s th e r e ­ m a i n i n g c a r d s in s m a l l p a r c e l s a l t e r ­ n a t e l y a b o v e a n d b e lo w t h e s e b u t the c a r d s t h a t a r e p a s s e d b e lo w a r e t a k e n f r o m th e top o f th e le f t - h a n d p a c k e t , a n d th e c a r d s t h a t a r e p la c e d a b o v e a r e p a s s e d f r o m th e b o t t o m o f th e le f th a n d p a c k e t , t h i s b e i n g e x a c t l y th e r e ­ v e r s e o f th e o r d i n a r y m o v e m e n t. T o p a s s th e c a r d s f r o m th e to p o f th e l e f t - h a n d p a c k e t to th e b o t t o m o f th e r i g h t - h a n d p a c k e t is f a i r l y ea s y , th e y b e i n g p u s h e d f o r w a r d w i th th e l e f t th u m b , b u t it i s the r e v e r s e m o v e ­ m ent th a t is difficult. W e recom m end th is s ty le o f fa lse s h u ffle to th e lo v e r o f d eceptive s le ig h ts , b u t f o r those w h o do n o t c a r e to devote s u ffic ie n t tim e f o r its indete c ta b le e x e c u tio n we h e re w ith d e s ­ c rib e a v e ry easy, b u t a t th e same tim e e ffe c tiv e fa ls e s h u ffle o rig in a te d by ttte a u th o r.

S e co n d M eth od T he p a c k Is h e ld in b o th hands, a s s h o w n . T h e l o w e r h a l f o f th e p a c k is n o w r e m o v e d w i th th e r i g h t han d, b u t In d o i n g s o a f e w o f th e h i n d e r m o s t c a r d s o f th e p a c k in th e le f t h an d a r e left sligh tly p rotrud ing a s in th e illu stration. T h e p a r c e l In th e r i g h t hand is now r e p l a c e d on th e f r o n t o f th e p a c k . I f t h i s i s r e p e a t e d w i t h r a p i d i t y , the e f­ f e c t to th e a u d i e n c e w i l l b e t h a t the c a r d s are th o ro u gh ly m ixed, w h e r e a s in r e a l i t y t h e y a r e o n ly cut.

TO

L E T T W E N T Y PERSONS D R A W T W E N T Y CARDS A N D M A K E E A C H D R A W T H E SA M E L e t any person d ra w a card and put it b a c k into th e d e c k a g a i n , b u t w h e r e y o u k n o w w h e r e to find i t; s h u f f l e th e c a r d s a s b e fo r e d i r e c t e d ; th en le t a n o t h e r p e r s o n d r a w a c ard , a n d be s u r e he t a k e s th e s a m e th e o th e r d id ; p r o c e e d in th e s a m e w a y w i t h a l l the p e r s o n s b u t th e one w h o m a y be l a s t w h o is to d r a w a n o t h e r c a r d , w h ic h a l s o r e t u r n to th e p a c k , a n d s h u f f l e , t ill y o u h a v e b r o u g h t b o th th e c a r d s t o g e t h e r . T he n s h o w in g th e la s t ca rd to th e com pany, th e o th e r w i l l sh o w th e tr ic k .

i2 5 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR S L E IG H T TO

M A K E A C A R D J U M P OUT OF T H E P A C K A N D R U N ON TH E TABLE T h i s f e a t , i f w e ll m a n a g e d , w ill a p ­ p e a r m arvelou s. H a v in g forced a card u p o n one o f th e c o m p a n y , a fte r s h u f ­ flin g it up w i t h th e r e s t o f th e p a c k , y o u w ill k n o w th e c a r d by f e e li n g . Y o u th en t a k e a p i e c e o f w a x a n d p u t it u n d e r th e t h u m b n a i l o f y o u r r i g h t h and , a n d by t h i s w a x you f a s t e n a n end o f a h a i r to y o u r th u m b , an d the o th e r to the c h o s e n c a r d ; s p r e a d th e 3a r d s upon the ta b le, a n d m a k e u s e o f afome m a g i c w o r d s, w hen, by d r a w ­ ing*' a b o u t y o u r r i g h t hand, th e c h o s e n ^ ,r d is c o n d u c fe d r o u n d th e ta b le. r O T E L L A L L T H E CAR DS W IT H O U T

S E E IN G T H E M T h i s tr ick , w h ich is f o u n d e d on th e s c i e n c e o f n u m b e r s , e n a b l e s y o u to te l l e v e r y c a r d a f t e r th e y h a v e be en c u t a s often a s your au d ience p leases, a l ­ t h o u g h y o u only s e e th e b a c k s o f th em . I t is t h u s p e r f o r m e d : A p a c k o f c a r d s a r e d i s t r i b u t e d f a c e u p p e r m o s t on th e ta b le , a n d you p i c k th e m up in th e f o l l o w i n g m a n n e r — 6, 4, 1, 7, 5, k i n g , 8, 10, 3, j a c k , 9, 2, qu een . Go t h r o u g h t h i s s e r i e s u n ti l y o u h a v e p i c k e d up th e w h o le o f th e p a c k . I t is not n e c e s ­ s a r y t h a t y o u s h o u ld t a k e up th e w h ole o f one s u i t b e f o r e c o m m e n c i n g a n o t h e r. In o r d e r t h a t th e a b o v e o r d e r m a y n o t be f o r g o t t e n , th e f o l l o w i n g w o r d s s h o u ld be c o m m i t t e d to m e m o r y : 6 4 1 T h e s i x t y - f o u r t h r e g i m e n t b e a t s th e 7 5 king s e v e n t y - f i f t h ; up s t a r t s th e kin°r, w i t h 8 10 3 jack e i g h t t h o u s a n d a n d th r e e m en a n d 9 2 queen n i n e t y - t w o w om en. T h e c a r d s b e i n g t h u s a r r a n g e d , th e c a r d s m u s t be h a n d e d to th e c o m p a n y to c u t ; th e y m a y c u t th e c a r d s a s o f t e n a s th e y li ke, b u t it m u s t be u n d e r s t o o d t h a t th ey do it in b r i d g e f a s h i o n — t h a t is, by t a k i n g off a p o r ti o n o f th e c a r d s , a n d p l a c i n g the l o w e r d i v i s i o n on w h a t w a s f o r m e r l y the u p p e r one. Y ou then t a k e th e p a c k in y o u r h and , a n d w i t h ­ o u t l e t t i n g y o u r a u d i e n c e p e r c e iv e , c a s t a g l a n c e a t the b o t t o m c a r d . H a v i n g d on e t h i s — w h ich y o u m a y do w i t h o u t a n y a p p a r e n t e f f o r t — y o u h a v e th e k ey o f th e w h o le tr ick . Y o u th en d e a l o u t th e c a r d s in th e o r d i n a r y w a y in 13 d i ff e r e n t s e t s , p u t t i n g f o u r c a r d s to e a c h s e t — in o th e r w o r d s, y o u d e a l o u t th e fir st c a r d s s i n g l y a n d s e p a r a t e l y , a n d th en p l a c e the f o u r t e e n t h c a r d a b o v e th e f ir s t se t, the n e x t u pon th e se c o n d se t, a n d so on t h r o u g h o u t , u n ti l y o u h a v e e x h a u s t e d th e w h o le p a c k . Y ou m a y be (certain now t h a t eac h one o f t h e s e t h i r t e e n s e t s w i l l c o n t a i n f o u r c a r d s o f th e s a m e d e n o m i n a t i o n — th u s, th e f o u r e i g h t s w i l l be to g e t h e r , a n d s o w i t h th e f o u r q u e e n s, a n d e v e r y

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o t h e r d e n o m i n a ti o n . T h e t h i r t e e n t h or l a s t s e t w ill be o f th e s a m e d e n o m i n ­ a t i o n a s th e c a r d at' th e b o ttom , w h ich y o u c o n t r iv e d to se e, a n d a s th ey w ill be p l a c e d in e x a c t l y the r e v e r s e o r d e r o f t h a t in w h ich y o u f ir st o f a l l p i c k e d th e m up, y o u m a y w i t h o u t d iff ic u lty calc u la te of w h at denom in ation each of th e s e t s c o n s i s t s . F o r e x a m p le , s u p ­ p o s e a n e i g h t w a s th e b o t t o m c a rd , you w o u l d find a f t e r a l i t t l e c a l c u l a t i o n , t h a t a f t e r b e i n g d e a l t o u t in the m a n ­ n e r a b o v e d e s c r i b e d , th e y w ou ld be p l a c e d in the f o l l o w i n g o r d e r : K i n g , 5, 7, 1, 4, 6, Q ueen, 2, 9, j a c k , 3, 10, 8; a n d r e p e a t i n g in y o u r ow n ipind th e w o r d s w h ich y o u h a v e c o m m i t t e d to m e m o r y , a n d r e c k o n i n g th e c a r d s b a c k ­ w a r d , y ou w o u ld s a y — 8 10 3 ja c k E i g h t t h o u s a n d a n d th r e e m en a n d 9 2 6 4 ninety-tw o w om en; s ix ty -fo u rth regi1 7 5 m e n t b e a t s th e s e v e n t y - f i f t h ; u p s t a r t s king th e k i n g w ith , etc. TO IN S T A N T L Y N A M E A N Y CA> CHOSEN T h e p a c k is s p r e a d ou t f a n w i s e to & s p e c t a t o r w i t h a r e q u e s t f o r h im t o

s e l e c t a c a r d . W h e n t h i s i s d o n e th e c a r d s a t th e p o i n t w h e r e th e ch o s en c a r d w a s rem o v ed , t h e r e b y b r i n g i n g th e c a r d t h a t w a s n e x t a b o v e th e s e l-

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D e c te d o n e to th e bc/ttom o f th e p a c k , and th e a rtis te has s im p ly to c a t c h a g lim p s e o f th e b o tto m c ard , w h ich te l ls h im th e nam e o f th e c h o s e n one. F o r in sta n ce, s u p p o s e the b o tto m c a r d w a s th e s ix o f s p a d e s , the p e r f o r m e r k n o w s t h a t th e s e le c t e d c a r d m u s t be th e nine o f h e a r t s , b e c a u s e h e a r t s f o ll o w s p a d e s and, th e r e f o r e , th e n e x t c a r d ( th e one d r a w n ) i& a h e a r t, an d it w i ll be r e ­ m e m b e r e d in th e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e p a c k t h a t e a c h c a r d is t h r e e h i g h e r t h a n the p r e c e d i n g one. T h e r e f o r e , if the b o tto m c a r d is th e s i x o f s p a d e s , th e s e le c t e d c a r d w i ll be t h e n ine o f hearts.

a r e f o llo w e d j u s t a s s t a t e d be low , th e s t u d e n t w i ll so o n c o m p r e h e n d th e idea. To b e g i n w ith , th e c a r d is n a m e d by the a u d ie n c e , th e p e r f o r m e r s o h o ld in g th e p a c k a s to se e a t a g la n c e , a n d no te th e l a s t f o u r c a r d s , a s se en. T h e s e la st four ca r d s are : Ten of hearts, k ing o f d i a m o n d s , th r e e o f c lu b s, a n d s i x o f spades.

’’O T E L L T H E N A M E S O F A N Y N U M ­ B E R OF CARD S CHOSEN A s p e c t a t o r is a s k e d to t a k e o u t a * e w c a r d s in a b u n c h — e i g h t or nine, or in f a c t a s m a n y a s he li k e s . T h e c u t is now m ad e, a n d th e b o tto m c a r d noted, a n d th e p e r f o r m e r is a b l e to i n s t a n t l y n a m e th e c h o s e n c a r d s . W h en t h i s h a s be en done, if th e c a r d s a r e r e ­ p l a c e d on the b o tto m o f th e p a « k one by one in th e o r d e r ch o s en , th e p a c k S a y th e c a r d n a m e d is th e t h r e e o f w ill s t i l l be in th e c o r r e c t co n d itio n s p a d e s . Now , a c c o r d i n g to t a b l e No. 1, I’or f a r t h e r tr i c k s . y o u s u b t r a c t th e g i v e n c a r d ( t h r e e o f W h en n a m i n g th e c a r d s s e l e c te d , so s p a d e s f r o m th e f ir st c a r d o f th e s u i t a s n o t to g i v e a n y a s t u t e m e m b e r o f ( s i x o f s p a d e s ) , w h ich l e a v e s th ree. the a u d i e n c e a c h a n c e to o b s e r v e t h a t N ext m u ltip ly by fo u r— tw elve; th ere­ eac h c a r d is t h r e e s p o t s h i g h e r th a n fo re, the th r ee o f s p a d e s is th e t w e l f t h th e p r e c e d i n g one, it i s a d v i s a b l e not c a r d f r o m th e top. N o w c u t the c a r d s to c a ll th en o u t in t h e i r e x a c t or der. a s n e a r a s p o s s i b l e to w h a t you th in k S u p p o s i n g th e c a r d s se l e c t e d w e r e is tw e lv e . S h o u ld y o u c u t a t th e e l e v ­ th e j a c k o f s p a d e s , a c e o f h e a r t s , f o u r e n t h c a r d — w h ich w o u ld be the k i n g of o f d ia m o n d s , s e v e n o f c lu b s, ten o f c l u b s — y o u i m m e d i a t e l y k n o w the c a r d spades, k in g of hearts, three of d ia ­ f o l l o w i n g a clu b is a sp a d e , an d if you monds, a n d s i x o f clu b s, th e p e r f o r m e r c u t a t the k i n g o f c lu b s, th e n e x t c a r d •ould n a m e t h e m in th e f o l l o w i n g m a n ­ i s th r e e s p o t s h i g h e r — th e th r e e o f ner, th e r e b y e l i m i n a t i n g a ll s u s p i c i o n s p a d e s — s o y o u open a t th e n e x t card. of prearrangem en t: Or, s h o u l d y o u c u t the p a c k a t th e t h i r ­ J a c k o f s p a d e s , a c e o f h e a r t s , th en t e e n t h c a r d , w h i c h in t h i s c a s e w ou ld p a s s the f o u r o f d i a m o n d s a n d c a l l th e be th e s i x o f h e a r t s , y o u k n o w a h e a r t s e v e n o f c lu b s, th en c a l l th e f o u r of i s p r e c e d e d b y a sp a d e , xa n d if you h a v e d i a m o n d s . B u t in p l a c i n g th e f o u r o f t h e s i x o f h e a r t s , th e c a r d b e f o r e it is d i a m o n d s on the b o t t o m o f th e p a c k , ■he th r e e o f s p a d e s . be s u r e to g e t it u n d e r th e s e v e n o f c l u b s s o a s n o t to u p s e t th e o r d e r o f T a b le No. 1 a r r a n g e m e n t . T h e p e r f o r m e r w i l l n ow T h e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e s h o u ld be th h a v e th e s e v e n o f c l u b s on th e b o ttom , o u g h l y le a r n e d a n d m em oriz ed . s o w i l l i n s t a n t l y k n o w t h a t th e ten W e w i ll s u p p o s e the p e r f o r m e r h a s o f s p a d e s is th e n e x t c a r d to be call ed . effectex* th e c h a n g e o f p a c k s , a n d is In p e r f o r m i n g t h i s t r i c k g e n e r a l l y r e a d y to find a n y g i v e n c a r d in th e a&k t h r e e o r f o u r m e m b e r s o f th e a u d i ­ p a c k , t h e r e f o r e he p r o c e e d s a s f o l l o w s : ence to s e l e c t a n u m b e r o f c a r d s — all S u b t r a c t th e g i v e n c a r d f r o m in b u n c h e s — f r o m th e to p o f th e p o r ­ fir st c a r d o f s u i t f r o m th e b o tto m tio n o f c a r d s held in th e le f t hand. o f p ack . N o w m u l t i p l y it by four, I t is w ell to a s k th o se w h o h a v e a n d d e d u c t th e n u m b e r o f c a r d s se le c t e d c a r d s to m i x th e m b e f o r e f o l l o w i n g th e fir st c a r d o f su it. s t a r t i n g to c a ll o u t t h e i r n a m e s , a s . W e w ill r e f e r a g a i n to i l l u s t r a t i o n * t h i s d i s a r r a n g e s th e o r d e r o f the c a r d s S a y the g i v e n c a r d i s th e five o f th ey hold. o t h e r w i s e th e y m i g h t n ote h e a r t s , s u b t r a c t five f r o m th e f ir st c a r d .h e c a r d s in th e i r p o s s e s s i o n w e r e c a l l ­ o f su it, w h ich is th e ten o f h e a r t s , five. ed in th e o r d e r th ey held tfcem. N o w m u l t i p l y by f o u r — tw e n ty , l e s s th e n u m b e r o f c a r d s b e f o r e th e fir st x’O T E L L T H E E X A C T P O S ITIO N IN c a r d o f s u i t e f r o m th e b o tto m , w h ic h T H E P A C K OF A N Y C A R D N A M ­ is th ree, w h ich , d e d u c t e d f r o m t w e n t y E D B Y T H E A U D IE N C E l e a v e s se v e n te e n . T h e r e f o r e , th e five The fo llo w in g e x p la n a tio n w i l l re o f h e a r t s i s th e s e v e n t e e n t h c a r d f r o m u ire a l i t t l e stu d y , b u t i f th e ru le s th e top.

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RO S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D T a b le No. 2 I f t h e c a rd nam ed is h ig h e r th a n th e f ir s t c a rd o f s u it fro m th e b o t­ to m , s u b tra c t th e g iv e n c a rd fr o m th irte e n . N o w a d d th e n u m b e r o f f i r s t c a r d o f su i t , t h e n m u l t i p l y b y f o u r , l e s s th e n u m b e r o f c a r d s f o l l o w i n g t h e first c ard o f suit, and you w ill h a v e th e e x a c t n u m b e r o f th e g i v e n c a r d fr o m th e to p o f t h e p a c k . In th e illu str a tio n th e l a s t f o u r c a r d s a r e t h e te n o f h e a r t s , k i n g o f d i a ­ m o n d s,, t h r e e o f c l u b s , a n d s i x o f spades. W e w i l l s a y t h e five o f c l u b s i s nam ed, the three o f clu b s b e in g the f ir s t c a r d o f su i t . A s i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o s u b t r a c t five fro m three, y ou dedu ct it fro m th irteen ( a s e x p l a i n e d in t a b l e N o. 2 ), w h i c h l e a v e s e i g h t. N o w a d d t h e n u m b e r o f f ir s t c a r d o f s u i t , w h i c h i s t h r e e — e l e v ­ en; m u ltiply by fo u r— fo rty -fo u r, le ss the nu m b e r o f c a r d s fo llo w in g the first card o f s u it (w hich is o n e )— fo r ty th r e e . Y o u w i l l u p o n e x a m i n a t i o n n o w find t h a t th e f o r t y - t h i r d c a r d i s th e five o f c lu b s . W i th a l i t t l e c a r e f u l p r a c t i c e t h e stu d e n t w ill soon becom e f a m ilia r w ith th e a r r a n g e m e n t , a n d t h a t w h i c h n o w ap p e a rs so m e w h at difficu lt w ill be­ com e very sim p le an d easy. W e c a n , w i t h i n th e s p a c e o f t h r e e seconds, c u t the p a c k to a n y g iv e n

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TO T E L l A CARD THO UG HT OP AN D ^ N A M E IT S P O S IT IO N IN J T H E DECK Y o u t a k e the deck, an d p r e se n t to on e o f t h e a u d i e n c e , d e s i r i n g h im t o s h u f f l e t h e c a r d s w e ll, a n d a l s o i f vie c h o o s e s , t o g i v e t h e m to a n o t h e r p e r s o n t o s h u f f l e t h e s e c o n d ti m e . Y o u i h e n c a u s e t h e p a c k t o be c u t b y s e v ­ e ra l persons, a f t e r w hich you se lect one out of the co m p an y w hom you r e ­ q u e s t to t a k e th e p a c k , t h i n k o f a c a r d , a n d f ix in h i s m e m o r y , n o t o n ly th e c a r d he h a s t h o u g h t of, b u t a l s o i t s p o s i t i o n i n t h e d e c k , b y c o u n t i n g 1, 2, 3, 4, a n d s o on f r o m th e b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k , a s f a r a s , a n d i n c lu d i n g , th e c a r d t h o u g h t of. Y o u m a y o f fe r to g o into a n o th e r room w hile th is is b e in g d on e, o r r e m a i n w i t h y o u r e y e s b a n d ­ a g e d , a s s u r i n g th e c o m p a n y th a t , i f t h e y d e s i r e it, y o u w i l l a n n o u n c e b e ­ f o r e h a n d t h e n u m b e r a t w h i c h th e c a r d t h o u g h t o f w i l l b e f o u n d . N ow , s u p p o s ­ i n g th e p e r s o n s e l e c t i n g t h e c a r d s t o p s a t No. 13 f r o m t h e b o tto m , a n d t h a t t h i s 13th c a r d i s th e Q u e e n o f H e a r t s , a n d s u p p o s in g a ls o th a t the nu m ber y ou h a v e p u t d o w n b e f o r e h a n d i s 24, y o u w i l l r e t u r n t o th e r o o m o r r e m o v e y o u r h a n d k e r c h i e f , a s th e c a s e m a y be, a n d w it h o u t p u t t in g a n y q u e s t i o n t o th e p e rso n w h o has th o u g h t o f a ca rd , yo u ■»sk f o r th e p a c k , and re s t y o u r n o a «

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u pon it , as i f y o u w o u ld And o u t th e s e c r e t b y s m e l l i n g . T hen, p u t tin g y o u r h a n d s b e h in d y o u r b a c k o r u n d e r th e t a b l e so th a t th e y ca n n o t be seen, you ta k e aw ay fr o m th e b o t­ to m o f th e p a c k 28 ca rd s— th a t is one fe w e r th a n th e n u m b e r y o u m a rke d d o w n b e f o r e h a n d — a n d p l a c e th e m on t h e top, t a k i n g g r e a t c a r e n o t to p u t one m o r e o r l e s s , a s I n a c c u r a c y in t h i s r e s p e c t w o u l d c e r t a i n l y c a u s e th e t r i c k t o f a i l . Y o u t h e n r e t u r n th e p a c k to th e person w ho th o u g h t o f a card, r e ­ q u e s t i n g h im t o c o u n t th e c a r d s f r o m t h e to p , b e g i n n i n g f r o m t h e n u m b e r o f t h e c a r d he t h o u g h t of. T h u s i f t h a t c a r d w e r e th e t h i r t e e n t h , h e w i l l c o m ­ m e n c e c o u n t i n g f o u r t e e n , a n d s o on. W h e n he h a s c a l l e d t w e n t y - t h r e e s to p him te llin g him th a t the n u m b e r y ou m a r k e d d o w n w a s t w e n t y - f o u r ; an d t h a t the tw e n ty -fo u rt h card, w hich he is a b o u t to tak e u p Is th e Queen o f H e a r t s ; w hich he w ilt find t o b e c o r r e c t . B e su r e an d h av e the n u m b e r you n a m e g r e a t e r th a n t h a t o f the first p o s i t i o n o f th e c a r d in t h e p a c k ; f o r in stan ce, tw e n ty -fo u r is g r e a t e r th an thirteen . ON T H E SPOT S e c r e t l y n o t e th e b o t t o m c a r d o f the d e c k . F a n th e d e c k o u t a s in F i g . 2 a n d a llo w anyone to choose a . ca r d and co n ceal it s iden tity fro m you. Then c u t t h e c a r d s i n t o t w o p i le s , p l a c i n g th e c a r d t h e y s e l e c t o n t h e t o p p ile . T h e p i l e w i t h y o u r s e c r e t c a r d on b o t t o m

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s h o u ld th e n be p la ce d o n th e B y g o in g th ro u g h th e de ck, r e a d ily p ic k o u t th e se le cte d Is th e one im m e d ia te ly b e lo w c r e t card.

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T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D

TO C H A N G E T H E CARDS B Y W O R D OF COM MAND Y o u m u s t h a v e tw o c a r d s o f th e s a m e s o r t in the p a c k , f o r e x a m p l e a d u p l i c a t e King: of S p a d e s . P l a c e one n e x t to th e b o tto m ca r d , a n d one a t the top. S h u f f l e the c a r d s w i t h o u t d i s ­ p l a c i n g th o se th ree, a n d sh o w a p e r s o n t h a t th e b o tto m c a r d is the S e v e n of H e a r t s . T h i s c a r d y ou d e x t e r o u s l y s lip a s i d e w i th y o u r finge r, w h ich you h a v e p r e v i o u s l y w etted , a n d t a k i n g the k i n g o f S p a d e s f ro m the b o ttom , w h ich the p e r s o n s u p p o s e s to be the S e v e n o f H e a r t s , la y it on the tab le, t e l l i n g him to c o v e r it w i th his hand. S h u f f l e th e c a r d s w i th o u t d i s p l a c i n g the fir st a n d l a s t c a rd , a n d s h i f t i n g the o th e r K i n g o f S p a d e s f r o m th e to p to the b o tto m s h o w it to a n o t h e r p e r so n . Y ou th en d r a w t h a t p r i v a t e l y a w a y , an d t a k i n g th e b o tto m c a r d w h ich w ill th en be the S e v e n o f H e a r t s , you la y t h a t on the ta o le , an d te ll the se co n d p e r s o n (w h o b e l i e v e s it to be th e K i n g o f S p a d e s ) t j c o v e r it w i th h is hand. Yo\I then c o m m a n d the c a r d s to c h a n g e p lac e s, nd w hen the tw o p a r t i e s t a k e off th eir viands a n d tu r n up th e i r c a r d s , th ey w i ll see, to th e ir g r e a t a s t o .’ s h m en t, t h a t y o u r c o m m a n d s a r e obe.-ed “ T W IN -C A R D ” T R IC K A n o th e r t r i c k p e r f o r m e d by m e a n s of “ t w in ," o r d u p l i c a t e c a r d s , a s in the p r e v i o u s ca s e , is to s h o w the s a m e c a r d a p p a r e n t l y on the b o tto m a n d a t the to p o f th e p a c k . One o f th e s e d u p l i c a t e c a r d s m a y be easily, o b ta in ed . In fa ct, th e p a t t e r n c a r d w h ich a c c o m p a n i e s •every d e c k m a y be m a d e a v a i l a b l e for t h a t p u rp o se . L e t u s su p p o s e , then, for a m o m e n t t h a t y ou h a v e a d u p li c a t e o f the Q ueen o f C lub s. Y o u p la c e bo th o f th em a t the b o tto m o f the deck, a n d m a k e b e lie v e to s h u f f l e th em , t a k i n g ca r e, h o w ev e r, t h a t t h e s e tw o k e e p t h e i r p lac e s. T h e n la y th e p a c k upon th e tab le , d r a w ou t the b o t t o m card, s h o w it, a n d p la c e it on th e top. Yo u th en c o m m a n d th e top c a r d to p a s s to th e bottom , a n d on the p a c k b e i n g tu r n e d up th e q o m p a n y w i ll s e e w ith s u r p r i s e t h a t the c a r d w h ich th e y had j u s t se e n p la c e d u pon th e to p i s now a t th e bottom . T E N CARDS B E IN G A R R A N G E D IN A C IR C L E TO T E L L T H A T W H IC H A N Y O N E T H O U G H T OF P l a c e th e fir st ten c a r d s o f a n y s u i t e in a c i r c u l a r f orm , a s i l l u s t r a t e d , the A c e b e i n g c o u n t e d a s one. R e q u e s t a p e r s o n to th in k o f a n u m b e r or a ca r d , a n d to tou ch a l s o a n y o th e r n u m b e r o r c a r d ; d e s i r e him to a d d to th e n u m . "ber o f the c a r d he to u ch e d th e n u m b e r •of the c a r d s la i d o u t— t h a t is, ten ; th en bid him co u n t t h a t s u m b a c k w a r d , b e ­ g i n n i n g a t th e cn rd he tou ched, a n d r e c k o n i n g t h a t c a r d a t the n u m b e r he

t h o u g h * o f ; w h en he w ill t h u s en d it a s the c a r d or n u m b e r he fir st t h o u g h t of, a n d th e r e b y e n a b l e y o u to a s c e r ­ ta i n w h a t t h a t w a s . F o r e x a m p l e , s u p ­ p o s e he t h o u g h t o f th e n u m b e r three, a n d to u ch e d th e s i x t h c ard , if ten be a d d e d to s i x it w i ll o f c o u r s e m a k e s i x t e e n ; a n d if he co u n t e d t h a t n u m b e r f r o m th e s i x t h c a r d , th e one tou ch e d , in a r e t r o g r a d e order, r e c k o n i n g th r e e on the si x t h , f o u r on the fifth, five on th e f o u r th , s i x on the th ir d c a r d s , a n d so on, it w i l l be f o u n d to t e r m i n a t e on th e th ir d c a rd , w h ic h w ill t h e r e f o r e s h o w y o u th e n u m b e r th e p e r s o n t h o u g h t of. W h en th e p e r s o n is c o u n t ­ i n g th e n u m b e r s , he s h o u l d not, of c o u r se , c a ll th em o u t alo u d . T R IC K Y CARDS H o ld the d e c k a s s h o w n b e lo w , p r e ­

v i o u s l y n o t i n g th e b o t t o m ca r d . S l i r th e c a r d s b a c k w a r d u n ti l s o m e o n e t e l l r y o u to sto p . S lip th e to p c a r d s f r o m th e r-.-st o f th e d ec k, a l s o s li p oiit th e b o t ­ to m c a r d w i th y o u r th u m b , a n d w i t h ­ o u t l o o k i n g , n a m e it a s th e c a r d a t w h ic h y o u w e r e to ld to st o p. TO PR O D U C E A C A R D F R O M A N U T OR C H E R R Y STONE B u r n a hole t h r o u g h th e s h e ll o f a n u t or c h e r r y s t o n e a n d a l s o t h r o u g h th e k e r n e l, w i th a hot iron, or bo re it w i t h a n a w l, a n d w i t h a n ee d le p i c k ou t th e k er n e l, s o t h a t th e hole in it m a y be a s w i d e a s th e h ole o f the s h e ll ; then w r it e th e n a m e o f a c a r d on a p iec e o f fine p a p e r , ro ll it u p h ar d , p u t it into th e nut o r c h e r r y sto n e, s t o p th e h ole u p w i t h s o m e b e e s w a x , a n d r u b it o v e r w i t h a l i t t le d u s t a n d it Will not be p e r c e i v e d ; th en , w h i le s o m e b y sta n d e r d ra w s a card, observe, “It is no m a t t e r w h a t c a r d y o u d r a w ; ” a n d if you u s e c a r d s w ell, you w ill offe r h im a n d he w ill r e c e iv e a s i m i l a r c a r d to t h a t you h a v e r o lle d up in th e nut. Give him th e n u t a n d a p a i r o f c r a c k ­ ers, a n d he w i ll find th e n a m e o f the c a r d he d r e w r o l le d u p in th e k e r n e l.

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D TO K N O C K A C AR D T H R O U G H TH E TABLE To k n o c k a c a rd th ro u g h a ta b le , ■ e c re tly m o is te n th e b a c k o f y o u r hand.

S t r i k e it s h a r p l y on th e d e c k . T h e n tu i c k l y s lip y o u r h a n d u n d e r th e t a b l e a n d p r o d u c e th e c a rd . TO

BURN A CARD, A N D A F T E R W A R I) F IN D I T IN A W A T C H T h i s is a t r i c k o u t o f w h ich th e p r o ­ f e s s o r s o f th e a r t o f l e g e r d e m a i n m a k e m u ch c a p i t a l . In o r d e r to c a r r y it o u t s u c c e s s f u l l y , it is n e c e s s a r y to o b s e r v e the f o l l o w i n g d i r e c t i o n s : Y o u, in th e fir st pla c e , b o r r o w f r o m th e j j p e c t a t o r s th r e e w a t c h e s , w h i c h a r e p l a c e d hi b o x e s r e s e m b l i n g d ice b o x e s , a n d th en la id u pon a t a b l e a n d c o v e r e d w i t h a n a p k i n . Y o u th e n h a n d a p a c k o f c a r d s to one o f th e c o m p a n y , a n d he s e l e c t s one a t r a n d o m , a n d it is t h e r e u p o n e n ­ t i r e ly b u r n e d , a n d th e a s h e s p u t into a box. S h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d th e b o x is open ed, a n d th e s p e c t a t o r s a r e p u z z le d to find t h a t th e a s h e s a r e n o t th er e. The three w a tc h e s a r e then b r o u g h t o u t a n d p u t on a p l a t e , a n d one o f the c o m p a n y , a t y o u r r e q u e s t , s e l e c t s one an d o p e n s i t; a n d th e s p e c t a t o r s p e r ­ ce ive t h a t a p o r t i o n o f th e b u r n e d c a r d is b e lo w th e g l a s s o f th e w a tc h , a n d t h a t in th e w a t c h - c a s e u n d e r n e a t h th e w a t c h is a m i n i a t u r e f a c s i m i l e o f th e card destroyed. A n d n o w w e tell y o u th e m o d u s o p e r a n d i by w h ich t h i s e n t e r t a i n i n g trick, is p e r f o r m e d . H a v i n g i n f o r m e d y o u r c o n f e d e r a t e — f o r it is n e c e s s a r y t h a t y o u s h o u l d h a v e one o f th e c o m ­ p a n y in y o u r co nfid en ce— o f th e s u i t e a n d d e n o m i n a t i o n o f th e c a r d ch osen , he s t r e t c h e s f o r w a r d h i s a r m a n d t a k e s one o f the w a t c h e s f r o m th e t a b le , a n d u n o b s e r v e d b y th e r e s t o f th e c o m p a n y d e p o s i t s in it w h a t is n e c e s s a r y . T h e n a p k i n w h ich c o v e r s th e w a t c h e s m u s t be s u p p o r t e d b y b o t t l e s o r a r t i c l e s o f a sim ilar shape, oth erw ise your c o n ­ f e d e r a t e w o u l d n o t be a b l e to t a k a a w a y the w a t c h w i t h o u t b e i n g seen. T h e a s h e s o f th e b u r n e d c a r d a r e m a d e to d i s a p p e a r f r o m th e b o x by h a v i n g a d o u b l e lid, s o a r r a n g e d t h a t w h e n the b o x is c lo s e d th e u p p e r lid w i ll f a l l u p o n th e a s h e s ; a n d a s it 'fils c l o s e ly to th e b o tto m , th e deceived

23

s p e c t a t o r w i ll th i n k t h a t th e a s h e s h a v e r e a l l y v a n i s h e d , a n d t h a t th e r e m n a n t s a r e in p r o c e s s o f b e i n g f o r m ­ ed a f r e s h into th e m i n i a t u r e c a r d w h i c h is d i s c o v e r e d in tho w a tc h . T H E C A R D IN T H E EGG B e fo re co m m e n cin g th is trick, you m u s t p r o v i d e y o u r s e l f w ith a h ollow s t i c k a b o u t ten in c h e s l o n g a n d th reeq u a r t e r s o f a n inch in d i a m e t e r . You m u st also have a n o th e r round stick to fit t h i s h ollow , a n d s l i d e in it e a s il y , w i th a k n o b to p r e v e n t i t s g o i n g t h r o u g h th e tu be, w h i c h m u s t be open a t bo th en ds. T h e s t i c k w h i c h fits the tu b e m u s t be o f th e f u l l l e n g t h o f the tube , e x c l u s i v e of th e knob . H a v i n g st e e p e d a c a r d in w a t e r f o r t w e n t y m i n u t e s , y o u o ee l off th e l a c e o f it, an d d o u b le it u p tw ice , s o t h a t it b e c o m e s j u s t o n e - m i a r t e r the s ' a e o f a n o r d i n a r y c a r d . T h e n roll it nr> t i g h t l y , a n d t h r u s t it up th e t u b e In i it b e c o m e s eve n w i th th e bo tto m . Yo u t h e n t h r u s t in the s t i c k liii it j u s t t o u c h e s th e card. Y o u now t a k e a. d e c k o f c a r d s , a n d r e q u e s t one o f th e c o m p a n y 1 0 ui.iv/ o n e ; b u t be s u r e to le t it be a s i m i l a r o n e to t h a t you h a v e in th e s t i c k . Y ou c a n do t h i s by f o r c i n g . A s so on a s it is r e t u r n e d to th e p a c k y o u s h i u r J e t h e c a r d s , an d w h ile y o u a r e shutili n
125 T H IC K S W IT H C A R D S T

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B L IN D F O L D K D T a k a t w e n t y - o n e ca r d s, an d la y th e m d o w n in th ree row s, w ith th e i r face s u p w a r d ; w hen you h a v e la i d o u t th ree, b e g i n a g a i n a t th e le f t han d, a n d la y one c a r d u pon the first, an d so on to th e r i g h t h a n d ; then b e g i n on the le f t h a n d a g a i n , a n d so g o on u ntil you havtj la i d ou t the tw e n t y - o n e c a r d s in th r e e h e a p s , a t the s a m e ti m e r e q u e s t ­ i n g a n y one to th in k o f a car d . W hen y o u h a v e la id th em out, a s k h im w h ich h e a p h is c a r d is in; th en l a y t h a t h ea p in the m id d le b e tw e e n th e o th e r two. T h i s done, la y th em o u t a g a i n in th r ee h e a p s a s b e fo r e, a n d a g a i n r e q u e s t him to notic e w h e r e h is noted c a r d g o e s, a n d p u t t h a t h e a p in th e m id d le a s befo re. T h e n t a k i n g up the c a r d s w i th th e i r b a c k t o w a r d you , t a k e off t h e u p p e r m o s t c a r d , a n d r e c k o n it one; t a k e off a n o t h e r , w h i c h r e c k o n tw o; a n d t h u s p r o c e e d till you co m e to the el e ven th , w h ich w i l l i n v a r i a b l y p r o v e to be th e c a r d t h o u g h t of. Y o u m u s t n e v e r l a y o u t y o u r c a r d s l e s s th a n t h r e e tim es, b u t a s o f te n a b o v e t h a t num ber a s you please. T h is tric k m ay be done w i t h o u t y o u s e e i n g th e c a r d s a t all, if y o u h a n d le a n d c o u n t th em c a r e f u l l y . T o d i v e r s i f y th e t r i c k , you m a y u se a d i ff e r e n t n u m b e r o f c a r d s b u t th e n u m b e r c h o s en m u s t b e d i v i s ­ ible by three, a n d the m id d le card, a f ­ t e r th ey h a v e been th rice d e a l t a s d i ­ recte d w ill a l w a y s be th e one t h o u g h t o f; f o r in s t a n c e , if done w i t h fifteen c a r d s , it m u s t be th e eig h t, an d s o on, w h e n the n u m b e r is even, it m u s t be th e e x a c t h a l f ; a s, if it be t w e n t y - f o u r , th e c a r d t h o u g h t o f w i ll be th e t w e l f t h , etc.

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I th r e e o t h e r s to the se con d p e r so n , <\nd th r e e o t h e r s to th e third. N e x t t a k e up th e fir st p e r s o n ’s c a r d s , a n d la y th em ^ o w n s e p a r a t e l y one by one, w i th th e i r f a c e s u p w a r d ; p l a c e the s e c o n d p e r ­ s o n 's c a r d s o v e r the first, a n d th e th ird o v e r the s e c o n d ’s, so t h a t th e r e w i ll be one c a r d in e ac h p a r c e l b e ­ l o n g i n g to ea c h p erson . Th e n a s k e a c h o f th e m in w h ich p a r ­ cel his c a r d is, f o r th e fir st p e r s o n ’s w i ll a l w a y s be th e first, th e se con d p e r s o n ’s the se con d , a n d th e th ir d p e r ­ s o n ’s in the third, in t h a t p a r c e l w h e r e e a c h s a y s h is c a r d is. A M E C H A N IC A L C A R D F O R T H E R A C K -H A N D P A L M H a v i n g re ce iv e d s o m a n y in q u i r ie s f r o m a m a t e u r p e r f o r m e r s a s to w h e th e r it w a s p o s s i b l e to o b ta i n a m e c h a n i c a l c a r d f o r p e r f o r m i n g th e c o n ti n u o u s f r o n t - a n d b a c k - h a n d p a lm , s o m e tim e a g o an e x p e r t d e v o t e d c o n s i d e r a b l e l a ­ b o r a n d tim e to d e v i s i n g a c a r d by which this otherw ise exceedin gly d if ­ ficult s l e i g h t c a n be a c c o m p li s h e d w ith e a s e ; a n d a s m a n y r e a d e r s o f t h i s bo ok m a y n o t be in cli ned to sp e n d s u f f i c i e n t t i m e to le a r n th e s l e i g h t - o f - h a n d m e t h ­ od h e r e i n b e f o r e d e sc rib e d , w e w ill e x ­ p l a i n the e a s i e r p lan .

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The illu s tr a tio n show s th e m a n n e r o f p r e p a r i n g th e c a r d ; A A a r e s l i t s c u t one on e a c h s i d e o f the c a rd , a s n e a r the e d g e a s p o s s i b l e ; B B a r e ti n y r i n g s s o l d e r e d to th e c li p s CC ( a l l pa int* ''* f i e * *

i2 5 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D a n d on t h a t o f H e a r t s th e m a r k o f s p a d e s ; w h ich y o u w i l l d o e a s ily , by s p l i t t i n g a c a r d o f e a c h co lo r, w h ich y o u a r e t o c u t o u t w i t h d e x t e r i t y , in order, t h a t th e m a r k be v e r y n e a t ; th en r u b l i g h t l y on th e b a c k o f th e s p a d e an d h e a r t t h a t y o u h a v e cut, a l i t t le s o a p or v e r y w h i t e p o m a t u m ; p u t the m a r k o f H e a r t s on the Acp o f S p a d e s , an d the m a r k o f S p a d e s on the A ce o f H e a r t s , t a k i n g c a r e to l e t th e one c o v ­ e r the o t h e r c o m p l e te l y , a n d m a k e a ll y o u r p r e p a r a tio n s before you begin your experim ents. -Then d iv id e y o u r d e c k o f c a r d s into tw o p a r c e l s , a n d u n d e r e a c h p a r c e l pu t one o f y o u r tw o A c e s t h u s p r e p a r e d ; a fte r w a rd s ta k e w ith your rig h t hand th e p a r c e l u n d e r w h i c h is the A c e o f H earts, and w ith y o u r le ft th a t w here A c e o f S p a d e s is. T h e n s h o w th e c o m p a n y t h a t th e Ace o f H e a r t s is on th e r i g h t h an d a n d the A ce o f S p a d e s on th e l e f t ; a n d w h en e v e r y b o d y is c o n v i n c e d o f i t s a y , “ L a d i e s a n d g e n t l e m e n , I c o m m a n d th e A c e o f H e a r t s , w h ich is in m y r i g h t h a n d to p a s s to m y le f t , a n d th e A c e of S p a d e s to t a k e i t s p l a c e . " I t m a y be p r o p o s e d to h a v e b o th a r m s tied to p reven t their jo in in g and co m m u n ic at­ ing. A ll th e s e c r e t c o n s i s t s o f is m a k i n g a quick m ovem ent when you g iv e your comm and. D u r in g th is m ovem ent you m u s t s l i p w i t h d e x t e r i t y y o u r li ttl e f in g e r o v e r e a c h o f th e m a r k s , in o r d e r to r u b it off, w h e r e b y th e m a r k s o f S p a d e s a n d H e a r t s t h a t weu'e s t i c k ­ in g to th e tw o c a r d s , by th e m e a n s e x p l a i n e d b e fo r e , w i ll b e d i s p l a c e d ; you th en s h o w to th e c o m p a n y t h a t th e c a r d s h a v e o b ey e d y o u r c o m m a n d , by p a s s i n g f r o m the r i g h t to th e eft, an d f r o m the l e f t to th e r i g h t w i t h o u t y o u r h an d s com m unicating. T H E C A R D H I T UPON B Y GUESS Spread p a r t of a p ack before a p e r ­ s o n in s u c h a w a y t h a t only one p i c ­ t u r e c a r d is v i s i b le , a n d a r r a n g e t h a t it s h a l l a p p e a r th e m o s t p r o m i n e n t a n d s t r i k i n g c a r d . Y o u d e s i r e h im to th i n k of one, a n d o b s e r v e if he f i x e s his e y e on the c o u r t c a r d . W h en he te l l s you he h a s d e t e r m i n e d on one, sh u ff le th e c a r d s , a n d t u r n th e m up one b y on e ; w h e n y o u co m e to th e f a c e car d , tell him ttiat i s th e one. If he d e e s n o t s e e n to fix h is e y e on th e c o u r t c a r d , y o u s h o u l d not h a z a r d th e e x p e r i m e n t b u t f r a m e a n e x c u s e f o r p e r f o r m i n g s o m e o th e r a m u s e m e n t . UPS A N D DOW NS T h i s is a v e r y s i m p l e w a y o f a s c e r ­ t a i n i n g w h a t c a r d a p e r s o n ch o o se s. W h e n y o u a r e p l a y i n g w i th th e deck, d ro p o u t th e d i a m o n d s , f r o m t h e Ace to the Ten, a n d c o n t r i v e w i t h o u t b e i n g p e r c e i v e d , to g e t a l l th e o t h e r c a r d s w i t h t h e i r h e a d s in t \ e s a m e d i r e c t i o n ; th en r e q u e s t a p e r s o n to c h o o se a c a r d ;

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do n o t f o r c e one, b u t le t him c h o o s e w h i c h e v e r h e p l e a s e s ; w h i le he h a s it in h i s h a n d a n d is l o o k i n g a t it, c a r e ­ l e s s l y t u r n th e p a c k in y o u r hand, s o t h a t th e p o s i t io n o f th e c a r d s m a y be r e v e r s e d ; t h e n bid him p u t th e c a r d he h a s c h o s e n i n to th e c e n t e r o f th e d e c k ; s h u ff l e a n d c u t th em , a n d y o u m a y to a c e r t a i n t y k n o w th e c a r d c h o s e n by i t s h e a d b e i n g u p s i d e d o w n , or in a d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n f r o m th e r e s t o f th e p a c k . T H E D IS A P P E A R A N C E OF F IV E CARDS A T ONE T IM E F ir s t M ethod In t h i s t r i c k the p e r f o r m e r t a k e s one c a r d a n d b a c k - p a l m s it. H e t h e n t a k e s a n o t h e r one b e t w e e n th e m i d d l e f in g e r a n d th u m b , a n d s l i d e s it on to th e b a c k o f the h a n d on to p o f th e f ir st o n e „ t h e f ir st a n d f o u r t h f in g e r s s l i g h t l y o p e n i n g to r e c e iv e it. T h e o t h e r t h r e e c a r d s a r e t r e a t e d in th e s a m e m anne r. T h i s s l e i g h t w ill be fo u n d s o m e w h a t d i f f i c u l t a t first, bu t, b e i n g so ef fe c tiv e i t w i ll a m p l y r e p a y th e p e r f o r m e r f o r a n y tim e he m a y sp e n d on i t s R e q u i r e ... m en t. Second M ethod In t h i s m e th o d o f p e r f o r m i n g L.ie f o re g o in g trick, a ft e r you h ave b a c k ' p a l m e d one c a r d , in th e a c t o f p l a c i n g th e s e c o n d c a r d in p o si t io n , you p a l m off w i t h y o u r l e f t h a n d f r o m th e b a c k o f th e r i g h t th e f ir s t c a r d v a n i s h e d . T h i s is, o f c o u r se , r e p e a t e d w i t h the rem ainder. Each card vanished is p a l m e d off into th e l e f t h a n d in th e a c t o f p l a c i n g th e n e x t one in p o s i t io n b e t w e e n th e f in g e r a n d th u m b o f th o r i g h t , t h u s e n a b l i n g th e p e r f o r m e r to s h o w t h a t he only h o ld s one c a r d in h i s r i g h t hand. T h e r e m a i n i n g f o u r c a n th en , i t d e s i r e d , be p r o d u c e d f r o m th e s i d e o f th e l e f t leg .

TO T E L L T H E CARD T H A T A P E R ­ SON H AS T O U C H E D W IT H H IS F IN G E R Y ou p r e v io u sly a g r e e w ith a co n fe d ­ e r a t e on c e r t a i n s i g n s b y w h i c h he if to d e n o t e th e s u i te , a n d th e p a r t i c u l a c a r d o f e a c h s u i t e ; t h u s ; I f he to u c h

-—5 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D th e fir st b u t t o n o f h i s co at, it si g n i fi e s a n A c e; if th e se cond , a K i n g , etc. T h e s e p r e l i m i n a r i e s being; s e t t le d , y o u g i v e the d e c k to a p e r s o n w h o is n e a r y o u r c o n f e d e r a t e , a n d tell h im to s e p ­ a r a t e a n y one c a r d f r o m th e r e s t w h ile y o u a r e a b s e n t , a n d d r a w h is fin ge r o n c e o v e r it. H e is then to r e t u r n y o u th e p a c k , a n d w h ile you a r e s h u f f l i n g th e c a r d s , y o u c a r e f u l l y note th e s i g ­ n a l s m a d e by y o u r c o n f e d e r a t e ; th en t u r n i n g th e c a r d s o v e r one by one, you d i r e c t l y fix on th e c a r d he touched. TO D IS C O V E R A N Y C A R D IN T H E P A C K B Y IT S W E IG H T OR S M E L L D e s i r e a n y p e r s o n in th e c o m p a n y to d r a w a c a r d f r o m the p a c k a n d w h en he h a s l o o k e d a t it, to r e t u r n it w i th i t s f a c e d o w n w a r d , th en p r e t e n d i n g to w e i g h o r s m e l l it nicely, t a k e n o tic e o f a n y p a r t i c u l a r m a r k on th e b a c k o f t h e c a r d ; w h ich h a v i n g don e, p u t it a m o n g th e r e s t o f th e c a r d s , a n d d e s i r e th e p e r s o n to s h u f f l e a s he p l e a s e s ; th en g i v i n g y o u th e p a c k , y o u p r e t e n d to w e i g h e a c h c a r d a s b e fo r e , a n d p r o . c e e d in t h i s m a n n e r ti ll y o u h a v e d i s ­ c o v e r e d th e c a r d he h ad. I f th e l o n g c a r d is u sed , y o u c a n t a k e th e p a c k , s h u f f l e th e c a r d s in a ‘c a r e l e s s , e a s y m a n n e r an d w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t th e p a c k h a n d it to th e s p e c t a t o r s . T H E F O U R ACC O M PLIC E S L e t a person d ra w fo u r c a rd s frora th e p a c k , a n d te ll him to t h i n k o f one o f th em . W h en he r e t u r n s y o u th e f o u r c a r d s , d e x t e r o u s l y p la c e t w o o f th e m u n d e r th e p a c k , a n d tw o on th e top. U n d e r th o s e a t th e b o t t o m y o u p l a c e f o u r c a r d s o f a n y so r t , a n d then , t a k ­ i n g e i g h t o r ten f r o m th e b o t t o m c a r d s , y o u s p r e a d th e m on the ta b le , a n d a s k th e p e r s o n i f the c a r d he fixed on be a m o n g th em . I f he s a y s no, y o u a r e s u r e it is one o f the tw o c a r d s on th e top. Y o u th en p a s s th o s e tw o c a r d s to th e b o ttom , an d d r a w i n g off th e l o w e s t o f them , you a s k i f t h a t be not h i s card. I f he a g a i n s a y s no, y o u t a k e t h a t c a r d up, a n d bid him d r a w h is c a r d f r o m th e b o tto m o f th e p a c k . I f the p e r s o n s a y s h is c a r d is a m o n g th o s e y o u fir st d r e w f r o m th e b o tto m , y o u m u s t d e x t e r o u s l y t a k e up th e f o u r c a r d s t h a t y o u p u t u n d e r th em , a n d p l a c i n g th o s e o n th e top, le t th e o t h e r tw o be th e b o ttom c a r d s o f th e p a c k , w h ich d r a w In th e m a n n e r b e f o r e d e sc rib e d . T H E T U R N -O V E R F E A T H a v i n g fo u n d a c a r d c h o s e n w h i c h y o u h a v e p r e v i o u s l y forc ed , or a n y c a r d t h a t h a s be en d r a w n , w h ic h y o u h a v e d i s c o v e r e d by the m e a n s b e fo r e d e sc ri b e d , in o r d e r to do th e f e a t c l e v ­ erly , co n v e y th e c a r d p r i v a t e l y to the to p o f th e d e c k ; g e t th e r e s t o f th e c a r d s even w i th e a c h oth er, m a k i n g th e e d g e o f th e to p c a r d p r o j e c t a li ttle o v e r the o t h e r s ; th en h o l d i n g th e m b e tw e e n y o u r f in g e r a n d th u m b .

a b o u t tw o f e e t f r o m th e ta b le , le t th em d ro p, a n d th e to p c a r d w h ic h , a s h a s b e en sa i d , m u s t be th e one d raw n , will f a ll fa c e u pperm ost, and a ll th e o t h e r s w i th t h e i r f a c e s t o w a r d th e ta b le . T H E P R O D U C TIO N OF CARDS ONE A T A T IM E A T T H E F IN G E R T IP S F R O M T H E B A C K -H A N D PALM T h i s i s one o f th e p r e t t i e s t effe c ts in c o n n e c tio n w i th th e B a c k - h a n d P a lm . A f t e r th e p e r f o r m e r h a s v a n i s h e d by m e a n s o f th e b a c k - h a n d p a lm , s a y five c a r d s , a n d s h o w n b o th s i d e s o f th e h a n d s to be e m p ty , he p r o c e e d s to r e ­ p r o d u c e th e c a r d s one by one a t the f in g e r tip s. T h i s is a c c o m p l i s h e d in t h e f o l l o w i n g m anner:

W h e n i t i s d e s i r e d to p r o d u c e one c a r d f r o m th e b a c k o f th e h and , th e t h u m b b e n d s r o u n d to th e m id d le o f th e n e a r e s t en d o f th e o u t s i d e c a r d a n d l i t e r a l l y p u l l s it a w a y f r o m th e r e st, th e fir st a n d f o u r t h f i n g e r s a i d i n g in i t s r e l e a s e by s l i g h t l y r e l a x i n g t h e i r p r e s s u r e . Once q u i te f r e e f r o m th e b a c k o f th e h and , th e c a r d i s p u s h e d by th e th u m b i n to th e p o s i t io n s h o w n in th e p r e v i o u s i l l u s t r a t i o n . T h i s m u s t b e d o n e v e r y s l o w l y a t f irst, bu t, o f

c o u r s e , in th e a c t u a l p e r f o r m a n c e al? th e a b o v e m o v e m e n t s m u s t b e m a d e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . I f t h i s is d o n e w i th a s l i g h t w a v e o f th e h and , it w i l l a p p e a r to th e a u d i e n c e t h a t th e p e r f o r m e r a c t u a l l y c a u g h t th e c a r d f r o m the air.

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T h e effe ct o f t h i s t r lc l: c a n be f u r ­ t h e r h e i g h t e n e d by th e p e r f o r m e r a l t e r having- c a u g h t , s a y , t h r e e c a r d s , b o w ­ i n g h is r i g h t h a n d to be a b s o l u t e l y e m p ty , b a c k a n d f r o n t , a n d th e f in g e r s s p r e a d w id e a p a r t . T h e f o l l o w i n g is th e procedure.

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c a r d s , ’ ’ m e a n w h i l e c o u n t i n e w i th the t h u m b o f the r i g h t h a n d t h o s e in th e 1- f t h and . U n d e r c o v e r o f th is m o v e ­ m e n t th e tw o h id d en c a r d s a r e a g a i n b a c k - p a l m e d in th e r i g h t h a n d a n d r e ­ p r o d u c e d a t th e w ill o f th e a r t i s t . T IIE N E R V E F E A T F o r c e a c a r d , a n d r e q u e s t th e p e r s o n w h o h a s t a k e n it to p u t it in th e p a c k , a n d s h u f f l e th e c a r d s ; th e n l o o k a t t h e m a g a i n y o u r s e l f , v e r y c lo se ly , find t h e c ard , a n d p l a c e it a t the b o t t o m ; c u t th em in tw o p a r t s ; g i v e h im th e p a r t c o n t a i n i n g h i s c a r d a t th e b o tto m , a n d d e s i r e h im to h old it b e t w e e n h i s f in g e r a n d t h u m b j u s t a t th e c o r n e r ; a f t e r t e l l i n g him to h old t h e m t i g h t , s t r i k e th e m s h a r p l y , a n d th e y w i ll f a l l to th e g r o u n d , e x c e p t th e b o t t o m one, w h i c h i s th e c a r d he h a s ch osen .

A s each card is produced a t the r ig h t h a n d f i n g e r - t i p s , i t is p l a c e d in th e l e f t h and . ( I l l u s t r a t i o n s h o w s th e e x ­ a c t p o s i t i o n s o f b o t h h a n d s .) W h en th e p e r f o r m e r h a s c a u g h t th e th i r d c a r d , in the a c t o f p l a c i n g i t in th e l e f t h a n d

he s e c r e t l y l e a v e s th e c a r d s , s t i l l b a c k , p a lm e d , b e h ind th e t h r e e c a r d s n o w in th e l e f t h and , g r i p p e d b y th e s e c o n d f in g e r. ( I l l u s t r a t i o n w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s a b a c k v ie w s h o w in g th e p o s itio n o f th e

h and and cards.) T he r ig h t h and is n o w sh o w n e m p ty, and th e p e rfo rm e r m ake s th e r e m a r k : “ No, c e rta in ly not. N o th in g b e tw e e n he fin g e rs. A ll w e have here is th re e

T H E C A R D IN A M I R R O R G et a round m irro r; fra m e size o f a c a r d . M a k e th e g l a s s in th e m iddle m o v e in tw o g r o o v e s . T h e q u i c k s i l v e r m u s t be s c r a p e d off e q u a l to th e s i z e o f a c a r d . T h e g l a s s m u s t a l s o be w i d e r t h a n th e d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n th e f r a m e by th e w i d t h o f a. c a r d . T h e n c e m e n t a pi e c e o f p a s t e b o a r d , on w h ic h i s a c a r d t h a t m u s t e x a c t l y fit th e s p a c e , o v e r th e p a r t w h e r e t h e q u i c k s i l v e r i s r u b b e d off. T h i s c a r d m u s t a t f ir s t b e p l a c e d b e h i n d th e fram e. S e c u r e th e m i r r o r a g a i n s t a p- r4ion t h r o u g h w h ich a r e to g o t w o ga, b y p u l l i n g w h ich a n a s s i s t a n t asily m o v e th e g l a s s in t h e g roc and c o n s e q u e n t l y m a k e th e c a r d a L a r o r d isa p p e a r a t pleasure. The a ss is ta n c e of a co n fed erate is n o t a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y to this- p e r ­ f o r m a n c e . A t a b l e m a y oe p i a c e d u n d e r th e m i r r o r , a n d th e string- t m a d e to p a s s t h r o u g h a le g , c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h a s m a l l t r i g g e r , c be p u s h e d by th e foot, t a k i n g o c c a s i o n t o d u s t th e g l a s s w i th y o u r h a n d k e r c h i e f , a s if it w e r e in te n d e d to m a k e t h e c a r d a p p e a r m ore conspicuous. T H E M A G IC T E A -C A D D IE S T w o c a r d s b e i n g d r a w n b y d i ff e r e n p e r s o n s , a r e p u t i n to s e p a r a t e t e a c a d d i e s a n d l o c k e d up. T h e p e r f o r m e r c h a n g e s th e c a r d s w i t h o u t to u c h in g ’ th em , or a n y c o n f e d e r a c y . T h e c a d d i e s a r e m a d e w i t h a c o p p e r flap, w h i c h h a s a hinge a t the bottom , opens a g a i n s t th e f r o n t , w h e r e i t c a t c h e s u n ­ d e r th e b o lt o f t h e lo c k , s o t h a t , w h e n th e li d i s s h u t a n d lo c k e d , t h e flap w i ll f a l l d o w n u p o n t h e b o t t o m ; th e p e r ­ f o r m e r p l a c e s t w o c a r d s t h a t he i n ­ t e n d s to be c h o s e n b e t w e e n t h e fla p a n d th e f r o n t , w h ich , b e i n g li n e d w i t h g r e e n clo th , m a y b e h a n d l e d w i t h o u t a n y su s p ic io n ; th e n he d e sire s th e fir s t p e rso n to p u t h is c a rd in to one o f the caddies, t a k in g ca re i t be th a t w h ic h

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D c o n t a i n s the c o n t r a r y c a r d to th e one t h a t he chose, a n d the s e c o n d into the o t h e r ; he th en d e s i r e s th ey w i ll lo c k .h em up, w h ich u n l o c k s th e flaps, c o v ­ e r s th e i r c a r d s , and, w h en openfed, p r e je n ts the c o n t r a r y o n e s to the v i e w of th e co m p an y . GUESSING A C AR D T H O U G H T OF S p r e a d o u t the c a r d s on th e r i g h t h a n d in su c h a m a n n e r th a t, in s h o w ­ ing- th em to th e a u d ie n c e , n o t a s i n g l e c a r d is w h o lly e x p o s e d to view , w ith the e x c e p t io n o f the K i n g o f S p a d e s , the u p p e r m o s t p a r t o f w h ich s h o u l d be c l e a r l y se e n w i t h o u t a n y o b s t r u c t i o n , e i th e r f r o m th e f in g e r s o r th e o th e r c a r d s . W h en you h a v e t h u s s p r e a d them o u t— d e s i g n e d l y in f a c t , b u t a p ­ p a r e n t l y a t r a n d o m — s h o w th em to one of the s p e c t a t o r * , r e q u e s t i n g him to th in k o f a c a rd , a n d a t th e s a m e ti m e t a k e c a r e to m o v e the h and a little , so a s to d e s c r i b e a s e g m e n t o f a circle, in o r d e r t h a t the a u d i e n c e m a y c a t c h s i g h t o f th e K i n g o f S p a d e s , w i t h o u t n o t ic i n g t h a t th e o th e r c a r d s a r e a ll p a r t i a l l y co n ceale d . T h e n s h u f f l e the c a r d s , b u t in d o i n g so you m u s t not lose s i g h t o f th e K i n g o f S p a d e s , w h ich y ou w ill th en l a y on the t a b le f a c e d o w n w a r d . Yo u m a y then te ll th e p e r ­ son w h o h a s t h o u g h t o f a c a r d t h a t the one in his m ind is on th e tab le , an d r e q u e s t him to n a m e it. Sh o u ld be n a m e the K i n g o f S p a d e s , w h ich he will be m o s t li k e l y to do, y ou w ill o f c o u r s e tu r n it up a n d s h o w it to the c o m p a n y , who, if th ey a r e n o t a c ­ q u a i n t e d w ith the tr ick , w ill be v e r y m u ch a s t o n i s h e d . If, h o w e v e r, he sh o u ld n am e s o m e o th e r c a r d — s a y the Q u een o f C l u b s — you m u s t te ll him t h a t his m e m o r y is d e f e c t iv e , a n d th a t the c a r d co uld not h a v e been th e c a r d he a t fir st t h o u g h t of. W h ile t e l l i n g him t h i s — w h ich you m u s t do a t a s g r e a t le n g t h :is you can, in o r d e r to g a i n ti m e —* s h u f f l e the c a r d s r a p i d l y , a n d a p p a r ­ e ntly w i t h o u t a n y p a r t i c u l a r p u r p o se , u ntil y o u r eye c a t c h e s the c a r d he 1’ >.s j u s t n a m e d ( th e Q u een o f C l u b s .) P u t it on the top o f the d ec k, and s t i l l a p p e a r i n g to be e n g r o s s e d w i th o th e r t h o u g h t s , g o t h r o u g h the fir st f a l s e s h u f f l e , to m a k e b e li e v e t h a t you h a v e no p a r t i c u l a r c a r d in view . W h en you Ivive done s h u f f l i n g , t a k e c a r e to le a v e ‘ he Q ueen cff C lu b s on th e to p o f the d e c k ; then t a k e th e p a c k in y o u r le f t hand, a n d th e K i n g o f S p a d e s in y o u r r igh t, a n d w h ile d e x t e r o u s l y e x c h a n g ­ ing the Q ueen o f C lu b s f o r th e K i n g of .Spades, s a y , “ W h a t m u s t I do, g e n t l e ­ men, th a t m y t r i c k sh o u l d not be a f a i l u r e ? W h a t c a r d s h o u ld I h a v e in m y r i g h t h a n d ? ’’ T h e y w i ll not f a i l * o c a ll ou t the Q u een o f C lub s, upon w h ich you w ill t u r n it up, a n d th ey w ill se e t h a t y o u h a v e be en s u c c e s s f u l . T h i s t r i c k , w h e n w e ll e x e c u te d , a l w a y s h ns a g o o d effect, w h e t h e r th e s p e c t a ­ t o r t h i n k s o f th e c a r d y o u e x te n d e d

h im to t h in k of, or, fro m a d esire to c o m p l ic a t e m a tte rs , o r some o th e r. It, h ow ev e r, re q u ire s co n sid e ra b le p re s ­ ence o f m ind, a n d th e p o w e r o f co n ­ c e a l i n g f r o m y o u r audience w h a t y o u r re a l o b je c t is. TO T E L L A C A R D B Y S M E L L IN G IT B e f o r e c o m m e n c i n g it y o u m u s t t a k e one o f th e p a r t y into y o u r co nfidence a n d g e t him Vo a s s i s t you. W h en a ll is a r r a n g e d , y o u m a y t a l k o f th e s t r o n g s e n s e o f s m e l l a n d to u ch w h ic h blin d p e o p le a r e sa ifl to p o s s e s s , a n d s t a t e t h a t y o u co uld , w h e n b l in d fo ld e d , d i s ­ t i n g u i s h th e f a c e c a r d s f r o m th e r est, a n d p r o f e s s y o u r w i l l i n g n e s s to a t ­ t e m p t it. T h e p r o c e s s is t h i s : A f t e r you h a v e s a t i s f i e d the c o m p a n y t h a t y o u r e y e s a r e t i g h t l y bound, t a k e th e d e c k in y o u r h a n d s, a n d h o ld i n g up one o f th e c a r d s in v i e w of the w h o l e c o m ­ p a n y , f e e l th e f a c e o f it w i th y o u r fin­ g e r s . I f it i s a f a c e c a r d , y o u r c o n ­ f e d e r a t e , w h o s h o u ld be s e a t e d n e a r to you , m u s t t r e a d on y o u r toe. Y ou th en p r o c l a i m t h a t it i s a f a c e c ard , a n d p r o c e e d to th e nex t. S h o u ld y o u th en tu r n u p a c o m m o n c a r d y o u r c o n ­ f e d e r a t e t a k e s no n o t ic e o f it, a n d y ou i n f o r m th e c o m p a n y a c c o r d i n g l y ; a n d s o »n , u n ti l y o u h a v e c o n v in c e d the c o m p a n y t h a t y o u r e a l l y p o s s e s s th e p o w e r to w h ic h y o u l a i d c la i m T H E P R O D U C TIO N OF CARDS A T T H E F IN G E R T IP S F R O M T H E O R D IN A R Y P A L M

T he origin al m ethod of produ cin g th e c a r d s s i n g l y a t th e f in g e r - t i p s , w ith th e b a c k o f th e h a n d t o w a r d the a u d i ­ en c e m e t w i t h a g r e a t a m o u n t o f s u c ­ ce ss. W e a r e p l e a s e d to a c q u a i n t o u r r e a d e r s w i th th e c o r r e c t m e th o d o f i ts e x e c u tio n . F r o m th e o r d i n a r y p a l m th e c a r d s a r e t r a n s f e r r e d to th e f in g e r p a l m T h e l i t t l e f in g e r n ow v e r y s l i g h t l y r e ­ l a x e s i ts p r e s s u r e on th e c a r d s , w h e n it w ill be f o u n d u pon p r a c t i c e t h a t one c a r d w ill be r e le a s e d . T h e t h u m b no w c o m e s d o w n u n d e r the en d o f th e c a r d a n d p u s h e s it up into th e p o s i t io n d e p ic te d , th e b a c k

*25 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D th e h and , of c o u r s e , f a c i n g th e a u d ie n c e . S om e a r e u s u a l l y in th e h a b it o f p e r *

fo rm in g th is sle ig h t w ith from tw en tyfive to t h i r t y o r d i n a r y c a r d s , b u t t h r e e

r r f o u r w i ll be q u i t e e n o u g h f o r th e b e g i n n e r to c o m m e n c e w ith .

T H E C A R D IIV T H E O P E R A G L A S S P r o c u r e a n o p e r a g l a s s t w o in c h e s nd a h a l f l o n g ; th e t u b e to b e m a d e oi iv o r y s o t h a t i t m a y n o t a p p e a r o p a q u e . P l a c e i t in a m a g n i f y i n g g l a s s o f su ch po w er and a t su ch a d istan ce, t h a t a c a r d t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f a n inch long 1 m a y a p p e a r l i k e a c o m m o n - s i z e d card. A t th e b o t t o m o f th e t u b e l a y a c i r c le of b l a c k p a s t e - b o a r d , to w h i c h f a s t e n a s m a l l c ard , w i t h th e p i p s or f i g u r e s on b o th s i d e s a n d in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t, b y t u r n i n g th e tu be, e i t h e r s i d e o f th e g l a s s m a y be v isib le . Y o u th e n o f fe r tw o c a r d s to tw o p e r ­ s o n s s i m i l a r to th e d o u b le c a r d in th e g l a s s . Y o u p u t th e m in th e p a c k a g a i n , o r co n v e y th e m i n to y o u r p o c k e t ; a n d a f t e r a f e w f l o u r i s h i n g m o tio n s , y o u te ll th e p e r s o n s y o u h a v e c o n v e y e d t h e i r c a r d s i n to th e g l a s s ; t h e n y o u s h o w ea c h p e r s o n h is c a r d in th e g l a s s by t u r n i n g it in th e p r o p e r p o si t io n . .TACKS A N D T H E C O N S T A B L E ;ck the f o u r j a c k s o u t o f a p a c k o f

c a r d s , a n d one o f th e k i n g s to p e r f o r m th e o f f i c e o f c o n s t a b l e . S e c r e t l y p la c e one o f th e j a c k s a t th e b o t t o m o f th e d ec k, a n d la y the o th e r t h r e e w i th the c o n s t a b l e d o w n u p o n th e tab le. A m u s e th e s p e c t a t o r s w i th a t a l e o f th r e e k n a v e s g o i n g to r ob a h o u s e ; one g o t in th e p a r l o r w in d o w , ( p u t t i n g a j a c k a t th e b o t t o m of th e d e c k , t a k ­ i n g c a r e n o t to l i f t th e d e c k so h ig h t h a t the one a l r e a d y a t th e b o t t o m can be s e e n ,) one ef fe c te d h i s e n t r a n c e a t th e f ir st- flo o r w in d o w , ( p u t t i n g a n ­ o t h e r j a c k in th e m i d d le o f th e d e c k ) , a n d th e o th e r by g e t t i n g on th e p a r a ­ p e t f r o m a n e i g h b o r i n g h o u se , c o n ­ tr i v e d to s c r a m b l e in a t th e g a r r e t w ind ow , ( p l a c i n g th e th ir d j a c k a t th e top o f th e d e c k ; ) th e c o n s t a b l e v o w e d he w ou ld c a p t u r e th em , a n d c l o s e ly f o ll o w e d th e l a s t j a c k , ( p u t t i n g th e k i n g l i k e w i s e u p o n th e to p o f th e d e c k ) . Y o u th en r e q u e s t a s m a n y of the c o m p a n y to c u t the c a r d s a s p l e a s e a n d tel l th em t h a t y o u h a v e no d o u b t th e c o n s t a b l e h a s s u c c e e d e d in h i s o b ­ je c t, w h ic h w ill be a p p a r e n t w h e n y o u s p r e a d o u t th e d e c k in y o u r h a n d s, a s th e k i n g a n d th r e e j a c k s w ill, i f th e t r i c k is n e a t l y p e r f o r m e d , be fo u n d t o g e t h e r . A v e r y l i t t l e p r a c t i c e o n ly is r e q u i r e d to e n a b l e y o u t o c o n v e y a j a c k o r a n y o th e r c a r d s e c r e t l y to th e b o t t o m o f th e p a c k . TO GUESS S T H E SPOTS ON CARDS A T T H E BO TTO M OF T H R E E P A C K E T S , W H IC H H A V E BE EN M AD E BY T H E DRAW ER T e l l a p e r s o n to c h o o s e a s he p l e a s o s th r e e c a r d s f r o m a e u c h r e d e c k , i n ­ f o r m i n g h im t h a t th e a c e c o u n t s f o r ele ven, th e f a c e c a r d s f o r ten, a n d th e o t h e r s a c c o r d i n g to th e n u m b e r o f sp o t s . W h e n he h a s c h o s e n t h e s e t h r e e t e l l h im to p u t t h e m on th e ta b l e , a n d to p l a c e on eac h a s m a n y c a r d s a s s p o t s a r e r e q u i r e d to m a k e fifteen. T h a t Is to s a y , in th e e eigh t c a r d s w o u ld h a v e to b e p u t on th e S e v e n o f C lu b s, f o u r c a r d s on th e Ace, nnd five a b o v e th e T en. L e t h im r e ­ t u r n y o u th e r e s t o f th e p a c k , a n d ("while p r e t e n d i n g to c o u n t s o m e t h i n g in t h e m ) c o u n t h o w m a n y r e m a i n . Add. s i x t e e n to t h i s n u m b e r, a n d y o u w i l l h a v e th e n u m b e r o f s p o t s in th e t h r e e b o t t o m c a r d s , a s m a y be s e e n in t h i s e x a m p le , w h e r e t w e l v e c a r d s r e m a i n , to w h ich n u m b e r a d d s i x t e e n , a n d th e a m o u n t ( t w e n t y - e i g h t ) is th e n u m b e r on th e t h r e e c a r d s . T a k e th e t w e l v e p i c t u r e c a r d s ( j a c k s k i n g s , q u e e n s ) f r o m th e d ec k, a n d p l a c e th e m in t h r e e ro w s, f e u r in each . C o m m e n c i n g witfc t h e f o u r t h c a r d in th e b o t t o m roT* on th e r?ght, i n ’rfi th e m up l o u je w a y s, o n e ov»>o t h e r , a n d o f f e r th em to a n y *>f I)-.*

14

125 TR IC K S W IT H UA R D S OR SL E IG H T OP H A N L

c o m p a n y to cut. it is o f no c o n s e q u e n c e jhow o f t e n th ey a r e divid ed . N e x t d e a l Them ou t in f o u r d i v i s i o n s , a n d the k i n g , q u e e n an d j a c k o f e a c h s u i t w ill be fo u n d to g e t h e r . T h e k e y to t h i s m y s t e r y c o n s i s t s in o b s e r v i n g the f o l l o w i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s in th e d i s p o s i t i o n o f the c a r d s a t first. P l a c e one o f e a c h s u i t in the u p p e r r o w : b e g in the n e x t ro w w i th a c a r d o f the s a m e s u i t t h a t you l e f t off w ith in the first, a n d c o m m e n c e th e th ir d or l a s t r o w w ith a f a c e c a r d o f the s a m e s u i t t h a t you l e f t off w i th in the se con d . T H E M A G IC O P E R A GLASS B e f o r e y o u b e g i n to p e r f o r m t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y illu sio n p r e p a r e a t a b l e o f f ig u r e s e x a c t l y l i k e th e f o l l o w i n g : 1 1. 131 10.132 19.133 11.232 2. 231 20.233 3. 331 21.333 12.332 4. 121 13.122 22.123 5. 22.1 14.222 23.223 6. 321 24.223 15.322 7. I l l 16.112 25.113 1 8. 211 17.212 25.113 9. 211 18.312 27.315 , T h i s t a b l e is p la c e d in an o p e r a g l a s s s o a s to be v isib le. T h e b e s t p l a n is to c u t th e m o u t o f a b o o k , a n d p a s t e th em on a c i r c u l a r p iec e o f c a r d , s o a k ­ ed in oil s o a s to m a k e it t r a n s p a r e n t , o r th e y m a y be p l a c e d in th e c r o w n o f of your h at a s occasion m ay serve. T a k e a deck, c o n s i s t i n g o f t w e n t y - s e v ­ en c a r d s only, a n d g i v e th e m to a p e r s o n ; d e s i r e h im to fix on an y o n e , th en s h u f f l e th em , a n d r e t u r n th e d e c k to you. P l a c e th e t w e n t y - s e v e n c a r d s in t h r e e heaps, by lay ing down one a l t e r n a t e l y on e a c h h e a p ; but' b e ­ f o r e y o u p u t eac h c a r d dow n, s h o w it to th e p e r s o n w i t h o u t s e e i n g i t y o u r ­ se lf. W h en th e th r e e e q u a l h e a p s a r e co m pl eted , a s k h im w h a t n u m b e r f r o m t w e n t y - s e v e n he w i l l h a v e h is c a r d a p p e a r , a n d in w h ich h e a p it is. N o w look a t y o u r m a g i c ta b le , a n d i f th e first o f t h r e e n u m b e r s w h ich s t a n d a g a i n s t t h a t n u m b e r it is to a p p e a r a t be one, p u t t h a t h e a p a t to p ; if th e n u m b e r be two, p u t it in th e m i d d l e ; an d if th ree, p u t it a t th e bo tto m . T h e n d iv id e th e c a r d into th r e e h e a p s in th e s a m e m a n n e r a se co n d a n d a th ir d ti m e an d his c a r d w i ll be a t th e n u m b e r he chos e. F o r th e s a k e o f m a k i n g th e e l u ­ c i d a ti o n p e r f e c t l y c le a r, w e w ill g i v e an e x a m p l e : S u p p o s e he d e s i r e t h a t h is c a r d s h a l l be th e t w e n t i e t h f r o m th e top, an d the fir st tim e o f m a k i n g th e h e a p s he s a y s it is in th e th i r d h eap. You th en lo o k t h r o u g h y o u r o p e r a g l a s s a t the m a g i c ta b le, a n d se e t h a t th e fir st f ig u re a g a i n s t th e n u m b e r t w e n t y is tw o. Y o u t h e r e f o r e p u t t h a t h e a p in the m id d le o f the p a ck. The second and th ird tim e s y ou in lik e m a n n e r p u t ♦Ha heap in w h ic h he says i t is a t

the b o ttom , the s u c c e e d i n g n u m b e r s botfh b e i n g th ree. N o w l a y i n g th e c a r d s d o w n one by one, th e t w e n t i e t h c a r d w ill be t h a t he fixed on. Y ou m ay, of c o u r s e , in l i k e m a n n e r , s h o w th e p e r ­ s o n h is c a r d w i t h o u t a s k i n g him at w h a t n u m b e r it s h a l l a p p e a r , by fix in g on a n y n u m b e r y o u r s e l f. TO S E P A R A T E T H E T W O COLORS OF A P A C K OF CARDS B Y ONE CUT To p e r f o r m th i s t r i c k , a ll th e c a r d s of one co lo r m u s t be c u t a l i t t le n a r ­ r o w e r a t one en d t h a t a t th e other . Y o u s h o w the c a r d s , a n d g i v e th em to a n y one t h a t he m a y s h u f f l e tn e m ; th en h o l d i n g th em b e tw e e n y o u r h a n d s one h a n d b e i n g a t e a c h e x t r e m i t y , w ith one m o tio n y o u s e p a r a t e th e H e a r t s a n d D i a m o n d s f r o m th e S p a d e s and C lu b s. N PASSIN G A C A R D T H R O U G H T H E K N E E S , E TC . A c a r d — s a y th e a c e o f spaJdes— is h eld in th e le f t h a n d in th e p o si t io n sh o w n . I t n ow v a n i s h e s , i m m e d ia te ly r e a p p e a r i n g in th e r i g h t han d, h a v i n g a p p a r e n t l y p a s s e d t h r o u g h th e k n e es, I t is n e x t p a s s e d b a c k to i t s o r i g i n a l p o si t io n , a n d t h e n a g a i n in to th e r i g h t h and .

B o th hands n o w assume th e a ttitu d e illu s tr a te d . T he ca rd is caused to ap p a re n tly pass a lo n g th e a rm in to th e

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D l e f t h and , a n d th en b a c k I t is th en t a k e n in th e vanished, b o th hands e m p ty, and th e c a rd is the-, fin g e r- tip s as th o u g h a ir ./

into th e r i g h t. l e f t hand and b e i n g sh o w n rep ro d u ced a t c a u g h t in th e

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only. B o t h c a r d s a r e no w b a c k - p a l m e d , a n d h a n d s s h o w n e m p ty . One only o f th e c a r d s is “ c a u g h t ” a t th e f i n g e r - t i p s a n d t h i s is f o r t h w i t h t a k e n i n to the le f t h a n d an d held in th e fir st p o s i t io n f o r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h th e k n e e s. I t is now ( w i th a s w i n g i n g m o tio n o f the h a n d a s i f to th r o w th e c a r d b e h in d th e k n e e ) b a c k - p a l m e d , a n d th e d u p l i ­ c a t e ( w h i c h h a s r e m a i n e d on th e b a c k o f th e o t h e r h a n d ) p r o d u c e d in the r i g h t h a nd . T h i s c a n be r e p e a t e d a t

t h e w i s h o f th e p e r f o r m e r . A c e r t a i n ti m e m u s t be s p e n t in g e t t i n g th e h a n d s to w o r k h a r m o n i o u s l y to g e t h e r . I f t h i s is done, th e i l lu sio n is p e r f e c t . T h e p a s s i n g o f the c a r d a l o n g th e a r m , o f c o u r se , .is a c c o m p l i s h e d in th e s a m e manner T h e r i g h t h a n d now p l a c e s th e c a r d w h i c h is v i s i b l e to th e a u d i e n c e b e ­ t w e e n th e se co n d f in g e r an d t h u m b of th e l e f t h and , w h i c h f o r t h w i t h b a c k p a l m s i t on to p o f t h e d u p l i c a t e . B o t h T h is is acco m p lish e d c h ie fly b y th e o e r f o r m e r b e i n g a b l e to e x e c u t e the f r o n t a n d b a c k p a l m w i th bo th h a n d s w ith e q u a l f a c i l i t y . T h e r e ar e, o f c o u r se , tw o c a r d s u sed , a n d a s the m e ­ th od f o r s e c r e t l y o b t a i n i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f th e d u p l i c a t e c a r d i s s o m e w h a t u n i ­

h ands a r e no w s h o w n fin ale th e tw o c a r d s one a n d l a i d on th e e asily b ro u g h t ab o u t i n g th em t o g e t h e r a s o f th e tr i c k . THE

q u e a n d n ove l, w e h a d b e t t e r d e s c r i b e t h i s t r i c k in d e t a i l a s it, is th e f o u n d a ­ tio n o f i n n u m e r a b l e o t h e r t r i c k s . In th e f ir st p la c e , th e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s in r e a l i t y tw o a c e s o f s p a d e s , b u t h eld c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r s o t h a t th e y a p p e a r to th e a u d i e n c e a s on© c a r d

e m p t y , a n d as a are produced as t a b le , t h i s b e i n g by t i g h t l y h o l d ­ in th e f ir s t s t a g e

C AR D D IS C O V E R E D U N D E R T H E H A N D E R K E R C H IK F L e t a person d raw any card irom th e r e st, a n d p u t it in th e m id d le o f th e p a c k , y o u m a k e th e p a s s a t t h a t pla c e , a n d th e c a r d w i l l c o n s e q u e n t l y be a t th e t o p ; th e n p l a c i n g th e d e c k on th e t a b le , c o v e r i t w i t h a h a n d k e r ­

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T O P H A N D ch ie f, a n d p u t t i n g y o u r h a n d u n d e r it, t a k e of f th e to p c a r d , a n d a f t e r s e e m ­ i n g to s e a r c h a m o n g th e c a r d s f o r so m e tim e, d r a w i t ou t. T his am u sem en t m ay be perform ed by p u t t i n g th e c a r d s In a n o t h e r p e r ­ s o n 's p o c k e t, a f t e r th e p a s s is m ad e. S e v e ral ca rd s m ay also be draw n and p la c e d t o g e t h e r in the m id d le o f th e p a c k a n d th e p a s s th en m ad e. T H E CARD U N D ER T H E HAT T h i s t r i c k is p e r f o r m e d in th e s a m e m a n n e r a s is d i r e c te d f o r f in d in g a c ard p laced under a h andkerchief.

th e c a r d s , a n d o b s e r v i n g th e r u l e a l ­ r e a d y g i v e n , b e fo r e , in w h i c h r o w th e c a r d t h o u g h t o f is. L e t u s s u p p o s e i t to be in E ; t a k e u p t h i s row , a n d th e r o w F, as above d ire c te d , and form t h e m into tw o n e w r o w s on th e r i g h t a n d le f t o f B ; a f te r these on th e r i g h t a n d l e f t o f B ; a f t e r t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s , th e c a r d t h o u g h t o f m u s t be th e f ir st o f one o f th e p e r p e n d i c u l a r r o w s H a n d I ; if y o u t h e r e f o r e ask in w h i c h r o w i t is, y o u m a y e a s i l y p o in t it out, h a v i n g d e s i r e d t h e m to be s h u f f l e d , th e b e t t e r to c o n c o a l th e artific e.

A T T H E G A M E OP B R I D G E W H A T TO T E L L H O W M A N Y C A R D S A P E T •PROBABILITY T H A T T H E FOUR SON T A K E S OUT O F A P A C K , H O N O R S W I L L B E IN T11E A N D TO S P E C I F Y E A C H C A R D H A N D S O P A N Y TW O T o p e r f o r m th is, y o u m u s t so d*s PARTNERS p:>se a phjiiiet p a c k t>f c a r d s , (in w h ich De Morie, in h i s “ D o c tr i n e o f 1 the c a r d s f r o m 2 to G a r e e x c l u d e d ) t h a t you c a n e a s i l y r e m e m b e r th e o r d e r in C h a n c e s , ” s h o w s t h a t th e c h a n c e is n e a r l y 27 to 2 t h a t th e p a r t n e r s , one w h ich th e y a r e p la c e d . S u p p o s e , f o r in s t a n c e , th e y a r e p l a c e d a c c o r d i n g o f w h om d e a l s , w i ll n o t h a v e the f o u r to the w o r d s in th e f o l l o w i n g line: h o n o r s ; t h a t it is a b o u t 23 to 1 t h a t S e v e n A c es, E i g h t K i n g s , Nine the o th e r tw o p a r t n e r s w i ll not h a v e Q u eens, a n d T e n J a c k s ; t h e m ; t h a t it i s n e a r l y ^ to 1 t h a t th ey a n d t h a t e v e r y c a r d b e o f a d iff e r e n t w i l l ' n o t be fo u n d on a n y one s i d e ; s u i te , f o l l o w i n g e a c h o th e r in th .s t h a t one m a y be t a b o u t 13 to 7. w i t h ­ o r d e r : S p a d e s , C lu b s, H e a r t s a n d D i a ­ o u t d i s a d v a n t a g e , t h a t th e p a r t n e r s m ond s. T h e n th e e i g h t f ir st c a r d s w ill who a r e fir st in h a n d w i l l n o t c o u n t be th e S e v e n o f S p a d e s , A c e o f C lubs, h o n o r s; t h a t a b o u t 20 to 7 m a y be E i g h t o f H e a r t s , K i n g ' o f D ia m o n d s , b e t t h a t th e o th e r tw o w i ll n o t co u n t N ine of S p a d e s , Q u een o f C lub s, Ten th e m ; and, in th e l a s t p la c e , t h a t it of H e a r t s a n d J a c k o f D i a m o n d s , and is 25 to 16 t h a t one o f th e tw o s i d e s so o f th e r e st. w ill co unt honors, or t h a t th e y w i l l Y o u s h o w t h a t th e c a r d s a r e pla c ed n o t be e q u a ll y divid ed . p r o m i s c u o u s l y , a n d y o u offer th em with SIX TE E N CARDS B E IN G D ISPO SED th e ir b a c k s u p w a r d to a n y one, t h a t ht IV TW O R O W S . TO T E L L T H E m a y d r a w w h a t q u a n t i t y he p l e a s e s C A RD W IIiO H A P E R S O N yo u th en d e x t e r o u s l y lo o k a t th e card t h a t p r e c e d e s a n d t h a t w h ic h f o llo w s H A S T H O U G H T OP th o se he h a s t a k e n . W h en he has T h e c a r d s b e i n g a r r a n g e d in tw o co u n t e d th e c a r d s , w h ich is not to be . o w s , a s A an d B, d e s i r e th e p e r s o n to d o n e in y o u r p r e s e n c e , ( a n d in order th in k o f one, a n d ' to o b s e r v e w e ll in to g i v e y o u tim e f o r r e c o lle c tio n , y ou which r o w it is. ; tell h im to do it tw i c e over, t h a t he A B C B D E B ‘P H B 1 m a y b e c e r t a i n ,) y o u th en t a k e th em ♦ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c f r o m him, m i x th e m w i t h a p a c k , s h u f ­ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 fle, a n d tell h im to s h u f f l e . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * D u r i n g a l l th i s tim e y o u recolle ct, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 by th e f o r e g o i n g line, a ll th e c a r d s he 0 .0 0 0 * 0 to o k o\it; a n d a s y o u l a y th e m dow n, 0 0 0 0 0 0 one by one, y o u n a m e e a c h c a rd . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TO G U E S S T H E N U M B E R OP S P O T S L e t u s s u p p o s e t h a t th e c a r d t h o u g h t ON A N Y C A R D W H I C H A P E R ­ * is in row A ; t a k e up th at w h o le row . SON H A S D R A W N F R O M i the o r d e r in whi n it s t a n d s , a n d A DECK d i s p o s e it in tw o roxvs C a n d D, on th e r i g h t a n d l e f t o f the r o w B ; b u t f a k e th e d e c k o f 52 c a r d s , a n d d e s ! in a r r a n g i n g th em , t a k e c a r e t h a t the so m e p e r s o n to d r a w o u t one, w i t h o u t first o f the r o w A m a y be th e fir st s h o w i n g it. C a ll th e J a c k 11, T h e Q ueen o f th e row C; the second of thee r K ow 12, th i n g 13. T h e n a d d th e s p o t s of A, th e fir st o f th e r o w D ; t h e t hth i red fir st c a r d to t h o s e o f th e s e c o n d ; o f the r o w A, the second o f th e th l a es rt o swu m to th e s p o t s o f t h e th ird , C, a n d s o on ; th en a s k a g a i n in v e r t i c a l a n d s o on, a l w a y s r e j e c t i n g 12 a n d r o w s in w h i c h row , C o r D, th e c a r d k e e p i n g th e r e m a i n d e r to a l l t o th e t h o u g h t o f is. S u p p o s e it to be in C; f o l l o w i n g c a r d . I t i s n e e d l e s s to r e c k ­ t a k e up t h a t row , a s w e ll a s th e r o w on th e k i n g s ^vhich a r e c o u n t e d 13. P , p u t t i n g th e l a s t a t th e end o f th e I f a n y s p o t s r e m a i n a t th e l a s t card, first, w i t h o u t d e r a n g i n g th e o r d e r o f s u b t r a c t t h e m f r o m 13. a n d t h e r e m a i n *

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c o lo r ) . T h e r i n g s a r e o f th e f a m i l i a r s p l i t - r i n g p a t t e r n , t h e r e b y enablingth e m to be a t t a c h e d to th e c a r d , a s sh o w n in th e i l l u s t r a t i o n . T h e tw o c l i p s fit th e to p j o i n t s o f the fir st a n d f o u r t h fin ge rs, a n d in t h i s p o s i t io n th e c a r d i« re a d y t o r th e t r ic k .

T he th u m b n o w p u s h e s th e c a rd t o ­ w a r d th e f i n g e r - t i p s ( th e s l i t s a l l o w i n g t to s l i d e a l o n g th e r i n g s ) , a n d it w i ll .h en be f o u n d q u i t e e a s y f o r th e tw o uniddle f in g e r s to bend r o u n d u n d e r t h e c a r d w h ic h f o r t h w it h assum es th e p o s itio n de p icted .

TO F o r th e r e v e r s e m o v e m e n t t h e t h u m b p u l l s th e c a r d r o u n d i n to th e f ir s t p o ­ sition . In a w o r d , p r a c t i c a l l y a ll t.h$ m o v e m e n t s n e c e s s a r y f o r e x e c u t i n g the s l e i g h t w i th t h i s c a r d a r e i d e n t i c a l with t h o s e d e s c r i b e d in th e s l e i g h t - o f an d m eth od , w i th th e e x c e p t io n t h a t m the m e th o d n ow e x p l a i n e d i t i s i m ­ possible f o r th e c a r d s to f a l l o r b e c o m e visible b e t w e e n th e fin ge rs. F i v e m i n u t e s ’ p r a c t i c e w i th a c a r d o f t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n s u f f i c e s to e n a b le th e s t u d e n t to e x e c u t e t h i s t r i c k in a n in detectable m anner. W ith tw o s i m i l a r c a r d s , o f c o u r se , t h e e f fe c ts o f p a s s i n g a c a r d t h r o u g h t h e k n e e s f r o m h a n d to hand, etc., c a n be a c c o m p l i s h e d by h a v i n g a c a r d a t ­ ta c h e d to e a c h hand. T H E V A N IS H IN G CAR D D iv id e th e d e c k , p l a c i n g o n e - h a l f in Dpim o f the l e f t h an d f a c e d o w n ­

25

w a r d , a n d t a k i n g the r e m a i n d e r o f the p a c k in the r i g h t h a n d ; h o ld th em b e ­ t w e e n the t h u m b a n d t h r e e frrst fin­ g e r s , t a k i n g c a r e to p l a c e th e c a r d s u p r i g h t , s o th a t the e d g e s o f t h o s e in y o u r r i g h t h a n d m a y r e s t upon the b a c k o f th o se in the le f t, t h u s f o r m ­ i n g a r i g h t h a n d a n g l e w ith them. In t h i s w a y the f o u r f i n g e r s o f th e le f t h a n d to u ch th e l a s t of th e u p r i g h t c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t han d. I t is n e c e s ­ s a r y t h a t th e c a r d s s h o u ld be p l a c e d in t h i s p o sit io n , a n d t h a t once b e i n g a t t a i n e d the r e s t o f th e t r i c k is e a s y . T h e s e p r e l i m i n a r i e s h a v i n g be en g o n e t h r o u g h , one o f the c o m p a n y , a t y o u r req-uest, e x a m i n e s th e to p c a r d o f the h a l f p a c k t h a t r e s t s in th e p a l m of y o u r l e f t hand, a n d th en r e p l a c e s it. H a v i n g d on e th is, y o u r e q u e s t him to l o o k a t it a g a i n , a n d to h is a s t o n i s h ­ m e n t it w ill h a v e v a n i s h e d , a n d a n ­ o th e r c a r d w ill a p p e a r in i t s p la c e . In o r d e r to a c c o m p l i s h th is, h a v i n g a s ­ s u m e d th e p o s i t io n a l r e a d y d e s c r i b e d , y o u m u s t d a m p e n the t i p s o f th e f o u r f i n g e r s t h a t r e s t a g a i n s t th e l a s t c a r d o f the u p r i g h t s e t in y o u r r i g h t hand. W h en the p e r s o n w h o h a s c h o s e n a c a r d r e p l a c e s it, you m u s t r a i s e th e u p r i g h t c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t h a n d v e r y q u i c k l y , an d the c a r d w i ll t h e n a d h e r e to th e d a m p e n e d f i n g e r s o f y o u r le f t h a n d . A s y o u r a i s e the u p r i g h t c a r d s , y o u m u s t c lo s e y o u r l e f t h a n d s k i l l ­ f u l l y , a n d y o u w ill t h e r e b y p la c e the l a s t o f th e u p r i g h t c a r d s — w h ich a s we h a v e e x p l a i n e d a d h e r e s to the f in g e rs o f y o u r le f t h a n d — u p o n th e top o f the c a r d s in th e p a l m o f y o u r l e f t hand, a n d w h en y ou r e q u e s t th e p e r s o n who f ir s t e x a m i n e d it to look a t it a g a i n , he w ill o b s e r v e t h a t it h a s boen changed. P R O D U C E A MOUSE FR G ty A P A C K OF C A R D S H ave a pack of card s fastened to­ g e t h e r a t the e d g e s , b u t open in tn e m id d le li k e a box, a w h o le c a r d b e in g g l u e d on a s a co ver, a n d m a n y l oose o n e s p la c e d a b o v e it, w h i c h r e q u i r e to be d e x t e r o u s l y s h u f f l e d so t h a t the entire m ay seem a real deck of cards. T h e b o t t o m m u s t l i k e w i s e be a w h o le ca r d , g lu e d to th e b o x on one s i d e only, y i e l d i n g i m m e d i a t e l y to e x t e r i o r p r e s ­ s u r e , a n d s e r v i n g a s a d o o r by w h ich y o u co n v e y thte m o u s e into the box. B e i n g t h u s p r e p a r e d , an d h o l d i n g the b o tto m t i g h t w i t h y o u r hand, r e q u i r e one o f the c o m p a n y to p l a c e h i s open h a n d s to g e t h e r , a n d te ll him y ou m e a n to p r o d u c e s o m e t h i n g v e r y m a r v e l o u s f r o m t h i s p a c k o f c a r d s ; p l a c e th e c a r d s then in h is h a n d s , an d w h ile y ou e n g a g e h is a t t e n t i o n in c o n v e r s a t i o n , t a k e th e b o x in th e m id d le, t h r o w the p a c k a s i d e , a n d th e m o u s e w i l l r e ­ m a i n in th e h a n d s o f th e p e r s o n w h o h e ld th e c a r d s .

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or bottom sn they can be dealt at will. D EA LIN G TOO MANY. Often a dealer will give himstilf or accomplice an extra card or two on the last round. This gives him an additional advantage The most useful single device when manipulating that should be sufficient. cards is BOTTOM D EA LIN G . But skill at this CRIM PIN G FOR TH E CUT. This is simply a would be useless without knowing what cards ar*> on method of arching or crimping cards so that person the bottom. For this we must resort to STO CK IN G making cut will be likely to cut at a desired place. (or stacking) the cards. Furthermore, to retain cards This is not a reliable practice, but often gives the in the stocked positions, it necessitates the ability dealer sufficient advantage. Dealer should note irianto B L IN D S H U F F L E , and finally, since they must ner in which cut is customarily made so that if he protected again during the cut. the manipulator person cuts high, low, near middle, by sides or by must be able to effect a B LIN D CUT. Most sub­ ends, the crimping will be done accordingly. terfuge in card dealing employs these basic accom­ SH O RT D E C K . A simple way of obtaining an plishments, though in addition a knowledge of advantage in many games is simply by removing SECO ND D EA LIN G is extremely useful, if not certain cards. Thus with a knowledge of certain indispensible. “ missing” cards, which are not employed in the It is not possible to give more than a short out­ game, it enables you to play accordingly. line of one <>r iwo methods of doing each of the above manipulations, but by subtle employment of Technical Term s them, you will find yourself a t a tremendous ad­ STO C K. C ertain d e s ira b le c ard s, u s u a lly p lac e d a t b o t­ vantage in any ordinary card playing contest; and, tom or top o f deck, w hich are to be con tro lled . more important, able to recognize deception when JO G . A p ro tru d in g card, ab o u t a q u a rte r inch, w hich is u sed to lo c ate p a r tic u la r sto ck e d card o r c ard s. employed by others.

Card Secrets Exposed

Frank. A d vice and in fo rm a tio n

HOLD OUTS. Hold outs r.re usually mechanical contrivances which fit up the sleeve or under table to hold any desired cards. Devices of this type are rarely used by card experts as they are cumbersome and easily detected except when playing with am a­ teurs. P R E P A R E D C A R D S. Also called “ readers.” Printed prepared cards are manufactured, but seldom used by professionals, since they prefer use of stan­ dard card decks. Any standard deck can be marked by hand or “ doctored” quite easily. In some in­ stances, only a few desired cards are identified, be­ ing careful so they can be read if either end is visible. Marking is done with pen and colored ink to match printed color; or by obliterating part of a design. It is very easy to do, since only the smallest mark is necessary. The person fam iliar with the code can quickly “ m id ” the cards from the back, but even the expert would have difficulty detecting a marked deck without spending many minutes care­ fully examining the backs of several cards. Some players can mark cards while a game is in process by use of a sharp object such as a fingernail; use of “ fanning” powder to make n certain card more slippery; “ roughing” up a card to make it less slippery; “ arching" cards to make their presence in the stack more noticeable. In some cases cards are specially trimmed to make certain cards easily lo­ cated by their feel; this is described elsewhere in this book. HOW TO B E H A V E . The rules of behavior when employing card deception are disarmingly practical advice, yet fooolish vanity often makes even the most proficient among us invite disaster. No matter how capable you become, always remember these rules: 1. Do not show cff. Do not in any way demon­ strate your skill at card manipulating. One single display of dexterity and your usefulness is past. 2. Uniformity of action. Do not depart from the customary manner of holding, shuffling, cutting or dealing. Your subterfuge must follow your custom­ ary procedure, any deviation is quickly noticed and suspected. 3. If suspected, quit. If for any reason, you feel that, you do not have the other players complete confidence, do not employ any further deception, unless absolutely necessary. R EP LA C IN G TH E CUT AS B E F O R E - A dar­ ing and sometimes successful ruse is to pick up under oack with right hand and pass it over into left hand, then top packet is picked up with right hand and placed on top, leaving cards in same order. If done openly, carelessly and without haste, it is often successful. If detected, it can be attrib­ uted to thoughtlessness. HOLDING OUT FO R CUT. Sometimes a dealer will hold out a caTd or stock of caTds during cut by palming selected cards, then replacing them on top

W hile s h u fflin g , if to p c ard is to be jo g g e d , it is pu sh e d o v er little fin g e r end by le ft thum b, little fin g e r p re v e n tin g m ore than o n e card m o v in g. If f ir s t card , i s to b e - jo g g e d (firs t card in rig h t hand) it i s done by s h iftin g rig h t hand s lig h tly tow ard e ith e r end o f le ft hand packet d u rin g s h u ff'e . so th at f ir s t card draw n o ff bv le ft thum b w ill p ro tru d e o v er end o f left-h and pacfcet. C U L L S. T he stocked o r d e sire d c a rd s. To c u ll i s the art o f lo c atin g and p la c in g d e sire d c ard 1.. T h is is done in g a th e rin g up c a rd s fo r d eal or d u rin g the s h u fflin g p ro c e ss when d e sire d c a rd s are sto ck ed at ton o r bo tto m o f deck. B LIN D . S h u fflin g , rifflin g , c u ttin g o r c u llin g w hich a p ­ p e a r s pro per, out w hich c o v e rs up card m an ip u la ­ tion . SH U FFLE & R IF F L E . S h u ffle is the o ld -fash io n e d m ethod of sh u ff in g c a rd s fro m han d to ham l; rif flin g is m odern m ethod o f sh u fflin g on ta b le by s p r in g in g e n d s o f two p ac k e ts into each o th er.

S tocking The most ordinary method of stocking is in ar­ ranging cards as discreetly as possible while taking tricks, or making discard, or while gathering up for deal. There is no sleight of hand in this. A play it . if he keeps his wits about him, finds many oppor­ tunities to prearrange to some extent for his dealWith aid of a partner, possibilities are doubled. But remember that whole deck must be tampered with before shuffle begins.

M ethod No. 1

In casual games a practiced operator can run up several desirable cards, by methods that will not stand scrutiny in a professional game. This is done

fingers on other side, and first finger curled up against back. Right hand covers face, fingers a t one end. thumb at other. Left thumb then springs cards so that index can be seen. (F ig. 1 ) . As desired

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Figure 2

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card is located, lower side of deck is opened at that point, and left second, third and little fingers in ­ serted. and card is drawn or slipped out to top of

27 deck. (Fig. 2) . Additional cards can be brought to top in like manner until desired stock is completed; if desired, indifrerent cards of required number can be interspersed between desired cards, depending upon number of players so that deck can be run from top "c o ld ", bearing in mind, of course, that you m ust still retain control during the shuffle and cut as described later. We now have a TO P ST O C K , but this can be transferred to a BOTTOM STO C K by a single shuffling motion.

M eth od No. 2

Hold deck in left hand, back to palm, between thumb and fingers, as described for first method, but in covering face with right hand, bring first three fingers straight across outer end of deck, the little finger against lower side at comer and thumb on top side a t corner close to right first finger.

easily brought to bottom by under cutting with right hand, and as packet is placed on top it is done with a sliding movement, the tip of right thumb lightly slides across top card of under paoket, pushing it a little over inner side. Left thumb is at side to receive it, and foams a break, »o that it becomes under card of top packet when squared up. The cards are again cut including the break for another riffle, making certain to retain desired card at bottom while you search for another desirable top card, which can be brought down to join the bottom stock in same manner. Two or three de­ sirable cards are usually sufficient advantage in ordinary game- Undesirable cards are sometimes stocked for dealing to opponents thus making con­ spiracy appear innocent if detected.

B l i nd S h u f f l i n g The object of blind shuffling is to retain a top or bottom stock. It appears to be a true shuffle, but it does not disturb the pre-arranged cards.

P osition fo r Sh u ffle

Deck is held much as usual in left palm, but more diagonally, so that first finger from seeonfl joint lies up against outer end. first joint of little finger curled in against inner end, second and third fingers slightly curled in against bottom and thumb Then spring card with left thumb against right resting on top, near outer end about the middle. thumb. When desired card is located, tilt the pack­ R ight hand, when about to shuffle, seises under et then held between right thumb and little finger, about half an inch outward, so that right thumb will pass comer of packet held by left hand. (Fig. 3 ) . Release desired card with left thumb, press down on its comer with right thumb and bring right hand packet back to original position, closing up space entirely. In doing so it will force desired card down and out against left hand fingers. Re­ lease these fingers slightly as packets are being closed, then press desired card up again with left Figure 7 little finger. This will cause it to protrude about half an inch at end, but it is entirely concealed by po­ sitions of hands. Deck can be again sprung rapidly portion a t ends between thumb and Becond and with left thumb in search of next card, and re­ third fingers, and first finger rests on upper side. (F ig. 6 ) . This position, and especially that of peated till required number are jogged. first and little fingers of left hand, is essential for process of blind shuffling and stocking. F irst and little fingers hold and locate jogs. Should be used for true as well as blind shuffles.

To R etain Top Stock

When desired cards are jogged, jog several of top cards at same end, concealing opposite end with right fingerB, then shift left thumb and second and third fingers to inner side comers, and turn deck face downward, shifting right hand to top. at opposite comers in position to make running cut. With left hand draw off top* packet, sliding out jogged cards with same movement, dropping them on table ( Fig. A ). Completing cut by placing packet in right hand on top leaves desired cards on bottom.

Seize about half deck from beneath with right hand (under c u t), draw, out and shift right hand a little inwards over packet in left hand so that when first card is drawn off by left thumb it will protrude slightly over little finger (in -jog). Then shuffle off balance of cards in right hand on top of those in left. Then seize with right hand all cards beneath in-jog card (Fig. 7 ) which protrudes over little finger of left hand, and throw them in orfe packet on top. Location is found by right thumb solely by sense of touch and without any hesitation. In-jog card is concealed by cards on top and held in position by little finger.

M eth od No. 3 During process of riffle shuffle, glimpse of top card is obtained by slightly in-jogging top card of

To R etain B ottom Stock

left hand packet. As thumbs raise comers of two packets, top cajd is raised by left thumb ju st barely enough to obtain glance at index. R iffle should be completed so as to leave this card on top. Shuffling continues until top card is desired card. Totf card is

Under cut about three-quarters of deck and shuffle off about two-thirds, then in-jog one card and throw balance on top. Under cut to and include in-jog card (Fig- 8 ) and shuffle off.

Blind R ifflin g fo r Top o r B ottom Stock

R iffling is shuffling cards on table by springing ends of cards together and is the more,, conventional method of shuffling a t present, though of ten time*

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125

T H IC K S

W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D

both method* are used as it gives a more secur* fealin*.

Since in this short treatise we are dealing with only a stock of very few cards, it will be found very easy to riffle theyiards so that a small bottom or top stock is retained. If you desire to preserve the top stock, you cut deck into two packets and when riffling', the bottom packet is riffled more quickly so that when finisKed, there still remains a few cards of the top packet(including the top stock). To preserve bottom stock, you riffle a few cards from bottom parket first and then riffle both to­ gether as in a true shuffle; this retains bottom stock.

Blind Cuts

Blind cut is natural sequence to blind shuffle or riffle. As cards are cut in almost all games, there would be little advantage derived from clever shuf­ fling, were the order to be subsequently disturbed by cutting. The able card handler with a confeder­ ate on his right has the game well in hand. Yet it is quite possible to play alone and still have a good percentage in one’s favor.

Seize deck with left hand at sides, near end, be­ tween second finger and thumb, first finger tip pressing on top. Seize upper portion of deck with right hand, at sides, near end. between second finger and thumb. Raise deck slightly with both hands and pull out upper portion with right hand, but retain top card in left hand by pressing on it with left first finger tip. (Fig. 1 0 ) . Immediately drop lefthand packet on table and bring right hand packet down on top with slight swing, and square up. Action is very simple and easy; movements are natural and regular. Process displaces tQp card sending it to middle and if this blind is used when top stock is to be retained, an extra card is placed there during shuffle.

retaining desired cards. Hold deck in left hand, resting one corner against middle of first joint of second finger and other com er of same end in sec­ ond joint of first finger, tha first two joints of

Figure 12

Figure 13

which rest idly along end of deck. Press deck out­ ward as much as possible and rest opposite inner end coiner against palm below base of thumb. Rest thumb on top of deck, pointing towards second finger tip, which just shows at top of corner. Bring up little finger against side, and third finger m id­ way between second and little fingers. Deck is held in position principally by comers, between second finger and palm below base of thumb. Little finger may aid in holding deck, but it must be released when bottom card is pushed out. Second finger and thumb do the work. Draw back thumb a lit’le and push top card oyer in usual position to seize with right hand for dealing, then draw back third finger, which action is con­ cealed by overhanging card, until tip rests against

edge of bottom card. (F ig. 1 3 ) . Press up slightly inwards against that card and push it out, at same time releasing little finger and holding deck firmly between second finger and palm- Advance right hand apparently to take off top c;ird. (Fig. 1 4 ). Draw bark top card with left thumb and at same instant seize bottom card and deal it in usual manner. When done smoothly and quickly it is almost im­ possible to detect. It is easier to do as pack grows smaller. Second D e u iin g Deck is held in left hand much the same as above, tip of thumb being a little over end of top card. This enables thumb to come in contact with second card by pushing top card a trifle downwards. To deal, left thumb pushes two cards over the side nearly together, top card perhaps a little in advance and seqoiid card showing a little above it at end. Right hand seizes second card by exposed comer, right thumb barely touching edge, right second finger is well up under second card and helps to

Blind Cuts W hen P la y in g A lone

There are several systems that are used when playing alone. One simple method is to hold loca­ tion of cut while dealing. After cut, pick up top packet and place in left hand; then, pick up under packet. When placed on top of other packet in left hand, little finger retains a break in deck to indi­ cate location of top stock (below break) or bottom stock (above break). Break is not noticeable from front end and is concealed by hand. Cards appear squared up from almost all angles. You must be alert to second deal or bottom deal as necessity re­ quires when you reach prepared cards.

Bottom Dealing Bottom dealing is the most useful accomplish­ ment since on bottom is most convenient place for

get it out by upward pressure as left thumb draw:; back top card. (Fig. 1 5 ) . Then left thumb ag:* comes in contict with second card at upper edge. Third finger tip previ nts more than two cards from being pushed over «ide. Top card continues to move forward and back as seconds are dealt, but rapidity of backward movement prevents detection. For a complete description of these manipula­ tions, plus instructions how to palm, advanced methods for stocking, cutting and dealing that will withstand professional scrutiny, we suggest you send 50c to Johnson Smith Company. Detroit 7, Michi­ gan for “ Expert at Card Table” by S. W. Erdnase-

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125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D TO SE N D A C A R D T H R U A T A B L E R e q u e s t one o f th e c o m p a n y to d r a w a c a r d f r o m th e p a c k , e x a m i n e it, a n d t h e n r e t u r n it. T h e n m a k e th e p a s s — o r i f y o u c a p n o t m a k e th e p a s s , m a k e u s e o f th e lo n g c a r d — a n d b r i n g th e c a r d c h o s e n to th e to p o f th e p a c k , a n d s h u f f l e by m e a n s o f a n y o f the f a l s e sh u ffle s before d escribed w ithout lo s­ i n g s i g h t o f th e c a r d . A f t e r s h u f f l i n g th e p a c k s e v e r a l t i m e s , b r i n g the c a r d to the top a g a i n . T h e n p l a c e th e d e c k on th e t a b l e a b o u t tw o i n c h e s f r o m th e edge n ear which you are sittin g , and h aving previously slig h tly dam pened th e b a c k o f y o u r r i g h t h and , y o u s t r i k e th e p a c k a s h a r p b l o w a n d th e c a r d w i l l a d h e r e to it. Y o u t h e n p u t y o u r r i g h t h a n d v e r y r a p i d l y u n d e r n e a t h th e ta b le , a n d t a k i n g o f f w i t h y o u r l e f t h a n d the c a r d w h i c h h a s s t u c k to y o u r r i g h t h and , y o u s h o w i t to y o u r au d ien ce , w h o w i l l a t once r e c o g n i z e in it tjie c a r d t h a t w a s d r a w n a t th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e t r i c k . Y o u m u s t t>e c a r e f u l w h i le p e r f o r m i n g t h i s t r i c k not to a l l o w a n y o f th e s p e c t a t o r s to g e t b e h in d or a t th e s i d e o f th e ta b le , b u t k e e p th e m d i r e c t l y in f ro n t , .other w i s e th e i l lu s i o n w o u ld be d i s c o v e r e d . TO C H A N G E F O U R J A C K S OR K I N G S H E L D IN Y O U R H A N D INTO B L A N K C A R D S O R IN TO FOUR ACES Y o u m u s t h a v e c a r d s m a d e f o r th e p u rpo se of this f e a t — h a lf cards, a s th e y m a y be p r o p e r l y t e r m e d — t h a t is one h a l f k i n g s o r j a c k s a n d th e o t h e r h a l f a c e s . W h e n y o u l a y th e a c e s o v e r one a n o t h e r, n o t h i n g b u t th e k i n g s or j a c k s w i ll be se en. T h e n t u r n i n g th e k i n g s or j a c k s d o w n w a r d , the f o u r a c e s w i l l be se en. Y o u m u s t h a v e tw o p e r f e c t c a r d s , one a k i n g or j a c k , to c o v e r one o f th e a c e s, o r e ls e it w i ll be se e n ; a n d the o th e r a n a c e to l a y ov er th e k i n g s o r j a c k s . W h en y o u wi&h to m a k e th e m a l l b l a n k c a r d s , l a y th e c a r d s a l i t t l e lo w e r , a n d by h i d i n g th e a c e s , th e y w i ll a l l a p p e a r w h ite on b o th si d e s . Y o u m a y th en a s k th e c o m p a n y w h i c h th e y c h o o s e ; e x h i b i t kir»gs, a c e s o r b l a n k s a s r e q u i r e d . T H E LOCOM OTIVE CARD T a k e a deck of cards, and let any p e r s o n d r a w one f r o m it; tell h im to l o o k a t th e c a r d so he w ill k n o w it a g a i n , a n d t h e n p u t it into th e deck. H o ld th e p a c k s o t h a t th e p e r s o n m a y p l a c e h is c a r d in it, m a k i n g s u r e t h a t yo u h old th e c a r d n e x t to th e b o tto m o p en f o r hi m to p la c e h i s c a r d in, m a n e u v e r i n g th e c a r d s w e ll t h a t he m a y i m a g i n e he h a s p l a c e d h is c a r d in th e m i d d le o f th e p a c k ; b y t h i s m e a n s y o u k n o w w h e r e th e c a r d is, and , w h e n y o u a r e s h u f f l i n g th em , y o u c a n v e r y e a s i l y p la c e th e p a r t i c u l a r c a r d on th e to p o f th e p a c k . T h e n t a k e a p i e c e o f w a x w i t h a lo n g h a i r a t t a c h e d t o it,

f a s t e n i n g it to th e b o t t o m o f y o u r v e s t , ( i t m u s t be p r e p a r e d b e f o r e y o u c o m ­ m e n c e th e t r i c k ) , h a v e th e w a x p l a c ­ ed u n d e r th e t h u m b - n a i l o f y o u r r i g h t hand, an d s t i c k it t o th e c a r d t h a t w a s d r a w n ; s p r e a d th e c a r d s on the t a b l e ; th en a s k i n g th e p e r s o n to n a m e th e c a r d he s e le c te d , c o m m a n d it to m o v e f r o m th e p a c k to y o u r h a n d . B y s h i f t ­ i n g y o u r p o s i t i o n b a c k w a r d , th e c a r d w i l l m o v e also . NATURAL SrXES R e m o v e th e f o u r s i x e s frofti a d o c k o f c a r d s a n d l a y th e m f a c e d o w n . Iso f a c e d ow n, p l a c e s i x o t h e r c a r d s . F o l d u p a s li p o f p a p e r w i t h th e w o r d s “ y o u

c h o s e th e s i x h e a p ” a n d p l a c e it a l o n g ­ s i d e th e c a r d s . T e ll s o m e o n e to c h o o se one o f th e h e a p s a n d th en r e a d th e p a ­ pe r . No m a t t e r w h a t h e a p is ch o s en , th e w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t p r o v e s c o rr e c t , one h e a p — 4 s i x e s ; o th e r he —6 c a r d s . D o n ’t r e p e a t t h i s t r i c k . How to M ark a N ew Deck o f C ard s

FA N N IN G P O W D ER: This is a slippery, wax-like powder that makes this card slide easier so it can be easily selected from deck. RO UGH ING PO W D ER: Roughs up a card so it does riot slide easily. S IL V E R D A U B: Silver colored powder\enabling you to mark cards on back as you play. Gives card a glint easily detected but natural lo o k in g.

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" e ft h and , a n d th e t h u m b on th e f a c e >f th e c a r d h i d e s th e to p o f th e clip. When th e c a r d s a r e t u r n e d o v e r it is a s i m p l e m a t t e r to s li p th e clip on to th e o th e r c a r d i f n e c e s s a r y . r\ 0 T E L L T H E N A M E S O F A L L T H E CARDS BY T H E IR W E IG H TS T h e p a c k h aving; be en c u t a n d s h u f ­ fled to th e e n t i r e ' s a t i s f a c t i o n o f the au d ie n ce , th e p e r f o r m e r c o m m e n c e s by s t a t i n s t h a t he u n d e r t a k e s , by p o i s i n g e a c h c a r d f o r a m o m e n t on h is fin ge rs, to te ll not only th e co lor, b u t th e s u i t e a n d n u m b e r of sp o t s, and, i f a c o u r t ca rd , w h e th e r it be k i n g , q u e e n or j a c k . F o r th e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f t h i s m o s t a m u s i n g tr i c k , w e r e c o m m e n d th e f o l ­ l o w i n g d i r e c t i o n s : Y o u m u s t h a v e tw o p a c k s o f c a r d s e x a c t l y a l i k e . One o f th em w e w ill s u p p o s e to h a v e be en in u se d u r i n g th e e v e n i n g f o r the p e r f o r ­ m a n c e o f y o u r t r i c k s ; b u t in a d d i t i o n to th i s y ou m u s t h a v e a se c o n d p a c k in y o u r p o c k e t, w h ic h y o u m u s t t a k e c a r e to a r r a n g e in th e o r d e r h e r e i n ­ a f t e r d e sc rib e d . P r e v i o u s to c o m m e n c ­ in g the t r i c k you m u s t t a k e the o p p o r ­ tu n i ty o f e x c h a n g i n g t h e s e tw o p a c k s a n d b r i n g i n g into u s e th e p r e p a r e d d e c k . T h i s m u s t be d on e in ? u c h a m a n ­ ne r t h a t y o u r a u d i e n c e w i ll b e lie v e t h a t the d e c k y o u i n tr o d u c e is the a a me one y o u h a v e be e n u s i n g a l l the •evening, w h ich th e y k n o w h a s be en •m H s b uf fir a . T h e 0 ‘r a - r in w h ich the v i s l be a r r a n g e d will be b e s t a s ­

c e r t a i n e d by m e m o r i z i n g th e f o l l o w i n g l i n e s — th e w o r d s in b o ld f a c e f o r m i n g th e k e y : E i g h t k i n g s t h r e a - t e n 'd to s a v e E i g h t , k i n g , t h r e e , ten , tw o , acTen, N ine f a i r l a d i e s f o r one s i c k j a c k . Nine, f i v e , q u e e n , f o u r , a c e , h I x , j a c k . T h e s e lines, t h o r o u g h l y c o m m i tt e d to m em or y , w ill be o f m a t e r i a l a s s i s t a n c e . T h e a l l i t e r a t i v e r e s e m b l a n c e w ill in e v e r y i n s t a n c e be a s u f f i c i e n t g u i d e to th e c a r d in d ic a t e d . T h e o r d e r in w h ich the s u i t e s c o m e s h o u ld l i k e w i s e be c o m m i t t e d to mem ory*— n a m e ly , H e a r t s , S p a d e s , D i a m o n d s , C lub s. H a v i n g s o r t ­ ed y o u r c a r d s in o b ed ien c e to the a b o v e d i r e c ti o n s, e a c h s u i t e s e p a r a t e l y , and be gin n in g w ith H earts, y o ur deck is “ p r e p a r e d , ” a n d r e a d y f o r u s e ; an d w h en y o u h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e te d th e e x c h a n g e y o u b r i n g f o r w a r d y o u r r r e p a r e d d ec k , a n d h a n d it a r o u n d to be cut. T h e p a c k m a y be c u t a s o f t e n a s the a u d i e n c e p l e a s e s , b u t a l w a y r b r i d g e - f a s h i o n — t h a t is to s a y , th e l o w ­ er h a l f o f th e p a c k m u s t be p la c e d u p ­ on the u p p e r a t e a c h cut. Y o u n ow o n ­ ly w a n t to k n o w th e top c ard , a n d you w ill th en h a v e a clu e to th e r est. Y o u t h e r e f o r e t a k e off th e to p c ard , a n d h o l d i n g it b e tw e e n y o u r s e l f a n d th e lig h t, you s e e w h a t it is, s a y i n g a t the s a m e tim e, b y w a y o f a p o l o g y , t h a t t h i s is th e old w a y o f p e r f o r m i n g the tr i c k , b u t t h a t it is n o w s u p e r s e d e d . H a v i n g a s c e r t a i n e d w h a t th e fir st is, w hich , f o r e x a m p l e w e w ill s u p p o s e to be th e K i n g o f D i a m o n d s , y o u th en t a k e the n e x t c a r d on y o u r fin ger, an d p o i s e it f o r a m o m e n t a s if y o u w e r e g o in g through a process of m ental c a l­ c u la tio n . T h i s p a u s e w i ll g i v e y o u tim e to r e p e a t to y o u r s e l f th e tw o l i n e s g i v ­ en, by m e a n s y o u w i ll k n o w w h a t c a r d c o m e s nex t. T h u s ; “ E i g h t k i n g s t h r e a ­ te n e d to,” etc .; it w i ll be se e n t h a t th e th r e e c o m e s nex t. T h e s u i t e o f D i a ­ m o n d s b e i n g e x h a u s t e d , y o u m u s t not f o r g e t t h a t C lu b s c o m e s n e x t : a n d s o on, u n ti l y o u h a v e d e s c r i b e d e v e r y c a r d in th e p a c k . M Y STER IO U S D ISA P P E A R A N C E T H E JA C K OF SPAD ES F i x i n g y o u r eye u pon th e s t o u t e s l o o k i n g m a n in the room , y o u a s k him if he c a n hold a c a r d ti g h t ly . Of c o u r s e h 3 a n s w e r s in th e a f f i r m a t i v e . You th en d e s i r e h im to s t a n d in th e m id d le o f th e r oom , a n d h o l d i n g up th e p a c k of c a r d s y o u s h o w him the b o tto m one, « d r e q u e s t h im to s t a t e w h a t c a r d it . H e w i l l tell y o u t h a t it is th e J a c k ( f S p a d e s . Y o u th en tell h im to hold th e c a r d t i g h t l y a n d lo o k up a t the c ling. W h ile he is l o o k i n g up, y o u a s k h im if he r e c o l l e c t s h is c a r d ; an d he a n s w e r s , a s he w i ll be s u r e to £o, the J a c k o f S p a d e s , y o u w i ll r e p ly -fhat he m u s t h a v e m a d e a m i s t a k e , f o r if he l o o k s a t th e c a r d he w ill find it to be the J a c k o f H e a r t s , w h ic h w i ll be th e c a s e . T h e n h a n d i n g him th e d e c k

125 T H IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D yo u te ll h im t h a t if he w i ll lo o k o v e r it he w i l l find h is J a c k o f S p a d e s s o m e ­ w h e r e in th e m id d le o f th e p a c k . T h i s t r i c k is e x t r e m e l y s i m p l e a n d e asy of accom plishm ent. You procure a n e x t r a J a c k o f S p a d e s , a n d c u t it in h alf, k e e p i n g th e u p p e r p a r t , a n d throw ing a w a y th e low er. B efore s h o w i n g th e b o t t o m o f th e p a c k to th e c o m p a n y g e t th e J a c k o f H e a r t s to th e b o tto m , a n d l a y o v e r it, u n p e r c e i v ­ ed by th e c o m p a n y , y o u r h a l f J a c k o f Sp ad e s and under preten se of holding th e p a c k v e r y t i g h t , p u t y o u r t h u m b a c r o s s th e m id d le, s o t h a t th e j o i n i n g m a y n o t be se en, th e l e g s o f th e tw o j a c k s b e i n g s o s i m i l a r t h a t d e te c ti o n is im p o s s i b l e . Y o u th e n g i v e him th e l o w e r p a r t o f th e J a c k o f H e a r t s to hold, a n d w h e n he h a s d r a w n th e c a r d a w a y , hold y o u r h a n d s s o t h a t th e f a c e s o f th e c a r d s w i ll be tu r n e d t o ­ w a r d th e floor. A s e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e •ou t a k e th e o p p o r t u n i t y o f r e m o v i n g the h a l f - j a c k . A C A R D C A U G H T ON T H E C O R N E R OF A B O R R O W E D H AN D­ K E R C H IE F The above trick is a v ariatio n of a m u ch o ld e r f e a t o f ' c a t c h i n g c h o s e n c a r d s on a s w o r d , a n d is to be r e c o m ­ m end ed, i n a s m u c h a s no s p e c i a l a p p a r ­ a t u s i s n ec ess ary .,

A c a r d i s se le c te d , n o t f o r c e d , a n d r e p la c e d , a n d th e p a c k s h u f f l e d a n d h eld by a s p e c t a t o r . T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w r e q u e s t s th e lo a n o f a g e n t l e m a n ' s h a n d k e r c h i e f , w h ich he s h o w s to be a n o r d i n a r y one. T h e g e n t l e m a n h o l d i n g th e p a c k is n o w r e ­ q u e s t e d to t h r o w th e s a m e in th e air, and , a s th e C ard s cfes^e^d, th e p e r f o r m , er w a v e s th e h a n d k e r c h i e f a m o n g th em , w h e r e u p o n the c h o s e n caroi c a u g h t on th e c o r n e r o f s e m e bo th b e i n g i m m e d {at«Ty p a s s e d f o r i n s p e c ­ tion. T h e f o l l o w i n g is Mie e x p l a n a t i o n of th i s e f fe c ti v e l 5* t le t r * e k : On th e to p v e s t - b u t t o n th e p e r f o r m ­ e r h a s a s m a l l p o r t i o n of s o f t a d h e s i v e w a x . W h ^n th e c h o s en r a r d is r e t u r n e d th e p a s s is m a d e a n d th e c a r d is p a l m ­ ed off, th e p a c k b e i n g i m m e d i a t e l y h a n d e d to a s p e c t a t o r to t h o r o u g h l y s h u f f l e . W h ile t h i s i s b e i n g d on e th e

p e r f o r m e r r e m o v e s th e w a x a n d s t i c k s it to one c o r n e r o f th e p a l m e d c a r d . A h a n d k e r c h i e f is now b o r r o w e d a n d held, a s in th e i l l u s t r a t i o n , th e b a c k o f the h a n d s, o f c o u r s e , f a c i n g th e a u d i e n c e (in the i l l u s t r a t i o n they a r e d r a w n a s th e y a p p e a r to th e p e r f o r m e r ) .

T he le ft hand now p la c e s the co rn er A o f th e h a n d k e r c h i e f in th e r i g h t h and , a s sh o w n , a t th e s a m e li m e p r e s s i n g c o r n e r B on to th e w a x . In t h i s p o s i t i o n th e h a n d k e r c h i e f c a n be w a v e d in th e a i r to s h o w it is u n ­ prepared, but w h en th e s p e c t a t o r t h r o w s th e c a r d s , th e p e r f o r m e r s l i p s th e en d b e tw e e n h i s f in g e rs, and . a g a i n w a v i n g the h a n d k e r c h i e f a m o n g th e f a l l i n g c a r d s , r e l e a s e s th e c a r d f r o m th e p a lm , w h ich t h e r e u p o n b e c o m e s visible ' on ih e en d o f the h a n d k e r c h i e f th e e ffe ct b e i n g t h a t th e p e r f o r m e r h a s a c t u a l l y c a u g h t one o f th e fa llin g : cards.

Tho above m v h practice p r o fic ie n t }n but. is a v e r y p e r i i a -at.

trick does not require w h en once th u r e a d e r is th e " p a s s ” a r 'r: " p a l m , ” p r e t t y a n d e f fe c ti v e e x -

TO M A K E T H E COS R T W A Y S COMF T O G E T H E R T a k e the p a c k , a n d s e p a r a t e a l l the K i n g s , Q u e e n s a n d J a c k s . Put. t h e s e a l l t o g e t h e r i n to a n y p a r t o f th e p a c k y o u f a n c y , a n d i n f o r m one o f th e c o m ­ p a n y t h a t he c a n n o t in t w e l v e c u t s d istu rb th eir order. Th e c h an ces arp

125 T R IC K S W IT H CARDS OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D

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500 to 1 in y o u r f a v o r ; b u t w i th a n o ­ vice the f e a t b e c o m e s im p o ssi b l e . T h i s is a v e r y a m u s i n g a n d e a s y tr ick . T h i s t r i c k m a y a l s o be r e n d e r e d m o r e w o n d e r f u l by p l a c i n g one h a l f o f the a b o v e n u m b e r o f c a r d s a t th e b o tto m a n d th e o th e r a t th e to p o f the p a c k . TO T U R N A C A R D IN T O A R I R D H a v i n g a li ve b ir d in y o u r sle eve, t a k e a c a r d in y o u r h and , e x h i b i t it, a n d th en d r a w it into y o u r s l e e v e w i th y o u r th u m b a n d li ttl e finge r, g i v i n g th e a r m a s h a k e s u f f i c i e n t to b r i n g th e bir d into y o u r hand, w h ic h y o u m a y th e n p r o d u c e a n d le t fly. O F T W E N T Y - F I V E C A R D S L A I D IN F I V E R O W S U PO N A T A B L E , TO NAME T H E ONE TOUCHED T o p e r f o r m th is t r i c k y o u nee d a c o n f e d e r a t e . T h e l a t t e r s i t s n e a r the ta b le , h a s bo th h is h a n d s close d, a n d p o i n t s ou t th e c a r d s to u c h e d by the f in g e r w h ic h he l e a v e s ex ten d ed . T h e fin g e r s o f the r i g h t h a n d in d i c a t e th© cross row s counted from above d o w n ­ w a r d ; tn e fin g e r s o f th e l e f t hand, on the c o n t r a r y , p o i n t o u t th e n u m b e r o f th e c a r d in th e c r o s s r o w c o u n t i n g f r o m le f t to r i g h t. If, f o r e x a m p le , th e th i r d c a r d f r o m the le f t in th e se co n d c r o s s r o w is th e one to u ch ed , y o u r a c c o m p l i c e l e a v e s th e se co n d fin ge r o f the r i g h t hand, and th e th i r d f in g e r o f th e le f t h an d :nb ent, c l o s i n g a l l th e oth ers. T h i s m u s t be done n a t u r a l l y , a n d n o t _n fc o open a m a n n e r a s it m i g h t be e a s ly d ete cte d. Ti

S E V E R A L C ARD S W H IC H ; E \ D I V I D E D INTO TWO H E A P S T >r t h i s t r i c k , y o u t a k e a c o m p l e te ir. k. w li.ch h a s be en d i v i d e d into tw o k/Ucii h e a p s t h a t a l l th e A c e s, N ines, S e v e n s , F i v e s , T h r e e s a r e in one h eap, a n d a ll the K i n g s , Q u eens, J a c k s , T e n s, E . g h t s . S i x e s, F o u r s a n d T w o s a r e in the o th e r heap. Y o u now le t s e v e r a l o f th e c o m p a n y d r a w c a r d s ou t o f e i th e r o f th e h e a p s ; c h a n g e the h e a p s u n p e r c e iv e d , a n d le t th e p e r s o n p la c e the odd c a r d s — a s A c e Nine, etc.— into th e h e a p o f eve n c a r d s , a n d v ice v e r s a . On r u n n i n g o v e r th e c a r d s , y o u e a s i l y d i s c o v e r th e d r a w n c a r d s , th e eve n c a r d s b e i n g in th e h e a p o f odd c a r d s , a n d th e od d c a r d s in th e h e a p o f eve n c a r d s .

c a r d in q u e s t io n w ill be f o u n d in f r o n t of the one w h ic h w a s a t f ir st th e b o t ­ t o m c ard . T H E CARD OF ONE COLOR POUND IN A P A C K O F T H E O T H E R S e p a r a t e th e p a c k into tw o p a r t s , p l a c i n g a l l th e red c a r d s in one pile, a n d a l l th e b l a c k c a r d s in th e oth er. One o f t h e s e p a c k s y o u c o n c e a l in y o u r p o c k e t. Y o u le t a n y p e r s o n d r a w a c a r d f r o m th e o th e r p a c k , a n d w h ile he is e x a m i n i n g the c a rd , s u b s t i t u t e th e p a c k in y o u r p o c k e t f o r th e one y o u hold in y o u r hand. L e t him p l a c e h i s c a r d in th e p a c k y o u h a v e t a k e n f r o m y o u r p o c k e t, an d s h u f f l e a s m u c h a s he p l e a s e s . On r e c e i v i n g b a c k th e d ec k, y o u w ill a t on ce r e c o g n i z e the c a r d he h a s d r a w n b y th e d iff e r e n c e o f color. THE

“TH URSTON” METHOD OF THROW ING CARD S M a n y p e r f o r m e r s o f note (in p a r t i c u ­ la r , F e l i c i e n T r e w e y ) h a v e m a d e a s p e c i a l t y o f t h r o w i n g c a r d s a m o n g th e a u d i e n c e to a g r e a t d i s t a n c e . T h e c a r d s u sed s h o u ld be o f f a i r l y s t i f f pasteb o ard , w ith a s sm ooth a s u r ­ f a c e a s p o s s i b le .

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TO F I N D A C E R T A I N C A R D A F T E R IT HAS BE E N SH U FF L E D IN T H E P A C K A s y o u s h u f f l e th e c a r d s , n o t e th e ■bottom one, b e i n g c a r e f u l n o t to s h u f ­ fle it f r o m i ts pla c e . T h e n le t a n y one d r a w a c a r d f r o m th e m id d le o f the p a c k , lo o k a t it, a n d p l a c e it on th e top. L e t him th en c u t th e dec k. T h e

T he ca rd Is h e ld lig h t ly b e tw e e n th e s e c o n d a n d th ir d fin ge rs, th e b a c k of th e h a n d f a c i n g th e a u d ie n c e . T h e h an d n o w m o v e s to the sh o u ld e r , and, w ith a sh o r t, q u i c k j e r k , l e t s th e c a r d s go. T h i s m o v e m e n t i m p a r t s a te r r ific v e l ­ o c it y to th e c a r d a n d w i th p r a c t i c e , it w i ll be f o u n d th a t th e p e r f o r m e r c a n t h r o w the s a m e in to th e b a c k o f a n y t h e a t e r o r hall. M a n y c a n a l w a y s m a n a g e in th e course of their p erfo rm an c es to g et s e v e r a l c a r d s into th e g a l l e r y o f a n y theater. T H E FO U R IN SE P A R A B L E KIN G S T a k e th e f o u r K i n g s , a n d b e h ind th e l a s t o f th e m p l a c e tw o o th e r c a r u s, so t h a t th e y m a y -not be se en. T h e n s p r e a d open th e f o u r k i n g s to th e c o m ­ p a n y , a n d p u t th e s i x c a r d s to th e b o t ­ tom o f th e p a c k . D r a w one of th e k i n g s a n d p u t it a t th e to p o f th e p a c k . D r a w one of th e tw o c a r d s a t th e b o tto m , an d p u t it t o w a r d th e m id d le . D r a w th e

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D o th e r, a n d p u t it a t s o m e d i s t a n c e f r o m th e la s t, a n d th en s h o w t h a t th e r e r e ­ m a i n s a k i n g a t th e bo tto m . T h e n le t a n y one c u t t-he c a r d s , a n d a s th e r e r e ­ m a i n e d t h r e e k in g s a t t h e bo tto n , th e y w i ll th e n be a l l t o g e t h e r in th e m id d le o f th e p a c k . TO N AM E S E V E R A L C A RD S W H IC H TWO P E R S O N S H A V E DRAW N FROM A P A C K D i v i d e a p i q u e t p a c k i n to t w o p a r t s by a long: c a r d ; le t th e fir st p a r t c o n ­ t a i n a q u i n t to a K i n g in C l u b s a n d S p a d e s , th e F o u r E i g h t s , th e T e n o f D i a m o n d s , a n d T e n o f H e a r t s , a n d le t th e o t h e r p a r t c o n t a i n th e t w o q u a r t m a j o r s in H e a r t s a n d D i a m o n d s , the FoO r S e v e n s , a n d th e F o u r N in es. T h e c a r d s m a y be d iv id e d in a n y o t h e r w a y t h a t is e a s y to r e m e m b e r . T h e n s h u f f l e th e c a r d s , b u t b e c a r e ­ fu l not to d i s p l a c e a n y o f t h o s e c a r d s o f the l a s t p a r t w h i c h a r e u n d e r th e lo n g c a r d ; y o u th en c u t a t t h a t c ard , an d le a v e th e p a c k in tw o p a r t s ; ne xt, p r e s e n t th e f ir st o f t h e s e p a r t s to a p erson , a n d tell h im to d r a w t w o or th ree c a r d s , a n d p l a c e th e r e m a i n d e r on th e t a b l e ; y o u p r e s e n t th e se c o n d p a r c e l in l i k e m a n n e r to a n o t h e r ; th en h a r i n g d e x t e r o u s l y p la c e d the c a r d s d r a w n b y th e fir st p e r s o n in th e s e c ­ ond p a r c e l, a n d t h o s e d r a w n by th e se c o n d p e r s o n in th e fir st pa r c e l, you s h u f f l e th e c a r d s , o b s e r v i n g not to d i s ­ p l a c e a n y b u t th e u p p e r c a r d s ; th en s p r e a d i n g th e c a r d s on th e t a b le , you n a m e t h o s e t h a t e a c h p e r s o n d re w , wh ich you m a y v e r y e a s i l y do, b y o b ­ s e r v i n g the c a r d s t h a t a r e c h a n g e d in -a ch p a r c e l.

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o f s t r i k i n g it, fir st one b a l l is r e m o v e d an d then the oth er, th e f a l s e p a c k b e ­ i n g d o u b le d a n d p a lm e d . OF TWO ROW S OF C ARD S, TO T E L L T H E ONE W H IC H H A S B E E N TOUCHED Y o u l a y tw o r o w s o f c a r d s u p o n th e ta b l e , s i x o r e i g h t in e a c h row . Y o u h a v e a r r a n g e d w i th a n a c c o m p l i c e t h a t th e u p p e r c a r d s , c o u n t e d f r o m th e le f t s i g n i f y d a y s , th e u p p e r c a r d s h ou rs. You now l e a v e th e room , r e q u e s t i n g one o f th e c o m p a n y t o t o u c h a c a rd . On r e t u r n i n g , y o u s t e p to th e t a b l e a n d b e g i n to look f o r th e c a r d , w hen, a f t e r a w h ile y o u r a c c o m p l i c e c r i e s o u t out, a s if in m o c k e r y , “ Y e s, you m i g h t lo o k f o r i t th r e e d a y s , a n d n e v e r find it,” i f th e to u c h e d c a r d is th e th ir d c a r d f r o m th e l e f t in th e u p p e r row . Y o u p a y no a t t e n t i o n , h o w e v e r , to hla r e m a r k , b u t c o n ti n u e to s e a r c h . A t lar.t y o u a p p a r e n t l y l o s e y o u r te m p e r, an d m i x . the c a r d s t o g e t h e r , e x c l a i m i n g , “ T h e c a r d s a r e f a l s e t o d a y !” T h e n y o u r efle ct a g a i n , s h u f f l e the c a r d s , p la c e t h e m in tw o r o w s, and, a f t e r s o m e h e s . i ta ti o n , p o i n t o u t th e to u c h e d c a rd .

T O H O L D F O U R K I N G S OR F O U R J A C K S IN Y O U R H A N D , A N D TO CHANGE TH EM SID D E N L V IN T O B L A N K C A R D S , AND T H E N IN TO FOUR ACES Y o u m u s t h a v e c a r d s m a d e f o r £!• p u r p o s e o f t h i s f e a t : h a l f c a r d s , a s th ey m a y be p r o p e r l y t e r m e d —rth at is, one h a l f K i n g s or J a c k s , a n d th e o t h e r h a l f A c e s. W h en you l a y th e A c e s one o v e r th e o th er, n o t h i n g b u t t h e K i n g or VP A C K O F C A R D S C H A N G E D TO J a c k s w i l l be se en. T h e n t u r n i n g the TW O L A R G E B A L L S K i n g s or J a c k s d o w n w a r d , th e f o u r A p ack of c a r d s show n from all sid es c e s w i l l be se en. Y o u m u s t h a v e tw o :u Id in th e l e f t han d, b u t u p o n b e i n g A p e r f e c t c a r d s , one a K i n g o r a J a c k , s t r o k e d c h a n g e s to tw o p a r t i - c o l o r e d to c o v e r one o f th e A c e s, or e l s e it ba lls. w i ll be s e e n ; a n d th e o t h e r a n A c e to An o r d i n a r y p a c k m u s t be s e c r e t l y to l a y o v e r th e K i n g s or J a c k s . W h en e x c h a n g e d f o r a d u m m y — in r e a l i t y , a yo u w i s h to m a k e th e m a ll a p p e a r o a s e o p e n i n g in th e ce n te r . b l a n k c a r d s , l a y the c a r d s a l i t t le l o w ­ er, a n d b y h i d i n g th e A c e s th e y w i ll a p p e a r w h i t e on bo th si d e s . Y o u m a y th e n a s k th e c o m p a n y w h i c h th e y ch oo se, a n d e x h i b i t th e K i n g s , A c e s o r B l a n k s a s r e q u ire d .

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T O S H U F F L E T H E C A R D S TN S U C H A M A N N E R A S A L W A Y S TO K E E P ONE C E R T A IN CARD A T T H E BOTTOM In s h u f f l i n g le t th e b o t t o m c a r d be a l w a y s a l i t t l e b e fo r e, or, w h ich is b e st, a li t t le be h in d a ll th e r e s t o f the c a r d s ; p u t it a l i t t l e b e y o n d th e r e s t b e fo r e , r i g h t o v e r y o u r f o re f in g e r , o r e l s e w h ic h is b e s t , a l i t t l e behind th e rest, p la c e d in s u c h a m a n n e r t h n t th e l i t t l e f in g e r o f th e l e f t h a n d m a y sli p up a n d m e e t w i t h it; a t th e first, s h u f ­ fle a s th i c k a s y o u c a n ; and, at l a s t

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tL: ■<., .1 i lie b o a r d the b o t t o m card, Yv'i.h u s . j a n y m o r e a s y o u w ou ld p r e ­ s e r v e f o r a n y p u r p o se , a l i t t le b e fo r e or a l i t t l e be h in d the r e s t ; a n d be s u r e to l e t y o u r f o re f in g e r , if th e p a c k be l a i d b e fo r e, or y o u r li ttl e fin ge r if the p a c k be la id behind, a l w a y s c r e e p up to m e e t w i th th e b o tto m c a r d ; a n d w h e n you f e e l it, you m a y th e r e hold it till you h a v e s h u f f l e d o v e r a g a i n ; r-h ic h b e i n g done, th e c a r d w h ich w a s l i r s t a t the b o tto m w i ll co m e th ere a g a i n . H a v i n g p e r f e c t e d y o u r s e l f in th i s m a n n e r o f s h u f f l i n g , y o u m a y a c ­ c o m p l is h a n y t h i n g you p l e a s e w ith a p a c k o f ten, tw elv e, or t w e n t y c a r d s . T H E E L E C T R IC CARDS T e n c a r d s a r e h a n d e d to a s p e c t a t o r on a t r a y w i th a r e q u e s t f o r him to t a k e two. T h e s e a r e d u ly noted and .placed a m o n g th e r e m a i n i n g eig h t. T h e p e r f o r m e r now t a k e s th e c a r d s , t w o a t a tim e, an d p a s s e s one in f r o n t o f the oth er . T h i s is r e p e a t e d until, /h en in the a c t o f p a s s i n g th e c a r d s , i i a s h e s o f fire sh o o t f o r t h f r o m th e tw o c a r d s , w hich , u p o n b e i n g t u r n e d w i t h t h e i r f a c e s to th e a u d ie n c e , a r e fo u n d to be the t w o c a r d s se lecte d . T h i s s o m e w h a t s t a r t l i n g e ff e c t is bro u g h t ab o u t by p r e p a r in g ten ca rd s a s follow s:

T h e f r o n t top c o r n e r o f e a c h c a r d is c o a t e d w i th p o t a s h a n d s u g a r a n d th e c o r r e s p o n d i n g b a c k c o r n e r is c o a t e d w i t h s u l p h u r i c acid. T h e s e a r e l a i d ou t on a t r a y w i th th e p r e p a r e d e n d s t o ­ w a r d th e p e r f o r m e r . T h e s p e c t a t o r s e ­ le c t s tw o. M e a n w h i le th e p e r f o r m e r c h a n g e s th e t r a y f r o m the r i g h t to th e ’ e f t hand, th e r e b y r e v e r s i n g th e p o s i t i n of th e c a r d s , so t h a t w h en th e l . : >sen o n e s a r e r e t u r n e d th e p e r f o r ­ m e r k n o w s t h a t th e only c a r d s w i t h the p r e p a r e d c o r n e r s t o w a r d h i m s e l f sire the tw o se le c te d . In p a s s i n g the •car ds he is c a r e f u l only to r u b th e t o p s ; n o t th e b o tto m s , s o t h a t w h e n he -comes to th e ch o s en o n e s a n d r u b s th em , th e y e m i t f la sh e s o f fire, a n d u pon b e m g tu r n e d to th e a u d i e n c e a r e fo u n d to be the c o r r e c t ^nes.

T H E C IR C LE OF F O U R T E E N CARDS To tu r n d o w n f o u r t e e n c a r d s w h ich lie in a c i r c l e u pon th e ta b le , o b s e r v i n g to tu r n d o w n o n ly t h o s e c a r d s a t w h ich y ou c o u n t th e n u m b e r se ven . T o d o t h i s y o u m u s t b e a r in m ind the c a r d w h ich you fir st t u r n e d dow n. B e g i n c o u n t i n g f ro m a n y c a r d f r o m one to se v e n , a n d tu r n th e s e v e n t h c a r d dow n. S t a r t i n g w ith t h i s c a r d , y o u a g a i n c o u n t f r o m one to se v e n , a n d tu r n th e s e v e n t h c a r d d ow n, etc., etc. W h e n you c a m e to th e c a r d w h ich y o u fir st tu r n e d dow n, y o u s k i p it, p a s s i n g on to th e ne xt, an d s o on u n ti l a l l the c a r d s a r e tu r n ed . T h i s is a v e r y e n t e r ­ t a i n i n g tr ick . THE

M A G IC S L I D E , O R T O M A K E A C A R D D I S A P P E A R IN AN IN ST A N T D i v i d e th e p a c k , p l a c i n g one h a l f in th e p a l m o f th e l e f t hand, w i t h ne f a c e o f th e c a r d s d o w n w a r d ; t h e n t a ^ e th e b a l a n c e o f th e p a c k in th e r i g h t han d, h o l d i n g th em b e t w e e n th e th u m b a n d t h r e e fir st fin ge rs, a n d p la c e the c a r d s u p r i g h t so t h a t th e e d g e s o f the c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t h a n d w i ll r e s t upon th e b a c k o f t h o s e l y i n g in th e p a l m o f th e l e f t h a n d p e r p e n d i c u l a r l y an d f o r m i n g a r i g h t a n g l e , by w h i c h y o u w ill p e r c e i v e t h a t th e f o u r f i n g e r s o f the le f t h a n d to u ch th e l a s t c a r d o f the u p r i g h t c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t h and . B e s u r e y o u g e t t h i s p o s i t i o n c o r r e c t ly , f o r th e r e s t o f th e t r i c k i s v e r y sim p le . Y o u "now r e q u e s t a n y one o f y o u r a u d i ­ ence to e x a m i n e th e top c a r d o f the h a l f p a c k t h a t r e s t s in th e p a l m of y o u r l e f t h a nd , a n d to r e p l a c e i t a g a i n . H a v i n g d on e th is, r e q u e s t him to look a t it a g a i n , a n d to h i s a m a z e m e n t it w i ll h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d , a n d a n o t h e r c a r d w ill a p p e a r in i t s pla c e . To p e r f o r m t h i s t r i c k , a f t e r y o u h a v e a s s u m e d the p o s i t io n a l r e a d y d e s ­ cribed , y o u m u s t d a m p e n th e t i p s o f the f o u r f in g e r s t h a t r e s t a g a i n s t th e l a s t c a r d o f th e u p r i g h t c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t han d. Y o u m u s t now r a i s e th e u p r i g h t c a r d s in y o u r r i g h t h an d v e r y q u i c k ly , an d th e l a s t c a r d w i ll a d h e r e to the d a m p e n e d f in g e r s o f y o u r l e f t hand. A s you r a i s e th e u p r i g h t c a r d s you m u st close your le ft hand sk illfu lly, a n d y o u w i ll t h e r e b y p l a c e th e l a s t c a r d o f th e u p r i g h t c a r d s — w h i c h a d ­ h e r e s to th e fin g e r s o f y o u r l e f t h and — u pon the top o f the c a r d s in th e p a lm o f y o u r l e f t hand, a n d w h e n y o u r e ­ q u e s t th e p e r s o n w h o e x a m i n e d th e top c a r d in y o u r h a n d to lo o k a t it once m ore, he w ill s e e th e c a r d y o u h ave j u s t p la c e d th ere, i n s t e a d o f th e one he fir st e x a m in e d . The principal th in g you m u st ob­ s e r v e is to be v e r y r a p i d a n d d e x t e r ­ o u s in s l i p p i n g th e c a r d a t th e b ac k o f th e u p r i g h t c a r d f r o m i t s positio n th e r e to th e to p o f th e c a r d s in th* o f y o u r l e f t h and

125 T H IC K S W IT H C A R D S O R SL E IG H T O P IIA M J T H E TR A N SM U T ED CARD S In a com m on p a c k o f cards le t th e Ace o f H e a rts and N in e o f Spades be so m e w h a t la r g e r th a n th e rest. W it h th e ju ic e o f a le m on d ra w o ve r th e Ace o f H e a rts a Spade, la rg e e n ough to co ve r I t e n tire ly , and on each side d ra w f o u r o th e r Spades. P re s e n t th e d e ck to tw o persons so a d r o itly th a t one o f th e m s h a ll d ra w th e Ace o f H e a rts , a nd th e o th e r th e N in e o f Spades, and t e ll h im w h o d ra w s th e la t t e r to b u rn I t on a c h a fin g d ish . Y o u th e n ta k e th e ashes o f th a t ca rd , P u t th e m in a s m a ll m e ta l box, and g iv e i t to h im w h o has th e Ace o f H e a rts , th a t he m a y h im s e lf p u t th a t c a rd in to th e b o x a nd fa s te n it . T h e n p u t th e b o x f o r a s h o rt tim e , on th e c h a fin g d ish , and le t th e p e rso n w h o p u t th e c a rd in i t ta k e i t o ff a nd ta k e o u t th e card, w h ic h he w i l l see Is ch anged In to th e N in e o f Spades. T H E S H IF T IN G C A R D P u t a t th e to p o f y o u r p a c k a n y c a rd yo u please, sa y th e Q ueen o f Clubs. M ake th e pass, b y w h ic h y o u p u t i t In th e m id d le o f th e p a c k , a nd m a ke some one d ra w i t ; c u t a g a in , a nd g e t th e same c a rd in to th e m id d le ; m a ke th e pass a g a in , to g e t i t to th e to p o f th e pa ck, and th e n p re s e n t i t and g e t i t d ra w n b y a second person, w h o o u g h t n o t be so n e a r th e f ir s t as to be able to p e rce ive t h a t he has d ra w n th e same. R e p e a t th is process u n t il y o u have m ade fiv e people d ra w th e same card. S h u ffle , w it h o u t lo s in g s ig h t o f th e Q ueen o f C lubs, a nd s p re a d in g on th e ta b le a n y f o u r ca rd s w h a te v e r w it h th is Queen, a s k I f e v e ry one sees h is o w n ca rd . T h e y w i l l r e p ly in th e a f f i r ­ m a tiv e , sin ce each sees th e Q ueen o f Clubs. T u r n in g o v e r these cards, w it h ­ d ra w in g th e Queen, 'and a p p ro a c h in g th e f ir s t person, a s k i f th a t be h is card, t a k in g care w h ile s h o w in g I t to h im th a t th e o th e rs m a y n o t be i able to see it . H e w i l l t e ll y o u i t is. B lo w on it, o r s t r ik e it , and s h o w I t to a second perso n , a nd so on. T H E F O U R T R A N SF O R M E D K IN G S Y o u have th e f o u r K in g s o f a p a ck, and have p laced th e m in y o u r h a n d in such a m a n n e r th a t one s lig h t ly o v e r­ tops th e o th e r, y e t so t h a t each can e a s ily be d is tin g u is h e d w h e n h e ld c lo se ly in th e hand. A f t e r s h o w in g th e m to th e co m p a n y yo u s lid e th e m to g e th e r, and pla ce them , th u s jo in e d , upon th e to p o f th e pack, w h ic h y o u h o ld in y o u r r ig h t hand. Y o u th e n d ra w o ff th e fo u r to p cards, and la y each in a p e rso n ’s lap. face d o w n w a rd , d ir e c tin g th e m to pla ce th e fla t o f th e h and upon th e m . Y o u n o w d ra w f o u r o th e r ca rd s fr o m th e

SS

p a ck, and p la ce th e m each u pon th e la p o f a n e ig h b o r o f each o f th e f o u r above persons, and d ir e c t th e m a lso to co ve r th e m w it h th e fla t o f th e hand. Y o u can n o w ste p w it h th e re s t o f th e cards in f r o n t o f each o f these eight, persons, f l i r t th e ca rd s to w a rd th e la p o f each, and w h e n each l if t s h is ca rd fro m h is lap, and lo o k s a t it, i t a p ­ pears th a t th e fo u r persons upon whose la p y o u have p la ce d th e fo u r K in g s have a lto g e th e r d iffe re n t cards, and th e ir n e ig h b o rs have n o w th e f o u r K in g s . T h is is done in th e fo llo w in g m a n ­ n e r: W h ile y o u a re d ra w in g th o fo u r K in g s fr o m th e p a ck, and p la c in g th e m as described, one upon th e o th e r in y o u r hand, yo u a t th.e same tim e , u n ­ pe rce ive d , c a rr y off f o u r o th e r cards, and place th e m fcc'iin d th o fo u r K in g s , so th a t th e y lie in th e h o llo w o f y o u r h and a nd ca n n o t be seen. W h o ” , a f t e r h a v in g sh o w n th o f o u r K in g s , y o u push th e m to g e th e r in a heap, th e f o u r K in g s , o f course come in f r o n t o f th e fo u r o th e r cards, w h ic h la t t e r n o w lie on th e to p o f th e p a ck. These y o u d is ­ tr ib u te to th e f ir s t fo u r persons, and th e n d e a l o u t th e fo u r K in g s to t h e ir n e ig h b o rs.

T H E C A R D IN T H E R IN G G et a r in g m ade o f a n y m e ta l, In W h ich is se t a la rg e , tra n s p a re n t stone o r piece o f glass, to th e b o tto m o f w h ic h is fa ste ne d a s m a ll piece o f b la c k s ilk ; u n d e r th e s ilk is to be th e fig u re o f a ' s m a ll c a rd ; and th e s ilk m u s t be so c o n s tru c te d th a t i t m a y be e ith e r d ra w n aside o r spread b y t u r n ­ in g th e stone a round. Y o u th e n cause a p e rso n to d ra w th e same s o rt o f c a rd as th a t a t th e b o t­ to m o f th e r in g ; and t e ll h im to b u rn i t in a candle. N ow , th e r in g b e in g so c o n s tru c te d th a t th e s ilk conceals th e c a rd u n d e rn e a th it , yo u f ir s t sh o w h im th e r in g , t h a t he m ay see i t is n o t th e re , a nd t e ll h im yo u w i l l m a ke i t a p p e a r; th e n r u b b in g th e ashes o f th e ca rd on th e r in g , yo u m anage to tu r n th e stone o r g la ss d e x te ro u s ly rou n d , and e x h ib it to h im th e s m a ll ca rd a t th e b o tto m .

T O G U E S S T H E C A R D S W H IC H F O U R PER SO N S H A V E F IX E D T H E IR T H O U G H T S U PO N Y o u ta k e f o u r cards, sh o w th e m to th e f ir s t person, re q u e st h im to se le ct one o f th e m in th o u g h t, a nd la y th e m aside. T he n ta k e fo u r o th e r cards, le t a second person choose one o f th e m , place these fo u r cards u p o n th e ta b le beside th e f ir s t fo u r, b u t a l i t t l e a p a rt. Proceed in th e same w a y w it h th e t h ir d a nd fo u r th person.

120 T H IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D Y o u n o w t a k e th e fir st p e r s o n ’s f o u r c a r d s , a n d l a y th em , s e p a r a t e l y , sid e b y side. U p on t h e s e f o u r c a r d s y o u p l a c e th e f o u r c a r d s o f th e se c o n d p e r ­ s o n in th e s a m e o rd er, a n d s o w i th the f o u r c a r d s o f th e th ir d a n d f o u r t h p e r so n . Yo u n o w s h o w e a c h p i le to th e f o u r p e r s o n s , one a f t e r the oth er, a s k i n g e a c h in w h ic h p ile he finds th e c a r d he h a s t h o u g h t of. A s so o n a s y o u k n o w t h i s y o u d i s ­ c o v e r the c a r d s t h o u g h t o f in th e f o l ­ l o w i n g o r d e r : T h e c a r d t h o u g h t o f by th e fir st p e r s o n is, o f c o u r se , th e f ir st in th e p ile in w h ich he s a y s it i s c o n ­ t a i n e d ; th e se c o n d p e r s o n ’s c a r d is th e s e c o n d o f th e pile, s o a l s o th e th i r d a n d f o u r t h p e r s o n ’s c a r d is th e th i r d a n d f o u r t h o f th e pile.

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q u i t e d i f f i c u l t to fu lfill th e r e q u i r e d co n d itio n s, an d a t all e v e n ts , it w i ll t a k e y o u a l o n g tim e to d o so. T H E R IS IN G CARDS T h e e ffe ct o f th e il lu s i o n to th e a u d i ­ ence is a s f o l l o w s : F iv e card s are selected h ap h azard ly (not forced) from an ord inary pack. T h e five c a r d s a r e t h e n h a n d e d to a n i n d e p e n d e n t m e m b e r o f th e a u d ie n c e , w i t h th e r e q u e s t t h a t he r e p l a c e the s a m e a n d s h u f f l e th e m in to th e p a c k th o r o u g h ly . T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w r e t u r n s to th e s t a g e a n d h o ld s th e p a c k in th e le f t han d, w i t h the f a c e s o f th e c a r d s t o ­ w a r d th e a u d ie n c e . H e p a s s e s th e r i g h t h a n d c o m p l e t e ly ro u n d th e c a r d s to p r o v e t h e r e a r e no t h r e a d s , etc., u sed . T h e h a n d s a n d c a r d s a r e n o w l e f t in th e p o s i t io n d e p ic te d , b e i n g a b o u t t h r e «

T I1 E CHOSEN C AR D R E V E A L E D B Y A P IN C H OF S N U F F F o r c e a c a r d — s u p p o s e f o r in s t a n c e , the F iv e of C lubs— h av in g previou sly w r i t t e n th e w o r d s, o r d r a w n the s p o t s , on a c le a n s h e e t o f p a p e r , w i t h a t a l ­ lo w c a n d le ; t h e n h a n d th e p a c k to th e p e r s o n on w h o m th e c a r d is f o r c e d ; bid him p l a c e it w h ere, a n d s h u f f l e th e p a c k h ow he p l e a s e s ; a s k f o r a p inch o f sn uff, s t r e w it o v e r th e sho.: >f p a ­ per, b l o w the lo o s e g r a i n s oft'. th e r e m a i n d e r w ill s t i c k to th e p l a c e s th e t a l l o w h a s tou ch e d , t h u s t e l l i n g th e p e r s o n w h a t c a r d he h a s ch osen . T h e p a p e r , if d on e l i g h t l y w i t h th e c a n d le w i l l not a p p e a r to h a v e a n y m a r k s on

H O W TO A R R A N G E T H E T W E L V E P IC T U R E CARDS A N D T H E F O U R ACES OF A P A C K IN F O U R ROW S SO T H A T T H E R E W I L L B E IN N E IT H E R R O W T W O CARDS OF T H E SAM E V A L U E NOR TW O O F T H E S A M E S U IT E , W H E T H E R CO UN TED H O R IZ O N ­ T A LLY OR P E RP E N D IC U L A R L Y The s i m p l e s t w a y o f p e r f o r m i n g t h i s t r i c k is to f o r m a d i a g o n a l line f r o m th e l e f t to the r i g h t w i t h th e f o u r A c e s. T h e n f o r m a n o t h e r d i a g o n a l line, f r o m th e r i g h t to the l e f t w i t h th e f o u r J a c k s , c r o s s i n g the p r e c e d i n g d i a g o n a l line, an d y o u w ill h a v e a p o s i t i o n s i m i ­ l a r to t h a t sh ow n . T h i s don e, p l a c e a K i n g a n d a Q u een in eac h o f the f o u r s p a c e s w h ich r e ­ m a i n to be filled, in o r d e r to c o m p l e t e t h e s q u a r e or f o u r r o w s , b e i n g c a r e f u l to ch oo se th e s u i t e s , a n d to a r r a n g e th e c a r d s in s u c h a m a n n e r a s to fulf ill th e co n d i ti o n s r e q u ire d . B y p u r s u i n g a n y o th e r m e th o d t h a n one in d i c a t e d it w i ll be f o u n d

fee t ap art. The p e rfo rm e r next in­ q u i r e s th e n a m e o f th e f ir st c a r d s e ­ lec ted , w h e r e u p o n it i m m e d i a t e l y l e a v e s th e p a c k a n d s o a r s a s g r a c e f u l l y a s a b ir d u p to th e r i g h t h and , w h e r e i t is held b e t w e e n th e f i n g e r s a n d th u m b , t h e b e a u t y o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t l y i n g in th e f a c t t h a t th e p e r f o r m e r d o e s not m o v e a m u s c l e d u r i n g th e r i s i n g o f th e car d . T h e c a r d i s n o w p l a c e d on t h e f r o n t o f th e p a c k , a n d th e s e c o n d c a r d c a ll e d for, w h e n it i m m e d i a t e l y a s c e n d s in th e s a m e m a n n e r a s the fir st one. T h i s is r e p e a t e d u n til th e fiv©

T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D chosen ca rd s have m ade their ap p earanc e. T h e p e r f o r m e r is n o t c o m p e l le d to s t a n d in a n y p a r t i c u l a r p a r t o f the s t a g e ; in f a c t , th e t r i c k c a n be j u s t a s s u c c e s s f u l l y p r e s e n t e d in a n y d r a w ­ in g - r o o m , w i t h o u t t h e a i d o f a s s i s t a n t s , etc.

T h e p r i n c i p a l s e c r e t o f th e i l lu s i o n d e p e n d s upon th e i n g e n i o u s piece o f a p p a r a t u s d ep ic ted . It r e s e m b l e s th e w e ll k n o w n self-coilin g m easu rin g ta p e . A p i e c e o f v e r y thin, b u t s t r o n g s i lk th r e a d , s a y , a b o u t t h r e e to f o u r f e e t lo ng, i s co ile d on a d r u m w i t h i n a cy lindrical b o x or case. The th read c a n be d r a w n o u t to i t s f u l l ex te n t, b u t upon s l i g h t p r e s s u r e b e i n g b r o u g h t to b e a r on a l i t t l e s t u d on th e f a c e o f the bo x it is g r a d u a l l y w i t h d r a w n , th e slo w a c t i o n o f th e d r u m b e i n g b r o u g h t a b o u t by a n e x c e e d i n g l y w e a k i n t e r n a l s p r i n g . A in th e d i a g r a m is a s a f e t y pin s o l d e r e d to one s i d e o f th e c a s e , t h u s e n a b l i n g th e p e r f o r m e r to a t t a c h the s a m e to th e top o f h is t r o u s e r s b e tw een th e s u s p e n d e r b u t t o n s on th e le f t side. T h e t h r e a d i s n o w p u lle d o u t a b o u t 2 f e e t 6 in ches, a s m a l l p e l l e t of s o f t w a x b e i n g a t t a c h e d to th e end. T h e w a x is then a f f i x e d to th e top v e s t butt on, the s l a c k p o r ti o n o f th e c o rd b e i n g tu c k e d into th e v es t. The p e r f o r m e r n o w i n v i t e s five m e m ­ b e r s o f th e a u d i e n c e to s e l e c t c a r d s . H e c o ll e c t s th em h i m se lf , an d , in the a c t o f t u r n i n g ro u n d to a s k a n o t h e r s p e c t a t o r to s h u f f l e th e c a r d s , c h a n g e s th e ch o s en five f o r five o t h e r c a r d s by m e a n s o f th e r i g h t h a n d p r o fo n d e . I f th i s is d on e n e a t ly , th e s p e c t a t o r n e v e r i m a g i n e s b u t w h a t he i s s h u f f l i n g the s e le c t e d c a r d s into th e p a c k . On the r e t u r n j o u r n e y to th e s t a g e t h e r e is a m p l e ti m e a n d o p p o r t u n i t y to r e g a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f th e c h o s e n c a r d s, w h ich a r e p a l m e d a n d r e p la c e d on the top o f th e p a c k , c a r e b e i n g t a k e n t h a t th ey a r e in th e c o r r e c t o r ­ der. Now, a s th e p e r f o r m e r t u r n s r o u n d to f a c e the a u d i e n c e , he v e r y a d r o i t l y r e m o v e s th e w a x , t o g e t h e r w i t h th e th r e a d f r o m the v e s t b u t t o n a n d p r e s s e s it on th e b a c k o f th e h in d er m ost card. The rig h t hand now p a s s e s r o u n d th?: c a r d s a n d s e c u r e s th e t h r e a d

b e t w e e n th e f ir s t a n d s e c o n d fin ge rs, s o t h a t w h e n th e h a n d s a s s u m e the a t t i t u d e s h o w n th e t h r e a d i s in th e p o s i t io n i l l u s t r a t e d . T h i s t h r e a d , if o f t h e c o r r e c t t h i c k ­ n e s s is a b s o l u t e l y in v is ib le , even a t close q u a rte rs .

W h e n t h e n a m e o f t h e c a r d Is c a l l ­ e d out, th e p e r f o r m e r , w i t h th e e lb o w o f th e le f t a r m , p r e s s e s on th e v e s t a t th e p l a c e w h e r e he k n o w s th e d r u m to be, t h u s c a u s i n g th e t h r e a d to reco il a n d th e c a r d to r i s e to th e r i g h t hand. T h e c a r d is n o w r e p l a c e d on th e f r o n t o f the pack , and under cover of a s k ­ i n g th e n a m e o f th e n e x t c a r d , th e w a x i s f a s t e n e d to th e b a c k c a r d , a n d th e s a m e m o v e m e n t s r e p e a te d . T h e r e s t o f t h e c a r d s a r e s i m i l a r l y d e a l t with . T H E A R T OF FO R TU N E T E L L IN ^ B Y CARDS T a k e a p a ck of cards, and m a k in g y o u r s e l f w h ich Q ueen y o u p l e a s e , lay th em o u t on a ta b l e , n ine in a row , an d w h e r e v e r y o u find y o u r s e l f p l a c e d c o u n t nine c a r d s e v e r y w a y , m a k i n g y o u r s e l f one, a n d t h e n y o u w i l l se e w h a t c a r d y o u te ll to, a n d w h a t e v e r t h a t is w i l l h a p p e n to you. I f th e tw o red T e n s a r e by you, it is a s i g n o f m a r r i a g e ; th e Ace o f D i a m o n d s i s a r i n g ; th e A c e o f H e a r t s is y o u r h ou se. Ace o f C l u b s i s a l e t t e r ; t h e Ace o f S p a d e s is d e a th , s p i t e or q u a r r e l i n g , ( f o r t h a t i s r e c k o n e d th e w o r s t car**

ss

12,"5 TRICK S. W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D

in th e p a c k ;) T he T en o f D ia m o nd s is a jo u rn e y ; th e T h re e o f H e a rts is a k is s ; th e T h re e o f Spades is te a rs ; the T e n o f th e same s u ite is sickn e ss; th e N in e o f th e sarpo is d is a p p o in tm e n t. N in e o f H e a rts is fe a s tin g ; th e Ten o f Clubs g o in g b y w a te r; T he Ten o f H e a rts places o f am u se m e n t; th e F iv e o f H e a rts a p re s e n t; th e F iv e o f Clubs a b u n d le ; th e S ix o f Spades a c h ild ; th e Seven o f Spades is a re m o v a l; the T h re e o f C lubs fig h tin g ; The E ig h t o f C lubs c o n fu s io n ; th e E ig h t o f Spades a ro a d w a y ; th e F o u r o f Clubs a stra n g e .bed; th e N in e o r D ia m o nd s business; th e F iv e o f D ia m o nd s a s e ttle m e n t; th e F iv e o f Spades a s u rp ris e ; th e tw o red E ig h ts n e w c lo th e s ; th e T hre e o f D ia ­ m onds s p e a k in g w it h a fr ie n d ; th e f o u r o f Spades a s ic k bed; th e Seven o f C lubs a p ris o n ; th e . T w o o f Spades a fa ls e fr ie n d ; th e F o u r o f H e a rts a m a rria g e bed; w h e n se ve ra l D ia m o nd s come to g e th e r i t is a s ig n o f m oney; se v e ra l H e a rts lo v e ; s e ve ra l Clubs d r in k ; and s e v e ra l Spades v e x a tio n . I f a m a rrie d w o m a n la y s cards, she m u s t m ake h e r husband K in g o f th e Ba^me s u ite th e Q ueen, is o f; i f a s in g le w o m an tr ie s it, she m ay m ake h e r s w e e th e a rt w h a t k in g she lik e s ; th e J a c k o f th e same s u ite is th e m en's th o u g h ts ; so th a t yo u m ay k n o w w h a t th e y a re th in k in g , b y t e llin g n in e ca rd s fro m w h e re th e y are placed, m a k in g th e m one; and i f a n y one chooses to t r y i f she s h a ll have h e r w is h , le t h e r s h u ffle th e cards w e ll, (as she m u s t lik e w is e w h e n she te lls h e r fo rtu n e ,) w is h in g a ll th e tim e fo r some one th in g ; she m u s t th e n c u t th e m once, and m in d in g w h a t card she cut, s h u ffle th e m a g a in , and th e n deal them o u t in to th re e p a rce ls; w h ic h done, lo o k o v e r e v e ry p a rce l, and i f the ca rd yo u c u t comes n e x t to y o u rs e lf o r n e x t to th e Ace o f H e a rts you w i l l have y o u r w is h ; b u t i f th e N in e o f Spades is n e x t, y o u w i l l not, f o r th is is a d is a p p o in tm e n t; h o w e ve r, you m ay t r y i t th re e tim es. T H E M A G IC T W E L V E L e t a n y one ta k e th e p a ck o f cards, s h u ffle , ta k e o ff th e u p p e r card, and, h a v in g n o tic e d it, la y i t on th e ta b le , w it h its face d o w n w a rd , and p u t so m an y cards upon i t as w ill m ake up tw e lv e w it h th e n u m b e r o f 'sp ots on th e noted card. F o r in sta n ce, i f the ca rd w h ic h th e ' person d re w w as a K in g , Queen, J a c k o r Ten, b id h im la y th a t c a rd w it h its face d o w n w a rd , c a ll­ in g i t te n ; upon th a t ca rd le t h im la y a n o th e r, c a llin g i t eleven, and upon th a t a n o th e r, c a llin g i t tw e lv e ; th e n b id h im ta k e o ff th e n e x t u p p e rm o st c a rd ; suppose i t to be a n in e ; le t h im la y i t d o w n u pon a n o th e r p a rt o f th e ta b le , c a llin g i t n in e ; upon i t le t h im la y a n o th e r, c a llin g i t te n ; u pon the la t t e r a n o th e r, c a llin g i t eleven; and upon th a t a n o th e r, c a llin g i t tw e lv e ;

th e n le t h im go to th e n e x t u p p erm o st card, and so proceed to la y o u t in heaps as befpre, t i l l he has gone th ro u g h th e w h o le pack. I f th e re be a n y cards a t th e la s t— th a t is, i f th e re be n o t enough to m ake up th e la s t noted card th e n u m b e r tw e lv e , b id h im to g iv e ! th e m to yo u ; then, in o rd e r to t e ll h im t'he n u m b e r o f a ll th e spots co n taine d in a ll th e b o tto m cards o f th e heaps, do th is : F ro m th e n u m b e r o f heaps s u b tra c t fo u r, m u ltip ly th e re m a in d e r by fifte e n , and to th e p ro d u c t add the n u m b e r o f re m a in in g cards w h ic h he gave y o u ; b u t i f th e re w e re b u t fo u r heaps, th e n those re m a in in g cards alone w i l l sh o w th e n u m b e r o f spots on th e fo u r b o tto m cards. Y o u need n o t see th e cards la id o u t, n o r k n o w th e n u m b e r o f cards in each heap, i t b e in g s u ffic ie n t to k n o w th e n u m b e r o f heaps, and th e n u m b e r o f re m a in in g cards, i f th e re be any, and th e re fo re you can p e rfo rm th is fe a t as w e ll s ta n d in g in a n o th e r room , as i f p r e a e i.t . T H E DRAW N* C A R D AVAILED TO THE W ALL D riv e a fia t-h e a d e d and s h a rp -p o in te d n a il th i-o u g h a c a rd — f o r c e n s im ila r one on a n y person p re se n t— receive it in to th e p a c k — d e x te ro u s ly d ro p it, ai\d p ic k up, unseen, the n a ile d ca rd ; place th e la tt e r a t th e b o tto m o f th e p a d :, w h ic h ta k e in y o u r r ig h t hand, and th ro w it, w it h th e b o tto m fo rw a rd , a g a in s t a w a in s c o t o r d o o r; th e n a ile d card w i l l be fixed, and th e rest, o f course, f a ll to th e g ro u n d . T a ke care to place y o u r n a il so th a t th e f r o n t o f th e card, w h e n fixed to th e door, m ay be exposed; to e ffe ct th is , yo u m ust also rem e m be r to p u t th e b a ck o f the ca rd o u tw a rd p la c in g i t face to face w ith the others, w h e n you p u t i t a t th e b o tto m o f th e pa ck. OX E N T E R IN G A ROOM, TO K N O W OF T H R E E CARDS P L A C E D S ID E IJY S ID E W H IC H H A V E B E E N R E V E R S E D —JTH A T IS TO SAY. TURNED UP­ S ID E D O W N T h is t r ic k is a v e ry easy one, as t l . ' tw o ends o f th e cards are c u t so a;, to leave a m a rg in o f an un e qu a l w id th A ll th a t is re q u is ite is to place a ll th e b ro a d ends o f th e cards e ith e r to w a rd yo u o r fro m you, w h e n upon e n te rin g the room , you w ill a t once p erceive w h ic h ca rd has been tu rn e d . TO

B R IN G A C A R D W H IC H IIA S B E E N T H R O W N OUT OF T H E W IN D O W IN T O T H E P A C K A G A IN A f t e r you have s h u ffle d th e pack and placed i t upon th e ta b le , yo u le t a n y p e rso n d ra w f o r t h th e lo w e s t card, o f w h ic h th e re a re tw o a lik e , a t the b o tto m o f th e p a c k ; te a r i t in sm a ll

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG IIT OF H A N D pieces, a nd th r o w th e m o u t o f th e •window. Y ou assure th e c o m p a n y th a t th e pieces ju s t th ro w n o u t w i l l jo in th e m ­ selves to g e th e r a g a in , and r e tu r n as a w h o le c a rd to th e pa ck. Y o u raise th e w in d o w , and c a ll “ Come, come, com e!’' T hen a p p ro a ch th e ta b le a s s u rin g th e sp e c ta to rs th a t th e m u tila te d c a rd has re tu rn e d c o m p le te to its o ld place in th e p a c k ; and le t th e m s a tis fy th e m ­ selves th a t such is th e fa c t. A N E W M E T H O D TO T E L L A C A R D B Y IT S W E IG H T Y ou d e cla re vto th e co m p a n y th a t y o u can t e ll a cabd b y w e ig h in g it. Y o u ta k e th e p a c k in y o u r hand, le t one o f th e co m p a n y d ra w a ca rd , lo o k a t it, and place i t face d o w n w a rd in y o u r hand. Y o u th e n lo o k a t i t a tte n tiv e ly , a p p a re n tly t r y in g its w e ig h t, w h ile in fa c t you a re e x a m in in g i t v e ry clo se ly to see i f yo u c a n n o t d is c e rn upon its back some m a rk b y w h ic h yo u m a y k n o w i t a g a in , and i f th e re is none yo u m a rk i t s e c re tly w it h y o u r n a il. Y o u le t th e p e rso n p u t th e ca rd in th e p a ck, s h u ffle it , and h a n d i t b a ck to you. Y o u n o w lo o k th ro u g h th e pack, ta k e one c a rd a fte r a n o th e r, and appear as i f yo u w e re w e ig h in g them , w h ile y o u search f o r th e m a rk b y w h ic h y o u m a y d is c o v e r th e d ra w n card. T H E W IN D O W T R IC K Place y o u rs e lf in th e recess o f a w in ­ dow, and le t a n y one sta n d close to you, as n e a r to th e w in d o w as possible. Y o u n o w d ra w a card, h and i t to h im , and re q u e st h im to note it. T h is yo u m u s t c o n triv e to do in such a m an n e r, th a t y o u can c a tch a g lim p s e o f the im age o f th e c a rd re fle c te d in th e w in ­ dow. Y o u n o w k n o w w h a t th e c a rd is as w e ll as he does, and can p o in t i t o u t to h im a fte r th e ca rd s have been th o ro u g h ly s h u ffle d . T H E N U M E R IC A L C A R D L e t th e lo n g c a rd be th e s ix te e n th in th e p a c k o f p iq u e t cards. T a k e te n o r tw e lv e ca rd s fro m th e to p o f th e p a ck, and s p re a d in g th e m on th e ta b le , d esire a person to t h in k o f a n y one o f them , and to observe th e n u m b e r i t is fro m th e f ir s t ca rd . M ake th e pass a t th e lo n g card, w h ic h w i l l be a t the b o tto m . T hen a s k th e p a r ty th e n u m ­ b e r h is c a rd w as a t, and, c o u n tin g to y o u rs e lf fro m t h a t n u m b e r to sixte e n , t u r n th e cards up, one b y one, fro m th e b o tto m . T he n sto p a t th e seven­ te e n th card, and a sk th e person i f he has seen h is card, w h e n he w i l l say no. Y o u th e n ask h im h o w m a n y m ore ca rd s y o u s h a ll d ra w b e fo re h is ca rd appears, and w h e n he has nam ed th e num ber, yo u d ra w th e c a rd aside w it h y o u r fin g e r, t u r n up th e n u m b e r o f cards he proposed, and th r o w do w n th e c a rd he fix e d upon.

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TO N A M E T I I E R A N K O F A C A R D T H A T A PERSO N H A S D R A W N F R O M A P H IU E T P A C K ; The r a n k o f a card m eans w h e th e r i t be an Ace, K in g , Queen, etc. Y ou th e re fo re fir s t fix a c e rta in n u m b e r to each ca rd — th u s you c a ll th e K in g fo u r, th e Queen th re e , th e J a c k tw o , th e Ace one, and th e e th e rs a c c o rd in g to th e n u m bers o f th e ir pips. S h u ffle th e cards, and le t a person d ra w a n y one o f th e m ; th e n tu r n in g up th e re m a in in g cards, you add th e n u m b e r o f th e fir s t to th a t o f the sec­ ond, th e second to th e th ird , and so on, t i l l i t a m o u n ts to ten, w h ic h you th e n re je c t, and b e g in a g a in ; o r i f i t be m ore, re je c t th e ten, and c a rr y th e re m a in d e r to th e n e x t card, and so on to th e la s t; to th e la s t a m o u n t add fo u r and s u b tra c t th a t sum fro m te n i f i t be less, o r fro m tw e n ty i f i t be m ore th a n ten, and th e re m a in d e r w i l l be the n u m b e r o f th e ca rd - th a t w as d ra w n ; as f o r exam ple, i f th o re m a in ­ de r be tw o , th e ca rd d ra w n was a J a c k ; i f a th re e a Queen, and so on. T H E T H R E E M A G IC A L P A R T IE S O ffe r th e lo n g ca rd to a person th a t he m ay d ra w i t and rep la ce i t in any p a r t o f th e p a ck he pleases. M ake th e pass, and b r in g th a t ca rd to th e top. N e x t d iv id e th e p a ck in to th re e parcels, p u tt in g th e lo n g c a rd in th e m id dle heap. Y o u th e n a sk th e person w h ic h o f th e th re e heaps h is ca rd s h a ll be in. H e w i l l p ro b a b ly say th e m id d le , in w h ic h case you im m e d ia te ly sh o w i t to h im ; b u t i f he says e ith e r o f th e o th e rs, yo u ta k e a ll th e cards in y o u r hand, p la c in g the p a rc e l he has named o v e r th e o th e r tw o , and o b s e rv in g to p u t y o u r l i t t l e fin g e r b etw een th a t and th e m id d le heap, a t th e to p o f w h ic h is th e ca rd he d re w . Y o u th e n ask a t w h a t n u m b e r in th e heap he w i l l have h is card appear. I f , fo r exam ple, he says t th e s ix th , you t e ll d o w n fiv e cards fro m th e to p o f th e pa ck, and th e n d e x te r­ o u sly m a k in g th e pass, yo u b r in g the lo n g ca rd to th e to p , and t e ll i t d o w n as th e s ix th . S E V E R A L D IF F E R E N T CARDS B E ­ IN G F IX E D ON B Y D IF F E R E N T PERSONS, TO N A M E T H A T ' ON W H IC H E A C H P E R ­ SON F IX E D T he re m u s t be as m a n y d iffe re n t ca rd s sh o w n to each person as th e re a re cards to choose; so th a t i f th e re are th re e persons, yo u m u s t sh o w th re e cards to each person, t e llin g th e fir s t to re ta in one in his m e m o ry. Y o u th e n la y those th re e cards dow n, and sh o w th re e o th e rs to th e second person, and th re e o th e rs to th e th ird . N e x t ta k e up th e f ir s t p e rso n ’s cards, and la y th e m d o w n s e p a ra te ly, one by one, w it h t h e ir faces u p w a rd ; place th e second p e r-

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125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D

eon’s cards o v e r th e firs t, and th e th ir d o v e r th e second's, so th a t th e re w i l l be one c a rd in each p a rc e l b e lo n g in g to each person. Y o u th e n a sk each o f th e m in w h ic h p a rc e l his ca rd is, and b y th e a n s w e r you im m e d ia te ly k n o w w h ic h c a rd i t is ; f o r th e fir s t person’s w i l l a lw a y s be th e firs t, th e second p e rso n ’s th e second, and th e th ir d p e r­ son’s th e t h ir d in th a t p a rc e l w h e re each says his c a rd is. ,T h is am usem ent m ay be p e rfo rm e d w it h a s in g le person, by le t t in g h im fix on th re e , fo u r o r m ore cards. In th is case you m u s t sh o w h im as m an y p a rc e ls as he is to choose cards, and e v e ry p a rc e l m u s t co n s is t o f th a t n u m ­ ber, o u t o f w h ic h he is to fix on one, and y o u th e n proceed as before, he t e llin g yo u th e p a rc e l th a t co n ta in s each o f h is cards. TO D IS C O V E R T H E C A R D W H IC H IS D R A W N , B Y T H E T H R O W OF A D IC E P re p a re a p a c k o f cards in w h ic h th e re are o n ly s ix s o rts o f cards. D is ­ pose these cards in such a m a n n e r th a t each o f th e s ix d iffe re n t cards s h a ll fo llo w each o th e r, and le t th e la s t o f each s u ite be a lo n g 1 card. T he cards b e in g th u s disposed, i t fo llo w s th a t i f yo u d iv id e th e m in to s ix parcels, by c u ttin g a t each o f th e lo n g cards, these p a rc e ls w i l l a ll co n s is t o f s im ila r cards. L e t a person d ra w a ca rd fro m th e p a c k and le t h im place i t in th e p a rc e l fro m w hence i t w as d ra w n , b y d e x te r­ o u s ly o ffe rin g th a t p a rt. 'Cut th e cards se ve ra l tim es, so th a t a lo n g ca rd t o a lw a y s a t b o tto m . D iv id e th e cards in th is m a n n e r in to s ix heaps, and g iv in g a dice to th e person w h o d re w th e card t e ll h im th a t th e p o in t he th ro w s s h a ll in d ic a te th e p a rc e l in w h ic h is th e ca rd he d re w ; T hen ta k e up th a t p a rc e l and sh o w h im th e card. T H E C A R D C H A N G IN G IN T H E HANDS Erase one o f th e end spots o f th e Th^ee o f H e a rts, and keep th is card in y o u i p o c k e t in such a m a n n e r th a t you can recognize th e top. H a ve a p a ck o f c;»"ds a t th e b o tto m o f w h ic h have the 'Ace and the T hre e o f H e a rts, m ake th e pass to b rin g th e m to th e m id d le o f th e pack, and fo rc e th e m to be d ra w n by a la d y and g e n tle m a n , to w h o m you w i l l th e n g iv e th e p a ck to replace the cards and s h u ffle them . D u r in g th is tim e a d r o itly ta k e th e c a rd fro m y o u r p o cke t, conceal i t beneath y o u r hand, and a g a in t a k in g th e p a ck place i t a t th e top. M ake the pass, and d ra w th is card fro m th e m id d le o f th e pack, p re ­ sent i t to h im w h o has d ra w n th e T h re e o f H e a rts , c o v e rin g w it h th e r ig h t fo re fin g e r th e s p o t w h e re you erased so th a t he w i l l im a g in e th a t he sees th e T h re e o f H e a rts , and ask, “ Is th is y o u r ca rd ? " H e w i l l re p ly “ Yes.”

R e ta ke i t w ith tw o fin g e rs o f th e le f t hand, and c o n ce a lin g th e o th e r end, sh o w i t to th e one d ra w in g th e Ace o f H e a rts , and a s k : “ Is th is y o u r card, m adam ?” She w i l l respond a ffir m a tiv e , ly . Y o u w i l l th e n sa y: “ T h a t is im p o s­ sib le , f o r th e g e n tle m a n says i t is h is ." and th e n yo u w i l l sh o w i t to th e p e r­ son w h o has d ra w n th e firs t, w h o w i l l s a y : “ I t is n o t th e same.” T h e n .show th e T h re e o f H e a rts to th e la d y, r e ­ m a r k in g : “ I k n e w v fir y w e ll i t w a s th e la d y 's ca rd ,” ^ o w h ic h shfe w i l l in s w e r: “ B u t i t is n o t m in e ." T o th is re ­ jo in : “ W o u ld yo u deceive me— I w h o deceive o th ers? ” A n d s t r ik in g w it h y o u r fin g e r 1u pon th e ca rd , you w i l l sh o w to th e m su ccessively th e tw o cards th e y have d ra w n , s a y in g : “ B e h o ld y o u r card, and yo u rs .” Y ou o u g h t, a t e ve ry change o f th e card, to takef i t in th e fin g e rs o f th e r ig h t hand. TO M A K E S E V E R A L P E R SO N S D R ^ C A R D S W H IC H T H E Y W IL L T H E M S E L V E S R E P L A C E IN T H E P A C K , A N D TO F IN D T H E M A G A IN Y o u m u s t h iv e a p a ck o f cards p re ­ p a re d as is suggested. T h a t, is th e one end m u st be a v e ry l i t t le n a r ­ r o w e r th a n th e o p posite one. You w i l l m ake one o f th e co m p a n y d ra w a ca rd fro m th e p a ck, a nd w i l l observe p a r tic u la r ly i f he tu rn s i t in h is hand. I f .he replaces i t as he d re w it, you w i l l t u r n th e pack, so th a t i t m ay be in a c o n tra ry p o s itio n to th e o th ers. I f he tu rn s i t in h is hand, i t w ill save you th e tro u b le . T he c a rd b e in g replaced, y o u g iv e th e p a ck to someone to s h u f­ fle , and th e n have a second o r even a t h ir d d ra w n , o b s e rv in g th e same p re ­ ca u tio n s. A f t e r th is , ta k in g th e p a c k b y th e w id e s t end, in th e le f t hand, yo u w i l l d ra w su ccessively w it h the r ig h t h and cards th a t w e re chosen. N O T E — In v a r ia b ly th is t r ic k sh o u ld n o t be p e rfo rm e d b efore those w h o are accustom ed to w itn e s s s le ig h t-o f-h a n d and i t sh o u ld n e ve r be rep e a te d to th e same com pany, w h o m ay re a d ily fin d o u t th a t th e w h o le a r t co n sists in tu r n in g th e pack. These l i t t le b its o f k n o w le d g e w ill re a d ily come to the c o n ju re r a fte r a s h o rt tim e . T H E B U R IE D H E A R T A cu rio u s d eception m ay be p ra c tic e d b y c u ttin g o u t n e a tly and t h in ly sli? ' in g the b a ck o f a C lub, w h ic h is th e i* to be pasted s lig h tly o ve r an Ace o f H e a rts . A ft e r s h o w in g a person th e card, le t h im hold one end o f it, and you h o ld th e o th e r; and w h ile you amuse h im w it h discourse, slid e o ff th e C lub, th e n la y in g th e ca rd on th e ta b le , b id h im co ve r i t w it h h is hands; k n o c k u n d e r th e ta b le , and com m and th e C lu b to tu r n to th e Ace o f H e a rts .

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S O R SL E IG IIT O F H A N D T H E E R R A T IC C A R D T a k e a p a c k o f cards fr o m y o u r p o c k e t,' s h u ffle them , and le t anyone d ra w a c a rd ; n o te i t and rep la ce i t in th e p a ck. Y o u th e n a sk th e p e rso n W here he w o u ld lik e to have i t appear, w h e th e r u n d e r th e ta b le -c lo th , u n d e r a flo w e r-p o t, o r in th e p o c k e t o f a n y one o f th e com pany. A s soon as h is choice is made, y o u w a ve y o u r m a g i­ cia n 's w a n d in th e d ir e c tio n o f th e place w h e re th e d ra w n ca rd is to be .found. T h is t r ic k is ren d e re d m ore in te r e s t­ ing* i f y o u e m p lo y an a la rm c lo ck, •w hich y o u set to s t r ik e a t th e re a p earance o f th e r ig h t ca rd . T h is is done y f o r c in g a ca rd u pon th e p e rso n w h o d ra w s. A s im ila r c a rd is p u t b e fo re ­ hand in th e places w h ic h y o u m e n tio n f o r h im to choose as th e s p o t w h e re ;his c a rd s h a ll rea p p e a r. ;
company.

T H E M A G IC A L T R IO A s a lre a d y show n, y o u fo rc e one o f th e co m p a n y to d ra w a c e rta in ca rd , and le t h im re p la c e i t in th e p a ck, and s h u ffle th e ca rd s w e ll to g e th e r. Y o u n o w ta k e th e p a ck, and fin d th e d ra w n ca rd , a nd w it h o u t sh ow ing: it, p la ce i t n e x t to th e b o tto m card. T he n h o ld up th e p a c k in th e r ig h t hand, a nd sh o w th e b o tto m c a rd to th e co m p a n y, w it h

41

th e q u e s tio n : “ Is th a t th e d ra w n card?” T o w h ic h th e a n sw e r is, o f course, in th e n e g a tive . Y o u th e n d ro p su d d en ly th e r ig h t hand, in w h ic h yo u h o ld th e cards, and w it h th o fin g e rs o f th e le f t h and s lip th e b o tto m ca rd back, and d ra w o u t in ste a d o f i t th a t ca rd s e le ctel b y th e com pany, a nd th ro w i t upon th e ta b le face d o w n w a rd , th e com pany o f course su p p o sin g i t to be th e ca rd la s t seen upon th e b o tto m . Y o u th e n s h u ffle th e cards th o ro u g h ­ ly , show once m ore th e u n d e rm o st card, re q u e s tin g th e co m p a n y to see i f i t is th e ca rd d ra w n , and upon re c e iv in g a re p ly in th e n e g a tiv e , yo u place i t also, fa ce d o w n w a rd on th e ta b le upon th e f ir s t ca rd . Y o u n o w s h u ffle th e p a c k w e ll, show th e com pany the u n d e rm o st card, re p e a tin g th e qu e stion as before. On re c e iv in g a g a in a re p ly in th e n e g a ­ tiv e , yo u appear s u rp ris e d ; h o w e ve r, place th e ca rd ju s t sh ow n upon the tw o th a t w e re b e fo re d ra w n fro m th e pack, app ro a ch th e com pany w ith these th re e cards, and re q u e st th e m to e x­ a m ine th e m c a re fu lly , and see w h e th e r th e re has not, perhaps, been some e r­ r o r on th e ir p a rt, as th e d ra w n card m u s t c e rta in ly be one o f th e th re e . T o t h e ir g re a t a s to n is h m e n t th e y w i l l fin d th is to be th e case. T h is t r ic k can also be done by m aking- th e pass, and s lip ­ p in g th e c a rd b y w e ttin g th e fin g e rs as b e fore exp la in e d. T O M A K E A (?ARD S P R IN G TTP IN T O T H E A IR F R O M T H E P A C K W IT H O UT B E IN G T O U C H E D H a v in g fo rc e d a ca rd u p o n one o f th e com pany, (see e x p la n a tio n to th e e x­ change o f ca rd ,) th e p a c k m u s t th e n be pla ce d in a spoon, so th a t th e chosen c a rd m a y le a n on a p in b e n t in th e fo rm o f a hook. T h is p in is fa s ­ tened to a th re a d , and asce n ding th ro u g h th e p a ck leans upon th e u p p e r end o f th e spoon; th e n i t descends u n ­ d e r th e sta g e th ro u g h th e ta b le . I n th is d is p o s itio n th e co n fe d e ra te ca n n o t p u ll the th re a d w ith o u t d ra g g in g a lo n g w it h i t th e h o o k and ca rd , w h ic h causes i t to be p e rce ive d as fly in g in th e a ir. T h e th re a d slid e s upon th e b lu n t edge o f th e spoon as e a s ily as i f i t ra n in a p u lle y . In o rd e r to pla ce th e ca rd s in th® spoon q u ic k eno ug h th a t th e co m ­ p a n y m ay pe rce ive no p re p a ra tio n , care m u s t be ta k e n th a t a n o th e r p a c k Is d e x te ro u s ly p u t on th e ta b le . T he chos­ en ca rd in th e o th e r, w ith th e book and th re a d , m u s t be p re v io u s ly p re ­ p a re d as described. TO

P R O D U C E A R E Q U IR E D C A R D FROM YOUR PO CKET F o r th is t r ic k yo u need an a cco m ­ p lic e . Y o u t e ll h im b e fo re h a n d th e c a rd th a t he m u s t c a ll f o r ; f o r in sta n ce , th e T h re e o f Clubs. Y o u th e n s h u ffle th e p a c k , c o n tr iv in g i t so t h a t th e T h re e o f C lubs s h a ll be th e to p ca rd .

4S

125 T i ll OKS W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IO H T OF H A N D

T o « [*!:»..*■ th e j 14 .0 k in y u u r p o c k e t , a n d a « k i f o n e o f the c o m p a n y w ill c a l l f o r a c a rd . T o u r a c c o m p l i c e c a l l s • « t q u i c k l y , " T h e T h r e e o f C lu b s!'' w i»ih you a t one* produce from yo ur »oc fc et. , r m i o e c n a w i j v r - g i .a s s W HAT CARDS HATH B E E fl T lltlY K U The picture card s u su ally haye a .valo r s! n a r r o w s t r i p e f o r th e b o r*e c. T h is bo rder is u su a lly n arro w er a t one en d o f t h e c a r d t h a n it is a t the o th er. T o o p l a c e t h e p i c t u r e c a r d s in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t o i t h e r a l l th e b r o a d ­ e r o r a l l th e n a r r o w e r b o r d e r s a r e ce d u p p e r m o s t . Y ou n o w r e q u e s t a flpoota tor to t u r n one o f th e c a r d s w k ile yo u a r e a b s e n t f r o m th e r oom . On y o u r r e t u r n y o u e x a m i n e a l l the cards t h r o u g h a w i n e - g l a s s , a n d e a s i l y # i « c o y e r th e o n e w h ich h a s b e en t u r n e d 9M its n a r r o w b o r d e r n o w lie s on a le v e l w i th th e b r o a d e r b o r d e r s o f the o t h e r c a r d s . I f th e y t r y to m y s t i f y y o u b y turning- non e o f tho c a r d s , y o u w i ll e a s ily s e e t h a t t h i s is th e case. t

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t h h

T O C H A N G E F I V E K I N G S IN TO FIV E QUEENS Y o u t a k e f o u r King-s a n d d r a w a * k a r p k n i f e g e n t l y a c r o s s th e m id d le o f th em , w h e r e th e tw o b u s t s m eet. P e e l th e p i c t u r e c a r e f u l l y f r o m o n e - h a l f th e c a r d s , a n d p a s t e u p o n th e b l a n k p a r t th e f o u r h a l f p i c t u r e s o f f o u r Q u eens, w h i c h h a v e be e n p e e l e d off in th e s a m e m a n n e r . In t h i s w a y y o u h a v e f o u r c a r d s , e a c h r e p r e s e n t i n g b o th a K i n g a n d a Queen. T o th o se p r e p a r e d c a r d s y o u jo i n a n o r d i n a r y K i n g a n d Q u een. T h e s e s i x c a r d s y o u s p r e a d o u t in a f a n - l i k e nhape, f r o m th e l e f t to th e r i g h t , an d in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t o n ly t h e K in g B a r e v isib le . T h i s is e a s i l y d on e i f y o u k e e p th e o r d i n a r y K i n g a t th e en d of th e f a n to th e r i g h t a n d th e Qufeen c o n c e a l e d b e h in d it. Y o u s h o w th e five K i n g s , s a y t h a t y o u w i l l c h a n g e th em i n to five Q u e e n s , b l o w u p o n th e c a r d s , r e v e r s e th em , p l a c i n g th e K i n g b e h ind th e Q u een, a n d d i s p l a y th e m a s five Q u eens. T H E M A G IC S E V E N S T a k e a n u m b e r o f c a r d s , f r o m w h ich y o u will m a k e tw o piles , t a k i n g c a r e th a t one will contain tw o or three S e v ­ en s, a n d th e o t h e r w i l l be c o m p o s e d o f s e v e n c a r d s , a ll f a c e c a r d s — t h a t is, K i n g s , Q u e e n s , J a c k s o r A c es. T h e n a s k f o r pen a n d ink, a n d w r it e on a p i e c e o f p a p e r th e n a m e s o f th e s e v e n ; t h i s p a p e r y o u tu r n o v e r s o t h a t he c a n n o t s e e w h a t y o u h a v e w r it t e n . N ow y o u c a n r e q u e s t a p e r s o n to m a k e h is ch o i c e in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t i f he c h o o s e s y o u r n u m b e r it w i l l be good , i n a s m u c h i f h e s e l e c t th e l a r g e r p a c k ­ a g e , y o u w i ll s h o w h im t h e p a p e r on

-which is in s c r i b e d th e n a m e s o f t h * face c a r d s ; then com m and h im to c o u n t th e n u m b e r o f c a r d s c o n t a i n e d in th e p a c k a g e he h a s s e le c te d , a n d he w ill find se v e n , a g r e e a b l e to th e n a m e s on y o u r list. T h i s r e v e l a t i o n w ill d o u b t l e s s a s t o n i s h h i m ; b u t if he s e l e c t s th e sm a lle r p a c k a g e , you have likew ise th e a d v a n t a g e , f o r y o u k n o w i t to c o n ­ ta i n tw o o r th r e e S e v e n s , a n d nothin * else. T H E N U M ER IC A L T R I C K OF C A R D S R e q u e s t a p e r s o n to s e l e c t a t w i ll th r e e c a r d s f r o m a p a c k o f c a r d s s u c h a s a r e u sed f o r tho g a m e o f E u c h r e , w h ich h a s no c a r d s b e lo w s e v e n p o i n t s in e i t h e r s u i te , w a r n i n g h im t h a t th e A c e c o u n t s ele ven, th e f a c e or f ig u re c a r d s ten, a n d th e o t h e r s a c c o r d i n g to th e p o i n t s on th e i r f a c e s . T h e s e th r e e ch osen, tel l him to p la c e th e m on th e t a b l e s e p a r a t e l y , a n d th en to p u t on e a c h c a r d a p ile o f o th e r c a r d s , a s m a n y in n u m b e r a s , w i t h th e p o i n t s on th e c a rd , w ill s u m up a t fif tee n p o i n t s on ea c h h e a p ; t h a t is to s a y , i f th e fir st c a r d be a nine, it w i ll r e ­ q u i r e s i x c a r d s to be p l a c e d o v e r i t; if t h e s e c o n d be a T en, five c a r d s ; i f th e th i r d be a J a c k , l i k e w i s e five c a r d s . H e r e y o u h a v e n i n e te e n c a r d s e m p lo y e d consequen tly th ere r e m a in s thirteen f o r y o u to r e c la i m . M a k i n g b e li e v e to e x a m i n e th em , c o u n t t h e m o v e r to a s ­ s u r e y o u r s e l f o f b e i n g r i g h t a s to th e num ber rem aining. M entally add s i x ­ te e n to t h i s n u m b e r, a n d y o u w i l l h a v e tw e n ty -n i n e , th e n u m b e r o f p o i n t s on th e t h r e e c a r d s ch osen , a n d w h i c h w i l l be f o u n d b e n e a t h the th r e e h e a p s. W H E N F I V E IS FO U R T a k e th e f o u r fiv es f r o m a n o r d i n a r y p a c k of c ard s and challenge y o ur

f r i e n d s to a r r a n g e th em , f a c e u p w a r d , so t h a t o n ly f o u r p i p s s h o w on e a c h c a r d . T h e s e c r e t i s d i s c l o s e d in th e illustration. T H E NOVEL GAME OF TO N TINE T h i s g a m e is p l a y e d w i t h f i f t y - t w o c a r d s . A f t e r e a c h one in th e c o m p a n y h as taken a n um ber of counters, s a y t w e n ty , u p o n w h i c h a v a l u e h a s been p l a c e d , e a c h p l a y e r p u t s 3 c o u n t e r s in

jl25

T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D

th e po ol. A f t e r cutting-, d e a l one c a r d to e a c h p l a y e r , w i t h t h e f a c e d ow n. N o w to c r e a t e a p u r s e f o r th e g a m e . U pon t u r n i n g u p th e c a r d d e a lt, he w h o h o ld s th e K i n g d r a w s th r e e c o u n t e r s ; T h e Q u een t w o ; th e J a c k o n e ; th e T e n n e i ­ t h e r d r a w s n o r l o s e s ; T h e A c e p a y s one to h i s n e i g h b o r ; th e T w o g i v e s tw o to th e s e c o n d p l a y e r b e lo w h i m ; th e T h r e e g i v e s t h r e e to th e th ir d be y o n d h im ; a n d w i t h r e s p e c t to th e o th e r s, th ey p a y one o r tw o, a s th ey h a p p e n to be odd or e v e n ; th e F o u r , S i x a n d E i g h t , t w o c o u n t e r s ; a n d th e F i v e , Se v en , a n d N ine, one eac h . I t w i ll be se e n t h a t t w e n t y - f o u r c o u n t e r s a r e d r a w n by th e p la y e r s ; th a t tw e n ty -fo u r circulate, a n d t h a t t h i r t y - s i x a r e p u t u p f o r th e p r i z e o f th e g a m e . T h u s , on e a c h d e al, t w e l v e c o u n t e r s p a s s f r o m th e h a n d s o f th e p l a y e r s . W h e n one r u n s o u t o f c o u n t e r s , he r e t u r n s h i s c a r d s , a n d is c o n s i d e r e d d e a d ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , he r e ­ v iv e s rapidly, in asm u ch a s his n e ig h ­ bo r* s h o u l d a n A c e co m e to him , is c o m p e ll e d to g i v e h im o n e ; th e p l a y e r t w o p l a c e s a b o v e him , i f a T w o is d e a l t to him, g i v e s h im t w o ; th e T h r e e , c h a n c i n g to th e th i r d a b o v e him , s u p ­ p l i e s h im w i t h t h r e e , a n d t h i s r u l e w o r k s a r e v o l u t i o n in h i s f a v o r . F i n ­ a l l y th e p o o l r e m a i n s t o t h e p l a y e r h o ld i n g th e l a s t o f th e c o u n t e r s ; b u t d u r i n g c o n t i n u a n c e o f th e g a m e m a n y w o n d e rfu l a cc id e n ts occur, an d it f r e ­ q u e n t l y c h a n c e s t h a t h e w h o h a s been d e a d tw o o r t h r e e t i m e s , o r w h o h a s b e e n p l a c e d in th e m o s t d e s p e r a t e s t r a i t s , c a r r i e s off th e pool. I t is th e s e v a r i a t i o n s w h i c h r e n d e r th e g a m e e x ­ citin g and am using. C A R D S C H A N G E SPOTS F o r t h i s c l e v e r c a r d t r i c k th e e q u i p ­ m e n t needed co n sists of tw o a c e s of d iam on d s fro m sim ila r p a c k s and an a c e o f s p a d e s . E r a s e th e c o r n e r s p o t s a n d l e t t e r s f r o m th e d i a m o n d s a n d c u t o u t th e c e n t e r o f th e a c e o f s p a d e s , a s s h o w n in t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g i l l u s t r a ­ tion. In p r e s e n t i n g t h i s t r i c k h old a n a c e o f d i a m o n d s in e a c h h a n d w i t h one l e a v i n g a r e c t a n g u l a r s e c t i o n b e l o w it

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jn th e p i e c e o f a c e o f s p a d e s . T h u s it

a p p e a r s to th e s p e c t a t o r s t h a t y o u a r e holding an ace of diam on ds and an ace o f s p a d e s . N o w to m a k e th e c a r d s c h an ge p lac e s or spots, w hichever w ay y o u p r e f e r to h a v e it.

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H o l d i n g th e t w o c a r d s w i th th e i r b a c k s to th e a u d i e n c e f ir st m o v e th em a p a r t , th en b r i n g th em t o g e t h e r g r a d ­ u a l l y u n til th e e d g e s o f th e tw o d i a ­ m o n d s f in ally to u ch a s sh o w n . Now q u i c k l y s li p th e f a l s e a c e o f s p a d e s o v e r to the o t h e r c a r d so a s to hide the a c e of d i a m o n d s. TO G U E S S IN W H I C H H A N D , H O L D ­ IN G C O U N T E R S , CAN H E P O U N D T H E ODD O R E V E N N I' M It ECIt M u ltip ly th e n u m b e r in th e righx. h a n d by an even n u m b e r , a c c o r d i n g t# p l e a s u r e , 2 f o r e x a m p l e , a n d th e n u m ­ b e r in th e l e f t h a n d b y a n odd riam ber, 3 f o r i n s t a n c e ; th en a d d t o g e t h e r the s u m o f b o t h ; if th e t o t a l i s odd the even n u m b e r o f p i e c e s w i ll be in the r i g h t h and , a n d th e od d in the l e f t ; i f th e s u m be eve n th e c o n t r a r y w i ll be th e c a s e . P r o o f . — S u p p o s e In th e r i g h t h a n d 8 p ie c e s, a n d 7 in th e l e f t ; m u l t i p l y V by 2 a n d y o u h a v e 16, w h ile th e p r o d u e t o f 7 b y 3 w i l l be 21; th e s u m t o t a l is 37, a n odd nu m b e r. If, on th e oth er h and , 9 w a s in th e r i g h t h a n d a n d 8 in th e left* m u l t i p l y 9 b y 2, y o u h a v e 3 8 , a n d m u l t i p l y 8 b y 3, y o u h a v e 24, w h i c h a d d e d to 18 g i v e s 42, a n even n u m b e r. TO PRO DU CE N U M B E R L E SS CHANGES W IT H A GIVEN N UM BER OF CARDS T a k e th e c a r d s , e a c h i n s c r i b e d w i* the c i p h e r s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0. T a k e t h e s e c a r d s in th e l e f t h a n d a s if to s h u f f l e th em . T a k e w i t h th e r i g h t h a n d the f ir s t tw o c a r d s , 1 a n d 2, w i t h ­ o u t d e r a n g i n g t h e m ; p l a c e th e m b e ­ n e a t h the tw o f o ll o w i n g , 3 a n d 4, a n d under these fou r c a r d s the three fo l­ l o w i n g , 5, 6, a n d 7; b e lo w t h e s e p u t 8 a n d 9, a n d b e lo w a l l th e 0. T h e y c a n be r e a r r a n g e d s e v e r a l t i m e s a c c o r d i n g to th e s a m e f o r m u l a . A t e a c h n ew a r ­ r a n g e m e n t t h e r e w ill b e a f r e s h o r d e r, w h ich , n e v e r t h e l e s s , a f t e r a c e r t a i n n u m b e r o f tim e s , w i ll c o m e o u t a s th e y were before sh uffled, a s w ill be seen b y th e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e , w h e r e i n th e o r ­ der re p e a ts itse lf a f t e r the se ven th a r ­ ran gem en t: 1 s t o r d e r ..............1 2 3 4 5 8 7 8 0 0 1 st s h u f f l e ............8 9 3 4 1 2 5 6 7 0 2 nd “ ___ 6 7 3 4 8 9 1 2 5 0 3d “ ___ 2 5 3 4 6 7 8 9 1 0 4t h “ ___ 9 1 3 4 2 5 6 7 8 0 5 th " ___ 7 8 3 4 9 1 2 5 6 0 6th “ ___ 5 6 3 4 7 8 9 1 2 0 7th M _____ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 M I N D O V E R MIND , O R T H E M A H ' VELOUS W IL L PO W ER A sp e ctato r d ra w s three card s from th e p a c k , n o t fo rc e d , a n d w i t h o u t l o o k ­ i n g a t th em , o r th e p e r f o r m e r t o u c h i n g th em , p l a c e s th e m in h i s b r e a s t - p o c k e t , f r o m w h i c h he h a s p r e v i o u s l y r e m o v e d

44

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D

th e c o n ten ts. T he p e rfo rm e r no w ca lls o u t the nam e o f a card, and requests th e s p e c ta to r to hand h im one o f th e ca rd s fro m h is p ocket. Upon th is be­ ing- done, th e c a rd is fo u n d to c o rre s ­ pond w fth th e one p re v io u s ly nam ed b y th e p e rfo rm e r. T h is is repeated w it h th e tw o o th e r cards. T h is is a va s t im p ro v e m e n t on the o ld m ethod o f p e rfo rm in g a v e ry s im ­ ila r t r ic k , and is h ig h ly comm ended. T he p e rfo rm e r asks a s p e c ta to r to se le c t th re e cards (m a k in g sure th a t th e th re e cards are selected in a b u n c h ). H e th e n cu ts th e cards as usu a l, b r in g in g th e c a rd ju s t above th e th re e chosen to th e b o tto m . T he th re e cards chosen m u s t n o w be placed in th e p o c k e t w it h th e faces to w a rd th e person, w h ic h is th e n a tu r ­ a l w a y o f d o in g it. T ho p e rfo rm e r n o w notes th e b o tto m c a rd o f th e pa ck, w h ic h enables h im to k n o w th e names o f th e chosen cards. Suppose th e b o t­ to m c a rd w a s th e five o f h e a rts, th e f ir s t o f th e th re e cards w o u ld be th e e ig h t o f diam onds. T h e re fo re , th e p e r­ fo rm e r asks th e g e n tle m a n to place h is hand, as q u ic k ly as possible in to h is p o c k e t and hand h im th e e ig h t o f diam onds, w h ic h n in e tim e s o u t o f te n w i l l be c o rre c t, f o r th is reason: I n th e a c t o f th e s p e c ta to r p la c in g h is le f t h£,nd in h is r ig h t in s id e b re a s t­ p o cke t, o w in g to i t b e in g done q u ic k ly , he w i ll seldom , i f ever, place m ore th a n h is fo u r fin g e rs in th e p o cke t, th e th u m b re m a in in g on th e outside. F o r th is reason the o n ly c a rd p o ssib le f o r h im to ta k e fro m th e p o c k e t in th is c o n d itio n is th e to p one, w h i~ h is t h * e ig h t o f diam onds. I f th e re a d e r w i l l t r y th is e x p e rim e n t w it h h im s e lf, he w i l l re a d ily ca tch th e idea. A f t e r th e fir s t c a rd is produced, th e p e rfo rm e r c a lls f o r th e n e xt, w h ic h is th e ja c k o f clubs, and as th e re Is b u t one re m a in in g c a rd th e re can be no m is ta k e , as th e p e rfo rm e r asks f o r th e ace o f spades. M a n y fin d th is t r i c k a lw a y s has a g re a t e ffe ct on th e audience, and causes a c o n sid e ra b le a m o u n t o f e x c ite m e n t and in te re s t. TO

CA U SE A CARD S E L E C T E D B Y A S P E C T A T O R TO B E X A M E D *1 B 1' T H E A U D IE N C E A ca rd is selected b y a s p e c ta to r a nd la id on th e ta b le w ith o u t its face b e in g seen. The p e rfo rm e r n o w s ta te s th a t i t is im p ossible f o r anyone to k n o w th e ame o f th e card, B u t th a t he w i l l or,use th e audience th e m se lve s to nam e it. The m odus o p e ra n d ! em ployed f o r th is e x p e rim e n t is n o t a b s o lu te ly new. S upposing th e c a rd selected w as th e e i£ h t o f h e a rts, th e p e rfo rm e r s e c re t­ ly a s c e rta in s its nam e in th e same m a n n e r as e xp la in e d p re v io u s ly , and f o r t h w it h addresses th e audience as fo llo w s ;

"L a d ie s a nd gen tlem e n , u ^ r . i a re fo u r s u its in th e p a ck: h e a rty, spades, diam onds, and clubs. X s h a ll ask some g e n tle m a n to name e ith e r tw._» o f them . T h a n k you, s ir. T he gunthM u.in .says h e a rts and spades, th e re fo re it m u st be a h e a rt o r a spade. K o w v ; n one k in d ly nam e one o f l i . *.*«.*, m -jkUj! T h a n k you, s ir ; th a t loaves a h e a rt th e re fo re i t m u s t be a h e a rt.'1 To e x p la in the above. The p e rfo ra to r k n o w s in th e fir s t place th a t th o c :;.d | is a h e a rt, and he in te rp re ts th e 'u n . sw e rs fro m the audience to s u it h.s , o w n purpose, in th e fo llo w in g m a n n e r; H a d the audience said d iam onds and clu b s in place o f spades and h e a rts, th e p e rfo rm e r w o u ld have sa id : “ V e ry w e ll, s ir ; th a t leaves h e a rts and spades." Now, w ith re g a rd to th « h e a rt and th e spade, had th e audience said h e a rts in ste a d o f spades, tb s re p ly w o u ld have been: “ V e ry w * ll; i t m u st be a, heart.'* Ex*ample: T h e re are tw o cards le f t — h e a rts and spades. The p e rfo rm e r w a n ts th e audience to name h e a rts. Suppose th e audien©« names spades, th e re p ly is : “ V e ry w e ll; th a t leaves a h e a rt." S hould th e y have nam ed a h e a rt, th e r e p ly is: “ T h a n k y o u ; w e w i l l m ake i t a h e a rt,” and th u s th e p e rfo rm e r p r a c tic a lly fo rce s th e ca rd on th e audience. N ow , to c o n tin u e th e t r ic k and cause th e e xa ct nam e o f th e c a rd to be called, w h ic h is c a rrie d o u t on th e same p r i n ­ cip le , th e p e rfo rm e r co n tin u e s : “ The s u it is a h e a rt, th e re are th irte e n cards in a s u it, and i t m u s t be one o f the th irte e n . W e w i l l d iv id e th e th irte e n in to odd and even num bers. W ill some one k in d ly say e ith e r odd o r even? O dd! T h a n k y o u ; th a t leaves even. The even n u m b e rs a re tw o , fo u r, six, e ig h t, ten, queen. W e w i l l d iv id e th e m in to tw o p a rts , above o r b e lo w seven. W ill some one k in d ly nam e above o r b e lo w seven? Above seven! T h a n k yo u s ir. It, th e re fo re , m u st be e ith e r th e e ig h t, ten o r queen. W i l l some g e n tle m a n k in d ly name tw o o f these th re e ? E ig h t and queen! T h & n k you. N ow , w i l l some one select e ith e r th e e ig h t o r th e queen? Q ueen! T h a n k you. T h a t leaves the e ig h t o f h e a rts. W ill th e g-entlem an k in d ly t u r n up th is ca rd ? ” A s u g g e stio n as to th e to n e o f voice in n a m in g these ca rd s w i l l be o f g re a t ad va nta g e . F o r in sta n ce , suppose th e queen and e ig h t are le ft, th e p e r­ fo rm e r w is h in g th e audience to name the e ig h t, says: “ W ill someone name th e e ig h t o r th e queen?” w it h a s tro n g a ccent on th e e ig h t, and n in e tim e s o u t o f ten, i f th e w o rd s a re p ro p e rly s p o k ­ en, tl^e d e sire d ca rd w i l l be selected. ,T n E COURT CARDS F o r th is t r ic k th e c o n ju re r ta k e s a p a ck o f cards, and separates th e c o u rt ca rd s fro m th e re m a in d e r

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S O il SLE IG H T OP 2X.1X: U s i n g only tho c o u r t c a r d s , he a s k s a m e m b e r o f h i s a u d i e n c e to t a k e one, to lo o k a t it, a n d r e p l a c e it am on g: the o t h e r s . T h e c o u r t c a r d s c a n th en be s h u f f l e d by anyone, b u t i m m e d i a t e l y th ey a r e r e t u r n e d to h im th e c o n j u r e r p i c k s o u t th e c h o s e n card. T h e s e c r e t o f t h i s t r i c k Is v e r y s i m ­ ple. I f y o u look a t th e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f S i x c a r d s , y o u w ill s e e t h a t on e a c h o n e o f th e m th e w h i t e m a r g i n ( x ) is l a r g e r t h a n on t h e oth or. The co n ju rer b e g in s by arranging? th e c a r d s w i t h th e l a r g e r m a r g i n o a th e le f t, a s In th e p i c t u r e . H e t h e u h a n d s th e cards to someone, auks h i m to t a k e a c a r d o u t a n d to r e p l a c o it.

*Jhe Queen fs reversed.

B e fo r e the c ard is replaced, the co n ­ j u r e r q u i e t l y t u r n s r o u n d th e c a r d s he is h o ld in g , s o t h a t w h en th e c h o s e n c a r d is r e p l a c e d a l l th e w id e m a r g i n s o f th e c a r d s w ill be on th e r i g h t w i t h thft e x c e p t i o n o f t h a t o f th e c h o s e n caiifl., w h ich w i l l be on th e le f t . T h e c o n j u r e r can, t h e r e f o r e , e a s i l y find th e c h o s e n c a r d an d no a m o u n t o f s h u f f l ­ i n g w ill m a k e h is t a s k d i f f i c u lt . All c a r d s a r e n o t p r i n t e d a l i k e . S o m e tim e th e m a r g i n s on th e s i d e s o f th e ? o u r t c a r d s a r e eve n, b u t in t h a t c a s e t w i l l be g e n e r a l l y f o u n d t h a t th e r e is a l a r g e r m a r g i n a t one en d o f the c a r d th a n a t the oth er. T h e t r i c k is, t h e r e ­ f o r e , j u s t a s e a s y f o r th e c o n ju r e r . C L E V E R C A R D T R IC K Show your friends w hat m ysteriou s p o w e r s y o u h a v e o v e r c a r d s by p e r ­ f o r m i n g t h i s s i m p le , b u t ef fe c tiv e t r i c k f o r th em . T h e only m a t e r i a l s nee d ed a r e a n o r d i n a r y c a r d f r o m the b r i d g e d ec k, a g l a s s t u m b l e r t h a t is w i d e r a t th e top t h a n a t th e b o t t o m s o th e s i d e s ta p e r, a n d a l i t t l e s o a p . P r e p a r e th e g l a s s in a d v a n c e b y r u b b i n g th e s o a p on th e in sid e, b u t be s u r e to m a k e only tw o n a r r o w c h a n n e l s a t o p p o s i t e p o i n t s

r u n n i n g f r o m tho toy i>r Wi,o 10 the b o tto m so th a t w h en a f l a y i n g c a r d is p u s h e d d ow n into tho g l a s s i ts e d g e s w i ll s t r i k e the s o a r e d s t r i p s . T h e c a r d s h o u l d he o f the :«>©©th~ fin ish ed kind. W ith t h i s e q u i p m e n t a l l s e t th o p e r ­ f o r m e r b o g i n s the t r i c k b f p c s h i u g th e c a r d d o w n In to th e g l a s s a » 4 t e l l ­ i n g a s p e c t a t o r to a s k th e c a r 4 to rlap o u t o f th e g l a s s . B u t the c a r * Aooe not r i s e a t th e s p e c t a t o r ' s ooxnmanA. So the p e r f o r m e r r e m o v e s tho o a r 4 Crow th e g l a s s , s t r o k e s it o a hLs sloevo, a n d th on p u s i i e s it d o w n into th© y l a s s . T h i s tim e the p e r f o r m e r g i v e s a s h a r p c o m m a n d to the c a r d to a r i s e , a n * tho c a r d i m m e d i a t e ly r i s e s . T h o s e c r e t, o f c o u r se , is t h a t w h en th e p e r f o r m e r fir st p u s h e s th e c a r # into th o g l a s s he d o e s n o t p l a c e it s© the e d g e s o f th e c a r d c o m e in e o n t a : t w i t h th e so a p . B u t w h en he p u s h e s th e c a r d into th e g l a s s the se c o n d t i m e he d o e s h a v e the e d g e s r i g h t d ow n th e s o a p y t r a c k s . T h e s t i f f n e s s o f th e c a r d , th e s h a p e o f the g i a s s a n d the s m o o t h p a t h s help it r i s e a t the p e r ­ f o r m e r ’s c o m m a n d . I t is n e c e s s a r y , h o w e v e r, to a p p ly th e s o a p e v e n l y s o i t s p r e s e n c e w ill not be noticed. T H E PO U R BU R GLAUS The perfo rm er ta k e s a p ack of c a r c s a n d r e m o v e s th e f o u r j u , k s . T h e p a c k s r e p r e s e n t the f o u r “ B u r g l a r s ; ” he s h o w s th e f o u r j a c k s f a n w i s e to th e a u d ie n c e . H e p l a c e s th e c a r d s upon th e top o f the p a c k , r e m a r k i n g a t th e s a m e t im e t h a t the f o u r b u r g l a r s c li m b u pon th e r o o f o f a h ou se, w h ich is r e p r e ­ s e n t e d by th e p a c k . N ow one b u r g l a r g u a r d s th e f r o n t o f th e h o u s e ; p la c e a j a c k f a c e u p w a r d in f r o n t o f th e p a c k . A se c o n d b u r g l a r r o b s th e l o w e r p a r t of th e h ou se. T a k e th e n e x t c a r d a n d p la c e it in the l o w e r p a r t o f the p a c k . T h e th ir d b u r g l a r r o b s th e m i d ­ d le o f th e h ou se. P u t th e n e x t c a r d in th e m id d le of th e p a c k . T h e f o u r t h b u r g l a r r o b s th e u p p e r p a r t o f th e h ou se. P u t th e n e x t c a r d a b o u t on ef o u r t h the w a y d ow n. N ow a f t e r th ey h a v e r o b b e d th e h ou se, th ey all m e e t a g a i n on top. T a k e th e j a c k w h ich is in f r o n t o f th e d e c k a n d p la c e it on top. E x a m i n e th e to p f o u r c a r d s a n d th e y w ill a l l p r o v e to be th ere. T h i s t r i c k is v e r y e a s i l y done. W h ile th e p e r f o r m e r is a m u s i n g w i th s o m e p a t t e r , a r r a n g e th e f o u r j a c k s in th e s h a p e o f a fan, w h e n t h i s is held up to the s p e c t a t o r s ' view , th e y se e th e f o u r j a c k s , a l l r i g h t , b u t w h a t th ey do not se e is th e f a c t t h a t be h in d th e s e c o n d j a c k f r o m th e l e f t t h e r e a r e s e ­ c r e te d th r e e o t h e r c a r d s , nic ely s q u a r ­ ed up a n d flush w i t h th e j a c k , so t h a t w h e t h e r v i e w e d f r o m e i t h e r f r o n t or be h in d th e r e a p p e a r s to be the one c a r d o n ly ; n a m e l y th e j a c k . T h e i l l u s ­ t r a t i o n s h o w s th e p o s i t io n o f th e ca r d s. W h e n th e f a n is c l o s e d a n d p l a c e d

40

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OP H A N D

to p o f th e p a c k , th e fir st c a r d — a r e a l j a c k — is p u t in f r o n t o f the h ou se. T h e n e x t t h r e e c a r d s v/hich a r e not j a c k s a r e p l a c e d in v a r i o u s p a r t s o f th e “ h o u s e ,” l e a v i n g t h r e e j a c k s s t i l l i n top.

is p la c e d a t th e to p a n d a n o t h e r a t th e b o t t o m o f t h i s h a l f o f th e p a c k , w h ich is th en p la c e d u n d e r a h a n d k e r c h i e f on th e ta b l e . T h e a u d i e n c e c h o o s e s s i x c a r d s f r o m th e o t h e r h a l f o f th e p a c k , and, a t th e c o n j u r e r ’s r e q u e s t , h o ld s th e c a r d s so t h a t e v e r y o n e c a n s e e them . T h e c o n j u r e r t u r n s r o u n d w h ile t h i s is b e i n g done, s o t h a t he s h a l l n o t s e e th em . W h ile h i s b a c k is t u r n e d th e c o n j u r e r e x c h a n g e s th e c a r d s he is h o ld i n g in h is h an d f o r th e f a k e d c a r d s u n d e r th e h a n d k e r c h i e f . T h e c h o s e n c a r d s a r e th en p l a c e d a m o n g t h o s e w h ich a r e f a k e d , an d in o r d e r to do th e t r i c k th e c o n j u r e r h a s only t o s li p th e b o t t o m c a r d to th e to p o f th e p a c k a n d th en g l a n c e a t th e c a r d w h o s e in d e x c o r n e r w i ll be v i s i b l e t h r o u g h th e h ole in tp e c a r d s he h old s. H a v i n g n a m e d t h i s c a r d , he r e m o v e s it a n d is t h u s a b l e to r e a d th e n a m e o f th e se c o n d c a r d . H e r e p e a t s th e o p e r a t i o n u n til a l l th e c a r d s h a v e b e e n r e a d . THE

THOUG HT R E A D IN G H a l f a d ozen c a r d s a r e c h o s e n by m e m b e r s o f th e a u d i e n c e a n d r e t u r n e d to th e p a c k . T h e c o n ju r e r , p l a c i n g th e p a c k to h i s f o r e h e a d a n d a s k i n g th o se s p e c t a t o r s to t h i n k i n t e n t l y o f t h e i r cards, im m ediately announces th e n a m e s o f th e c a r d s .

H a l f th e p a c k i s " f a k e d , ” a s m a l l n i e c e b e i n g c u t o u t o f th e i n d e x c o r ­ n e r o f a l l th e c a r d s . One o r d i n a r y c a r d

T E N D U P L IC A T E CARD S— \ B R V E A L A P E R SO N ’S THOUGHTS Select a n y tw en ty cards. L e t any p e r s o n s h u f f l e th e m ; l a y th em in p a i r s u pon th e t a b le , w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t th em a s r e p r e s e n t e d her e. You next desire se v e ra l persons, (a s m any p e r ­ s o n s a s t h e r e a r e p a i r s on t h e t a b l e ) to lo o k a t d i ff e r e n t p a i r s a n d r e m e m b e r w h a t c a r d s c o m p o s e th em . Y o u t h e n t a k e u p th e c a r d s in th e o r d e r in w h ich th e y h a v e be e n la id , a n d r e p l a c e th e m w i t h th e i r f a c e s u p p e r m o s t u p o n th e ta b le , in f o u r r o w s, w i t h five c a r d s in e a c h row . T h e o r d e r in w h i c h y o u p la c e th e c a r d s in e a c h r o w i n d i c a t e s w i t h c e r ­ ta in ty the couple selected by each person. T o e n a b l e y o u to d o th is, r e c o u r s e m u s t b e m a d e to a m e n t a l t a b l e o f fou r words, each word c o n sistin g o f five l e t t e r s , m a k i n g t w e n t y in all, so t h a t e a c h l e t t e r r e p r e s e n t s a car<| a s sh o w n . , T h e f ir st c a r d y o u p u t on M in M u tu s, an d th e n e x t on M in N o m e n — t h a t is to s a y , on th e fir st a n d e i g h t h p l a c e s of th e i n te n d e d s q u a r e o f t w e n t y p l a c e s . H a v i n g d i s p o s e d o f t h e f ir s t p a i r , y o u p r o c e e d to p u t th e n e x t c a r d on U in th e s e c o n d p l a c e o f th e f i r s t line, an d on i t s c o m p a n i o n in th e f o u r t h p l a c e o f th e s a m e line. T h e n e x t c a r d is p la c e d on th e s p o t o c c u p i e d b y T in th e f ir s t line, a n d on T ( o r fif te e n th p l a c e ) in th e th i r d line, th e fir st cm-d of th e fifth co u p le is p l a c e d on S in th e f ir st line, a n d on S in th e f o u r t h line. H a v i n g c o m p l e t e d th e f ir s t line, y o u p r o c e e d w i t h the w o r d N o m e n in th e s e c o n d line, t h e n w i t h D e d i t a n d f in ally w i th C o cis, f ill in g up th e th e r e m a i n i n g v a c a n c i e s b y p l a c i n g e a c h c o u p le o f c a r d s on c o r r e s p o n d i n g p a i r s o f l e t t e r s , u n t i l t h e s q u a r e is c o m p l e te , a s sh ow n .

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D Y o u n o w a sk each p e rso n w h e re th e ca rd s he selected In h is m in d a re n o w • itu a te d . I f he says th e y are b o th in th e f ir s t lin e , th e n he th o u g h t o f th e cards •o c u p y in g th e places o f th e tw o U’ s. I f he says th a t one c a rd is in th e firs t, a nd th e o th e r in th e second lin e , th e n he th o u g h t o f th e cards o o cu pyin g th e places o f th e tw o M ’s. I f in th e f ir s t and t h ir d lin e * , o f th o tw o T 's. I f in th e f ir s t and f o u r th lin e s, o f *he tw e S’s. A n d bo on, w it h each p a ir o f le tte rs •o rre sp o n ding r w it h th e co uple o f cards selected. A lit t le p ra c tic e Is re q u ire d to s tre n g th e n th e m em o ry, so as to p a ir th e . le tte rs as th e y p re s e n t them selves in th e w o rd s w h ic h re p re s e n t th e places o f tw e n ty cards. Y o u w i l l n o tice th a t, a lth o u g h th e re a re tw e n ty places, th e re a re o n ly te n d iffe re n t le tte rs o r te n p a irs . T h is a m usem ent, w h ic h is v e ry s im ­ p le and re q u ire s v e ry l i t t l e p ra c tic e , w i l l e x c ite c o n s id e ra b le a s to n is h m e n t in th o se u n a c q u a in te d w it h th e ke y.

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CHANGE A CARD LO C KED U P IN A B O X Y o u a s k a p e rso n to g iv e yo u a n y c a rd he pleases o u t o f , t h e deck, and yo u le t h im p u t i t in to a b o x w h ic h is lo c k e d up b e fo re th e com pany. Y ou th e n ta k e a fe w cards, and d esire a n ­ o th e r to d ra w one and rem e m be r it, w h ic h he does, a nd th e cards are la id aside. Y o u n o w u n lo c k th e b o x and th e c a rd w h ic h th e second p e rso n d re w is on th e b o x in s te a d o f th e one w h ic h is lo c k e d up. A b o x m u s t be m ade on p u rp o se w it h a d o u ble b o tto m , on th e fa ls e one is la id th e c a rd w h ic h th e fir s t ■person chose. I n lo c k in g th e box, b y a se cre t

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s p rin g , th e fa ls e b o tto m is ra ise d w it h th e card, a n d fir m ly u n ite d to t h a t p a r t w h e re th e h in g e s are. On th e re a l b o t­ to m lie s a n o th e r ca rd , w h ic h had been p re v io u s ly and s e c re tly deposited th e re . I n m a k in g a p e rso n d ra w a card, a d u p lic a te o f th is is fo rc e d u pon h im ; f o r i f he a tte m p ts to d ra w a n o th e r, u n ­ d e r some p re te n ce y o u s h u ffle th e ca fd s a g a in , t i l l a t la s t he ta k e s the v e ry c a rd yo u In te n d f o r h im . T h is ca rd y o u k n o w b y fe e lin g It, i t b e in g p u rp o s e ly lo n g e r th a n a n y o f the rest, and Is in fa c t a c o n ju ro r ’s se cre t card. Y o u m u s t n e ve r le t one o f those p a r tic u la r o r b r ie f ca rd s re m a in in a p a c k w h e n yo u g iv e i t to be exa m in e d . A N E W M IN D -R E A D IN G F E A T W IT H CAR DS ( One o r m ore ca rd s s h o u ld be s e le c t­ ed b y a sp e cta to r, and th e p a c k la id on th e ta b le . A la d y o r g e n tle m a n s it t in g on th e o p posite side o f th e roo m ( w ith o u t even as m u ch as a lo o k fro m th e p e r­ fo rm e r) im m e d ia te ly in fo rm s th e d ra w ­ er th e n u m b e r a nd th e nam es o f th e cards chosen. T h is t r ic k , w h ic h can, i f desired, be p re se n te d as an e x h ib itio n o f g e n uine m in d -re a d in g , w i l l cre a te a p ro fo u n d sensation. The m ed iu m , o r second p a rty , to th is e x p e rim e n t m u s t be th o ro u g h ly a c­ q u a in te d w it h th e o rd e r in w h ic h th e p a ck is a rra n g e d , and s h o u ld be se a t­ ed on one side o f th e p e rfo rm e r. A f t e r th e ca rd o r ca rd s h a ve been selected, th e p a ck is cu t, and th e c a rd th a t w as above those selected b ro u g h t to th e b o tto m . I n th e a ct o f la y in g th e cards on th e ta b le , th e b o tto m c a rd is m o m e n ta rily exposed to th e v ie w o f th e a s s is ta n t, th u s e n a b lin g h im to nam e th e selected card, th is , o f course, b e in g e a s ily a cco m p lish e d w h e n one th o ro u g h ly u n d e rsta n d s th e a rra n g e ­ m e n t o f th e p a ck. W it h a ju d ic io u s a d d itio n o f one o f th e fa ls e s h u ffle s described, tw o c le v e r people can p e rfo rm t r ic k s on th e above p rin c ip le th a t n o t so m a n y ye a rs ago w o u ld have caused th e m to m ee t th e fa te o f a so rce re r. A N IN C O M P R E H E N S IB L E D IV IN A T IO N * A v e ry c le v e r n o n -s le ig h t-o f-h a n d t r ic k . I t has seldom been p u b lis h e d , and is, in fa c t, a lm o s t u n k n o w n : I t is so s im p le th a t a c h ild can le a rn i t in five m in u te s, y e t i t can be e x h ib ite d f o r h o u rs w ith o u t th e s lig h te s t fe a r o f d e te ctio n . I t is one o f th e v e ry fc v " t r ic k s th a t can be repeated. I n e ffe ct i t is as fo llo w s :

4t>

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S O R S L E IG H T O F H A N D

E l e v e n c a r d s a r e p la c e d f a c e d o w n ­ w a r d on th e t a b l e i n a heap. T h e p e r f o r m e r is n ow s e c u r e l y b l in d fo ld e d , a n d , if d e sir e d , c a n be led into a n o t h e r room . In h is a b s e n c e a s p e c t a t o r c u t s th e c a r d s , a n d a f t e r c o u n t i n g th e lo w e r p o r t i o n r e p l a c e s th em on w h a t w a s o r i g i n a l l y the u p p e r por tio n . T h e p e r f o r m e r now e n t e r s t h e roo m , s t i l l b lin d fo ld ed , w a v e s h is h a n d s o v e r th e c a r d s , an d i m m e d i a t e l y p i c k s one o f th em ou t o f th e p a c k e t , w h ich upon e x a m i n a t i o n p r o v e s to h a v e the n u m ­ b e r o f p i p s or s p o t s t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s w i t h th e n u m b e r o f c a r d s co unted . F o r i n st a n c e , s u p p o s e f o u r c a r d s w e r e r em oved , th e p e r f o r m e r w o u ld u n h e s i t a t i n g l y tu r n up, s a y , th e foun o f clu b s. S u p p o s i n g t h a t no c a r d s w e r e r em oved , a n d the p a c k e t w a s le f t in i t s o r i g i n a l s ta t e , t h e j a c k w ou ld be t u r n e d up by th e p e r f o r m e r . N o t only c a n th e p e r f o r m e r be b lin d fo ld e d , b u t a th i c k clo th or h a n d k e r c h i e f c a n b© c o v e r e d o v e r th e p a c k e t , a n d y e t th e c a r d w i th th e p r o p e r n u m b e r o f p i p s i s prod uc ed . T h i s t r i c k c a n be r e p e a t e d a s o f te n a s d e s i r e d w i t h o u t a n y r e a r ­ r a n g e m e n t o f the p a c k , a n d it is th is p a r t of th e e x p e r i m e n t t h a t m y s ti fi e s c o n j u r e r s u n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the m o d u s o peran d i. F o r th e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h i s e x c e l ­ le n t d r a w i n g - r o o m t r i c k , the p e r f o r m e r m u st p reviously a r r a n g e eleven ca r d s Ki: f o l l o w s : P l a c e a j a c k f a c e d o w n w a r d , a n d on th e top a n ac e, th en a deuce , th en a .rey, an d so on to th e ten, a n d the c a r d s m u s t be k e p t in t h i s ord er t h r o u g h o u t th e t r i c k . T h e y can , h o w ­ ever, be c u t a s o f t e n a s d e s i r e d b e fo r e . ou s t a r t the e x p e r i m e n t ; b u t a s the p i c k e t is p l a c e d on th e t a b l e th e p e r ­ form er m ust m anage to c a t c h a g l i m p s e of the b o t t o m c a r d , a s t h i s f o r m s the k e y to th e w h o le m y s te r y . S u p p o s i n g th e b o t t o m c a r d is the f o u r sp ot. T h e c a r d s w i ll be a r r a n g e d one on top o f th e oth er. N ow , no m a t t e r h o w m a n y c a r d s th e s p e c t a t o r m o v es , a l l th e p e r f o r m e r h a s to do is to s h o w th e f o u r t h c a r d d o w n f r o m th e top, a n d t h i s w ill h av e th e n u m b e r o f s p o t s t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s w ith the n u m b e r o f c a r d s r em oved . W e w ill s u p p o s e a s p e c t a t o r m oved seven cards. T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w s h o w s th e f o u r t h c a r d f r o m th e top, w h i c h is a se v e n sp o t. Now , w i t h o u t r e a r r a n g i n g th e c a r d s , o r eve n l o o k i n g a t th e b o tto m , one, the t r i c k c a n be r e p e a te d . T h e p e r f o r m e r r e m e m b e r s t h a t th e c a r d j u s t s h o w n — a se v e n s p o t — w a s f o u r t h f r o m th e top, a n d he, t h e r e i o r e , k n o w s t h a t th e th ir d c a r d f r o m th e top m u s t be th e e i g h t sp ot, the se c o n d th e n in e -sp o t, a n d the to p c a r d th e t e n - s p o t , l e a v i n g th e j a c k a t th e b o tto m

A certain num ber of c ard s are a g a in m oved , a n d a s in a l l c a s e s w hen the j a c k is a t th e b o t t o m o f the p a c k e t , a ll the p e r f o r m e r h a s to do is to tu r n the c a r d s over, a n d on the b o t t o m c a r d w ill be fo u n d th e c o r r e c t n u m b e r o f sp o t s . S h o u ld th e a c e be a t th e b o tto m of th e p a c k , th en the to p c a r d w i ll a l w a y s d e n o t e the a n s w e r . I f th e t w o - s p o t be a t th e b o tto m , th e se c o n d c a r d f r o m the to p w ill d e n o t e th e a n s w e r , a n d s o on a l l th r o u g h . I f no c a r d s w e r e m oved , i t is a p p a r * k a t the p e r f o r m e r w o u ld t u r n up th e j a c k , t h i s b e i n g f o u r t h f r o m the to p so t h a t i f no c a r d s a r e s h i f t e d th e j a c k a l w a y s t u r n s up. £ .f t e r five m i n u t e s ’ s t u d y , t h i s t r i c k w i ll be f o u n d q u i te e a s y o f a c c o m p l i s h ­ m en t. C A R D A N D 3 IA T C H T R IC K A c a r d is f r e e l y c h o s en f r o m a deck. T h e w i z a r d , u n f a m i l i a r w i th th e s u i t o f th e s e le c t e d car d , r e a c h e s into h is pocket and d ra w s forth a p a c k a g e of m a t c h e s o f th e flat p a p e r v a r i e t y . R e ­ m o v i n g one o f the m a t c h e s f r o m the p a c k a g e , he s t r i k e s it a n d a l l o w s the m a t c h to bu rn a b o u t h a l f w ay , w hen th e fla m e i s e x t i n g u i s h e d . CHOOSE C A tt»f ROM PtftPAREOOCC*

On d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n to th e h e a d o f th e b u r n e d m a tc h , th e d i g e t 7, a n d a s m a l l d iam o n d , a r e se e n m y s t e r i o u s l y p r i n t e d u pon i t s s u r f a c e . T h e s e l e c t e d c a r d is, upon e x a m i n a t i o n , fo u n d to be the s e v e n o f d ia m o n d s , m u c h to t h e a m a z e m e n t o f th e s p e c t a t o r s .

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR S L E IG H T O P H A N D T h e t r i c k i s a s s i m p le a s it is e f fe c ­ tive. B e f o r e p r e s e n t i n g th e tr i c k , the w i z a r d s e c r e t l y p r e p a r e s one o f the m a t c h e s , by w r i t i n g th e d i g i t se ven , a n d d r a w i n g a s m a l l d ia m o n d , upon the h e a d o f one o f th e m a tc h e s, w i th a l e a d pen cil. I t is a m a z i n g to s e e h ow c l e a r l y t h i s w r i t i n g s h o w s up, a f t e r t h e m a t c h h a s be en b u rn ed . T h e card, o f c o u r s e , i s f o r c e d u pon a s p e c t a t o r . S h o u ld a n a m a t e u r , n o t s k i l l e d in s l e i g h t o f h an d , a t t e m p t t h i s t r i c k , we s u g g e s t t h a t he u s e w h a t i s c o m m o n ly k n o w n a s a “ f o r c i n g ” d ec k . T h i s c o n ­ s i s t s o f f if t y - t w o c a r d s , th e f a c e s a ll alike. N E W C A R D A N D EGG M Y S T E R Y M a n y o f th e r e a d e r s a r e d o u b t l e s s a c q u a i n t e d w ith th e t r i c k w h e r e i n a c h o s e n c a r d , a f t e r b e i n g m u t i la t e d , is d i s c o v e r e d w h o le in th e c e n t e r o f a previou sly exam in ed egg. A h a r d b o ile d e g g is p a s s e d f o r e x ­ a m i n a t i o n to p r o v e t h a t th e s h e ll h a s n e v e r be en b r o k e n or t a m p e r e d w i t h in a n y w a y , a n d th e s a m e e g g is p l a c ­ ed in f u l l v i e w o f th e a u d ie n ce . A c a r d i s n o w s e le c t e d by a m e m b e r o f th e a u d ie n c e , noted, a n d r e p l a c e d in th e p a c k , w h ic h i s th en sh u f f le d . T h e e g g , w h ich h a s n e v e r be en o u t o f s i g h t o f th e a u d i e n c e , is n o w h a n d e d to a s p e c t a t o r w i t h a r e q u e s t to c r a c k a n d r e m o v e th e sh ell . U pon t h i s b e i n g don e, th e n a m e of th e s e le c t e d c a r d is f o u n d to be w r i t t e n on th e w h i t e o f th e e g g . Th is trick w ill c a u se a profound s e n ­ s a t i o n w h e r e v e r p r e s e n t e d , a s th e e g g w i ll b e a r th e s t r i c t e s t e x a m i n a t i o n . The se cret is a s follow s: D i s s o l v e a n ou n c e o f a l u m in a q u a r ­ te r o f a p i n t o f v i n e g a r . N o w d ip a c a m e l ’s - h a i r b r u s h in th e so lu tio n , a n d i n s c r i b e on th e o u t s i d e o f th e s h e l l o f a n e g g th e n a m e o f th e c a r d y o u i n ­ te n d to f o rc e . N o w le t i t d ry , w h e r e ­ u pon a l l t r a c e s o f th e w r i t i n g w ill v a n ­ i sh . T h e e g g m u s t n o w b e bo iled f o r ten m i n u te s , a n d it is th en r e a d y for use. W h en th e s h e ll i s r e m o v e d , w h a t ­ e v e r y o u h a v e w r i t t e n on s a m e w ill be f o u n d on th e w h i te o f th e e g g . IS A P P E A R A N C E OF A C AR D T H O U G H T OF B Y A SP EC TATO R r h e p e t f o r m e r p a s s e s a n u m b e r ot c a r d s f r o m h a n d to h a n d , w i t h f a c e s t o w a r d th e a u d ie n c e . A s p e c t a t o r is n o w a s k e d to r e m o v e a n y c a r d he s e e s. U p on t h i s b e i n g don e, th e p e r ­ f o r m e r a g a i n p a s s e s th e card s from h a n d to h and , a t one tim e, w h e n i t is d i s c o v e r e d t h a t th e c a r d t h o u g h t o f h a s disappeared. A s e c o n d c a r d is s i m i l a r l y t r e a t e d . To p r o d u c e th e a b o v e effect, th e p e r ­ fo rm er m u st obtain a p ack of ca rd s c o n s i s t i n g only o f t w e n t y - s i x , b u t w i th no b a c k s , e a c h si d e b e i n g a f a c e . On one si d e a r e p i c t u r e s o f t w e n t y - s i x

c a r d s , an d on th e o th e r si d e th e rem a i n g t w e n t y - s i x . T h e c a r d s s h o u ld be a r r a n g e d in a h a p h a z a r d m a n n e r. W hen the s p e c t a t o r h a s m e n t a l l y noted a c e r ­ t a in car d , th e p e r f o r m e r , u n d e r c o v e r of his hand, t u r n s th e p a c k roun d , s© t h a t th e o t h e r t w e n t y - s i x c a r d s a r e v i s i b l e to th e a u d i e n c e . Upon t h e i r b e ­ i n g p a s s e d s l o w l y f r o m h an d to hand, it is fo u n d , o f c o u r se , t h a t th e ch osen c a r d h a s va n ish e d . T h i s can n a t u r a l l y be r e p e a t e d . I f d esir ed , tw o or t h r e e s p e c t a t o r s cp n ote c a r d s a t the s a m e tim e. T H E H A N G IN G CARDS T h e c o n j u r e r t a k e s a p a c k of c a r d s , s h u f f l e s th em , th en h o ld s th em out f a n w i s e to s h o w t h a t th e y a r e q u i te “ u n p r e p a r e d . ’’ H e a l s o i n v i t e s i n s p e c ­ t io n o f h is h a n d s, to m a k e s u r e t h a t th e y h a v e n o t be en s e c r e t l y p r e p a r e d . T h e n th e c o n j u r e r t a k e s one o f the c a r d s a n d p l a c e s it on h is r i g h t h a n d ; he h o ld s h is h a n d s t r e t c h e d ou t a w a y f r o m him, w i th th e p a l m u p w a rd . H a v i n g p la c e d th e c a r d in p o si t io n , th e c o n j u r e r m a k e s a p a s s w i t h h is l e f t h a n d t o w a r d th e c a r d a n d a n n o u n ­ c e s t h a t he is g o i n g t o t r y to m e s m e r ­ ize it.

CrrCCT

Jecrer C*rd,

N o t h i n g s e e m s to h a p p e n , s o the co n ju rer p la c es a second card under th e first, th en p r o c e e d s to a d d a n u m ­ b e r o f o th e r c a r d s , s p r e a d i n g th e m o u t s o t h a t he h a s a k i n d o f r o s e t t e o f c a r d s in h i s r i g h t hand. T h e n he once m o r e p r e t e n d s to m e s ­ m e r i z e th e c a r d s , a n d p l a c e s h i s le f t h a n d on th em f o r a m om ent. W i t h o u t a n y w a r n i n g o f w h a t he i n te n d s to do, th e c o n j u r e r th en t u r n s h i s h a n d over, s t i l l k e e p i n g th e l e f t h a n d a g a i n s t th e c a r d s a n d s o p r e v e n t , i n g th em f r o m f a l l i n g to th e g ro u n d . S u d d e n ly he t a k e s a w a y h i s l e f t h and a n d r e p e a t s th e m e s m e r i c p a s s e s w ith it in the d i r e c ti o n o f th e r i g h t hand, a n d th e a u d i e n c e a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y s u r ­ p r i s e d to se e t h a t th e c a r d s do not obey

It

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T O F B A N D

tho la w o f g r a v i t y a n d f a l l to the g ro u n d . T h e y re m a in c lin g in g to the hand. The c o n ju re r asks someone to name a s m a ll n u m b e r— u n d e r tw e n ty . He co u n ts s lo w ly up to th is nu m b e r, and e x a c tly a t th e m o m e n t he s p e a k s it , the cards f a ll to th e floor. T h e c a r d s and th e c o n j u r e r ’s h and c a n be e x a m i n e d b y a n y p e r s o n w h o is c u r i o u s to find o u t “ h o w it is d o n e.” T o co m e a t once to th e e x p l a n a t i o n , one o f th e c a r d s Is p r e p a r e d , b u t if the p r e p a r a t i o n is done n e a t ly , th e c a r d w i ll p a s s a s a n o r d i n a r y card. A s m a l l p iec e o f a n o t h e r c a r d is p a s t e d to th e c e n t e r o f th e c a r d t h a t is to f o r m th e “ f o u n d a t i o n ” o f th e p ile o f c a r d s p la c e d on th e r i g h t hand. Of c o u r s e t h i s l i t t l e p iec e is p a s t e d to the b a c k o f th e c a r d ; it s h o u l d f o r m a l i t t l e flap w h ich c a n be held d ow n c l o s s to the c a r d , a n d t h u s it w i l l not be not ic ed. To r a i s e th e flap, th e c o n j u r e r m e r e ly h a s to bend th e c a r d s l i g h t l y , a n d in r e p l a c i n g it on h is r i g h t h a n d he g e t s t h i s flap b e t w e e n th e tw o k n u c k l e s of h i s th i r d a n d s e c o n d fin ge rs. I t w ill be se e n t h a t th e c a r d is held c lo s e to th e han d, a n d t h e r e f o r e i f t h e c o n j u r e r a r r a n g e s o th e r c a r d s u n d e r t h i s “ flap c a r d ” a l l th e c a r d s w i ll be held c lo s e to the hand. T h e c o u n t i n g is d o n e m e r e l y f o r e f ­ fect, a n d w h e n th e c a r d s a r e a llo w e d to f a l l th e c o n j u r e r t a k e s c a r e t h a t th e flap c a r d is not p la c e d to o n e a r th e ^yes o f a n y i n q u i s i t i v e p e r so n . A T O R N C A R D W IT H A N E W F IN IS H H e r e is a n i d e a w h ich w e do not p r e cend to be in a n y w a y a fin ish ed t r i c k ; it is m e r e l y a s u g g e s t i o n u pon w h ich t h e r e a d e r m a y build . T h e a c t u a l t r i c k i t s e l f is s i m p l y a v e r s i o n o f th e to r n and restored card a d ap ted from an e f fe c t g i v e n in one o f R o t e r b e r g s e x ­ c e l l e n t w o r k s , a n d w h ic h is to be f o u n d in one f o r m o r a n o t h e r in m a n y m ore. T h e fin ale is a r o u g h t r y o u t o f a n e w finish by w h ic h th e c a r d is e n ­ t i r e l y r e s t o r e d a t th e en d by a p p a r e n t ­ ly w e l d i n g on th e to r n c o r n e r u n d e r s o m e w h a t c u r i o u s c o n d itio n s. T h i s p a r t is s i m p l y a n id ea, bu t, a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t it is a c t u a l l y m o r e th an this b e cau se we a c tu a lly w ork ed it s o m e t h i n g a f t e r t h i s f a s h i o n a n d we f o u n d t h a t it “ w e n t o v e r ” v e r y w e l l a n d a p p a r e n t l y no one tu m b l e d to th e m e th o d em p lo y ed , t h o u g h a c o n j u r e r m i g h t p o s s i b l y h a v e d on e so. W e a r e n o t p e r f o r m i n g f o r the benefit o f c o n ­ j u r e r s , h o w e v e r — a t l e a s t w e h ope not, f o r th i s s o r t o f c o n j u r i n g is v e r y a f t e n u n i n t e r e s t i n g to the a v e r a g e a u d i e n c e a n d f r e q u e n t l y o n ly p r a c t i c a l u n d e r c e r t a i n s e t c o n d i ti o n s w h ich in th e a v ­ e ra g e run of real e n te r ta in in g do not r e a d i l y ob ta in . : .*t up s t a r t th e t r i c k i tse lf. V s d o es not f o l l o w q u i t e th e s t a n d ­

a r d l i n e s f o r th is p a r tic u la r t r ic k . T he fo rce em ployed is u n u su a l and th o u g h it appears to be even m ore f a ir th a n u su a l i t is a c tu a lly a m oro decided one and a b s o lu te ly c o rta in to w o rk . W o a l­ lu d e here to th e fo rc in g o f th e c o rn e r o r o th e r p a r t to rn out, n o t to th e fo rc e o f th e ca rd 'its e lf. I f you come to t h in k

F ig . 1 D . O rd in a ry ca rd B. U n to rn ca rd fra m e . w it h C. SandA. A c tu a l to r n p a p er c o v c r to «a rd . co ve r co rn e r. o f it th e p l a n t i n g o f t h i s b it o f c a r d is th e c r u x — a n d a l s o th e w e a k n e s s — o f th e e n t i r e t r i c k , w h a t e v e r i t s f o r m m a y be. T o s t a r t w ith , th e p e r f o r m e r f o r c e s a c ard , p r e f e r a b l y a c o u r t c a rd . L e t u s s u p p o s e it to be th e k i n g o f clu b s. T h i s c a r d is th en to r n into a n u m b e r o f p i e c e s e n t i r e l y a t th e f r e e w i l l o f th e a u d i e n c e a n d by one o f th e m s e l v e s . T h e p i e c e s a r e p o u r e d u pon a n o r d i n a r y p l a t e a n d t h i s is o ffer ed in t u r n to a n u m b e r of p e o p le e a c h o f w h o m ; . r e ­ q u e s t e d to t a k e one o f the p i e c c s, h is c h oice not b e i n g c o n t r o lle d a t a ll. E a c h is th en a s k e d to t a k e a c a r d , q u i te f r e e l y , f r o m th e p a c k a n d w h a t e v e r c a r d p r o v e s th e h i g h e s t a m o n g th o s e t a k e n t h a t p e r s o n is in v ite d to k e e p h is p o r t i o n o f th e c a r d in h is p o c k e t , or n o t e b o o k , f o r s u b s e q u e n t r e fe r e n c e . T h e r e s t o f the p i e c e s a r e a ll d r o p p e d b a c k u pon th e p l a t e a n d th e l o t d e a l t w i t h in w h a t e v e r w a y th e p e r f o r m e r c h o o se s. T h e c a r d is th en fo u n d r e s t o r ­ ed in a s m a l l f r a m e w h ich h a s j u s t be e n s h o w n e n t i r e l y e m p t y . W e s a y r e s t o r e d , t h a t is all, b u t th e one m i s s ­ i n g p a r t w h ich is s h o w n to e x a c t l y fit. T h e p e r f o r m e r is n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h i s u n fin ish ed s t a t e o f a f f a i r s a n d he t e l l s h is a u d i e n c e t h a t he h a s r e c e n t ly d i s c o v e r e d a r a y w h ich , c o r r e c t l y used.

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D a cts as a s o r t o f m a g i c a l b l o w l a m p a n d enables h im t o r e d u c e s o l i d s to a s t a t e o f flu x so t h a t on c o o l i n g t h e r e i s a c le a n join. H e d e m o n s t r a t e s h i s m e a n ­ i n g by b o r r o w i n g a q u a r t e r , p l a c i n g it in a s m a l l r e c e p t a b l e , w h ich is u n ­ d oubtedly em pty, otherw ise, and p l a y ­ i n g th e r ed r a y u pon it f o r a m o m e n t a f t e r w h ich th e o w n e r o f the q u a r t e r i s d e l i g h t e d to b e s h o w n t h a t h i s q u a r ­ t e r is no w a m e r e m a s s o f m o lte n m e ­ t a l. T h i s is s e t a s i d e to cool a n d in a v e r y f e w s e c o n d s th e co in i s a g a i n h a r d a n d a s g o o d a s ever. H a v i n g t h u s p r o v e d h i s p oin t, a s to t h e v a l u e o f th e r a y , th e p e r f o r m e r t h e n t a k e s th e c a r d , m i n u s th e p a r t w h i c h i s s t i l l t o r n o u t, a n d r e p l a c e s it in th e e m p t y f r a m e in w h ich it is se en, m i n u s i t s l a s t piec e. H e p l a c e s t h i s is p o s i t io n o u t s i d e th e f r a m e u pon th e g l a s s i t s e l f s o t h a t th e t w o a r e s e p a r a t e d by th e g l a s s o f th e f r a m e . N e v e r t h e l e s s he t u r n s on h i s " r a y ” a n d p l a y s it u pon the t^orn c o r n e r a n d th e a u d i e n c e a r e th en sh o w n t h a t th e c o r ­ n er s t i l l s h o w s b u t t h a t it is n ow a t ­ t a c h e d to th e c a r d b e n e a t h th e g l a s s , th e t e a r in th e c a r d b e i n g c o m p l e t e l y m e n d e d a n d th e c o r n e r a p p a r e n t l y m e l t e d t h r o u g h th e g l a s s a n d jo i n e d up b e lo w it. In p r o o f o f t h i s th e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s the c a r d s f r o m th e f r a m e a n d h a n d s it d i r e c t to th e c h o o s e r f o r e x a m i n a ­ tion, th e e m p t y f r a m e r e m a i n i n g u pon th e t a b l e i n n o c e n t a s a t first. N o w f o r the e x p l a n a t i o n , w h i c h is r e a l l y v e r y sim p le . T o s t a r t w i th th e p a c k u s e d is v e r y e i m p ly p r e p a r e d by r e m o v i n g a l l the a c e s b u t one— i t ’s a m a t t e r o f in d e f f e r e n c e w h ich is l e f t in th e p a c k . T h i s one i s th en m a r k e d , u pon i t s ed g e, w i t h pen cil, or i n k ( t h i s is a c c o r d i n g to y o u r e y e s i g h t , p e n c il is b e s t i f it is s u f f i c i e n t l y d i s t i n c t f o r th e p e r f o r ­ m e r to d i s t i n g u i s h it q u i c k l y in th e p a c k , s i m p l y b e c a u s e it c a n be r u b b e d off a g a i n w h e r e a s in k is n o t so e a s i l y disposed o f!) The k in g of clubs is se t f o r th e f o r c e a c c o r d i n g to the p e r ­ f o r m e r ’s i n d i v i d u a l i d e a s in t h i s d i r e c ­ tion. A n o t h e r k i n g o f c l u b s d u p l i c a t i n g it, is p r e p a r e d b y t e a r i n g ou t a p o r ­ tion ( n o t n e c e s s a r i l y th e c o r n e r ) w h ich is se t carefu lly asid e for fu tu re use; t h e c a r d , i t s e lf, it s e t in a n o r d i n a r y s a n d f r a m e w i th th e s a n d c o v e r i n g it, a s u s u a l. T h e c a r d f o r c e d , it i s g i v e n to i ts c h o o s e r to t e a r into p i e c e s w h ic h a r e r e c e iv e d u p o n a n o r d i n a r y c h i n a p la te , th e o n ly e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h i n g a b o u t w h ic h is t h a t th e p e r f o r m e r h o ld s it in h is r i g h t h a n d — or h i s le ft, f o r t h a t m a t t e r — w i t h h i s th u m b a b o v e an d his f i n g e r s b e n e a t h ( w h ic h is n o t so e x t r a ­ o r d i n a r y a f t e r a l l — if y o u e x c e p t th e f a c t t h a t he h a s b e n e a t h th e th u m b “ t h a t l i t t l e b it o f c a r d w h i c h th e o t h e r s h a v e n o t g o t ! ” ) w h e n th e p i e c e s a r e p o u r e d u p o n th e p l a t e th e t o r n p iec e

II

he a r t f u l l y s h i f t s h i s th u m b a l it t le a n d a l l o w s th e pioc e h id d en b eneath it to m i n g l e w i th th e r e s t, b e in g ca re ­ f u l to k e e p it w e ll m a r k e d , h o w e ve r, a s t h i s is th e c lu e o f th e w h o le effect. I t is not a v e r y d i f f i c u l t f e a t to f o r c e t h i s c o r n e r a m o n g s o m a n y f o r th e s i m p l e r e a s o n t h a t y o u j u s t k e e p it u p u n ti l s o m e o n e d o e s t a k e i t ! In » i m l-

F IG . 2. C u rd * A and n In d e ta il. C. Cap f o r a tta c h m e n t to B, l a r m a n n e r it is n o t v e r y d i f f i c u l t to p u s h o u t th e s o l i t a r y a c e w h i c h th* p a c k c o n t a i n s upon th e h o l d e r o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p o r t i o n o f th e c a r d . N o w w h a t e v e r o t h e r c a r d s m a y be t a k e n it is i m p o s s i b l e f o r a n y o n e b u t th e choos­ e r o f th e p l a n t e d bit to h old th e h i g h ­ e st card since N o w w e e c o m e to t5 e s t c a r d s i n c e he, n a t u r a l l y h o l d s th e h i g h e s t c a r d in th e p a c k . T h e u su a l r e s t o r a t i o n is t h e n p r o c e e d e d w i th an d th e c a r d is u l t i m a t e l y d i s c o v e r e d in the fram e. N o w w e c o m e to th e w e l d i n g b u s i ­ n e s s, a n d th is, too, is a p e r f e c t l y s i m ­ p le m a t t e r f o r a l l i t s n o v e l effe ct. A n o r d i n a r y S a n d F r a m e i s u se d a b o u t w h ich t h e r e is only one t h i n g to be a t t e n d e d to; it m u s t be o f th e k in d in w h ich th e c a r d o c c u p i e s th e e n t i r e s i g h t o p e n i n g a n d it m u s t be s o a r ­ r a n g e d t h a t w h en th e b a c k i s o p e n e d a n d a l lo w e d to f a l l d o w n a t f u l l l e n g t h ( a s s h o w n ) th e s a n d w i l l be r u n out a n d th e f r o n t c l e a r a n d t r a n s p a r e n t . The a r r a n g e m e n ts oth er th an th ese tw o s m a l l m a t t e r s a r e a s f o l l o w s : F i r s t a th i r d d u p l i c a t e k i n g o f c lu b s , w h ich is q u i t e o r d i n a r y , a n d w i t h o u t b l e m i s h o f a n y kind, is a d j u s t e d b e h ind the one w i th th e to r n o u t p i e c e s o th; t

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T O F H A N D the tw o ca rd s e x e c tly r e g is te r as one. th e reverse m a n n e r to th a t In w h ic h In th is c o n d itio n th e y are e x a c tly r e g ­ i t w as closed; th a t is to sa y: i t is in ­ v e rte d w it h its b a ck to th e audience is te re d w it h th e o p e n in g and a s p o t o r tw o o f wivx, ju s t s u ffic ie n t to h o ld th e and th e fa s te n in g undone— th is a llo w ­ ca rd , is p u t upon th e co rn e rs o f th e tin * in g the sand to c le a r a w a y — and the to r n c a rd (w h ic h is, o f course, on top, fra m e is th e n la id on its b a ck, fla t and b a c k u p w a rd ). T he b a ck o f th e upon th e hand, and th e fra m e its e lf fra m e is n o w closed, g e n tly , and a l i t ­ ra ise d to w a rd th e sp e cta to rs so th a t, tle fir m p re ssu re a p p lie d so as to cause a lth o u g h th e g la ss is cle a re d o f sand, th e u p p e r c a rd to adhere to th e b a ck th e y have no o p p o r tu n ity to see in to o f th e fra m e . I f th e un d er, to r n card th e fra m e u n t il i t is se p a ra te d fro m th e is n o t rem oved i t w i l l be fo u n d th a t i f b a ck as b e fore . The ca rd is in se rte d rep la ce d to r e g is te r as b e fore th e b a ck a nd th e b a ck closed up in th e o rd in a ry is c a re fu lly closed w i l l b r in g th e tw o w a y (n o t as a t firs t, b y lo w e r in g th e ca rd s in to c o m p le te r e g is te r a g a in ( i f fra m e ) and i f th e ca rd is c o rre c tly in ­ th e fra m e is a t a ll w e ll made, th a t is s e rte d th e tw o w i l l re g is te r, as before. to fii&y!) w h ic h is th e reason f o r a ll Set th e c o rn e r in p o s itio n b y s e c re t­ th is p re p a ra tio n . T h e n e x t th in g is to ly m o is te n in g th e b a ck u n d e r p re te n ce ta k e a l i t t le cap, o r p o cke t, to s lip o f a s lig h t co u g h b u t a n y ruse w i l l o v e r th e same c o rn e r o f th e w h o le ca rd serve f o r th is and, once covered b y th e as is to rn fro m th e o th e r one. T h is is loose piece i t is easy to rem ove the done by s e le c tin g a s m a ll piece o f l i t t le p a p e r cap w it h in th e fra m e b y a sa n d pa p e r to m a tc h th e fra m e b a c k ­ s im p le p u ll on th e th re a d ( i t is nol in g and s lig h t ly la r g e r th a n th e to rn necessary to p u ll i t r ig h t c le a r; only piece. T h is is shaped so th a t i t covers to p u ll i t cle a r o f th e c a rd ) th e tw o a l i t t l e m ore th a n th e to rn su rfa ce and cards n o w appear, a t a li t t l e distance, leaves a n a rro w t u r n ove r, as sh o w n to be one, m ended ca rd b u t, f o r the in F ig s . 1 and 2, b y w h ic h i t m a y be tim e b e in g th is s ta te o f a ffa irs is co n ­ fitte d upon th e ca rd . W h e n made, th e cealed b y th e piece s t i l l upon th e su r­ re a r o f th is “ cap” m u s t be sm oothed fa ce o f th e glass. a nd a ll sand a nd ro u g h n e ss rem oved T he v a n is h o f th e to rn piece through e n tire ly and, la s tly , a fine s ilk th re a d J. th e glass is a b su rd b u t e ffe ctive. The “ r a y ” is s im p ly a s m a ll e le c tric to rc h is a tta c h e d to i t lo n g e n o u g h to p ro ­ tru d e fro m th e b a c k of* th e closed w it h a co lo re d d isc in sid e th e lens. U pon th e o u tsid e o f th e lens its e lf, fra m e an in c h o r tw o . A k n o t sh o u ld be m ade in th e fre e end. ' p u t a sm ear o f w a x and in d ir e c tin g W h a t happens a f t e r th is ? J u s t th is : th e beam u p o n th e to r n piece a t one T he fra m e , so p re p a re d , is a rra n g e d p o in t b r in g i t a c tu a lly in to firm co n ­ ■with th e sa n d pa p e r cap o v e r th e re a r, ta c t w it h it , s w itc h in g o ff a lm o s t im ­ w h o le c a rd and to r n c a rd re g is te re d m e d ia te ly and p u t tin g th e to rc h do w n w ith its d u p lic a te and fa c in g th e glass on the ta b le . I t - o f course c a rrie s w ith o f th e fra m e . T he sand covers a ll and i t th e to r n piece b u t, o w in g to th e a r ­ th e fra m e appears to be e m p ty. ra n g e m e n t w it h in th e fra m e — once th e F ir s t th e c a rd is pro d u ce d in th e s m a ll cap is rem oved— i t is im p ossible fra m e w here, o w in g to th e cap o ve r to see i f i t is th e re o r n o t: i t appears ! th e re a r card, th e appearance o f th e to have m e lte d th ro u g h th e g la ss and jo in e d up w it h th e ca rd its e lf. ’ c a rd is e x a c tly as th o u g h th e re w e re o n ly th e one c a rd in th e fra m e a t a ll, T h is tim e w h e n th e fra m e is opened .a n d th a t w it h its c o rn e r— o r o th e r p a r t b o th cards a re a llo w e d to descend w it h m is s in g . I n o rd e r to rem ove th e c a rd th e b a ck and i t is th e re a r one w h ic h th e b a c k is opened and a llo w e d to d ro p -is detached and rem oved w h ile th e one d o w n so th a t i t c a rrie s upon i t th e w it h th e to r n c o rn e r is a llo w e d to r e ­ piece w h ic h is l ig h t ly s tu c k to it . I f m a in w it h in th e fra m e w h ic h is closed th e fra m e is sloped v e ry s lig h t ly f o r ­ ju s t as a t fir s t b y lo w e r in g th e fra m e w a rd as th is is done th e r e s u lt w i l l be u p o n th e b a ck a nd so re v e rs in g th e th a t w h ile th e one c a rd descends w it h fra m e and so c a u s in g th e sand to des­ th e released b a c k o f th e fra m e , th e cend and co ve r th e c o n te n ts fro m v ie w . f r o n t c a rd re m a in s fa c in g th e audience T h e li t t l e b y -p la y w it h th e q u a rte r and b e in g rem oved v is ib ly , and a cle a r is s im p ly th e o ld “ m e ltin g p o t” w it h Yiew o b ta in e d th ro u g h th e glass, th e q u ic k s ilv e r e xce p t th a t w e s im p ly d is ­ a ffe ct o f a t o t a lly e m p ty and u n p re p a r­ pensed w it h th e u su a l p lu g lid . W e had ed fra m e is secured. T he c a rd rem oved, th e w e ll w ith its b lo b o f q u ic k s ilv e r th e fra m e is closed n o t b y r a is in g th e a lre a d y w it h in th e o u te r rece p ta cle b a c k to th e fra m e b u t v ic e v e rs a ; th e and s im p ly p a lm e d i t o u t to receive fra m $ is tu rn e d b a c k u pon th e b a ck th e q u a rte r and in s e rte d th e w e ll a g a in and th e fra m e th u s reve rse d a nd fa s ­ as w e le f t i t upon th e ta b le and to r e ­ tened w it h th e b a c k to th e audience— s to re th e q u a rte r w e ju s t reve rse d th e d u rin g w h ic h th e sand, o f course, ru n s process! Crude, i f yo u lik e , b u t i t s e r­ dow n, c o v e rin g th e c a rd s t i l l w ith in ved q u ite w e ll, so w h y w o rry ? and g iv in g th e appearance o f an en­ T he re is an a lte rn a tiv e to le a v in g th e t ir e l y e m p ty fra m e . I n r e tu r n in g th e ca rd in th e fra m e . T he tw o cards m ay, ca rd to th e fra m e f o r th e “ w e ld in g ” i f p re fe rre d , be rem oved as one and ’'ocess, th e fra m e is opened in e x a c tly th e s in g le h a n d “ s lid e " change made,

I I 11S TRICK S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D as th e ca rd Is handed o u t fo r in spec­ tio n b u t we don’t q u ite see w h a t is g a in e d by it. H o w e ve r— you pay y o u r m oney and you ta ke y o u r choice! A N E W SWORD T R IC K T h e re has a l w a y s been a c e r t a i n f a s ­ c i n a t i o n a b o u t a n y s o r t o f effe ct in nrhioh a s w o r d p l a y s a p a r t , an d s w o r d and cards is well a p p l a u d e d a n d re ­ ceived by a l m o s t a n y c l a s s o f a u d ie n ce , t t is n o t p e r h a p s a t r i c k s u i t e d to v e r y close w o rk , bu t upon th e s t a g e i t is n o t a t a ll im possib le. I n the o ld d a y s w h en p e r f o r m e r s w o rk e d in c o u r t co stu m e , a s w o r d w a s a n e c e s s i t y as w ell a s a n o r n a m e n t ; th e c o s t u m e b e i n g i n c o m p le te w i t h o u t i t; th e y made a p r a c t i c e , t h e r e f o r e , o f —

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i n t r o d u c i n g th e c a t c h i n g o f c a r d s u p o n th e s w o r d f r o m a p a c k t h r o w n into the air, a s a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e o f th e sh ow . T h e s w o r d s o l d f o r the p u r p o s e in those d a y s w a s a b ig and clum sy affair, w i t h th e c a r d s held in a s o r t o f c a r d c a s e a t t a c h e d to th e hilt, w h i c h w a s a m assiv e and ungainly lookin g affair; in d eed th e e n t i r e t h i n g w a s a l m o s t a c u tla s s and w a s an a b su rd w a y of r e ­ v e a l i n g tw o o r th r e e c a r d s . In a n y c a s e it o b v i o u s ly w o u l d n ’t g o w i t h a c o s ­ t u m e t h a t w a s d e l i c a te . One p e r f o r m e r h a d a r a p i e r , t a k e n f r o m a s w o r d s t i c k , c o n v e r t e d to his need s, v e r y l i g h t a n d s m a r t l o o k i n g , b u t h a v i n g no s o r t o f t r i c k e r y a b o u t it w h a t e v e r . H e w a n t e d to p e r f o r m th e c a r d c a t c h i n g s t u n t w i t h th is. T h e m e ­ t h o d w a s m o s t b e a u t i f u l l y s i m p le . I t o n s i s t e d o f p r e p a r i n g th r e e c a r d s b y

s ta m p in g o u t a hole in each w h ic h a l­ lo w e d each to pass a c e rta in d ista n ce a lo n g th e swords—a ll e xcept th e fir s t w h ic h had no hole a t a ll. T he o th e r tw o had holes o f d iffe re n t sizes, a llo w in g

th e m to s t o p a t d i ff e r e n t p l a c e s u pon th e s w o r d bl ad e . T h e s e w e r e n e a t l y s t a c k e d , fir st th e w h ole , u n p r e p a r e d c ard , f a c e dow n. N e x t th e one w ith th e s m a l l e r h ole and, u pon th a t , th e one w i t h th e l a r g e r hole. T h e s e c a r d s w e r e th en p la c e d u pon th e floor o f the s t a g e an d h idden f r o m s i g h t b y a n y s m a l l o b j e c t — a box, o r a p o t o f f l o w e r s — an d th e sc e n e w a s s e t ! T o P e r f o r m ; T h e p e r f o r m e r f a c e d th e m e m b e r o f th e a u d i e n c e w h o w a s to t h r o w a n d s c a t t e r t h e p a c k , a n d he s t o o d in a p i c t u r e s q u e a t t i t u d e , th e s w o r d p o i n t r e s t i n g upon th e floor, a n d a s so o n a s th e p a c k w a s in th e a i r he m a d e a w ild l u n g e a t th e m an d th er e, u p o n th e sw o r d , in a n e a t row , w e r e th e t h r e e c h o s e n c a r d s . H e s t o o d w i th th e p o i n t o f th e s w o r d n o t o n ly u p o n th e floor b u t s t u c k into t h e b o t t o m c a r d o f th e p ile o f th ree, t h r o u g h th e t w o h oles, a n d a s he m a d e the f o r w a r d l u n g e s i m p l y r a i s e d th e s w o r d w i t h th e c a r d s s t u c k on it, I l k a t o a s t on a r o a s t i n g f o r k , a n d th e f o r ­ w a r d l u n g e d id th e r e s t ! A ll t h i s i s m e r e l y to i n t r o d u c e th e p r e s e n t v e r s i o n o f th e t r i c k w h ich is an a d v a n c e u p o n a n y m e c h a n i c a l m e th o d y e t p u t f o r w a r d . I t s m e c h a n ­ ism is s i m p l e and , a s f a r a s o u r e x p e r ­ ience g o e s , c e r t a i n , a n d it e m b o d i e s no p e r i s h a b l e e l a s t i c s , etc., and, f u r t h e r ­ m ore, it d o e s lo o k a n e l e g a n t w e a p o n a n d a g e n u i n e one, a n d d o e s not g i v e th e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t a b a n d o f p i r a t e s h a s t a k e n p o s s e s s i o n o f th e s t a g e b y m istake. T h e s w o r d m a y be u s e d f o r one, t w o o r t h r e e c a r d s , a n d th e y m a y be d e ­ ta c h e d a n d s h o w n o t h i n g b u t a sli t, s u c h a s th e b l a d e w o u ld n a t u r a l " m a k e , in a n y c a s e . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g b r e a k or s t i c k a t a c r i t i c a l m o m e n „ a n d th e a p p e a r a n c e o f th e c a r d s is m o r e n a t u r a l th a n in th e o ld e r m e th o d f o r th e s i m p l e r e a s o n t h a t in th e old v e r s i o n th e c a r d s c a m e to th e s w o r d f r o m o u t s i d e it, w h e r e a s in th e p r e s ­ en t v e r s i o n th e y a r e a c t u a l l y u p o n th e s w o r d a t th e s t a r t . T h e m e th o d is b a s e d on t h e C oin W a n d . W e r e f e r to th e m e t a l rod w i t h a s l i g h t b u lb a t th e tip by w h i c h th e t r a v e l o f a coin u p o n it, by m e a n s o f a c o l l a r a t t a c h e d to th e coin, i s a r ­ r e s t e d a t th e tip, th e coin sliding: u p ­ w a r d to the tip w h e n th e w a n d is s t r u c k into th e air . W e h a v e a p p l i e d th e s a m e p r i n c i p l e to a c a r d t r a v e l i n g up on th e b l a d e o f a r a p i e r in th e f o l ­ l o w i n g m anne r. A b o v e the h a n d le o f th e rp.pier i s a m e t a l sh ield , f o r th e p r o t e c t i o n o f th e h a n d h o ld i n g it, a n d it is h e r e t h a t th e m a j o r p a r t o f th e m e c h a n i s m — if one c a n c a l l i t s u c h — is s i t u a t e d . T h i s s h ie ld i s a c t u a l l y d iv id ed in th e c e n t e r a n d is m a d e to open a n d s h u t in tw o h a lv e s , l i k e th e d o o r s o f a c a b i n e t . * T h e d o o r s s e r v e to en c lo se a v e r y s h a l ­ lo w m e t a l box, only d eep e n o u g h to c o n t a i n th r e e or f o u r c a r d s a n d a b o * 1*

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA RDS OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D a h a l f inch l a r g e r a l l r o u n d th a n a p l a y i n g c a r d w o u ld be. T h r o u g h th i s bo x, w h ich is b r a z e d u pon th e s h a n k o f the h a n d le, the b l a d e is fixed, p e r ­ m a n e n t l y a n d a l i t t le “V ” s h a p e d c u t in e a c h m e t a l p l a t e — or d o o r — a l l o w s o f t h e s e c l o s i n g flat u pon the box. In th i s p o s i t io n th ey a r e n o r m a l l y h eld by a s p r i n g w h ich only j u s t s e r v e s to k e e p th e d o o r s close d, b u t w ill open to a s l i g h t p r e s s u r e bu t, u p o n r e le a s e , w ill i n s t a n t l y c lo se a g a i n . Suitable s l o t s a r e m a d e in th r e e c a r d s , s u c h a s w ill a ll o w of t h e i r t r a v e l i n g u p th e b l a d e w h e n th e b o x is open, a n d th e s w o r d in v e rte d . A t th e top, o r n e a r it, th e b l ad e is p r e p a r e d u pon i t s fla tter, b r o a d , s u r f a c e by th e a d d i t i o n o f a l i t t l e blob o f m e t a l, u p o n e a c h sid e, filed i n to the r e q u i r e d s h a p e . V iew ed u p o n th e b r o a d si d e o f th e b l a d e it is so s l i g h t a s to be s c a r c e l y n o t ic e a b le . A m e t a l b u s h is m a d e w h ic h w i ll t r a ­ vel up the bl ad e , j u s t a s th e coin d o e s upon th e m e t a l rod, b u t if t h r o w n up to t h a t p o i n t — a s b y a s m a r t “ s l a s h ” into th e a i r i t j a m s u pon th e m e t a l t h i c k e n i n g a t t h i s point. T h i s “ b u s h ” is q u ite s m a l l ( it is s h o w n g r e a t l y e x ­ a g g e r a t e d a t E 2 ) a n d it is u s e d by t h r u s t i n g it t h r o u g h th e s l o t in the u p p e r m o s t c a r d ( in th is c a s e , o f co u r se, th e y w ill be f a c e u p ) . A ll th r e e c a r d s a r e th en a l l o w e d to s i n k to th e b o tto m o f th e s w o r d bl ad e , th e b o x b e i n g open to r e c e iv e th em , a n d th e l i d s a r e a l ­ lo w e d to clo se . In th e h a n d le t h e r e is a s l o t in w h ich t r a v e l s a m o v i n g b u t t o n to w h ich is attached a sm all p late b e arin g an ey e ­ let. T o th e p r o j e c t i n g e n d s o f th e “ d o o r s ,” upon th e u n d e r s i d e , a r e a t ­ ta c h e d tw o m i n u te e y e l e t s an d a s t r o n g w ire , o r a l e n g t h o f g u t , g o e s f r o m one to the oth er, p a s s i n g a l s o t h r o u g h the e y e l e t a t t a c h e d to th e m o v i n g b u tt o n a n d p l a t e w o r k i n g in th e h and le . So l o n g a s th e b u t t o n is n o t m o v e d th e d o o r s a r e held c l o s e d b y th e s p r i n g s w i t h i n the s h a l l o w b o x ; b u t if th e h a n d h o l d i n g th e r a p i e r u s e s i t s th u m b to pu ll d o w n th e b u t t o n it c a u s e s bo th th e d o o r s to be h eld open f o r j u s t so l o n g a s th e p r e s s u r e is m a i n t a i n e d ; im_ m e d i a t e l y it is r e l a x e d th e d o o r s clo se. T h e y c a n t h u s be f la sh ed op en a n d s h u t in a m o m e n t . H ere, then , is th e action. T h e c a r d s b e i n g t h r o w n into th e a i r th e p e r f o r m ­ er m a k e s a m o ti o n a t th e m w h ic h is a c u r i o u s m i x t u r e o f a f lo u r ish a n d a t h r u s t a t the c a r d s . T o do t h i s he s t a n d s w i t h th e s w o r d in h i s r i g h t h and , a r m a c r o s s th e bo dy , a n d p o in t o f s w o r d p o i n t i n g to th e r e a r , a t h is l e f t side. In t h i s p o s i t io n th e h i lt o f th e s w o r d ( w h ic h m e a n s th e r e a r o f th e b o x ) f a c e s th e a u d i e n c e . H i s a t t i t u d e is one o f a li v e l y e x p e c t a n c y , b e fi tt i n g the c i r c u m s t a n c e s . A s so o n a s th e c a r d s a r e t h r o w n he m a k e s a s w e e p i n g c u t toT>'ar«i th e m a n d a t the sam e ti m e o p e n s

th e d o o r s a n d a l l o w s th e th r e e c o n ­ c e a l e d c a r d s to p o u r o u t a n d f a l l d o w n th e bla d e . T h e s u d d e n s w e e p t h r o u g h th e a i r c a u s e s th em to r u s h u p the b l a d e u n til th e t o p m o s t j a m s u pon th e p r o t u b e r a n c e n e a r th e tip, a n d th e f o r ­ w a r d t h r u s t , a t th e end, a s s i s t e d by th e no w s l o p i n g p o s i t io n o f the s w o r d a l l o w s th e o th e r tw o to f a l l b a c k t o ­ w a r d th e hilt. T h e d o o r s, h a v e, o f c o u r s e , c lo se d a s soon a s op en ed , a l ­ m o st. A c t u a l l y th e e n t i re m o ti o n is one an d n o t a s e r i e s o f m o t i o n s a s all. T h e r e is one o t h e r m a t t e r w h ich n e e d s e x p l a n a t i o n . I f only one c a r d is to be u s e d th en n o t h i n g f u r t h e r is n e c e s s a r y . I f , h o w e v e r, tw o or m o r e are to be c a u g h t a l i t t l e t h o u g h t w i l l s h o w t h a t s o m e t h i n g f u r t h e r is e s s e n t i a l . I t w i ll be r e m e m b e r e d t h a t th e c a r d s -re .

in t h i s ca s e , t r a v e l i n g up th e b l a d e t o ­ w a r d th e point, a n d th is, in tu r n , m e a n s t h a t th e h ole in th e c a r d m u s t be m a d e to a l l o w o f th e p a s s a g e o f th e b r o a d ­ e s t p a r t o f th e r a p i e r , to s t a r t w ith . I t i s evid en t, th en , t h a t t h e s e c a r d s w ill, on th e p o i n t i n g o f th e s w o r d u p w a r d s i m p l y f a l l to th e b o t t o m in a h e a p a n d w i ll n o t a c c o m m o d a t i n g l y r a n g e th em selv es a t convenien t in te rv a ls a s in the f ir st c a s e w h e r e th ey w e r e f a l l ­ i n g p o in t d o w n w a r d a t th e s t a r t . I t w ill, t h e r e f o r e , be n e c e s s a r y to a t t a c h each o f th e lo w e r c a r d s to th e one a b o v e it b y a l e n g t h o f fine th r e a d , th e a t t a c h m e n t b e i n g m a d e c lo s e to th e b l a d e s a n d n e a r to th e h o le s t h e m ­ s e l v e s . In t h i s w a y th e t o p m o s t c a r d s u p p o r t s b o th th e o th e r t w o a t s t a t e d i n t e r v a l s . I t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t th e c a r d s s h o u ld be p e r m a n e n t l y f a s t e n e d to th e th r e a d , a s p o t o f w a x w o u ld s e r v e , in w h i c h c a s e th e y co u ld be r e ­ m o v e d a n d s h o w n u n p r e p a r e d . Th e s m a l l b u s h need n o t be r e m o v e d a t j*11

125 T R IC K S W ITH CA R D S OR SL E IG H T OF H A N D it m a y be f r e e d a n d a llo w e d to s i n k to the b o t t o m o f the bl ad e, out o f the w a y . In a n y c a s e n o t h i n g is to be g a i n ed by a to o c l o s e e x a m i n a t i o n of e v e r y ­ t h i n g ; w hich , in m o s t cas e s, is m u ch m o r e l i k e l y to a r o u s e su sp i c i o n th a n to a l l a y it! A n o t h e r p o i n t u p o n w h ich we m i g h t s a y a w o r d is a s to the s h a p e o f the s h i e ld w h ich c o n s t i t u t e s the d o u b le “ l i d ” to th e c a r d holder. T h i s is not a m e r e flat p iec e o f m e ta l, it is only flat w h e r e it m e e t s th e c a r d h old er e d g e s, o t h e r w i s e i s it c u r v e d an d s h a p e d —■ a n d th e m o r e f a n c i f u l it ca n be m a d e to lo o k th e b e tte r . I t c e r t a i n l y s h o u ld n o t be m a d e w i th s q u a r e d e d g e s b u t s h o u l d be a s u n li k e a card, in its g e n ­ e r a l s h a p e , a s p o ss i b le . I t s h o u ld not be d i f f i c u l t to g i v e it a s c r o l l l i k e a n d '■Id w o r ld a p p e a r a n c e w i t h o u t in a n y v a y i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h its w o r k i n g p a r t s . W i t h r e f e r e n c e to th e a c c o m p a n y i n g illustration s. A t “ A ’’ is s h o w n a r o u g h s k e t c h o f th e a p p e a r a n c e o f th e r a p i e r . “ B ” s h o w s a s k e t c h o f th e top p a r t oC th e p r e p a r e d b lade, l o o k i n g a t its

w hen released. Th e s p r in g itse lf is m o u n t e d u pon a w i r e rod s o l d e r e d a c r o s s th e en d o f th e c o n t a i n e r ( l i k e a l o n g s t a p l e ) . I t w i l l be s e e n t h a t the t w o h a l v e s o f th e “s h i e l d ” h a v e s m a l l l u g s f r o m w h ich a p i v o t p a s s e s into th e i n t e r i o r o f t h s t r a y , v i a a s m a l l h o le d r i ll e d in th e s i d e o f th e t r a y i tse lf. A more detailed view of this s p r in g is sh o w n a t E l , a n d a t E 2 is s e e n a sm all and very e x a g g e r a t e d sk e tch o f th e s m a l l m e t a l “ b u s h ” u p o n w h i c h th e

c a r d is a c t u a l l y c a r r i e d a n d c a u s e d t o rem ain stationary. A t P i s s h o w n th e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e s w o r d w i t h th e c a r d out, a n d a p p a r ­ e n t l y i m p a l e d u pon it, th e d o o r s b e ­ i n g a g a i n clo se d. T h e r e i s no r e a s o n w h y th e c a r d r e ­ c e p t a c l e s h o u l d be th e a c t u a l s i z e o f t h e c a r d , g i v e n th e r e q u i s i t e a r e a r e ­ q u i r e d to c o n t a i n it, a n d th is, too, could be to a c e r t a i n e x t e n t d i s g u i s e d . T h e b o x is, h o w e v e r , so s h a l l o w t h a t m u c h m o r e d i s g u i s e s h o u l d not be f o u n d n e c e s s a r y , it h a s th e a p p e a r a n c e more of a stren g th e n in g p late th an anything. M A RK ED CARDS T h e u s e o f m a r k e d c a r d s is n a t u r ­ al ly a g r e a t a d v a n t a g e to th e a v e r a g e th in ed g e, in w h ic h c a s e t h e p r o t u b e r ­ a n t t h i c k n e s s o f th e a d d e d m e t a l is p l a i n to th e eye. “ C ” s h o w s th e s a m e b u t v i e w e d f r o m t h e flat, or b r o a d sid e, o f th e blade. A t “ D ” th e a c t i o n o f th e d o o r s in o p e n i n g , g o v e r n e d by th e s l i d i n g s tu d , o r b u t t o n is sh ow n . “ E ” sh ow s th is ag ain , bu t sh ow in g t h e i n t e r i o r o f th e t r a y or c a r d hold er . I t a l s o s h o w s th e a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e s p r i n g w h ich , a s h e r e d r a w n , i s a d o u b le co il o f s p r i n g w i t h a p r o j e c t i n g a r m a t th e cente r, t h i s l a t t e r s l i d i n g in a li t t l e s t a p l e - l i k e f it t i n g u p o n th e i n ­ si d e o f th e lid. T h e n o r m a l p o s i t i o n o f t h i s a r m i s flat u p o n th e b o t t o m o f the b o x, or, r a t h e r p a r a l l e l w i t h it. In t h i s p o s i t io n i t h o l d s th e li d s e c u r e l y in p la c e a n d u pon i t s b e i n g r a i s e d it a t once t e n d s to r e t u r n to t h i s p o s i t io n

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p erfo rm er who exhibits card tricks. H ow ever, m ark ed cards also have be­ co m e a m o s t v a l u e d a l l y to th e b l a c k ­

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le g who ch e ats a t cards, especially a t g a m e s such a s stud poker, crib b ag e and sim ilar g a m e s where ca r d s th at f ig u r e to a n i m p o r t a n t e x t e n t In the g a m e a r e p la c e d f a c e d o w n on the ta b le .

AD A M 'S L E A G U E D E C K B e c a u s e if the v a s t i m p o r t a n c e of m a r k e d c a r d s to th e c a r d t r i c k e x p e r t a n d a l s o b e c a u s e o f th e d a n g e r o f r u n n i n g a g a i n s t th e m in a g a m e a com plete description of their a p p e a r ­ a n c e a n d a l s o th e m a r k i n g s b y w h ich th e y c a n be r e c o g n i z e d is v a l u a b l e . One o f th e p o p u l a r n u m b e r s is k n o w n a s D e L a n d ’s, a d e c k w h ich h a s m o r e th a n 3 2,000 s e c r e t m a r k s . S o m e s e e m i n g l y i m p o s s i b l e f e a t s in m a g i c

ference w ith out h av in g atten tion di­ r e c tl y c a ll e d to th e u n u s u a l l o o k s . T h e r e a r e so m a n y d i ff e r e n t t y p e s o f b a c k s on th e c a r d s u s e d n ow t h a t th e r e is li t t le l i k e li h o o d o f th is. In f a c t, we a r e s u r e t h a t th e c a r d s co u ld be u sed in a c a r d g a m e a n d p l a y e d w ith the e n t i r e e v e n i n g w i t h o u t a n y o n e once s u s p e c t i n g t h a t th e y a r e u n u s u a l f r o m th e s t a n d p o i n t t h a t th e y a l m o s t s h o n t o u t th e ir i d e n t i t i e s to th e p e r s o n w h o k n o w s h o w to r e a d th e b a c k s . The D aisy deck card s have a sy stem o f m a r k s w h i c h c a n be r e a d a t a d i s ­ t a n c e o f 15 f e e t. T h e y a r e r e g a r d e d by s o m e old m a s t e r s a t c a r d m a n i p u l a t i o n a s e s p e c i a l l y a d a p t e d to s t a g e use. T h e N i f t y d e c k is e s p e c i a l l y su i t e d for lo n g distan ce reading. A d am 's le a ­ g u e d e c k c a n be " t o l d " f r o m the f r o i i t a s w e ll a s th e b a c k . T h e p e r f o r m e r c a n p r e s e n t a n e n t i r e a c t in m a g i c a r w ell w i th t h e i r aid.

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STAR DECK c a n be p e r f o r m e d w i th t h e s e c a r d s an d th e o p e r a t o r c a n t e l l a t a g l a n c e j u s t w h a t c a r d is h eld by h i s a u d ie n c e , or w h ich h a s be en la i d on th e tab le. T h e i l l u s t r a t i o n s w i l l d e s i g n a t e th e d i ff e r e n t b r a n d s o f d e c k s a n d p a r t i c u ­ l a r c a r e s h o u ld be t a k e n to n ote th e d i ff e r e n c e in d e s i g n s . T h e s k i l l e d c a r d t r i c k p e r f o r m e r w i ll u n d o u b t e d ly w a n t s e v e r a l o f t h e s e d e c k s b e c a u s e i t w ill n o t then be n e c e s s a r y to u s e th e s a m e •car ds f o r a l l th e t r i c k s . I t s h o u ld be u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e s e c a r d s a r e m a d e to look j u s t li k e r e g u ­ la t i o n d e c k s a n d it w o u ld t a k e a p r e t ­ t y s h r e w d p e r s o n to d i s c o v e r th e d i f ­

D A ISY D E C K c o m p l e t e i n s t r u c t io n s . T h e c o s t o f the c a r d s is $1.00 p e r deck. H o w t h e s e c a r d s a r e s o m e t i m e s u sed by c h e a t s is e a s i l y to be se en. T a k e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t th e g a m e o f five

125 T R IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG H ’!' ' c a r d s t u d w a s b e i n g p la y e d by a. g r o u p into w h ich th e cr o o k h a s m a n a g ­ ed to m a k e h is w a y . In s o m e m a n n e r , e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d by the p r o f e s s i o n a l c h e a t, he h a s m a n a g e d to h a v e the m a r k e d d e c k u sed . A f t e r the fir st c a r d i s d e a l t , w h ic h a l w a y s , in five c a r d s t u d , is f a c e d o w n , he can r e a d the v a l u e s o f th e c a r d w i th little effort. AH he d o e s is l o o k a t the b a c k o f th e c a r d s a n d th e y te ll th e i r s e c r e t to him. H e j u d g e s h is ow n h a n d a c c o r d i n g l y . In f a c t, he u s u a l l y a d d s a bit o f c a r d m a n i p u l a t i o n w ith th e m a r k e d d e c k a n d w i th t h i s d o u b le a d v a n t a g e t h e r e is l i t t l e c h a n c e o f a n y o n e b e i n g a b l e to k e e p up w i t h him a t th e g a m b l i n g tab le. In c r i b b a g e th e a d v a n t a g e i s s t i l l g r e a t e r in t h a t the c h e a t w ill n e v e r help th e cr i b o f h is opp o n en t. H e w a i t s u n ti l his o p p o n e n t h a s d i s c a r d e d th e c a r d s into th e c r i b a n d th en p l a c e s tw o c a r d s h i m s e l f t h a t do n o t “ m a t c h . ” T h e n he w a t c h e s th e c a r d s a s he c u t s th em a n d by a b i t o f c a r e f u l m a n i p u l a ­ tion m a n a g e s to h a v e a c a r d tu r n e d up t h a t w i ll be o f d i s t i n c t a d v a n t a g e to h is ow n hand.. F o r e x a m p l e , s u p ­ p o s e he h a d a p a i r o f t e n s a n d a p a i r o f fiv es in h is h an d . N a t u r a l l y the tu r n he s e e k s is a ten, a five or a t l e a s t a n o t h e r p i c t u r e c a r d . S o w i t h o u t effort m a n a g e s to g e t one of t h e s e up, p r e ­ f e r a b l y th e five. W ith t h i s c a r d tu r n e d he g e t s a “ b i g ” h an d , w i t h l i t t l e c h a n c e o f h i s o p p o n e n t, w h o t r u s t s only to lu c k , h a v i n g a s u m in h i s h a n d to e q u a l t h e c h e a t ’s. I t s h o u ld n o t b e h a r d f o r th e p e r f o r ­ m e r o f c a r d t r i c k s to v i s u a l i z e how th e s e c a r d s c a n be u se d to g r e a t a d ­ v a n t a g e in p r e s e n t i n g a p r o g r a m or j u s t a f e w e x h i b i t i o n s a s th e c a s e m i g h t be. G r e a t f u n c o u ld be a r r a n g e d to h a v e th e d e c k u s e d in a r e g u l a r g a m e f o r a f e w h a n d s a n d th en n o n ­ c h a l a n t l y e x c l a i m t h a t i t ’s no f u n p l a y ­ i n g w h e n y o u c a n r e a d th e v a l u e of th e c a r d s f r o m th e b a c k b e c a u s e o f an e x tra o r d in a r y g i f t inherited from y o u r ancestors. N a tu ra lly such a sta te m e n t w ill c a u s e a lo t o f l a u g h t e r a n d t h e n w i ll c o m e t h e d e m a n d s to p r o v e it. A l l t h a t w o u ld b e n e c e s s a r y now i s f o r s o m e ­ one to l a y a f e w c a r d s on th e tab le. N atu rally , by lo o k in g a t their b a c k s y o u c a n te l l w h a t th e y a r e . T h e r e s t o f th e g r o u p w i ll be a m a z e d a n d r e g a r d th e c o r r e c t r e a d i n g s a s s o m e u n u s u a l a b i li t y . W h e t h e r t h e j o k e is to be e x ­ p la i n e d n a t u r a l l y r e s t s w i t h th e p e r ­ f o r m e r . I f he e x p e c t s t o h a v e th e g a m e o f c a r d s c o n ti n u e w i t h h im a s a p a r t i ­ c i p a n t th e t r i c k w i l l h a v e to be e x ­ p la in e d .' B u t m a n y o f th e c a r d t r i c k s e n u m ­ e r a t e d in t h i s b o o k w o u ld be m u ch e a s ­ i e r to p e r f o r m if a d e c k o f t h e s e c a r d s i s u sed . A l s o th e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r g r e a t ­ ly i n c r e a s i n g t h e n u m b e r o f t r i c k s in

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the r e p e r t o i r e w i th l i t t l e s p e c i a l p r a c ­ tice is p r e s e n t e d . R IN G W IT H M IR R O R T h i s t y p e o f r i n g h a s be e n in favo> f o r m a n y y e a r s bo th w ith th e p e r f o r m ­ er o f c a r d t r i c k s w h o h a s a p e r f e c t l y le g itim ate reaso n fo r its use and a g a in by the c r o o k w h o c h e a t s a t c a r d s . When th e r i n g is on th e fin ger, it is, to a ll a p p e a r a n c e s , j u s t an o r d i n a r y one. I t is, h o w e v e r, fitte d w i th a s m a l l t h o u g h ef fe c tiv e g l a s s m i r r o r , a s sh o w n in the i l l u s t r a t i o n . T h e m i r r o r m e a ­ s u r e s a n inch in d i a m e t e r a n d q u i te ef fe c tiv e f o r s e e i n g w h a t is g o i n g on be h in d th e w e a r e r a n d a l s o v i e w the th e c a r d s a s th ey a r e b e i n g d e a l t. The crooked g a m b le r w e a r s a r in g l i k e t h i s a n d in d e a l i n g m a n a g e s to h old th e c a r d s a n d r i n g s o t h a t he c a n c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f th e c a r d s a s th e y s li d e oft th e d ec k. In t h i s f a s h i o n he know s ju st w hat ca rd s are being given to e v e r y o n e on the t a b l e an d a l s o t© h im se lf .

M a n y o f the o l d - t i m e p r o f e s s i o n a l g a m b l e r s w h o h a u n t e d th e w i l d - w e » t t o w n s d u r i n g th e b o o m d a y s o f e a r l y s e t t l e m e n t s u se d t h e s e r i n g s to c h e a t th e c a t t l e m e n a n d a l s o th e m i n e r s o u t o f th e i r h a r d - e a r n e d m on ey . The gam b le rs g re w so accustom ed to w o r k ­ i n g w i th th e r i n g t h a t m a n y o f th e m i m p r o v e d on th e o r i g i n a l d e s i g n a n d h a d s p e c i a l r i n g s m a d e w h ich t h e y co u ld w e a r a t a ll t i m e s . T h e r i n g s u s ­ u a l l y w er e p u r c h a s e d s l i g h t l y l a r g e r t h a n th e f in g e r s o t h a t th e y c o u ld be p e r m i t t e d to r e v e r s e t h e m s e l v e s a n d th e r e fle c to r f a l l to th e b a c k . Rome o f th e g a m b l e r s h a d s p e c i a l r i n g s mad© w h ich w e r e o f h i g h l y p o l i s h e d g old . T h e s e th en co u ld be “ s p o r t e d ” in th e open a n d p e r s o n s a c c u s t o m e d to n o t i c ­ in g the r i n g w o u ld t h i n k n o t h i n g o f it w h e n the f r o n t h a p p e n e d to s l i p ar o u n d , j u s t a s a n y r i n g w i l l d o i f it is to o la r g e . T o d a y a r i n g o f t h i s t y p e c a n be p u r ­ c h a s e d f o r only 15 c e n t s f r o m J o h n s o n S m i t h a n d Co., D e tr o it , M ic h i g a n . T h e i n g e n i o u s p e r f o r m e r o f c a r d t r i c k s w i ll

58

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e a s ily see w h e re such a r in g can be­ come a v a lu a b le a d ju n c t In p e rfo rm in g m a n y o f th e t r ic k s suggested in th is l»ook and also t r ic k s w h ic h w i l l s u g ­ g e s t them selves as tim e goes on and th e p e rfo rm e r becomes m ore and m ore a d e p t a t b o th th e s im p le r t r ic k s and those r e q u ir in g s le ig h t o f hand. W O R D S O F A D V IC E ,, M a n y readers w h o m ig h t become d is ­ co u ra g e d w it h Blow p ro g re s s m ig h t b e a r in m in d th e re c o rd o f th e g re a t H o w a rd T h u rs to n , w h o f o r m a n y ye a rs re ig n e d suprem e in th e fie ld o f c a rd trickB H o w a rd T h u rs to n , th e P re m ie r C ard M a n ip u la to r o f th e W o rld , and k n o w n th ro u g h o u t A m e ric a as “ T he M an w h o M y s tifie d H e rm a n n /’ w a s b o rn a t Coum bus, O hio, on th e 20th o f J u ly , 1869, O r ig in a lly in te n d e d by h is fa ­ th e r — a g e n tle m a n o f fir m C h ris tia n p rin c ip le s — f o r th e m in is tr y , he e n tered th e D. L . M oody C ollege, in N o rth fie ld , Mass., and c o m p le te d a course o f five ye a rs ' tr a in in g . D u r in g th is p e rio d he came to the c o n c lu s io n t h a t P ro vid e n ce had n e ve r in te n d e d h im to go th ro u g h lif e as a p arson, a nd h is n a tu r a l lo ve o f M a g ic a lw a y s p re d o m in a te d o ve r h is li k in g f o r th e m ore se rio u s s u b je c t he was s tu d y in g . U pon g ra d u a tin g w it h h o n o rs fro m th e college, v e ry m uch a g a in s t h is f a ­ th e r ’s w is h he decided to a d o p t M a g ic as h is p ro fe ssio n . (H o w m a n y o th e r w e ll-m e a n in g e n th u s ia s ts have a d o p t­ ed th is procedure, and w it h w h a t r e ­ s u lt? ) H e d id so, b u t fo u n d th a t th e re w e re a lre a d y to o m a n y “ a ll- ro u n d ’* c o n ju re rs in th e business. T h is som e­ w h a t dam pened h is a rd o r a t f ir s t ; b u t, a f t e r c o g ita tin g f o r some co n sid e ra b le tim e , he decided to a d o p t a s in g le b ra n c h o f th e M a g ic ia n 's A r t , viz., C ard T ric k s . T h e n came m a n y w e a ry m o n th o f as­ sid u o u s p ra c tic e , th e g re a te r p a r t o f th e tim e b e in g occupied in a s t r ic t a d ­ h e re n c e ,to a s p e c ia l s yste m o f s tr e n g th ­ e n in g and g iv in g a d d itio n a l f le x ib ilit y to th e m uscles o f th e hands (a system w h ic h , m uch as w e ’d lik e , w e a re n o t In a p o s itio n to d iv u lg e ), and a fte r five years* t r a v e lin g in A m e ric a , p re s e n tin g a JMagical E n te r ta in m e n t o f tw o h o u rs In le n g th in th e s m a lle r c itie s , M r. T J u irs to n f ir s t m ade h is b o w to a ipublic audience as a C ard M a n ip u la to r a t th e F o u n ta in S quare T h e a te r, C in c in ­ n a ti, Ohio, in J a n u a ry , 1895. Since th e n h is ca re e r has been one o f u n p re ce ­ d e n te d , success and b rillia n c y . One - o f th e c h ie f c h a ra c te ris tic s o f M r. T h u rs to n ’s a c t is h is g ra c e fu l stage d e p o rtm e n t. No o th e r liv in g a r tis t, in o u r o p in io n (a n d w e have w itn e sse d p e rfo rm a n c e s o f th e best P r e s tid ig ita ­ to rs o f th e p a s t q u a rte r o f a c e n tu ry ) can com pare w it h h im in th e in c o m ­ p a ra b le m a n n e r in w h ic h he presents h is tr ic k s .

T h e re is n o th in g a u to m a tic a b o u t th is P a st M a s te r o f th e A r t . D u r in g th e w h o le o f h is p e rfo rm a n c e he is t h in k ­ in g , and a lw a y s on th e a le rt, w a tc h in g f o r ne w ideas to o ccu r to h is e n e rg e tic b ra in . M a g ic, lik e L ite r a tu r e is a d ou ble A r t : M e ch a n ica l M a g ic is th e Prose, w h ile S le ig h t-o f-h a n d Is th e P o e try, and i t is in th is la t t e r b ra n c h th a t th is g re a t a r t is t excels. M r. T h u rs to n 's piece de re sista n ce w a s c e le b ra te d R is in g -C a rd T r ic k , w it h w h ic h he a b o s lu te ly m y s tifie d th a t g u a r ­ d ia n o f an honored nam e in th e w o rld o f d e ce ptio n — H E R M A N N T H E G R E A T . W it h re g a rd to th is t r ic k w e t h in k i t w i l l be o f in te re s t to th e readers o f th is bo o k, to rep ro d u ce a t th is p o in t th e fo llo w in g e x tra c t fro m th e D e n vr S unday P o st o f O cto b er 23, 1898: “ H e rm a n n , th e G rea t, M y s tifie d b y . T h u rs to n “ H e rm a n n , th e m a g ic ia n , a nd h is e n ­ tir e com pany, in c lu d in g M m e. H e r ­ m ann, w e re non plusse d la s t n ig h t on th e T a b o r G ran d sta g e b y a n o th e r m a ­ g ic ia n . T he scene o ccu rre d a b o u t 7:30 o’clo ck, b e fo re th e p re s tid ita te u r had dressed fo r h is p e rfo rm a n ce , and w h ile M m e. H e rm a n n w as y e t in s tre e t cos­ tum e. B o th had come in w it h th e u n ­ d e rs ta n d in g th a t th e y w e re to w itn e s s a p e rfo rm a n c e b e fo re co m m e n cin g th e ir ow n. “ T he c h ie f a c to r In th e scene w as H o w a rd T h u rs to n , w h o h ad been f illin g a tw o w e e ks’ e n g a g e m e n t a t th e O rp h e um T h e a te r. “ H e rm a n n , h a v in g h e a rd o f T h u r ­ s to n ’s act, o r t r ic k , c a lle d a t th e th e a ­ te r one e ve n in g to w itn e s s it, and w as so pleased w it h i t th a t he req u e ste d th e y o u n g m an to c a ll. I n response, T h u r ­ s to n c a lle d on H e rm a n n , and th e y d is ­ cussed th e a ct.; H e rm a n n to ld T h u rs to n th a t he w o u ld be d e lig h te d to h a ve h im g iv e th e t r ic k b e fo re h is e n tire co m r p a n y, and, i f its m em bers w e re as f a ­ v o ra b ly im p re sse d w it h i t as he h im ­ s e lf, he w o u ld p u rch a se it. “ T h u rs to n se t an e ve rtin g as th e tim e o f th e t r i a l e x h ib itio n . T he d ro p c u r ­ ta in w a s lo w e re d and T h u rs to n to ld a ll th e co m p a n y to lin e up b e fo re h im on th e stage. I n th e g ro u p o f a u d ito rs , besides M r. and M rs. H e rm a n n , w e re W . E . R o b inson, c h ie f illu s io n is t o f th e com pany, also a re p re s e n ta tiv e o f th e D e n v e r P ost, th e n u m e ro u s sta g e hands and c a rp e n te rs a tta c h e d to th e com ­ p a n y and th e th e a te r “ T h u rs to n o ccupied a p o s itio n in th e c e n te r o f th e stage. F o u r o f th e w i t ­ nesses d re w a ca rd fro m a p a c k w h ic h had been s h u ffle d , lo o k e d a t it , noted th e d e n o m in a tio n s ile n tly , and replaced i t in T h u rs to n ’s hands. T h e n he w it h ­ d re w to a p o s itio n f u r t h e r in th e re a r, and asked one o f th e sp e c ta to rs w h a t ca rd he had ta k e n o u t o f th e p a ck. “ ‘I t w as th e te n o f d ia m o n d s,' w as th e answ er.

125 TH IC K S W IT H CA R D S OR SL E IG IIT O F HAWD " 'T e n o f diam onds, come f o r t h ! ’ com ­ c a rria g e M r. T h u rs to n stepped o u t o f m anded T h u rs to n , w h o held' th e p a ck. th e c ro w d , and b o w in g to th e ro y a l I n s ta n tly th e te n o f diam onds arose fo u r, proceeded to e x tra c t a c a rd fr o m th e a ir. I t w a s a k in g . Once m ore he fr o m h is le f t h and and ascended tw o reached in to space and to o k a n o th e r fe e t to th e r ig h t hand. A d d re ssin g th e ca rd . A k in g a g a in . F o u r tim e s he d id n e x t m an, he sa id : ‘W h a t card d id you th is and th e n bowed. T he fo u r re a l d ra w ? ’ k in g s th e n bow ed to h im a nd passed “ ‘T he ja c k o t hearts.* on. “ T h u rs to n ordered the ja c k o f h e a rts A f t e r a b r i llia n t to u r o f th e c o n tin ­ t o ascend, and i t in s ta n tly obeyed. e n t, T h u rs to n re tu rn e d to th e U n ite d "T o th e n e x t m an T h u rs to n p r o ­ States. H e had b y no m eans exh a uste d pounded a s im ila r qu e stion w it h lik e th e in te re s t o f h is c o u n try m e n in h is re s u lts . H e th e n asked th e n e x t m an, u n iq u e card act, b u t he w a s a m b itio u s , H e rm a n n h im s e lf, to name h is card, and d e te rm in e d to b ra n c h o u t in to th e w h ic h happened to be th e te n o f clubs. la r g e r fie ld o f illu s io n s . W it h a b ra in “ ‘L e t th e te n o f clu b s a p p e a r!’ said te e m in g w ith ideas, he b u ilt a n u m b e r T h u rs to n , and th e f a m ilia r te n -s p o t o f v e ry o r ig in a l illu s io n s and n e cro ­ s ile n tly arose as i f p ro p e lle d b y an u n ­ m a n tic deceptions, lik e w is e m a k in g im ­ seen p o w e r. H e rm a n n sm ile d w it h p ro ve m e n ts u pon o ld tr ic k s , w h ic h he w o n d e r a t th e p e rfo rm a n ce , and was p resented to th e A m e ric a n p u b lic w it h c o m p le te ly m y s tifie d . A fte r w a r d H e r ­ unbounded success. m a n n a ckn o w le d g e d th e t r ic k w a s a W it h h is la u re ls th ic k u p o n h im , he w in n e r, and offered to pu rch a se it. d e te rm in e d to go to th e O rie n t w it h h is com pany, to p e n e tra te in to th e “ T h u rs to n w as e s p e c ia lly g ra tifie d a t w ild s o f In d ia and s tu d y th e m a g ic a r t th e fa c t th a t h is t r ic k w as n o t seon o f th e H in d o o fa k ir s , w h ile e x h ib itin g th ro u g h by th e H e rm a n n p a rty . He th e n e cro m a n cy o f th e O ccident. H is h ad m y s tifie d th e m y s tifie r.” a d ve n tu re s in In d ia , C h in a a pd E g y p t W h e n th is episode became kn o w *!, w o u ld , f i l l a va lu m e . th e re w as a g re a t ru s h on the p a rt o f T h u rs to n ’s to u r o f th e O rie n t la ste d th e p u b lic to w itn e s s th e t r ic k , and a fte r th a t M r. T h u rs to n n e ve r pass- 1 o ve r tw o years. P eople o f a ll classes, fr o m r o y a lty d o w n w a rd , a tte n d e d h is ed a s in g le w e e k o u t o f an e n gage­ e n te rta in m e n ts . A m o n g h is p a tro n s m e n t. w e re th e E m p e ro r o f Ja p a n, th e E m ­ I n a d d itio n to h is b e in g o th e rw is e p e ro r o f C h ina, to g e th e r w it h th e E m ­ h ig h ly connected s o c ia lly , M r. T h u rs to n press D o w a g e r, th e S u lta n o f Java, th e is th e nep he w o f fo rm e r S e n a to r K in g o f Siam, a ll th e ro y a l heads o f J o h n M. T h u rs to n , o f N e b ra ska . In d ia , th e Shah o f P e rsia , a nd th e S u l­ B e in g a p o lis h e d g e n tle m a n b o th on ta n o f T u rk e y . and o ff th e stage, M r. T h u rs to n made, U pon r e tu r n in g to A m e ric a in M ay, d u r in g h is s ta y in th e g re a t M e tro p o lis , iV 07, M r. T h u rs to n jo in e d w ith M r. a h o s t o f frie n d s ; b u t th is does n o t H a r r y K e lle r and to u re d th e U n ite d seem a t a ll s tra n g e / to a n y one p e r­ S tates as c o -s ta r w it h M r. K e lle r f o r s o n a lly a c q u a in te d w it h th is g e n ia l and one season. M r. K e lla r in tro d u c e d M r. a ffa b le a rtis te . I n a d d itio n to h ig h ly T h u rs to n to h is audience n ig h t ly as s a la rie d e n g agem ents booked in P a ris, h is successor. I n A u g u s t o f 1908, M r. B e r lin , V ie n n a , St. P e te rs b u rg , etc., etc. T h u rs to n to o k up th e m a n tle o f h is M r. T h u rs to n h e ld c o n tra c ts w h ic h o ld and fa m o u s m a s te r a nd c o n tin u e d k e p t h im b u sy f o r th e n e x t fo u r as A m e ric a 's le a d in g m a g ic ia n . y e a rs. A g e n tle m a n and a b o rn a rtis te M r. T h u rs to n ’s lif e - w o r k is b e st g iv ­ to h is fin g e r-tip s , H o w a rd T h u rs to n en in h is o w n w o rd s : “ W h ile k e e p in g P re m ie r C ard M a n ip u la to r o f th e W o rld m y s e lf in p ra c tic e in th e o ld tr ic k s , — w i l l u n d o u b te d ly cause h is nam e to I am s te a d ily s t r iv in g to devise som e­ be a household w o rd am ong c o n ju re rs th in g new. B y th e a p p lic a tio n o f scie n ­ f o r m a n y ye a rs to come. t ific p rin c ip le s , I seek to g e t o u t o f th o be a te n p a ths, and to c o n triv e m ore in ­ M r. T h u rs to n happened to be a t Cop­ ge n io us a p p a ra tu s and n o v e l e ffects. enhagen w hen K in g E d w a rd V I I , o f I t is m y a im and a m b itio n to g iv e to E n g la n d , th e C zar o f R u ssia and th e K in g o f Greece w e re v is it in g th e K in g m ag ic, n o w considered th e d o u b tfu l d a u g h te r o f science and o c c u ltis m , a o f D e n m a rk . One d a y as th e fo u r k in g s le g itim a te re c o g n itio n and s ta n d in g /* w e re co m in g o u t o f th « pa la ce in &

An Exposure of The Card Tricks Card Players, Blacklegs and Gamblers Made Uae df by Professional

T H E LONGS AND SH O R T S D RIO O G C o n s i s t in h a v i n g a l l s h o r t c a r d s The- follo w in g : c o u r s e i s k n o w n to a b o v e th e n u m b e r e i g h t a trifle l o n g e r h a r e b e e n e x t e n s i v e l y c a r r i e d on a t t h a n t h o s e b e l o w it. T h i s i s a c c o m ­ the b rid g e tab le w ith g r e a t su ccess. p l i s h e d w i t h g r e a t n ic e ty , b y a m a c h i n e I t is t e l e g r a p h i n g b y c o n v e r s a t i o n . invented fo r th a t pu rpo se. B y this S u p p o s e y o u w i s h y o u r p a r t n e r to p l a y m e a n s n o t h i n g u n d e r a n e i g h t c a n be in a n y p a r t i c u l a r s u i t e w h i c h w o u l d c u t ; a n d th e c h a n c e s a g a i n s t a n h o n o r e n a b l e y o u to g e t a r u n ; n o w i f y o u d o b e i n g t u r n e d u p r e d u c e d t w o to one. t h i s u n o b s e r v e d , y o u w i l l a t once se e S A K T E ll LA COUPE the a d v a n ta g e g ain e d o v e r y o u r a d v e r ­ An a d e p t a t this trick can cheat and sa r y . The m ethod is th is: To a s k a s w i n d l e a t p l e a s u r e . W h e r e v e r it is q u e s t i o n u pon a n y s u b e c t y o u m a y p r a c t i s e d t h e f a i r p l a y e r h a s no e a r t h ­ t h i n k of, o n ly m i n d i n g t h e f i r s t l e t t e r ly c h a n c e o f r i s i n g f r o m t h e t a b l e i s t h e s a m e a s t h e f i r s t l e t t e r In th e o t h e r t h a n a l o s e r . T h e t r i c k , too, is Huite you w ish p lay ed — n am ely : m u c h p r a c t i s e d . S o m e t i m e a g o p u b li c “ S h o u ld y o u l i k e a t r i p to W a s h i n g ­ a t t e n t i o n w a s p o w e r f u l l y d i r e c t e d to t o n ? " S b e i n g t h e f ir s t l e t t e r , S p a d e s it, b y a ' t r i a l i n o n e o f t h e c o u r t s , a w o u l d b e th e s u i t e r e q u i r e d ; i f h e c a n c e l e b r a t e d lo r d f i g u r i n g in it a m o s t oblige he m igh t a n sw e r “ Very m u ch ;” u n en v iab le m anner. The excitem ent b u t i f he c o u ld not, a n d w i s h e s to l e a d t h e n r a i s e d Is n o w a l l a y e d , a n d S a u t e r h i m s e l f , t h e n f o r h i s p a r t n e r ’s i n f o r m a ­ L e C o u p e is a g a i n in e xtensiv e vogue. t i o n he w o u ld n o t s e n d b a c k a n a n s w e r B y i t s m e a n s th e w e a l t h o f th e u n w a r y ..f th e s a m e d e s c r i p t i o n , " V e r y m u c h ,” an d in experienced p la y e r is t r a n s f e r ­ cne l e t t e r V n o t b e i n g o f a n y s e r v i c e ; r e d t o th e p o c k e t o f th e ch e a t. b u t “H ow can you a s k such a q u e s ­ The fo llo w in g sim p le exposition of t i o n ? ” w o u l d im ply, b y H t h a t H e a r t s t he m an n e r in w hich th is tr ic k is p e r ­ w e r e w a n t e d . N o o n e w o u l d n o t ic e t h i s f o r m e d w i ll b e o f e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e toi s o r t of co nversation un less previously t h e p l a y e r . I t w i l l e n a b l e h im to d e t e c t acq uainted. th e s h a r p e r a n d b l a c k l e g , a n d t h u s p r o ­ REFLECTORS tect him self from th e n efarious T he c ard s so nam ed are, by a c e rtain , scheme. S a u t e r l a C o u p e i s th e F r e n c h t e r m m echan ical process, equally distin ­ fo r “Slip p in g the C ard s.’ I t is practiced g u i s h a b l e to th e i n i t i a t e d b y t h e i r a t bridge, w hen the c a r d s a r e cut and b a c k s a s b y t h e i r f a c e s ; b u t f r o m th e p l a c e d in th e h a n d s o f th e d e a le r . B y e x p e n s e o f m a n u f a c t u r i n g t h e m , th e y a d ex terity e a s ily acq u ired by practice, a r e ' n o t o f t e n h a d r e c o u r s e to. T h e y h e c h a n g e s th e c u t c a r d , b y s l i p p i n g n early resem b le those in g en iou s la n d ­ f r o m i t s p o s i t i o n in t h e p a c k , e i t h e r s c a p e s w h ich , a t f i r s t s i g h t , p r e s e n t to f r o m t h e t o p or th e m id d le , th e Ace, o u r v i e w s o m e b e a u t i f u l sc e n e i n n a ­ an d th u s se c u re s its " tu rn in g u p !” The t u r e , b u t b y a m o r e m i n u t e i n sp e ctio n , p r a c t i c e r o f S a u t e r l a C oupe, to c o v e r g iv e us p o r t r a it s o f h u m an f a c e s w ith th e t r i c k he is r e s o r t i n g to, i n v a r i a b l y fereat e x a c t n e s s a n d fideli ty . S o m e r u f f l e s th e c a r d s , m a k i n g w i t h th e m y e a r s b a c k t h i s t r i c k w a s p l a y e d aff a l o u d noise. W h i l e th e a p p a r e n t l y s i m ­ o n th e co n tin e n t, to th e e n r i c h i n g o f p l e a c t i o n h e t h u s p e r f o r m s , w i t h th e a c h e a t e r a n d tw o o r t h r e e o f h i s c o n s e q u e n t n o ise , d i s t r a c t s a tte n tio n , co n federates. H e atte n d ed the f a ir s a t h e s l i p s th e c a r d , th e Ace, w h i c h h e h a s F r a n k f o r t an d L e ip zic w ith a la r g e h i t h e r t o c o n c e a l e d f o r th e p u r p o s e , p a c k e t o f t h e s e c a r d s , w h i c h he s o l d a n d d e x t e r o u s l y p l a c e d on th e to p o f a t a p r i c e w h i c h b a d e d e f i a n c e to c o m ­ t h e p a c k w h e n p a s s i n g i t f r o m one p e t it i o n . V i s i t i n g th e c o u n t r y a g a i n b y h a n d to a n o t h e r t o d e a l ; o r a s c e r t a i n e d t h e ti m e he t h o u g h t t h e y w o u ld be in i t s p o s i t i o n in th e p a c k b y one o f th e c i r c u l a t i o n a t th e v a r i o u s s p a s a n d m a n y m e a n s r e s o r t e d to f o r t h a t p u r ­ w a te r in g places, w here h igh p la y is p o s e . W h e n e v e r th e p l a y e r b e g i n s t o a l w a y s g o i n g on, h i m s e l f a n d h i s r u f f l e th e c a r d s , i n s t e a d o f d e a l i n g frien ds, by b e in g alon e able to decip her q u i e t ly , s u s p e c t f o u l p l a y . I t i s a s y m p ­ t h e a p p a r e n t l y In v i s i b l e h i e r o g l y p h i c s , t om of cheating. ■nade a g o o d t h i n g o f it.

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SL E IG H T O F IIA N D T he f a i r p la y e r has no chance w it h th e ch e a te r, b y m eans o f S a u te r la Coupe. Suppose th a t d u rin g an e ve n in g 20 gam es have been pla ye d . T he cheat and h is p a rtn e r w o u ld th u s have to d e a l th e cards a t le a s t te n tim es. D u r ­ in g these ten deals th e cards m ig h t be s lip p e d s ix tim e s , g iv in g th e ch e a t an a d v a n ta g e o v e r th e f a i r p la y e r o f a t le a s t tw e n ty to one. CO N V EX AND CONCAVE CARD S A l l fro m th e E ig h t to th e K in g a re c u t convex, and a ll fr o m th e Deuce to th e Seven, concave. T hu s, by c u ttin g th e p a c k in th e c e n te r a co n ve x ca rd is c u t; and b y t a k in g h o ld o f th e cards, in c u t t in g th e m , a t e ith e r end o f th e p a ck, a concave c a rd is secured. Som etim es these cards a re c u t th e reve rse w a y to th e fo re g o in g one, so t h a t i f s u s p ic io n a rises a p a ck o f th is d e s c rip tio n is s u b s titu te d fo r th e o th e rs . B u t here th e s h a rp e r has n o t so g re a t a p u ll in h is fa v o r, because th e in te n d e d v ic tim m a y c u t in th e u su a l w a y and so c u t a lo w c a rd to th e d e a le r. B u t th e p o s s ib ility , o r r a th e r c e rta in ty , o f h is feeing able, b y any means, to c u t o r d e a l a h ig h o r lo w c a rd a t ple a su re , is an a d va n ta g e Lgainst w h ic h no s k il l in th e gam e can a v a il. H A N D L IN G T H E C A R D S So c a lle d fro m th e cards b e in g se­ cu re d in th e p a lm o f th e hand. The p e rso n w h o p ra c tis e s th is a r t a t c r ib bage, g e n e ra lly ta k e s c a r^ to g e t tw o F iv e s , w it h a n y o th e r tw o cards, p la c ­ in g one o f th e tw o o rd in a r y cards a t th e to p , n e x t to i t one F iv e , th e n th e o th e r o r d in a r y card, and u n d e r i t th e o th e r F iv e . These fo u r cards, so placed he secures in th e p a lm o f h is hand, w h ile he d esires h is a d v e rs a ry to s h u f­ fle th e cards, and, b e in g v e ry generous, Iso te lls h is o p p o n e n t to c u t th e m ; »vhen th is is done, he p u ts h is hand w h ic h c o n ta in s th e f o u r ca rd s upon th a t p a r t o f th e p a c k w h ic h is to b? u p p erm o st, and th e n leaves th e cards on th e sam e; co n se q u e n tly, w h e n • he deals, th e tw o F iv e s w i l l f a l l to h is o w n h and o f cards. B y these means, w h e n a person w h o can h and deals, he is p r e tty s u re o f tw o o r m ore F ive s. * G A R R E T I N G IN C R IB B A G E I t is so c a lle d fro m th e p ra c tic e o f s e c u rin g th e ca rd s e ith e r u n d e r y o u r had, y o u have g o t th e best. T he m e th o d o f d o in g th is is to s e l­ ect o u t th re e o r fo u r e x tra o rd in a ry good cards, w h ile y o u r a d v e rs a ry is m a rk in g h is hand o f c rib . T h is b e in g done, and th e cards p ro p e rly d e a lt, yo u ta k e u p y o u r o w n cards, w h ic h yo u ta k e care to e xa m in e p r e tty q u ic k ly and a f t e r la y in g o u t a n y tw o you t h in k p ro p e r f o r c r ib y o u im m e d ia te ly , w it h one hand, p u t y o u r o th e r re m a in in g

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c a rd s - on th e p a ck, and w it h y o u r o th e r h a n d ta k e d o w n th e cards w h ic h have been secured; th e n in lie u o f v e ry bad cards, w h ic h yo u m ig h t p o ssib ly have had, yo u have th e b e st th a t can be g o t. S L IP P IN G T H E C A R D S Is p e rfo rm e d in v a rio u s w a ys, a ll o f w h ic h te n d to p u t th e same ca rd s on th e to p a g a in , w h ic h have been c u t o ff and o u g h t to be p u t u n d e rn e a th . W h e n ­ e ve r th is is done, you m ay depend th e cards are p re v io u s ly placed in such a m a n n e r as w i l l a n s w e r th e purpose o f th e person w h o p e rfo rm s th e o p ­ e ra tio n . W A L K IN G T H E P E G S M eans e ith e r p u tt in g y o u r o w n pegs fo rw a r d , o r those o f y o u r a d v e rs a ry b a ck, as m ay b e st s u it y o u r p u rp o se ; a n d i t is a lw a y s executed w h ile yo u a re la y in g o u t th e ca rd s f o r c rib . The m e th o d g e n e ra lly adopted f o r th is business is to ta k e th e tw o ca rd s w h ic h yo u in te n d to p u t o u t f o r th o c rib , and fix th e m w it h y o u r t h ir d fin ­ g e r on th e b a ck o f th e cards and y o u r o th e rs on th e f r o n t ; th e n, h o ld in g them f a s t in y o u r hand, yo u co ve r th e pegs on th e b o a rd fro m th e s ig h t o f y o u r a d ve rsa ry, w h ile w it h y o u r fir s t fin g e r and th u m b yo u ta k e out, unpereeivod, a ny peg yo u lik e , and p la ce the same w h e re v e r y o u t h in k p ro p e r. P R IC K E D C A R D S T h is is a m ethod o f m a r k in g p la y in '4 cards, w h ic h , i f c le v e rly done, is ve\-y d if f ic u lt o f d e te c tio n , fr o m th e c ir c u m . sta n ce o f th e e ffe ct b e in g m ade k n o w n th ro u g h th e o rg a n o f to u ch, a n d n o t th ro u g h th a t o f s ig h t. The cards to be th u s d is tin g u is h e d a re la id upon a stone, faces u p p e rm o s t; and upon the le ft-h a n d side a t th e top, and th ro u g h th e r ig h t hand side a t th e b o tto m , th e y are p u n c tu re d w it h a v e ry fin e ly p o in te d in s tru m e n t, care b e in g ta k e n n o t to d riv e i t q u ite th ro u g h th e cards, b u t s t i l l to press s u f fic ie n tly h a rd as to cause a s lig h t e le v a tio n o r p im p le u p o n th e o p p osite sides o r backs. B y th is m eans i t is in th e p o w e r o f th e s h a rp e r, w h e n th e ca rd s a re w it h th e ir b a ck to w a rd h im , to d is tin g u is h th e ir c h a ra c te rs b y th e a id o f th e b a ll o f h is th u m b . T h e re a re in sta n ces on r e ­ co rd o f in d iv id u a ls in th e h a b it o f p la y in g th is f o u l game, u s in g a c h e m i­ c a l p re p a ra tio n to th is p a r tic u la r p a rt, and b y c o n s ta n tly w e a rin g a g lo ve , k e e p in g i t in a h ig h ly s e n s itiv e sta te . * T H E B R ID G E I s a c a rd s lig h t ly shaved. B y in t r o ­ d u c in g i t c a re le ssly in to th e p a c k and s h u f f lin g th e m , i t can be c u t a t p le a ­ sure, T he t r i c k o f th e “ O ld G e n tle m a n ’* co n sists in m e re ly in tro d u c in g in to th e p a c k a c a rd o f th ic k e r su b stan ce th a n th e re s t, w h ic h can lik e w is e be c u t at.

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OH SL E IG H T O P H A N D p le a s u r e by m erely b e in g p l a c e d by th e s h u f f l e r .

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th e r e f o r e , v e r y n e c e s s a r y f o r y o u to be w a t c h f u l o v e r y o u r a d v e r s a r y w h ile he d e a l s . T h i s i s a d e v i c e o f old d a t e , b u t is e a s i e r to b e p e r f o r m e d w i t h the s m a ll c ard s u sed a t ec arte th an those g e n e r a l l y p l a y e d w i t h a t w h i s t. I t c o n ­ s i s t s in s e c r e t i n g a c e r t a i n c a r d u n ti l a n o p p o r t u n i t y p r e s e n t s i t s e l f o f i ts b e i n g a v a i l a b l e , w h e n it i s p r o d u c e d , a s im plied , f r o m th e p a l m o f th e h a n d t h a t s e c r e t e s It. T ill! TELEG RA PH Is m ore easily ex p lain ed th an s k e t c h ­ ed. T w o p l a y e r s s i t d o w n a t t h e c a r d ta b le , one, le t i t be s u p p o s e d , a r o g u e , an d th e o t h e r rich . B e h i n d th e r i c h p la y e r , a n d in s u c h a p o s i t i o n a s e n ­ a b l e s him to h a v e a f u l l v i e w o f h i s h an d , i s s t a t i o n e d a c o n f e d e r a t e o f th e r o g u e - p l a y e r , w h o c o n v e y s to h i s (Col­ le a g u e , by p r e c o n c e r t e d t e l e g r a p h i c s i g n a l s , m a d e b y th e A n g e rs, w h a t la d o i n g , o r p a s s e d , b y th e r ich o p p o n e n t. T h i s i s c a l l e d w o r k i n g th e t e l e g r a p h , a n d Is a s u c c e s s f u l a s It i s d i s h o n o r ­ ab le . T H E P RO DU CTIO N O F C A R D S A T T U B F IN G E R -T IP S FROM T H E O R D IN A R Y P A LM F r o m th e o r d i n a r y p a l m th e c a r d ' a r e t r a n s f e r r e d to th e f in g e r p a l m , a t sh o w n . T h e l i t t l e f in g e r n o w v e r y s l i g h t l y r e l a x e s i t s p r e s s u r e on t h e cards, w hen it w ill be found upon p r a c ­ ti c e t h a t one c a r d w i l l b e r e l e a s e d a s sh o w n . T h e t h u m b n o w c o m e s u n d e r th e en d o f th e c a r d a n d p u s h e s it u p in to p o ­ s i t i o n d e p ic te d , th e b a c k o f th e h a nd , o f c o u r s e , f a c i n g th e a u d ie n ce . S o m e a r e in th e h a b i t o f p e r f o r m i n g t h i s t r i c k w i t h f r o m t w e n t y - f i v e to t h i r t y o r d i n a r y c a r d s , b u t t h r e e or f o u r w i l l be q u i t e e n o u g h f o r th e b e g i n n e r t o c o m m e n c e w ith . C H EA T IN G A T P O K E R B e c a u se of its overw h elm in g popv l a r i t y a s a m a n ’s g a m e , p o k e r ha. be e n c e n t e r e d u p o n b y c h e a t s to p ly their n efario u s trade. There a r e h u n­ d r e d s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l c h e a t s in t h e country co n stan tly se e k in g new v ic­ tim s fo r their g am es. The p r o fe ssio n a l g a m b le r of the p a s t century w ho g en e rally is pictured a s a s o f t sp o k en in dividual w ho p r e fe r s to t r a v e l on th e M i s s i s s i p p i s i d e w h e e l e r s h a s p a s s e d o u t o f th e p i c t u r e . H i s g a m e w a s to p a l m a n a d d i t i o n a l c a r d or t w o in to th e g a m e , e s p e c i a l l y If t h e p a r tic ip a n ts w ere e n g a g e d a t stud. H is m ethods of k e e p in g an e x t r a ace or tw o sc a tte r e d th rou gh h is clo th in g w o u ld s e e m c r u d e t o d a y a n d th e w o n ­ d e r o f i t is h o w he g o t a w a y w i th h i s s c h e m e s a s l o n g a s h e did. F i v e c a r d s t u d in w h i c h th e f ir s t c a r d i s d o w n a n d th e o t h e r f o u r up, w a s h i s d e l i g h t . H i s g a m e w a * to p l a c e a n e x t r a a c e in th e

125 T R IC K S ‘W i ' « C A R D S OR SI*E1GHT O F IIA!VD d e c k , d uring: h i s d e a l, s o i t w a s d e a l t to him . P e r h a p s h e s h u f f l e d s o t h a t , a n o t h e r a c e w a s on th e b o t t o m o f th e d e c k . A l w a y s r eceiv in g: th e l a s t c a r d during- h i s d e a l, h e c o u ld s l i p h i m s e l f th e a c e f r o m th e b o t t o m a n d u n l e s s t h i n g s h a d grone w r o n g a n d t w o p a i r s w e r e ou t, he a l w a y s w on. Then of c o u r s e , he a g a i n c o u ld h a v e i n t r o d u c e d a n e x t r a a c e in th e g a m e f r o m h i s sle e v e , b u t t h e d a n g e r w a s c o n s i d e r ­ able by th is m ethod and it w a s u s u a l­ ly r e s e r v e d o n l y w h e r e t h e r e w a s a chance o f m a k in g an u n u su ally la r g e hauL The m ore p refe rred m ethod today is to h a v e s e v e r a l c h e a t s t r a v e l t o g e t h e r , a t l e a s t one o f th e m a n e x p e r t a t d e a l ­ in g and j u s t how e x p e rt they can b e ­ co m e a t p a s s i n g o u t th e c a r d s is h a r d t o be liev e. S u p p o s e a g r o u p o f c h e a t s w e r e t r a v e l i n g t o g e t h e r on a b o a t, w h i c h i s th e f a v o r i t e m e t h o d o f fin d ­ in g victim s, the su p p o sitio n b e in g th a t if a perso n tr a v e ls by b o at he h a s som e money. T h e c h e a t s p i c k o u t a l i k e l y l o o k i n g v i c t i m a n d t h e n k e e p a n e y e on h im f o r s o m e t i m e to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h ­ e r th e y c a n l e a r n m o r e a b o u t h i s fi­ n a n c e s . I f t h e y find t h a t th e p r o p o s e d V ictim h a s m o n e y a n d b e t t e r y et, h a s it w ith him in h is pu rse, then the s t a g e i s se t. W h e r e th e p r o p o s e d v i c t i m i s l i k e l y to s e e t h e m t h e y s t a r t a f r i e n d l y l i t t l e g a m e o f p o k e r . I f th e v i c t i m k n o w s a n y t h i n g a b o u t th e g a m e th e c h a n c e s a r e th a t he w ill p a u s e an d w a tc h a f e w h a n d s . H e s e e s n o t h i n g u ir u s u a l in th e p l a y , a n d f r o m th e c o n v e r s a t i o n Is g i v e n to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p l a y e r s did n o t k n o w e a c h o t h e r u n t i l th e y met on the bo at. A s a few m ore h an d s To b y t h e v i c t i m b e l i e v e s t h a t th e irand o f p o k e r be in g p lay ed is very s i m i l a r to t h a t in w h i c h h e a l w a y s e n g a g e d b a c k hom e an d he is a ls o a d ­ v i s e d , i n f o r m a l l y , .t h at t h e s t a k e s a r e e x t r e m e l y lo w . A f t e r a w h i l e s o m e o n e o f fe r s h im a c h a i r a n d h e i s u r g e d to t a k e a h a n d f o r a sp e ll . H an d a f t e r hand g o e s b y a n d they a r e j u s t the ord in ary run of p o k e r hands. Som e are fair, oth ers are w o r th ­ l e s s f r o m th e c h a n c e o f w i n n i n g th e p o t is co n c e r n e d . A s t i m e g o e s on th e v i c t i m ’s l u c k g e t s b e t t e r . H e m a n a g e s to d r a w , h e b e l i e v e s , a p r e t t y f a i r h a n d on ce in a w h i le a n d s o o n he fin ds t h a t his p r o fi ts a r e g r o w i n g . I n f a c t , he se em s to b e h a v i n g a n u n u s u a l l y g o o d run o f l u c k a n d d o e s n ’ t h a v e a n y trou ble a t a l l f ill in g s t r a i g h t s a n d •flushes. N a t u r a l l y , he is f e e l i n g g o o d tnd th en it i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t th e g a m e )e b r o k e n u p b e c a u s e one o f th e p l a y r s p r o m i s e d t o q u i t a t a c e r t a i n tim e. Phe c h i p s a r e c a s h e d in, t h e v i c t i m tr o lls to h i s c a b i n u n d e r t h e i m p r e s - Ion t h a t he s h o w e d th e o t h e r s h o w ok e r w a s p l a y e d b a c k in h i s h o m e >wn. H e d o e s n 't r e a l i z e t h a t th e m o n r he w a s a l l o w e d to w i n w a s a n i n ­

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v e s t m e n t in th e f u t u r e on th e p a r t o f t h e c h e a ts. A d a y m a y p a s s a n d t h e n th e r e h e a r ­ s a l is s ta g e d a g a in . The ch e ats a p ­ p r o a c h h im a n d u r g e h im to p l a y a g a i n , a d d i n g th e h ope t h a t h e'll g i v e th e m a c h a n c e to g e t even. T h e v i c t i m t h i n k s it over, r e a l i z e s t h a t he w on c o n s i d ­ e r a b l e a n d s u r m i s e s t h a t e v e n i f he d o e s n ’t w i n a g a i n he c a n p l a y on tho o t h e r s ’ m oney . S o he s i t s d o w n a n d h is f a t e is s e a le d . T h e g a m e s t a r t s j u s t a s th e o t h e r one did. T h e v i c t i m ’s l u c k s e e m s t o b e w i t h h im s t i l l f o r o f th e f e w g o o d h a n d s t h a t c o m e o u t he m a n a g e s to h old th e m a j o r i t y . S o o n he i s a li t t l e a h e a d a g a i n a n d m a n a g e s to i n c r e a s e h i s w i n n i n g s h e r e a n d th ere. F in a lly there com e a hand w here s o m e o n e a h e a d o f him o p e n s th e po t. H e is d e a l t , s a y a p a i r o f t e n s and w i t h one o r t w o o f th e o t h e r s s t a y s w i t h t h e o pen er. He d ra w s three c a r d s , th e s a m e a s th e o p e n e r a n d t o h i s a m a z e m e n t s e e s f o u r t e n s in h is h a n d a f t e r th e d r a w . E a g e r l y bo w a t c h e s th e o p e n e r , t r y i n g h a r d to k e e n h i s e x c i t e m e n t f r o m sh o w i n g . T h e o p ­ e n e r m a k e s a b e t o f th e l i m i t a n d th e v i c t i m n a t u r a l l y r a i s e s h im th e li m it. T h e fir st b e t t o r d o e s th e s a m e to h im a n d t h i s k e e p s on f o r s o m e t i m e w h e n t h e o p e n e r f in ally c a l l s a h a l t a n d s a y s , “ I s h o u l d r a i s e y o u a g a i n , b u t y o u ’vo g o t m e s c a r e d . S o I ’ll c a l l .” a n d he p u t s in th e r e q u i r e d a m o u n t o f ch ip s. T h e victim la y s dow n his fou r ten s and b e ­ l i e v e s th e p o t is his. T h e o p e n e r s h a k e s h i s h e a d a n d t o p s th e h a n d w i t h f o u r k i n g s . T h e v i c t i m is s p e e c h l e s s , b u t t a k e s h is m e d i c i n e l i k e a t r o o p e r u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e c h e a t ’s p h i lo s o p h y . The victim by th is hand h as lo st all h i s w i n n i n g s a n d p r o b a b l y a l l th e c h i p s h e b o u g h t th e f i r s t tim e. S o he i n v e s t s a g a i n a n d -play k e e p s on in a m o r e even style. T h e victim a g a in is d ealt th e a v e r a g e r u n o f p o k e r c a r d s , b u t he c a n n o t s e e m to m a n a g e to h old on to h i s c h i p s l i k e h e did p r e v i o u s l y . H i s l o sin g s are not se n sa tio n a l, how ever, a n d u n d o u b t e d l y h e r e a l i z e s it. A s th o tim e g e ts late som eone s u g g e s t s th a t in v i e w o f th e f a c t t h a t th e l o s i n g s a r e a m o n g o n ly t w o th e s t a k e s be i n ­ c r e a s e d s o t h a t t h e y h a v e a c h a n c e to c o m e b a c k . T h i s i s s a i d in a ton e o f voice th a t in d icates d o u b t over w h e th ­ e r th e p r o p o s a l w i l l be a c c e p t e d . T h e v i c t i m d o e s n ’t a n s w e r , p e r h a p s , b u t th e o t h e r s , e a g e r to g i v e th e l o s e r s a c h an ce , a g r e e . T h e v i c t i m is a d v i s e d t h a t he n e e d n ’ t s t a y , etc., etc. a n d m e a n w h i l e th e c a r d s a r e d e a l t . U n d e r t h e h e a v i e r s t a k e s he fin ds h i s l u c k a little better and w ithin a few h ands h a s a c c u m u l a t e d a f e w ch ips. N o w c o m e s th e f in al blo w , w h i c h th e c h e a t s h a v e b e e n l e a d i n g u p to f o r the se v e ra l d ays. The victim is d ealt a p a i r , s a y , a c e s , a f t e r s o m e o f th e o t h e r s . H e i s p r e c e d e d b y o n e o f th e

125 T R IC K S W IT H C A R D S OR SI/ISIfJIIT O F H A N D o th e r p la y e rs w it h th e o p e n in g p rice . N a tu ra lly he sta ys. C o n sid e ra b le t a lk goes on ju s t a b o u t n o w to t r y and co n ­ fu se h im as to th e d ra w in g s m ade b y th e o th e rs and u s u a lly th e a tte n tio n o f th e v ic tim is d is tra c te d . H e fin d s , a fte r sile n ce a g a in re ig n s , th a t he has a c c u m u la te d f o u r aces on th e second d ra w . T he opener bets, he raises, a n d to h is d e lig h t, h is w a g e r s e ts a "b o o s t" fro m someone b e h in d h im . T h e opener c a lls th e tw o raises, b u t th e v ic tim raises once m ore. T h e p la y e r b e h in d h im also raises a n d th e opener aaya he has h a d e n ough and d ro p s o u t. T he v ic t im a nd one o th e r a re l e f t a nd b e t a ll th e y can, th e v ic t im u n d o u b te d ly d ig g in g in to h is p u rs e lib e r a lly to p ro ­ te c t h is h a n d and also la y h is bets. F in a lly he becomes fr ig h te n e d a nd c a lls , to have h is good hand beaten b y a s t r a ig h t flush. N o w he is f r a n k ly su s­ p ic io u s , b u t a fr a id to say so and leaves th e game, s a y in g th a t y o u can’t b e a t lu c k o f t h a t ty p e . B u t h is m on e y Is be ­ in g scooped up b y th e o th e r p la y e r and he re a liz e s th a t he has d ro p p e d a g ood­ l y sum. F o r th e re s t o f th e t r ip on th e b o a t he keeps s t r ic t ly a w a y fr o m th e c a rd games. F o r th e ch e a ts I t w a s n o th in g to d e a l th e ca rd s as th e y w ished. T h e y c o u ld d e a l h im a n y ty p e o f hand th e y w a n te d . T h e ir c o n tro l o f th e ca rd s is a m a z in g a n d h a rd to b e lie ve f o r th e a v e ra g e u n in fo rm e d person. B u t th e

above m ethod s h o u ld be k e p t in anl»4 and w h e re th e sym p to m s e xp la in e d here b e g in to sh o w th e m se lve s in a p o k e r gam e th e n I t is tim e to g e t o u t. T he c o -o p e ra tio n o f th e tr a v e l sy s ­ tem s, n o ta b ly th e b o a t lin e s and th e ra ilro a d s , has m ade th e e ffo rts o f th e cheats d u r in g re c e n t y e a rs m o re o f a p ro b le m . P assengers a re w a rn e d n o t to p la y ca rd s w it h s tra n g e rs , b u t even these w a r n in g s do n o t a lw a y s have th e , d e sire d e ffe ct. A m o n g to o m a n y th e de­ s ire to w in m o re a cts as th e s te p p in g sto n e to g re a t losses, b a t so c le v e rly sta g ed t h a t no c o m p la in t can be made. A n o th e r fa v o r ite m eth o d o f c h e a tin g a t p o k e r is tp have a v ic tim b e tw een tw o "b u m p e rs ,” as th e a ccom plices a ro c a lle d . F o r In sta nce , i f th e v ic tim haa a f a i r h a n d and m ake s a bet, he is ra is e d f ir s t b y one a cco m p lice a n d th e * b y a n o th e r. I n th is m e th o d th e v ic tim , unless h is has an u n u s u a lly good band, m u s t p a y h ig h to s e e w h a t th e o th e rs have a n d i f th e le a s t b it o f d o u b t ca» be In s tille d in h is m in d he w i l l d ro p th e ca rd s and g iv e up th e fig h t. T h is can happen a n u m b e r o f tim e s in a gam e b e fo re th e v ic tim re a lire s he ts in a hopeless tra p . A g a in th e v ic t im m u s t be c a re fu l o f m a k in g accu sa tion s, because i t is d if f ic u lt to p ro ve . A l l these ele m e n ts a re e x p lo ite d b y th e cheats, w h o a lso k n o w t h a t a v ic tim a b h ors th e th o u g h t o f p u b lic ity .

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